“I don’t know if I can make a commitment not to touch you for five months,” he says.
“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for,” I remind him. “You’ve been through much worse.”
“Will you still spend time with me?”
I smile at the question. It’s sweet the way he asks. “It’s going to be hard, but I think we can get through this.”
“You don’t even know the meaning of hard, Ash, and I mean that in a sexually frustrated way.”
“Well, hopefully, I don’t make things harder on you than necessary.”
“You’re going to torture me, aren’t you?”
I shrug. “Perhaps.”
“We have some time right now before I receive the addendum.”
“Should I grab a whip or a ball-gag thing? The kitchen table is free.”
“Oh, we have to leave the property,” he says, ignoring the rest of what I mentioned. “Plus, I don’t need toys to do what I want to do to you, Ashley.”
Chapter 23
Two months later
It’s been ninety-days since Noah signed the addendum to the contract. It has been ninety days of pure torture. When Noah first signed the papers, I wondered why they would have given him the opportunity after he had broken the original contract, despite finding a loophole.
I have since figured out why they allowed him to continue.
To torture us both.
In three months, it’s easy to fall for a good man. It’s hard to watch a good man walk around like celibacy is an easy task, though. I’m going nuts. I can’t figure out if he’s just good at hiding his feelings, or if he’s able to flip his desires on and off like a light switch.
“Hey baby,” Noah approaches me as I’m logging out of the register in the front of the kitchen.
I smile and glance up at him. “Three months left,” I respond.
“We’re going to make it,” he says with confidence. His hand rests on my hip, and his fingers sweep against the bare skin beneath the hem of my shirt. His touch is hot and electrifying.
The sensation causes my sheer bra to expose way more than I want to be exposed at this moment. “You’re going to be the death of me,” I tell him.
“Perk up, Ash. You’re a strong woman.”
“Perk up?”
“Well, I guess you’re already perked up,” he says, his gaze falling to my breasts, making it known he’s noticed the show I can’t control.
“Oh, Noah?” I ask, preparing for retaliation.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Do you have a pen I can borrow?” I reach into his jacket pocket, lowering my hand as far as I can and rub fingers against his inner thigh. “Found a pen, oh, and a penny, and—never mind.”
Noah tosses his head back. “Ashley,” he groans.
“Might want to cover that up,” I tell him, gazing down at the performance he’s giving.
“Is this how it’s going to be for the last three months?”
I press up on my toes, bringing my lips close to his ears. “I can be professional, but it’s going to be hard. I’ve done my best to get a grip on this long drawn out situation, but every time I think I have a handle on it, I lose control, and my throat goes dry. I probably just need something to suck on, right?” I press my hand against Noah’s chest, feeling his heart beat fast. “Yup. You’re not as in control as I thought.” I tap my hand against his chest and leave him standing erect in the kitchen. “Dinner at your place tonight?”
“No, you can’t come over,” he says, shaking his head with concern.
“Why not? I was just going to suggest renting a movie or something. Maybe porn?”
“Stop it,” he groans, glancing around to see if anyone else is in earshot. I know the kitchen is empty at the moment since the restaurant closed a half hour ago.
“Fine. How about a walk on the beach?” I suggest.
“Not if you’re going to wear that loose dress that blows over your head with the slightest gust of wind,” he replies.
“Fine, I won’t wear that dress again.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Why are you so cruel?”
“Makes the heart fonder,” I reply without thinking it through. It just sounded like the right thing to say.
“No, Ashley. That’s not why you’re acting so mean.”
I place my hands in my back pockets. “Listen, you’ve been through harder times. This should be a piece of cake for you. I have vibrators and other toys I can tie myself up with for now. It’s just three more months. After that, I can share my toys with you.”
“We’re done talking,” he says.
Just before walking away, I reach up to his ear again, pressing my lips to his lobe. “Okay,” I breathe. “Carry on, Marine.” I quickly nip his ear. “Have an engorged day—I mean a gorgeous day.”
“Ashley! Dammit to hell.”
I never told him I would play nicely.
Chapter 24
Three months later
Tonight is the final bonfire that ends this phase of the research study conducted by Ronald Helga. Throughout the last few months, I’ve gotten close with most of the men in the development, learning their real reasons for joining this study in the first place. All who are left have good intentions, and I hope they find their happily ever after to go with the prize money. They all get to stay in their villas now that they’ve reached the end of the study without being sent packing.
I don’t feel like the center of attention anymore, which is nice, so I’m sitting on the rocks in the background, watching the conclusion of this final gathering.
