Just what the hell is this man doing to me?
With a pursed smile, I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. He seizes my waist, lifting my feet off the ground and kissing me raw. Staking his claim. Making a show of it as his friends and some of mine holler and whistle in the background.
An hour later, when most of the crowd leaves, only Mason’s closest group stays back. Mason, Hugo, and Kane, because they live here. Me, because Mason won’t let me go. And my friends, because I’m not staying here alone with the death squad. Mason hasn’t stopped touching me since our kiss. Whether it’s his hand on my waist, around my shoulder, or pinning me to his side, he keeps me glued to him, literally. Even as Hugo gathers everyone around the bonfire, he plops down on the wooden bark and drags me onto his lap.
“Nick is pissed at you for getting his hand broken,” Caden tells me across the circle. “He had to skip the tennis tournament.”
“Tell him, he deserves it just for the pool incident.” I shrug.
“Wait, what pool incident?” Mason asks, his gaze dragging to Caden, demanding an answer.
Caden opens his mouth, but I warn him with my eyes. Penny perches next to Caden, close enough to accidentally touch and Caden uses that opportunity to dodge Mason’s question.
Mason pinches me and whispers, “I saw that.”
I roll my eyes and look over to Thea, who sits between Penny and a brooding Kane, the resident grim reaper.
I do not like that.
Why is she sitting next to him?A protective urge to rescue her from his proximity runs through me. If only Mason would let me flex.
Hugo clears his throat and stands, instantly commanding the space.
“All right, people, Bonfire Night! That calls for a lot of drinking, a lot of games and…” He flashes a grin at the two blonds beside him. “A lot of shagging.”
They burst into a mixture of giggles and groans.
“First up:Most Likely To.You ask the question, we vote, the winner takes a shot. Got it? Good. I’ll start.” He places a thumb at his puffed chest. “Who’s most likely to?—”
“—have a threesome tonight?” Mason and Kane blurt together before Hugo can finish.
Laughter fills the space as Hugo scowls at Mason and Kane.
“Drink already,” Mason smirks. Hugo grins wide then downs a shot.
Luka, Mason’s fun younger cousin, who I’m pretty sure is completely stoned, raises his arm next. “Who is most likely to have a one-night stand?”
“Not you!” Hugo chortles. The other Fort guys seem to agree. Luka tells them to go fuck themselves. Fingers get pointed, and James takes the win.James?The guy who neverlooks up from his phone and speaks only when spoken to. I’m learning a lot from this game.
“I’ll go next,” Caden chirps with a secret smile and looks directly at me. “Who is most likely to get blocked by a celebrity on social media?” Penny and Thea exchange a look. Caden bursts into laughter. “Drink, Eva!”
I down my shot, scowling at Caden, then shoot back. “Who is most likely to forget their best friend’s birthday?”
Penny’s jaw drops as Caden chuckles and takes a shot.
“How are you still alive?” Thea asks.
“Cost me a fortune.” Caden shrugs.What it actually cost him was five trips to the Poker Lounge.
“I’ve got one!” Kane raises a lazy finger like he can’t be arsed. All heads turn to him. The last person anyone expected to participate. “Who is most likely to be pussy-whipped tonight?”
My mouth hangs open. Mason is already downing the shot before Kane finishes his question, then pulls me into a kiss while my cheeks burn. Then he throws the glass at Kane’s feet. It breaks next to his shoe as the Grim Reaper laughs manically. And that’s the first time I have seen him laugh.
“Speaking of which,” Mason drawls. “Who’s most likely to die a virgin?”
All fingers point at Kane, apart from Thea and me. We are the only ones not participating in what’s turning into a very crude game.
As the night moves on, true to the English climate, it starts pouring, the bonfire fizzling out with the rain until it’s soaked ashes. We all run inside, half drenched.
