Free The Game Series by Emma Hart

truly. Because I can do this.
    Lila rolls her eyes for me, and Ryan and Aston approach us. Ryan beelines for Lila while Aston casually sits near Megan. Oh ho, does someone have a little crush? No, that would be stupid. The only thing he has a crush on is what's inside her panties.
    “You're quiet,” Braden says softly to me.
    I smile and turn my face into him. “I'm just listening.”
    “Oh, you can listen?” He tickles my side slightly, and I wriggle.
    “Don't tickle me.” I squirm.
    “Why? Are you ticklish?”
    “I'm not. Nope. Not. At. All.”
    “I bet you are.”
    “I'm not!”
    He moves his fingers against my waist, and I squeal, moving and wriggling in his hold to get away.
    “Braden, stop!” I sputter out through controlled laughter.
    “Not until you say you're ticklish,” he teases and tickles me some more.
    I shriek and fall backwards, kicking up a little bit of sand. He comes down with me, half lying on me, his arm still around my waist.
    “Say it,” he whispers, looking into my eyes.
    “No,” I whisper back. “I won't give in.”
    “Neither will I.” He drops his head, and his lips capture mine, soft and warm. My eyes flutter shut, and my hand rests against his neck. My fingers press into his skin, holding him to me.
    Braden flicks his tongue out and runs it along my bottom lip, sucking it gently into his mouth. His teeth graze it slightly, nibbling as he releases it. I ignore the gasp wanting to escape from my mouth and the heat spreading down through my body. It pools in the pit of my stomach like molten lava, a swirling, boiling mass of want and need.
    And then I remember that I hate him.
    “Hey,” I groan. “No distracting me with kisses.”
    He pulls his head up and grins at me. It's a kind of sexy grin, and one I'd melt at if it was anyone other than Braden. Yes – Braden. Playboy, player, user of women for his own pleasure.
    Yep. That did it.
    I slide to the side of him and sit up, shaking sand out of my hair.
    “Watch where you're flingin' that shit.” Kay bats at my hair. “That could take my eye out. It's a lethal fuckin' weapon, Mads!”
    “Oh, shut up, you.” I flick her with the ends my curls and notice the others have disappeared. “Where did everyone go?”
    “They went to get food from the barbecue while you and Casanova were sucking face.”
    I shake my head. She can be crude sometimes, but it's just her. I wouldn't want it any other way.
    “Hey, Kay.” Braden leans round me. “Isn't that your friend over there? Darla or whatever she's called?” Oh, great.
    Kay huffs. “If you wanna be alone, just say.” She stands, gives me a playful salute, and saunters off to where the blonde bombshell that is Darla is standing.
    I turn my face and look out past the fire and the partying to the water as it rolls up the sand. It's always the same at the parties. Whether it's a frat party, a dorm party, or a beach party. I always feel like the only one not enjoying it.
    After six months of following my old best friend round them while she chased after my brother, only to get her heart broken, can you blame me? No. I don't blame me either.
    “You're somewhere else,” Braden observes. Remembering I hate him would be so much easier if he wasn't already so tuned into me.
    “Just thinking,” I reply, keeping my eyes trained on the clear blue sea. “You don't have to stay here, you know. You can go find the guys.”
    “No.” He leans against the tree and pats the space next to him. Sigh.
    I crawl backwards and sit next to him, curling into his side as he wraps an arm around me. I rest my head on his shoulder, and he lifts my legs so they're resting over his. He brings his knees up, and I'm wrapped around him like a blanket. His cheek leans against the top of my head.
    I can feel the eyes of people from the party on us. It's making my hairs stand on end, making me want to get up and run away from this whole fake production.
    But then – then there's a little part of me