Playing His Game

by Tunstall, Kit

  “I-I’m not seeing anyone.” Roarke cleared his throat and bit back the urge to chuckle when he saw Maya’s frown turn down farther.

  “Really?” Carly hooked her arm through Roarke’s. “Why don’t you come with us to the Juice Hut, and we’ll all commiserate our single status together?”

  “Maya’s not single.”

  Carly shrugged and leaned closer. In a pseudo-whisper, she said, “She should be.”

  He didn’t even bother to refute her statement. “I really can’t, but thanks.” If Maya got any angrier, her eyes might pop out of their sockets. As fun as it was to tease a response from her, Roarke didn’t want to hurt her or make her angry with her sister.Carly’s lower lip, glossed in bright coral, protruded. “Why not?”

  “I haven’t worked out yet.”

  She trailed a finger down his well-defined arm. “With muscles like these, you can afford to skip one session.”

  Gently, Roarke pulled his arm from hers. “Not if I want to stay looking like this.”

  She heaved a sigh before she turned to Maya. “Well, I hope my sister has your number, because I need someone to show me around.”

  Roarke’s expression was serious. “I’m not the right guy for that.”

  Carly studied him for a moment, and then nodded. She lost her flirty expression, and her spine straightened. “Your loss.”

  He laughed at her confident tone. “I don’t doubt it.” But my heart belongs to someone else. He left the words unuttered, but couldn’t resist one last look at Maya before he headed to the locker room. The only logical explanation for her anger was jealousy. He frowned as he ran up the stairs. Unless she was afraid he would try to play his game with Carly, and she wanted to protect her. He sighed as he pushed open the locker room door. He knew he still didn’t have her figured out.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Confessions Over Carrot Delights

  “Try the Carrot Delight. You’ll love it.”

  Maya read the ingredients listed on the board and grimaced. Carrots, zucchini, kiwi, and pineapple? “Yuck.”

  Carly bounced up to the counter and gave the clerk a bright smile. “Hiya.”

  “Hey.” He was young, and he blushed as his gaze darted to her breasts. “What can I get you?”

  “Two Carrot Delights.”

  “No, Carly. Yuck,” she said again

  The boy looked up from the register and tapped his finger against the register to indicate he waited for the order to be completed.

  “Two Carrot Delights,” Carly said once more.

  “And one of those.” Maya pointed to a chocolate chip biscotti.

  Carly shook her head, which made the short hair fly around her face. “No, not the chocolate, Billy.” She smiled at the clerk again and leaned across the counter a bit so he could look down her shirt. “Two of the honey, quinoa, and berry.”

  Maya faked a gag. “If I have to drink the carrot thing, I’m darn well getting some chocolate to choke it down.”

  Her sister heaved a sigh, but nodded to Billy. “Two Carrot Delights, a honey, quinoa, and berry biscotti, and one chocolate chip biscotti.”

  The boy bagged the biscotti in a white sack and slid it across the counter to Carly. As he turned to the blenders, Carly walked over to a table to put the bag down. She slid into a chair. “I’ll get ‘em when they’re ready.”

  With a shrug, Maya sat down at the small table, noticing two of the male patrons at a nearby table were staring at her sister. She couldn’t blame them. Carly was definitely the beauty of the family. She took the biscotti her sister passed, sinking her teeth into it with a crunch.

  “So, who’s that Roarke guy?”

  She nearly choked on the biscotti. “I told you. He owns the studio where Bobby’s working.”

  Carly lifted a brow. “Give me a break, sis. He’s a lot more than your fiancé’s employer.”

  Heat suffused her face. Maya used a napkin to blot at her cheeks and hoped it hid the color. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “It’s obvious you’re fucking.” Before Maya could respond to that, Carly had bounded to the counter to get their drinks. When she returned with the slimy orange concoctions, she picked up where she’d left off.

  “There was a vibe between you two.”

  Maya rolled her eyes as she stared at the Carrot Delight with trepidation. “You’re imagining things.”

