Total pages in book: 767
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
“You’re a little cocky,” I remarked drily, reaching for my queen to examine the exquisitely-carved pieces. They were worn from age and use, but the quality of craftsmanship was still discernable.
“I’ve been playing for years, and it’s an impossibility for a new player to beat someone with my kind of experience.”
“Who says I don’t know how to play? They do have online chess, you know. I’ve dabbled. I know the rules, even if I do find it boring.”
He grinned. “Knowing the rules won’t prepare you for playing against me, but it will certainly make these first few games more interesting. How advanced are you? Who taught you how to play?”
“An online tutorial taught me how to play. I get the rules and know some trickier strategies. I pick things up quickly.”
He shook his head. “A tutorial isn’t going to prepare you for playing against me, but show me what you know, and we’ll go from there.”
I was starting to get irritated. Didn’t he value my intellect at all?
“Why bother playing chess with someone when you think they won’t be able to beat you?”
“Because I believe you will be able to challenge me, just not in the first few games. Or even the first dozen.”
I eyed him, considering. His response allayed my irritation. Just a little. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to play a game that Andrés would certainly win. He already won all of our kinkier games.
Didn’t he?
If attaining multiple orgasms is me losing, I guess I don’t mind.
I shook it off, focusing in on the current challenge.
“How long have you been playing?” He’d assessed my skill level. It was only fair that I do the same.
He picked up one of his knights, stroking the edges of the piece. It was a familiar touch, something he seemed to be doing without realizing. “This was my first chess set. I got it for my tenth birthday. That’s when Abuela taught me how to play.”
“Abuela?”
The ghost of a smile flickered around his lips before giving way to something harder. “My grandmother.”
“Oh.” I could tell from his suddenly tense demeanor that she’d passed away. I hadn’t meant to pry into painful topics.
He placed the knight back on the board, and his dark gaze focused on me again. “White goes first,” he prompted me.
“I know.” He’d given me the slight advantage, presumably because he thought he’d defeat me so easily.
Well, too bad for him, I’d picked up some pretty sweet strategies, even in my dabbling. I wasn’t being overly-proud when I said I was a quick study. It was just the way my brain worked. A little bit of internet research had told me some of the strongest opening moves.
Since he’d made the mistake of letting me play white, I’d checkmate him in six moves.
I moved my pawn from E2 to E4.
Andrés studied the board, then made his countermove. It didn’t affect my strategy at all.
Okay, maybe this was going to be fun, after all. He’d been so cocky with all that talk about how I didn’t have a chance at beating him. I was really looking forward to seeing his crestfallen expression when I made him my bitch.
This felt almost as good as winning a battle in World of Warcraft. Maybe even better, because this was Andrés I was defeating, not some anonymous person online.
I took a minute to pretend to consider my next move, even though I was about to win. It would be even more satisfying to take him by surprise.
I moved slowly as I placed my bishop on C4, trying to make it look like I was hesitant about my choice.
Andrés’ face remained impassive. He sat for a full two minutes of silence before making his next move.
Usually, I would have found such a long wait boring, but anticipation sizzled through me.
I didn’t bother to hold back when I maneuvered my queen to attack his pawn. I clicked it down on the board decisively.
Andrés grinned, and my heart did a funny flip. That sharp, arrogant smile made something flutter low in my belly.
He knew.
“Scholar’s Mate,” he observed. “I’m impressed. You did study properly, cosita.”
He moved his knight to F6, blocking me.
His black eyes glinted as he captured me in his steady stare. “Now, we can play.”
“When did you realize my strategy?” I asked.
“I suspected on your first move. I knew by the second.”
“But you didn’t try to stop me.”
“You were so cute, trying to fool me. I thought I’d let it play out for a few moves. You’re not capable of lying to me, Samantha. You can’t play dumb with me, either. I know you better than that.”
I flushed with pleasure. Did Andrés really respect my intellect? He’d proven he cherished me in his own way, but I’d never thought he might care about my mind. So far, he’d seemed more interested in my body. Even though he’d expressed that he wanted me to be happy, that wasn’t the same as respecting me.