Episode 135
EPISODE 135
LITTLE SOUTHERN BELLE
Ariel
Sleep doesn’t come. I slip a short robe on and leave my suite. When I reach the second floor, I spy Emily and River entering his suite.
I sigh.
At least Emily’s not with Misty anymore, but River? I guess I should have seen that coming. After all, I witnessed the two of them heading toward the beach last night.
It’s a shame. River’s the one I wanted to get to know next—the only one I haven’t spent any quality time with. I should have been trying to get to know him tonight instead of screwing around with Marc and Zion. Marc and Zion, who both unceremoniously left me without so much as a goodbye after they’d had their fill.
Besides River and Emily, I don’t think anyone else is in the house other than Evangeline. It’s late, after midnight. I could go back to bed, but I doubt I’d have any better luck getting to sleep.
I pour myself a tall glass of water and go out onto the back deck. The big table where we ate dinner earlier has been cleared away. I look down at the bandage on my leg. It’s a little tender, but I’m not really in any pain.
I can’t go relax in the hot tub because of the bandage, though, and I resist the idea of walking on the beach alone. Two days ago, I wouldn’t have hesitated. But tonight?
No way.
I don’t feel nearly as safe here as I did.
I take a long drink of my water, letting it cool my throat when I glance toward the pool house and see two figures emerging. I squint to get a better look in the darkness.
It’s Heather and June.
They’re wrapped in large towels, their hair glistening wet in the moonlight. They’re laughing about something, their voices carrying on the breeze until the sounds reach my ears.
I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. This is what I should’ve been doing—forming alliances, garnering friendships. Instead, I’ve spent my time chasing after fruitless trysts. The only other woman I’ve gotten close to is Emily, and she’s off with the man I might want.
I didn’t see that coming. A British fashion designer who lives in New York and a Montana rancher?
More jealousy eats away at me.
Heather and June make it to the deck. “Hey, Ariel,” Heather says. “What are you doing still up?”
I force a smile. “I could ask the same of you two.”
“We’ve been...” June looks at Heather and bursts into giggles. “We’ve been hanging.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Me too.” I’m not about to divulge my threesome with two staffers, especially not to Heather. She’s the one who Sebastian wanted to join him and me. Looking at her now, I’m pretty sure she’d be up for it. They both have a satisfied glow about them. It could just be the heat from the hot tub, though. Probably is.
“We’re heading to bed,” June says. “I, for one, am exhausted. This has been a day.”
“I’ll be up in a minute.” Heather sits down beside me.
June winks at her. “Okay. Don’t make me wait too long.”
Wait... What? June just said she was exhausted.
I take another drink. Who cares what they mean? I sure don’t.
“Hey,” Heather says to me once June is inside the house, “Sebastian made a suggestion to me about the three of us...you know.”
Oh, God. Please, let a hole open in this gorgeous deck and swallow me up.
I clear my throat. “I don’t think I’m into that.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Oh? Because June told me that she and Alex?—”
I hold up a hand to stop her. “We did.”
“So it’s me, then? You don’t find me attractive?”
Is she kidding? Every woman here is beautiful. “You’re fine. You’re gorgeous. But the thing with June and Alex was a mistake. It was all about...” I sigh. “Never mind.”
“No, tell me.”
“June thought Evangeline was going to ask her to leave the island, and we wanted to get a guy on her side. So the two of us... I’m sure you know how it ends, but frankly, I found it’s not my thing. It has nothing to do with you, Heather. I swear.”
“Ah, I see,” she says. “Well, thanks for telling me.” She gives me a brief smile before standing up and stretching.
I can’t help but admire the way the moonlight highlights her curves and the blue in her hair.
“To be honest, I thought it was a bad idea too,” she admits as she steps toward the house. “It wouldn’t have ended well for any of us.”
“You just said you were into it,” I challenge her.
“I did say that, but I’m much more into Sebastian. We made a real connection, I think.” She yawns. “I’ve got to go join June.”
I cock my head. “Join June?”
She laughs. “You’re such a little Southern belle, Ariel.” Then she walks into the mansion.
Now what the heck does that mean?
Two more figures emerge, this time coming from the direction of the beach. It’s two of the men—Sebastian and Alex.
Sebastian, who fucked me good and hard and gave me what I asked for.
And Alex, who didn’t.
I drain the rest of my water and rise. Such a little Southern belle? I’ll show Heather and the rest of them.
“Hey, doll,” Sebastian says in his sexy voice as he and Alex reach the deck. “What are you doing out here?”
I give him what I hope is a dazzling smile. “Waiting for you.” I nod to Alex. “And you.”
“That’s some good news,” Alex says. “I can’t think of better company after what we’ve just...”
“Just what?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he says. “It’s late, but what did you have in mind, Ariel?”
I shed my robe, revealing my naked body. “The three of us...in my suite.”
“That’s an offer we shouldn’t refuse,” Sebastian says.
Shouldn’t? What the heck is that supposed to mean ?
“But I have to, sweetheart,” Sebastian continues. “I’m beat as hell.”
“Oh. I understand.” Though I bet if Heather were here, and we both wanted to take him to his suite, he’d be on board. “It is late.”
“It’s not the late hour,” he says. “It’s just this day. It’s been... Well, I don’t have to tell you.” He glances at my bandage.
“Go on up to bed then, Seb.” Alex meets my gaze, his hazel eyes dancing. “I, for one, am happy to keep Ariel company.”