The Perfect Wave

by A. J. Pryor

  “Roan, she was a scorned woman.” Jess looked to the ceiling then back down to my eyes. “Did you rape her?”

  “What?” I looked at her in disbelief. “Of course not. Jess. You saw the video, that was consensual sex.”

  “But, there’s an accusation tied to her name. Maybe she was young when you met her.”

  Holding on to both her hands and bringing them to my lips I told Jess the story that I’d only ever told Mason and Officer Henderson. “Luana wasn’t raped. She’s the one accused of rape.”

  Jessica’s eyes grew huge. I reached up and twirled her hair around my fingers, bringing her in for a kiss, needing to know I had her full attention.

  “Two months after her arrival in town, Blake called me. He was up in Santa Barbara and was just beginning his freshman year of high school. He begged me to come up and see him, said he had something he needed to discuss with me. My heart froze because I had recently been up there. Initially I thought it had to do with my parents, but he could have discussed that over the phone. I left work and went to him, picked him up, and took him down to the beach were we could have some privacy. He was smiling from ear to ear when I arrived and the entire drive to the beach, so I knew whatever he was about to tell me wasn’t as bad as I originally thought.

  The minute we were sitting on the sand he turned to me and exclaimed, “It happened, brother. I got laid!”

  I threw my head back and laughed. Of course, that’s what he was dying to tell me. He started in on how he’d met this girl in town. She was beautiful, exotic looking, and she was older then him, by about six years.”

  Jess groaned. “No, no, no . . . oh my God, Roan, I’m not sure I can hear the rest of this story.” She was covering her eyes with her hand, as if she was watching it all play out in front of her the same way I had when Blake had recounted this tale five years ago.

  “I need to tell you this, Jess. Please. If we’re going to move forward together, you need to know why I am who I am.”

  She nodded but I couldn’t read the expression on her face.

  I continued, “The more he told me about this girl, the more I knew she had gotten to him too. My crazy ex-lover had taken Blake’s virginity. I wanted to hurl. I felt like I was living in an episode of Jerry Springer or Dr. Phil, but Blake was ecstatic. The kid was fourteen, had lost his virginity to a beautiful older woman, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him who she really was. He was my baby brother—my responsibility—and he didn’t seem in the slightest bit damaged, so I decided not to bring him into my mess. I let him believe he’d landed some hot chick, who had shown him a good time. Then I came back to LA, called Mason and we hooked up with his friend, Officer Henderson. Mason’s donation of a computer program to the force had scored Henderson a promotion, so he was more than happy to help us. If we wanted to file a police report, we needed Blake’s side of the story and I didn’t want to drag him into it. Henderson gave us the paperwork to make it look like she was about to be arrested for statutory rape. Luana has a brother, Ricky; I called him and filled him in on what she had been doing in California. Told him she was on her way home and he should seek help for her because she’d gone mental over here. She left for Fiji the next day. Every once in a while I see her when I’m in Fiji, she shows up unannounced, or we bump into each other, but I hadn’t heard from her in years until I started dating you. I’m sure Grant tipped her off.”

  “Blake knows none of this?”

  “He knows a little. Knows some girl went off the deep end, but he has no idea it’s the same chick he lost his virginity to. He was fourteen, not twelve. Hell, I lost my virginity at that age too, but I needed her away from him. Threatening her with impending arrest was the best solution we could think of to get her off American soil.

  “Luana’s the reason I’ve kept my distance from women. I never wanted to be in that situation again. Until I met you. If you showed up at my doorstep a thousand times a day for the rest of my life, I’d be a blessed man.”

  Ever so slightly, the sides of her lips turned up in the first smile I’d seen on her precious face in close to a month.

  “My parents made it easy to cast my commitment issues their way, but their divorce is only a very small part of it—Luana is the rest. Before I met you, I was happy being a bachelor, the life suited me. Then you appeared and everything changed. My life no longer worked when you weren’t around. So I pushed Luana to the back of my mind and dove into this perfect life with you. I should have told you about her, but I hoped that was all behind me. I guess seeing her when I was in Fiji set it all in motion again. Nothing happened between us while I was there. As usual, I brushed her off, except she knew about you and I couldn’t figure out how. I lost my phone the last night of my trip. She must have taken it and gotten your contact information. It’s the only explanation I can come up with for how she was able to send you that video.”

