The Game Series (6 page)

I wake up and shake my head at myself. Yesterday runs through my mind on fast-forward, and I remember – I have a girlfriend. Fuck. That's weird.

And then there was Kyle. The guy has a real stick up his ass about me being with Maddie – and not that I blame him, if I was him, I probably would too. I know what half the people at the party last night were thinking. They were wondering why Maddie is so different from the others and what's so special about her. The girls were cursing her for taking what they wanted, and the guys were slinking back into their dark corners, their chances at seducing her shot to hell.

Well, fuck them all.

“Well?” Ryan opens my door.

“Don't bother knocking,” I say sarcastically, putting my phone down. “I love it when assholes barge in on me.”

“Uh, yeah.” He raises an eyebrow and shuts the door, sitting on my desk chair. “What was that shit about?”

“I was about to kiss her. Seal the deal on this challenge then you fuckin' called me.”

“Shit, man. Sorry. If I'd have known-”

“You'd be damn psychic.” I laugh and sit up in bed. “Doesn't matter.”

“You sealed it then?”

“Last night after my caveman performance.”

“Caveman performance?” He snickers.

“Her words, man, her words.” I smirk and grab my phone, waving it in his direction. “Do you mind? I have to text my girlfriend.”

Ryan lets out a loud laugh and slaps his leg. “Fuck me, that's a good one. Did you just say girlfriend?”

“You deaf? Course I did.”

“Wait, you're serious?” He stops laughing.

“Dude, we're official. You should have known it wouldn't have taken me long to make it exclusive.” I waggle my little finger at him. “See this? She's wrapped right round it.”

“See this?” I waggle my little finger around the room. “He's wrapped right round it.”

“I don't doubt it,” Megan smirks. “I saw him go mental on Kyle, remember?”

Kay leans back on her bed, crossing her arms behind her head and sighing happily. “This shit is entertaining. And so fuckin' satisfying.”

“Satisfying?” Lila looks at her.

“Yeah. Braden Carter, Mr. Playboy himself is wrapped around little old Maddie's baby finger. He's like a fly in a spider's web.”

“Except I'm not gonna eat him for dinner,” I remind her. “I'm no cannibal.”

“Well.” She rolls over slightly and waggles her eyebrows. “You could always-”

“Stop,” Megan orders. She holds her hand up. “No further, Kayleigh. That is quite enough.”

“Filthy mind.” Lila giggles. I grin, and Megan pulls out the OPTP plan.

“So, we're a day ahead of schedule.” She runs a finger down it. “Good going, Mads. What's happening today? Are you seeing each other?”

“Uh, I'm not sure.” I smile sheepishly. “But I finally gave him my number.” Kay woots. “So he'll probably call or something.”

My phone chimes, and I reach for it.

“Speak of the devil,” Lila smirks.

Morning, Angel. Free today?

I look up from the message, shake my phone and grin. “Bingo.”

Slow, mischievous smiles break out on the three faces in front of me, and I know it's about to go down. Megan licks her lips.

“Don't text back yet.” She uncaps her pen. “After last night, Stage Two should be pretty easy. He went all protective on your pretty ass, and everyone at the frat party would have seen it, heard it, or heard of it.”

“No one will believe it, though,” Lila points out.

“Then whenever you're in public, you make sure you're touching, laughing, or kissing.” Kay sighs. “Not hard, guys. Jesus.”

Megan chucks the pen cap at her. “Attitude, Kayleigh.”

“Shut up.” Kay chucks it back.

“Kids.” I laugh. “What's the plan? I know one is coming.”

“It is.” Megan scribbles something, putting an exaggerated dot at the end. “You'll double date with Ryan and Lila one night this week.”

“What?” Lila and I say simultaneously.

“You'll double date with Ryan and Lila,” she repeats.

“What?”

“You. Will. Double. Date. With. Ryan. And. Lila,” Kay says slowly, pronouncing each word perfectly.

“I heard it the first time,” I say through clenched teeth. “No offence, Lila, but if there's anything worse than dating Braden Carter, its double dating with Ryan.”

“You're actually kinda lucky it's Ryan,” Lila muses. “He's a pain in the ass, but Aston is way worse.”

“This is true,” Kay agrees. “But Aston is one hot mofo.”

“I thought you preferred girls?”

