Scorpio

by Lauren Landish

  Hayden strokes my hair and chuckles softly before kissing my forehead. “Well, I guess I’m gonna need to be damn sure I’m your match.”

  I chuckle and nod, content to stay in his arms all night. But eventually, our whispered chatter slows as we know we need to get back before we’re caught. We dress and head back to the house, Hayden walking me to the hedge by the side door. I can see his dark silhouette as I sneak in, walking toward my room and trusting that he’ll stick to the plan and come in another door in a little while, no one the wiser.

  Hayden

  I sip my black coffee, wishing I could mainline it as I sit in a chair in the lounge, gazing out at the landscaped grounds. Early morning call time has me more than a little grumpy, along with everyone else.

  Being out late with Emily is one thing, but even after I successfully snuck back in, I was so pumped I couldn’t sleep. There’s just something about being with her. Yeah, we’ve got chemistry off the charts, but it’s more than that. I want to talk to her, listen to all the thoughts that run through her brain, and experience life with her. And I met her on a damn TV show, of all things.

  Thinking of Emily makes me wonder where she is and what we’ll be doing today. I get the answer to one of my questions a moment later as she comes waltzing onto the set, McKayla and Brad still putzing with her hair and makeup. They stop before they come all the way in the room, away from the rest of the guys but near enough to me that I can hear every word.

  “You look like shit, girl,” McKayla is complaining at Emily but scowling at Brad. “Brad, you gotta learn to cover up those dark circles or Meredith is gonna hire a competent makeup artist who can.”

  Brad scowls. “I’m doing the best I can with Cinder-fucking-ella over here . . . out past curfew. What are you doing with this rat’s nest for hair? Meredith said a poufy ponytail and that ain’t it!”

  I laugh a little, trying to keep it down because their banter makes it sound like Emily looks awful, when the truth is, she looks gorgeous. Yeah, maybe she looks a little bit tired, but I know the reason for that. And it’s a damn good reason too.

  Before Emily can reply to their antics, Meredith blows onto set like a tornado, Nate following behind, as always, with his goddamn clipboard.

  “All right, people,” Meredith says loudly, looking around the room at the remaining men, some whose nervousness is showing on their faces like an open book. “We’ve got a card ceremony first. Two of you will be cut,” she announces casually as if reading something off the menu and not potentially crushing a man’s dream. “After that, we’re on location for sailing today, photo shoots, and short solo dates with each. We’ll do some confessional shots onboard, and then a late night for you, Emily, as we’ve got some filming when we get back.” She claps her hands together with finality. “Busy day, everyone. Let’s roll!”

  As she shouts orders to the camera crew, we start lining up with our cards in our hands. I’m not nervous at all as the dramatic music and ceremony begins. I know there’s no way Emily won’t match me. Not after everything we shared.

  My confidence proves to be spot on. Emily ends up cutting Carlos and Matt. As much as I want my competition eliminated, I’m sad to see those two go. I would have much rather she sent Lee packing.

  I watch as Emily gives them each a hug and a soft peck on the cheek before sending them home. Matt actually looks a little crushed, but he takes it like a man and gives her a smile of thanks as he is sent off. The smug smirk on Lee’s face as he does causes me to look away. I can’t fucking wait until it’s his turn.

  I should have warned her about him, I think to myself. But as soon as I saw her, anything I’d planned to say was driven from my brain.

  After the ceremony, we all get shuttled into SUVs and head for the marina. Once there, we board a huge, sleek sailboat and are sent down to our cabins immediately for the crew to set up on the deck.

  I’m in my cabin for all of five minutes before I consider sneaking out to see Emily. The only thing holding me back is I’m not sure what today’s timeline looks like and don’t want either of us to get caught.

  For the next hour, I pace restlessly, thinking about my game plan until Nate finally shows up, instructing me to come up on deck.

  Up top, my breath catches in my throat as I see Emily almost immediately. She’s lying on a patterned towel on the deck in a bikini, looking like a goddess basking in the sun, her skin glistening with a light sheen of oil.

