For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,168

then snatched the papers out of her hand. Rhaven gasped playfully, reaching for them. He just held them higher on the far side, daring her to try.

The sound of someone laughing made the couple look over. Clearly, Braden recognized the older woman. "Hi, Mrs. Carmichael," he said.

"You aren't picking on that girl too much are you?" the lady asked as she turned for the apartment across the hall.

"No, ma'am," he promised. "Rhaven, that's the wonderful woman who takes care of my cat when I'm out of town. Mrs. Carmichael, this is my girlfriend, Rhaven. She's just moved in so is going to be a permanent fixture around here."

"Oh!" The lady said, turning back to offer Rhaven her hand. "Pleasure, my dear." Then she paused. "My, aren't you tall!"

"Yes, ma'am," Rhaven agreed. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Carmichael."

"It's Doris, honey." She patted Rhaven's arm. "Does this mean you're going to be around all day when that boy's at work? He has the worst hours, you know. Always coming in so late!"

"No, I actually work at the same place," Rhaven said.

Doris sucked in a breath. "Making those video games? That's wonderful! Braden got me a computer and showed me how to play Silk. I'm horrible at it, but it's fun to hang around with you kids." Then she leaned in. "We need more of those half dressed men, though. You hear me? You need to tell them to put them into the new one."

"Yes, ma'am," Rhaven laughed.

Then Doris waved and turned. "I think she's going to keep you on your toes, Braden. About time you decided to settle down. Have a good night, you two!"

"Night Doris," Rhaven said.

"Goodnight, Mrs. Carmichael," Braden told her. Then he grumbled under his breath, "That woman is determined to embarrass me."

"What? Why?" Rhaven asked.

Braden just unlocked the door and led her in. "Well, I brought a date home once. A guy, Rhaven. And that woman chewed me out for not being romantic enough. Said it was disrespectful to spend the night with someone and not even walk them out to their car the next day."

Rhaven just about lost it. "No!"

"Oh, yes she did," he promised. "I tried to insist that he was just a friend, thinking you know how the older generation is. And nope. She was not having any of it. Gave me a lecture right there about how condoms aren't just for pregnancy, and asked if I'd been being safe, and the whole thing. My mother isn't even that nosy!"

"I love her," Rhaven decided.

He wrapped his arm around Rhaven's waist. "Yeah, I kinda do too. That's when she started taking care of Dammit. And that cat likes her more than me." He paused to kiss her neck. "But, speaking of condoms... What's the rules for that, baby?"

"I..." Rhaven could only shrug. "I can't really get pregnant."

"I've kinda been with a couple of people in my life. Need me to get a clean test or something?"

"I was with Psyc too," she reminded him.

"With a condom," he reminded her. "Rhaven, I'm clean. I know that, but you don't. I mean, I didn't really keep the paperwork, but I haven't been with anyone else since my last one. I kinda saw this woman and got a little obsessed."

"Me?" she asked.

He nodded, turning her to face him. "Yeah, you. I can still remember seeing you walk into Adam's suite. Took my breath away, and I was trying so hard to play it cool. Failing, but I still tried. And when you told us why KoG was after you?" He cupped her face. "You lifted your chin, Rhave. You were trembling, but you still lifted your chin, and I knew I was going to prove to you that I was serious."

"And now you have," she breathed.

He leaned a little closer. "No, I'm about to." And his lips found hers.

Chapter 55

Her arms found their way around his neck, but Braden was guiding her backwards, heading for the bedroom. She just kept kissing him. His mouth, his neck, and anything else she could reach. Braden tried to keep up, but a grunt and a thump made it clear he was distracted.

"Fucking coffee table," he grumbled, and then kissed her again.

She noticed when he dropped her paperwork on the end table, but he still didn't stop. Yet now that both of his hands were free, she began working at his shirt, wanting to see that hard body beneath. Braden let her, pausing to help yank it off just as they reached the bedroom.