Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
boston
My worst nightmare has come true.
There’s a rare moment in the night where it’s just Ariana and me in the living room.
I don’t know how it happened. Saltzy got up to use the bathroom.
Declan and Fork went to grab some more food from the kitchen and refill on drinks.
Wyatt might be in there, too. I didn’t track where he went, and from my spot on the couch—I can’t see them.
I was too focused on hoping I wouldn’t be left alone with her.
She’s on the same couch as me. Don’t know if it was intentional, but I want to smack myself for it now.
I’m multiple drinks in and she’s at least three martinis deep.
Wouldn’t matter if she wasn’t. She’d still push my buttons because it’s her favourite pastime, and I’ve somehow become the most important person on her radar.
I stare at the TV as she stares at me, angling her head. Yeah, I have noticed every single move she’s made in the last few hours. I feel her eyes even when I don’t look.
“Psst.”
Here we go.
I don’t take my eyes off the TV. “Hm?”
“I said, pssssssst.”
“Yes?” I still don’t look at her. Too chicken shit.
“Would you fuck me if I asked nicely?”
I cough on my glass of whiskey, glancing over at her, lounging on her brother’s couch in a vintage sweatshirt that reps my team.
It covers her whole body, showing me no skin or insinuating anything scandalous.
Yet, the question enters my head and the answer shoots all the way down to the place where it should run from.
That question has me imagining lies beneath all those clothes.
That question has me considering what would happen if I said yes.
“What?”
She’s always been forward, but never this forward.
She wraps the end of her ponytail between her fingers. A small smile forms on her mouth. “Would you?”
“Ariana,” I grumble, leaning forward. I run a hand over my jaw, focusing on the scratch of my beard rather than the tone of her voice. “Don’t ask me shit like that.”
“Why not?” she asks, and I don’t look at her. I can’t. “It’s just a question.”
“Because you are Forker’s sister,” I remind her bluntly, risking a look at her. I keep my voice low, knowing that my buddies are in the next room. Her brother is in the next room. “And entertaining that question is something that neither of us should be doing.”
“So, no?” she asks, cocking a brow as she brings her martini to her mouth.
“Jesus,” I hiss. Yes. Yes, I would want to.
She’s insanely attractive. I’d fucking collapse at the idea, probably, but I wouldn’t.
I couldn’t. Ever. He’s my friend. My defensive partner.
My brother, for all intents and purposes, and it would kill him.
“Don’t ask me that question and I won’t have to consider what I would or wouldn’t do. ”
A sly grin spreads across her mouth. “So, yes.”
“Ariana,” I say again, shooting her a look of warning. Her face is pure mischief, loving the way she can make me react. She smelled it on me that first day we met on the ice, I think. She saw what she wanted and was entertained by how much it rattled me.
“Oh, how the plot thickens.”
Please stop. Please stop, I’m only human, and you are the most intoxicating, thrilling person I have ever met.
That, and the fact that you are completely and utterly off-limits.
This has to stop. I have willpower but it isn’t made of steel.
I’m just a man, and men are notorious for being fucking morons.
“You have to cut this shit out,” I warn her quietly, but a part of me wants her to push it.
I'm intrigued. I want to know if this woman is all talk. I want her to wear me down, but I hope that she doesn’t.
I school her with a stern look as her smile grows.
“If you’re staying here more permanently, this game has to stop. ”
“Game?” she asks, angling her head again. Her pink lips glide along the rim of her glass. “What game?”
“Look,” I say, lowering my head in her direction.
Her eyes drop to my mouth, and fuck, I hate that.
“I’m flattered. Honestly. You’re a beautiful girl, but you know this is inappropriate.
You know your brother would fucking die if I ever looked at you like that.
It’s not going to happen, sweetheart. Ever. Alright?”
Her eyes flicker back up to mine. That glossy smile grows. All straight, white teeth and fucking chaos. “All I heard was that you think I’m beautiful.”
Lord, help me.
“Enough.”
“Or what?” she asks, tilting her head again. “You’ll punish me?”
Her brother walks back into the room at the perfect time. I’m sure that with three more sentences from that mouth, and two more seconds looking at the trouble in those eyes, my dick would get a bit stiff and I’d have to sit here and will it away while she smiled at my misery.
“I swear to god, if you’re bothering him, I’m sending you to your room.
” Forker glances down at her. I shift, trying to let my blood settle throughout my body rather than in one specific area.
Ariana flashes him an innocent smile before her eyes cut back to me, so Forker looks my way for confirmation. “Is she behaving?”
“She’s fine,” I mutter, taking a big sip of whiskey. I need to get out of this house. I am counting down the seconds until I can leave. Get away from her. Go home to my fist and a good video starring someone who looks nothing like her.
I feel her smiling at my discomfort, blessed that she struck a nerve.
And the game keeps on being played, even though I haven’t moved my piece from the starting position on the board.