Page 92 of Level Up for Love

Chapter

Twenty-Six

On Saturday night, we’re at Wesley’s apartment. Colin’s away for the weekend, visiting this mysterious girlfriend of his, and Wesley was only too happy to host.

I don’t know what’s got me feeling so worked up tonight. We’d spent most of the evening in bed, and though Wesley had tried to draw me in for a cuddle afterward, I’d slipped out from under his arm and returned to his computer, feeling wide-eyed and awake. Now I perch on his desk chair wearing his sweatpants and nothing else while he lies naked on top of his comforter and watches me with sleepy eyes. I try to focus on Vadrien when he kills again; text unscrolls at the bottom of the screen as Vadrien monologues to himself despairingly after taking another life.

Suddenly, I say, “I think you need to voice some of these lines.”

Wesley laughs. “I don’t have the time to hire a voice actor—or the money.”

That gets my attention. I spin to face him. “You’re kidding, right?”

He blinks, confused. “I’m…not? I make fine money helping Arthur for now, but—”

“Not what I meant. You need to voice some of these lines, Wes. Who else would be Vadrien?”

He glances toward the ceiling, looking thoughtful. “I’d never thought about it before,” he says eventually. “I don’t know how to act.”

I can’t even spare a glance for the game anymore; he has my full attention. “You have to be joking, Wesley.” I go to sit on the edge of the bed and fold one leg underneath me. “Yes, you do. You do it every Thursday.”

His smile turns crooked. “Poorly.”

“Very convincingly.”

“My accents are terrible.”

“They’re not!” I’m honestly offended. “Vadrien’s is so good.”

He traces his thumb along the underside of my breast, looking distracted, then drums his fingers thoughtfully against my side. “Colin tells me I sound like Count von Count.”

I snort—loudly. “From Sesame Street? I promise you don’t.”

He clears his throat and affects a posh British accent. “You really think I manage all right? This isn’t some cheeky setup to make me embarrass myself recording for Blood Pact so that Afterwards inevitably wins?”

“I don’t need to cheat to win, Wesley,” I say dryly. “If anything, I’m helping level the playing field by giving you excellent advice.”

He hums thoughtfully to himself. “Hmm. Voice acting.” He glances sidelong to me, his stare still heavy with suspicion—or something else. “Wasn’t really my department back at Hurricane.”

“Of course not. But was any of this?” I gesture back to where Blood Pact still glows on his screen.

The big game studios excel by recruiting people who are experts in very specific areas, then putting them all together to make a great game. It’s why Blood Pact is so impressive to me. Wesley may have spent the last six years only animating for Hurricane, but he’s clearly kept his other skills sharp enough to create something this compelling on his own.

I’m opening my mouth to say as much, but I can tell he’s already moved on. He’s watching me with a glint in his eye, and he winds his arms around my waist and tugs me forward to lie on top of his chest.

His voice shifts to a deep Irish brogue. “You really like this, darlin’? I’ve been practicing this one, too, for another idea I have.”

I try to school my expression to seriousness even as my heated cheeks give me away. “Okay, yes,” I admit. “You should save that one for our next campaign.”

It takes me a moment to register what I let slip so easily.

Our next campaign.

Shit.

I can’t help the way I go stiff, tensing on top of Wesley. My eyes bounce away from his face, but he only tightens his grip and spins us to the side until he’s the one on top and our legs are tangled in the sheets.

He dips his head and nudges his nose along the side of my jaw until I turn my face back to his. He’s smiling, and his eyes have gone half lidded and thoughtful again. I open my mouth to take it back or make an excuse to get back to work, but he silences me with a kiss. As his hands weave into my hair and his hips press mine down into the mattress, I start to forget what I’d been so worried about in the first place.