Playing Passion's Game (14 page)

“I’m beginning to realize just how much this world means to you and the others who play in it. I’m glad you’ve chosen to share all this with me. I want to get to know you, Trent, all of you. Because you are the most fascinating woman I have ever come across, with or without a game in your hands.”

“I could just be a big kid with a room full of toys.”

“No, you’re a grown woman with exceptional skill at playing these games. That requires dedication and I admire that. You forget I’ve seen you in action. You’re amazing.”

“So if I missed a meal or two because I was trying to finish a level, it wouldn’t annoy you? What if I didn’t come to bed for hours because I was playing online with a few buddies? Are you saying you wouldn’t get mad?”

Juliet sat back and gave her such a long, considering look it made Trent’s face flush as the silence lengthened. “Are you trying to use your game playing as an excuse for us not to get involved?”

Trent’s mouth opened, but no words came out. She finally had the grace to look sheepish. “I guess I am.”

“At the moment, I work long hours in an office, can be called in at any moment because of some crisis or another that they feel needs my hand directly on it to put it right. Would you be able to understand my dedication to that?” Trent mulled this over. Juliet enjoying Trent being so unaware of the transparency of her expressions that she could almost read what was going through her mind.

“I understand what you’re saying,” she finally replied.

“How many women have told you to put down the controllers and just play with them instead?”

“What relationships I have had haven’t lasted that long for it to be a problem. I don’t usually meet someone who wants more than a quick fuck at a games convention.”

“You score girls at tournaments?” Juliet voice rose and she cursed the fact that her jealousy rose another notch at the thought of other women touching Trent.

“I did when I was much younger. I don’t bother now.” She ran an agitated hand through her hair. “I got tired of being worth nothing more than a quick fumble. I didn’t want to be the notch on a gaming groupie’s belt.”

“Gamers have
groupies
?”

Trent raised her hands behind her head to lean back in her seat with a seriously smug grin. “What can I say? In some circles we’re superstars.”

Juliet narrowed her eyes at Trent’s amusement. “So these bimbos you’d ‘service,’ they never touched you in return?”

Trent flipped a thumb in the direction of her bedroom. “Hence the extensive DVD collection for my own amusement.” The humor slipped from her face. “I have the reputation of being stone butch, which I’m not, but it stuck. My looks don’t exactly help, and I guess I got disillusioned early on in my pathetic sex life when I realized not everyone likes to give as much as receive.”

“I’ve known some die-hard stone butches, Trent, and believe me, you’re nothing like them. The posturing, the aggressiveness, the unwillingness to be touched, that’s not you at all.” Juliet moved forward on the sofa and touched Trent’s knee. “I love how you melt in my arms when I kiss you, how you react to my touch. You were meant to be held and touched and loved just like any woman.” Juliet moved again, this time to straddle Trent’s lap. Trent’s hands immediately clasped Juliet’s hips as she settled onto her. “You’re letting out your fears, Trent, one by one for me to see. I’m not going to be turned away or off by them.” Juliet pressed her lips to Trent’s forehead and a shudder ran through the body underneath her. “You’ve opened your secret places to me.” She let her lips trail soft kisses toward Trent’s ear. “Now, let me in.”

Juliet’s kiss was fierce and Trent instantly returned it with twice as much passion. She groaned loudly as Juliet’s tongue pushed past her lips and began to tease her. Tightening her hands on Juliet’s hips, Trent managed to keep her anchored as she leaned forward to ravish Trent’s mouth.

“God, you’re so hot,” Juliet murmured, kissing a line along Trent’s jawline and nipping at her skin before returning for another kiss. Her hands slid over Trent’s T-shirt, working under the sleeves and gripping the muscles there.

Trent’s hands wound their way under Juliet’s shirt and explored her naked back. She scored her nails softly on Juliet’s flesh and Trent thrilled at the way Juliet arched into her touch. She ran her fingertips up Juliet’s spine and complained at the separation of Juliet’s lips from hers when Juliet had to pull back to gasp for air. Whatever words Trent was about to utter died in her throat as Juliet sat back and begin to unbutton her shirt. Her heart raced as the material was tossed to the floor with little concern.

