Everyone on the beach is just staring out at the trampoline in stunned silence. It’s like we’re watching Daniel and Max fall off the tower in slow motion. While they’re strapped to harnesses, because of the way they hit the trampoline and rolled so close to the side, it’s almost as if they have too much slack, and allowing them to stay submerged longer than they would have if they had gone off the way they were supposed to. They’re barely in the water for a second before Carrie is screaming into headset and we can see a flurry of activity on the apparatus as people scramble to get Max and Daniel out of the water.

I take a few panicked steps forward, as if there is anything I can do, and grab Carrie by the shoulder.

“What the hell is going on? Why aren’t they out yet?”

Carrie gives me a gentle shove away. “It’s okay, Anya. Let me handle this.”

She keeps shouting into her headset and a second later, we see Daniel come back up, with Max close behind. Everyone on the beach cheers, and I feel my shoulders relax for what feels like the first time in hours. Carrie starts giving instructions to some guys by the surf shack to take a boat out and pick the guys up, then she walks back over to me with a serious, frustrated stare.

“Do you have any idea why Daniel would do something like that? Was he trying to sabotage Max?”

I shrug, genuinely confused. “I don’t believe so. That doesn’t sound like him at all, but I also haven’t seen him in years. Something else had to have been going on.”

She nods, and as the boat returns with Max and Daniel aboard, she descends on it like a furious dog. I can’t hear what she’s saying to them, because she’s saying it quietly enough that the cameras can’t pick it up, but she’s gesturing wildly and both of the guys look terrified. Finally, Daniel throws his hands up to stop her, and starts talking in the same hushed tone. Carrie’s face drops, then she nods, and they all walk over to where we are standing. Rose tosses them both a blanket, and Carrie gestures to Darius. He walks over hesitantly, then adopts a very somber expression.

“Max, Daniel… can you tell us what happened out there?”

Max coughs a little. “Darius, I am terrified of heights. I am so scared of heights that I can barely function at merely the thought of having to be anywhere high. When I saw that tower, I freaked out, and I begged Daniel to jump with me, and then when he was nice enough to do it, I continued to act like an idiot and dragged him off the tower with me. It’s totally my fault. Daniel didn’t have to do that, and he basically put his life in danger for me.”

Daniel finally looks up and shakes his head. “Hey, now. That’s ridiculous. I wasn’t going to die. I’m a strong swimmer and we were in harnesses. They could have yanked us up at any time if it was that big of a deal.”

“No, I could have drowned. You saved my life. You’re awesome, man. Seriously.”

Darius turns back to the cameras and says, “Well, it looks like we have a real-life hero in our midst this season on Wild Love! Stay tuned for more of our first physical challenge, after these messages…”

The main cameras cut away, leaving only the regular guys milling around. Part of me wants to run over to Daniel and throw my arms around him, make sure he’s okay, and hold him until I’m sure he really will be fine. But the other part wants to yell and scream at him. I hold it back, take a deep breath, and stay fixed where I am standing. I’m not even sure what to do with myself when Grill walks over to me, chuckling.

“Those two are a couple of assholes, huh?”

I turn to him, my eyebrows raised, trying to contain my disgust. “Excuse me?”

“They were on harnesses. All they had to do was jump. They can’t even do that like real men. I think it’s pretty clear they aren’t deserving of you,” he says with a smirk. He reaches out and touches my arm with the tip of his finger, and I have to stifle a cringe. Instead, I inch back, closer to where the rest of the guys are standing.

“Whatever you say, champ,” I mumble as I walk up to Daniel. He’s wiping off the salt water with a plush white towel and working really hard not to look at me. So I break the silence.

“That was pretty amazing of you, you know?”

He still doesn’t look up. “It was nothing. I was just doing Max a favor. Let’s not give me more credit than I deserve.”

“I’m not sure anyone else here would have done that for him. I doubt any of them would have even done it for me. So, I think you’re getting just as much credit as you deserve,” I say as I brush some sand from his forehead. He shivers under my touch, then pulls away.

“It’s nothing. Forget it, okay? The show won’t let me forget it. So, if you could, I’d appreciate it.”

I start to say something snotty, but then I become aware of the cameras, so I just walk away. It takes another hour, but eventually all the guys have their turn on the trampoline, and once they’re done, Carrie gathers everyone back on the beach. Once everyone is in line, Darius is positioned in front of them, and he switches on the charm again.

“After an unexpectedly exciting first physical challenge, we have the scores, which have been tallied through a very rigorous system of height, measurements, and splash velocity.”

