The Flirting Games

Checkmate - Part 15

Chapter Fourteen

Nate was tense and nervous as he waited for Ellie. It was just like three days earlier, except that last Thursday he had been full of confidence that she would go out with him, and tonight he had no such illusions.

He had no idea what had altered her feelings about meeting him for some tutoring, but he would respect her reasons whatever they were. If she were just worried about her history grade, then he would help her get a better one. If she wanted to shout at him some more, then he would take it. If she wanted to torture him by talking about Liam, then fair enough. He just wanted her to be happy.

But if there were any opening to change her mind about him, then he would take it.

When Ellie came into the room, the first thing he noticed was that she didn't look angry any more. Which was a good sign. Her smile was a little distant but not cold.

Nate attempted to keep it businesslike. He put some books down on the desk they had sat at before and she gingerly took the chair next to him again.

He began a brief recap of World War One, outlining how it led into World War Two. The problem was that he was having trouble focusing.

He could smell Lily of the Valley. It was intoxicating. She must have just washed her hair. Her hair was such a rich deep chestnut and her eyes... he actually wanted to write poetry about them. When had he become Shakespeare's fool?

And her lips, his gaze dropped to her kissable full lips. She licked them as if giving him an invitation and he couldn't resist any longer.

He moved too quickly for her to dodge him, and kissed her full on the mouth. His hands clamped her shoulders to stop her moving away as he searched for a response.

She resisted for an awful second, then he felt a rush of relief as she softened and kissed him back.

He couldn't seem to get enough; without taking his mouth off hers he pulled her into standing position and backed her up to the wall where he could deepen the kiss.

She let him.

He could feel the flames burning between them once again, it didn't matter that she hated him; at least she definitely felt the pull between them as much as he did.

After a several minutes he reluctantly removed his tongue from her mouth. He ran his hands through his hair and took in her flushed face.

"Ellie... I wanted to say..."

"Oh, shut up." She cut him off with a grin, then grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back for another kiss.

He could certainly spend the next several hours kissing her if that was what she wanted, but he felt things should be cleared up between them first.

"You forgive me then?" he murmured when she let him up for air.

"Not really, but you can keep making it up to me like this, and I can think of lots of other ways you still have yet to impress me." Laughter twinkled in her eyes as she shifted her body against his.

"You wretch." Nate shook his head happily. "You've been leading me a merry dance for weeks. You are the most annoying, disrespectful, irritating little minx, but lord help me I adore every maddening inch of you!"

"You adore me?"

"Yes, I do. And I'll pummel to bits any other man you touch. Is that clear, Miss Parkhurst?" Then he put one finger under her chin, tilting her head up to look him in the eye. "You and me, we're going to take it slow, okay?" he said firmly.

She nodded.

"But you're my girl from now on. No dating other boys, got it?"

He did adore her! Ellie felt giddy with relief and confidence.

"I'll think about it," she said cheekily.

He growled from deep in his chest as he pinned her back against the wall.

Her eyes shone with happiness. She would have plenty of time later to enjoy testing his patience levels, but first she had to kiss him a whole lot more.

Telling him she was crazy about him too could wait a little while as well, she giggled to herself; he deserved to suffer a little bit for being such a player.

"Checkmate," she whispered.

And, as her arms snaked around his neck, Ellie and Nate locked together in a kiss that said more than any words.