Seduction Games: A #GeekLove Ménage Romance (Game for Cookies Book 1)

by Allyson Lindt

  The compliments flushed me. I reached for my coffee—something to hide my lack of response behind—and realized the cup was empty. I settled on replying with, “You’ve both seen my cookies before.”

  “You could be doing more.” Kane grabbed the pot the waitress had left on the table, and refilled my cup. “Design work. Something commercial-art based.”

  “I could. But I like doing this. It’s fun. Julie makes amazing cookies, and this is an excuse to work with my best friend.” Who I’d shrugged off twice in the last couple of days, and to whom I completely neglected to even drop hints about what happened last night. I’d have to make it up to her when I got home.

  Isaiah didn’t look as awake and alert as Kane. Sunglasses hid his eyes, and he yawned every few seconds. “If you like it, keep doing it.”

  “What he said.” Kane traced a finger down my arm. “You could have waited for us to shower this morning.”

  I couldn’t help the pleased flutter that his teasing echoed my earlier thoughts. “Maybe next time.”

  “I’ll remember you said that.”

  My laugh died in my throat, as it occurred to me that, after what happened last night, I had no idea if he was serious.

  An hour later, we were caffeinated, awake, and on the road again. Isaiah drove. Kane insisted I sit up front, and took the seat behind me. We were discussing whether or not Boba Fett died like a punk in Return of the Jedi. Opinions on the subject were mixed. We finally agreed that was Mace Windu’s fate.

  Kane leaned forward and rested his arm on mine, intertwining our fingers. The sudden intimate touch sent a glow spreading from my chest into my limbs. It felt a lot nicer than it probably should.

  “Have you ever done it in a car before?” he asked.

  My cheeks were already warm from the summer sun striking me through glass, so at least I had an excuse for any flush on my face. “Thrown Boba Fett into a sarlacc pit?” I knew what he meant, but it felt easier to laugh it off than acknowledge it.

  Isaiah glanced at me, then turned his attention back to the road, a tiny smirk playing on his face.

  “No,” Kane said. “Sex. Have you ever had sex in a car before?”

  There wasn’t so much room for misinterpretation there. “Not at seventy miles an hour.”

  “So, stopped?”

  Apparently, the concept of inexperience still wasn’t clicking with them. “No, not even stopped.”

  “We’ll have to fix that, then.”

  I opened my mouth to reply, but no answer was forthcoming. Wit, deflection, agreement—what was right? I wanted to say, Okay.

  Isaiah glanced at me again. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know.” I sank back into my seat. “I guess… after last night, I don’t know where the line is anymore. Are you teasing? Serious? Something I can’t fathom?”

  Kane tugged my ponytail. “You just have to ask.”

  “I kind of feel like a wet blanket that way. You know, like making someone explain a joke.”

  “It’s not the same. If you want to know, just ask me.”

  I didn’t agree that I should have to. It felt awkward. But I did want an answer. “In that case, are you serious about the sex in a car?”

  “Absolutely. If you’d let me, I’d pull you back here right now, and we could cover the car and the seventy-mile-an-hour achievements at the same time.”

  “It’s not a video game.” Irritation sparked Isaiah’s voice. “And some of us have to pay attention to the road.”

  His tone was enough to keep me from drawing more conclusions. Regardless of how serious Kane was, I didn’t want to piss off either of them, or be the reason for them fighting.

  “Sorry.” Kane sounded anything but. “We’ll talk about baseball instead.”

  I made a face. “Really? I guess I can see how hitting balls with a bat could be a mood killer, but baseball?”

  Isaiah glanced over. “Pod racing, then.”

  “That’s more like it.” I was happy to let the conversation slide to more neutral ground, but I couldn’t get the teasing, or the implication it meant more, out of my head. I felt like I was missing a bigger picture. Big enough that it didn’t matter if I was comfortable asking.

  I didn’t know the right question.

  Chapter Seven

  “I have a reservation for James Whitner,” I told the man at the hotel registration desk. I hated the taste of his name rolling off my tongue, but he booked the room.

