CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ava
I never would’ve thought making love to Lucas would be as good as it was last night. He was caring and attentive, and for the first time since meeting him, I could see him letting his feelings take control.
With the help of Kamasutra, he’d bared his soul to me, which was what I needed in order to, hopefully, get into his fortress. The one he guarded with whips and chains.
My muscles screamed when I sat up on the edge of the bed. I couldn’t believe I learned to ski and practiced Kamasutra — three positions! — in the same day. I felt like I could’ve slept for a week.
On the way to the coffee pot, I picked up a new card lying on the table near the door. Ripping it open, naughty butterflies awakened in my stomach. My heart sank when I read the words.
CHALLENGE #8
Build a Snowman
Today you will be working as a team to build the best snowman possible.
Everything you need is waiting for you outside.
The most unique wins.
When I woke Lucas, he cursed something about his uncle imparting manual labor and being obsessed with snow activities. He was in a better mood after coffee, and we all filed into the den hoping for an announcement of winners for the past challenges.
Lucas’s uncle was there, his eyes gleaming in a way that made me hope that there really weren’t hidden cameras in the bedroom.
“Good morning to all. This next challenge will be a chance to have a little childish fun. Before that, though, allow me to announce the winners of challenges six and seven, which involved an intimacy that I’m sure was challenging. Once again, since there is nothing but privacy in the bedrooms, we must go on the moods of the couples and what their reactions show us. One couple took both challenges due to their seeming connection and cooperation with each other. The winner is… Mason and Isabella.”
Lucas whipped his gaze to Mason, who picked up Isabella and swung her around. Their wins put the contest abruptly in Mason and Isabella’s favor.
“Unacceptable,” Lucas muttered, his jaw clenched, eyes narrowed. “And due to their connection? I have to up my game. How will I do that building a fucking snowman?”
Despair was like a weight in my chest. Was the connection between us only a façade? Only Lucas trying to win the competition?
I sighed as we braved the outdoors, me a bit stiffer than the time before. I blinked in the bright light, then gasped at how much deeper the snow was today.
I congratulated Isabella and Mason, but Lucas went right to the snowman supplies, getting started without a discussion. I let him lead, sensing that last night had been a bit much for him, and he needed this to burn off steam. By the time we were halfway done, I realized our snowman wasn’t a man. It was a snow woman, who was built like a brick shithouse and sported tits so big they could practically be named mountain ranges. As I helped, anger was creeping into my system. I didn’t want to think about the women he’d had before or his appetite that smacked of unnatural to me.
Agitated, I picked up some snow, formed it into a ball and lobbed it at Lucas’s head. At first, he didn’t know how to react. He just looked at me dumbfounded, so I tossed another one at his finely chiseled chest.
His brow furrowed, and he didn’t seem too amused.
For a second I felt a tiny finger of fear. Was this the real Lucas? This angry, tit-focused man? I hadn’t known him for more than a few days. Last night had been touching, and I thought I’d broken through to him, but maybe it was just a thing he’d tried. I couldn’t get my hopes up that he would drop his armor and let me in.
I wasn’t going to let those thoughts get me down. Wanting to show him that I wouldn’t bow to his dominance, I bent over and started gathering snow for an even bigger ball. When I turned to toss it at him, I got a face full of icy-cold. I wasn’t sure how to feel… happy that I’d got him to play or mad that my face was now frozen.
All I knew was this was war. I gathered up my ammo and went for his head, with the hope the snow would slide down into his clothing. When it hit him square on the chin, there was a roar as he dove to the snow pile.
I screamed, “No!” giddy and terrified. Laughter spilled out of me, the same it had in snowball fights as a kid.
He overtook me and rubbed snow down my neck, letting it melt past my collar as I screamed.
With all the noise Lucas and I were making, we got Mason and Isabella’s attention. Mason threw a snowball at Lucas, hitting his shoulder. Lucas turned and rushed at Mason with a snowball in his hand.
The snowmen were forgotten as the fight quickly switched to girls against the boys once Isabella and I ganged up on them. The guys were surprised by this shift in loyalties, but it gave me a boost when I saw in Isabella’s eyes the same mix of frustration and happiness I’d been experiencing.
The fight got pretty physical, with the boys tackling us, and were all covered from head to toe in snow. It went on and on, and I was exhausted, using all the strength I had to lob a snowball.
Isabella and I knew we were losing and came out from behind the bushes we’d been using as cover, Isabella blocking a snowball from Mason that ended up exploding in Lucas’s face. Time stood still as his expression changed from playful to angry. His eyes darkened as he faced Mason.
Isabella gasped beside me as Lucas threw a punch into Mason’s stomach, doubling him over. Mason recovered quickly and clocked Lucas with a right. Then they went down in the snow, grappling with each other. They rolled around in the snowdrifts, throwing punches and grunting as Isabella and I stood by helplessly watching.
I knew there’d been some animosity between them, but wondered now how deep it went. And whether this was helping or hurting.
