“I guess you’re going to learn how to dig with your right hand today,” she said as they headed to the box near the shore to grab a map.
As Imani reached for the map, Lucy snatched it from her grasp. “Enjoy your time with him now, because once the voting starts, you’re going to be sent packing. Maybe you should do a sex tape.”
“Maybe you should go to hell,” Imani snapped, then grabbed the map from her. “Let’s go.” She started to run, but Raymond walked slowly and nearly caused her to fall.
“Raymond?” Imani asked, putting her free hand on her hip.
“If we’re going to win this thing, we need a plan,” he said, then took the map from her hand. “You know how to read a map?”
Sighing, she replied, “No, but if I didn’t get away from Lucy, there might have been a fight.”
“That would be a sight, but you’re not a fighter in that way,” he said.
“You’re right and I refuse to be a stereotype on this show,” she said as Raymond struggled to hold up the map. Imani grabbed the edge flapping in the wind. “Better?”
“Yes. Looks like we might make a good team, after all,” he quipped.
She raised her right eyebrow but didn’t say a word. Raymond pointed to a spot on the map. “We need to start moving in this direction, toward those rock formations.”
“Why couldn’t they just give us a GPS?” Imani asked as she and Raymond started toward the rocks.
“Where is the fun in that?” he asked as they walked. “Besides, women have built-in GPS when it comes to diamonds.”
“That’s true,” Imani said. “But I’m not into the bling.”
Raymond raised his eyebrow as if to say, “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious,” she said. “I do flashy on the screen and on stage, but in real life, I’m just plain old Imani.”
“So, how many diamonds have you turned down?”
“How many have you given away?” she tossed back at him.
“None,” Raymond said. “When, and if, I ever decide to get down on one knee, it’s only happening once.”
“Unless you win the show,” Imani quipped. “I imagine that Lucy will expect you to go all out when you make her Mrs. Dr. Ray-Ray Thomas.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Like that would happen.” He held their shackled wrists. “Who knows, I could be linked to my spouse right now.”
Imani shook her head. “Please, we’d never last. You’d never sign the prenup.”
Raymond stopped in his tracks. “Prenup?”
“I’m going to be a star. If I get married, I’m going to have to protect what’s mine.”
Raymond chuckled and shook his head. “That’s a hell of a way to go into a marriage. This is mine and this is yours. What happened to two becoming one?”
“Did you really just ask that question as we walk through the sand, handcuffed together looking for a diamond on a reality show about getting married?”
“Come on now,” he said. “Neither one of us is here to get married, and I still believe in that oldschool thing that my parents had.”
Imani rolled her eyes and slowed her gait. “My parents showed me one thing about marriage.”
“What’s that?” Raymond asked.
“If you want to be happy, don’t get married.”
“Seriously?”
Imani nodded. “Maybe that’s why I jumped into acting. When I was ten, my parents decided to separate. When they stopped living together, everything changed. My mother became the best attorney at her firm and my dad went back to school and started an interior design firm in Georgia. The only thing they agree on is that I’m wasting my time trying to be an actress.”
“You don’t like being told you can’t do something, huh?”
She shook her head and pointed to a half-buried box. “What’s that over there?”
Raymond looked down at the map, surprised that he and Imani had made so much headway, then said, “That might be the diamond.”
“Get ready to dig, doc,” she joked as she handed him the shovel.
“Remember what I said about us making a good team?” he asked. “I was wrong.” As Raymond dug around the box, Imani looked to see if any other couples were coming their way and she saw Lucy and her stocky partner barreling toward them.
“Knock the box open and let’s get out of here, the gremlin and the witch are coming our way,” she said. Lucy locked eyes with Imani and tried to run, but Murray fell in the sand.
“Bend down here and help me with this,” Raymond said after digging more than half of the box out of the soft sand.
“Okay,” she said, dropping to her knees beside him. With her unshackled hand, Imani unsnapped the closure on the box. There wasn’t a diamond inside, but a key. “What the . . .”
Raymond grabbed the key and stuck it in the lock on the handcuffs. They popped open. “Come on, let’s go to the next box and see if we can get the diamond.”
“I have an idea,” she said. Then she shouted, “Yes! We got it.” Imani looked toward Lucy and Murray. Turning to Raymond, Imani kissed him slowly and deeply.
She meant the kiss to be a swipe at Lucy, but when Raymond pulled her closer to his chest and deepened his kiss, Lucy wasn’t even a thought in the back of Imani’s mind. Her tongue tangoed with his, her spine tingled like a sparkler. Pull back, pull back, her inner voice yelled. She ignored it as Raymond cupped her bottom and pressed her against his erection.
“That’s not a convincing act!” Lucy yelled out, causing the couple to break off the kiss.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve that,” Raymond whispered, “but I liked it and expect another kiss just like that when we find the next box.”
She smiled nervously. “Let’s go,” Imani said. They took off, not looking at the map. They had run for about a half mile when Imani tripped over another box.
“Are you all right?” he asked, dropping down beside her. He took Imani’s leg into his hands and looked over her ankle, making sure she wasn’t bleeding. “Do you feel any pain?”
