“Who says I’d lose?” He asked.
Makayla shrugged. “I mean, if you’re afraid, sulk back to your room.”
He looked back at the table, then turned his gaze back on me as if waiting for me to say something. Once again, my breath hitched, but this time, there was a twinge of sadness at the thought of him walking away.
While I knew he was expert level temptation, the thought of him leaving was worse than knowing I had to be on my best behavior. “Afraid you’ll lose to a girl?”
He laughed, a rich, dark sound that filled my insides with flutters. How I wished he’d laugh for me. Just the two of us, naked and entwined in my bed.
Swallowing hard, I pushed the sexy thoughts away. “Or is it that you don’t think you can beat a mage?”
“Oh, you’re on, princess,” he said.
Makayla grabbed my shopping bag. “I’ll stash this in my room. You go get in on that game.”
“You’re not playing?” I asked.
“Oh no, I’d rather watch you kick his ass.”
I cracked my knuckles playfully as I walked toward the low table. “Y’all ready to lose?”
Jenny shifted a little, making more room on the couch. I sat down next to her and looked across the table where Ben was settling back into his seat. I winked at him, suddenly feeling very emboldened by the familiar sound of cards being dealt. “You ready to lose that shirt?”
He lifted his eyebrows. “I don’t lose at this game.”
“You’ve never played against me.” I took my cards from Jenny.
Trey was sitting next to her and called out his bet. “Let’s start with shirts today.”
“Call,” Starla said.
“Call,” Ben said.
“Call,” I said, not taking my eyes off of Ben.
Jenny turned the cards and I smirked. I’d never been great with poker face, but I was incredibly lucky. There was no way I was going to lose this hand.
As we went through the game, the player with the lowest hand lost a piece of clothing. Trey was down to his boxers and Starla had lost her shirt. Jenny maintained her position as dealer, keeping all of her clothes just as Ben and I both had.
“I told you I was good at this game.” I threw down my cards.
“Dammit,” Trey said.
“Take it off!” Starla shouted.
Everyone laughed as Trey stood and started dancing. “Hey, if I’m going to strip for all of you, I might as well make it a show!”
I could feel Ben’s gaze on me as I watched Trey shake his hips. It was strong enough to drag me away from the performance just as Trey hooked his thumbs under the waistband of his boxers.
Our eyes met and I heat rushed to my cheeks. Ben was staring at me as if I was the only one in the room. The laugher around me sounded far away. I clenched my thighs together and tore my eyes from him. Without a word, Ben had managed, once again, to make me feel things I shouldn’t.
Trying to ignore the intensity of our connection, I turned back to where Trey was shaking his bare ass for the whole group. Jenny reached up and slapped him and Trey howled. “Hey, that’s unwanted touch.”
“Right, that’s exactly what you said last night,” she said.
He turned back to the group, his large cock on full display. He had nothing to be ashamed of. “Ladies and gentlemen, I bid you farewell.” He bowed low, then scooped up his clothes, using them to cover himself.
Then, he turned to Ben. “Take her out, will you? It’s not right that she’s sitting there fully clothed.”
“You got it,” Ben said.
“I wouldn’t count on it,” I said.
“We’ll see,” he said. “I’m sure I’m going to get you out of those clothes.”
Wetness spread between my legs. If he only knew how badly I wanted him to make good on that threat.