Romance Rivals Page 3

  I stared so hard I let the balloon slip right through my fucking fingertips.

  “Looks like I’m not the first to drop it,” Alison said, grinning.

  “Stop being so damn distracting with your idiotic movements and I won’t drop it,” I said.

  “Come on, quit being a sore loser and toss it back.”

  But it only took me staring one more time for that damn balloon to slip through my fingers again.

  And burst at my feet.

  “Seriously? Did you put butter on those things?” she asked.

  “Can’t handle a bit of loss?” I asked.

  “Hey, not my fault we lost. I didn’t drop that thing once. I always win, and you’ve always been jealous of that fact.”

  “There is literally nothing about you I see to be jealous of.”

  She came closer to me, our voices raising.

  “I’ve beat you at everything we’ve ever done, Keith. And you can’t stand it. You hate me for it, and that’s why you made my life a living nightmare ever since we were kids,” she said.

  “You might have beat me back then, but you can’t do it now,” I said.

  She grinned. “Well, why don’t we ask everyone whose ribs were better, then?”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Hey, Hutch!”

  “Yeah?” he called out.

  “Shut that mouth of yours,” I growled.

  “Whose ribs were better?” she yelled.

  And a chorus of people rose their voices, chanting Alison’s name.

  I shot daggers through my eyes at Hutch as he slowly pointed to Alison. He shrugged his shoulders in a pathetic excuse for an apology, then slipped his arm around Heather’s shoulders and walked off.

  Some fucking friend.

  “Fine,” I said.

  “Fine, what?” Alison asked.

  I panned my gaze back to hers. “If you really think you’re such hot shit, then come to my game night tonight.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah. Come and let me mop the floor with you. We play with real money, which means real stakes.”

  “Ah, big-boy panties. I like it,” she said, grinning.

  “Come prove your superiority at a table of men who can wipe you clean of the money you bring, and then we’ll see who’s the winner. Tonight. My place.”

  She smiled. “You’re on. And when I win, maybe you’ll admit once and for all that you really can’t beat me.”

  CHAPTER 6

  ALISON

  I was ready to tear Keith a new asshole at his pathetic little game night. I’d gone to the bank and drawn out three hundred dollars. A third of it in tens, a third of it in ones, and a third of it in various coins. I was going prepared, and I’d invited Heather to come with me. Well, I was the second person to invite her. Hutch had been the first. Even still, I was ready to finally stick it to that pompous asshole once and for all.

  And at his own fucking game night.

  “Alison?”

  “Yeah, Mom?” I called out.

  “Heather’s coming up,” she said.

  I smiled as I put the finishing touches on my outfit, waiting for my best friend to come up the stairs. I packed the money into my purse and threw it over my shoulder, ready to go get some dinner with her before we picked up alcohol for the night.

  I wanted something good to toast my victory over.

  “You and him have always been at each other’s throats,” she said.

  I caught her reflection in my dresser mirror as she leaned against the doorway.

  “Hey, Heather,” I said, smiling.

  “When are you going to leave that poor boy alone?” she asked.

  “When he stops being a little shit.”

  I turned around and gave her a massive hug.

  “Thanks for coming with me tonight,” I said.

  “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. It’s going to be a showdown.”

  “Excited to see Hutch?”

  She shrugged as the two of us went to go sit on the edge of my bed.

  “I mean, I don’t know him very well. We didn’t go to the high school in town, so a lot of these people I don’t know,” she said.

  “Going to an accelerated high school doesn’t mean you haven't heard of Hutch,” I said.

  “Yeah, and what I’ve heard of someone still doesn’t mean I know them.”

  I shrugged. “Well, he’s pretty much a shameless flirt. As you’ve already figured out. But I think he’s really into you.”

  “And what about Keith?” she asked, grinning.

  “Uh, what about him?”

  “Oh, come on.”

  “Come on, what?”

  “This little thing between you guys? Always going back and forth? It’s like a guy pulling a girl’s hair on the playground because he likes her.”

  I grimaced. “That’s abuse, Heather. You don’t do that to someone you like.”

  “So you mean to tell me you absolutely hate Keith’s guts?” she asked.

  “Yes. I really do.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe you one bit, you know.”

  “And that’s fine if you don’t. But trust me when I tell you that Keith is as much of a jerk as Hutch is a flirt.”

  “He might just act like a jerk because you’re a total bitch to him.”

  “Hey!”

  “I’m just saying! And I mean, he’s a jerk. Maybe. But he’s a handsome jerk,” she said.

  “That just makes it worse,” I groaned.

  The two of us laughed before I stood up.

  “Come on. I don’t know what kind of game night this is, but I don’t think we should go empty-handed,” I said.

  “You mean with the alcohol?” Heather asked.

  “No, I mean, we should also take a game. Come on. My mother’s got a few stashed away in the linen closet down the hall.”

  We went and raided the games, plucking out a couple to take with us. We climbed into Heather’s car, found a nice place for dinner, and drove to pick up two bottles of wine. Then, we came back to my place. We carried everything over to Keith’s house, my heart slamming against my chest.

  I was ready to bury this dickhead once and for all.

