“He was a weird kid,” I say, and Rowan glowers at me.
“No, I was a brilliant, creative,geniuskid,” he says. “Just because I was obsessed with ghosts and murder doesn’t mean I was weird.”
The entity in the game grows closer, and the edges of the screen tint red.
Blair doesn’t notice.
“What would you call a kid obsessed with murder?” she asks.
Rowan shrugs. “A fucking genius.”
I roll my eyes, and Blair laughs. “Whatever you say.”
The screen is bright red now, and it’s only seconds before the jumpscare will appear.
And Blair turns her attention back to the television at the right time.
A warped, aged black-and-white human skull fills the screen along with a distorted shriek.
It’s a famous jumpscare that blew up on social media and got other video game influencers to talk about us.
Blair shrieksand drops the controller.
“Holyshit!” she yelps, her body going an inch in the air at being startled. “Fuck!”
She leans into me, her back to my chest, and I wrap an arm around her shoulder.
Then, she starts laughing.
I’ve never seen her laugh like that, with pure delight on her face.
She laughs until tears fill her eyes, and soon, my brother and I are laughing, too.
“You got me,” she chuckles. “Damn.”
“That’s the reaction we wanted,” I say tenderly. “Are you okay?”
I keep her close to me, stroking the golden strands of her hair.
“Honestly? Grown men have pissed themselves at that scene,” Rowan adds. “You’re brave as hell, baby.”
Blair chuckles. “I think I needed that emotional release,” she admits. “So maybe you’re not the only weird one, Rowan.”
She’s still leaning against me, and I can’t help myself. I move her hair from behind her shoulders and nuzzle her neck, breathing her in.
She relaxes into my hold, and I gently press a kiss to her creamy skin.
“Is this okay?” I murmur, and she shivers.
“Yes,” she breathes. “I’ll tell you if it’s not.”
“Rowan,” I say. “Give her back the controller. Let her play more.”
The scent of her arousal and fear mix together, and soon, her scent permeates the room.
“You’re not even to the halfway point, baby,” Rowan purrs. “You need to solve the mystery of the house.”
“You act like I can do that with your brother mouthing at my neck,” she breathes. “I can barely think…oh,fuck.”
