“Are you two out of your mind?” I say immediately to McKayla and Brad, shaking my head. We’re in my dressing room, and I haven’t even had a chance to get out of my clothes good before they tell me about Hayden’s plans to get me alone. I’m shocked, to say the least, but a part of me is more than a little intrigued. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I hear what you’re saying,” Brad says, who’s wearing his blond hair in two tiny pigtails and has his eyes framed by dark eyeliner, “but your voice and your body language are saying something else entirely! It sounds more along the lines of I want to ride his big dick again.”

“Stop that!” I snap, trying not to laugh. “I’m serious. I did no such thing!”

Brad stops and gives me a look. “Okay, I’ll let that go. But please, don’t tell me you didn’t at least think about it.”

McKayla, who's dressed in a purple dress with a white belt at the center, rolls her eyes as she tosses a bristle brush she was using to groom a wig to the side. “Enough, Brad, she’s right. Stop messing around.” She looks at me. “Look, Emily, I’m just the messenger. It’s your decision. You know better than me if he’s worth the risk.” She gives me a smirk that says he’s totally worth it, even if she doesn’t outright say it.

McKayla and Brad just look at each other and smile, as if they know I’m going even before I do. “All right,” I say without even realizing it. “I’m going to go see him.”

What did I just say?

There are so many things wrong with sneaking around with Hayden without the cameras, the main one being violating my contract and putting the entire show into jeopardy.

Not that I haven’t violated my contract already. Oh, God, what he did to me with just his hands. I can only imagine—

I stop my thoughts. That’s not happening. We’re just going to talk. I swear, talk is all we’ll do.

“Great!” McKayla chirps. “Now go get yourself a shower while we get ready, and then come back here so we can make you look like a princess deserving of her Prince Charming.”

Thirty minutes later, I’m fresh and clean, dressed a lot differently than I have before as I furtively move through the halls. Mckayla wanted to have me all dolled up again, but I admitted that I wanted Hayden to like the real me, not just a fake TV version, so this is a bit of a test to see how he reacts to my more natural look. My hair and makeup are soft, like something I’d wear back home, and I borrowed a simple red cotton dress from wardrobe. It’s a little short but more sweet than slutty. Despite my anxiety, I feel an air of confidence about myself, recognizing that this is the most ‘me’ I’ve been in days.

I turn a corner before doubt hits me like a freight train.

“Should I really be doing this?” I mutter, pausing in the middle of a hallway somewhere near the back of the estate and peering back down the way I came. So far, I haven’t encountered any crew, but if they see me back here, I’m fucked. Sure, I look somewhat normal, but I’m not supposed to be in production areas.

This is a dream come true, and I’m putting it all on the line just for a few minutes alone with a man I’ve talked to only a handful of times.

But honey, those hands . . .

I should turn around and head right back where I came from. But I’m not going to, and I know it. All it took was one thought of how he made me come. I still can’t believe I did that. It’s so not me, but it almost felt like we had a true connection. Although maybe it was just lust and nothing more.

Ugh. But I seriously want to get to know him, dammit!

I’m just confused. Lee turned my brain into mush with a kiss just a mere few hours ago. The way he looked at me sent me whirling, and the world still isn’t quite straight on its axis yet.

Jesus, what the hell am I turning into?

I usually kiss on the third date and am shy about doing anything more than that for ages. That is, with the few guys I’ve actually dated long enough to have sex with. Today, I went on a date with three guys and kissed all three of them. Now, I’m sneaking out to see a fourth, whom I’ve already let finger bang me.

A part of me feels slutty, even if it was all part of the show. Well, at least the date with three men part. But I feel like meeting Hayden is what I want to do. It’s the most real thing about this entire show so far.

I circle back, making sure I don’t encounter any crew. I walk out the side door off the den, stretching and breathing like I’m getting some fresh air while I look around, checking for witnesses.

Seeing nobody, I quickly slip through the hedge, doing my best to not get tangled in the branches. I curse when a few scratch my flesh, but thankfully, they don’t break skin.

As soon as I’m through, I see Hayden. He’s pacing back and forth as if he’s uncertain I’ll show. My heart pounds as I watch him. I’m so not a rule-breaker. It makes this so much more exciting.

Still, the part of me that always does as I’m told wants to run away, and the other part wants to run straight into his arms.

He sees me before I can do either.

“You came,” he breathes, his face lighting up as he comes forward to pick me up and spin me around as he covers my lips with kisses. “Holy shit, you’re beautiful,” he says in awe when he’s done, stepping back to survey my outfit. He shakes his head. “And you smell good, too.”

I grin, blushing at his praise and excitement for me, my lips burning from where his touched them. “You like it? It’s a fragrance Brad picked out for me.” I make a face. “I think he called it Lush Lust.”

Hayden laughs, shaking his head. “He and McKayla are something else.” He grabs my hand, tugging me off into the darkness. “Let’s go.”