  “Of course. I just need your ID and a credit card.” He was already typing.

  I slid the cards across the desk. He looked between my driver’s license and his screen, and frowned. He punched a few more keys. “I’ll be right back.” He didn’t make eye contact. Impatience flitted through me, and I squashed it. This wasn’t his fault. At least I’d remembered to text Julie when we got into town, so she wouldn’t be waiting if this took all day.

  “Everything all right?” Isaiah stepped up next to me.

  An uneasy feeling clenched in my gut. “I think so.” I hoped so.

  Several minutes passed, before the clerk returned and handed back my stuff. “I’m sorry, miss, the room isn’t in your name. I can’t check you in.”

  “What?” Irritation flared inside, and I swallowed it back. This wasn’t his fault. Options ticked through my head. “Then give me another room.”

  “We’re booked full, thanks to the competition. We don’t even have any free comp rooms. Unless you’re spending more than a thousand dollars a night at the tables.”

  Crap. I shoved my cards back in my purse. Shit. Fuck. What now? I fumbled for any alternative at all. “Do you have a waiting list or something?”

  “Not that will do you any good. I’m sorry.” He glanced behind me. “Next, please.”

  Apparently the conversation was over. I stepped aside, thoughts racing. I’d go online. Hit up hotel websites. They couldn’t all be booked. This was the strip. Fifty conventions in town, but there would still be a room somewhere, right?”

  Isaiah moved in front of me, sympathy in his eyes. “Stay in our room. We’ve got a big bed.”

  The idea was entirely too appealing, but that was the last thing I needed. I had to keep in mind last night had been about learning to go after what I wanted, which didn’t include getting in the middle of their relationship. “I can sleep in a chair. Or have them send up a roll-away.”

  “Dee, don’t.” Isaiah’s tone was firm. “We have to be in top form for the competition, right? Share the bed with us.”

  I didn’t want to refuse anyway. I felt a little dim for not being able to guess how far they wanted to take things, though.

  No, I didn’t. I forced the words through my thoughts. We’d established ground rules last night. They were very clear about the fact it was no strings. A way to help me move past a couple insecurities. I wasn’t going to be the girl who was so inexperienced, she saw things that weren’t there. I wouldn’t ruin our friendship or their relationship because I couldn’t separate sex from emotions. They were being friendly, the way they’d always been online, and I needed to stop reading more into it. “Okay. Offer accepted.”

  “Good.” He rested a hand at the small of my back and pointed me toward the elevators. “We’ll get settled, hit early registration, and go grab some dinner.”

  “Absolutely.” I fell into step between them, trying with every ounce of reason I could muster to ignore the spike of want spreading from his palm through my spine.

  “Andrea.” A familiar voice sliced through me, filling my veins with ice.

  I clenched my teeth and spun, to find James standing a few feet behind me. I didn’t know what to say, though fuck off and die lingered on the tip of my tongue.

  “I’m glad you’re here after all.” He stepped forward, smile warm and friendly.

  “Dee?” Isaiah’s kneaded my back, his fingers reassuring and hot compared to the sensations filling the rest of me.

  James glanced between the two guys. “Your g
aming friends, right? Thanks for getting her here safe.” He held out a room key. “I checked us in already. Let’s go upstairs and talk.”

  Kane stepped forward, and I grabbed his wrist. “No.” I was surprised at the venom in my own tone. “I won’t.”

  “Just let me explain. The other night, I—”

  “Stop.” I clenched my jaw so hard it ached, but it was the only way to keep from shaking with anger. “We’re not talking. There’s nothing to discuss. You can rot in hell, for all I care.” The words felt good spilling past my lips.

  “You misunderstood.” Pleading mixed with condescension leaked into his tone. I was impressed and mildly disgusted he pulled off both at the same time.

  Kane pulled free of my grip and slammed his palm into James’s chest, knocking him back a few steps. “Tell her which part she misunderstood.” Heads turned in our direction. “The part where you were buried balls deep in another woman?” Kane took another step forward, and James moved back. “Or the part where you fucking deluding yourself into thinking you were good enough for her?”

