Read One Week Three Hearts: for Free Online Page B

giggling creature sitting on Matt's lap.
    Jason's warnings about Matt's constant harem echoed in her head.
    When Malani bent down to pick up a fallen brush from the floor, the view provided by absent panties beneath her short skirt repulsed Rose. The surety Malani used when selecting hues from unlabeled black palettes paraded self-confidence.  
    This woman lacked shame, and seemed to revel in the resulting freedom. Rose couldn't discern between all the envious avenues Malani represented, and guilt from acknowledging her personal inadequacies dominated her mind. Malani was younger, perkier, prettier, thinner… the comparatives to the exotic creature applying glittering eye shadow to her tired lids weren't in Rose's favor.
    "Look up." Malani held a mascara wand between two hot pink fingernails. "You are so lucky to have such amazingly long lashes. I have to use a curler and wear false ones."
    The wand glided over her lashes, coating them with thick black mascara. Rose struggled to vocalize her appreciation for the compliment delivered with an accompanying genuine smile. The competitive thought stream tampered as she gazed at Malani's gift of transformation. The mirror above the desk reflected a glowing face surrounded by soft waves; it made Rose realize Matt sent this girl to make her feel good about herself. The dark circles under her eyes vanished, cheekbones strengthened, and smoked eyelids contrasted her sparkling eyes.
    Matt's motive wasn't to inject jealousy; it didn't exist between Jason and himself. He wanted her to feel sexy. Needed. Wanted. Maybe this was his way of making up his earlier behavior.
    "Oh, don't cry! That mascara isn't waterproof." Malani handed her a tissue, and Rose gratefully accepted the kind token to carefully blot at her tear ducts.
    Malani mentioned something about getting dressed in some sort of sarong wrap. Preoccupied with figuring out a way to make things right with Matt, Rose mindlessly complied with Malani's request to remove her robe. Layers of soft linen fabric draped around her neck and hugged her torso, then another large piece wrapped around Rose's waist. Expertly tied knots held everything in place.
    The full-length mirror across the room reflected a foreign copy of herself. Something resembling a rubenesque goddess stared back at Rose. The fabric sculpted her body and accentuated her curves into a seductive hourglass arrangement that made her blush.
    "He wants you to wear these," Malani said holding out a black box. In response to Rose's questioning look, Malani made a pinching gesture in front of her breasts, then walked towards the bathroom door to give her some privacy.
    Nipple clamps. They are nipple clamps. And something else… what is this wire thing with crystals dangling from it?
    She'd figure out the mysterious contraption later. The concept to adhere the clamps to her breast seemed simple, but the complexity of emotions required to self-administer pain was a different story entirely. Removing one of the steel rings from the velvet fabric lining of the gift box, she pinched it open between two fingers and brought it to her nipple.
    Letting go was an entirely different undertaking. Not only did she have to cause herself pain, but she'd have to repeat it. She pulled her hand away before the oils from her hands made her fingers slip off the device.
    Swallowing her pride, she called to Malani for help.
    ***

    The true dinner began when Mikhel left. Silence amplified chopsticks clinking against porcelain plates, and the table-shaking thump whenever Matt replaced the water pitcher after refilling his glass. High tide slapped against the jagged rocks. Rose sneaked furtive glances at him between bites of food. Mikhel's appearance at the table provided a needed break from the uncomfortable atmosphere. He'd return to clean up the kitchen in an hour or so since preparing sushi always made him crave pizza. Matt reassured him they didn't need anything else.
    "Rose, remind me again why