"Sorry," Aaron said, "can't hear you from way back there."
"If only I couldn't hear you," I said.
"Kent, muzzle her, would you?"
I got out "He wouldn't--" before Kent caught my shoulder and pulled me back against him while sliding his other hand over my mouth, gently but firmly shutting me up.
My eyes widened and my mouth opened involuntarily against his hand as the sudden contact sent heat and passion screaming through me. His fingers tightened on my shoulder, my hunger intensified, and I knew I had to get away before I turned and kissed him.
So I bit him.
He yelped, much louder than my little bite required, and released me.
"Serves you right," I said, trying to hide my desire in pretend anger.
"I can't believe you bit me." Rubbing his palm, he gave me a pouty face but blinked twice. It's okay. His eyes were dark, and I knew he'd felt the connection too.
Summer said, "I'd have kissed her, but whatever floats your boat, Kent," and Aaron said, "I'd pay to see that. How 'bout it, MC?"
Summer laughed, and I blushed.
"Okay, folks, back to business." Peter grinned at me with more happiness than I'd ever seen from him. What was he so thrilled about?
After a few more questions, Aaron and Summer moved together into the winning square. "Congrats, baby," Aaron said. She giggled and I stared at him, not liking his use of the nickname. I'd thought I was special. Should have known better.
"And we're finished," Peter said, still grinning. "All right, see you tomorrow."
Kent and I exchanged confused glances then he turned to Peter. "We're tied."
"I know."
"Don't we need to not be tied?"
"It's okay, Princess, trust me."
"Trust you," I said. "Why, because you've never lied to me?"
"I'm not lying. It doesn't matter."
"Then why'd we play it? You made me bite poor Kent for nothing."
"It amused me," Aaron said before Peter could answer. "That's something."
"Get him, Summer," Kent said, and she caught Aaron's hands and lunged at him. He pulled her in and went after her neck, and she squealed and tried, with no success, to get away.
Ignoring their giggles and snarls, Kent said to Peter, "MC's right. I got bitten for nothing, I might get tetanus--"
"What? You will not." I swatted him on the arm. "I'm not diseased."
"Emotional distress, then." Kent smiled at me before turning back to Peter. "Pain and suffering. And for nothing."
"It amused Aaron," Peter said.
"Yeah, well, he's easily amused." I looked at Aaron dragging his long-stubbled chin over Summer's neck, making her shriek with laughter. "But it still doesn't make sense."
Peter grinned at me. "I'll see you tomorrow."
And he walked away as the production assistants split us into our courts and herded us down to the shore.
*****
"Sorry, baby."
I looked up from the rice I'd been stirring in silence. "For what?"
"Telling him to muzzle you. You pissed with me too?"
I must have looked as confused as I felt, because Aaron said, "Don't pretend you weren't mad at him. You hid it pretty well but we all saw your eyes go big."
"He shouldn't have grabbed me," I said, hoping my outrage sounded convincing. "But why would I be mad at you?"
"Because I told him to?"
"But he still did it." I couldn't suppress a shiver at the memory of Kent's palm against my lips. To excuse it, I added, "He should keep his paws to himself."
"Don't like being touched, huh?"
Greg's patronizing tone annoyed me. "I like it fine, just not from him."
"You obviously like touching," Jim said to Aaron. "Lucky bastard."
"Yeah, what was that?" Nice to have the focus off me. "Rubbing your face all over her."
"I'll do it to you if you want." Aaron reached for me but didn't meet my gaze.
I pushed him away and sat down. "I've been mauled enough today, thanks."
"Suit yourself." He returned to his rock. "I'll have to maul her twice tomorrow then."
"Men," I muttered, making sure he could hear. He laughed and threw a pebble at me.
"You like Summer, don't you?"
Aaron looked at Jim. "What's not to like?"
"Answer the question." Greg punched Aaron on the arm.
Jim laughed. "Yeah, because if you don't ask her out I will."
