Indecent Encounters (22 page)

Brenn grinned in response, causing butterflies to flutter in her stomach…and perhaps lower. “You’re welcome.” He began walking backwards down the hallway, leaving her to her shower. “We’ll see you in a little.”

* * * *

Ten hours since she’d awoken in an unfamiliar house, Vanessa sat curled up on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her. She was wearing a pair of Dihn’s sweatpants and one of his t-shirts while Brenn ran her clothes through the wash. She was watching Dihn expectantly as he talked on the phone.

“Yes. I understand. Thank you.” He hung up and tossed the phone aside.

“Well?” she asked curiously. They’d each been taking turns calling the local towing companies, trying to get her car hauled out of the ditch she’d run it into. Apparently the snow had accumulated, becoming a storm. Trucks were busy with emergency situations, only taking jobs that were essential. They were busy, and her car was going to be a challenge. They all told her that if she was safe and warm, she should stay put for a few days until the storm passed over. Dihn had said he’d call one last place, but she didn’t have high hopes.

“They’re not coming out, especially this late,” Dihn said apologetically. “If you want, I can try to drive you home in Brenn’s truck. It’s usually good in the winter. It’s your call.”

“Don’t worry about driving me,” Vanessa was quick to say. “If it’s as dangerous as they say…” She trailed off with a shrug. “You’ve already done so much for me already. I wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger. I’ll just crash here, if you two don’t mind me staying.”

“Mind?” he asked. “Nah. Brenn’s ecstatic over the possibility. We haven’t had company since his little sister stayed with us for a long weekend a few summers back. It’ll be nice.”

“Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”

Silence fell over the room. It remained quiet until Brenn returned with a basket full of fluffy, heated laundry.

“Vanessa is going to stay with us for a few days until this unexpected storm lets up,” Dihn informed him. “I told her you’d be fine with that.”

Brenn sat the basket down on the coffee table, his expression pleased. “I don’t mind at all.”

After Vanessa thanked them, the room fell silent…again. She kept shooting them curious looks, and they reciprocated. The morning had been spent trying to figure out how to get her home. They’d all had a common goal, so the very light personal conversation hadn’t seemed lacking. This new, awkward silence made her all the more aware of the fact that she didn’t know either of them very well. At all, in fact. An idea popped into her head, and she sat up straight with a wicked grin. “We’re going to play a game,” she informed them.

Dihn’s eyebrows rose while Brenn looked surprised at her comment.

“Okay,” Brenn said slowly. “I believe we may have Monopoly around here somewhere.” He looked about the room, his expression thoughtful.

“No. Not
that
game,” she said, waving him off. “We’re going to play ‘Truth or Dare’. We don’t really know anything about one another, so what better way to get acquainted?” She looked pleadingly at Brenn and patted the seat next to her. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

As Brenn reluctantly sat down next to her, Dihn asked, “Isn’t this a girl’s game?”

Vanessa narrowed her eyes playfully. “Yeah. So what? It’s girly, but it’s a fun way for us to get to know each other.” She arched an eyebrow at him in challenge. “You scared? Do you have a lot of secrets to hide?”

Brenn tensed next to her and shot Dihn a warning look.

The other man ignored this and rubbed his hands together eagerly. “I’ve got nothing to hide. Let’s do this, ladies.”

Vanessa grinned in delight. “Alright. I’ll go first.” She turned to Dihn with a pointed look. “Dihn, truth or dare?” On his confident smirk and truth option, she asked, “Is it true that you are living out here in the middle of nowhere because of some awful crime you’ve committed?”

“That is completely false. My record is squeaky clean.” He glanced at his friend with a devilish smirk. “Brenn, on the other hand, has three speeding violations on his record. Three. Oh, and a parking ticket.”

“What?” Brenn asked. “You said we were supposed to be getting to know each other. I was just curious if you’d be watching the game with us tomorrow night.”

“Then it’s a perfect question,” she assured. With a grin, she answered, “I am originally from Canada, so hockey is a must. I love watching it. I even had delusions of playing, but I’m a terrible skater.”

“I skate,” Brenn said, perking up a little. “I could teach you, help you get a little better at it while you’re here. We have a pond in the back of the house that we skate on occasionally.”

“I’d like that,” she said honestly. “Thank you.”

Dihn clapped his hands, abruptly ending their conversation. “My turn!” he said eagerly. After getting Vanessa to accept another question, he asked, “Is it true you are going commando in my sweatpants?”

“Dihn!” Brenn cried. “That is inappropriate!”

“Now, now,” Vanessa teased. “That’s how the game works. I have to answer.” Leaning over to Brenn’s laundry basket, she pulled out a skimpy pair of panties and held them up for Dihn to see. “I absolutely am.” Dropping the panties back into the basket, she raised her chin challengingly. “Dihn, truth or dare.”

“Truth.”

“Is it true you’re getting hard just thinking about the fact that I have no panties on?” She herself couldn’t help but be slightly aroused that her exposed genitals rubbed against the scratchy front of Dihn’s borrowed sweats.

“Dihn, truth or dare,” he said stiffly. Upon request for truth, he asked, “Do you think it’s true that this game is getting out of control?”

“That would be false. I think it’s just getting heated up.”

