Chapter 21
The winds blowing in from the ocean were light, kicking up spilling waves perfect for teaching a newbie to surf. Gray, dismal skies made idyllic surfing conditions for a vampire, keeping the day from getting sinfully hot. They wouldn’t turn to ash in full sunlight as depicted in fictional books and movies, but their skin would easily sunburn. Most SPFs were useless to them, which meant staying out of direct sunlight. Grayson normally waited until after the supper hour to surf. Today, however, he made an exception so he could give Tamera lessons. The overcast day had provided him the perfect opportunity to play the day away in the ocean, and forget things like his need to call Anton.
His mind weighed heavy, had since the wee hours of the morning as Tamera snuggled against his side. Her red hair had fanned his chest like a silky cape, partially covering his Sons tattoo. She certainly had enjoyed his tats—he smiled—had followed each line and angle with her tongue. Just the thought of her mouth doing wicked things to him had him biting back a groan and nearly forgoing the lesson.
However, Grayson wanted Anton’s blessing before he invested too much more of himself. He knew now he had given Tamera to Anton in haste, allowing his ego to get the best of him, never realizing how he might later regret his actions. Tamera belonged to his MC brother until Vlad said otherwise, which made every moment spent with her another sin cast upon himself. Grayson had made his decision, even if Anton had yet to act on his right to take her.
It wasn’t as simple as withdrawing his choice.
He could go to Vlad, present the facts and petition the ancient primordial to return Tamera as his mate. However, Grayson needed Anton’s blessing to do so. There had to be a valid reason Anton had yet to take advantage of his mate status. Over the past nine months, Anton had made his feelings for Tamera perfectly clear. So why hadn’t he slept with her when it was his mate-given right?
“I’m ready.” Tamera exited the back door of the beach house, catching his attention and jerking his thoughts back to the moment.
Merda! The breath sucked from his chest. Her curves were killer in the tiny slips of blue and white striped material, which were supposed be a bikini. More like a ribbon. He had to resist the urge to grab a beach towel and throw it across her shoulders, and probably would have if they hadn’t had the beach to themselves. Ryder had yet to awaken. The man slept like the dead.
Grayson wet his lips and whistled. “You look stunning.”
“Thank you.” Tamera’s cheeks reddened. “I didn’t bring a suit with me. I found this in the bedroom closet, tags still attached. It’s about a size too small. Not sure who it belongs to, but I can buy them a new one.”
“You’ll get no complaints from me on the fit, though good luck keeping it on out there.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the Pacific. “You don’t have to replace it. Scott keeps a few suits around in case he gets visitors who might need one. He entertains often, being quite the lady killer. His clothing sponsor gives them to him.”
“He surfs professionally?”
Grayson nodded. “He’s pretty good. Has his own line of surf wear.”
“Can I meet him someday?”
“I’d be happy to introduce you. Scott would love you.” Grayson brushed a knuckle across her downy soft cheek. “But I’ll warn you, he has a penchant for redheads. Looks like I might be developing one as well.”
Her smile touched a spot in his chest he never thought to give to anyone. Don’t get too attached. She doesn’t belong to you. Who the hell was he fooling? Too fucking late. He needed to get a hold of Anton. Tonight. Following her lessons.
Grayson stepped back, putting some much needed distance between them. His vampire DNA called for him to throw her over his shoulder and head back for the house. He sure in the hell wouldn’t balk about spending the day in bed with her. Instead of acting on instinct, he walked over to a bright, coral painted shed and opened the door. Grabbing a Neoprene, front zip wetsuit vest from a hook just inside the door, he handed it to her. No way in hell was he letting her surf in the itty bitty scrap of material she had scavenged from one of the upstairs closets.
“Try this.”
Tamera took the side-striped wetsuit from him, slipped her arms in and zipped up the front. She managed to get the zipper to just below her breasts. His heated gaze landed on the soft flesh spilling above the zipper line. Damn, he’d never survive this lesson. The material fit the rest of her curves like a glove, ending just above the string bikini bottoms.
