“Listen to me, Jax. You gotta put last year behind you. You need to start winning again, a Mavericks event or an XXL, or something.”
“There’s always Ride of the Year,” I said.
“There is that. But you’ve got to get your game face on.”
Billabong Ride of the Year is a big wave surfer contest and the way it works is we go out on an epic day, have ourselves filmed while riding the biggest and best waves we can, and when we have an entry that we think qualifies—meaning that we not only hung in there for dear life, but also rode with style—we enter the video. The winner takes home fifty-thousand dollars.
“I think I’ve got a shot.” I said.
“Need to be on your A-game is all.”
“Fifty grand’s a nice chunk of change.” I was appreciative of Butch’s concern for my welfare. He was like a brother to me. And it would have been just like Tyler to point out the fact that I needed to work harder. I would show everyone. I would go out there and win the Ride of the Year contest.
“Yeah, but it’s a gamble. What’re you going to do when your sponsorship money runs out?”
“Don’t remind me. I’ll come up with something.”
“There’s always surf lessons.”
“Right. That pay goes right along with living in a tent.”
“Don’t knock it. And you’ve still got Jammin Energy Drink.”
The Jammin Energy Drink sponsorship was barely enough to get by on.
A text came through.
I told Butch, “I’ll see you around. Gotta go.”
The text was from Holly: Last night was magic. The previous evening, Holly and I had gone surfing, to dinner, and then to her place for an extra hot session. I smiled thinking of the way her legs had curled around me and dug into my back when I was deep inside her. Holy Smokin’ Jesus!
Another alert came in on my iPhone, this time for a new friend request on Facebook. It was from Sandy Farnsworth. I accepted her request; as a pro surfer, I had to friend every person who asked. I was directed to her timeline, which showed a professional photograph of her smiling family—all four of them. The photo was taken at sunset on the beach, and the whole clan grinned like they’d won the lottery. Sandy’s husband was a good looking man with dazzling white teeth, and their kids were a millionaire’s choice: a boy and a girl. Her profile picture to the left of the timeline photo showed Sandy and her dearly beloved, the two of them staring into each other’s eyes as though the rest of the universe didn’t exist. What a crock.
When I got home, Gary waited for me on my front stoop, his wetsuit pulled around his hips and his surfboard at his feet. Sunscreen made a mime’s mask out of his face.
“Hey buddy,” I said. “Ready to catch some waves?” Gary was one of the most stoked surfers I knew. Only ten years old and the kid could charge with the best of them. When he wasn’t doing homework or chores, or in some kind of trouble with his mom, he would beg me to head down to the beach with him. “Let me grab my board, and I’m all yours.” Gary followed me into my studio while I got ready and, then we walked down to Swami’s and paddled out together.
“Dude! Nice cutback on that wave,” Gary said as I paddled back to the lineup where he sat on his shortboard, his small legs dangling over the side. We sat together with the Self Realization Fellowship temple looming over us. The seagrass swayed beneath our feet, the water so clear that I could see the purple and white sea anemones clinging to the boulders below, their delicate tentacles dancing in the current.
“When you taking me on one of your trips?” Gary was always bugging me to take him to some of the big wave spots. I swept my wet hair back with one hand and smiled. “You trying to give your mom a heart attack?”
“Come on Jax, she never has to know.”
“Yeah right, like I’m going to be responsible for getting you into more trouble than you’re already in.” I stroked the cool ocean water. “How’d it turn out with that mess you guys made in the locker room?” Gary and his band of marauding bad rats had trashed the boys’ gym locker room at school, slinging wet towels they’d taken out of the hamper all over the locker room and, using temporary hair color, spray painting their group’s name “Bad Rats” onto the shower tiles.
He pursed his lips in defiance. “Principal made all four of us stay after and clean the place up, then scrub down the bathroom tile with a toothbrush. Just ‘cause me and my friends have fun. We didn’t mean anything by it. And don’t change the subject. When you taking me?”
“Dude, your mom would go ballistic if I took you. Not happening.”