Ronald, in a three-piece suit, is standing in front of the men with his hands clasped behind his back. "Only three of you were asked to leave the study, which is impressive considering my expectations. We said goodbye to: Max Dennis, Chad Leroy, and Colin Meyers. The remaining seven of you have proven the importance of this study and the end result in earning the prize money,” Ronald says to the men lined up in one row. “This study proved to be more challenging for some more than others, but in the end you have all come to the finish line. I would like to offer a few unique opportunities for some of you that we will discuss in private. Whether you choose to accept the offer will not affect your winnings for completing this study.” I can only imagine he’s preparing for his next reality show. “Lastly, as stated in the fine print of the original agreement, we will inform you when the production of this study will air on national television.”
I didn’t read the fine print to start with, but yup, it was in there, and I agreed to it. I will never skip another word on an agreement again.
“I have something I’d like to say now that this is over,” Noah speaks out.
Ronald clears his throat as if he doesn’t want to hear what Noah has to stay. “Very well,” Ronald responds.
Noah steps forward, his eyes set on me in the background. “I agreed to join this study because money has been my only focus since I parted ways with the United States Marine Corps. Money has brought me some happiness along the way, wanting for nothing, having the extras in life, but there was one thing I was constantly missing, and it was companionship.” Noah takes a few more steps away from the other men. “Then, I met Ashley, who was planted here as a distraction and a temptation, and damn she was a good temptation. I fell weak too, like a few of us did. I was told I couldn’t touch her, which gave me the opportunity to know every detail about Ashley I never knew I wanted to know, and now, I can thank this study for giving me a best friend, and the opportunity to look forward to a future with a woman, who I know more about than any other woman I’ve met in the past. I thought this study was stupid, but it was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Noah glances toward the sand and takes in a short breath. “However, at this time, I’m going to leave you fine men behind and take that girl back to my villa, so I can give her a few more reasons why she should stick around a little longer.”
I’m slightly embarrassed to hear the last part of Noah’s
speech, but it cleared up the fallen tears from the words leading up to his conclusion. I’m even more surprised when the other seven men roar into shouts and an applause for Noah. “Winner, winner,” Theo shouts out. “Go get your girl, man!”
As it turns out, no one was left behind because Theo and Jim have something special brewing. Apparently, Tristan is just as much into BDSM as Kricket, which I still can’t wrap my head around, nor my ears. Krow has come to learn that Oliver Moore has more to offer as a divorce attorney, who might be able to assist in fixing her life as well as making her forget about Richard. Then there’s Alexander Lopez. He’s quite smitten with Olivia, who is coming around to the idea that having someone new in her life is okay. At the end, the only one left is Leland Patrick, and what will come of him, only time will tell. I have plans for when I can get Gracie to take that long weekend getaway, so she can come and spend some quality time down here and maybe get to know the neighbors a little better.
“I don’t care who is watching,” Noah says. “You’re all mine.” Noah scoops me up from the rocks, and I wrap my arms around his neck. “I have dreamed about kissing these lips for five months, Ash. Five long, hard months.” He runs his tongue along his bottom lip and with deliberately slow movements, inches toward me, staring at my mouth as if he’s starving. I can’t take the pressure, so I crash my lips into his, squeezing him so tightly my body hurts. The men are cheering us on, and it gives me a sense of relief that no one hates me after focusing my sole attention on Noah.
A hand rests on my shoulder, startling me away from the lip lock. Ronald is standing beside us with a smile I don’t like. “Congratulations on all your success,” he says to Noah. “And thank you for being so cooperative during this study.”
“Sure,” Noah responds, still holding onto the irritation he has for Ronald. “I want to assist in this beautiful relationship you have going with Miss Spencer.”
“Letting us live normally would be the best way to go about that,” Noah tells him.
“What about this?” Ronald suggests, dropping a small suede box into Noah’s coat pocket.
“What the hell is that?” Noah asks, placing me down on my feet.
“My next study is about a man who practices celibacy for five months and then proposes to the woman he has fallen in love with during that time. The wedding must be within a month to show the success or downfall of the relationship forgoing all intimacy. The prize at the end of the study is the estate on the cove of Bachelor Beach, worth 4.2 million dollars. What do you say?”
Noah and I share a look of contemplation. My heart drums in my chest, wondering what he’s thinking, and confused about what I’m feeling. The answer is inconclusive as Noah reaches into his pocket and pulls out the box. “What estate?”
“We break ground tomorrow,” Ronald says. “Now, for the sake of our cameras, we would need to ask you to reconvene your celibacy for another thirty days.”
