Chapter 1 THE DARE

~ELENA~

"We dare you to kiss him."

That was how the night started uphill or downhill depending on how you look at it.

***

I twirl and twist my hips dancing to the loud beat thumping through the club, completely lost in the music.

Valentina and Gianna, my best friends, and partners-in-chaos, are giggling loudly beside me, and dancing to the music like no one is watching.

It's our first proper girls night out in years, as we haven't seen each other for a while now.

I just returned back to the country, Italy, because mom finally decided to move in with her new husband, and I decided to hang out with my girls at the club because I couldn't think of a better way to catch up with them.

Besides, I also want to forget about Alessandro, my ex boyfriend who I caught cheating on me. He broke up with me after I caught him cheating and blamed me for finding out.

Pathetic, right??

And now, I just want to have all the fun I can to forget about him.

"Oh my!!" Valentina suddenly exclaims, freezing mid-dance, and staring at something or someone with bulging and drooling eyes behind me.

Gianna and I trace her eyes to the entrance of the club and we both exclaim simultaneously.

"Fucking hell!!"

At the entrance of the club stands a man who commands attention with effortless grace.

Towering and broad-shouldered, his tall frame is sculpted to perfection-his slim waist tapering into long, lean legs that move with the poised elegance of a predator.

His face is a masterpiece, chiseled like that of a Greek god, with high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and full, sensual lips.

Piercing eyes ... .dark and enigmatic...held the kind of intensity that made hearts stutter, while his tousled hair, rich and thick, frames his divine features with casual perfection.

Every inch of him radiates power, danger, and breathtaking beauty.

"That man is fucking handsome!" Valentina whispers, clearly stunned.

"I'll do anything to have him in my bed! I'll sell my soul if I have to!" Gianna says dreamily.

I roll my eyes. They're always like that at the sight of a handsome man.

But I must confess, that man over there is easily the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. He's a beautiful man!!! He's breathtaking.

"When was the last time you said you kissed again??" Gianna asks.

"After I broke up with Alessandro" I reply to her.

Valentina and Gianna give each other knowing, weird looks. I know that look and it has never ended well for me.

It was a look of mischief.

"What are you girls up to??" I laugh.

"Should we spice things up a bit??" Valentina teases.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Gianna echoes, her voice dripping with trouble.

"Elena" Valentina grins. "I dare you to walk over to that handsome stranger and kiss him passionately on the lips"

"We're daring you to kiss him" Gianna supports with a wicked smile.

My eyes widen and my jaw drops.

"You must be joking!" I cry out in disbelief.

"No, we aren't," Valentina says with a wicked smile.

"I'm not doing that, com'on" I say, glaring at both of them.

"Then you are doing our laundry for a month," Gianna says sweetly.

"Fucking hell....you know how much I hate doing the laundry" I groan.

"Then fucking go kiss him. It's just a kiss, yeah, yeah??" Gianna shrugs.

"Just a kiss," Valentina echoes, giggling.

I roll my eyes.

Remind me how I got to be friends with these girls again.

Why am I even friends with these lunatics??

I turn to sneak another glance at the handsome stranger only to realize that he is walking straight towards us.

"Look, he's approaching us!" Gianna gasps.

"I don't think so. I think he's coming to the bar counter and we're literally standing close to the bar counter" I reply, starting to panic a bit.

"It doesn't matter. Now is the right time to approach him. Take the opportunity" Valentina says.

"No, I won't" I refuse.

"Yes, you'll!" They both choruses.

"I won't!"

"You will!"

"I won't!"

And as we continue to argue, the handsome stranger keeps coming closer and closer to us.

And when he is just a few inches away from us, I suddenly feel a push from the back and find myself stepping forward to the handsome stranger and blocking his way.

"I'll fucking kill Valentina and Gianna for this!" I scream inwardly.

The handsome stranger stares at me from head to toe and raises an eyebrow in confusion or maybe...amusement.

And even though I know I am not looking bad in the red body fitting gown I wore that clings to my body and brings out all my curves, I still feel very embarrassed and wish the ground would open up and swallow me.

"What do you want, young lady??" He speaks, and his voice, oh my goodness, his voice could make any woman wet at the spot, myself included.

I swallow hard, suddenly searching for words to say.

I can hear Valentina and Gianna chuckling and giggling behind me. It is fun for them.

I deepen my resolve to kill them after this.

"Ummm....my friends..." I stammer, then take a deep breath.

"My friends dared me to kiss you" I blurt out.

His eyes widen, and a mischievous grin appears on his lips.

"I'm sorry" I apologize, and because he's way taller than me, tiptoes and holds his cheeks and kisses him on the lips.

He doesn't step back and the moment our lips touch, I feel an electrifying feeling within me.

His lips are warm, and I feel a spark run down my spine like lightning.

I linger for a moment ... .okay, maybe two...before I step back from him.

I start to apologize when he interrupts me.

"We're not done yet. We only just started" he says and pulls me closer to him, then bent his head and kisses me fiercely.