69

Kira snorted a laugh, and I snapped my gaze back to her. She grinned at me. “It’s when fans of a show want two characters or contestants to get together. Come on, Wyatt, get with the times.”

Her gentle prodding should have irritated me, but I enjoyed the way she’d said it, and the grin on her face when she spoke.

“Correct,” Von said as he rolled his eyes. “They even gave you a cute little ship name. Kwyatt. Pronounced quiet, you get it?”

I really didn’t, but he seemed so pleased with himself that I let it go.

“Can we get back to dinner?” Kira asked.

Her tone was nonchalant, but I could hear the undertone of annoyance at Von’s constant interrupting. If the host noticed, he either ignored it or didn’t care.

Von clasped his hands behind his back and leaned forward as though to whisper a secret to us. “Kira, we may have to get you cue cards. I hate to say it, but you aren’t very good at this. You haven’t asked Wyatt about his rejection story. We need to have a two-way conversation to give the viewers what they want.”

Kira’s smile grew even bigger, and I could tell she was desperately trying not to break a leg off the chair and stake Von through the heart with it.

“I’m sorry. I’ll do better with that,” Kira said through gritted teeth.

“Fabulous. I’ll leave you to it.”

Von vanished back out the door, and I watched him go. My discomfort was like a heavy wet blanket draped across me. The thing I never really wanted to talk about was about to come out.

Kira rolled her eyes at me before the camera turned back on. The look on her face told me all I needed to know. She didn’t think I had a rejection story, assumed I’d made something up to get on the show. But she’d still go along with Von’s suggestion and ask. She was probably excited to hear what story I’d come up with.

“So, Wyatt? I’ve told you my story. Let’s hear yours.”

I sat my wine glass down and blew out a breath as I prepared myself to talk about something I hadn’t mentioned in years.

“My story isn’t quite like yours. It’s not typical. But it still changed my life.”

Something in my voice must have tipped her off. The sexy smile she had for the cameras slipped a little, and her eyes narrowed slightly. She could sense I was telling the truth, and she was probably floored that there was a story at all.

“Explain that?” Kira said. She wasn’t concerned with acting anymore. Her tone was all business. She wasn’t angry, but I could see the operative peeking through. She wanted the story.

Folding my hands on my lap, I said, “To start with, I became connected to my fated mate much earlier than usual. It was well before I should have been able to connect to her—years before I was old enough to do the blood tests. It was a mistake. Because of that, my life never got on track. I ended up leaving the situation as fast as I could.”

It was vague, and Kira could tell. She raised her eyebrow in the way she did when she knew someone wasn’t telling her the whole truth. To my surprise, she didn’t press me for more info.

“Do you regret it? All the decisions you made that led you here to this island? With me?”

I grinned at her. “The only thing I regret is that I didn’t find a way to be on a remote island with you sooner. I just wish it wasn’t one this dangerous and that I had you all to myself.”

Kira huffed out a breath and rolled her eyes again. She didn’t look upset at my flirting attempt, which made me feel good. Before we could speak again, the server brought out the entrees: a gorgeous steak with roasted potatoes and seared asparagus. We ate in silence.

Later, over dessert, we talked about the challenges we’d already gone through on the island. I was thankful she didn’t pry further into my rejection. I didn’t want to get into it in front of millions of people.

As we were standing to leave the table, Von joined us again. It was getting exhausting having him interrupt us so often.

The cameras stopped, and he leaned in the door right as we stood and waved a hand to us. “We need a kiss or a hug or something. Come on, guys, you know what the crowd wants,” he hissed at us and then ducked back away, turning the cameras back on.

I didn’t give a damn what the crowd wanted, but I knew what I wanted. Not even hesitating, I leaned forward and kissed her. Kira made a tiny squeal of surprise as my lips pressed into hers.

I expected her to allow a few moments of kissing for the camera, then push me away and be all huffy about it once the filming stopped. Kira had made it abundantly clear that she wanted to forget about our one-night stand. Instead of pushing me away, though, she pressed against me. Her lips parted slightly, allowing my tongue to slide into her mouth. Kira ran her hands up my back, then tangled her fingers in my hair.

It didn’t take much for me to realize what I’d known deep down for years. I’d never wanted a single night with her in a hotel. There’d always been more, and even that night hadn’t been like this. It was as though a flip had been switched. My hands slid across her hips and up her back, pulling her close. I was being swept away in her. All thoughts of the show, cameras, hosts, and contestants vanished. It was just Kira and me.

Too soon, Kira pulled away and smiled shyly at me. That was not like her at all. Then she shrugged and glanced at the camera.

“That was a really nice way to end a date, Wyatt. I had a great time tonight. Thank you. I guess we should get some sleep.”

“You are correct, Kira,” Von said as he stepped back into the dining room. “Everyone needs their rest for tomorrow. Our viewers, I’m sure, are aware of what awaits you all in the Fight for Survival test we have in the morning.”