Bedroom Games
Page 31

I shook my head.
“Are you crying because you drank snails?”
I laughed, though it came out as a half-sob. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” he said with an easy grin. “To be your partner and make you laugh.”
“We’re not partners anymore,” I pointed out sourly.
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re partners until one of us cashes that million dollar check. Now seriously, what’s wrong, Kandis? You’re worrying me.”
“It’s silly,” I said in a shaky voice. “But…I hate my hair.”
To his credit, he didn’t laugh. “Your hair was really pretty.”
That just made me feel worse. “It was,” I said, and began to weep all over again. “And now I’m ugly, and it’s worse because I’m on national TV.”
“You’re not ugly,” Brodie soothed. His hand rubbed up and down my back, comforting me even as he hugged me close.
“Sunnie said she didn’t do it because she didn’t want to be ugly.”
He snorted. “Sunnie didn’t do it because it would mess up her extensions. You think all that red hair is natural? Please.”
I wrinkled my nose. “You think?”
“Yeah. That’s why she never gets her hair wet when she swims. You just watch her.”
I nodded and pressed my cheek to his chest, inhaling his scent. Brodie smelled like a hint of sweat and a delicious, musky, masculine scent. He smelled good. Comforting.
“Might I remind you that Sunnie flirts with every guy in this house, but no one takes her up on it?”
“Because she has the herp,” I murmured.
His hand paused mid-rub on my back. “That’s right. How did you know?”
“You told me when you were drunk.”
He chuckled. “Shit, she’s going to be pissed if that gets out on TV. I hope they don’t show me talking about that.”
I didn’t care if they did or not. I rubbed my cheek against Brodie’s shoulder and noticed that the shaved side of my head made a horrible rasping sound. My hand smoothed at my too-short hair. “This is an awful haircut.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t thrilled with it either.”
I thumped a hand on his chest. “Oh please. It looks good on you.”
“You think so?” Brodie mused. “Or are you just saying that to flatter my vanity?”
“It’s not all that different from your normal hair,” I told him. “You just had to shave it a bit closer on the sides and spike the top.” I began to tear up again. “It’s completely different for me.”
He hugged me again. “Don’t be sad, Kandis. I didn’t think Sunnie was going to do it as soon as I saw the picture, and I was surprised that you did. But I was also proud. You’re a fighter. You compete.”
“I didn’t get naked on TV,” I told him miserably.
“The only reason I did is so we could keep control. It wasn’t like I wanted to show everyone my ass.”
Whatever. Brodie had a fine ass. I was tempted to touch it right now, but that would just get me in trouble. My fingers twitched, though, as if needing to caress him. “Now you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“No, I’m not. But I will tell you something,” Brodie said, and put a finger to my chin, lifting my head. My gaze met his. “Even with your hair cut like that, you’re the hottest girl in this house. Arguably the hottest girl I’ve ever met. And one of the bravest, sneakiest, and most determined.”
The flattery made me blink in surprise. My lips parted, and I wanted to say something to him. Thank him for being supportive. Deny his effusive praise. Something.
But I noticed his gaze had gone to my mouth, to my parted lips. And my breathing became shallow.
His thumb grazed my lower lip in an almost thoughtful manner.
I remained frozen in place, riveted by the tender touch. A surge of need washed through me, and I watched Brodie, trying to take my cues from him. I wished he showed his emotions on his face like I did.
Instead, that thumb continued to stroke my bottom lip, distracting me.
“Would it be bad if I kissed the prettiest woman in this house?” Brodie asked me, voice husky. His eyes were a deep, dark blue when he looked at me, dark with need. “You think she’d mind?”
I shivered at his words, feeling heat pulse through my body and settling between my hips. I should have told him no. Our partnership was based on friendship and a common bond of wanting to win the game. I didn’t trust him. How could I? I’d seen what he’d done with the cameras on him last season.
Kissing would just change things.
But we’d kissed before, hadn’t we? Brodie had brushed his mouth over mine in the barest of kisses. There had been no tongue, but I fully admitted to myself that I wanted to experience what it was like to get deep, wet, seeking kisses from Brodie. To have his mouth devour mine.
But that would ruin my game plan, wouldn’t it?
I sighed heavily. “We shouldn’t. Not if we intend on staying focused on the game.”
His mouth curled up on one side in a soft smile. “You’re right, of course. I just got a little distracted by my sexy partner. Forgiven?”
“How can I possibly be mad when you say such flattering things?” I teased back, my mood improving. “It’s impossible.”
“That’s partially why I say them,” he said with a wink, releasing me. His hands fell away from me, and I was left bereft and wondering if I made a mistake. “I suppose if we want to get a good night’s sleep, we should get on it, though. It’s late and I’m exhausted.” He rolled away and out of the bed, heading toward the bathroom to brush his teeth.
I watched him go. Brodie didn’t seem exhausted. If anything, he seemed wired, especially after his win. Just a ploy to change subjects, then? I got up from the bed myself and stripped off my yoga pants. My slobby dance-studio t-shirt was long enough to cover my panties, so I didn’t bother putting on pajamas. The bed was big enough—the only king in the house—and we could both comfortably sleep without worrying about touching the other partner. So I stripped off my bra and tossed it into my bag, too, intending to sleep in just a t-shirt and panties. It was the most comfortable way to sleep, after all.
After Brodie finished brushing his teeth, I did the same, washed my face, and then headed back into bed.
He immediately turned off the lights and rolled over, his back facing me. “Night, Kandis.”
“Night,” I said softly. I stared at his back. It was big and strong and looked broad in the darkness. There was just barely enough light to make out his form, and I wondered what he was thinking.
Closing his eyes and just trying to sleep?
Imagining how the kiss would have gone if I’d said yes?
Dammit, why had I said no? Was I crazy? Now I was going to wonder about it all night long. I wouldn’t be able to sleep because every time I closed my eyes, I’d imagine Brodie’s thumb on my lower lip again, and then imagine him moving it to the side and his mouth moving to cover mine. His full lips sucking at my lower one. His tongue sliding into my mouth…
I bit back a whimper. Damn it. We’d been in the house for almost a month, and I’d been lying in bed next to a hot, sexy man in a completely non-physical fashion. It was making me realize how much platonic sucked. In the last month, we’d had no sexual contact of any kind. I wasn’t dating—hadn’t even been dating before I’d come on the show, because I’d been too worried about my mother and too focused on her. Normally those needs were taken care of by masturbation, though.