Page 75 of Secrets & Lies

“Language,” Ivan, Nik, and I bellowed at the same time.

“Oh, child. Alek really doesn’t—”

“Jenna.” Nik’s voice rang out with a clear warning. She realized too late that she misspoke.

“For the second time tonight, I’m well aware of what Alek likes and doesn’t like. The difference between you and me is that if I want to say the wordfuck, I will. And my name is Kinsley, not child,” she said. Her tone bordered on fury and made me wonder what might have happened between them.

Kinsley leaned over. Grabbing my drink, she asked loud enough to be heard by everyone, “What’s her obsession with you, anyway?”

I raised my eyebrow at her taking my drink. She grinned and then downed my whiskey.

“Needing some liquid courage, little love?” Ivan teased her.

I smiled at the nickname he’d given her. It seemed as equally fitting as kitten.

“Maybe a little.” She held her fingers spaced apart before adding, “Not all of us can tote around a fifteen-inch blade.”

Turning to face me, she added, “That was rude. Would you like me to get you another?”

“I’m good. You can steal my drink anytime.”

Especially if it gets you to lean against me.

Nik shuffled the cards and put them in a pile in the middle of the table. They all looked the same from the backside. Kinsley shook her head as she looked at them, then mumbled under her breath.

“What was that?” I asked.

“Alek, I don’t have enough clothes. I’m screwed. Can you take me home?” She leaned back into me, and I had to stifle a groan. Her heavy breasts rubbed against my arm, and I looked down at her.

“Marcus had a run to make. Maybe later,” I teased.

“You hate me, don’t you? Are you honestly going to let me strip in front of your brothers?”

I threw my head back and laughed.

“Wow, I knew you were a weirdo,” she huffed.

“No need to strip for them. All you have to do is complete your cards.”

“Easy for you to say, you’re wearing clothes. Can I call an Uber and catch the first flight home?” she tried again.

“Nope. I promise it’s all in good fun, kotyonok.” If this didn’t loosen her up and secure my shot with her, nothing would.

“What does that mean? You keep calling her that,” Sarah asked.

“Kitten. It means kitten, Sarah,” she said with a heavy sigh.

“Oh, I almost forgot. There are props as well.” Jenna got up, disappeared, and returned with a basket that she set down on the table.

Kinsley peeked inside and shook her head.

Sarah was chosen to go first and got a question card. “What gets you wet faster, phone sex or sexting? Hmm. Sexting. Phone sex seems archaic,” she answered with a grin.

Ivan went next. “I dare you to kiss the girl…” He paused, flicking his eyes at each of the girls. Kinsley was sitting to his left and Sarah to his right. “To your right,” he finished, before leaning over and kissing Sarah deeply.

Kinsley let out a sigh of relief, and I had to laugh.

Jenna went next and got a dare card as well. She had to seductively eat a banana from the basket. While everyone’s eyes were on Jenna, Nik’s were glued to Kinsley’s face, and it forced my attention to her. I expected to see her flushed in embarrassment. Instead, her forehead was wrinkled as she watched.

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