Page 24 of Her Filthy Mistake

“Take it.” His nostrils flare as I suck the fruit from his fingertips. When the tip of my tongue touches his skin, he growls, and the rest of the room fades away.

He smells of cedar and spices, and I want to run my hands through his hair and travel my tongue along his stubborn jawline.

One corner of his mouth rises as he shakes his head. “The forbidden fruit. It’s always so tempting.” He slips his fingers free, and his hand drops to his lap. “But is it only tempting because it’s forbidden? Those things that are always bad for you, but you can’t help but want them anyway? A filthy mistake. A tempting, filthy mistake. Like a drug that you can’t quit.”

His words are like a bucket of ice doused over my head. “Rest assured. This piece of fruit won’t be plucked by someone who doesn’t respect her and equates her value with a drug to be avoided. I’m not something to objectify. And if you think I am, you’re the one with the problem. Not me.” I leap up from the floor and speedwalk through the room while blinking back tears.

No matter what happens, he’ll never see me as something besides a thing to avoid. To ward against. Or a weakness to regret. A filthy mistake. I don’t want those things. I want to be someone’s queen. And it’s time to stop settling for less.

Chapter Thirteen

Jace

Leaving is sounding like the best idea in the world because spending another second with Zoe in public is dangerous. I fought the pull to drag her onto the floor and devour something besides a strawberry with so much intensity that I have crescent moons in my palms from my fingernails and a raging headache. We won’t talk about what else is screaming at me.

But I had to push her away. The desire in her eyes was nearly my undoing. Her father will be here in days, and there’s no way he has a different opinion about me than he did two years ago. Being here with her like this is dangerous enough. If he suspected it was something more, that we were intimate, I don’t know what he’d do.

“Don’t forget your assignments.” The perky, annoying coach says into her microphone. “There will be a prize tomorrow for the couple that knows the most about each other.” She smiles as she takes in all the couples.

Well, all the couples except for me. Zoe dashed out the door ten minutes ago, telling her mom she had her own headache and needed to lie down. The fact that spending time with me gives her a headache should overpower the image of her now sprawled on her bed with her hair splayed on the pillow. Feet from my bedroom. But it doesn’t. It’s enough to drive me insane.

“What is it?” Carly claps her hands and grasps Landon’s forearm. “I love a prize and a competition.” She glances up at his smiling face. “Do you remember that Christmas we played board games all night?”

“Yes, dear.” He kisses her temple. “I do. It was a beautiful holiday filled with family and fun.” He turns his attention to me. “Right, Jace? I believe you and Zoe were a force to be reckoned with that night.”

“Yes, it was great. One big happy holiday.” Shit. I don’t want to think about that Christmas. That was the holiday I realized Zoe had turned into a woman, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. The weekend she kissed me under the mistletoe. Her soft lips against mine when I leaned in to offer her my cheek. It was over as quickly as it started. But it didn’t matter. That one touch seared her to my soul, and I’ve never been able to wrench her free.

We were paired together at those times also. Zoe has a competitive streak strong enough to challenge her mother’s. We always came out on top. We won’t this time.

“The prize is a snorkeling trip with a picnic on the beach tomorrow in the late afternoon and into the early evening. It’s on our private beach that costs 5k to rent for the evening. And one lucky couple gets it for free.”

“Oh, Zoe would love that. She’s never been snorkeling.” Carly frowns. “It’s too bad she’s not feeling well. But….” She shrugs as her eyes dance. “That means we’re going to win.”

“No, you aren’t.” Violet pipes up.

“Please….” Carly rolls her eyes. “You two just met. There’s no way you’re going to know more about each other than Landon and I do.”

They continue to banter as I survey the questions.

What are you afraid of?

What is your biggest regret?

Who do you wish you could meet again under different circumstances?

Jesus. Let’s use an ice pick and stab it into my heart. I can’t answer those questions. Not and keep my pride. Where is, what’s your favorite color, or if you could be any animal, what would you be types of questions?

“All right, folks. These are only a sample of the kinds of questions that I’ll be asking, so the more you know about each other, the better off you’ll be.” The woman claps her hands. “Have a fabulous night, and I’ll see you bright and early at 9 a.m.”

Moments later, I step into the bungalow and shiver. The temperature is not that cold, but to go from the heat and humidity of the island to the dehumidified building is a substantial change.

It’s quiet, with no sign of Zoe. Did she leave? It wouldn’t surprise me if she grabbed her gear and caught the next flight off the island. I wouldn’t blame her. Not 15 minutes ago, I was contemplating the same thing. I walk around the common space and find nothing of hers.

She left. My heart drops to my gut. Fuck. As much as it pains me to be near her and not touch her, the alternative is excruciating. I need to be near her to breathe.

I turn the knob to her empty room and step inside. It still holds the faint scent of her perfume. The bed is made with the comforter pulled tight, and the complimentary chocolate pieces adorn the white cushioned pillows. That’s a waste. No one’s going to eat it. When the maid comes back tomorrow, she can toss them.

After turning on my heel, a shriek from behind me causes me to jump. I spin back around, and my mouth drops open. Zoe stands on the bathroom threshold without a stitch of clothes on. My eyes rake over her curves, from her shoulders to her perfect breasts and down to the soft roundness of her hips. The woman is breathtaking.

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