007

~KRISTEN~

Billie and I had a little stroll around the resort before we finally decided to prepare for dinner at the resort dinner hall. I was the one who suggested the stroll because I needed to clear my head a bit before facing Regina again. 

During the stroll, while Billie rattled on about how her business trip went, I mulled over what happened between Regina and I yesterday afternoon and I realized that in the peak of my desires, I didn't take permission before crashing my lips against hers, neither did I do so when my hands strayed down her chest. 

And being that she had already found out about my engagement, I bet she would be feeling bad. God! I didn't want her to have a bad impression of me.

So, while Billie was taking so long to wrap up her preparation for dinner, I decided to take that opportunity to make a quick stop at Regina's bedroom before the dinner would commence.

"Hey," she threw me a quick glance from the dressing mirror. "I will be right back."

She nodded with a smile. "Of course, babe." 

I couldn't help wincing at how that nickname rolled out of her lips effortlessly. I hadn't brought myself to call her that. And I didn't know if I ever would. Nodding, I stepped out of the room, trying to remember the room I saw Regina enter when Karina wanted to see me off to my room.

I heard her boyfriend was around, but I hadn't gotten around to seeing him. I prayed and hoped that he wouldn't be there with her.

I took the elevator ride downstairs and when I stepped out of it, into the hallway, I skipped three doors and stopped right in front of the fourth. Karina's room was further down.

I brought my hand up to knock, but stalled for a minute, taking several deep breaths, wondering why I was suddenly feeling nervous to meet her again. That had never happened to me before. I was always confident around the ladies.

I shrugged, attributing it to my fear of her being angry at me. I guessed it would be gone by the time I apologized and she accepted. With that resolve, I knocked softly on the door and waited.

Soon, I started hearing light footsteps. Just as I took another breath and summoned my confident aura, the door was flung open, revealing an entirely new Regina. My jaw fell inches apart.

She was standing right in front of me, looking more gorgeous compared to how I remembered her. That strapless knee-length silver gown hugged her figure perfectly, enunciating those curves that had always got me hard anytime I remembered them. 

And the curly red hair— the hallmark of her beauty— was styled to the sides, giving her natural beauty an enthralling glow. 

"Christ! How can one be this beautiful with no makeup?" I muttered under my breath.

And I noticed she was some inches taller than normal. It was thanks to the shiny black heels she wore. Her dress seemed sophisticated but it did nothing to change that natural outlook of hers. It was a beautiful contrast.

"You look so..." My voice trailed off as I returned my gaze to her face. "... breathtakingly gorgeous." I finished in a voice I couldn't recognize as mine. 

'Damn! Kris! You are engaged!'

After a few seconds of her lips falling inches apart as though she wanted to say something, she nodded instead.

I couldn't stop my heart from racing as the thought of her being angry got a hold of me again. But I noticed the way her gaze was trailing up and down my tall frame and I figured she was just as smitten as I was. That added a boost to my already shrinking confidence.

"I'm sorry about yesterday..." I began, bringing back her gaze to my face again. My heart did several backflips as our gaze held. Concentrate, Kris.

 "I don't want you to see it that I used you or..." My voice trailed off again, the right words escaping my thoughts as my gaze strayed to her lips again. Oh, man!

"It's fine. I kissed you back. So, we are both guilty." Regina to the rescue. A wave of relief washed through me as I smiled at her, taking her in a sweeping glance again. I couldn't help it. She was so honest. Another admirable feature.

"That's a relief. I will see you at dinner?" 

She threw a light nod. "Sure."

Our gaze held for a few seconds longer before I realized that Billie would have been ready by now. And I wouldn't want Regina's boyfriend to see me here so I turned and started walking away, willing myself not to turn and take in her very gorgeous self again. It was no use.

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I managed to get to the room right on time and Billie and I left for the dinner hall. Arriving, we saw our couples already seated and some still coming in. I was shocked at the massive turnout.

"So, people still took things like this seriously?" I thought

"I told you so." Billie chanted beside me and that was when I knew I had uttered that out loud.

We found our seats, directly opposite Regina and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend! I allowed my gaze to check him out and I hated the fact that he wasn't badly looking. 

Again, this was the first time I was feeling slightly inferior to my fellow guy. Just what in the world of fuck was happening to me?

With our choice of food served in front of us, my appetite went out the window. Sitting across from Regina and not talking to her was a herculean task— surprisingly. My sister, who was seated beside Regina gave me and Billie a warm smile, and so did her boyfriend who was holding onto her like his lifeguard. 

That was when it dawned on me that everyone was happily latching onto their spouses. Well, including Regina and her boyfriend, although I couldn't tell if the way she was peeking at her food depicted happiness.

Billie was also holding onto my hand and leaning closer to me. With the arrival of the woman who declared the events open, I decided to open up my heart and give Billie and I a chance.

I squeezed her hand as I watched the woman collect a fancy card to list out the event she said we would be doing for the next few days and weeks. I could already imagine myself doing it with Billie. Although my heart couldn't register any excitement at that thought, I tried to listen with eager ears.

"The first game is... Fake dating for a week. Now that's a crazy game right?" She let out a soft laugh before she continued. "The new partners for this game are..." Her eyes took in everyone at the large table and our attentive gazes. 

I wondered which people would be matched for this first crazy event.

 "Regina Eldridge and Kristen Summer..."

"What in the world of fuck!" I blurted out as Regina and I exchanged shocked glances.