Page 28 of Shielding His Heart
“You mean like a board game?”
Laughing a little, he says, “No, like a drinking game. It’s called Never Have I Ever.”
“How do you play?” I already regret this, and we haven’t even started.
“Typically, whoever’s turn it is will say something they’ve never done, and if you’ve done it, you take a drink.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, that’s impossible for me.”
He nudges my shoulder. “I know. That’s why you’ll ask the questions, and I’ll tell you if you drink or not.”
I straighten. “Hey! What about you?”
“If I’ve done it, I’ll drink.”
“Fine.” I chew on my lip as I think of something I want to know… about me, but mostly about him. The man I’m married to. “Never Have I Ever. . . been arrested.”
He drinks, and I laugh incredulously. “Really? For what?”
Alec gestures with his glass. “You gotta drink, too, sweet pea.”
My mouth falls open. “Me! Really? I’ve been arrested.”
“Damn straight. In fact, I was arrested because of you.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. When we first started dating, this guy was hitting on you in a bar. You weren’t into it, but he wouldn’t take the hint. I intervened to tell him to back off, and he sucker-punched me. You got so pissed you threw your Fireball shot in his face, then cold-cocked him.”
I drink a sip from my glass and shake my head. “Jesus. I’m afraid to ask anything else now.”
“Don’t be a chickenshit, Tee. Next question.” The sound of the nickname coming from his mouth sobers me, but only a little. I like the sound of it. The familiarity.
Afraid he’ll realize what he’s said and take it back, I hurry on. “Never Have I Ever had a one-night stand.” I bite my lip as I wait for his answer. I didn’t intend to have the questions get so sexual right away, but wine apparently makes my mouth run away from me.
“Better drink up there, sweet pea.” Alec bares his teeth in a grin and takes a sip.
“Really?” I ask.
“You were a heartbreaker.”
“Bet you loved locking me down.”
“Damn straight. Next question.”
“Never Have I Ever cheated on someone.”
Alec shakes his head. “Got me there. Next question.” He doesn’t take a drink either. I file that away in my ever-growing folder of facts about him. I didn’t think he would be a cheater, but I was curious.
My heart begins to pound as I pluck up my courage. By this point, we’re both pretty drunk, and, hey! I learned another new thing about myself—I can’t drink for shit. “Do you remember how you said you wouldn’t kiss me again until I made the first move?” I ask, dropping all pretense, filled with the courage from the alcohol.
Alec stills next to me, his jaw bunching and releasing. I want nothing more than to take another drink, but I can’t. Maybe it’s the wine or the events of the past day, but all I can think about right now is kissing him again. Tasting him along with the wine on my tongue. I know he’ll be every bit as delicious and potent, and right now? That’s all I crave.
He turns to me on the stool, spreading my thighs to make room for him. One of his hands is on the counter, bracing himself up. The other lifts to tug at my messy bun. “You trying to say you want to do more than kiss me, Tana?”
My throat is bone dry, and my tongue is stuck to the room of my mouth. The room is spinning a little, but not so much that I don’t know what I’m asking. All I can do is nod.
He shakes his head. “Gotta hear you say it. Tell me what you want.”
