Page 24

Chapter twenty-four

Maddox

H is gamer tag flashes in my messages.

Level-Up-Dom

Hey, dollface, do you feel like playing?

HexXdoll

Play? With you, always.

I can’t help myself. After our hook up, I’ve craved more of him nonstop, but I’ve come to terms with the idea that he’s a hit-it-and-quit-it guy who fed me a bullshit hustle so I felt special. I fell for it hard—hook, line, and sinker—like a dumbass. My poor vibrator didn’t stand a chance. I broke it the first week I spent trying to get over him. All of this should make me want to block him, but wanting what I can’t have makes it harder to resist... I still have time to figure out how to convince Colt to fall in love with Maddox and HexXdoll.

Level-Up-Dom

You sure know how to make a guy feel special.

HexXdoll

I can make you feel more than special.

Level-Up-Dom

I’m clearly in over my head.

HexXdoll

Sir, I can assure you, you’re very much in over your head.

Level-Up-Dom

Is there any hope of a redemption arc for me?

HexXdoll

Negative.

My hands tremble as I wait for his reply. I desperately want him to fall for me, but his walls are built so high they’re impenetrable. When we met at the masquerade, he was accessible—controlled, intentional, unafraid to take what he wanted from me. Online, he’s distant, elusive, and every time he lets his mask slip, he yanks it right back into place.

There’s still no reply. It’s been a few minutes of nothing but the loading dots float across the screen, telling me he’s typing.

HexXdoll

I’m sorry. Did I shatter your hopes and dreams? Are we going to play or what? Send me a link or don’t, I guess.

Level-Up-Dom

Yeah. Sorry about that. I had an important phone call. Here’s a link.

Whack! My hand slams down on my desk. Motherfucker. I’m tired of his hot-and-cold bullshit. He’s really going to tap out like that? For fuck’s sake, I’m one step away from body-napping him, dragging him to the basement, and tying him up for keeps until he figures his shit out. Callie wants us to try going back to the bar again to confront him, but they both know about my body-napping plan and agree getting that close might trigger me to act. Neither of them wants to be my accomplice, especially now that we highly suspect he’s part of the mafia. Sam floated the idea that maybe it’s time to move on, and it’s times like this—when he’s being wishy-washy as fuck—that I’m tempted to listen.

We went back to the bar once, right after the masquerade. I thought seeing him there would be magical, but he wasn’t at the bar. Neither was the pretty girl he was talking to that night. Obviously, he’s avoiding me. Why else would he skip out on trivia night? He’s never missed a Thursday before, and I’m a girl who can take a hint. Even though we made it to the final three, we decided to forfeit our spot in the showdown and haven’t stepped foot in the bar since.

I sigh a long, drawn-out breath, bringing me back to the present. The game has finally loaded. We play for a few hours. If this is as close as I can get to being with him, I’ll take it. but it doesn’t stop me from wanting so much more. The basement wouldn’t have to be his forever home.

Level-Up-Dom

I think that was my last round. It’s pretty late… or early. At least here it is.

HexXdoll

It’s late—or early—here too. Maybe, I’m not that far from you.

Level-Up-Dom

That’s right. I have to lie to myself so I don’t do something I might regret.

HexXdoll

And what’s something you might regret?

Level-Up-Dom

Meeting you and ruining all of this.

HexXdoll

Maybe you should stop lying to yourself. I won’t bite unless you ask me to. Meeting me might not be so bad. You might like what you see.

Fuck. A hint I instantly regret sending. What am I doing? There’s no way I’m confessing now, not when I’m convinced he’s not interested in the real-life Maddox.

Level-Up-Dom

Dollface, I don’t doubt you’re fucking stunning. It’s just hard for me to meet people.

HexXdoll

That’s what you keep saying. Just think about it when you fall asleep alone tonight. Focus on how empty and lonely your bed is. Maybe meeting people won’t be so scary for you.

Level-Up-Dom

Temptress, I’m not afraid of meeting people. I’m afraid of meeting you.

HexXdoll

Temptress. That’s a new one. Say it again. I like it.

Level-Up-Dom

Good night, temptress.

HexXdoll

Good night, scaredy-cat.