Sprung

by Kate Benson

  “Nothing,” I lie, hoping my head is big enough to block the entrance. “Hey, you know, this might have been dumb. Why don’t we just go to the beach?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she waves me off. “You worked so hard to surprise me. I want to see what you planned.”

  “Well, yeah, but you were so excited when you saw the water,” I recall, clinging to the memory as I cup her face, restricting her ability to look passed me. “Let’s just go hit the beach. I bet they have a bar.”

  “Dash, it’s barely nine in the morning and we have spent every day in a bar since I got here,” she arches her brow. “Why would you wake me up at seven to drive an hour to another one?”

  “Hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere,” I wink, reaching for the keys. “Who doesn’t love day drinking?”

  “Baby,” she chuckles, pulling my hand off my ignition. “What are you doing? Why don’t you want me to see?”

  “It’s not…” I shake my head, meeting her eyes. “Nothing, I just…”

  “Dash?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Move your head.”

  “Nah, I’m good,” I swallow hard, watching her eyebrow raise before her lips move into a smile.

  “Fine,” she shrugs, settling easy against the seat and replacing her sunglasses. “You don’t have to tell me.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course. Let’s do the bar thing,” she nods, smirking at my unease. “What’s wrong, baby? Don’t you trust me?”

  “Mhmm,” I nod, making her smile wider as I lean over to give her a quick peck. Her fingertips graze my beard, pulling a low hum from my chest. Fuck, I think as I melt further into her lips. She knows that drives me crazy.

  I’m so far under her spell that it’s not until I feel her lips move into a smug grin against mine that I catch her.

  “Hmm…” she hums against my lips before pulling away abruptly. “Sucker.”

  “Dammit!” I call out, but it’s too late.

  She’s already out and standing at the hood of the car, mouth hanging open in shock as she whips her gaze around to where I’m still sitting behind the wheel.

  “Have you lost your fucking mind?”

  chapter twenty-five

  dash

  “What part of our history together makes you think I’m letting your crazy ass push me out of a fucking plane?”

  “Baby, don’t be so ridiculous,” I sigh as I step out and take a stop beside her. “I don’t have enough certification to push you out. I already asked.”

  “Are you crazy?” she shrieks as I shield myself from her flailing arms, unable to contain the loud laugh from leaving my chest.

  “I’m just fucking with you. Calm the hell down,” I beam back at her as she slows her attack. “Come here, psycho,” I chuckle, pulling her close and kissing her forehead. “Do you really think I’d ask you to go skydiving?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe?” she sighs, as she smooths her hands over my chest, her eyes moving back to mine. “Baby, I love you like crazy, but you’re so dumb sometimes.”

  “There’s my precious little angel,” I smirk, shaking my head as I take her in. “You know, when you say sweet things like that it really makes pushing you out of a plane sound a lot more fun.”

  “Oh, eat me,” she rolls her eyes, smacking me when I release a low groan against her neck.

  “Shut up,” I whisper, kissing her skin. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that and even if I did, it’s not like I could make you. Wouldn’t even try.”

  “Alright,” she releases a breath of relief, glancing over her shoulder. “But if we aren’t skydiving, why are we here?”

  “Well, my idea was to surprise you with the option of skydiving. I have you signed up for the class if you’re interested, which was the reason for the rush,” I admit with a shrug. “Anyway, I know it’s crazy and spontaneous, but between the week we’ve had and what you said the other night, I just thought crazy and spontaneous might be a fun way to spend our last day together before you gotta go back,” I sigh. “But I mean, you’re right, it really was a pretty fuckin’ stupid idea. If you won’t even let me stick it in your ass, I should’ve known you weren’t gonna let me throw you out of a plane.”

  evie

  My deadpan expression pulls the loud laugh from his chest, vibrating both of us as he presses his lips to my forehead.

  “Come on. It’s really fine if you’re not up for it. We can just go to the beach instead. I just have to tell them we’re out so they can give our spots to someone else.”

  “Okay,” I nod, releasing a sigh as I take his hand and head toward the entrance with him.