  “So, what’s your strategy tonight?” Heather asked.

  I knocked on the door. “To win.”

  She laughed. “Anything else?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. I’m a harsh competitor and losing isn’t in my vocabulary.”

  “You were always like that. Even in high school.”

  “Damn straight.”

  “Will you be using all your… assets… for tonight?” she asked.

  I peeked over at her and saw her wiggling her eyebrows.

  “I’ll do what I have to do in order to come out on top. Whatever it takes,” I said.

  “Oh, I’m so glad I said yes to Hutch’s invitation,” Heather said, giggling.

  Hutch opened the door and quickly ushered us in. He took the two bottles of wine from us before coming back for the games. There were several men standing around, to which Hutch quickly introduced us. I shook hands and smiled politely, like my mother taught me to do.

  While I mentally prepared to kick their ass, like my father taught me to do.

  I saw Keith setting up the game table, sliding chairs underneath and making sure things were perfect. I saw Hutch walk our games over before he pointed to me and Heather and then took the games from Hutch. He tossed them mindlessly onto the couch before continuing his setup, and I crossed my arms over my chest.

  “Wow,” Heather said.

  “Rude,” I murmured.

  “You fired up for the event tonight?” Hutch asked.

  I turned my back to Keith, not giving a damn how angry he was at tonight. He knew what was coming. He knew his ass was about to get whooped.

  Apparently, the man was a glutton for punishment.

  “I came to win, so yes. I’m very fired up,” I said, grinning.

  Hutch chuckled. �
��A titan versus a titan! Classic.”

  “Everyone ready for the first game?” Keith asked.

  We all spun around and saw a setup for Jenga sitting in the middle of the table.

  “Really? That’s it?” I asked.

  Keith ignored me as he clapped his hands together.

  “The rules are simple. We play a game until one person is deemed the loser. The first to make the bricks fall in Jenga has to bow out. Then, we move onto the next game. We play until it’s down to two people, then Risk comes out to declare the winner,” he said.

  “Where does the money come into play?” I asked.

  He grinned. “That’s for the betting. Before we begin, everyone places their money into the jar with the name of the person they think is going to take it all. And when there’s a winner declared, those who bet on that particular person get to split all the money used to bet in the first place.”

  “Right,” I said flatly.

  “Now, go on. Place your bets,” he said.

  Everyone hovered around a small table in the corner. Everyone pretty much divvied up their funds evenly, guaranteeing some sort of a return. They put their names on a small list to denote who bet on whom, but I knew better than that. I took out all my money and shoved it into my jar. Then, I looked back at Keith before I wrote my name down on the list in front of my jar.

  “Figures,” he murmured.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  “Everyone take your seats!” Hutch exclaimed.

  Heather stood off to the side as I sat down at the table. And as beers were passed out, Jenga began. The tower got wobblier by the second, and I was forced to pull from the bottom in the hopes that making this thing top heavy meant it would go down on the man next to me.

  My risk paid off, and we were on to the next game.

  “Now, for a game that requires more critical thinking,” Keith said.

  We moved onto Pictionary as we continued to throw back beers. And while the crowd was enjoying themselves, I kept pitting myself against Keith, challenging him, taunting him. And in return, he did the same. Which only lit a fire underneath my ass to bury him.

  I mean, I knew how I worked. I knew I needed his need to beat me in order to push myself further on down the line.

  The first to get it wrong in Pictionary had to bow out, and then it was time for Jeopardy. Then, poker. And after that, blackjack. I was neck and neck with Keith, watching him grow frustrated as his friends got shut out by my skills and my guts. My moves and my quick thinking.

  We sat down at the table together as the hardest game of all was placed in front of us.

  Risk.

  This game required strategy and determination. Grit and forward thinking. It was the essence of competition, and I loved this game. I’d played it with my father while growing up. And now, I’d use it to lay Keith out on the floor once and for all.

  A couple of groans rose from the crowd while Hutch set up the game. Yes, it was a long one. And yes, they’d have to sit there for a while in order to collect on their money. But I was one winning game away from taking all of this.

  Keith looked nervous, too.

  He wouldn’t give up so easily, that much I knew. Which meant I might have to resort to my assets in order to take him out. Some sort of a distraction that would cause him to veer off course, like he had naturally during the balloon toss.

  Maybe I’ll use my assets after all, Heather.

  Then, with a roll of the dice, the game began.

  CHAPTER 7

  KEITH

  The game dragged on, and neither I nor Alison truly got the upper hand. Those grumbling over the game slowly trickled out the door, murmuring things like “we’ll get our money tomorrow” or “keep it, I gotta get home.” But I had no time for sore losers. I had no time to pay attention to how restless Hutch and Heather were becoming. I had to place all my attention on this game. On Alison’s moves.

  On finally beating her and toning down that damn ego of hers.

  I hated to admit it, but she was an excellent strategist. A great competitor. This was the most fun I’d had at game night all night. Hutch said something off in the background about walking her to her car, and I waved them off.

  Alison didn’t even acknowledge her friend saying goodbye.

