Page 32 of Taking the Heat

‘Contestants! Please select a platform!’ Ten circular raised platforms lay on the stage, each covered with fake grass and about the size of an extra-large pizza. We all stepped up and scattered to the circles.

‘If the man moves off the platform, you are disqualified. If any part of the lady touches the ground, you are disqualified. So, the man must stay on his feet and the lady must stay off hers. Good luck! We begin in ten … nine … eight …’

‘Quick, jump on my shoulders,’ Chris said, crouching down.

‘Wait!’ I pulled off my dress. ‘You’ll have better grip without it.’ In only my bikini, I slid my thighs over his broad shoulders, feeling his thick muscles tense as he stood up.

‘… Three! Two!One!’ The gong rang and Miles began a commentary. I could barely hear him. My senses were overloaded.

Between my legs, Chris’ head brushed against my stomach and I rested my hands lightly on his mahogany hair. The powerful scent of clean man swamped my nasal passages; I breathed him in, desperate to see if he tasted as good as he smelled. My feet were locked tightly behind his back and his hands were on my ankles, which he rubbed gently.

I’d never thought of my ankles as being an erogenous zone, but as Chris massaged my Achilles tendons, I felt sparks down to my toes and up to my knees. A wave of dizziness caused my legs to relax and I tipped backwards.

‘Shit!’ Chris tilted back as well and we both began to fall. Every muscle working, he pulled forward, his feet staggering. By some miracle, we stayed on the platform.

‘Goodness me! The Aussies were almost out! Better concentrate, kids.’ Miles wagged a finger at us.

‘Tara, please don’t do that again.’

‘Please don’t rub my ankles again, then!’

‘Okay, okay. I don’t mean to touch you. It doesn’t seem to be something I have any control over.’

I couldn’t see his face, but I could hear the genuine confession in his voice. ‘I know.’ My body was exactly the same. Despite the cameras aimed at us, my nipples were rock hard in arousal and the gusset of my bikini bottoms was definitely damper than the rest of my suit.

Trying to concentrate, I looked around at the other competitors. Some, like us, had gone for shoulder-rides. Others were cuddled in piggy-backs or cradled in arms. Two platforms down from us, Henry stood in extreme discomfort, with Jendayi wrapped koala-style around him, chatting and laughing.

After ten minutes or so, four couples had lost their footing or strength and had been knocked out. After fifteen minutes, two more were gone, and Chris suggested, ‘Hey, do you want to climb down into my arms for a while? My neck is getting pretty sore.’

‘Are you calling me fat?’ I teased.

‘Well, I didn’t want to say anything, bacon-girl …’

I poked him in the side with my toe and he squeaked in a very unmanly fashion. ‘Oi! Do you want to win or not?’

‘Yes,’ I said, twisting and sliding down from his shoulders. Chris has huge arms, and they supported me as if I weighed less than a pillow. He gently arranged me until I was splayed against his chest and belly, my arms interlocked behind his head and my legs pressed to his backside.

If my body was excited before, it practically wept with joy now. My nipples scraped against his chest and I moaned slightly as they grew even firmer, swelling in pleasure. Between my thighs, it was a full-blown pants party, and I could feel a bulge developing under Chris’ swimsuit. He shifted and groaned.

He ran his hands into my hair, winding his fingers through the strands. ‘I never want this game to end.’

‘Me neither.’ I leaned my head towards his and he rested his forehead on mine. Closing my eyes, I revelled in the way his breath played on my lips. Sweat ran freely down our skin, the heat burning between us.

‘Tara, listen—’

‘Toshi! That was a foot off your platform, my Japanese friend! You and Mila are out! That leaves only three couples left in the running! Chris and Tara, Jen and Henry, and Nik and Meghan!’

With the announcement, I tore my head away from Chris to see how the others were doing. Nik and Meghan looked set for all eternity; she was curled up like a tiny doll in his arms as he held her effortlessly, his eyes adoring. The sight of the new couple made me ridiculously pleased.

Meanwhile, Henry was struggling. His arms were shaking and his legs wobbled as Jen struggled for a better grip. I figured we only had another few minutes before it was all over.

Chris spoke in my ear, his deep voice sending little shockwaves down my solar plexus. ‘We should forfeit.’

I was enjoying the feel of his words so much, I almost missed their meaning. ‘What? Why?’

‘Because you already have a key and Jen desperately needs one.’

‘What about Henry?’

---