by Erin Trejo
“Stop, Saylor,” I tell myself as I climb off the floor and head into the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror before turning the shower on. I need to just wash this all away. The sight of him wanting to kill that man. I climb under the warm spray and stand with my head pressed against the tile wall letting the water hit my tensed shoulders. Closing my eyes, I try to focus on something other than the look he had. It was furious and dangerous. I know it should have driven me away, but that was not what happened. God, why did I find it so sexy?
I don’t know how long I stand in the shower, but when I climb out and wrap in a towel and step into the room, he’s there. Sitting with his back to me in a chair - shirtless, a bottle of Whiskey dangling from his hand.
“I warned you I was fucked up, Say.”
“He was attacking me, Triton.” He chuckles but doesn’t turn to face me. I can hear the slosh of the liquor as he brings it to his lips and swallows a big gulp.
“Do you know that I can still see that night in my mind? It’s like a fuckin’ reel on replay. All the fuckin’ lives I’ve taken. I can see them,” he whispers loudly. I walk toward him resting my hands on his shoulders and feeling just how tense he is.
“There was a time when I was younger, I was surfing and I lost control of my board. The wave crashed over me and it hurt like hell. I remember being under the water for so long that I panicked. In that situation you have to learn not to panic. I did though and gulped in so much sea water. I couldn’t breathe, everything was dark. I technically died that day,” I tell him, letting the words linger. Triton slowly shifts in his seat, turning to look up at me, his eyes wild.
“You died?” he asks softly, his brows pinched together.
“Yeah. I was dead for two minutes before they revived me. My mom was screaming when I came to. I just remember being peaceful. Everything was soft and quiet. It was beautiful.”
Triton sets the bottle on the floor before shoving out of his chair and pulling me into him.
“Death isn’t beautiful, Say. Not for everyone. You, fuck, you deserve it all. The fairy tale, the happy endin’. You don’t deserve death.”
I smile and press into his chest. “Neither do you and you don’t deserve what you’re doing to yourself. You are a good man in all the ways that matter.” Pressing my lips to his, I take what I want. I’m calm and in control when I’m around him. No fear dances between us. No hesitation. It’s only us and what we want and need.
“You fuck with my head, Say. You make me think I can do things and be things I don’t think I can. I don’t want anyone touchin’ you like that motherfucker did. I want you, all of you.”
His words sting my heart and cause it to swell. He’s pouring his heart into his words and that’s all I needed from him. I needed him to realize that there’s more to him than he sees.
“You have all of me, Triton. You did from day one.”
Lifting me in his arms, he pulls me closer, kissing me deeper. I love the way he holds me tightly and makes me feel protected and cared for. Triton walks to the bed and sets me down gently. I study his chest as he pulls his jeans down his legs after grabbing a condom. I shake my head and his eyes widen.
“What?” he asks, cocking his head to the side to study me.
“I want you, Triton. No condom.”
He looks torn that causes unease to slip through my veins.
“I take the shot and I’m clean. I’ve never had sex without one aside from you.”
His eyebrow arches and a sexy smirk crosses his face. His tongue runs over his bottom lip and I have to suppress a moan. “And you like that I’m the first?”
Why that part makes me feel shy is beyond me. I’m way past that age but when he looks at me the way he is, I can’t help it. Triton climbs on the bed, sitting right between my legs as he looks down at me. He tosses the condom on the bed next to my head, letting his fingers slide up and down my inner thigh. I writhe on the bed, needing him to touch me, kiss me, anything.
“Why me, Say?”
His question doesn’t even phase me, and it doesn’t require thought. It’s the easiest question in the world.
“Because you’re you, Triton.”
That must satisfy him because he leans down and kisses me like it’s the last thing he might do. His kiss is heated and passionate and everything a girl could ask for, but in the back of my mind, I’m still wondering how we are going to work. If I win the competition and get noticed by a sponsor, I’m leaving. Going pro has been a dream since I was a little girl. My love of water has always pushed me a little harder to achieve that dream and I can’t stop now. Shoving those thoughts away, I push into him, needing him closer to me. Triton kisses down my neck and chest before stopping and letting his fingers roam over the tattoos that cover my side.
“Why this?” His fingers tickle my skin eliciting bumps to form across my skin. Triton smirks, but doesn’t stop.