I barely hold back a laugh, and Carrie shoots me a death glare.

“Now remember! The winner of this first physical challenge is guaranteed a place among our six lucky fellas moving forward. From the remaining contestants, Anya will choose five more to continue on for a chance to win her heart. In first place, with three-hundred points, is our resident football star, Grill Reynolds!”

Grill hoots and postures, then kneels in front of me, taking my hand in his and kissing the top. I pull it away and shake him off, like he’s a pest, and the rest of the guys give a loud “ooooh” in unison. Darius chuckles, then continues.

“In last place, with scores of zero, are Max and Daniel, but given the ordeal they went through on this particular challenge, we aren’t going to dock them credit for it, right Anya?”

I look at Darius, surprised I’m being asked my opinion at all, since it doesn’t actually matter at this point. But I nod with a smile and respond, “You bet, Darius.”

“So, Grill has a guaranteed shot at the final date with Anya, but who else will move forward? Stay tuned to find out!”

Carrie yells, “That’s a wrap on physical challenge one! Everyone, back in the van. We need to get back to the house and reset for the first pinning ceremony.”

Rose hurries me back to the car I arrived in, and once inside, she turns to me with a look of shock.

“That ex of yours is something else, huh?” she says with a smile.

“He’s something, all right,” I say as I look at out the window, and watch the beach disappear in the distance. “He’s something.”

* * *

I’m standing awkwardly on a small stage that has been erected on the patio of the house, next to the sparkling turquoise pool. Carrie left an elegant, beaded black dress in my room, and said it was perfect for the first pinning ceremony. Further proving I hadn’t properly researched anything that happens on this show, Rose had been forced to explain the pinning ceremony to me in the car on the way back to the house. The plan was for the men to line up, Darius to create some tension, as if it weren’t already totally planned who I would pick, and then for me to announce who would be moving on to the second phase of the show. Carrie seemed pretty confident that I was going to take her suggestion and keep Michael and Garrett, because she had the makeup and hair people spending extra time making them look fabulous.

Little did she know…

Before the production designers set me up on the stage, Rose came over under the guise of helping me adjust my dress. As she fluffed the bottom of the heavy gown, she whispered, “Are we still okay? You’re still going to… do what we talked about?”

I didn’t say anything. I just looked down at her and winked, and she sighed a grateful sigh, then rushed back over to Carrie’s side. Now I’m just waiting for Darius to take his place and start hosting duties. The camera men take their places, Darius steps beside me, and the lights all flash on, signaling I need to turn on my brightest, fakest smile.

“After an exciting day of surprises and the totally unexpected, we are here with our lovely single lady, Anya, as she announces her five choices for those who will be moving forward to round two of Wild Love, where the men continue to compete for the greatest prize of all… Anya’s heart!”

The guys all “aww,” and I have to force myself not to roll my eyes.

“Now, we know that NFL star Grill Reynolds is guaranteed a spot in our final six, but who will get a flower pinned to their lapel, and who will be given a ticket back home? Anya, the choice is yours…”

I take a deep breath, and try to pretend the cameras aren’t there. “Well, since I’m stuck with Grill… for now…” The laughter of everyone but Grill gives me pleasure as I pick up the first carnation on a pearl pin. “This first man I’m sending to round two, I’m choosing because despite what happened at the tower today, I think he’s funny, and special. Max, I’d like to get to know you more.”

Max looks totally shocked, and walks up to me so I can pin the flower to his suit jacket. With a low voice, he whispers, “Are you sure about this?” I just smile and nod as he crosses back over to where the other men are standing.

“The next man I’d like to move on to round two is smart, interesting, and I think he has a lot to offer. Oscar, will you stay for the next round?”

Oscar looks even more shocked than Max, but not as surprised as Carrie, who I can see in the background behind the monitors, scowling. Oscar walks up to me, pushes his glasses up his nose, and grins as I put the flower on him.

“I’d be honored, Anya!”

Once Oscar is back in line, I pick up the next flower. “The next man is cute, kind, and seems to share my taste in music.I’d like Alex to stay for the next round.”

I look back at the line of guys, and Max looks more excited than anyone else, which I file away to ask him about later.

“Second-to-last, I’d like to offer a flower to Stuart. He’s weird and loud and he makes me laugh, and I can’t think of a better combination in a crazy situation like this.”

