Episode 119
EPISODE 119
CHOICES
Ariel
It was Marc’s voice that called to me as I was heading toward the stairs earlier to find Emily. When he asked if I’d like to join him for a few minutes on the deck, I didn’t see the harm in it. Not after we almost kissed in the bathroom earlier.
Once we were seated, Zion joined us. Seems with the cook-off over and Evangeline and all the men otherwise occupied, the staffers are left with nothing pressing to do.
“We could be preparing for tomorrow,” Marc said, “but we’ll have ample time in the morning.”
“Sure enough,” Zion agreed.
The three of us were drinking water when Emily arrived.
I watch her head into the pool house and then I take my seat between Marc and Zion. After sharing Alex with June, and then Sebastian’s question about a threesome with Heather, having two men concentrating on me feels like I’m the last slice of Mama’s pecan pie at a Sunday summer potluck. Everyone fights over it. I suppose Marc and Zion aren’t exactly fighting over me, and truth be told, nothing will probably come of it. But I’ll be damned if it doesn’t feel mighty flattering to have them both being so attentive.
“I’m glad you decided to come back.” Zion grins at me.
He’s handsome as anything, with medium-dark skin and dancing brown eyes. In contrast, Marc has light skin, dark hair, and sparkling blue eyes. I’m not sure I could say which one is better looking. Good thing I don’t have to.
“Me too.” Marc takes a sip of water and winks at me.
“I do hope Evangeline is okay,” I say.
I truly am concerned. But I’m also really enjoying the attention of two handsome men. They’re not billionaires, of course. One’s a sous chef and the other a bartender. I wouldn’t be living the high life with either of them.
But maybe that’s okay. Maybe I’m not ready for a commitment anyway. I’m only twenty-two, after all. This happened so fast for me. Evangeline plucked me, roller skates and all, from my small town and a minute later I was here on the island, being groomed to marry a billionaire.
I mean, these two are sexy and all, but I still haven’t gotten to know River Barrett. I don’t care if he was in a bad mood all night. Emily picked Alex for her private date tomorrow, not River. Why would she even care if River’s in a bad mood?
I try to push the thought from my mind, diverting my attention back to Marc and Zion. The night air around us carries the lullaby of the crashing waves mingling with our soft laughter. I take a swig of my water and feel their eyes burning my flesh. It's a strange kind of intoxication, and I drink it in like the bubbly champagne we had the first night.
“I bet you've never had a night like this before,” Marc says with a smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Surrounded by men falling at your feet.”
“The two of you aren’t exactly falling at my feet,” I tease.
Zion leans closer to me, a playful smirk on his lips. His cologne is woodsy and enticing. “We may not have billions in our bank accounts, but we do know how to make a woman feel special.”
“I'm sure you do.” I try to keep my voice light, but my heart beats faster.
Marc slides his hand over mine. “You're an incredible woman,” he says, lowering his voice.
Incredible? He hardly knows me. Though we did almost kiss…
The air between us crackles with intensity, kind of like a lightning bolt on a hot summer night.
Another hand touches me, and I turn to face Zion. His gaze is focused on me, and he slides his hand under the table to squeeze my thigh. A jolt of electricity pulses through me.
“Do you two even know each other?” I ask, willing my voice not to shake.
“Does that matter?” Marc tips my chin so I look in his direction.
Zion pulls my gaze back to him. “We know each other well enough to know we both want you, Ariel. We both want to fuck you tonight.” His voice is deep and inviting, pulling at my senses—and at that hot place between my legs—in a way I’ve never experienced before.
“You came here for an adventure, didn't you?” Marc asks.
“Yes,” I say, entranced by his words, the pulse thrumming in my veins matching the rhythm of Zion’s hand subtly massaging my thigh. “I guess I did.”
“You guess?” Zion chuckles.
Marc tosses back the rest of his water. “We can give you an adventure that will beat any billionaire's offer.”
His words hold promises, possibilities I hadn't even considered before coming to this island. The soft glow from the fairy lights scattered around the deck casts halos around their forms as they both lean in, closing in around me.
“Are you saying what I think you're saying?” My voice quivers slightly, uncertainty creeping into my tone.
Zion catches my gaze and nods. He glides his hand from my thigh to intertwine his fingers with mine on the table. It’s warm and comforting. “Only if you want it,” he says. “It’s just an option.”
Marc takes my other hand and squeezes it gently. “We just want you to know you have choices here, not just what Evangeline has planned for you.”
Choices. Such simple word.
But is it?
The choice has never been mine at all. We’re here for the billionaires to choose us . We women outnumber them, and it’s likely some of us won’t be chosen. It’s possible none of us could be chosen.
But Marc and Zion are offering me a choice.
This isn’t forever. I can still get to know River. I want to get to know him. But tonight I have a chance to have two desirable men focused solely on me.
A threesome, like Sebastian suggested—only in this one, I’ll be the one getting all the attention.
Maybe threesomes aren’t so bad after all.
Boldness seeps into me and spreads quickly, as if I’m being consumed by wildfire.
I squeeze their hands back and smile, gathering even more courage.
“Well, then,” I say. “Let’s see what happens.”
“Your room?” Zion suggests.
I nod, my body hotter than a tin roof on an August day. “I can’t believe I’m going to do this.”
“Believe it, baby,” Marc says. “Let’s go.”