Challenge Accepted (Eternal Combat Book 1), page 32
"Yeah," she agreed, resting her forehead against his, panting just as hard. "Like how to make it into the bed."
"Kitty know you're this kinky?"
Riley laughed. "Don't start thinking she's a good girl, Logan." She took a long deep breath and leaned her head back against the wall. "When am I going to scare you off?"
"When you say you don't love me anymore." He trailed a finger along her jaw. "Unless that doesn't count as making love to you?"
The smile broke free of her lips. "If that's what you call making love, we need to do it more often."
"Doesn't have to be gentle to be from the heart." His voice was a bit rough and that finger trailed down the bites along her neck. "Watching Murder try so hard, I know how lucky I am. You're like me. You like the chase, you like the kill, but deep down you just want someone to get it."
"No, I have someone that gets it. I just don't want to do anything to lose him."
"Then don't change. Just don't ever try to be something you aren't, and I'll always love you, Riley."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the wall, leading her across the suite. At the edge of their bed, she tugged, turning him to her, and slipped her hands under that too tight shirt, her palms caressing his skin as she lifted it higher.
"You always screw me hard and fast," she said softly, "but how do you like it?"
He laughed as the shirt came over his head. "Honest. Brutally honest, and we have one hell of a fight in four hours."
"Yeah," she agreed, "but I wanted to be the one to take that off. You planning to look as good tomorrow?"
Logan kissed the tip of her nose. "Maybe I should try something different, since looking clean cut isn't getting me the girl."
"Maybe you should try kicking my ass," she teased as she turned away and lowered the zipper of first one boot, then the other.
Kicking them off her feet, she pulled the dress up over her head, and threw it in the corner, then crawled slowly across the bed before flopping down on top of the covers. With a flash of a smile, she bit at the tip of her finger and gestured for him to finish taking his clothes off.
"Oh no," he laughed. "You are going to sleep now, drunk girl."
"Not until I've seen what a real man looks like undressed. I bet Murder would never be seen without his shirt, and for good reason."
A laugh slipped out of him. "You are so bad."
"Yep," she agreed. "Now take that off and come cuddle, lover."
He pushed the shoes from his feet and slowly slid the denim to the floor. Riley's eyes roamed his body and her face softened. Naked, he crossed the room and turned out the light before pulling back the covers and sliding into the bed. She pulled the blankets beneath her and slid in, not caring if she was graceful, then scooched close enough to rest her head on his chest.
"Don't let me fuck this up," she begged softly, closing her eyes.
"Not gonna happen." The words were gentle, but there was an insistence behind them. "I'll do anything for you, even wait. Just promise me one thing?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't ever say you want to die again. Just don't feel that way. You scared me so bad that day. I thought if I left, you'd cut your wrists."
"No, I was thinking horse sedatives."
"Yeah. I knew you were serious."
"You tell Kitty?"
"No," he said, his fingers making small circles on her back. "Some things get to stay between us."
"I won't do it. I'm not like that, Logan. I just couldn't take anymore. I just needed someone to take care of me for a bit."
"You have three of us now. You know as well as I do, that kid will do anything for you. Truth be told, I'm a bit jealous."
"Of Knock?"
"Yeah." He laughed softly. "Don't ask why. But yeah. Figure he'll be the best man. Go to sleep."
She let her eyes slipped closed, relaxing. Just as she was almost asleep, she whispered softly, "Titanium."
The next morning, she woke up alone. The suite was silent, except for the incessant ringing of her phone. With a groan, Riley grabbed it, answering without even looking.
"Yeah?"
A man's voice that she didn't recognize was on the other end. "You have thirty minutes before I'm picking you up at your door."
"What?"
"Fuck, Q, you just wake up? It's Murder."
"Shit," she said, sitting up. "Yeah. Fuck. I'm up."
He laughed. "You're kinda cute in the morning. Thirty minutes, babe. Gonna be a show in the computer hall this morning. Come on, sunshine."
"Fuck off."