“You’re so gorgeous,” Trent said with a rasp. Her fingers found the soft skin of Juliet’s stomach to touch and trace patterns upon it. Her breath stopped when Juliet reached behind her to unfasten her bra. “Fuck,” Trent mumbled when Juliet’s ample breasts were released. “They’re more beautiful than I even imagined.”

Juliet threw the scrap of clothing on top of her shirt. She leaned closer into Trent. “You’ve been imagining my breasts, have you?”

“Every damn minute I could get,” Trent said, reaching up to hold them in her palms and brush her thumbs gently over the rigid tips. She kissed each breast reverently, trying to keep her desire in check for fear she’d hurt Juliet if she let loose what she was feeling.

“I won’t break if you touch me, Trent,” Juliet whispered. She took Trent’s hands and pressed them tighter to her body. Trent’s whole body trembled in reaction. She already knew her hands were shaking. She savored the feel of flesh spilling over her palms. She sucked a nipple into her mouth, running her tongue around the hard knot. Then she licked the areola and marveled at how tight the skin raised and was pressed more fully into her mouth as Juliet crowded even closer.

“Your mouth feels wonderful. Suck me harder.”

Trent swiped her tongue over and over the pebbled skin, at first sucking, then flicking, enjoying every sound that came from Juliet’s lips. Turning equal attention to the other breast, Trent repeated her ministrations and relished the fact Juliet began to rock on her lap.

“You’re driving me crazy,” Juliet said. When her breathing began to get more ragged, Juliet pulled Trent away and kissed her hard.

Trent began tugging at Juliet’s shorts, anxious to reveal more flesh.

Juliet wagged a finger at her. “Not before you get naked too.” She tugged at Trent’s T-shirt, so Trent quickly dragged it off. Juliet’s hands were instantly all over her arms and shoulders.

“You’re so powerful. I love your muscles.” She put her mouth on Trent’s shoulder and bit down gently. It ricocheted straight to Trent’s clitoris, and she released a long, shaky moan. Juliet pulled at Trent’s bra but ended up just tugging it down so that Trent’s chest was bare.

Trent knew she was nowhere near as endowed as Juliet was, but by the look in Juliet’s eyes, it didn’t matter. Not as cautious as Trent had been, Juliet swiftly rubbed Trent’s nipples to hard points with the palms of her hands.

“You need to stop. I’ll be coming in my shorts if you keep that up,” Trent panted.

“No problem, lover, we won’t be stopping at just one tonight.” She gently pinched Trent’s nipples, forcing her to close her eyes as the pleasure ignited deep within her belly. Trent dragged Juliet down for another kiss, her mind fast losing track of where her hands were while Juliet’s roamed over her skin with a vengeance.

“Slow down, please,” Trent said. “You’re going to give me a freakin’ heart attack!” Trent stilled the hands caressing her breasts to distraction.

Kissing her gently, Juliet relented. “Okay, but don’t think I’m letting you off lightly.” She rose on her knees and popped the button on her shorts. The sound of her zipper being lowered was loud in the room. Trent was surprised she could hear it over the sound of her own sharp breaths. Juliet stood to divest herself of shorts and underwear, then settled back in Trent’s lap. Trent managed to catch a fleeting glimpse of pale hair framing the top of Juliet’s legs before Juliet was once again in her arms and their breasts were pressed together. Trent ran her hands over Juliet’s buttocks, squeezing the round cheeks, and then lifted Juliet higher into her lap. With Juliet’s legs spread wide open across her, Trent let her hands ease up the soft thighs and soon found where Juliet was wet and wanting. She touched gently and Juliet moaned in her arms.

“Do it,” she whispered against Trent’s mouth.

Trent circled her fingers through the rich moisture covering Juliet’s lower lips. She explored the soft, puffy flesh, gathering moisture as she slid her fingers around, learning the contours of Juliet’s sex. She brushed gently at the hood covering Juliet’s clitoris and delighted in the gasp it drew from Juliet and the way her hips pressed forward for more. Trent spread a line of kisses along Juliet’s jaw, down her neck, licking at the beating pulse point. She pushed Juliet upright, all the time keeping her fingers roaming between her legs. Trent’s own body throbbed in unison. She could feel her clitoris rubbing against the seam of her shorts, and every move Juliet made tightened the fabric and only served to increase the ache.

