Discovered Mate: A Tale of Desire and Chess

By Todd Caldwell

Sam is smart, crazy, intense, addicted to intensity, and Alex knows it. And it annoys the hell out of her. Not that Alex would mind a little intensity. Or a lot. Four years of college and all she has to be proud of are good grades. She begs her friend Sophie for something fun, and Sophie invites Alex to dinner and chess with friends, including Sam. But dinner and chess isn't the kind of fun Alex wants. Then Sophie drops her bomb.

"It's strip chess, Alex."

Sam sees Alex as a good opponent, and a good girl. How will he react if he sees the rest of her? That might be more intensity than Alex can handle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Todd Caldwell
• Release date: Feb 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310560460

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DISCOVERED MATE

A Tale of Desire and Chess

Todd Caldwell

Copyright 2016 by Todd Caldwell

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork herein is prohibited.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Cover Photography from Shutterstock.com

Copyright Paul Matthew Photography

Quotes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, copyright Python (Monty) Pictures Ltd, 1975

Cover design by Keri Knutson

Edited by Angie Frazier

Chapter 1: Choosing Sides

Alex wanted it to feel good, wanted her skin to tingle and her body to respond. She massaged her breasts, hoping to stimulate them, but felt nothing. She rubbed them more firmly. Still nothing. She lathered some soap and continued down her stomach and between her legs, massaging herself there. It still didn’t feel good. It hadn’t for a month, not since spring break. She had a good idea why. She was near the top of her class, she’d already been accepted to graduate school, she was one of the few undergrads with an expert chess rating. And she was still a fucking virgin.

—That’s an oxymoron,— said a little voice in her head.

Whatever. Her last spring break as an undergrad and she had spent it studying. She had hunted the dorm that Friday, trying to salvage some vacation time, but found nothing to do. She wasn’t in the mood to play chess. That almost never happened. She returned to her room, took out her vibrator and tried to enjoy herself. Even that didn’t work. It just didn’t feel good.

—Decreased sex drive is a common symptom of depression.—

Yes, thank you. That’s really annoying sometimes.

—I’m you, you know.—

Yes, I know. Please concentrate on the exam.

—I live to serve.—

She continued massaging between her legs after rinsing away the soap. She tried all her best tricks, but she still couldn’t get off. She lathered her hands and returned to her body. What she could find of it anyway. If I turned sideways, you wouldn’t see me. That’s not fair. She looked better since she’d started exercising, but she was still damn skinny. Not like Sophie.

On the Tuesday after spring break, Sophie had walked out of a shower stall, without a robe or a towel, while Alex was brushing her teeth. Sophie had the body of a swimsuit model, and a class A chess rating. And no pubic hair or tan lines. Alex sighed, understanding that fun happened for other people.

How was your break? Sophie had asked.

Alex sighed again.

What happened?

Nothing, Alex said.

Sophie put a hand on Alex’s shoulder. Why, what happened?

Alex, in a low, deliberate voice, said, Nothing. She shrugged. I got a lot of studying done.

Sophie said, That’s the first time you sounded sad when you said that.

Sophie brushed her hair. Alex returned to her teeth and waited. She didn’t want to impose, but with Sophie that usually wasn’t an issue.

What day is your last final? Sophie asked.

That Friday, Alex said. In the morning.

Perfect, Sophie said. Do you know any cute guys?

Sure, I guess, Alex said.

That are single? And available that night? Sophie continued.

I think so.

And are ranked? Like class B or better?

Alex thought and sighed. No.

Sophie said, That was a lot to ask, wasn’t it? What if I tried to find you someone?

Sure, for what? Alex said.

A thing some of us want to do, Sophie said. We set it up a couple of weeks ago. If I’d known you were interested, I’d have asked you then.

Alex said, I know, Sophie. Would it be fun?

I hope so.

And crazy? Alex said. I really need crazy.

Sophie said, Definitely crazy. We’re—

Wait, Alex said. If you tell me now, I’ll chicken out. I know how crazy you can get. Tell me then, so I don’t have time to get scared.

What if you don’t like it? Sophie said.

I’ve never done anything crazy, Alex said. I couldn’t know if I don’t like it. I know I’ll be afraid of it. I want to do it anyway. Besides, I know you would never do anything mean to me.

Oh, honey, Sophie said and hugged her. If I can’t find you someone for the party, I will definitely put something together for the Saturday after. I promise. With cute guys and everything.

It had sounded promising, Alex thought as she rubbed soap down her back. Sophie couldn’t find anyone for the party, but promised the Saturday thing would be great. Then, the Monday finals began, Alex had met Sophie’s boyfriend Dennis in the elevator.

