Shiny Demon

Excess Baggage

A platform. A luggage carousel. A series of suitcases. Not setting the scene for the sexiest challenge, so far. But Seb had decided before arriving that he was going to give the challenges an honest shot. When it came to romance he tended to take the Battle-of-Who-Could-Care-Less route, and while he'd pulled it off successfully, it didn't feel much like winning. He may as well give the "love" part of Love Island a chance, and he'd been coming to the realization as he approached his 30s that at the end of the day, "indifferent" and "aloof" were just cover versions of the same boring song.

"So, do we actually have to kiss who we think the clue is about?" A mischievous smile bloomed on Genevieve's face. "Or can we just use this as a way to kiss someone we think is hot?"

Elladine tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, you wouldn't win the game..."

Genevieve waggled her eyebrows. "But you'd get to snog someone you like." A rumbling of laughter gave way to a charged silence as the Islanders glanced around, presumably determining who exactly they would like to snog.

Seb considered his own options. AJ was cute, but young and not his type. Elladine was gorgeous, but her and Nicky hadn't so much as looked at anyone else. He didn't feel motivated enough to interfere with that. Iona was fit, but she came on a little strong. Like it was really important to her that everyone knew what she was like. Not a total dealbreaker, by any means. But it could get tiresome to have someone trying to prove themselves to you all the time. Genevieve was certainly interesting. She seemed fun. Enthusiastic, but not disingenuous. She was probably pretty different from him, but in a way that might work. Not to mention she was hot.

And then Stevie. Exactly his type. Every girl in his past had been some variation of Stevie. Artistic, sensual, a little mean. A bit dark and twisty, just like him. She was exactly the type he was trying to avoid by coming on this show. He needed sunshiney. He needed nice. He'd been kicked in the heart balls by so many Stevies. So naturally, he was the most drawn to her.

He really tried to fully participate in the challenge, but could only half-pay attention. There had been so much standing and waiting in the heat. His mind kept drifting to thoughts of snacks and naps. The first clue was something about a baby badger. Elladine kissed Nicky, which turned out to be the right answer. Seb didn't catch the story because he was lost in the details of Stevie's tattoos.

A minimalist mountain range, made of nothing but two jagged lines, decorated her mid-thigh. It complimented the vine of leaves and flower buds twisting wildly up her other leg. When she swayed restlessly side to side, something white shimmered at the tip of each unopened blossom. He strained to get a better look and noticed each closed bud was punctuated by a pearlescent gash. Little scars. They increased in number as the vine crept up her hip until disappearing under her bathing suit completely, seeking refuge in the hidden dark underneath her clothes.

Before he could wonder too long about the origin of those scars, Stevie was on the move, heading toward the conveyor belt to grab a suitcase. "This boy," she read out in her husky American accent, "got caught having sex in his mom's wardrobe."

"Woah," AJ said, her eyes wide.

"Filthy," Genevieve smirked.

"I reckon that's something Seb would do." He startled at the sound of Elladine saying his name. He'd had sex in some odd places (a laundromat, top of a doubledecker bus, a church) but his mum's wardrobe wasn't one of them. Frankly he was never at his mum's house enough to do something like that.

"Or maybe it's Bill," Stevie said, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. After thinking a moment more, she locked her gaze onto him. "Seb." His name floated from her lips with a powerful certainty, like a witch conjuring a spell, and it set his insides trembling.