11. Fringe Benefits

I jolted awake in my bungalow, heart hammering in a panic. How did I get here? Why did I fall asleep so suddenly? I had been out cold as if under some kind of influence. The fear was overwhelming, tears prickling my eyes as reality crashed in—abandoned on this island, surrounded by men, with no clue why or if I’d ever get home.

Panic clawed at my chest. I shot a glance at the window—still daylight. I had to escape before nightfall. My body moved on with instinct: out of bed, out the door, running. Who was I kidding? This wasn’t paradise—it was some kind of invisible cage, and I was the only woman here. If I didn’t get away, no one would know what had happened to me. My friends and family no doubt think I won some luxury prizes and am on vacation with Mark, enjoying myself. That’s so far from the truth as to what has happened to me.

I bolted from the bungalow, skirting the beach. If Blaze or Diamante saw me, they’d try to stop me—or worse. The trust I’m feeling must be a mistake. I was the only woman here, and that fact pressed on me like a warning. Once in the forest, my steps slowed, awed by my surroundings and yet frightened and filled with fear. Sunlight filtered through the trees, and for a heartbeat, I let myself marvel at the wild beauty. But I couldn’t forget why I was running.

For the first time, I really saw the place—lush, vibrant, alive. Every sense was heightened. I hoped to find the bridge I’d seen before, maybe a way out, but a new trail lured me deeper into the woods.

Curiosity wars with my fears as the path twisted upward. Maybe there’d be a waterfall—my first ever. The thought propelled me forward, even as my lungs burned. I stopped for breath; the wind cooled my skin, but my feet wouldn’t let me rest. I pressed on, deeper and higher into the wild.

The path grew narrow, shadows thickening as trees crowded in. Maybe Blaze or Diamante had walked here before, but now it was just me and the hush of the forest.

A faint rustle made me freeze. Probably just the wind, I told myself, but my nerves sang with tension. Flowers in every color lined the path, their scent both calming and dizzying.

Lost in the sights and smells, I didn’t notice how far I’d gone—until the rustling came again, louder, from the right. My breath caught.

I froze, heart pounding. Suddenly, idyllic nature felt dangerous. Wild animals—bears, feral cats, boars—might be out here. I strained to listen, every instinct screaming for me to run or hide.

Or—what if it wasn’t an animal? Water babbled nearby, masking the source of the noise. Curiosity pulled me closer, step by silent step.

I gasped at what I saw.

 Not a beast, but a man—

Muscles rippled across his back and shoulders, slick from the waterfall. I blinked, hardly believing my eyes—or my nerves.

It was another man.

Not Blaze. Not Diamante. Someone new.

My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a louder gasp.

I was rooted to the spot, unable to look away. I ran approving eyes over his lean hips, firm backside, and thighs. Those powerful shoulders with a sunburst birthmark in the middle of his spine.

Whoever he was, this man was gloriously made.

The man bathed under the waterfall—beautiful, raw, utterly unexpected.

He was tall, his hair dark and close-cropped, his back broad and powerful with a V-shaped waistline. My gaze slid down a perfect V-cut waist to—oh God—an impossibly sculpted body.

He bent, muscles flexing, and my heart tumbled into my stomach.

Oh My. My, my, me.

I did my best to stifle my utterances, backing away. Leaves crunched underfoot. His head snapped toward me, eyes searching for the shadows.

I froze, barely breathing. Please don’t see me, I begged silently.

I pressed myself against the tree, skin prickling as he looked my way. I tried not to stare, but as he stepped from the waterfall, I caught a forbidden glimpse—heat flooding my cheeks.

Oh my God. He was… impressive. My mouth dropped open, brain short-circuiting.

In all my twenty-eight years, I’d never seen anything like this outside of a movie. I’d always waited, fantasizing about the right man—someone who would want all of me, not just my body.

Heat pooled low in my belly. I wanted more than fantasy—I wanted him.

Real, tangible, searing urges and cravings.

I hate to admit it, but for the first time I could somewhat relate to a man and how he may feel when he sees us females.

But what I saw now—God, it woke something in me I thought was dead.

Could he be the “One” Blaze and Diamante spoke of? Or was I just another pawn in their strange, beautiful game?

Fear and excitement tangled inside me. I risked a glance—he was gone. Vanished. I didn’t wait to see if he’d return. I bolted, sprinting back through the trees, lungs burning, heart racing.

The moment my feet hit the sand, I knew nothing would ever be the same in my mind and body.

*******

Later, I stared into the bathroom mirror, breathless. My mind circled back to the stranger in the waterfall.

Why couldn’t I stop thinking about him? About the way he looked at me, even if just for a second.

So many thoughts and clear pictures floated in and out of my brain.

He was even sexier than Blaze or Diamante. What was he doing out there? Why were all these gorgeous men living in such wild seclusion? And why me? The questions spun, dizzying.

He might be the “One.” Or maybe I was just being held here for him, for some reason I couldn’t fathom. I didn’t want to believe it, but now the central mystery burned: What did these men want from me?

And why was I particularly curious about this one, and wanting them equally as much?