Changing His Game (Gamers #1)

by Megan Erickson

  He shook himself and finished drying off, then looped the towel around his neck. He padded into his bedroom and perused his walk-in closet. He picked a new shirt and dress pants. He didn’t plan to leave the house but he worked more efficiently if he dressed the professional part.

  Everything in its compartment.

  When he returned to his office, he’d just begun to work, answering emails and other things that didn’t require too much concentration, when his phone rang.

  He hit the speaker. “Rivers.”

  “You can’t say hello?” Grant’s voice came over the line, a smile behind it.

  “Ah, and what’s the reason for this call, Osprey?” Austin leaned back in his chair.

  “So formal.”

  “So annoying.”

  Grant grunted. “I have another offer for you.”

  Austin leaned forward and braced his forearms on his desk. He’d been considering selling his ownership in Gamers. Aric’s Revenge had filled out his savings quite nicely and he’d been looking into simplifying, since they were in the beginning stages of a sequel.

  But Gamers was one of his first investments. His love. He’d met Grant freshman year of college. They’d both worked shifts at the computer lab in the Math and Science building at Harkton University. It wasn’t until a fire drill in their dorm did they realize they lived on the same floor. But computer science majors weren’t known for their outgoing personalities. Grant had overcome that shyness. Austin embraced it like a security blanket.

  Except when it came to sex. And Marley.

  Austin cleared his throat and kept his mind on the conversation. He picked at a scratch in the desk and frowned. “And how does this one sound?”

  “Fair.”

  “You know him or her?”

  “Him and yes.”

  Austin hummed. “And how much?”

  “One million, paid in four installments over a year from the date of the contract. Half at signing, the rest in the remaining three payments.”

  Austin ran his tongue over his teeth. That was the best offer he’d received yet. “Who is it?”

  A pause on the other end of the line. Austin almost asked if the call had dropped when Grant’s voice came across softly. “Ethan.”

  Austin held in a growl. Grant’s friend, Ethan Talley. “I see.”

  Grant blew out a breath. “Austin, knock it off with the ‘I see.’ I know Ethan’s not your best buddy, but I like him. He’s responsible and reliable and smart.”

  Austin clenched his jaw. Grant had met Ethan at some conference he’d been to years ago, and Austin wasn’t thrilled about it. He recognized that he was a little overprotective of Grant but he’d seen his friend struggle as a new father, as a single dad. So the thought of the magazine—Grant’s livelihood—in someone else’s hands made Austin nervous. What if they made a bad decision? What if the buyer wasn’t trustworthy?

  Ethan was smart and business-savvy; Austin knew that. He’d made millions in college as a video game commentator—recording himself playing walkthroughs and posting them to YouTube. His subscriber base was huge, and the revenue from his ads made him millions. It was what he did after that which made Austin nervous. “Ethan—”

  “That was a couple of years ago,” Grant said softly, cutting him off. “He’s changed since then.”

  Ethan had been driving his sports car with his sister as the passenger, lost control, and wrecked it. The accident killed his sister and permanently scarred Ethan.

  “So you think he’s a wise choice to own a business with?” Austin asked.

  “I considered buying you out myself. I wasn’t interested in another partner, someone I didn’t know. It was either you or no one. Until Ethan stepped up. Which is nice, because I really didn’t want to cough up the extra money.”

  Austin shifted in his chair. “This is a rather dramatic way to tell me.”

  Grant laughed. “Ah, but you know us. Everything has to have a flair.”

  “Yes, yes, I do know you. Ethan, I’m sure, couldn’t care less how you told me.”

  “So you going to think about it and let me know?”

  They’d started this magazine together. It’d been Grant’s idea over beer and chicken wings. Austin could still picture his young, flushed face as he waved his hands around dramatically. The next morning Austin hadn’t been sure if the indigestion was from the food or the plans scribbled on Dale’s Pub napkins.