Hey, he said. Has Sophie talked to you about Friday?

She said Saturday, Alex said. She couldn’t find someone for Friday.

No, there’s been a change. She didn’t say anything?

I asked her not to, Alex said. So I wouldn’t get scared.

Oh, shit. That’s right, Dennis said. Forget I said anything. But did you make plans for Friday?

Alex shook her head.

Dennis said, Great, because we really want you there. Sophie’ll talk to you.

She had told him okay and turned toward the doors. When the elevator stopped, and she turned back to say goodbye, she thought she caught him checking her out. He had looked up fast, smiled and headed out.

Alex worked the soap down her pencil sticks.

—They’re called legs.—

Work on the test, Alex replied. She rinsed off her legs.

Sophie had found Alex Monday night. At least Sophie had on underwear that time.

So, Sophie began. Dennis talked to you.

He didn’t really say anything, Alex said. Well, it might be Friday now.

He told me. I was going to talk to you today anyway, to make sure you didn’t make plans for Friday. Sophie started flossing.

Alex shrugged. That’s usually a safe bet.

Sophie smiled. Still, I didn’t want to assume. She flossed her left side. I also want to make sure you’re okay with the other people. It’s a small group, and that matters. She worked the right side.

Why’s that? Alex asked.

Big groups are about meeting new people. Small groups are about people you already know. She rinsed and spit. Unless it’s a blind date, but you wouldn’t do something like this on a blind date.

Like what? Alex thought but hadn’t asked.

If you want to do something crazy, Sophie said. You need to trust the people you’re with.

Makes sense to me, Alex said.

Here’s the thing, Sophie continued, talking around her toothbrush. When we planned this, it was Dennis and me, Beth and Gary, and Sam and Trish. But you know.

Alex shook her head. Know what?

You didn’t hear? Sophie took out the toothbrush. Sam and Trish broke up.

Oh, Alex said. So Trish finally got sick of him.

Anyway, Sophie said. We had an opening. And Sam needed some fun. You know.

Sure.

Sophie said, I told them you were looking for something crazy to do. All of them loved the idea.

Dennis had told Alex they wanted her there.

I’m worried this isn’t fair to you, Alex said. I’m still afraid to know too early. What if you plan everything, and I say no?

Don’t worry, Sophie said. I told them that. Friday has three parts. We’re eating dinner, then playing chess, then the crazy part. And the winners get to pick a movie to watch after the crazy stuff. If you say no to the crazy stuff, you’re still invited to dinner, chess and the movie, and I’ll find you something crazy before graduation. I won’t have anything for Saturday, but I promise you something crazy before graduation. That’s really easy to do.

Alex smiled. That makes me feel better.

I don’t want you to think about ruining anyone’s night, Sophie said. I don’t want you to feel like we’re pushing you.

Alex nodded. I believe you. I’ve heard you ask lots of people to do something crazy. I’ve never heard you lie to any of them.

Oh, Alex, Sophie said and touched Alex’s shoulder. Please tell me you’re going to the dinner part. I really want to end the year with you there.

Alex smiled and nodded.

Great, Sophie said. When does your test end?

Alex said, Eleven-thirty.

Cool, Sophie had said. We’ll meet in the cafeteria at noon. I’ll tell you over lunch.

Noon, Alex thought as she rinsed off the last of the soap. Noon today. She turned off the shower. Three and a half hours. Maybe ten hours until dinner, eleven until chess. If the games were good ... Games with Sam were always good. That’s thirteen and she would be doing something crazy. She sighed. In twenty-four, she would probably be in jail. Her heart jumped a little, and she smiled. She would have fun getting there. But first, she had one hour until her test. She dried herself off and hung up her towel. She considered just walking out of the stall like that, as Sophie often did. She shuddered at the idea and pulled on her robe. The robe was terrycloth and two sizes too big. She wore it for a kind of protection along with a lot of baggy clothes. She was less fond the robe now, but she still cinched it as tight as ever.

On her way out, Alex found Beth in front of the mirrors brushing her hair. She waved Alex over. Beth was a natural blond with a classic hourglass shape. And a 3.8 GPA and a class B chess rating.

You look like you were waiting for me, Alex said.

I was, Beth said. If you don’t mind, I’d like to be there when Sophie talks to you. She can be too enthusiastic sometimes.

I know, Alex said.

Freshman year after finals, Sophie had run to Alex and asked her if she wanted to do something fun.

We’re going skinny dipping at the lake, Sophie had said. "There’ll be cute guys. You get a partner and go out in just your robe, and drop the robe on the beach. Then you swim out to the raft and back. The first one back