Page 39 of Snowy Secrets

"Truth or dare, Bella?" River asks, his voice a husky whisper.

"Dare," I reply without hesitation, my heart pounding with anticipation.

He leans forward, his eyes boring into mine. "I dare you to tell us your deepest fantasy."

Heat floods my cheeks, my pulse quickening. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the confession. "My deepest fantasy," I begin, my voice whispery with anticipation, "is to be worshiped by three incredibly handsome men."

The room falls silent, the only sound the crackling of the fire. I glance at each of them, their eyes wide with surprise and a hint of…hunger?

"Nice," Wyatt replies, a dry smile spreading across his face. "Looks like someone's got a taste for adventure."

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, my body buzzing excitedly.

When it's my turn again, Marcus takes the lead, his voice hoarse as his eyes linger on my lips. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," I reply breathlessly.

He takes a sip of his whiskey. "I dare you to kiss me."

The room explodes with heat. My breath hitches in my throat, my body tingling as he leans in, his scent a heady mix of sandalwood and pine. His lips brush against mine, softly. It ends all too soon.

When it's my turn again, Wyatt grins at me. "I dare you to kiss Marcus again…but this time, make it count."

Marcus' gaze locks with mine, a silent question hanging in the air. Heat prickles my skin as I glance at River, a flicker of uncertainty momentarily clouding my excitement. But River's expression is surprisingly neutral, his eyes holding a silent permission, a tacit understanding between us.

Emboldened, I turn back to Marcus, my heart thrumming with anticipation. The warmth of the fire, the heady scent of whiskey, and the raw masculinity radiating from him create a potent cocktail of desire. Marcus leans in, his eyes darkening as they meet mine. His hand gently cups my cheek, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

The world narrows down to the space between us. The soft pressure of his lips on mine sends a jolt of electricity through me, igniting a fire that has been smoldering beneath the surface.

His lips move against mine with a gentle insistence, exploring the contours of my mouth, tasting the whiskey that lingers on my tongue. I melt into him, my arms winding around his neck, pulling him closer. His hand slides from my cheek to my waist, his fingers tracing the curve of my hip.

The kiss deepens, our bodies pressing closer, the heat between us building with every passing second. His tongue explores my mouth, tangling with mine in a dance of pure passion. A moan escapes my lips.

Everything else fades away, replaced by the intoxicating sensation of Marcus's touch, the taste of his kiss, the scent of his cologne. When I can't take it anymore, I break the kiss, gasping for air, my heart pounding in my chest. Marcus rests his forehead against mine, his breath mingling with my own. His eyes, dark and intense, search mine for a reaction.

"Wow," I whisper, my voice hoarse with emotion.

A low chuckle rumbles in his chest. "Yeah, wow."

I pull away, a shy smile playing on my lips. "I'm not usually this…impulsive."

"Don't apologize," he murmurs, his fingers gently tracing the line of my jaw. "It was perfect."

My emotions are swirling, a maelstrom of confusion and excitement. I need a moment to gather myself, to process the intensity of what just happened. I reach for my glass, downing the remaining whiskey in one gulp. The burn of the alcohol is a welcome distraction, a way to ground myself in the present moment.

But as I meet Marcus's eyes once again, I know that there's no going back. The kiss has changed something between us—all of us.

The game continues, the questions and dares becoming bolder, the stakes higher. I get to ask River what I've been wanting to find out. Then again, new questions are forming in the back of my mind, but those demand a private audience with him. I'll get to them later.

"River," I begin, my voice hesitant, "when you say you want to make up for all the lost time, do you really mean it?"

His gaze locks onto mine, his eyes a deep ocean of regret and longing. "Bella," he starts, his voice thick with emotion, "there isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret the choices I made. I was young, scared, and foolish. But I swear to you on everythingthat's holy that I want to make it right. I want to spend the rest of my days making you happy."

His words pierce through the layers of anger and resentment that I've held onto for so long. I can feel the walls I've built around my heart crumbling.

"I believe you," I whisper softly.

A wave of relief washes over his face. The mood lightens as we continue the game, the laughter returning, the tension easing. Wyatt, ever the showman, accepts my dare to remove his shirt. When River gets to dare me, he wastes no time in getting to the meat of the game. "Bella," he says in a husky murmur that sends shivers down my spine, "I dare you to lose the dress."

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