"Not till I hear a smile on those lips of yours."
"I'm fucking up already."
Murder chuckled again. "You're still in bed. You haven't paused to put on clothes and I didn't hear a damned door. You at least have fun at my expense?"
Riley giggled at that. "Ok, Murder, you just got brownie points."
"Not gonna answer the question, are ya. Damn. I feel used."
"You were. I'll be ready in thirty."
She hung up, not even giving him a chance to complain, and began to get dressed. Sooner than expected, someone tapped at her door. Riley jogged across the suite and pulled it open, not surprised to find Murder smiling on the other side. He shoved one hand against the frame and wrapped the other around her waist, pulling her close, his mouth beside her ear.
"There's four guys down the hall, don't shoot me down too hard," he whispered.
She heard them. Laughing, they were headed closer. Murder caught her eye and tilted his head.
"C'mon, Q," he said just loud enough to be heard. "You can't tease me like that and not expect me to come begging for more."
She laughed. "Is this your best attempt to be a gentleman?"
His eyes flicked down the hall. "Yeah. It's all I got, babe. Lemme walk ya to the hall?"
Hearing one guy chuckle, she turned, catching all four staring. She rolled her eyes and stepped back into her room. "Come on, I need to finish."
"Oh yeah," he said, following like a starving dog. He kicked the door closed behind him. As soon as it clicked, he dropped the act, waltzing to the fridge for a bottle of juice. "Spoke to Void already."
"I haven't. He was gone when I got up."
"Yeah. That's why I'm here. Everything ok between us, Riley?"
"There's no us, Murder."
He sighed. "Samir, and look, I'm a dick, but you kinda are too."
She pushed past him into her room. Pulling off the baggy T-shirt she was wearing – Logan's shirt – she tossed it on the bed. Behind her, Murder chuckled as he leaned against the door.
"Nice bra."
"Let me make this very, very clear, Samir. Last night? That was nothing more than a game. Nothing but smoke and mirrors. In an hour, I'm going to frag you, and you won't even see me coming." She grabbed her Eternal Combat shirt and pulled it on, then adjusted the finishing touches to her outfit while he watched.
"Gotcha," he said with a nod. "Thing is, I just put my pride pretty far out there and you're being a bitch about it."
She opened her mouth to respond, and paused, turning to him as she let it close. "You're right. Sorry."
"All I want to know is how bad I'm about to get trashed on national TV."
"It's the fucking Gamer Channel!" she said, throwing her hands in the air.
"Still national."
"Ok." She grabbed a headband and pulled it on, slipping it up to hold her dreads back. "Story will be you tried to pick me up and I was interested, but told you to try harder?"
He thrust out his lower lip and nodded. "You made out with me because I kicked your ass, but shot me down because it was a game night?"
"That works."
"Thing is, Q, I do like you, and I still would never date you. I wasn't filling you full of shit. You're cool – and the best looking member of this little boy band we got going on at the high table. Void's also a bro." He chuckled and tossed her an impish grin, his blue eyes sparkling. "Let's just be friends?"
Riley couldn't help it, she laughed. "Sounds good, Murder. You're not going to be too hurt when I shoot you down?"
He shrugged. "Bring that roommate of yours to Vegas, and I'll forgive you." He let his smile show. "Might even hit on you a few times to get Void going."
"You're not going to let that go, are you?"
"That you treated me like a damned dildo? Nah. That's good for a week at least. C'mon. You're ready, babe. Let me get my fifteen minutes of fame."
Once they were in the hall, he slipped his arm over her shoulder, and Riley walked beside him, her hands shoved deep into the pockets of her baggy pants. Just as they rounded the corner, not even five steps from the entrance to the computer hall, he looked down at her and smiled gently.
"This shit's gonna get a bit ugly, and kinda loud, but it's all good."
"I'm not a prize," she warned him.
"Yeh, I know. Just pull the punch if you hit me?"
She giggled and shoved her head against the inside of his shoulder. "Deal."
