Warning : Do not read while eating, you’re at risk of choking.
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"And your punishnt is..." Roman paused, dramatically dragging the mont out, his eyes glinting mischievously as everyone waited for the verdict.
"No punishnt at all,"
"Huh?" Everyone was surprised, Violet in particular.
She blinked, thrown off balance. That was definitely not what she’d been expecting.
But her gaze suddenly narrowed at him, questioning his intention.
Roman simply shrugged, his mouth curving into a crooked smile. "I’m petty, yeah, but you also told to grow up. So you can decide to answer or not."
Violet stared at him, speechless. Of all the things Roman could’ve said, that had not been on her bingo card, not even in a thousand years.
And just like that, a proud feeling blood in her chest.
Her baby was growing up.
"I’ll answer," Violet said, stunning everyone. They had thought she’d evade the question now that Roman had given her the option. Nonetheless, none of them objected and let her do her thing. Asher didn’t even let the emotion show on his face.
"You know, I really like the way you kiss , Roman." Violet confessed and that got everyone’s attention.
"You’re just so playful with it," she continued, her fingers curling slightly on her lap. "There’s this confidence in you, like you know you’re good at it and want to make damn sure I enjoy every second. And I do. Every ti. It’s like..." She bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing. "Like tasting sunshine on my lips."
Roman sat up straighter, his grin already expanding.
"You’re so damn unpredictable sotis," Violet added, laughing lightly. "I never know what you’re about to do next and then your tongue..." Her voice trailed off as her blush deepened. "It just works like magic inside my mouth."
By the ti she was done, Roman looked like a man who had already declared victory. His expression scread self-crowned champion of kisses with his chin tilted. He looked smug and all too proud.
But then Violet turned her head, locking eyes with Asher. "And I like the way Asher kisses too."
Roman’s face twitched.
"Asher’s got this possessive, dark edge about him," Violet said, her voice a little lower, almost like a confession. "It makes my heart race and my stomach flip before our lips even touch. And then when we do kiss..." She exhaled, visibly affected just by the mory. "It feels like he wants to consu whole. Like I’ll never belong to anyone else. And maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but when he gets rough with out of nowhere? It kind of turns on."
That one hit like a bomb.
Alaric and Griffin burst into hoots and cheers, their laughter loud, and Asher, who had been stone-faced until now, allowed a slow grin to spread across his face.
Although Violet was blushing like an overripe tomato, she was far from done.
"And then there’s Alaric," she went on, turning to him. "Kissing him feels like life itself. Like I’ve stepped into another universe where nothing else matters. And then, when he sends that lightning through my veins—" she paused, smirking at Alaric’s rapidly reddening ears, "—it’s like I explode into a thousand pieces. And it’s sexy as hell.
Not to ntion, I think I have a kink for his Adam’s apple. I just can’t help but want to graze my teeth over it all the ti."
This ti it was Alaric’s turn to look away, pretending to rub at his jaw while the others whistled and laughed.
Then she faced Griffin.
"And Griffin’s kisses..." she said softly, almost reverently, "are so sweet, they make want more. When he kisses , I feel taken care of... safe. Until he switches things up and reminds he could break in half if he wanted, and the scary part is—I’d let him."
Griffin, blushing like an actual virgin, groaned and dragged a palm down his face. "God," he muttered.
Roman laughed so hard he almost doubled over. "That was so damn cute," he said between chuckles.
"You’ll be the death of us, won’t you?" Asher comnted, enjoying the mont.
Alaric cleared his throat, his composure still shaken by her confession. "It’s your turn to spin, trouble."
"Oh." Violet clapped with excitent.
Without missing a beat, she reached for the bottle and gave it a dramatic spin. The glossy surface caught the garden lights as it whirled in dizzy circles, tension building with every turn until it finally slowed and pointed.
"Alaric Storm," Violet announced sweetly, "Truth or dare?"
"Dare." Alaric’s voice was cocky, as if he could handle whatever Violet threw his way.
Violet didn’t hesitate. "I dare you to flirt with Roman for five whole minutes."
The effect was instant.
