“Unless, you’re scared you’re going to lose…”
“Fine.” Francesca sighed and took off her sweater, leaving her in just a tight V-neck long-sleeve. She met my eyes again as she placed her earring back on. “Your turn.”
My turn,fortunately, sucked. Terrible cards.
“Matteo?” Francesca raised an eyebrow; slow, challenging.
I sighed, faking innocence, and pulled off my sweatshirt, as well as my white t-shirt, so I was shirtless.
She stared.
I shrugged.
She rolled her eyes like she was immune to me. She wasn’t.
“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered, but she still picked up her cards.
“The rules are simple,” I reminded her. “You lose a hand, you strip.”
“Oh, I’m familiar with strip poker,” she drawled, reshuffling her cards with far too much confidence. “Just didn’t think you’d start stripping so fast.”
I pretended to be offended. “Is that your subtle way of calling me a slut?”
“That was not meant to be subtle.” Her mouth twitched – she was having fun.
We played. And I won the next hand.
Francesca pulled off her long sleeve, only to stay in the tiny, laced camisole she had underneath.
“How many layers do you have on?”
“That’s for you to find out.” She winked, making me rock hard.
I let her win the next hand.
I stood, grabbing hold of the band of my sweatpants, slowly on purpose, keeping my eyes on hers. I pulled them off, now only in my boxers.
She tried –really tried– to look unaffected. But her gaze dropped to my bulge for half a second too long.
“You taking your clothes off, will only make it easier for me to win later.”
“Maybe I’m just warm,” I replied smoothly. The heating always kept the apartment perfectly temperature, so I could stay like this as long I wanted.
She raised a brow. “Or maybe you want an excuse to be half-naked when you inevitably lose your self-control.”
I chuckled. “You think I’m going to break first?”
“I know you will. You’re a man. Men are dumb. And predictable.”
“Ouch.” I dealt again, leaning forward. “And you think you’re immune? To me?”
She slid her gaze up to meet mine, slow as a drip of honey. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
My pulse jumped. Dangerous girl.
I won the next hand.
I leaned back against the couch, victorious as I crossed my hands behind my head and watched her. Francesca rolled her eyes as she stood, pulling down her sexy-secretary skirt.
