Page 18 of The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

“You need to leave.” Her body shook now, her eyes saying a million things she would never tell me.

“And why exactly would that be?” I leaned in, my lips ghosting over her jaw up to the corner of her mouth. She inhaled sharply.

“Jason, please, don’t do this…”

“You want me.”

“No.” It came out a shaky breath.

“Don’t lie to me, babe. I can feel the heat from your body, the way you’re trembling at my touch. And I bet if I do this,” I let my other hand drift down her stomach, down and down, until I grazed the apex of her thighs.

A soft moan slipped from Felicity’s lips and I chuckled. “Bingo.”

“Why?” she choked out, swallowing hard.

“Why?” I eased back to look at her. Pupils blown, skin flushed, her arousal swirled around us. “Because I can.” My mouth hovered over hers, waiting. Anticipating what she might do.

Her eyes fluttered closed, her breathing ragged. I was barely touching her, and yet, she was so responsive. So easy to work up. Felicity Giles was nothing but surprise after surprise.

“Why me?” I asked against her lips.

“W- what?”

“Why did you pick me? I don’t believe that bullshit about being a means to an end. Not when you could have your pick of guys who would have treated you—”

She snorted at that. “No one at school would dare ask me out.”

What the actual fuck?

I blinked, hardly able to believe what I was hearing. Sure, Felicity wasn’t classically hot; usually found walking the school hall looking more of a hot mess than a girl I wanted to fuck. But when you looked past the overalls and floral print shirts and hippy style she wore most days, she was beautiful.

“You really don’t know?” she whispered.

My expression must have said it all, because Felicity let out a heavy sigh. “You,” she said. “It’s you. You told everyone Hailee was off-limits in ninth grade, and I’m her best friend. If anyone tries to get close to me, they’re going to get close to—”

“Hailee.”

“Hailee.” Her lips pursed as she gave me a small nod. “Apparently, I’m not worth the risk.”

She didn’t date… because of me.

I guess I’d never really given it much thought before. She was Hailee’s best friend; someone I was used to seeing around. Someone I barely tolerated. But now she was… fuck! I didn’t want to feel guilty. But the unfamiliar emotion snaked through me.

A beat passed. And another.

“Jason, I should—”

“Wait, just wait a minute.” I needed to think, and it was impossible with her standing there, so close, yet, so far away. My body hyperaware of hers.

“Are you okay?” Her voice was so small, so fucking quiet. I hated it, but I didn’t know why.

“Okay, this has been... weird, but I’m going.” She began peeling my fingers off her neck. I hadn’t even realized I was still holding her like that because I couldn’t think straight.

Felicity had almost made it to the door when I finally found my voice again. “Stop.” I said, spinning around to meet her confused gaze.

“Jason, I—”

I was on her in a second, pressing her against the door, fixing my mouth over hers. Felicity slammed her hands against my jersey, pushing me away, but I was too strong and eventually she gave up, twisting her hand into the material and yanking me closer.