CHAPTER SEVENTEEN #2
“I’m in no hurry.” He picks up his beer and takes a slow swig, his throat moving in a fascinating way.
It doesn’t take long for me to get the new game set up, and soon the haunting opening music starts as the title Fate of the Fae appears on the screen.
I let the opening animation play, telling the tale of how Faerie used to be peaceful until the Dire God rose to power.
He built magical walls that fractured the land into separate domains to isolate and control everyone more easily.
Now a band of various types of fae must unite into a fellowship, each bringing different skills to aid their quest. They must gather all of the Harmony Crystals, take them deep into the bowels of the Dread Keep, and bring down the walls, reuniting all of Faerie.
“Sounds a little familiar.” He smirks at me.
“Naomi told us some of what happened in Faerie. I felt inspired.”
He leans close, his voice a low purr. “You do know I was one of the fae who helped reopen the doors of Faerie.”
I swallow and nod. Even more than his looks, thinking of Shadow doing all kinds of heroic shit is a total panty melter.
“I can’t wait to see what you created.”
I choose one of my mid-stat avatars, a human witch with a strong constitution and an arsenal of useful spells.
I played Fate of the Fae a lot while we ran it through beta testing, making sure we got all the kinks worked out, but haven’t played it in over a year, since I already know how to find all the best loot and beat all the bosses.
The game begins in an orc pub as cloaked figures meet in the corner, whispering of the quest. I sneak close to overhear their talk of a nearby cave system rumored to contain a special dagger that can kill cavewights, called Wight’s Bane.
It’s one of the smaller quests, designed to be playable by a multiplayer co-op or a good solo player.
“Is that me?” Shadow leans forward, squinting at the character who just threw back his hood. He’s tall and gorgeous, with long black hair and brilliant green eyes.
“No!” I lie.
But the characters start to talk, and all the clever dialogue I was so proud of last year comes back to bite me in the ass.
“It is me!” the werepanther crows, pointing emphatically at the screen. “The elf just called him ‘Cat.’”
“It’s his nickname. He’s totally not a cat sith.” I don’t admit the character is a type of fae I made up called a shadow walker, because then Shadow will totally know it’s based on him.
I cast a Teleport Spell to take us from the pub to the opening of the cave, hoping he’ll drop it once he can’t see the Cat character anymore.
No such flipping luck.
He leans over to murmur into my ear. “You wrote me into your game, my wife.”
His hot breath makes me shiver so hard I almost don’t see the cavewight that leaps out of a crevice, heading straight toward my avatar. I throw a Fireball Spell at the last second, barely making it out alive.
It keeps going like that. I try to focus on the quest, but Shadow constantly distracts me, leaning too close or pressing his knee to mine. One time he even grabs my thigh, his big hand wrapping over the top and squeezing until my entire body tingles.
By the time my character defeats the mini-boss and holds Wight’s Bane in her hand, I’m a wrung-out, panting mess.
“Do you want to play?” I hold out the controller.
“I very much want to play.” In a flash, the controller rests on the coffee table, and Shadow’s long fingers wrap around mine. He grins hot and wicked, his tongue teasing one of his fangs as he leans close to purr, “With you.”
My body lights up like he flipped a switch. I don’t even care right now if this is some kind of game for him. I want.
I want to be touched. I want to not feel alone. I want to let go and have fun for a change.
And god, do I want him shirtless. All those times I watched him work in the backyard, showing off his wide shoulders, firm pecs, and flat abs.
That time I caught him getting out of the shower.
I want all of that skin up close. And discovering our gaming compatibility adds the headiest dose of my own personal catnip.
A flash of magic stirs in my chest and bursts through my fingers in a dizzying rush.
His green dress shirt gives an all-over wiggle, then starts to unbutton itself.
“If you wanted me naked, you only had to ask,” Shadow purrs, his grin hot and wicked.
“I… I didn’t do this!” It’s a lie, totally, one-hundred percent untrue.
The shirt peels open, sliding off first one arm, then the other, as if invisible hands undress him.
Kinda my invisible hands, because the shirt’s doing exactly what I wanted when my magic activated. Heat flares across my cheeks, and I press my actual hands to my face to muffle my embarrassed moan.
The shirt slides off Shadow’s second wrist, then wriggles off the couch and across the floor.
“See, you want me.” His rich chuckle makes my thighs clench. “And I’ve wanted you for a very, very long time.”
“How long?” The words slip out before I can stop myself.
“Since the first moment I saw you.” He brushes his fingers over my cheek, sending shivers through me. Then he cups my chin and pulls me forward.
I sway, then catch myself. Jerking out of his grasp, I leap to my feet. I can’t let this happen, and it’s not only the consummation clause of the marriage contract stopping me. It’s not even my worry that this is all a game for him. It’s something far flipping worse.
I’m not a virgin, but I’ve also only been with a couple of guys, and the sex was never very good.
But I don’t blame them.
I blame me.
I’m the one who’s broken. I’m the one who can’t come with another person. Hell, I can’t even masturbate successfully all the time.
It’s embarrassing enough with regular guys, but with someone like Shadow, it’s flipping excruciating. He exudes an effortless sensuality that makes it clear pleasure is so not a problem. Sexiness flows from the werepanther like heat lines from summer blacktop.
How do you tell a guy like him that you can’t come?