Page 27 of Insta Bride

I giggled and skipped away. He seemed so insulted, and not in a cute way. He thought I’d meant it. Only when I got ten metres away, did I turn around and admit, “Okay, okay, okay. I want to wake up next to you.”

“Say it again,” he called, chasing after me. “Elena, I’m an old man and my hearing is shot. Say it again.”

“No no. I’ve said it once, that’s enough.” Each time he got closer, I skipped further ahead. Suddenly, he sprinted, catching me and spinning me into his chest. My heart raced in ways I didn’t know were possible. I felt the uncomfortable anticipation of hope and belief and trust rear their ugly heads. I did not want to trust this man. I really, really didn’t, but I felt so incredibly happy being wanted by Kye, part of me wanted to ride the wave.

“Tell me, Elena Mercer,” he said, his husky voice speaking straight to my centre. “Who is this someone you want to wake up next to?”

I stood, licking my lips. There were no visible cameras.

“Give me a reason to want to.” I whispered. “Give me one good reason to want to wake up next to you.”

My other towel dropped beneath his hands. I felt the wetness of his briefs against my hips and ground against him until his cool erection pressed hard against my stomach.

I didn’t know what to do, or say, or think. Only give into the moment.

“Elena?”

“Yes.”

“There are no cameras here.”

“Ah ha?”

“There are no cameras here,” he repeated, “And I doubt the microphones are still working.”

He brushed strands of wet hair from my face. Why wouldn’t he kiss me?

“Do you want this?” he asked. “Do you want to try this relationship thing, with me?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

I looked around again. No witnesses. Just Kye and I. “Yes,” I said. “Yes, I’m sure.”

We mucked around in the villa. Settling in, kissing more, and by the time we made our way to the dining hall we were hand-in-hand and I couldn’t stop giggling like a schoolgirl. I was falling head and truly over lust or heels or whatever with Kye. Dumb. Crazy. I couldn’t stop it.

By the time we joined the others and sat down in our production-assigned seats, we were the talk of the table. Even Campbell and Matt were in awe at how the impossible had happened.

“What’s the drinking game gonna be tonight?” Dawson asked. Of course, the footballer insisted on a drinking game each night. Not that most of the group needed a reason to empty the open bar.

“How about, every time Kye looks at our girlfriends with intent, he has to down a shot?” Benjamin suggested, running a finger down Kenzie’s arm. They really did deserve each other.

“Let’s make it interesting for the girls. He then has to take off his shirt and give us fifty crunches. I love a good ab workout and Elena doesn’t look the type to give any man a work-out in the sack,” Campbell had bought her A-class bitch game.

“And all the times I look at my own girlfriend with intent?” Kye had upped the PDAs. One arm still attached to my shoulder and the other playing with my fingers under the table.

“What do you suggest?” Staci asked. She was my closest friend on the island and if we had to double-date, Tony and Staci were no-brainers.

“For every fifteen consecutive minutes he either can’t keep his eyes or hands off Elena, we take a shot.”

“I’ve got a better idea,” Kye drew our hands to his lips and kissed each of my fingers. I felt the touch in places I had no right to be feeling in public. Even knowing we’d be spending our first night in the same bed, I had no right drenching my panties in public and on camera. “I don’t want the rest of you being rushed to the mainland to get your stomachs’ pumped.”

“But this is your punishment for trying to hook-up with Kenzie,” Benjamin said, not letting go of his jealousy. Anyone with eyes could see that Kenzie was making a play for anyone who might get her extra camera time.

“Babe?” Kye ignored the table, unleashing the full force of his eyes on me. Damn, he was gorgeous, charismatic and could charm the pants of a num. “How long have I been holding your hand?”

“Since we left the villa.”

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