Late to the Party

Jake stood at the balcony, watching the dark clouds at the distant horizon.

They did not look good.

He doubted they would be his problem, though. Callous, evil sadists the showrunners might have been, but they’d kept the island’s weather perfectly manicured so far.

Still, he watched the clouds, and the lightning dancing between them, and reflected not for the first time that the view may have been his favorite thing about this whole situation.

He jumped as that thought was abruptly cut off by the loud chime of his doorbell.

Probably Leah, He thought, Getting up to speed on whatever the hell it was I just skipped.

But the little video monitor that connected his summit suite to the lobby in the mountain floor below revealeda different face altogether staring back at him.

“AJ?” He asked.

“Nah, it’s Louie and Earnies,” She said, green eyes looking up at him over her sunglasses. “I gotta large anchovy and pineapple for a Jacob Shut In…”

Jake angrily pounded the buzzer.

“Get on up here, smartass,” He called through the speaker.

Later, they sat on the balcony, their feet on the rails as they looked over the horizon at the gathering storm, each cradling a beer.

“You missed the big team brouhaha earlier,” She said.

“Yeah, I know,” He admitted guiltily.

Dimly, he was aware of the pleasant buzz in his head. Its presence, and that AJ was broaching this subject now, was likely no coincidence.

“I needed to sleep in a bit more,” he said, telling only half the truth.

“Because you slept with Exe last night?” AJ said, obnoxiously guessing the other.

“She stayed over last night,” He bristled.

“And you had sex with her,” AJ said. “Don’t worry, Megan already spilled it. Your sister’s a doll, but she’s not much on secrets.”

Jake frowned. He knew it was true, but that didn’t make it less irritating.

“Yeah, I did. Is that a problem?” He asked, a little more defensively than he intended.

“Jake,” She said, “I don’t care what you and consenting grown ups and shit do up here. I’m just poking around to see how you feel about it.”

She tilted her head at him, eyebrow raised.

“I’m guessing that’s why you skipped the meeting?”

“Yeah,” He admitted, with a sigh. “It was. How’d you guess?”

“You got this weird thing where you act all ashamed after you fuck somebody,” She said. “Like you’ve gotta hide out or something. You did the same thing after you and Farra hooked up.”

Jake felt the blush creep in.

“Why do you have to be so blunt about it?” He asked.

“Because you’re not alone, man,” She said. “There’s kind of a lot of that going around.”

Jake stifled his own annoyance. He was curious, but also prepared.

“Oh yeah?” He asked, not trusting himself to elaborate.

“I got it on good authority that Farra and Loretta are kind of an item,” She said. “And there’s also…”

“You and Leah?” He added.

AJ choked on her beer. He didn’t get to pull one over on her very often, and a warm, satisfied smile broke across his face. Really, he’d only been about 70% sure.

“The fuck?” She asked, wiping her mouth. “How did you know?”

Jake couldn’t contain a laugh.

“Actually, it was Megs that outed you, too.Though less intentionally than she did me.” He admitted. “I was pretty sure Leah had been with someone the day she called me about my perks or whatever. Then Megan mentioned something about her not being your type and it just sorta clicked.”

“Son of a bitch,” She said, shaking her head.

“That’s what I said,” Jake smiled. “But I just gotta ask…where the fuck did that come from?”

She gave him an annoyed glance.

“C’mon, dude. You know me,” She said. “Hot. Girly. Kind of psychotic. Her accent is also just…”

She made a show of melting into her own chair.

Jake nodded, remembering the day the two of them had watched the first contest together. Even in nothing more alluring than sweatpants and a t-shirt, she’d been intoxicating.

“I get it, believe me,” He reassured her. “I guess I’m just surprised is all. You two were like cats and dogs there for a second.”

Her expressions softened.

“Yeah, but she’s not so bad,” AJ said. “I mean, yeah, she’s hot, but she’s really interesting too. Killer conversationalist. And I think we’ve given her a…”

She cut herself off when she turned at saw the look on Jake’s face.

“What?”

“You’ve got a crush,” He said.

“I do not,” She insisted.

“Yeah you do,” Jake said. “You’re doing that thing where you’re preemptively justifying why you like someone. Classic Crushing AJ.”

She punched his arm.

“Fuck off.”

He straightened.

“I know you’re a big girl, AJ,” he said more seriously. “And there’s no straighter head in this group than you. Just…be careful, okay? You know what she can do.”