  Jess looked at me, guilt in her eyes. “Don’t blame Luana for all of this. My Momma hired a private investigator to check you out. When he dug deeper into your past, Luana’s name appeared. He contacted her and Luana was more than happy to send him that footage, tellin’ him it was taken on your last trip there.”

  My jaw dropped, literally dropped. “Are you kidding?”

  Her eyes shot down and she sadly shook her head.

  “Jess, look at me.” I placed my finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to mine. “I love you, Jessica, more than I thought humanly possible. We can put my past aside, your mom aside—it can just be you and me, starting over from scratch. I’m sure your mom hates me even more than she did before, but we can work through that.”

  She started to laugh.

  “I’m not sure that’s something to laugh at, Locks.”

  “You see, Roan, it’s crazy. She doesn’t hate you. After Mother found that video, she wished like hell she hadn’t. While I’ve spent the past month figuring out how to move past this, she’s been trying to get me to forgive you. She sees how hard you’re fighting for us and I guess that’s all she ever really wanted for her girls: someone who loved them even during the bad times.”

  “I do, Locks,” I said, cupping her face in my hands, “I do.”

  aving the freedom to make my own choices, to live the life I chose for myself had always been a priority for me. My choice was him. I needed him just as badly as he needed me. I pulled my tank top over my head, exposing the see-through material of my pink lacy bra and watched as Roan’s eyes slightly closed and his hands gripped the sides of my body.

  “Locks, that better be an invitation straight to your bed. Otherwise I need to get the hell out of here, because I won’t be able to resist you.”

  “Take me,” I said, and I meant that in so many ways.

  That was the only thing he needed to hear as he crushed his lips to mine and lifted me in his arms, carrying me to the bedroom. His entire body covered me as he placed me on the bed.

  “Jess, I missed you. So. Damn. Much.” He was pulling my pants down my legs and trying to unbutton his jeans at the same time.

  I was laughing, “Here let me help.” Roan could not keep his hands off me. As I pulled on his zipper, he pushed me back down on the bed and hovered above me, kissing my lips, my jaw, my eyes—all over my face.

  “I need to savor you for a minute, Jess. I want in you so bad, but I missed your face, your lips—I missed holding you in my arms.”

  I circled my legs around him and ran my hands down the smooth skin of his shoulders, feeling his weight as he rested above me. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I hugged him tightly. “I love you, Surfer Boy. Don’t ever forget that.”

  My fingers finally made contact with his zipper and I pulled it down. Reaching inside his pants, I stroked him. His eyes closed and he rested his head on my shoulder, then he looked at me with a wicked gleam in his eye.

  “Prepare yourself, Locks. We’re about to ride the most epic wave either of us has yet to experience.”

  Roan kicked his jeans and sh
oes to the floor as I unhooked my bra and let it fall. He leaned forward and pulled my nipple into his mouth then he moved with me. His hands glided toward the elastic waistband of my pants, then slid them off along with my panties, throwing them somewhere across the room.

  “That was hot!” I exclaimed.

  His fingers slid up the inside of my leg and his thumb sank into me. “Locks, you are so wet, it drives me crazy. I want you so bad.” Using the wetness of my own arousal, he ran his thumb along the inside of me, then slowly started to rub circles around my core.

  I held onto his head and lowered his face down to mine. “Roan,” I moaned as one of his fingers entered me. Fire was spreading from my belly through my veins, reaching out to every limb, and curling my toes. I’d missed his touch more than I could put into words. He never stopped the movement of his thumb as his lips moved up to mine. He slid his tongue into my mouth and mimicked the motion his finger was doing below. I grasped his arms, his body feeling so solid and warm, my body responding to what it had been without this past month. My legs lifted to encircle his waist as his fingers never faltered in their determination to drive me wild.

