Chapter 56: A Very Long Night

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: A Very Long Night

I followed Nicole into the house, and as soon as I closed the door behind me, she turned to face me with an expression that suggested she’d just had a brilliant idea.

She stared at me for a second before raising her right hand and placing her left hand over her chest. "I promise not to touch you unless you want me to or you touch me first."

I stared at her for a moment. She stared back, her expression so innocent that I almost felt bad for being suspicious. Almost.

This was the same woman who had just complained about my self-control, kissed me until I forgot what I was supposed to be doing, and then looked personally offended when I stopped things from going further.

Now she was making promises?

I was sure there was a loophole somewhere, but I decided not to question it. There was something else I needed to bring up first.

"You know I don’t exactly have anything to wear tonight, right?"

"Oh, don’t worry," she said with a smile. "I’ve got it covered."

She turned around and started walking toward the stairs, leaving me standing there wondering what, exactly, she meant by that.

She was halfway up the stairs when she stopped and looked back at me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"You’re coming?"

I looked up at her. "Yeah."

Then I followed her all the way to her bedroom.

It was my first time in here, and I found myself looking around as I stepped inside. The room was spacious, with a large bed, soft lighting, and a seating area near the windows. Everything looked neat, expensive, and very much like Nicole.

She didn’t seem particularly interested in showing me around. She walked straight into her walk-in closet, leaving me to look around on my own.

I wandered toward the bed and noticed a framed photo on the bedside table. It was from our day at the amusement park. Nicole was smiling at the camera, while I stood beside her with one arm around her shoulders. I remembered the picture, though I hadn’t expected her to have it framed.

I was still looking at it when she returned.

I looked up and found Nicole standing there with a dark blue pajama set and a pair of house slippers in her hands.

I gave her a questioning look.

"I didn’t just get us matching outfits for the party, you know," she said, wearing an expression of complete innocence.

I stared at her for a moment before covering my eyes with one hand.

This woman.

"Do you want to shower here or in one of the guest rooms?" she asked.

I lowered my hand and looked at her. She was still holding the pajamas, wearing that same innocent expression, as though she hadn’t just casually revealed that she’d prepared sleepwear for me.

I knew she was faking it. The problem was that she was far too good at looking innocent when she knew exactly what she was doing.

I walked over and took the pajamas and slippers from her hands.

"Guest room," I said, turning toward the door.

Nicole didn’t stop me. Of course she didn’t. I was fairly certain she was enjoying this far more than she should.

—

I took a quick shower in the bathroom of the guest room I’d stayed in the last time I was here, then changed into the pajamas she’d brought me. When I looked in the mirror, I had to admit they were comfortable. The dark blue set fit perfectly, as though she’d had it made specifically for me.

Which, considering this was Nicole we were talking about, wasn’t entirely out of the question.

I stared at my reflection for another moment.

Giving Nicole my clothing measurements had been a mistake. I’d thought I was helping her pick out an outfit for one evening, not giving her another piece of ammunition to use against me whenever she felt like it, and judging by the way tonight had gone, she wasn’t going to waste it.

I left the guest room and walked down the hallway to Nicole’s bedroom. When I reached her door, I knocked.

"Come in," Nicole called.

I opened the door and stepped inside.

She was sitting on her bed, smiling happily, with two canned drinks on the desk beside her. The moment she saw me, she tapped the empty spot next to her.

I looked at the spot, then at her face. She was smiling as though she had absolutely nothing suspicious planned for the night, which was already a bad sign.

Still, I walked over and sat beside her, keeping a reasonable amount of distance between us. I had no idea what she was planning, and I preferred to have at least a few seconds to prepare myself when she eventually revealed it.

As soon as I settled down, she turned toward me.

"Let’s play a game."

I glanced at the clock on the desk. 11:34 PM.

"It’s late, Nicole."

"But tomorrow’s Saturday," she said, immediately pouting. "And your shift doesn’t start until noon. You have plenty of time to sleep."