She looked fucking hot.
“It fits,” Tamera said, turning on her bare heel as she gave him a three-sixty view. “Well, almost.” Her hand indicated her spilling cleavage.
His nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath, scenting her blood. He was definitely going to enjoy this, no doubt about it. “I say it’s perfect.”
Securing a seven-foot, powder blue funboard with white flowers from the shed, he motioned for her to follow him down the beach. Stopping by the water’s edge, he laid the board at their feet and knelt down to thread the ankle leash through the leash plug at the tail of the board.
“What’s that for?” Tamera asked as she stood above him.
“To keep the board from washing away when you wipe out.”
He strapped the band on the opposite end of the leash around her ankle so it faced the outside, before standing up.
“No faith?”
Grayson chuckled, gripping her waist in both hands and pulling her against him. She rested her arms over his shoulders and smiled, clearly enjoying the day. He couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed a woman’s company when he wasn’t getting into her pants.
“You’ll fall more than you’ll stand on the board, il mio dolce rossa. It’s not as easy as it looks.” Grayson kissed her forehead, then stepped back. “Watch.”
He lay face-first on the tail of the board. “Grip the board up high and pull yourself to the middle. Like this,” he said as he demonstrated. “You’ll paddle out to sea, staying away from the rip.”
“The rip?”
“The tide that heads out to the ocean. It’s stronger than you can swim. Vampire or no, you don’t want to get caught in that unless you’re a more experienced surfer. I’ll show you how to avoid it. If you get caught in it, swim to the left or right, not toward the beach. I’ll be right beside you should you get into trouble out there.”
“You’re taking a board out? We won’t be on the same board?”
He chuckled. “No. We’ll each have a board.”
“Somehow the idea of having our own board doesn’t seem quite as enticing.”
She was incorrigible.
“Change your mind?”
Tamera shook her head. “I want to learn.”
“All right then. Standing up on the board.” Grayson raised his shoulders off the board and locked out his arms, arching his back. “Raise your upper body, followed by your backside to toes on the tail. Slide your front foot to the center of the board, faced slightly forward. Your back foot should be perpendicular to the board.”
Grayson stood in a stance on the board, knees slightly bent so his center of gravity was lower. “Arms out, one to the front of the board, one to the back. Feet shoulder width apart. If you don’t have a good stance, you’re not staying on the board. As you improve, you will be able to pop up to your feet, instead of sliding them into position. Think you can give it a try?”
She nodded, a large smile pasted on her lips, looking ready to conquer the waves. Grayson stepped off the board. His hand out, palm up, indicated her turn. Tamera walked to the end of the board and laid down, her chest at the back of the funboard. She raised her arms, gripped the board in front of her and slid herself onto the board.
“Perfect,” he said as he watched her mimic his instructions and stand on the board.
“I got this,” she all but squealed.
Grayson laughed. “You do, il mio dolce rossa. You do look great standing there, but it isn’t going to be
as easy once we put the board into the ocean.”
He jogged back to the beach shed and returned with his orange and blue board. He laid it beside hers on the sand and strapped a leash about his ankle. Showing her how to carry her board, he led her into the ocean. The cold water tickled his calves as he waded out far enough to lay his surfboard on the water, holding it by the tail as he showed Tamera earlier.
Once she laid her board beside his, he said, “Stay beside me and I’ll keep you from the rip.”
Grayson lay his chest on the board and pulled himself on top, then watched as Tamera did the same, though not as graceful as she had been on solid ground. To her credit, she stayed on the board. The gently rolling waves rocked them from side to side.
“Ready?” Grayson asked.
She nodded, her smile apprehensive, not quite as cocky when she had been on the beach. Not wanting her to lose her nerve, he began paddling toward the horizon. Tamera followed suit, keeping herself close to his board, but not so close they’d collide. Good girl.