  I bit down on his lip as pure ecstasy ran through me, pulsing in my ears, and causing my body to tremble in his arms. He didn’t let up, didn’t let me recover before I felt his erection push inside of me. I rode out the waves of my orgasm as he slowly thrust himself in and out, spurring on another release that was close to exploding inside me.

  “You are my personal sunrise, Locks. Everything shines brighter when I’m with you.”

  I exhaled as I felt my body ignite, tense, and move with his, chasing the fire that had started deep within.

  Roan lifted my leg over his shoulder and buried himself deeper, groaning as my insides completely covered him. His pelvis was hitting me at my tipping point as he increased his pace. He leaned closer to me, his chest sliding back and forth against mine. “Look at me, Locks.”

  I opened my eyes and looked deep into his.

  “I love you forever, Locks.”

  I wanted to say it back, but his hand suddenly ran down my thigh and his fingers started to massage where we were joined. The sudden pleasure my body felt rendered me speechless and I was propelled into a different atmosphere. My body trembled and my eyes involuntarily teared-up as the strongest orgasm I’d ever felt racked through my system. My eyes closed and Roan’s name fell from my lips.

  Roan’s body quivered, his arms tensed, and his eyes narrowed as he released all his pent-up emotions into me. When the world came back into view, he kissed my tears away and lay down on top of me.

  I ran my fingers down his back until I felt his breath calm; his arms circled behind me, hugging me to him. He turned with me and I was suddenly lying on top of him. “Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?” he whispered in my ear.

  I shook my head.

  “Good, because we’re going to do that again and again and again. I’m not sure you’re going to be able to walk by the time I’m done with you tonight.”

  “As long as I can walk down the aisle for Casey this weekend,” I said with a smile.

  ow about Mr. Chow’s?” Roan asked, menu in hand. “I don’t know, last time I was there they rushed us through dinner in forty-five minutes. When I tried to order dessert they handed me the bill instead.” My parents were arriving tonight. They were going to attend Casey’s wedding this weekend and decided to come a few days early to meet Roan. We were trying to figure out the best place to take them to dinner.

  “New management. That won’t happen again.” Roan was on the phone with his assistant who was throwing out suggestions and working on getting us reservations.

  Mr. Chow’s was an upscale Chinese restaurant in the heart of Beverly Hills with spotty service but you couldn’t ask for better food.

  “We’re set for six.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me on the head. “I’m not gonna lie Locks. I’m feeling slightly awkward facing your folks because everyone knows about that video.”

  “It’ll be fine. Their manners won’t allow ‘em to bring it up. Relax. They’re good people and this is important to me, like when you introduced me to Blake.”

  We met my parents at exactly six. I spotted them the minute I walked into the restaurant. Mother was fidgeting with her pearls, a sure sign she was nervous; Daddy had a glass of bourbon and looked cool as a cucumber. He spotted me first, and gave me a big hug, “Darlin’ it’s good to see that smile back on your beautiful face.”

  “Thanks, Daddy. I’m so glad you guys came this weekend. Hi, Momma.” My mother stood up and hugged me. “Daddy, Momma, this is Roan.” I turned to look at my Surfer Boy. He looked good tonight, wearing jeans that hung low on his hips, a dark blue button down shirt opened slightly at the collar, showing off his perfectly tanned skin. His hair was slicked back and so far, none of it was falling in his face. His eyes had a sparkle in them that told me no matter what he said earlier, he couldn’t turn off his charm.

  Daddy shook Roan’s hand and my mother gave him a hug. She said something to him that I didn’t catch, but it caused Roan to smile and hold onto her arm as he listened. He nodded his head at what she was saying and then he pulled her in and hugged her tightly. I wasn’t sure anyone had given my mother a bear hug like that in a very long time and I watched as she instantly relaxed.

  Over the best Chinese food in the world, my parents got to know the man I had fallen in love with and I watched as they both fell a little in love with Roan as well. By the time dinner was over my Daddy knew all about surfing and snowboarding and Roan promised to get him tickets to the Aspen X Games this winter. My Daddy said he’d teach Roan how to shoot a gun properly the next time we were in Texas. Roan’s face lit up as he turned and winked at me. Life was good.

