Geek Actually Season 1 Omnibus
Page 19
“So you’re not just an asshole at work.”
Taneesha should have let it go. She still hadn’t completed Inquisition, and she could play on her own there without harassment, since the bulk of it involved solo gaming.
But it was Steven. The asshole who had ignored her, reprimanded her for doing her job, and all-around douche-nozzle.
Just then, her phone alerted her to another text, this time from her brother. She ignored it and smiled at her computer screen. “Payback is a bitch.”
“Why have you been on WoW for five hours?” Bobby’s deep baritone held a hint of worry. “And some of those hours were work hours?”
“I left work early and decided that my butt and the couch should be one.” Taneesha shouldn’t have answered her phone, but it was too late. Guilt had made her do it, since she hadn’t texted him back from earlier. He’d likely received a notification she was still logged in when he came home.
Hence the phone call that she stupidly answered. She’d have to converse with her brother and answer questions about why she was home in the middle of the day.
Or rather, why she had been home in the middle of the day. Night had crept up on her, and soon she’d need another audiobook to keep her company as she played. The Dresden Files always hit the spot—or, more accurately, James Marsters’s voice. Actually, no, definitely both.
Still, she tried to escape the family trap. “Bobby, I’m in the middle of something right now.”
“You’re on WoW. That’s not work. So I don’t feel bad for interrupting. I’m pretty sure you’re in sweats and covered in crumbs from snacks.”
Taneesha glanced down. A streak of orange dust decorated her RWBY shirt. A mountain of napkins was balled beside her so she wouldn’t get chip stains on her laptop. She’d just cleaned her Mac and it once again looked like she cared about it. “Unless you’re planning to jump online with me, no judgment.”
She could practically hear the wheels turning in his head and closed her eyes. This was not the way to get Bobby off the phone.
She knew that to be true a second later.
“Is this your way of saying things at work suck?”
“Yup.”
“And you don’t want to talk about it?”
“I’ve talked to one of my friends and whined about it already.”
He grunted. “I understand. You can’t wallow in that shit. You’ve got to grab whatever happiness you can get when you can get it.”
“I’m trying, but my brother is getting philosophical.”
He muttered an insult about her knobby knees. She let it pass because he asked, “Where are you? I can join. Just got home.”
Taneesha frowned. “Then how do you know how long I’ve been logged in?”
“I received an alert at work when you first got on. That’s why I sent a text.”
Her frown deepened. “You have WoW on your work computer?”
“Yup,” he said with absolutely no shame.
She laughed and shook her head. She didn’t find that surprising, though. He did what he wanted, and got away with it because he was Bobby. “I’m lurking at Stormwind. I have enough honor points to outfit my demon hunter.”
The tap of a keyboard filled the line for a second. “We can do a trade. I have gear I don’t want for mine.”
“Sounds good.”
“You didn’t answer my question, though.”
“Why am I doing a marathon?” She winced, because there was no good explanation. At least not when it came to her brother. Right was right and wrong, wrong. “Long story. Someone pissed me off and I’ve been killing all their alts. I’m doing my best to get banned today. I regret nothing.”
He sighed. “Neesha…”
“What?” she said, trying to sound innocent. “You asked and I answered. Get on the game. Move it or lose it. Insert more clichés about moving faster.”
An alert told her Bobby had logged in. He was only two or three minutes away from a portal.
“I’m not going to help you smash this guy.”
Taneesha grabbed another chip from the bowl. “Then what exactly are brothers for?”
“Today, apparently, it’s to give you a lecture on gaming etiquette.”
She gave a pfft with added emphasis and realized the buzzing sensation in her limbs probably had something to do the sugar high she was riding. Mountain Dew cans littered her glass coffee table. At least two empty bags of gummy worms lay beside them. At least she hadn’t resorted to chocolate—yet. Steven might log back in and bring friends. She had to be ready and alert.
Taneesha munched on the chip, swallowed, and went for another. “I was reminded in a chat earlier that I haven’t called Mom lately. How is she doing?”
“Asking about you.”
That meant a call would be imminent within the next twenty-four hours or less. “She shouldn’t worry.”
“She should,” Bobby threw back immediately. “You’re online exacting vendettas. Why, pray tell?”
Taneesha rubbed her hands together on one of the discarded napkins to dislodge the cheese. “When did you start using phrases like ‘pray tell’?”
“Around the same time you started to use ‘pwned’ wrong.”
She snorted and bought the last of her gear from the auction. “I’m in front of Dwarven bank.”
“I see your little dot on the map.”
Bobby finally popped up on her end. She asked, “When did you level up your warrior?”
“In the last two weeks. Now tell me the full story about why you’re rage-gaming.”
“He started it.”
“As Daddy would say, you just finished it.”
“Exactly,” she agreed in a bright tone, “but really, he did deserve it.”
Bobby didn’t say anything, and she knew he was trying to come up with a way to speak his mind that didn’t burn any bridges. He did that often. Being the baby of the family hadn’t left him completely thoughtless and reckless. Taneesha didn’t doubt for one second he’d go to bat for her even if she was in the wrong, though. He’d call her on it later, but he’d be there for her in the moment. She waited and finally he sighed.
