Page 33 of Taking the Heat

‘I’m not doing it for him.’

‘But … what if I win? And they tell me you’re not my cabin mate?’

‘Is that going to make it easier to go in there?’ A muscle jumped in his solid jaw; I could see it caused him pain to even think that.

‘It would make it impossible,’ I said softly. ‘Knowing it might be you is the only thought that makes it a possibility for me to go in.’

He kissed me lightly on the nose. I closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable separation our elimination would bring.

Chris stepped off the platform, about half a second before Henry’s arms gave out and sent Jen crashing to the stage on her ass.

‘A close call! But it’s Henry and Jen by a hair!’ Miles strode over and shook Henry’s hand. He looked stunned, but did reach down and help Jen stand up. In return, she shrieked in delight and jumped back into his arms.

I was still firmly tucked against Chris. Miles called out, ‘Sorry, Tara, the game is over. Ordinary boundary rules are back in force. Chris, please release the lady.’

Chris gave my butt one last squeeze before placing me on my feet. As he let me go, it took every ounce of strength not to wrap myself back around him.

‘That was a nice thing you did,’ I told him. ‘You’re a gentleman.’

‘Nah. Just an Aussie bloke who doesn’t want to get in the way of a hot nymphomaniac getting her rocks off.’

Rolling my eyes, I grinned and glanced at Nik and Meghan, who couldn’t have cared less about the keys Miles was currently presenting them. They only had eyes for each other.

‘So, contestants, the keys are active from 7pm to 7am every night. Enter through your own door, leave when you please. Remember to disguise your identity, any way you can.

‘See you all tonight—it’s time for a pool party!’

Chapter 12

I literally ran from the beach. With a fire burning between my legs and my skin crawling with goose bumps, I couldn’t handle any more time around Chris, or anyone else for that matter. I needed a jog.

Fast as I could, I scampered back to the cabin and donned a brand new pair of Nikes. Pulling on sweat shorts and a sports bra, I plonked a cap on my hair and headed for the south beach.

After a stretch, I began a light run. The beach streamed ahead of me, a long white ribbon, and the hard-packed sand had just enough give to make each step a challenge.

As I jogged, I tried to push Chris’ face out of my head with every footfall.Left, right, left, right, Chris, right, dammit, right …he was consuming my mind like a virus.

Where the beach ended in a rocky wall, I found a slender path, covered in stones. It snaked sharply up the side of the cliff, and I followed it, enjoying the heat and pull in my thigh muscles.

When I reached the top, I gasped at the view. ‘Chris! What are you doing here?’

He knelt on a towel, his eyes closed and his hands in a prayer position. ‘Meditating.’

With the blue ocean sparkling behind him and his sculpted chest shiny with sweat, he looked like an ad for a health spa. ‘Why?’ I asked, panting hard.

‘For the same reason you’re running, probably.’ He opened those glorious aqua eyes and turned them on me knowingly. ‘Because we’re feeling rattled.’

‘I’m not rattled. I’m horny as hell.’ The honestly of my answer caught me by surprise.

‘Hmm. You could take care of that yourself, you know. I’ll watch.’ He grinned wickedly.

‘I’m not masturbating in front of you, or the entire world, thanks. Running will help. It would help more if you weren’t here, distracting me.’

‘I distract you?’ he said, raising cheeky eyebrows.

‘You know you do.’

He patted the towel. ‘Come and sit with me for a while. Let yourself slow down.’

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