CHAPTER SEVEN
“I can’t believe you took the time and materials to build your outer walls of smooth stone.” Grant stops his character’s movements to admire my work.
The smooth stone towering high in the sky sparkles in the light. Some people paint. I build castles in online games. It’s my masterpiece. I don’t mind him appreciating the work.
“Why? What’s yours made from?” I’ve heard about this huge castle Grant and the guys are so proud of.
“Cobblestone. The building block of all good castles.”
I laugh and take my character off the staircase to the second floor. “You mean the building blocks of all lazy castle builders.”
“How long did it take you?”
I stop my character and bite off a piece of the turkey sandwich room service dropped off five minutes ago. “Months. Maybe longer. I made the structure out of cobblestone and then replaced each block as more smooth stone became available.”
I’m not sure if my dedication to this castle shows my good work ethic — I quarried the stone myself over many hours of game play — or if it’s an indicator that I have no life. Either way I probably shouldn’t be this proud or happy Grant appears blown away by my work.
Grant’s fingers fly across my plate and he snatches a fry, not taking time to dip it in my ketchup.
“Hey!”
He laughs before popping the French fry in his open mouth, his tongue licking loose salt off his lips. It took years of training for Drew to learn he needed to keep his hands off my food. It looks like I’ll be putting Grant through the same program. Although, when Drew does it I have the sudden urge to stab him with my fork. So far Grant hasn’t invoked the same feelings yet.
Watching his tongue swipe at the seam of his mouth brings back memories of the places I let him put it two months ago. It doesn’t help that he smiles while he chews, too proud of what I let him get away with. It causes his cheek to lift up creating that stupid dimple I find so fucking attractive. I swear I’ve never had this dimple fetish before.
Sitting on the hotel room floor with Grant only inches away is pure torture. Each and every time he moves my body finds a way to make it turn me on.
Stupid stuff. The way he fingers his hair while running his hand through it. Or when he scratches the small amount of scruff highlighting his jawline. I’ve pictured myself leaning over and ripping his clothes off at least ten times. I’ve thought of nothing else the last half hour. There’s no longer any vodka in my system so I can’t pull a Jamie Foxx and blame it on the alcohol.
To his credit, Grant hasn’t put the moves on anything except my fries. We’ve done exactly what he said we’d do — ordered food and played Dragons Reborn.
It’s annoying. When a man asks you up to his hotel room, sex is normally implied.
Isn’t it?
Have I blown my chance with Grant?
I’ll admit I don’t have much experience dating guys. I intimidate half the male species and the other half annoy me. Drew is the first and last guy I’ve tolerated.
“Do you realize you have a room full of treasure chests?”
“I keep everything organized. Do you have a problem with that?”
Grant backs his character away from a treasure chest, the lid closing. “Not at all. It reminds me of my own on the beta server.”
“I keep extras. Then when random men find their way to my castle, I supply them with their battle needs.”
Grant laughs. “Are there many random men attempting to break down your castle walls?”
“Not particularly, but there’s one who is quite persistent.”
“He must think the prize is worth the work.”
“I’m not a prize,” I mumble.
Grant resumes his task of looking at my chests one by one. “Confused, you are.”
Ready to be done with the conversation I decide to grab his attention with sparkly things. I’ve learned gems are only valuable to men in video games. “I keep the extra swords and enchanted armor over here. Take your pick.”
