For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,155

And I'm with you, but he, you know, was first, and - "

"Shh," he breathed. "Rhaven, I don't care about that. My only fear is that you're with me because you think you have to be."

"No!" she gasped.

"Then we're good," he promised. "And if you end up with some guy online you can flirt with, I'm not going to be an idiot, but only because I know I do the same. I flirt with the clients, and I smile at the reporters. I don't want this thing between us to be based on worrying about what the other will do, so, I was thinking that maybe we can make a deal?"

"What kind of deal?" she asked.

"Honesty," he said. "You trust me to be honest, and I'll trust you. If I say it's nothing, then that means it's nothing. If you say you like him, then I accept that. If something happens, like I kiss some guy, I have to fess up, but we talk before we lose our shit, ok? Rhaven, I'm a fuckup. I never get this dating thing right, and I want to so bad. So, maybe we can try talking things out and being open minded about it?"

"Because you want a boyfriend?" she asked.

"No," he promised. "I mean, won't turn down a threesome with you and some guy willing to go there, but no. All I'm saying is that I want us to be a team. Me and you against the world. If that means we bring in some assistance for something, or we hang with some friends, that doesn't change that you and I are still a team. Everything else around that is flexible."

She nodded. "I kinda like that idea."

"Me too, baby." He palmed the side of her face and leaned in a little more. "I don't want to grow up, Rhaven. I don't want to live a boring life. I want to be me, and I want to make sure that you can be you. Even if the rest of the world doesn't think what we're doing is 'right' or 'normal' or anything else. It doesn't matter, because this? It's our lives, and I really want you in mine."

Then he kissed her. It started softly, but the moment her lips parted, he pressed in. She could almost taste the promise on his lips, and it felt so good. This was going to work. He understood her, and from everything he'd said, she felt like she was on the same page. This was going to work. It was going to be amazing.

And the feeling she had when she thought about him? "Like" was no longer the best word. She wasn't ready to use another, but this was more than she'd expected. It was trust and protection and sensuality. It was wonderful. Maybe her thing with Psyc could best be described as chemistry, but with Braden, the word that came to mind was faith.

Chapter 51

Between the drive home from the airport and carrying up all of her stuff, it was well after midnight before they made it back to Braden's apartment and got to relax. He ordered pizza only a few minutes before the delivery cut off, they both scarfed it back, and then passed out. The next morning, his alarm went off, but judging from the light outside, it was not as early as she'd expected.

Turning to the clock, Rhaven realized it was nine. She sucked in a breath and sat up quickly. "We're late!"

"Not late," he grumbled. "Day starts at noon. Post convention hours. Other devs are doing the other shit." And he tugged her back down beside him.

Rhaven rolled over to face him. "How long does it take to get there?"

"Thirty minutes if traffic's stupid," he said. "Ten if it's not. I set the alarm so you can get dressed, have breakfast, and not feel rushed." Yet the man still hadn't opened his eyes.

She snuggled a little closer. "You cooking?"

"I can." He blinked his eyes open, then reached up to rub at them. "You're not going to let me snooze, are you." It wasn't a question.

Rhaven pressed her face into his shoulder and giggled. "I'm excited, Braden."

"Mm, I can tell." With a sigh, he gave up, releasing her. "Go get pretty, then. I'll use the other bathroom."

Rhaven pressed a kiss to his lips and then rolled away. She had a shower first, then fixed her hair and face before flipping through her clothes to find something appropriate. Considering that Braden went to work in