Bedroom Games
Page 48

Jendan shrugged. “We’re probably boring to watch when we’re down to just three people.”
He had a point. I looked over at Brodie, but he was silent.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Not really.” He glanced at Jendan, then back to me. “Can I talk to you in private?”
Uh oh. “Sure. Want to go upstairs?”
He gave me a curt nod, and I gave Jendan an apologetic look. We were abandoning him and there was no one left in the house to talk to. He waved me off, and I followed Brodie up to the Power room that would be mine for one more evening.
He was furious, all right. As soon as the door shut behind me, he gave me a black look.
“What’s wrong?”
Brodie stalked across the room and began to pace, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He looked furious, and the fury looked directed at me.
“Are you going to talk to me?”
“So when were you planning on telling me that you had a final two deal with Jendan?”
I sighed. This was bound to come out sooner or later. I moved to the bed and sat down on the edge. “I thought everyone maneuvered as much as they could on day one. Why is this a big deal?”
“It’s a big deal because I thought we were together. Your plan was to save him so you were fine either way, right? That’s why you insisted on getting rid of Marla?” Brodie’s expression was chilly, his eyes hard.
“Well, yeah,” I said. “Plus, Jendan’s a better player. If he walks away with the million dollars, I won’t be upset.”
“But we’re trying to win this thing, Kandis.” He stabbed a finger at his chest, furious. “Me. You. Or do you not care about me as long as you win?”
My mouth worked silently. What could I say to that? “Of course I want to win, Brodie. My mom’s going to lose her house if I don’t come up with some cash really damn fast. Why wouldn’t I maneuver myself to be in the best spot possible?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “That’s not what I meant. I know that. I mean, I…fuck!” He began to pace all over again.
I felt awful. “I didn’t betray you, Brodie. You have to trust me.”
He said nothing, simply stalked back and forth.
I twisted my hands in my lap. It was either that or get up and start pacing next to him. “Fine. You want to know the whole dirty truth? Jendan and I decided on day one that we’d work together. Day one. I didn’t know anyone in this house, and neither did he. The fact that we both took this seriously meant we could trust each other.”
I shrugged my shoulders, feeling somehow guilty for being strategic. “It was just a smart move. And then we got saddled with partners, and we decided we’d still work together, because four was a better number than two, right? And Jendan did save my ass when I was on the chopping block. And yeah, he did let me win that money.”
I grimaced. The more I spoke, the more it sounded like something was going on between me and Jendan. I shook my head, erasing that thought out of my mind. I wished Brodie would look at me, but he was avoiding my direction.
Desperate, I kept talking. “Is it perfect for me that both of you want to take me to the final two? Yes. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I said I’d come in here to do anything to win because I need that money, Brodie. I need it. I don’t care about the title of winner. I just need to know that my mom is going to be okay, and a big wad of network cash will do that for me. So I’m not going to apologize for having a final two with you and a final two with him. I can’t. I want to win.”
Brodie still said nothing, though he raked a hand through his dark blonde hair, the ends of his mohawk sticking up.
His pacing was driving me crazy. I got up from the edge of the bed and approached him, placing my hands on his biceps and halting him. “Are you going to talk to me?”
Brodie stopped, but the line of his mouth was flat. Mulish.
I was honestly a bit surprised at this reaction. “Are you really that mad at me over this? That I made some good game moves?”
“You want me to be honest with you, Kandis?”
“Well, yeah, that would be nice.”
“Fine.” He ground his jaw, frowned at me for a moment, and then began to speak. “I think if I was being rational about this, I wouldn’t care that you set yourself up to win. If I was being rational, I’d think it was really damn fucking clever and you’re a brilliant girl for playing all of us. If I was being rational, I’d be proud of you. But I’m not being rational about this. I’m fucking pissed, because…” He paused and raked a hand through his hair again. “Because I see how you are with Jendan. How intimate the two of you are. And I keep wondering if you’re kissing him, too. If you’re fucking him, too.”
I recoiled, stunned. “Did you just call me a whore?”
“No, I—”
But now I was furious. “You think I’d fuck someone just to ally with them? Do you really think that?”
He exhaled slowly and had the decency to look ashamed. “No, I don’t. This game’s messing with my head.”
“Then don’t accuse me of doing exactly that!”
“I’m jealous, all right?” Brodie exploded. “I’m fucking crazy about you, and I can never tell how you’re feeling. I’m jealous of him, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?”
His words startled me. Of all the things I’d expected Brodie to be upset about, jealousy wasn’t one of them. Hearing that he was, though? I couldn’t help but be pleased—and, okay, a bit aroused—by the thought of him being all beat-my-chest caveman over me.
I moved closer to him, sliding a gentle hand over his shoulders and then down his chest. “Brodie,” I murmured. “It’s okay.”
His nostrils flared, the only sign that he was paying attention to me.
“I may have an agreement with Jendan,” I told him, moving my hands over his pectorals in a soothing, stroking motion. “But if I win this next challenge, I don’t care how bad it looks to everyone, but I’m picking you. Because Jendan and I may be friends, but you and I are way more than just that. Understand me?”
“Are we?” His gaze was intense. “I feel like you’re sending me mixed signals.”
“Do I need to be straightforward?” I slid a bit closer and put my hand on his groin and rubbed. “Allow me to be blatant, then. In or out of this house, you’re the only man I’m interested in. Satisfied?”
He groaned, his arms sliding around my waist. “After that quick stroke? God no. That wasn’t satisfying at all.”
I laughed despite the tension between us. That sounded more like the Brodie I knew and loved.
And then I sobered. Loved?
Was I crazy?
I couldn’t be in love with Brodie the betrayer.
Before I could ponder this, Brodie’s mouth slanted over mine in a hard, fast kiss that stole my breath. It was a kiss full of need and affirmation, and I melted into it. He seemed to need me, and I needed him just as badly.
So I twined my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
Brodie groaned and his hands tightened around my waist. “Wanna go hide in the bathroom?”
My pulse fluttered. Did I ever. I lifted one leg and locked it around his thigh. “Just try and get away from me.”