Temptation: A Reverse Harem Romance Read online

  17

  Stacy

  “Falasarna.”

  I have been trying to pronounce this word since yesterday afternoon, and I still haven’t been able to do it. Locating it on the map is a lot easier. It’s the westernmost tip of the island, more than a hundred-and-twenty miles away from Heraklion. However, as our car rolls down the twisty road at dusk, I realize that we were in for a huge surprise. One of the two beaches is just massive, even longer than the one in Ammoudara. The other is a sight for sore eyes. Turquoise waters stretch out on the horizon, making my eyes go wide with amazement. It is as if someone has stolen a gigantic patch of the Caribbean shoreline, and brought it to this remote spot of Crete.

  Our hotel isn’t anything fancy, but our accommodations are the last thing I’m worried about at the moment. I am far away from Michael, Ray, and Dean. I’m more than a hundred miles away from trouble and embarrassment, surrounded by crystal-clear waters. For the first time in almost ten days, I am the carefree person that set out with Emily from Miami. I can’t put a price on that feeling.

  The morning finds Emily, Karlie, and me basking in the sun after our first swim on the turquoise beach. A mild breeze is blowing through the wicker umbrellas, bringing a feeling of relaxation into my heart. And I was in dire need of that relaxation. Regardless of my encounter with Dean, the past few days have been much too stressful.

  “I’m officially the most relaxed person in Crete,” I say, my eyes shut, my voice coming out lazier than usual.

  “I don’t know about ‘relaxed,’ but you must be the luckiest,” Emily voices her opinion. “I mean, doing it with three studs who know each other and getting away with it? You should buy some lottery tickets when we get home.”

  I heave a sigh of disappointment. “Did they have to? Don’t get me wrong, I agree with you, I did get lucky, but I wish I didn’t have to ditch them like that.”

  “You sound like you miss them,” Karlie remarks, lowering her sunglasses to look over at me.

  “I miss the sex I had with them,” I confess, recalling the lust in Michael, Ray, and Dean’s eyes. “Frankly? I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t miss that kind of passion.”

  “Save the descriptions, girl,” Emily requests. “The B.H.T. is coming.”

  “The B.H.T.?” squiniting, I turn my head to the right to face her.

  “The Brick House Trio,” she explains, her gaze settling on something beyond and to the left of my sun chair, her hand over her eyes to shield them from the glare of the sun. “Damn, I’m so jealous. Look at them; they’re huge.”

  “They?” questioning, I hear my voice rising, riddled with panic and fear as I whirl my head left. Sadly for me, Emily is not kidding. Michael, Ray, and Dean are alongside each other, strolling through the umbrellas, sending my heart into a flurry of wild beats. There’s nothing I want more than to disappear off the face of the earth. I have no idea how, but they’ve found me. Waves of cold sweat are pouring off me, paralyzing my limbs. My initial thought is to jump up and make a run for the water. It’s more than twenty yards away from the umbrellas and the majority of the people. Still, when Michael’s eyes land on me, I realize that I can’t go anywhere. Tearing my gaze away from them, I sit up. I bring my legs to my chest and wrap my arms around my knees. The few seconds it takes them to reach me feel like an eternity.

  “Oh, my God…” I whisper, tucking my head between my knees.

  “Good morning,” Michael’s gentle voice fills my ears, causing my heart to skip a beat.

  “Girls, can we have some privacy?” Ray requests, his calm tone not surprising me. “We’d like to talk to your friend here.”

  “Fine,” Emily gives a reluctant nod. “But, just a ‘heads up’; I don’t care how big you are. If you try to hurt her in any way, I’m going to pounce on you like a lion on a gazelle.”

  The time it takes her and Karlie to walk off to the sea adds to my torment. The sound of their footsteps on the sand is fading, when I hear Ray’s voice once more.

  “Stacy, look at me, will you? I like your hair, but I can’t have a conversation with it,” he utters, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

  “Guys, you have every right to be mad at me,” I finally part my lips, my own voice weak. “There are a few more private places around the beach where you can yell at me. Can we please, please go to one of them?”

