“You have nothing to be self-conscious about. You’re stunning,” he said with conviction.
“I want to do this,” I said though my heart rate was accelerating as his fingers slipped away and I continued my path of unbuttoning down the front of my shirt and easing the fabric off my shoulders, letting it fall to the ground. He ran a finger from the hollow of my neck down to the front clasp of my bra and grunted.
My mouth went dry, and a tingle went through me. I had only to say the word, and I knew he would undress me, but this was something I needed to do. Even though I might combust with him standing so close to me. “I’ll do it.”
“I may as well join you,” he said and went to work on undressing himself. In the moonlight and under the soft lights from the lanterns, we were watching each other.
My fingers worried the hook and my breasts spilled out, and he let out a groan. I quickly unbuttoned my pants and took them off, along with my panties. I got to watch as he took off his tight jeans. He was commando. His cock, a showing and growing masterpiece. The thought of his thick girth and length inside of me was making me heat up all over. Wow.
“Up here,” Brody said. Our eyes connected and even in the low lights from the lanterns I could see his desire. He made a low noise in his throat that sent a shot right to my clit that was throbbing, aching for him to touch me.
“Brody,” I said huskily. That was all the yes we both needed. He closed the small space between us and captured my lips in a deep, passionate kiss. It felt so good I was sure I could come just from the sensual glide of his tongue against mine. I didn’t want him to stop, even to catch my breath. Who needed to breathe with kisses like those? He held me in his arms, and I could feel his hard cock pressed between us, but Brody, so controlled, didn’t try for more. He just continued with his amazingly skilled kisses that were making me so wet. I don’t think I’d ever been so turned on. I wrapped my arms around his waist and slid them down to the smooth planes of his firm ass and moaned; rubbing my thighs together. I wanted more and would have told him as much. However, someone or something, rustling in the surroundings brought our awareness back to the fact that we were making out, in plain view of whoever was out for a stroll. I jumped and gulped air. What was I doing?
Brody let me go and stepped back, and I immediately missed the warmth of his body. Along with that, I felt super naked and used my hands to cover myself. After a few minutes, we realized that the group was still laughing in the ocean. But the moment was gone, and we were both left unsatisfied. “We probably should go to the beach.”
“Shit. I don’t want to walk over there hard, but I will,” Brody said as he caught his breath.
“You can carry the bag?” I said breathlessly. I gathered our stuff and stuffed it sloppily in my bag. I half expected him to turn it down, but he silently took it and my hand. I lifted the corner of my mouth. Our grope fest and the horror of being caught had taken away some of the anxiety over our nude stroll to the beach where everyone was playing.
The Door’s, “Road House” played, where Doc and Fiona were sitting on a log, naked, sharing the dragon.
“Yay! Piper is joining us!” Seren yelled out from the water.
“Hey, I don’t get to see?” Zack complained with Riley covering his eyes. He grabbed her into the waves, and she screamed.
Brody dropped my bag, scooped me up and ran to the water to the cheers of everyone. I let out a scream of my own as I hit the water. My pulse leapt, and I gulped in air.
“Better to get over the initial shock,” he yelled.
I stood up and turned around noticing everyone had gone back to their fun.
I looked at Brody, who was smiling at me. “Thank you.” He pulled me close, and I kissed his lips.
“Ready to have fun?” he asked smiling against them.
I was attacked with splashes of water from all sides. I was wet, freezing, and yelling into the night. I didn’t know where we were going or what would happen next. At that moment, I didn’t care.
I was living it.
Skinny-dipping would have been fun in the tropics, but we were in Maine, at night, in the ocean! My body shook hard, and I quickly got out and ran over to my bag to put on clothes. Brody followed, and so did everyone else in the group except Seren.
“Seren,” Riley yelled out.
“Seren.” Brody cried frantically. He ran back to the water to where she was. Seren stumbled into his arms. “Get a blanket.”
“Get her in the shower,” Doc yelled.
“I’ll go and turn it on,” Fiona said running ahead. I followed behind them.
