Chapter 38
‘Well, that was totally pointless,’ I said, walking into the villa, kicking my shoes off and collapsing onto the bed.
‘I wouldn’t say totally,’ Cam replied.
‘Oh really?’ I raised my head and looked at him. ‘Did I miss the part where Victor talked about the particulars of his diamond smuggling and happened to mention where the Picasso was hanging?’
‘It’s called the long game, Lizzy.’
I flopped my head back down. ‘I don’t do long games. Usually I’m in and out. I get what I come for and leave. Done.’
‘Well, this one’s different.’
‘You can say that again. Instead of focusing on the actual job, I’ve been stuck on a boat all afternoon pretending to be in love with you while listening to Amber talk about the healing power of dolphin consciousness.’
‘Who knew she was so spiritual?’
‘She asked if I’d tried yoni steaming. I’d had to google what a yoni was, and . . .’ I shook my head. ‘I will not be steaming that, ever.’
I rolled over and planted my face into the pillow. I was exhausted. I could perch in a tree for twenty-four hours without sleep, run kilometres, but this game of pretending was killing me. ‘I honestly don’t think this is working, Cam.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘We’re not going to get information like this. He’s not going to say anything to you, and Amber knows nothing about diamonds, other than that she likes them. We should do this my way.’
‘What’s your way?’
‘Crack the safe in his villa. Break into his yacht, rifle through his personal belongings.’
‘Always so subtle.’
‘Well, as I recall, you weren’t exactly subtle either, and now look at you.’
‘Told you—’
‘Yeah, yeah, changed man.’
I suddenly had an overwhelming feeling that the walls of the villa were closing in on me.
I hadn’t spent this much time with someone else in .
. . well, ever. I’d always lived alone and this arrangement was starting to make me claustrophobic.
‘I need space.’ The words tumbled out of my mouth.
‘One night alone in bed, one afternoon away from . . .’ I gestured to the space between us, ‘this.’
‘Sorry, we can’t afford space. We need to keep up appearances.’
‘Appearances, appearances, appearances.’ I rubbed my temples. ‘Do you really want to stay on this island for ever, pretending to be my fake fiancé while I slowly lose my mind?’
‘There’s also the Mafia enforcer to consider. We need to keep up appearances for him too, or else . . .’ Cam made a throat-cutting gesture followed by a gargling sound.
I was about to say something about how being murdered might actually be preferable to the current hell I was living in, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
We both froze.
‘Are you expecting someone?’ I asked.
‘No. You?’
I walked to the door slowly, defensively, ready to strike whoever was outside if need be. But when I opened it, I was greeted by a smiling staff member holding a giant woven basket overflowing with fruit, flowers, two tiny bottles of champagne and some sort of rolled-up scroll tied with twine.
‘This is from your friends in number nine,’ he said cheerily.
‘Thanks.’ I took it from him, then kicked the door shut and returned to the bed. I put the basket down, and Cam and I both stared at it suspiciously. Then he took out the scroll and started opening it.
‘What is it?’ I asked. He held it up in front of my face and I leaned in.
Reconnecting Through Intimate Energy – A Tantric Biometric Alignment Experience.
It took my brain a few moments, and then . . . ‘NO! No, no. What the hell?’
Cam ignored me and started reading out loud.
‘“Greetings and Salutations, divine spirit pair. Welcome to the Tantric Biometric Alignment Experience. A journey that invites you to transcend physical form and venture into the sacred space where true spiritual connection blooms.”’ He looked up at me and smiled.
God only knows why; this was horrifying.
He read on. ‘“This guided ritual is designed to open intimacy channels, deepen unconscious awareness and create a symbiotic energetic rebalancing and joyful synchronicity. Using deep soul gazing and chakra breath work, participants are led into a state of cosmic connectedness and aura alignment. Move in harmony, allowing unspoken emotions and past hurts to come gently into awareness—”’
‘Not doing that,’ I said very emphatically.
‘Amber’s going to ask about it. We have to keep up appearances, remember.’
I pinched the bridge of my nose. ‘I draw the line at this. I am not doing tantra with you, nor will I be yoni steaming and—’
‘Wait, listen to this. “Tantra is often misunderstood. In the modern world, it has become a synonym for sexuality – but true tantra is not only about sex. It is about presence. Energy. Breath. Connection. Through energetic field work—”’
‘What the hell is an energetic field?’
He laughed. ‘You’re going to love this . . . “However, should the vibrational energy between you deepen, and you wish to continue your journey in your sacred sexual space, your healer can offer you privacy within our mystic temple space, should you both feel called to it.”’
‘I shall not be called to that, trust me. There will be no calling.’
Cam put the paper down slowly and looked at me with a sly smile. ‘Strange, that’s not what you said on the boat today when you suggested . . . wait, let me get the wording right . . . I could just slip into you.’
I opened my mouth to protest, but there was nothing to be protested. It was true, I had said that, but not for real . . . not because I really wanted him to slip into me. Fuck. My spine was doing that thing again, and suddenly my cheeks and neck felt hot.
‘Besides, maybe it will give us a chance to address what happened between us all those years ago and finally say what we meant to say.’
‘I have nothing to say about that, and neither do you.’ I pointed an accusatory finger at him.
‘Speak for yourself. Because maybe I do have something to say.’
‘Well, keep it to yourself!’ I said, and made a beeline for the bathroom, where I could at least shut the door and have five minutes of peace.
‘Come on, we can’t keep our healer waiting. Our spiritual awakening starts in precisely thirty minutes.’
I groaned. ‘Give me five. I need five.’ I needed an entire lifetime, more like it.
This was Lizzy’s idea of hell. Talking about her feelings and opening herself to anything that resembled vulnerability. If you wanted to torture her, this would be how.
I couldn’t help smiling. Watching her squirm was going to be fun. Still, it was the perfect – albeit ridiculous – excuse to revisit those things that had been left unsaid between us. And maybe it was the opportunity I’d been waiting for.
I looked back down at the scroll, and the last line caught my attention: Only by walking barefoot through the flames of discomfort can two souls rekindle their divine love.