Finding Reason (Breaking Free Series Book 3)

by Becca Taylor

  That’s where I’m heading now.

  It's not a big deal. We are just going to the beach. Together. It's such a ‘couple thing’ to do, but we've never said we are a couple. So why am I nervous? I never am, yet when I pull into Hunter's driveway, my stomach gets this sensation. Like when I had to give a speech in college. I don't like it. I'm confident, dammit.

  Hunter is outside, coming to help me before I even put the car in park. I grab my bag of clothes and beach bag from the trunk while he grabs my two boards. We discovered we both have a love for surfing, although I'm still new to it. He, on the other hand, was part of some surf team or club when he was younger.

  "Breathe, Lex," Hunter reminds me.

  "I'm good."

  "You look like I'm about to kidnap you and tie you to my bed."

  The thought of him doing that stirs something inside. "A girl can dream."

  He stops walking, cups my face in one hand, and searches my eyes. I'm guessing to see if I'm kidding or not. I’m not. I've never done anything like that, but there's a first time for everything.

  "Someday, Caramella. Today, we are going to the beach."

  While I wait on the pathway to the beach, he runs my one bag upstairs. I use the moment to let the salty air wash all my nerves away. It's picture-perfect weather for this time of year, not too hot or humid. Hunter comes back with his boards and a towel draped around his neck.

  "All set?" he asks as he takes my bag from me. "Jesus. What do you have in this thing?"

  My bag weighs a lot more than both the surf and boogie board combined. I like to be prepared. Once I get on the beach, I can stay there the whole day.

  "A little of everything. I think you can manage it, Big Boy."

  Once my toes hit the sand, my reservations begin to fade. The warmth of the sun, the slight breeze, the clean smell, and the sound of the salt water do something cathartic to me. It’s always been that way for me. One thing I cannot do without is living close to the water.

  “Beach or surf?” Hunter asks me.

  I don’t even answer. I take off my cover-up off. His hand touches my hip; double-checking to make sure the waterproof bandage is secure. When I told him about the pit stop at Rich’s booth last night, there was some sort of growl and words about another guy touching me. It made me smile.

  As soon as I strap the leash around my ankle, I take off in a run with my board toward the Gulf. I land on the surfboard as it hits the water. From the corner of my eye, I see Hunter right behind me. Immediately, I start paddling out.

  The waves aren’t usually big, but a recent storm helped with the swells. I dive under the first two, searching for the perfect one to test out. It’s coming. The tiny hairs on my neck and arms tingle; I feel it. I stand with ease and ride it all the way to the shore. There’s nothing like surfing. Control … you controlling the board and the waves that are trying to control you. It’s a rush.

  As I paddle back out, I straddle my board and take a minute to admire Hunter. He’s riding the length of the wave. It’s obvious by the way he maneuvers his board with ease that he’s been doing this for some time. He’s a natural. When he bends, dipping his hand in the water, you can see his respect for the sport. I need to learn that move.

  I stay out as long as my legs allow me before parking my board on the beach. The blanket I’ve brought is big enough for us both. I lay it out, not even bothering to dry off. The beads of water are already drying from the warm sun. Suntan lotion is a must year-round down here. As I bend to start applying it to my legs, a hand taps my ass.

  “Let me do it. Lie down on your stomach, and I’ll get your back.” Hunter grabs the bottle from me before I can even protest.

  He hovers over me as he begins to rub the lotion on my back. It’s incredible. Besides at the spa, no one has ever massaged me. Something about his strong hands working my skin ignites a fire in me. To stifle the moan that wants to escape, I take my lip between my teeth. He stops, but it’s only to get more lotion. This time, he returns to my legs, making sure he covers every inch. His touch reaches higher until he’s cupping my ass, rubbing my exposed cheeks. He gives me a slight smack before removing his hands altogether. I want to scream my protest, but I don’t.

  “I think you’re all protected,” Hunter states.

  “Your turn, Big Boy.”

