Page 22 of Insta Bride
Engaging my brain, I pushed him away and tried to sit up.
“Look, we’re going to spend a lot of time together,” he said, rolling over to the side. Blocking the sun from my eyes.
“Yes, on this beautiful island with nothing but luxury and time. I’m going to work on my suntan. I’m going to make some new friends.”
I pursed my lips and tried to remember why he’d never be the right guy for me. That’s right—man whore and probably a cheating asshole. “How about you just do you. Be the best you while we’re here.”
“What if that’s being half of us?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” I cried.
“Is he bothering you?” Seb came to my rescue. “The rest of us are gonna jump in the pool. Do you want to come and join us? Lena?”
“Sure, I’ll just go and get dressed.”
I still wore my white, crochet bikini. The white made my tan deepen and my breasts appear bigger. I’d bought it because of the way I felt when I wore it—not thinking about it becoming translucent in water.
I’d become increasingly conscious of the wall of cameras capturing our every conversation and action. The last thing I needed was for my colleagues or clients to be able to pick out my nipples in a police line-up.
It was going to be hard enough explaining why I’d come on the show and keep any semblance of self-respect.
“You realize, clothes are optional.” Kye helped me to my feet. His touch continued to send surges of electricity dulling my brain cells but igniting my lady parts. What was it about this man? This man that I couldn’t stand, but couldn’t quite stab in the heart?
“How about while you’re doing you, you let me be me?” I’d accepted his hand to stand, but didn’t need his help to walk.
Except, he didn’t release me. His fingers curled around mine, and he twisted me until we were standing chest to chest. Again, close enough to kiss. If I wanted. Did I want? I didn’t know, anymore.
“I’d like to see that. How about you introduce yourself to me?”
“I’m here. I’m right here.”
My half-hearted attempt to reclaim my hand failed and Kye turned up the voltage of his eyes.
“I don’t think I’ve gotten to know the real Elena.”
If he kept up the intensity of his attention or stare, or even stayed this close to me, I was going to forget about the cameras, my family, my promise to myself. I’d cave and he’d be worth it—for the minutes he was mine.
No.
There were nice men out there. Seb and Tony proved there were nice men out there, I just had to find one that wasn’t taken.
“Am I your little pity project?” I spat out the words, expecting Kye to back away—not look stricken. Hurt. For real, I watched a flash of hurt before his cocky swagger returned.
“Not at all. Someone has decided that you and I would make a good couple. I just decided to stop fighting it. Give us a go.” He brushed a kiss along my knuckles. Okay, now I did need help to walk. If I could become frozen when he kissed me there, what the hell would happen if I let him kiss me down there? “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
As I left Kye to go to my hut and get changed, the answer seemed obvious.
I could fall in love.
Kye
When Elena left to get changed, I tried to stricken my imagination. If I closed my eyes, I could imagine her carefully undoing the strap of her crocheted, white bikini top, exposing the pale breasts, stepping out of the pants that provided more coverage over her ass than I preferred, but held out the promise that if I got close enough, I could find out all the important answers.
Shaved or waxed? Brazilian or demure?
Ready for business? Ready for me?
With Elena out of ear shot, I bailed up Seb.