Claiming My Sweet Captive

Her nose wrinkled, her lips thinning with distaste.

“You don’t have to look so disdainful,” I said, my smile tugging up at one corner. “I’ll teach you how to play. If you really hate it after a few games, we can stop. I’ll warn you now, I will win. So don’t let that deter you from enjoying the game.”

“You’re a little cocky,” she remarked drily, reaching for her queen to examine the exquisitely carved piece. It was worn from age and use, but the quality of craftsmanship was still discernable.

I pushed aside memories of the days when the set had been brand new. Those were too bittersweet, and I preferred to stay in this moment with Samantha.

“I’ve been playing for years, and it’s an impossibility for a new player to beat someone with my kind of experience.”

“Who says I don’t know how to play?” she challenged. “They do have online chess, you know. I’ve dabbled. I know the rules, even if I do find it boring.”

I grinned, perhaps a bit sharply. “Knowing the rules won’t prepare you for playing against me, but it will certainly make these first few games more interesting. How advanced are you? Who taught you how to play?”

“An online tutorial taught me how to play. I get the rules and know some trickier strategies. I pick things up quickly.”

I shook my head. “A tutorial isn’t going to prepare you for playing against me, but show me what you know, and we’ll go from there.”

Her full lips twisted in a frown. “Why bother playing chess with someone when you think they won’t be able to beat you?”

“Because I believe you will be able to challenge me, just not in the first few games. Or even the first dozen.”

Her eyes narrowed, considering me with irritation. After a moment, her attention returned to the chess pieces, examining them. “How long have you been playing?”

Any tension I might have felt over her exasperation with me melted back into amusement. My clever captive wanted to size me up as her opponent.

I picked up one of my knights, not realizing that I was tracing the contours of the well-worn piece. As a child, my sister had loved the design of the black knights in this set. She’d preferred to take the slight disadvantage of playing black for that very reason. She’d also claimed she was a better player, and I could use all the help I could get. Valentina always had been a clever girl, and she’d loved to tease me.

“This was my first chess set. I got it for my tenth birthday,” I told Samantha. “That’s when Abuela taught me how to play.”

“Abuela?”

The fond memories of my childhood turned bitter as I returned to the present. That life had belonged to a different person, a naïve boy who’d thought he could hide from his responsibilities.

“My grandmother,” I explained shortly, not offering any further information. I never talked about my family. Cristian was my only family now, and I definitely didn’t want to talk about him with Samantha.

“Oh.” She shifted, her fingers knotting at her lap as her anxiety rose.

I placed my knight back on the board and focused on her again. “White goes first,” I prompted.

She flipped her fiery hair over her shoulder. “I know.”

She immediately moved her pawn from E2 to E4. The way her eyes sparked and her decisive movements let me know she already had a plan in mind. She’d claimed she’d learned to play chess online, and it seemed my smart Samantha had done her research. This wasn’t the hesitant, random opening move of a complete newbie.

I narrowed down her possible strategies and made my countermove.

Then, my naughty gatita decided to try to deceive me. She cocked her head to the side, biting her lip in an uncharacteristic show of confusion. I noted that her fingertips tapped against her thigh, betraying her excited anticipation.

I smothered my amusement, deciding I’d prefer to watch her play her little game. She really was adorable in her innocent attempt at misdirection. She couldn’t lie convincingly, no matter how hard she tried.

She moved slowly as she placed her bishop on C4, obviously trying to make it look like she was uncertain.

Her choice revealed her full strategy, and I knew exactly how to block her.

Instead, I let her stew in silence, pretending to study the board for a full two minutes before making my move. The longer I waited, the more palpable her excitement became. She practically vibrated with it by the time I completed my turn. Pleasure unfurled in my chest. There was something almost childlike about her, despite her sensual appeal. That sense of innocence called to me. I wanted it for myself. I wanted to cage it and keep it for my own.

She didn’t bother to hold back when she moved to attack my pawn. A triumphant grin illuminated her pale features as she clicked her queen down on the board.

I no longer bothered to hold back my grin. Observing her attempt to deceive me had been amusing, but taking her by surprise after my own ruse was even more gratifying. I might covet her innocence, but I reveled in conquering her.