AJ sighed.

“Yeah…yeah, I do,” She admitted. “I wish you were wrong, but you’re not.”

“Hot, girlie, kinda psycho…it’s a weakness. We all have one,” Jake said. “Seriously, I’m not judging.”

He paused, and marshaled his thoughts.

“Look, this place has gotten to both of us. This…I dunno, situation or whatever,” He said. “You and me both.”

AJ nodded, but looked concerned.

“Yeah…Hey, we should talk about that,” She said. “Uhm…Hannah and Emily, specifically.”

“Oh yeah?” Jake said, straightening.

“They’ve been kind of a thing,” AJ told her. “Like, a thing thing.”

Jake rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“I know, I know,” He said. “Han pushed Em around, they both enjoyed it a bit too much. Rachel told me about it back in the last round.”

“No, Jake,” AJ said seriously. “They’re like, together most nights. Playing a whole mistress **** thing. It’s…intense.”

This was news. Interesting news. Troubling but appealing news. A number of emotions warred through him at once, but Emily’s words ultimately came back to him.

If you don’t think I have any control over my changes, why do you think Hannah has any control over hers?

“Yeah…I dunno,” He said. “How much can they help it, AJ?”

She considered that.

“I don’t know,” She said. “You know I love Hannah…”

Jake scoffed, interrupting her.

“Oh yeah. I thought you were going to kick the shit out of me when we broke up.”

“Jake…I’m serious,” AJ said. “I’m worried. About how far this is taking her. What her changes might be driving her to do.”

Jake gave her a long, serious look.

“What are you saying?”

AJ looked out into the distance. She was quiet for a long moment.

“I don’t know. I’m just worried. I wanna keep an eye on shit, y’know?”

She sighed.

“It’s fucking tough. This whole thing sucks. I wish I could do something.”

Jake couldn’t help but bark a laugh at that.

“AJ, do you have any fucking idea how much you have done?” He asked. “Guiding Megs, talking me outside of my tower, helping Lacy and bringing Leah into the social stuff…”

He shook his head.

“I don’t know what I’d be doing without you.”

Impulsively, Jake took AJ’s tattooed hand and gave it a squeeze. She squeezed it back, and they shared a smile as they watched the sun set.

*****

Lindsey shifted uncomfortably in the suite living room she shared with Lacy. She was having a hard time focusing. Or sitting still. Or even thinking, for that matter, given how flustered she felt.

“Something wrong?” Lacy asked. She was mixing a drink; pregaming ahead of their night out with the others.

Lindsey groaned, pulling a couch cushion over her face.

“Uhm…well, so you know how I picked up that whole horny midas touch thing from the audience?” She asked. “Well…apparently it works on myself.”

“Aaah,” Lacy said with a known nod. “That sucks, dude. Any idea when you triggered it.”

“How should I know? We touch ourselves all the time.”

Lacy raised an eyebrow.

“Ooh la la.”

“Ugghhh, you’re so lame,” Lindsey said.

Lacy put a glass down in front of her and took a seat on the opposite couch. Whatever was in it was a vibrant green. Taking a tentative sip, it tasted of jalapenos, cilantro, ginger and lime.

“This…is absolutely delicious,” Lindsey said. “I thought AJ was the bartender for you folks.”

Lacy only shrugged her shoulders. They were freckled, Lindsey observed, in spite of their swarthy tone. Idly, she wondered if it was okay to say ‘swarthy’ still. Had that been cancelled?

She shook her head. She was clearly suffering from the acute fixation on others’ bodies that was the province of the very horny.

“I dabble. Mostly she just likes doing it, so I like letting her,” Lacy explained. “But I’m sorry to hear about your…thing.”

“I guess it’s nothing less than I deserve,” Lindsey said with a sigh.

Lacy cocked her head.

“What do you mean?”

“Just that I’ve been a bit free handed with using it,” She said. “Uh…no pun intended.”

“That sounds like it was pretty intended,” Lacy said.

Lindsey giggled, and gave a guilty shrug

“Seriously, though,” Lacy said. “Who have you used it on?”

“Uhm, well…your Mom, although I don’t think that changed much,” She said.

Lacy sighed.

“Nah. She seemed…pretty determined to hook up with Jake, if the rumors are true.”

“I also did it to him. And uh…Megan and Exe both,” She admitted. “But that’s it, I swear.”

