The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

Noelle pulled a wry smile. "I'm not nervous, just feeling a tad awkward!"

"What's the burning question everyone's dying to know?" Steven chimed in. "Sean, you're up!"

"Okay, here goes!" Sean clapped his hands together, touched his nose, and beamed innocently. "Where was your first time with Charles, and how long did it last?"

Noelle gasped, her smile turning strained.

It was not just Noelle. Everyone else sucked in a breath too, giving Sean looks that were part admiration, part 'good luck with that.' With a mischievous grin, Sean prodded, "Come on, Noelle, spill the beans!" "Um... I'll take a drink!" Noelle reached for her glass, but Charles held it down. "As for duration, how about we see how long you can last if I start throwing punches?"

Sean was speechless.

Laughter soon filled the room.

Even Bob could not resist a chuckle, giving Sean a knowing shake of his head.

"That's not fair, you can't answer for her!" Sean protested. "Besides, talk is cheap. You say you're all that, but who can back you up?" He looked at Noelle. "See, Noelle's not saying a word. You're obviously bluffing!"

"True or not, you'd get the picture pretty quick if I worked you over," Charles said as he stood, shrugged off his jacket, and handed it to Noelle, who took it without a fuss. He cracked his knuckles, his gaze fixed on Sean. "On your feet!"

"Uh... we were just playing a game, how did it escalate to this? Hehe, don't you trust me?" Sean backed down. "I'll take this drink for Mr. Fischer!"

Steven's dark eyes sparkled with mischief. "You know, I've been really curious about your moves, Sean. Haven't seen you in years-have you gotten any better?" Charles chimed in. "Yeah, I want to see that too!"

"No way, I'll take the drink, I'll do it right now!" Sean chugged the drink in his hand. "Who's up next? Noelle?"

Noelle watched Sean gulp down the drink meant for her, like a warrior making a tough sacrifice, and she could not help but swallow hard. "Uh, that would be me."

She took a seat and spun the bottle.

It ended up pointing right at Sean. Noelle paused, a bit shocked, and, then the faughter around her broke out. Peter chuckled along. "Looks like it's your chance for payback."

swnov

Noelle's lips curved into a sly smile as she leaned in and whispered something to Charles, whose narrow eyes gleamed with a teasing light Sean's expression tightened he had a hunch that it would not end well. Then, Charles asked, "Truth or dare?"

Sean, with a playful squint in his eyes, declared, "I'm not picking truth-don't think I don't know what you lovebirds are plotting. I'll take the dare!"

"Okay," Noelle said with a grin. "Your dare is to pick someone here, besides me and Charles, and give them a real kiss-a French kiss, no half-hearted pecks allowed."

Sean's face dropped. He scanned the room, his eyes finally landing on Charles and Noelle. "Does it have to be this intense?"

Noelle's eyes twinkled like crescent moons. "Intense? Not at all! Mr. Smith picked this dare himself, so let's get this show on the road!"

The whole crowd was on edge,

waiting for what was next. In the entire VIP room, besides Noelle, Jennifer was the only other girl, and she was Peter's sister and Yoel's betrothed, no less. The game was definitely on another level. However,

it Sean did not kiss Jennifer, he would have to kiss one of the

guys.