The Two of Us (Love in Isolation 1)

“Vodka?” I raise my brows. “It’s not even noon.”

“It’s time to play my game. You scared?” she challenges with a cheeky grin.

I chuckle. “Very.”

She saunters past me, fluttering light on her feet with a booty shake, which drives me insane. My eyes lower as I take in her curves, knowing I’m only making it worse for myself.

Once I grab the bottle and shot glasses, I find her on the couch and set everything on the coffee table. Lighting the fireplace, I create the perfect atmosphere. She turns on the TV when I settle next to her.

“Well, what’d you pick?” I ask, putting my arm around her. I’m close enough to smell the sweetness of her hair.

“I’m so glad you asked.” She smirks, and I see a bunch of twentysomethings in swimsuits. Then the trailer begins.

“What the fuck is this?” I ask at least three times within the first thirty seconds.

“Netflix’s new reality dating show about personal growth and resisting temptation. Thought you’d especially be interested in it.”

“Am I really supposed to believe they don’t give in? This feels like a trap…”

“Oh, Eli. I’m going to enjoy this.” She chuckles as the narrator begins explaining the “experiment” and how they have to abstain from kissing, sex of any kind, and masturbation, or money will be deducted from the hundred-grand prize.

“You’re withholding and not even being rewarded with any money…” she taunts, resting her hand on my leg.

“Which means, I should’ve gone on that island because I would’ve won!” I gloat.

Cami shakes her head. “You just wait.”

“Wow…” I say after all the participants are introduced. “So they picked the absolute most shallow people they could find on the planet, grouped them together at a beach house with nothing else to do besides sunbathe and work out, and they have to try not to jump each other’s bones?”

“The goal is to form a connection that isn’t based on sex.”

“Precisely what I suggested we do…” I counter.

“Yes, but they all literally just met. We’ve known each other for a long ass time,” she argues. “So…”

“But we only kissed days ago. You can’t go from hating each other’s guts to getting naked in a matter of days.”

She turns and faces me. “You really hated my guts?”

I look at her, frowning. “Well, I’ve always had underlying feelings for you, but when you called me out for being poor and made me feel like I wasn’t good enough for you, it was hard to like you as a person. Yet for some reason, I couldn’t get you outta my head. Or my heart, apparently.”

“I was an awful teenager, I know.” She lowers her gaze.

I tilt her head up until her eyes meet mine again. “We fed off each other’s hostility. I don’t blame you. I provoked you just as much as you provoked me. There was tension because something was bubbling between us that neither of us understood. But I do now. The chemistry and connection, it’s real. It always has been, and I’m glad we can use this time to get to know each other better.”

“Yes, I agree. But we can also have some fun while doing so.”

I sigh with a small chuckle. “Okay, so what are the guidelines for your drinking game?”

“Every time a couple breaks a rule, we take a shot and mimic their offense.”

“You mean, do what they did?”

“Right!”

“Cami,” I warn, easily seeing right through her.

“Don’t worry. We don’t actually see them having sex or doing anything more than touching and kissing.”

“Baby, listen…I like your intentions, but I don’t trust you with this one.”

Her hand slides up my thigh. “Did you just call me baby?”

“Don’t interpret that as me giving you the green light to jump me,” I tease.

“Fine, but you can’t stop me from wanting you to whisper that in my ear while you’re inside me. I’m definitely gonna be imagining that very thing while I’m in the shower later.”

I grab her hand and stop her from going higher. My dick is well aware of her presence and doesn’t need further temptation. “You can fantasize all you want, baby…” I bring my mouth close to her ear. “But that’s all it’s gonna be for now.” Pulling away, I smirk at her pouty expression.

“You won’t even kiss me?”

“I’ll kiss you,” I tell her. “But you can’t get handsy.”

“We’ll see. I played your stupid drinking game, so now, you gotta play mine.”

“Did that girl really just admit she’s ditzy?”

“She’s actually one of my favorites,” Cami replies. The longer this show goes on, the more I know it’s going to be painful to watch.

“The rules should be to take a shot every time one of the girls flips their hair.” I snort after we meet the sorority chick who flipped hers six times in thirty seconds.

“I didn’t think you’d want to be hammered by the end.” She chuckles.