by Rhian Cahill
“Come on, you have to come play. You too, Dayne and Grant. It’ll be just like high school all over again.”
Before either he or Grant managed to utter a word, Frankie had Mikaila halfway to the house. The pleading look Miki shot them over her shoulder brought them to their feet and they jogged across the lawn to catch up with the two women.
“Hello to you too, Frankie,” Grant said.
“Blah, blah. Let’s go have some fun.”
“I see age has matured you some, Frankie,” Grant said.
“Bite me,” Frankie threw over her shoulder.
Laughter burst from Dayne’s chest. He could tell Frankie was just as much fun as ever, and if the things she got up to in their youth were anything to go by the next few hours would be the most fun he’d had in years.
Trailing in Frankie’s wake as she powered her way through the house, Grant wondered if he’d slipped into a time warp and travelled back twelve years. A feeling of déjà vu rolled over him, but it had more to do with past behaviour than the actual sensation of being here before. For years Frankie had led them around, often dragging them into one mess after another. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Then again, a lot of those messes were hands down the best times of his teenage life.
Frankie stopped in front of a lively card game. Grant watched as a guy and a girl passed a playing card via their lips. At the last second, the guy let the card drop and planted his mouth on the girl’s. Cries of “scull, scull” went up from the rest of the group, but the pair were oblivious to everyone except each other and the kiss they were currently engaged in. He never thought he was a voyeur, but his cock seemed to be enjoying the show. Or maybe it was the image currently running through his mind of him and Miki caught in the erotic embrace that had his groin filling with blood. Discretely moving so he was hidden behind Miki’s back, he reached down and adjusted the unruly organ trying to work its way free of his shorts.
He glanced over at Frankie and watched as her gaze scanned the group playing Suck and Blow. If he wasn’t mistaken, disappointment flashed in her eyes before she turned and pulled Miki away. They wove their way farther into the house. The crowd had grown since they’d ducked outside, and the noise level had gone up a notch too, but Frankie managed to push her way through. Passing one room where an interesting game of Twister played out, they moved on to the next. Frankie continuously looked around, searching for what, Grant couldn’t say. She pulled them up at a game of Spin the Bottle but changed her mind and reversed direction before any of them could protest her choice.
She finally settled on a game of Truth or Dare. With typical Frankie finesse, she pushed the three of them onto a couch, Miki squished between him and Dayne. Two others joined the game, a guy Grant recognised but couldn’t remember a name for and a woman who was already three sheets to the wind if the smell of alcohol emanating from her was any indication. Before he blinked, Frankie placed shot glasses in front of each of them and plonked a bottle of tequila on the low table in the middle of their small group. He glanced around the room to see similar groups engaged in the game already.
“I’ll ask first,” the other guy said as he turned to the blonde woman beside him. “Truth or Dare?”
“Dare.” Her eyes were glazed and she swayed in her seat.
“I dare you to suck my cock.”
“Eeww…” The blonde gagged and put a hand over her mouth.
“Jesus, Mike.” Frankie poured tequila into the woman’s glass before the blonde even tapped it.
With a skill that surprised him, the woman leaned forward, wrapped her lips around the top of the small cup and flipped her head back. In one swallow, she downed the alcohol and dropped the glass back on the table. She closed her eyes and shuddered before turning to Frankie. “Truth or da—” She hiccupped.
Frankie rolled her eyes. “Truth.”
The blonde squinted in Frankie’s direction, cocked her head to the side. “Are those four boobs real?”
Laughter burst from the group as one. Obviously she was seeing double.
“Yep.” Frankie cupped a breast in each hand. “These babies are all mine.”
The blonde’s eyes spun around before rolling back in her head. She toppled off the seat to the floor and stayed there. Mike leaned down to fondle her chest and Frankie slapped his hands away.
“Just checking for a pulse,” he said as he snatched his arms back out of Frankie’s reach.
“Sure you were.” She turned to face Grant. “Truth or dare?”
He thought about it for all of a second before going the safest route. “Truth.”
