Chapter 18
“Okay, gentlemen, the rules are simple. It’s your standard game of Truth or Dare, but with a few more choices. You can pick from the following: truth, dare, double dare, kiss, command, and promise.” I move from Leo’s lap to the chair beside him as I explain the rules.
Guy gets up to refill everyone’s drinks. “Hell yes, this is going to be so much fun.”
“What happens if you refuse?” Leo asks, looking a little worried and uncomfortable.
Roman rolls his eyes. “Oh, come on, Leo. We haven’t even started playing, and you’re already looking for a way to get out of it.”
I’ve noticed in the short time I’ve been around these guys, there’s some unusual tension between Leo and his middle brother, Roman. He’s quieter and nicer, so it feels slightly out of character that he’d give his brother a hard time. Maybe it’s a work thing?
“Or …” Leo drags out. “I know who I’m playing with …”
“Now, boys, let’s not fight. We’re here to have fun. To answer your question, Leo, the penalty for not completing your question is an automatic command that will last for twenty-four hours and will be voted on by the group. However, if you choose to not fulfill a double dare … then your punishment lasts forty-eight hours. Oh, and you can’t pick truth twice in a row. I think that just about sums it up. Everyone understand?”
I flash my fiancée a devilish smile, and he nods. I swear I’ve never seen the man look more terrified.
Interesting. I wonder what skeletons he’s got in his closet. I guess there’s only one way to find out.
“Great. I’ll go first.” I turn to Guy, who’s sitting on the other side of me. “Truth, dare, double dare, kiss, command, promise?”
He waggles his brows and winks. “Let’s start off with a bang. Double dare.”
I tap my finger to my lip. “All right, I double dare you to … read the last text you sent out loud to us, no exceptions.”
Guy’s face falls a little, as if he’s trying to remember his last message, and then Luka’s grabbing for his phone.
“You heard the woman. Let’s hear it. Don’t worry; I’ll watch over his shoulder and make sure he doesn’t lie.”
Guy takes the phone, and swipes open his texts, pausing until he has our full attention. “It’s supposed to be enjoyed along with the accompanying photo …”
“Spare us the jump scare and get on with it,” Leo bites out before Guy reveals whatever photographic evidence hides behind his screen.
“Fine, but it’s probably not going to make sense without context.” He clears his throat and reads, “Come on, Mama. I’ll two-step my wild stallion across those titties as many times as you like, if it means you’ll sit on my lap and call me Cowboy.”
Leo’s lip curls in disgust. “Oh God, it’s worse than I thought.”
“I would ask, but I’ve got a feeling I don’t need to know,” Roman says, as we all try to hide our snickers.
“Again, it’d make more sense if you saw the photo?—”
“No thank you. No need for show-and-tell. You’ve already given us more than enough,” Roman cuts in before he goes any further.
“Your loss, dude.” Guy shrugs, pocketing his phone. “Cool. So, it’s my turn then.” He points to Leo with his cup. “What’s your poison, big brother?”
Leo grunts, shifting in his chair. “Truth, I guess …”
“Shocker,” Guy says under his breath. He rubs his hands together maniacally as he considers his question. “I need to make this good. Leo Kingsley, tell us, are you still afraid of the dark, or is that something you’ve outgrown?”
Everyone goes quiet, and I don’t miss the way Roman cuts his eyes at Guy.
Leo takes a long pull of his whiskey, as if he needs the liquid encouragement to get through this game, and then his gravelly voice cuts through the silence. “It was never the dark I was afraid of, but you knew that.” He doesn’t elaborate or explain any further before he turns to Roman. “Truth or dare or whatever …”
Roman smiles. “Truth.”
“Did you purposely schedule your travel so you could pawn off the festival planning on someone else?”
Roman’s lips quiver before pulling into a smile. “You caught me. But, hey, can you blame me? I’ve been stuck on the planning committee for the last five years. I needed a break.”
“I fucking knew it!” Leo throws his empty cup at Roman’s head, and the brothers all burst out laughing.
“Stop your bitching. It was time you did something to give back for a change. Besides, you of all people should know why the festival is so important.”