  “Hayden,” says Meredith, who never seems to be more than a few feet away, no matter where we are, “this should be easy for you. I need some shots of you and Emily together. Lovey-dovey private moment look, maybe some fun in the sun shots too. Once we get all the shots we need, you’ll have about thirty minutes to chat below deck while we reset up here for the next suitor. Any questions?”

  This is the best news I’ve heard all day. For once, I don’t want someone to strangle Meredith. I can’t contain my grin as I shake my head. “No, ma’am.” I’m talking to Meredith, but my eyes never leave Emily’s. She’s so damn enchanting. This is going to be fun.

  As I move toward her, I can already feel air crackling between us. Somewhere, I hear Meredith yell, “Action!” but I’m already in the zone.

  I lean over Emily, almost in a high push-up position, caging her in with my arms. Feeling desire boil my blood, I growl deeply. “Arch your back for me, Emily. Press your tits up toward me.” I give her a wink. “Just play along.”

  She flushes slightly but does as I ask.

  I pause for a moment for the photographer, then drop down to one elbow, bringing the other hand to her face and staring deep into her eyes. I hear the click of the camera.

  I trace a fingertip down her cleavage, following it with my eyes. Click.

  She brings a hand up toward my face, and I lean into it, closing my eyes at her touch. Click.

  I turn my face, catching her index finger in my mouth. Click.

  I let her finger go with a pop, pressing back to rest on my knees and pulling her up to do the same. Bodies flush to each other, just a breath between us from shoulder to knees, I wrap her ponytail in my hand, pulling her head back a little and meeting her lips in a soft kiss. Click. The kiss might be soft, but I’m damn sure not, and I can’t help but press our bodies together, grinding my cock against her belly slightly for some relief.

  I hear the photographer clear his throat. “Maybe some playful ones now.”

  I grin and stand, scooping her up into my arms, hoping he’s ready to catch her look of surprise. Click.

  Getting closer to the edge, but not too close, I act like I’m going to throw her into the water. She shrieks and squirms, but I’ve got a good hold on her and she’s not going anywhere. Click.

  I let her slide down my body, grins on both of our faces. Click.

  I let out a whoop, picking her up and throwing her over my shoulder and turning so the photographer can catch her upside down smile. Click.

  Nodding his head, the photographer lets us know he’s gotten all he needs.

  As if on cue, Meredith appears at our side, grinning from ear to ear. “Bravo, you two. I knew you’d nail it. We definitely got what we needed.” She shakes her head. “The viewers are going to need some ice after they see those images. But enough with that, off you go below deck so we can reset.”

  I grab Emily’s hand and start leading her away, but I feel eyes on me and turn around, catching Meredith giving me an appraising look. I know I’m not overstepping boundaries by taking the lead with Emily, so I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking. After a moment, I shrug and we continue on, settling in on a white leather couch below deck in a private room. Emily’s sitting next to me with my arm around her shoulder. It feels natural, easy.

  Emily starts shaking her head, looking at me with wide eyes. “Holy shit, Hayden, that was fucking awesome! If those pics turn out half as hot as they felt, they’re gonna use those for all the promos.”

  I smile. “If only every shoot were
as easy as that. I was just doing what I felt with you. You’re lucky the photographer interrupted when he did. I was in a zone. Who knows what the fuck I would’ve done?”

  Emily swallows. “What . . . would you have done?” I move toward her, holding steady a breath away for a beat, then taking her mouth with a searing kiss. My hands slip and slide over her skin until I need more and pull her to straddle me. I tease her rigid nipples through her swim top, wanting desperately to slip it to the side. And then I remember.

  Shit . . . we’re alone, but there are probably cameras here somewhere.

  I groan and put my mouth by her ear. “If we were alone, I’d bury myself inside you again right now.”

  She tenses, realizing what I’m saying about hidden cameras in an instant, and blushes furiously. “I forgot . . . you make me forget.”

  “Me too,” I say. “Come here.” I pull her to me, and she rests her head on my shoulder as I curl a tendril of her hair around my finger mindlessly. “Hey, do you have any tattoos?”