“I do. Doesn't mean I don't like a bit of-”

“Okay!” I interrupt to Kay's laughter. “When is this date happening? I need to mentally prepare myself.”

“And text Bray back,” Megan replies.

“Oh, yeah.” I unlock my phone and look at the screen. “Um, what do I say?”

They all sigh. “What did he say?”

“Asked me what I was doing.”

“Then tell him you're free.”

“Okay.”

Morning :) nothing planned. You?

I press send and shrug. “Seems easy enough.”

I was hoping to see you. Maybe we could redo the coffee thing?
he replies.

I'm sure we can. Meet you there in a half hour?

See you then.

“I'm meeting him at Starbucks in a half hour,” I announce.

“I'm coming!” Megan caps the pen and grins.

“Doesn't that defy the date thing?” Lila raises an eyebrow.

“No.”

“How doesn't it?”

Megan sighs and rolls her eyes. “Me and Bray are like family, right? Everyone always thinks there's something between us – and there absolutely is not, like, ew – so by seeing the three of us together, everyone will know they're serious. They'll see that there's nothing between me and Bray, that there
is
between him and Mads, and that she accepts the closeness of our non-related brother-sister relationship, therefore solidifying the belief that Braden and Maddie are dating. Seriously dating.”

“But there's nothing between us.” Confusing. Remind me why I'm doing this again?

Because I hate everything he represents to females. And he's a good kisser.

And that's totally contradictory.

“You know that. I know that. Lila and Kay know that, but, Mads, Braden
doesn't
.” She straightens out her outfit.

“Neither does the rest of campus,” Kay finishes. “So, to the rest of the world, there is something between you.”

“Great.” I sigh. “You couldn't challenge me to something easy or fun, could you?” Because I absolutely did not have fun last night. Dammit.

“Never.” Lila taps a message out on her phone. “Everyone's going to the beach tonight. Another chance to spread the word that Braden Carter has been reeled in.”

Kay grins. “Spread the word? I'm on it.” She grabs her cell, and I shake my head.

“Shall we leave them to it, Megs?” I stand up and grab my stuff. “They look like they have it under control.”

Megan's light blue eyes sparkle. “Let's go.”

I hear Megan's laugh before I see her and Maddie round the corner. Company. Brilliant. I know what she's doing here. Meggy will give me the creepy silent 411 with her eyes-thing she does.

Ignoring my best friend of a lifetime, I focus on Maddie. If I was going to fake date someone, then fuck me, I chose a gem with her. Her figure is obvious even in a denim skirt and simple shirt - she's not skinny and she's not overly curvy. She has a perfect mixture of toned muscle and curve that has me itching to run my hands across every inch of her bare skin. That kiss last night didn't help matters. I felt that damn body against me.

Shaking off my x-rated thoughts, I grin at her when she stops in front of me. She smiles at me, and I bend down slowly, cupping her head and capturing her soft lips with mine. One of her hands rests on my waist to steady her, and the other grips the arm holding her. She responds to the kiss almost eagerly, and I'm in no hurry to pull away.

This girl can do crazy shit with her mouth on mine. I'm not gonna lie and say I don't want that mouth elsewhere on me, 'cause I do, but until that happens I could stand here and kiss her all damn day.

Megan coughs discreetly, and I reluctantly release Maddie.

“Good morning, Angel,” I say softly.

“Good morning.” She bites her top lip and looks up at me with those pretty little eyes.

“Good morning, Bray. I'd ask you how you are today, but you seem pretty damn good,” Megan says sarcastically.

“Good morning, Meggy.” I wrap my arm around Maddie. “I'm fine and dandy this morning. How are you?”

“Oh, you heard me then?” She rolls her eyes. Maddie smirks next to me.

I tug on her hair. “I'd have to be seriously hearing-impaired to
not
hear you.”

“That, or busy playing a serious game of tonsil tennis.” She opens the door to Starbucks and winks at me.

“No tonsils involved,” Maddie replies casually. “I haven't had my coffee yet. If he'd tried that, I would have bitten him.”

Maddie Stevens, biting me? Yes. Fucking. Please.

“Sounds promising,” I mutter. Megan elbows me.

“Pig.”

“You should know I'm a pig.” We approach the counter. “I don't know why you're surprised.”

“What can I get for you?” the barista says. I think it's the same one as the other day - and she's hot. Dark where Maddie is fiery and maybe a little more meat on her bones. Still, I'd give her one. Or two.

