A moment of silence follows, the crackling of the fire the only sound breaking the stillness of the night. Then, with a burst of laughter, Mike shakes his head. “Dude, of course not,” he replies, his laughter echoing into the darkness. The tension dissolves into a chorus of laughter and teasing remarks.
The fire crackles softly as Mike’s spin of the bottle comes to a halt, its neck pointing directly at me. His mischievous grin widens as he poses the inevitable question, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“Truth or dare, Tessie?”
A smirk plays across my lips. “Dare,” I declare boldly, a surge of excitement coursing through me.
Mike’s grin grows wider. “I dare you to spend the whole night naked,” he announces, his challenge hanging.
I pause, considering the implications. “But what about the bugs? I don’t want them getting into places,” I protest lightly.
“Alright, you can leave your panties on,” he concludes, the hint of mischief still evident in his tone.
Rolling my eyes playfully, I shed my clothes, feeling the warmth of their gazes lingering on my skin. I slip out of my garments, leaving only my panties. I wrap the blanket around my body, but before I can settle into my makeshift attire, Nate’s voice cuts through the moment. “Hang on!” he exclaims, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
“You didn’t say I couldn’t wear the blanket,” I point out.
I settle back against the ground as the blanket drapes around me like a shield against the night. Cain puts his arm around me.
I spin the bottle, the anticipation building with each revolution. It comes to a stop, its neck pointing directly at Nate.
“Truth or dare, baby?” I ask.
Nate’s grin widens as he leans back, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Dare.”
A devious smile spreads across my lips as I survey the group, my mind whirring with possibilities. “Hmm,” I muse, my gaze flicking between Nate and Mike.
“I dare you and Mike to kiss,” I announce with a wicked grin, my words hanging in the air like a dare. Their eyes meet, a silent exchange passing between them as they process the challenge. A moment of hesitation lingers before Nate’s lips curve into a smirk, a playful glint in his eye. Mike mirrors his expression, a mixture of amusement and awe.
Nate and Mike’s lips meet in a tentative kiss. I watch in silence, my eyes widening. With each passing moment, their bodies lean into each other.
A gasp escapes my lips as Mike’s hand gently cups Nate’s face, his touch tender yet possessive. Their kiss lingers, the intensity of their connection evident. A silent language of desire passes between them.
Cain’s voice breaks through the shock. But before he can finish his sentence, I silence him with a gentle tap on his leg, my attention fully captured by the scene unfolding before me.
Mike and Nate’s embrace deepens, their tongues intertwining.
Part of me wants to look away. But another part I can’t quite ignore is undeniably intrigued, captivated by the passion unfolding before me.
Nate and Mike reluctantly break away from their passionate embrace. A palpable tension hangs in the air, thick with unspoken words and lingering desires.
Cain’s cough cuts through the charged atmosphere like a knife, a stark reminder of our shared reality.
I guess we are not going to talk about what just happened. Are they bisexual? I didn’t care if they were.
With a shake of his head, Nate reaches for the bottle and spins it.
The bottle comes to a stop, its neck pointing squarely at me. Nate’s gaze bore into mine.
“Truth or dare?” His voice was gentle, almost hesitant.
I pause, considering my options carefully. “Truth,” I reply softly.
“Do you like any of us more than the other?” he asks. His question hangs in the air, heavy with implications and unspoken fears.
“No,” I say firmly, my words echoing in the silence. “I like you all equally.”
Cain tightens his squeeze around my shoulders.
I spin the bottle and it stops, the neck pointing towards Cain. A hush falls over our group as I pose the inevitable question.
“Truth or dare?” I ask, my eyes locking with Cain’s.
He coughs lightly, “Truth,” he replies.
A sudden impulse seizes me, an unexplainable urge to delve deeper into the mysteries of the trio’s past. Before I can second-guess myself, the words spill from my lips, raw and unfiltered. “What happened in the army?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Nate’s breath catches in his throat, his eyes widening with surprise and apprehension. The gravity of my question hangs heavy in the air.
Cain’s gaze drifts to Mike, a silent exchange passing between them before he sips his beer, steeling himself for what is to come. With a deep breath, he recounts the harrowing events that had unfolded in a far-off land, his voice tinged with a quiet resolve.
“There were four of us,” he begins, his words measured yet filled with emotion. “We had another soldier, our friend, called Rhett. Nate and Rhett were held hostage.” His voice falters for a moment, a flicker of pain flashing across his features before he continues. “Mike, some other soldiers, and I went to their rescue. I managed to save Nate. Mike, unfortunately, didn’t get to Rhett in time. It was not Mike’s fault. After Rhett died, we all made a pact to leave the army.”
A solemn silence settles over our group.
A pang of guilt hits my insides as I realize the depth of the wounds I had unwittingly reopened. “Oh,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. “I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry. Oh, my lord. I am so sorry.”
