Everyone was at Josh's for dinner when a bad storm came through knocking out the power.
Josh and Yolanda gathered the emergency lanterns, flashlights and candles and got them set up in the living room. Josh took some upstairs to his bedroom and bathroom for later in case the power didn't return.
They had to stay there since no one wanted to walk down the many flights of stairs to get out of the building, and why not stay at Josh's where there was plenty of premium alcohol and supplies available.
Everyone busied themselves on their phones while waiting it out.
"I'm bored" Sofia complained after a while of mindless social media scrolling.
"What could we do when there's no power?" Alan asked. "I mean that everyone could be involved in" he said, winking at Elliott, earning him a flirty grin.
"We can drink!" Yolanda said, raising her glass.
"You're already doing that" Gabi pointed out.
"Well not currently, mama needs a refill" she said shaking her glass expectantly.
Gabi took it and went about getting her a refill.
"We could have a conversation you know, we are a group of intelligent, interesting people" Josh suggested.
"You must have forgotten Gabi is here" Elliott said snarkily as usual, never missing an opportunity to insult his favorite target.
Gabi rolled her eyes in return, having grown accustomed to his jabs by now.
"Ooooh I know! Lets play truth or dare" Sofia suggested excitedly.
"What are we 12?" Josh asked.
"If you're scared just say that" Sofia teased.
"Scared? Me?!" he scoffed "Lets go" he said determinedly, ever competitive.
"Yes!" she said excitedly rubbing her hands together. "Everyone else in?" she asked looking around the group.
"Oy, we're definitely gonna need to keep the alcohol flowing for this" Alan said, pouring himself another glass.
"Sofia, since this was your idea you're up first, truth or dare" Yolanda asked.
"I'll pick truth. What have you got for me?" she asked.
"Who was the best sex you ever had?" she asked.
"Easy, Jake" she said, without giving it any thought.
"Oh how I miss his stupid hands all over my body but not as much as I miss his mouth" she sighed wistfully.
Gabi and Josh both made faces.
"Ooooh I've got a follow up for Gabi" Alan said excitedly, raising his hand. "Oh wait, I just realized she would have to pick truth for it to work" he frowned.
"You're in luck, I pick truth also" she smiled at him, helping him out.
"Hearing how much Sofia enjoyed Jake and his various um attributes, and knowing now the ensuing disaster that was you and Josh, do you regret not having sex with Jake?"
"Your answer should be yes" Sofia nodded affirmatively.
Josh frowned deeply at the question. Gabi noticed.
"Wow, are you drunk now? Because that's a little rude" she said, shaking her head. "Elliott is rubbing off on you"
"I havent had nearly enough to drink to hear about Elliott rubbing anything" Yolanda said making a disgusted face.
"You didn't answer Gabbala" Alan reminded her.
"No. I don't regret either part of that" she answered honestly, purposely not looking in Josh's direction. She noted Sofia looked directly at him before smiling tenderly and looking back at Gabi to let her know he had reacted to what she had said.
Josh and Gabi had been getting along really well and neither had brought up anything about their failed attempt at being a couple in some time, not wanting to rock the boat in calm waters. Or more likely because they were both too afraid to be the one to say their feelings, wants and desires were all still very much there, right under the surface, waiting for the chance to make themselves known.
"Why are we even playing if you're just gonna lie?" Elliott complained.
"I'm not lying!" she insisted. Alan, Elliott, Yolanda and Sofia all looked at her skeptically.
"I swear!" she laughed. "I mean Jake is obviously super hot and so fun, like literally the most unserious person I've ever met, so it's just fun all the time with him, but it never felt right. He just so happened to be very convincing" she said, unable to prevent a smile from forming.
"Yeah, with his tongue down your throat, you couldn't really protest too much" Yolanda cackled.
Gabi touched her nose with her finger then pointed at her and grinned "Truth"
"Okay" Josh said a little too loudly, getting everyone's attention. "Let's move on. Someone else go, please" Josh said, sighing heavily at the talk of his brother kissing Gabi. He had seen it first hand and it had felt like a punch to the gut, the only benefit having been it made him realize he still had feelings for her.
"OK then you're up Josh. What's your choice?" Sofia asked.
"Hearing these questions, I'm gonna go with dare" he said confidently.
"Good choice. I dare you to kiss Gabi" she challenged with a huge smile.
"What?" Josh and Gabi both said simultaneously.
Gabi's heartbeat sped up. She desperately wanted to feel his mouth back on her more than anything but she was terrified he would freak out at this challenge and ruin the progress they had made at rebuilding their friendship.
"Ooooh now its getting interesting" Yolanda said, excitedly.
"Sofia, why would you say that? you know he cant" Gabi said, annoyed.
"Can you blame him?" Elliott sassed, glaring at Gabi.
"Is that true Josh? Can you not complete your dare?" Alan asked. "What even are the rules? Does he get another dare? Switch to truth?" Alan debated out loud.
Josh stared intently at Gabi, contemplating.
She looked back at him, trying to read his face.
