Chapter 4 Boys' Night In

"It started with a poker game. It ended with three mouths, four hands, and one shared secret."

Friday night.

Beer. Cards. Pizza.

Just four guys blowing off steam in their off-campus apartment. No girls allowed. No rules. Just locker room talk and bullshit jokes.

Noah had always played it cool. Handsome, laid-back, and the kind of guy who looked like he belonged in a Calvin Klein ad but acted like he didn't know it. Then there was Jay the flirt. Loud. The first to call dibs on a girl, the last to actually take her home. Malik was the quiet one. Sharp jawline. Bookish. But when he laughed, it echoed in your chest. And Liam the host was the golden retriever of the group. Loyal, playful, just a little too curious.

By 11 PM, half the pizza was gone and the poker chips had turned into dares.

"Loser takes a shot," Jay said, throwing his cards down. "Double shots if you fold on a queen."

"Triple if you chicken out of a dare," Malik added, smirking.

The beers flowed. The music pulsed low. And with every round, the dares got bolder.

First, it was harmless.

Kiss the guy to your left.

Jay kissed Noah. Quick. Loud. A joke. Everyone laughed.

Then, Lick someone's neck.

Malik chose Liam. The lick wasn't short or soft.

Something shifted after that.

The air got heavy. Warm. Eyes lingered too long. Knees touched under the table.

No one said anything but no one stopped it.

Then Noah folded a queen.

"You know what that means," Jay grinned, already slurring. "Triple dare."

Noah leaned back, exhaling through his nose. "Fine. Hit me."

Jay smirked. "I dare you to kiss Malik. Not a peck. A real kiss. Tongue and everything."

Malik didn't blink.

Neither did Noah.

They leaned in slowly. The others fell silent.

Their lips met.

It wasn't just a kiss, it was a pause in reality. Malik's hand went to Noah's cheek. Their tongues met in a slow dance, exploring, testing, teasing. When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless.

Liam's eyes were wide. "F*ck."

Jay sat back. "Well, that's not the first time either of you's done that."

Malik licked his lips. "Not even close."

No one laughed.

The cards were forgotten.

Noah stood first. Walked to Liam. Looked down at him. "Wanna try?"

Liam looked between them. Blinked. Nodded.

And then Noah kissed him softer than before. Slower. Like coaxing someone into something they secretly wanted all along.

Jay swallowed. "This is getting serious."

Malik turned to him. "Jealous?"

Jay snorted. "Curious."

They all stood.

Shirts came off slowly. Hands started to wander. Jay was the first to drop to his knees. Malik stood behind him, kissing the back of his neck while Noah tugged Liam's jeans open, pushing him back onto the couch.

Their moans layered like music. One kissed, the other licked. One watched, the other begged. No one rushed. No one hesitated.

When Liam gasped, jerking in Noah's mouth, he clutched Malik's hand for balance. Jay moaned into Malik's grip, while Noah switched partners his mouth now hungry for the one who started it all.

They didn't sleep much that night.

By morning, the living room was a mess of clothes, beer bottles, and tangled limbs.

No one said anything right away.

Until Liam sat up and grinned.

"So, same time next week?"

The answer was unanimous.