“What’s you most secret sexual fantasy?”
Jeez, she wasn’t pulling any punches. He kept his gaze on Frankie. If he looked at Miki and Dayne like he wanted to there wouldn’t be any point in taking the shot or opening his mouth and spilling the beans. He tapped the glass.
Frankie grinned and poured the tequila. “Chicken.”
Grant ignored the taunt and took the shot. He turned to Miki. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
Keeping with the sex angle, he asked the question every guy wants to know. “Have you ever made out with a girl?”
Miki’s gaze darted to Frankie but her head didn’t move so no one knew she’d revealed the answer except him and her best friend. His mind exploded with images best not thought of and he gulped back the groan that rumbled in his throat. If anyone had seen her giveaway look they’d think she was just taking the shot instead of answering when she reached out and tapped the glass. Not about to do anything that would reveal what he’d discovered, he eased back in his seat and waited for Miki to down her penalty for not answering.
He chuckled when she picked up the glass with one hand and blocked her nose with the other. A grimace crossed her face as she brought the liquor to her lips. Eyes scrunched closed, Miki swallowed the tequila in a rush. She wriggled in the seat next to him and placed the glass back down.
“God, that stuff is foul.” A shudder rippled through her as she leaned back against the couch. “Okay, Dayne, truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Mmm,” Miki’s mouth kicked up in a sexy little smirk before she asked her question. “Have you ever made out with a girl?”
For a second Dayne just stared at her before laughter erupted. Frankie snorted before joining in at the same time Grant did.
“Jeez, come on, answer the damn question and get on with the game,” Mike grumbled.
“Yes, Miki, I’ve made out with a girl a time or two.” Dayne tweaked Miki’s nose before turning to Mike. “Truth or Dare?”
“Dare.”
Mike almost bounced in his seat waiting for Dayne’s dare. Grant thought the guy was in his late twenties, possibly early thirties, but you wouldn’t guess it from the way he acted.
“Okay, how about you try sucking your own dick?” Dayne asked.
“Can’t. Tried.” Mike turned to Frankie. “Your turn. Truth or Dare?”
“Christ, Mike, you’re disgusting,” Frankie said.
“Truth or Dare?”
Grant could only imagine what the dickhead would come up with once Frankie picked her poison. He might have to take the shot on his next couple of rounds just to make the game a little more interesting because it certainly wasn’t proving much fun sober, but with a haze of alcohol under his belt it wouldn’t matter.
Grant tossed back his latest shot. The burn of tequila seared his throat until it hit the bottom of his stomach and exploded in a ball of fire. He shook his head to try and clear the haze fogging his mind. Damn. He was drunk. Frankie Winchester had done it again. After a rocky start she’d taken control and turned the game around and he’d actually enjoyed playing. The woman knew how to have fun. The problem was you always paid for it later. Dayne wasn’t fairing much better, but Grant’s biggest worry was the woman sandwiched between them. She was plastered.
“Miki, your turn. Truth or Dare?” How Frankie managed to speak without
slurring her words was beyond him. He thought she’d downed as much as he had, then again maybe not. He could only remember her refusing one dare.
“Twooff.”
Oh yeah, Mikaila was plastered.
“Hey, how come you never pick dare?” Mr. Obnoxious across from them—Grant couldn’t remember his name—shouted.
Mikaila stiffened beside him, every muscle taut as she sank back against the couch. He felt the shudder travel through her and heard her sharp intake of breath.
Frankie’s eyes widened and, God love her, she slapped the guy on the back of the head before Grant could get up and deck him. He had no idea what the hell had just happened, but when he turned to look at Miki the frightened, freaked-out woman staring back raised every protective instinct he had. Leaning over, he shielded her from the rest of the room.
“Are you okay, Miki?”
With her blue eyes wide, she looked like a deer caught in headlights. If it were possible her normally pale skin had lost even more colour and every freckle stood out in stark relief. Grant wanted to play join the dots with his lips. Her gasp pulled him from his lustful thoughts.
