Set in the heart of Chicago, Author Lauren Helms brings you Gamer Boy: The Complete Series. This nerdy-meets-flirty box set is perfect for readers who love relatable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and love stories you can’t put down.
“Original, fun, sexy and emotional.”
The perfect balance of drama, angst, humor & heart.”
Level Me Up–*Dex & Morgan* A First Love Romance
Excerpt from Level Me Up
Copyright 2025,
Author Lauren Helms
He smiles like a cat that is about to eat a
bird. "Nope. That is incorrect," he says, and he points to my shirt
and gestures for it to come off. I move up onto my knees on his bed, wobble a
bit as I start to lose my balance. Great a spaz moment instead of sexy time
would be perfect right now. I scoot back a little, so I don't fall off the bed
and fall face first on the floor. So much for a sexy strip tease. Slowly, I
pull my shirt up over my head and mentally high-five myself for bringing the sexy
back. I don't think he even noticed the wobble. I still have a spaghetti strap
tank on so I can see a flutter of disappointment in his eyes. It's quickly
replaced with determination, however. "Question four - How many
installments of CoB are there, and when was the first one released?"
Shoot. I know there are a ton of them, and they come out every year. "Umm,
thirteen and the first one came out in 2003?" I say with uncertainty.
"I'm impressed, but you're wrong. There are only twelve games in the main
series. Now take something off." I crawl off the bed, stand and unbutton
my jeans. I slowly shimmy out of them, leaving them in a pile on the floor
between us. Then I climb back on his bed and return to my previous position. He
watches with intense interest, then clears his throat before he says,
"Name four different video game genres." "First person shooter,
fighter, racing, and..." I bite my lip and look up at the ceiling,
pretending to think, "Hmmm...RPG," I say with an innocent smile.
"Funny," he says as he shucks off his jeans. I can't help but lick my
lips as he stands there in only his boxers. "You're not cold are you,
Dex?" I ask sweetly. "Not in the least, babe." He moves to stand
right in front of me. "The next question is all or nothing."
"Ok," I reply, quietly. "What is the best gaming system of all
time?" he asks. I try to keep my face as blank as possible. I know what he
wants me to say, that it's the Sega Dreamcast. He's gotten into this debate
with Link and Simon before. He says that it was the most advanced system of its
time, but due to crappy decisions by management, it didn't pick up the needed
market shares. He is staring down at me like he is mentally trying to urge the
right system out of my mouth, but instead, with the sexiest look I can muster,
I raise up on my knees and pull off my tank and toss it at his feet. His pupils
dilate, and I reach around to the back of my bra and unclasp it as he slowly
moves closer to the bed. "Man, Dex, that really is such a hard
question," I say, moving my arms in front of my chest, to hold my bra in
place. I slowly move one strap down my arm and continue, "I mean, it's
such a subjective question that any answer would be correct, technically."
I move my hand over to the opposite strap, and he drives a knee to the bed. In
a deep, demanding voice he says, "Answer the question, babe." I give
him one more thoughtful look as I let the bra drop to the bed and say,
"GameCube." At that exact moment, he pounces on me as I let out a
shrill giggle and fall back onto the bed. From above me, he says, "You
play dirty, Lawson." Then the whole tutoring session is forgotten as he
leans in and nips at my ear and then trails hot, wet kisses down my neck. While
he continues down to my shoulder, he palms one of my breasts, and I let out a
soft moan. I've never really been into having my breasts fondled during sex,
but when Dex does it, it makes me forget everything I thought I did and didn't
like. He takes my moan as an invitation and moves his mouth to mine. The kiss
is the opposite of sweet; it's almost punishing. I bite his lip as I hook a leg
around his waist and pull him into me as he lets out a deep growl. Electricity
shoots through my body at the sound.
