For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,101

stick, so let Ruin hack him."

Dez looked over at Knock. "If you need to learn something, ask. I know how."

"Gotcha," he said. "I'm gonna get those guys, because I owe them a few too."

"We all do," Murder said. "Every person in this room plans to see them fry, but right now, they're after Rhaven. Don't forget that, guys."

"I'm ok," she promised. "What can they really say that I haven't heard before? That I'm not a real woman?"

"It's not that," Murder insisted. "Rhaven, it's not about you. Not really. Like Braden said, it's about the person reading it, thinking that also applies to them. It's about the ones who've been alienated and are sure things will never change. The power we have?" He paused to look around the room. "It's to stand up to them. It's to say that yes, Rhaven's a real woman. Yes, Riley's a real gamer. Yes, Kate earned her position at her job. Yes, the Middle Eastern guy is nice and not a terrorist. Yes, the gay or bi guy is cool. Yes, we are all fucking valid."

"And we are not alone," Dez said softly, looking over to Cynister. "None of us."

"Not anymore," he agreed.

Chapter 34

The alarm went off much too early the next morning. Even worse, it wasn't Rhaven's. Braden woke with a groan and rolled to hit snooze, but she was up. Rhaven tossed back her covers and moved to get out of bed, but Braden caught her around the waist, pulling her back against him. Then he began kissing the side of her neck.

"I have ten minutes," he said, his voice rough from sleep.

She giggled, but still batted his arm away. "I have to get ready."

His lips moved to her shoulder. "But I'm not ready to let go yet." Then he pressed his hips up against her ass.

She felt the hard ridge and sucked in a breath - then pressed back into it. The purr he made was worth it. Braden's hand slid down her belly, shifting to her hip, then her thigh before working his way back up. There was something so sensual about the way he touched her. Rhaven leaned into him, reaching back to clasp his waist and pull him closer.

That was all the encouragement he needed. Braden tugged her hip, shifting her onto her back even as he lifted up to lean over her. Their eyes met for a moment before his mouth brushed hers. All she could think about was her morning breath, but he just kissed her lips, her cheek, and then made his way to her neck. With a sigh, she relaxed into him.

"Gonna come see me between rounds?" he asked.

She leaned back a hair to see him better. "Won't that make problems?"

"Nope." This time, he kissed her collar bones. "My boss is cool with it."

"I meant the Kings of Gaming," she laughed, pushing him onto his back.

Braden let her, but as he rolled, he pulled her along with him so she was now looking down at him. "What? They'll call me gay? Not real worried about it, Rhaven. Or maybe they'll say I like dick? Oh no! Or they might say I'm into hot girls?" His eyes ran down her. "Kinda am."

"And what if they try to mess up the booth?" she countered.

"Then either Jason gets some data to track or Adam gets some video surveillance to turn over to the cops. Still not seeing a problem. Besides, Dez told the team that we're supposed to rub salt in their wounds this weekend. And trust me, pissing off KoG makes that woman very happy."

"Then yes," Rhaven decided. "I will come see you between rounds if I have time."

"And if not?" he asked. "Baby, please don't run around today without a few friends."

"Kate and Adam," she assured him. "Maybe Zara. She's in my outfit, you know, and she's kinda bad."

"She's really bad," Braden agreed. "But Kate might make round two, and Adam will if he tries."

Rhaven paused. "He's been getting killed because she does?"

Braden nodded. "Yep. Watching the stream of it, he always stops trying once she takes her hands off the keys. Kinda get the impression he'd rather hang out with her than, oh, I dunno, make more money."

"That's actually kinda cute," Rhaven decided before kissing Braden again. "I really have to get dressed."

"And I need to wait for my dick to go down so I can piss. Bathroom's yours, baby."

With that, she finally left the bed to begin her morning routine. When she came back