“Dihn,” Vanessa rushed on, not wanting them to notice that she’d already gone out of turn once. “Truth or dare.” On getting truth, she said, “Brenn looks pretty stressed out about this game. Is it true that the two of you have a secret you’re hiding from me?” She heard Brenn inhale sharply and knew she was on to something.

“Honey, you just barked up the wrong tree.” Brenn choked on his drink, but Dihn continued on, ignoring him. “I dare you to strip naked, go outside, and make a couple snow angels.”

“That is enough,” Brenn snapped angrily. “Vanessa, you don’t have to listen to a single thing he says. He’s behaving like an animal.”

She put a calming hand on his arm. “It’s okay. I’ve played this game before, and I was aware of the risks. Besides, this isn’t the worst thing I’ve been dared to do.” She shot Dihn a mock annoyed look. “It’s obviously been awhile since he’s seen a woman naked. He’s had to resort to trickery and scheming.”

“I gave you this dare because it’s so cold out. It had nothing to do with getting you naked,” Dihn said, and she knew he was lying.

“Then I guess this is just a lucky bonus.”

“Vanessa,” Brenn started, but all protests died in his throat the moment she climbed to her feet and pulled her t-shirt over her head, revealing her breasts.

The sweatpants were so baggy they were already slung low on her hips. She barely had to move to shimmy out of them. Strolling over to Dihn, she took his hand and pulled him to his feet, her eyes boring seductively into his. “Seeing as you issued the dare, you better come out and make sure I fulfill the requirements.”

Once they were on the porch, Vanessa stared out at the large field to the left of their house, shivering. “Alright. Here goes nothing,” she said reluctantly.

“You can always chicken out,” Dihn taunted.

Slapping him playfully on the chest, she pushed off and ran to the field without looking back. The snow was soft and flaky, but it was as cold as ice. She felt it sliding between her toes as she raced through the calf deep winter wonderland. Though she was freezing, she laughed in delight. She hadn’t felt this free and spontaneous in years…or this sexy.

Bracing herself for the cold, she spread her arms wide and dropped backward into the snow. She disappeared into the tufts and lay there for a moment, taking in the night sky. When she was convinced that she’d never get warm again, she began working on her angels.

She was just climbing up from her fourth one when Dihn yelled out, “Are you insane?” He laughed in disbelief, his breath steaming in front of him. “It’s cold! Get back in here already!”

Vanessa sprinted back to Dihn. He was holding his arms open for her, and she graciously lunged into his warm embrace, giggling as she did. “I was waiting for you to give the word.”

He brushed a damp strand of hair away from her face, staring down at her in amusement. “Like I said, you’re insane.”

Gazing up at him, Vanessa decided to do something completely insane. “Dihn,” she said softly, her breath fogging the air between them. “I dare you to kiss me.”

“It’s not your turn,” he informed her, voice barely above a whisper. When she went to pull away, he held her tight against his chest. “But I never play by the rules.” With that, he lowered his mouth to hers.

The kiss started out intense and hot. There was no warming up with Dihn. He was fiery by nature. While his lips attacked her own, his groin pressed forcefully against her pelvis. He was so thin that she could feel his hipbone digging persistently against hers.

As she opened her mouth to his unrelenting probing, allowing him to slip his tongue inside, his hand sought one of her nipples. He pinched it between a thumb and forefinger, causing her to moan into his mouth.

Pulling back, he lowered his head over her other breast. “So hard and eager after just one little kiss.” He took it into his mouth, his tongue swirling over the puckered flesh. He grazed his teeth along the sensitive bud, biting ever so gently.

“It’s hard because it’s cold out,” she defended, though she dug her nails into his back in pleasure.

Dihn suddenly released her and stepped back. “You’re right. We should get you back inside before you freeze.” His eyes told her this was the last thing he wanted, but he reluctantly led her into the warm house.

Brenn was waiting for them in the living room with a fluffy robe in hand. He went to speak but hesitated a moment at the sight of her pebbled nipples. Finally finding his voice, he said gruffly, “I’m sure you’ll want to get a hot shower now.” He wrapped the robe around her almost unwillingly and closed it.

“Not at all,” she disagreed. “I’m not letting a few naked snow angels ruin the game.” She pulled him down to sit next to her on the loveseat and leaned into his side for warmth. “Your turn, Brenn.”

Rolling his eyes and huffing, he said, “Whatever. I will continue your childish game. Dihn, what’ll it be?”

“Dare.”

Brenn finally grinned, though it had a hard edge to it. “I dare you to spend the rest of the game in your underwear. We’ll see how much
you
like being exposed.”

A wide grin spread across Dihn’s face. Without the slightest hesitation or sign of embarrassment, he stripped, leaving himself in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs.

While Dihn was busy preening, Vanessa quickly asked, “Dihn, truth or dare?” When he chose dare yet again, she knew she had him. “I dare you to show me what your secret is.”

Dihn cut him off. “No. If she wants to see that badly, then let her.” Amidst Brenn’s loud protests, Dihn climbed to his feet. “Follow me, princess. Just remember you were the one who asked to see this.”

With a quick glance at Brenn’s weary, unhappy face, she mouthed, “I’m sorry.” She then turned and followed Dihn back onto the porch. “It’s outside?” she asked, peering into the yard. “Do you have a body buried out here or something?”