Jake took a couple seconds, then nodded. “I’ve been known to mix it up in some Armored Spirit or Vital Warrior from time-to-time.”
Quinn jumped to his feet. “Armored Spirit Three okay?”
“I love it. Don’t get to play it enough, but I’m pretty sure I can kick the butt of some financial wizard or whatever your job title is.”
“Oh please. Financial wizard is entry level. Practically an intern. My proper title is fiduciary warlock.” Quinn’s voice was still tight and clipped, but he was trying, and Jake still knew he shouldn’t pry.Let him take control. Even if he’s still feeling awkward.
They went up the single riser to his sleeping area, past the bed that Jake refused to focus on, to a linen closet. Or what should have been a linen closet. When Jake opened it, he had several consoles tucked inside, all neat and tidy and even, as well as a variety of actual physical games and several peripherals. And extra controllers, which was all he grabbed. A second controller that, frankly, looked like it had never seen a minute of use.
Quinn wiped a thin layer of dust from it with the hem of his shirt—Jake would be lying if he said he didn’t take the chance to catch a peek of his exposed abdomen, flat with an outie belly button and a thin trail of dark hair leading down under his waistband—then handed it to Jake. “Show me how you can kick my butt, then.”
Jake popped his foot up to the side and tapped it against one cheek, nudging Quinn slightly forward. He tried not to like it too much, even as heat raced across his face. “Like that. Not complicated.”
Quinn just rolled his eyes and headed back for the sofa.
Chapter thirteen
Quinn
Quinn tapped forward-kick-kick andwatched Marina dart ahead, impractical bladed high heels slashing the air. Kyva darted to the sideagain, then slapped into her with his staff and sent her into another juggled combo, taking out the last of her HP bar and ending the match.
Quinn set his controller down. “How much do you play? I feel like I’m getting hustled here.”
“I’m not getting any money from you, so it’s hardly a hustle.” Jake stretched up, shirt stretching across his ample chest and broad shoulders, then grinned. “But I’ve mained Kyva since Armored Souls One, and they never change his move set very much.”
“Oh, so it’s just because you’re a bigger nerd than me. I didn’t start until the second game.”
Jake nodded. “That is part of your problem. But also, you’re way too aggro. Marina’s not built to go balls to the wall.” He tapped the stick and moved across the character select screen, highlighting a large woman with golden metal grafted onto her face and neck. “Balestra is probably more suited for that.”
“Yeah, I know. I got tired of using Balestra for everything. And Marina fights with her heels. For aesthetics alone, I have to appreciate that.”
“I can respect it.” Jake pulled out his phone and checked the time. “Damn. Where did two hours go?”
“Two hours?”
Jake turned the phone around for him to see and, sure enough, it was after ten. He rose and stretched again, groaning, then sighed. “Well, I really should get going, I guess. But thanks. I haven’t gamed with anyone like that in a long time. Usually just me slipping an hour in here and there when I can.”
“I’m not sure I can believe that, considering how thoroughly you decimated me.” Quinn stood as well, shifting in place, trying to work up the courage to say the next thing. He did get it going, but stutteringly, quietly. “Would you, uh, I don’t know, want to spend the night? Instead of having to go back to your hotel? I could make sure you, uh, get to the house tomorrow and everything.”
Jake’s eyes sharpened, brightened, and he looked Quinn up and down. The silence lasted a second, but stretched into infinity in Quinn’s head. So long that his heart jumped up into his throat when Jake finally answered. “I think not tonight. But another night. Or day. Or whenever. Tomorrow’s a big work day.” He closed the gap before Quinn could say anything and ran his rough, strong hands along Quinn’s cheek, down his neck, and rested them on his shoulders, massaging gently as he spoke. “I want to make a good first impression, too. Better to do something if I’m well-rested. Plus, with us only just sort ofclearing the air, maybe we should let feelings settle more before we get naked.”
Quinn swallowed, then put up his best mask. “I invited you to stay the night, not sleep together. But way to jump to conclusions.”
Jake took one giant step back and his face turned bright scarlet. “Fuck. I mean not fuck. Not fuck. Shit. I assumed, you’re right, totally on me. And—”
“You’re so easy.” Quinn closed the space between them that time and rested one hand just over Jake’s heart, feeling the faint pulse traveling up and into his arm. “I was absolutely angling to fool around. But when the opportunity to screw with you presented itself, was I just supposed to leave it?”
Jake rolled his eyes and the tension slipped from his shoulders. “You owe me a ride in that case. For the emotional trauma.”
“Deal.” Quinn hesitated a bit longer, steeled himself, then stepped even closer, standing chest to chest with Jake. He distinctly didnotput his arm around Jake, gave him a clear path to back away…and he didn’t. “Can I kiss you for real before we go, though? Just a taste to get the antici—”
Jake leaned forward and parted his lips, absorbing the rest of the sentence into his mouth. One hand caressed Quinn’s back, sliding under his shirt, while the other held him around the waist, pushing them closer to each other. Quinn tried—and failed—to keep himself from getting hard, then tried and failed to keep his crotch from touching Jake and revealing the truth.
When a stiff bulge met him as Jake ground his hips forward, he gave up on any pretense and let himself fall forward into it. Jake’s lips were still amazingly soft. His tongue pressed forward, exploring inside Quinn’s mouth, tracing the edges of his teeth, feeling his cheeks. His nails clawed and scratched into the tender skin of Quinn’s back. Quinn wasn’t even fully aware of his ownhands, certainly not in control of them as they scrabbled for any purchase they could on Jake. Just to touch him, make some kind of contact. The fingers of his left hand tangled into Jake’s hair, and his right somehow beelined for his ass.
It’s so firm. He squeezed hard and immediately considered taking up carpentry if it could do that for him.Or I could actually get a gym membership and work out.
They parted and Quinn sighed. “—pation.”
