Without warning, I reached down and gave her ass a hard smack.
"That's for spray painting my car," I said.
Her breath hitched, and she bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. "You're such a caveman."
"Caveman? How about this?" I said, smacking her...
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Esmeralda's POV:
I felt like I was on a different planet, floating between the familiar and the dangerously unknown. Caleb's kiss still tingled on my lips, and every time I glanced in his direction, my heart raced like a runaway train.
I maneuvered through the party, mingling with my new friends, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him. He was a magnet, and I was drawn to his gravity—intense, unyielding. I tried to shake the heat from my cheeks, but the way he had looked at me, like I was the only one in the room, made me feel alive in a way I hadn't anticipated.
"Esme! Over here!" Sylvie called, pulling me back into the moment. She was flanked by Mia and Jason, their laughter bubbling like champagne.
"Come on, we're playing a game!" Mia announced, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You have to join!"
"What kind of game?" I asked, hesitant, but curiosity piqued my interest.
"Truth or dare, baby!" Jason smirked, wiggling his eyebrows. "And don't think you can get away with the boring stuff. We want to hear the juicy secrets!"
My heart raced again, this time from excitement and dread. But before I could back out, they dragged me to the center of the living room, where everyone gathered around.
"Alright, Esme! You're up first!" Sylvie grinned, her excitement infectious.
I glanced around the circle, my eyes landing on Caleb, who stood against the wall, drink in hand, watching me with that intense gaze.
"Truth or dare?" Sylvie prompted, her grin widening.
"Dare," I replied, trying to sound confident, though my stomach flipped with nerves.
"Make out with the hottest guy in the room for thirty seconds!" she challenged, her eyes glinting with playful malice.
My heart raced, but before I could think too long, Jason leaned in closer, his confident smirk encouraging me. "You can pick whoever you want, Esme."
Without thinking, I pointed to Jason suddenly feeling confident, his mischievous grin making my pulse quicken. The crowd cheered, and I felt a mix of excitement and fear.
"Alright, let's see what you've got, princess," Jason said, stepping forward with a cocky swagger.
I felt my cheeks flush as he leaned down, capturing my lips with a daring kiss. It started soft but quickly escalated into something hungry. His hands roamed my back, pulling me closer as I melted into him.
The cheers and laughter faded into the background as the taste of alcohol and the rush of the moment took over. I found myself responding eagerly, kissing him back with fervor, our mouths moving against each other with a wild desperation.
His hands slipped down to my waist, his fingers gripping me tightly, and I gasped into the kiss as he pressed me against the wall, our bodies colliding with a heat that sent shivers through me. I lost myself in the sensation, feeling daring and alive as our tongues danced, exploring the depths of each other's mouths.
"Damn, Esme," Jason murmured, pulling back after what felt like an eternity, both of us breathless. "You're a firecracker."
I laughed, trying to catch my breath, but the thrill of the kiss still hung in the air. The crowd erupted in applause, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline.
As I stepped back, my eyes immediately sought Caleb out, only to find him staring at me with a mixture of surprise and something deeper. The smirk on his face faded, replaced by a more serious expression as if he was trying to process what he just witnessed.
"Looks like someone's having fun," he said, his voice low and teasing as I returned to the group, my heart still racing.
"Just getting started," I shot back, the defiance in my voice stronger than I felt.
The game continued, but my focus kept drifting back to Caleb, who now leaned casually against the wall, drink in hand, but his eyes were fixed on me like I was a puzzle he needed to solve.
After a few rounds of the game, I found myself wandering through the house, the music pounding in my ears. Caleb followed close behind, and every time our eyes met, I felt a spark of electricity.
"Cherry," he called, his tone low, almost challenging. "You really think you can just kiss anyone without consequence?"
"What's it to you, Caleb?" I shot back, my heart racing. "Jealous?"
He stepped closer, the air between us thick with tension. "You know I could give you something far more thrilling, right?"
"Like what?" I taunted, feigning indifference while my pulse quickened at the thought of his lips on mine again.
"Let's just say, I know how to take you to new heights," he said, his voice a sultry whisper that sent shivers down my spine. Before I could respond, a group of friends stumbled into the kitchen, and I pulled away, trying to regain my composure.
