There was a wicked twist to their version of Truth or Dare: the spinner got to choose the punishment, whether the chosen picked truth or dare. With werewolves able to sniff out lies, there was no such thing as a safe option.
That little tweak made the game far less predictable and far more dangerous. Hence a thrilling tension buzzed in the air, the kind that promised someone was about to get wrecked.
Alaric might have been the one to announce the game, but Roman was the one who enthusiastically set everything up. Violet swore she’d never seen him move that fast in his life.
In the blink of an eye, all five of them were seated in a circle on the mat, a glass bottle resting temptingly in the center. Everyone looked excited — everyone except Griffin, who had a large bowl of snacks on his lap and was nonchalantly munching on chips. Usually, people said a woman who could eat was sexy, but in this case, it was the other way around. Griffin Hale eating was as sexy as hell.
"So, who’s going to spin first?" Alaric asked, his gaze bouncing around the circle.
"I will!" Roman jumped in, already reaching for the bottle only for Asher to snatch it first, his grip firm.
Roman blinked in surprise, his brows raised questioningly.
"I’ll go first," Asher said with a tone of finality.
Violet and Alaric exchanged a look, both noting the sudden spike in tension between the two men but wisely said nothing.
With a look of pure concentration, Asher crouched forward and flicked his wrist. The bottle spun fast and everyone leaned in as it whirled, tension saturating the air until it finally slowed and stopped on Roman.
Of course.
Roman threw both hands in the air. "As if that wasn’t calculated at all." He sneered.
Asher didn’t bother to argue, asking straight away, his gaze razor-sharp. "Truth or dare?"
Roman scoffed. "Obviously dare." He met Asher’s eyes with a challenge. Picking truth would’ve been seen as weak and he was many things, but never a coward.
"Then I dare you..." Asher drawled slowly as if savoring every second of it, "to kiss Violet passionately for two minutes without touching her."
Griffin’s chewing slowed. Oh boy.
Then Asher added, voice edged with wicked satisfaction, "If you fail, you don’t get to climb into her bed for two nights."
The effect was immediate.
Roman’s confidence evaporated like mist under sunlight while his mouth fell open slightly, then snapped shut. Violet was rendered speechless while Alaric burst into laughter so hard he nearly toppled over, slapping his thigh and stomping the mat.
Griffin, still chewing, gave a loud hoot. "Oooh, brutal," he said through a mouthful of chips. "That’s gonna hurt."
They all knew what this was. Asher was finally having his revenge on Roman, and the dare was a cruel one. Everyone knew Roman couldn’t keep his hands off while kissing. This was going to be a torturous one for him.
"Fine," Roman said through gritted teeth.
Asher’s smirk widened. "Clock starts when your lips touch hers."
Roman was already seated close to Violet, so he didn’t need to move. All he did was turn to her and Violet swallowed hard at the burning intensity in his eyes. The desire to win was written all over his face.
Then he leaned in slowly, and Violet met him halfway. Their lips brushed once, light, and teasing before pressing more firmly together.
Unlike Violet, who closed her eyes, Roman kept his wide open. He knew the moment he let himself get lost in this kiss, he’d fail Asher’s wicked little test. So he focused on the feel of her lips, soft and maddening, and the faint taste of alcohol clinging to her tongue.
What he refused to focus on was the overwhelming temptation to clasp her face and kiss her deeper and rougher, the way he craved. Or the way his hands itched to roam down her sides, squeeze those two perfect breasts her Fae mama had so generously blessed her with. Or better yet, haul her onto his lap and worship every inch of that dangerously perfect backside.
But he didn’t. Instead, Roman balled his hands into fists and held them stiffly at his sides, breathing through the growing ache in his body because right now, this was a fight he intended to win.
However, it wasn’t so bad. Roman concentrated on sucking her lower lip like he meant to leave a claim until the sound of clapping interrupted them from behind.
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