Grayson headed west for a few hundred feet, not allowing them to get too far out. Turning his board, he motioned for her to do the same. A couple of larger waves rocked them, nearly upsetting Tamera from her board. He waited for her to get settled again before he raised his shoulders from the surfboard, waiting for her to mimic his actions. As he rose to his toes, slowly sliding his lead foot forward, he watched as she attempted the same, only to tip her board and flip into the ocean. Grayson returned to a prone position and waited for her to surface. Tamera popped up, laughing and sputtering water as she did. Finding her board, she gripped the tail and pulled herself back onto it.
Her red hair plastered to her head and back. Grayson was positive he’d never seen a more beautiful sight. Her green eyes sparkled with merriment. Clearly she was enjoying herself. He could easily get used to her by his side on a surfboard, not to mention hugging him from behind while riding down the highway on his Sportster. Maybe it was time to get a bigger ride.
Grayson raised a brow. “Not as easy as it looks?”
“You just wait.” Tamera brushed the wet strands of hair from her forehead. “I’ll get it.”
“I have no doubt.” He chuckled. “Try it again.”
Tamera did as instructed, this time actually getting to her feet, butt stuck out behind her, head too far forward. Within seconds she rocked wildly, then fell headfirst back into the salt water. She quickly broke the surface. Grabbing the leash tethered to her ankle, she pulled the funboard back.
All the while, Grayson watched from his board. “Would you like help?”
“I got this,” she said, then hauled herself back up.
“Want to know what you’re doing wrong?”
Tamera wiped the water from her face and smiled. Even though she spent more time in the water than out so far, her spirit seemed alive and full of fun.
“Your head needs to be in the center. If you lean forward as you did, the board will tip. Arms out over the board, head center, knees bent. Try it again.”
Sliding her feet into position, she followed Grayson’s directions. A small wave washed beneath her board and she rode it like a boss.
“You got it,” Grayson said, though he supposed he shouldn’t have spoken up and caught her attention. The action landed her back into the ocean again.
Several good attempts and about an hour later, Grayson and Tamera sat on the beach, side by side, watching the waves spill onto the sand by their toes. He couldn’t have asked for a better day, one he wouldn’t mind repeating often. In the end, Tamera had caught on quite well, and had even conquered a few bigger waves, all the while with a smile upon her lush, full lips. Grayson liked this easy side of her, one he hadn’t seen before. He supposed, to be fair, he had never given her the opportunity to relax around him … until today.
Grayson wished he didn’t have to end the day on a sour note, but he needed to bring up the elephant in the room, or on the beach in their case.
Anton.
The time had long passed for him to have a conversation with the blond vamp. He hoped they could still be friends when all things were said and done. Allowing her to stay Anton’s mate was no longer an option. Surely, knowing Anton hadn’t so much as touched Tamera the way a mate might, Vlad would return her to Grayson. At least he hoped so. The alternative of the elder vampire taking her head was not an option.
Tamera picked up her phone and hit the home button. After looking into the glowing screen, she placed it back on the towel beside her and stared into the distance.
“Miss a call,” Grayson asked.
“I’m worried.”
“About?”
Her green eyes took in his gaze. “Promise you won’t get mad.”
Grayson rubbed his bearded chin. “How can I promise if I have no idea what I might get mad about?”
“I’m worried about Blondy.”
“How so?”
Tamera looked at the beach towel she sat on, absently picking at the terrycloth. “I tried calling him before I came outside … earlier … before the lessons. He didn’t answer his phone. It’s not like him. I haven’t heard from him since yesterday when I found his bike gone. He never said good-bye. I don’t even know if he came home last night. But if he did and found me missing, I wanted him to know I was okay.”
“I was just about to call him myself.” Grayson drew in a deep breath. “Probably shouldn’t put this off.”
“Put off what?” Tamera’s concern for Anton was evident.