Copyright 2025,
Author Lauren Helms
"No, why would I be jealous of two boobs
on legs? I've got a brain," I snap. "So, the real answer is yes. Yes,
you are jealous of Lindsey," he muses. "Oh, is that her name? I was
calling her a dumb booth babe in my head." OK, so the liquor is starting
to do the talking. He barks out a laugh. I roll my eyes. He leans back, and I
can feel the cold air swirl in between us. He crosses his arms and gives me a
challenging look. "Why do you think she's dumb and why are you calling her
a booth babe? She's not, by the way. Dumb, that is." I reach for the water
that I don't remember ordering and take a sip. Wait, how did this get here?
"Have you heard anything that has come out of her mouth tonight or do you
only care about what goes into it? Because, Si, that girl is dumber than a box
of rocks," I say, swirling the straw in my mouth. He coughs and tries to
smother a laugh. "Oh, and I call her Booth Babe because isn't that where
you pick up girls? At your video game events? Isn't that what they call the
girls the video game marketers hire to stand around at them? To look all hot
and draw the male attendees into the booth? Am I right, or am I right?"
"You're cute when you're jealous," he says. "Nope. Wrong
again," I say, then catch the bartender's eye. "Another!"
"Gia, it's probably a better idea to stick to water," he says.
"And it was probably a better idea for you to have stayed away. But here
you are, out of nowhere. So ... one more round."Two new shots appear, and
I push his shot and salt toward him. "I'd offer to let you lick me, but we
wouldn't want Little Miss Booth Babe to get jealous."Yes, I heard what I
just said. I'm ignoring, remember? Once more I take a shot, not caring if he
took his too. I stand from the bar, faster than I should, then grab ahold of the
bar just as quickly. I gather myself, smile and turn to Simon. What I see makes
my head start to spin again. Heat. Pure heat fills his eyes and all amusement
has left his face. I continue my exit attempt when I hear his low
reply."I'd do it." I stop for a split second and look over my
shoulder. I manage to avoid meeting his eye before I keep on walking. Holy
shitballs.
Copyright 2025,
Author Lauren Helms
We are sitting on the tarmac, waiting for more
passengers to board, so I’m doing one last email check before I switch to
airplane mode. It's a five-hour flight, so I’ve got a couple movies I plan to
watch, and the newest Shawn Mendes album downloaded to my phone from Spotify.
Look, I’m secure enough in my manliness to admit I have a man crush on the
dude. His music is damn catchy, and he seems like an all-around great guy. He’s
a couple years younger, but I’m thinking he’d be fun to hang with. And if I just
happen to find out he enjoyed video games, then you bet your ass I’d have him
on the channel. Actually, I need to find this out. I shoot an email off to my
PA to do some Sean Mendes sleuthing when someone flicks me in the head.
“Hey,” I grumble as I look up to find Simon
leaning over his seat staring at me.
“Dude, I’ve got news,” he says.
“I’ve been with you for the past hour, how do
you suddenly have news?”
“It wasn’t like I could just walk over and
tell you. We’ve been with people.”
He’s being an idiot.
“So, you couldn’t come and whisper it in my
ear?” I ask.
Rolling his eyes, he says “No, you cheesedick,
I’m not going to come and whisper shit in your ear. We are fucking adults,
man.” I hear Gia’s husky laugh beside him.
“Do you want to know the fucking news or not?”
He sounds peeved. If anyone should be peeved, it’s me. For one my forehead
still stings from being flicked from short-range and two, he’s apparently got
some juicy news that he’s been holding back from me.
“I’m listening,” I say, absentmindedly rubbing
my forehead.
“Ruby dumped the sports douche,” he whispers
with a huge grin on his face.
I narrow my eyes at him. “When?”
“A couple days ago.”
“Why?”
“Why? ’Cause he was a ball-licking
douchecanoe,” he says, and I hear Gia whisper-shout, “Simon, seriously.”
“And I care, why?” I totally care, but I don’t
need them all to know I do.
