Chapter 21 #2
Dean’s other hand brushes through my long hair. “Take however much time you need with your feelings, Nova. But remember that in the end, I’ll always choose you.” He gently untangles the ends. “Besides, a little overdue love doesn’t scare me. Okay?”
My heart pounds.
I nod. Stupidly.
“Good girl.”
My cheeks burn.
Then I’m up on my feet, his heat gone, and I already miss his hands on me.
Pressing my palms to my cheeks, I can’t help myself.
How easily he pulled me down.
His warmth .
Him.
“Somebody fucked you to Thursday.”
Think of a mix between a gasp and a squawk because that’s what comes out of my mouth.
“What happened to hi ? Hello ? Good morning?” I rub my chest. Hina’s staring at me with unblended foundation creasing her face.
It only deepens when she smirks. “I’m not the one walking in here biting her lip and blushing.” She drops her brush and turns away from the vanity mirror to face me. “Tell me you dropped your panties for Dean.”
“Girl,” I shake my head with a chuckle. “There was no… strenuous activity.”
“Then why the hell are you blushing,” she whines then stops. “Wait, is it because he went down on you and allowed you to enjoy the ride?”
An image of that steals my breath.
“God, Hina.” I choke on nothing. “You need God .”
“ Pssst ,” she clacks her tongue. “What I need is to also get laid, but here I am living vicariously through you.”
“There was no— you know what? If it helps you sleep at night.”
Hina grins at me through the mirror. “Can’t blame me. You snuck back in through the balcony looking like that .” She waves the end of her brush up and down.
Right. The robe. Unbrushed hair.
Makes sense, of course.
“Please tell me you can’t see my bra.”
“Nope,” she pops the P . “But if it helps, you got nice tits.”
“Amazing,” Both of our phones buzz.
Sharing a look, I grab mine.
“I can’t go downstairs looking like this,” she groans. She isn’t done doing her makeup, but it being blended is a win.
Laughing, “At least you look better than me right now.”
She gives me the middle finger on our way down.
Everyone sits in the living room. Last night’s silence is replaced with boisterous energy.
My heart stumbles when I see Dean. His chest exhales deep and steady, broad shoulder releasing tension.
“Nova,” Rhys calls me over to sit next to him.
One last look at Dean and the empty spot to his right, I gnaw at the inside of my cheek.
Dean gives me a small, reassuring nod. His lips tracing inaudible words.
It’s okay.
“You have to know how terribly sorry I am for last night,” Rhys turns to face me, apology written all over his face. “But I hate orchestras. You have to explain to me how that’s on your list.”
Google search how to reject a kind man without his ego taking a boost.
“There’s something I need to talk to you?—”
“Actually,” Rhys interrupts and talks away.
I find Dean hiding his amused smile.
Love starts with roots.
A romantic at heart, this Dean of mine.
I’m used to my family being gentle with me. I’ve always been the baby of the family and honestly, I’ve loved every moment. But the way older siblings explain things to you like you’re stupid and can’t understand a coherent thought will always trigger me.
Dean managed to undo a bit of it this morning.
“Nova?” Rhys follows my gaze. “Oh.”
I snap out of it. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
Lock in, girl .
He bores an understanding expression, then smiles. “Nothing, just that Austin’s here.”
There’s that scent again.
I’m not Austin’s biggest fan which is why I won’t point a finger at him. There’s two crew members with him. One is Lois, the other one stays behind the camera then dips. It could be anyone.
“Thanks for getting down here on such short notice,” Austin scratches a finger between his brow, “Love? Check! will now be revealing which pair the world wants to see go on a date.”
“This’ll be fun,” Hina leans forward. Her eyes gleam. It’s kind of scary.
“Each pair will be together for challenge number two, Finding Love or Breaking Apart.” Austin positions himself in front of the camera.
I need to have a chat with whoever came up with these names.
Austin gives himself a pat on the back. “If you’re wondering what genius came up with the name, he’s standing right in front of you.”
Of course it was.
“The rules of the game are simple. You’ll be paired up with a partner and be given an envelope that looks like this,” he shows us the pink cardstock.
“Inside, there is a riddle that you have to solve in order to get to your date. The date can be a bucket list item from the girls’ or the boys’ lists, so it won’t be easy.
You’ve known each other for five weeks now.
This is meant to test your ability to work together and navigate complex situations. ”
A vein bulges on Austin’s forehead. “The first couple to solve the riddle for their date will get to spend a night at an all-exclusive five-star hotel.”
“Fuck yes,” Hina exclaims. “I’ve been dying to get a foot massage.”
