Page 32 of Unwrapping Ember
"You still with us, doll?" He teases.
"Yeah, right here," I reply, feeling warmth flush through me.
Ev passes the bottle of Jäger,and I immediately shake my head. "Ugh, no way. Where's the whipped vodka?"
"That's a childish drink, little Vixen," he laughs, biting his lower lip in a way that makes it hard to look away.
"You all drank it just fine the other night. What does that say about you?"
Baine squeezes my thigh, triggering a reflexive jerk of my leg. "Got jokes, huh?"
"Just stating facts," I fire back, trying to be playful so they don’t catch on to something being wrong between Koda and me.
"Come here and let me show you how unchildish I really am." He leans back against the couch, patting his lap like he's some sort of jolly Santa Claus.
I roll my eyes and slide off his lap, chuckling as I reach for the whipped vodka. "Fine, I'll drink it myself then," I say, taking a hearty swig from the bottle. The sharpness stings my throat, but I embrace the burn.
Suddenly, Everest pulls me onto his lap, and I feel the heat of his body right away. "I ain't no fucking child, little Vixen," he asserts, cupping me and nipping at the side of my neck.
A shiver runs down my spine, and I take another gulp of vodka, desperately trying to mask the desire creeping across my face, though I know they notice. Koda raises an eyebrow, a smirk hinting at the corners of his lips.
"Careful, you might regret that in the morning," he warns.
I merely shrug and pass the bottle to him, fueled by a spark of defiance, but he shakes his head and lifts the Jäger. "I'm good with this."
The truth is, I’m already regretting quite a bit, but now isn’t the time to dwell on it. As the alcohol works its magic, the music pulses louder and laughter envelops the room, yet an uneasy feeling lingers beneath it all—something still feels unfinished. I risk stealing another glance at Koda, searching for any hint of clarity in his gaze, but all I find is a mischievous glint and a secret I fear I may never grasp.
"Alright, let's play naughtytruth or dare," Everest proposes, rubbing the palm of his hand suggestively between my legs.
"How do we play?" I ask, acutely aware of how naïve my question sounds.
"You pick truth or dare, and if you pass, you take a shot."
"Simple enough."
"Wait until you hear the dares," Baine chuckles darkly, shooting me a wink that sends a shiver down my spine.
"I'll go first," Koda announces, eyes glinting with mischief with a matching grin dancing across his perfect lips.
Everest grins, turning to him. "Alright, truth or dare, Koda?"
"Truth," he replies confidently.
"What happened while we were gone today?" Everest grins, apparently really wanting to know what he missed while he was out with Baine, but I can tell Koda isn’t in the mood to answer his question at all.
I notice Koda's jaw tighten as he casts a glare at Everest. He clearly doesn’t want to share, but the truth will come out eventually. Sliding off Everest's lap, I move to Koda's side, wrapping my arm around his shoulder.
Leaning in, I whisper in his ear, "Tell them. It's okay."
"Are you sure?" He asks, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm sure." His fingers graze my lower back, and he releases a sigh of relief.
"Come on, Koda. Spill it or take a fucking shot."
"Fine. Ember, and I hooked up earlier." His grin causes butterflies to swarm in my stomach.
Baine and Everest seem taken aback, a mix of shock and jealousy on their faces as they dart heated glances at me.