  Just as I am going to pour some lotion on my hand, he stops me.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Lex.”

  “Why not? You just did mine,” I say almost disappointed. I want to show him my skills.

  He leans close to my ear and whispers, “Because if you start touching me, it will be hard to hide what you do to me. I’m not interested in anyone seeing my …”

  “Monster,” I finish.

  “Monster, huh?” A proud smile spreads across his face.

  I look down at his shorts. “Yep. Definitely a monster, Big Boy.”

  He shakes his head in laughter. “Well, we don’t want the monster to scare the kids.”

  “Oh, but it may give the moms a thrill.” I think for a minute because I don’t want anyone seeing Hunter’s monster. “Never mind, we don’t want to make them hate their husbands. You know, for what they may be lacking.”

  We spend rest of the afternoon either swimming or boogie boarding since the surf died down. Most of the time, we just lay on the beach … just the two of us. It’s all so ... normal.

  After the sun starts taking its toll, we go back to his house. He installed an outdoor shower for when he gets back from his beach runs. We rinse off before heading into the lanai for a late lunch. The way we talk about anything and everything feels natural. It should scare me, but it doesn’t. I begin to wonder if this is what daily life is like for Kat, Aly, and Dani with their men.

  A thought pops into my head. I realize that I've never seen his entire house, just the living room and master bathroom, so I ask him to give me the grand tour.

  "There's nothing exciting," Hunter says

  “I’d still like to see it. If I’m going to be spending time here.”

  A smile spreads across his face, but he tries to hide it. He walks me down the hall to show me what he remodeled—the second bedroom and extra bathroom. The first thing I think is that it needs color. It's a typical bachelor pad with muted tones and neutral wood. Everything looks new, fresh, and straight out of a realtor magazine.

  "What's that room?" I point at the last door down the hall, thinking maybe it's a closet.

  "My studio."

  “Show me,” I all but beg.

  It’s basically a large bedroom, but the only furniture is a small loveseat. The massive drum kit is the focal point, but what strikes me is it’s the only room with color. The room has this square padding on the walls, done in an intricate pattern of diamonds and crisscrosses. The crosses are gray, while the diamonds are black, but the colors that surround them fade from blues to burgundy to shades of purples. He tells me it’s soundproofing. In the far corner, a folded up treadmill and weights sit.

  “What’s with the workout equipment?” I ask out of curiosity.

  “To warm up.”

  “You warm up?”

  He just nods. With his arms crossed, he stands stock-still.

  “Do you want me to leave the room?” I ask him. I get the odd sense that I’m invading his private space.

  “No. It’s just that I don’t normally let anyone in here.”

  “Why?”

  “I like to come here when I need time to think. When I need to escape for a while.”

  I run my hands over the walls, thinking its carpet, but it’s more like a stiff foam. It makes me feel special. He’s letting me see a part of him that no one else gets to, and I want to see more … of him.

  “Will you show me? Play something for me.”

  His eyes me up, weighing his decision. In the end, he heads to his drums. He grabs his sticks from the shelf and sits on his stool. Across from him, I sit on the couch. He takes a deep breath, roll
s his neck, and hits play on the remote. He taps twice on the drum and music fills the room. “Skin” by Breaking Benjamin.

  From the moment he starts playing, you can see the change in him. His eyes close as he gets lost. It’s Hunter at his best. The way his muscles work as he moves to the music to the way he moves his body is all male. It’s truly a sight.

  I can’t help it when I move closer to get a better look. Instantly, my body starts moving to the music. As if he senses me, he looks directly at me as I sway my hips to the beat—the beat he’s playing for me and me alone. I’m getting my own private concert.

  He points his finger at me, curling it toward him. Inviting me in a little more. While his eyes stay glued to me, I walk around the drums. He continues playing with one hand, while his other pulls me onto his one knee and encloses me in. Each time he strikes the drum, my body bounces with his. My bathing suit instantly gets wet again. If I’m honest, it’s been wet most of the day.