“I’ll bet your mom let you start surfing big waves when you were a kid.”
I looked toward the horizon, scanning for the next set of waves. “My mom didn’t know,” I said. And I left it at that.
Gary was like a little brother to me, and no way would I ever allow him to get pummeled by a monster wave. Gary brought out the protective side of me, and I realized that I hadn’t felt protective of anyone in a long time. Not since Rosalyn.
Sometimes I wondered if I’d ever meet someone who would inspire me to drop my shield. Would I ever have kids of my own? Holly and I were having fun together, but it would take a very long time before I was ready to make that kind of family commitment to anyone.
Later that night, I opened my laptop and found a private message on Facebook from Sandy Farnsworth. Hey handsome Jax, why don’t you call me back? I’ve been thinking about you. And our friendship, if you know what I mean. Looking forward to hearing from you. PS: Cool photos of your trip to South Africa.
She just wouldn’t give up. I had to admire that about her.
Holly
Jax was all I could think about. I’d floated through my day and effortlessly beat my personal best in sales. Customers couldn’t say no to me. I figured it was because I felt radiant and I couldn’t stop smiling. I wasn’t stupid enough to think that I was in love, but I was hopeful. It was too soon. We’d only been dating a little over a month. What was love anyway? Two people who got together, had a firecracker explosion of intimacy, a friendship, laughter, compatibility, and eventually ended up side by side in easy chairs watching Vanna White turn letters on Wheel of Fortune? Jax did not seem like the Wheel of Fortune type, thank ya Lord.
Clearing the kitchen table of paperwork, which I needed to complete for my tax and trust attorney, I set the table for dinner. The sexy man of my dreams was on his way over. Anticipation buzzed through my system like an electrical storm.
Stripping my clothes off, I climbed into the shower and soaped myself with vanilla body-wash, the warm water cascading over my naked body. After I finished and was wiping the condensation off the bathroom mirror, the doorbell rang, sending the dogs into a barking frenzy. Looking through the peephole, I saw Jax’s towering figure. Excitement filled my body.
“Well, hi there,” Jax said when I opened the door. He stood there, filling the frame of the doorway. A few curls of blond hair escaped from a black knit cap, and his sweatshirt was unzipped appealingly halfway down the front, his snugly fitting T-shirt visible underneath. My fingers ached to touch his muscular chest. I waved him in, not trusting myself to speak coherently, and closed the door behind him. “And hello, you two,” he said, bending over to pet the pups. He straightened, and when he smiled, it was filled with mischief. His hungry blue eyes dropped to my chest; the pink towel wrapped around my breasts threatened to come loose at any moment. “I like your hair all damp and sexy like that.” With one hand, he pulled the towel free so that I stood completely naked in my living room.
“Oh.” The room spun as our eyes locked.
His mouth was on mine, pulling me into a deep, smoldering kiss, his hands clutching my hair, his powerful arms strong around my back, pressing my breasts against his chest where I felt his pounding heart. I moaned with pleasure at the relief of having him right there with me, mine for the taking. “I think you’re not done with your bath yet. I need to wash your hair,” he said.
Jax t
ook my hand, leading me to the bathroom. He placed the drain stop in the tub and turned on the water. His eyes not leaving mine, he reached into his pocket, removed a condom and slapped it on the counter. His magnetic gaze roamed my body. He held my hand and guided me in. “Watch your step. Now, sit back and relax. I’ll take care of you.”
I leaned back, the warm water relaxing my muscles. He filled a plastic cup with water, poured it over my hair, and then reached for the shampoo. His strong hands lathered my hair until the scent of vanilla filled the steamy bathroom. He turned the water off and gazed at my naked body.
“You are so beautiful. So soft and feminine. Close your eyes.”
I did as he instructed, and his hands expertly worked on my scalp, kneading and massaging. “Mmm, that feels good.” He rinsed my hair, squirted body wash onto his hands, and then stroked my breasts. “Your nipples are getting hard, baby. Can I kiss them?”
I could barely speak. “Okay.”
