by Claire Adams
The tank tops she wore left a little of her creamy white midriff showing, but with any luck at all, she would strip down to her bikini once we reached the water. I wanted to lay on the sand and get more acquainted with the view that was sure to steal my thoughts for weeks to come.
"Black's Beach is one of the nude beaches around here. It's relatively new, but I think they're just trying to keep up with San Diego, which has the same thing." I shrugged and stopped to pull off my sandals. "A new club is opening Thursday night. That's the only thing I know of."
"Maybe that's it then. We'd love for you to come with us if you're up for it?" She gave me an innocent look that melted my resolve.
"I should be able to. I just have to take the week day by day thanks to my schedule shifting." I paused by a small open patch of sand and reached for her towel. "Leave your stuff here, and I'll get everything set up. You guys go enjoy the surf."
"I like him more already." Casey pulled off her top and worked herself out of her shorts.
I turned my attention toward the water, not wanting either of them to feel uncomfortable undressing in front of me. I might have nefarious thoughts about my newest obsession, but that didn't mean she needed to be made aware of it.
Vivian turned her back to me and pulled off her tank top before wiggling out of her shorts quickly, shivering and jogging toward the water.
"You like her?" Casey's question surprised me.
"Yeah. A bit more than I want to talk about actually." I shrugged and tugged my shirt off. Her friend gave me a quick once-over and nodded approvingly.
"She's a good person who's had her heart stomped on too many times. Don't push anything unless you want everything. Got it?" Casey's sweet expression turned hard, and I almost fell in love a little with the girl simply for being ballsy enough to protect Viv. She was a good friend to have.
"I understand." I pointed to Vivian. "She's waving for us to join her. I'll beat you out there?"
"Not happening mister. I might look small, but I pack a punch." Casey turned and took off for the water, hurdling over several people who were laid out sunbathing.
I apologized casually to them as I jogged around the maze of bodies and stopped at the water’s edge, putting my hands on my hips.
Casey was laughing loudly as she pointed at me. "I totally beat you! See? Told you that I was fast."
I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, you better be. You have ten girls back there with sand in their faces from you doing the high jump over their heads. Looks like I'm going to have to pull out my self-defense moves from the alley the other night to fight them back for you."
"Yeah, Viv told me about that. I'm glad you were there, but don't do that shit again. She's my only friend, and if something happens to her, I'll come looking for you." Casey gave me a cocky smirk.
"I do feel properly threatened. Can we have some fun now?" I lifted my hands playfully in the air and turned my gaze back to Vivian.
She chuckled and looked around us, but not before her eyes moved down my chest and rested on the front of my shorts.
I bent my knees to catch her gaze and pointed to my eyes with two of my fingers. "I'm up here, pretty girl. He'll talk to you if you want him to, but I'd rather that be behind closed doors."
Her cheeks turned pink as she swatted at me. "Stop it. I was just wondering if you stuff your pants with a sock."
"Has to be a tube sock, right?" Casey put her hands on her hips, the smirk tugging at her lips almost comical. "We should definitely find out."
"I think you should find out, too." I moved out into the water and grabbed Vivian's narrow wrist, pulling her with me. "Come get in the water with me, and I'll let you pet my eel if you promise to be gentle."
"Oh my God. You did not just..." she glanced back as Casey moved up behind us. "He did not.”
"He did. Wicked hot. I wanna pet it." Casey clapped her hands and laughed before wading out into the deeper part of the water with us. I stopped as it covered the top of my trunks and turned to face Viv as Casey moved past us. "I want the results on my desk by ten in the morning!"
"Stop it," Vivian grumbled at her friend before turning a hard stare onto me. There was no way she was bending beneath our combined pressure. She was too much woman for that.
"All yours, Viv. Come test out the theory." I lifted my hands to the side as if inviting her to do what she wanted to me. "Just don't get upset when I say that I told you so."