  As we stood to leave, my mother pulled me to the side and whispered in my ear. “He’s adorable Jessica and I’m so proud of you for the way you handled everything this past month. You have grown into an amazing woman.”

  “Thanks, Momma. That means a lot.”

  On our way back home, I asked Roan what he and my Mother had been discussing. He shrugged, “She apologized, and I accepted.”

  “It had to be more than that, Roan!”

  He took a big breath and glanced at me. “I told her that I come from broken, I know what it is, and I would never break my family.” He took my hand and squeezed it tightly. “I told her I’d like nothing more than having them be a part of our lives.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. “Jess, you are my family and I will always keep us whole, and when we have children of our own, I will protect them as fiercely as your mother tried to protect you.”

  Holy Hell, did Roan Anders really mention starting a family with me?

  ou’re bluffing.” I wasn’t smiling.

  “Fuck you, man!” Mason was getting a little out of control.

  “Now I really know you’re bluffing. Show your cards, asshole.” A grin crept to the corner of my mouth.

  “Read ’em and weep!” Mason said with a maniacal laugh.

  “Does Casey know this side of you?” I asked.

  “Yes, and she loves it. Pay up!”

  Mason hadn’t wanted a bachelor party. I’d tried hard to plan something for him, just the guys, but he’d adamantly refused. So tonight, we were playing poker until he said it was time to go home. Next to Blake and now Jess, Mason was my family.

  When he was eight, his youngest sister, Rosie, had disappeared. It crushed his parents, and they moved to Santa Barbara to escape all the painful memories of Kansas. Mason and his other sister, Grace, had tough childhoods, and to see Casey make him as happy as she did made me love her even more. His parents would be there all weekend. I hope that seeing their son financially successful and deeply in love would wake them up and help them move on for Mason’s sake—and for the next generation.

  We’d been playing cards for more than three hours. Casey’s brothers had long ago gone to sleep. They couldn’t kee
p up with our level of competition. Mason’s dad hung around and watched from afar, probably trying to find a connection with his son after twenty-two years of being a less-than-present parent. Deep down, that made me glad for Mason.

  The rehearsal dinner had been everything Casey had imagined. There were toasts and roasts, many happy tears, and an all-around feeling of love in the room. Grace had brought her girlfriend, alerting her parents to the fact that, yes, their blue-haired daughter was openly gay.

  “All right, bro,” Mason said. “It’s two in the morning. I’m getting married in less than twenty-four hours, I’d better get some sleep. Do you need to crash here?”

  “No, I’m good. I need to go home.”

  Mason eyed me skeptically. “Jessica warming your bed?”

  “Yeah, she is, and I’ve already left her alone for too long tonight.” I stood to gather my things.

  “Roan. I’m glad it worked out. I’m really happy for you guys.”

  “Thanks, Mason. Can you believe the two of us are actually settling down? Who would have ever thought?”

  Mason laughed and grabbed me on the shoulder. “I’d always planned on getting married one day, Dude. But you? Yeah, I have to say I never thought I’d see the day some girl would wreck your world. And if you ever hurt her again, I’ll hack into all your bank accounts and empty them.”

  He was kidding, but not really. “Mason.” The tone in my voice caught his attention immediately. “I would never hurt Jessica—ever. She’s it for me.”

  His serious expression softened. “I know how you feel. Love you, man.” He came over and hugged me.

  I watched Jessica float down the aisle. She was the hottest girl there and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was wearing some sort of blue dress Casey picked out and all I could think about was tonight when I could take it off her. She held my stare through her entire walk down the aisle until she was standing directly across from me. I knew I was sporting a ridiculously wide grin, but I couldn’t help it. Next time Jessica walked down any aisle, she better be wearing white with Jim Baker escorting her. I was going to marry her and I was going to marry her soon. I didn’t want a long engagement, or a crazy-big wedding. Only her.