A dare

NORA

He wouldn’t stop eye-fucking me. I didn’t mind either.

The one good thing about this rotten, boring-to-the-core fancy work party my mom dragged me into was the breathtaking, sexy-as-fuck guy standing a few tables away. He’d stolen idle glances in my direction, passed quite a few winks, and dare I say—I wanted more.

Then a girl slid up beside him. Tall. Blonde. Laughing too loud.

He leaned down, murmured something in her ear. She giggled instantly. His hand settled at her waist like it belonged there. Comfortable. Easy. I rolled my eyes. Of course. Another pretty asshole who flirted with anything that smiled back. So much for interesting.

My eighteenth birthday had passed six months ago, and I was fucking tired of being this stuck-up virgin. Ella said sex was great, wild, fun. And I wasn’t Ella, my best friend—sharp-witted, fearless—but I wanted to live too.

So when he set down his wine glass and stalked over to me, I didn’t flinch. I kept my head straight eyes locked on him while thrumming with pleasure beneath the surface, I couldn't believe this was finally going to happen. I mean... I did deserves this even if it was seeming too good to be true

“You look pretty lovely. I’m Zane, by the way. Yours?” he asked, smiling casually, his eyes taking me in from the first strand of my hair to my feet and back again. The hunger in his eyes was evident. He wanted me. And I’d let him. I wanted him too.

“Nora. I'm here for the party. Do you live around here?” I asked. His smile grew even wider. He seemed surprised by my boldness. Good. I wasn’t letting him slip away.

“Yeah, I’m bored anyway. Wanna hang around? I’ll show you the place,” he offered, linking his arm through mine. Heat flushed my cheeks. I knew this was it.

We walked in comfortable silence through the halls as he, true to his word, showed me around. But I could tell he was getting restless already.

“Wanna see my room? Just for a while. It’s a suite upstairs. Great view from the balcony,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear. I nodded, swallowing thickly. My palms were sweaty, but chickening out wasn’t an option.

We headed to the suite. He pressed in the password, and the door clicked open.

“Fuck... I’m sorry, Nora,” he breathed out, slamming the door shut. His lips crashed against mine. A startled gasp and moan slipped free, granting him access to slide his tongue further down my welcoming throat.

His hands were everywhere—my hair, my dress, around my waist, and beneath my top. I moaned, leaning into his touch as his fingers found my tits.

Then he stopped.

“I want you, Nora... and it’s crazy, it’s rude, it’s odd, but I really do. I’m not sure I can hold it together much longer,” he ranted, panting heavily, lips swollen, heat flushed across his cheeks. He looked older than me, but maybe only by two years. I swallowed again, seeing the tent in his pants.

“You want me, then have me, Zane. I want you too,” I whispered coyly, pushing my breasts to the bridge of his nose.

“So pretty... so perfect...” he cooed, pressing a faint kiss to my lips.

“I’ll grab the condoms,” he uttered hastily, darting into the bathroom. His phone chimed and landed carelessly on the bed.

A call came in.

I reached for it, walking toward the bathroom, clutching it between my palms.

“Zane?” I called. The phone chimed again. Messages stormed in.

I glanced at the screen.

THE DEVILS— A boys' group chat.

What caught my attention were the messages:

“Fucked her yet?”

“How easy was she?”

“Gonna record?”

“Is she naturally wet?”

“Oh, don’t tell me I lost the bet—did you fuck her already?”

The messages stormed in, one after another.

The door opened.

Zane walked in, holding a condom between his fingers. My hands trembled as the phone slid from my palms and clattered loudly to the floor.

Anger surged. A cold chill ran down my spine.

“Nora—”

“I was a fucking bet! You were gonna record?” I asked, my voice cutting the air.

“No, I wouldn’t… It’s just the boys talking stupid,” he breathed out. No denial. No shame. Not even the guts to look sorry.

“Why would you do something like that? You picked me to fuck, whisper sweet nothings, and then what? Brag about it? Win something?” I asked, stunned.

“It’s just sex. I’ve got the condoms. You still in?” he asked, with a bored grin.

I moved before thinking. My hand struck his face, a stinging slap across his cheek.

Lines of frowns marred his face. He parted his lips to speak, but I wasn’t there to listen. Grabbing my bag, I rushed toward the door. His footsteps followed quickly behind.

“You think you can just walk away after hitting me?” he seethed, grabbing my hair, yanking me toward the wall. A palm pressed against my neck, cutting off air.

“I should’ve hit you harder. But I’m guessing the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Where did you learn this? Your daddy picks up random women to fuck too? Because I swear to God, you’re just like whoever your father is,” I spat.

He froze. His shaky hands fell to his sides.

Footsteps approached.

“Nora?” My mother’s voice called. Beside her was the man I’d seen her with twice. The man she planned to marry. The man I hated.

“Yeah?” I replied, smoothing out my hair. My eyes darted back to Zane, now wide-eyed, confused.

“Ha! I see you’ve met Zane… my son. Your soon-to-be stepbrother,” the man said, smiling.

“He is what?”

“She is what?”

Zane and I echoed in unison.

“He’s my son. Your mother and I brought you both here tonight so you could meet properly. I proposed to your mom tonight. We’re getting married tomorrow, Nora,” Richard explained.

With every word, terror washed over me. My heart thudded in my chest. Goosebumps peppered my skin.

No. No. No.

This wasn’t happening. Zane’s expression mirrored mine—sickened, horrified. We almost fucked. He touched me. I let him.

This can’t be real.

“Go on, kids. Get to know each other. We’d love for you to bond. Tomorrow, we sign the papers,” my mother added, smiling brightly—the happiest I’d seen her since Dad died.

They walked off, leaving me standing there shaking. I turned the corner fast, needing space, shoving open the nearest door without looking.

Zane stood inside, shirt halfway off, muscles tight, skin bare. I froze. For half a second, my heart jumped. Heat curled low in my stomach before I could stop it. He noticed. His jaw hardened.

“She’s in safe hands, I assure you,” Zane cooed, waving them off. His shock vanished, replaced by a maddening, joyless grin.

“You are, in fact, in more than safe hands, Nora. When I’m done with your pathetic little life, I’ll crush your arrogance. I’ll ruin you... sister.”

His smile widened.

“Or rather, a more fitting name... my little SinDoll.”