Romance: Romantic Suspense: Seduction On Eden Island: (Dark Contemporary Romance) (Science Fiction Romance) (Romantic Suspense Mystery Romance Books) (Contemporary Romance) Read Online Free Page B
brightly-colored life jackets. Rayne stood alone to the side, unsure of how the rest of the guests would react after the previous evening’s debauchery, but the strangers made no outward sign of registration. They mingled in small pockets, fiddling with their jackets and adjusting the straps to fit. The very last person to arrive was Billie; she floated into the group silently and looked around at her surroundings, bewildered.
“Like the latest fashion?” Rayne had sidled up to Billie and struck her best attempt at a model pose.
“Sorry...what?” Billie’s voice was impassionate.
“Oh, the jackets; aren’t they a crime to your eyes?” Rayne forced a chuckle.
Billie shrugged and looked blankly into the distance. Billie didn’t look anything like she did previously; her face was devoid of makeup and she lacked her usual animation. Maybe she’s just unwell , Rayne thought.“Hey, did you have a nurse see you this morning?”
“Hmm? Y--Yes.” Billie turned and walked away toward the pile of waiting canoes, her interest in the maybe-rich Rayne fleeting.
Fine, you magenta-haired bitch, let’s see you out-paddle me.
The tour had been surprisingly fun. The guide had pointed out that the forest had an unusually high level of native medicinal plants and that scientists were still unravelling the mystery of the island to unlock medical marvels. He also pointed out locations where quiet visitors might spot certain animals, and they sat milling in the stream while a family of tiny monkeys jabbered and leapt across branches. Rayne was a keen rower at school; it felt good to feel the muscles tighten around her back and shoulders as she cut through the water.
Finally making it to the ocean, the group dispersed when they were told there was a lunch marquee waiting for them. Despite being the last to make it over, Rayne wasn’t in a position to go without; there was more than enough food for several tour groups. Rayne was concerned about Billie, who had picked up a sandwich but was nibbling mindlessly at it. Billie hadn’t interacted with anyone on the tour, and had taken only fleeting looks at the amazing scenery, which was unusual for someone who made an impression everywhere she went. She had also caused some concern with the other guests, who muttered among themselves that they found her intolerably rude.
Without the hostess watching, Rayne gathered up a selection of foods and snuck it back to the tour guide and his staff who were busily loading the canoes into a trailer. “This is just an extra thank you. You can’t refuse--I insist you take them. Throw them into the trees for all I care.” She pushed the food into the hands of the guide, spun around and left, satisfied when she heard the first crunchy bites into a bread roll.
The rest of the evening had been uneventful. She had sunbathed on the beach, had a long shower and was getting ready for dinner. Tonight, her dinner was to be prepared by a personal chef in the cabin kitchen. A menu had been slid under her door and she had ticked the boxes promptly before popping it on her door handle. An evening alone in her cabin had been an attractive option, but knowing that there was a sex god roaming the island made her want to fling the schedule into the wind. Nonetheless, she endured the chef and his amazing culinary skills. She ended up eating--and sleeping--alone.
Rayne woke earlier than usual the following morning. Slipping into another bikini, short and t-shirt combination, Rayne had planned on using one of the canoes and hoped to score a private hire for the morning. Just her luck: the guide and his team were setting up for the morning as she arrived. They all smiled; it was easy being recognized when you’re the largest woman on the island.
She asked demurely if she could borrow a canoe for an hour to paddle down and then back upstream. After some haggling and promise of more bread rolls, Rayne clipped on a life jacket and slipped into the stream with
“Like the latest fashion?” Rayne had sidled up to Billie and struck her best attempt at a model pose.
“Sorry...what?” Billie’s voice was impassionate.
“Oh, the jackets; aren’t they a crime to your eyes?” Rayne forced a chuckle.
Billie shrugged and looked blankly into the distance. Billie didn’t look anything like she did previously; her face was devoid of makeup and she lacked her usual animation. Maybe she’s just unwell , Rayne thought.“Hey, did you have a nurse see you this morning?”
“Hmm? Y--Yes.” Billie turned and walked away toward the pile of waiting canoes, her interest in the maybe-rich Rayne fleeting.
Fine, you magenta-haired bitch, let’s see you out-paddle me.
The tour had been surprisingly fun. The guide had pointed out that the forest had an unusually high level of native medicinal plants and that scientists were still unravelling the mystery of the island to unlock medical marvels. He also pointed out locations where quiet visitors might spot certain animals, and they sat milling in the stream while a family of tiny monkeys jabbered and leapt across branches. Rayne was a keen rower at school; it felt good to feel the muscles tighten around her back and shoulders as she cut through the water.
Finally making it to the ocean, the group dispersed when they were told there was a lunch marquee waiting for them. Despite being the last to make it over, Rayne wasn’t in a position to go without; there was more than enough food for several tour groups. Rayne was concerned about Billie, who had picked up a sandwich but was nibbling mindlessly at it. Billie hadn’t interacted with anyone on the tour, and had taken only fleeting looks at the amazing scenery, which was unusual for someone who made an impression everywhere she went. She had also caused some concern with the other guests, who muttered among themselves that they found her intolerably rude.
Without the hostess watching, Rayne gathered up a selection of foods and snuck it back to the tour guide and his staff who were busily loading the canoes into a trailer. “This is just an extra thank you. You can’t refuse--I insist you take them. Throw them into the trees for all I care.” She pushed the food into the hands of the guide, spun around and left, satisfied when she heard the first crunchy bites into a bread roll.
The rest of the evening had been uneventful. She had sunbathed on the beach, had a long shower and was getting ready for dinner. Tonight, her dinner was to be prepared by a personal chef in the cabin kitchen. A menu had been slid under her door and she had ticked the boxes promptly before popping it on her door handle. An evening alone in her cabin had been an attractive option, but knowing that there was a sex god roaming the island made her want to fling the schedule into the wind. Nonetheless, she endured the chef and his amazing culinary skills. She ended up eating--and sleeping--alone.
Rayne woke earlier than usual the following morning. Slipping into another bikini, short and t-shirt combination, Rayne had planned on using one of the canoes and hoped to score a private hire for the morning. Just her luck: the guide and his team were setting up for the morning as she arrived. They all smiled; it was easy being recognized when you’re the largest woman on the island.
She asked demurely if she could borrow a canoe for an hour to paddle down and then back upstream. After some haggling and promise of more bread rolls, Rayne clipped on a life jacket and slipped into the stream with
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