Page 14 of Hot n Bothered

“ A gain.” He panted, determination in his face.

“Are you sure? That will be five times in a row? Can you do it again?” She was also out of breath but having too much fun to stop now.

“Try and stop me.” His grin was so wicked as he leaned over and slipped the coins in the machine. “I am not leaving here until I beat you at one fucking game.”

She pulled his hoodie off, tossing it on top of her bags at the base of the game.

“On a dance game? You do remember who my brother is right? We lived on these things.” She flashed him a grin. “Or did you miss all the A scores I was getting as you wallowed in your D’s.”

“My plan is to wear you out so you can’t move fast enough.” He shrugged. “If that fails I’ll just push you off.”

“So cheating. You admit the only way you can beat me is by cheating?” She mock gasped. “Just what will all the Hot n Bothered fans think of their sweet, honest Ben when they find out he’s a terrible villain?”

She laughed at the look he shot her as he flicked through the songs.

“Fine. I just want a B, is that too much to ask?”

Apparently it was.

She was doubled over laughing as he cried. “Oh come on!” At the screen that gave him a C score. He threw his hands up in the air. “That’s it. I quit.” He pointed at her. “I’m blaming you.”

“Me? How is it my fault you can’t follow arrows on a screen?”

He grinned, shooting an arm out, grabbing her round the waist pulling her to him.

“My girlfriend is too distracting. I can’t help but watch how gorgeous she is dancing, so I miss what’s on my screen.”

He pressed his lips to her neck and she tensed up waiting for the raspberry he would invariably blow.

“Wow, just wow.” He said. “That’s the face you pull when your boyfriend kisses your neck?”

She unscrunched her face. “I was expecting you to blow a raspberry on it. You usually do.”

He chuckled. “Well I just discovered a ticklish spot on the woman who always said she wasn’t ticklish.

Of course I’m going to hit that, revenge for all the years of abuse I got from you.

” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Now grab your bags, let’s find a game I can trounce your very fine arse at. ”

She rolled her eyes. “Firstly, not gonna happen you know I’m just as competitive as you.” She bent over to grab her things. “Secondly, stop saying things like that. I don’t need false compliments.”

“Not a false compliment Belle. That is a mighty fine arse. Believe me when I say it drives me wild.”

“Yeah, sure it does.” She said sarcastically.

She turned to find him staring at it. “Stop it.” She laughed slapping his chest.

“I can’t help it.” He teased, taking her hand. “Come on, I see something I want to do with you.”

“Is it the zombie shooting game I spy over there?”

He stopped, looking in the direction she was pointing.

“No. But that’ll be our next stop.”

Judging from his smile and how relaxed he now was, coming here was a brilliant idea of hers.

Going to the arcades had always been an escape for her and Darren.

When he’d first become friends with Ben at Uni, he’d still kept their arcade sessions to just the two of them.

Only inviting Ben when his group of friends grew after they’d graduated.

At first she’d been worried that she was the interloper and had hung back.

But Ben, Rich and Cat had pulled her into playing and chatting with them.

She had thought that he and Cat were dating, because why wouldn’t they?

After all Cat was stunningly beautiful and so nice to be around.

But then she’d brought Bianca into the group putting paid to those assumptions.

Isobelle soon discovered that both her and Ben had strong competitive streaks, so would often be the last two standing, especially on shooting games.

It had been far too long since they’d been to an arcade and at first she’d felt a little guilty being here without Darren. But seeing Ben all relaxed and excited like a big puppy dog helped her forget about that.

“Here we are.” He was beaming so widely she couldn’t help but return the smile until she saw what was behind him.

“Oh no. No way. You know how I feel about pictures of me.”

Not to mention those old fashioned photobooths were tiny. They made her look even bigger than she was and it wasn’t like you could retake the picture.

“Come on Belle, it’s what couples do. I need a bookmark so this will be perfect.”

Urgh, why was he so adorable when he made those big puppy dog eyes at her? He made it so difficult to say no to him.

“Please.”

He knew she was wavering as he pulled out his pout, he was killing her.

“I can get on my knees if you want.”

“Don’t you dare.” She said as he went to. “You know most people just buy a bookmark.” She grumbled. “If I look stiff and awkward, that’s on you.”

He grinned so widely as he spun the stool to its lowest setting.

“I’m not that tall.”

“I am.”

Ok now she was confused.

