Chapter 9

The next two days were almost like a fever dream. Our sleep schedules were terrible, sleeping all day and staying up all night. There wasn't much to do at night, we would take walks around my apartment, watch travel vlogs, and play video games.

On the third night, we had both eaten our big bowls of cereal and began to play a new game, Mortal Kombat. This was Tae's choice, "I'm so excited, I haven't had a chance to play this one yet." He said it with such childlike wonder. It was the third round and I had basically given Tae his ass on a platter. He was still giddy though, I guess having a break from work was treating him well. I was sitting on the couch and he was sitting next to me but on the floor with his back resting against the couch. He bent his head back and rested it on the seat of the couch and looked at me. "Do you want to make this interesting?" I raised my eyebrows, "How?" he immediately beamed at me, "Strip Kombat, whoever loses the match has to lose an item of clothing." I pointed my eyes at him, "Absolutely not." Am I a sucker for puppy dog eyes? As soon as his lips turned to a frown I gave in. I was pathetic, but honestly he was doing bad so this was in my interest. I've already seen him naked before. Who am I to deny him a little fun before he leaves? I huffed at him, "Okay I will, after 5 rounds whoever loses has to clean the house tomorrow." He held his hand out to me as if I was supposed to shake it, "Deal."

The first round I won easily. Tae Woo took off his shirt. The next match, I made a stupid error and I lost. After much thought I took off one sock. I would not be losing again. I chose Raiden and Tae chose Kitana, we had an arduous battle and I was really starting to regret my decision. I only had one more sock to lose before I had to take off actual clothes. Kitana gave me the kiss of death. I purposefully put my foot on his shoulder wiggling my toes. "Take it off, you won." I said taunting him. He smirked at me and laughed, then he tenderly pulled my sock off. He then got up to grab us some beers. While he did that, I cheated and looked up some combos because I could not afford to be naked with Tae around. He handed me an open beer and we clinked the cans and I chugged the whole thing. I haven't had a drink in a while but I knew my tolerance is pretty high. The combos I had researched could not save me, two more losses. I was now sitting on the couch with just a bra and panties on. I didn't even match my bra and panties. I was wearing boy shorts that hardly covered my ass that were bright pink. I was wearing one of my comfy target bras that didn't have a wire or padding. It was a sleeping bra, not a show hot famous person bra. It was a pale violet, but it was a little too thin for my liking. I kept the controller in front of my chest so Tae couldn't see anything. He saw the gesture, and looked up at me, "No use in covering up. When I win this round, you are taking that off." I kicked the side of his head with my bare toes, "You totally hustled me! I totally fell for it like an idiot." He laughed and surprisingly even though I was basically naked in front of him. I wasn't embarrassed, I felt comfortable.

Comfortable enough to come up with a plan to win this time. I grabbed for a second beer off the floor but Tae reached for it first. He opened the top for me and then sweetly handed it to me with a smirk on his lips. I could feel his eyes staring at me as I downed the contents. "Ready?" I said, as I took a deep breath from my drink. I guess the alcohol was working because I was feeling feisty, I would do anything to win, just as he had. I mean I had already lost the war but I would not lose this battle. We picked our characters, a redemption round. I chose Raiden again and he chose Kitana. As soon as the first round started I stood up and walked over to the TV. I didn't cover it but I made sure Tae Woo would need to stare at my ass as he played. The distraction was enough and I won the round. The second round, my distraction wasn't cutting it anymore and he took the round. I could see a little bit of sweat beading on his temple like he really wanted to see me naked. I could not let him have that satisfaction. The third round starts and I need to raise the stakes. I bite my lip in annoyance as I turn my head away from the screen and I look Tae directly in the eyes and walk towards him. I center myself with one leg on either side of him and I start to crouch down. I brushed his face gently across my abdomen and then plopped down into his lap. I put each arm around his head, and clasped my controller on the back of his neck. His head nestled at the base of my neck in between my breasts. I almost thought I heard him groan but he didn't even try to move. I had craned my neck to be able to see the TV as I completed combo after combo. Kitana started moving again but was missing every hit she tried to land. I completed my fatality on her and Raiden won the round and that match. I immediately got up and started to dance again. "You lost, you thought you could hustle me! I am no force to be reckoned with." I finally turned around to meet his eyes, and he hadn't moved an inch. He was just sitting there in the same position I had left him. I got on my knees next to him, "I won Tae. Congratulate me." Hoping my prodding would bring him out, it was quite the opposite. He looked up at me, I almost saw the tears start to form and then he blinked them away. His expression changed in an instant. "I can't say in good conscience congratulations when I think tonight, I won." I think that was the first time I got to see his acting skills in full force. He appeared distressed but completely hid it, why would he hide it? "Did I do something wrong?" He grabbed my hand, "Not at all sweetheart." I wanted to ask him again, to figure out what that look meant. I was a coward and I was too scared to know. I didn't want to open my heart anymore than I already had. I quickly changed topics. "Do you want to go night swimming?" I stared into those liquid gold eyes until they met my gaze. "Why not? I'm already fucked."