  “I wasn’t imagining that you were seething with jealousy when I flirted with him.”

  “What are you talking about?” Maya had meant her voice to be cool and level, but it sounded defensive.

  “You were so pissed at both of us, and he was enjoying egging you on.”

  “Carly…”

  “I’m young, not dumb.”

  “We aren’t sleeping together.”

  Carly quirked a brow. “But you want to.”

  “It isn’t like that.”

  “Well, how is it?”

  To her shock, Maya blurted out the whole story. She didn’t gloss over anything that had happened, not even their first encounter, or the way she had ordered Roarke to use the vibrator. When she finished, she waited for her sister’s appalled reaction.

  “What a jerk.”

  She shook her head. “Roarke’s really not that bad. When things first started, I thought I would hate him, but now…”

  “I’m not talking about Roarke. Bobby, your bum fiancé, is the jerk. I can’t believe he told you to go through with it.” Carly’s blue eyes had darkened with anger. She picked up her biscotti and broke it in two with a cracking sound. “Why are you still with that creep, Maya? You could do so much better.”

  Maya sighed. “Can we focus on the main issue?”

  With a snort, Carly bit into half of her biscotti. “Fine. What’s the problem?”

  “What do you mean, what’s the problem? Any day now, Roarke’s going to want to have sex.”

  Carly leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Go for it.”

  “Huh?”

  “It’s your last chance for a fling.” Her mouth twisted. “Your precious fiancé even sanctioned it.”

  “It isn’t right…”

  “Maya, I can see you’re hot for this guy.”

  Maya broke eye contact by picking up the Carrot Delight and taking a tentative sip. “Ugh. It tastes like cold vegetable soup.”

  “You’ll get used to it.” Carly waved her hand. “Don’t change the subject.”

  “Okay, I’m attracted to him.” Maya’s face turned crimson, and she lowered her voice. “I have this fantasy of him just pinning me to the wall and taking me. I don’t have a chance to protest or talk him out of it.”

  She closed her eyes and waited for her sister to castigate her. Her eyes popped open when Carly laughed. “Why are you laughing? I’m dreaming of being raped, and you think it’s funny?”

  Carly shook her head. “First off, it isn’t rape. You just want him to take control. It’s not like you wouldn’t participate if he did pin you to the wall.”

  Maya nodded reluctantly. It was no more than the truth.

  “And it’s so obvious why you want him to be in control.”

  “It is?”

  She nodded. “Yep. If Roarke pushes the issue, you get what you want, but you don’t have to feel guilty for betraying Bobby.”

  Maya slammed back against her chair and her head spun. She felt as if her sister had physically hit her with the truth. “My God. You’re absolutely right.” She ached for Roarke, but her persistent loyalty to Bobby wouldn’t allow her to act on those thoughts. She had to believe he forced her or swayed her judgment before she could let it happen. Otherwise… “I’m a slut.”

  Carly touched her hand. “You’re a normal girl who has never had a decent lover.”

  “Bobby…”

  “Sucks. You told me yourself that he doesn’t do it for you.”

  Maya curled her arms around her torso. “I didn’t say it like that.”

  Rolling her eyes, Carly said
, “I can read between the lines. So, admit you want him, and you can have him. He’ll dispense with the seduction and just fuck you until you can’t stand up.”

  “Carly. Where did you get such a foul mouth?”

  “Girls’ locker room after softball practice.” She was nonchalant.

  “I can’t do that to Bobby.”

  “He’s giving you permission. You started out playing this game for him, but don’t you think you should get something out of it?”

  Maya nibbled on her lip. “Well.”

  “Of course you should.”

  She squirmed at the thought of blatantly asking Roarke to make love to her. “I can’t tell him I want him so bluntly.”

  A wicked grin encompassed Carly’s face. “Play him for a while.”

  “Huh?”

  “Turn the tables on Roarke. Start seducing him. Wriggle your bottom, touch him for no reason, flutter your lashes at him, and dress like a ‘ho.’ It works every time.”

