Girl in Gold

Chapter 11 ~ Owen William Rhodes

***

CHAPTER 11

Owen William Rhodes

***

This is check, Owen thought. This game was his first small victory, and he could turn it into a checkmate if he played it well.

He had to play it well. But Goldie was not making it easy for him. Upturned eyes that held his stare, unkempt hair begging to be pulled back, and those lips... She was packed into a tight dress with sheer mesh fabric on top, adorning her in wildflower embroidery. His hand aimed to trail over the delicate fabric but stopped and went for her hand instead.

"Let's start with shots," he said, leading them to the kitchen.

Everyone stared, but no soul dared to get in their way. Goldie shook her hand free, and the cyng hung his arm around her instead. Keeping skin contact was imperative to seducing.

"Pick your poison," he said once they were in the kitchen.

"Alright, it's your demise," she replied, eyeing the alcohol.

"Demise? Who speaks like that?"

"Shut up. It's a normal word, Owen."

The cyng of the East had a grin that could rival his sister's madness. He rolled up his dress shirt sleeves and went straight for the vodka without waiting for an answer. Filling six shots for them, he handed Goldie a glass. His touch lingered, but the girl snatched her hand back. Her knuckles were scarred like his.

"Shall we?" Owen asked.

"Get ready to lose."

"To losing then," he chuckled, clinking their glasses together and downing the burning liquid. Smooth fire slid down his throat, and he winced at the feeling. The burn dropped and settled in his stomach, warming his whole body. When he checked how his opponent fared, his jaw dropped. Goldie already downed all three shots like it was milk.

"Drink up," she smirked.

Owen did just that, but he was not grinning anymore.

"Let's play beer pong," he suggested, leading them back out.

"But how would we match our drinks?"

"Beer pong will be the exception."

"I don't know. Sounds like cheating to me."

"I don't cheat, Goldie."

In the dining room, God-awful music threatened to destroy Owen's hearing, and the floorboards beneath him vibrated.

At the sight of them approaching the table, the guys who played immediately apologised and refilled the cups. They stepped away and made room without a single word needed. The girls, on the other hand, were less cooperative. They undressed him with their eyes and glared at Goldie. He wanted to take them down a peg, but glancing back, the girl did not seem to notice or care.

Just because they're wearing clothes more fitting as lingerie doesn't mean they're sluts, he reasoned.

"I'll go first!" Goldie suggested over the music.

The girl took a neon green ping-pong ball and squinted her eyes as she aimed. Owen was about to tell her to hurry the heck up, but the ball shot out of her hand. It plopped in his front cup. Whoa.

"Drink up, pretty boy!" Goldie laughed.

This girl... he told himself. He needed to be careful.