Beholden (The Belonging Duet, #2)(33)

“I know, and it turns me on when I see you get feisty.” His eyes darken as his voice drops.

The blush spreads across my cheeks and I try to take a bite to stop my mind from going there.

Once I’ve gotten myself under better control, I start to set up my game board, placing the ships and wondering about the best positions to confuse him. “Okay, it’s been a long time and I don’t trust you not to cheat so where are the directions?”

Before I can grab the box, he swipes it and tosses it back behind him.

“What the hell?”

“The rules are simple. You put the pieces in and guess. But for every wrong answer you have to take off an item of clothing.” He wiggles his brows and I roll my eyes.

“Right, I’m not sure we played this Battleship when I was ten.”

“My Navy. My rules. I’m the admiral.” Jackson crosses his arms and leans back in the chair.

“I don’t think so.”

“Fine, then for every correct answer, you take off an item of clothing.”

“And for every wrong one you have to answer a question,” I say and smirk.

He seems to consider my counteroffer. After a few seconds of mulling it over, he leans forward. “I’m fine with that. But if you don’t want to answer, you can remove an item of clothing.”

Now it’s my turn to think it over. “You can only pass twice. I don’t see you having issues getting naked.”

“I also have no issues with you getting naked,” his voice is full of humor.

After a few turns I’m left only in my tank top, underwear, socks, and bra. Jackson is almost fully dressed. I swear he’s losing on purpose. This is why I hate board games. However, we’re laughing and enjoying the time together.

“Okay, A-12.”

“Miss,” I hoot, smiling and batting my eyelashes. “Hmmm, first kiss?”

Jackson sighs before answering. “Reagan’s best friend, Sharon, in a game of Truth or Dare. Fifth grade. You?”

“I didn’t lose that turn. C-3,” I say and he smiles.

“Miss. First kiss?” Jackson asks.

“Andy, under the stars in seventh grade. Honestly, my first kiss was what every girl dreams of.”

“How so?” he asks.

“I liked him a lot. We went to the fireworks in town and he kissed me during the grand finale. It was perfect and memorable.” I laugh remembering how sweet it was and how as soon as we finished kissing we both ran off to tell our friends.

“Kissing Sharon wasn’t memorable in a good way. We had no idea what we were doing and when I shoved my tongue in her mouth she almost started crying,” Jackson laughs and then his eyes begin to smolder. “Not like when I kiss you.”

I fight off the lust that starts to churn. “I would hope you don’t kiss me like an eleven-year-old boy. But, I do like it when you shove your tongue in my mouth.”

“And other places.”

“You’re so gross,” I laugh at his crassness.

“Deny it!” he challenges me.

“Nope,” I wink and point at his game board. “Make your pick, Muffin.”

“F-9.”

It takes everything for me to not start dancing when he gets one right. “Hit.” I smile and he has to remove another item of clothing. “Take the shirt off.” I say for selfish reasons. If I have to sit here, I might as well get to ogle.

“Fine. Your turn.”

“B-8.” I smile knowing I had to have hit and possibly sunk a ship.

“Miss. You can’t outsmart me, baby. I’m not sure I want to ask or get you naked.”

“You don’t get to decide. Ask,” I state. No way, he doesn’t get to choose—I do.

“Fine, where did you go to college?”

“Fairleigh Dickenson University for undergrad and then for my master’s I went to Seton Hall. You?” I can’t help but ask, even though I know it’s not in the rules.

“I went to Oklahoma since my dad was stationed there at the time. Then, I enlisted.”

Looking at my game, I realize I suck at this game since I haven’t gotten one right in a while. Jackson smiles as if he’s thinking the same thing. “Okay, A-1.”

If I didn’t know his competitive streak, I would think he’s trying to get them wrong so I have a better chance of being naked. “Miss,” I narrow my eyes and he leans back under my scrutiny. Staring at his glorious chest I look at the tattoos. I know what his frog means, but he has the tribal and the sun. “What does the sun tattoo mean?”

He looks confused for a second and looks down where my gaze is. “It was a cover up. Nothing really special.”

“What was there before?” I ask curiously.

“That’s two questions. You can save that for your next round. Now, pick your next move so I can get your shirt off and stare at something for a while.”

I smile and of course guess correctly. Which means I’m now in my bra and underwear—and socks.

“C-1,” Jackson guesses.

“Miss! Ha! Okay, now you answer about that tattoo,” I challenge him.

“Nothing big, stupid things we get when we’re young.”

“A name?” I ask. Ashton and Gary went and got each other’s names together in college. I thought they were ridiculous. Ashton had hers covered up with a butterfly. Luckily her tattoo was on her shoulder and they had room to play with.