HIS POV.

(SLADE'S POV)

Makaira's face turned pale and then pink color spread to her cheeks, her mouth slightly parted.

She snapped her head upwards at Germaine who was holding the deck of cards.

"I swear it's what the card says!" He said with his hands raised and the card shown out to everyone.

She doesn't want to kiss me, I thought with a plunge to my chest.

And you've had your two shots already so you can't avoid this dare." Matthew laughed cheekily.

"I'll take the shots for her." I declared, sitting up.

"That doesn't happen here, Mr. Novice." Jackie laughed at me.

"You can't take shots for her, Slade. It’s a rule ." Penelope said with a shrug.

I glared at the group. I hate these games! And I never play! If only Kaira had listened to me.

"It's a damned make out! And you're not even siblings for real! Can we get on with it?" Shelly said in her familiar irritated tone.

"You know what? Maybe we should skip this round." Germaine said, shuffling the cards again. "This is the only card with a make out on it to be fair."

"Yeah. Let's skip that part for the baby sister." Shelly teased and the others laughed.

"No. We don't have to skip the round on my behalf. I can go on." Kaira's shaky voice interrupted and the room fell silent.

I looked at her just as her round blue eyes found me.

"I’ll do it." She said with a voice that was almost a whisper.

I said nothing. I just watched her.

"Alright then." Jackie said, clapping her hands.

I watched Makaira stand up from her spot and walk slowly towards me. With each step she took, my heart raced harder.

She was a feet away from me, I could already perceive her sweet flowery scent when I readjusted in my seat.

"You don't have to." I said.

She stood for a moment and then squatted so that we could meet at eye level.

"It's just a kiss." She sounded more confident now and before I could say any more words, she grabbed my head gently and brought me closer.

Her lips met mine and sent chilling waves through my body. It felt just like yesterday at the lake house but her lips were tastier than I remembered.

I tried so hard to let her lips explore mine gently without moving. My fingers rolled into fists but within seconds my hand was reaching out to hold her head too.

My fingers got lost in her soft air as I kissed her back.

Time began to time move faster than anything and the slow melding of lips turned faster, yet faster and with better Rhythm. I wanted to taste her deeper, to suck her tongue, to—

"That's enough!" Shelly's sharp voice interrupted as she clapped her hands.

Makaira drew back, breathing hard with a face almost as red as tomatoes. I was breathing hard too and I could scent her in my brain. My eyes dropped to her lips, so plump and full and wet and—

"You're step-siblings! That’s sick!" Shelly added as Makaira returned to her spot quickly.

"You encouraged it firstly and secondly, they’re not related by blood!" Jackie snapped back.

I just stared at Makaira. My pulse wouldn’t settle.

Even after she stepped away, her taste refused to leave my mouth.

“It doesn’t make that okay!” Shelly protested.

Jackie groaned loudly and turned to the group. "That is the hottest kiss I have ever watched."

"Fucking hot!" Germaine agreed, giving me a slap on the shoulder.

"I don't think so." Shelly said bitterly, then she turned to her side. "What do you think, Penny?"

"I thought it was gross !" Penny made a sick face.

"I definitely liked watching it." Matthew teased with wriggling eyebrows.

"Me too." Jared agreed, grinning.

"I'm done with this game." I stood up, smoothing my clothes and avoiding Makaira's eyes.

"It's your first time playing dare with us and we haven't even gone halfway." I heard Penny cry.

"Let's go sit out by the pool." Germaine suggested to the group.

"Kiss was so bad, it ended the game for Slade." Shelly laughed and walked up to me. "Let's go out for some air, baby."

I glanced at Makaira and she was looking right at me while fiddling with the ends of her hair. But I quickly tore my gaze away and let Shelly lead me outside.

Soon, everyone strolled out to the poolside, talking while listening to music and having drinks. I couldn't keep my eyes off Makaira for more than a few seconds.

She was curled into one of the lounge chairs, laughing at something Jackie had said, a can of soda balanced between both hands.

"Drink?" Shelly handed me a can of beer.

"Thanks." I was forced to tear my eyes from Makaira.

"So, I've missed you." Shelly said after taking a sip. Her hand found its way to my chest and started to rub gently.

My gaze wandered back to Makaira, in time to see her look away from me. I noticed Jared talking to her and i wondered what they could be saying.

Shelly cupped my face and turned me to her, her finger playing with my lips.

"Come on, baby. Let's ditch the group and go home, to your room." She said using her sultry tone while her finger played down to my navel.

"I can't leave." I said, taking a swig of my beer.

I was very well used to Shelly being touchy with me despite the relationship between us being purely unsentimental.

But something about her fingers on me felt like spider legs. Or maybe her hands were stopping me from getting a proper look at Makaira. All I could see for now was her dress, perfectly snug on her body and—

"Why not?" Shelly asked, now blocking my complete view.

"Why what?"

She looked pissed. "Why can't we leave?"

"Oh." I remembered. Then I heard Makaira's laughter and turned my head towards her, she was with Germaine now.

My hands turned to tight fists.

He said something and she tipped her head back, laughing harder.

Why was she laughing like that with him?

"I can't leave now." I answered Shelly, taking another swig.

"And why is that?" Shelly asked in irritation, then she snapped her fingers at me just as my eyes were moving away. "What the hell, Slade? You keep looking at her. Do you like her?"

I looked down at Shelly. "Excuse me."

I walked out just as I saw a flash of rage in my eyes.

But I headed towards Makaira where she was still laughing and talking, but Jared suddenly threw his hand around my neck.

"Hey man! Do you have a moment? I want to talk to you about the coming game." He said, steering me towards a tabl.

"What's up?" I asked.

I was trying to steal a glance at Makaira, but I couldn’t see her.

I declined another beer from Jared, showing him the unfinished one in my hand.

"I think I may need my position changed." He said to me.

I raised my eyebrow. "That's serious. Why do you think that?" I asked, getting seated.

"I have noticed recently, that my right hand is not as effective, when I am in…"

Makaira's scream pierced the air, accompanied by a very loud splash.

The beer slipped from my fingers before l even realized l'd opened my hand.

My chair scraped violently against the deck and my body was already moving before my brain caught up.