by A. J. Sand
He crashed beside her on the mattress, and when she rolled to her stomach, he stroked her sweat-damp back. “So…he—”
“Eh. Not bad. Not bad,” she joked, flipping her hand back and forth.
“Oh really?” Wes said before he turned her over and climbed on top of her, cradling her face. “You need to hear this, you jerk,” he added with a smile. “You wanted me to promise something earlier…and here’s what I promise. I want to make all your days like sunshi—No?”
She shook her head. “The best barrel ever. One of those you have to go to a secret surf spot to see. In the South Pacific somewhere…”
“Okay…then your days are like that. I promise. I promise when I wake up next to you, I will always give you a kiss just like the one I gave you the night before. And then fuck your brains out.”
“Oooh, I like that! These are wonderful promises.” She giggled but there was insecurity in her features when she stopped laughing. Wes wished he could hold her until she had faith.
“Look, here’s what I know, Lana. We, people—humans—we’re ordinary. We don’t like to admit it, but we are. We all get sick, we all cry, we all hurt, we break down. We break. No matter how beautiful or fast or strong or fit or smart. No matter the person. We’re vulnerable. We’re fallible. We die. We’re. Ordinary. All of us. And yet, by flaw or strength, we still believe in so many impossible things. Extraordinary things. We believe ourselves extraordinary. I don’t really know what it is about the two of us together, Lana, but it feels inevitable that we’re here, and I feel it here. Feel you here.” Wes placed Lana’s hand on his heart. “So, I choose to believe in the extraordinary. I choose to believe in us.”
Chapter 10 Effort
The two of them kept their relationship as much the same as before as they could over the next few weeks. Most nights ended at one of their homes for REFT, he picked her up from work every once in a while, and they went out to clubs and hung with their friends on the weekends. He really loved how much they talked, how intimate their conversations had become, discussing his parents relationship and her conflicting feelings about giving Sadie up for adoption.
But both were also adjusting to just being in a relationship, and it wasn’t a trust thing at all. It was just two people used to being individuals, used to a certain kind of freedom that didn’t require taking another person into consideration in this way, having to change course just slightly: calling each other regularly, responding to missed calls as soon as possible, appreciating each other, not letting absences draw out for too long, and communicating frustrations. And they were both trying and working very hard at it.
What Wes liked the most, though, was the sweet, simple gestures he got to do for her, even though Lana being Lana never requested or required them. And after he returned from a weeklong trip to Brazil, he had a very special one in mind, especially since she had gotten bogged down a few nights while he was gone because she had picked up extra Bar Method classes and clients to cover the losses from regular clients who were on vacation, or those who had finished up for the summer.
While she was at work one night, he and Grayson steered an easel through Wes’ house and upstairs to the balcony. After they set it down, Grayson dashed downstairs to retrieve the bags of art supplies. Then, he made another trip for her canvases and paper. He had been incredibly accommodating since Wes had called him for help in planning this surprise for Lana, as a way to make peace between them.
“Are you sure this is the easel she wants? And all these brushes and pencils and all this stuff?” Wes asked him when Grayson returned for the final time.
“She better, for the money you just spent!” Grayson said, shaking his head.
“Is it too much? I just want her to have a place to do this. And I know she wants to put something together for Sadie.”
“No, I promise you, this is her ultimate wish list. This is sweet. Almost makes me wish you were my boyfriend.”
Wes beamed. “So, is she officially calling me that now to other people?”
“Definitely. To everyone. I’m glad you stuck. I mean that.” Grayson went to shake Wes’ hand but Wes pulled him into a hug.
“You had your doubts, though…” Wes said in a fake disgruntled manner when they pulled apart.
“And I’m glad I was wrong. Rick isn’t though,” Grayson said with a laugh.
“I can’t wait to surprise her and see her! And take my girl out!” Tonight was the International Surfing Association Awards.
“You guys have fun tonight, okay?” As Grayson departed, Wes bumped into Abel on his way to carry some of the supplies into his room. He thought the easel was fine out there, but he didn’t want the paints and brushes to get damaged in the heat.
