Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Bryn typed something on her phone, the warm evening breeze rustling her hair. We’d made it back to the bungalow and had opted to sit on our private patio since it was such a beautiful night. The plunge pool glowed from within, and small solar-powered lights dotted the edge of the deck.
Bryn glanced up from her phone, a playful smirk curling her full lips. “Truth or dare?”
“Weren’t you the one who said that using a website to generate questions feels a bit like cheating?” I pointed out.
“Yeah, but it’s also more of a challenge.”
“I like a challenge,” I admitted. “But I also prefer using my imagination.”
She laughed. “That’s because you’re old-school. You don’t do social media. Your phone is practically a flip phone.”
“You can’t be focused in a world of constant distractions.”
“I know.” She looked up at me. “It’s actually something I admire about you, even if I tease you for it.”
“Thanks.” I ducked my head. “And you can use the phone if you really want.”
“Oh, I planned to. But you still haven’t told me your choice. Truth or dare.”
“Truth,” I said, hoping I wouldn’t regret this.
“Which do you enjoy more—cuddling or kissing?” Bryn asked.
“Both.”
She gave me a look. “You have to choose one. You can’t have both.”
“Says who?”
“The question. The word ‘more’ requires a favorite.”
My mind went to watching movies with Bryn, her nestled into my side. “Well, I like cuddling because it creates connection and it feels nice. I like holding a woman in my arms, making her feel safe, cherished. But I also like kissing because you can communicate so much with a kiss.”
“Like what?” She leaned forward. It had the effect of pushing her tits together. And fuck me, what I wouldn’t do to give them a squeeze.
Long game, Fizzy. Play the long game.
The Cup wasn’t won in a game; it took a season. And there was so much more at stake here.
“Well…” I brushed her hair away from her face.
“A kiss on the top of the head could mean, I’d do anything for you.
” I let my words hang in the air. Then, my touch was a whisper against her temple.
“Here. I adore you. Behind the ear…” I dragged my finger there.
“I want you.” I held her gaze, speaking the words I felt about her, and hoping she would understand everything I was trying to communicate.
She leaned forward, lips parted. “Where else?”
“That’s the beauty of a kiss. It can be placed anywhere.” I watched her expressions as I said, “Lips,” and dragged my finger down her lips. Down farther to her, “Collarbone.”
I hesitated briefly, but the way her breath hitched made me continue my descent into the valley of her, “Breasts.” Her eyes were hooded, locked on mine as if she couldn’t look away. “Stomach.” And then I slowly lifted my hand before I could reach her waistline as I said, “Between your thighs.”
She swallowed hard, pupils dilating even more.
The black was so all-encompassing, it nearly swallowed the blue.
We’d barely even touched, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever been more turned on.
To have Bryn finally looking at me in a way I’d only ever dreamed of…
Shit. It felt as if my heart was going to pound out of my chest. And my dick was painfully hard, pressing against my zipper.
“Your turn,” I rasped.
She swallowed hard. “Truth.”
“What made you—”
“Nope!” She held up her hand, likely guessing what I was going to ask. “I change my mind. I want a dare.”
I chuckled. “Fine. I dare you to tell me what had you blushing so hard earlier.”
She let out a heavy sigh, shoulders dropping. She knew she wasn’t getting out of this.
She peeked up at me from beneath her lashes. “Promise not to tell anyone?”
“Angel—” I tucked her hair behind her ear “—who am I going to tell?”
“Just…” She huffed. “Promise.”
I held her gaze. “I promise.”
“Last night, one of the bridesmaids had a threesome with two of the groomsmen.” The words were said in a rush, like a confession.
“As part of the game?” I asked.
I wouldn’t doubt it. If Allie had continued to increase the boldness of the game with every round, it was definitely likely.
“More like…as a result of the game,” Bryn said.
“Is that something you’re interested in?” I asked, thinking of the way her skin had flushed with color.
Her expression turned more serious. “No. I want whoever I’m with to be fully invested in me. When I’m with someone, I give myself one hundred percent.”
I nodded. I hadn’t expected anything else.
“Would you—or have you…” She trailed off, probably thinking of the stories about some of the other guys in the league.
“No.”
“Wow.” She laughed. “That was immediate and definitive.”
“I don’t share, and I’d never ask my partner to either. If I’m with someone, there’s no one else for me.”
“That’s…admirable,” she said, swallowing hard. Then, “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
She glanced down at the screen of her phone. “If you had to have sex with any player in the league, who would you choose?”