Some guy was standing at the door, showing his wristband to security. The guards saw Murder and Riley, and gently moved the gamer aside, letting them in with just a nod. With his arm still draped over her shoulder and her side pressed close to his, the pair waltzed into the hall, all too aware of how many eyes looked up. A few guys laughed, even fewer pointed, but the rumor would be running around the room in seconds.
Her chair was closest but, before she could pull away, he leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear, and said, "That damned shirt is as bad as the dress."
Flashing her a smile, he just walked around the table and tossed himself too casually in his own chair.
"Show off," Void said coldly.
Murder looked at him once, and laughed. "Jealous?"
"Fuckin' wish."
Riley raised her eyebrows and lifted her chin. "You guys know I can hear you, right?"
They both looked at her guiltily, but it was Logan who spoke. "You have fun last night, Q?"
She just shook her head and looked to her computer before shooting back, "Yeah, it's called a party, Void. It's supposed to be fun."
"Whoa," Dread said. "Easy there, you two."
The table fell into silence while they all fussed with their machines, but the tension was still high. Riley had just logged into the game when the boys decided there were enough eyes on them. She wouldn't have caught the look if Murder hadn't warned her.
"She fuck as hard as she fights?" Void growled softly.
"Fuck you," Murder shot back.
And suddenly the entire high table was shoving their chairs back, rushing to their feet. Across the room, heads snapped around as Logan shoved Murder hard. He staggered back only one step and tensed up, moving back into Logan's face. That's when someone grabbed her. Not them. Her.
Murder pointed his finger into Logan's face and snarled, "Let me make this real fucking clear, Void. QQ isn't a piece of ass to fuck with. She's one of us."
"I'm not the one fucking with her."
"I got shot the fuck down!" Murder yelled.
"Didn't look that way from where I was," Logan snapped back.
Side by side, they looked like carved perfection: Logan's sharp, refined features across from Murder's wild and carefree. Logan stood two, maybe three, inches taller and was broader across the chest, but in their anger, they were both beautiful. Riley only had eyes for one.
"You want to show off?" she yelled, drawing their attention. "Is that what this is about? Fine! Then impress me. Kick my fucking ass. Neither of you can do that consistently."
Murder grinned and turned back to Logan. "She kisses as hard as she fights," he taunted.
"I'm going to fucking make a joke of you," Logan warned him. "I'm going to make you wished you'd never tried."
"Bring it," Murder said.
"Sit down," Dread growled from behind her. It was his arms that held her. She hadn't even bothered to check. "You boys don't sit your asses down and take this out in game, and I'll let her go."
They traded a look, barely civil, then found their chairs as Dreadknot pushed her back into her own.
"Shit's about to get real," Psyc said, watching the show with a smug look on his face.
Chapter 38
The chat in the game was going crazy. Most of the guys in the room couldn't log into the match servers, but they could use the open lobby. When Riley logged in, she had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. They'd all bought it, every one of them, including Dread. As soon as she came online, he began sending her private messages.
[DREADKNOT] seriously, wtf?
[QQ] Kissed Murder last night at the after party.
[DREADKNOT] Yeah, said the same thing then. WTF are you doing QQ?
[QQ] Winning.
[DREADKNOT] Hun' that shit isn't cool. Murder's a slut, but Void? He doesn't fuck around. Don't play with him like that, it's just not cool.
[QQ] You think he's going to hold back this time?
[DREADKNOT] He hasn't held back yet! Shit, you think he's been trying to take it easy on you?
[QQ] That's what the media's saying.
[DREADKNOT] >.> What the fuck happens if things go bad between you two? He's your damned attorney!
[QQ] Crazy, isn't it? Ever think about what he specializes in?
[DREADKNOT] Yeah. He's a legal representative, right?
[QQ] And what does that mean he does, exactly?
[DREADKNOT] Shows his clients in the best light.
Riley glanced over her shoulder, catching Dread out of the corner of her eye. She didn't reply, she just let him think about it. It didn't take long.
[DREADKNOT] ! lol?