  We clear the lot quickly and although there are signs outside explaining the small building, once we step inside, it’s surprisingly unassuming. In fact, if it weren’t for the vibrant photography on the walls, I’d never guess we were standing in a death lobby.

  We take our place behind a small group talking to the receptionist and my eyes begin to sweep the cozy space, taking a closer look at each image while we wait.

  People are insane, I think to myself as I move my attention from one to the next, the excitement almost palpable as I take in each expression. Cliff diving couples, elderly men with wind distorted cheeks, bungee jumping teenagers, some idiot couple on a hand glider sailing through the air… no matter which image my eyes find, there’s one thing I can’t deny they have in common.

  They’re all happy, free.

  My mind drifts back to the feeling I had on the side of the mountain in Aspen with Dash a few months prior and I can’t help the giddiness filling my veins. It hadn’t made much sense to me then how flying at speeds no human was ever meant to fly down the side of an ice-encased mountain could ever be a source of stress relief. I guess if I’m being honest it doesn’t matter. However, as I risk a glance toward him and think about the last few months I’ve called him mine, I realize there’s a tiny piece of the freedom I experienced that day with that still hasn’t left me.

  I’ve drifted back to that moment countless times, but it’s not until this very second that I realize those feelings have nothing to do with the speed or the mountain or diving off shit.

  It’s him.

  My eyes suddenly grow hazy with emotion as I hug his arm to my chest, savoring in the feel of his kiss on my hair.

  “Sorry,” he whispers. “We’ll be done here in a minute and I’ll take you to the beach, okay?”

  “Okay,” I manage, but as we take a step forward and he nods toward the receptionist, I can’t miss the disappointment staining his features. The glorious, foul-mouthed, jackass beside me is my adrenaline rush, but this extreme idiot crap is his. Dammit. “No… no, it’s not,” I whisper, reluctantly tugging his arm in mine as I internally stamp my foot as I shake my head at the waiting receptionist. “We aren’t canceling.”

  “Babe, what are you doing?” he asks as I press my forehead against his strong arm, silently cursing the words I know are coming, knowing they must slip out all the same.

  “Something big and maybe a little crazy,” I breathe, rubbing my palms over my eyes for a second before I blurt back at him. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

  “Are you serious?” he asks, his eyes wide as I glance back up at him, his full lips spread out in a beam of happiness. “You’re gonna go skydi-”

  “No!” I cut him off, the slight sadness in his eyes not escaping me as I shake my head profusely. “I can’t do the skydiving thing, Dash. I’m sorry,” I say genuinely. “But we don’t have to leave altogether. I’m sure…” I start, glancing around at the various images surrounding us once more. “I mean, there’s gotta be something else we can do, right? Something that won’t scare the shit out of me? Does it have to be jumping out of a plane?”

  “Well, no,” he starts. “But you don’t have to…”

  “I know,” I cut him off once more, shutting my eyes tight for a second before I glance back up to find his green gaze already locked on me. “But I want to be a go
od girlfriend and I know this will make you happy, so just... just pick something that’s not as terrifying as skydiving and I… I’ll do it.”

  “Are you sure?” he asks, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Evie, you don’t have to. We can just go to the beach and drink all day.”

  “Trust me, honey,” I release a long breath and move back toward the receptionist. “If I live through this, we’re definitely drinking later.”

  chapter twenty-six

  dash

  “Give me your word, Dash!” she orders in a shaky voice as I check her harness for the third time from my place behind her. “You promise me right now that this is the pussiest version of extreme sports ever.”

  “I promise, baby,” I chuckle as I press my lips to her hair. “Don’t be scared. Parasailing is fun. You’re gonna love it, okay?”

  “Okay,” she nods, her knuckles already white against the straps as I pull her closer, nuzzling into her neck. “Baby, stop it.”

  “Stop what?”

  “You’re getting me all distracted,” she admits nervously, making me laugh. “We’re about to human-slingshots. I gotta be focused for this shit.”

