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Two people rushed away to find her, shortly dragging her with them and forcing her in the circle.

Animals.

Is she actually going to play?

“Spin it.” One of them nudged her.

“What happens?” she asked.

They waited for her to twirl the bottle before answering. “You kiss the person it lands on.”

She attempted to stop the bottle from moving, but someone grabbed her arms. “You have to play.”

Reaper squinted her eyes at the bottle, like she was trying to control it with her mind. I couldn’t help my chuckle, but stopped when the bottle landed on me.

Moira really hates me.

I locked eyes with Reaper. “Uh, I’m not playing.”

“You’re standing here, that means you are,” Jamiel laughed.

“I am not kissing her.”

“Rules are rules, Cinth, and you have to follow them,” Jamiel said.

My face heated. I’ve never kissed anyone before. “No,” I said, sternly.

Someone let out an annoyed breath. “Fine, then the person to your right has to.”

I glanced at the person next to me, a big smirk on his face. “My lucky day. ”

Yeah, nah.

I pulled him back to me. “She doesn’t even want to do this, you guys tricked her.”

Reaper laughed. “I’m not a drag.”

I glared at her. “I’m not a drag either.”

“Seems like you are.”

“Prove her wrong, Cinth!” Iri’s smile was a bit too wide as she pushed me towards Reaper.

“Iri,” I hissed.

“Cel, kiss him!” Iri said.

“How long does it have to be?” Reaper asked, as if she were asking how long a cake needed to be in the oven.

“One minute,” Iri replied.

“You just made that up, didn’t you?” I growled at her.

“No.” She waved her hand in the air, pushing me closer towards Reaper. “I would never!”

I let out a deep breath. “You’re so bloody small,” I muttered, picking her up and setting her on the high counter, now at more equal heights. I looked at her, but quickly turned away.

My heart raced against my chest. Are we actually going to do this? Everyone was watching us. I didn’t know what I imagined my first kiss to be like, I’ve never really bothered with it, but this was probably at the bottom of the list.

“Do it, Cinth!” Jamiel urged.

I hesitated. I didn’t know what to do or how to start this. Do I tilt my head so our noses don’t clash? Where do my hands go? I cursed, my face heating. I’m not doing this sober. Grabbing Jamiel’s drink, I downed it .

“Oh my gods.” Reaper rolled her eyes. “You are so dramatic, you’re just making this into a bigger deal than it actually is.”

“Cel,” one of them said. “He’s never kissed someone before.”

I heard a few snickers.

It wasn’t a secret, but he didn’t have to say it like that.

I met Reaper’s eyes, wondering what mocking comment she’d make, but she didn’t.

“Who would want to kiss that?” someone commented and more people laughed, making more cruel jokes about my inexperience and my spooky appearance.

I’ve never made relationships or intimacy a priority and besides, I’m only seventeen…

Her eyes shifted behind me towards those who spoke, but I couldn’t read the expression on her face. The crowd quickly grew, eager for the show.

“Look, Cel, if you really don't want to kiss him, you can pick someone else instead,” someone told her.

Celestine responded by cupping my cheeks and pulling me towards her. “Don’t think,” she whispered before her lips met mine.

Holy shit.

I knew they would be soft, but I wasn’t prepared for the way she took it slow, allowing me to adjust to the sensation of our lips connecting before gradually deepening the kiss.

Her hands found their way to my hair, fingers tangling in it as she gently removed my beanie, letting it fall to the floor.

Why does that feel good? Shit.

I pulled away from her for a moment, trying to regain my composure. “This means nothing.”

She nodded, but I couldn't ignore the way my hands instinctively settled on her hips, dragging her closer. Reaper wrapped her legs around my waist, parting her lips just enough for me to slip my tongue into her mouth .

I don’t even know who I am anymore.

Totally the alcohol and drugs. I would never do this sober, especially not with her—Or maybe only with her, if anyone. She pulled me down closer and had the audacity to let out a soft moan.

Bloody hell, Reaper.

I wanted to hear that again, I wanted to hear how loud she could be, to be the one who made her scream.

“One minute,” Iri said, but we didn’t stop.

No.

We couldn’t.

Reaper took one of my hands, guiding it under her top.

My fingers lightly grazed the side of her stomach, then travelled to her back.

Her skin was soft, smooth, and toned, and I couldn't help but marvel at the lines of scars that traced her body, each one a testament to a story I could only guess at.

“They’re really going at it,” someone cursed behind us.

