CHAPTER FOURTEEN: UNDER THE MOONLIGHT

The sun slipped below the horizon, leaving the sky painted in deep purples and shimmering stars. Back inside the lake house, the fire crackled low, casting flickering shadows across the room. You, Charles, and Charlie settled in close, the warmth from the flames mingling with the warmth between you. The air felt charged, every glance loaded with meaning, every brush of skin sparking a fire you couldn’t—and didn’t want to—ignore. Charles reached for your hand first, his touch slow and reverent, like he was afraid to break the fragile moment. Charlie mirrored him on the other side, fingers tracing soft patterns along your arm. You closed your eyes, leaning into the sensation, heart pounding like a drumbeat. The space between you grew smaller, the world narrowing to just the three of you. Charles’s lips found yours, gentle at first—exploring, tentative—before deepening with a hunger that made your knees weak. Charlie’s hands slid around your waist, pulling you closer, his mouth leaving a trail of kisses along your jaw, down your neck. You gasped softly, lost between the two of them, their touches igniting a fire that burned hotter with every second. They moved in sync, careful but eager, like a dance you’d been practicing without knowing the steps. There were whispers—soft words, promises, confessions—all tangled with breathless laughter and shivering sighs. When the night finally stretched long and still around you, you felt something undeniable: You belonged. To them. To this. To the beautiful, messy, perfect love that was yours. What happens next? Do you want to savor this moment, lost in their arms and the magic of the night? Or maybe take things further, exploring the depths of your connection? Or introduce a new challenge or twist to test your bond? Choose your next step.