"There is no way in hell I'm sticking my hand down your shorts." She moved up to almost press her chest to mine. "You're just pulling my chain. If I reached for your cock, you would jerk back and run like a girl to the shoreline."
My breath caught in my chest as I lowered my arms, wrapping them around her instead. "Never. I'd groan a little and maybe moan a lot, but that would depend on your skill set."
"It's not happening, handsome." Her eyes moved around my face as her breathing got a little off kilter.
"But you want to. I can see it written all over your face." I chuckled low in my chest, enjoying the expression on her face far more than I should have. She was mortified that I'd called her out.
"I want to!" Casey yelled from just behind us, and we broke up into laughter. I started to push the subject a little more with Vivian, but a scream ripped from her friend, which stole my attention.
Turning, I rushed toward Casey and reached for her. "What's the matter?"
"Something bit me." She jumped toward me, and I caught her, turning and nodding to Viv. "Probably a jellyfish, but let's make sure. We'll get someone to check it out. There's a minute clinic right beside the showers over there."
Casey's eyes filled with tears as she clung to me. "It hurts like a bitch. Check it and make sure my ankle isn't torn open."
Vivian moved up beside us and ran her hand down Casey's leg. "It's red but–”
"Ouch! That fucking hurts!" Casey screamed as Vivian jerked her hand back.
"It's okay. We'll get it fixed up. Just grind your teeth together and try and relax." I jogged toward the minute clinic and moved back as Vivian opened the door. Casey couldn't have weighed more than a hundred pounds, which was appreciated seeing that I was jogging through sand with wet feet.
We got Casey checked in and situated in the back before making our way back to the tiny waiting room. I sat down and let out a long sigh, realizing that our towels, clothes, and room keys were still on the beach. My pretty cohort sat down beside me and ran her fingers through her hair.
"She's okay, right?" Vivian looked a little shaken.
"Yeah, just a jelly sting. They'll get the stinger out and give her a little bit of ointment. No big deal. Come here." I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and tugged her closer on the cold bench seat. "You didn't get stung, did you?"
"No. I was too concerned with testing out your sock theory." She gave me a saucy smile.
"You wanted to. I knew it." I licked my lips playfully.
Her laughter warmed me, but her persona drove me to reach up and touched the side of her face.
"You have no idea how beautiful you are." I brushed my thumb over her lip as my entire body lit on fire.
"Easton. Please." She glanced down, but returned her gaze to mine. I could see a hint of the desire that pumped through me pumping through her as well. It was all I needed.
"Hush." I leaned in and pulled her face toward mine, pressing my lips to hers as our noses brushed by each other. She opened her mouth and moaned softly, inviting me in as her tongue slid past mine.
I wanted to dominate her completely, but I forced my desires back and returned her soft exploring kiss. Not wanting it to end, I moved closer and continued to kiss and lick at her pretty mouth until she pulled back. Her eyes were glossy, lips wet, and the soft pants that left her almost sent me over the edge of desire.
"Don't do that again," she whispered.
I pulled her back toward me, kissing her again for good measure. I cupped her face in both of my hands and worked my tongue in and out of her m
outh, wanting her to suck on it so damn bad. As if she could hear my inner thoughts, she began to suck softly, and then harder. We emulated the sex that it seemed we both wanted, and the room grew faint as I gave myself over to her. I wasn't one to put on a public display of affection, but something about this girl had me breaking all my rules.
I pulled back as the room started to spin, and I got a little light-headed.
"Fuck," I grumbled and brushed my fingers over my lips. "Don't you know that telling a dominant male not to do something is an invitation to have him do it? Do they not teach you girls these things?"
"Of course I do," she whispered seductively and got up, walking to the counter as if to check on Casey.
I leaned back against the bench seat and watched her as my body hardened. One night. Just one night was all I needed to convince her that maybe we could be a bit more than friends.
Wait. All you want is friends.
Right.
