dress and stockings. The cross-dressing isn’t my kink, but wow does it get you excited like nothing else. You hold that tutu up with your erect cock.” She marched off, Preston in tow. “Why wait till tonight? Let’s go to bed now.”
Preston let himself be dragged. “Bye, Belle. See you at the grove.”
Blown away, I waved without thinking about it.
“Sirens,” I mumbled. “I’ll never understand your kind.”
NATHAN
Touring an orange grove is as exciting as you think.
As in not at all.
Mosquitoes dive-bombed me in all directions, so desperate for my sweet blood that they’d risk death under my smack.
“—this land for a hundred years,” droned the tour guide. “We’re the largest supplier of orange juice on the East Coast.”
This Desai patch of land was impressive. Hundreds of acres of orange trees backed onto a cliff dropping straight down to the ocean. Smack in the middle of the fruit was the processing center. An air-conditioned haven with a waiting area and decent snacks that they ripped us away from too soon.
Our group of thirty-six trailed the guide, Rosalie, and Mr. Hendrix down a row of endless orange trees. His speech buzzed in my ear, some of it getting through and some not. What had my attention was Belle freakin’ Adler.
She was a sea goddess in her coral string bathing suit and shining hair flying every which way in the wind. But her change of outfit into a tight floral dress with see-through mesh on the sides was just evil. It made it clear to the world, me, and the guy twitching in my pants that she wasn’t wearing underwear.
She’s doing it again.
Sucking me into her vortex and bashing me against every rock on the way down. The night before she screamed at me, accusing me of breaking us up and lying about cheating on me. Then she’s telling me to jerk off for her and the next thing I know she’s under me, licking me off her lips. After, she says it won’t happen again and slams the door in my face.
If the goal was to punish me for the wrongs she imagined—it worked.
I was ready to burst through that door and apologize for the breakup, covering up Area 51, and the Lincoln assassination if it meant more than just a taste.
Instead I hopped on my balcony, took a freezing shower, and tried to think of anything but her. I held out as long as the football game. There she was, lying there all alone, and I had to be close to her. Smell her lavender bodywash. Count the beads of sweat running down her neck. But of course, once I slipped into the trap, I did the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my nineteen years of life and proposed we sleep together no strings attached.
I eyed Belle ahead talking to Preston. Delilah had shoved herself between them, clinging to Preston’s arm fit to cut off circulation. I closed the distance.
“Shouldn’t you be with Carter?” Delilah asked. “Spend some time with the man that wants to marry you.”
“Carter can fling himself off that cliff. I’m not getting married. Do I have to write it in the sky?”
“What are you doing tonight?” Preston asked.
“Don’t know,” Belle replied. “Hanging out. Watching a movie. Maybe go for a swim.”
“Want some company?”
I shook my head. Is this guy seriously asking out another girl over Delilah’s head? Someone who has everything riding on that marriage can’t be this ballsy.
“Yeah, Belle.” Delilah kissed his cheek. “Me, Preston, you, and Carter should have a movie night.”
“Everyone.” Rosalie cut off whatever Belle had been about to say. “Gather around, please.”
We formed a semicircle around her and her assistant. Mr. Hendrix held a stack of papers in his hands.
“I hope you enjoyed your tour of the grove,” she began. “It’s important to me that we get you out of the villa and exploring this beautiful island. It’s too lovely a backdrop to waste.”
I wandered over to Belle. Now that’s a lovely backdrop.
“I confess I have another reason for bringing you out here. Today is the first of the one-on-one activities,” she said. “Throughout our time here, every one of you will have an opportunity to talk and see how you click. The activity will be different each time to keep it fun and fresh. Today begins our first, the video scavenger hunt.” She waved her hands. “Pair up, take your scavenger list, and then find a private spot to complete your tasks.”
Delilah hauled Preston off quick—no doubt coming to the