He scoffs at me this time, “Right, man. You
care big time. Anyway, just thought you’d want to know.” And with that he turns
around and slides back into his seat. I can see through the small space between
the seats Gia leans over and punches him in the arm and I hear him grunt. I
smirk. Serves him right.
My thoughts immediately bounce back to Ruby
though. So, she finally broke up with that gameless schmuck. I know he didn’t
treat her all that well. And I know she wasn’t having stimulating conversation
with the guy either. Good. Good for her. She needed to dump the trash. She’s
better off.
As the plane takes off, I can’t help but
wonder again if the play I made on her birthday had anything to do with it.
We made out a few years ago, but she stopped
us from doing anything we’d regret. Her words, not mine. She said we were only
meant to be friends, nothing more. I agreed to disagree.
She told me not to bring it up; to act like it
didn’t happen. And I’ve done as she wished against my better judgement. But I
never promised not to think about what happened. Oh, no, I’ve thought about
those pouty red lips and what they felt like, where I’d like to feel them, and
what they tasted like, so many fucking times until my dick aches nearly every
time I see her apply her red glossy lip shit.
I adjust myself discreetly in my seat.
Fortunately, my seat mate hasn’t boarded yet.
Last week, after overhearing her conversation
with Mason, seeing her hide the tears, then her reaction to the birthday gift I
got her, I couldn’t hold back the words.
“He doesn’t deserve you, Ruby. I would try my
damnedest to never make you cry.”
I put it out there. I planted the seed. My
goal wasn’t to get her to break up with the scumbag, but I can’t say I’m
disappointed with the results. Suddenly, I’m looking forward to this trip for a
whole new reason.
About half way through the flight, I’m
listening to some music and staring out the window. My seatmate never showed
up, so I’ve got plenty of space to myself. Suddenly, I feel someone beside me.
Lifting my head, I look to my right and can’t
help the smile that grows across my face.
Ruby sits next to me and is gesturing to my
earbuds.
“You want to listen?” I ask as I offer her the
right bud.
“Yeah. I want to know what’s got you bobbing
your head like a fool,” she laughs.
She put the earbud in her own ear and the
giant grin on her face makes my heart skip a beat.
“Shawn Mendes? I love it,” she tells me
without pulling out the earbud.
“Yeah, he’s my jam right now.”
“I can’t get enough of his new album either.”
“Yeah? This is my favorite song on the album
right now,” I tell her while he croons about falling in love when it wasn’t
expected.
We listen to the rest of the song and then I
pause my playlist because I would much rather talk to her before she heads back
to her seat with Bernie than sit listening to music.
“So, what’s up, Rubes?” I ask, and she hands
me back my earbud. I pull the other one out of my ear to give her my full
attention, because a woman like Ruby deserves no less.
“Oh, I was just stretching my legs and thought
I’d come say hey. You got lucky and ended up without a seatmate, I see.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve gotten lucky yet,
but I’m on the road to a happy ending now that you are here.” I smirk.
“Oh my god, you are horrible,” she laughs and
pushes my arm.
“Just speaking the truth, Rubes.”
“About not getting lucky or getting a happy
ending? ’Cause I can tell you now, neither of those are happening with me
involved.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “We’ll see, Rubes,” I
say.
“Yeah, okay, Link.” She gives me a playful eye
roll in return.
I’ve never been so forward with my flirting
before, but she seems to handle it well and isn’t put off by it. I think I’ll
push a little more this week, see if I can’t get something going between us. I
think it’s about time we move this past the ‘just friends’ stage.
Copyright 2025,
Author Lauren Helms
I want so badly to intertwine my fingers
with hers, but I can’t, and she drops my hand before reaching for pretzels.
“O.M.G. It just hit me how hungry I am.”
She shoves food into her mouth, and I can’t help but chuckle at her.
“Did you not eat dinner?” Leaning into
the bar, I watch her with fascination.
“I did, but I was wearing a dress.” She
offers this up as if it’s common sense.
