“You’re welcome, Skyla. You’re entertaining,” Andy says.
“It’s nice to talk to some females. I miss my girlfriends. I’ve never had very many. I grew up with guys, so I get along better with them.”
“It didn’t look like you were having any trouble winning over my buddies’ girls,” I say.
“I need some girlfriends here. I was supposed to spend my time on this island with my cousin and brother, but my cousin died nine months ago, and then you know about Lee being deployed. That just left little ol’ me.”
In an instant, her demeanor changes. She appears upset and gazes out toward the dance floor.
“Skyla, are you OK?” I ask.
She gives me a faint smile. “I’m sorry. I just miss Bud. I’m not trying to bring you down, so I’ll shut up about it. Let’s talk about something else.”
I hold my breath. She said her cousin died here nine months ago, and his name is Bud. No fucking way! I look over, and Andy’s eyes are wide and locked on mine.
“Skyla, if you need to talk about it, it’s OK. Who was your cousin again?”
“His name is Bud. We were really close. He disappeared one night when he was surfing. He lived on the North Shore, too.”
I swallow hard. Andy coughs and looks like he’s choking before he quickly stands.
“I think we need more beers,” he says.
He wants any reason to get away from this damn table, and if he hadn’t, I would’ve. This could send Chase over the deep end. It could really kill him, and I can’t lose another friend.
“Why haven’t you said anything before now, Skyla?”
“I don’t like to talk about it. Well, I guess until tonight, and it’s probably because I’m drunk.” She puts her arms on the table and rests her head on them.
I’m freaking out! I have no clue what to do with this information. None of us flew to California for the memorial service. We decided to have our own service here, so we could stay close to Chase.
He was a fucking mess. If one of us had gone, then we would’ve met Skyla, and I wouldn’t be having a coronary at the moment. I’ve got to talk to Andy.
“Skyla, your new girlfriends are dancing. Why don’t you go out there and dance some more. It might make you feel better.”
Andy comes back with our beers. “Here, Skyla. I got you another beer.”
She perks up after she takes a couple of drinks.
“You’re right. I don’t want to ruin our night talking about depressing stuff. I’ll go dance.”
As soon as she’s walks away, Andy flips.
“What the hell, Eric? What are we going to do? We can’t tell Chase, but it’s just a matter of time before she mentions Bud in front of him.”
“I know. I can’t believe this is happening. Oh my God, she’s Nixie, and she’s Rock’s baby sister. I’m guessing his real name’s Lee. He’d kill us right now if he knew we got her drunk at a bar. Why in the hell did Bud call him Rock?”
“I believe it had something to do with him throwing rocks at all the kids in the neighborhood. Bud’s hot cousin from California is really here, and he was damn right about the ‘hot’ part.
“Why’d he have to give everyone he knows nicknames? That’s why she doesn’t know who we are. If Bud ever mentioned us, he would’ve only used our nicknames,” Andy says.
I run my hands through my hair. “And if Chase hadn’t made us stop using them, then we wouldn’t be dealing with this shit right now. Bud said she was moving here, but he said it for so long that I didn’t believe him, and after he died, I never thought about it again.
“This is just going to stir up all the shit we’ve been trying to get past. I miss him bad, and knowing who she is makes me feel like he’s here, man.”
“What do we do?” Andy asks with desperation in his voice.
“Look, we can’t tell her or Chase. He’s all she’s talked about tonight. I was hoping to have a shot with her, but she wants to be with him, and I know he likes her. We have to hope they fall in love fast.”
“How is falling in love going to help this?”
I hear his frustration. “If they fall for each other before they make the connection, maybe their relationship can survive it. Chase has been happier since he met her. It’s almost like it’s meant to be. Do you remember how Bud always joked about fixing Chase up with his Nixie? It’s what he wanted.”
Andy looks at me with so much sadness in his eyes, and I want to fucking scream at the top of my lungs for our good friend dying.
“I remember,” he says.
Andy and I start drinking even heavier, trying to numb the pain that’s been brought to the surface. Another hour passes, and I realize there’s no way any of us can drive home.
“I have to call Chase to come get us.”
“No way!” he yells.
“We have to. She’s totally wasted, and neither of us can drive. It’s actually the perfect time to put her near Chase. He’ll take care of her, and it might bring them together.”
Andy runs his hands down his face. “Fine, but you better hope this works.”
Angel of Temptation
Chase
It’s about midnight when my cell rings.
“Cuz, what are you doing?” Eric asks.
“What do you think? I’m going to bed.”
“I need your help. Andy drove Skyla here to Beach Surf in Waikiki. He wasn’t going to drink much, but damn she can put the beer away, so we kept drinking with her. There’s no way any of us can drive home. Could you come get us?”
“Dammit, why’d you take her all the way there?”
“She’s only twenty, and she told me she wanted to go drinking. I couldn’t take her anywhere else.”
“I didn’t know she was that young. Are you trying to get your ass thrown in jail? You better keep her safe.”
The whole time I’m talking to him, I’m getting dressed and finding my keys. “I swear I’ll hurt you bad if anything happens to her.”
