☽Ⓛ❈Ⓒ☾

As usual with Bain and I, we talk heatedly through the whole meal. I feel like I will never run out of things to talk about with him.

In some ways, we agree on almost everything, and then he comes up with these ideas and viewpoints that I never would have thought of and blows my mind. It's incredible, it's like an intellectual orgasm whenever I'm with him.

I can't imagine there ever being an uncomfortable or awkward moment between us, we're so in sync. It's a little scary, being this in tune with someone you've known for less than a week. But it doesn't seem to alarm Bain, which reassures me.

As we sit and talk, he holds my hand again. He runs his thumb back and forth over my knuckles. I love his touch.

'What are you going to do after this?' I ask him, whilst resting my head in my hand.

He furrows his brows. 'What do you mean?'

'Like, after you've picked someone. What are you going to do? What if you want to keep dating them? Will you stay in Switzerland whilst they go back to England?'

My question takes him by surprise, but I'm not sure why. Surely he's thought this far ahead?

He visibly swallows and my eyes drop to his Adam's apple.

'I, uh, guess I would come back to England for a bit, see if things work out, and then go from there,' he says vaguely.

He seems uncomfortable with my question, so I quickly change topic. But his reaction silently bothers me.

Why would you arrange this kind of competition without thinking of the end game?

Or maybe, he doesn't want to tell me. He seemed uncomfortable, maybe not with the question itself, but more with me asking it.

My fast topic change salvages the mood, we get things back on track again.

Spencer knocks on the door, warning me there is five minutes left before he comes to collect me. I know what he gives us that warning for, and Bain wastes no time.

He grabs my wrist, pulls me up on my feet and against him. His lips find mine and my heart races.

Instinctively, my hands slide up his chest to his neck. I play with the strands of hair at his nape as his tongue teases mine. I think kissing this man might be my favourite thing to do. He does it so well.

He completely dominates the kiss, I don't mind. My toes curl in my heels and I hold onto him to keep myself upright. I tend to lose my balance as soon as his tongue touches mine.

Bain's large hands move up and down my body, caressing my curves through my dress. At one point, he cups my ass and squeezes it. A squeak of surprise escapes at the back of my throat and Bain chuckles against my lips.

The door opens, breaking through our moment.

Did we really just kiss for five minutes?

Bain strokes my face adoringly. His eyes hold such affection as he gazes down at me.

'I wish he weren't taking you from me,' he whispers as I smile up at him.

'Sorry, Bain,' Spencer responds from the other side of the room. 'You know the rules.'

I frown.

How the hell did Spencer hear that whisper?

What is it with these two? They have freakishly good hearing.

I say goodnight to Bain and reluctantly return to my room. That was a damn good date.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆✥⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

The next morning officially marks the half-way point of our holiday. It is a week today that we first met the bachelors.

Two more of us will be voted out today, and I'm nervous again. I know I should trust Bain to pick me, but at the same time, I feel like people and emotions change daily here.

My bitter mind travels to Kira again, and her sudden interest in Bain.

I shake my head to clear it off my envious thoughts. I hate feeling jealous, so I refuse to dwell on it.

We get another spa day. I love these days.

We're given the options for getting our hair and nails re-done, getting massages and facials, or just wondering around the spa, enjoying the steam rooms and various pools.

I float on my back in the main pool, with Florie bobbing next to me. I tell her all about my date, as she does with her one with Ahmed.

She really likes him, but I know that Binah is definitely competition for her. If he had to choose between them, I don't think Ahmed would be able to at the moment.

'It sucks because, whenever I'm with him, all his attention is one me. We laugh, we kiss, it's perfect. Then, as soon as he sees Binah, I can practically see his face light up and his heart start thumping,' Florie mumbles sullenly.

I straighten up and start treading water next to her. It's too deep for me to stand.

'It's horrible. I hate feeling jealous,' I comment and my eyes automatically go over to Helene, who is napping on a sun lounger by the pool. 'Every time Helene goes up to Bain, my stomach twists.'

Florie nods in understanding. 'Exactly. It sucks. And it's only going to get worse the longer we're here, our feelings will just get stronger.'

I shrug, half-agreeing, half-not. 'Maybe it will get better as well, though? The longer that we're here, the more of us will be sent home, that means less competition.'

Florie smiles at that thought.

'I hadn't thought of that! That's reassuring.'

We spend the entire day relaxing and getting to know one another. I talk a lot with Lula and Niki, making an effort to get to know them better.

