Page 19 of Five Summers

She eyes me for a moment. “You know you asked two questions, right?”

“Quit stalling, Princess. Answer the question.”

She gives me a skeptical look, like she's trying to figure out what I'm up to. “Deep down, I know it had something to do with that. My friends never came out and said it. But every time Jade would start, they would distance themselves. I think my friends ditched me because they didn’t want to be targeted like I was.”

Fuck. I feel bad for her. I can’t even wrap my head around having to deal with all that shit. Not to mention her lame-ass friends bailing on her because of it.

She picks up a cushion from the lounge and rests it gently on her lap, blocking my view of her tits. “Truth or Dare,” she says.

“Truth,” I add.

“What’s with all the girl hopping?”

“Because I don’t do relationships. Once I’m done with school, Ace and I are outta here.”

I nearly admitted that I only had an interest in chicks when it came to hooking up, but I didn’t want her to assume that was my sole purpose for being here. She doesn’t need to know my motives.

“Truth or Dare,” I ask.

“Truth.”

Her piercing blue eyes hold me captive as she gazes at me. I ask the question that's been nagging me ever since I first entered this house.

“Are you still a virgin?”

I wait, my breath held, preparing myself for her to kick me out of her house, but to my surprise, she doesn’t. Instead, she drops her head, her fingers nervously fidgeting on a loose thread on the cushion in her lap.

Her voice, so faint it’s almost above a whisper. “Yes.”

I don't know why, but it's good to know she hasn't been with anyone else.

‘It’s my turn,’ she says, shifting on the couch. “Truth or dare.”

“Truth,” I add.

“What’s something you’re afraid of?”

“Being trapped here and slowly morphing into my father?”

“Then you understand it. You get why I don’t wanna be stuck in the same boring job as my mom.”

“Yeah, I do,” I add, relaxing into the plush lounge, our eyes connecting. “It’s your turn.”

A mischievous smile dances on her lips as she eagerly challenges. “Dare.”

Thank fucking god. I’ve been waiting for that word since we started playing this fucking game. I chill for a bit, then position my arm on the back of the couch behind her.

It’s clear I’m making Poppy uneasy with my hand near her neck. I try to push it a little further by wrapping my fingers around the ends of her smooth, sun-kissed blonde locks. As I continue to play with the ends of her hair, I marvel at how soft and silky it feels. Glancing up, I notice her eyes fixed on my every move. Her face says it all - she's totally shocked, her mouth hanging open and eyes wide.

“You should be careful with dares, Princess. You might not like what I dare you to do.” I run my tongue over my bottom lip. Her eyes flicker down to my mouth. I give her a lopsided smirk, relishing in the satisfaction of knowing that move never fails to work its magic. “I dare you to suck my dick!”

She looks up at me right away. I brace myself for her sharp reply, recalling how she shot me down when I propositioned her at the 7-Eleven the other night.

I watch her swallow, a subtle movement that betrays her unease. Each passing second feels like an eternity, the tension growing as she hesitates to speak. She's in deep thought, just staring at me.

When I can no longer bear the deafening silence, I break it with my voice.

“You know the rules, Princess. A dare is a dare.”

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