Her Perfect Game (4 page)

She took the beer he bought her and drank. This whole situation should be awkward, but it wasn't. She was having a beer with her ex-boyfriend and neither one of them acted like it was weird. Jonah always put her at ease. “So what's it like being out in the real world?”

“I'm working at Enigma, but I guess you know that since I told you my company was sponsoring the hackfest. I got the job right after graduation and I really like it. It's a small company, but we're growing.” He halted there, like he had to rethink what he was about to say. “I'm on a team that checks security for some of our games. Most of the games are RPGs. You'd probably like them. Role-playing was always your thing.”

“Yeah, what do you work on?”

“Right now,
The Order of Resskaar
.” He took a drink and waited.

She wanted to play it cool. He'd said he wasn't stalking her, and there were, like, thousands of people who were logged on at any given time. “I play
Resskaar
. It's my go-to for relaxation.”

“Have you completed it yet?”

“Nope. I'm not in any hurry.”

They finished their drinks, and Jonah ordered another round. They spent the next hour talking and laughing. She was able to forget her in-game assault and her past. The night became filled with the enjoyment of hanging out with a friend. When the bottles were empty, Charlie reached for her pocket.

“I think you've had enough. Let me walk you to your room.”

Oh, man. Those were the words she'd wanted to hear, even though she knew it wasn't wise, and his brain wasn't working in the same direction. “Okay.”

She was a little unsteady on her feet, so Jonah held on to her. He was quiet on the elevator ride, but she inched closer to him. The peace of being with him after her miserable gaming experience made her feel warm and fuzzy. Or maybe that was the alcohol. She looked at Jonah's arm on her and spoke with honesty. “I missed you.”

“I've missed you too.”

The elevator dinged on the fourth floor, and Jonah ushered her out and down the hall. Their steps shushed against the carpet, and Charlie wanted to talk, say something, but she didn't know what. At her room, she slid the key card in, and as she pushed the door open, she tugged Jonah inside.

“What are you doing, Charlie?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed in his scent. “I don't want to be alone.”

Charlie held her breath, waiting for him to push her away, but he didn't. His arms came around her and stroked her back. Memories flooded her brain. Jonah holding her, touching her, kissing her senseless. She'd give almost anything to have that again, even if it was only for a night. To feel grounded again.

She turned her head slightly and brushed her lips against his warm neck, and his hands paused on her back. She pressed on, though, kissing his jaw and loving the rough feel of the stubble.

“Charlie.”

“Just kiss me, Jonah.”

She didn't look into his eyes, afraid to know what she'd find, but she knew he wanted to kiss her. If for no other reason, out of sheer curiosity. She kept her eyes closed as she tilted her head.

His lips met hers with tenderness at first. Then they became more insistent, and she softened against him, inviting his tongue into her mouth. His hand reached up and cradled the back of her head, and she wanted more. This heady feeling wouldn't last the night, but Jonah could give her more.

She tugged at his T-shirt, searching for his warm skin. When her fingers met his flesh, he jerked back. “Charlie.”

But she didn't stop.

He grabbed her hands. “Charlie.” Then he waited for her to meet his eyes. “We're not doing this.”

She swallowed hard. His steel gray eyes sparked with lust. She didn't misread the signs. He wanted her. “Why not? Got a girlfriend?”

“No girlfriend. You're well past halfway to drunk. I don't want you to do something you're going to regret in the morning.” He grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward the bed. “Get some sleep and we'll talk tomorrow.”

“What if I don't want to talk tomorrow?”

He sighed. “Then I guess we won't.”

She crawled on top of the covers. “Will you stay and talk for a while if I promise not to molest you?”

He glanced to the other side of the room. “Sure.” He scooted the armchair a little closer to the bed.

“There's room here.” She patted the bed beside her.

He simply shook his head.

“Who is it that you don't trust—me or you? I already gave my word.”

He laughed and stretched his legs out in front of him. The light from the hall cast him in shadows. Between his dark hair and black T-shirt and jeans, he blended into the dark.

She tucked her hands under her head as she lay on her side to watch him talk. “Tell me about the people you work with.”

Jonah accommodated her again and spoke in quiet tones until she became sleepy and struggled to keep her eyes open. He stood, leaned over, and kissed her head.

“Hey, Best?”

“Yeah?”

“I'd never regret you.”

Another heavy sigh came from him, but she didn't know how to interpret it. Then she heard the door close with a quiet thunk.

T
he following morning, Charlie woke with a slight headache and case of cotton mouth. Her gloom from the night before had lifted, and after brushing her teeth, she felt human again. She'd had a good time with Jonah. The anxiety she'd expected to feel around him never surfaced. It was like the last three years were erased, and they were just Best and Castle again. Without the sex.

That part bothered her. She hadn't been drunk. Maybe a little more than buzzed, but she was in control of her faculties and she remembered telling him to come in. And he hadn't shied away from kissing her. But then he'd kept his distance. It was probably for the best. He'd left her so she shouldn't want him. Damn hormones.

