6- The Player’s Challenge

*MAGO’s POV*

Of all the girls I’ve dated, this one had to be the most boring. I couldn’t help but wonder how she and Patricia were even friends. Every time I tried to start a conversation, she’d shut it down with a one-word answer, her disinterest as clear as day. I liked women, but I didn’t want to chase them. Hard-to-get girls? They were the ones I hated the most.

But there was something about her—the way she was dressed, her makeup, the way she carried herself. It screamed player. Her sexy dress clung to her body like a second skin, hinting at experience, confidence. She was the kind of girl who played innocent, all coy glances and soft shrugs, but I knew better. I’d seen it all before—girls like her only wanted to prove they could make men like me crawl.

“I like music,” she finally offered, her voice so flat it could’ve been a statement about the weather.

“Music? Well, that makes us the same. What kind of music do you like?” I asked, trying to reel her in, hoping to find some common ground.

“Variety,” she shrugged again, as if she couldn’t care less. She took another long sip of her beer, avoiding my eyes.

I clenched my jaw, my patience wearing thin. Maybe she wasn’t interested in talking. Maybe she just wanted to get laid. That was fine with me—I wasn’t looking for a deep connection here. But still, I preferred some thrill, a little spark. She was giving me nothing, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me.

“Do you like Ethan Stone?” I threw out the name of the hottest singer on the charts, someone every girl was obsessed with. His smoldering voice alone could set the mood, let alone his looks.

“Yeah.” Another dead-end answer. No excitement, no follow-up. Just yeah.

That’s it. I was done trying. I’d get what I wanted from her and then be on my way.

I smirked and stood, grabbing my phone to play a song. “Let’s dance,” I said, offering her my hand. To my surprise, she didn’t hesitate. She took my hand and rose from her seat, moving toward me with a practiced ease. Maybe this was the part she was waiting for—the physical, the part where words didn’t matter anymore.

The moment she stepped into my arms, I pulled her close. I didn’t waste any time. Her body pressed against mine, and I guided her movements, letting the music take over. She played shy at first, her movements tentative, but I could see through it. As the song progressed, so did her confidence. The fire in her eyes flared, and she melted into me, her body syncing perfectly with mine.

‘There you are’, I thought, a triumphant smirk tugging at my lips. The vixen was finally coming out.

Her breath quickened as we moved together, and I could feel the heat radiating off her skin. She was turned on, no doubt about it. I knew this game too well. It was time to take things to the next level.

I pretended to stumble, sending us both falling onto the couch. I landed on top of her, my body covering hers, her warm breath fanning against my neck. The scent of her perfume—something sweet and intoxicating—filled my lungs, and for a moment, I hovered above her, watching her eyes flicker with a mix of anticipation and surprise.

She didn’t protest. Her chest rose and fell quickly, and I knew I had her right where I wanted her. Slowly, I leaned in, my lips just inches from hers, ready to claim the moment—

“Where’s Patricia?”

Damn it. I froze, cursing under my breath. ‘Stuart’.

I didn’t bother looking back at him. “Patricia set me up with her friend,” I muttered, clearly annoyed. Stuart had a knack for interrupting at the worst possible moments.

He didn’t wait for an explanation. Instead, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I exhaled sharply, my frustration boiling over. My focus shifted back to—what was her name again? Ellie? Emma? Emily? Whatever. I knew it started with an E. That was all that mattered.

“Hey,” I said, my voice dropping to a suggestive murmur, “why don’t we go somewhere else? We can’t have Stuart barging in again, right?”

She looked at me for a moment, her expression unreadable, before nodding in agreement. I grinned, helping her to her feet. I slid my arm around her waist, pulling her close again, her body fitting perfectly against mine. Her eyes met mine—dark, deep, and dangerous—and for a second, I felt a thrill of excitement course through me.

‘Finally’. This was the moment I’d been waiting for.

But there was something in her gaze now that made me pause. It wasn’t the hunger I expected—it was something else, something that almost felt like a challenge. Like she was daring me to play this game with her.

I pulled her even closer, determined to win. After all, I never backed down from a challenge. Not when victory felt this close.