I wondered if I should get help to stop them from putting each other in the hospital.
“That’s enough!” was shouted from the direction of the house. It was Harvey, who had pulled up a window and was leaning out. “This challenge is canceled due to unsportsmanlike behavior.”
Lucas and Mason tottered to their feet, looking up at the uncle they shared. Mason’s nose trickled blood, and Lucas was showing the signs of an excellent shiner. They straightened their clothes, glared at each other, then with nearly matching furious expressions, headed for separate entrances to the chalet.
Isabella let out a whistle beside me. “Thought they were gonna throw each other off the mountain.”
I nodded, watching Lucas slam into the house. “Do you know why they’re so angry at each other?”
She shrugged. “Mason’s mentioned how Lucas has disliked him since childhood. I’m not sure why.”
Isabella and I were disheveled and damp. By the time we’d practically crawled back inside, we were weary and in desperate need of nutrition.
“Well, look what the Yeti dragged in,” Harv said, meeting us at the door. “There’s lunch in the dining room. Please leave your wet snow gear here. I hope you enjoyed your abbreviated playtime up until the clash.”
I couldn’t really manage words at that moment so I just flashed him an unsure smile.
Harvey nodded at Mason, his face a mask of displeasure. “I’ll meet you in the dining room in a few minutes.”
I wasn’t terribly happy with Lucas at the moment and wondered if the challenge would stand since neither snowman or snowwoman was finished.
“You built a nice snowman,” I said, reaching my hand out to Isabella for a shake.
“I’d like to finish mine, contest or no contest. Haven’t built a snowman since I was a kid. We should try again in a couple of days. If they don’t kill each other before then.”
I laughed. She was fun, and I wished we could get to know each other in real life. But after the month was over, I’d be going back to New York alone to start my business and find a new place. Alone suddenly didn’t seem quite so alluring.
I pasted on a false cheeriness as we walked into the dining room, Lucas coming in last.
Harvey cleared his throat and gave both of his nephews hard looks as Lucy stood by his side. “I won’t be counting challenge number seven in the competition. As of now, it is null and void. However, I would caution you that such displays of aggression only complicate an already intricate and delicate situation.” He went on to ask Lucas and Mason to voice their conflict rather than duke it out, but his talk didn’t lessen the tension in the room.
Lucas and I made an incredible team, and I hoped he’d see his way to doing as his uncle suggested.
After Harv was done speaking, Lucy made her announcement. “Well, I have to say, last night was quite a pleasurable night for both teams.”
Breathe through it, Ava, they don’t record in the bedroom.
“I’m glad to know both couples are trying new things. Tonight might prove to be a little more trying.” She laughed to herself, making a face like she couldn’t wait for us to find out what had her so churned up. It had me squirming in my seat. “Since your next challenge doesn’t begin until nine o’clock this evening, I’m happy to announce you’ll have a day of rest. You can take a nap, read a book, go for a walk. We have a full spa and massage services available, the bar is open, and you can request any movie you fancy to watch in the theater. Just let your guide know what you want to do with your day. The only rule is, no sex, no foreplay or anything that would be construed as foreplay or sexual engagement. Not until nine o’clock this evening. Please, enjoy a fuck free afternoon.” She said this with a pleasant smile, and both Lucas and Mason shook their heads, their flushed and abraded faces turning a brighter color.
She was a weird and a little intimidating old lady, and I had to wonder if she and Harv had a thing going.
A nap sounded great, but there was so much to explore here, I didn’t want to miss it, even though I was exhausted.
“What do you say we get massages, some drinks at the bar, then watch a movie?” Lucas suggested in a commanding tone that sounded more like an order.
I cocked my eyebrow at him. “That sounds great, let’s do it.” I felt like being really accommodating since he’d given his all last night, and I didn’t know what was in store for tonight. Plus, I figured bringing up what just happened would only make the tension hanging in the air worse.
After a couple of frosted martinis, a massage and a light dinner, we watched the latest blockbuster hit in a mini movie theater.
After, I was content and ready for whatever was coming.
When we got back to our suite, as soon as we entered, there was the ominous red and white box. I couldn’t face it.
“You open it,” I said to Lucas, locking my knees so I wouldn’t stagger.
He must’ve felt the same because he was in no hurry to open the box either. Rather, he approached it with so much care, you’d think it was carrying the plague virus inside.
He then read the card aloud.
Good Evening, Lucas and Ava
CHALLENGE #9
Explore and More
You have all you need for a night of exploration and exotic play. We’ve provided toys and tools to make your night more pleasurable.
One or both of you will be enjoying some anal fun.
My eyes went wide, and there was a rush of blood to my head, hitting me so hard I nearly passed out.
Lucas looked at me, a dark glint in his eyes, and said in a soothing voice, “It’ll be okay, I promise. I’ve anally pleasured women many times, you’ll love it.”
I met his gaze and snapped, “Correction… you’ll love it.”