This seems pretty personal for her. I want personal with Brooke. Every tiny detail of her life, bottled up and given to me.

“It’s not anything special.”

And there goes that glorious feeling. I run a quick hand through my hair.

Right, mate. Just relax on her a bit.

She clears her throat. “It’s funny. When I was here before and used this thing I’m about to take you to, my mind was nowhere near the gutter. I mean, gross. There were kids around. That’s pushing it even for me. But now?” She shakes her head, making a soft tsk sound as we cross the street. “Full-on filth. I’m almost a little nervous about this.”

I straighten with intrigue, pulling her closer so I can slide my hand around her waist, so she can tuck against my side and I can feel the quick flutter of her heart against my ribs.

I press my lips to her hair. She smells like honey and vanilla.

“Sweet Brooke. I like you nervous. You get very honest with me.”

Her head tilts up, brows pinched together. “What? When have I ever been nervous with you?”

She thinks I miss it, the way she peels back a layer of that impetuous exterior of hers to take a breath and slow down. The wide eyed look she seems to give herself, not me, confused and a bit cautious when I reach for her hand or get caught simply gazing at her. It’s fleeting, yes. These aren’t obvious moments with Brooke and she recovers from them quickly, but I see them.

My fingers splay along her hip. “The alley I kissed you in. Your shop practically every time I walk in there, more so the first time though. You seemed a bit flushed, yeah?” I smile at her. “I was too. I felt that kiss the entire day.”

Her lips part, her eyes drop to my mouth. “Yeah,” she says on a rushed exhale.

Not a question. She isn’t asking me if I’m telling the truth, which I sure as fuck am. I’m honestly not sure if I’ve stopped feeling that kiss, or if I will.

She’s agreeing with me. Another layer is exposed, and I want to keep her like this, open and unconcerned with revealing too much, too soon, too fast. I want her letting go and letting me have her secrets, being perfectly unashamed and trusting that I’ll not only like every honest moment she gives me, I’ll protect them for her.

But before I can ask her to elaborate on that single perfect word, Brooke presses her hand against my chest, halting our progression.

“This is it.”

I look up at the building we’ve stopped in front of. The large sign set off in neon colors and strobe lights. The hordes of children scurrying in and out of the door with tickets and carnival prizes.

This is it? This is what she has in mind? I never would’ve guessed anything close to this.

I smile at Brooke, my hand circling around her back. “Are we playing skee-ball, gorgeous? I must warn you, I’m a bit competitive. I’ve never believed in letting a lady win simply because she’s a lady. Nothing honest in that.”

She stands on her toes, getting as close to my face as she can, her small hand sliding over my elbow to my bicep. “I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Mason,” she murmurs, her breath hot and hungry against my jaw.

I smirk, tilting my head down. “Yeah? What’s that?”

“I’m not a lady. Not even close. And I’m about to show you why.” She grabs my hand and eagerly tugs me inside the arcade.

The large space is dark and noisy, awarding sounds from machines mixing with the heavily bassed music pumping through the speakers. Children rush past us, alive with laughter and exuberance. Parents are lined up against the wall engaging each other in conversation while keeping an eye out.

I look around the room. I’m betting aside from the staff, Brooke and I are the only adults in this place who aren’t here to chaperone.

What the hell does she have in mind bringing me here?

She leads me to the back of the room and down a long hallway. A young bloke wearing a name-tag steps through a doorway and moves in our direction, nodding at me before asking Brooke if she needs help with anything.

“Bathrooms,” she more states than asks, alluding to her knowledge of their location. He takes her meaning and keeps moving in the opposite direction we head in.

The room breaks open. I spot the two doors indicating our destination, I veer right. Brooke goes left.

“This way.” She curls a finger, beckoning me to follow.

I glance at the signs on the doors. Frowning, I make my way to her. “No toilets? I’m a bit lost here, Brooke. What are we doing?”

She smiles at me over her shoulder, waving her hand floppily in the air. “Bathrooms are a bit played-out, don’t you think? Or toilets. Whatever you want to call them. Everyone fools around in bathrooms. I’m sure you have.”

“No,” I admit, a bit shocked at her suggestion. “Public facilities that probably aren’t cleaned often enough? Am I missing the appeal?”

We stop just outside a small, nearly pitch-black room. Her eyes widen as she looks up at me. “Shut up. You’ve never done anything sexual in a bathroom before?”

I shake my head.

“Not even a little hj between mates?”

“Bloody hell.” I lean back, searching her face, which is now alive with amusement. “A good wank between mates? Is that something you’ve witnessed in a toilet? ‘Cause I sure as fuck haven’t.”

She giggles, dropping her head against my arm. “Well, I do live with two men. There’s a lot of wanking going on in that condo. Semen flying everywhere. It’s like a minefield getting from my room to the kitchen.”

“Excuse me?”

What the fuck?

I’ve met both of Brooke’s roommates. Nice blokes. Seem to be very much in love and fully committed to each other, which I assume means they aren’t into sharing. But if I am way off here and they walk around whipping their cocks out around her, I’m going to have a major fucking problem with both of them.

Her laugh blooms to something louder, her small body vibrating against mine. She brushes her lips against my neck. “You seem worried. I’m kidding, mostly. Joey is terribly unashamed, much like myself, but Billy locks that bedroom door and keeps his private life very private. I haven’t seen anything. Only heard.”

“When are you moving out again?” I bend to kiss her. “Tomorrow?”

She rolls her eyes and pulls away, stepping into the room and swiping her hand along the wall. A light turns on in the corner. I follow her inside what appears to be another gaming room. Table games. Foosball, air hockey, pool. I’m shocked there aren’t any kids back here. I know this is where I would be if I were their age.

“Apparently you can only rent out this room for birthday parties and stuff. It’s not available to the people just here for the arcade. That’s why they keep it separate,” Brooke answers the silent questions circling in my head as she walks around the tables.

I take a moment to watch her.

Dark hair curling down her back. That tight black skirt, showing off her slim waist and perfect fucking arse. She turns to face me and I slowly lift my eyes, catching her smirk, knowing she’s caught me staring at her and hardly caring. I think she rather likes it when I do that.

“Do you know what this is?” With a quick hand, she pushes back the red curtain of the photo booth she’s stopped at in the back corner, then sticks that same hand to her hip. “I mean, do they have these in Australia or is this strictly an awesome American thing, like setting off fireworks on July fourth?”