Page 5 of Double Dare

“Kade! I mustn’t.” Gen gasps between giggles.

Four smacks her on the ass and laughs. “We must.”

Dom has his own cabin outside of Seward. It’s tiny, off-grid, secluded and absolutely beautiful. He uses fire for heat, a well for water, solar panels for anything power related, and a generator for backup. Dom had a dream to live off grid and he accomplished it. I respect the hell out of him for it, because it takes a lot of hard work.

I can tell he’s nervous as we drive down the snowy path to his house, but he hasn’t elaborated on what he needs. Something is up, and I’m actually pretty honored he’s asked me for help.

He parks in front of the cabin but doesn’t get out. “Laken, I don’t even know how to start this conversation, but you’re…the only one I’m comfortable with right now. Don’t ask me why. It’s just a thing. So, please, just help me, keep it to yourself, and don’t judge me for this shit.”

“I’ve never judged you,” I snap at him, offended that he even has to say that.

“I know! I fucking know!” He pulls his winter hat off, running his hands through his hair. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just…stressed and scared and…I just need some help, and I’m not ready to ask anyone else yet.”

“Are you okay?” I turn to face him.

He nods while sighing. “Just…come on. And don’t tell Kade or Jed.”

“I won’t tell them, but if you’re in danger or need more help than I can offer, I’m going to tell your parents.”

“I’m not. I’m not in danger. Just help me, okay?”

“Okay.”

When we hop out, Dom’s dog, Mule, runs out to greet us. He’s a big English Mastiff who I love more than most people in the world. He puts me at ease while we walk into the cabin.

Chapter 3

Why couldn’t I have just let him beat me flat out? I shouldn’t have fought back. But I’m too much of a piece of shit to let him have the win on a silver platter, and I know my brother well enough to realize he would have disrespected me for it.

I roll my neck, trying to loosen up the kinks and work out the pain. Even though we hashed it out, it still feels like there’s something unspoken between us. We both know what it is, but we don’t know how to say it, face it, or move on from it.

“You have got to be kidding me, Kade Dare.” Maeve walks into the shop like a pissed off mama bear. She snatches my hands up, looking at them, inspecting them for damage. “Smarten up.”

I groan, knowing she’s right. Jed already warned me about my hands, and they both have a point. Art is life, and without it, I’d have no idea how to cope with anything. It’s the only way I can express the shit in my head because it sure as hell doesn’t want to come out of my mouth. I’m blunt, but that bluntness doesn’t mean I’m good at expressing myself. I’m more skilled at calling others out on their shit.

“What happened?” Maeve asks without even explaining to me why she’s here after hours on a Saturday evening.

“Just a little physical therapy.” I wave her off. “I’m good.”

“Jed?” she asks.

I nod, licking a cut on my lip. We had it coming, and honestly, I’m glad that bet gave us an excuse to blow up. Shame and guilt are still eating me alive, but at least the pressure is off a bit now.

I kissed Laken.

I fucking kissed Laken.

Holy hell, I knew I wanted it, but I had no idea how much it’d change me. Maeve was right when she said it might be better that I didn’t know what I was missing. I know now, and for fuck’s sake, I’ll miss it forever. To feel her body aroused and ignited against mine, to taste her moan on my lips, to know what it feels like to slide my tongue against hers and bite her bottom lip. Getting hard just thinking about it.

“You better have fought back,” Maeve says. “Stop acting like you earned the beating.”

She knows me so well. “I kissed his girl.”

“He told you to.”

“I shouldn’t have done it.”

“Why not?”

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