Page 32 of Let the Game Begin

“What the hell is your problem?” She stared me down. She was pretending to be mad at me, but I knew full well that my attentions did not displease her.

They never displeased any woman.

“I have this one in particular…” I grabbed her wrist and pushed her back against the doorframe. “Between my legs.” I spread myself over her like a blanket and heard her small, surprised gasp when I pressed my pelvis against hers.

I adored her innocence. She was just a girl, ignorant of the world’s dangers.

“Is there no one else available to resolve your…problem?” she asked challengingly, but she didn’t move away. We remained pressed against each other, our skin separated only by a few layers of clothing.

“I know of several available people, but the usual gets so boring. More difficult challenges, however, get me going.” I stressed the last few words, and just to really clarify the concept, I pushed my hips forward to make her feel every bit of my desire for her. From her burning face, I deduced that I had done this quite thoroughly.

“Stop it; someone could see us.” She shoved me roughly away, and I burst into laughter at her delayed reaction. The contact between us had made her feel all the same things I did; I was sure of it.

I backed away and Selene ran off, taking all her embarrassment and her innocence with her. I hoped she’d never stop being herself—genuine in everything she did. It was what set her apart from all the rest.

Once the Tigress had vanished down the stairs, I checked my watch andsaw what time it was. I hurried to my room and grabbed my car keys before heading back downstairs. Before I got to the front door, I spotted Selene asking Anna about Logan. She probably needed a ride to school, but my brother had gone out the previous night and hadn’t yet returned. So luck was on my side today.

“Great, so I’m getting there on foot. I’ll have to catch the bus,” she groused before telling Anna goodbye. Then she turned, spotted me, and tried to pretend she hadn’t, but her shimmery eyes were drawn like a magnet to my smug smile.

“What are you grinning about?” she snapped at me, and I found it absolutely hilarious.

“Want a lift?” I offered kindly. Selene shot me a suspicious look. Maybe she had realized that unmotivated kindness wasn’t something I possessed?

“Thanks, but no.” Her rejection was firm and came with a rude scowl. Surrender, however, wasn’t in my wheelhouse either.

“I won’t bite, Tinkerbell. Come on,” I murmured slyly and headed out the door toward my car. Selene didn’t answer me, but I heard her footsteps following along behind me. The sky had turned leaden, and it looked like rain.

I sat down behind the wheel and watched her settle herself in the passenger seat without saying a word. The interior of the car was instantly invaded by the smell of coconut. I tried to focus on driving, but my eyes kept getting pulled her way. I glanced furtively at her for the umpteenth time and caught her producing a sleepy little yawn.

“Didn’t get enough sleep?” I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel as we paused at a traffic light.

“Actually, I stayed in the living room, so no, I didn’t get very good sleep,” she grumbled irritably, watching the world outside through the window.

“Why?” I asked. I already knew why, but I liked messing with her.

“Because Jennifer was in your room, and I didn’t want to listen to her yowling,” she explained, just a hint of annoyance in her voice. It was then that I burst out laughing for real. Babygirl really was adorable.

“What’s so funny?” She cocked an eyebrow and gave me a side-eye.

“Nothing, I just think you’re genuinely funny.”

The green light appeared. I accelerated, returning my focus to the road.

“And I think you’re genuinely an asshole. It doesn’t matter a bit to you that our rooms are close together and that I can hear everything, does it?”

She was right—being generally inconsiderate was another of my many flaws. If I needed to fuck, I fucked. If I wanted to get loud, I got loud. Simple. I didn’t care about anyone’s complaints, least of all hers.

“Sex is relaxing; you should give it a try. Maybe when you’re sober,” I taunted her. It was a shame I couldn’t turn my head to watch her blush.

“I focus on other activities to relax, like reading or walking in the park. You could consider something like that, you know?” she responded, and I was reminded once again of just how different she was from the other girls I dated.

“You’re such a child,” I said, just to needle her.

“Excuse me?” She sounded surprised and perturbed.

“You’re still a girl,” I repeated, parking the car in front of campus. We had reached our destination.

“Just because I hadn’t had sex with anyone before…” She stopped herself and stared through the windshield at the students walking into the university. She struck me as pensive.