Stuart puffs up his chest, and trots over to me, then takes my hand and gives it a kiss. “I accept this flower with pride, and will wear it always, my queen.” I feel my cheeks get hot, and everyone laughs. With four of the five flowers, everyone is watching me to see what I’ll do next, though at the same time, it’s pretty damn clear. Daniel is looking down at his shoes, and I suddenly register how freaking handsome he looks. He’s wearing a black suit with a white shirt underneath, crisp and clean. Instead of fancy shoes, he’s wearing black and white sneakers, and his hair is slicked back, making his eyes pop. I am feeling more drawn to him than ever, and I hate myself for it.

Darius clears his throat. “Now Anya… tell us who your last choice will be. Who will stay to compete for you hand, and who will go home?”

I take another long deep breath. “I struggled with this choice, Darius, to be honest, because I know how much hinges on it.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Carrie lean forward and glare at me, just in case I’m considering going back on our deal. “We have a complicated past, but that doesn’t mean our future can’t be different, so I’m willing to give a second chance to Daniel in round two.” I actually have trouble getting the words out, and Darius can see it, so he’s poised to take over should he need to. But I pick up the flower with shaking hands as Daniel walks forward, and I hand it to him, afraid if I try to pin it on him, I will stab him.

He takes it from me, and when our hands touch, I feel the same electricity I always did when we were kids.

Daniel takes the flower with a nod, and without looking up at me. “I’ll try not to let you down… again,” is all he says before he gets back in the line with the other men I’ve picked. Grill stares at his official competitors with a combination of cockiness and disdain that easily translates on to camera, and I can see Carrie direct the camera men to focus on him.

“There you have it folks, our final six competitors in this exciting season of Wild Love! Paul, Michael, Garrett, David, Shane, and Kevin, we thank you for competing on this season and wish you the best of luck on your romantic adventures moving forward! Join us next week for the next exciting episode of Anya’s attempt to find her very own… Wild Love!”

Carrie yells, “cut” and Darius tears off the microphone with a sigh. “I’m out of here. Good luck getting home, fellas,” he says without ceremony as he walks off the patio. I walk up to the men I didn’t pick and give each of them a hug. When I get to Garrett, I whisper in his ear, “You and Rose owe me dinner when this is all over.” Garrett pulls back with a giant smile, then nods and kisses me on the cheek, before shooting Rose a wink and running to get his suitcase, which was already packed. Apparently, every elimination round, the guys have to pack their bags in case they cut, to make it easier to send them packing when it’s all over.

As the eliminated contestants filter out, the guys who are remaining head for the bar, leaving me with Carrie on the patio. She stalks over to me with a deeper scowl.

“Stuart and Oscar, huh? Was that just to spite me?”

I cross my arms over my chest, and then get annoyed as the beads dig into my skin, so I put my hands on my hips petulantly. “Not everything is about you, Carrie. This is supposed to be about me, right? Maybe I just like these guys. I gave you the four you wanted. Let me have the two I want. I have to deal with these guys as much as you do for the next six weeks, right?”

Carries sighs. “Fine. Do what you want. Within reason. I’m going to bed. Rose is going to take the night shift if you need anything. Otherwise, the camera guys will be milling around, so keep that in mind,” she says with a raised eyebrow, as if I’m going to run around the pool naked.

Once Carrie is gone, I wander back inside, hike up the skirt of my dress and kick off my heels, then plop down on a stool at the bar. I’m surprised to see that the six men I eliminated are already gone. “Did the van for the airport already leave?”

Stuart pours me a martini he’s been shaking. “Yup. While you and Carrie were outside snipping at each other, they were loaded into the van and sent off into the night.”

I sip the martini, which is cold and delicious, and consider picking him just because he can mix an amazing drink. “We weren’t snipping at each other, exactly. Carrie just had her ideas about who should stay, and I had different ideas. Anyway, you fellas are here now, so let’s enjoy ourselves, huh?” We all clink glasses, and everyone chats as the hours pass by. I can see the camera guys out of the corner of my eye, and they look like they are getting bored, especially because no one is fighting or being rude to each other… yet, anyway. Every so often, I catch Daniel glancing over at me, until he yawns and stretches.

“Guys, I think I am going to go to bed. Remind me who I am sharing a room with now that we’re down to six of us?”

Stuart raises his hand. “It’s you and me, pal. I’ll try not to wake you up if I ever make it back,” he says, with a wink at me. I just laugh and shake my head, but Daniel doesn’t look amused. He just offers his goodnights and disappears. I yawn behind my hand as well, then look out through the back patio door at the beach, and the full moon sparkling above it.

“Fellas, I think I’m going to go take a walk on the beach.”

