Bennett - Milly Taiden Page 0,15

going to try at least once before the week was out.

Bennett knew he would chicken out, but a man had to have goals. He didn’t have big muscles, but he did have a big brain, and he would put it to use.

His three friends followed him into the kitchen. They busied themselves, putting the pizza in the oven to keep it warm and pouring various snack foods into bowls.

Dakota was nowhere to be seen, but Bennett guessed that she had gone out to do a perimeter check after the arrival of the three guests. He knew he was right when he heard the soft chimes of the security alarm being reactivated. She walked into the dining room and settled in the seat beside him. The table was long and wide, and could comfortably seat twelve people. Bennett had taken the head of the table. As the master of ceremonies for their game, he usually took that spot.

They were setting up the Wars of Sorcerers on the table, Dakota observing them.

“What’s all of this stuff?” She picked up the red box in which the game was stored.

“This is the game we will be playing tonight,” he answered. “Wars of Sorcerers is a card collection game. Each player has a deck, and they play their cards against the others to win.”

“I don’t get it.” Dakota’s brow furrowed. “Where are the real games?”

It was his turn to be confused. “What do you mean?”

“Uno? Guess Who?”

Bennett felt his cheeks heat, and he knew he was as red as the Wars of Sorcerers box set. “No. That’s not the kind of game we’re going to be playing. This is basically going on a quest to win the war. Those three are playing against each other, and I am the master of ceremonies. That means I throw wrenches in their plans and make sure everyone is playing honestly.”

He went on to explain the game, comparing it to Magic the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons.

“I am so going to lose at this,” she laughed. “Of course you would play a complicated, strategic game, Mr. Big Brain.”

The wink she sent his way made his heart stop for a solid ten seconds before it kicked back on again as if it had never beaten before.

“You’ll do fine,” he assured her on a squeak.

Vance rolled his eyes. “Oh, great. Boys, you know what that means. Dakota has the master of ceremonies’ protection. We better watch ourselves.”

“That’s right,” Bennett warned.

Dakota reached over and squeezed his hand. Her delicate, lovely fingers in his were scorching hot. It was a jolt back to life as if he had been asleep until that very moment.

“Thanks, master,” she whispered, taking a deep exhale. “Master of ceremonies?”

He gulped. He pushed his glasses up his nose and committed the way Dakota had said master. It shouldn’t have sent a sexy shiver up his spine, but it definitely had.

“Let’s get started,” he said to the others before restating the rules.

As the game unfolded, Bennett was becoming more sure of himself.

He would definitely kiss Dakota.

For science.

Chapter Nine

Dakota

The three geeky bros went to the kitchen to get dinner ready. They had insisted, but Dakota had the impression they were trying to give Bennett and her some space to talk.

She was sure that Corey the oncologist, Stuart the endocrinologist, and Vance who did something with bioinformatics and genetics like Bennett, could figure out how to heat up some pizza.

She still couldn’t believe that she had touched Bennett’s hand. It had made her tigress roar like a mad animal, but it had been worth it to feel her blood heat with interest. She couldn’t explain how her chair had gotten so close to Bennett’s. She could lie and say she was merely leaning into him to get some help in the game.

That wasn’t it at all.

Wars of Sorcerers wasn’t all that hard to figure out once you got the basics. Dakota just wanted to be close to Bennett. His lanky form wasn’t so bothersome. Not when he was wrangling his three friends and making sweeping declarations and delivering penalties like it was his job.

Master of ceremonies Bennett was sexy. Commanding. Powerful.

Dakota was even really starting to dig his glasses and the way he pushed the thick black frame up his perfect nose. She would never admit to this, but his mere proximity and his attitude had drenched her panties.

It would have been embarrassing if it didn’t make so much sense.

The explanation was simple.

Bennett was her mate, and that meant that everything he