Disclaimer: The usual. Don't own anything you recognize.

OF YOU

By Etcetera Kit

Game

And to think – all of this started with a game. It seems like its been hours since Sky first asked, anyone up for a rousing game of Monopoly? Now, it's all I can do to stay awake as we make the endless cycles around the board, paying pittance rents and collecting our pittances in return. I don't like the entire situation.

First of all, we're in Sky and Bridge's room. Game nights normally took place in the lounge where nothing untoward happened because lower level cadets who like to gossip frequented that room. Usually, being in their room wouldn't bother me, but there's something about being so close to Sky's things… I glance to his dresser, like his underwear. I can smell his aftershave, see his pajamas folded on the corner of his bed – his uniform folded on his desk chair…

Jack makes a huge show out of rolling the dice and lands in jail – again. It almost seems prophetic since he has spent most of the game in jail, instead of out of jail. I glance to Bridge as he takes the dice to take his turn. He is wearing his pajamas. Sky, on the other hand…

I swear that he planned this. He is wearing a white button-up shirt that is completely unbuttoned along with fitted jeans. The jeans looked comfortable but emphasized all the right places to have girls falling all over him. He was barefoot and his hair looked just a little disheveled – like he had just gotten out of bed after having sex…

Oh my God…

It's his turn. He has Marvin Gardens and Atlantic Avenue. I have Ventnor Avenue. He's been trying to get the final yellow property from me for his past three turns. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear that he planned that too. We made a rule before beginning that all bartering has to be done before the player rolls the dice.

I watch as he picks up Boardwalk – I have Park Place. I know what's coming.

"Syd," he says slowly. "I'll give you Boardwalk for Ventnor Avenue." I notice that this time he doesn't want any monetary compensation for the difference in price between the two properties. Not trusting myself to speak, I shake my head.

"What do you want for it?"

"I don't know," I squeak. Isn't it enough that I can see his chest – smooth, tan skin over hard muscle – and all I want to do is tear that shirt off of him?

"Give it up, Sky," Jack says, oblivious to the tension in the room. "She's not going to trade unless you pry it from her cold, dead fingers."

He stares at me, his blue-gray eyes boring into me. He wants me to cave and give him Ventnor Avenue. This is all just a game to him! Feeling bolstered and more defiant to the way he's been playing me all evening, I take Ventnor Avenue and place it in my bra. The property card is in no way comfortable, but I just want to see what he does now.

And he does nothing, just raises an eyebrow and takes his turn. Z takes her turn and has no luck bartering with Bridge for St. James Place. It's my turn. I meet Sky's gaze – we're sitting across the board from each other.

"You can have Ventnor Avenue," I say. "If you come and get it."

If this is a game, then I've just made my move. His expression remains neutral, but I can see him seriously thinking about it.

Without warning, he leans across the board, upsetting a pile of chance cards and flinging Z's houses on the purple properties all over. I'm not sure what happened next, but he's kissing me with intensity unknown in our previous encounters. His hands are at my sides, working their way up towards my bra. Someone makes a noise of disgust, but I can't hear anything except the rushing in my ears. His fingers, warm and soft, make their way across my collarbone and, with even less warning than the kiss, he reaches into my bra and pulls the property card out. It only lasted a second, but my skin tingles from where his fingers were.

Abruptly, he breaks the kiss and goes back to his spot, nonchalantly fixing the chance cards and Z's houses.

"If you guys wanted to be alone, all you had to do was say something," Jack whines.

Not sure what to feel, I glance at his properties, neatly lined up by color order around the board in front of him. I want Boardwalk after he's put me through all this. But, as I reach across, I realize that the royal blue property is nowhere to be found.

"It's in his pocket," Bridge prompts.

"Which pocket?" Z comments casually.

I don't know – I don't care. He's made his move and I want Boardwalk. Staring at him, I jump over the board into his lap, pushing him on his back and upsetting more of the board than he did.

"Wha—?" Someone asks.

I'm beyond caring what the others think. Sky has been so egotistical and arrogant with this whole game and I am going to get what I want. I reach into his front pockets, ignoring his obvious physical reaction to what I'm doing. The property isn't there. Growling, I reach between the floor and his rear end, slipping my hands into his back pockets. Bingo – I pull out the card and settle down on my spot across the board.

The game is a moot point by now. I've sent the chance and community cards flying, along with all the houses and people's markers. Not to mention, Z's money and mine are mixed up and Jack's money is in the far reaches of the room.

"Well – that went well," Jack comments. He stands up. "I think I'll go to the lounge for something to eat. Anyone want to come with?"

Z and Bridge volunteer immediately.

I glance around the room, now strewn with Monopoly pieces.

Sky's staring at me – his eyes are amused and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. He looks kind of sexy lying there amongst the Monopoly money.

Checkmate…

To Be Continued...