  “This is between me and Andrea, asshole.”

  Kane growled. “Don’t call her that.” He clenched his hands into fists.

  Two gentlemen in hotel shirts stepped between them, both broader in the shoulders than Isaiah, with jaws as square as my laptop. “Is there a problem, gentlemen?” one asked.

  “No, sir. We’re just on our way to our room.” Kane stepped back, hands up, palms out. “He just kind of attacked my girlfriend. Started calling her someone else’s name, talking crazy. I don’t know.”

  The other one turned to James. “Sir?”

  “Fuck…” James growled. “Andrea, just fucking talk to me.”

  Security guard one looked at me. “Is that you?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I’m Andi. I don’t know who this guy is.”

  “Fucking bitch.” James surged forward.

  Guard two pushed him back. “We’re going to have to ask you to leave, sir.” He looked at me. “Very sorry for the trouble, miss.”

  “Of course.” I gave him a sweet smile. My pulse raced a million miles a minute, as they escorted James from the building. I should feel bad about that, but a strange elation spilled through me.

  “Come on.” Isaiah guided me toward the elevator again.

  A million words and ideas and emotions jumbled in my head, as we rode up to our floor, and I couldn’t make sense of them. I was grateful neither of them spoke. I needed to sort out the mess of thoughts. James actually followed me here. To apologize.

  Which seemed sweet, until I considered he hadn’t called. He hadn’t texted or emailed. He’d fucking ambushed me in a public place, after stealing my room. And the way Kane had stepped forward… But it wasn’t just him. Isaiah stood by my side the entire time. She’s my girlfriend. Kane’s voice echoed in my head. I didn’t like the sound of that. Not in the least. Who was I kidding? I loved the sound of it.

  We reached our floor and made our way to the room. I followed the appropriate motions as we stepped inside, but I was stuck in my head.

  It had only been two days—forty-eight hours—since I’d walked in on my boyfriend fucking someone else. Since I decided to drive halfway across the country, with two guys I only knew from an online game. Since I surrendered everything smart and logical and reasonable, in order to escape that single sight.

  And the only bit of it I regretted was the nagging question— why did I ever stay with James for so long?

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  “Hey.” Isaiah waved a hand in front of my face, drawing me out of my trance. “Are you in there?”

  The single question snapped something inside. A dam I didn’t recognize until it broke. I tried to find an answer, but all that came out was a sob.

  Isaiah gathered me in his arms, and I buried my head in his chest. He didn’t say anything, just trailed his fingers through my hair.

  I cried. I couldn’t stop. I bled out every frustration in a wash of tears, and then forced out more. What was I doing?

  Chapter Eight

  Isaiah held me until I managed to bring the tears under control. He was like a cuddly, well-muscled, blue-eyed teddy bear. Kane brought me a glass of water and knelt on the floor next to where we sat on the bed.

  “Can you talk about it?” There was no pressure in Isaiah’s question, only concern.

  I dragged in a shaky breath. “I can probably form words, if that’s what you mean.” My voice came out a dry rasp. I felt guilty, with both of them hovering over me. I didn’t think I’d ever been pampered like this in my entire life, even though all they did was listen to and comfort me.

  Isaiah pulled back enough to look at me, and brushed a few tears from my face. “Did you ever actually mourn, after you walked out on him, or was it straight to the champagne?”

  “I cried in a grocery-store parking lot.” I pulled several tissues from the box on the nightstand and tried to wipe more of the grief from my cheeks. “God, you must think I’m pathetic.”

  “Why would we?” Isaiah asked.

  “I wasn’t good enough to keep a boyfriend. I can’t convince anyone to loan me money for my business, even though the thing makes a good profit. The only way I can get laid is—” I clamped my mouth shut, not sure what I’d been about to say but knowing it wouldn’t make things better.

  Kane shifted to sit on the bed behind me, draped an arm over my shoulder, and pulled me until I sat in his lap. “We shouldn’t have pushed you.”

