The Game Series (18 page)

In approximately two days, this relationship should be over.

But it won't be. I can't see myself letting her go now.

Ever since we returned from Vegas, we've been together almost constantly. It's as if me realizing I'm in love with her has changed everything.

She's changed, too, though. She laughs more now. She smiles more. Maddie has a little light in her eyes that wasn't there before.

She presses a soft kiss to my lips, and I circle her waist with my arms, pulling her in closer to me. She squeals a little and puts her hands on my shoulders to steady herself. Her fingers dig in, and it makes me pull her closer. Her knees bend, and I open my legs so she can rest them on the chair. She does, and I slide my hands down to her hips.

“Can I help you?” I pull back slightly and smile at her. Her eyes flutter open, and she nods, pulling the corner of her top lip into her mouth. “What is it, Angel?”

“Let’s dance." She straightens, taking my hands from her hips and linking our fingers.

“I don't dance,” I protest lamely, trailing behind her.

She flashes me a coy look over her shoulder. “You do now.”

“Really, I don't.”

She pulls me into the throng of grinding bodies and drops my hand. Her fingers hook into the waistband of my jeans. My dick twitches. She yanks me towards her, right up against her. Her boobs press against my chest, and she looks up into my eyes slowly. It's a seductive move that would be wrong on anyone but her.

Her lips curl upwards slightly. “Really, Bray. You do dance.”

She trails her hand round my body, her fingertips brushing the skin beneath my shirt. Her hand comes to rest on my back, the other up on my shoulder. She looks at me expectantly.

Slowly, I trail a finger along her arm to her shoulder. I let my hand fall down her back to cup her hip. The other follows the same pattern but instead of her hip, I cup her ass. I pull her even closer to me and breathe into her hair. My head ducks until my lips brush her ear.

“Okay, Maddie. I dance,” I say. “Only for you, though.”

Her hips begin to sway with the beat of the music. They move side-to-side and her breath is heavy on my neck. Her whole body rubs against me, and when her hips grind against mine, I hold her in place against me. My rock solid dick presses into her hip and stomach. Her breath catches. Her hand moves to my hair, and she fans her fingers in it, holding me to her.

She moves again, and her leg rubs my thigh. I move my hand from her ass and grip her thigh, guiding it to hook around my hip. She lets me. I reposition myself so I press against the center of her pelvis and she gasps. I encourage her to move again, to the beat of the music.

She does. Shy Maddie has gone, and in her place is a Maddie I didn't know existed. As her hips writhe against me, I clench my teeth. I want to push everyone out the way, hold her against the wall and fuck her.
Hard.

Her breathing quickens against my neck, and her leg clenches.

“Braden,” she whimpers. “No....”

“Yes.” I kiss her neck, cupping her ass with both hands. I move my hips against her, and she whimpers again, burying her face in my neck.

“Come on, Angel,” I whisper against her skin. “Let go.”

She does.

I lean back and capture her lips with mine as her body tenses all over. She quivers in my arms and I swallow her cry, sweeping my tongue through her mouth.

“Upstairs,” I mutter. “Fucking now.”

I pull her through the crowd on shaky legs. Need for this girl is overtaking me and I'm pretty damn sure I can't hear a thing apart from the pounding of my own heart.

I press her against my bedroom door and kiss her deeply. She winds her hands into my hair as I feel blindly for the handle. She slips her hand into the front pocket of my jeans, brushing my dick, and extracts the key. I take it from her and pull away for a second to put it in. I turn the key, pull it out, and turn the handle.

My lips meet Maddie's again greedily as she walks backwards through the door. I push the door shut, and her hands have moved down. She rips my top over my head. I grab the hem of her dress - thanking her silently for wearing one - and pull it off her. She pops open the button of my jeans and falls backwards to the bed. I barely stop to pull my clothes off.

Absently, I open the drawer, grab a condom, roll it on, and peel Maddie's underwear away from her. I lean over her, and she opens her legs, instantly wrapping them around my waist. She reaches out and positions me, her hips off the bed.

I move into her in one swift movement, hissing at how slick and wet she is from her orgasm downstairs. She wraps her legs tighter around me, and her hips meet me thrust for thrust. She scratches at my back as hers arches into me.