  “I’m not going to ask nicely again,” he says, using a much stiffer tone.

  “Okay,” I swallow hard, raising my gaze up to meet his as I move my legs apart. The three of them are standing just inches away from the sun chair, blocking my view of the sea. “Lay it on me.”

  “First of all, you’ve done nothing to be ashamed of,” Ray assures me, his voice becoming mellower. “People do all sorts of things, while on vacation, that they wouldn’t normally do back home.”

  “Nothing?” I gasp out, my mouth falling open in utter disbelief.

  “That’s right,” he insists, sitting down on the sun chair, his side turned to me.

  “Wait a minute,” I speak too fast, shaking my head sideways. “How did you even find me?”

  “Actually…” Ray snorts in amusement. “That was a lot easier than we expected. Dean knew where you had been staying. We went to your old hotel, looking for you. The receptionist couldn’t say where you went exactly, but she overheard one of your friends talking about Falasarna.”

  “I’m confused,” I sigh, stealing a glance up at Michael and Dean. “You guys drove all the way here from Heraklion to tell me we’re good?”

  “No,” he firmly replies, tightening his jaw. “Do you remember the night we met?”

  “Yeah,” I affirm. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “It’s got everything to do with what I’m about to say,” Ray answeres, leaning closer to me. “I looked like hell because of a woman. That woman is my ex. I, um…” he pauses. “I ran into her at a beach down south.”

  “Excuse me?” My surprise sends my voice two octaves up, my mouth staying partially open.

  “It’s true,” he assures me, pressing his lips together. “So I need a favor.”

  “What favor?” I wonder, my heart beating faster and faster.

  “She wants to get back together, and she won’t get off my back,” Ray mutters, his voice fading. “Seeing me with someone else might do the trick. I’m going back south tomorrow night. The place is called ‘Plateia Per, Per…”

  “Peramata,” Michael saves him the trouble of having to pronounce the word.

  “Right,” Ray gives an emphatic nod. “The beach is called ‘Psili Ammos’; that’s Greek for ‘thin sand.’ It’s a long drive, but I can come pick you…”

  “How far is it?” I interrupt, remembering the sadness on his face.

  “If you follow the county road, it can’t be more than eighty, eighty-five miles,” he estimates. “But like I said, I can come pick you up.”

  “I’ll do it,” I state, a smile of hesitation forming on my face. “You don’t have to drive over here again. I’ll take my friend’s car.”

  “That is great!” He cheers with a grin, gazing deep down into my eyes. “Just be careful. The county road is a lot narrower than the freeway.”

  “I will be,” I nod in agreement. “What time should I be there?”

  “Eight o’clock should be fine,” Ray winks at me. “Oh, I almost forgot. After this, we need to discuss something. You take care.”

  “Bye,” I tell him, watching him rise back up to his feet. His words trigger my curiosity, but I don’t dare ask. A massive sense of relief engulfs me, making me focus on the immediate. The immediate is the trio’s reaction. And boy, it’s a surprise I would never have imagined. I had used them, toyed with them, and not one of them had been willing even to raise their voice at me. Along with my relief, comes a sense of regret. If I had known how well they would take this, I would have stayed put. I wouldn’t have moved to a place I couldn’t even pronounce.

  18

  R
ay

  We are all smiles after Stacy’s positive response. Michael and Dean keep cracking jokes, teasing each other and me. I play along, seemingly having fun too, but deep down, I can’t help feeling concerned about the future. Laura may be manipulative and possessive, but she’s also smart. She may figure out my little plan. In case she does, I’ll be out of options. And, unfortunately for my friends and me, we would have to abandon this island. A vacation is worth nothing if you can’t relax, and I wouldn’t be able to do so with Laura out there, somewhere, waiting to pounce.

  Despite this mess, however, I catch myself thinking about the blonde my plan depends upon to work. I already knew about her incredible looks, but seeing her in a bikini was an even bigger shock for me. That sexy image made me change my mind about giving into her the other day. Sex with her might have been amazing, but somewhere more comfortable and with a little more light would render it mind-blowing.