My clothes were heavier from the weight of the water I’d dumped on them, but I rushed as fast as I could over to the tent and pulled out a sleeping bag, unzipped it and rushed over to where he was carrying her out.
“Seren will use the shower in the caravan. The rest of us, I have quarters for the public showers,” Fiona yelled out.
Riley tried to snatch the blanket from my hands.
“Let me do it,” she barked.
I held on fast. “Stop being an idiot,” I growled and placed the blanket over Seren’s body that was shaking hard. From the brief glimpse of her as Brody moved by fast to the caravan, I could see her lips were turning blue. Doc was holding the door open as he moved her inside.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“She’s still weak from the chemotherapy. She’ll be fine once we warm her up, but I’ll be checking on her,” Doc explained.
“I want to help,” Riley said as Zack pulled her back into his arms.
“Best thing you can do is go to sleep. You know she doesn’t like too much fussing. She’ll try to stay up and chat with you, but she needs some heat and rest,” Doc replied moving to close the door.
Fiona came back first. “Brody’s got her in the shower. They’ll be in bed and under blankets in a minute. She brought out a bucket of quarters. “You all have showers and go to sleep. The three of us will be with her. Pancakes at sunrise are still the plan.”
I reluctantly took some quarters as Fiona tried to smile before they shut the door. “Let’s get the clothes up,” Zack said.
Riley took the bucket. “I’ll go and turn on my phone and do a laundry. There is no way I can sleep now.
“Nope. The three of us are taking showers to get warm and then you and I are going to bed,” Zack said. “We’ll wash the clothes tomorrow after sunrise breakfast. You know Fiona and Seren will need that.”
I nodded and turned and took steps towards the path, but I wasn’t far enough away from hearing Riley say. “This wouldn’t have happened if Brody wasn’t distracted. He was supposed to be Seren’s buddy, not mooning over Piper.
I felt tears stinging my eyes. I didn’t have anything to say back to her. I stood there silently vowing if given the chance again; I’d make it right.
I WALKED FASTER OVER to the showers, realizing when I got there I didn’t have any toiletries to use. Riley walked in a few seconds after me with a shower caddy. “Use whatever you need. Zack’s getting towels and our clothes,” she said.
“No, thanks,” I said.
“Don’t be a baby, take what you need,” Riley replied.
I cocked an eyebrow and took a step toward the shower.
“Listen. I don’t hate you; I’m worried about Seren. She had a bilateral mastectomy and hysterectomy. She loves Cole, but she needs Brody on this trip. I don’t mind you here, and it’s not any of my business, but when it comes to Seren, she comes first. She needs to . . .” She wiped under her eyes.
A lump formed in my throat. “I understand. I’m sorry.”
Riley pushed the shower caddy a little towards me. “Now stop getting in the way of my shower. I’m a recovering person too.” She smiled.
I took the shampoo and shower gel and went into the stall and felt a knot forming in my stomach. The thought of Seren getting sicker because of me made me want to call Jorge and leave again. I made a vow that from this moment forward I would
just stick to the project and do my best to stay away from Brody.
Leaving the shower, I found a fluffy towel and fresh clothing from my suitcase.
“We’re waiting out here,” Riley said. I quickly dried off and hurried back to the campsite.
“Good night, Piper,” Zack and Riley called as they hurried over to their tent.
“Thanks,” I called after them. My phone sounded, and I searched through my things to find it. It was my mother. Not now, I thought but answered. “Yes?”
“You didn’t call when you landed in San Francisco, and you didn’t call when you arrived in Los Gatos,” she argued.
I swallowed. “I’m sorry. I’ve been busy, but really I’m twenty-one, not five.”
“I know your age. You’re still out in the boonies. Luna didn’t even pick up when I called her. Did the guy dump her already?” she asked.
“No. Listen, I’m really tired,” I said running my hand over my arm.
She exhaled. “Oh god, look at the time? I didn’t realize it was this late. I was so upset that I couldn’t fall asleep. Royce handed me the phone and ordered me to call you.” Her tone was light.
