Page 41 of Cedarwood Cabin

Dax loosens the grip on my arm and looks down at me. “Just…be careful,” he says.

“I will.”

He steps back slightly and moves a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Let's head back outside. The others will wonder where we are.”

We walk back out to the porch where the laughter and conversation still continue. As I sit by the fire, I notice Robin and Sav talking quietly on the other side of the circle. Robin glances my way briefly, but his attention quickly returns to Sav.

Tammy is still on Lyka's lap, whispering in his ear. Lyka's eyes meet mine for a moment, something unreadable passing through them before he looks away.

Dax sits down next to me, offering me a reassuring smile. I take a deep breath, feeling more at ease. Suddenly, raindrops begin to fall, pattering against the leaves.

“Shit. Let's get inside,” Dax calls out.

We all rush towards the cabin. Once inside, you can hear the intensity of the downpour. We gather around the living room, everyone feeling the effects of the beer and cannabis.

Dax puts some music on and the beat of Gimmie More by Britney Spears starts playing. Tammy and Sav dance on the rug in the center of the room. Their movements are sensual, drawing the attention of everyone around. They move closer together, their arms draping over each other's shoulders as they sway.

I glance over at Lyka who is watching them dance. Lina pulls me up, her grip firm yet playful. “Come on, Flora. Dance,” she whispers. I feel the effects of the beer and feel giddy. I let my body move to the music.

I notice Dax watching me dance and his eyes flicker with enjoyment. I feel more confident as he watches me. On the other hand, Lyka shifts in his seat, his expression hard to read. Tammy catches on and grabs my hand, pulling me towards her. She moves her hands up and down the sides of my body.

Lina and Sav continue their dance, their movements synchronized.

Tammy's face is suddenly close to mine. She leans in and kisses me, her tongue exploring my mouth. I've never kissed a girl before and the experience is surprising. When she finally pulls away, she looks at me with a smirk and a glint of mischief. I can feel all eyes on us.

“That’s fucking hot,” Jack says, sitting on the floor.

Lyka's expression shifts and he abruptly stands up. His movements are swift as he crosses the room, his gaze locked on Tammy. Without a word, he grabs her arm with a firm grip. Tammy looks surprised as Lyka pulls her down the hallway toward his room. Lina and Sav stop dancing, their playful smiles fading as they watch Lyka and Tammy disappear.

The music still plays, but it feels distant now. Breaking the stillness, Lina moves over to Dickie and casually sits on his lap as he wraps an arm around her waist.

“Let's put on a movie,” Dax suggests. The idea is agreed upon and we gather around the couch. Dax picks a light and funny movie, and as the opening credits roll, we settle into the cushions. The sound of the rain outside is a comforting backdrop. As we lose ourselves in the movie, we all hear muffled sex moans from Lyka's room.

DAX

I sit at the kitchen island, drinking a beer. The cabin is quieter now, but I can hear faint sounds of laughter and chatter outside where Sav, Jack, and Robin are smoking.

Lyka walks in nonchalantly, only wearing his boxers, and heads straight for the fridge. “Where is everyone?” he asks.

“Flora, Dickie, and Lina have gone to sleep. The others are outside smoking.”

Lyka nods, taking a huge sip from his glass. He places the empty glass back on the counter with a satisfied sigh. He turns around, biting his bottom lip. “You got any condoms? I’ve run out and I’m not going in Tammy bareback.”

His question catches me off guard, but I quickly stand up from the stool, reach into my pocket, and pull out a condom. I toss it over the counter. “There you go.”

“Thanks, man,” Lyka says, grabbing the condom with a hint of relief. He then tucks it into the waistband of his boxers. He turns to leave, then hesitates, looking back at me with a curious expression. “You good?”

“I caught Robin getting close to Flora,” I tell him.

Lyka's expression turns from casual to serious. He walks over and sits on a stool.

“What do you mean…close?”

“He was touching her waist,” I reply, waiting for his reaction.

His jaw tightens and his fist clenches. I can see the anger building up inside of him.

Robin suddenly appears at the kitchen doorway, his eyes darting between Lyka and me. “Everything alright?” he asks.

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