“You know the guys on here are hopped up on testosterone. Don’t take it personally.”
She blinked, surprised by the warning. “That’s so—”
“I know,” Bobby cut in. “I’m the biggest cheerleader of ‘be you without apologies.’ This thing, though?” She could almost hear the wince in his voice. “It never ends well,” Bobby continued.
Her stomach tightened. “I don’t care today.”
“You might tomorrow. Does he know it was you?”
“I’m sure he’ll figure out it’s someone at work, since only friends, if that, can see all your alts. I got his name from a list with his alts’ names but I didn’t put mine on it. They didn’t invite me, actually.”
“Their loss. But sis?” Once again, he spoke with a deep well of patience. “I’m just saying this can backfire. This is man-tears territory.”
Why did he have to rain on her parade? “Yeah, and?”
“I want you to be safe, above all else.”
Taneesha softened at that. “I am. Nothing is going to come of me letting off some steam. Stop worrying.” She paused, then smiled. “Well, you should worry. I challenge you to a duel!”
“Dammit.”
She laughed, because she always won. “You had to know this would be the first thing I’d do.”
“I had hoped not. Dammit. Dammit. I forgot you could glide.”
“Yasssssss!” It took only another minute for Taneesha to win. Being a benevolent winner, she healed Bobby and sent him some gold to fix his gear.
He cleared his throat twice in the most dramatic way. “So…?”
Taneesha narrowed her gaze at her phone sitting on the couch beside her. “Is this the part of the conversation where we get to the real reason why you called me?”
He let out a fake gasp. “How did you guess?”
“The last thing I want is details of what’s going on with you and Diego. I’d settle for an update confirming that he hasn’t lodged his foot in his mouth again. I peeped y’all at gaming night. It was cute.”
“I haven’t completely written him off yet, so there’s that.” Taneesha paused. “He’s actually been a bit of a bright spot. He seems to know all things geek. I can be myself with him.”
“And he doesn’t treat you like you won’t know all things geek.”
Taneesha smiled—Diego did, in fact, treat her like an equal fanatic of the things they loved. By he was by no means perfect. He was dragging his feet on asking her out on a real date. One that didn’t include her brother somehow. She didn’t want to throw herself at the man, but she’d given Diego plenty of hints and signals that she wanted more than flirting over game pieces. And she really liked him. He gave her butterflies in her stomach, and that hadn’t happened since high school.
She wasn’t getting into all that with her brother, though. “I still have some open quest lines in Azsuna. You?”
“I’m barely on the Greywatch stuff. I picked up all my artifacts and wandered away. Also, don’t think you’re getting away with changing the subject.”
Taneesha rolled her eyes. “Suit up.”
“I won’t until you give me some tea. Not the whole pot, but a cupful.”
“That poor metaphor.”
“So… Diego?”
“He’s nice. I like him. He appears to like me. I’m waiting for him to ask me out on a date because I think if I ask him he might turn tail.”
“I can drop a line.”
“Why?”
“Like I said, I saw y’all at game night and it was cute. You looked, I don’t know. Happy.”
“Aren’t you just the sweetest?” She grinned. “But, hey, tell me something.”
“What do you want to know?”
“I get taking things slow. Maybe he really wants to get to know me before he takes me for breadsticks and pasta.”
“Yeah?” her brother sounded cautious.
“But is it just me or is he… I don’t know. He can’t be so geeky that he’s never been around women before.”
“I don’t want to break any confidences. I’ll just say his last relationship imploded because of his lack of experience in relationships and relationship-like shit.”
“Huh. That sounds ominous.”
“It’s not. I promise. I wouldn’t do you like that.”
Bobby’s reply didn’t reassure Taneesha at all. She glared at her phone. “Is that all you can say?”
“It’s all I will. He has to tell you the rest.”
“Fine then. Shut up and play.”
He did. Taneesha hadn’t realized how much she needed to play with her brother until he joined in. It had definitely helped to blow off all the steam first. This was why she loved gaming—the community. She’d missed the community. She’d have to get the girls to clear their schedules so they could play together again. It had been too long.
“Hey, Bobby,” she said. “Thanks.”
“Not sure why, but you’re welcome.”
“Also, don’t tell Mom about Diego or I’ll end you.”
“Now I have to tell her.”
She laughed and it felt so damn good. She’d take it. Tomorrow she had to go back into work, and nothing had been fixed.
ADITI
Buzzz.
Ten feet had never felt so far. Aditi had thrown her purse on the small writing table in the hotel room. This one was not as opulent as the first, but it wasn’t Best Western. The wall-to-wall glass sliding door led to a balcony with a view of the city. A white down comforter covered the bed, and the softest pillows on Earth rounded out the padded headboard. The carpet felt like smooth cotton under her feet.
All so very nice and awesome, but that meant her phone was eons away.
It buzzed again.
It was too damned far. Plus, she had no intention of answering the call. It would be Michelle or Michelle’s assistant or something book-related Aditi had to attend to, because the very trajectory of the Earth was at stake if she didn’t send in a stupid blog post.
