Page 18 of The Games We Play (Balance of Power #3)

NAOMI

“ H udson.” Ember’s voice pulls me back into the moment.

Running into Seamus here was even better than I imagined. Even though his stoic face is mostly unreadable, I can tell I’ve hit a nerve. Or maybe it’s the fact that the guy who helped him move in is walking up right behind him.

Seamus is clearly frustrated, which again is a shock considering reading him is like reading a brick wall. I’m trying to figure out if it’s by my presence, the other guy, or if that’s really just Seamus nowadays.

The Seamus I knew was not nearly as grumpy or obscure, and I find that raising my curiosity more than my own concern about him being here.

Since my date with Jeremy that night—when Seamus showed up again out of the blue and I found out he bought the house next door—I’ve had more than enough time to think. Plus, a couple of last minute sessions with my therapist has helped me see this as an opportunity to heal.

I didn’t go through a decade of therapy, years of practicing spiritual discipline—both on and off my mat—to allow the pain and suffering of what happened to consume me .

And he didn’t come back into my life by chance. I don’t believe in that.

Somehow, we found each other again and he made a point to make his presence not only known, but a permanent fixture.

I wasn’t done loving you yet, and I’m here to prove it.

Do I believe that? I’m not sure. I’ve had too many years of telling myself otherwise to accept it that easily, but after the last few days of pondering everything, I am willing to listen.

At least I’m going to try.

Ember, and the man who I can only assume is her husband, pull out of an embrace. Well, Ember does. Hudson has his arms wrapped around her, holding her body to his like he’ll never have the chance to do it again.

Her face is flushed while she sneaks a glance in our direction. She looks shy and embarrassed, which is a far stretch from the woman that just interviewed me about her sex club while we talked about naked yoga and tantric massage.

She told me all about how Afterburn was birthed into reality. A small idea from the X-Connect website that led the CEO of Ford Enterprises assigning her the great task of making this club a reality.

Her ambition was easy to see, and she holds a passion that I could relate to the moment we met.

Although she holds a high end corporate position at Ford Enterprises, and oversees more things than I can even imagine, she remains to be a huge part of the decision making processes and day-to-day workings of the club.

And, she loves this club. You can tell by the way she speaks about it and how much she supports the exploration of all things in sexuality.

So, naturally, she loved the proposal I had about bringing yoga into the mix. We both love the sensuality of the human body and the openness of that display. This is just another way to bring that to the masses .

“Hudson, this is Naomi. Naomi, this is my husband, Hudson,” Ember introduces us.

Hudson forces his gaze away from his wife and his mile-wide smile drops when he sees my face. His eyes bounce between Seamus and I while his faded smile fights to return.

If reading Seamus is like reading hieroglyphics, reading Hudson is like crayon on construction paper.

Hudson’s suspicions are on full display, and he’s more than holding back giving Seamus shit about it.

“Great to see you again,” I reply with a smile.

“You too.” You can hear the knowing smirk in his tone.

“Wait, you know each other, too?” Ember’s tone is laced with confusion.

“I met Hudson the day Seamus moved in next door to me.” I stare at Seamus, his face completely unamused, unlike mine.

“Wow. What a small world,” Ember says with surprise. “I think you might already know everyone in my circle of friends.”

“No, she does not.” Another voice rings out from behind me. I turn to see a leaner, and slightly tanner, Clark Kent look alike wearing a suit and black rimmed glasses with pure perfection.

“Cruz, you’re late,” Ember sings songs playfully.

“Better to be late than arrive ugly.” He fiddles with his glasses before he holds his hand out to me. “I’m Cruz.”

“Naomi.” I slide my hand into his with a giggle.

Hudson pats Seamus on the back in some internal bro-code. I can’t tell if he’s giving him shit or trying to console him silently. Either way, I’m completely amused and Seamus is obviously suffering from crowd anxiety.

“Just so we’re clear. If you want anything related to baseball, Hudson is your guy.

If you want someone to disappear without a trace, G.I.

Joe here is your man.” He points at Seamus and I don’t miss the slight wince in his expression.

It hits me that I’ve learned nothing about what Seamus has done since we saw each other last, and I hate that I know nothing about him.

“And for anything else, I’m your guy. Jack of all trades, master of none, at your service. ” He finishes with a head bow.

“Great to know, I’ll keep…all of that…” I glance between Hudson and Seamus, “in mind.” I can’t help but relax around this group.

It’s apparent they are close. Well Hudson, Ember, and Cruz are.

Seamus is still as legible as a brown paper bag, but I’m finding my anger and bitterness of the past years begin to fade and warp into a curiosity of sorts.

“Em, our afternoon meeting moved up an hour, so I’ll be joining you for lunch with Hudson—because I’m not functional when I’m hungry, and I need to eat,” Cruz says factually.

“Oh, but I still have to give Naomi a tour and coordinate her schedule,” Ember replies as she takes out her phone.

“I’ll do it.” Seamus’ response is lightning speed.

The group falls silent and everyone looks at each other.

“Come on.” Seamus doesn’t give anyone else a chance to rebuttal as he steps outside our circle and holds his arm out toward the back of the club.

I pause, looking at the gap that Seamus has opened up, and then back at Ember. A part of me wants to continue to play hard to get, like I’ve been the last few days, but I’m tired of ignoring his presence and my curiosity is way too strong.

“Will that be okay, Naomi? I can call you later to work out the details of the schedule?” Ember asks, a bit unsure.

“Absolutely, it’s no problem at all.” I step over and give her a hug. It’s inappropriate for an interview, but I’m a hugger and I’m over all the handshakes. “Great to meet you guys.” I step back and wave to Hudson and Cruz as I walk past Seamus.

