Page 157 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

“Long enough to wonder when you’d notice.”

“Go suck a dick.”

“Only if it’s yours.”

I frown and tug my arms tighter around myself.

“Why do you have to say shit like that?”

“Like what? It’s not an empty offer. You sucked mine. I’m game for going down on you.”

With a frustrated sigh, I whip around and smack him on the knee. “It’s not transactional, asshole.”

His brows come together as his lips purse, and the cogs turning in his brain are practically corporeal.

“Don’t hurt yourself, Holden.”

There’s a twitch in his eye as his lips press into a firm line.

“I don’t get it.”

“I know you don’t.” I sigh and drop my head into my hands. “Sex is fun for you. An adventure. Something to explore. It’s...”

“You’ve seemed perfectly fine exploring with me so far.”

I groan so hard my throat burns. “That’s because it’s with you, not because I’ll get off with just anyone!”

“Are you calling me a whore?”

“I’m saying I needed you earlier, and I’m sorry that I asked you to fool around with me again. It’s not fair to you, and it isn’t fair to me.”

Dash doesn’t say anything after that, and I’m too afraid to look up and see his expression. My head and heart have been at war with each other for weeks, and the added stress of what’s going on with Link isn’t making matters any easier.

“Let me ask you something.” When he finally breaks the silence, it’s with his lips pressed to my ear and his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. I hadn’t even heard him move. “Did you always understand your feelings for me?”

My head tells me I should move out of his hold, but my heart and body have me lean into him.

“It took some time before I wasn’t constantly beating myself up over it.”

He taps his chin on my shoulder. “Give me some time, then.”

“Time?” I’m afraid to move. Afraid the slightest twitch will make him leave, or worse that I’ll cross the line and ask for what I want again.

“I like this. With you.”

I snort, clenching my fists in my lap. “Of course you do.”

“No. I mean, yes. The sex is good. You’re incredible, Teddy, and I want more of it. Hell yeah. But that’s not where I’m going with this.”

He takes a deep breath, and the exhale fanning my neck and cheek makes me shiver.

“Talking to you. Pestering you. Touching you like...” He sets a hand on my thigh and strokes down with slow, gentle fingers. Squeezes my knee. Trails his touch back up. “You like it, too.”

“Dash.”

“We’ll all be off to college—or wherever the hell we end up going—in a few months. I’ve never gone on more than one or two dates with a girl, let alone really cared about them beyond being fun to hang out and screw around with.”

“Instilling a lot of confidence in this speech.”

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