A Rogue For Four Alphas

Chapter Twenty Seven

"I get to choose my next opponent," Alpha Ian says. "Want to play, Jasmine ?"

I take another drink. "I guess so."

Alpha Ian starts to tell me the rules, but I let him know that Alpha Harry already filled me in. The concept is extremely simple, just hit all twenty numbers in ascending order, then target the bullseye. Easy to understand, not as easy to play. "You can go first," he says, even though standard protocol would be for each of us to take a shot at the bullseye to see who gets closer.

I collect the darts, purposely miss my first two, and land the third one into the fat number one segment.

"Great job!" Alpha Ian says, sounding genuinely enthusiastic. I almost feel bad for how I'm going to beat him.

On his turn, he lands his first dart but misses the other two, and I suspect his misses may have been intentional als.

The other three guys are watching our game, and Alpha Damon razzes Alpha Ian, but it's playful rather than mean. All the men are in distinctly better moods than last night, and they're rubbing off on me, lightening my mood as I drink and play.

After a couple of turns, falling three points behind Alpha Ian, I start to get serious. When I hit two numbers during one turn, the men think it's luck, but I keep up that pattern, easily passing Alpha Ian, and when I hit three consecutive numbers during one turn, they cry foul.

"You didn't tell us you were a dart shark!" Alpha Ian says, pulling the darts from the board.

"A dart shark?"

"You've obviously played before," Alpha Damon accuses.

I aim a sweet smile in his direction. "Never said I hadn't."

While still maintaining his good humor, Alpha Ian gets serious about his playing, but he can't catch me, and he's on sixteen when I beat him with a. bullseye.

"Good game," he says, holding out a hand. When I shake it, he pulls me against him in a brief hug.

"I'm lucky we weren't playing for money."

"Now there's an idea," I say, smiling, ignoring how the rumble of his voice tickles the skin on my neck. "Who do you want to play next?" Alpha Ian asks.

That's an easy question. "Alpha Damon," I say, gesturing for him to come over.

He slides off the barstool he'd been on. "You won't be so lucky this game," he says, grinning.

"You're the one who's going to need luck," I say. "Ooh, let the smack talk begin!" Alpha Ian says, laughing

I beat Alpha Damon easily. He's all bluster and bravado, but I've got the skills.

Having been defeated by me, Alpha Ian actually roots for Alpha Damon during the game, a welcome show of camaraderie after how the two of them behaved last night. It's a relief not to see any tension between them now. To Alpha Damon 's credit, he takes his loss well.

"I'll get you next time," he says. "Good game."

I challenge Alpha Harry next, and after a close game throughout, he ends up beating me, with Alpha Ian and Alpha Damon playfully cheering him on.

"I guess I got lucky," Alpha Harry says modestly, though it's clear he's a strong player.

"The beer must be softening my aim," I tease.

"Want another?" he asks, looking at my empty bottle.

I shake my head. "I'm sure you all need to get to sleep. I'm getting tired, too." It's actually been a ridiculously long day, but this was a nice way to end it.

WE PLAY AGAIN THE NEXT NIGHT, AND THE ONE AFTER THAT. Alpha Damon 'S skills improve every night, and I joke that he spends all of his time practicing when I'm at work.

Alpha Erik turns out to be a good player, too, and the five of us spend several fun nights engaged in lively competition.

Probably tired of losing, Alpha Damon suggests a game of pool one night. I'm nowhere near as good at that game, but I'm decent enough to hold my own.

The biggest drawback is trying not to watch the men's bodies as they bend to line up their cue sticks, the muscles in their arms, shoulders, and backs flexing as they take their shots. It's not an athletic game, but it shows off their physiques quite well. Too well.

These game nights have been a good time, but also a bit of torture. Much as I hated parts of our truth or dare game, I enjoyed the kiss, and it's hard not to think about it when I see Alpha Erik's intense gaze as he plots his move on the pool table.

Nor can I stop remembering what it was like to be with Alpha Damon and Alpha Ian when I'm confronted with their gorgeous faces and bodies every night. Meanwhile, Alpha Harry continues to be the sweetest, nicest man I've ever met, behaving as if he's completely unaware of how incredibly good looking he is.

To make matters worse, I'm not hooking up with any of the vacationers who are now coming into Rusty's regularly, and I'm starting to become quite bothered by it all. Hot and bothered.

ON MY NEXT NIGHT OFF, I OFFER TO MAKE DINNER FOR THE GUYS. I HAVE my own food in their refrigerator, but they still often save a portion for me of whatever they have for dinner, so I want to do something nice to return all of their favors.

After eating a lot of their meals, I have a pretty good idea of what they like. Unfortunately, with my cooking skills being what they are, there's not a lot of overlap between what they like to eat and what I trust myself to cook but I made. Sure there was a lot of meat,beef and chicken ...those Alpha beast are ravious eaters.