Good Game (The System, #1)

Probably not, but I still nod in return. He slowly releases his grip on my thigh. My heel hits the floor, and I give myself a moment to stand there, the orgasm running through my body still leaving my knees a little jiggly.

As my senses begin to return, the music amplifies and the lights brighten. A quick assessment of my surroundings shows Deanna and the girls dancing in a weird semicircle. I soon realize the way they’re positioned hides Blade and me from prying eyes. Kind of. Blade’s tall as hell.

God damnit. I did it again. Public play without a care in the world.

What was I becoming?

An exhibitionist it seemed like.

Blade tugs on my hand, bringing my brain back to Earth.

“Follow me.”

I give Deanna a quick tap on her shoulder. She turns around, and when her eyes meet mine, they light up with a devious glint, her smile turning serpentine.

“Having fun?” she teases.

I laugh. Even in this heat and with the flush of my orgasm still coursing through me, I feel my cheeks reddening.

“I’m heading out. Is that alright with you? Will you be okay?”

She nods. “Totally, I’ve got Deer and Lee. Don’t worry about me. Just worry about getting that dick.”

I roll my eyes.

“Just remember to use protection.”

“Oh my god, I’m leaving. Text me when you get home.”

“You too,” she winks, “if you make it home.”

I turn back to Blade.

“Still good?” he asks.

“Yup, lead the way, sir.”

His body stiffens for a second, grip tightening, before he laughs and leads me through the sway of moving bodies. The crowd has thickened since we got down here, sweat dripping off skin, liquor filling the air.

We spill out of the dance floor crowd. The air lightens a little in the general access area, but it doesn’t do anything to curb the growing want for more in my body. He speeds us around the tables, bypassing VIP. Blade takes us the opposite way to the entrance. My four-inch heels give me enough height that I can see pretty well over the general crowd to the back exit he seems to be spearing toward.

We are only a few feet away when a hand grabs my wrist, wrenching me back. I slip out of Blade’s grip, which had loosened.

I spin around, face to face with none other than Daniel Decker. Again.

The guy is a cockroach.

He pulls me to his body quickly, leaning down to my ear.

“You should be careful of the company you’re keeping, Stephanie. It’ll put a target on your back.”

It’s a warning. I just can’t tell whether he means it to be malicious or not.

He lets go of me right as Blade pulls me behind his body.

Decker brings his hands up, a surrender.

A growl builds in Blade’s chest. I rest my hands on his back.

“Come on, let’s go.”

He spins back around, guiding me past the two security guards and out the back entrance.

I have no clue what time it is, but the night air is sweet relief against my flushed skin. I tilt my head up to the sky, taking in a deep breath of fresh air. Or as fresh as the air can be in the city.

A white Lincoln MKT pulls up in front of us, and I stare at the limo.

“Wait, where are we going?”

“Do you trust me, Stevie?”

I eye him for a second. I’ve met him twice. We’ve barely had a full conversation, and yet…there’s something in him that calls to me. A connection I can’t pinpoint, but can’t deny.

“Yes.”





TWENTY-TWO




* * *





ALEKS




Thank, fuck.

I open the door and hold my palm up for Stevie to grip as she dips into the car. I eye her ass as she bends to scoot onto the leather seats. My throbbing dick twitches. I swear, my hard on is about ready to break out of my pants.

I make a quick assessment of our surroundings, confirming that there is no one else back here before slipping into the vehicle myself. Technically, the boys and I came here together and picked up Lee on our way. But if they want to leave before I’m done, they can just use one of Lee’s drivers. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass how they get home. It’s my night to be selfish.

I sidle in next to Stevie on the leather, shutting the door. The inside of the limo is dark, save for the lights lining the roof. She instantly hooks one of her legs over mine, her warmth joining mine. I live for the connection, the touch.

I tap on the divider twice, signaling to Francis, our driver, that we are good to go.

I’m not driving us anywhere specific. Just around in various circles until we decide. If we even do. My focus right now is on Stevie. Well, Stevie and myself.

Heat floods my dick in anticipation.

The car takes off, and I reach into the nearby fridge compartment to pull out some bottled water and pass one to her before taking a sip myself.

The club was hot as balls.

“Thanks.” She downs the bottle in what feels like five seconds, and I just stare at her, blinking. “Guess I was a little thirsty.” She laughs, and it is such a sweet sound. I wish I could take her home, hold her in my arms, wake up to her in the morning. But I can’t jeopardize The System. As connected to her as I feel, I won’t put us in danger because of that.

I lean over her and pull out one of the ties we keep stashed in the car for emergency events. This car is stocked with everything, honestly. Sydney foresees every possible scenario, every way we could possibly fuck something up, and plans for it—or she tries to. We each have three changes of clothes in the trunk, protein bars up front, a shaving kit, everything.

Stevie eyes the black tie, brow raised.

“Still trust me?” My voice comes out deep and raspy as I try to keep my desperation at bay.

She smiles. “Enough to see where this goes.”

“Turn around for me.” It’s a small command, nothing too strong.

Her leg slips off mine as she spins so her back faces me. My jaw clenches at the loss of her touch, but I swallow it down as I move to tie the tie around her eyes. It’s not perfect. Not what I would’ve chosen to use if I’d had the time to actually prepare, but it’ll do. She lifts her hair off her smooth neck, giving me better access to tie it. It takes all my restraint not to lean down and taste her.

Once it’s secure, I guide her back around to face me.

“How does that feel?”

“A little tight, but it’s good.”

I hold up one of my hands.

“How many fingers am I holding up?”

She snorts, “Um, I don’t know, four?”

I am holding up four fingers…

I can’t tell if we are just always on the same wavelength or if it’s some weird coincidence. I know she can’t see my fingers, so I just brush it off.

Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I reach up to take off my mask. My fingers fumble a little, nervously twitching. With a deep breath, I pull it off.

My eyes blink a few times, readjusting to the light. It’s dark in the limo, but the LED lights lining the roof bathe it in a slight purple glow. I toss the mask on the seats across from us.

Stevie is a dream in front of me. I catalogue every inch of her, memorizing her lines. Her brown hair is a mess of waves around her face, and the black tie brings focus to her pink, pouty lips. Her skin is still slightly flushed from the club, and her chest rises and falls in pace with my own heartbeat.

“Can I—” she stops, pressing her lips together.

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