CHAPTER 6: THE KISS
What's wrong with me?
My attention snapped back to my phone, but the atmosphere around me felt suffocating. The little corner I had hoped would be a sanctuary from the crowd was now occupied by groups of boys and girls, all hovering around the mini wood burn. Just great—more people.
I glanced at Natasha, and she seemed to understand immediately. Without a word, she held my hand firmly, urging me to stay. My eyes darted back to him. He was sitting opposite me, casually observing me with an intensity that made my chest tighten. The blonde girl clinging to him didn't seem to faze him at all, and I struggled to steady my racing heartbeat.
"Leah, what's wrong with you? Pull yourself together," I scolded myself silently.
"Natasha, who's your friend?" one of the boys spoke up, a dark-haired guy with soft curls and a boyish charm.
"Her name is Leah, Kevin," Natasha replied, her tone matter-of-fact. All the boys' eyes turned to me, and I felt my cheeks heat up instantly.
How does Natasha know all of them? I didn't ask, not daring to, but my curiosity was bubbling beneath the surface.
"Nice to meet you, Leah. I'm Kevin," he said with a small, polite smile. "That's Jaceson, Kai, Leo, and Dominic."
Jaceson's skin was light brown, his hair slicked back neatly. He had a fit, athletic body, and his dark brown eyes were observant yet friendly. I waved back shyly, feeling a flutter of nerves.
Kai was Asian, sharp-featured with pale skin and eyes that seemed to pierce right through you. I couldn't stop staring—he smirked, clearly aware of it.
Leo looked like he had walked straight out of a magazine. Tall, blond, with mischievous eyes and a devilish smile that made my stomach twist. He blew me a cheeky kiss, and I immediately gagged.
Then there was Dominic. My eyes lingered on him, drawn inexplicably, like I already knew him. He was with the blonde girl, yet he wasn't giving her any real attention. My heart thudded painfully.
I took a shaky breath and summoned my courage. "Hi, guys," I said softly.
"Hey, cutie," Dominic replied, his British accent sending a strange thrill down my spine. My words faltered after that, and I kept my eyes on my phone, trying to look busy.
"Let's play a game!" someone shouted. I raised my head, taking in the scene.
Everyone paired up with someone, and suddenly Jaceson moved to sit beside me.
"I'm taking Leah," he said confidently.
"Dude, I saw her first!" Kevin protested, nudging him playfully.
"I'm sure the beautiful lady will like to play with me," Leo winked at me, and I nearly dropped my phone. Why were the hottest boys in school suddenly all interested in playing with me? ME?
I glanced around. All the girls were watching me like predators, while Natasha smirked knowingly. Before I could process anything, Kai had already plopped down beside me.
The game began, and surprisingly, Kai and I won the first round. Natasha and Kevin won the third. Laughter and cheers filled the night, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I truly belonged. I was laughing, smiling, enjoying myself—but just as I let my guard down, something happened.
Natasha, with her devilish grin, threw down the ultimate dare.
"I dare you, Leah, to kiss Dominic!" she shouted.
The world seemed to stop. Every eye was on me. Dominic's gaze locked with mine, intense and burning deep into my soul. My chest felt like it was going to burst, my thoughts spinning out of control.
Leah, what do I do? I never expected this… Natasha, I'm going to kill you later, I thought frantically.
"I… I will take the shot," I said loudly, surprising even myself. Shock rippled through the crowd. Dominic's smirk widened, and my heart slammed painfully against my ribs.
I don't drink alcohol—not even a little. Was it fear of rejection? Or the idea of losing my first kiss to a dare? I didn't know, but I had to go through with it.
"You're the first girl to reject Dom," Kai shouted, and the boys laughed, making me blush further.
The blonde girl—Candy—looked furious. Her eyes narrowed, and she strode over to pour me a drink. Graceful, tall, and with long blonde hair, she looked every bit like a model.
I reached out to take the drink, and in a moment of perfect timing, she accidentally poured it over my clothes.
"Oops! My hand slipped!" she said, feigning innocence.
"Candy, what the hell!" Natasha pushed her away angrily.
My hoodie was soaked, and I froze, staring at her as she walked back to Dominic, unfazed. He frowned briefly, but his attention was still on me.
The crowd was watching; whispers and gasps rippled through the night. Natasha gave me a look of apology.
"I'm so sorry, Leah. Let's go," she whispered, grabbing my hand.
"How can we leave in the middle of the game?" I asked, panic rising.
Natasha's eyes widened, realizing she might have underestimated me. She knew I could be… unpredictable when pushed.
Candy still stared daggers at me, but I smirked. Let's play, I thought, feeling a surge of daring confidence. Slowly, deliberately, I pulled off my hoodie, ensuring all eyes were on me as I revealed the v-neck crop top Natasha had chosen. It hugged my body perfectly, accentuating my slim back, waist, and wide hips. My baggy trousers emphasized my figure in a way I hadn't realized I could wear.
For so long, I'd hidden my scars, my insecurities. My father had helped me cover them with tattoos—a butterfly on my lower back, a king's crown on my arm, and a rose on my shoulder. They were meant to help me heal, and for the first time, I understood why.
Natasha blinked, momentarily stunned, and I tapped her shoulder to bring her back to reality.
Now, the real game began. I stared at Dominic.
"How about that kiss? No more drinks needed," I said, trying to sound confident.
My heart raced. What if he rejected me? But to my surprise, Dominic stood, ignoring Candy's protests.
"No, there have to be more drinks!" Candy shouted.
"Candy, chill," Kai interrupted firmly.
I walked toward him, raising my head. He was tall, imposing, yet his eyes softened as they met mine. My heart was hammered painfully. I leaned forward and gave him a light peck on the lips, then quickly turned to run back to my seat.
Before I could retreat fully, Dominic's hands caught my waist. A tingling heat spread where his palms rested, and instinctively, I placed my hands on his chest.
"Well, that's not a kiss, princess," he said, voice deep and teasing. Before I could react, his lips pressed firmly to mine, kissing me passionately.
Time slowed. I felt like we were the only two people in the world. Our tongues danced, testing, exploring. My knees went weak, and I gladly gave in to the intensity. He bit my lower lip, teasing for more, and I moaned softly against him.
When we finally pulled back, our eyes locked. His eyes had changed—briefly, they glowed a bright, mesmerizing red.
"Wow, that was hot!" The boys cheered from the sidelines.
Coming back to my senses, I moved to my seat. Dominic's eyes were back to their normal brown, but I could still feel the heat of that moment lingering on my lips and skin.
What a night.
Author's words:
Hi book lovers, I hope you like this chapter .Promise to be dropping exciting chapters each day . The more you react the more chapters I drop in a day .