Page 6 of Love on Ice

“I’m sorry,” I tell her. Cheaters are the worst people.

She waves my condolences away. “It’s okay. He’s not the first and, unfortunately, probably won’t be the last man to mess me over.”

“That sucks,” I tell her.

“New York men are trash.”

“Not all New York men.” She gives me a look that says,‘Yeah, all men.’I might be dealing with a man-hater here. Dammit. But she looks so hot, such a shame.But she is on her way to a sex club island.So … “You really believe that?” I ask her.

“Yeah, I do. But also, it’s probably me. Apparently, men think I’m a lot.” She then tilts her head and gives me her full attention. “You’re a guy, let me ask you this. Do you think it’s a turn-off if the woman you’re seeing likes sex, is career driven, independently wealthy, owns her own home, loves traveling, raises money for charity, is bubbly, and loves to party?” I stare at her. Is she being serious? Then I see it on her face, she is genuinely asking me the question. She isn’t looking for compliments, she’s confused about why the men she’s been dating cheat on her. I’m going to assume these are some of the reasons men have given to her as to why they have cheated. I think all those things she said about herself are kind of hot.

“She seems like a woman I would like to get to know.” I smirk, giving her a wink.

“Oh.” She chuckles as if the notion that I might be interested in her is a surprise. “I’m way too old for you.” She chuckles.

“You look pretty good to me,” I say, eyeing her up and down.

“We’re both heading to a sex island, you don’t have to flatter me.”

What does that mean? “I’ve never been before,” I confess to her.

Harper’s jaw falls open. “You mean you’ve never been to the island before?” she asks.

“Is there more than the island?” I question her.

“Wait, you’re serious?” she asks in disbelief. I nod. “How did you know about this place then?”

“Issy said she knew someone and got me a membership. She thought this would be better for me than what I was doing.”

“The public blow jobs? Yeah. I’d have to agree, it’s not a great look,” she says matter-of-factly.

“How did you know?”

“I work in PR. I know everything,” she explains. “So, Issy gave you membership to The Paradise Club and then didn’t explain to you what it was?” I nod. “Fucking, Issy,” she curses under her breath just as the boat launches off and catapults us a hundred miles an hour across the ocean. Everything is so loud you can’t hear a thing and so we don’t bother with the conversation we were just having. Fifteen minutes later, we are no longer hurtling across the ocean and are slowing down as we make it toward the dock.

“Were you being serious when you said this is your first time?” she asks. I nod.

“And Issy didn’t prepare you?” she asks.

Now I’m worried. “Do I need to be prepared?”

Harper smirks. “Oh, you are in for a treat. I can’t believe you’ve started at the resort as your first time.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I ask, slightly concerned now. What the hell has Issy gotten me into?

Harper shakes her head. “Not bad at all, just … it’s like the clubs but ten times more in your face.”

“There are clubs?”

Harper rubs her forehead. “There are sex clubs all around the world and they cater to the elite. The rules for these clubs, as well as the island, are super strict. There is an etiquette surrounding the island that isn’t easily explained. I mean, the hosts will explain how everything works, but you might be confused at first.”

“Hosts?”

Harper’s blue eyes widen. “You really know nothing. Did she tell you anything?”

“Maybe, but I don’t think I was listening,” I tell her truthfully.

“They are going to eat you alive here,” Harper mumbles to herself. Now I’m starting to panic. “Guess you’re lucky you ran into me.”

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