Page 48 of Wood Riddance
Normally, I bested my opponents without difficulty. Ithadbeen a while since I’d competed, but regardless, this was not my A game. Despite that, Iwouldpull out a win. I had to. My pride depended on it.
My next throw was shit, though, and he followed that with another bull’s-eye.
So I lost my shorts.
Thankfully, I had on spandex briefs. Full coverage, stretchy, and breathable. The demands of a physical job meant anything too dainty would be uncomfortable, and lucky for me, none of my downstairs was on display. He didn’t seem to mind the granny panties, though, if the way his breath hitched as my shorts hit the ground was anything to go by.
But then he hit another bull’s-eye. Motherfucker.
He turned and stroked his chin. “Ooh, She-Ra. This is such a hard decision.”
I closed my eyes as my heart dropped into my stomach. This was not happening. I wasn’t the kind of woman who went around flashing my bits.
“Bra,” he said after a long deliberation.
He was enjoying this far too much. Not only was I going to get him out of those ridiculous boxers and laugh at his tiny dick, but I would win too. Then I’d make sure he honored the deal and left me alone.
I had to think long term. Showing him my boobs was a small price to pay.
I made a big show of unhooking the back of my bra and letting it fall to the floor.
His jaw went rigid, but he maintained eye contact.
In turn, my thighs attempted to clench, but I willed the muscles to relax. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing what his attention did to me.
“Shit, She-Ra,” he said, his voice low and growly. Another thing I enjoyed way too much.
“Don’t feel special,” I said as I snagged another axe.Damn, shirtless axe-throwing was probably a major safety hazard. “You’re just another in a long line of undeserving men who’ve seen my tits.”
“How long a line?”
“None of your fucking business.” I stepped up, and with no preparation, no thought, only the desperate desire to end this game and get away from this magnetic, infuriating mountain of a man, I threw the axe. “Fuck yes. Lose the boxers, asshole.”
He was slack-jawed as I pulled the axe out from where it was deeply embedded in the red. Good. I needed the points.
Despite my burning curiosity, I kept my eyes on the scoreboard. The last thing I needed was to be distracted by his dick. But I couldn’t resist sneaking a look at his ass while he threw. Just like the rest of him, it was muscular and perfect. Two tiny dimples right above his tailbone. That bastard didn’t have a single flaw. It was maddening.
Being fully naked must have gotten to him, because he hit the second ring, only scoring three points. One of his worst throws of the night.
I tallied up the scores. My next throw had to be good. The score was close, but I could pull this out if I did things right.
As he walked to the other side of the container, I crossed my arms over my chest and averted my eyes. In my periphery, he had his hands cupped over his junk. Clearly, we were both rethinking this whole strip axe-throwing idea, because this metal box was shrinking by the minute and the air was growing thicker.
The doors on the far end were open, letting in the cool night air, but the heat between us was suffocating. I considered grabbing my clothes and making a run for it, but my pride got in the way. This was my private space, and I had to show this cocky asshole that he couldn’t waltz around eyeing me like a piece of meat.
I faced the target, thanking God I still had my panties on, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes.You are Adele Motherfucking Gagnon. You will bury this axe in the bull’s-eye and never look back. Because you are a goddamn apex predator who does not lose, especially to a man. A man who makes you feel simultaneously aroused and enraged at that.
I opened my eyes, wound up, and sank my shot.Yes. I was up by seven points, making it impossible for him to beat me with his one remaining throw. The game was over, and now I had to get out of here as fast as I could to avoid more bad decisions.
“Good game, She-Ra.”
Pulling my tank top over my head as fast as I could, I ignored him. Covering myself immediately was paramount because the feel of his attention on my naked body was making my stomach clench in ways I had been repeatedly telling it were not okay.
He turned his back and slid on his boxers quickly. But then, cocky grin firmly in place, he marched right up to me and crowded me against the rack of axes.
“I’m glad you won,” he rasped, tilting so close our breath mingled, causing my heart to clench. “Because when you finally give me a chance, it will be because you can’t take the tension anymore. Because you want me as much as I want you. Not because of some stupid bet.”
I said nothing as my pulse raced and the heat of his body soaked into mine.
