Swallow your pride 2

Dare

Isidora froze. She knew Marcus was up to something, and she had a feeling he was going to pick her. But hearing him say her name still sent a wave of shock through her. She couldn't help it, her heart began to beat faster and her palms got sweaty. Aurelius bristled beside her, tensing up at the mention of Isidora's name. He was clearly not happy about Marcus's choice.

Isidora stared at Marcus, unable to believe he had actually said her name. She could feel the weight of everyone's gazes on her, waiting to see how she would react. Isidora's mind was a tumultuous mess of conflicting emotions. A part of her wanted to refuse, to stand up and leave the room. But another part, a curious, wicked part, wanted to see how far Marcus would go. She'd be lying if she said she had never fantasized about kissing him, and a small, dark part of her was enjoying this.

She could feel Aurelius's tension beside her, could sense his anger at Marcus's choice. She knew he would never allow it, but part of her was relieved that he was there, protecting her.
Marcus, seeing the hesitation in her eyes, took it as an invitation to push further. He leaned forward, his eyes locked with hers. "Unless you're too scared, of course," he teased, his voice a challenge. "But that's not like you, is it, Isidora?"

Isidora felt her cheeks flush red, part humiliation, part anger. She knew he was playing with her, but she couldn't help responding. "I'm not scared," she retorted tersely.
Marcus smirked at her response, clearly enjoying this little game of his. "Prove it," he said, his eyes glittering. "Prove you're not scared."

Isidora's mind raced. She knew she was being baited, but she couldn't back down now. She glanced at Aurelius, saw the mixture of anger and concern in his eyes, and clenched her jaw. "Fine," she said, her voice firm. "Fine, I'll do it." The group around them let out a collective gasp as Isidora agreed to the dare. Some couldn't help but let out cheers and whistles, excited by the prospect.

Marcus's smirk widened even more at her response, his eyes watching her intently. "Good girl," he said, his tone almost mocking. "Come over here, then." Isidora felt a wave of heat wash over her at Marcus's words, a mixture of anger and something else she couldn't quite identify. But she forced herself to rise, her body moving almost on autopilot, her mind in a tumultuous whirl. She walked over to where Marcus was sitting, feeling every eye in the room on her. She could feel Aurelius's tension, his silent disapproval, but she didn't look at him. Her focus was entirely on Marcus.

Marcus watched as she walked over, "Sit," he commanded, patting his lap. "Right here."
Isidora felt her heart thump against her chest as she sat down on Marcus's lap. She could feel the heat of his body against hers, his strong thighs underneath her. She glanced over to Aurelius, who was sitting there like a statue, his face taut with anger and frustration. But she didn't meet his gaze, afraid of what she might see in his eyes.

Marcus wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "You look a little tense," he said quietly, "Relax. We're just having some fun." Isidora shivered as Marcus's breath tickled her ear, her body responding to his touch involuntarily. She could feel his possessive grip around her waist, the heat from his body seeping into her skin.

She tried to ignore the feeling of Aurelius's eyes on them, watching, but it was impossible. His presence felt like a constant reminder of her treachery, his silent disapproval like a physical presence in the room.

Marcus reached up with his other hand, gently grabbing her chin and turning her face towards him. His eyes fixed on hers. He leaned in closer, his voice a low rumble, as he spoke softly, "You look... gorgeous, when you're nervous." His grip tightened slightly on her waist as he pulled her closer, their bodies nearly flush against each other now. He leaned in even closer, his lips hovering just millimeters from hers, their breaths mingling in the space between them.