Page 72 of Cruel Crypts

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The dancing crowds had thinned out, and somehow, I’d found myself with a group of students clustered together on the sofas, playing a version of truth or dare that involved no truths, but you had to take a shot if you refused a dare. I could blame the fact that I was playing it on the three vodka drinks I’d had, but in reality, it was because Knox had finally taken off his mask, pressed a soft kiss to my lips, and then asked me to join him and his friends, and I couldn’t say no to him.

All three gods and their usual group of friends and lacrosse team members were there, along with Aria, who was perched on the arm of the sofa next to me, sending the occasional rude gesture in Tristan’s direction and receiving a mouthed insult in return. He and Roman both had girls on their laps, as did a number of the other guys. Several of them had been masked earlier, but now the masks were gone, and they were all drinking. Knox had taken a seat opposite me on the same sofa as Tristan but left a space between them, and my jaw clenched as I noticed Freya slide in next to him. I knew she was into him. Although I trusted Knox, even though there was nothing official between us, I didn’t trust her at all.

“Link, I dare you to get your dick out right here.” Roman smirked at Lincoln.

Blaine raised his brows. “Is this the kind of thing the lacrosse team gets up to when the rest of us aren’t around?”

Aria made a fake puking sound, covering her eyes. “Tell me when it’s over. I don’t want to be scarred for life.”

“You want to see mine instead, baby?” Tristan called over the noise. Her hand flew away from her eyes, and she glared at him. He smirked, his hands going to his crotch. “On second thoughts, no. Your eyes look like they’d burn laser beams through my junk.”

“If you wanted to see it, all you had to do was ask. You didn’t have to dare me,” Lincoln shot back, jumping to his feet. He swayed a little as he stood. Bloody hell, he was already drunk.

“We’ve all seen it enough times after lacrosse,” Knox interjected. “Been there, done that.”

Shouts, cheers, and whistles came from all angles as Lincoln turned in a slow circle, flexing and generally showing off, and I caught Knox’s eye.I like yours better, I mouthed, and he mouthed something back that I thought was,I’m gonna fuck you with it later.

When Lincoln was sitting back down, Freya piped up. “My turn. Knox, I dare you to kiss me. Properly.”

Knox’s gaze flicked to mine and then back to Freya. I held my breath, my heart pounding. I’d said earlier that I trusted Knox, but I had a moment of panic and hurt when he angled his body towards her, lowering his head.

I couldn’t breathe.

He opened his mouth.

“No,” he said, and he swiped the huge bottle of vodka from the table, sloshing some into a shot glass and then downing it. He slammed the glass back on the table and looked straight at me, fire in his eyes.

“My turn. Elena. I dare you to come over here and answer my question.”

I licked my suddenly dry lips. Everyone was staring at me. “What’s the question?”

“You’ll have to come over here to find out. Do you accept the dare, or are you gonna take a shot?”

Taking a deep breath, I held his gaze. “I accept.”

46

KNOX

Elena rounded the coffee table, and I stood. When she was right in front of me, I ran my hand down her arm, fucking loving the way she shivered beneath my touch.

“Elena Greenwood. Will you do me the honour of—”

“Oh, shit! He’s proposing!”

I threw my middle finger up at my friend-slash-pain in the fucking ass Tristan, who was grinning maniacally at me, before I spoke again. “Okay, fuck. Yeah, that did sound way too much like a proposal.”

Elena’s eyes danced with amusement, and all I wanted to do was kiss her. But first, I had to ask the question. I raised my voice. “No one fucking interrupt me this time.” Sliding my fingers between hers, I tugged her closer. “How would you feel about being my girlfriend?”

Shock flared in her gaze.

“Elena.”

“Um.” She cleared her throat. “I’d feel…like that was a good idea?”

I grinned at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and bright eyes. “Will you be my girlfriend, then?”