Page 17 of The Games We Play (Balance of Power #3)

I make my way to the bar, passing it as I head to the stage area. I hear voices echoing through the hallway of the staircase that leads to the second floor.

Stopping, I crane my head back in that direction and the sight shocks the hell out of me.

Ember is hugging a clipboard against her chest, smiling from ear to ear and talking to Mimi.

My Mimi.

She’s awfully comfortable, like they’ve known each other their whole lives. But, I know that can’t be the case considering Ember is from Missouri and has lived in Seattle for less than a year.

I don’t realize how long I’m frozen—and staring—until Ember looks my way. She calls out my name excitedly, waving her hand, gesturing for me to come over.

My eyes bounce between the two of them as I head in their direction.

I know my face is unreadable, other than the chronically pissed off look that I always have. Mimi’s face matches mine, even though she fakes a smile as I step up to their circle.

“Seamus, you’re early…well, I mean I guess you’re always early.” Naturally, my eyes snap over at Mimi with a snarky raised brow, because she’s never early, and I feel like I should win points for that.

Instead of saying anything, I huff out a grunt. I have no words. I had no idea she would be here, and I hate fucking surprises.

“Naomi, this is Seamus. He is in charge of my security team. He’s grumpy,” Ember says fluidly, like it’s part of my name.

My neck swivels in her direction and I pin her with a grumpy look to match her ridiculous introduction.

“Oh, don’t I know it.” Mimi giggles at Ember, then says, “Hi, Seamus.”

Goddammit. I hate how my name on her lips affects me. It’s like an instant shot of adrenaline straight to my dick.

I turn to look at Mimi again.

It’s like I’m watching a tennis match, as my neck pivots between the two of them, as I’m trying to break down this scene and decipher what the hell is going on.

I would ask, but less is always more. Most people give you all the information you need without even having to ask.

“Do you guys know each other?” Ember’s brow furrows as she looks between us, but my gaze is still focused solely on Mimi’s gorgeous face.

Her pouty lips are a glossy pink tint, and she’s wearing minimal makeup, showing off her naturally gorgeous features.

The normal blanket of dark, luscious hair is pulled up in a messy bun with wispy strands framing her high cheekbones.

“Yeah, we do, actually.” Mimi cocks her head to the side with a slight raise to her eyebrows. If her facial expression were words, they would say something like, test me asshole.

Since I’m not interested in that, I remain quiet. I’d like to see what she is going to say, so I pin her with a reflection of her own expression.

What is she going to say?

He’s my neighbor. Fine.

We met as kids at camp. Okay.

My first love. I fucking hope so .

So, I raise my eyebrows back at her with a smirk, testing her back.

“He takes my yoga class every morning.” She looks at me deadpan.

My face drops.

That… I was not fucking expecting.

Her gorgeous, smug smile is on full display, and only I can read the hidden smirk behind it.

“Seamus, you do yoga?” Ember's exaggerated tone is as accusatory and shocked as they come.

What? Because I’m a large, muscular guy with military experience and no facial expressions, I can’t enjoy yoga? I would ask her why the judgment, but I don’t feel like getting into that now.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I attempt to calculate my response. I know there is only one way to go here.

Keeping my eyes locked on Mimi’s, I finally reply.

“Favorite part of my day.”

“Well, aren’t you full of surprises?” Ember replies, then asks, “Not that I need confirmation, because I can tell she’s fabulous and I’m already going to bring her on, but how are her classes?”

“Amazing,” my reply is instant. “I experience the ultimate release during her practice.” Her eyes are unable to hold mine as she looks away. Her cheeks flush and she bites the corner of her lip, and it takes all my willpower not to yank her into one of these private rooms immediately.

Wait a minute.

I cross a look over to Ember. “What do you mean, bring her on ?”

Ember’s smile is a mile wide.

“Naomi is going to teach specialty yoga classes and tantric massage here,” she says excitedly.

I glance back at Naomi, whose smile mirrors Ember’s.

My first reaction is to be irritated by this. Her being here in my space, co-mingling with people in my circle, when all I want to do is keep her to myself. But in reality, this is good.

“What type of specialty classes?” I ask.

“We haven’t fine-tuned the schedule yet, but I’m thinking she’ll teach once a week and we can see how it goes from there.

No other studio offers Nagna yoga, so we’ll start with a co-ed class, maybe couples only, then see if we need to expand depending on everyone’s comfort level,” Ember replies, talking to Mimi the entire time, like they are still negotiating what her schedule will look like.

“Nagna yoga?” My brows furrow at the name.

Not that I know any kind of yoga classes, but this one sounds especially weird.

“Naked,” Ember replies, “naked yoga.”

My neck snaps over to Mimi. “And what do you wear?”

“Nothing,” she replies, her voice soft and seductive.

I clench my fists as I suck in an annoyed breath.

“Don’t worry, Seamus, you can have any of your guys monitor during that time. It’ll be couples only to start, and we won’t be planning any playtime after. So no need to have too much security staffed during that time,” Ember assures me, like that’s the reason I’m annoyed.

Over my dead body I’d schedule anyone else on my team for that class.

“I’m always here for any special events Afterburn has, including these moving forward,” I reply with a clenched jaw.

“Okaaayy…” Ember elongates the last bit as her eyebrows hit her hairline. She glances back at Mimi. “As you can tell, we have very passionate people who care about everyone's safety and comfort here.”

“For the comfort level of the students, I would prefer that security not be present in the room during class,” Mimi adds.

I open my mouth to vehemently object, but Ember replies first. “I completely agree. We will work out the logistics on that later.” Ember makes a note on her clipboard.

“Great,” Mimi replies with a smile, then pins another look at me while I bury my eyes into her.

My eyes drop to her neck, and I stare at the diamond shaped beauty mark that rests right at the base of her collarbone.

Recalling how many times I would inspect that part of her with my lips.

Kissing her neck was one of my favorite things to do, because I would be able to touch her soft skin, taking in the scent that is so distinctly Mimi.

Back then she would easily open up for me. She would expose her neck so I could graze my lips over her skin. So many nights of just kissing and caressing, and that was all I needed. It wasn’t about sex, at least not until that last night.

Bitterness sweeps through me. Not just at the memory of what happened after, but the fact that she’s closing herself off from me now.

I may have gotten pulled out of camp early, but she’s the one who disappeared.

So many years wasted, when I didn’t know where she was or what happened to her. I’m determined to find out what the hell happened.

Mimi runs her palm over the base of her collarbone, interrupting my gaze and rampant thoughts.

My eyes meet hers and those dark chocolate orbs are swimming with lust, mirroring my own.

I know she’s thinking about the same thing I am.

The sexual tension is thick, and I want nothing more than to band my arm behind her waist, tug her into me, grab her face, and kiss her like my life fucking depends on it.

Ember looks over her clipboard as her eyes bounce between Mimi and I with furrowed brows. Even though I’m only seeing her through my peripheral, I don’t miss the slight squint that tells me she’s suspicious of us .

Ember’s face suddenly softens into a look I’ve only seen when a certain someone is around.

Goddammit.