  Emily looks at me. “Whiplash subject change much? But no, although I’ve thought about getting an Alice tattoo. You know, from Alice in Wonderland.”

  I snort a laugh. “Alice in Wonderland?”

  Emily shrugs. “I don’t know. For some reason, she just resonates for me, a bit of a lost outsider in a confusing world but enjoying the trip, and ultimately, standing up for herself. It’s one of my favorite stories.”

  I stare at her. “That’s really telling. You don’t really seem like an outsider, but Alice must click for you somehow. Are we in your wonderland trip right now, because I’ll admit this whole show thing is a little crazy.”

  Emily smiles faintly. “Maybe so. I just hope I can stand up to the Queen of Hearts.”

  I nudge her softly, gently giving her arm a little squeeze. “I think you’re the queen of my heart—oh, but let’s not do the ‘off with his head’ part, all right?”

  Emily blushes and laughs at the same time. I can’t help it. I start going in for another kiss, hidden cameras be damned.

  At that exact moment, the door swings opens, and I swear I’m ready to turn into Michael Myers as Meredith pops her head in. “Ooh, looking mighty cozy in here.” She grins, her eyes looking us up and down. “But Emily, everything’s ready and you’re back on deck for photos with Cody . . . make sure he picks you up for some shots to highlight his size and strength.”

  Emily looks like she’s about ready to shove Meredith off the boat herself, but she does as ordered before Meredith turns her attention to me. “And Hayden. You’re off to confessional.” She claps her hands as I hold in a groan. I want to argue, but I know it’ll do no good.

  “Let’s roll.”

  Confessional

  “How’s it feel to be in the final four?”

  I run my hands through my hair as I look into the camera. “Well, it feels like . . . there’s just Emily and me, and sometimes, she gets pulled away to hang out with the other guys. But it’s really us. I think we’re a done deal and I’m just ready to be done with the show so we can go on from here.”

  I know it sounds crazy and I’ve seen people say this on shows before. I never believed it for a second, but I really feel we have a connection, and maybe we’ve even fallen for each other. We’re definitely a match. I can’t believe we found each other like this, but we did.

  Emily

  “Whoa, don’t drop me!” I half scream, half giggle as Cody tosses me into the air while the cameraman zips around us, snapping dozens of pictures. After a short ‘reset’ and some personal time that’s supposedly ‘private’, I’m continuing my photoshoots with the rest of my suitors and trying to seem upbeat and open with each and every one, though it’s hard when my mind is on one, in particular.

  There’s just something about Hayden that . . .

  “Chill, I got you,” Cody assures me, cradling me in his arms and pulling me against his broad chest. “You’re as light as a feather.”

  “Tell that to my stomach,” I reply, smiling as the camera flashes in my eyes. “It was about to empty all over you, tossing me around like that.”

  Cody chuckles, wiggling his eyebrows at me. “Kinky. I can dig it.”

  “Gross!” I laugh.

  We do several more shots, changing positions, one with me sitting on his shoulders, another riding him piggyback, to show Cody’s size and strength like Meredith insisted. For the last shot, he even goes as far as holding me up with one hand, and I swear my side is going to be bruised from all of my weight being centered on his palm.

  “That was great, Cody!” Meredith calls, sticking her thumb up and pointing to the stairs. “You two can head below deck while we reset for the next shoot.”

  We slip down to the same couch I was sitting on with Hayden just minutes ago, and it’d feel strange but the vibe with Cody is just so different. He’s almost brotherly with me, teasing and joking, which makes me laugh as I relax beside him.

  After a few minutes, Nate comes in, his eyes locked on his clipboard. “Meredith is ready for you again. She said to tell you to stop and see McKayla and Brad for any touchups and be on set in ten minutes.”

  I nod and look over at Cody, who gives me a smirk. He gives me a quick hug before heading off to do . . . well, whatever the guys are doing when I’m not around. You’d think that being on a boat would mean I’d know everything, but we’re on a big boat, bitch. They must have some cabin in the back with video games and fishing rods or something, because the crew seems to bring them from nowhere and they disappear just as quickly.