I snort. “I don’t understand what that
has to do with anything.”
She giggles and rolls her eyes. “Let me
school you in some basic female knowledge.” She shoves more food into her
mouth. If she wasn’t drunk, she’d be embarrassed at the way she’s acting. I
find it endearing.
“Mkay. By all means, Bernie, educate me.”
She makes a face, and I’m not sure what I
said that threw her off, but then she tells me. “If you’re gonna use a
nickname, it’s Benny now.” She scoffs.
Confused, I just shake my head. I’ll
admit, I don’t use her shortened name often. Way back in the day, she
introduced herself to me as Bernadette, so it just stuck. I’ve always kinda
liked that I’m the only one to use her full name, but I’m not on my game
tonight. Between her being drunk and overly flirting with me, the new knowledge
I possess about her, and the douche-waffle thinking he has a chance with her, I
slip and use her nickname.
“Anyway, what do you have to teach me, oh
wise one?” I smirk, getting her back on track.
“Ohh, I like that. But I think you’re
making fun. I digress. When a woman is wearing a fancy dress, there are two
rules. One, don’t make a mess. And two, don’t stuff yourself silly or your food
baby will show.”
A deep belly laugh erupts from me.
Between breaths, I ask, “Food baby?”
She’s soaking up my laughter, and she
nods vigorously. “Yes, you know when you eat too much and it just sits there in
your gut, and it looks like you’re about fifteen weeks preggo? Ergo, food baby.
You don’t do that in a fancy tight-fitting dress.”
My laughter under control now, I tell
her, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this before, Bernadette.” I
chuckle, taking in her carefree, easy demeanor. Her eyes flash with something.
“Like what?” She hiccups.
“Drunk,” I deadpan.
Her eyes widen. “Oh, then I’ve done my
job.”
I quirk my brow, “Do you get drunk often
and hide it?” She giggles. “Well, shit, do I need to stage an intervention?”
Her pure happiness sets my blood on fire,
and it takes everything in me to not reach out to touch her.
“Stop, I’m not a closet drunk. I mean,
you don’t see me drunk because I don’t get drunk. In public or alone.” She
tries her damnedest to make a serious face, but the attempt ends up just
amusing her, and her eyes sparkle.
My own grin grows. “You’re fun like this.
Carefree.”
She’s being hilarious right now. I know
she doesn’t need alcohol to make her funny. She’s always fun to be around. But
I realize now that I don’t have a lot of one-on-one conversations with her. I’m
going to start craving this connection.
“I’m not normally fun?” She pops out her
bottom lip, leaning forward slightly. Her scent fills my lungs. I take in a
deep breath and lean in closer to her.
“No, you’re fun, Benny.” My voice is
deep. Her eyes glitter at the use of her new nickname.
She attempts to be serious, but fails.
“Just more fun when I’m wasted, yeah?”
“Nah. But normally, you don’t let me get
close enough to have fun.” I don’t know why I said that, but it’s out there
now.
Her eyes widen, and her mouth forms a
little o. I let the silence envelop
us. The ball is in her court now.
“Well…” She closes her mouth, opens it
again, and then closes it.
I offer a soft laugh. She seems to gather
her thoughts and says, “Well, you know where I live. So if you want fun, you
know where to find me.”
Well.
Fuck. Me.
I gulp, taking in her words, and before I
can reply, she’s walking—no, running—away. Gia drapes her arm over her as the
girls pull her into the conversation. I’m looking at her, still processing the
gauntlet she threw down, and she peeks at me over her shoulder, gives me a
little smile, then turns back to the group.
Damn, she launched that fucking ball
right back into my court, didn’t she?
About Lauren Helms
Lauren Helms is a romance author her nerdy and flirty contemporary words. Lauren has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best--video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and write her first novel, Level Me Up. Several published novels later, Lauren created PR company, Indie Pen PR, to help other authors promote their books.
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