  Those curves on a bed, pale candlelight, maybe white lingerie, although it’s not necessary. Damn… That’s the very definition of ‘hot.’

  Maybe I should have rejected her advances, for one very simple reason: I have no idea if getting her into bed is possible anymore. To do that, Stacy will have to agree to my crazy idea about dating Michael, Dean, and me. I can’t tell if she’s willing to complicate her life, even for a few days. In my heart, I hope she does, but that’s entirely up to her. Should she not, spending a night with her will remain a dream.

  I drive back south on that warm, early-August night, with the desire to rid myself of Laura, once and for all. What I come across constitutes my idea of heaven. The beach isn’t so crowded; in fact, there can’t be more than twenty people around. A handful of them are in the water. Two, young girls are playing with a ball very near the surf. Tantalizing scents from the nearby tavern rush into my nostrils. Some men are guzzling beer, when roaring laughter drowns out the sound of the waves.

  Taking my clothes off, I saunter off towards the sea. Unlike my first visit here, I’m not as enthusiastic to jump into the water. Instead, I prefer a calmer approach, letting the sea embrace me, one step at a time. Once I’m deep enough, I bend and dive my head in, wet coolness relieving the tension in my muscles. A strong current rolls me around as I emerge. Facing the shore, I notice a small, blue Honda rolling down the road. The fading daylight reveals the driver’s identity. It’s none other than Stacy Dexter.

  Sexy and kind; that’s a nice combination.

  Understanding that I should welcome her, I decide to leave the water. Still, I haven’t covered more than five yards, when I discover that she’s got something else in mind. She is wearing a red cover-up over her red bikini bottom, and a white, loose t-shirt. Setting her brown beach bug on the sand, she gets rid of the shirt, offering me her beautiful smile. Once she’s free of her cover-up, she strides off towards me, her feminine figure drawing the attention of a few people at the tavern.

  “You could have waited for me to get out of the water,” I complain, the tips of my toes brushing the rocky seabed.

  “I’ve been driving for more than three hours,” Stacy points out, her waist disappearing under the water. “I’m desperate for a swim.”

  A deep breath later, she leaps forward and dives in headfirst, leaving me wondering why it took her so long to get there. Nevertheless, it doesn’t change the fact that she is there, willing to help me out in my hour of need. Stacy emerges, numerous strands of her golden hair stuck to her skin as I marvel at her fine features.

  “I took the freeway,” she explains, pushing her hair back from her face. “A couple of locals I talked to yesterday suggested I avoid the county road as much as possible, because it’s too dangerous.”

  “Well, the freeway added another fifty miles to your trip,” I declare, glancing out at the shore first and then back at her. “Thanks a lot for doing this.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Stacy rolls her shoulders, her smile staying on. “Besides, it was a good chance for me to visit the south. It’s beautiful down here. So, what’s your ex’s story? Let me guess. She freaked out when you broke up with her?”

  “I’m afraid it’s a lot more complicated than that,” I say, my voice bass-deep. “You see, I didn’t just date Laura. We were engaged. She bailed on me on our wedding day. She left me a letter, saying she got cold feet.”

  “Holy God,” she whispers, blinking slowly. “You got left at the altar?”

  “Yeah,” I confirm. “I came down here again, a couple of days ago. I suspect she’s watching the place somehow, because one of her goons handed me over a note from her.”

  “Then, let’s give her something to watch,” Stacy suggests, reaching her hands out to my shoulders. She jumps onto me, taking me completely by surprise. Before I know it, she is pushing me down below the surface. The sea storms into my nostrils and my mouth. Feeling rocks on the heels of my feet, I propel myself straight back up. “I’m so sorry!” she says, her voice filled with panic as I cough up water.

  “A warning would have been useful. It’s too deep here,” I retort, stunned by her gesture. “What were you thinking?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, maybe kissing you?” her voice taking on a sarcastic tone, her body floating inches away from mine. “Do you think she’s going to buy we’re a hot couple if she sees us acting like best buddies or something?”