  Lately, though, Austin was restless and stretched thin. His brain was screaming at him to simplify.

  Getting involved with an employee sure as hell wasn’t simplifying. Although, if he sold his share in Gamers, she wouldn’t be his employee.

  He growled under his breath at himself. Focus.

  “Austin?”

  “I might want to speak to Ethan, make sure of his intentions—”

  “Good God, Austin, I’m not marrying Sydney off to the man. I trust Ethan to handle the business with me. I do most of the work myself now anyway.”

  Austin gritted his teeth until his jaw ached. “I’ll think about it and let you know. I’m being indecisive about whether I want to sell.” And I don’t trust Ethan.

  Grant chuckled. “That’s so unlike you.”

  He knew that, which was why he was irritated. This whole thing was a splinter under his skin. “I realize that.”

  “You doing okay? You sound…more brusque than usual.”

  “Brusque?”

  “Surly.”

  “Surly?”

  Grant was laughing now. “Terse and crusty.”

  Austin narrowed his eyes at the phone. “I will accept terse. I absolutely, unequivocally reject crusty.”

  Grant kept laughing. “Fuck, Austin, never change.”

  Austin sighed. If those were the words his closest friend used to describe him, didn’t that mean a change would be welcome?

  “I just wish…” Grant paused. “I wish you would let people in once in a while. I get that what your mom did fucked you up, and what your dad did fucked you over, but if you keep going down this path, you’re going to end up exactly like him.”

  “Oh yeah?” Austin snapped. “And how’s that? Because he’s six feet below now.”

  “Alone.” Grant didn’t back down. “He shut everyone out. He was alone before he died, and he’s buried in a plot all by himself. Is that what you want?”

  A couple of years ago, he might have said yes. But lately…well, he wasn’t so sure.

  “Well, I appreciate your opinion, Grant. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Aus—”

  He hung up the phone. And then thumped his forehead on the desk. Being reminded of his mom and dad, well, that always threw him for a loop and soured his mood. Austin had never actually met his mother—she’d left them shortly after he was born. His father was…cold. He worked a lot and when he was home, he didn’t have much time for the son he was left with. Austin learned quickly that he couldn’t rely on his father for much of anything. He cooked for himself, cleaned up after himself, and worked his ass off at school. If he could make the grades, earn a scholarship, he’d be able to support himself, wouldn’t have to rely on anyone ever again.

  So when Austin was successful, and his father—whom Austin had trusted despite everything—stole money from him, it was the last time he allowed himself to trust anyone.

  He closed ranks, retreated into his shell. And that’s where he stayed. He didn’t want to trust anyone because that way no one could betray him.

  Grant was somewhat of an anomaly, mainly because he had a way of barreling into Austin’s life without him even realizing it. Although, that’s why he cared about his friend so much. Grant was one of a kind.

  Which was why he had to make sure Grant was making the right decision, and that he was placing his trust in the right business partner.

  Austin would be sure of that before he sold anything.

  Chapter Five

  Marley crossed her legs and stared at the email.


  From: Aricofthelobby@gmail.com

  To: MarleyLake@gamermag.com

  I think my red silk tie would look best around the skin of your wrists as I touch every inch of you with my tongue.

  —A

  It was Friday and he’d tortured her all damn week with these emails. It was like he’d found her Tumblr account and placed himself and her in every one of those pictures or GIFs. To say it turned her on would be an understatement.

  Hell, he probably did find her Tumblr account. All those guys had hacker skills, didn’t they?

  Oh Lord.

  She licked her lips and after a glance around the almost empty office, placed her hands on the keyboard. She thought of that GIF, the blindfolded woman, and the man on his knees in front of her.

  From: MarleyLake@gamersmag.com

  To: Aricofthelobby@gmail.com

  What color would look best on my face when you blindfold me?

  — M

  She giggled to herself. That man needed a taste of his own medicine.

  “What’s so funny?”