“We just got carried away. She’s cool to hang out with, but I might have to kick someone’s ass. The men in here won’t leave her the hell alone.”
“Shit, I’m leaving now.” I can’t drive fast enough. The thought of other men groping her has me pissed off. If something happens to someone else I care about, I’m done.
Since it’s late, and I’m breaking the law, I shave an hour drive down to almost thirty minutes. I haven’t stepped foot into a bar in nine months, so that’s adding to my anxiety.
I see Skyla dancing with Eric when I walk in. He has her pulled right up against his chest, and I see them talking before she kisses his damn cheek. I want to vomit. I’ve already lost her when she should be with me. I tap on his shoulder. “Eric.”
He pulls away from Skyla some, but still holds on to her. Her glazed eyes lock with mine, and she smiles.
“Chase, did you drive all the way here just to dance with me? If so, that is super sweet and not like the asshole you normally are.”
“Real nice. I’m here ten seconds, and I’m already an asshole.”
“Don’t act like one if you don’t want to be called one,” she says, giggling.
“Find Andy and meet me at the car,” I say angrily to Eric as I grab Skyla’s hand. I start walking and quickly realize that Eric had to have been holding her up when they were dancing. She’s practically falling on her face. I grab her and hold her against me until we get to the car.
“I should’ve known you didn’t want to dance with me,” she says, poking me in the chest.
“Please tell me you’re not going to throw up in my vehicle.”
“If you’re nice to me, then I won’t.” Her speech is very slurred, and it’s already hard to decipher between her giggling. I want to be mad at her for endangering herself again, but her giggling is cute, so she’s making it difficult. I help her into the passenger seat and get in the car. She reaches right over and rubs the back of my hair.
“Chase, you have the best hai
r. It’s silky soft. I’ve wanted to touch it since I met you.”
I pull her hand down and hold it between our seats. She jerks it away from me.
“Why don’t you like me?”
“I do like you, but we need to just be friends. Eric likes you, so you should be thrilled about that.”
“I’d be thrilled if you liked me, but you have a sucky way of showing a woman you care.”
“I’m trying not to show you.”
“Well, that’s mean. Why?” Her hand finds its way back into my hair. This is torture.
“You deserve better than a guy like me.”
“I should get to be the judge of that, not you.”
I see Eric and Andy walking to the car, so I pull her hand back down and place it in her lap.
“You’re so mean to me, Chase. I’m trying to get over you.” She’s gazing at me with half open eyes and can barely get her words out.
Keeping her from touching me on our way to Eric’s is a challenge, and I imagine he’s noticing. This situation with the three of us is getting awkward. I park in his driveway and go around to the passenger door to help him with Skyla, but before I can open her door, Eric puts his hand out in front of me.
“Don’t, man.”
“Don’t you want her to stay with you? You can take her home in the morning when you’re sober.”
“She doesn’t want to be with me, Chase. I’m done trying. We’re just going to be friends.”
“I saw you two dancing, and I saw her kiss you.”
“As soon as she had some alcohol in her, I had to hear your name a million times. She kissed my cheek after she told me what a good friend I am.
I’m not getting out of the friend zone, so you need to quit being stupid and date her.”
“We’ve talked about this already.”
“Yeah, and I know you want to, so stop being an ass. Look, I’m worried about her being alone tonight. She might get really sick. Can you take her back to your place without touching her?”
He has a lot of nerve saying that to me when his hands were all over her. “I’ll take her to my place, and don’t worry, I’m not going to doing anything with her. I sure can’t say the thought isn’t there, but I won’t.”
Eric points at me. “Keep your damn hands off of her unless you’re dating her.”
I yank his finger down from the front of my face.
“You’re drunk, Eric. Shut the hell up and get into the house.”
“Alright, alright, I’m going.”
After I see Eric open his front door, we leave. I keep having to remove her hand from my hair. She has my dick hard, and I’m seriously thinking about fucking her in this damn car after I drop Andy off if she doesn’t cut this shit out.
Andy lives close to me, so I drop him off and drive to my house. Skyla’s looking very sleepy when we get there, so I decide it’s easier to pick her up and carry her into the house.
“You’re strong, Chase, and your muscles are impressive.” Her arms are around my neck, and she’s giving me a provocative look.
“Thanks, Skyla.” I can’t take her staring at me like she wants me, so I look away. I carry her upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms, and the second I lay her on it, she grabs my shirt and pulls me down on top of her. I stare down at her wanting to kiss her more than anything, so I quickly stand back up.
“Why did you bring me here if you don’t plan on taking advantage of me? Right now I just really want you to. It’s been way too long since I’ve had sex, and I bet you’re really good at it.”
I swear I want to taste her and touch her.
“Dammit, Skyla, nothing can ever happen between us, so stop saying shit like that.” She looks inviting sprawled out on the bed. I run my hand through my hair. The idea of messing around with her keeps running through my head, but I’m scum if I do something with her right now, especially when I’m sober.
“Why do you have to be such an ass? I like you. I can’t even get you to touch me when I’m throwing myself at you. Can you at least sleep next to me? I promise I won’t take advantage of you.” She giggles before her expression changes. She looks sad now.
“Please, Chase. I’ve lost almost every person who means something to me. I’m lonely.”
