Rhiannon and Cain.
Gabriel and Aly.
Boone and Rosie.
Eden and her boyfriend, Dexter.
And then…
Seth and me.
My stomach twists because it feels a lot like a setup. Like everyone’s waiting for Seth and me to admit what’s going on between us.
“So how it works is…” Rhiannon begins, her grin growing as she explains. “It’s guys versus girls. The guys will give the prompts, and the girls will have to act it out. Then we’ll swap. Make sense?”
We all nod, my mind already racing through what kindof prompts this game is going to involve.
“Don’t worry, you’ll catch on quickly,” Rosie says with a wink, nudging me with her shoulder. “I can’t wait to see Seth squirm.”
“Okay!” Rhiannon claps her hands again, bouncing on her toes. “Guys get the prompts first. Each of you come up and take a seat, and your partners face you.”
Partners. Right. Because everyone here is alreadypartnered up.Either married, engaged, or in a very public relationship. Except for Seth and me. I was right. This is a public confession.
Seth doesn’t hesitate. He takes the seat in front of me easily, his broad frame settling into the worn armchair like he belongs there, completely at ease. And if he’s embarrassed even a littleto admit what we’ve been doing behind closed doors, he doesn’t show it.
He’s smiling, which is a rarity for him and it’s an easy and comfortable one. Like he’s not just okay with whatever’s going on between us—he’sproudof it. And then, as if he’s done this a thousand times, Seth pats his lap.
Pats. His. Lap. Like he’s asking me to sit on it
I laugh, and there it is—that rush. The one that comes with falling, that dizzy, heart-in-your-throat feeling that marks falling in love. It's wild and new and nothing like anything I had with my ex. I thought I'd felt this before. Maybe I did, briefly, but it burned out so fast I can't be sure it was ever real. This doesn't feel like it's going anywhere. This feels like a beginning that intends to stay. And he's claiming me, in front of the people who matter most to both of us.
His dark eyes catch mine, and for a second, the noise around us fades and our friends’ laughter dissipates. His hair’s a little damp, clinging to his forehead, and he looks so handsome I can’t stop smiling. We were supposed to be having our first date right now, but it would have been in private where no one would have known. This somehow feels even better.
I set my drink down on the nearest coaster, the heat creeping up my neck as I step toward him. His gaze drags up the height of me before finding my eyes again. My heart’s racing. My tongue slips out to wet my lips, and his breathing turns heavier, the space between us shrinking until the air feels thick enough to touch.
“Okay!” Rhiannon’s voice cuts through the moment, and I force myself to focus. “Boone, you’re up first!”
Boone, sitting across from Rosie, flashes a cocky grin at his wife. “Simon says… give your partner a short lap dance.”
Rosie throws her head back and laughs.“Youwouldchoose that.”
A chorus of groans, laughter, and teasing comments echoes through the room, but all I can focus on is the heat of Seth’s gaze as he waits for me to start. My eyes flicker to Boone, then Cain, Gabriel and Dexter… and finally back to Seth. No one’s paying attention to us.
“You know I love your lap dances, babe,” Boone says with a smirk.
Cain shakes his head. “Please don’t talk about my sister like that.”
“First time I met her she gave me one.”
Cain groans again. “So that’s why you thought she was a stripper.”
I move towards Seth while the other women start dancing on their partners. I plant my hands on his thick, muscular thighs and give them a squeeze that earns me a sharp inhale of air. His pupils are locked on mine, wide and dark.
“You going to participate?” he asks softly.
I smile and nod and the look he’s giving me tells me everything that I need to know.
“Bri,” he murmurs, voice low enough that only I can hear.