  Maya snickered. “Like you would know, Miss Cocktease. You’re the eternal virgin.”

  “Hey. I’m only eighteen.” A strange smile flashed across her face. “And I’m not a virgin anymore.”

  “What? When?”

  “There’s a TA at the college…”

  “You don’t go to college.”

  Carly sighed deeply. “I’m trying to tell you what happened, okay? Don’t interrupt.”

  “Sorry.”

  “I was registering for my fall classes when we met. He’s six years older than me, so he said he was too old to take me out.”

  “But you persisted?”

  Carly nodded. “I seduced him.” She lifted a shoulder. “Things are progressing.”

  “Do you love him?”

  Excitement replaced Carly’s world-weary expression. Her blue eyes shone, and her lips quivered. “Yeah. I think I do.”

  Maya laughed. “Why do we Langelles women always fall for older men? Dad’s nine years older than Mom.”

  Carly shrugged. “Bobby’s only a year older than you. It’s not really the same thing.”

  “O-of course not,” she stuttered out as her face got hot again. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  Carly snorted, but let it pass. “You going to finish that Carrot Delight?”

  “Hell no.” After shoving it across to her sister, Maya went to the counter to order a banana orange smoothie. For the first time since she had started playing Roarke’s game, she felt buoyant. She was already planning ways to implement her own rules into the game. He wouldn’t know what hit him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Gifts and a Revelation

  Friday, there was a knock at the door a little after eight in the morning. Maya heard no one stir, and Bobby continued to snore beside her. With a yawn, she rolled out of bed, fumbled on a robe, and padded on bare feet to the living room. Carly was curled in a ball on the foldout leather sofa, with a thin line of drool running down her cheek.

  Maya bit back a grin and peeked through the peephole. An impatient looking UPS man stood on the other side. She removed the security lock and eased open the door. “Hi.”

  “Good morning.” He glanced down at his board. “I have a delivery for Maya Lang, uh, less?”

  She winced at the mispronunciation. “I’m Maya Langelles.”

  “Sign here.”

  Maya took the board from him and signed her name in the electronic box. After she returned his reader, he lifted a large box from the hallway.

  “Who’s it from?” Maya tried to get a glimpse of the corner, but he held it too high for her to see.

  “I don’t know. Do you want me to set it down for you?”

  She smiled. “Please.” Once she had stepped aside, Maya led him to the kitchen table where he put it down. After he left the apartment, she took the shears from the wooden block and set to work on the box.

  Her sister came into the kitchen, still in her pajamas. “Whacha doing?” Carly’s yawn caused the words to be a bit garbled. She dropped into a chair. “Who’s that from?”

  Maya shrugged. “I don’t know. There’s no return address.”

  “Hmm.” Carly lifted a corner of the tape with her acrylic nail and pulled it off the box in one smooth motion.

  Between them, they had the large box opened in a few seconds. Maya frowned when she saw another, smaller box. She lifted it out and grunted at the unexpected weight.

  “Pretty.” Carly caressed the light pink and cream marbled box. “There’s a card.” She lifted the envelope from the box and slipped a nail inside to open it.

  Maya snatched it from her sister’s lean fingers. “Do you mind? It is for me.”

  Carly shrugged. “Fine.” She turned her attention to untying the ribbon on the pastel swirled box.

  The glue on the pink envelope resisted Maya, so she ripped the side. A thick cream card fell onto the table, and she lifted it.

  Pamper yourself.

  R

  “What does it say?” Carly abandoned the ribbon to snatch the card from Maya’s fingers. “Oooh. I wonder what he sent you?”

  Maya’s hands shook with excitement as she snipped the ribbon Carly hadn’t gotten to, and then lifted off the top of the box. “Wow.”

  Carly peered into the box. “What is all that?”

  Her movements were careful when she lifted out a wire basket filled with glass jars of varying sizes. “It’s bath oil, shampoo, and lotion.” Maya unscrewed the bath oil to sniff it and instantly recognized the scent. “He has this specially made.”

  “What else is in the box?”

