Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Asher, Daisy, Brynn, and Weston took up the sofa across from us, a little mahogany coffee table situated between us. Ethan and Alex sat just to the right of us, Alex on Ethan’s lap where he sat in the other armchair.
“Daisy wants us to play Never Have I Ever,” Brynn explained.
I cocked a brow at her.
“What?” Daisy asked innocently. “It's for book research.”
I barely held back a laugh. I eyed Asher, who told us just enough about her book research to make her request for this game viable.
“I'm in,” Aspen said, raising her hand in the most adorable way.
I leaned back against the love seat, effortlessly smiling down at her eagerness to play a game with my friends. She’d folded herself into this group without a hint of hesitance. It didn't matter that this was a contract between us, she was unequivocally and unapologetically herself.
The only thing fake about her was our relationship. That fact sat heavy on my chest for a few moments, but I shifted in my seat, distracting myself from the feeling by taking a moment to admire how freaking beautiful she looked sitting next to me.
She still donned the Calgary jersey I'd gifted her that morning, with black leggings accentuating her long legs that she’d tucked beneath her, a pair of rainbow socks covering her feet. Her colorful hair looked silky soft and almost iridescent thanks to the crackling fire roaring behind us.
“Crossland?” Ethan said my name like he'd said it a few times before, and I blinked out of my appreciation of Aspen, slowly drawing my gaze to my friend.
“Hmm?” I asked, and my friends chuckled.
“Are you in?” Ethan asked.
I quickly realized they were asking me about the game, and I nodded. “I'm so in.”
“Yay!” Daisy clapped and raised her glass. “I'll start us off and whoever wants to go next can, and so on and so forth. Got it?” Everyone nodded, and she smiled. “Never have I ever used restraints in bed.”
Every single person in the room took a sip of their drink, openly admitting that they had, in fact, used restraints…Except for Serenity.
I was shocked to see Aspen drinking too. I cocked a brow at her, and she smiled with a shrug.
“Why do you look so shocked?” she asked, her voice lowered between just the two of us while the others laughed and joked among themselves.
“I didn't know you were into that kind of thing,” I admitted.
“You never asked,” she said so simply I suddenly felt foolish for not asking.
But in reality, I had no business asking.
We weren't actually dating, regardless of how real that kiss felt last week. Jesus, every time I thought about it, I had to lock down my muscles to not take that thought any further. She'd been so damn responsive, giving me every bit that I gave her, and it made me think all sorts of little things about just how responsive she'd be in other areas.
Nope. Can't go there.
“Never have I ever kissed a stranger,” Alex said, continuing with the game.
Everyone but Aspen, Serenity, and Brynn took a drink.
Interesting. Aspen had never kissed a stranger. I made a mental note to thank Daisy later for bringing up the game. I was suddenly learning more intimate details about Aspen than I'd ever thought to ask before, and I thirsted for every new answer.
“Never have I ever role-played,” Brynn said.
Everyone but Serenity drink.
And while I was gobbling up the details about Aspen like an eager boyfriend, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Serenity, who had yet to take a drink on any question. Just how sheltered had Doyle kept her all these years? It wasn’t a bad thing to not have these experiences, but that was only if that was her choice. With the way Doyle kept her cloistered, I highly doubted it was up to her.
“Never have I ever said I love you to a partner,” Daisy said when no one else offered a question.
Everyone but Aspen, myself, Serenity, and Gareth drank. And yeah, I guess that one was pretty obvious since the rest of the people in the room were all either technically engaged or married.
“Never have I ever sexted,” I said raising my drink to my lips. Everyone but Aspen, Serenity, and Gareth drank.
Aspen eyed my confused look, then shook her head. “If you have something to ask me Crossland, just ask me.”
I smirked, loving how she didn't hesitate to call out what she could clearly read on my face. I leaned closer to her, making sure we were the only two that could hear. “How is it that you have experience with restraints, but you've never sexted? I know they're both a trust thing, but you think one would come before the other.”
“It is a trust thing,” she said.
“So you trusted someone to restrain you but not to sext you?”