We quietly make our way down the hedge line to the trees. He leads me deeper into the trees for a moment, scouting ahead to make sure the coast is clear and then coming back to escort me forward.

When we step out to the pond, it takes my breath away. The moon reflects off the surface, giving the ripples a sparkling effect. I know it sounds cliché, but it looks absolutely magical.

Holding my hand, Hayden leads me to a blanket he’s laid out next to the bank, and we sit.

He shakes his head, a grin coming across his face, his eyes glowing in the moonlight. “I’m so glad you came,” he says, the relief in his voice genuine. “I wasn’t sure you were a sneak-out-to-see-a-guy kind of girl. I got the impression before that you were the one who always followed the rules. I think I like that you’re a little naughtier than I thought you were.”

I laugh. “I’m really not. This is the first time I’ve ever snuck out . . . for anything. But I’m a grown ass woman. I can do what I want.”

Hayden chuckles. “That you can.” We sit in silence for a moment, the chirps of crickets filling our ears, enjoying the scenery for a few moments. “So what made you decide to be on Matchmaker?”

I purse my lips, thinking. “Honestly? I’m a bit of a boring homebody and a reality TV show addict. I saw a commercial promising adventure and experiences on the season finale of a show and figured I’d give it a shot. I never expected them to pick me or even call me back.” I let out a mirthless laugh. “What are the odds that they’d pick me?” I shake my head. “But I knew it was probably the only shot I’d ever have at being on one of the shows I love, so I went for it. And look, it paid off.”

“Why wouldn’t they pick you? A beautiful, unsuspecting woman who finds love on the show? It’s a perfect story. All the rest of the women who get chosen to come on here are going to have mighty big shoes to fill.”

I blush. I love the way Hayden’s words make me feel. “You think so?” I ask.

“I know so,” Hayden says confidently. He leans forward, his eyes alight with interest. “Tell me more. What do you love about reality shows? I mean, this has been fun, but it’s all a little too fake, don’t you think?”

The mirth flees my face as I nod. “Yeah, there’s that. Well, I knew things would be scripted, so that’s not really an eye-opener for me. At home, it’s just an escape. I feel like I get to know the people based on their reactions to whatever situation they’re thrown in. It’s interesting to see how people deal with different things. Although I did think there’d be more getting out and adventure, from the way they described the show to me. Today was a start, I guess.” I look over at Hayden. “What about you?”

Hayden sits back on his ankles. “Well, before I showed up here, I had a little issue with a photographer wanting a bit too much from me. Instead of flipping out, I walked off-set with him yelling in my ears. It was unprofessional, but I wasn’t about to do what he was asking.” A faint smile plays across his handsome face as if he’s remembering something. “That was when my agent told me he got me an interview for this show. I didn’t want to do it at first because I can’t act for shit, but Jay, my agent, pulled a guilt trip number on me and I slowly changed my mind. After a while, I didn’t think it would be so bad. Like you said, it’s reality TV and they’re just looking for true reactions, so I thought maybe I could handle that.” He laughs, scratching at the stubble on his chin. “Apparently, they needed a guy who fit the whole bad boy biker asshole profile.”

“You don’t seem like an asshole to me,” I say softly, looking him in the eye. “You’ve been nothing but sweet to me.”

Hayden chuckles. “Woman, if you think I’m sweet, I’m gonna have to up my game. I notice you didn’t comment on the bad boy biker part?”

I grin at him mysteriously. “Yeah, well, I don’t know anything about that since we’re kind of told what to wear and I haven’t seen any bike. But a bad boy biker sounds like fun.”

Without warning, I move to him, lifting my head, inviting him to kiss me. His lips barely touch me at first, soft and gentle, but there’s already such heat between us that the softest touch ignites the blazing fire within us. We’re soon kissing each other hotly, our tongues dueling as we claw at each other’s clothing.

He lays me back, kissing and sucking down my neck, one hand coming up to cup my breast, his thumb rubbing across my nipple. Hayden purrs in my ear, sending another thrill through me and taking my breath away. “Mmm, Emily, I could kiss you all night, but I’ve been thinking of how you tasted all day. I need you on my tongue again.”

Hearing the agreement in my moan, he works his way down my body, helping me slip my dress top and bra off and suckling on my breasts as he pushes my dress down further, taking my panties with it. I lift a leg to get them the rest of the way off, and he leans back, taking me in with his eyes. Hayden clears his throat before he can speak. “Fuck, woman, perfect . . . you’re perfect.”

He covers me with his body, and it somehow feels even naughtier that I’m naked while he’s dressed. We writhe together for a moment, and I need to feel his skin on mine. I reach for the hem of his shirt, encouraging him to take it off. He lifts his arms, and I slide it up and over his head, kissing his lips hungrily when his mouth is exposed again. When I see his bare chest, I can’t help but touch him, pressing the palms of my hands across his hard pecs, tracing down his abs. I look over his ink wonderingly. “I want to know the story of each of these,” I tell him, tracing his tattoos.