“Let’s get out of here.” Dayne rose from the couch. “I think Miki needs some fresh air.”
“Well, good riddance, she plays shit anyway.”
Grant turned to growl at the ignorant prick but Frankie came to the rescue again.
“Piss off, Mike. It’s not like you’re the life of the party anyway with your crappy questions and dares.”
Dayne pulled Mikaila to her feet and Grant joined them. Miki swayed and he steadied her with a hand at her waist.
“Come on, let’s get out of here.” Dayne held her hand and guided her around the coffee table and towards the back of the house with Grant close behind.
“Where do you two think you’re taking her?” Frankie’s voice stopped them.
“Out back for fresh air,” Dayne offered.
“I think she needs to go home. If you guys will help me get her out front I’ll call a cab and take her home.”
“That’s okay, we’ll make sure she gets home safe. That way you can keep the party going.” Grant wanted to take care of Miki himself, and if she needed to go home then he’d be the one to take her.
Frankie eyed him before turning her gaze on Dayne. “Why should I trust either of you to look out for her?”
Grant stared at their old friend. Did she really think they wouldn’t look after Mikaila? Then again, a lot could happen in ten years.
“We’ll take care of her. You have my word.”
“And mine,” Dayne added. “In fact, we won’t take her home to her house. We’ll take her to ours.”
One of Frankie’s eyebrows arched high on her forehead. “Your place?”
“Yeah, we live next door, Frankie. You can both crash at our place for the night then drive home in the morning.” Grant held his breath and waited for Frankie’s response.
“Next door?”
Grant pointed to his right. “The house on that side is ours.”
Frankie whistled. “You two have done all right for yourselves then. Waterfront property in Avalon. That’s gotta be worth a packet. I guess I could always sue you if you failed to look out for Miki. Or kick both your arses so hard you couldn’t sit down for a week. Or break both your legs.” She cocked one straight, dark eyebrow. “Or all three.”
“That won’t be necessary. My life wouldn’t be worth living if I let anything happen to Mikaila.” Grant met Frankie’s gaze, the truth of his words straightening his spine. He would never forgive himself if something happened to Miki.
She gave them both one final look before turning on her heel and speaking over her shoulder. “Fine, take her to your place, but I’ll be over later to check on you.”
With that, Frankie Winchester disappeared into the crowd of drunken party goers.
“Wow.”
“Yeah, Frankie hasn’t changed much at all.” Grant ginned and turned back to Dayne who all but held Miki upright. “Let’s get Miki home so she can lie down before she falls down.”
“I think she might need more than a lie down after the number of shots she tossed back.”
“I’ll put on some coffee, but it might be best if she just drank water and slept.” Grant followed close behind his friend, ready to catch Mikaila if she should slip from Dayne’s grasp.
Between the two of them they managed to get Miki across the back yard and into theirs. Grant slid open their patio door and punched in the alarm code. They may be willing to leave the place unlocked but not without some protection. He helped Dayne get her inside.
“Where?”
“Spare room?”
Grant led the way. The house wasn’t large, but it suited them. They’d turned the fourth bedroom into a home office and furnished the third with a bed and dresser. Not that it had ever been used in the three years they’d lived here. Actually, Mikaila was the first woman either of them had brought home.
Chapter Two
Mikaila opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling. Where was her canopy? The light from the bedside lamp gave off a muted glow that didn’t hurt her eyes, but it did nothing to clear the fog in her head. Images and snippets of conversation swirled around but nothing made sense. The last thing she clearly remembered was heading to a party with her best friend. Damn Frankie and her need to drag Miki out of her protective shell. And where was her so-called friend anyway? Come to think of it, where the hell was she?
With care, Miki lifted her head and peered around the room. Definitely not hers, but the plain decor gave nothing away as to who the room might belong to. The simple wood dresser held no photos or knick knacks to offer up a clue, and the only thing on the walls other than white paint was a scenic picture of a beach. When her head didn’t protest too much, Mikaila pulled herself up and rested on her elbows. Her head was all floaty, her body felt as if it weighed a ton and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth it was so dry.