  Standing, I turn to face him, only to sit again, placing my legs on each side of his thighs. It can’t be easy for him, but he still hasn’t missed a beat, at least from what I can tell. I can’t tell if this position is much worse or better. The leg that is controlling the foot pedal is constantly moving; the other moves occasionally, striking the second pedal and both bounce me against his fast growing monster.

  The urge to kiss him is almost too much, but I want to savor the moment. I want this man more than I’ve let on. It stirs something in me for the first time. All this time, he’s been trying to ease me into this, whatever it is, and I’ve been holding back. No more. Just as he’s claimed me, I’m claiming him. He’s mine.

  I untie the strings on my bathing suit, both top and bottom. The top falls as I push up on my feet to remove my bottoms. If I’m not mistaken, Hunter groans along with the voice in the song. I pull the string and Velcro loose on his board shorts. Reaching my hand inside, I pull the monster free. It’s the first time Hunter falters slightly, but it won’t be the last.

  I sit down again, relishing the feeling of his length against my wetness. Nestled right where I need him, the tip of him rubs against my swollen clit. His movements vibrate through my body. It’s not enough—it’s never enough with Hunter. I always want more. The need to feel him deep inside is strong.

  With my hand wrapped around his length, I lower myself on him. It feels so good. The minute I completely take him in, my concert for one is over. His drumsticks fall to the floor. My legs wrap around him while my hands cradle his face. He snakes his arms around me, pulling me tighter to his body. Our lips connect. The man knows how to kiss. I savor the feel of his soft yet firm lips against mine, and the way his tongue works against mine. He kisses like he plays his drums: with everything he has in him. Once again, I’m lost.

  In one swift motion, we’re standing and on the move, until my back hits the couch I was sitting on just a short time ago. Either this is the extended version of this song, or it’s on repeat. I’m not sure. Maybe time is standing still, and I’m okay with that too. I never want this to end. Sex with Hunter has always been good, but this is different. And different is oh so good.

  “Lex, I’m done playing games. What we have here, I’m not sure what it is exactly, but there’s something, and I’m not giving up on it. Call it what you want, but we are dating. Exclusively.”

  A heated look comes across his face as he waits for my response. I only hope I don’t fuck it up.

  “Are you saying you’re my boyfriend, Hunter?”

  He thrusts inside me, just once. “No, Lex, I’m saying I’m your man. And you are my woman from this day forward.”

  “Oh, God. I like that, Hunter. And, yes, I’m your woman.”

  “Thank fuck.”

  This time, when he brings his mouth down to mine again, my fate is sealed with his kiss. It’s slow and tender. His tongue pursues mine rather than dueling. We’ve had two days for foreplay, and I can’t wait any longer for him. From beneath him, I rotate my hips, and the kiss we share ends.

  He moves slowly. The need to have him deeper consumes me. My legs wrap around his hips, locking him in. His hand wraps around my neck, making sure my gaze never breaks contact with his. His body moves to the song that changed from the one he was playing moments ago.

  “Addicted.” I’ve never had that type of personality, but I’m addicted to him. It’s been that way from the first time I saw Hunter. I felt it then and feel it even more now. I’m falling for him, and there’s no going back.

  “More, Hunter. I need you deeper. Please.”

  The pace he keeps is slow, but he does what I just begged him to do. As he reaches deeper inside, he stills for a second, letting me feel every inch of him. Sex never felt this incredible with anyone else. Like he’s touching every part deep inside me. My body is on fire. Head to toe, I feel a tingling sensation. His next thrust, I go off. My orgasm is much like his lovemaking, slow and long. An animalistic sound comes from him as he releases deep inside me.

  Our foreheads connect as we get our breathing under control. He breaks the connection between our bodies as he switches our positions. Pulling me flush against him, he breaks the silence that fills the room.

  “I don’t think I’ll be able to play in here again without getting hard.”

  I laugh against his chest. “You’re welcome.”

  He gives my ass a tap.