“We were intimate that one time five months ago, you know this,” Noah tells him.
“Which makes this all the better because you already know what you’re missing out on.” Ronald gives us a sleazy wink. “The wedding would be paid for in full—the beach wedding of your dreams. Think about it, son.”
“I’ll get back to you on this,” Noah says, slapping his hand onto Ronald’s shoulder.
“Of course. You both have until the morning to decide your answer. I will have papers sent over to your villa tonight. Thank you again for your time here,” Ronald says before leaving us to our space.
“I don’t know what the right answer is,” Noah tells me. “The last five months have been hard enough.”
“I don’t know what the right answer is either,” I agree. I was relieved we were walking away from this stupid study, and thankful we’re better off now, but the stress of an unplanned engagement when we’ve only been together for five months seems mildly stupid. However, the multi-million dollar estate—it’s something to ponder. “Although, I don’t want to end up like Bradley and Katarina. That’s one hell of a mess they’re going through right now.”
“Ash, we’re not them, and they’ll be okay too once they get things sorted out,” Noah says, sounding as if he might be on board with this idea.
“Will we be okay? I don’t want to ruin what we have or what we will have. We came out of this in one piece, and I want to keep it that way.”
Noah’s arm wraps back around me, and he skims his hand up the back of my shirt. His fingers are cold but causing heat to fire through my body. “I think we’ll be okay,” he whispers into my ear. “If you follow me back to my place, I’ll show you how okay we’ll be.”
The Bachelor Beach
VILLA #2
COMING SOON
-Olivia and Alex -
One hundred and eighty days.
That’s how many days I’ve gone without laughing or cracking a smile.
My entire life, I have been the one to highlight the positive facts in life and remind others to let the bad stuff go. It was always me who was looking on the bright side of a tough situation.
Even with Dustin trudging through his third deployment in Afghanistan, I was waiting with a smile for whenever the phone would ring. He needed my smiles. He needed to know we were okay at home so he could focus on keeping himself safe.
One hundred and eight days ago, two Marines showed up at my front door.
I forgot how to smile.
I forgot how to laugh.
* * *
My new story starts today.
* * *
I might still cry, and I might still wallow—because God knows, I miss my Dustin more than anything I’ll ever miss in my lifetime, but there are smiles to be given, laughs to be heard, and another little world I need to brighten.
It took five minutes today to find out, I’m not alone. It took thirty seconds to remember what it felt like to laugh and smile, both at the same time. I don’t know if this is the beginning of a new chapter in my story, or if the five minutes I experienced was the push I needed to gently place down my last book, perch it on a shelf where I can see it, and use it to only recall memories when I give it a glance, but changes are unavoidable, and I need to decide whether to go with my gut or follow my heart. After all, how many men offer a woman a lollipop after just a five minute chat.
* * *
Click to Preorder The Bachelor Beach, Villa #2
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About the Author
Shari J. Ryan is an International Bestselling Author of Contemporary Romance and Women’s Fiction.
* * *
She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two young sons. Shari started her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer, then found her passion for writing books back in 2011. She has been slaying words ever since and creating imaginary friends ever since.
* * *
With over 125k books sold, Shari’s books have hit Amazon's Top 100 bestseller list, Barnes & Noble's Top 10, and iBooks at #1. Some of Shari’s bestselling books include Last Words, The Other Blue Sky, A Heart of Time, and Man Flu from the Man Cave Collection.
For more information:
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Web:
www.sharijryan.com
Email:
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ALSO BY SHARI J. RYAN
Women’s Fiction / Contemporary Romance
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Shattered Stars
Last Words
/> The Other Blue Sky
The Heart Series (3 Books)
Ravel
Red Nights
* * *
Romantic Comedy
* * *
The Man Cave Series (5 books)
Queen of the Throne
Spiked Lemonade
* * *
Romantic Suspense
* * *
Darkest Perception
Raine’s Haven
No Way Out (3 books)
TAG
If you enjoy Romantic Comedy …
Don’t miss out on The Man Cave Series
MANSERVANT
PROLOGUE - One Year Earlier
One final exam left to go. Thank God. Then, I can forget about everything and spend the summer with my Andy. Our schedules haven’t allowed us to be together nearly enough this year, and I hope to make up for that over the break by spending most of our time in bed.
Since I’m two years behind Andy, it's been hard watching him get scooped up into the real world while I'm still living on campus, but he's here every weekend, and we talk a lot. Just one year to go, and then we can get an apartment together and finally be on the same life page.
The Bachelor Beach: The Love Connection Series - Villa One Page 18
