by MJ Carnal
“Need help carrying anything?” Damien puts his arm over my shoulders and the skank team eyes me.
“Sure,” I kiss him on the cheek and they start whispering. I hand D’Rey two drinks and he turns to leave.
“So you know Chance?” Bimbo Barbie is suddenly my best friend. “Can you introduce me?”
I huff. I can’t help it. “He’s a grown up. I assume you are too. If you want to meet him, just go talk to him.”
She twirls her hair. “But he’s in the water.”
Even her friend rolls her eyes. “I guarantee he’ll come in sometime.”
I walk away and catch up with Damien. “Lord help us all. Blond Ambition back there wants a Chance intro. She would introduce herself but he’s in the water.”
Damien laughs. “Did you tell them to back the fuck off?”
“Of course not.” I take a seat on the beach blanket and slide my sunglasses back on.
“Why the hell not?” Damien is staring at me.
“Because he can do what he wants.” I lie back and untie the bikini straps at my neck. I want to get bronzed and wear a sexy strapless dress tonight. My assignment is almost over and I’m going to live it up. My eyes are heavy as the sun soaks into my skin.
“And the wolves have descended.”
When I hear Damien’s voice, I lean up on my elbows and watch blondie walk toward the water. Chance and Harley are standing with their boards, wetsuits at their waists, laughing. A tinge of jealousy runs through me. The muscles in his back are so defined. I’ve seen him with his shirt off before and it never affected me. But standing there in a wetsuit, water dripping from his hair, face kissed by the sun, he’s a whole different person. His beauty is unmatched. I want to reach out and touch every inch of him.
I watch as Blondie shakes his hand. She twirls her hair and giggles. They’re too far away for me to hear anything. Chance points out at the ocean and blondie touches his arm when she laughs. He says something to Harley and they’re all laughing. Harley pulls his board from the sand and starts to walk toward us. Chance stays behind. Blondie pokes out her boobs a little further but he doesn’t seem phased. He’s so animated when he talks and he flirts without even knowing it. He’s got her eating out of the palm of his hand.
I’m drowning in a sea of anxiety. My stomach is in knots and I feel like I’ve swallowed a brick. It’s a feeling I’ve never had before. “Oh my God. I think I’m jealous.”
Damien belly laughs and Joshua follows. I feel like I’m the last one to know how I actually feel about him. If he leaves with Busty Barb, I’m going to be a wreck. This can’t be happening. I stare at him and wonder if I should walk down there. But what if he rejects me in front of her? I think I’m going to throw up.
Chance bends over to pick something up, then shakes her hand again and tucks the board under his arm. He jogs toward us and I lie back down. My breath whooshes from my chest and I feel my stomach relaxing.
“Good boy, Lennon.” Rachel winks at me.
He anchors his board in the sand and walks to the blanket. He stands above me as he jokes with Harley about one of the waves. Cold water drips from his suit and lands on my bare skin. When he realizes it, he doesn’t move. He just smiles down at me, those green eyes burning right through me.
“How’d you sleep, Princess?” He squats down to get closer. “I didn’t. I’ve gotten used to your snoring.”
“Like a rock. No one was hogging the covers.” I reach out and run my hand over his foot. Even his feet are sexy.
“Speaking of, I got you something.” He holds up a pebble.
I run my finger over the smooth rock in his hand. I don’t understand why he keeps giving me rocks but I find it kind of charming. He doesn’t do it for anyone else. I look up at him and smile. I take it and hold it in my hand as I lie back down.
“Seymour, you want a surf lesson?” Chance’s voice is so loud and I laugh as Harley cringes. “Take off the shirt and enjoy the sun a little.”
Joshua looks up from his book. “Pass.”
“You give him so much hell,” I whisper in his direction. I know he does it as a sign of affection and Joshua takes it all in stride.
“He’s so quiet. I want him to know he’s a part of the family.” He shrugs and stares at me. “You are too. You’re stuck with us now. We have a way of picking up strays and they never leave.”