“I don’t want to talk about Royce,” I hissed.
“Okay. You’re all snippy when you’re tired,” she said.
“Sorry, Mom. Really, I’ll call soon,” I said.
“Alright. Tell Luna better luck next time,” she said in a tone that was far from wishing her well before she hung up. I stuffed my phone away and, this time, turned it off. I didn’t want to think about it or the awful turn of the night.
“Piper,” I turned my head and found Fiona standing in the open door of the caravan.
“I didn’t want to interrupt your call, but it’s too cold for you to stay out alone. Seren asked if you could come back to see her before you go to sleep?”
I quickly climbed into the caravan and navigated back to the bed. I didn’t think that was a good idea, but I needed to see Seren. She looked small, wrapped up in Brody’s arms. He held on to Seren like she was his last lifeline. His gray eyes were dull. Her wig was removed revealing a little hair on her scalp; she had very little color in her cheeks.
My stomach twisted. This was my fault. She needed him.
“Are you alright? I hope I didn’t scare you off. I was cold, and everybody freaked out. I’m fine,” she said.
My vision blurred. She was worried about me? “I’m fine. You get some rest.”
“I would if you took Mr. Overreacting with you,” Seren said and looked at Brody. “I mean it. I have Doc and Fiona in here.”
“I’m not leaving,” Brody said.
“Fine. Piper’s sleeping in here,” she said.
I shook my head. “I’m not.”
“You can and you will. It’s too cold out there by yourself,” Seren said.
“No. I . . . I can’t,” I stuttered.
“Get in, Piper,” Brody commanded. He let out a breath. “Please.”
I didn’t know what to make of this, but I crawled into bed and tried to be as tiny as I could away from the two of them. Seren snuggled against me, and I thought it better to rise above my feelings and relax, for her sake. I laid in the dark and listened to her soft breathing and after a while finally fell asleep, promising, after tonight, to distance myself, for their sakes as well as mine.
I’M PACING OUTSIDE the backstage door of the arena of the Monterey Bike Fest, smoking a cigarette, with my cellphone at my ear. Ten rings. What the hell is taking so long? Flicking the half-smoked stem from my lips to the ground, I smash the lit end on the concrete with my boot. I keep my eyes level to the ground as set-up crews move past me. Looking at my watch, I press my lips together. I’m running out of time. My heart constricts. Did she leave me?
The phone finally picks up, and I exhale. “Hello—”
“Where’s my money?” she says. Her tone sharp.
I press my lips together. “You spent all I left you? You had enough for the rest of the week.”
“You can’t be serious? Of course it’s gone. It went on shopping and meeting with my agents. I need more money. I told you that before you left. I can’t live off of this! That’s the problem with you. You think that’s enough, and this shit hole of a place is good enough to live in! It’s not!” She shrills so loud I get the attention of a passing crew member. I wave and turn my head toward the stone wall.
“It’s all you’re getting until I get home. We only have so much,” I tell her, rubbing the space between my brows.
“If you don’t send money now, don’t expect to see me when you get home,” she threatens.
My heart accelerates. “I don’t have time for this. I’m working—”
“You’re always working. You don’t even have to do so much. You just want to get away from me. You move me away from LA, and now I’m all alone,” she sobs.
“You know that’s not true. You told me you wanted to go. You wanted that house,” I say and touch my pocket again, feeling for another cigarette.
“My agent says it’s tiny. I can’t invite anyone here; they will laugh at me. They will laugh that I’m with a mechanic. You could ask your family—” she wails.
“We’ll talk about this when I get back,” I cut her off. “Now, I only have a few more minutes left. Tell me what did the doctor say?”
“You want to know the results give me money,” she pouts.
The door opens and a man with a clipboard “Broderick Whitehurst—”
I muffle the phone. “It’s Brody.”
“You’re next, Sir,” he says, tapping his clipboard
“One sec,” I say. And he waits there. I hear the announcers and look through the open door. My custom bikes are right next to the curtain.