"Don't you d--"
Aaron cut himself off, but his flash of jealousy was all too clear to me. "You actually like her," I said, struggling to understand and accept it. "Like, really like her."
We stared at each other. He opened his mouth as if about to speak but didn't.
Jim said, "Um, I think I'll go get the... um..."
"I'll help," Greg said, and Michael followed them from camp.
"Are you okay?"
I studied the ground. Somehow I'd never thought about being friends with Aaron and watching him date other people. I should have, given what he was like, but I hadn't.
"You're not okay. Look, baby, I--"
"Don't call me that."
"Why not?"
"Because you called her that." I knew I sounded like a baby, in the worst sense of the word, but I couldn't help it.
"MC, we're friends, right?"
When I nodded, he said, "Did you... want us to be more?"
I shook my head. "I wouldn't survive."
His smile, sweet and almost loving, made me want to say what was really bothering me.
Why did everyone want Summer so damn much?
But I couldn't. I wasn't supposed to care who Aaron and Jim wanted, and I definitely wasn't supposed to care about Kent. "I didn't think you were serious about her, that's all."
He slid his arm around me. "If I don't use it on anyone else, can I still call you baby?"
I dropped my head to his shoulder, a smile stealing onto my face. "I suppose."
"Good." He paused so long I wasn't sure he was going to speak again then said, "I don't know if I'm serious. She intrigues me."
And I, clearly, did not. I tried to pull away but he tightened his hold. "You do too, you know. You still do. I have no idea what you're thinking most of the time. But she's all out in the open, and that's neat too."
Neat, and far more popular.
"We're totally different."
I felt stupid for pointing out the blindingly obvious, but he jumped on it. "You're like water," he said, pointing out toward the ocean. "Way too deep for me. She's fire, I think, and..." He shrugged. "My mother explains it better."
I frowned. "Your mom thinks Summer's like fire?"
He laughed. "She didn't mention her. But when we went for our talk, she said everyone's a different element and the water ones don't mix so well with the fires."
"What does she say you are?" I said, knowing the answer.
"I'm on fire, baby." He touched his leg and snapped his finger back as if it burned.
I rolled my eyes and he went on. "She said mixing water and fire can work, but the water ones are so sensitive that fire people can wreck them without realizing." His eyes were intent on my face. "I'd hate that, because the water is amazing."
I blushed, his meaning clear. "The fire's not so bad either. But what brought this up?"
"She said being on the island, in the wilderness, made her think of it."
His eyes met mine and we sat in silence. At Kent's camp, he'd wrapped his arm around my shoulder and held me like a lover would. Trying it out? Then deciding. Deciding not to risk destroying me.
And he would have. I'd meant what I'd said to Kent on our overnight trip: being with Aaron would shatter me and drag Aaron down too. And he'd realized it. I slipped both arms around his neck, and he rose to his feet and drew me into his embrace.
"But wouldn't water put fire out?"
"I asked. She says no." He pulled me closer. "Fire can bounce back after the water goes, but water can be
ruined forever."
Pressing his cheek to mine and shielding his mouth with his hand against the camera, he whispered, "Before, I thought we could try a relationship, or at least have fun together. But I'd hate myself if I hurt you, and I think I would have. I'm just not the kind of guy you need."
I had no words for how touched I was by his decision and his kindness, so I kissed his cheek instead. He blushed, so I did it again, and again and again, carefully avoiding his mouth, making the kisses louder and goofier until we were howling with laughter.
The sound of the other guys stomping through the jungle toward us calmed us, and he said, "She thinks Kent is water too. Ron seems like earth, Dean's another fire--"
"Dean? Really?"
"Wasn't he fiery enough for you at his exile?"
I gave a fake shudder. "Good point."
The jungle stompers grew louder, and he said, "You know what she says you get when two waters come together?"
"Puddle?"
"Tidal wave."
I shivered for real this time. That about summed up what I felt when Kent touched me. "Then I guess I need to find a water guy somewhere. What about two fires?"
He grinned. "I don't know. But I'd like to see it."