“So you’re taking pictures of yourself to use as a bookmark?” She frowned at him. “So why ask me if you can?”

“Do you know how adorable you look when you scrunch your nose up like that?” He dropped a kiss on it. “I asked because we’re having our pictures taken. Together.”

She snorted a laugh. “Ain’t no way we’re both fitting in there.”

“You can sit on my knee.”

“I’ll crush you.”

He rolled his eyes. “You didn’t before, so why do you keep saying that?”

“It won’t work.” She put her hands on her hips, giving him her best glare. But he just responded with that gorgeous grin of his.

“Sure it will.”

“Ben. It won’t.”

She was getting so frustrated, she was a hairs breadth away from stamping her foot. Urgh, why did he always make her feel this way when he argued with her?

“Not with that attitude. Come here.” He grabbed her round her waist, pulling her onto his lap as he sat.

Except his legs were that big he had to sit with them apart in order to fit. So not only did her arse fall between them, but she also bashed her head against the side of the machine.

“Fuck!” Ben scrabbled to catch her as she howled in pain.

“Ow!”

“Shit. Sorry, sorry, sorry.” His hands dug into her as he tried to lift her, moving her leg.

He ended up grabbing her arse and knocking her head again.

“Ow. Ben!”

“Lift your arse.” He grunted as her elbow dug into his stomach as she tried to right herself. “This is not working.”

“You think? Ow! For fuck’s sake Ben. Are you trying to give me concussion?”

“No! Fuck, shit. Hang on.”

The absurdity of it all hit her and she started laughing. And once she started, she couldn’t stop.

“Why are you laughing? Are you alright?”

“This is not how you saw this going is it?”

“They make it look so fucking easy in the shows and films.” He was now laughing.

“So romantic.” She gasped, laughing so hard tears were coming to her eyes. “Give up?”

He grimaced. “Never. We’re taking these damn pictures. Now hold your head.”

“What? Why?”

She clocked the determined look in his eye so wrapped her hands around her head. Not a moment too soon as he hefted her up so she was finally sat on his knee. Her hands protected her head from hitting the side and then the top of the tiny booth.

“Ow, Ben.” She was now looking slightly down at him.

“I said to hold your head.”

“I did. It’s my hands that now hurt.” She shook her throbbing hands, still laughing despite the pain.

“I’m sorry. Here.” He grunted as he tried to figure out how to move his hand from around her back. But it was trapped there because of the confined space.

“You’re going to have to get the money out of my pocket.” He frowned. “Seriously, why do they make it look so easy when it’s not?”

“You could always take your hand off my arse to get the money yourself. And it’s easy when you’re dating someone half my size.”

He grinned up at her wickedly. “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice where it was.” He sighed at her raised eyebrows. “Fine.” He muttered, but gave it a squeeze before pulling it free. “Hang on.” He jostled her as he pulled coins from his pocket.

“Oh my God Ben.” She laughed. “Just admit you want me concussed.”

“I’ll make it up to you I swear.” He pushed the coins in swearing as he dropped one.

“How? Ow!”

“Ah ha!” He crowed as he got the final one in and looked up to her as she rubbed her head. “Do you want me to kiss it better?”

“That’ll be a Hell of a lot of kisses.”

“I’m sure I can cope.” He winked at her making her laugh.

* FLASH *

“Fuck, it’s started. Ow!” She jerked in surprise, bashing her head again. “I hate you for doing this to me.”

“Stop scowling. I don’t want scowly pictures of you.”

“Yeah, well tough. Because I’m feeling scowly. No Ben stop!” She squealed as he blew a raspberry on her neck.

* FLASH *

She held his head between her hands as he grinned up at her.

“Stop it.”

“Say please sweetly.”

She rolled her eyes.

“If you don’t I’m going to do it again.”

“Please.” And she gave him her sweetest smile.

* FLASH *

“Goddammit. How many is that now? Can I get off you yet?”

“Big finish.”

He cupped the back of her head, pulling her down for a kiss. There was definitely some magic in his lips. Because she forgot about how uncomfortable she was. Forgot about her bruised head, forgot where they were even. She just melted against him, kissing him back.

She was dimly aware of a final flash followed by a series of loud whirring noises.

She was more aware of how tenderly he kissed her.

How his fingers were tangled in her hair.

How he tasted like the sherbet ice-cream he’d had before coming to the arcade.

And how his pulse was racing under her fingertips.