19. Willow
WILLOW
We spend the next two hours playing games and making stupid bets. I won the air hockey game by one point, so he’s been trying to think of different ways to bribe me this entire time. Each game, the bets get a bit more.
So far, he owes me Starbucks, a movie date, and if I get the job, I want to go shopping for a new plant for my office.
Apparently we all get our own offices at the firm.
I owe him a date to the tree lighting in downtown Detroit, another date at The World’s End for burgers, and also a massage.
I’m kind of sad I lost that one. I would’ve gotten a back massage.
“Twenty minutes until the arcade closes,” a voice says over the loudspeaker.
“Time for one more game?” I ask, and he nods.
“How about ski ball?” he asks, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Fine, but no bets this time.”
“Why not?”
“Because I told you I suck at ski ball. It’s the one game I’m terrible at.”
“Oh, stop. There were a few games tonight that you were…”
“Stop,” I shush him by standing on my tiptoes and placing my hand over his lips.
I can feel him smile against my palm, and it causes my butterflies inside to flutter. I lower my hand, but he takes it and kisses my knuckles before letting me go.
“Fine. No bets. Seems a bit unfair but okay.”
“Okay. One game of ski ball.”
I turn on my heel and head toward the other side of the arcade. We decide to play just the basic high score mode, taking turns back and forth for nine balls each. The game goes fast because I lose, horribly.
“See. I told you, I suck.”
“Your aim is just off a little.”
“I just think that this game hates me. Like it literally puts a barrier around the holes.”
“Can I try something?” he asks.
“Sure, what?”
“Here, turn around.”
He presses the button again, letting the balls fall down the ball release. He steps behind me, then his hands lower to my hips until I’m directly in front of him, and his strong chest is right against my back.
Okay, I wish I didn’t drink that White Claw so fast because I could use a sip now to calm my nerves.
I can feel his muscles shift as he moves behind me.
He leans, pulling my hair to the side and placing his lips close to my ear.
His warm breath runs along my neck, and I can feel the goosebumps spreading along my body.
“Pick up a ball, Willow.”
I grab one and wait, keeping my eyes locked on the game in front of me. My heart is racing. His left hand returns to my hip, and he slightly angles my body. His right hand cups around mine and lowers my arm to my side.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
My voice can barely be heard over the music. His lips are still so close to my neck I can practically feel them on me.
“I’m going to teach you how to play Skee-ball.”
My body moves in sync with his like a puppet being controlled by its master. He pulls my arm back and tightens his hold on my hip. I can feel his body pressed against mine, and I swear to God, this feels like a dream.
“I want you to focus on the one-hundred-point hole.”
“What. I can’t hit…”
“Willow, focus. You can do whatever you set your mind to. And I’m right here to help you.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Good girl.”
Fuck. My body nearly melts when he says those words. I think he knows they affected me because I can feel him smile against my neck.
“Focus. Breathe in.”
I take a deep breath in, focusing only on the top left corner’s hole. The one-hundred-point spot. The one that I’ve never hit in my entire life.
Everything else in the room seems to freeze as our arms move forward together. I release the ball with him, and we watch as it rolls up the ramp and goes right into the one-hundred-point hole.
“I did it! Holy shit! It worked.”
I practically scream as I turn around and jump into his outstretched arms. My arms instinctually wrap around his neck, and his wraps around my waist, holding my body against his.
I can feel his face pressed against the side of my head, his lips caressing my temple as I wrap my arms tighter around him.
“You did it, Willow. See, I told you that you could.”
He kisses my cheek as he sets me back onto the ground. He takes my hands in his, and I suddenly feel so stupid for acting like a kid over a game.
“Sorry. I just got excited. I’ve never hit that target before.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
He’s still holding my hands and his head is tilted slightly to the side as if he’s confused by my apology.
“I shouldn’t have jumped into your arms. It’s just a game.”
I try to pull away, but he won’t let me.
“Willow…” The soft way he says my name has my nervous energy calming. How can he do that so easily? “Don’t ever apologize for being excited over something. No matter how big or how small. If it made you happy, it’s worth the excitement.”
He reaches up and brushes a few strands of my hair away from my face before cupping my chin.
Oh fuck. Is he going to kiss me? I promised Jenna that if he tried, I would kiss him.
But should I really be kissing him? He’s my soon-to-be boss's son for fucks sake.
Aren't there rules against this sort of thing? I shouldn’t…
“Stop overthinking things, Little Rabbit,” he whispers.
I didn’t even realize he had leaned so close. His hand has moved from my chin to my cheek and is now slowly sliding into my hair. His other hand is on my hip, firmly holding me in place like he never wants to let me go.
“Can I kiss you?” he practically begs.
His lips are so close to mine I can feel the sparks already.
“Kiss me,” I whisper.
His hand goes to the back of my head and pulls me into him with a bruising kiss. It’s heat. Pure raw heat passing between us. Like he’s been dying to do this all night but has been holding himself back. He’s devouring me.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.