Aditi breathed in deeply, trying to tamp down the anger that churned her stomach. For at least twenty minutes, she wanted to get off without interruption. Twenty minutes of not thinking. Was that too much to ask for?
She glanced down. Cuddlebug’s shoulders looked like divine art between her thighs. The sloped muscles were broad, tanned, and smooth. Maybe they were beautiful to her because her legs were hanging over them. His mouth was wonderful, too, with stubble, the absolute greatest thing ever created. He dragged that scratchy friction along her inner thigh in the best way. Her nipples tightened, ached for the same attention.
Buzzz.
Aditi tensed, her teeth gritting. Irritation wanted to dig in and make a home. This was not the time to indulge in her crappy mood. Again, she looked down and tried to let the visual of Cuddlebug pull her into the moment. He was feathering his tongue over her slit. It felt good but her brain kept straying to her phone.
A frustrated groan spilled out. “C…?” What is his name, again? she thought. Saying the wrong name was likely a bad idea.
He glanced up. “What’s wrong? You’re tense.”
“Faster?” she offered. “More sucking. I don’t know. It feels good. I’m just…”
Buzzz.
“Gotcha.”
He splayed his palms over her mound and used that wonderful mouth of his to suck her. For the next ten minutes the only buzz she heard lived in her head. What Cuddlebug could do with a clit in his mouth deserved every ounce of her attention.
She buried her hands in his hair to keep him right there as the knot of her orgasm built into blinding pleasure. “I’m going to come.”
He shifted and his back flexed. She didn’t bother to swallow the scream as her toes curled. When the orgasm slammed into her she fisted her hands and bowed into it.
Buzzz.
Buzzz.
She didn’t let herself come down from the high before she pushed Cuddlebug onto his back. A condom was on, his face was flushed, and his dick beckoned to her.
If it wasn’t a thing, then fuck therapy should be. The stress, the frustration, and even the deadlines flew from her body as she rocked her hips to take all of his cock in. Her body stretched and pulled to accommodate his girth. They both moaned as he slid home. With the next stroke, Aditi’s every limb throbbed with pleasure. Her heartbeat thudded in her head and in her clit.
Cuddlebug cupped his hands around her breasts and his mouth followed. That felt so good, she stopped to put her hand on the back of his head to guide him to the other breast. Her hips ground into him and he groaned against her skin. The sound vibrated through her.
He glanced up at her with his sea-blue eyes and her hips moved of their own accord. His lids were heavy, and he looked sex-drunk.
“Don’t come yet,” he said. “You feel…”
Aditi slammed her mouth on his because he was sexier quiet. She didn’t have to be anything in the silence. Her body was the means to the escape. Coming down from that high to talk dirty—Aditi refused to chance it.
He slid his hands down to her hips and rocked up, soft at first then harder. Heat built in her chest. The beginning of the end was the knot in her chest. She gripped his hair and let the second orgasm slam into her until she could only tremble in his arms.
Buzzz.
Of course.
Aditi fell sideways onto the bed, but her gaze tracked to her phone. She glared at her purse and the space between her and it.
One moment was all she’d wanted. One moment to get lost and not think about blog posts due, words she hadn’t written, and deadlines that had whooshed past her. The reprieve hadn’t lasted long.
And when did her life become nothing but respons
ibilities? Ones she felt the need to run from?
She wanted to focus on now and ignore the rest.
Aditi’s and Cuddlebug’s breath seemed to mingle in a dance with them so close. It was hot and moist, and still she preferred that to the reality waiting for her once she left the hotel room.
He asked, “Who’s calling you?”
“I don’t know.” She’d put her phone on vibrate, sure it wouldn’t go off. Her husband was busy. She’d checked in with her mother the day before. It was the tail end of a business day. “I’ve tried not to care who is calling me.”
“Want me to get it?”
Doing that would only cut into her haze. Her chest continued to burn and her limbs were loose and heavy. “Just ignore it, and we’ll go again.”
She closed her eyes. Sweat had started to drip into her vision anyway. She continued to linger in the space where she could drop her hand between her legs and get off once more. She could even put on a show and Cuddlebug, the Walking Viagra Man, could get back into the game to give her at least two more orgasms. He hadn’t pulled her hair yet or flipped her onto her stomach to take her from behind.
“Aditi,” he whispered in her ear.
She shivered. The next wet kiss landed on her shoulder. Without prompting, she shifted to give him better access. “Yes?”
“I think I’m falling for you.”
Wait. What?
“What did you just say?”
He closed his fist in her hair and yanked back. “I haven’t come yet. You ready?”
He pulled her hair until her neck was exposed to his mouth. He kissed her on the neck. The buzz was back in her head, her limbs, her everything.
Cuddlebug straightened from the mattress, the comforter a tangle between his long legs, then he patted the spot next to him on the bed.
This again.
His hair was bedhead sexy and his full mouth looked good in a pout. Aditi was so very not tempted, even with that.
But now she knew she hadn’t been hearing things earlier. He had confessed to falling for her. And he meant it. This was bad. This was so not what she wanted. Slipping her feet into her flats, she considered how to deal with the problem.
“What do you have against spooning?” Cuddlebug asked.