  “You didn’t. I wanted it. I just…”

  “What?” Isaiah drew my attention again.

  “There has to be something wrong with me. The only reason I’m miserable about James is that I didn’t see it coming. That I convinced myself I was happy with him. Who does that? Who walks away from a six-month relationship and doesn’t sink into depression for at least a little while? And instead, I’m glad he’s gone. I’m relieved I’m here with the two of you instead of him, cheating asshole or not.”

  Kane rested his chin on my shoulder and leaned his head against mine. The simple gesture was more reassuring than any words. I wasn’t going to read into it. It just felt nice.

  Isaiah stroked a thumb over the back of my knuckles. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

  “So why are you trying to change me?” The question sounded childish to my ears. It certainly wasn’t fair to shovel that on them.

  “No.” Isaiah furrowed his brow and paused, as if searching for the right words. “That’s not the point. I don’t want you to change. I want you to be more comfortable with who you are.”

  “Who I am isn’t comfortable with all this speaking-my-mind bullshit.” I was being a brat. Besides, my objection didn’t feel right. It tasted like deception, rolling off my tongue.

  “Then you don’t have to. I know who you are online, though. In chat. When we go head-to-head with a team of guys giving you shit because you’re a girl, you don’t back down, and you never hesitate. Not to fire, and not to tell them where to stick it. But”— Isaiah tugged my fingers—“if you don’t like any of this, don’t do it. Simple as that.”

  His observations caught me off-guard. I’d never seen myself that way. Online I was just…being the person I couldn’t be in real life. Damn. He was right. I gave him a hesitant smile. “I like it more than I probably should.”

  “No such thing.” One corner of his mouth tugged up. “Feeling better?”

  “Not completely. I still feel a little stupid for breaking down, but I think I have my head on straighter than it’s been in a few days.”

  Kane squeezed me. “Good. To the last bit. The rest will come with time. No regrets?”

  “None.”

  “Perfect.” Isaiah grabbed the hotel menu from the nightstand and flopped it open on the bed. “Now we splurge and order room service, and rent the stupidest movie we can find.”

  “You know that stuff costs a fortune, right?”

  “Don’t c
are.” He flipped to the appetizers. “We’re on vacation.”

  I could do this. Spending time with my friends. Taking it easy. No pressure.

  ****

  It was amazing what a full night of sleep could do. It didn’t hurt that I’d been pinned between two gorgeous guys. In a completely platonic way, of course. Waking up with Kane’s hand on my stomach, under my shirt, and his erection pressing into my butt, was just a hazard of sharing a bed with guys. A delicious, tempting hazard.

  “What are you daydreaming about?” Isaiah nudged me down an aisle crowded with seated gamers and their computers.

  I almost said nothing, but my good mood, combined with my revelation from last night, didn’t want to hold back. Still, this wasn’t the time or place. “Later, I promise.”

  “Holding you to that.” Kane gestured toward a block of three empty seats about halfway down the row. “I think that’s us.” Even though the competition wouldn’t start for almost twenty minutes, the room already rumbled with the thousands of voices.

  We squeezed ourselves into the spot designated for us, and set up. It was a good thing we all had headsets; even sitting next to each other, we wouldn’t be able to hear once things started. Everyone in the room—a thousand teams of three each—would be barking orders at each other.

  Though the three of us had never done this in close quarters before, we needed little discussion to figure out who sat where and how we wanted everything plugged in. In a few minutes, we were set. Nervous excitement thrummed through me. We had a snowball’s chance in Hell of winning, but the energy in the room, the fact we were here, was like a contact high.

  “Excuse me.” A strong voice cut through the bedlam, and someone tapped me on the arm.

  I whirled and found myself staring into the most emerald green eyes I’d ever seen. Still didn’t hold a candle to Isaiah’s blue, but the guy was cute. “Hi?”

  “Hey.” He grinned. “I was wondering… One of our guys lost his USB lightning cable. Any chance you have a spare?”

  “Uh, yeah.” I dug through my bag and produced one seconds later.