Mad Love by Colet Abedi Read Free Book Online Page A

up and treads water near Erik and Orie. Holy shit. He didn’t hear this conversation, did he? I hear another splash and see his two male friends swim over.
    I wave at him awkwardly and am suddenly self-conscious of my half-naked body. I feel exposed on the deck by myself, my figure up for his perusal. I fidget nervously, wondering if it would be weird if I stood up and covered myself with a towel. No, not a good idea. I’d have to walk to get it and then he’d have an even clearer view. What if he thinks my butt is too big? Or too skinny? Or that it’s flat? I stop myself instantly by choosing to remain utterly still. I try not to breathe, because inhaling and exhaling, as we all know, makes the stomach stretch in and out.
    “Hey man!” Erik says. “I’m Erik. This is Orie, my boyfriend. We didn’t get to meet you earlier.”
    “Clayton,” he says politely in that voice that is amazing. “This is John Maitland and Eduard Percy.” John is slightly overweight and has strawberry-blond hair and Eduard looks like the famous Ralph Lauren Polo model. The guys exchange pleasantries.
    “I know you’ve met Sophie.” Erik says.
    “Yes. I had the pleasure.” Clayton looks directly at me when he answers the question.
    “Nice to meet you, guys.”
    I start to feel the burn on my skin and it has nothing to do with the sun. It’s him. He’s staring at me again, in that crazy way that makes me think he’s not from this planet or something. How can he make me feel like this from a distance? Just from a look? He holds my gaze while he asks Erik, “Did she tell you about my party this evening?”
    “No, she didn’t,” Orie chimes in, raising a brow at me as he treads water.
    “I’ve invited my friends to my villa for dinner and drinks. I’d love you guys to join us.”
    The sun hits him in all sorts of delicious ways. His hair is slicked back, his blue eyes are like bright beams shooting out of his face. His shoulders ripple as he easily treads water. His body is perfect, sculpted like he works out hard- and often. It’s all a girl can take. I’m about to tell him that of course we’ll come and ask if we can bring something, when Erik answers for me.
    “We actually have dinner reservations at the restaurant, but maybe we’ll stop by after.”
    If we were in a club, the music would have come to an astounding scratching halt. I look over at Orie, and even he seems shocked. Huh? I think I see a flash of real annoyance on Clayton’s face before it’s politely disguised.
    “That’s too bad. Sophie didn’t mention that when we spoke.”
    All eyes turn to me. I stare at all the men in the water, trying to figure out the right thing to say. I’m saved from stammering out a ridiculous excuse from the same friend who put me in the situation in the first place.
    “That’s because Sophie didn’t know the plans. Orie and I made them while she was napping. It’s our first night here and we want to celebrate together.” I’m wondering what Erik’s game is. He’s usually the first to be spontaneous. But not this time. This is when he decides to play it cool?
    Just my lousy luck.
    “Of course. I hope you’ll make it after dinner,” Clayton says quietly, looking at me in that way that literally makes my toes curl. I want to launchmyself at him from the dock and ask that he take me to his villa and have his way with me but I can’t. I just met him. I don’t even know how old he is. Or what he does for a living. Or his sign. I know nothing about him, and yet I can’t deny the intense desire and undeniable attraction I have for him.
    “Sophie.” Clayton nods at me, then disappears into the water and swims away. His form is perfect, quite beautiful actually. He’s like a great God of the sea. No joke. Literally, a god. His friends follow suit and when they’re far enough away, I narrow my eyes at Erik.
    Orie takes the words right out of my mouth. “I’d like to know why you did that.”
    “That makes two of