“Hey, dude,” Abel said when he walked into his room. “All that for her?”
“Yup. And I don’t need a lecture right now either…”
“You weren’t going to get one. You’re focusing on surfing, you seem happy as hell, you and Lana keep it down most nights—”
“Dude…” Wes said as he made a face.
“I really came in here to talk to you about Char. Have you talked to her at all lately?”
Wes shook his head after he thought about it for a moment. “The only time I see her these days is when she updates her Facebook pictures. Is she just living in Orange County now? I’m pretty sure school starts next week for her or something…or maybe it already started?”
“Next time she’s here we should see how she’s doing. I feel like we were so much closer at the beginning of the summer.”
“Yeah, you’re right. We’ll both talk to her. If you see her, grab her and call me, and I’ll do the same.”
“Thanks, bro,” Abel said, squeezing his shoulder.
Wes showered and shaved before he decided on an outfit for the event. Both he and Abel were nominated for Favorite Surfer-Male, and he was nominated for Best Winter Barrel Ride. Light chatter flowed through the walls, and he smiled. Lana was there. Wes pulled a towel around his waist and went downstairs. She squealed and ran for him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her mouth was soon consuming his in hard, ravenous kisses.
“I would say ‘Get a room,’ but in my experience, that usually doesn’t make things better for you two, anyway,” Abel teased before he went upstairs.
“Hi, baby! Damn…were you this sexy before our jobs took over our lives?”
“I’ve always been this sexy,” Wes replied, trailing kisses down her neck. “I missed you.”
“Me, too! How was your trip?”
“Brazil was amazing, but you make home so good. Now get your fine ass upstairs!” Wes said, smacking her on the butt. “Go get ready! Stop out on the balcony while you’re up there.”
He waited while listening to her footsteps move along the floor, and she was screaming a few seconds later before she appeared at the banister, beaming. “You…Oh my God…I…wow. Wes, thank you! Thank you so much!”
“Supplies are in my room.”
“You got supplies, too? How did you even—”
“Grayson and I worked things out,” he explained.
“Thank you! You’re the best.” She blew him a kiss before disappearing into his room.
He called up to Lana an hour later. “Baby? Limo’s outside.” Lana jumped to the second floor landing from his room, and Wes stopped inhaling. She looked stunning. She was wearing a long strapless black dress with a slit revealing nearly the entire length of her thighs. The awards show wasn’t really the most formal event, but Lana was determined to look her most exquisite for their first official surfing outing as a couple. And most of the other surfers’ dates dressed up as well.
“Yup! I just need to take my curlers out! I’ll put my shoes on in the car!” She dropped a hand on her hip and gave him an impatient look when he didn’t move. “Baby? I said I’m coming. And you look so dashing.”
“Oh…right…” Wes shook his thoughts back into place, and he glanced at himself in the mirror near
the entryway. Dashing, huh? Black polo shirt and dark denim. Black Nikes. Lava cap. Elliott uniform.
“I get to talk, right? I’m not just your arm piece?” Lana asked as she descended the staircase barefoot, clutching her platform heels, and her hair was full of waves.
“You can talk on the red carpet, baby…” Wes trailed off when the sound of giggling pulsed out of the kitchen, and he and Lana exchanged puzzled expressions until Charlotte appeared, stumbling into the living room as she and a guy fondled and kissed each other. Not noticing them, the guy pressed her against a wall, raised her dress and stuck his hand in her underwear.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” Wes yelled and the couple tore away from each other, and he shot a malicious glare at the guy, who appeared to be about the same age as him. And it wasn’t a cold night, but he was wearing a hoodie with his jeans.
Charlotte screamed. “Oh! Shit! You guys scared me. I didn’t realize you were still here! Shit, this is awkward. But you guys look nice. Oh my God, Lana, you look so amazing. So pretty! Where’d you get that dress? Hot legs. Your legs are soooo hot.” She giggled but she looked tired and her face was incredibly pale. The man next to her whispered something in her ear. “I’m so embarrassed. I’m sorry, Wes. I just wanted to have a guest over.”
