CH 36: Don't drink and play- things will happen

Mike looked at the bottle, then at her, curiosity piqued. "How about we make it interesting?" he suggested, a playful glint in his eye. "A little drinking game?" Renee and Jake both raised their eyebrows, and after a moment of silence, they both nodded. "Alright," Renee said. "Truth or dare," she began, looking at Mike. He grinned, the challenge accepted. "Truth," Mike said, holding her gaze. Renee took a sip of whiskey, feeling the warmth spread through her body. "What's the craziest thing you've ever done?"
Mike's cheeks flushed, and he took a deep breath. "Well, I once slept with a woman the same day I met her," he said, his voice low and a little shaky. He took another gulp of the whiskey, his eyes never leaving hers. "What?" Jake's laugh was sharp, disbelieving. "You? The poster boy for 'nice guys'?" They all laughed, only Renee knowing who the woman was. The game continued for some time when it was Jake's turn to ask Renee, "Truth or Dare Renee."

As the whiskey bottle grew lighter, the air grew heavier. Jake's gaze was intense, his question hanging in the air. Renee took a deep breath, the smoky sweetness of the whiskey lingering in her mouth. She knew this was a pivotal moment, one that could either push her relationship with Mike to new heights or shatter the delicate trust they had built. "Truth," she said, her voice a little too loud in the quiet barn, she laughed at her loudness. Jake leaned in, his smile never leaving his face, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Have you fantasized about me and Mike at the same time?" The question was a dare wrapped in a velvet glove, thrown into the mix to stir the pot of emotions already simmering between them.
Mike's laughter paused, a look of surprise flashing across his features. "Jake, seriously?" he said, his voice a mix of shock and amusement. Renee felt the color drain from her cheeks as she stared into the depths of her whiskey, her mind racing with thoughts she had never allowed herself to voice.
The two men held eye contact, the unspoken conversation palpable in the air. It was a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, each one waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally, Mike set his glass down, his expression unreadable. "Well, I can't say I haven't thought about it," he said, his voice a low rumble. "But that's her call, not ours."

Renee's laugh was a little too loud, a little too forced, as she took a sip of her whiskey. The warmth did little to quell the nervous energy that buzzed through her. She had never been one for sharing, especially not with someone who had once been so important to her. But she had chosen Mike, and she knew she had to be honest with him. "Since when did that cross your mind?" she asked, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. Mike's eyes never left hers, his expression a curious mix of amusement and something else she couldn't quite pinpoint. Jake leaned back, watching them with a knowing smile. "Well, you two seem pretty close," he said, his voice a little too casual. "It's only natural for thoughts to wander."
Mike's gaze never left Renee's as he spoke, his voice a low murmur. "Since we've been in this loft together, actually." The words hung in the air, a confession that seemed to crackle with electricity. Renee's eyes widened, the heat in her cheeks spreading like wildfire as she processed his revelation.
"But that's not what we're here for," she said, her voice shaky. "We're just... playing a game." She took another sip of the whiskey, the burn down her throat a welcome distraction from the intensity of the moment.

Mike's hand found hers, squeezing gently. "We don't have to play this if you're uncomfortable," he murmured, his thumb tracing comforting circles on the back of her hand.
Renee took a deep breath, looking from one man to the other. "No," she said, her voice stronger now. "I'll play. Yes, I have fantasized about it," she admitted, feeling a strange mix of liberation and fear. "But it's just that - a fantasy. Something I never thought would happen." Mike's eyes searched hers, a silent question lingering in their depths. She knew what he was asking, but she wasn't sure she had the answer. Jake's smile grew, his eyes alight with something that could have been mischief or understanding. "Well, then," he said, raising his glass. "Let's toast to honesty and... unexplored possibilities."
They clinked their glasses together, the sound ringing out in the loft. Renee took a sip, the whiskey burning a path down her throat as she tried to ignore the heat building between her and Mike. She could feel the weight of Jake's gaze on her, his eyes seeming to pierce through the shadows of the room.

Feeling flustered, she scooted closer to Mike, the rough fabric of his jeans brushing against her leg. "You two can't team up on me anymore," she said with a nervous giggle, her voice a little too high-pitched for her liking. Mike's arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer until she was nestled against his chest. She could feel his heart beating in time with her own, the steady rhythm calming her racing thoughts. "Let's not think about that right now," Mike whispered in her ear, his breath hot against her neck. Before she could respond, his lips found hers in a kiss that was anything but gentle. The whiskey had loosened their inhibitions, and the tension of the evening coiled into a fiery passion that had been building since the moment they took their first sip. Mike's hand slid up her thigh, his fingers teasing the hem of her dress. Renee moaned into the kiss, her body responding in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. She had never been with anyone else while someone she had once loved watched, and the thought sent a shiver down her spine. Jake's eyes never left them, his expression a mix of confusion and something that looked suspiciously like arousal. "Should I go?" His voice was soft, almost a whisper, breaking the spell that had been woven around them. Renee's eyes snapped open, the reality of the situation crashing down upon her. She pulled away from Mike, her breath ragged. The question hung in the air, a stark reminder of the third wheel in their intimate moment.

Mike looked at her, his gaze intense and questioning. "Renee," he began, his hand still resting on her thigh. "Do you want to live out a fantasy, babe?"

**********Note from author: Do you want to see Renee live out one final fantasy with Jake, which could have many outcomes, some being ones we do not want? OR does she pass up the one time, the two men she has had the best sex with, and not have them at the same time? leave your opinion in the notes!***
***~Thank you so much for reading,***
***Missy Smith.*************