But he made everything easy. After the way he'd left, it shouldn't be so easy.

She made herself a barely decent cup of coffee in her room and stared at her costume. Last night, she'd had a fellow player, a teammate, rip it from her body. She questioned whether she wanted to don the real thing. No one on the con floor would tear her clothes off, but it would be a reminder, wouldn't it? She shook her head. She was overthinking again.

Tying her hair back in pigtails, she began her transformation into Laura Nim. Long hair would get in the way of shooting her arrows accurately. Then she took her time spreading the teal body paint on. Unlike many others, her outfit wasn't skimpy. Because of this, she only had to paint her arms, the top of her chest, her neck, and face.

Once the paint was set, she shimmied into the faux leather pants and eased on her vest. She added her pointy ears that would signify her elven nature. With her costume in place, she studied herself in the mirror. The only thing that would really finish it would be the amulet that Win had given her in game. It was the only treasure that she'd kept for herself. Mostly because it had been a gift from Win.

But she wasn't creative enough to make jewelry in the real world. She wasn't even a costume person. Her clothes came right off the rack, so she wouldn't be winning any contests today, but that wasn't really the point, at least not for her. She dressed up so that for a little while, she could escape reality. Before having to cover up and enter a den of dudes for the hackfest later tonight, she could be a sexy archer elf. She'd run into a few
Resskaar
players, and they'd have some drinks and talk about their love for the game.

That's what this week was really about. Being with like-minded people. The hackfest competition and the hope of networking to find a job were bonuses.

She grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows to complete her ensemble. Then she headed downstairs for a day of panels and discussions and fun. She was determined to have some fun this week. Regardless of how Sylvie had ended her life, she would've wanted Charlie to enjoy herself.

In the main hall, vendors filled the space, calling out to attendees, hoping to make sales. She stared at the crowd. The first panel she wanted to see didn't start for another half hour, so she had time to wander.

From behind her, she heard, “Hey, gorgeous.”

Win. He came.
Her heart swelled. She spun and her smile faltered. “Best. Hi.”

He narrowed his eyes a fraction. “Expecting someone else?”

“No, not really. What are you up to?”

“No plans. Just thought I'd scope out the action.” His gaze coasted over her body from the top of her head to the boots on her feet. “Who are you?”

She smiled and extended her hand. “Laura Nim, elven archer, from
The Order of Resskaar
.”

He shook her hand and leaned into a half bow. “Laura Nim. Still using an anagram?”

“Of course.”

As he straightened, he looked up in thought. “Still
Star Wars
?”

“Luminara, Jedi.” She could've given him a few more minutes and he would've figured it out. When they'd played together, they both used anagrams of
Star Wars
characters for their in-game personas. His mind could catalogue possibilities at an amazing speed.

“New hacker name, new RPG name. Anything else?”

She shrugged. Of course she'd changed over the last three years. Who hadn't?

“Why'd you stop using Punisher for hacking?”

Heat rose to her cheeks and she was glad for the paint. Jonah was the only person who knew her hacker name and why she'd chosen it. The vigilante comic book antihero seemed like a good idea at the time. “I was done being that person. It was time to move on.”

He nodded as if he understood, but how could he? He'd left.

“So, now you're Rook?”

“Like the chess piece. The top part looks like a castle turret?” She pointed at herself as if he was slow. “Castle. Get it?”

“I get it. Just seemed too simple for you.”

She gave him a slight shove. “I'm a simple girl, Best. Always have been.”

“Not really.” He said it without humor. There was heat and attraction in his eyes and something else she couldn't quite make out.

“I'm headed to a panel on creating dynamic gaming characters. Want to join me?” Charlie had no idea why she would invite him to spend more time with her. It was a huge mistake waiting to happen. Or maybe it already did. A brief hour ago she'd convinced herself she shouldn't be so easy.

“I was thinking about that one. Let's go.” He took a step forward to walk side by side. “You feel okay after last night?”

“I'm good. I wasn't nearly as drunk as you thought I was.”

“I know, but I wasn't taking any chances. When I take you to bed again, Charlie, you will be totally aware.”

The low rumble of his voice tingled her nerves, and she covered with a haughty laugh. “Maybe that was your only shot and you blew it.”

He leaned close and said, “We both know that's not true.”

She took a sharp turn down the next hall and searched for the right room instead of responding to him. The simple statement should've angered her, but he was right. She'd wanted him last night. She'd want him again. This time, though, she would keep it simple. She'd spend time with him and enjoy the week escaping from her reality.

When she entered the conference room, a tall blue-painted man with bulging tattoos waved.

Leaving Jonah near the door, Charlie rushed ahead to say hi to Derek. He was a regular at this con. They'd met when she came the first time two years ago. He scooped her up and swung her in a big hug. “Hey, good to see you.”

Jonah watched as some dude who could easily be a bodyguard picked Charlie up like she was a toy. Her voice held real affection, unlike the overly friendly greeting he'd gotten from her in the lobby yesterday. The fake had worn off, though, and she was his Charlie again.

