Chapter 2:
Rising Heat & The Bold Dare
The lounge felt different once the others left. The golden light had faded into soft dusk, and the only sounds were the distant hum of a vacuum cleaner somewhere down the hall and the quickened beat of my own heart. I was still perched on Leo’s lap, my wrists loosely bound by the string from his hoodie. His hands rested on my hips, warm and steady, thumbs drawing lazy circles that made my skin tingle beneath my thin top.
He looked up at me, eyes darker than usual. “You okay?” he asked, voice low.
I nodded, biting my lip. The game had already pushed us past friendly territory, but I wanted more. Needed more. The thrill of being alone with him after all those teasing dares made me feel electric.
Leo reached behind me and gently untied my wrists, m