“That’s what happened with me.” Rachel kisses Max on the cheek. “I was hired to help these guys. I showed up one day and never really went home again.”
“Thank God for that.” Max pulls her into his lap. Their love is inspiring. I love watching them together. They love each other more than anyone I’ve ever met.
Damien and Mia are married. Harley and Laney are engaged. And Max tells me that he and Rachel are perfect just the way they are. Even though I know he’d marry her tomorrow if that’s what she wanted. Joshua is the mystery to me. His life is spent with these men but I don’t know anything about his personal life. As a reporter, I feel like I’ve failed not uncovering even a glimpse of the real Joshua Seymour. I’ll make my last article about him. He’s the leader of this group. He deserves a little of the spotlight.
“Hey Joshua,” He looks up at me when I call his name. “Can I interview you for my last piece?”
“I was hoping you’d do a look back on your time with us. That will be far more entertaining than an article about me.” He looks back at his book.
“I second that!” Chance and Harley say in unison and we all laugh.
Chapter 19
She’s killing me. Her barely there, yellow bikini is my adversary. The fabric leaves little to the imagination. Her tan body radiates heat and it’s making me come unhinged. If she were anyone else, she’d be under me in my hotel room right now. Damn my luck.
“Your shoulders are getting pink,” I whisper in her ear and she shivers. “And you’re killing me.”
She rolls over onto her stomach and moves her hair. “Can you put some sunscreen on my back?”
I groan and move closer. “Blue balls for the win.”
I pour the lotion into my hands to warm it up first. When I touch her shoulders, she moans. She’s trying to finish me off but I’ll die a happy man. Her skin is so soft and I want to touch so much more than her back. She reaches back and unties the top and I freeze. What the hell is wrong with me? I have turned into a total coward.
Harley is watching me and when I look at him, he laughs at me. I’m so fucked. I really care about this woman. How the hell did this happen? The rest of the guys are really happy being attached. But attachment scares the shit out of me. I will either feel tied down or I’ll be preparing for her to leave me. People don’t stay. Even with all the security I feel being a part of this band, I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Once all the sunscreen is rubbed in, I lie back down next to her. I’m closer this time, maybe too close. But I need her. I need this. She opens her eyes and smiles at me.
“Thanks,” she whispers. Her voice is sleepy and I want to pull her into me and just watch her sleep.
“Any time you want me to touch you, I’m here.” I wink at her. “Lotion or not.”
“Are you offering me a spot in your rotation?” She grins at me. Her smile is my undoing.
“Rotation went out the window a while ago. I’m looking for a closer.” Even the words surprise me and my stomach jumps with apprehension.
Even behind her sunglasses, I can see her eyes widen. Anytime I can say something and she’s speechless, I’m pretty proud of myself. But even I’m a little speechless right now. I don’t know if I will ever be ready for anything serious. I don’t know if I believe in a forever with someone. I’m not even sure I believe there is a such thing as love. All I know is that what I’m feeling right now is unlike anything I have ever felt. I want to be near her. I want to touch her. I want to kiss her. I want to protect her.
Our faces are so close to each other. “Can I kiss you?”
&
nbsp; “Everyone is here,” she whispers. “They’ll see us.”
I push up onto my forearms. “Do you care?”
“I really don’t,” she giggles.
I lean in and softly touch my lips to hers. Every time our lips touch, it’s like life falls into place. I drag my lips across hers, slowly and gently. She whimpers against my mouth. I’ve never been satisfied with just a kiss but hers are game changers. Every kiss is a defining moment of what could be.
When I pull away and lie back down, she leans in just a little closer. We stare at each other. This is that pivotal moment that the guys have told me about. The one I never thought I’d have. The one I never knew I wanted.
“Kitty Kat, you make my stomach feel nervous.” I echo the words I said on our last night together, twenty years ago.
“You make mine feel funny, too.”
