Paradise Found

25

ALISTAIR

My dick is hard and unsatisfied as I watch Eloise leave my villa. I know I’m being unreasonable asking her to stay and not check in on her friend who’s hurt or her roommate. I guess I’m worried because there’s a small part of me that wonders if she’ll come back. I’m worried she will disappear again, and I won’t get a second or would it be a third chance to see her again.

I slide out of bed and roam around the villa, the anxiety of waiting for Elle to return has my body jittery. We’ve spent the day in bed watching television, fucking, and eating, and not always in that order. Honestly, it’s been a great day.

There were never any awkward silences between us. It was as if we have always been this way. Everything is natural between us, and I don’t want our time together to end.

This is her job.It’s a roadblock we keep coming up against.

I don’t know how I’m going to be able to leave the island after a week, and I know that as soon as I step off the island, she’s going to be in another man’s bed.

She’s not yours.

Yet, I tell myself.

Maybe I should show her how it would be between us if she came back to London with me after this week.You can’t make her choose.I know I can’t, but I want to be an option because at the moment, I don’t think I am. Yes, I believe Elle liked me all those months ago, but some fucker pretended to be me and fucked it all up. If I find out who that fucker is, I’m going to make him pay. It’s hard to not think of the what-ifs if that hadn’t played out the way it did.

My phone rings, pulling me from my thoughts. I look down and hope that it’s not someone in my family ringing me about the fucking wedding. Jasper’s name flashes, and relief floats over me.

I pick up his call. “Hey, man.”

“What the hell are you doing picking up my call while at The Paradise Club?” he questions, which makes me laugh.

“I’m taking a break,” I reply.

“Of course, you are, old man,” he teases. “How’s the island treating you? Hope you’re relaxing like I told you to.”

I guess I should be thanking Jasper since he’s the reason I ended up at the island. He told me I needed to have a week of fun before having to deal with all the shit that’s coming my way with my brother’s wedding. If I hadn’t taken his advice, I’m pretty sure he would have flown over here and dragged me to the island himself.

“Also, please tell me you’re enjoying what is on offer? I know how you get inside your head sometimes,” he adds, seemingly quite amused with himself if the chuckling is anything to go by.

He knows me so well. “I will say today has definitely not turned out the way I thought it would.”

“Did she use a strap-on?”

“What? No!”

“Don’t kink shame, Ali. That’s not very progressive,” Jasper says, chastising me.

What is he on about?“Your mind is a scary place,” I tell him.

“You have no idea.” He chuckles. “Don’t leave me in suspense. If it wasn’t a strap-on, then what happened?”

“I found her.”

“Found who?”

“Elle.” The line falls silent for a long while. “Jasper?”

“The girl that ghosted you?”

“Yes. But she had a valid reason.”

“I’m sure she does,” he grumbles down the line. “Ali, I’m worried about you. That girl broke your heart when she disappeared. I’m sure she has her reasons, but she hurt you. Fucking disappearing like that was cruel.”

“Never knew you cared, big guy,” I joke.