Page 39 of Fighting Fate

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. She's been on my case about this since summer camp. I meant to go in early August, but it slipped through the cracks. I'm fine, though, really.

I appreciate her concern, but my attention shifts as Milli steps out onto the patio, drink in hand. Under the warm glow of the patio lights, her innate sweetness shines. My pulse quickens at the sight of her.

Mother Dear

Miles, please make it a priority to go in sometime soon. Please, for your mom, it will give me a peace of mind.

I send a quick text back because she won't quit unless I agree. Looking back toward Milli, our eyes meet. She bites her lip, glancing around the bonfire where everyone is absorbed in their own world. I nod at her, signaling her to join me. She scans for a spot to sit, finding none except, perhaps, my lap.

She hesitates, then makes her way over. I pat my thigh invitingly. If Luke weren't caught up in his own banter, I'd have pulled Milli onto my lap without hesitation. Instead, I coax her with a playful, "Come on, Mills, I don't bite."

She edges closer, sipping her drink, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade. "I'm not so sure," she teases.

I raise an eyebrow. "Only if you ask me to."

Her reaction is instantaneous. She almost chokes on her drink, coughing and laughing simultaneously.

"Everything good?" I say, flashing a grin. With Luke out of my immediate concern, I draw her onto my lap. She shifts a bit, settling in. "Comfier now?" I tease, lifting an eyebrow.

As she takes another sip, Luke throws a glance our way but is quickly distracted. Milli, sensing his diverted attention, shifts boldly, her shapely curves moving from my thigh to the very center of my lap, and I can swear my cock jumps with excitement.

She wriggles a bit more, and I can tell she's doing it deliberately because when she glances over her shoulder, the mischief in her eyes gives it all away. She's teasing me, clearly enjoying herself. What she doesn't realize is that I'm more than willing to play along. It brings back memories of our time at the restaurant months ago.

I tighten my grip around her waist, and she startles, but I keep her in place.

I'm acutely aware we're skirting the edge of something dangerous, but it's thrilling. "Everything okay?" I ask her, keeping my voice light. She's still facing the fire, but I can almost feel her effort to stay silent. Part of me wishes she wouldn't—I know what sounds she's holding back.

The echo of her moan, lingering in my ears from before, ignites a tingling sensation across my skin. It's a memory that's been on a loop in my mind, refusing to fade.

"Okay, friends, gather up. Let's play a game!" Payson declares, her voice ringing out, red solo cup in hand, basking in the bonfire's glow.

Luke gives an exaggerated eye roll, briefly locking eyes with me. He mouths, "Friends?" I stifle a chuckle. Milli, catching his reaction, laughs out loud for both of us.

Turning back to Payson, Luke teases, "Is there ever a time you're not game for games, Pennington?"

Payson shoots a glare at Luke and flips him off, undeterred. "Let's kick things up a notch with a round of truth or dare," she announces, her enthusiasm undimmed by Luke's sarcasm.

"We're not kids," he grumbles, but the others are already showing interest.

Payson smirks at Luke. "Not just any game—Dirty Truth or Dare."

The suggestion rouses a mix of cheers and chuckles. Leaning toward Milli, I whisper so only she can hear. "You game for this, Baby Sutton?"

For a moment, she tenses, but soon she melts into the warmth of my breath. Her smirk tells me everything—I know she's more than okay with it.

"Since when do you enjoy such games, Mills?" I can't quite figure out if this daring side of her is going to be my undoing or not.

Payson claps excitedly. "Here's the twist: truths have to be intimate or risqué, and dares, well, they should be bold and flirtatious."

Intrigued, I settle in. The first few rounds bring out some eyebrow-raising confessions. But as we dive deeper, the mood shifts. It's my turn to ask, and naturally, my choice is Milli. The way she's been tonight, I'm betting she'll be bluntly honest or her body language will reveal everything. Sipping my beer, I mull over my question, opting for truth over dare, mindful of Luke's watchful eye.

"Mills, what's one fantasy of yours?" I lean in, my voice low but clear enough for her. Our gazes meet, and she catches her lip between her teeth, igniting a surge of desire within me. "Come on, Baby Sutton, those romance novels must've sparked some wild ideas."

I'm using every bit of self-control not to draw her in, to thread my fingers through her strawberry blonde curls, to trail them down to the nape of her neck. The urge to press my lips to hers, to let our bodies merge into one in that electrifying moment, is almost overpowering.

Stay cool, Miles, I tell myself.

Her reply, "Getting fucked in a truck," sends my self-control into overdrive to maintain composure. The group erupts into hoots and hollers, with Josh, Brooke's boyfriend, even cheering, "Hell yeah." The tension thickens, her words hanging in the air like a charged, unspoken invitation.

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