Jake's POV
I stood among the contestants, my boots feeling heavy against the stone, but my mind was miles away.
I couldn't stop the images flashing through my head, the memory of Ferah's big bare boobs, the curve and sweet scent of her skin. Every time the memory surfaced, Mai's face followed right after, like a silent accusation that made me want to crawl out of my own skin.
Maybe it was because I'd never been with a woman before. Maybe I was just starved for it.
But thinking about a woman who could snap my neck while my girlfriend waited for me at home was a quick way to lose my mind.
Deux stepped onto the high dais, his ceremonial staff clicking rhythmically against the stone.
"The first test was for the body," he announced. "The second is for the soul. You have proven you can find a prize. Now, we shall test the bond between you and your teammates."
He gestured toward a line of officials who began bringing out heavy, shimmering chains.
