Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 561(@200wpm)___ 449(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 561(@200wpm)___ 449(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
I let out a snort. “When you win? That’s adorable. We don’t need to worry about that. But when I emerge victorious, I win…” I tried to think of something good, something that didn’t necessarily involve Jasper Huxley’s naked body. “Um.” I swallowed, making a clicking sound in my dry throat. All I could think of was the naked body thing. “Unlimited Rodrigo visitation without your sassy attitude.”
Hux’s smile was uncomfortably tender. He must have loved that rabbit a lot. “You love my sassy attitude. But those aren’t good stakes because I already have unlimited Rodrigo visitation. So what about…” He tapped his chin and looked up at the ceiling. “You talking about your full-body massage the other day got me thinking. I’ve always wanted one of those.”
“You want me to send you to my massage therapist?” I demanded, annoyed by the image of someone else’s hands on Hux’s body.
Hux scraped his upper lip with his teeth again. “Not exactly.”
Suddenly, the image changed, and I pictured my own hands on Hux’s body… or, just as intriguing, his hands on mine. “Oh.”
“Let’s go. First one to capture a rebel harpy,” Hux said with a laugh. His fingers flew over the controls on his Horn. “Eat my sparrowflox dust.”
We battled viciously, trading insults through our laughter. And even though we were opponents on the quest, Hux tossed me some helium gumballs when I fell into the Vat of Regretful Choices.
It was the most fun I’d had in the game in a long time—maybe ever, even including the games I’d played with Carter. And it reminded me that I didn’t only appreciate Hux for his hands and his smile and the all-consuming way he kissed me, but I genuinely liked him too.
We scaled the final spiny rock wall neck and neck and raced each other toward the herd of rebel harpies in the distance with Hux just a few paces in the lead—well within catching distance. But when he took his Impenetrable Livestock Lasso out of his pack, I swore loudly. His aim with that thing was legendary.
Hux laughed. “Good game, HogDoc. You fought valiantly.”
“It’s not over yet,” I said through gritted teeth.
I couldn’t let him win. It wasn’t about the prizes—I’d love nothing more than to have to give him a massage—it was for bragging rights. I wasn’t ready to give up my claim to being the better HOG player. And if that meant I had to play a little bit dirty… so be it.
“You’re going down HogDoc,” Hux cackled, clicking the game controls maniacally.
“No chance,” I replied, playing my final pair of upgraded turbo boots and hoping for a miracle.
“I have turbo boots too, Kev,” he singsonged, shooting past me again. His victory was all but ensured. “I’m taking the harpy, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“I’m a virgin,” I blurted. “And I was kinda hoping you could do something about that instead.”
I saw him turn toward me out of the corner of my eye. My face flushed, but I focused on reaching the harpy herd. Just as I reached for the closest harpy, Hux’s body tackled mine on the bed. My Horn went flying, and I squealed—so mortifying—milliseconds before Hux’s mouth crashed down on mine… and I forgot all about the game.
I grabbed the back of his head and held it there, tangling my fingers in the long, silky strands of his hair, weighing my need for oxygen against my need for this kiss to go on.
No contest. I kept kissing him.
Hux mumbled something against my lips, but I couldn’t make out the words, and I was way too invested in the kissing to want him to pull away long enough to repeat it.
We rolled around on the bed, our tongues tangling as we grabbed for each other’s body parts. I wanted to touch him everywhere, memorize the size and shape of him with my skin so I could pull it back out in memories later.
“Want you,” Hux croaked. “Want you so much.”
His words made my head spin. How was it possible someone as gorgeous and commanding, sexy and capable, wanted me? I was a geeky homebody. People came to me to fix their iPads, not to have sex. Firsthand experience had taught me this after I’d spent many weekend nights tagging along with Carter and Riggs to bars with their gay friends.
Absolutely none of them had looked at me like a potential… anything.
So why was Hux doing it now? What exactly was this? Did it matter? Did I care?
“No,” I huffed out on a laugh.
Hux stopped immediately and pulled back with wide eyes full of concern. “You want me to stop?”
“What? No! Gosh no. Why would you…” I realized what I’d said out loud a few seconds ago. “Oh, sorry. No, that was part of another, um… conversation.”