“Who’s next?” Leo says, changing the subject.
All eyes land on Luka. “Command,” he says without missing a beat.
Roman leans back in his seat, propping his feet on a piece of firewood. “Let’s see … I command you to … read us the last five things in your search history.”
Luka pulls out his phone, and Guy looks over his shoulder, no doubt watching to make sure he’s honest. “Robot for fucking. Is robot pussy wet? Most common robot sex injuries. Sex robot for sale. Sex robot for sale near me.”
“And you guys thought I was the perv in the family. Looks like Luka just pulled ahead for the lead,” Guy says.
The game continues for several rounds, and we all start to loosen up as the alcohol flows freely. If there’s anything this game has taught me, it’s that the Kingsley brothers are ruthless when it comes to airing out each other’s dirty laundry.
In the last hour, I’ve learned that Roman frequents the local hardware store for special rope to practice his knot tying; Luka’s had a threesome with a married couple who wanted an extra for their tenth wedding anniversary—he was explicit that there were no swords crossed; Guy admitted to making a masked-face porno under a fake name when he was nineteen; and apparently, Leo told everyone his name was Danielsan for two years after watching The Karate Kid when he was eight. He was so persistent that his teachers all called him Daniel, and all his papers were sent home under that name.
My side hurts from laughing so hard at Leo’s confession, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many scandalous stories in one evening. And I thought I was a handful; these guys could write a manifesto on leading secretly kinky lives.
Leo’s finally loosened up. His eyes are slightly hooded, and I haven’t seen the frown lines between his eyebrows all night. I know it’s the alcohol, but more than that, I think he feels comfortable out here. It’s like getting away and not having his normal surroundings as a reminder helped him get out of his head. I love this playful version of him. I only wish he’d let him out more.
“Okay, Danielsan, what’ll it be?” I ask as the laughter dies down.
Leo pauses, his eyes meeting mine, and I catch a flicker of something that looks like challenge. “Well, since I can’t pick truth again, I guess I’ll go with kiss.”
His eyes flick to my mouth, and I wet my lips as a rush of nerves envelops me.
I shouldn’t be surprised. I knew our whole arrangement came with some physical stuff, and it’s not as if the man hasn’t had his fingers inside me, but a kiss feels so much more … I don’t know … intimate?
Guy lets out a frustrated sigh. “Nice job reminding us that you’re getting laid tonight and we’re not.”
“By the sound of that text you read us, I’d say you’re not too bad off yourself,” Luka says to Guy, and they break off into an argument about whether robot sex goes toward your body count.
But their voices all fade away when Leo wets his lips and pats his thigh for me to come sit on his lap. It’s a slight gesture, like I’m a pet he’s calling toward him, like this is something we do all the time and not a monumental moment.
Maybe it’s all for show, maybe he wants to make sure his brothers don’t have any questions about if this is real or not, or maybe he’s finally taking what he wants.
I don’t have time to consider his motives. All I know is, my body is already moving toward him, obeying his command like a damn puppet, and my heart’s beating so hard that I’m afraid everyone can hear it.
I perch myself on his knee and wrap my hands around the back of his neck, and when I’m close enough for only Leo to hear me, I whisper, “You don’t have to really kiss me if you don’t want. I’ll be convincing …”
The words are barely out of my lips before Leo’s hand grips the back of my neck, pulling me into him with a possessive grip.
“The fuck you will.”
And then his mouth is on mine, his hand tightening around my hair in a fist as he kisses me with pure abandon. It’s slow at first, sweet even as we move together as if our lips were made for exactly this reason. Then, Leo’s tongue slides in my mouth, caressing and teasing, and never in my life have I felt so connected to another person.
He sucks my bottom lip into his mouth, giving me a little nip, and he tugs my hair, tilting my head up as he moves to my neck, kissing and sucking my sensitive skin for just a moment before his lips return to mine. He’s a man starved, and I’m happy to be the object of his desire because kissing Leo Kingsley feels like exactly that—desire.