"Kiss her!, kiss her!, kiss her!" Yolanda started chanting and tapping on the chair arm, getting everyone else to join in to put the pressure on.
"You guys are ridiculous" Gabi rolled her eyes.
"What's it gonna be Josh? Can you do it or not?" Sofia stopped to ask.
"I can" he said confidently, having found his nerve.
"You can?" Gabi asked, dumbfounded. "Since when?" she asked, watching him as he moved toward her.
"Shhh" he said, hushing her.
"Don't shhh me" she started to protest but then he reached for her, putting his hands on her cheeks and leaned down to her, brushing her lips softly with his and all thought ceased in her mind as she focused on this moment.
They kissed softly a few more times before he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. There was a chorus of cheers but they didn't notice as they were too caught up in each other. Gabi moaned lightly into his mouth at the feel of his tongue on hers. Her hands went around his midsection, grasping his back as they eliminated any space between their bodies. They got totally caught up, forgetting all their friends in the room, watching them.
They slowly separated, keeping their eyes locked on each other as they did.
"I forgot what that felt like" she said breathlessly.
"I didn't" he responded truthfully.
"Quick, someone dare us to continue this upstairs" she said playfully.
"Not necessary" he answered, his face serious, before anyone could say anything.
He leaned down and lifted her up easily, his hands under the backs of her thighs, her legs circling him, her hands moving to his shoulders for support.
Gabi stared at him, her mind reeling, her lips immediately longing for his to return to them, a familiar tingle building deep inside her at the feel his hands gripping the soft skin of her thighs.
"Oh my damn!" Yolanda said excitedly
"I second that!" Sofia said, clinking her glass against hers in celebration, thrilled for her best friend to finally get where she wanted to be with the man she has been not so secretly in love with for so long.
"If this is an elaborate joke I'm going to be really mad" she said, glancing suspiciously at everyone else in the room before bringing her eyes back to Josh.
"It shouldn't have to be sai, but with this group I know it absolutely does. No one come upstairs, well to my bedroom specifically" he said, insistently, keeping his eyes on Gabi.
Gabi's eyes widened at the mention of his bedroom.
"Okayyyyyyyyyyy" Sofia cheered and swayed her hips in a get it dance.
He carried Gabi upstairs as the rest of the group, minus Elliott continued to celebrate.
When they got to the bedroom Gabi unwound her legs from his waist and she slowly slid down his body, her hands sliding down his arms, her body physically pressed against his. He closed his eyes and took in the feeling of her breasts pressed against his chest.
"Are you just messing with them?" she asked, still unsure, her eyes searching his.
"Does it seem like I'm kidding?" he asked, his voice low and husky with desire as he kissed her urgently, his lips so soft and warm, seeming so delicate all the while pulsing red hot to every nerve ending in her body.
Her arms shot back up to his shoulders for support when he reached under her shirt to cup her breasts in both his hands for the first time, his thumbs pushing the lacy fabric of her bra aside to feel her nipples.
Her eyes instinctively looked down following his touch.
He sucked in a breath when she reached for his belt, quickly unbuckling it, followed by unbuttoning his jeans and lowering the zipper, her hand brushing against his arousal. He shoved them off his hips and down to the floor
His mouth left hers only briefly when he dragged her shirt up and over her head. Once free of it, he lowered his hands to her waist, reaching under her skirt to cup her ass before unzipping it and letting it fall to the ground between them.
He moved her backward toward the bed and lowered her down onto it, following himself effortlessly smooth.
She grinned against his lips and relaxed, contentment washing over her, the familiar feeling of his weight on her feeling like home. She widened her legs to allow his waist in. She reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head.
Her hands roamed needily all over his newly bared skin, yearning to touch every inch of him.
He sank his head into her neck, placing soft, light kisses on her skin before replacing them with his warm, wet tongue. He ran his hand up her bare thigh, before leaving her leg curled over his hip, enjoying the feel of her wrapped around him.
"God I want you" he said breathily, gently placing his forehead on hers, gazing into her eyes.
"Yeah" she agreed, biting her lip.
"So what are you waiting for?" she purred seductively.
That was all Josh needed to hear. They finally gave in to their hearts and passion, letting go of everything that had come between them before. They spent the night getting to know each other in the most intimate way, slowly and oh so satisfyingly.
Afterward they lay cuddled up together. Gabi looked at him, grinning.
"I cant believe we just had sex on a dare"
He grinned back "Technically the dare was just to kiss, we went for extra credit"
"Well this assignment was long overdue" she said, propping herself up on her elbow to look at him, pointing her finger between the two of them.
He ran his hand across her cheek and through her hair lovingly gazing into her eyes.
"I dare you to be in love with me" he said.
"Doesn't count, I already am" she smiled back.
"Then I dare you to be my girlfriend…..again" he said.
"As long as you think you can handle me this time" she answered, searching his eyes for any sign of hesitation.
"Didn't I just handle you pretty well?" he asked mischievously, making her laugh comfortably.
"You're dumb" she teased and kissed him. "And yes" she smiled brightly.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly in celebration.