“My mom mostly. It’s a reminder of what the sea means to me. It’s all a part of me and I never want to forget. I was born on a cruise ship,” I tell him and watch his eyes jerk to mine.
“No shit?”
I smile and shake my head. “I guess all of my tattoos are a testament to my birth and my death,” I tell him as his fingers move down my side to the skull tattoo on my thigh. He leans down and presses a kiss to each one before moving up to my stomach.
“I’m glad they found you, Say. I don’t know that I could live if they hadn’t.”
“You didn’t even know me back then,” I say breathlessly as he continues moving over my body.
“I knew you, Say. I knew your energy, your heart. I knew you,” he whispers before sucking a nipple into his mouth. I run my hand through his hair and tug getting a groan in return. Fuck, he makes some of the sexiest sounds I’ve ever heard.
“Are you going to fuck me, Triton? As good as your mouth feels, I need to feel you.”
Chapter 16
Triton
Things were discussed last night that should have been awkward for us but they weren’t. Say told me more about herself than she ever has, and I’m glad that she finally opened up to me. I left her sleeping peacefully this morning with a note to let her know where I’d gone. I need to see what the hell is happening with Rebel Reds and Sticky, the president. I’m meeting Rebel and Ransom at their clubhouse since they got called into some shit at the eleventh hour last night. It would have been nice if those fuckers were around when that asshole put his hands on Say but it is what it is and I handled that shit.
“Look who got his cock outta surfer girl to join us!” Ransom says.
I flip him off, setting my helmet on the seat before sauntering toward them. Ransom grins but Rebel looks off for some reason.
“What’s with you?” I ask, nodding at him. Rebel passes me a cigarette and I light up before he speaks.
“I was fuckin’ this girl the other night and some shit was just off with what she was sayin’ when she got drunk,” he says, looking serious but I laugh.
“What she say? Your cock wasn’t her favorite ride at Disney World?”
Ransom laughs before coughing, choking on his smoke but Rebel looks dead serious.
“Rebel, brother, what the fuck?” He looks between Ransom and me having our attention.
“Seems there’s a price on your girl, brother. To take her out of the qualifiers that she’s in.” With the words that leave his mouth, I tense.
“I knew there was some fuck tryin’ to get her to throw it for two k, but that’s all I heard. He wasn’t all that intimidatin’ to begin with.”
“You saw him?” Ransom asks, pulling my attention to him.
I nod my head and let my cigarette hang between my lips. “Yeah. He was fuckin’ with her one day, and I happened to be there. Threatened the fucker but clearly it wasn’t good enough.”
“I didn’t like the shit I was hearin’, Triton.”
“Which is?”
“From what she was sayin’ it wasn’t just threats. Someo
ne knocked her off her board the day you went there, and shit isn’t over. They want her out, brother. Badly.”
“She say anything else?”
“Just that the fucker is plannin’ shit to get her out.”
I inhale the nicotine trying to get my nerves to calm before I have to go inside, but that shit isn’t happening. I’m not going to let that little fucker get away with fucking up her dream. I know how much this means to Say and I’ll make damn sure she goes through with it.
“Let’s get this handled, and when we get back, I’ll see what I can find out. Thanks for that, brother.” Rebel nods and climbs off his bike following me and Ransom into the front doors of Rebel Red’s clubhouse. I glance around and look over my shoulder at the guys, raising an eyebrow.
“Who the hell knew they were this fucked?” Ransom says, looking around the room at the half doped-up assholes lazily strewn about the room. Every one of them is high as a fucking kite. There’s seven of them, at least that I can see. I kick a few boots and look at the glossed over eyes of the men who are trying to buy military style guns.
“What the fuck are you doin’ here?”
I look up to find Sticky, their prez, staring us down. At least this fuck isn’t high.
“Needed to talk to you about some shit, but it looks like there’s more to it, yeah?” I nod toward the douchebags lying around, he grunts.
“Can you believe this shit?” he asks looking at his men, his brothers.
“What the fuck is goin’ on, man?”
Sticky brings the bottle of beer to his lips and takes a long pull. “Motherfuckers got into some bad shit. Been hooked on it for a few months now.”
“All of your guys?” I ask.
Sticky shakes his head and looks over at me. “No. Just these assholes. Thought about pullin’ their colors and all but fuck! Most of them have kids and shit,” he hisses.
“They ain’t doin’ their families any good like this,” I say as I kick another boot.
