The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

“Maybe that’s your problem,” she quipped, setting up the film.

“Says the girl dating her very own football star.” I rolled onto my stomach and grabbed another handful of popcorn.

“I’m dating Cameron, the person. Who just so happens to play football.”

“Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that.” I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. Hailee caught it and settled down on her bed, hitting the light switch and plunging the room into darkness.

“This is nice,” she said through a yawn. “You, me, just like old times.”

“Uh-hmm.” I wondered if she’d still be saying that if she knew what I’d been doing with her step-brother less than a few hours ago.

Dear God, what had I done? Letting him touch me like that. But it was like I became someone else around him; someone who thrived on his cruel words and cocky charm.

It was unlike me. But maybe that was the problem. Maybe I liked the fact I felt different around Jason. Powerful and sexy. Instead of the wallflower I’d been for most of my life.

Hailee was immersed in the film, oohing and ahhing to all her favorite parts, until my eyes grew heavy and the moving images started to blur.

I woke with a start. “Hailee?” I whispered, but she was out cold, her muffled breaths steady and shallow. The glare from the television illuminated the room, guiding my path as I climbed to my feet, stretching out the kinks in my neck. The digital clock on her nightstand read one in the morning. We must have been sleeping awhile.

Deciding to pee before I tried to get comfy again, I ducked into Hailee’s bathroom. Not bothering to turn on the light, I left the bedroom door ajar instead. Once I was done, I washed my hands, catching my reflection in the small wall mirror. I looked the same. Same green eyes, same brown hair, and beauty spot on my upper left cheek. But I felt different. Something inside me was changing.

I was changing.

And I didn’t know how to make it stop, whether I even wanted to.

“You gonna stand there all day or are you done?” The low growl catapulted my heart into my throat.

“Jason, what the—” He closed the distance, brushing past me to pull the door separating Hailee’s side of the bathroom and her bedroom closed. “Let me out.” My eyes narrowed as I took in his disheveled appearance; the bitter scent of whisky lingering on his breath.

“Why the fuck are you here?” he ground out, rubbing his jaw. There was a slight slur to his words and I realized he was drunk.

Crap.

I could deal with sober Jason, but drunk Jason… drunk Jason was what had landed me in this situation in the first place.

“I’m with Hailee. She invited me. It’s girls’ night,” I said as if it mattered. Of course it didn’t freaking matter.

Edging backward, my hands searched desperately for the door handle.

“You’re everywhere, like a recurring nightmare.” His words hit me straight in the heart.

“You came in here first—”

“It’s my fucking bathroom.” Anger blazed in his eyes as he stalked toward me, so close if he reached for me, I’d be right there.

“It’s Hailee’s—”

“I don’t give a fuck. You shouldn’t be here.” He dragged a hand through his hair, pulling at the ends in frustration.

“So let me go,” I whisper-hissed, done with his bullshit. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for any of this. Okay, so maybe I had a hand in blurring the lines between us, but he’d made it perfectly clear where we stood, and it wasn’t like I was begging him to give me a chance.

“Is that what you really want?” His hand came for me, splaying against the side of my neck, his thumb tracing up and down.

“Yes,” I said shakily.

“You sure?” Jason leaned in, his breath hot on my skin, his lips dangerously near the soft spot right beneath my ear. “Because I’m not so sure. I think you like this, like what I do to you.” He inhaled deeply, inhaled me, and my legs almost gave way.

“Jason, stop.” I fisted my hands at my sides, knowing if I touched him it wouldn’t end well.