God, I could make her feel better, and I hate thinking she’s carrying pain with her. I know how that feels. “I’m going to get you some water. Can you stay awake that long?”
“Yes, I’ll do that.” Her eyes close, and I figure she’ll be out before I ever get back to the room. I go downstairs to fix her a glass of water and carry it back upstairs.
Fuck! She’s lying on the bed in nothing but her bra and panties. I look around and find her dress on the floor. I’ve already seen her in a bikini, but there’s something about seeing her in a silky, black bra and panties that sets me on fire.
I roll her over, so I can get the blankets out from under her. I get her under the covers, strip down to my boxers and get into bed with her.
I’ve never slept next to a woman that I didn’t have sex with first. I shouldn’t do this for both our sakes, but she never threw up, and I’m worried she might in her sleep.
If she’s pissed at me in the morning for sleeping in the bed with her, that’s what I’m telling her. I am actually worried about her. I never thought I’d care about protecting someone this much.
I lie facing her and stroke her hair. She scoots her body up against me, burying her face into my chest. I wrap my arms around her, and for the first time in my life, I want to cuddle. I never want to forget how good she feels.
I don’t know how long I’ll be able to resist you, angel.
Skyla
I wake up to warmth. I’m snuggled up to something, and it feels great. My eyes flash open, and I’m staring at skin, so I jerk back and realize I’m in bed with Chase. Shit, shit, shit!
The events from the night before rush back to me, except I can’t remember coming into this room. I feel exposed, so I lift up the sheet and peek under, finding that I’m only in my bra and panties.
Did I have sex with him? There’s no way. I’d most certainly remember. I’ve fantasized about it enough times to know I wouldn’t forget something like that. As I stare at Chase’s dark skin and his smooth, firm bicep that’s resting outside of the sheet, I wonder why he’s in the guest bed with me.
I quietly get up and walk to the restroom. He’s staring at me when I come out. Play it cool, Skyla. After swiftly walking to the bed, I pick up my dress and pull it over my head.
“Good morning,” he says.
“I don’t know if I’d say that. I feel awful.”
“I bet.”
“I’m sorry you had to come get us. Did you remove my dress?” I sit on the side of the bed and gaze at him.
“I went to get you some water, and when I came back, you’d taken it off and thrown it on the floor.”
“Why did you sleep in bed with me?”
“You asked me to. You didn’t want to be alone, and I was worried you might get sick.”
“This is embarrassing.” I lay my face in my hands as my elbows rest on my legs.
“You were funny. For the most part, you’re a happy drunk.”
“Thanks for picking us up. I haven’t been out with friends in so long, and I haven’t drunk for months, so I got a little crazy.”
“Seems you’re a bad influence on my friends, too. I haven’t seen them that messed up in a long time.”
There’s an awkward silence.
“Um, I need to take a shower. If you want to wait, I’ll run you home after,” he says.
“Sure, thanks.”
He gets out of bed and walks out of the room. I have the best view of the most firm and perfectly shaped ass in boxer briefs.
Will things be different now? He’s friendly this morning, but he’s still not giving much away. I pick up the glass of water on the dresser and go to the kitchen. After pouring a fresh glass, I carry it out to the patio. This hangover sucks.
Taking advantage of the view, I try to decide if I should call the agency to get someone else to clean. I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it. Every time I think he’s a jerk, he does something nice for me. I smell his delicious scent as soon as he comes out the door.
“I’m ready to take you home.”
He’s in a big hurry to get rid of me. “You’re eager to get me out of your house. If I said something mean last night, please forgive me. I’m sure it was the alcohol talking.”
There he goes with the stare and silence. I swear I’m starting to think he suffered a brain injury?
“It’s just better you go home.”
It’s just better. What the hell does that mean? I want to ask, but I’m sure he’d just stare at me.
“I’d rather walk. I’ve waited too long to call the agency, so I’ll be here Tuesday, but then I won’t be back to make you uncomfortable. I’ll be sure there are no more rescues, too.” I’m pissed, and I’m sure he can tell.
“Skyla, you don’t feel well. I don’t want you to walk—”
I leave him talking and hurry to the front door. Great, I’m doing the walk of shame in last night’s dress. I’m also barefoot, carrying my heels. I should’ve at least got sex out of it. What an ass. How many times am I going to let him humiliate me? Furious, I call Eric on my way home.
“Eric, it’s Skyla.”
“Hey, chick. How are you feeling this morning?”
“Like shit, and even more so since I woke up in bed with your jackass friend.”
“Dammit, I told him not to touch you.”
I hold the phone away from my ear as Eric yells curse words.
“Eric, we didn’t have sex. He slept in the bed with me, but he froze up again this morning. Did I do something last night that would’ve upset him?”
“I’m just trying to figure out what possessed Chase Kalani to sleep in the same bed with you. I doubt he’s ever slept in a bed with a girl he hasn’t had sex with.”
“I think he takes pleasure in rejecting me.”
“Sorry, Skyla. I had to call him. I thought Andy was going to be sober to drive you home, but he was just as trashed, so I didn’t know what else to do.”
The Mermaid and her King Page 6