Griffin choked on his water and spat it across the grass. Asher let out a full-bodied laugh, his shoulders shaking from the force of it.
Alaric face-pald, unable to believe Violet set him up with that while Roman looked personally attacked.
"Really, Violet?" he deadpanned, scandalized. "Really?"
"Sorry, but it’s a ga." Violet replied in between laughter.
Alaric was serious about the ga and turned to face Roman who already was beside him.
"Don’t do it." Roman shook his head.
Alaric said. "What do you an by that, baby? I’ve got five minutes to ruin your life, but I only need one."
Violet howled with laughter. This was better than she thought. And so did Griffin and Asher who were more composed than her.
Roman begged. "Don’t traumatize , Alaric."
But Alaric had already entered his character.
"You know," He began with a sultry tone. "your pheromones have in a chokehold. I’m fairly certain it’s a biological cri to sll that good and not share."
"Oh my God," Roman whispered with dread. "Don’t bring science into this."
Unfortunately, that was exactly Alaric’s forte and he was just getting started.
"But I must," Alaric continued, touching his thigh now, "because clearly, you’re composed of ninety percent temptation, ten percent terrible decisions, and all of it highly reactive."
His hand trailed higher, purring. "If I had to describe you using chemical bonds, I’d say you’re ionic. Because the mont you enter a room, I lose my electrons, and control."
Griffin wheezed while Violet doubled over, breathless with laughter. Asher was embarrassed, Alaric was terrible. But that didn’t an he didn’t enjoy Roman’s situation. If he could later, he would reward Violet for this.
Roman’s face was buried in his hands. He couldn’t do this anymore.
But Alaric was far from done.
"You’re like Schrödinger’s cat," he added smoothly, "because just looking at you has questioning reality. Are you chaos or salvation? A paradox I’m dying to open."
Roman muttered. "For the love of Newton, you should give up at this point."
Griffin fell on his back laughing.
Alaric reached out and grabbed Roman’s jaw. "I could write sonnets about your bone structure, paint murals of your smirk and model physics equations around that jawline. You’re not just pretty, Roman... You’re theoretically devastating."
Roman backed up, eyes wide. "I will sue you for emotional damage."
"I bet your love language is entropy," Alaric said, licking his lips. "Beautiful, destructive and absolutely unavoidable."
Griffin howled.
Violet wiped tears from her cheeks, gasping. "I... I can’t even... that was—Alaric—damn!"
"I’m scared," Roman muttered.
"You should be," Alaric whispered, mock-sultry. "I haven’t even gotten to the astrophysics taphors yet."
Roman at once scooted away from him. Alaric has lost his god damn mind.
"Don’t run from your feelings, babe," Alaric called after him. "We could’ve had sothing real."
This ti around, not even the actor, Alaric could escape the infectious laughter that rocked the garden.
"We are never doing that again," Roman warned, showing off his arms. "I even have goosebumps from that terrible flirting."
"It was good though." Violet said, feeling damn proud of the little monster she was.
"Yes," Griffin concurred, wiping a tear from his eye. "Best dare ever. And it’s my turn."
Griffin spun the bottle and it landed on Asher.
"Ooh." Violet said, waiting in anticipation for this one.
"Truth or dare?" Griffin asked.
"Truth," Asher said, surprising everyone. It seed soone didn’t want to be dragged into one of their insane dares.
Griffin said. "If you had to swap places with another Cardinal Alpha, who would it be and why?"
He raised a hand quickly, adding, "It can’t be , obviously. I’m Violet’s mate."
Everyone chuckled at that, but all eyes were on Asher now.
He wore a thoughtful expression, his jaw tight, and eyes distant for a mont. Then he answered calmly and with certainty.
"Roman Draven."
"Huh?" Roman was stunned. "?"
Asher didn’t hesitate. "It must feel so good not having the weight of the world on your shoulders. Not having a father who hates your guts but still expects nothing less than perfection. Must be nice to be loved by everyone without needing to earn it. To laugh easily. To be carefree in a world that never lets up. Must be real good to just turn into a damn bird and fly away from your problems. Yeah," he finished, his voice husky with emotion, "how good that must feel."
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