Chapter Thirteen
Vivian
"I just wanted to check on my friend." I glanced up at the nurse at the front desk of the minute clinic as she scowled at me.
"She'll be out any minute. Have a seat, miss."
I figured as much, but needed a reason to break away from Easton. A large part of me wanted to crawl into his lap and forget that we were in public. It was a damn good thing that we were. His kisses were capable of breaking down my reserve fast.
Butterflies danced in my stomach as I turned and let my eyes move across him. The thick swell of his chest and stomach were beyond delicious. The bulge at the front of his shorts was bigger than it had been back at the beach, but after making out for the last few minutes, he'd better be turned on.
"You don't have to stay here. I'll be good just waiting on Casey myself." I stood in front of him.
He rose to his feet and ran his hands over my shoulders and down my arms. "I don't mind. Let's grab her and get her back to the hotel, then I can go back out to get our stuff."
"My room key was in the pocket of my shorts. I don't have an id or anything to get back to my room with." I tried not to enjoy the warmth of just having his hands on me.
"I'm well-known at the hotel, which should work in my favor today. We'll have them get you a new key, or you can just stay with me while I get your stuff." He squeezed my shoulders and looked past me. "There she is."
I smiled and turned, moving to wrap an arm around Casey as she hobbled toward us.
"How freaking embarrassing." She shook her head and turned to look up at me. "I'm sorry."
"About what? I would have done the same thing, but worse. I'd probably have asked Easton to pee on it for me." I gave her a goofy grin and she smiled in return.
"And I'd have done it too." He wagged his eyebrows playfully.
"Let's get you back to the hotel." I rolled my eyes at the sexy dark-haired man that was soon to steal my heart if I wasn't careful.
"That sounds good. The ointment should help a little with the burn. The doctor said I would be fine later tonight. It just stings like hell, but whatever." She shrugged and moved out of the clinic with my help. We took our time getting back to the hotel, making sure that Casey wasn't in any sort of pain.
Easton offered ten times to carry her, but she wouldn't have any of it. She was independent and wanted to prove it to both of us. The girl had more spirit than anyone else I knew. She would be back on her feet and ready to have a good time within hours.
"Let me go grab a key from the front desk, and we'll get you settled." He moved away from us as I turned to Casey.
"You really okay? I'm worried about you." I held onto her narrow shoulders and searched her face for the truth.
"I'm good. It just burns, but no big deal. I'll get over it." She glanced toward the front desk. "I like him. He would be really good for you. Really."
"I know." I followed her line of sight and let my eyes move across his thick muscular back as my body ached for more of him. "I'm just scared. We just met him. If I could assure myself that nothing but a friendship could come of it, I would be okay. I just don't think that's the case."
"I understand that, but wouldn't you rather limp your way across the finish line of life having loved a million times and lost than to never have really experienced the exhilaration of being in love at all?" She gave me a soft smile.
"Yeah, I think so, but this guy...he's different." I turned my attention back to her. "I don't want to focus on men right now, Case. I want to focus on me. My career is about to start, and I don't want to miss out on any of the moments coming up because I'm heartbroken from the latest bullshit some dude wants to put me through."
"Viv."
"No, I'm serious. A night with him would be magical, a week—heaven." I shrugged. "Anything more, and I'm sure he'd soon discover what Jackson figured out."
"And that is?" Her voice tightened as she narrowed her eyes on me.
"Okay girls." Easton stopped beside me and lifted his eyebrow. "Wow. Looks like a catfight is about to start. Should I get in the middle or move back fast? I can pop a mean bowl of popcorn too."
"We're good." I reached for the key he offered. "I'm going to take her back up to the room. If you'll wait for me, I'll run back to the beach with you to get our stuff."
"Sounds good." He turned to Casey. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks for your help today. You're my hero." She blinked her eyes rapidly, making her impossibly cute.
