Page 32 of Truth or Dare

My hand moved of its own accord, my finger tracing the curve of his bottom lip. “Yeah,” I whispered, “a lot.”

Before I could process, Hudson’s tongue flicked out, grazing the tip of my finger. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he sucked it into his mouth. A wave of heat rushed through me, straight to my core. My breath hitched as I closed my eyes, heart pounding against my ribs.

The moment shattered when his mouth left my finger and claimed my lips instead. His hand cradled my head as his tongue brushed mine, the kiss slow, deliberate, full of unspoken history. It was like drowning, but I didn’t care—I let him pull me under.

My hands fisted the fabric of his t-shirt, holding him close, needing him closer. Every buried feeling I’d shoved deep inside since we were kids crashed to the surface. This wasn’t a crush—it was raw, real, and undeniable.

But then, Evan’s face flashed through my mind. I broke the kiss, panting, trying to steady myself.

“I’m sorry,” Hudson muttered, his forehead resting against mine. Regret flickered in his eyes.

“Don’t be,” I breathed, meeting his gaze. “I’ve wanted you to kiss me since the moment I saw you again.”

His lips curved slightly, but his eyes stayed serious. “You know it’s my turn,” he said softly.

I nodded, my pulse racing. “Truth,” I whispered.

“Would you go out with me… when you’ve sorted things out? When you have your head together?”

I hesitated, then nodded again. “Yeah. But I need time. I still don’t know where things stand with Evan.”

His gaze softened, but a flicker of determination lingered. “I can’t resist.”

He kissed me again, more tenderly this time, and I melted into him. His scent, the rough stubble grazing my skin, the way his muscles tensed beneath my hands—it was all too much and not enough. And in that moment, I let myself get lost in him, forgetting everything else. Just for now.

CHAPTER 10

Hudson

Icouldn’t stop kissing Presley the other night. By the time we finally broke apart, our lips were swollen, bruised from the intensity, but it still wasn’t enough. And now, here she was, sitting in the cafeteria on Monday morning, perched on the windowsill with Evan beside her. They were laughing over donuts and sipping coffee like nothing had happened. Like I didn’t exist.

I glanced in her direction, hoping for a flicker of acknowledgment. Nothing. She didn’t even look my way. The hollow ache in my chest deepened, but I quickly masked it, grabbing the lid to my coffee cup. Just then, Reagan strolled by. Without thinking, I reached out, grabbing her sleeve and pulling her close, the warmth of her body pressed against mine.

She blinked up at me, surprised. “Oh, I thought you were mad at me,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

I shrugged, forcing a casual tone. “Nah. I’m good. I get it.”

Her eyebrow arched as a sly smile played on her lips. “Do you want to be a placeholder?” she teased.

I nodded, smirking. “Could be fun. Nothing serious, though. Right?”

Her grin widened, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “When do we start?”

“Now.” I set my coffee aside, stepping closer and cupping her face in my hands. With deliberate slowness, I leaned in and kissed her, soft but purposeful, tasting the cherry gloss she wore. It was all part of the plan, just a show to stir things up a bit.

Reagan pulled back slightly, her lips brushing mine as she whispered, “That was nice.”

“Yeah, it was,” I agreed, licking the lingering taste of cherry from my lips. “No sex, but we can kiss.”

She laughed softly. “Deal. See you at lunch?”

She reached for my hand, and I gave her a quick glance over my shoulder. Presley was watching us now, scowling from across the room. Good. Mission accomplished.

I walked Reagan to her English class, planting a playful peck on her cheek before heading to my own. As I slipped into my seat in the darkened room, the final bell rang. Mr. Bailey was already dimming the lights for *North by Northwest*. I tried to focus on the screen, but Presley was sitting behind me, her presence impossible to ignore.

It didn’t take long. As the credits rolled, she yanked hard on my collar, pulling me back towards her. Her voice was a harsh whisper. “What the hell was that?”

I didn’t answer, just propped my chin on my hand like she wasn’t even there. She kicked my chair, her frustration growing. I still said nothing. Mr. Bailey settled into his seat in the back, his newspaper rustling as he pretended not to notice.

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