Page 2 of Game Change

I stand there and watch as the helicopter slowly descends to the ground. The helipad is on the property of the big house, and I hold onto my hat when the wind picks up from the helicopter's blades. Raven and Amira join me, and we stand there in silence. It takes several minutes for the chopper to land. The engine gets turned off, and the noise dwindles.

Moments later, the doors open, and a group of guys jump out one by one and run through the well-landscaped lawn to the big house door. They’re not young college guys; they must be in their thirties and appear to be in good shape. I can’t see their faces from here, but one pulls his shirt over his head, tosses it to the ground, and continues to run.

“There’s a guy who looks like he needs a vacation,” Amira says.

I nod in agreement but don’t take my eyes off his taut, well-muscled back. He has no tattoos, but his waist is narrow, and his skin looks tan. I look away from him and assess the rest of the crew. There’s one that catches my eye. He’s the only black man with them, and he’s not running. He’s walking. He has a full beard, but it’s well-maintained. He’s tall and lean and wearing a pair of sunglasses.

“He’s mine,” Amira says.

I look at Raven, and we both smirk. This man is tall and imposing. Amira will run like a scared kitten if he looks her way.

I count four of them in total. Just as I’m about to go in to get ready for the day, the sliding door next door opens, and the shirtless guy runs out. I notice his pair of orange Crocs and make a face. Whoever this is has questionable taste in shoes, but when I see his front side, I notice it’s even better than the back. He’s not bulky, but he’s in great shape. He tosses his Crocs aside, pulls his wallet out of his pocket, and throws it on a nearby table before diving into the pool. Two of the other guys do the same.

The one Amira claimed comes out last and shakes his head when he sees them in the pool. He looks around, notices us, and waves before he pulls his sunglasses off. Amira gasps and puts a hand on her chest.

The shirtless man surfaces and pulls himself out of the pool. The weight of the water pushes his shorts down, and I see the apex of his ass just as a gust of wind hits, and my hat flies off my head. It floats over the gate onto the property next door and hits the man in his bare back. He turns, picks it up, and puts it on his head. One of the other guys says something to him and points at us. That’s when he looks up, and my eyes lock with his. Even from here, I can see how blue they are. He smiles, and my world tilts so much that I hold onto the gate for support.

I can see Amira and Raven waving from the corner of my eye, but I can’t seem to make myself move. The handsome man waves and grins wider. He has perfectly straight teeth and a short, well-trimmed beard.

“You ladies want to join us for a swim?” he yells, gesturing for us to come over.

I put a hand to my throat and swallow.

“If I get near that big, sexy one, I’ll faint,” Amira whispers. And she’s probably not exaggerating. I’ve never met a more tongue-tied individual in my life. She grabs my arm and squeezes it.

“If you want your hat back, you’ll have to come and get it.” He takes it off his head, waves it in the air, and puts it back on.

Chapter 2

Colin

Her eyes lower from mine to my bare chest and back to my eyes. I smile, but she doesn’t smile back.

“You can keep it,” she yells. “It looks better on you anyway.” Her voice is strong yet sweet. She’s a sexy vision in a yellow two-piece bikini. It’s a conservative bathing suit, but that body almost makes it look indecent. She’s nothing but sexy curves and what I’m guessing is soft skin. I bet she tastes good, too.

“Aw, come on.” I wave over at them. “Join us for a swim, and we can all go to lunch.”

Her friend, who’s been looking at Malcolm the entire time, lets out a little squeal before she whispers something that I can’t hear. The other one stands there, completely uninterested. That’s fine. I’m only concerned about the beauty in yellow.

“Can’t,” she says. “We have plans.”

“What?” I lie to give myself more time with her. “I can’t hear you.” I walk around the pool, down the steps, and open the gate to cross the few feet of space and open their gate.

The scared friend practically hides behind yellow bikini. The other one walks ahead and stands before them as if she’s their protector.

I raise both hands to signal that I come in peace. “I’m Killah,” I say, giving them my old college nickname.

"Oh, lord. He's gonna kill us," the scared one says.

"No. It's just an old nickname. I go by CK,” I tell them. “Or Colin.”

“I’m Bee,” the pretty one says.

“Like the letter, animal, or Bea Arthur?” When I only get a blank stare, I say, “You know? The Golden Girl.”

“Well, it’s more like the insect.”

When I extend my hand, she looks down at it for a few seconds before taking it, and I wrap mine firmly around hers. Her grip is firm, and she gives mine a noticeable squeeze. I squeeze her back, and she bites her bottom lip as she looks at my body.

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