I put my arm around her and kiss the top of her head. I can feel everyone staring at me without even looking up. I take a deep breath and lift my middle finger. They all break out in hysterical laughter and I have to join in. I’ve just had the most powerful moment of my life in front of everyone I love. Somehow, it seems fitting. That kiss changed everything.
I take her hand in mine as we walk out of the restaurant. I hardly ate. I couldn’t stop staring at her. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail and I was memorized by her neck. Her bare shoulders begged me to touch them. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and run back to my room.
Joshua had reserved the back room of a Hawaiian Fusion restaurant. She sat across from me and talked to Rachel for most of the meal. Every so often, her eyes would turn to me and she’d smile. This woman has destroyed me; first by hating me and then by loving me. Even if she doesn’t believe in love, something is happening here.
“Want to take a walk on the beach?” She looks up at me with those gorgeous, chocolate eyes. “I’m not ready to head back quite yet.”
“Yes.” It’s all I can manage to say. My head is all over the place. When she bends over to unbuckle her shoes, I almost lose it. I should have had a drink. I’m a bundle of nerves.
She trips and falls into me. My arm goes around her like it’s second nature. She giggles and apologizes. I can’t stand it another minute. I put my hands on her cheeks and lean in to kiss her. She meets me halfway. The kiss is aggressive. I want her to know I own her. I want her to know she owns me. My tongue fights for dominance and she submits to it. She moans and I grab her ponytail, tugging her head back for a deeper connection. Her breathing becomes erratic and mine follows suit.
She wraps her arms around my waist and pulls me to her. She rubs against me. Her body is hungry. Mine is starving. The only thing I need to survive is getting lost inside her.
“Kat,” I groan against her neck. She smells like a mixture of coconut and honey. I lick from her ear to her shoulder. She shivers. “I want you so fucking bad.”
“You can have me.” Her hands tangle in my hair. “I need you.”
I pull her hand and start running down the beach. Her laugh makes me run even faster. She said yes. I’m not waiting another second. I’m not giving her a chance to change her mind.
“Stop,” she’s breathless. “Look.”
She points to a secluded part of the beach. It’s dark, lit only by the moonlight. She pulls me over to a hammock and looks up at me, biting her lip. I can tell she’s nervous. Fuck that. I’ll make her forget all about that.
I practically push her into the hammock and she giggles. I pull her so she’s sitting at the edge and drop to my knees. The damp sand soaks into my white, linen pants but I don’t care. I run my hands up her calves, up her thighs, stopping right before I touch exactly where I want to be. I want to make sure she’s ok with this. I can’t push her and I don’t want to move too fast.
“Touch me,” her eyes are dilated as she moves my hand closer.
I run my finger along the edge of her panties. I’m not sure how I’ll survive this. I need her more than I need to breathe. “I want to take my time but I don’t think I can.”
She leans forward and grabs my face. “Stop talking.”
I laugh and she groans. “Hold on then, babe.”
I grab the edge of her panties and pull them off in one tug. I dip my head under the edge of her dress. One lick and she throws her head back. She’s waited for this as long as I have. My tongue circles her clit. Her breathing quickens. I flick my tongue back and forth across the hardened nub and she moans. My fingers roam her legs, exploring every inch. My tongue is relentless and she begins to shake.
She grabs my head, coaxing my speed. I take my cues from her. My fingers run through the wetness before slipping inside her. They rub gently against that sensitive spot I’d be willing to bet not many men have found. Her back bows off the hammock.
She’s gorgeous and now, she’s mine.
Chapter 20
Chance has his face buried under my dress. It’s the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen. Just the sight alone could send me over the edge. The hammock moves, adding to the intensity of his tongue. His hands rub up and down my legs and it’s a slow torture.
When his fingers dip inside me, I almost come. He strokes my G Spot and the heat starts building. The friction is so intense and I can’t catch my breath.
“Chance,” I pull him harder against me. The need to come is overwhelming. No one has gotten me this close this fast.
His fingers pick up speed and he bites my clit. There’s no warning. I come hard. I scream and thrash against the hammock and he holds me in place with his strong hands. I’m soaked and ready to go again.