Oscar takes a step forward, and touches my arm. “Would you like some company? I’d be happy to go with you.”

“No, thank you. I appreciate it, but I’m not used to this much… togetherness,” I answer, putting him off. “I need a few minutes on my own just to regroup. But maybe in the morning we can go for a swim, before everything starts up again?” Oscar nods happily, and I bid everyone goodnight, then march out of the house in my bare feet.

I’m almost clear of the house and at the beach when a hand grabs my wrist and spins me around, pressing me against a palm tree. I’m about to scream, when suddenly, Daniel is in front of me, shadowed partially, and staring at me intently. His suit jacket is gone, and the white shirt he was wearing is now unbuttoned half way down his chest. My heart is beating a-mile-a-minute, and I couldn’t move if I wanted to.

“Daniel, what the hell are you doing? The cameras…”

He points all around us, and I realize there are no cameras angled at us. The only one in this area is pointed toward the pool, not where we are standing. “No one followed you out, right?”

I shake my head, and as he runs his hand up my side, his fingers playing with the zipper on my dress, I can’t speak. I desperately try to squeak out something, anything, an objection, an argument, but nothing comes. The only thing in my head is Daniel’s chest against mine as he spins me around again so my back is against the wall of the pool house. I genuinely don’t know how Daniel has managed to find a corner without cameras, but I’m grateful as my mind is overcome with a desire for him I can’t even explain. Everything except the way he is making me feel completely melts away. We can barely move, barely breathe, for fear of getting caught by the crew, but somehow… that just makes it even more sexy.

We stare at each other, eyes locked together. He holds my face tenderly, his thumb tracing the curve of my cheek. Caressing my skin, smoothing over my cupid’s bow, down to my plump lower lip, my chin and lower even to my neck. It feels like he’s trying to memorize everything my features, the way I smell... everything about this moment, a moment stolen, a moment we are not supposed to have.

“I’ve missed you,” he says. His voice is whisper soft and rumbly at the same time. “I know we aren’t going to get to spend much time alone, but I couldn’t go another second without being with you. I needed to be near you, away from everyone else.”

He sounds a tiny bit jealous, but he has nothing to fear. In spite of everything, I realize there is no one else here I want to be with. Not like this.

“Did you miss me too, Anya?” I am sure he knows the answer to his own question. But I answer him anyway.

“Yes, Daniel. Against my better judgment, you know I have.”

As soon as I say the words, his body relaxes a little more. He rests his forehead against mine briefly before kissing my lips. My lips part with a sigh, and the kiss deepens. Daniel’s tongue delves into my mouth. I lose any thought of the people inside of the house, of the cameras, of the demands being made of me, of the instructions being doled out by Carrie every time I turn around. Right here, right now, with Daniel kissing me so sweetly, is where I want to be. Nothing else matters. Just us, just this.

I pull him even closer, my need for him overtaking my senses. He pulls away from my lips to scatter kisses all over my face, my eyes, cheeks, nose, until finally he comes back. I can’t help smiling; I forgot how sweet he was when we were together like this. We stand in the corner for a few moments, enjoying the taste of one another as we quietly lock lips, tongues dancing in total harmony. Daniel’s kisses slowly begin to turn more urgent as the minutes pass, and I begin to sense just how deeply he’s missed me. It’s easy for me to respond to his fervor, because with each touch, my body begins to awaken, remembering how we were back in college.

Daniel’s hands, which have made their way to rest on my bottom, make their way up my back, finding the zipper of my dress. He expertly unzips the fabric about halfway, and the slinky straps quickly fall off of my shoulders, exposing my breasts in the warm night air. My nipples instantly react, becoming taut with anticipation. Daniel cups both of them in his hands, gently squeezing and massaging them, his kisses becoming more desperate with desire. I place one of my hands firmly behind his head, pushing him down away from my face towards my chest. He obliges, his teeth locking first onto my left nipple, sucking and nibbling on it with enthusiasm while his free hand massages the other. The sensation, paired with the recurring revelation that I am touching Daniel once again, instantaneously warms my core, and I feel myself growing wet with need.

My hips begin to move towards him almost of their own accord, imploring him to keep exploring my body.

Daniel’s hand falls from my breast to the hem of my dress, and slinks its way underneath, traveling up my leg and in between my thighs. My tiny line-preventing thong is useless in concealing how slick I’ve become for him. He pulls them quickly to the side, and inserts a single finger into my opening. It takes every ounce of control I have not to shout, knowing that any noise I make could easily attract any member of the cast or crew. I can’t have this moment ruined for me by them.