The center of his chest ached. He had no right to be jealous. Not after all he had taken from Anton without his permission. Grayson was such a shit. If Anton wanted to keep Tamera as his mate, he had no choice but to let her go.
How the hell had he messed everything up so badly?
Because you’re an ass. And he was. Had he just been patient, given her time to come to him again, rather than allowing his ego to get in the way, she’d still be his.
“I need to see for myself Blondy’s all right.”
“If you get a hold of him, you’ll let me know?”
“Of course.” Grayson bit back the green-eyed monster trying to worm its way into him. Of course, Tamera would be concerned about Anton. Even before she had become his mate, they had been friends. He stood and brushed off his boardshorts. “I’ll fetch my phone. If I get a hold of him, I’ll tell him to call you.”
Tamera jumped to her feet. She laid her hand on his forearm. “What will you tell him? About us?”
Grayson stepped back from her touch, rubbing his nape. “Nothing.”
He didn’t miss the look of disappointment crossing her face as her lips turned down. He hated lying to her. He had every intention of talking to Anton about Tamera. He prayed their friendship would survive his betrayal. Had the tables been turned, though, he couldn’t say he’d ever forgive Anton.
Not waiting for a response from her, he turned and headed for the back of the beach house. His shoulders slumped under the weight of the boulder laying there.
* * *
“What the fuck do you want, Gypsy?”
“That’s no way to greet a friend.”
There was a slight pause. “Are you?”
Ouch! That hurt. He supposed it was no less than he deserved. The censure he heard in Anton’s voice cut straight to his heart.
“I’m hoping we’re still friends. Where the hell are you, anyway? Tamera says she hasn’t seen or heard from you in a couple of days.” Grayson walked to the window, used a finger to push aside the drape and saw Tamera still sitting on the beach towel, gazing out at the ocean. “She’s worried about you, man.”
“Apparently you would know this because she’s with you.”
There was no point in lying. “She is.”
“She’s still my mate, Gypsy.”
Grayson blew out his breath.
“You got something you’re wanting to tell me … friend,” he added, heavy sarcasm on the final word.
Jesus! This
wasn’t going as Grayson hoped. “Why would you think that?”
“Because of your sigh, ass. We haven’t been friends so many years without me knowing when something weighs heavy on your mind. I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“Probably not.”
“You fuck her?” Grayson’s silence was all Anton needed for confirmation. “You son of a bitch. Even though I wanted to, I never fucked her.”
“Why? She’s your mate. You had every right to.”
Anton’s answering chuckle was filled with disbelief. “Because I wasn’t about to stick my dick in her while your name was so easily on her lips.”
His throat clogged with self-hate filling him. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Save it.”
“Look, I’m trying to apologize. I had no right.”
“No, you didn’t. She’s my mate. You gave her to me. Fucking another’s mate is forbidden, and yet you crossed that line anyway.”
Even though Grayson had given her to Anton, made his choice, apparently Tamera had made one of her own. She had sought out Grayson. Not the other way around. Granted, he should’ve had more willpower, resisted the temptation. Instead as Adam had to Eve, he had caved, not only once, but several times.
Grayson ran a hand through his hair. “Then tell the club P. I deserve nothing less.”
“You know what? Fuck you, Gypsy. And fuck Tamera. You two deserve each other. You have my blessing. Now leave me the fuck alone. Tell her to lose my number.”
“You can’t mean that. She’ll be crushed.”
Grayson heard Anton clear his throat. More silence followed. “She didn’t seem to care while she was fucking you.”
“We need to meet. The three of us. Talk this out.”
“Fuck you, Gypsy. You think I care what’s troubling the two of you?”
“Not fair.”
Anton chuckled cruelly again. “Don’t care. You want my blessing? You got it. I’ll make sure Vlad knows I don’t want her as my mate. Go petition him. Take her as your own.”
“Not how I wanted this to go, dude. We’re friends, Blondy. Have been since I can’t remember.”
Gypsy: Sons of Sangue Page 23