“You want me to call them and ask if they do one for ego’s too?” Katarina bats her eyelashes with mockery.
“Shut the fuck up.”
Hina acts like she hates Katarina, but she hesitates before responding, averts her eyes like looking at Kat is painful.
Is this the love Dean talked about? Rooted, grown, about to wither away if they don’t take care of it?
Austin clears his throat. “I’ll announce the pairs now.”
I sit in anticipation. Please don’t be Shaan or Rhys.
Seeing Rhys again has been great, but I don’t enjoy talking to him the way I do with Dean. Plus, Dean is the guy I want to get to know.
Irene tried pairing Rhys and I together, but anyone behind a screen can tell him and I have the same chemistry Johnny Depp had with Angelina Jolie.
“Shaan and Rhys, I’m sorry to say that you will be sitting this challenge out as the public has voted you incompatible with the other contestants.”
Shaan’s face goes red. Whether it’s anger or humiliation—he abruptly stands and walks out. Anger, it is.
“The two pairs that will be heading out for this challenge are: Hina and Katarina. Dean and Nova.”
I’m pretty sure my blood pressure is on a seesaw. “Did he say…” I look at Rhys, who nods. I’m not looking at his kind eyes, no. My attention swerves at Dean.
For the first time since we’ve been here, Dean smiles in front of the cameras.
“Oh hell to the fucking no,” Hina stands up. “I’m not going with her.”
Austin shrugs. “Not my choice.”
“She’s the last person I want to go with,” she says. “Someone switch with me— Shaan, where are you?”
Austin stands in her way. “Rules are rules, Hina.”
Every bone in her body bulges out. Her face goes hard, “Fine. Whatever.”
Dean and I share a concerned look. I stand up to follow her when sharp pain digs its nails in my head. I lose my balance.
Rhys catches me, “You good?”
Please not now.
“Yeah,” I move away as nicely as I can. “Iron dizziness.”
He nods like that makes sense.
Sometimes this happens. My doctor never prescribed me with the kind of migraine I had because my symptoms aren’t consistent. This is why. Some days, I’ll know when it’s coming and other times, it takes me by surprise like a tsunami siren.
I swallow down the overcoming nausea. Leaning forward to look at Kat, “Are you okay?”
She looks ghostly. “Yeah, of course. Fine.” Kat stands and leaves the room.
A phone starts buzzing. The remaining people look at Austin.
His face lights. “Lois will hand you the cards,” he’s already out the door.
Rhys is next to stand, I’m next to follow. “Have fun today,” he says to me then turns to look at Dean. His smile is hard, but not unpleasant. “Both of you.”
At least I didn’t have to reject him.
The crew disperses one by one. Someone says something about being outside. Another heads into the bathroom.
That’s when I allow dizziness to take over.
Dean’s arm wraps around my waist before I fall on the couch. He pulls me into his broad chest. “Say the word and we won’t go.”
With heavy lidded eyes, I look up .
Every normal, human thought poofs .
A single breath causes my chest to graze his. We feel it. The electric heat charging through us—sizzling, ruminating, erupting.
He shuts his eyes. Nostrils flare. His knuckles white.
“Dean, I …” Palms grab his muscular biceps.
There’s no words in my brain.
Overstimulated plus a headache, paired with a rabidly horny body? Logical reason.
“You’re not well,” he pulls a sweaty strand of hair away from my face. “You need rest.”
Before I know it, I’m reaching for his pinky. Hooking it with mine. I bring it up to my lips, pressing a kiss on a knuckle. “I promise.”
Dean leans his head back. “Nova,” he whispers harshly.
“Don’t break your promise.”
I gasp when Dean presses his lips in the same spot as mine.
“Or what?” I whisper hoarsely.
Dean’s gaze flicks to my lips. His tongue lingers, teasing his bottom lip. He rocks on his heels, as if he’s waiting for me to step away from him.
All masks on the floor. All eyes on him.
Heat bursts through my nerves the second his lips touch my cheek. It’s considered nothing, not even a peck. But it’s there, flinging through me, catapulting through every universe and finding me as its culprit. I don’t even know what it is, just that it’s something that doesn’t feel ordinary to me.
It’s over before it starts.
Dean leans back. A roguish smile tattooing his lips. “Or I’ll do more than that.”
Through a haze of lust, “Is that a threat?”
“Nope.” His smile softens. “It’s a promise. ”
A swoosh wanes through my abdomen.
“I’ll see you in an hour, lovebird.” He brushes a calloused thumb over my lips.
Dean walks away with his shoulders hunched, back stricken, and hand flexed.
Gosh , he makes me blush.