Page 94
Story: Game Over
I tense slightly. “I’m sorry?—”
“No,” she interrupts, placing her hand on mine. “I’ve been playing your game instead, but it’s different. More intense. Real.” She looks up at me, vulnerability and strength mingling in her eyes. “Maybe better.”
I brush my thumb across her knuckles, cataloging this moment. Another piece of her I never expected to possess.
Her expression shifts as she considers something, her brow furrowing.
“So what happens next?” she asks, fingers tracing idle patterns on my forearm.
The thought of her returning to that apartment sends a jolt through me. I’ve dismantled most of the surveillance equipment there, but not all.
“You could commute to work,” I say carefully, measuring each word. “From here to work and back.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Are you asking me to move in with you? Before we’ve even had our first official date?”
A teasing lilt in her voice makes warmth unfurl in my chest. This is new territory—the playful banter, the undefined boundaries. I’ve mapped out every scenario except where she willingly chooses to stay.
“I am.” I run my thumb across her lower lip. “Unconventional, I know. But when have we done anything by the book?”
She laughs, the sound light and genuine. “That’s putting it mildly.” Her fingers curl around mine. “Most couples meet on dating apps. We met because you stalked me and kidnapped me.”
“I prefer ‘aggressively pursued.’” I smirk, then grow serious. “You could keep your place as I was bluffing about clearing it out. Go there whenever you need space. But yes, I want you here.”
“Moving in together before our first date.” She shakes her head, but she’s smiling. “Only us.”
I pull her closer, drinking in the reality of her. “I’ve never been good at maintaining normal boundaries when it comes to you.”
I feel her body shift against mine, settling into my side as if she’s always belonged there. The weight of her, warm and real, makes something in my chest expand. I’ve mapped her body’s measurements down to the millimeter and planned for every possible outcome—except this one. Her willingness changes everything.
“I’ll need to get some things from my apartment,” she says, looking up at me. “Clothes, my gaming setup...”
“Of course.” I run my fingers through her hair, savoring the silky texture. “I can have everything brought here tomorrow.”
“I should probably get it myself,” she counters, a hint of steel in her voice. “I need to give notice to my landlord and explain to a few people... including Jenna.”
Jenna. Her friend. The variable I hadn’t fully accounted for.
“She’ll notice I’m gone,” Kira continues. “I can’t disappear without a word.”
I consider the possibilities, running scenarios through my mind. “She won’t approve.”
“No.” Kira’s laugh is soft but certain. “She definitely won’t.”
I tilt her chin up. “Will that change your mind?”
“No.” Her answer is immediate, unwavering. “This is my choice. My life.”
My fingers find the pulse point in her neck, feeling it quicken. “I don’t share well, Kira. Not even with best friends.”
“I’m not asking you to share.” She shifts, turning to face me fully. “But I won’t cut people out of my life. You can’t expect that.”
My instinct is to refuse. It’s what I’ve always done. The determined set of her jaw tells me this is non-negotiable.
“I’ll compromise,” I say finally. “You maintain your friendships, but our relationship—what happens between us—stays private.”
Relief softens her features. “Deal.”
I pull her closer, pressing my lips to her forehead. Her scent—sweet orange blossom soap—fills my senses.
“No,” she interrupts, placing her hand on mine. “I’ve been playing your game instead, but it’s different. More intense. Real.” She looks up at me, vulnerability and strength mingling in her eyes. “Maybe better.”
I brush my thumb across her knuckles, cataloging this moment. Another piece of her I never expected to possess.
Her expression shifts as she considers something, her brow furrowing.
“So what happens next?” she asks, fingers tracing idle patterns on my forearm.
The thought of her returning to that apartment sends a jolt through me. I’ve dismantled most of the surveillance equipment there, but not all.
“You could commute to work,” I say carefully, measuring each word. “From here to work and back.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Are you asking me to move in with you? Before we’ve even had our first official date?”
A teasing lilt in her voice makes warmth unfurl in my chest. This is new territory—the playful banter, the undefined boundaries. I’ve mapped out every scenario except where she willingly chooses to stay.
“I am.” I run my thumb across her lower lip. “Unconventional, I know. But when have we done anything by the book?”
She laughs, the sound light and genuine. “That’s putting it mildly.” Her fingers curl around mine. “Most couples meet on dating apps. We met because you stalked me and kidnapped me.”
“I prefer ‘aggressively pursued.’” I smirk, then grow serious. “You could keep your place as I was bluffing about clearing it out. Go there whenever you need space. But yes, I want you here.”
“Moving in together before our first date.” She shakes her head, but she’s smiling. “Only us.”
I pull her closer, drinking in the reality of her. “I’ve never been good at maintaining normal boundaries when it comes to you.”
I feel her body shift against mine, settling into my side as if she’s always belonged there. The weight of her, warm and real, makes something in my chest expand. I’ve mapped her body’s measurements down to the millimeter and planned for every possible outcome—except this one. Her willingness changes everything.
“I’ll need to get some things from my apartment,” she says, looking up at me. “Clothes, my gaming setup...”
“Of course.” I run my fingers through her hair, savoring the silky texture. “I can have everything brought here tomorrow.”
“I should probably get it myself,” she counters, a hint of steel in her voice. “I need to give notice to my landlord and explain to a few people... including Jenna.”
Jenna. Her friend. The variable I hadn’t fully accounted for.
“She’ll notice I’m gone,” Kira continues. “I can’t disappear without a word.”
I consider the possibilities, running scenarios through my mind. “She won’t approve.”
“No.” Kira’s laugh is soft but certain. “She definitely won’t.”
I tilt her chin up. “Will that change your mind?”
“No.” Her answer is immediate, unwavering. “This is my choice. My life.”
My fingers find the pulse point in her neck, feeling it quicken. “I don’t share well, Kira. Not even with best friends.”
“I’m not asking you to share.” She shifts, turning to face me fully. “But I won’t cut people out of my life. You can’t expect that.”
My instinct is to refuse. It’s what I’ve always done. The determined set of her jaw tells me this is non-negotiable.
“I’ll compromise,” I say finally. “You maintain your friendships, but our relationship—what happens between us—stays private.”
Relief softens her features. “Deal.”
I pull her closer, pressing my lips to her forehead. Her scent—sweet orange blossom soap—fills my senses.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110