Read Online PleasureGames: A Games Novella by Jessica Clare - Free Book Online Page B

just waited for Heathcliff to look in my direction.
    But he only smiled at gazed down the line at us, as if pretending to really choose from the remaining six women. Please, I thought to myself. This is just one big endless charade.
    "I think I'd like to see more of one lady in particular who has captured my imagination."
    I rolled my eyes.
    Heathcliff turned to Kimberly and extended his hand. "Would you like to go to dinner with me?"
    I barely managed to choke back my sputter. What the hell? I watched as Kimberly giggled and put her hand in his, and he led her away. Heathcliff glanced back at me, gave me his most charming smile, and then they disappeared.
    And I was left stewing in my own juices. Was this a game with him? Was that what this was? Make Juno jealous by paying attention to her nemesis with the big cans? It was so obvious that it would never work.
    Yet as I went back to the room I shared with Leona, I was stewing with rage.
    Why was he being such a jerk?
----

    I simmered and seethed all night. Heathcliff was being unfair to Kimberly, I decided. I mean, sure, we didn't get along because she'd wanted my dress, but that didn't mean she didn't deserve to be treated like a normal human being. Heathcliff was just using her to make me jealous. He couldn't possibly like her. This was all a ploy.
    I wasn't falling for it.
    I wasn't.
    Which, I suppose, was why it didn't make sense that I was so incredibly furious at him at the moment.
    It wasn't jealousy, I told myself. I shouldn't care that he was stringing along Kimberly as long as he left me alone. That was what I wanted, right? But I still felt unsettled. Still twitched as Leona fixed my hair and chatted on, wondering about how the private date had gone. The other women speculated when we went to wardrobe, and by the time we got to breakfast, I was in a state of agitation.
    Kimberly was already at the table, looking fiery and beautiful in a yellow pantsuit. She gave her hair a toss and a smug smile to the rest of us.
    The other girls clustered around her. "Details! We want details of how the date went!"
    "A girl doesn't kiss and tell," she said in a syrupy voice, and took a delicate sip of her coffee.
    I nearly bent my spoon in my hand. She'd kissed Heathcliff?
    What happened to I want no one but you, Juno ?
    Funny how a man could change his mind in the presence of a redhead with a great rack. I twisted my napkin in my lap and tried to will myself into a Zen state of not caring. I needed my furnace and my kilns, my sands and my silicates and my hot shop. I needed to lose myself to hours of twirling glass and shaping it with tongs. I felt trapped here on this island full of glamorous women and this ridiculous farce of a show. I was an artist. I didn't belong here.
    I really didn't belong here if Heathcliff was going to flirt with other women in front of me. Was this subtle revenge for the fact that I'd told him I didn't believe in second chances?
    The doors opened and he entered the room, all smiles as he joined us for breakfast. And I slouched in my chair, glared at my mimosa, and tried to forget he existed.
    All I had to do was last until he voted me out. It sounded like that might be sooner rather than later anyhow, if his attention was transferring to Kimberly.
    Heathcliff made his way around the table, greeting each woman and holding a brief conversation with her. He laughed with Jenni F, flirted with Becca, teased Diamond, whispered with Kimberly, and then made his way over to Leona. "Hi, sweetheart," he told her.
    Sweetheart?
    Leona gave him a saucy grin. "Hi yourself, gorgeous."
    He sat down next to her, a movement that did not go unnoticed with the other women. "I hope you haven't been feeling neglected by me, have you?"
    "Well, maybe a little," Leona teased, pinching her forefinger and thumb together. "But I'm very good at forgiving."
    Heathcliff smiled. "There's a horseback riding trip later today, and I'm supposed to pick one lady to go with me. Would you