14. The Invitation

On my bed beside me sat the crisp white box, its gold ribbon glowing in the morning sun and radiating danger and promise. My heart hammered as I recalled the words in the attached note. For some reason, I couldn’t shake its words or understand their meaning.

“You’re our queen?” I repeated as the room spun as I thought of the possibility, but what did this mean? Why and how was I chosen to be their queen- why me, and why now?

A rush of shame from the dream I had come over me, and at the same time, longing and disbelief tangled in my chest. “Is that what I truly desire?”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Oh, I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

I snatched up the scattered papers, desperate for answers. The words on the page blurred as I fought to steady my breath. This wasn’t just a dream—it was the start of something wild and terrifyingly real. The thought of having power over these men that way was thrilling, and I’d never imagined anything like it before.

“What is happening to me?” I whispered, voice trembling. “It was only a dream. But dreams weren’t meant to feel this real.” My pulse thundered as I gripped the papers. I had to know—what exactly had I been chosen for?

The invitation was clear and impossible to ignore: “You are cordially invited to participate in a contest for your one true love here in Pleasure Paradise.”

My mind raced back to that fateful night at Mark’s club and that pot of gold contest, and the mysterious prize I’d won, supposedly a date with the Boss.

“Oh, my GoBossheBosss wasn’t MarBoss

I became dizzy as I held my head. Nothing made sense now. Who is The Boss? Diamante? Blaze? My thoughts tangled, confusion feeding my adrenaline as I realized the contest in the club was somehow connected to all of this. I picked up the note again and read:

“You will spend the next few days and nights on various dates with all three men individually.”

The words burned into me—this was real. Three men. One island. My heart wasn’t just on the line—my entire future was.

Wait—three men? I’d only met two. Then, a flash: the third, wild and naked under the waterfall, his eyes meeting mine, electric and unforgettable. Desire and fear were warring inside me.

My eyes flew wide. “Whoa... yes!” The words tumbled out before I could stop them, wild laughter bubbling up as I clapped a hand over my mouth. Adrenaline and something hotter surged through my veins.

The note continued. “You will go on three fabulous dates around the island with each man.”

My heart pounded. I jumped up, the reality smashing into me. There was no turning back. The air was thick with promise—and danger. My world was about to change forever, and I could feel it in my bones.

I was wide awake. I felt the creases around my eyes fill with even more water. Tears flowed down my cheeks as my brain shouted, “This is reality!” I thought as the warm tears greeted my face.

Tears streamed down my face. “Three exceptionally good-looking men...” I choked, barely able to breathe. “How is this my life? What did I do to be able to have this kind of power? Before this, I couldn’t even land one date back home. Now this? Please let this be real. Or at least let me survive it.”

Every part of me buzzed with fear and wild hope.

The instructions say, You are cordially invited to participate in a contest for your one true love of pleasure, Paradise. You will spend private time getting acquainted and familiar with each young man. But we do have a few rules that we need to discuss. We know dating can involve intimacy. But we want to make sure you feel comfortable. So, we would allow some physical contact, but no sexual intercourse.

“What? Who came up with these antiquated rules?” I thought, even though I didn’t know if I wanted intimacy, even though I keep having these wet, exotic dreams about it.

“If this rule is broken, you will immediately be disqualified from going on the rest of the dates, and your decision will be sealed. Then you will be subject to marrying the person you broke the rules with, even if it’s not the man you want to marry. We don’t want blood spilled because of a lack of loyalty. These men’s hearts can be treacherous if they feel played. And who can know what one might do? So please, for your sake and safety, stick to the rules of the game no matter what.”

The rules were clear-cut and straightforward. Each date will last one day. Each date will be in the guy’s chosen setting; physical contact is allowed. (Hand holding, hugs, complete body contact, kissing, caressing, but no intercourse.) Willpower must be exercised.

A wild laugh escaped me as I read the rules. “his is insane,” I muttered, caught somewhere between hysteria and thrill. Was I really supposed to trust my heart—not just my hunger? The stakes were dangerously high. This wasn’t a game at all; it was a test, with love—or heartbreak—waiting at the finish line.

“We are hoping and trusting you will stick to the rules.”

At the end of the contest, when you decide you are not romantically interested in two of the guys, you must think carefully about someone from your family, friends, or co-workers whom you would like to have this amazing experience with. A woman who would like to join you on the island to date and marry the man or men you have rejected. You must carefully complete a questionnaire about the person you consider inviting to reside on the island. Once again, the person must be loyal and trustworthy and have characteristics like yourself.”

My excitement limited my thoughts. ‘Oh, does this mean I will get to go home and bring someone here to the island with me?’  I looked down at the last question in the instructions.

“So, are you ready for your unimaginable dating experience?”