“You are so sexy.” Trent was filled with desire. She withdrew her hand and brought it to her lips to savor Juliet’s arousal. Juliet shivered and grabbed to push Trent’s hand back where she needed it. Resisting, Trent licked at her fingers, watching the flush of red cover Juliet’s breasts as she witnessed the act. Juliet’s eyes darkened when Trent returned her fingers to the source. “I told you, you were worth more than a quick fuck, but I don’t think I can wait any longer to have you.” In one swift movement, Trent slipped a finger inside her, and Juliet’s back bowed. “Fuck, you’re tight.” Trent growled and grabbed for a swaying nipple. She caught the red tip between her teeth and sucked on it. Juliet’s hips began to buck in earnest as Trent’s thrusts deepened.

“More,” Juliet said.

Trent inserted two fingers, and Juliet’s resulting keening cry was the sexiest thing Trent had ever heard. Her own sex clenched in sympathy. Trent had never been so turned on by touching another woman. Nothing came close to how she felt now with Juliet in her arms and her fingers pressing inside Juliet’s body. Juliet’s pleasure was Trent’s, and this time, Trent could feel everything; it wasn’t one-sided. She pressed in harder and was rewarded with a rush of moisture. Juliet grabbed for her shoulders, and the sharpness of her nails was a pleasant sting. Looking up from Juliet’s breast, feasting on her flesh, Trent could feel Juliet’s warm walls welcoming her deeper inside. She pressed her thumb to the exposed head of Juliet’s clitoris and rubbed. Juliet’s body jerked in her arms.

“Oh God!” she yelped and pumped erratically against Trent’s fingers.

Trent rubbed harder still and Juliet’s head fell back. She pumped faster, closed her teeth around Juliet’s right nipple, and bit down gently. The answering scream was enough incentive for Trent not to stop. She curled her fingers inside Juliet and rubbed at her secret spot. Juliet cried out Trent’s name in a strangled sob and came hard, her body jerking in Trent’s lap, drawing out every last shudder as the orgasm raced through her body. Trent gathered Juliet close when she slumped forward, spent. It was a new experience for Trent to cuddle after sex. Nuzzling into Juliet’s hair, she decided she liked it and couldn’t help relishing the fact.

“Good God,” Juliet said shakily, her face buried in Trent’s neck. “I’ve never come so hard in my life.”

Trent was glad Juliet couldn’t see how smug she was feeling.

“You are amazing.” Juliet sighed and tried to sit back up, shuddering with a long, drawn-out moan as Trent’s fingers slipped from inside her.

Trent took her time taking in every freckle and mark visible on Juliet’s skin, committing them to memory. Juliet sat upright and Trent licked her lips at the glorious sight she was afforded.

“Your eyes just went an incredibly dark chocolate color.”

“I want to watch you come again, only this time using just my tongue to set you off.”

Juliet shivered and gave Trent a smile that melted her heart. “You’re too damn good for me,” she said softly, touching Trent’s cheek reverently.

“I think that’s my line, Jule.”

“No, you’re perfect for me. You know exactly how to touch me and leave me desperate for more.”

“My thoughts exactly.” She reached for Juliet again. Trent was puzzled when Juliet evaded her grasp.

“No.” Juliet slipped from Trent’s lap slowly and sensuously to rest on the floor between Trent’s knees. She pushed Trent’s legs apart. “Now it’s your turn.” Her hands began to run playfully up Trent’s legs to the edge of her shorts.

Trent swallowed audibly. Her head was filled with the sound of her heart beating out a nervous rhythm so loud it was almost deafening. She was certain she could hear music too. From the look on Juliet’s face, she could hear it as well and was less than pleased.

“Damn it, that’s my cell.”

“Leave it,” Trent said gruffly, her body tight and desperate for its first touch in years from someone other than herself.

The music stopped. Juliet’s lips curved into a sensual smile. “I want you so bad.”

Trent was still as Juliet’s hands slipped over her shorts and aimed higher. She moaned deep in her throat as the sound of the cell phone began again. Juliet grumbled under her breath and reached for the pocket of her shorts to draw the offending phone out. She flipped it open to see who was calling.

“If this is Monica, I’ll kill her slowly and painfully.” She looked at the screen and frowned. Juliet’s eyes lifted to Trent’s. “It’s my boss.”

Trent’s nerves were stretched to their limit, but she nodded anyway. “Answer it.”

Juliet’s frowned deepened. “Why would they be calling me at this time of night and on a weekend too?”