  “No,” I murmur, leaning towards her. I curl my arms around her waist, loving the playfulness in her eyes. A gentle push sends her upwards, exposing her lower back as her exaggerated scream tears the stillness of the night. Stacy angles her lips, a moment before her body crashes into mine. She cups my cheek and wraps her free arm around my neck, delicious saltiness filling my mouth. Drops of water are flowing off her forehead and onto my cheekbones, the feel of her warm breath bringing a sense of calmness into my heart. Even though this is supposed to be a sham, her body language suggests that it’s anything but that. Stacy clings to me, and within moments, she confirms my initial belief. I feel her long legs going around my hips as I slide my hand up her back. I ease back, ending the kiss while I enjoy the sensation of her amazing body in my embrace.

  “This wasn’t pretend, was it?” I rasp out as she caresses my cheek.

  “Okay Mr. Cool, you got me,” Stacy confesses with a sweet chuckle. “I wanted to kiss you. Is that so bad?”

  “You’re one crazy girl,” I comment, loosening my hold around her. She parts her lips, ready to offer me a rebuttal, but then, I catch something out of the corner of my eye. A black Mercedes is on the shore, facing the uphill road, its wheels very close to the sand. The driver is standing beside the vehicle, whereas Laura is already crossing the beach.

  “Here we go,” I whisper, fixing my gaze on her.

  “Let’s kiss again,” Stacy suggests, her voice stinking with enthusiasm. “I bet that’s going to send her over the edge.”

  “Just hold my hand,” I urge as she slides down my body. Whatever feeling made my heart race earlier, has now evaporated. In its stead is a mix of anticipation and eagerness to put my past behind me. Because that’s what Laura is to me: the Past; Over and Done; A has-been. I don’t know what fate has in store for me, but that woman is not coming back into my life. She lost the right to be part of it when she stood me up at the altar.

  “Nice try,” she scoffs, putting her hands together as she halts over Stacy’s beach bag. “You almost had me there; Almost.”

  “Don’t you have better things to do than watch this beach all day long?” I ask her, my voice riddled with sarcasm as I close the distance between us.

  “Send your bimbo away,” Laura groans, tossing a fierce glare over at Stacy. “We need to talk.”

  “Bimbo?!” huffs out Stacy, half amused, half annoyed. “I’m not the one who lets someone else drive my two-hundred thousand dollar car.”

  “Stacy’s not going anywhere,” I grumble, my tone of voice becoming stiff. “And there’s nothing to talk about. Suck it up, Laura. It’s all over.”

  Letting
out a malicious grunt, she lifts up her arm to slap me. I thrust my hand up, waves of anger beginning to course through my system. I grab her wrist and squeeze, taking a short step towards her.

  “Pathetic,” I taunt, utter contempt darkening my eyes. “Go ahead. Try again. There are about twenty witnesses here. I only need one to tell the cops you assaulted me. How would you like to spend the night in a cell?”

  “You fool,” Laura snarls, yanking her wrist out of my grasp. “You’re going to pay for this.”

  At that, she turns around and starts heading back in the direction from which she came. Part of me is desperate to shove her into that fancy car and scream at her for being such a pain in the ass. After all, it’s a fair punishment, not to mention it would help me vent. Still, my feet stay bolted to the ground. Her goon doesn’t scare me. Neither do the locals, but they’ve been good to me so far. Doing what I have in mind would be a sign of disrespect, and I do wish to come back down here soon. The Benz revs into life, its rear tires spinning and kicking up dust and gravel. The strong smell of exhaust fumes is still lingering in the air, when I hear Stacy’s voice.

  “Typical rich bitch,” scoffs Stacy, her eyes still on the fading taillights. “Too spoiled to take ‘no’ for an answer. I’m surprised you even dated her.”

  “She wasn’t always like that,” I claim, bitterness sending my voice down an octave. “She changed after her father passed away last year. He raised her. Her mother died when she was just nine. After her dad’s death, she assumed command of ‘Webstar,’ his software development company.”

  “She must be doing a good job,” Stacy presumes, turning to face me. “That car is ridiculously expensive.”

  “How did you know how much it costs?” I wonder, recalling her nasty remark about Laura.