She tightens and relaxes around me as we move hard and fast. Sweat slicks our bodies. She digs her fingernails into my skin to keep hold of me as she begins to cry out. I clench my teeth, and she screams out my name. I move again, faster. I grunt out her name and collapse on top of her, absolutely exhausted.

Her heart pounds against her chest, against my chest. I lift my head and kiss her slowly.

“Okay?”

“Mmhmm,” she replies in a sleepy voice. She smiles slightly and shuts her eyes again.

I chuckle and pull out of her, taking off the condom and throwing it in the trash. “C'mere.”

I pull the covers back, and she scuttles under them. I climb over her and pull the covers over us, pulling her into my arms, both of us oblivious to the music pumping downstairs.

“Bray?”

“What, Angel?” I run my fingers through her hair.

“I
.... Never mind.” She shakes her head and curls into me. I sigh and kiss her temple, holding her tighter.

Yeah,
I think.
I love you, too.

~

I wake to the smell of coffee and hair tickling my face. I open my eyes and look straight into Maddie's grinning face. She's straddling me, fully clothed and looking fresher than possible.

“Good morning!” she chirps, leaning forward and pressing her lips to mine.

“Mm,” I mumble, my hands sliding up her thighs. “Can we wake up this way every day? Maybe a little less material, though?”

She laughs and rolls to the side, flopping onto the mattress. She grabs a take-out cup from the nightstand, and rolls back, resting it on my stomach. “For you.”

“You're very happy this morning,” I say, studying her. “Not that I mind.”

She grins again. “Dad called early – I think he forgets the time difference sometimes – and told me about his doctor's appointment on Friday. Doc changed his medication again. Dad's not happy but they should help him more, give him more of a drive to do things, so I'm happy. I think that when he's used to it he'll be happier.”

“That's awesome news.” I grin and lean over, kissing her gently. Her dad isn't someone we’ve spoken about a lot, but I know how important he is to her. I know, like with everything else, she'll tell me more when she's ready.

She nods happily, her curls bouncing around her face. “Yes!” Her face drops a little. “They've tried so many times but nothing works. But it's not really a case of mental health with Dad, it's more a case of a broken heart. You can't cure a broken heart with anything but the love that broke it in the first place. He'll always be a little broken, I think.”

“Hey.” I lean round her and put the coffee down, propping myself up on my elbow. “It's okay to be a little broken, Maddie. Your Dad is a little broken for your mom but is a lot whole for you.”

She brightens suddenly, leaning forward and touching my cheek. “Thank you,” she murmurs, brushing her lips against mine. “How do you always make me feel better?”

I drop down and grab her waist, pulling her on top of me. She sweeps her hair to one side, letting it fall down over us like a fiery curtain.

“It's because I like seeing you happy.” I sit up, tightening my hold on her. Her arms wind around my neck, and she smiles shyly.

“Maybe I like being happy.”

“Good.” I dip my head and kiss her, tracing the seam of her lips with my tongue.

“Hey,” she mutters, pulling back. “I have work to do.”

“A work-out?” I grin wolfishly.

Her lips twitch upwards. “No. Schoolwork, Braden. Remember that?”

“No.”

“Maybe you should try to.”

“When I could work you instead? No thanks.”

She laughs and shoves me backwards, dropping down and kissing me one last time. “Get your lazy ass out of bed.” She jumps off the bed and grabs her purse from my desk.

I roll out of bed and run across the room.

“Braden! You're still naked!”

I grin and grab her, linking our hands and kissing her. I graze my teeth along her bottom lip, and she shivers, stepping back.

“Have fun, Angel.” I wink at her and launch myself back on the bed, pulling the covers over me.

She smirks at me over her shoulder and opens the door. “Try to do something productive today.”

“I will.”

She closes the door, and I reach for the coffee. Lying in bed thinking about her counts as productive
....

Right?

I relax back on the bed a little. For the first time in months, I feel like I can actually let go.

Pearce has left California – I don't need to be a mind-reader, but he has no reason to stay here. I made it clear that he wasn't getting any help from me anymore. I have my own life to think about now, my own growing up to do. I can't be the grown up for both of us anymore.