“Uh huh,” Lacy noted. “And when you ‘touched’ Jake, when did you do it?”

Shit…

“Well, the night you stayed with him,” She answered honestly. “The opportunity was just there and it seemed kinda funny.”

“You troublemaking little gremlin!” Lacy said, tossing a pillow from the opposite couch into her face.

It bounced off Lindsey’s face and she came up laughing.

“Look, fucking is fun! And we’re even like, encouraged to do it here and everyone’s still got their goddamn legs closed!” She said. “It’s crazy! Somebody’s gotta mix it up here!”

“Well, I’m glad you’re getting some comeuppance anyway,” Lacy said, shaking her head. “And I won’t tell anyone, but I’d be surprised if someone didn’t put two and two together.”

“Probably Megan,” Lindsey said. “She’s smart.”

Lacy shook her head.

“Nah. My money’s on Exe. Megan’s probably a little confused at why it’s even happening.”

At that they shared a laugh.

“Hey…Thanks again for everything,” Lacy said after a moment. Her sincerity was obvious, and Lindsey felt touched. “I only have this second lease on life because of you.”

“Nah, fuck that, dude,” Lindsey said. “You’ve got a second lease on life because you decided not to roll over. I helped pay for it, but the decision was all you.”

“Yeah, but…”

“But shit,” Lindsey interrupted. “Be proud of yourself! You deserve it.”

Lacy considered that for a moment, then nodded.

“You know what, you’re right?” She agreed. “Part of this whole turnaround is me…”

She trailed off.

“Having an attitude change.”

Linsey knew what she’d meant, and put a hand over hers.

“You mean convincing yourself you were worth saving.”

Lacy worried her lip for a moment, then nodded.

“Yeah. That’s about the measure of it,” She admitted, not meeting Lindsey’s eye. “That and coming up with another two points, anyway.”

“Two points?” Lindsey asked. “That’s it?”

“Yeah,” Lacy said. “But if I can’t come up with it by tomorrow when the challenge starts, I’m fucked.”

She brushed her wild dark hair back.

“I dunno. I’m hoping if I jump a lot in the best girl rankings, that’ll save me. But whether it does or not, I’m glad I took the plunge. I….needed to do this for myself.”

“See? There you go!” Lindsey said with a smile. “And if it’s just two points you need, you can cover that easy by fucking someone.”

“Uhm…okay,” Lacy said. “But who would I fuck between now and tomorrow morning?”

Lindsey shrugged.

“Anyone, I guess. I can tell you I could sure as hell use it, and I bet Megan feels about the same.”

Lacy gave her a long look.

“Are you propositioning me?” She asked.

Lindsey’s head shot up.

“I…uh…well, I didn’t mean to,” She said, suddenly feeling unsure of herself.

Lacy seemed to sense it.

“Hey, no pressure. I didn’t mean it like that. I just thought…”

“No, no…it’s fine,” Lindsey said. “I’ve just…y’know.”

Judging by the confused look on her face, Lacy clearly didn’t. Lindsey took a deep breath.

“I’ve never done that before. Y’know, with a girl.”

Lacy blinked.

“Really?”

Lindsey looked almost shy, a word Lacy would never have heretofore associated with her.

“I mean, I just would have guessed…I dunno, you seem pretty adventurous.”

“Yeah. I mean, I am up to try anything once. I just…haven’t tried that,” Lindsey said, brushing a teal lock of hair back. “Look, just keep it quiet. You’ll ruin my air of mystique.”

It was a joke, but it didn’t set Lacy at ease.

“Hey, I was just talking,” She said, blushing. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Lindsey was quick to take her hand.

“Hey,” she soothed. “You didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no harm in asking.”

She hesitated, then on impulse (which she’d found was her best way of making decisions), launched herself at Lacy, their lips meeting. Lacy started to pull away, but Lindsey wrapped her arms around her and drew her back in.

That turned out to be all the arm twisting required. The taller woman returned the embrace, relaxing as her strong arms explored Lindsey’s back and cupped her ass. At some point, Lindsey had migrated over to her couch, and now sat straddling her roommate. She let herself get lost in the moment, enjoying Lacy’s kisses, and her strong, yet shapely body.

Then she pulled back.

“Uh…what comes next?” She asked.

Lacy smiled at her.

“Awww, you’re blushing,” She said, brushing a strand of Lacy’s hair back. “ I don’t think I’ve ever seen you do that before.”