“Anytime, anything you want to know,” he says before capturing my hands and pulling me close again. He returns to kissing my neck as he rubs and tweaks my nipples. Just when I think he’s not going to say anything, he starts murmuring in my ear. “The roses on the fronts of my shoulders have baseball leather and stitching in the petals. I got the flaming compass one when I had to start from scratch. Burn everything I knew and go in a different direction.”

I meet his lips, exploring his mouth with my tongue. “Okay, tell me the rest later. I thought there was something else you wanted to do with your tongue?”

I smile shyly and he grins back at me. “Oh, trust me, I didn’t forget . . . but we have all night.” With a lust-filled gaze, he runs his tongue from my sternum, down to my belly button, dipping in for a moment that makes me giggle, and continuing on down to lap at my pussy. My hips jerk. He’s so good at this that I’m losing control almost immediately, and he’s only just beginning. He licks and sucks at my clit, fucking me with his tongue, then slips first one and then two fingers inside me. “Fuck, you taste so good. I could die a happy man with your taste on my tongue.”

I groan without even realizing it. Hayden hums hungrily in response, his tongue fluttering quicker over the tip of my clit. I clutch at the blanket as he starts curling his fingers, rubbing me and setting my nerves on fire as my hips take over, bucking up into his voracious lips and smearing my juices all over his face. “Hayden . . . oh, fuck.”

“Anytime,” Hayden says breathlessly, and I throw my head back, holding back my screams of pleasure by pure luck alone. Hayden holds me to his lips until the last spasm is gone before withdrawing his fingers and kissing his way back up my body to find my lips, kissing me softly as he takes me in his arms and rolls me on top of him. I sit up, reaching down to undo his pants. Hayden lifts his hips and I slide his pants down, my eyes widening at what I find. “Surprised?”

I gawk, reaching down to ease his underpants down over the bulge in front of me. He’s perfect, just like I knew, and my mouth waters at the idea of returning the favor he’s given me. Leaning forward, I lick the head of his cock, and it’s velvety smooth and warm, with a ridge behind his head that I tease with the tip of my tongue. Hayden wraps a hand through my hair and pulls me back, his breath coming in short gasps.

“You keep that up . . .” he says, reaching with his other hand into his pocket. He takes out a condom, and I understand, grinning.

“Well, now you know how I feel,” I joke, unwrapping the condom and easing it down his shaft. “Next time, I want more of that.”

“Next time, huh?” he says, taking my waist in his hands and holding me over him. “I like the sound of that. Now . . . let’s ride.”

The first touch of Hayden’s cock against my pussy makes me want to drop down hard, satisfying the aching throb inside me, but his powerful hands keep me frozen, unable to move downward as he lets my wetness coat the condom. When I’m just about ready to beg, he starts lowering me, my body stretched and filled like I didn’t know was possible. I groan, glad he took the time to ease himself inside me. When I’m all the way down on top of him, Hayden looks up, pulling me down for a deep kiss. “How’s it feel?”

“You know damn well that this is amazing,” I reply, squeezing my pussy around him. “You’re perfect.”

Without saying anything else, I start to ride him, rolling my hips back and forth, letting his cock fill me and thrill me. Hayden holds his hands on my hips, squeezing my ass and thrilling me as he looks in my eyes the whole time. My ass bounces up and down on his cock, slapping hard against his upper thighs as I drive myself faster and faster until Hayden starts thrusting up into me, meeting my hips with his own and driving the breath out of me. It’s gigantic, each upward thrust of his cock meeting my hips and making my clit grind against the base of his cock and sending explosions through my body. I try to maintain eye contact until I can’t take it anymore. “Hayden!”

He rolls us, pinning me to the blanket and pushing my knees up until they’re sandwiched between our bodies, and he takes total control, pounding me mercilessly. I’m unable to move, totally in his control, and I love it. His power is undeniable, and the sensations sweeping through my body make my toes curl.

“Em . . . Em,” Hayden grunts sexily as his cock plunges in and out of me. I feel him swell, and with a harsh grunt, he comes, the last thrust pushing me over the edge. I feel the explosion start somewhere between my pussy and my stomach and catapult outward, my body shaking as I cry out. Hayden covers my mouth with another kiss, muffling my cries to make sure I’m not heard. We’re far away, but with how that felt, who the hell knows?

When our bodies can finally relax, Hayden rolls off my body, his cock slipping out and leaving me feeling empty and already wanting more. Still, I can barely breathe, and I let him hold me as the night air cools us to the point I can speak again. “So, now what? What do we do?”

Hayden strokes my hair and chuckles softly before kissing my forehead. “Well, I guess I’m gonna need to be damn sure I’m your match.”

I chuckle and nod, content to stay in his arms all night. But eventually, our whispered chatter slows as we know we need to get back before we’re caught. We dress and head back to the house, Hayden walking me to the hedge by the side door. I can see his dark silhouette as I sneak in, walking toward my room and trusting that he’ll stick to the plan and come in another door in a little while, no one the wiser.