Daniel begins slowly pushing his finger in and out of me as he continues to play with my breast, and my body is in pure ecstasy, each touch sending shocks through my body. A second finger joins the first, and Daniel pushes himself deep into me. As he begins stroking and pulsing himself in my core, his thumb carefully rubs against my clit, pushing me dangerously close to climax. I begin whimpering into my forearm in a poor attempt to silence myself.

“Shh,” Daniel notices how hard I’m trying to conceal my cries. “I don’t want to lose you now by getting kicked off the show for breaking the rules.”

I nod in agreement. I never thought I would see Daniel again, much less be in this position with him. Now that I am, I already know that I would do everything in my power to not lose him again.

I close my eyes as Daniel continues to work every inch of my body, the pulsing of his fingers working in perfect harmony to his sucking on my breasts. I sigh, almost sadly, when he pulls away from my chest and kneels down onto the floor. As he lifts my dress around my waist, the open air hits my exposed clit, and I shiver with sensitivity and anticipation. Daniel’s mouth meets my aching core, his tongue quickly surrounding it with a hunger to please me. His fingers, still inside me, stroke more vigorously as he works magic with his tongue.

I buckle over as my orgasm rushes through me, grabbing tightly onto his strong shoulders to steady myself, biting my own lip as hard as I can without breaking the skin. My knees shake as he continues to lightly lick me, wave after wave of delight passing through every fiber in my being.

Daniel looks up at me with a shy smile, and I grab his arms to raise him towards me. Rules be damned. I need to have this man again, and now.

I reach down to the fly of his pants, sliding down the zipper in a hurry and scooting the waistband over his firm butt and onto the floor. His swollen cock springs free easily, and I take him into my hand. I had forgotten how big he was.

I struggle to wrap my fingers fully around him. I begin to work his shaft, careful to not make him finish too quickly. I need to have him in me again tonight.

Daniel looks into my eyes, silently pleading for his release. I can tell he’s having trouble keeping his volume down as well. I let go of his manhood and take both of his hands in mine, placing them underneath my ass.

“Take me, Daniel.” I whisper into his ear.

He grips my buttocks hard as he lifts me into the air, leaning me against the wall. I throw my arms around his neck to hold on as he positions my hips, and I feel his cock lightly touching my opening. My nails dig into his neck, and I whisper again,

“Now, Daniel. I need you now.”

Daniel lowers me onto his throbbing cock, and he lets out a quiet moan, almost of relief. My core stretches to welcome him inside me, and I want to cry with joy. I wrap my legs around his waist to steady myself as he lifts and lowers me onto him carefully, over and over, as if he’s savoring every feeling in this moment. I feel my climax building as his cock hardens further, and I can tell he is about to finish. He leans me up against the wall, and I hold on tightly as he unleashes, pumping forcefully into me. I

bury my face in his neck, biting down as I come again as he works me, my opening tightening around his manhood in my bliss. Daniel responds, and he throws his head back in an attempt to stay silent as he finishes, jerkily thrusting as he empties himself inside me.

He lowers me down onto the ground, and I slump against the wall, already savoring the fresh memories of what’s just transpired.

I look around the side of the pool house, and see that most of the guys inside have gone their separate ways. Only Alex and Max are left, watching a movie in the living room. I pull my hair back with a tie on my wrist and straight up my shoulders. I want to say something that conveys how I feel… how suddenly confused and overwhelmed with emotion I am. But I can’t find any of the words.

“I should go inside. You should probably wait here for a while before you go back. I’ll… see you tomorrow,” I mumble as I shuffle away from him as quickly as my feet will carry me. When I get inside of the cold house, I shiver as I shut the patio door, and Max and Alex both turn and look at me. Max raises an eyebrow.

“What happened to you? You look like you were rode hard and put away wet. The ocean rough this time of night?”

I force a laugh, and it comes out a lot more maniacal than I meant it to. “What? Ha! No. I’m fine. Just tired. I’m going to go to bed.”

“Alone?” Alex asks with a chuckle.

“Yes, alone!” I stomp off toward my room, use the thumb print scanner to get in, then slam it shut behind me. Once protected, I know the cameras in my room can still see me, so I run into the bathroom, strip out of my dress, and jump right into the shower. As I let the water beat down on my skin, and wash away what Daniel and I have just done, I put my head against the cool tile. I can still feel his fingers on my arms and chest even as the warm flow of water beats against me.

“What are you doing, Anya?” I want to yell at myself through the steam of the shower. “What the hell are you doing?”