As she chatted with her friend, and Jonah chose to believe it was nothing more, he grabbed two seats for them near the back of the room. He sat and watched Charlie talk animatedly with the jolly blue giant.

When he'd caught her in the lobby, he hadn't expected to see her. In truth, he figured she'd be sleeping off her hangover. The words of greeting slipped from his mouth before he could censor them. The look on her face told him that she'd thought he was Win. He should've spilled it right there, but he feared that she would leave. That she wouldn't listen to why he'd been part of her life for more than a year without revealing himself.

It would all sound like bullshit. Even he knew that. Right now, all he wanted was to spend time with her, make sure she really was as okay as she said she was. And maybe see what they could be to each other now. He'd barely slept last night thinking about being with Charlie. She'd said she'd never regret him. He had no idea how much of that was the alcohol talking and how much she really meant, but it was an open door.

That was all he needed.

A guy at the front of the room tapped the microphone to begin. Jonah thought he'd lost Charlie to her friend, but as the moderator introduced the first speaker, Charlie slid into the chair next to him.

“Thanks for saving me a spot,” she whispered. “Any time.”

They sat side by side as friends during the lecture. They laughed at the same jokes and listened to the criticisms of current games. Jonah listened to know what players wanted so he could improve their gaming experience. He didn't know why Charlie wanted in on this panel. Was this where she wanted to take her career?

As they wrapped up questions from the floor, Charlie nudged him. “I'm going to head out to grab some food before the next session. See you later?”

Although he wanted to hear the remaining answers, he found himself asking, “Can I join you?”

“Sure.”

When they were back in the main hall, he reached for her hand to fight against the crowd. She didn't shy away from his touch, so even when the throng of people passed, he continued to hold on, running his thumb along her knuckles.

“Are you flirting with me?”

He stopped and yanked her over near the wall. Doing so made her body collide with his. “Of course I'm flirting with you. I want to kiss you again.”

She tilted her head up. “What's stopping you, Best?

He lowered himself a little. “Why do you call me that?”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “It's your name?”

“My name is Jonah, but the only time you ever called me Jonah was in the bedroom.”

She snorted. “It's a little presumptuous for you to think I should call you Best in the bedroom.”

As much as he wanted a real answer, he couldn't stop the laugh. He loved her snarky humor, and although he'd heard it while playing
Resskaar,
nothing beat it in person.

When his laugh slowed, she leaned in and flicked her tongue on his earlobe. “I call you Best because you taught me a lot. Out here, with the games and the computers and the code, you are the best.” Her breath whispered across his skin, making his pulse quicken. “But in the bedroom, it was just you and me. Everything else stripped away.”

Damn, that was a good reason. Her pale blue eyes shone with honesty.

“How hungry are you?” His voice was strangled and it was her turn to laugh.

“Are you offering something better?”

“When's the next session you want to see?”

“A little over an hour.”

“Let's go to my room.”

Her smile broadened. “Mine's closer.”

He yanked her again, plowing through the crowds and lines, shooting straight for the elevator. When the elevator doors closed, they were crammed in with about eight other people. Charlie pressed against his body.

He looked down to the V on her chest. “How far down does the paint go?”

She ground her hips against his. “You'll have to explore if you want to know.”

Several pairs of eyes looked their way, as if other riders had hoped Jonah would peel away her clothes. Instead, he ran a finger across her waist where her vest met her pants. A simple strip of flesh, smooth against the pad of his finger. “I'm thinking not this far.”

She bumped her hips again, and the bell dinged for her floor. They quietly excused themselves to get through the people and out the door. Their walk to her room was slower than the walk to the elevator had been mostly because Charlie walked backward in front of him, kissing his neck and tripping both of them as they made their way down the hall.

Charlie slid her key card in the slot and they tumbled through the door. The curtains were drawn, and only a sliver of light eked through at the edges. Charlie pulled him deeper into the room. She backed away, and he heard the popping sound of snaps being unfastened.

“Wait,” he said and slid his hand along the wall searching for a light switch. With a quick flick, the bedside lamp glowed, and he saw that Charlie had her vest open.

The blue paint made a wobbly V down the center of her chest. She wasn't wearing a bra and the sides of the vest clung to her breasts. He flipped the vest aside, and she let it slide down her arms and drop to the floor.

She looked down at her skin. A low chuckled sounded. “Maybe I should shower first.”

“No. I can't wait, and all the good parts have no paint.” He lowered his mouth to her nipple and sucked. When the peak stiffened, he moved to the other breast and repeated the action. The sway of her hips demanded he move faster. He kissed his way down her torso and opened the pants. He slid them down her legs, pausing to take note of the fact she wasn't wearing any underwear.

He planted a wet kiss at the top of her trimmed mound, which earned him a groan. Pushing her to sit on the bed, Jonah knelt on the floor and removed her boots and then her pants.