  “Possibly the more inaccurate description of parasailing in the history of the world,” I kiss her cheek again. “Calm down, okay? I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

  “I know,” she nods. “Can you tell me again what happens?”

  “Once he’s got the boat ready, Dave’s gonna come check us out one more time and make sure everything is safe and then you see that little hook on the dock? The thing all the cords are attached to?”

  “Yeah,” she nods anxiously.

  “Mark, the other guy standing over there, is going to unclip that hook at the same time Dave hits the gas. When he does that, the parachute thing behind us will open, catch the air and we’ll go behind him,” I explain, surprised when she has nothing to say. “Did you hear me?”

  “Yes,” she says, releasing a long breath.

  “You okay?”

  “Mhmm,” she nods again.

  “Do you feel like you wanna back out?” I ask, my thumb grazing her thigh as she shakes her head. “You can. I swear I won’t be mad.”

  “No, I told you I was going to try it and I will,” she insists. “I’m super excited.”

  “You lyin’ to me?” I ask though my smirk.

  “Only halfway,” she admits, making me chuckle as Dave throws Mark a thumbs-up.

  “Alright, you two,” he smiles, tugging on our harnesses one last time. “You ready?”

  I’m about to offer her another out when her voice cuts me off.

  “Jesus Christ, Mark!” she whimpers, making him let out a belly laugh. “Would you just do it already?”

  “Have fun,” he winks at her, patting me on the shoulder as he makes his way over to the clip.

  Evie’s high-pitched stream of profanity pulls my lips to her neck, my stomach shaking against her back as the wind catches us, lifting us from the dock.

  As we make our way higher above the gulf, I glance out over the water, feeling calm move through me as the wind grazes our skin, the feel of her against my chest filling me with something else altogether.

  “You okay, baby?” I call out, smiling at her head bobbing erratically. “Are your eyes open?” She shakes her head just as fervently, making me chuckle. “Baby, I promise it’s not scary. You trust me, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, then hurry up and look before you miss it,” I order gently as I take it all in, a moment later smiling at the gentle gasp that leaves her chest tells me she’s finally looking with me. “Isn’t it awesome?”

  “Oh, my God, it really is,” she agrees, her voice still breathy. “I mean, I can’t say I’m not still a little scared, but it’s beautiful.”

  Her voice pulls my eyes back to find her gazing out to our left, the blasts of color below completely absorbing her. I’d done this at least a half a dozen times. If I’m being honest, it had never been my favorite. The harnesses are uncomfortable and aside from the view, there isn’t much excitement to be had for someone who likes jumping out of planes, but I didn’t feel that way right now.

  Not with Evie.

  Watching her take it in, her blue eyes bright and in awe of everything I’d taken for granted gave it new life, making me appreciate it all over again, maybe for the first time ever.

  “You’re so pretty,” I tell her, smirking at the blush that stains her cheek as I lean forward and kiss her shoulder. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she says as we turn back toward the dock. “I’m really glad I trusted you.”

  “You mean aside from the being suspended from a cord thing?” I tease, making her chuckle as she shakes her head, surprising me.

  “Not just that,” she admits quietly. “I’ve never been a big risktaker. School’s the scariest thing I ever did until us. If it wasn’t for that, I’d never have experienced any of this, Dash.” Her words have me swallowing emotion caught in my throat. I’m about to respond, but she cuts me off as she glances back at me. “Maybe giving your trust to someone takes away some of the risk,” she shrugs. “But if I’m gonna be crazy with anyone, I want to be crazy with you.”

  evie

  Our feet return to the deck sooner than I think and I can finally understand the appeal to it all as the jolt of adrenaline buzzes in my veins. When I’m finally released from my harness, I can’t stop myself from spinning to face Dash, hoisting myself into his arms and kissing him deeply right there on the dock.

  “Hmm…” he hums against my lips, his large palms gripping my ass as I clench my thighs tight around his waist. “Did you like that, baby?”

  “Yes,” I admit, giving him another firm kiss before slipping from his grip. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he winks, giving me a playful swat on the ass before taking my hand.