I balked at her. “Seriously? That’s what you want to know?”
“That was the prompt.”
I scoffed. “That’s an oddly specific prompt for a website that randomly generates truth-or-dare prompts.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I might have tweaked it a little.”
I chuckled. “This is what happens when you read Heated Rivalry.”
“Answer the question, Bear, or take a shot.”
I wasn’t going to take a shot for that. I thought through the Hawks’ roster as well as that of other teams in the league. “Don’t laugh, and don’t you dare tell anyone.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “But I’m going with Keller.”
“From Boston?” she asked, evaluating me. “Really?”
“Why not? He’s won two Stanley Cups, and he has the all-time wins record for any goalie in the league.”
“So you’re picking based on stats, not looks or attraction?” She scrunched up her face.
“One.” I held up a finger. “His stats are hot. And two.” I held up another finger. “If I’m going to have to suck someone’s dick, they might as well tell me how to become a legend.”
She started laughing so hard, she was wheezing. “Oh my god, Frasier. You are ridiculous.”
“What?” I lifted a shoulder. “You asked who I’d sleep with in the NHL. I told you.”
She shook her head, still laughing. She covered her mouth as if to hide her amusement. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” I said, gently grasping her wrist to lower her hand. “I love hearing you laugh. Seeing you smile.” I traced her jaw with my hand. “Even if it’s at my expense.”
She let out a shuddery exhale, her eyes darting between mine as if searching for something. I let the moment hang there, waiting to see what she’d do. Finally, she said, “I suppose it’s my turn again.”
I dropped my hand and leaned back. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare.”
Interesting.
“Where’s the book you’ve been reading?” I asked.
“The one you gave me?” she asked, and when I nodded, she eyed me suspiciously. “Why?”
“Because I want to know what all the hype is about. I want you to read it aloud.” I winked. “And be sure to pick a steamy scene.”
Her cheeks pinkened, and she stood slowly. While she was gone, I switched on the hot tub before ridding myself of my tie and shoes. Then I rolled up my pants so I could put my feet in the water.
When Bryn returned, she sat on one of the chairs. “I can’t believe you’re going to make me do this.”
I watched her, steam rising into the night air. “Take a shot or forfeit. You can end the game anytime you want.”
But I knew she wouldn’t. She was too competitive to do something like that.
“And be the first one to break?” She shook her head, confirming what I already knew. “I don’t think so.”
I loved that she didn’t back down. I loved that she pushed herself outside her comfort zone. I loved that she felt comfortable enough with me to do so.
She opened her book to the midway point, thumbing through a few pages until she settled on one. She brushed her hair away from her face and began to read.
“She ran through the woods, the mask bobbing eerily behind her. Her heart was pounding, and she stumbled—”
“Wait.” I held up a hand. “I specified that it needed to be a steamy scene.”
Bryn peered down at me over the top of the book. “It is.”
“She’s running through the woods, and it sounds like she’s being chased by a masked man. How is that steamy?”
“Trust me.” Her eyes glinted, lips curling up at the corners. “It will be. I’m setting the stage.”
“But why is she—”
“Frasier,” she huffed. “Will you please just let me read it?”
“I need some context here, Bryn.”
“Fine. She’s a high-powered attorney, and he’s trying to help her let go.”
“By chasing her?” I shook my head. Seriously? What the fuck?
“By getting her to surrender.” Bryn gave me a look. “Do you want me to read it or not?”
“It’s your dare.” I leaned back, resting on my palms. “It’s your choice.”
“Then stop interrupting.”
I mimed zipping my lips.
She looked down at the book then back up at me. “And no judging or snide remarks.” She pointed at me, and I shook my head. “Don’t yuck my yum.”
“Don’t yuck my yum?” Jesus. I dragged a hand through my hair. It felt as if we were speaking a different language.
“Don’t kink shame,” she clarified.
“Is this a kink of yours? Being chased through a dark forest by a masked man.”
She closed the book, keeping her finger between the pages as a bookmark. “You’re missing the point.”
“Which is…”
“You’d know if you’d just let me read you the damn scene.” Oh, she was flustered now. It was pretty cute, actually. But telling her that would only piss her off even more. Tempting.
I smiled and shut my mouth, giving her my full attention.
She watched me a moment. Then, when she was satisfied that I wasn’t going to interrupt again, she started reading once more.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Bryn. Tendrils of hair curled around her face, heated from the steam of the hot tub. Her skin was flushed with color as she read the story. The filthy words on her sweet lips were making it difficult to concentrate.