Page 32 of Enjoying the Ride

I look around, glancing at everything and everyone, except for Trek.And when I do finally look in his direction, he’s turned away, talking with the beautiful Taylor.What the?

“All right ladies,” Narax says.“Listen up for a moment.”I reluctantly turn my attention to him.Kelly is at my side now and she squeezes my hand excitedly.

“We’re headed down to our community area to introduce you to the council,” Narax explains.

“Do you have your bikinis on, like we requested?”Kixson asks, stepping through the small crowd to join Narax at the front.He pinches Kelly’s ass as he walks by and gives her a suggestive wink.My friend isn’t offended in the slightest.Instead, she winks right back before giving him a small wave.

Why can’t Trek be like Kixson?He doesn’t hide his affection from Kelly.

I glance back at Trek.

He’s got his arms folded across his broad chest, a dark scowl on his otherwise handsome face.His blue eyes are staring right at me and I turn back around quickly, embarrassed to have been caught looking.

“We put our bikinis on at the airport,” one of the women pipes up, answering the question.“They’re under our clothes.”

“Good,” Trek booms from behind us, his tone far less friendly compared to the two other men.“The council is gathering, and they’ll want to see your physiques at the first meeting.”Trek’s eyes roam over our faces, and surprisingly, no one protests.Is this normal?Evidently, the knowledge of a six-figure salary has turned this crop of women into acquiescent bobble-heads.But then I stretch my hand upward, signaling that I have a question.

His jaw tightens.

“Posey,” he growls.“What is it?”

I refuse to be cowed.“What’s the council?You mean like the people in charge of the resort?”I ask, crossing my own arms over my chest to mimic Trek’s relaxed stance.

His eyes flash blue fire.Trek is not the kind of man who likes to be interrupted, and here I am, doing so again.

Maybe that’s why he’s been so aloof towards me.

“This isn’t a typical resort,” Trek says cryptically.“Our set-up is more like that of a close-knit community, with components that might mimic a resort.But it’s our life, and how the men of Mirago live.You ladies will be serving us, at the will of the council.”

I furrow my brow.“So, what, orwhoI guess, is the council?”I ask, planting my hands on my hips.

“It’s made up of the men who run our community,” Trek explains as if it’s obvious.“Now, if the questions are finished…”

His eyes lock on mine, daring me to ask another question and face some unspoken consequence.I open my mouth, ready to defy him once more.But before I can say a word, one of the women is squealing excitedly.

“Oohh, look at those men!”

We turn our attention to a short procession of men on the beachside of the road.They’re walking down a wooden path toward a large, somber building.Interestingly, the male figures are dressed in a loin cloth and nothing else, their ripped, bronze bodies gleaming in the sunlight.

Whoa—is every man on Mirago totally hot?

I feel Trek’s gaze on me, and I turn back around quickly and meet his eyes.

“Do you like what you see?”he asks, one black brow raised.

“I don’t know yet,” I retort sassily.

Trek narrows his eyes but says nothing more.Instead, he cuts through our little group and walks toward a path I hadn’t noticed before.It appears to lead down to the beach and into the strange building.He pauses and turns back around quickly.

“Narax and Kixson will lead you into the council meeting.I’ll head down and tell the others you’ve arrived.”

With that, Trek disappears into the trees.I try to catch a last glimpse of him but the downward path is partially obscured, and soon, he’s completely out of sight.

“Go ahead and strip down to your bikinis,” Narax instructs us.A flurry begins as we do as asked, and soon the ten of us are lush and beautiful, dressed in nothing but the tiniest scraps of cloth.

“Very nice,” murmurs Kixson with appreciation, his eyes roving over the luscious female flesh.“This is going to be good.”

“Should we put on our heels as well?”Taylor chirps.“Mine are four inches and extra high.”

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