That’s it. “Swords and dragons are cool.” I’m surprised he doesn't follow it up with an eye roll and a “duh.”
“You know what isn’t cool?” I ask and wait.
Finn’s only reply a, “hmmm” as he places the last roof piece on our simple square house.
“Outhouses. Or even worse chamber pots. We won’t have to empty our characters’ bathrooms will we?”
Finn laughs and places a kiss on my neck. The easy ability to reach the sensitive area had to be one of his main reasons for making us sit like nesting dolls as we play, I’m sure. Although, being able to lean back against him and lay my head in the crook of his neck is a perk for me.
“Only you, Aspen. No, there are no chamber pots required,” he answers.
Well how was I supposed to know? The game play may be basic in design, but the story line is realistic enough. Pick berries to eat, gather stone, make swords, kill animals as they walk by, it’s the next logical step.
I walk my character into our fresh new house as Finn secures a door to the small opening he left on one side. It’s sparse with its grass floor and two windows. Maybe some curtains would help? If the game has curtains. I’m not sure how prevalent they were in Middle Earth, or wherever we’re supposed to be.
Finn notices my appraisal of the empty area. “It seems tedious now, but we’ll get a good base camp here and then expand out and build up. You can make spectacular buildings with the simple design. You should see what the boys and I have done on our server."
An hour of cave diving later, I’ve nagged Finn enough he’s agreed to show me the other server he plays on. I watch as he logs on through his account rather than my new one this time.
“RavenLord72? Your user name is a play on the name of the company you work for? It’s not very original, you know?”
“Kind of.” He ignores me, lost in his controller, and presses the “start game” button.
“Why 72? How old are you?” There is no way I’ve misjudged Finn’s age so much. He can’t possibly be forty-three.
Finn looks back to me with another puzzled expression. “I’m twenty-seven. 1972 is the year Atari was founded,” he answers as if it should be standard knowledge, which I guess for a gamer maybe it is.
As Finn’s character loads and he begins walking, I expect to see a few large houses in a common area. He’s told me of the buildings his friends from work have made, but I never imagined the grey stone monstrosity that comes into view the farther he walks.
A castle, complete with three turrets and a drawbridge stretch out in front of his character. Tall grass grows on the banks of a moat encircling the compound.
“You guys made all of this?” I question. It’s much more than the simple four wood walls we started with tonight. “How much time do you spend playing this game?”
Finn stiffens at my question. “Um, a lot.” It’s a simple answer, but the quiet way his words float down to me hints he may be embarrassed by it. I haven't forgotten that video games were one of the reasons his earlier relationship didn’t last.
I don’t want him to think I’m chastising him. It’s obvious he loves what he does and he gets paid to do it. Who am I to dump on that? "Well, I should just play on this server and hang out in your castle all day.”
“Give it time, we’ll turn our little shack into a castle and I’ll show you who’s king.”
“Oh, you want to be king of my castle?” I slap Finn on his knee and the controller jerks free from one hand.
“Baby, screw the castle. I am the king of this entire domain.”
His over-the-top declaration has us both laughing. “Oh my God. You’re such a nerd.”
I start to slap Finn’s knee again when he wraps both arms around me. Blocked by him I’m helpless as he plasters kisses from my ear to my neck. His stubble tickles me as it moves up and down so I squirm in his arms and press back against him.
Finn tosses his controller to the floor. “Okay, time for bed.”
“Bed? What happened to my sexual innuendo time?” I was having fun. I hope he didn’t take my nerd comment seriously.
He pushes on my hips for me to stand. “Who said we were going to sleep? I plan to show you exactly what I’m the king of. He stands behind me and uses a hand to pull me up until I’m flush against him. “On second thought… we don’t even need the bed.”
His hands sweep up between my back and shirt then he pushes me toward the couch. The back of my knees hit the edge and we both fall back. Before I’ve had a chance to orientate myself to the new position, his mouth is on mine.
His kisses are desperate as he takes over my mouth. He’s been waiting for this moment to pounce. His stubble scrapes against me with each move, my lips, my jaw, my neck. The onslaught has me attempting anything to get closer and farther away at the same time.
“Are you ready to call me king, baby?”