“Okay, you are totally on something right now,” Lana accused.
“I’m not. And that’s so rude…” Charlotte said, straightening her shoulders and sneering at Lana. “How fuckin’ dare you. You don’t know shit about me…”
“Who the hell is this?” Wes said, gesturing at him. He was two seconds away from escorting him out of the house with a shoe to his back.
“This is Keith, and he’s my guest. Didn’t I just say he was my guest? I can’t have people over? What the fuck? Oh my God. If you don’t want us here, especially if Lana is going to be a fucking bitch, we’re just gonna go.”
“Char, come on,” Wes said, but Charlotte grabbed Keith’s arms and led him back through the kitchen, and a few seconds later, he heard the back door slam.
“Do you want to go after her?” Lana asked.
Wes sighed. “Yes, but I doubt she’ll want to talk right now, and I’m sure she expects me come after her, so I bet they hightailed it. I don’t want her in a car with him. You really think she was high? I should call her parents.”
“Yeah, I do. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.”
“Okay, I’ll deal with it when we get back. I don’t want to ruin our night further. I don’t think I can do anything right now, anyway,” Wes said. As they walked out the door, he pressed out a text to her saying he wanted to talk to her, and he was still here if she needed him.
Taking Lana’s hand, they walked out to the limo where Christian and Abel and their dates were waiting, and they were quickly whisked off to a downtown hotel. It was poised to be a very interesting night Wes realized, as every face, familiar and unknown, examined the woman on his arm.
The awards were extremely low-key every year. It was a dinner arrangement where surfers sat at round tables with waiters coming through with drinks. Light cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and interviews preceded the event, and during the pre-show, true to form, Lana was no eye candy. She flitted around the room, socializing on her own as he chatted with the media, but she was at his side when the lights went low for the show.
“When do you go up as a presenter?” she whispered about an hour in. Wes didn’t win Favorite Surfer-Male or Best Barrel this year—he had a Favorite Surfer-Male trophy from three years ago, thank you very much—so he planned to settle into autopilot mode and praise the free drinks until it ended.
“In, like, half an hour. I have to go backstage in fifteen, though, to prepare, and then I have to wait another fifteen to get back to the table. They send us back in waves so that we don’t disturb the show too much. Why?”
Lana moved his hand on her bare knee beneath the tablecloth and immediately stole all his attention. I. Dare. You, she mouthed before drawing the top row of her teeth over her bottom lip. Wes blew out a breath in reaction to the growing swell between his legs. Wow. She’s serious.
“You dare an Elliott brother at your own risk,” he whispered, brushing his palm up her thigh until he reached the apex of the slit in her dress. “You know I never say no to a dare or bet, right?”
Lana leaned in to his ear. “Oh, I’m banking on that. Isn’t this kinda what this dress was made for?”
“How much have you had to drink, babe?”
“I can’t blame this on alcohol, Wesley, but enough…and our table is almost empty…and I’m kinda bored…and super horny.” There was one other person sitting with them, but she was directly on the other side of the empty chairs between them because the other presenters were waiting to return to the table. It really was the perfect opportunity to do something risqué. And all around them, everyone’s eyes were turned to one of the Best Film nominees, and part of the presentation included showing about six minutes of each nominated film in the category periodically throughout the show. Lana had timed it perfectly, and he almost high-fived her. “I. Dare. You,” she said.
Wes peeled back her underwear and let his finger glide over her clit, setting off a transference of warmth from her to him, and most of it landed in his lap. “Damn, you’re so wet, Lan.”
Lana moaned softly but the pads of her fingers were pressing into his forearm. “I’ve been thinking about you doing this for the last hour. The last fucking hour.”