“No, just my ego’s a little bruised,” she replied. “Look on the bright side. Me being clumsy may have found that diamond.”
Raymond looked at the box, which didn’t appear to have been found by another team, so he nodded in agreement, then started digging. “Crack it open,” Raymond said after uncovering the top of the box.
Imani opened the box and expelled a deep breath when she saw the diamond in the box. “This can’t be real,” she said as she picked up the rock.
“Damn,” he said, taking a look at what had to be a huge piece of glass or the Hope Diamond. “I’m guessing we don’t get to keep this. If we sold this, you could buy performance space and the clinic would be in the black for years.”
“It’s so not real,” Imani said as she held it up. “There would be no need to finish the show. Let’s get back to the host and see what we win.”
“Sure you can walk?” Raymond held his hand out to help her up. Imani stood up and did a little dance.
“I think I can make it.”
“But,” he said, “you owe me something.” Raymond wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her against his chest, and brushed his lips across hers. He felt her tremble in his arms and leaned in for the kiss, but Imani’s next move, running her tongue across his lips, made him shiver in the sunlight. She captured his lips with a quick move and drew his tongue deep into her mouth. Imani moaned softly as he licked the inside of her mouth, seemingly touching the depths of her soul and heating her body like an oven. Raymond lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist. It was as if they’d both forgotten about the cameras, the task at hand and that fact that they were in the middle of a competition. The diamond tumbled from Imani’s hand as she was lost herself in the taste of Raymond’s mouth. Feelings that she’d never experienced flowed through her body like a raging river. She could feel the wetness between her thighs, she could feel her heart beating like a drum playing a song that s
he’d never heard before.
“Look!” a male voice yelled out. “The diamond.” As much as they would’ve loved to stay lost in their kiss, Imani and Raymond pulled themselves apart, grabbed the diamond, and took off toward the finish line.
“This is not fun,” Imani said as she ran.
“Just think,” Raymond said, “you can kiss me again when we cross the finish line.”
“You can kiss me,” she teased. And just what are you going to do when he wants to do more than kiss? her conscience nagged. Imani sighed and forced herself to remember why she was on this show anyway. But all she could focus on as they crossed the finish line was how good his ass looked in that wet suit.
Tres couldn’t have scripted a better ending to the first day of taping. Imani and Raymond were moving from sizzling to just burning up every time they were on the screen. And those kisses. Hot. They’d have to be edited, of course. “Elliot,” she said to her overworked and bewildered assistant, “do you see why I need a camera on them at all times? Do you see that?”
“Yes, I see it,” he said. “But what if America doesn’t like them together? Did you hear how she whined about her parents? All she wants to do is be famous, and I don’t think the viewers are going to connect with that.”
“I don’t give a damn about the viewers,” Tres said as she leapt from her seat. “I just want to see these two drive up my ratings with all of that sex appeal and those kisses. They are almost too hot for TV, but Raymond and Imani are the key to my future.”
Elliot rolled his eyes as Tres headed outside to smoke a cigarette.
Chapter 12
Since Imani and Raymond had found the largest diamond on the beach, they were treated to a spa treatment and private—yet filmed for the show—dinner on the beach. When he saw Imani walking toward him as the chef set their salads on the table, Raymond’s body had never been more aware and thankful to be a man. She was dressed in a strapless pink dress that kissed her curves and skimmed her knees. In the flickering light of the candles, she looked like an angel. He rose from his seat, mouthing, “Wow,” as he crossed over to her. He wished they were simply having a real date in Hawaii without the cameras and without America watching at home.
Come on now, he thought, You’re here to win money for the clinic and she’s here to get discovered. But the moment she smiled at him, those thoughts disappeared from his mind.
“You look amazing,” he said, his eyes devouring her body.
Imani brushed her hand across his soft cotton shirt. “You don’t look bad yourself,” she replied. “I’m guessing this is going to be an interesting dinner. If my knowledge of reality shows is right.”
“Dinner got interesting when you showed up in that dress,” he said as he took her hand in his.
“This old thing,” she joked.
Raymond couldn’t tear his eyes from Imani, though he wondered if she was falling into a character or if they would have another real conversation like they had when they’d been searching for the diamond on the beach. Raymond reluctantly let go of her hand as they took their seats.
“So,” she said as the wait staff began mulling around, “any idea what we’re about to eat?”
Raymond paused, looked at her with a slight smile on his lips, then he licked them. “I know what I’m craving isn’t on the menu.” Even underneath the blanket of darkness that covered the beach, he saw the blush on her cheeks.
“See,” she said, her quiet voice masking the burning of desire, anger, and need in the pit of her stomach. “I thought you were different.”
“What?”
“You’ve got one thing on your mind. And if you think I’m just going to rip my clothes off and let you have your way with me, guess again.”
“Have I ever made it a secret that I want you, Imani? You come out here looking sexier than the law should allow. Did you expect me not to notice?”
Imani fingered her hair and glowered at him. “Whatever.”