“I see you still can’t resist me, Rambo,” I say playfully, but loud enough for the group to hear. Because giving Seamus shit is going to be my new favorite hobby.

His gaze lasers through me as I walk by. Is he angry? Absolutely. But that desire that drives him is brighter than the lights in Times Square, blaring through to every cell in my body. A shiver runs down my spine and goosebumps erupt all over my body.

A tiny part of me is worried I may be playing out of my league with him right now, because figuring him out won’t be like it was when we were younger.

If I’ve realized anything since the moment I saw him again, is that he’s had more life experience in the last ten years than most people have in a lifetime.

I can see that in his stoic expression, the apprehension of his demeanor, and the way he carries himself.

“Did you just call him Rambo ? That’s the most accurate thing I’ve ever heard in my life.

” Cruz has zero filter, while Ember and Hudson are speechless as I retreat.

I smile over my shoulder and wave again, because I know his nickname is perfect, and I hope with everything I have they use it on him now, too.

I head toward the back of the club and arrive at the first glass window that overlooks one of the voyeur rooms. I remember this from my first time here, and I remember being completely mesmerized by the couple on the other side of it.

The room is now sparkling clean and empty, but a tingling sensation rolls over my body from the recollection of what I witnessed behind it.

Speaking of tingling, I don’t need to look behind me to know that Seamus is right on my heels. It’s the same feeling I’ve sensed since he has arrived back in my life, like he’s unable to stay too far away.

My eyes catch his reflection in the expansive, sheen windows.

For a brief moment, I see the shadow of the boy I knew years ago, and I can’t help the small curve to my lips from forming as I recall how awkward he was.

But even with those lean, lanky limbs and shaggy, out of control hair, there was something about him. A will, a drive, an undeniable pull.

It feels the same now.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Seamus is in security, being that he runs it here at Afterburn, but Cruz referred to him as a G.I. Joe, and I feel the need to dive into that.

“G.I. Joe, huh?” I insinuate the question, turning around to face him.

“Don’t listen to Cruz.”

“Is he right?”

“Not really.”

“What does that mean?”

“That I’m not a G.I. Joe.”

Well, yeah. I roll my eyes because he’s not a green plastic stick figure or a boys’ version of a Barbie doll. Although he would make a pretty hot military Ken doll.

I digress.

“Okay, but you were in the military?” I ask cautiously, because I know while some people are proud, others can be bitter.

He nods, but doesn’t reply.

I cross my arms over my chest. “The Seamus I knew was an open book, we talked about everything.” I pause, staring at him, waiting for him to say something more. “Work with me here.”

I study the features of his strong jawline and high cheekbones.

The same lines I studied under the stars next to the lake as we discovered everything about each other.

Our likes and dislikes, quirks and cues.

I feel the depth behind his midnight eyes and wonder about the story behind his barely-there scar that runs over his eyebrow.

I revel in the fact that I never thought I’d get to see him again, yet here he is in front of me, wearing the last ten years of experience like an impenetrable mask. I can still see my Seamus behind the facade, and I want more. I want what we had back.

“You’ve gotta give me something,” I practically beg.

He can’t come flying back into my life, drop a bomb, tell me he wasn’t done loving me yet , then remain a mute during conversation .

His jaw clenches as his head tilts up, looking at the ceiling. His Adam's apple bobs and I see the strong lines of his throat flex. How is it possible that even his neck muscles have muscles?

He returns his gaze, heated this time, desperate in a way I’ve never seen. And I can feel it to my bones.

The moment passes at a glacial pace. Time stills and it’s just him and I and all the unknown thoughts between us.

Still, he remains quiet, and all I can hear is the whooshing of my own heartbeat in my ears.

Come on, say something.

I huff out a small breath.

I give up.

I shake my head and take a step forward to walk around him.

His arm shoots out, palming the wall behind me, preventing me from moving that way. I step in the other direction and his other arm does the same, trapping me in between his colossal frame and the glass window.

My gaze travels down his body and back up to the arms that are caging me in. His forearms are threaded with muscles, twitching as he presses harder into the glass behind me.

“Well, now that you’ve got me here, what are you going to do with me?” I say playfully, reminding him of how he’s held me like this before.

“Don’t tempt me, Mimi.” His face leans in closer to mine. The scent of his aftershave wafts around me like a comfort blanket. It’s rugged, and manly, and smells exactly like I imagined grown up Seamus would smell.

“Why not?” I’m feeling frisky.

“Because we have an audience.” His lips graze my jawline as I look over his shoulder behind him. The distinct outline of three heads peer out from behind the corner. Cruz’s glasses catch the light as he moves before he dips back behind the wall .

“So, you don’t want them to see you come in your pants, either?” My smile is a mile wide at the playful jab.

He lifts his head back to look at me, pauses as he inspects me, then gives me a slow, sexy, incredibly dangerous smile.

Shit.

“Oh, you’re gonna get it, sunshine.”

He leans down, dipping his shoulder into the crease of my hips as he wraps his arm around the back of my leg. In a swift move, he lifts me up over his shoulder and half my body is hanging behind him.

“Seamus!” I scream. “I’m going to fall.”

“No, you’re not,” he replies without a hitch in his breath, even though he’s carrying an entire human.

“I’m too heavy.”

“No. Nice try.”

He walks past Ember, Hudson, and Cruz standing in the corner, and they are all beyond shocked with the view as we pass by. Me upside down, squealing as Seamus walks by like nothing is weird at all.

Cruz moves out of the corner, wide-eyed with his jaw to the floor. Even with his upside down form, I can still read his expression like the cover of a non-discreet romance novel.

“Like I said, play with fire and you’re gonna get burned,” Cruz says to Ember and Hudson after we pass, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s right.