  I hop in a chair in front of McKayla for a quick primp of my hair as Brad simultaneously sweeps powder across the shiny areas. With a flick, McKayla unties my suit and helps me into the next one. I swear, I never thought I’d be comfortable being naked in front of them for wardrobe changes, but the pace is just too rushed for me to be shy. With a minute to spare, I step back on deck.

  “Are you all right?” asks Dean when it’s his turn, stepping up as I rub my side. He looks handsome, white dress shirt open at the top and the sleeves rolled up, his hair gelled to perfection, but I don’t get any butterflies in my stomach like I do with Hayden. “You look like you’re holding your ribs.”

  Don’t get me wrong, Dean is handsome in an old Hollywood type of way with his tall, slim physique, brown hair, and crystal clear blue eyes, but I just don’t feel a connection with him. I guess it’s just one of those things where despite Dean’s being near perfect, he just isn’t perfect for me.

  I flash him a friendly smile. “I’m fine. Now that the Goliath is gone,” I say jokingly.

  Dean chuckles, flashing his perfect white teeth. “Cody is quite a brute, isn’t he?”

  I nod. “I’m not sure brute is how I’d describe him, but he is a giant. I think he chose the wrong show. He should’ve been on the Deathmatch version of Survivor.”

  Dean laughs, interlocking my arm with his, turning to face the camera with his dazzling smile. “Or The Ultimate Fighter. Something tells me he’d be the last man standing.”

  “The show’s going pretty well,” Dean says as we change poses and the lights flash in our eyes. “I’m surprised, actually. When I signed up, I thought this would be one of those things that fell apart within the first week due to booze and scandal. Thirty guys and one chick? Even a sixth grader could see how that would be a recipe for disaster.”

  “It is,” I say, feeling guilty as I think about the stolen moments with Hayden. “I just hope I have enough personality to make it worth watching.”

  “I wouldn’t worry,” Dean soothes. “Trust me, you have more than enough spunk to keep viewers tuning in to watch you break hearts.”

  “Don’t remind me.” I’ve tried very hard not to think about the men I sent home, even though most of them were probably just here for a chance at a quick fifteen minutes of fame.

  Dean nods as he places his hand on my hip as the photographer orders him to turn around. “I know, hard to choose and gauge someone f
rom so little time. But hey, I have to say I’m honored to be in the final four, and I’m looking forward to spending even more time with you.”

  I feel uneasy as I force a grin. “I am too.”

  I finish out the photo shoot with Dean, enjoying several giggly moments and even a soft, chaste kiss. We finish up out on the extreme front of the boat for a quick posed Titanic-inspired shot with me flinging my arms wide open. When the photographer calls it a wrap, we have alone time to ourselves high above the water instead of disappearing below deck like I did with Hayden and Cody.

  “That was great,” Dean says, helping me to sit down on the smooth decking.

  I nod, smiling. “It was. I’m sure the pictures will turn out fantastic, too.”

  Dean sits down beside me, taking my hand in his and tracing my fingers with his fingertips. “Not as fantastic as you. You know, I’ve been looking forward to having a little alone time with you since this deal started. It’s even better than I thought it would be.”

  It breaks my heart, staring into his sky blue eyes and seeing something reflected there but knowing that I’m unable to reciprocate. “Thank you,” I say softly, lowering my lashes and staring at my toes.

  “Hey, look!” Dean says excitedly. I look up and see him pointing out over the water. “There’s a pod of dolphins.”

  I try to follow his finger’s path, but all I see is gorgeous sparkling water for miles in front of us to the horizon. “Where?”

  He leans in close, his head just behind my shoulder and his breath on my cheek as he lines up our sight. He points again. “Right there.” And suddenly, I see them! A whole group of dolphins, and like it was planned, they begin leaping in the air, their acrobatics amazing to watch. I glance back at Dean excitedly, and he’s not looking at their joyous antics but is staring at me, watching me enjoy the moment. He glances at my lips and then moves in for a soft kiss. It’s sweet and nice, but there's no heat, and I know he felt the void too when he pulls back, a thoughtful look on his face.