---- Two hours remained until Lucia''s birthday party. In the lounge, Sebastian suggested ying games to pass the time. Victoria brought out a deck of cards. "Let''s y the King''s Game." It was a simple game. A joker and several number cards were drawn. Whoever got the joker became the "king" and could order any cardholder to perform a task. Most of those present were couples. Asher and Thalia, Sebastian and Victoria, James and N. The singles were Charlotte, Rupert, Lucia, and Timothée.
---- This made things interesting. Everyone could see Rupert''s feelings for Thalia. Lucia made no effort to hide her interest in Asher. As for Charlotte and Timothée, others couldn''t tell much, but Thalia knew Timothée hade for Charlotte. The game was simple but exciting. The thrill came from having to do whatever the "king"manded. Victoria drew the king card first. She scanned the group with a mischievous smile. "Ten of spades, do one hundred push-ups." "Damn!" Sebastian eximed.
"How did you know which card Thad?" Victoria grinned. "That''s what you call a perfect connection." Sebastian stood up reluctantly. "Well yed. Don''t draw again next time." ---- He dropped to the floor in the center of the lounge and began doing push-ups. Sebastian knocked out fifty without breaking a sweat. James teased, "Nice stamina there." Sebastian even had the energy to joke back. "Obviously. Someone would be disappointed if my stamina wasn''t up to par." Victoria''s face turned crimson.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Shut your mouth!" "Yes, ma''am." Charlotte giggled quietly. "What are youughing at?" Victoria turned to her suspiciously. "Don''t tell me you understood that immediately? Oh no, Charlotte, you''re not so innocent after all." Charlotteughed softly. "I didn''t. Don''t make things up." Sebastian finished his hundred push-ups, breathing only slightly harder. ---- He twisted open a water bottle and took a sip.
"Please, a hundred push-ups is nothing for a guy with an eight-pack." Victoria shot him a death re. Sebastian grinned. "Why are you ring? You know best whether I have an eight-pack or not." "Will you stop!" Victoria''s face reddened further. Their antics lifted Thalia''s mood considerably. She enjoyed watching the show from the sidelines. In the second round, James drew the king card. He raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Six of hearts, choose someone of the opposite sex to kiss." "Bold move!" Sebastian shouted. "ying hardball, huh? That''s my man." James smiled rakishly. "Isn''t the point of party games to be a little daring?" Sebastianughed. "Let''s see which poor soul has the six of hearts." ---- Thalia checked her card and sighed in relief-four of spades. At least it wasn''t her. Everyone who confirmed they didn''t have the card rxed slightly.
Asher chuckled softly, calmly turning his card to face the group. Six of hearts. Sebastian wiggled his eyebrows teasingly. "Well, well, look who it is. I wonder who you''ll choose to kiss? Couldn''t be Thalia, could it?" The answer was obvious. Who else but Thalia? Whether from the alcohol or embarrassment, a soft blush spread across Thalia''s cheeks. Asher turned to her, his voice maic and enticing. "Thalia, shall we kiss?" "Whoa, so gentlemanly! Asking permission?" Sebastian teased ---- with a grin.