Episode 4
By nightfall, I more than exceeded my five minutes being alone with Celeste on Outcast Isle.
The afternoon drizzle left everything wet, including us.
Without a fire and food each chilling breeze is making me second guess my decision to play this game at all.
We’re exchanging shivers sitting next to each other underneath an overhang.
Attempting to take my mind off the damp fabric clinging to my skin, we engage in small talk, which I know she’s not a fan of, but grateful she’s entertaining the idea.
We’re both filthy and it’s only day two.
Despite our situation, she’s still gorgeous to me.
She tells me Outcast Isle isn’t much of a downgrade compared to her current camp situation.
“My team actually gets along really well,” I murmur, through chattered teeth. “Camp life is good so far. Everyone has a role and seems kind. No one fought while we worked on our shelter. Everything is nice, actually.” It helps that Raina was a civil engineer before she became a ship captain.
“Must be good to have fire.” She huffs a laugh. “I’m never complaining about my electric bill again.”
The rules we set earlier echo in my mind. I’m not your supervisor. You’re not my direct report. Is it too soon to ask to huddle for warmth? Instead, somehow my brain lands on the last thing I should bring up. The words tumble out before I can take them back.
I face her. The moon illuminates her face when she meets my eyes. “Since you’re not my boss while we’re here. The night of the Christmas Party, in the elevator, did you want to kiss me?” I lick my lips. “As badly as I wanted to kiss you?” Did I really just say that out loud?
She’s quiet for a moment, seemingly surprised by my boldness. “I think about that night more than I should,” she admits, her voice low.
“Is that a yes?” I tilt my head, letting a teasing grin form across my lips to mask how hard my heart is pounding.
More silence stretches between us. Her body goes still and a spike of panic hits me. We’ve been flirting all day, but she’s still the same woman I work with everyday. Controlled, guarded and the CEO of the famous Ashford Magazine.
She meets my gaze. “I wanted to pin you up against the metal doors and kiss you. So, yes.” Heat rushes to my cheeks at her confession. “Very badly.”
Suddenly, I’m not as cold anymore. “You still can.”
She shifts her torso, leaning closer until I sense her face close to mine. My eyes start to flutter closed.
A light caress brushes across my bare thigh. “That feels really nice.” I breathe.
“Paya,” she replies, her voice firm.
“Yeah?” I open my eyes.
Her face contorts in confusion and I lean back. “That’s not my hand.”
What do you mean? It was the size of a human hand. My brain takes half a second to process the information that just came out of her mouth.
We jolt to our feet. If whatever crawled on me didn’t ruin the mood, certainly the scream that fell from my lips did. I frantically slap at my leg, doing the most unattractive dance, swearing like Grandma GG on set.
Celeste steps back, swatting at the air, both of us shaking out our clothes in the dark.
Panting, I look at her. “Is it gone?”
“Yes. I think. Actually, I think it’s right there.” Our attention shifts toward the massive island beetle skittering off the rocks and vanishes into the brush. “It’s gone. Are you okay?”
I shudder in disgust, unable to stop correlating the size of Celeste’s fingers with the creepy island bug. “Absolutely fucking not.”
A bubble of manic giggles escapes my throat. Celeste audibly exhales, looks at her own hands, and then she releases a genuine deep belly laugh. The tension of the situation finally dissipates.
She brushes her hand over the dark ground to make sure it’s clear. “Okay. We’re good. I’m going to sleep.”
“Right. Me too.” I nod quickly, my heart still beating fast. I return to our spot, lying down on the hard surface. “Good night.”
“Night,” she murmurs. I hear the rustle of clothes as she shuffles into place behind me.
Silence stretches between us. A shiver runs down my spine when a breeze tickles my neck, rather than the brush of Celeste’s lips I’ve been craving.
She slips an arm gently around my stomach and pulls me back against her chest, anchoring me to her. Her body heat engulfs my entire body. “For warmth,” she mumbles behind me.
It’s just one night. I sandwich my bottom lip between my teeth, smiling to myself.
Island or no island, in forty days when the game is over, she goes back to being my boss.
Not to mention, she can’t know about my secret role in the game.
Regardless of our “rules,” falling for Celeste Ashford will ruin my career in more ways than one.
As she shifts behind me, her grip tightens around my waist and I rest my hand on top of hers. I let out a satisfying sigh, my eyelids heavy, sleep finally taking hold. Only for warmth, I tell myself.