For now, I just press a kiss to her temple and let myself imagine a future where she carries more than just my name.
Which she will, one day.
26
ARIA
“Okay,” I say, settling cross-legged on the rug in front of the fire. “No backing out now. Truth or dare. Cabin edition.” My heart slams in my chest at the thought of playing this game with my three men, knowing I’m the center of their attention…
Damn.
Morgan grins as he lowers himself onto a cushion, his knee deliberately brushing against mine. “You sure you can handle this, sweetheart?” His voice drops on that last word, and I feel it like a physical touch.
“Please,” I say, smirking. “You think I can’t out-dare you?” I lean forward just enough that my hair falls over my shoulder, catching how Morgan’s eyes track the movement.
Damien shakes his head, but there’s unmistakable heat in his eyes as he leans back against the couch, arms crossed over his chest in a way that pulls his shirt tight across his shoulders. “This is going to get out of hand fast.”
“It won’t!” I protest, holding his intense gaze until he’s the one who looks away, smirking.
Rhett takes a long sip of his beer, throat working, before he mutters, “Already regretting this.”
But he stays. Sitting between Morgan and Damien, close enough that our knees form a tight circle. When he shifts, his thigh presses against mine for a moment, and neither of us moves away.
Morgan spins an empty mug on the floor like a bottle. “Aria, you start. Pick your victim.”
I glance around the circle, heart fluttering. The firelight crackles, painting them all in shadow, highlighting cheekbones and jawlines, making eyes look darker, deeper. There’s something almost ethereal about this—all of them watching me, waiting. Not just for the game, but for what I’ll choose to reveal.
My eyes land on Damien.
“Truth or dare, Damien?” My voice comes out huskier than I intended.
He sighs like he’s already over it, but I catch how his fingers tighten on his bicep. “Truth.”
I lean forward, feeling the air between us compress. “Could you ever share someone you were attracted to?”
The question lands like a pin drop in a quiet room.
Morgan goes still, his playfulness vanishing. Rhett shifts beside me, the heat of his body suddenly more noticeable.
“Attracted to? Or in love with?”
I suck in a breath and gaze at him, my eyes wide.
Is he…
“In love with,” I clarify softly, my smile so wide I can’t contain it.
Damien holds my gaze. “Yes.”
His answer is immediate, and it hits me harder than I expect.
He’s talking aboutme.
He doesn’t look at anyone but me when he says it.
Morgan whistles low. “Didn't see that coming.” But there’s tension in his voice, something expectant.
“Don't read into it,” Damien says, uncrossing his arms and leaning forward, closing the circle tighter. “It’s not about control. It’s about trust.”