Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“This just proves it,” Mara says when I return and show her my phone.
“You think it has to be Jackson?”
“Hello.” She waves the email in front of my face. “It says right here, this is a last-minute decision. He wants you there, Dakky.”
“He told me he has to be careful. If people know he’s pursuing me, it could make him look bad.”
“Do you disagree?” Mara asks, lips pursed.
“How can I? Most people would think I’m some starstruck, naïve girl, drooling over the creator of my favorite video game.”
“Starstruck, naïve,” Mara mutters, shaking her head. “You can’t stream for almost ten years and stay naïve. And you don’t seem starstruck.”
“Maybe I will in person,” I murmur. “But it’s not like I’ve ever been star-crazy for anyone, not even him. Sure, I might’ve thought, he’s hot, from time to time. And I took an interest in him because of the game. But I’m not really a celebrity girlie.”
Mara nods in agreement. “But you don’t want to sneak around?”
She can always read me so well. “What if there are other girls? What if he’s saying this to all of us? Keep it secret. I have to be careful.”
“It does sound like the sort of thing billionaire CEOs do,” Mara says. “But, the way I see it, it’s win-win. Either he’s telling the truth and you get a shot at, at the very least, having some fun. Or he’s lying and you get an amazing opportunity for your career. Maybe just try not to get attached too soon.”
“Yeah, true,” I murmur, not sure if I should tell her I already am attached.
Before I start up my stream that evening, I message him.
DakkyDuck: Did you do this for me?
TheRealCreator: Yes.
I smile. He didn’t try to evade, to qualify. He didn’t even need to ask what I was talking about.
DakkyDuck: There are easier ways to meet someone in secret.
Heat runs up between my legs and up my spine. Spreading over my body. Words on a screen shouldn’t be able to make me feel like this. But they do.
TheRealCreator: I don’t want to meet you in a seedy way. We deserve to meet in public, not in some hotel where we have to sneak through the back door. I’m sorry it has to be like this, but at least I’ll be able to see you, Dakota, and speak to you. Touch you.
I swallow. The heat growing more intense. My underwear has suddenly become a makeshift torture device, rubbing against my clit. I almost run toward the shower. Turn the pressure up hot and blast myself back to our cave in Emerald Cove.
DakkyDuck: It might be difficult to touch me in a room full of people.
TheRealCreator: I bet I can find a way. Give me your address, Dakota.
DakkyDuck: Why? Are you coming over?
After clicking send, I wish I could take the message back. Am I coming across as too keen? Desperate, even?
TheRealCreator: I can’t. All it takes is one photo. The world will think you’re trying to sleep your way to the top. And that I’m a cliched billionaire using his position to take what he wants.
DakkyDuck: Why do you want my address then?
TheRealCreator: I’m sending you something. What’s your dress size?
My throat threatens to close for a moment. I’ve got better self-esteem than most, I’d say. It takes a lot to be on stream for hours on end, being endlessly critiqued. But something about this makes me hesitate.
Another two messages come through and one is his phone number!
TheRealCreator: This is my personal number xxx-xxx-xxx. Text me if you need anything before the big day.
TheRealCreator: And if you’re feeling bad for even a moment, you better stop right this second. Otherwise, it’ll be more than touching on Friday, beautiful. I’ll have to spank that thick, perfect ass, so you know how wrong it is to doubt how perfect you are.
A smile spreads across my face. I rub my legs together, relieving some of the tension there in the least satisfying way possible. It just makes me wish he were here even harder.
I send a message with my dress size, then add.
DakkyDuck: You’re not going to put me in some super short dress or something silly, are you?
TheRealCreator: I’d be setting myself up for disaster if I did that. You’re there so I can eye-fuck you, nobody else. I’m trying to avoid a PR nightmare. If I saw another man ogling you, it’d be game over. Bye-bye, company. I doubt anybody would want to work with me after I throw a man through a window.
I laugh, knowing I should resent this at least a little bit. He doesn’t own me. What right does he have to say things like that?
But I like it, probably more than I should.
CHAPTER 12
JACKSON
Iwalk through the dimly lit, large function hall. Everyone stands around with an air of anticipation. It’s just thirty minutes until the door opens and the guests come filing in. Industry leaders, video game journalists, photographers, and streamers. I’m aching just thinking about seeing her in person.