“I’m choosing dare.” I know he said no touching and I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but there’s no way I’m answering that question, even if secretly, deep down I’d really, really like to hear his answer.

“No, you’re not. What could possibly be so bad?” He reaches for the card.

I pull it away.

Unfortunately, I trip and I nearly slip and crack my head against the side of the spa, but Ronan catches me. Low and behold, I end up in his lap.

For a long moment, we just look at each other.

Scowling, Ronan snatches the card from my hand. He lifts a brow as he reads the truth side. Then he flips the card. “Sit in my lap, huh? Looks like we’ve done this one. Shall we move on?”

I squirm because now I’m not sure if I’m allowed to move. And I really, really don’t want to.

“Fuck me,” Ronan curses. His hand descends onto my waist and I think he’s about to push me off. Instead his fingers curl and he draws me a tiny bit closer. He lets out a shaky breath. “This is such a fucking bad idea.”

I’m still trying to interpret when the producer shoves a card at Ronan. “This is good. Very good. TV gold! Keep going.” She quickly backs out of the scene, leaving me wondering exactly what this looks like from behind the camera.

TWELVE

Justine

“What are the—This is a ridiculous question.” Ronan scowls.

“What is it?”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re doing the dare.”

“Why? What did it say?”

“If you get a pass, then so do I.” Ronan turns the card around to look at the action and I get a glimpse of the question:what do you look for in a partner?I can’t understand why he won’t answer that one. Then I realize that must be because he doesn’t want a partner at all. He just doesn’t want to ruin the program.

I’m still thinking about that when two large warm hands close over my shoulders and Ronan starts rubbing my neck. I let out a moan before I even realize I’ve done it. His thick thumbs dig into all the places on my neck and shoulders where I’m sore from last night.

“Stop that,” he hisses under his breath.

“Stop what?” I’m not doing anything. I’m not the one who decided to get handsy.

“Moaning. I can’t think when you do that.”

I press my lips together, blushing furiously. “Then why are you—oh!” He finds another spot and my eyelids flutter closed. It's so good.

Ronan sucks in a sharp breath behind me. His hands disappear from my shoulders and I almost cry out. I’m not ready for that to end.

“Just pick truth next time,” he hisses and shoves another card at me.

I fumble with it, staring down at the question. Finally, another easy one. “What’s your ideal holiday?”

Ronan barks out a laugh. “I don’t take holidays. This is the closest thing I’ve had to a holiday in five years.”

I blink at him. “Really? But you could afford to do anything. Go anywhere.”

He shrugs. “Don’t have time.”

I chew on my lip while I think about this. I’m starting to get the impression Ronan is wound pretty tight. A holiday is probably exactly what he needs. Not that I’m going to say that to him of course.

“What about you?” he asks.

“Hmm? Oh! I love the idea of going overseas and traveling Europe. I think it would be romantic to visit the Eiffel Tower and eat gelato in front of the Colosseum.”