I laughed. The guys came into camp, eying us cautiously, but our obvious amusement relaxed them and we ate rice and the unripe bananas they'd found in the jungle. At least, they did.
I nibbled, so tired of the food and unable to think of anything but fire and water.
Could Kent and I combine to make something awe-inspiring? Or, like before, would we wash each other away?
Chapter Twenty-Three
"Princess, you sit there, facing the other rock." Peter pointed at the taller of two boulders close together in the middle of the circle.
Only a few inches separated the rocks. "There's no room for my legs, Peter. Can I put my feet up on the other one?"
He smiled. I didn't like the look in his eyes. "Sure you can."
Sure, but Kent would probably be sitting there, facing me. If I put my feet up, would Peter forbid me to bring them back down?
"Actually, I'm okay." I stretched my legs out, one foot on either side of the rock, and rubbed my forehead. I hadn't been able to eat even a bite of rice that morning, since the thought of food made the back of my throat snap shut. I wished I'd forced it down anyhow; my arms and legs felt drained and a sick emptiness nagged at my stomach.
Kent's camp filed in, Kent and Summer at the end of the line. He looked over the setup and his face tightened. Peter arranged the women on their half of the circle then directed Kent to his seat. "Facing the Princess, of course."
"Of course," Kent echoed, giving me a wry smile. I started to stand to make it easier for him to get in, but Peter said, "No, he can work around you."
My cheeks flamed as Kent stood between my legs and clearly saw what I'd also recognized: his rock wasn't high enough for his legs to go over mine, but with them under mine my feet wouldn't reach the ground. He eventually gave in and sat down, and I had to stretch my legs out with the back of my thighs resting against the front of his.
"Am I crushing you?" I said, my heart speeding up at the contact.
Without looking at me, he said, "I'm okay. But your feet are dangling." He took gentle hold of my calves, drawing them up so my feet rested on the rock behind him. "Is that better?"
Was having my legs basically wrapped around his hips better? "It's fine," I managed, my calves pulsing where he'd touched them.
As if the whole thing weren't bad enough, Kent pulled off his t-shirt. "It's hot today." He balled up the shirt and dropped it into his lap.
"Throw it over here if you don't need it," Peter said.
"No, that's okay. Might want it later." He sounded uncomfortable, and my face burned again at the thought of what he might be trying to hide under that mounded-up shirt.
The chest he wasn't hiding any more, dark-tanned and strong, made me long to reach out and run my fingers over it. Then reach further and wrap my arms around him, then...
I bit my lip against the rising hunger. With everyone, and the cameras, watching, I had to hide my reaction to Kent's body and our contact.
Our exes had been joking and teasing us as we got settled, but now Peter said, "Folks, today is our second-last exile contest." He let this sink in, then said, "The Prince's Court has one more member. If the Princess loses today, she's guaranteed to end the game with fewer players."
And a lot less money.
"Today's contest involves only the Prince and Princess. I'll read statements about your island experiences, and you'll determine if they're true. We've put you in such close quarters to help you analyze the other person's expression and reaction to the statements."
Right. Not because I'd shown yesterday that physical contact with Kent flustered me.
"Questions?"
"Can we end up tied again?" Kent's tone was innocent, his eyes anything but.
I giggled, and Peter said. "No, this time it does matter who comes out on top."
Aaron, naturally, had to point out, "MC's on top at the moment," and I blushed and looked down. Looked down to see far more of my legs than appropriate. Tugging at my skirt's hem did nothing. At least I had my bikini underneath, but still. I was essentially sitting in Kent's lap with my skirt nearly around my waist.
Kent flipped part of his t-shirt over my thighs. We were so close that he could keep the majority on his lap, which he did, but what he gave me protected me from indecent exposure.
"Thanks," I said, blushing even more knowing he'd seen.
He looked down at the ground. "Don't mention it."
Every time one of us moved, fresh shivers rolled through me, and when we stayed still I could feel his warmth soaking into me. How would I think about the questions when all I wanted to do was lean forward those few inches?
