Temptation

-36-

            "Get someone to kiss you anywhere they choose...Hmm." I paused, thinking about it. "You didn't know that this was going to happen, did you?" I asked, gesturing to the two of us.

"Nope." Andy shook his head, but he was grinning.

"Are you sure?" I pushed, teasing him.

"Okay, okay, you caught me." He threw his hands up in a mock-confession. "It was all a part of my master plan."

"I guess it worked, then." I thought about when he'd first mentioned the dares to me – I'd been reluctant then. Annoyed, even. I'd never have guessed that they would've actually worked, that I'd be able to get over Sophie. But now, as he leaned over and kissed me on the lips, she was the furthest thing from my mind.

It was funny – I'd never have expected to end up like this, and, for a long time, I was so fucking afraid of it. I understood Andy when he said that he was nervous because he'd never done anything like this before. But, somehow, the fear was also thrilling. My whole entire life, I'd been denying who I was, running from something like this. Now, I felt a twinge of regret over it – Over all of the moments like this, with my hand intertwined with Andy's as we sat on his bed, the book of dares on our laps, that I'd been missing out on.

"Does this count as completing the dare?" I asked, kissing him again.

"I don't know. I could ask to...kiss your dick." He lowered his voice to a whisper, his eyes lighting up playfully.

"No," I chuckled, despite the thought of it being just a little enticing. "We have to film it, remember? I'm not making a sex tape."

"Fine, fine," He surrendered. "You know where I really wanna kiss you?" He asked.

"Where?"

"I'll just show you." I felt his lips connect with the soft part of my skin on my neck, right below my ear. I sucked in a breath, and it came back out in a whimper.

"Enough with the porno!" Mikey shouted from below.

"Mind your own business!" I called back, masking the fact that I was a little disappointed to remember that they were still there.

"Did you like it?" Andy asked, stretching out so that he was laying down, with the upper half of his body leaning up against me.

"Yeah," I replied, holding back from telling him just how much I did, and how much I wished that the other boys would disappear so that he could do it again. I propped myself up on some pillows.

"In fact, I think it was my favorite dare yet."

"I can't believe it's almost over. That there's only six left."

"Less than a week." I frowned slightly. In a way, I would miss them. They had completely changed my life – Dare I say, for the better. Then again, I wasn't going to mind having to go without doing disgusting and humiliating things every day. I shuddered remember downing six tablespoons of ketchup before I felt nauseous just smelling it.

"Was it worth it?" Andy wiggled, adjusting himself so that he could see me, his body pressed up against mine. It took me a minute to remember what he was talking about. I leaned so that his head was nuzzled into the crook of my neck.

"Yes. Yeah, I would say so." I thought about what I'd heard yesterday, and I continued speaking. "You know what, Andy?"

"What?" I could feel his stomach rising and falling with every breath that he took.

"I truly think that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I...I love you. Exactly as you are. No matter what." For the most part, our relationship had consisted of Andy gluing me back together when I fell apart, and it felt good for me to return the favor.

I wanted to say more – To tell him that, more than anything, I wanted to be a safe place for him like he was for me. I wanted to say that he was helping me discover parts of myself that I never even knew existed – Braver, bolder ones. That he was helping to create a new me, one that would give it all up and more just to see his smile and hear his laugh. I was trying to find the words when Andy spoke instead.

"Can I tell you something?" He whispered.

"Yeah, of course," I readily replied. I had a feeling that whatever came out of his mouth next was going to be important – But he never got the chance to say it.