GRAY

What am I doing? It was a little late for that thought now, we were already pulling into my garage. I didn't bring women back to my place, especially ones that were just reporting about me on tv for all to see. I let my gaze linger on her for a moment, she was stunning, it's no wonder I had thrown caution to the wind and brought her home with me. I wrestled open the top two buttons of my shirt, I was feeling claustrophobic being all buttoned up in these damned clothes. Throwing the car in park I sighed, "we're here."

Juvia gave a subtle nod and flushed, she looked really nervous, surely she was wondering if I really brought her here to play video games or if it was a ploy to get her naked. I might be new to the business but I knew what kind of reputations actors were known to have, and there was no question that she knew all about it in her line of work. "shall we head inside?"

I opened the car door and hurried around to the passenger side, offering Juvia a hand as she maneuvered carefully to stand, she looked uneasy on the tall shoes she wore, reminding me of a baby deer on unstable legs. I ushered her to the door that opened into the house and let her in, my place was nice but it was new, still under-furnished by the designer's taste but I loved it regardless. The main floor might be kind of plain but I put my personal touches where it counts, in places like my arcade. I took her through the main hall to a staircase and looked down at her shoes, "you might want to lose the heels before we head upstairs.

She laughed and bent down to remove the strappy shoes, "I have been dying to take these off all night."

"Not your idea I take it?"

She shook her head, "All Mira's idea, and one doesn't argue with Mira about fashion choices."

I felt the smirk creep across my face, "they did look good."

"But they also caused us to collide earlier, had I not been messing with these shoes I would have seen you coming."

I shrugged, "But then we wouldn't have met." I knew better than anyone we wouldn't have crossed paths otherwise. "Let's head upstairs." I gently put a hand on her lower back to guide her up the staircase. I took this opportunity to take in the view in front of me, her dress hugged her body like a second skin, the curve of her ass and they sway to her hips was damn near mesmerizing. I would be lying if I said I hadn't noticed how amazing she looked, but that wasn't the reason I had invited her back, there was something more to her. She wasn't the typical celebrity type, and it had drawn me in like a magnet. I couldn't begin to say what my endgame was, all I knew what that I wanted to get to know her better.

When she reached the upstairs landing, she stepped aside so I could pass her into the darkened room, reaching out I flipped the switch on the wall, lighting up the narrow entryway, I opened the door in front of us and pushed it open, "after you."

I watched her eyes widen as she stepped into the one room I had put real effort into, my arcade. All four walls were lined with arcade cabinets, TVs, and shelves and shelves of consoles and game cases. If I had one weakness it was my obsession to collect as many games as I could, and I was damn proud of my collection. Her eyes scanned the shelves as she walked, trailing her fingers along the titles, "this is so impressive," she murmured. She looked like a kid in a candy store. "You have Chrono Trigger? No one I know remembers that game," she gushed, "and Perfect Dark? I love that game."

She knew her stuff, I was impressed, not everyone got the appeal. "So, what do you want to play?"

She grinned looking overwhelmed as she studied the shelves, "anything? I wouldn't know what to pick."

"I believe I lured you here with the promise of Smash Melee," I pointed out, "who is you main?"

"Doctor Mario," she answered without hesitation.

"Nice, but I'm Falco guy and I will kick your ass," I couldn't help but make a teasing threat.

"Oh, you're on!" she gave a look of determination, "don't underestimate me."

It didn't take long to get the game going and I had to admit she could hold her own. We were running about neck and neck with wins and when I started to gain the upper hand she would switch characters and completely destroy me. It was a hell of a battle and I was having a great time. She sat with her legs tucked under her in a beanbag chair, dress barely covering her butt and thighs, beer beside her, and a gleam in her eye, this girl was amazing.

"Yes!" she shouted as she finished me off again, "I told you I could beat you with any character."

"We're tied," I pointed out, "don't get too cocky."

"What do I get if I win?" the question was simple but felt like there was a weight behind it, what did I have to offer this amazing woman? I was tempted to say a date, but I'd gone this long without hitting on her and I didn't want to ruin things now. I'd hate myself if I ruined the mood, we were having fun.

"What do you want?"

She pursed her lips and scrunched up her nose as she pretended to think, "well... I want to do this again sometime."

Her answer caught me off guard but it made me happy, "we can do that, but only if you win," I winked and she gave me a wicked smile.

"Oh, I'll win, just watch me."

She probably would have won regardless, but I didn't give it my all, I wanted her to win so we could do this again. I wasn't ready to give her up just yet.