  Maya laid the basket aside and lifted out a portable spa unit. “Oh, my God. I’ve been dying for one of these.”

  “I have to try that before we leave tomorrow.” Carly reached for the box to take it from her.

  Maya slapped at her hand lightly. “Wait your turn.”

  “There’s more.”

  “Yeah.” Next in the box was a satin black robe with midnight blue piping. The matching slippers invited her feet inside, and Maya slid them on. “Oh, these are amazing.”

  “Is that everything?”

  “Yes… No.” Maya pulled out a smaller box. “You want to open this?”

  Carly nodded and reached for it eagerly.

  Maya delved into the box once more and found only a card inside. When she held it up to the light, she saw it was actually a day-pass for Rendezvous Spa. The subtitle said ‘Where Lovers Come Together’.

  The pass was valid for Tuesday only, and she could arrive anytime after ten. “Look at this.”

  “Look at this,” Carly said at the same time.

  They both giggled as they looked up. Maya handed her the card after she took the hairbrush from her sister. The white bristles were softer than any she had ever touched, and Maya didn’t doubt the back and handle of the brush were real silver. Abstract swirls were etched into the brush, and her initials were engraved on the handle. Maya ran a finger across the M.I.L. “How did he know the initial for Isabelle?”

  Carly giggled. “I have no idea.”

  Something in her tone caused Maya to raise her head. “Did you…?”

  “I might have answered a few questions for him when he called here Wednesday night.”

  Maya shook her head. “He just happened to get through to you?”

  “No. Roarke said he had to hang up three times before because Mom answered.”

  “Oh.” She and Dad had gone to pick up dinner on Wednesday night. They had left Mom and Carly—who claimed to be too tired from shopping to move—at the apartment. Bobby, as usual, had worked late. What would Roarke have done if she had answered the phone? Or if Bobby had?

  “So, it looks like you’ve got a date with him for Tuesday.” Carly tapped a peach nail against the thick spa pass.

  Maya sank into a chair and wriggled her toes in the satin slippers. She felt decadent. “I’m not sure I can go through with what we talked about.”

  “Sure you can.”

 
She bit her lip. “I can’t get past what I’ll be doing to Bobby.”

  Carly sighed. “He’ll never know the details. It’s not like you’re going to tell him if you enjoy fucking Roarke.”

  “But I’ll know. How can I pretend like I don’t or ignore what I’ve done?”

  Carly’s eyes wrinkled, and she fidgeted. “You know I don’t like Bobby, right?”

  Maya’s eyebrow raised by itself. “Well, duh. None of you have ever bothered to keep the animosity under wraps.”

  “But you don’t know why I hate him.”

  “Hate?”

  Shrugging, Carly began putting the items back in the box. “When I was a freshmen, a lot of people were mean to me since I was so fat.”

  “You weren’t fat. You just hadn’t outgrown it all yet.”

  With a snort, Carly said, “I was fat, but that’s not important to the story.”

  “Okay.”

  “Some of the boys used to tease me by asking me out. I was no fool. I knew it was a big joke, so I ignored them.” Carly’s eyes dropped to the table. “A few took their games a step farther. They would touch me.”

  Maya frowned. “Touch you?”

  “My boobs, mostly. They were a lot bigger then.”

  “I’m so sorry, Carly. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “It was your senior year. You were busy with your own stuff.”

  “I would have done something.”

  Carly’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “What could you do?” She swallowed. “Besides, it was the impetus I needed to make changes.”

  “What does this have to do with Bobby?” Maya’s stomach clenched with dread.

  “He was one of those guys.”

  “Bobby used to touch your breasts?”

  Carly looked ill. “That wasn’t enough for him. When I stopped crying and trying to get them to leave me alone, most of the guys lost interest in their cruelty. Not Bobby.” Her mouth twisted. “One night at a football game…” She blinked. “I even remember which one. The Serpents were beating the Eagles fourteen to two. You were cheering and everyone loved you.”

  Maya shifted in her seat. “That’s not true.”