Oh shit.
She was drunk. Or at least she had been. Now she was hungover. Had she crawled into one of the upstairs bedrooms at the party? Crap. She didn’t even know her hosts, Frankie did. Sighing, Miki flopped back on the bed. She regretted the move the second her head hit the soft pillow and her brain reverberated around her skull like a ping-pong ball. Miki brought her hands up to cradle her head and closed her eyes. Breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, she concentrated on stopping the pounding in her head. When it reached a manageable ache she opened her eyes once more.
The open blinds and sheer curtains revealed a dark sky beyond so it was still night. Maybe she could sneak out of here—wherever here was—and no one would know she’d taken a little siesta at all. Plan set, she scootered to the edge of the bed and sat up, her head spun a little but not enough to stop her. Her flip-flops sat on the floor beside the bed but before Miki could slip her feet into them and stand a creaking noise drew her gaze to the other side of the room and the slowly opening door. Damn. Escape without detection was not on the cards tonight.
Miki braced herself for a confrontation, but the slam to the gut she got wasn’t what she’d expected. Larger than life, wearing only boxers, stood Dayne and Grant. Memory flooded back. The party, seeing the guys again and the outrageous game of Truth or Dare Frankie had roped them all into. Jeez, and the numerous shots of tequila Mikaila had thrown back when she wouldn’t answer any of the questions. No wonder she was feeling a tad out of it. Not that she was drunk now, a little tipsy maybe but not drunk. Well, not on alcohol anyway.
Her gaze travelled over every inch of the two fine male specimens standing in the doorway. Devouring all that naked flesh in front of her had certain parts of her anatomy drunk all right, but not on booze. Oh no, lust was rapidly taking over. And Miki’s common sense and brain had been sufficiently drowned in intoxicating liquor for her to open her mouth and comment before she could think better of it.
“God, you’re both gorgeous.”
She spoke in a low, breathy voice that hung on the air like molten sex. No, wait. That was the scent of her arousal. Moisture coated the tender folds between her legs and she squeezed her thighs together to relieve the pulsing ache their presence had produced. The thin layer of panties and sundress were no shield against the aroma they wouldn’t fail to detect if they came any closer. Neither man spoke, but they stared at her with an intensity that had her stomach flipping and her heart racing. That look coming from one man would be enough to melt any woman’s underwear, but double it? Miki shuddered.
Silence charged with electricity surrounded them, held them motionless for several heartbeats. Miki’s body throbbed with need. Her libido had lain dormant for so long that the sudden return to sensation took her breath. Every part of her wanted with a raw-edged desire foreign to any she’d ever known. Even in the heady first days of her relationship with David, Mikaila hadn’t felt like this.
Dayne broke the spell. He shook his head and cleared his throat. His whole body shook as he snapped out of his trance-like state. Miki watched each muscle twitch as the wave rolled over him. The urge to walk over and follow the same path with her tongue was almost overwhelming and she clenched her fists in the bed cover. Swallowing hard, she dragged her gaze away and stared at the floor in front of her.
“Would you like some water? Coffee?” Dayne asked.
The mention of fluid had Miki’s bladder twinging and she crossed her legs, the heated skin sticky with the slight sheen of sweat coating her from head to toe. She didn’t want to think about the slick cream seeping through her panties.
“Um, can I use the bathroom?”
“Oh, of course.” Grant stepped back out of the doorway. “It’s straight across the hall.”
Mikaila stood, the need to relieve herself more pressing now she was upright. Careful not to touch either of them as she passed, she more or less ran to the bathroom and slammed the door behind her as she entered. It wasn’t until she’d finished her business that she took notice of her surroundings. The room was opulent without being ostentatious, and Miki again wondered where she was. The memory of Grant and Dayne in their underwear and Grant directing her to the bathroom made her think she might be at his house, but she couldn’t recall leaving the party.