I speak into the phone again. “Damn it. I need to go. Please tell me—”
“No. Now you feel what it’s like to not get what you want,” she says and laughs.
“Mia!”
I woke from the haze of the dream, nightmare, alone in the bed in the caravan. Swiping the beads of sweat from my hairline, I took deep breaths to calm my heart. The sound of Seren’s cackle hits my ears. It was too loud for the space but calmed the rage back down. Far enough to keep all the other things that threatened to take me. I deserved that nightmare and all the shit that lives within it. That was what I got from getting mixed up in a life I couldn’t have, with a person that wanted more than I could give. I got burned when I failed, along with everyone else around me.
I got up, fixed the bed, and gathered my clothes for a shower. When I opened the divider, I was relieved to find no one was there. They had gone outside and the smell of pancakes hung in the air. Mama Fiona was always spoiling us with her cooking. I ate better with her than I had since I was told to leave home. But it was better that I missed it. It was a luxury I didn’t deserve. I should get used to living on the road. I would have to leave the road eventually, but not now. I would do better and stay focused on where I am and not on a woman that was just passing through. I won’t let Seren or Cole down again.
I went into the bathroom, cleaned up and changed into my jeans and pullover. While I was brushing my teeth at the sink, Seren opened the door. She looked better, but not because of me. I failed her last night.
“I know what you’re thinking, but you’re wrong. Doc gave me the all clear last night. He said it was a normal reaction for someone cold in the water,” she said.
He said as much to me, but she wouldn’t have suffered in the water if I had been at her side. “I shouldn’t have left you. It won’t happen again.”
I rinsed my mouth at the small sink and moved passed her to the kitchen. A plate covered with a sticky note on top was on the four-seater built-in dinette. My name scrawled across it. Fiona was a sweet Mama Bear. I tucked in. Seren let me eat for a few minutes before starting an argument.
“Pushing away someone you like isn’t going to change anything,” she said.
Last night holding and kissing Piper had made me be
lieve I was a different man. Believe that I could be good enough. That I could move on. But last night showed that wasn’t possible. “It does. If Piper stays, we stay clear of each other.”
“Staying apart for me because you and Cole can’t accept I’m dying—”
“You’re not dying. You’re recovering,” I corrected her.
“I am, but really we all are dying,” she said.
“Now that’s a positive thought,” I said with sarcasm. “This trip is for fun, and I’m here to help you have that, just as we promised Cole. I promised I wouldn’t leave you alone, but I did. And for that I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying you’re sorry. This trip is about living and enjoying life now. I had a blast last night. I will have another one tonight and the next day too. But no matter how much we try to avoid it, death happens. You know that as much as I do,” she said.
I slammed my fork down on my plate. “Don’t even go there.”
“You can’t stop living and enjoying life or not allow yourself to like someone new because you think you don’t deserve it after what happened with Mia.” She moved to sit by me and touched my arm. And I felt the world tilt inside me.
I snatched it away and stood up. “Don’t ever speak her name again,” I snapped.
She got up and in my face. “Mia wasn’t for you and you need to get past it. You need to give living a chance again and don’t give me that ‘you’re out here with me’ speech. As far as coming on the road, you were already out here for months. Cole asked you because he thought we both could help each other. But you’re both wrong. Neither one of you’ll be there at the moment of death. When I die. I’m going to die alone.”
“You will not. Enough of this,” I yelled. “You’re pushing, but nothing can and will happen. We’re getting this trip back on track. We go on to the next place, but you’re on board with me. I’m not interested in being with Piper or anyone else.” I slammed the caravan door behind me.
The door didn’t stay closed long, Seren was right on my heels. Fiona was outside the door. Her face looking like she sucked on something sour. Doc was with her and not even looking at me. What was this all about? Piper. She was standing there too. She must have heard me. Seeing her eyes watery and her nose pink had my chest constricting. Shit.
Piper Dreams: Dream it, Seize it, Live it. (Dreams Series Book 1) Page 11