Page 8 of Let the Game Begin
“Are you serious?” The blond gave him an indignant look, clearly feeling possessive. Then she stamped her heel on the ground and my eyes slipped down the leather skirt that wrapped around her long, firm thighs. Her blond hair fell almost to her butt, and her curves were generous and flourishing. She was objectively beautiful, but I doubted that she had much going for her beyond the physical.
“Yes, Jennifer. Get back on your own.” Then, after those harsh words, he touched her cheek and talked to her like he was about to strip her naked right there in front of me. He stared at her breasts, propped up on display, and his face showed barely suppressed desire. She bit her lip.
“We’ll go to mine tonight,” he whispered in such an erotic tone that it sent shivers down my spine. He touched her hip, and it felt as though his fingers were touching my body instead. It was a ridiculous feeling. He let her go and started walking down the sidewalk without paying any further attention to his friends. I, on the other hand, stood frozen, debating which option was better.
“You coming?” He turned to me, and I startled. He wanted me to go with him, but the guy was a total stranger to me. I didn’t even know his name, why should I go anywhere with him?
“I don’t know you,” I admitted, sounding like a little girl who had been warned not to talk to strangers. The boy cocked his head and examined my outfit, from the dark jeans to the light jacket open over my sweater with Tinkerbell printed on it. I had a special fondness for it because it had beena Christmas present from my grandmother Marie, who was no longer with us. Even though I was in college, I’d always choose to wear something that connected me with her.
“Listen, Tinkerbell, I’m not a very patient person. So, pick: either you stay here with Xavier and Luke—and, trust me, you don’t want to get to know them better—or follow me and get home. I live in that area too…” he answered, irritated.
I flushed and stiffened my spine, trying to look somewhat fierce. “Why should I go with you? You could be some kind of crazy person, a psychopath, a serial killer…” I hardened myself, crossing my arms over my chest. I could hear his friends behind me grumbling about their car, but I didn’t turn to look at them. The boy stared at me and a thin layer of shadow fell over his perfect face. I tried to find a single aesthetic flaw in it, but I couldn’t. Not even when an inexplicable darkness appeared in his golden eyes.
“Or maybe I’m someone who can show you the way…” He gave me a sly wink and kept walking, but once again, I stood still and pondered his response.
Sure, a guy like that could “show me the way.” That boy looked like the devil incarnate with a mysterious, forbidden appeal, but he didn’t actually seem like a crazy person or a serial killer. Though appearances could be deceiving. In any case, I needed to be wary of him.
“You wanna get a fucking move on? It’s not like I’m doing you a favor here or anything, little girl!” He turned violently around, and I jumped. Nice manners. Why did he have to be so surly and ill-tempered? We didn’t even know each other. I didn’t have much of a choice, though. Staying with his friends was completely out of the question and going on by myself would have gotten me completely lost.
“I’m only coming with you because you live around there as well. Assuming that’s even true…” I pointed out, earning myself an unfriendly look. “And you should try to be less arrogant,” I added. I was aggravating him, and he let me know it with a menacing stare. Then he turned once more and started walking casually away again.
I took the opportunity to study his form undisturbed. Everything about him suggested a particularly masculine strength, especially his firm glutes,which I observed admiringly. His bearing was proud and determined. He looked like a damned soul strolling happily through a hell of his own, detached from everything around him.
“In any case, if you tried to do something to me against my will, I know how to defend myself. I’m dangerous to men who don’t show respect,” I declared. I was lying, I didn’t even know how to kick someone away, but I had to pretend and at least try to generate some apprehension in the beguiling man beside me.
He looked over at me, cocking an eyebrow.
“Anything I’ve ever done to a woman has not been against her will, believe me.” He gave me a lingering look, and for a moment, I suspected he was ogling my breasts, but I wasn’t sure so I couldn’t call him out. I decided to ignore his comment. Men, after all, were always prone to boasting about their lovemaking prowess, so he was probably spinning bullshit, too.
“What’s your name?” he asked me abruptly, pulling my mind back to our halting conversation. He grabbed a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket and took one out. He offered it to me politely, and I declined, shaking my head.
“I don’t smoke, thanks.” I trailed alongside him, trying to keep up with the pace of his strides. Compared to his imposing size, I felt even smaller than usual.
“But my name is Selene,” I added, trying not to stare too much, though it was difficult not to be drawn to him. No one else had ever had that kind of effect on me. I was so intimidated; I couldn’t even ask for his name in return.
“Where are you from?” he asked. He lit the cigarette, his toned biceps contracting. He rounded his full lips to expel a grayish cloud. I coughed and stepped back a bit to avoid the wave of smoke coming for me; I hated the smell.
“Detroit. I’m here with my father…on vacation, you could say.” I made a skeptical face. I wasn’t sure if one could really call this time in my life a “vacation,” but I didn’t want to tell a total stranger my actual reasons for coming to New York.
I glanced at him and focused on his sharp, straightforward profile. Forehead, nose, and lips all seemed to have been artfully crafted.
Several moments passed in silence, during which I didn’t dare open my mouth, not even to ask what his name was. He finished his cigarette and put it out. Even though he had just finished smoking, he had a nice smell, like clean amber.
“You realize it was irresponsible to wander alone around the streets of a city you aren’t familiar with yet, right, Tinkerbell?” I went rigid and instinctively did up the buttons of my coat to cover my sweater.
“Stop calling me Tinkerbell,” I snapped in irritation, ignoring his scolding. The boy grinned without looking at me. I noticed again how attractive he was, despite his impudence.
“I’ll call you whatever I want.” He paused for effect. “Tinkerbell,” he said again with amusement in his voice. I heaved a sigh and glared at him.
“And what am I supposed to call you, then?” I groused, finally getting up the nerve to ask him for his name. The boy looked at me with his beautiful honey-colored eyes and my own eyes caught on his lips, which moved finally to say his name.
“Neil,” he said. Then we walked in silence for a long time, stopping only when we reached the enormous gate that I’d passed through with Matt hours before. I looked at the gold plaque engraved with the words “Anderson–Lindhom Residence” and then back to Neil. I was about to thank him when he reached into the pocket of his dark jeans and produced a set of keys with a remote fob.
“We’ve reached our destination, Tinkerbell.” He opened the gate and gestured with fake gallantry for me to go through it. I stared at him in disbelief while a smirk spread across his face. I realized then that he had always known who I was and that he’d just enjoyed screwing with me.
That Adonis with his indisputable allure and enigmatic smile was the same Neil whom Logan had told me about, Mia’s oldest. Before me stood…Neil Miller.
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