String the Player

3.

I want to tell him I have. I opened my heart, got it torn apart more than a couple of times, and now I'm tired. But that means veering into personal territory, and I'm not going down that route.

So, to change direction, "Biggest turn-on?"

He smiles that adult smile like he knows what I am up to. "I like it when I'm surprised. When people aren't quite what they seem." His voice goes deeper, drops an octave, and even the rustling of the wind quietens. My nerve endings are on high alert.

I'm tempted to ask if I've surprised him, but I hold off.

"Weirdest place you've had sex?" he challenges.

I hold in a laugh which he notices.

"Really? That scandalous?"

"Not scandalous. Just..."

"You're holding out on me, Arya."

And that perfect pronunciation lets my hesitation off the leash. "In a security control room."

A grin takes over his face. "And here I was, having high expectations."

"Sorry for not meeting your level, sir. Now, spill, what's yours?"

"Parking lot."

I motion for him to continue.

"I had sex in a parking lot, that's it."

I fan myself. "Ugh. So hot. Who knew porn stars were this good at narrating porn too?"

He laughs again, and a satisfaction situates itself deep in my bones. He doesn't seem the type to laugh a lot, but I've managed to do it multiple times so far.

"I'm glad I saved your life, Arya," he says.

I blankly wave at him to stop. "Me on a ledge with alcohol to share. Of course, you're glad. Trust me, when the sun comes up, your regrets will too. I'll be the last thing on your mind."

"You said you were honest."

"I am."

"Right now, you aren't."

His smile shifts, and it turns into something more... More inviting. I won't sit here and say it doesn't feel good. I feel myself. Me and my silly old narcissism feel nice. Just for this one fleeting moment, I actually feel without forcing myself.

"I think it's your turn," he says.

I stare at him, trying to find more stuff to question him on.

"Out of questions already?" he sneers. "I'm pretty sure that means I win."

"Whoa, slow down, cowboy. It's not a competition."

"Spoken like a true loser."

Now that gets on my nerves. Wind sweeps over us, and I use the momentary distraction while he fixes his hair to move closer. I lean forward, and I can see that his eyes are a rich brown. Easy to gaze into and forget the depths of. His warmth engulfs me, and I'm not sure backing away will be easy anymore.

"Tell me something," I say, my face so close to his I just need a nudge to kiss him.

"What?"

"Something surprising. You said you like to be surprised." My hand finds his. "So surprise me."

I don't meet his eyes. I'm too busy following his lips as they mouth the words, "I..."

I am going to kiss you. I'm going to take you back to my place. I'm going to fuck you.

"Am not going to sleep with you."

Since my ideas of a good night are clearly much better than his, my brain takes a while to catch up.

When it does, I move away so fast one would think he'd burnt me.

He doesn't meet my stare, instead, he just squirms under it.

"Taken?" I ask because clearly my ego is in need of further bruising.

"No."

"Straight then?"

"No."

"So, just not your type," I conclude, which is fine. Really. Though I could've sworn I saw something akin to interest there.

He looks at me then. No, he's not looking, he's searching. For something I'm pretty sure I don't have. And not in the I'm sorry I rejected you way. No, he wants something. He stares at me as though he's expecting me to say the right words to make me rectify the situation.

When he doesn't find what he's searching for, he sighs. "I—"

"Hey! Mate. You're not supposed to be here."

We both turn to find a scowling security guard shining his torch right into Dan's face. The walkie-talkie spits out a noisy cackle, and he moves the torch away.

Dan drops the hand shielding his face, and I half expect him to finish his sentence, but he simply gets to his feet and grabs the gin he's been nursing. Gripping the edge of the wall with one hand, he slowly climbs down.

I don't have his patience, so I jump, trampling a shrub in the process.

"Sorry," I tell the guard. "Didn't realise it was so late."

The guard, seeing that both of us are as harmless as hamsters, leaves without giving us too much shit.

I head for the door, and Dan follows me, bumping into my back when I stop right in front of it.

"Fuck, sorry," he mumbles.

I turn around to say a final goodbye since there's not much left to talk about but stop short when I see his disappointed face. What is he so bummed about? If I'm not his type, I'm not his type. It's alright. I'm a big boy, I can handle myself. It's a shame, but like he said, it is what it is.

"Well, good night then." I slap his shoulder, restraining myself from squeezing it and feeling it up better. "Thanks for keeping me company, Dan."

"I'll add it to the favours tally." He manages a smile but doesn't meet my eyes when he mutters, "Good night, Arya."

"It was nice meeting you, Dan," I say, prolonging the inevitable. I really should stop and leave this nice guy alone. I can promise he won't ever hear from me again and for both our sakes, of me too.

But I can't help it.

He's just so damn likeable.

Even after he rejected me.

Fucking hell.

"Likewise." He nods.

I nod.

And he leaves for the party-gala thing he was supposed to be at all along, and I do what I should've done in the first place.

I get the fuck out of here.