Chapter Four
Silence fell and the lights in the hallway flickered.
Following the events of the previous daring, everyone waited, staring at me.
"Your turn, Ava," Jace responded wearing the same arrogant smile that had annoyed me from the beginning.
With my heart hammering like a drum across my ribs, I inhaled deeply. Bold dares were nothing new to me, but this one was personal. Each round had been more intense, more dangerous, and hotter. The conflict between us? Now it's unbearable. Everyone knew we were on top of a volcano.
He took a step towards us, bringing our bodies almost to each other.
"Truth or dare?"
"Dare," I murmured in a faint voice.
The others held their breath. Wicked rage sparkled in Jace's eyes. He muttered, "I dare you to accompany me to the rooftop."
Cheers, mock surprise, and laughter broke out from the throng. My legs, however, were already in motion.
There was a nervous stillness on our way up in the lift. He avoided looking at me. I kept my eyes off of him. However, the air between us? Charged.
Although our fingertips accidentally touched once, the electricity that resulted from that contact was anything but.
The city lights spilt across us like a stage as we arrived at the rooftop. The fire that was burning inside of me was not put out by the cool night air.
"So?...this part of the dare, I leaned against the railing and said… What am I doing up here, exactly?
Jace approached me cautiously, like a predator. "Anything you desire."
I took a deep breath.
He continued in a quiet, earnest voice, "Say the word, and I'll stop." However, I believe you came up here in the hopes that I wouldn't.
I stared into his eyes while the wind pulled at my hair. I detested my desire for him. I detested the way his voice made my body tingle. Above all, though, I hated the idea of acting as though I didn't want this.
I whispered "I'm not afraid."
He stepped forward till his chest touched mine and murmured, "Good." "Then give up acting."
His mouth then slammed into mine. At first, it was rough, raw and hungry—but it soon softened into something more profound. Like two individuals attempting to commit every flavour, sound, and breath to memory.
My head fell back as his hands gripped my jaw, and the kiss grew more intense. His heartbeat matched mine, rapid and urgent. We only separated for breath, and even then, our foreheads remained glued together.
His voice was scratchy as he murmured, "This isn't just a dare anymore."
"I understand," I answered.
He tasted me as if he had been famished as he leaned in more slowly this time. He softly forced me against the stairway wall while I held on to his shirt. There was urgency and passion, but below it all was something horrifyingly real.
He withdrew, stroking my face with his thumb. "We may pause right here. Or—
"Don't stop," I hurriedly urged.
And that was all he required.
In a series of fast moves and kisses, we took off our clothes. As our bodies clashed in a tangle of heat and need, the night sky above us grew endlessly. I wanted him to be everywhere, and he was. Every contact was painful. We both couldn't take back the promises we made with each gulp.
We lay side by side on a makeshift blanket of jackets once it was over, gazing up at the sky as if we were two strangers who had just exploded together.
However, we were no longer strangers. Jackson looked around. "That was meant to be a challenge."
"It was," I exclaimed, panting.
"But now," he said, pausing. "I believe it's the start of something I can't make light of."
I grinned, warm and exhausted.
"Perhaps you should choose "truth" the next time."
With a quiet chuckle, he grabbed my hand. "All right.
Truth? With my heart pounding, I turned to look at him.
"Ava, I'm falling for you."
And there was no need for the dare this time. Because the truth? It had already taken place.