Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Did you have fun last night?” he asked as we walked to the shoreline together.
“Yeah, it was great. Andrea cracks me up.”
He nodded and looked out at the horizon. It seemed like he was deliberately trying not to look at me, which made me lower my brows in confusion.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m great,” he said, still not turning his head in my direction.
“You seem weird.”
“Nope, all good.”
He stripped off his T-shirt, tossed it on the ground, and waded into the water. I followed, noticing that his abs looked more cut than ever. No one wants a diet of fish and hardly anything else, but it sure does a body good. His face was noticeably leaner, and his dark beard was growing in more and more as the days went by. I’d grown used to this shirtless, sweaty, bearded version of him, and I imagined female viewers of Exiled wouldn’t complain about it.
There was no denying it—Archer was hot. And every time I caught a glimpse of that Purple Heart tattoo on his chest, his sex appeal shot up even more.
After our quick swim, we started our walk to the competition site. Josh’s smug expression as the production assistants positioned everyone in a row made my stomach turn nervously.
What kind of a “shake-up” were we about to get thrown at us?
“I know none of you were enthusiastic about being teamed up with you exes when we started this journey seventeen days ago,” Josh said. “So how about if we switch up the teams a little?”
Archer and I looked at each other, both of our mouths dropped open in shock.
“No,” Andrea said from next to me.
Josh grinned. “Andrea, has Rod grown on you in the past seventeen days?”
“Like a hemorrhoid,” she said sarcastically. “But he’s strong, and I came here to win.”
My heart raced with worry. Despite the emotional ups and downs of our past, I knew Archer. I trusted him. I was worn down and weak, and the thought of spending the rest of my time here with a stranger was unnerving to say the least.
“Gentlemen, please come stand over here with me,” Josh said. “When I announce the new teams, you’ll walk over and join your new partners.”
I gave Archer a panicked look. His expression was serious, but I couldn’t read it well enough to know how he was feeling about this situation.
The men gathered near Josh, and I surveyed the faces of the men surrounding Archer. The only man I’d spoken to here, other than Archer, was Rod. I didn’t want to be partnered with him, though. It was aggravating that the producers were using all of us to create drama. We were all hungry and homesick, and this was like getting kicked while we were already down.
Josh didn’t make me wait long before announcing the news I was dreading.
“Maksim, you’ll be partnered with Lauren,” he said.
Great. All I knew about Maksim was that he was Russian, the other guys here called him Maks and he was weird as hell. Andrea had told me Maks arrived at one of the challenges completely naked, before Archer and I got there, and the producers made him put clothes on.
“Hello,” he said as he walked over to me.
“Hi.”
I could quit. I could just tell Josh that I was tapping out and heading to the air-conditioned resort the losing contestants were chilling at until the competition was finished.
My head wanted to, but my heart wouldn’t let me. There were only seven teams left. I had a one in seven shot at winning $500,000 dollars. Continuing with a new partner wouldn’t be easy, but I wasn’t quitting.
“Archer, you’re with Shayla,” Josh said.
I couldn’t keep the frustration from my expression. Of course Archer had been partnered with Shayla. She’d be well on her way to bagging her second sexual conquest on this island by sunset.
Archer’s expression remained impassive as he walked over to Shayla. She was smiling and biting her lower lip, trying to look coy but appearing desperate instead.
“Okay, guys, you have your new partners. And in case you’re less than thrilled by this change, I have one more thing to tell you about the new teams.”
A collective groan sounded.
“This teammate swap,” Josh said, pausing for effect, “is temporary. It’s for one night only, and tomorrow morning you’ll return to your original pairings.”
My shoulders sank with relief. I could handle one night with anyone. I’d started this game with Archer, and I wanted to finish it with him.
Josh told us we’d be staying at the camps of the male partners, and I started following Maksim across the beach when Archer jogged up beside me.
Leaning in, he said, “Watch yourself, Lo. I don’t trust him.”
“I will.” I met his gaze and said, “Same advice to you.”
He nodded. “See you in the morning.”
Maksim led the way into the forest, where a path had been carved out. I studied the outline of his back as we walked. Like Archer, he had defined back muscles, but Maksim was leaner. He wore a tiny red Speedo that left nothing to the imagination.