  “What did you say to me last night?” I ask him.

  I’ve wanted to know and even tried to look it up, but I couldn’t remember it completely.

  “Questo é dolcezza destra, il mio serpent é tutto tuo. Infatti, si é posseduta,” he repeats in that accent once again.

  “Yes, that. It sounded sexy. I love when you speak Italian.”

  Placing my hand on his growing erection, he grinds against me.

  “That’s right, sweetness, my snake is all yours. In fact, you own it.”

  “It’s all mine? To do whatever I want,” I ask as I lick my lips.

  “He’s all yours, Lex.”

  “Good.”

  “And, Dolcezza, I want you to wear that shirt to every show. That way everyone else knows it too.”

  “I will.” The way he’s rubbing against me, right now, I’ll agree to anything.

  “I have one more saying for you.”

  “What’s that?” I ask him. My head tilts back as he sucks on my neck then whispers in my ear.

  “Biscotto. Incontrano. Mostro.” Between each word, he nibbles on the lobe of my ear.

  “What’s that mean? Everything you say sounds hot.”

  “Cookie meet monster.”

  He pushes inside me, and I’m too turned on to laugh.

  LEXI AND I spend the day in bed. While I tell her about the younger version of Hunter, she tells me all about her childhood, or lack thereof. Mostly, she talks about her schooling. When she tells me she has a doctorate, the conversation ends. It takes playing doctor and patient to a whole new level. She amazes me, and I’m pretty sure she’ll keep on amazing me.

  I’ve never laughed as much with a woman. Hell, she brings out a more playful side of me. Also, I’ve never spent a lazy day in bed with a woman and just talked. Then there is the physical part. I’ve always loved sex; what man doesn’t? Before, it was just about connecting with someone, but with her, something is different. Animalistic.

  The minute I see her, I want to mark her as mine. The sound of her voice is enough; I don’t even need to see her. Even the good morning text message she sends the next day turns me on.

  Lexi: Morning, Big Boy. How’s my monster? Cookie is missing him.

  “Hunter,” Bentley yells from the other side of the counter. “Quit looking at your goddamn phone and get me your supply order.”

  “It’s on your fucking desk like it is every Monday.” It’s nothing out of the normal for us; too much testosterone.

  “You’ve had a fucking smile the size of Texas on your face all day. Never mind, I know who put it there,” he jokes.
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br />   “Just like you, Caleb, and Jeremy. The three have been walking around looking like King Shits since your women gave you the time of day,” I add to the banter between us.

  “Heck, yeah. I go to sleep and wake up with a huge ass smile since Aly is next to me in bed. Who wouldn’t? My girl is off the charts.”

  “All you guys are whipped. I’m the only smart one,” Josh adds his two cents. He’s the last of us to become attached, and I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

  “Just for that, you can clean the fat traps tonight.” Bentley waves Josh off.

  “It’s the truth, and you know it,” Josh says as he walks to the back.

  “Aly has me by the balls; I know it. You just wait, mofo. When it happens to you, I’ll be laughing my ass off,” Bentley says as he walks back to the office.

  I can hear him rifling through the thousands of papers looking for my list. He’s never going to find that list of supplies, though, because I’m just starting to write one. Later, I’ll stick it in there when he’s not looking and claim it was there the whole time. Serves him right for trying to rile me up while I’m having a good day.

  After I change into non-grease-smelling clothes, I text Lexi to tell her that I’m headed her way. She should be home, and I have dinner packed for us. Since she started her new job, Monday lunch at BMB has stopped. Our location is too far from where she travels to work, so Monday dinners will have to do. I pack the food in the saddlebag on my motorcycle.

  At the first traffic light, I turn my head to the sky. It’s still hot, even though the sun is going down earlier every day. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to the beach and watched the sunset. I used to schedule my runs on the beach to watch, and I wonder if it’s something Lexi might fancy—to run with me. She’s been telling me that with her new job, the only time she can run is around the ballfield before a game.