The music blasting in the house couldn’t drown the hot blood thumping against my ears.

Reaper lightly bit my lip and I breathed a curse, attempting to pull her closer to me, though it wasn’t possible.

How could I get closer? Why does this feel so good?

Why does it feel so wrong but so right? Was it just with her, or was it like this with anyone?

The very thought of doing this with anyone else disgusted me.

Her hand slithered up over my hoodie, her nails lightly scratching my neck as she made her way down past my collarbone to my chest, tugging at the collar of my hoodie. Electricity surged through her touch and goosebumps prickled my skin.

I’ve completely lost control .

Before I felt like we were even getting started, Reaper pushed me away. “This meant nothing,” she mimicked, a playful curve at the edge of her lips, as she hopped off the counter and fixed her top.

“Absolutely nothing,” I replied, shoving my hands in my pocket, but my body ached for more.

She picked up my beanie, handing it to me before turning to Iri. “I don’t want to play this game anymore.” Then she picked up a random drink and walked away.

Jamiel’s face was flushed. “I have never seen two people kiss like that and turn everyone on before.”

I have never been turned on before.

They all stared at me.

“I don’t even think we need to ask if that was good,” one of them said.

Yeah, it was bloody good, and I craved more. What’s wrong with me? I am never drinking ever again, look at what it’s doing to my mind, and I only had a bit. I hate Reaper. I thought about killing her. So why did I want her to come back and finish what we started?

I licked my lips, the last bit of her on it.

“You’re welcome.” Iri patted my chest.

“How does it feel to have your first kiss be Celestine bloody Vicary?” Jamiel smirked.

Like kissing will never be like that again, not unless it was with her. “Where the bloody hell did she learn that?” I muttered, slipping my beanie back over my head.

Jamiel shrugged, chuckling into his cup as he took a big chug of it.

I grabbed a random bottle off the counter and took a swing of it, wanting to forget what I’d just done. Who knew I had such high tolerance to alcohol? It still hadn't taken effect on me yet and I'd drunk quite a bit already .

“Oi, Cinth.” Jamiel wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Maybe you should calm down a bit.”

I slammed the now near empty bottle back on the counter. “Don't tell me what to do,” I snapped at him, and he pursed his lips. I needed to go to the bathroom and cool off. I headed in the direction of it but was stopped by Lin.

“You dog! I can’t believe you!”

“What?” I asked, boredly.

“You made out with Celestine!”

“It didn’t mean shit,” I told him.

He rubbed his face with his hands. “You actually need to get your head checked. She’s the most beautiful girl in the entire city, I cannot believe you did that with her and didn’t fall in love.”

I’ll get back to him on that.

I took the drink in his hand and poured it down my throat. It tasted horrible, but I wanted to forget this night, maybe I’d be okay to let loose for once.

“Oh, gods, Cinth,” Lin gasped.

“I have control,” I muttered more to myself than him, but honestly, I didn’t know anymore. I brushed past him to get to the bathroom. I opened the door, but there was no lock.

Why?

When I turned around, Reaper was there, reapplying her gloss, with a slight smile. At least she wasn’t doing anything.

“There’s no lock,” I said.

“I know,” she replied, putting away her lip gloss. It was glittery, tasted like vanilla. I stepped to the side to let her leave, but she grabbed me by the collar and slammed my back into the door .

I cursed and reached into my pocket for my knife, but she pulled me down by the back of the head and stopped. Our lips just a breath apart. Reaper was waiting for me, to see what I would do, if I wanted this just as much as her, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.

I think I craved it more.

I leaned in, closing the gap between us.

We hated each other, so why are we doing this? What is wrong with us? The mirror fogged up and all the contents that were once on the sink were scattered to the floor.

“Hyacinth.”

I loved when she said my name, just like that, and I simply couldn’t fathom just how beautiful she was, even when I was doing this to her.

As I gripped onto the sink, the thought of choosing to do this over spilling blood was easy.

There was nothing that I wanted more than to do this with her every day. All day.

I don't know how, but I stumbled back with her wrapped around me, quickly pulling her head into my chest, holding her tight as I fell into the tub next to us with her on top of me. Shit.

“Are you alright?” I asked, her face blurry now.

She nodded with a laugh. “Are you?”

If I'm being honest, I barely felt it. I guess they were right, alcohol makes you numb. “Gods.” I laughed with her.

The door burst open, and we turned to it.

“Angels above!” Iri gasped.

“Cinth!” Jamiel laughed.

“Oh my gods.” Lin’s eyes were wide.