  She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Owen’s voice. She braced a hand on her chest in a lame attempt to slow her racing heart and turned to glare at him. “Do you have to sneak up on me? We need to get you a damn cat collar with a bell, you little ninja.”

  He jingled his pockets, which she assumed held his keys or some loose change. “You want me to always announce my presence by doing this?”

  She haughtily stuck her nose in the air. “Yes, and shout ‘Marco’ or something.”

  He snorted. “So, Polo, you hear the news?”

  “What news?”

  “Bradley’s leaving.”

  She jerked her head back at the thought of their assistant editor leaving. “Really?” She liked the guy, although he wasn’t hands-on enough as a leader in her opinion. Still, he let her run her team the way she liked and for that, she was grateful.

  Owen nodded, his round blue eyes flitting to the door of Bradley’s office and then back to her. “Rumor is they’re looking to hire within to replace him.”

  Marley sat up straighter. Bradley’s job was everything she dreamed of. Her fingers in all the pies of Gamers. Organizing them. Leading them. Of course, that bastard Jack would want it, too.

  Her nemesis.

  Owen knew she wanted this job, because a smile crept across his face. “I figured you’d want to know about this.”

  “How’d you find out?”

  “He let it slip when we were talking about the spring releases. He’s announcing it at the end of the week.”

  She needed to focus. Get herself and her libido under control and her eyes on the prize. “I want that damn job.”

  Owen laughed. “I know, Marley.”

  She reached out and gripped his tie. “Tell me all of the vital information.”

  He tugged his tie out of her grip. “That’s all I know, KGB. Calm down.”

  She growled under her breath. “You better not be holding out on me.”

  He winked. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  She turned around and concentrated on her work.

  “Hey, Polo!” Owen called.

  She rolled her eyes before turning to him. “Yes, Marco?”

  “I’m heading out. You okay? The night cleaning crew should be by in a bit.”

  Marley looked around the office. “Am I the last one here?” Again?

  Owen looked around. “Might be one or two stragglers.”

  Marley waved him off. “It’s cool. I’ll be fine. Going to finish some stuff and get set up for Monday and them I’m outtie.”

  He waved as he walked toward the door. “Have a good weekend.”

  “You too!” she called after him.

  Marley finished the second round of copy edits on an article about a controller redesign and then wrote the headline. She straightened her desk and tossed out her three candy bar wrappers, vowing to bring something healthy next week, like granola.

  While shutting down her computer, she remembered that her mouse had been acting up. Knowing they had ordered some new ones last month, she headed to the supply closet. She wanted to get one plugged in and installed so she wouldn’t have to deal with it Monday.

  She walked down the narrow hallway by the bathrooms at the back of the office and flashed her keycard in front of the sensor. The door shut behind her as she perused the shelves and filing cabinets for the new computer parts. She was running her fingers over the plastic wrapped keyboards when there was a beep from the door behind her, signaling someone else was coming in.

  She figured it was the cleaning crew. “Be done in a minute,” she said, bending to reach back for a new black mouse.

  No sound came from behind her and, clutching the mouse, she straightened and turned to see who’d entered.

  It wasn’t a janitor or any member of the cleaning crew. Marley’s body locked as she met those amazing sea-green eyes she hadn’t seen for a week. At least, not in person, because she sure as hell saw them in her dreams.

  Austin stood with his back to the door, hair slightly askew like he’d been running his fingers through it. Suit pants clung to his long legs, accentuating his narrow hips, and his white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing a tantalizing amount of smooth, tan skin.

  And wrapped around his fist was a pale blue tie, one end dangling almost to the ground.

  His lips were parted, his broad shoulders not moving. Instead his breath was only visible in the slow rise and fall of his chest. He was the picture of control except for his hair and wild eyes. And she was turned on all over again.

  “Austin.” Her eyes darted to the doorknob sensor under his arm, but the light was a steady red. The office was nearly empty, but this was still risky. And how did he have a key for the door? IT must have it for supplies.