And judging by the still-untitled essay on the page in front of me, I have a long way to go on the growing up scale. But life is like an essay: you just have to find the right words to put it together.

Someone knocks at the door quietly. I frown and look at Megan. She shrugs a shoulder and focuses back on her school work. I move my books over and slide off the bed, wondering who it could be. Lila would walk right in and Kay... Well, it's no surprise we have no idea where she is.

Braden's bright blue eyes crash into mine when I open the door.
Shit shit shit shit!

“What are you doing here?” I hiss, pulling the door closed behind me.

“I came to see my girl.” He kisses me.

“Braden, this is the girl's dorm! You'll get your ass kicked by Kay if she finds out you've been here.”

“You could at least act happy to see me.”

“I'm a little surprised.” And panicking. Panicking, yes. Yes. Ah. Shit.

“Can I come in?” He knocks on the door, and springs creak inside. “Who's that if Kay's not here?”

“Megan,” I squeak out. “We're doing school work.”

He frowns. “Angel, are you okay? You sound a little.... Off.”

“I'm just worried you'll be caught.” Or that I will be.

“Let me in then. She won't find out.”

“We could always go out,” I offer.

Braden frowns and moves around me. Before I can say anything, he pushes the door open.

Megan is scrunching a large piece of paper into a ball. That and a corner of paper on the wall are the only telltale signs anything was there.

“What are you doing?” Braden says with a hint of amusement, looking at Megan.

“Nothing.” She smiles nervously. “Just, er, collecting some trash. Maddie has loads of it in her room.”

I follow Braden's eyes as he looks around the room. The spotless room.

“This room is cleaner than a hospital, Meggy,” he says. He turns to me. “Is everything okay?”

I nod. “It's fine. Meg, why don't you put that
trash
in the trashcan?”

She beams. “Good idea, Maddie. Good idea.” She throws it across the room and it lands in the basket Kay and I use.

“You two are acting weird. Are you sure that was trash?” Braden looks between us.

“Positive.” I nod again.

It doesn't stop his suspicious look. Megan fidgets uncomfortably.

“Why do I get the feeling you're hiding something from me? Especially you, Meggy,” Braden asks.

“I don't know,” she squeaks.

“Let's go out.” I pat his arm and slip my feet into some pumps.

“You
are
acting weird. What was that? Really?”

“Nothing!” I tug at his arm.

Braden shakes me off and crosses the room towards the trashcan. I look at Megan, panic welling inside me. She returns my fearful look with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. I stare at her, unable to move my eyes towards Braden as I hear the crinkling of paper being unwrapped. 

My stomach is churning. Great big elephants are somersaulting in it. I want to be sick.

“'Operation Play the Player?'” He looks at Megan first then me. “Enlighten me, girls. What exactly was the point? I think I have a pretty good idea.”

Breathe, Maddie, breathe.

“Come on!” he says loudly. “What are you so desperate to hide?”

“To make you fall in love,” Megan says softly, dragging her eyes away from me and towards him.

“With Maddie?”

“With Maddie,” she clarifies, looking down.

“The whole time? That's what it was? A game?”

“Yes,” she whispers.

Tense silence spreads through the room, and I still haven't let my breath out. I can't. I meet his eyes, finally. I....

“Congratulations, you won.” He looks at me, his eyes raw with pain yet his face completely blank. “Consider it a success, Maddie. You got what you wanted.”

He sweeps past me, and the breath finally whooshes from my lungs. That movement jolts me into action, and I realize.

He knows. He's leaving.

It's not true. It's not a game. It's real. It's as real as anything I've ever known.

“Braden!” I yell, turning from Megan and flying down the dorm stairs after him. “Braden!”

I shove the heavy main door open, and he's walking down the pavement towards the frat house, his head hanging.

“Braden!” I yell one last time, desperation tinging my voice.

He stops, looks over his shoulder at me, and shakes his head. He keeps on walking. He disappears around the corner.

I collapse back against the wall and cover my mouth with my hand. Tears brim in my eyes, and I shake my head the same way he did. A heavy feeling is settling in my chest with the weight of the elephants that were somersaulting in my stomach earlier. My stomach clenches and I know
.... I know whatever we had is gone. It's lost.

Because I didn't remove that stupid poster six days ago, when I should have.