Page 43 of House of Desire

“Sorry, girl. They sent me out here.”

I squeeze her arm as I move past. “It’s okay, I understand.”

Disappointment has me turning back only to find Parker’s green eyes set on me.

Minutes tick by as the girls rotate out to talk to Parker one-on-one. When Carmen sashays her way out the door, the last of us to go, I feel my nose wrinkle.

“Hide it a little better, babe. A camera is probably on you right now,” Zoey says under her breath as she brings her new drink to her lips. Taking her advice, I paste on a smile and wait until we are told to find our places for the elimination ceremony.

“Ladies, it’s time. Parker, do you have anything you’d like to say?” Jacob Jacobson asks, standing to Parker’s right, like always.

“Every week this becomes more difficult. I never thought it would be this hard to decide who to send home. You’re all changing me for the better.”

“If you don’t receive a flame tonight, your time on House of Desire will be over. Parker,” Jacob says and then steps back.

Taking a candle from the basket, Parker lights it and turns toward us.

“Anya,” he says and a huge smile lights my face at being called first. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but after our talk earlier, I’m wondering if it does as I walk up to him. “Anya, will you accept this flame of my desire?”

“I’d love to,” I say, taking the candle from him as he presses another kiss to my cheek. I want to turn into him, let our lips meet, but after my brief moment of insanity earlier, I know that I don’t want the other women around for our first kiss.

I move back to my spot as Parker lights another candle.

“Zoey,” he says.

My blue-haired friend moves to stand in front of him.

“Zoey, would you accept this flame of my desire?”

“Absolutely,” she says, taking it with a smile. He doesn’t kiss her cheek.

After Zoey, he calls up Carmen, Leslie, and then Olivia before Jacob steps forward.

“Parker. Ladies. It’s the last candle of the night,” he says before stepping back once more, a languid smile on his face. It looks like he has no thoughts going on in his mind, a robot in standby mode.

Emily and Mia step forward as the last two while Parker lights the last candle.

“Emily,” he calls and she steps forward. “Emily, will you accept the flame of my desire?”

“I will,” she says, giving him a small hug before joining the rest of us.

“Mia, I’m sorry, you have not received a flame tonight, and your journey will end here,” Jacob says, and that is the key for us to break from our stiff positions. We all blow out our candles as Mia says goodbye to Parker.

One of the members of production carries a tray with seven glasses of champagne for our end of elimination toast. Mia waves goodbye to us and heads out of the mansion, Parker walking her out to the limo. Returning, he grabs his glass of champagne from production, lifting it up.

“Here’s to another week looking for love,” he says simply, and we all clink our glasses, mentally preparing for the week ahead.

Isit in a waiting room, tranquil wall colors and music making me think of Sharon’s waiting room as I wait for Anastasia. I was a little weary when I pulled up to the therapist’s office, but when I really started thinking about it, I decided starting therapy a little early wouldn’t be a bad thing. Especially in this situation where we are both performing for cameras.

No matter how much you want to act normal, you’re still aware of being watched. Plus, the stress of normal life is missing from these encounters. Trying to date with jobs and friends and kids. Any responsibilities that are a normal part of everyday life.

Anastasia steps from the car and her simple outfit takes my breath away. Black cut-off shorts hug her hips and the soft, white tank top ends a few inches above the waistband, the skin there enticing.

Her red lips beg me to mess up her lipstick.

I’ve wanted to kiss her since the first night she ended up sprawled at my feet.

I don’t know why I keep hesitating. I can tell she wants me to and yet, for some reason, with her, I don’t want it to be filmed. I want it to be just ours and I know that’s not a possibility.

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