“You’re welcome.”

“We should go dancing or something. I feel like I need to work off a few thousand calories.”

He looked over at her in her black silk dress. “Your body is gorgeous. And I have another idea.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Care to share said idea?”

“Not yet.”

He drove them back to his place and pulled his SUV in the garage, then went over to help her out.

“This is your idea?”

“Oh, it gets better.”

He held the door for her while she walked in, then shut it behind him.

“How’s everything in the house working out for you?” she asked as she laid her bag on the kitchen counter.

“The house is better than I could have ever imagined.” He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder. “You’re incredible.”

“Thank you.”

He led her into the family room. “Do you want a glass of wine?”

“Sure.”

He pulled a bottle of pinot gris out of the wine fridge, opened it and poured two glasses, carrying them over to the sofa where Harmony sat. He handed her a glass.

“Thank you.”

He pulled the table closer, where the new checkerboard set sat. He knew she’d put it on the coffee table as a decoration piece. But it had been giving him ideas ever since he moved in.

“Have I mentioned how much I love this checkerboard?”

She arched a brow. “You do? It’s a décor item I thought would fit the theme of the room.”

“It does. And now we’re going to play.”

“We are? How fun. I used to love to play checkers. Though I haven’t played in years.”

He set his wineglass down on the end table. “But this is my own special form of the game. I like to call it Naked Checkers.”

She laughed. “Naked Checkers?”

“Yes. Every time one of us jumps the other’s checker, the loser has to remove something they’re wearing.”

Her lips curved in that sexy smile that never failed to make his dick twitch.

“Oh, I see. So basically it’s strip checkers.”

“Sort of. But with a twist.”

“A twist?”

“Yes. After the article is removed, the other player gets to kiss, lick or suck any body part of their partner’s they want to.”

Harmony gave him a hot smile. “Ooh. This game just got interesting, Mr. Cassidy.”

“I thought you might think so, Miss Evans. Are you ready?”

“Bring it. And hold on to your boxer briefs, because I’m about to strip you down.”

“You’d like to think that, but I’m very competitive, Harmony. And I want to get you naked and lick you all over.”

She lowered her chin, her eyes dark with promise and desire. “I’m not sure if the object of this game is to win or to lose.”

He laughed. “I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?”

She nodded. “Let’s do this.”

They started the game, each of them strategic in their movements. But he captured her checker first.

“Okay, Harmony. You’re up.”

“So I am.” She stood, and removed her silver bracelet, laying it on the end table.

He frowned. “I call foul on that.”

She shrugged. “You only indicated I had to remove something I was wearing.”

He sighed. “Okay, if that’s how you wanna play it.”

He got up, went over to her and grasped her shoulders. He pulled her close and licked her neck.

She moaned, and he went back to his side of the sofa.

She looked at him and said, “But it gave me goose bumps.”

“Sorry. Part of the game.”

“I’m not sure I like this game.”

He grinned and they continued the game. He jumped another of her checkers, so she took off an earring.

“You’re going to make me wish I wore jewelry.”

She laughed. He leaned over and kissed her, a long, lingering kiss that made him want to pull her onto his lap and explore her with his hands. But those weren’t the rules, so he had to pull back.

“Dammit, Barrett,” she said, licking her lips.

Their moves continued, and she jumped one of his checkers. He took off a shoe, wriggling his toes at her.

She waggled her brows at him. “Incredibly sexy, Barrett.”

“Just tempting you.”

“Speaking of temptation.” She got up and came over, sat on his lap and whispered in his ear. “You’re driving me crazy.”

Then she licked the shell of his ear. Chill bumps broke out on his skin and his cock rose up hard and fast.

Before he could grasp her, she’d moved off his lap and back to her spot on the sofa.

“Who made up this stupid game?” he asked.

She smirked. “You did.”

The game wore on and Harmony lost her other earring, and both shoes.

He’d kissed her feet and licked her ear as well, figuring payback was good.

She frowned when he went back to his side of the sofa. “This is the worst game ever.”

But he read the desire in her eyes, and his cock was painfully hard.

“At least you didn’t wear a necklace tonight,” he said. “Now you’re out of jewelry and shoes.”

“Yes. Whatever will I do next? Providing, of course, that I actually lose any more checkers.”