  He takes a minute to thank Dave, Mark and the others before he leads me back down the dock to where we’d parked this morning. By the time we catch sight of his car, my adrenaline has given way to something else and it’s taking everything I’ve got inside me to not climb Dash like a tree.

  “So, what do you wanna do now?” he asks, oblivious to my internal struggle as he unlocks my door and glances down at me. “You ready for that drink?”

  “No,” I cut him off, pulling his lips to mine cuts his words off. The combination of the desire coursing through and his strong frame caging me in against flawlessly restored, classic Mustang has me desperate. I pull away from him, our eyes heavy as our breathing as I pant against his lips. “Fuck me, Dash.”

  As I husk the words, I don’t miss the way his eyes begin to dance with arousal. He grins wickedly against my lips before bending to taste my neck, sending a shiver up my spine.

  “Did that turn you on, little monster?” he teases me, sucking hard on my neck as I release a low whimper.

  “Yeah,” I admit, gripping his arms tighter. “Please don’t fuck with me right now, babe,” I whisper as my head falls against the frame behind me, my body squirming as he grins against my skin. “Dash, please. I can feel your dick,” I mewl, turning to face him. “Come on, baby.”

  “What? Right here?” he asks, his eyes widening as I shrug. “I can’t fuck you out here.”

  “Why not?” I ask, glancing around before my eyes return to his. “No one’s paying attention to us.”

  “We’re in a parking lot, you freak,” he laughs. “If someone comes out here, they’re gonna call the fuckin’ cops on us.”

  “No, they won’t! Your windows are tinted!” I argue, rolling my eyes as he shakes his head. “Coward.”

  “Get in,” he orders gently. “I’ll drive us somewhere.”

  chapter twenty-seven

  evie

  Dash slips behind the wheel a second later, my cheeks red until I see how fast he maneuvers his way out of the lot, the same desperation staining his face as mine.

  Aft
er the longest ten minutes of my life, he comes to a stop at the edge of a private beach entrance in the back of a neighborhood I never knew existed. He leaves the engine running, the low hum of classic rock filling the speakers as he shifts into park and unclips his belt, moving his seat back as far as it will go.

  “Come here, baby,” he husks, extending his arm to help me across the seat once I peel my shorts and black bikini bottoms down my legs and toss them into the floorboard. I straddle him, my pussy throbbing with need as I sit on his knees, yanking my tank top over my head and revealing the top of the small, black string bikini I’d worn underneath. “Fuck,” he groans as he takes me in, my hands already working on his belt as his palm slides between my thighs.

  “How’d you find this place so fast?” I pant against his lips, eyes heavy. “You didn’t bring some other bitch here, did you?”

  “No,” he smirks. “This is my spot. The only bitch I ever brought here is your brother.”

  “You’re so dumb,” I chuckle breathlessly, raising slightly as I pull him free and start stroking his shaft. “Gimme a kiss.”

  “Grab the headrest, pussycat,” he orders, winding his fingers into the hair on the nape of my neck, his lips finding mine at the same moment that he pushes in deep, stealing my breath.

  “Jesus, baby,” I whimper, my head falling back as I take him completely, savoring in the feel of my walls hugging his cock.

  “That what you needed, sugar?” he croons, pulling a raspy moan of pleasure from me, his lips moving down my neck, tasting my skin.

  My palm instinctively moves to my belly, the feel of him so deep inside me taking my breath. I begin to move, steadying myself with my other hand on his chest, the sensation of my nails digging into him pulling a groan from him.

  His hand moves from my waist to quickly yank at my straps, pulling what little scraps of fabric from my skin and tossing it to the side, forgotten as he pulls me closer to his mouth, lapping at me.

  “Oh, my God,” I groan as his teeth clamp down on one barbell, finding my eyes as he gives the other a light smack. “Yes!” I call out, my walls slowly clenching around his shaft as he returns his grip to my waist and drives into me deeper. “Please don’t stop, Dash.”