Chance looks up at me, his face glistening and his emerald eyes all innocent like nothing happened. He’s everything. I laugh, all my nervous energy gone. If this goes anywhere, it will be an adventure with him.
“Come here,” I scoot over on the hammock. When he stands up, I admire his white pants for the hundredth time tonight. They’re the sexiest thing I have ever seen. “You need to wear those pants every day.”
“I’d like to not be wearing these pants right now.” He unties the waist and I bite my lip. He looks around, then back at me. “Want to go to my room instead?”
“There’s no time. Get down here.” I smile as he tries to balance and crawl on top of me. This is actually happening.
His lips nip at mine. He’s so playful. It’s not at all what I expected from him. I imagined fast and powerful, full of lust, dominant and impersonal. This Chance is loving, fun and emotional. He pulls a condom from his pocket and holds it up to me.
“Wow, we were pretty confident this was going to happen, weren’t we?” I take the condom from him and rip the top of the package open.
“Look at me, Princess. Do you think you could actually say no to all this?” He waves his hand down his body and smirks at me. “Besides, I’m no fool. If you ever gave me the chance, I needed to be prepared.”
I run my hand down his abs and feel them jump at my touch. I slip my fingers past the waistband of these sexier than sin pants. The tip of his cock is dripping. I lower his pants down just a few inches. He’s a god. That deep V makes me want to lick down each side and explore every inch of him with my mouth.
I grip him and his hand comes around mine, setting the pace as I stroke him. Watching his eyes hood is such a turn on. I become wetter knowing what’s to come. He takes the condom from me and covers himself.
The hammock shifts and he grips it and laughs. “This is going to be fucking impossible.”
I can’t help but giggle. “This is going to be fucking amazing. Stop stalling.”
He growls as he pushes inside me. In an instant, it goes from fun and playful to intense and serious. His body moves with dominance and agility. Each stroke hits me in just the right spot. His eyes are locked on mine. I feel overcome with emotion. I’ve waited for this moment for so long and now that it’s happening, it’s so much more than I could have imagined.
“You’re so beautiful.” He puts his forehead on mine,
his breathing rapid and his body driving mine to the point of no return.
“So are you,” I pant.
He shifts his body so his strokes are deeper. My toes curl. He fills me completely and it’s the most amazing feeling in the world. I claw at his shoulders as my orgasm starts building.
“You like that,” he smirks down at me. “Oh, you really like that.”
I want to scream. The pleasure is so intense. Just as I think I’m going to come, the pressure builds even more. I can hear myself getting wetter and wetter. The sound is such a turn on. Our bodies slap together in perfect rhythm. It’s never been like this with anyone.
He presses his thumb against my clit as he continues his unceasing pursuit of my pleasure. I shatter. I hold onto the hammock like it’s a lifeline. My eyes roll back and my back arches. His arms go around me and he holds me close, still worshipping my body as my orgasm spasms around him. I can feel the warmth of my climax drip from my body.
“Oh, baby.” Chance groans against my ear. “This feels so good.”
I lean back and lock eyes with him. “I want you to come. I want to watch your face when you lose yourself.”
I move my hips faster and his forehead wrinkles in concentration. He’s trying to hold on but I want to feel him explode. I squeeze him and tighten my ankles at his back.
“Oh, fuck,” He closes his eyes as his orgasm is ripped from his body. His eyes darken and his jaw tightens. The look of ecstasy on his face is better than anything I could have ever imagined. His body spasms, emptying every last bit of pleasure.
He kisses me. It’s passionate and needy. His tongue is greedy and it makes me want to run back to the room and do this all over again.
He runs his fingers over my face and takes a deep breath. “I could get used to that.”
“I was thinking maybe we could go back to your room.”
“Whatever for, Princess?” He smiles a genuine smile and I melt.
“We could just sleep if you want to,” I tease.
“We are never just sleeping again. Now that I know how incredible this is, I’m never letting you rest. And that starts in about twenty minutes.”