“To screw with me so
you
can’t,” Trent said and listened in as Juliet took the call. The play of emotions that raced over Juliet’s face told Trent it wasn’t good news.

“I understand the need for urgency, but can anything really be accomplished at this time of night?” Juliet listened to the voice on the other end of the phone and made a face. “I see. We need to rally the backers before the stock markets get wind of anything.” She rolled her eyes expressively. “Yes, sir, yes. I’ll be there shortly.” Juliet slammed the phone shut and flung it back on her shorts. “This is why gardening seems so much better as a career choice.”

“Problems?” Trent feared the worst by Juliet’s reaction.

“One of our foreign partners has just declared bankruptcy, throwing bankers into a tailspin and my offices into a state of extreme panic. They want me to go in to do damage control before the news hits the wires and the rest of the banking community gets wind of our shit hitting the fan.”

Trent could still feel Juliet’s wetness on her hand, could taste her on her lips. “You have to go
now
?” For the first time in years, Trent didn’t want a woman to leave.

Juliet rested her hands on Trent’s spread knees. “Believe me, I don’t want to. I want to take your clothes off and climb inside you as deep as you were in me until you scream my name.”

Trent clenched her hands as she tried to keep from reaching out to grab Juliet to her. Her insides had melted, her shorts were soaked from just having Juliet come in her arms. Trent was curiously lost. She was unable to move from her chair for fear her legs wouldn’t be able to hold her up. Juliet reluctantly began to get dressed. As she buttoned up her shirt with jerky movements, Trent managed to get to her feet, pull up her bra, and scramble for her T-shirt. She brushed Juliet’s hands away from where she was fastening everything wrong and completed the task for her. Juliet looked up at Trent. Her eyes were shiny with tears.

“Jule?”

“I don’t want to go,” Juliet said, wrapping her arms around Trent’s waist and holding on tight.

“I don’t want you to either.”

“I hate my job.”

At this moment, I do too
. Trent took Juliet’s hand and led her from the game room. Juliet pulled her to a stop at the top of the stairs.

“Thank you for sharing your room with me,” she said sweetly, reaching up to kiss Trent gently.

“I’d say it’s well and truly christened now.” Trent ran her fingers together, the slight stickiness of Juliet’s passion remained, and Trent was loath to lose it.

“I’ll phone you tomorrow, I promise. Just as soon as I know what’s happening.” Juliet hastened down the stairs.

“Guess Monica will be gardening on her own.” Trent couldn’t stop the disappointment in her voice and she winced at how pathetic she sounded even to herself. Trent reached to open the front door and was startled when Juliet pushed her against it and pulled at her to deliver a kiss so sweet and passionate it made Trent’s knees buckle.

“My decision was made a while ago concerning the question you asked me earlier.” Juliet let Trent go but didn’t release her gaze. “You’re more than worth it.”

Juliet left the house and ran down the path toward her car. Trent closed the door behind her. She ran her hand down her chest, feeling the swell of arousal still thrumming through her. She set the house alarm and wandered back upstairs in the direction of the game room. It looked oddly undisturbed by what had just transpired in there. “I’ve just lived every gamer geek’s dream. A hot blonde naked in my lap while I took her in my gaming chair.” She hovered in the room for a moment trying to decide what to do next. She was restless, agitated, too turned on to try to distract herself with a game.

She turned off the light, locked the door up out of habit, and walked the few steps into her bedroom. She lay on her bed with a loud sigh and rested her hand over her eyes. Trent was instantly assailed by the scent Juliet had left on her flesh. She breathed it in deep and an answering tug sparked low in her belly. She slipped her hand down to her crotch. She knew a few good tugs would be all she needed to rid herself of the ache pounding through her clitoris. Surprisingly, Trent didn’t want it to be quieted by the touch of her own hand. Only Juliet’s touch would truly satisfy this need. She rested her hands on her stomach and stared at the ceiling. For the first time, she hadn’t been the one to fuck and walk away. She’d been the one left behind, leaving Trent very alone. She lazily lifted her hand to her face and breathed in again the lingering scent of Juliet. Her stomach clenched in reaction. “I’ve got a girl who has me take her in my game room and then she leaves me high and dry.” She shifted her legs uncomfortably. “Or not so dry.” She ran her tongue over her lips. “I can taste her.”