If there was ever a question in my mind about whether this was real or for show, Leo’s racing heart and hitched breathing tell me everything I need to know. He wants me … and I can’t think of a single reason to deprive him of even his darkest desires …
I wiggle in his lap, throwing a leg on either side of him to bring our bodies closer as his mouth devours me like his life depends on it, like I’m the air in his lungs and the blood running through his veins.
Our kiss is needy and possessive and so fucking raw, and I’m about five seconds away from throwing caution to the wind and dry-humping myself to completion on his thigh when Guy’s voice catches my attention.
“Jeez, save it for the tent, will you? I’m getting a boner, watching you two make out, and I’m feeling conflicted about whether that’s fucked up or not …”
Leo’s fist tightens in my hair before he bites my lip one more time and pulls my head away, breaking our kiss with a sly grin. “Sorry, guess I just got carried away. Where were we again?” He’s talking to his brothers, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me, and holy shit, this guy never ceases to surprise me.
I touch my fingers to my now-swollen lips, feeling like I just had some kind of out-of-body experience, and all he did was kiss me. If his kissing is this good, I can’t even imagine how amazing he fucks.
“It’s Ivy’s turn, I think,” Roman adds, bringing us back to the game.
“Double dare,” I say, looking to Leo, but before he can give me a dare, Luka jumps in.
“What do you say we take this game to the next level?”
I quirk a brow. “How so, robot boy?”
Everyone bursts out laughing at my dig, and Luka just beams, like he isn’t the least bit embarrassed. They’re starting to feel more like family by the minute, and it catches me off guard to realize I could ever feel this comfortable joking … like siblings … with anyone besides my sister.
Luka gives Guy a knowing look before his face breaks into a sly grin. “How about a game of Sardines? For old times’ sake …”
Leo shakes his head and checks his watch. “It’s getting late. I don’t want Ivy wandering the woods alone at night?—”
“You’re on,” I blurt out before he can finish. Call me crazy, but I’m actually having a good time, seeing glimpses of Leo with his guard down, and I’m not ready for this night to end just yet.
Guy and Luka both laugh, shaking their heads.
Luka says, “Looks like you’re outnumbered, big brother, but if you’re too old to hang, we’d be happy to entertain Ivy for you.”
Leo’s jaw clenches, and so does his grip on my leg, reminding me that I’m still straddling him like we’re going to start fucking at any second. “Fine, but only one round. It’s pitch-black out here, and I don’t need Ivy getting herself hurt tonight. She doesn’t know these woods like the rest of us.”
I wiggle back and forth, grinding myself on his rock-hard cock for just a moment, and then swing my legs around to a more appropriate position.
“Aw, look, the curmudgeon does have a soft spot for me,” I tease, running my palm over Leo’s scruffy jaw.
His hand comes down on my leg, securing me in place when I attempt to get up and move to my own seat.
Roman laughs and jerks his head to look at us. “I certainly hope so … I mean, you guys are engaged, aren’t you?”
Leo grips my hand, his eyes flashing me a reminder to watch my mouth. “Of course I do. Ivy sometimes forgets how much I care about her. She forgets that I’m protective of her because I care so much,” he says in warning.
I swallow a gulp. “I just like to give you a hard time. You know I love your bossy, overprotective side … especially in the bedroom.”
Roman slaps his hands over his ears. “And I could’ve gone my whole life without knowing that.”
“Right on. You know what? That makes sense. I can see the appeal—” Guy nods.
“Let’s all get back on track, shall we?” Luka says, commanding everyone’s attention. “It’s your basic game of hide-and-seek, only in reverse. One person hides, and we’ll set a timer for two minutes. Then, we’ll all join. If you find the person hiding, you’ll hide with them. Everyone can use the flashlight on their phone. Stay on this side of the creek. Trees are fair game. Ivy, since it’s your turn, you can hide first.”
Leo’s hand shoots out to grab my arm. “Why don’t you pick someone else? I don’t like the idea of her being alone out there?—”
I shrug him off, moving my hand to his chest, and feel his heart pounding beneath my palm. “Then, I guess you’d better be the first one to find me.”