Competitive Streak
1 7
They all sit around the parlour of the Chiswick manor. Valarie has been here a few times since moving to London, feeling entirely comfortable now in the presence of the Chiswick’s. Percy and Adeline adore her, thankfully. She sits between Lewis and Matthew on one of the red sofas as Alice tries acting out an animal while they play charades.
She never had friends in Oxford who would invite her over for an evening of games. Valarie’s so glad everyone here has been so welcoming. London is finally starting to feel like her home.
“A cat!” Matthew shouts out at her.
Alice shakes her head, continuing on with the movements. Lewis is sitting on the edge of his seat with chin resting on his hands as he watches Alice closely.
He’s intelligent, and Valarie knows that Lewis will figure what Alice is meant acting out.
“Some sort of feline?” Lewis asks, and Alice nods at him eagerly.
Matthew jumps up, the sofa bouncing in response. “A lion. Tiger. A bear!”
Lewis stares at him with a horrified look on his face. “Since when is a bear a feline?”
Matthew looks at him and shrugs. “I’m just trying to guess before the sand runs out.” He answers innocently .
Valarie looks at the hourglass on the table in front of them. The sand has almost drained from the top half.
“A leopard. A lion!” Matthew shouts.
Lewis jumps to his feet now, swatting Matthew on the arm. “You already said lion.” Gritting out through clenched teeth.
Matthew glares at him with a tight mouth. “Well, I don’t see you trying to guess now, do I?”
Lewis turns back to Alice, who is staring at them in the same way Valarie is. “It’s a panther.”
“Yes!” Alice says happily just as the hourglass runs out.
Matthew slumps back down into the sofa beside Valarie, who pouts in solidarity. “You almost had it.” Her hand rubs his back in calming circles.
His shoulders slacken. “I hate playing with Lewis. That know-it-all.” He murmurs the last part, and Valarie giggles at him.
“Lewis, it’s your turn now.” Alice tells him, propping herself down beside Valarie.
“All right. I am going to get another round of drinks first. Valarie, can you help me?”
“Sure.”
She follows Lewis out of the room and into the kitchen. It’s late, and the staff have already retired for the night, so Lewis grabs a set of clean glasses and pulls another bottle of wine from the cabinet. He hands it to Valarie, who moves to leave the room when Lewis catches her waist. He turns her, pulling her closer so that she can feel the heat coming off him in waves. They have both had a glass of wine, their bodies more fluid than normal, but they both still have their wits about them.
“You look gorgeous tonight.” Lewis’ voice is a little lower and gruffer than usual.
Valarie giggles up at him, reaching onto her toes to press her lips against his. They’re warm and slightly sticky from the wine, tasting gently of grapes .
Lewis holds onto her waist, his fingers digging into her dress fabric and skin as she presses herself against him.
They shouldn’t be doing this right here in the open. Anyone could walk in and find them, but Valarie has waited days to kiss him again. She’s grown greedy, wanting nothing more than to feel him holding her once more.
He lets out a soft groan, his hot breath brushing against her delicate lips as he deepens their kiss. Their mouths moving in unison.
Valarie’s hand almost slips from the wine bottle. She tightens her grip to keep it from smashing on the floor and drawing everyone’s attention to them wrapped up in each other’s arms.
One of his hands trails up her bodice, stopping over her smaller breast and cupping it gently. She moans against him, feeling the swell in his pants as he squeezes. His hands feel magical and gentle, just like she always imagined them to be on her.
Lewis’ finger hooks in the ribbon, binding the front of her dress together, threatening to unlace it and revealing more of her to him when he stops, pulling away from her face and catching his breath. “I’m sorry,” he pants lightly, “I shouldn’t have done that. Not here at least.”
Nodding, Valarie flattens her feet once again, waving her hand in front of her face as it heats with passion. Her skin is prickling with nerves and sweat, she’s so warm after that. “Let’s go back before they notice us taking too long.”
She moves to exit to the room once more when she stops, watching Lewis lean over the bench, his head between his shoulders like he’s in pain or feeling guilty. “Lewis, are you all right? You didn’t do anything wrong.” Her tone sounding concerned.
