This is War (Checkmate Duet 1)

“Well, I don’t want to hear your nasty-charades while I’m trying to study.”

“Put some music on,” he suggests, being difficult.

“I don’t want to walk out to some half naked girl while I’m trying to eat breakfast either.”

“Okay, so no sleepovers. That works much better for me anyway.” He shrugs.

God, he’s relentless.

“Whatever. If you’re having dates over, then so am I.”

He snorts. And then he laughs. The motherfucker laughs.

“What’s funny?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Were you not telling a joke?”

“Screw you, Travis.” I grab one of my bags and throw it over my shoulder. Two can play this game.

After unpacking and organizing my things in Drew’s room, I grab my shower kit and some extra clothes. I plan to hide out in bed and study for my last day of class before break. I have exams in two of my classes and although I’ve been studying for them all week, I’ll use any excuse to avoid Travis.

When I finish rinsing my hair and body, I turn off the shower and squeeze the excess water from the ends of my hair. I pull the curtain back, reaching for my towels, and gasp when I realize they’re gone.

What in the hell?

I look around and don’t see my towels or any of my clothes, not even the dirty ones. Argh! Fucking Travis.

I step on the floor mat and dry the bottoms of my feet before walking toward the door and slightly open it.

“Travis!” I scream, covering myself with the door from the neck down. “Travis King!” I shout again and he finally comes into sight.

“Yes, princess?” He asks in a smooth, calm voice. He takes another step toward me.

“Where the hell are my clothes?”

His lips turn down. “How should I know?”

My eyes narrow at him. “Quit playing, asshole. Bring me my towels and clothes now!”

“And uh…what if I don’t?” he challenges, crossing his arms over his broad chest and showing off his ripped biceps.

“I swear to God, Travis,” I threaten. “I’ll make you wish you never met me.”

He grins, pleased with how riled up he’s making me. “What did you expect, V?” He crosses his arms. “You made me a delicious sandwich, and I just wanted to repay you.” He presses his palm to his chest, faking his sincerity.

I groan, my cheeks burning with anger. I know I’m not going to win this one.

Either I wait in here until he goes to bed or leaves the house, or I walk out butt naked, giving Travis King exactly what he wants—humiliation at my expense.

I think on it a moment, anxiety of wasting time in here instead of looking over my notes for International Finance Management. I mean, it’s not like he hasn’t seen a woman naked before. I just hadn’t planned on him seeing me naked.

“Well, V…” He taunts. “What’s it going to be?”

He knows I hate it when he calls me that. My body is shivering cold but my insides are fired up, boiling.

“My name isn’t V,” I warn. “For the hundredth time.”

“I think it’s a very fitting nickname considering…”

“I’m not a virgin!” I snap out, seething, knowing he was about to say it. That’s it. I’m walking out. I’m not listening to him anymore!

“Well so you say but—” His words stop as soon as I whip the door open and expose myself. His eyes widen, although he tries to act unaffected.

“Fuck you, Travis.” I walk past him, flipping him my favorite finger, and head down the hallway to Drew’s room.

CHAPTER FIVE

TRAVIS

Viola Fisher, President of Prudeville and Queen Perfectionist, has several tattoos, one on her arm and another on her thigh that I couldn’t make out because she was hustling down the hallway. My eyes widen, both shocked and impressed, and every comeback I had waiting for her vanished with a single look. I’m not usually at a loss for words, especially when it comes to rattling Viola, but all I can do is blink. As I stand paralyzed by the door, Viola prances down the hallway with water dripping down her perfect bare body as she flips me off.

She pauses in the doorway, not yet walking all the way through, and makes direct eye contact with me. “It’s rude to stare,” she bites out, her lips pinching together in a challenge; the slightest twitch depicts an evil grin forming.

I swallow, seemingly unaffected, but I won’t give her the pleasure of knowing that.

“Trust me, princess. Nothing I haven’t seen before.” I hold my stance, both feet planted firmly on the floor.

“You’d be much more believable if you wiped the drool from your chin first,” she remarks before taking another step and slamming the door behind her.

As the door clicks shut, I wipe my mouth and chin with the back of my hand. Dammit, Viola. She has my cock all kinds of confused, because if I didn’t know any better, she enjoyed that just as much as I had. It responded to her more than I’d like to admit, but I can’t fault it for knowing a sweet little thing like her. I’ve seen Viola in swim suits plenty when we were younger, but it’s been years since we’ve all gone swimming together. Clothes don’t do justice for that girl’s curves. She has a small dimple in her lower back, right above her ass—which is perfectly round and asking to be spanked. Her tits nearly stopped me in my tracks, so perky and taut. Her pink buds were hard at attention.