Lula is a right laugh, I can understand why her and Fidel get along so well. They both have the same sense of humour and ballsy attitude.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆✥⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

The evening comes around quickly, and soon, we're all getting ready to meet the bachelors in the large room.

Two of us are being voted out tonight and there is a somber vibe amongst the girls.

I finish getting ready early and, seeing as I'm feeling oddly thirsty, I decide to get a glass of water before we go downstairs.

I down a glass in the kitchen and go to return to my room. Giggles draw my attention down the corridor. I can hear two people talking in hushed whispers around the corridor.

I cautiously tiptoe a little ways down the hall, trying to distinguish the voices. There's the sound of kissing, that indistinguishable smacking sound.

A moment later, a very distinctive giggle reaches my ears.

Saffron.

I smile at the thought of my best friend getting some action and return to my room before I can disturb them. They deserve some alone time.

I tell Winnie what I presume is going on down the corridor and the both of us wait eagerly for Saff to come back.

Five minutes later, she comes into my bedroom. Winnie and I grin at her and she raises her eyebrow in suspicion.

'What's going on?' She asks warily.

'Have fun during your little hallway make-out sesh?' Winnie asks teasingly.

Saff goes bright red.

'How did you know?' She blurts and we both giggle.

'I heard you!' I tell her. 'Please, tell me it was Spencer.'

She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest. 'Of course it was Spencer, who else would it be?'

Winnie shrugs. 'You never know in this castle.'

'Well, it was him.' She sighs. 'We don't know if I'm being eliminated tonight, so we wanted to make the most of it.'

'By the sounds of things, you certainly did,' I comment dryly. Saff shoves me in response.

We are all uncharacteristically quiet as Spencer escorts us to the large room. I look at Saff and wonder what it will mean for her if she is sent home.

I want her and Spencer to continue their journey.

We all gather near the doorway in the large room and wait impatiently for the bachelors to arrive. I twist my fingers nervously.

The doors open and the four men walk in. Bain's eyes immediately find me and he smiles, silently letting me know that I'm safe, I think.

'Ladies, thank you for joining us, you all lovely tonight.' Spencer gathers our focus. 'Your bachelors have been voting.'

My heart thumps loudly and I grab Saff and Winnie's hands, giving them an encouraging squeeze.

'Ahmed has chosen to save; Florie and Binah.'

I sigh with relief. Florie got a vote.

'Fidel has chosen to save; Lula and Niki.'

No surprise there.

'Bain has chosen to save; Helene, Saffron and Amity.'

I'm grateful that Bain has saved one of my best friends, but my heart sinks as I realise that Winnie doesn't have a vote.

'Kira and Winnie, your time in the castle is over. I'll give you a few moments,' Spencer says sympathetically.

We all take it turns to hug the two girls.

I'll be honest, I'm not cut up about Kira leaving. I never really got close to her and she was competition for Bain. One down, one to go.

I wouldn't have minded so much if Bain had seemed interested in her, but he wasn't, as far as i can tell.

Winnie, however, I'm gutted about her going, as is Saffron.

We go with her up to her room to pack, even though it is unprecedented.

'I can't believe you're not going to be here,' I mumble sadly as she packs.

Winnie laughs. 'Guys, cheer up, it's not a big deal.'

'Well, I doubt I'll be around much longer, so I'll be joining you soon,' Saffron remarks. 'It's this one that we won't see for a while, she's all loved up.'

I scrunch up my face. 'I am not loved up. Bain saved Helene, so he obviously likes her a little. It's hard to be loved up for a guy who isn't solely focussed on you.'

Saffron shrugs. 'I think he wants Helene around to keep things interesting and keep you on your toes. He probably likes making you jealous. You can't see the way he looks at you and the way he looks at her, but trust me, they're completely different.'

I feel slightly reassured by her words, but I'm not foolish enough to believe them entirely. Sometimes best friends see things through rose-coloured glasses.

I'm a bit annoyed that Bain chose Helene when he could have saved Winnie, but Winnie isn't bothered by it. She didn't have a connection with any of the guys and predicted she would be sent home tonight.

We wave Winnie off in the minibus with Kira, and slowly return to the large room.

When we enter, everyone's eyes are drawn to the sound of the door opening and closing.

Helene is sat with Bain in the corner. He says something to her, stands up and walks over to me. She glares at his back as he approaches me.

Bain smiles and offers out his hand.

'Pisicuță, care to join me on the balcony?'

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆✥⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