Lewis shakes his head, his face lifting to look up at the ceiling. “I just need a minute Ari, then I’ll be out.” He murmurs to her.
Valarie bites her lips to keep from giggling as she leaves the room for him to recover in private.
* ? * ? *
Kora, Daisy, Clarence and Jordan sit around the checkerboard on the other side of the parlour. Clarence is currently winning this round, and Kora can tell Daisy is fuming, wanting so badly to beat him.
“Daisy, it’s your turn,” Clarence says, waiting for her to do something.
Daisy continues to assess the play. “Don’t rush me.” She murmurs, pushing one of her pieces forward, closer to Clarence’s.
Clarence looks at her with a raised brow to make sure it’s her final move, and she nods her approval. Clarence smirks, moving his piece to knock hers out.
Daisy growls, sitting back in her seat, running her fingers angrily through her dark hair. “You wanted me to make that move, didn’t you?”
“I assumed you’d move that piece or this one, but either way, I’d have knocked you out.”
Daisy crosses her arms as Jordan makes his move, taking out one of Kora’s pieces. His eyes linger on hers, waiting to see if Kora will react in the same way. “Should I be worried you’ll want to rip out my throat as well?” he asks her with amusement dancing in his eyes.
Kora sniffs a laugh, looking at Daisy, who is glaring daggers at Clarence. She licks her lips, turning back to Jordan. “These two are very competitive when it comes to board games.”
“It’s a friendly competition.” Clarence reassures him.
Jordan looks to Kora, who shakes her head no . She then looks at the board, moving a piece to surround Daisy’s.
She feels Daisy’s glare before her eyes even lift from the board. “Kora. How could you? We’re meant to be a team!” Daisy sits forward again, her mouth open in disbelief.
“Daisy, checkers isn’t a team game,” Kora retorts calmly .
Her friend grumbles, standing and walking away in frustration.
“She takes this very seriously.” Jordan says as Clarence gets up.
“I’ll get her. You two wait here.”
Clarence walks off, finding Daisy who disappeared out into the hallway. Kora turns to Jordan, who has an entertained smile on his face. “You get used to those two, eventually. It’s always like this when they play.”
“You three must play a lot, then.”
“It started one weekend when there was a terrible snowstorm and we had to stay indoors. Clarence and I stayed at the Edevane’s manor. We had to keep ourselves busy for three days, so we played a lot of board games. I think that’s where their competitive streak began.” Kora laughs lightly, and the sound makes Jordan’s insides warm.
Jordan chuckles, shaking his fluffy golden hair.
“You should see when they play chess. I have to hide every weapon in the house. I’m afraid one of them will gut the other.” Her cheeks pinching to match his. The single dimple forming in her cheek.
“I don’t think I want to,” Jordan admits, sitting back in his chair slightly to take all of her in. Her light blue dress, shimmering eyes and pink lips. “What about you? What do you like to do then?”
She holds his stare for a moment before answering, “I enjoy board games, but not as much as I adore art.”
“I knew you were an art admirer.” Jordan says as another smile creeps onto his face. “What kind do you prefer?”
“Painting. Drawing. I haven’t spent any time sculpting, but I think that would be pleasant as well.” Her answer is genuine.
The way her face lights up when she speaks about it makes Jordan’s cold heart melt. “I’d want to try sculpting someday.”
“Perhaps we should then.” Kora offers, her gaze drifting away from his as the tops of her cheeks colour.
Jordan’s smile deepens. “Perhaps we should.” He says in agreement. “I’m glad I showed you those paintings now. I knew you’d appreciate them. ”
Kora’s eyes meet his again. They’re somehow soft and captivating at the same time. Jordan feels as though he can stare at them all day and never grow tired of the sight.
“They were beautiful. My father hung up some of my mother’s artworks at home. He adored them just as much as I do.”
Jordan’s smile falters momentarily. A twinkle of sadness washes over her hazel irises, and he wants to reach out and hold her hand or squeeze her thigh in comfort, but he decides against it. “You should show me one time.” He says in a softer tone.
Her cheeks pink as she nods at him, the sadness replaced with something optimistic. “I’d like that.”