The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (92)

“She kneed me in the balls,” Ever muttered.

That got a whistle from Vaughn and a grimace from Jamie.

“I’m sure you deserved it,” Tyra defended.

“Maybe.” He then rented Warm Bodies at Tyra’s insistence and dimmed the lights. It was a pretty cozy setting that set off the butterflies in my stomach, especially when he sat close enough for our thighs to touch. Vaughn and Tyra were openly snuggling on the other end of the sectional while Jamie nursed a bottle of white rum on the La-Z-Boy.

I stared blankly at the flat screen, too on edge to enjoy the movie with Ever so close. I should have been used to it by now, but each time felt like the first.

“Relax,” he whispered while the opening credits rolled. “You’re safe here.”

Goose bumps rose on my skin, making me doubt his claim. Across the room, I caught Jamie’s eye, and even in the dark, I recognized the mischief. He never learns.

“Hey, cousin. Truth or dare?”

Ever’s attention shifted to his cousin. “Dare me not to stop when I smash you in the face again.”

“Nah. I got one better.” Jamie took a swig from the bottle, possibly for liquid courage. “I dare you to kiss her.”

We all reacted at once. I tensed, Vaughn snorted, Tyra sighed, and Ever…smiled.

“Now you’re talking.”

I let him pull me onto his lap until I was straddling him, and when I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t catch my breath. Ever looked hungry. We reached for each other at the same time. When our lips met, it didn’t feel like a show, it felt like fulfilling a need that had consumed us both. He kept right on kissing me as if his next breath didn’t matter. As if I were his air, his heartbeat, and the blood flowing in his veins. I could feel him fighting to get closer—to make me see I was all he’d ever need—not revenge or privilege. Me.

Or maybe I was just delusional.

I pulled away and averted my gaze as I removed myself from his lap. Jamie, of course, was the first to speak.

“If I doubted he was serious about you, I don’t anymore.” His eyes flicked between Ever and me before a sneaky smile split his handsome face. “Four, truth or dare?”

“I already played your game. Pass.”

“Fine.” His head swiveled to Tyra. “Truth or dare, T-baby?”

“Aren’t we here to watch a fucking movie?” Vaughn spat.

“Dare,” Tyra answered simultaneously. She stuck her tongue out at a glowering Vaughn before focusing on Jamie.

“Make out with Four.”

Tyra shot Jamie a crazed look. “This isn’t some sleazy porn.”

An overly excited and very wasted Jamie adjusted the recliner and planted booted feet on the ground. “Do the dare, and I’ll do whatever the fuck you want.”

Tyra crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “Vaughn, muzzle your friend.”

Her dreamboat no longer looked irritated though as he cut his eyes at her.

“Babe…I wouldn’t be opposed to the girl on girl.”

She quickly moved from the crook of Vaughn’s arm and faced him. “Are you freaking kidding me?”

“Just a peck, and I’ll also return the favor of a dare.”

With a scoff, she twisted around and gave Ever the kindest smile I’d ever seen her bestow on anyone. “And now we’re down to our last shot at chivalry. Ever?”

“It’s already two out of three,” he said with a shrug. “I don’t think my vote counts much.” A sly grin then appeared on his face.

“Fuck you, guys.” She started crawling across the cushions, and my eyes bucked when she headed straight for me.

“Tyra, what are you doing?” I shrieked. My body tensed as I prepared to flee.

“Relax. It’s not like we’re going down on each other.” She pressed her lips to mine, and in my peripheral, I saw Jamie staggering to occupy Tyra’s vacant seat. At the same time, I felt her tongue caress the seam of my lips and her soft hands brush over my shoulders and down my arms. Curious, I timorously kissed her back and found her lips soft and tasting faintly of berries.

A groan and a softly spoken, “Fuck,” brought me hurtling back to reality. Vaughn slapped Jamie upside the head when we pulled away from each other.

“All right! Time to pay up,” Tyra dictated as if nothing happened. “Any ideas, Four?”

It took me a bit longer to recover, but the idea of payback sounded damn good. “I’d like to see Vaughn and Ever swap a bit of spit.”

“The fuck?” Vaughn exploded. “Why not Jamie? He started the shit!”

“And you went along with it,” Tyra argued.

“I’m not making out with a dude,” Ever growled.

“You promised anything we wanted,” she countered.

“Those idiots did,” he spat back. “I didn’t promise a damn thing.”

“Fine. I have an alternative dare, but only if all three of you swear to do it. I promise it won’t involve sword fights or bum fun.”

“What is it?” Jamie questioned warily. It was funny how pale he looked since he was the one who started all this.

“You don’t get to know that yet. Do we have a deal?”

“Your woman’s a fucking cutthroat,” Jamie hissed at Vaughn, who didn’t bother responding.