“I’m serious,” Lindsey protested, “Y’know, what guy we’d be stripping down and then…y’know.”

She rolled her hips for emphasis.

Lacy’s smile gained a nervous quality.

“You sure about this?” She asked. “If you want me to stop, just say so, okay?”

Lindsey nodded quickly.

“Okay,” Lacy breathed, tightening her grip on Lindsey’s ass and hips.

She turned then, switching their positions. Again, Lindsey found herself impressed with Lacy’s strength and the gentility with which she wielded it. With that same gentility, she slowly pulled Lindsey’s shorts and panties down. Though she was strangely, intensely nervous, Lindsey felt a thrill all the same.

Lacy paused then, as if waiting for a protest. Lindsey nodded again.

“Relax,” Lacy said, “I was good at this even before they changed me.”

As her tongue went to work, Lindsey realized that was no boast.

“Ohhh fuuuu-” Lindsey cried, her back arching in pleasure.

She ran her fingers through Lacy’s thick, dark hair, and looked down one time to meet her bright green eyes before her own rolled back as she came.

“Holy fucking shit…” She breathed when she’d managed to recover herself. “That…was amazing.”

“Thank you,” Lacy said, standing.

She began to strip off her own shirt and shorts.

“Your turn,” She said with a playful smile.

“I uh…” Lindsey stammered. “Not to sound…I dunno, selfish or whatever, but I don’t exactly know what I’m doing.”

“You know how to use your fingers, right?” Lacy said, unclasping her bra.

That she did. And it wasn’t long before she’d returned the favor.

Unique hookup: Two First Times

Lacy +2 VPs

Lindsey +2 VPs

*****

The two women slammed against the wall, kissing passionately. Farra led, as always, pressing Lorretta’s more slender frame back, one hand squeezing her ass while the other roughly caressed her hair. Loretta lifted a long, pale leg and hooked it around Farra’s, drawing her in closer as she melted into her arms.

“God, I love your fucking hair,” Farr breathed between kisses.

Loretta swooned. After enduring years of the demeaning dirty talk that Hunter favored in the bedroom, the awed, almost reverent way Farra lavished affection on her was intoxicating.

“We’re never gonna get ready like this,” She managed to say.

“Mmmm…who says I want to?” Farra cooed.

Loretta’s retort was a hungry, passionate kiss that communicated how much she really cared about the party.

Lori had been trying to change into some lingerie; a special treat for later that Farra could enjoy more of once they were back in their suite and pleasantly ****. Her new lover had decided to enjoy it right then and there. As was often the case the last few days, Loretta had no will to stop her.

Who do you think you’re foolin? She thought. You were teasing her and you know it.

Teasing was how the whole thing got started. Almost as soon as they’d become friends, Loretta noticed the way Farra looked at her. From the very moment they’d met, there had been respect between the two women, but from Farra, there’d been attraction as well.

Lori was used to being checked out, and it wasn’t even the first time she’d found a woman admiring her. What surprised her was how much she’d enjoyed and eventually craved the attention. It had only taken a few days of the inviting body language and showy gestures for flirting to escalate to their first kiss. That had been a shy, almost accidental thing they’d shared the first day they’d gone out sailing without Julie.

Nothing since had been anything resembling shy or accidental. For the last week, Lori had felt drunk on her new partner. She supposed she couldn’t speak for Farra (and had too much pride to ask), but if the frequency and intensity of their hookups was any indication, the feeling was mutual.

The sudden freeing of her breasts brought her back to the here and now.

“Do you really want to stop?” Farra asked. “We’ve still got some time before the party…”

“No,” Loretta responded instantly. “Just…”

She looked around the room for Farra’s other body. She must have repositioned it out of sight. It was a thoughtful gesture; Farra didn’t always know what to do with both bodies, and had come to recognize that one of them hanging around could be a little unnerving.

“Yes?” Farra asked, looking over her shoulder to find whatever it was Lori was looking at.

Loretta cupped Farra’s chin and turned it until their eyes met.

“Can I have both of you this time?” She asked. “I don’t wanna be greedy, but it might be kinda fun.”

“God yes,” Farra replied at once. “I didn’t think you’d ever ask.”

“Neither did I,” Lorri admitted with a nervous giggle.