I opened my mouth to point out that having a late shift didn’t automatically mean I should spend the entire night awake, but she spoke before I could get a word out.

"You promised to make it up to me."

I paused.

That was technically true. I’d promised to make it up to her after she’d complained about my lack of initiative, but I was fairly certain the agreement hadn’t included whatever she was currently planning.

"Technically, I agreed to spend the night in your room, not play—"

I stopped when I looked at her.

She was pouting at me, her eyes fixed on mine. It was a rather cute expression, which was unfortunate because I knew perfectly well that she was using it against me.

I held her gaze for another moment before letting out a sigh. "Sure. Fine. Whatever. What game are we playing?"

I reached for one of the canned drinks on the desk.

"Truth or dare," Nicole said.

The can cracked open in my hand.

That was the only sound in the room for the next few seconds.

I stared at the drink. Then I slowly turned to look at her.

Of all the people in the world, I had to fall for a woman who could make a perfectly innocent game sound like a threat. And this was Nicole. I knew Nicole. I should have asked what game she had in mind before agreeing.

"Nicole—"

"We’re both adults, Nate. I don’t see what’s wrong with playing a little game. Besides, you promised."

I stared at her, then let out a disbelieving laugh. "Wow. You’re... wow."

Nicole only smiled as she reached for her drink. "Don’t worry. There won’t be any rules like two truths and a dare. You’re completely allowed to pick whatever you want."

I nodded slowly, deciding that perhaps she was backpedaling a little. It wasn’t much, but I’d take what I could get.

"Your turn first," she said. "Ask."

I turned toward her. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth." She answered casually before taking a sip of her drink.

I considered that for a moment, then settled on the first question that came to mind. "Um... who was your first crush?"

"Bruce Willis."

"Bruce Willis? As in the movie star?"

She nodded. "He was pretty hot when he was younger."

I laughed and shook my head. Somehow, that was the last answer I’d expected from her.

"My turn." She set her drink down and looked at me with a smile. "Truth or dare?"

I smirked. "Truth. Obviously."

I lifted my drink to my mouth and took a sip.

"Have you ever thought about having sex with me?"

I froze with the can halfway to my mouth.

For a moment, I wasn’t entirely sure I’d heard her correctly. Then I slowly lowered my drink and looked at her. Nicole was taking another sip of hers as casually as if she’d just asked me whether I preferred coffee or tea.

She finished drinking, lowered the can, and met my gaze. "Well?"

She looked so innocent that I almost wondered whether I’d imagined the question.

Why had I ever thought she was backpedaling? What part of Nicolette Anastasia Collins had ever suggested she would make this easy for me?

I stared at her, searching her face for the slightest hint that she was joking, but all I got was that sweet, expectant smile.

"Can we change the game?"

Nicole laughed. "Of course not. We already started it. Don’t be a quitter."

I took another sip of my drink and considered my options. Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of any that didn’t involve playing along, so I decided to get it over with.

"Fine. I have." I set my can down. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

She answered so quickly that I gave her a suspicious look. She only smiled back.

"You can dare me to kiss you," she added. "I’m very up for it."

I ignored her. Giving Nicole anything to work with was the last thing I needed, and I had no intention of doing that.

"I dare you to... take another sip of your drink."

Nicole stared at me before scoffing. "Boring."

She picked up her can and took a sip anyway, looking thoroughly unimpressed with my choice.

"Truth or dare?" she asked after lowering the can.

I exhaled, hoping the worst was behind me. The first question had been bad enough, but perhaps she’d gotten it out of her system. Maybe the rest of the game would be relatively normal.

"Truth."

"Have you ever jacked off while thinking about me?"

I nearly choked on my drink.

When I looked at Nicole, she was still staring at me with that sweet smile on her face, looking as innocent as ever, as though she hadn’t just asked me the most shameless question imaginable.

And that was when I realized this was going to be a very, very long night.