He poured water over my breasts and bent over the tub, his warm tongue making exquisite contact with a perky nipple. I moaned my delight, and his hand covered my other breast, gently fondling. Then he kissed me again, a slow, sensual kiss while his fingers caressed my face, his other hand in my hair.
“Stand up,” he said.
He helped me up, pulled the drain to empty the tub, and said, “Sit on the edge of the tub and spread your legs.” He knelt in front of me, his hands stroking my inner thighs. “Damn, you’re sexy. Look how pink and swollen you are.” My pussy was wet, glistening, and warm from the bathwater. His eyes glazed over as he spread me open. “Hold still.” My hands moved to his hair. His hot breath fanned the area first, his warm mouth wet and gentle when he nibbled and kissed. He gazed at me with hooded eyes. “You like that?” I nodded. His fingers delved into my delicate softness making me buck forward. I arched my back against his touch, pushing on his head with my hands. “Pinch your nipples, baby. I want to watch you do it.” I followed his orders, and the sensation was too much. I almost slipped off the edge of the tub as I dug my nails into his scalp and pushed my pelvis into his face, cresting into heavenly orgasm.
“Oh, my God … Wow, that’s intense. Don’t stop.” I threw my head back, my dizziness causing the room to spin. Finally, I slumped over Jax’s kneeling body and kissed the top of his head. I breathed in his scent, sweat mixed with ocean.
He smiled and said, “Get back in the tub.” I obediently stepped into the tub while he stripped his clothes off.
He stepped in, turned on the warm shower, kissing me and stroking my body until I shivered all over. “Kneel down,” he said. I kneeled in front of him, his hard cock staring me in the face. Jax gripped his hard-on with one hand.
He pulled me on to his throbbing cock until the whole thing was in my mouth. He threw his head back. “That’s good. So nice.” His hands grasped my hair, as he moved in and out of my mouth. “Oh yeah, baby, so good.” He tasted wonderful. My hands roamed over his ass and I drew him into me. My lips tightly encircled his throbbing manhood and I could feel him swelling. I became lost in the moment. “Stand up.” He helped me up so that I faced him. He handed me the body wash saying, “You know what would be sexy? Let’s touch it together.” He held his cock while we stroked it together, his electric blue eyes gazing trancelike into mine. I wanted him in my mouth, inside me, I wanted him everywhere at once. “Turn around and bend over. I want to fuck you.” Jax took a step back and rinsed all the soap off his erection. It had blossomed into a thick, swollen masterpiece. He slipped on the condom, entered me from behind, and I let out a gasp. I moved into him. He moved slowly, massaging my clit and my tits. “Think you can come this way?” Hell yes, I could. I nodded. “I’ll wait for you, baby.” He rubbed my clit the way he knew I liked it. He moved in and out, with steady strokes, his fingers dancing over my sweetness. “Oh baby, I can feel it. You’re almost ready.” I pressed my ass into him, and finally, I came again. Jax moved faster, the water starting to turn cold. “Jesus, Christ,” he moaned. “I’m coming. Oh, yeah, so … good.” We both sagged a little from the intensity of our lovemaking then Jax said, “We’re going to freeze. Come on.” He turned off the water, held his hand out, led me out of the tub and tenderly dried me off with a soft towel. “You are so beautiful.” He kissed me gently on the lips. I wanted to pull him into me and never let go, wanted to drag him to my bed right that second and never let the man up for air. I settled for his sweet kiss.
Afterwards we convened in the kitchen and drank red wine, enjoying a vegan gourmet feast and an organic salad that I’d prepared myself. I could tell that something was on Jax’s mind by the way he drummed his fingers on the kitchen table and kept glancing out the window.
He cleared his throat. “So, Mystic Seaweed’s cutting back. Met with Brad today and it looks like they’re making a few changes in who they’re sponsoring. Guess who got to be part of the downsize?”
I reached across the table, putting my hand over his. “Oh no. Really?”
“Yep. I get to concentrate on surfing full time now.”
“Well what are you going to do?”