"Come on, love bug." I put my arm around her shoulder and moved us to the elevator without giving Easton another look.
"You're wrong, Viv. I never step in the middle of your business, but I really think you're off about this guy. He lives in New York. He does something like what you want to do. He's crazy about you, obviously." She hopped to the back of the elevator and leaned against the wall. "Maybe he's the guy that's supposed to get you over Jackson."
"What if I'm not ready to get over Jackson, Case? He was my boyfriend for ten years. It's been a month. If I was with Easton, it would simply be a rebound, and I'm not that kind of girl. I'm a love over lust any day of the week type of person, remember?" I put my hands on my hips, wanting so badly to get her to move to my side for the first time in our lives. I always moved to hers. It was my turn.
"He's not a rebound, and you fucking know it." She pointed at me. "He's a next step. You're passing up an opportunity here. Let down your guard just a little and see what happens."
The door opened, and I helped her out. "And you're going to hold me when he breaks my heart and leaves me with no choice but to change companies in two or ten years?"
"I'll always be here to hold you." She hopped to the door and reached back for the key. "Get downstairs and get to know him better. If you still feel the same way in a week or so, then let it simply be a spring break fling. If not, he deserves a spot in your life."
"What makes you think he wants it?" I stopped by the door and pressed my hand to the doorframe as she moved inside.
"You know he does. So do I. Now, get out of here and do something about it." She moved in and let the door close in my face.
After taking a shaky breath, I took the elevator back down and walked around the lobby looking for him.
"Over here, Viv." He walked back into the lobby from the main door, his arms full of clothes and towels. "I decided to just go grab the stuff for us. No reason to drag you all the way back down there."
"Thanks. You're too good to us." I took my shirts and shook them out before pulling them back on and doing the same with my shorts.
"I'm almost wishing I hadn't gotten the stuff. You in that bikini was a treat and a half." He pulled his own shirt over his head.
The cocky grin on his perfect lips stole my thoughts, and I contemplated asking him for the penthouse tour just to see how good we would fit together.
"She really okay?" He asked, nodding toward the elevator.
"Yeah. She's a beast. She'll be good." I reached up and tugged my hair down, loving the way he watched me so inte
ntly.
"Hey, about the kiss..." He glanced down at the floor and back up toward me. "I shouldn't have done that. I know you're just getting over someone, and I'm really not looking for anything more than a friendship right now. I told you how crazy my shit is. You seem like a great girl. I just don't want to do anything that might–”
"It's all good. We don't need to go through this awkward conversation." I forced a warm smile as my heart contracted painfully in my chest. Of course he was pulling back. I'd almost decided to step forward. "We're just friends. The kiss was nice and deliciously hot, but just part of the high emotions of what happened. I'm good."
He nodded, not looking too sure of himself. "You wanna grab a drink or something?"
"Naw, I'm going to get back up to Casey. I'd hate to think she needed me and I wasn't there." I bent down and picked up the cards, the I.D.s, and my phone from below him. "Today was fun. Thanks for coming. I'm not sure I could have carried her, even if she is small."
"How about dinner? I'll take you guys to a great pizza parlor down the strip. We can drive?"
I stood up and realized what he was doing. Protecting me. He thought I was crushed by the kiss and subsequent pull back. He was working to save face. Was I really that pathetic?
"I'll text you later. Let me see if she's up for it." I tucked the cards in my pockets and patted his arm like I would a mere acquaintance. "Okay, well, see you around."
Without another word, I turned and walked toward the elevator as I chided myself. See you around? What the fuck was that? See you around?
I turned when I got into the elevator to find him watching me intently. I glanced down at my nails, picking at them subtly until the door closed. Tears instantly filled my eyes, much to my dismay. He meant nothing, and it would be bliss to tell Case that she was wrong. She was never wrong, but it would seem she was this time.
Checking my phone, I noticed that my mother had called twice. She didn't leave a message, of course, because that would be too convenient.