  When his voice came, it was soft, yet firm. “I liked you better as you were.”

  He had a way of speaking that seemed to switch off her brain so her body went on autopilot. Which she needed, because if she thought about this too much, she’d stop him. She’d brush past him and walk out that door to preserve her sanity and her job.

  His words hadn’t even been a command, yet she could do nothing but turn around, presenting her back to him, bending slightly at the hip so that her ass stuck out. An invitation. A present.

  After agonizing minutes passed, or maybe it was only a few seconds, the click of his shoes on the linoleum came closer, and she hoped he planned to unwrap her. She bit her lip as the steps stopped behind her. And she waited.

  The first touch was against her backside, just a brush of the front of his pants so that she could feel he was hard. Then a hand gripped her shoulders, his thumb at the knob at the top of her spine, his other fingers digging into her muscle. Lips ran along the shell of her ear.

  “Do you want to know the answer to the question in your email?”

  Heat radiated from his body, warming her back, yet a shiver ran down her body. Goosebumps popped out on her arms. What was the question he asked? Fuck, she couldn’t think with those fingers gripping her, that hardness caressing the crease of her ass through her skirt.

  “I…” Her voice tapered off into a moan as those lips sucked on the skin behind her ear. But he didn’t just suck. He licked and nipped that small area of skin until she swore she would come from that alone, from the blood rushing to the surface.

  He pulled back and she gasped.

  “You asked what color blindfold would look good, didn’t you?”

  Her mouth worked but her throat didn’t. So she nodded.

  Austin held the blue tie up to her eyes. “I selected this just for you.” He was grinding into her now with small rolls of his hips. She wanted that hot length in her hand. In her mouth. Anywhere.

  “I tried not to think about you, Marley. But I can’t stop hearing your little moans. I can’t stop feeling your wetness on my hand. And I can’t stop tasting you on my tongue.”

  The tie slipped
over her eyes, and she closed her lids as he tied it at the back of her head.

  His voice was already sharper, his touch more sensational. “What other fantasies are you keeping to yourself, Evelyn?”

  She arched her back more, pleased with the nickname from the video game. “Austin.”

  A smack rent the air, and a painful heat bloomed across her left ass cheek.

  “Don’t move.” That voice. Not harsh, but so much authority behind it. “Maybe I’ll just have to try a couple of things. You tell me when I root out a fantasy, okay?”

  He’d already hit one. The slight dip in his voice let her know he knew it, too. She wiggled her hips slightly, and got another crack on the ass for it. She smiled. “Then get on with it, my Aric of the lobby.”

  Silence. Then both hands gripped her waist, and he shoved her forward into the shelves in front of her. His breath puffed in her ear, like an abbreviated chuckle. “You liked the emails.”

  “Yes.” She paused. “But aren’t our accounts monitored?”

  “I took care of that,” he murmured, pushing her mass of hair over one shoulder, lips skimming the back of her neck. Then they stopped. “Do you trust me?”

  Yes. That was crazy though, right? She didn’t know him. She didn’t even know his last name. But yet, she did trust him. In the lobby of the movie theater, she always felt like she could have said “no,” or “stop,” and he would have. He had a way of silently asking permission without losing the thrill of this type of sex.

  She’d allowed herself to be locked in a supply closet with this guy, blindfolded, with his hard cock grinding into her ass.

  That either meant she trusted him or she was crazy.

  She was going to go with trust.

  “What’s your last name?” she asked, instead of answering his question.

  Those lips, which had resumed mapping of the top of her back above her thin tank top, stopped. “Rivers.”

  She laughed. “Lake and Rivers? There’s a joke there, but I’m too turned on to think of it.”

  “We’re drowning in each other.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

  “So cheesy.”

  He cleared his throat. “Is that a river in your panties or are you just happy to see me?”