A beat later I register what she’s said. “Wait. There was a moment where you’d considered not wearing underwear?” I glance over at her in her pleated floral skirt and plain white sleeveless top and picture nothing underneath.
Possibly that was a bad move. I casually shift in my seat.
Meanwhile, she shrugs all nonchalant-like. “I’m not fond of a thong on a long drive, and I didn’t want panty-lines. Then I decided I’d feel uncomfortable meeting your mother without any knickers on and just decided to wear a different skirt.”
“Good choice.” Though I hope that she settles in quickly. My mother will be down the hall tonight, and I hope to get the chance to strip Genny completely.
…and now I’ve learned that Genny naked and my mother down the hall are not thoughts that should ever occur together again.
“Yes. I think it was a nice choice. As is this game. Bravo! Let’s play! Will you go first, or should I?” Her enthusiasm does weird things to my stomach that are definitely not tied up in unexpressed emotions. Nope.
It doesn’t mean I don’t want to get her naked. Because I do. Always. Obviously.
“I’ll go first,” I say. “My birthday is in June. Or my middle name is Alexander.”
She rolls her eyes dramatically, and I’ve never wanted to pull her hair and kiss her as much as I do right now. “Too easy,” she says as though she’s bored. “Hudson’s is Alexander. Your middle name is Aaron. And your birthday is in June.”
“You know my middle name?” It’s ridiculous how happy this makes me.
“Of course. You think I wouldn’t Google the man who’s taking me away for the weekend? That’s barmy. I’m not an idiot.”
Damn. Why hadn’t I thought about doing that for her? I’m not too bummed though because I’m too busy flying on the adrenaline of knowing she wanted to know more about me.
I mean, that’s cool. She wants to know about me? Totally expected.
“My turn!” she exclaims, practically bouncing in her seat. “Hmm. Let’s see. Oh, I have one. I’ve never been skiing. Or I’ve never been to the beach.”
“Never been skiing,” I answer quickly. “You’ve surely been to the beach.”
“Bzz. Strike one. Take something off! Take something off!”
“You’ve never been to the beach? How is that possible?” That will be corrected today if I have anything to say about it.
“I’m pale, and I burn. And I’m not into sand in all my private places. The only interest I have in a beach is a stormy broody, northern England kind of landscape. The kind of scene you can admire from the window with a good book and a warm fire.”
Huh. Maybe we won’t be beaching today after all.
“Now take something off!”
She doesn’t need to ask again. I start off big and take off my shirt, tossing it over my shoulder to the backseat. None of this take-off-something-little-like-my-watch-first bullshit. I like to raise the stakes from the very beginning. Makes it more likely for her to take off her shirt next.
Have I mentioned lately how good I am at gambling?
I glance at her ogling my bare chest, and I have to say, I like it.
“That’s brilliant,” she says, admirably. “I’m quite pleased with this game, I must say.” She switches gears quickly, but I can still feel her eyes on me when she proclaims, “Your turn. Make it a good one. I’m warm sitting over here in all my clothes.”
Seriously, god bless Alayna. This was the Best. Idea. Ever.
I tap my fingers on the steering wheel as I think. I really should have planned some of these beforehand, but what would be the fun in that? “I’m the only Pierce child who wasn’t baptized. Or I was the president of our math club.”
She considers briefly. “President of the math club. I think you’re really brainy behind all that goofy exterior.”
I whip my head in her direction. “Goofy?”
She laughs. “Let it slide. I’m here, aren’t I? No need to get offended.”
“That isn’t comforting.”
“Too bad. I’m very distracted by your lack of clothing, though. Is that better? You have a nice body.” She reaches over to glide a hand over my pec. “Very, very nice.”
Very, very nice indeed.
Obviously, I forgive her. “That is better. Now I get to be distracted by your lack of clothing because I wasn’t the president of the math club. I was treasurer. But thank you for the compliment.”
Her mouth turns down. “Only child not baptized? That’s odd, isn’t it? What’s that about?” She reaches behind herself to unzip her skirt. See? Told you she’d follow suit in the high stakes clothing removal. It’s also definitely distracting. “I, uh, think my mother was bored with god by the time I got around. I don’t know. It’s random.”
The next time I look over, her long bare legs are draped on the seat next to me. “Speaking of god, holy shit you’re hot.”
I can’t help myself—I reach over and run my hand over the creamy skin of her thigh. So hot.
“Actually, I’m feeling quite chilled,” she says. “Mind if I turn down the air?”
At this point, a bucket of ice thrown over my lap will be the only thing that could calm me down so I tell her, “Whatever you need. Just take your turn.” I might even lose on purpose to speed this along.
“I took piano lessons for years. Or I took cello lessons.”
“I’m hoping it’s cello. Because I’m dying over here thinking about you putting that big instrument between your legs.” I’m glad we’re on the highway, and I don’t need to shift because I don’t think I can stop touching her any time soon.