Farra took a deep breath, then placed her hands on Lori’s hips, guiding her away from the wall. She kissed her, placing a hand on her cheek. As she did, Lori felt her other body step up behind her, and let out a moan as it kissed her neck and ear. She nibbled on it while the body in front of her began to kiss her way down Lori’s body, stopping to suckle a breast. She let it go, the trail of kisses making their way down her stomach as the Farra in front of her knelt before her. The Farra behind her turned her head and gave her a kiss, reaching around her waist to massage her breasts.

“Holy Jesus,” She cooed.

“It’s not weird, is it?” The Farra behind her asked.

It was, but it was also wonderful. She was way beyond articulating that, however, or much of anything else. So she simply shook her head.

“Good,” Farra said, her relief evident.

Apparently, it was the green light she’d needed. Loretta cried out as Farra’s tongue entered her, and her hands teased her nipples. In no time at all, she was lost in bliss.

Unique Hookup: Running Mate

Farra +2 VP

Loretta +2 VP

Bonus: Threesome?

Farra +1 VP

Loretta +1 VP

Later, Loretta lay between Farra’s two bodies, one curled beneath her arm while the other cradled her, a leg draped over hers. The latter traced a loving finger over her breasts and stomach.

“I’m glad you enjoyed that,” She said.

Lori struggled to recover her power of speech.

“Did I ever,” She managed.

She shook her head, trying to clear it.

“Sorry I couldn’t…reciprocate a little better,” She said. “You goddamn melted me.”

Farra’s full lips curled into a smile.

“No apology required. I was trying for that outcome,” She said. “Though if this is going to keep being a regular thing, it might be worth investing in an upgrade. There’s one that doubles your sexual energy, you know.”

Loretta scoffed.

“To keep up with you? I might need to quadruple it for that,” She said. “You’re insatiable, woman.”

“I certainly am when it comes to you,” Farra admitted. “I can’t seem to control myself. That body, the hair, your poise…”

She seemed to catch herself.

“God, I’m gushing,” She said with a nervous laugh.

“No…I like it,” Loretta said. “It’s sweet. And anyway, the feeling’s mutual. I haven’t felt like this since I was a teenager.”

“Neither have I,” Farra said. “But I should probably point out that it’s not uncommon for your first time.”

“I guess…” Lori said.

It didn’t feel adequate though.

“Nah, it’s not just that,” She said. “I mean, it’s helping, but…there’s something more than that going on.”

The Farra spooning her sat up a bit.

“Really?” She asked. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah. I’m fine,” Loretta reassured her. “Better than fine, actually. Just…”

She racked her brain, trying to clear the cobwebs.

“I think it goes back to Hunter. Everything else seems to,” Loretta said. “I’ve been in a cold war with my husband for so many years that I almost forgot what it was like for someone to just…want you again.”

Farra placed a hand on her thigh and a kiss on her lips.

“If he couldn’t appreciate you, he was a fool.”

It was another of those touching little moments that seemed so effortless for her. Loretta stretched uneasily to break the tension. Evening had turned to night in the time they’d been canoodling, and moonlight was streaming in through the window.

“We really do need to get moving,” She said. “We’re gonna be late.”

Farra sighed, but nodded.

“Go get showered,” She agreed. “I’ll go after you. It takes me longer when I do both halves.”

“No, you go first,” Loretta insisted. “I need to recover a little bit, and you can get headed that way when I’m done.”

Farra was up and moving now, one of her bodies arranging her clothes for the evening, the other taking a long look at Lori.

“Actually, I was wondering if you’d be willing to come with me this time.”

“Together?” Loretta asked. “That’s gonna raise some eyebrows, won’t it?”

Farra shrugged.

“I don’t care if you don’t.”

Lori felt butterflies. That she was developing feelings for Farra she already knew. That they might be reciprocated…

“I don’t,” She said, taking Farra’s hand. “I’d be glad to go with you.”

They shared a kiss.

“I’ll go clean up then,” Farra said, dropping her voice to a husky purr. “You find something sexy for me in the meantime.”

Loretta returned the smile.

“I know just the thing.”

But she waited for the shower to run before she began playing dress up. She had a lot on her mind.

She was getting feelings, alright. And that put her in a confusing place.

She had to think clearly. As long as she was on this island, stuck in this game, she was in serious danger. And this entanglement, pleasant as it was, risked serious complications.

As the showered turned off, though, Loretta had a mental image of the two Farras toweling one another off. Her concerns, she decided, could wait for later.