Cade scowled at him but didn't respond. They continued the game while Tristan's brain churned. He wanted to temper Cade's surly silence, but he was also dying to know if his housemate had any interest at all in him, for, you know, research purposes.
When the idea occurred to him, a slow smile crept across his face.
"Hey, Cade," he said, trying to keep the excitement from his voice.
"Hmm?" his opponent hummed, still focused on the board as he arranged it for another game.
"Let's make a bet on this next game."
When a little pucker popped up between Cade’s eyebrows, Tristan thought it was cute.
"What kind of bet?"
"If you win, you get whatever you want, and if I win, I do too. So … what would you want? You know, if you won?" Tristan modulated his voice so it didn't migrate into suggestive, sultry territory. He could think of a dozen responses the other man could give that would make him practically come in his pants right then.
"For you to stop asking me questions," Cade answered gruffly.
All of Tristan's nasty thoughts ground to a screeching halt. "Rude!" he retorted.
Cade crossed his arms over his chest like a stubborn child. "You said I could have what I wanted. That's what I want."
"Fine!"
A tense moment passed until Cade demanded, "Well? Are you gonna tell me what you want if you win?"
Despite his irritation, Tristan's thoughts wandered right back into raunchy territory, but since Cade wanted him to stop asking questions, he couldn't very well reveal his smutty fantasies. Instead, an idea occurred to him that might get him his answer anyway.
"If I win, I get to ask you a question, and you have to answer. Truthfully," he tacked on at the last second.
"Only one question?" Cade asked, eying him suspiciously.
"Yes."
Cade squinted, not quite believing him. "You're sure. Only one? Then you'll leave me alone?"
"Yes."At least for a little while.
"Okay. Fine."
Smirking, Tristan decided this could work in his favor after all. He was bubbling with anticipation as the game progressed. When it came down to the final move, he was ahead, and Cade's next roll would decide the outcome. The dice tumbled across the board as if in slow motion, and when they landed, Tristan’s chestswelled with exhilaration, while Cade glared at the dice as if they had personally wronged him.
Tristan leaned back in his chair, folded his arms across his chest, and grinned like the Cheshire Cat as he waited for a reaction. Cade mimicked his behavior and raised one eyebrow in challenge.
"So, one question and you have to answer."
Cade pursed his lips in distaste. "A bet's a bet."
"Then my question is …" Tristan paused dramatically, his eyes glued to Cade's.
"Do you wanna fuck me?"
The blood drained from Cade's face so fast, Tristan would have laughed if his heart hadn't been pounding out of his chest. Cade bolted from the chair, scraping it against the floor. He stalked across the tiny kitchen in two long strides, slapped his hands against the counter, breathing hard with his head bowed and his back stiff.
Tristan shot to his feet as well, blood roaring in his ears, his stomach twisting with dread that he had imagined everything.
"Well? What's your answer?"
Cade muttered something indecipherable.