“What is there to do? Industry’s changing, corporate office is all about the numbers. I’ve got Jammin Energy Drink and Mysto Spot. Surf lessons can pay okay.” He stood up and wandered to the picture window that overlooked the ocean as the sun sank into the sea. “Got to get my game back is all.”
I felt like running over and putting my arms around him, but I didn’t want to make him feel worthless or emasculated. My heart went out to him as he stood forlornly by the window. I slowly walked over to him. “Hey,” I said, touching him gently on the shoulder, “It’s going to work out.”
Jax spent the night in my bed. We had sex for hours. He was a man on fire, making love to me with urgency then switching gears by softly stroking and kissing my body starting at my feet, up my legs, up my spine, on my neck, his warm mouth sending shivers through my body and starting all over again.
When I was sure he was sound asleep, softly snoring, I slipped out of bed and called Stan.
“Hello?” he said, his voice thick with sleep.
“Hey, it’s me,” I whispered.
“Are you okay? What time is it?”
I glanced at the clock over the stove, its green digital display said two thirty. “Late. And yes, everything’s okay. I just needed to talk.”
I told him all about Jax losing his job and our evening of passion. And how head over heels I was.
“You really like this one, don’t you?”
“I do.” I sat on the sofa, bent over my phone so Jax wouldn’t hear. “And he’s really putting that whole thing about what happened with his brother behind him. We talked.”
“You better be careful, my friend. He’s probably emotionally fragile from what happened.” Stan sighed dramatically. “And now the guy’s lost his job?”
“I make enough money for the both of us.” I drew my legs up, hugging them tightly.
“Who says he wants you to take care of him?”
I let out an exhale. “I want to take care of him, that’s who says so.”
“Well, you better be careful what you ask for.”
What did Stan know? He had isolated that crazy Ukrainian mail order bride of his, tried to make her the center of his universe. Sometimes I wondered why Stan and I were such good friends. It was mostly because we’d known each other all our lives. He was the one person I could call in the middle of the night when I needed to vent.
Stan said, “I thought you said you wanted a real man.”
“Jax is a real man!”
“I mean somebody who makes money, somebody you can lean on.”
“Stop being so old-fashioned.”
I could picture Stan putting his hands up. “So sue me if I want to be a man who takes care of his woman.”
I stood up and ambled to the window. The moon shone down on the ocean, giving the water an eerie sparkling quality. “Jax is more masculine and protective than anyon
e I’ve met in a long time.”
Stan sighed. “So, why’d you call me?”
“You’re my best friend. Can’t I share my happiness?”
“Whatever, Holly.” He yawned. “Okay bud. I’m going back to sleep. Talk to you tomorrow.”
Screw Stan. I knew what I wanted.
And right then, what I wanted was asleep in my feather bed.
Jax
I sat in my truck in the parking lot at Salt Creek, checking out the surf.
Last night at Holly’s, I’d accidentally seen her year-to-date earnings on top of a pile of paperwork that she had stacked on her closed laptop. I wasn’t trying to be nosy, but there it was, staring me in the face while I cleared the table. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars so far this year.
How long would it take me to earn that much? I really couldn’t say because I don’t know if I’d ever made that much money. But who kept track of those things when the surf was up? It’s not that I was irresponsible, but, with only me to take care of, I’d never thought much about raking in the millions. Just wasn’t a priority.
My phone rang. “Hey, Butch,” I said.
“You going out with Holly again tonight?” he said.
“Probably.”
“When are you going to make time for your best friend?”
I got out of my truck, and sauntered down the hill to the beach. I shielded my eyes with one hand and checked out the waves. “Is this important? I’m at Salt Creek.”
“Well, excuse me, Mr. Free-And-Easy.” His voice softened. “How you doing, Jax?”
I went back to my truck to wax up my board. “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You know why. You want me to see if I can drum up extra surf lessons? Maybe put something about lessons on Instagram?”
I sighed and sat in my truck. “Thanks, buddy. That’d be good.”
Pleasure Point: The Complete Series Page 36