Jo addressed Richard, “They’re always like this. You can cut them off anytime.”
“In that case…” Richard jumped in with a glance at his watch. The morning session only had a few minutes left. He concluded the game succinctly with rewards and a heroes’ welcome in the town where the adventure had begun. With a final flourish, he said, “Thank you all for adventuring with me today. May your next tale be even more epic.”
They all applauded politely and thanked Richard for the game. Across the table, Felix stood and came around to Jo. He and Trey had observed the entire three-hour game. For most of that time, he’d watched her. It was all Jo could do to keep her head in the game.
Now standing behind her, Felix bent and whispered into her ear. “You’re incredible.”
She gazed up at him. “How so?”
“You’re electric when you play,” he said. “I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
Jo’s body flushed warm all over. She shook her head, about to remind him that she wasn’t the only good roleplayer at the table—but she stopped herself. She’d accepted David’s earlier compliment; she didn’t need to let it feel different with Felix. “Thank you.”
Felix smiled at her.
“You, on the other hand, are extremely distracting,” she told him as she packed up her dice and character sheet. “Next time, sit behind me.”
“Trust me, Jo,” Felix said, even softer and lower than before. He brushed his thigh against her ass as it hung generously off the side of the chair. Jo’s spine straightened. “I like the view from back here, but your eyes are much more fun to watch during a game.”
“Well, if you’re going to do that, never mind,” she said airily. “That’s even more distracting.”
“Good.” The word was guttural and raw. Less a word and more of a sound.
The muscles deep in the core of her body tightened. She squeezed her thighs together. And then, just like that, Felix was upright again, going over to Richard to ask some GMing questions.
Jo’s phone buzzed in her pocket, which it had been doing off and on throughout the game. She pulled it out to find a text notification from Aida, who was only two seats over, phone in hand, chatting innocently with Trey.
Aida
That’s a point for Team You Two Should Fuck
Jo unlocked her phone to respond, only to find a whole string of texts from Aida.
Aida
He’s looking at you
I’ve counted six lip bites so far
Seven
Is he taking notes? That’s so cute.
Did you hear that little “woo” he did when you rolled a 20?
I lost count but I think we’re up to ten lip bites
Babe seriously where did you find this guy?
Eleven
That’s a point for Team You Two Should Fuck
Jo
Are you keeping score?
Aida
If every lip bite is a point, I’m totally winning
Aida stood smoothly. “Where are we getting lunch?”
They decided to split up, since they only had an hour until the afternoon session. Every lunch place within five blocks was about to have a line out the door. Hand in hand, Jo and Felix headed toward a deli the next block over.
Holding hands with him felt as natural as breathing. His was large and warm compared to hers. Comforting. Strong. She’d never held hands with anyone whose palm muscles bulged with each twitch of a finger. Without warning, her mind conjured up the memory of the morning after the tornado, when she imagined what Felix’s touch would feel like on her body. A shiver ran down her spine, even as they walked through the early summer sunshine. She could feel the ghost of his fingers against her skin, right under her bra, where they’d been the night before. Without thinking, she arched her back and rolled her shoulders.
“Do you have an itch?” Felix asked.
“If I say yes, will you scratch it?”
“Only one way to find out.”
“Then yes.”
Felix let go of her hand, slowed his pace, and touched her upper back lightly. Soft and sultry, he said, “Tell me where.”
“Lower.”
