Page 23 of Delay of Game

Fuck,this is so embarrassing.

“Jesus, Al, I’m so sorry,” I say, making quick work of reaching behind me with one arm and pulling it off me, one hand returning to cover my crotch. I close the distance between us and hold it out to her, my cheeks burning hot.

I’m such an idiot. Why did I even have it in my room?

“It’s okay.” She giggles and takes it from my hands, pressing it to her chest. I can’t bring myself to meet her eyes, but I sneak a glance at her mouth. Her bottom lip is trapped by her teeth and she’s trying not to laugh.

“I’m gonna go die of shame now, thanks,” I mumble, and half turn to walk away when she stops me with a hand on my forearm.

Her hot pink nails dig into my skin, and I stare at the indents she’s making.

“Don’t, it was cute,” she says, pulling me into a hug. I welcome it and wrap my arms around her shorter frame, tucking her nose into my collarbone. Her hands are warm on my naked back, and I let myself relax against her.

I’m all too aware of my morning wood so I keep some distance between us. She giggles again and the puff of breath tickles my chest. “You know, the color looked good on you, but I think it’s a size too small,” she teases, and I spring back from her.

Her laughter follows me down the hallway and past the closed door as I get dressed for the day.

Alice keeps refreshingthe ski resort’s website as we stand around the kitchen counter but the same message from earlier rolls at the top of the page:Closed due to inclement weather.

“This is such a bummer,” Alice whines as I top off her coffee mug. She gives up on refreshing the page on her phone and grabs the mug with both hands, blowing on it before bringing it to her lips and taking a sip.

I can’t say I’m complaining. While this trip was supposed to be for snowboarding and outdoorsy activities, I wouldn’t mind spending the day with Alice by the fireplace. I swallow hard at the image of us curled up on the couch, wrapped up in blankets.

“Maybe we could watch a movie,” I offer lamely, hoping I can cheer her up.

“Yeah, I guess. I was just so excited to go out in the snow,” she says, bottom lip sliding in a pout. My gaze stays rooted on her lips and I will myself to look away, but I can’t. It’s physically impossible.

“We can always shovel the snow,” I say eventually, a teasing smile playing at my lips. Alice rolls her eyes at me and pulls her hair up in a messy bun at the top of her head, letting a few strands of hair fall softly around her angular cheekbones.

“That sounds like work, and I’m here for fun,” she says, eyes gleaming with mirth.

“I can be fun,” I say, blatantly lying. Since when do I consider myself fun? My idea of it is playing board games and video games and hiding indoors for most of my time. Most women, like Jess, have found that to be … not so fun. But I can’t help itthat I get anxious almost every time I go out in public, or that I dislike large crowds.

“Of course you’re fun, J. I just meant there’s not much to do indoors,” she says, smiling at me and looking around the room. “Do you want to start with a movie or a game?”

“Do you even have to ask?” I smile down at her, enjoying the fact that she so effortlessly gets me.

“I’ll set up Power Grid,”she says with a grin over her shoulder as she heads for the game shelf.“And grab some snacks, please.”

“You got it,” I nod, already pulling out chips and guac, and Alice’s favorite—gluten-free Oreos.

Alice

Jordan always wins this game.No matter how hard I try, my strategy never comes close, but I don’t mind. I love seeing the way his brain works when he gets laser focused on something. He’s so much smarter than he ever gives himself credit for, and I don’t often get to see this side of him, but when I do, it’s magnificent.

Jordan bites his lip in thought, planning his next move to take over my side of the board and I smile. Propping my chin in one hand and taking a bite of my Oreo with the other, I keep my gaze on him the whole time. God, how I’ve missed hanging out like this. I’ve missed his wit and his beautiful face and his smile.

My lips twitch thinking about him in my sweatshirt and how flustered he was. I don’t know if hugging him was the right move, but I justneededto feel his skin, peppered with goosebumps from the cold. He felt so good and solid against me, and even though he was trying to hide his erection from me, I could still catch a glimpse of the bulge in his boxers.

I wonder if he thought about me once he went back to his room. I wonder if he laid in bed thinking of me. I wonder if he touched himself.That mental image has me wriggling in my seat.

“Al?”

I swallow hard and break out of my daze. Here I go again, fantasizing about the man that’s been nothing but a friend to me these last seven years. The man that made it clear we can’t pursue anything because things would get too complicated.

“Sorry, what?” I say, taking a sip of sparkling water.

“It’s your turn again. We’re almost done, I’m sorry it’s taking so long. You must be bored,” he says, looking down at the table with a frown.

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