[QQ] Zactly.
He laughed and hit world chat, unable to keep quiet.
[DREADKNOT] Hey Void?
[VOID] Yeah, bro?
[DREADKNOT] You taking new clients?
[VOID] Dude, advertising on the PLG network would be in bad form, man. I'm here to game.
[DREADKNOT] Yeah, yeah. That mean you're not gonna answer?
[VOID] ;) You pretty much hit that nail on the head.
[DREADKNOT] Gotcha, bro. Your life's fucking messed, man.
[VOID] Nah, that's Murder's.
[QQ] Put your epeen back in your pants. All of you.
[VOID] He's first, but you're next, QQ.
[QQ] You fucking beat me in this, Void, and I'll suck your damned dick.
[MURDER] !
[DREADKNOT] !
[PSYCHOCUT] !
[KNOCK] Did not fucking need to see that shit, Q. Someone get me some fucking brain bleach.
Riley laughed, leaning back to catch Knock's eye. He looked up and just shook his head, grinning when she stuck her tongue out at him.
[VOID] Challenge accepted, Q. You're going down.
[PBJ] More ways than one it sounds like. >.>
That's when the announcer stepped forward and the lights in the room were dimmed. He spoke into the camera, apologizing for the minor delay, citing security complications. They were only running five minutes late, which wasn't abnormal for a game tournament. Riley tuned him out and pulled on her headphones, then glanced at her screen. A private message hung in her chat box.
[MURDER] We good?
[QQ] You're about to lose this damned match. You know that, right?
[MURDER] What happens if I don't?
[QQ] Have something in mind?
[MURDER] Yeah. I win, you say something nice to me. In public. Just once.
[QQ] Deal.
[MURDER] In return?
[QQ] Play EC, roll with Paradox a couple times.
[MURDER] Yes, ma'am. That's pretty damned close to nice as it is, Q.
She just shook her head and selected the server. The game loaded, refusing to allow her into the world until the match was ready to start. There were only seven of them left, but that was a decent sized final round for any FPS tournament. The five of them, Knock, and PBJ made up the list. She tried to remember ever fighting PBJ, but couldn't. That meant he was an unknown that she would have to watch out for.
She was amused at the boys and their antics, but that wasn't what she needed. Riley turned her mind back to the thought of people breaking into her house, ruining Kitty's computer, and even thinking of stealing her horses! That made her mad, and she embraced it, knowing she was a better gamer when she was pissed. When they announced her, Riley glanced up at the camera, then back to her screen with barely a smile, not caring if she was seen as impersonal. She was.
Then she was loading into the world, waiting for the match to start. She glanced up, saw the big screen tracking their characters already, and turned back just as the match started.
It was an ice world. She checked her inventory, finding they all were in dark camo, with no option for anything else. Well that made a few things easy. Looked like they wanted an indoor fight for this one, because they'd die too fast silhouetted against the snow. She was almost to the first building, when Void started in with the chat.
[VOID] I'm winning this bet QQ.
[QQ] Dream on. You have to beat me first.
He knew her tactics, he knew her style, and he knew the strategies that Paradox used. That meant she had to change it up or risk losing. She dropped a prox mine just inside the door and headed out, making her way to the next building. She was on the run, but what they didn't know was that she could hunt on the fly. She'd played solo too long. Paradox's tactics worked well in a group, but she knew how to survive without them.
Riley dropped another mine inside this door, then pulled back to the corner and crouched, aiming down her sights. She waited. The map was a little too quiet, but this round didn't have a timer, and she had patience. Across the map, gunfire rang out, but stuck to her position. A second volley followed, then the kill spam flickered in the top right of her screen. Murder had killed PBJ. The unknown quantity wouldn't be a problem anymore.
Movement caught her eye as someone ducked into her building. The mine exploded and he turned, checking his back. With a smile, Riley watched Knock strafe. She led her shot and tapped off a pair, moving before his body was even on the ground. When the kill showed on the screen, Logan sucked in a breath across from her.