Shit. She had been fantasizing about him touching her in public, and just the thought had turned her on that much. Talk about motivation. Almost involuntarily, the pace of his finger increased. She bucked against his hand just slightly, her nails pressing into his wrist as her thighs vised his hand.
“Ooooh kay, Deuce, you gotta slow it down,” she said in a strained giggle.
“Nope…” he said with a smile. “You’ll have to figure it out on your own.”
“Oh, you’re trouble. And I like it.”
He had to hand it to her, though; her effort to stay quiet was strenuous, and she was gasping for air, but she was trying. No way he’d be able to do that. If the situation were reversed, no one would’ve been able to hear the movie right now. Truthfully, Wes didn’t care if anyone could tell what they were doing. Apparently, neither did Lana.
Her hand suddenly clamped down on his thigh, and Lana steer his fingers herself. Wes looked at her, needing to see her face when she reached the pinnacle of pleasure before she had no choice but to let go. He had watched her come dozens of times, but the stunned look on any woman’s face before the eruption of an orgasm, made Wes feel like a titan.
Every. Single. Time.
When Lana met his eyes, she was biting her lip, eyelids fluttering. Almost there, baby, he thought to himself. He was so turned on he expected to combust any second, and he felt like flames were rising up from the floor. He was throbbing beneath the table and, oh God, that blessed pain, that sweet ache seeking satisfaction, made him squeeze his thighs together for a second.
Lana’s head fell back, she pressed one of her hands over her mouth and she gripped the edge of the chair until her hand blanched. Wes muttered the Lord’s name in vain when she finally fell forward with a shudder just as the applause rose around them when the film snippet ended.
Wes pressed a kiss to her cheek just as he got the signal that he had to go to the back. “Now I gotta go up there with a hard-on, and it’s all your fault.”
“I’ll take full responsibility for it later,” she said with a wink. “Hey, I was thinking...” Lana gripped his arm to keep him seated. “…Remember how you said we should go to Vegas soon?”
“Yeah, we’ll go next weekend,” Wes said as he stood up. “I’m completely free.”
“No! Let’s go tonight! Please? It’s only a three-hour drive. I’ll even do most of it.” She still loved her spontaneous trips, and like he could ever say no to her.
“Okay! Right after the show, all right?” He was really okay with it thou
gh. He had promised her they wouldn’t change, so they still did all the thrilling and crazy things they’d done while still casual.
“Yes! I’m so excited! I’ve had a bag packed in my closet for weeks!”
“Mine is actually in my car,” he said, smiling one last time before he walked away. He was on stage shortly thereafter, presenting the Surfing Legend-Female award with another surfer named Allison Corcoran. As soon as the applause ended following the winner’s speech, the awards girl ushered him and Allison off stage and a show coordinator directed Wes to the back of the event hall. A lot of people were hanging out outside the main hall, including Lana. He could spot his woman anywhere, even in a room full of other very beautiful women. He strode toward her, but slowed his steps when he discovered she was speaking with Brody, who had presented an award two places ahead of him. It looked like a tense conversation, and Lana’s body language, stiff and defensive, struck his protective nature, and Wes walked over quickly. I gotta stop letting this thing between them get to me so much. I hate being jealous, he thought.
“Hey, Elliott, we were just talking about you,” Brody lilted before he took a sip from his drink.
“Oh, yeah?” Wes said as he curled his arm around Lana’s waist.
Lana shook her head. “Brody—”
“Yeah, I was wondering when Lany Lan here planned to fill you in on our late night conversations—”
“Brody, stop!” Lana said, angrily. “Unbelievable! I told you if you wanted us to stay friends, you couldn’t be an asshole to Wes anymore! You apologized to me!”
Wes held his hands up. “Wait. Why the fuck are you calling my girlfriend?” He turned to Lana. “He’s calling you? Why? Since when?”
“Wes, can we—”
“For a while now. Hey, you told me to be nice to her… Maybe all that being nice gave me a change of heart with the mother of my child. Thanks, Deuce,” Brody said in a taunting tone. “Maybe now I want to fuck your girl and make another baby—”