“You know that you’re beautiful and I’m going to notice it. What are you afraid of?”
“Nothing,” she said coolly. “Certainly not you. And if you think we’re getting into bed together for the world to see, you’re as wrong as two left shoes.”
“Sounds like we’re married already,” he quipped. “Imani, I told you that if that day ever comes, it will be your choice. I know you want me and you are afraid to give in to what you want. I’m just trying to make it easier for you.”
“I’m not giving in to you,” she said as she crossed her legs. “Sex complicates everything.” As if you have a clue? “I’ve spent my career trying to be more than a set of tits and an ass.”
“That’s admirable,” he said genuinely.
“That’s one reason why I don’t work. Talent means nothing in the Kardashian era. But I don’t want to be that actress who just gets by on her looks and figure. I have real talent.”
“What does that have to do with you finding real love?” Raymond asked. “I’m not trying to lure you on the casting couch. I want to get to know you, every part of you. I want to be sitting on the front row when you star in your first Broadway play. I want you to be mine and not just on this show.”
Imani sucked her bottom lip in. His words sounded so sincere; he had no reason to put on an act. “Are you serious?” she asked quietly.
He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “Yes,” he said, then kissed her hand. “When I see the real you, I like what I see.”
She closed her eyes and wished that she could just tell him everything, that she was afraid of real emotions, afraid to give herself to a man because she was a virgin and maybe she couldn’t please him. “That’s a nice thing to say, but you make it seem as if I have multiple personalities or something,” she said.
“Isn’t that what makes a good actress?” he teased. “One day, when we’re away from the cameras, you can continue to show me the real Imani.”
“What if you find out that you don’t like the real Imani?” she asked.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Imani propped her elbows up on the table and stared into Raymond’s eyes. Even in the lighting, they were brilliant. In her mind, she wasn’t on a movie set acting, she was with a man that she could fall in love with, sharing dinner and about to make love for the first time.
But you’re on a reality show and the last thing you want to do is let the world know you’ve never been touched that way by a man. Who’s going to buy you in a sexy role then? What is the purpose of all of those hours in the gym to keep your body ready? she thought.
“Imani?” he probed.
“There are a lot of things I wish I could say to you, but we have too many prying eyes around right now. But I can say this, and I’m not acting. I really do want to see where this thing could go and how we could be together. But I’m still scared.”
“I wish you would tell me why.”
Before Imani could say another word, the chef came over with a camera crew.
“Good evening, lucky couple,” he said. His eyes shifted to the table, where Imani’s and Raymond’s salads and appetizers were untouched. He pursed his lips and stamped his foot like a petulant child. “Are you two too good to eat my food?”
Raymond looked up at the man and shook his head. “No disrespect to your food, but have you taken a look at my dinner companion?”
The chef snorted and stomped off as the cameramen laughed uncontrollably.
Imani blushed and turned away from Raymond as she chuckled herself. Inside, she wanted nothing more than to go back to her room with Raymond and give every part of herself to him. Never had she been around a man who understood and appreciated her dreams. He was more supportive in the short time that she’d known him than her family had ever been. Could he be the one she’d been saving herself for? Was Raymond the one? “Oh my God,” she whispered.
“What?” Raymond asked. “Is something wrong?”
“I—I can’t . . . I’m not hungry and I’m rea
lly tired. I have to go.” She leapt to her feet and ran toward the hotel.
“No, no, no!” Tres exploded as Imani ran away. “What is that chick doing? I thought they had a real connection and she just runs off like a little child.” She turned to Elliot. “Imani is hiding something and you need to find out what it is. You know what? Get Lucy down there. Let’s create some more drama.”
“Why are you playing puppet master with these three people?” Elliot asked. “There are other couples on this show.”
“But this story arch has a sizzle and I’m going to exploit it for the ratings as long as I can. Do what I said, all right?”
Elliot picked up the phone and dialed Lucy’s room. When she answered, he instructed her to go down to the beach for an uninterrupted chance to dine with Raymond.
“And that Imani clown isn’t going to be there?”
“No,” Elliot sighed. “He’s all alone with a candlelit dinner.” The next sound he heard was the dial tone in his ear.
Raymond downed his glass of wine, refusing to chase after Imani. Part of him wondered what she was running from or if this was just another emotion that she wanted to show to the movie directors she hoped were watching the show. Cut your losses and move the hell on, he thought as he poured himself another glass of wine.
“Is this a private celebration or is that second glass meant for me?” Lucy said from behind him. Turning around slowly, Raymond wondered why she was there, but as he downed his wine, it didn’t matter. He was tired of trying to understand what was going on in Imani’s mind. Sure, she made it clear what she was doing on the show, but she gave just as well as she took. She initiated plenty of kisses between the two of them. She never turned away when he pulled her into his arms and he could feel her body heat up like an oven every time he touched her.
Glancing at Lucy, he thought about simply burying his utter frustration and aggravation between her shapely thighs. But that wasn’t fair to Lucy nor would it be fair to Imani or himself. Raymond knew what he wanted, but he still nodded for Lucy to sit down.
Too Hot for TV Page 12