"Princess, true or false," Peter said, and I turned my head toward him.
"No, sorry." He didn't sound it. "You need to keep looking at each other. Eye contact at all times. Didn't I mention that?"
Various exes said, "No."
"Well, you do."
Why not strip us naked and tuck us into bed together?
"The Prince spends a lot of time snuggled up to Summer."
Kent's face reddened, then blanched when I said, holding his gaze as instructed, "True."
"Correct," Peter said, and Kent said, "How did you--"
"Lots of little birdies told me." I gestured around us.
"It's not--"
"Next question," Peter said, cutting him off.
Kent looked into my eyes, and I stared back, wondering what he'd wanted to say. It's not true? Not what you think? Not going to stop?
Question after question went by, and then Peter said, "The Princess was physically intimate on her island, beyond kisses on the cheek or forehead, with a Courtier."
Something flickered in Kent's eyes, gone too fast for me to identify it. Without thinking, I gave one deliberate blink. The flicker this time was clear: confusion and surprise.
I was surprised myself; I'd handed him the point that would tie the contest.
"False," Kent said.
"You sound pretty certain."
"I don't think she would."
"Fair enough. You're right."
The women cheered and my guys groaned.
"If I jump on her right now, Peter, is his answer wrong?"
"No, Aaron."
"Can I do it anyhow?"
"No, Aaron." I rolled my eyes at Kent.
He smiled, but Peter's next words to me shattered the smile and silenced the crowd. "You and Summer have both kissed the Prince, on the mouth, while on the show."
Half true, for sure. But the other half? I'd known about the snuggling but nobody'd mentioned they'd been kissing. Jealousy filled me, and I shut my eyes against the pain.
"Eyes open," Peter said at once, and I forced myself to look at Kent.
His eyes soft and sad, he blinked twic
e. Yes.
I kept myself still with an effort, a sick dizziness sweeping me. When? How many times? And why had he kissed me when he still wanted her?
"Ten seconds." Peter sounded uncomfortable, and I realized he didn't like this, didn't enjoy making me reveal it. Somehow, that made it a little less painful.
What if Kent was lying? I didn't think he would, but he could be. I needed more time to decide, but I didn't have it, so I went with my gut. "True."
The clearing held its breath.
"Correct."
Amid the exes' surprised reactions, Aaron said, "So you had a boring night, huh?" and I turned toward him. He grinned. "God, you're a good liar, baby. Unless it was boring?"
Ignoring him, I focused on Kent. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have answered."
He shook his head. "You had to. It was only once, MC, and she kissed me. She was excited--" He cut off and stared at me as if realizing what he'd said.
"Next question," Peter said, leaving me wondering why I'd needed to know Summer was excited about kissing Kent. Hadn't I suffered enough?
*****
Even our eventual victory didn't free me of my embarrassment, humiliation, and utter fury. He'd either kissed me after messing around with Summer, or we'd had those kisses, kisses I'd been stupid enough to think meant something, and then he'd kissed her too. I didn't know which was worse.
Why had I let him kiss me at all? I shut my eyes, my stomach churning. I hadn't let him. I'd thrown myself on him. Twice. He'd probably been laughing about it since. With Summer.
The thought of him with her made me feel weaker and sicker, and my anger rose again, at myself this time. I'd promised myself to focus on the money, but the show put me alone with Kent and I went googly. Even if he wasn't laughing at me, the producers definitely were.
Our boat pulled up to shore and I scrambled out, noticing the camera crew waiting for us, one of them sitting on my rock. Fire swept through me, and I headed straight for him. At my approach, he stood and backed away, keeping his lens focused on my face. The faint flicker of triumph faded quickly, leaving only my anger.
"Kissing the enemy, huh?" Greg took a seat across from me.
"Like you're one to talk." My rage swelled again but I tried to mask it in jokiness. I'd known the guys would tease me but that didn't make it any easier to take.
"Yeah, but you made out with the Prince. That's not how the game's supposed to go."
Seven Exes Are Eight Too Many Page 21