  I groaned as Alison backed me into a corner. My eyes scanned the board, trying to find a way out. My house was empty, and only the light in the living room was on. I sat there for ten minutes contemplating what to do before I finally found a loophole I could exploit.

  And when I did, Alison ground her teeth together.

  I counted my remaining troops as Alison sat back in her chair. She picked up a napkin and dabbed at her forehead, then mindlessly began unbuttoning the top buttons of her dress. My eyes fell to the movements, her prominent cleavage slowly coming into play.

  “Don’t you have air-conditioning or something?” she asked.

  She dabbed the napkin over her chest, and I cleared my throat. I got up from the table to head to the thermostat, desperate to get the air on. I didn’t need any distractions. I didn’t need her pulling any sort of shit on this game. And as I went to walk by her, she stood up and stretched her arms over her head.

  “How long have we been playing?” she asked.

  I caught a whiff of her perfume, and my eyes rolled back. The mixture of floral notes and the scent of rain sent a shiver down my fucking spine. I smoothed by her, feeling the rounded globe of her ass just barely grace my cock.

  Which immediately lurched to life.

  Come on. You need some cold right now.

  I lowered the air to sixty-five degrees, then made my way back to the table. We continued our game of wiping out each other’s troops, the air around us growing cold. I began shivering a bit, cursing the fan whipping around overhead.

  And when I wiped out an entire batch of her troops, she scoffed.

  I looked up and saw her fingertips slowly dancing along her cleavage, tracing the round firmness of her breasts. She bit down onto her lower lip, concentrating as my eyes fell straight to her tits. How jealous I was of her fingers. I wanted to be the one touching those soft, plush mounds of hers.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she rose up toward the board.

  She bent over the table and I had a clear shot right down her dress. Her black bra made my cock throb against my pants. I felt myself leaking for her. I felt myself about to erupt like an eleven-year-old kid at the back of a school bus with his first fucking erection. My teeth yearned to bite down into her, to taste the sweat I saw shimmering against her skin. I had a view of heaven, and I never wanted to let it go.

  She moved a piece of the board and looked up, and I realized just how close she was.

  “Your turn,” she said, grinning.

  She batted her eyelashes, and I felt her breath pulsating against my skin. My eyes fell to her lips, taking in their glossy texture. A wave of desire crashed over me, and I didn’t care about the game any longer. The only thing I cared about was getting my hands on her.

  Getting her underneath me.

  I pressed my head forward, capturing her lips. I felt a grin slid across her cheeks, then her lips puckered back. My hand slid into her hair as my tongue teased the slit of her lips. And when that moan rumbled up the back of her throat, I stood from my chair.

  I slowly walked my way over to her, careful not to nudge the game.

  My cock ached to be released. As I raked my teeth along her lower lip, I felt her hands press into my chest. She fisted my shirt and drew me into her, allowing me to finally feel those soft, massive tits against my chest. Fuck, she felt like a cloud. Soft and luscious, and ready for the taking. It was like falling into a cloud with heaven smiling down at me, and the scent of her perfume drove me wild.

  I groaned down the back of her throat while my tongue explored her.

  The game was forgotten about. My arms wrapped around her body. I pulled her into me, feeling her surprised gasp. I smiled ag
ainst her as my tongue raked over the roof of her mouth. She shook against me, her body trembling as her knees went weak. Oh, she was easy. Pressing her buttons was too easy. And as my hand fisted her hair, I drew her head back so I could look into her eyes.

  “Keith,” she whispered.

  “Looks like you’re not the best at everything,” I murmured.

  Then, I brought her lips back to mine as we collapsed to my couch.

  CHAPTER 8

  ALISON

  It started out as distraction. It was supposed to be distraction. But it morphed into something that felt so damn good. I didn’t even care that Keith just spoke atrocities to my reputation. I didn’t even care that he pulled me onto the couch.

  All I cared about was feeling more of him against me.

  I straddled him as the kiss deepened. I ripped his shirt over his head. His hands massaged my breasts, my excess pouring between his fingers. I ground into him, feeling his massive cock pulse back. My eyes widened as he shot up, his hand wrapping around behind my head.

  “Get back here,” he commanded.

  Our lips crashed together, and he wrapped his arm around the small of my back. In a flash, he flipped me around, my back pressed against the couch. His hand slid my dress up my thighs while my panties grew soaking wet. He kissed down my neck, nibbling and sucking in all the places that made me jump.

  “Oh, Keith,” I moaned.

  “Fuck, I never thought I’d hear you say my name with such pleasure,” he groaned.

  I reached for his pants and unbuttoned them. I shoved them over his ass, feeling the strength of his muscles. His body rolled against me, flexing his pert ass in my palms. His lips fell to my cleavage, and he tickled the skin of my breast with his tongue. I gasped for more as I dipped my hand behind his boxers, feeling how slick his dick was with moisture.

  And holy fuck, he had thickness.

  His hand fisted my hair, contorting and twisting my head. He fell against my body, his chiseled chest molding against my tits. He slid my panties off to the side, his cock falling between my slick pussy folds. And when he pulled back, the tip of his dick caught at my entrance.

  “Tell me what you want,” he whispered.