Page 38 of The Elusive Billionaire

“There were consequences in my father’s house, so I never even took the games out to begin with. Once I moved in with Brax and Ace, I felt such relief, and…gratitude, that I vowed to always take care of my belongings.”

Silence cloaks the room with uncomfortable tension. Fuck. Once again, I’ve lost control of my mouth around her.

Fabric shifts behind me, and I imagine her moving even closer to me, so I drop my head inside the cabinet, desperately searching for another game.

An uncharacteristic snort escapes me as I lift the last remaining box.

“Twister.” Savvy laughs, and it’s a magical incantation that diffuses the tension of a moment ago. “That is not in your wheelhouse.”

My shoulders stiffen, and the unhealthy competitive streak I inherited from my father rears its ugly head as I lift the lid and quickly scan the contents. Of course this would be the one game with all its pieces.

“Who says?” I ask without facing her. I need to get a handle on my reactions and keep a cool head. After all, this is meant to be a distraction so she’ll eat the food that’s quickly getting cold.

“Oh, come on, Grey. You’re seriously telling me you’ve ever played Twister before? That would require you to remove your tie and, gasp, get on the floor.”

The fabric of my T-shirt feels tight around my biceps. When I glance down at the sleeve, I find I’m flexing, but not to show off.No, my muscles react this way because Savvy has the ability to get under my skin, causing my body to react as though it’s being attacked.

We played tons of games all the time with Sage growing up. He’s been my main priority for more than half my life, but there’s not a chance in hell I’ll tell her that.

“I’m not wearing a tie now.” My voice is ten octaves too low, but when her nipples pebble beneath her T-shirt at the sound, I bookmark the tone in my mind for future use.

“I’m surprised. You’re always wearing a tie.” Her gaze drops to my lips, and energy buzzes through my bloodstream.

One step, that’s all it takes for me to be in her sphere. “There’s a lot you can do with a tie, Monroe. Perhaps I just like having options.”

“You get a lot of girls willing to be tied up for your kinky fantasies?” Her mouth snaps shut with an audible clashing of teeth.

She doesn’t want to hear about other women any more than I want to hear about her with other men.

Before this can go off the rails, I give her a sliver of truth. “No, Monroe. That would open me up to a potential scandal. But just because I haven’t done it doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about it…” I allow myself to slowly scan the length of her figure, my cock responding with each inch discovered. “Perhaps I’ve just been waiting for the right person to trust with my…needs.”

Her gulp is loud in the quiet room. I might even be able to hear her heart beating. Or maybe that’s mine.

“You said this…” She attempts to wave her hand between us, but there’s not enough room. Her fingertips brush against my chest, and even my ass muscles clench at the contact. “Us. You said our physical relationship was over.”

Savvy’s lips spread into a knowing grin that has the hair on my forearms standing on end.

“You also waxed poetically about how much self-control you have.” Her confidence grows with each word that tumbles from her pillowy lips. “And what did you say? Oh, right, it’s over because you said it was over.”

The corner of the game box stabs into my palm as I clench my fingers around it, reminding me of my objective in the first place—distract her enough that she’ll eat something more than part of a piece of pasta.

“I didn’t say we were going to fuck, Monroe.”Who am I kidding?“I said we were going to play a game.”

She narrows her eyes and presses her body into mine. Minx. The contact short-circuits the pathways to my brain.

“What are the stakes?” Sultry seduction. That’s what she sounds like.

Hmm…there are so many ways this could go, and in my head, all of them end up with her having a full belly while naked and riding my cock.

Damn it. I should have kept my big mouth shut. Me and my goddamn self-control. Is throat-punching your past self a thing? If not, I’d like to start the movement now.

“If I win, you beg me to fuck you.” Well, shit. There goes my self-control and maybe a little of my pride.

Her hand falls to my shoulder as she holds herself up while laughing so hard tears slide down her cheek.

She’s a pain in my ass.

“And—” She gasps for air. “And if I win?”