“I got this.” I wink at Maddie. “Two grande double chocolate chip fraps.”

“Impressive.” She looks up at me and smiles.

“I got it right?”

“Yes, but you forgot the muffins.”

I laugh and pull her a little closer to me. “And two blueberry muffins.”

“And I'll have a caramel frap with extra cream,” Meggy puts in. “He's paying.”

I shrug as if to say 'what can I do?' but I don't care. It's fucking coffee.

The barista bustles around making them and sets them on the counter, sticking her chest in my direction. Her name tag tells me she's Amanda. Like I care - her name is irrelevant.

I pick up a coffee and hand it to Maddie, training my eyes to ignore the way Amanda's boobs are popping out of her blouse. Shit, this exclusive shit is hard work. Maddie takes the coffee and curls right into my side, shooting Amanda a look. Oh yeah, the girl has it bad for me.

“He has a girlfriend, obviously.” Meggy picks up her cup. “Don't be so cheap.”

I smirk, and Maddie sputters on the mouthful of coffee she's just taken. I rub her back soothingly. “You okay, Maddie?”

“Fine,” she squeaks. “Just fine.”

Meggy smiles at Amanda and turns to the plush sofas in the far corner of the room. I lead Maddie over and slide in next to her, making sure my leg touches hers. She settles her coffee on the table and picks at her muffin the same way she did on Tuesday, popping small pieces between those lips of hers.

I'd love to be that muffin right now.

I watch, mesmerized by the way she licks her lips after every bite, her tongue flicking out daintily to wipe away the crumbs. I'd love to be those crumbs too.

“Braden?”

I turn to look at Meggy. “What?”

“I said, are you going to the beach party tonight?” A slow, knowing smile breaks out on her face. She caught me watching Maddie. Busted.

“Depends,” I answer, sliding my hand onto Maddie's thigh. Her skin is silky smooth, like marble. My dick stirs, and I instantly imagine those thighs wrapped around my waist.... My legs… My neck....

“On what?”

“If my girl is going.” My eyes meet hers, and I draw gentle circles on her bare skin. Fuck. I'm actually torturing myself.

“Lila said earlier that she
and Ryan are going. I don't mind,” she says. “It could be fun.”

“Then yes, I'm going,” I tell Meggy. Her lips purse into an amused smile, and I graze my teeth along my bottom lip. “What?”

“Nothing.” She relaxes back into her seat. “Nothing at all.”

Fucking liar.

The door opens, and I glance over. I glance again - and one of the girls is Blondie from last weekend. The one I blew off. This could be a little awkward.

She looks over at me and wiggles her fingers. “Hi, Braden!”

I see Maddie's eyes flick towards her, back to me, back to her. I know she's making the connection, and I know what she's thinking. Shit.

I take my hand from her thigh and link my fingers through hers, bringing her hand to my mouth and pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. She looks at me and her eyes are guarded, hardened, and definitely not showing the playful look she had in them earlier.

“Do you always ignore the girls you sleep with?” she asks quietly, looking at a spot on the wall behind me. Meggy gets up, mumbling something about needing the ladies room. Whatever.

“Maddie, I didn't sleep with her.” I tug her hand. “She tried, but I wasn't interested. Not after I saw you that night.”

At least that isn't a lie.

Her green eyes collide with mine. “I don't know whether to believe you or not. She looks like she knows you pretty well.”

“If she does it's because she spent the better part of twenty minutes rubbing her surgically enhanced body up against me while I watched you.”

She scoffs and shakes her head. “Wow. Is that a compliment or an insult?”

I don't think I'm supposed to answer that. Am I? Girls are fucking complicated.

“Believe me when I say I've only got eyes for you. I'm not interested in anyone else.” When we're alone. I turn her face towards mine gently and lean in. “Just you, Angel, okay? Not Blondie over there.”

I brush her lips with mine. This might be a game, but I could get used to kissing her.

She smiles against my mouth. “Blondie? Don't you even know her name?”

I pull away so our foreheads are touching. “No, like I said, I was too busy watching you to care if her name was Laura or fuckin' Popsicle.”

Maddie giggles and I grin.

“Okay,” she says softly. “I believe you.”

“Good,” I mutter and kiss her again, for longer this time.

That was a fucking close call.