Lucky Night
What's the harm in upping the ante in a game of poker?
2.
...
"All right, Swan. Ready for your dare?"
Bella yawned and looked both boys over, smirking slightly at their bare chests. "It's about time one of you won a hand."
Emmett looked at Edward then at Bella. "I don't know, Swan. I don't know what kind of humiliation I want to subject you to."
She glanced at his boxers and gave him a one-armed shrug. "It seems like you're used to living with embarrassment, Em."
"All right, now that's it." He took a shot then followed it with a long pull from his beer. "You and Cullen."
Edward shot Emmett a dangerous look. "What about us?"
"I dare you to kiss him."
"Kiss Edward?"
"Don't worry," Edward snapped. "I haven't had cooties since third grade."
"You haven't had lice since then either," Bella reminded him. "Doesn't mean I want to take a chance."
"Don't do the crime if you can't do the time," Emmett tapped his finger on the deck of cards. "You don't take the dare, you forfeit."
"Fine." Bella got to her feet and leaned over the table. Emmett shook his head, tsking all the while. "What?"
"I want a kiss, baby. If I'm going to be subjected to watching him attempt to get it on with someoneā¦"
"Get it on?"
"I at least plan to enjoy the show."
"You touch anything under the table," Bella warned him, "I'm taking that pool cue to your knuckles." She wove to the other side of the table, finishing off her beer as she walked. Edward looked up at her, eyes narrowed and hazy. "The same goes for you."
"Trust me, the thought of kissing you does nothing for my nether regions."
She put her hand on the arm of his chair and leaned down, her eyes half-closed. Edward tilted his head back, watching her. She inhaled and closed her eyes, pressing her lips against his. They were warm and moist from the dregs of his beer, salty from the pretzels, sweet from the oregano in the pizza sauce. He shifted slightly, his mouth parting and she slipped her tongue into his mouth, her hand tightening on the chair arm.
Bella pulled back, eyes blinking slowly. Edward's eyes opened and he looked away immediately, his attention taken up by Emmett's hoot of approval. "Damn, now that's what I'm talkin' about."
She shrugged and slipped back into her seat, opening one of the spare bottles on the table and taking a fast slug from it, coughing as it burned her throat.
...