“Fuck no.”
“What’s with the guns?” Already tired of the scene, I skip his bullshit problems and get straight to the point here. I’d rather be at home.
“The plan was to take out the motherfuckers supplyin’ these assholes and work on gettin’ them back where they belong.”
It’s not a bad idea, but then again, they can always find drugs anywhere.
“You know the dealer?” Ransom asks, stepping up next to me. I see the look in his eyes and I fucking love it. I know what he’s thinking before he ever says it.
“Yeah, little fucker over on Lexington. Thought about goin’ after him without the guns, but half my guys are right here on the goddamn floor!”
I’ve never seen anything like this before. I know some of the guys use and others get addicted, but to this extreme? No, this is new to me.
“Let’s ride,” Rebel announces, pulling all of our attention. I can’t stop the smirk that pulls across my face when I look at him.
“You sure?” I ask with narrowed my eyes, but I already know he’s ready for some blood.
“Goddamn right. Let’s handle the fuckin’ problem and move on,” he says casually.
I chuckle and look toward Sticky.
“Fuck yeah! Let’s do this!” Tossing his beer bottle to the floor, he walks toward us with a new goal in mind.
Shrugging my shoulders, I follow along. I’m game if it gets us the hell out of here and back home in a timely manner. Or at least back to the hotel with Saylor.
We filter out of the clubhouse and head toward the bikes. I check that my guns are in place in the saddlebags. You never know when you might need extra, and I always come prepared. Pulling my helmet on, I glance over at Rebel and Ransom, both smirking and ready to take care of business. We wait for Sticky to pull out, and we follow behind him.
As the bike rumbles beneath me, my mind begins to drift. The main thoughts running through my head are the ones that Rebel put there. Knowing that some asshole is out for Saylor pisses me off. I knew that guy was fucking with her but knowing that he actually wants to hurt her to keep her out?
No, that shit isn’t happening.
Chapter 17
Saylor
Triton came back to the room that night covered in blood. It scared the shit out of me, but I didn’t ask him about it and I think he was grateful for that. He didn’t look like he wanted to talk and I didn’t force him. Instead, he took a shower and held me against his chest all night. Things have been tense the last few weeks between us when we’ve seen each other, but I’ve been training so much I haven’t really had time to see him.
“You sure you’re ready? You seem off,” Wiley says for the hundredth time.
He’s not far off the mark. I am off. And on edge. I didn’t tell him about the death threat I got the other day and I didn’t tell Triton either. I know it’s Marshall fucking with my head.
“I’m good. Marsha’s up after me, right?” I glance over at Wiley as he nods his head.
“The very next heat, right when you come out.”
I take a deep breath and look around at the crowd that has formed to watch. It always amazes me the amount of people that show up to these contests. Who would have thought that surfing was a spectator sport?
“Good luck, Saylor!”
I smile and nod at Christa, another surfer, when she walks past to get ready for her heat. Warm hands land on my shoulders, slowly massaging them. I know that touch. I don’t need to look to know it’s him.
“Nervous?” His deep voice vibrates through my whole body.
I shake my head and smile as I look over my shoulder at him. “I don’t get nervous.” Triton smirks and I melt.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. I didn’t think he’d come to this.
“My girl is surfin’ today. Thought I might be supportive.”
“Your girl, huh?” I tease loving the way his smile widens.
“Damn right,” he murmurs and leans down pressing his lips to mine. I spin in his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“I’m glad you came,” I whisper against his lips.
“You sure about that?”
“Of course. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me for supportin’ you, baby. It’s what a man is supposed to do, yeah?”
I can’t help but smile at him. He’s been supportive of me since day one and that alone means the world to me. I’m falling hard for Triton, which in turn scares the fuck out of me.
“Saylor!”
I turn when I hear Piper calling my name. Slipping out of Triton’s arms I reach for her and pull her into a hug. Piper has been at my side nearly every day learning to surf, and I must say, she is pretty good.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” I squeal, holding her a little tighter.
“Triton got me up early as hell to be here,” she whines a little. I glance over at him and he just smiles happily.
“Well, you made it in time. I’m about to go out, but I want you to watch the others and take notes.” Piper nods her head and runs toward the action when Triton pulls me back into him.
“I can’t thank you enough for workin’ with her. She’s happier.”
“You two getting along better?”
“Yeah. We talked and decided that durin’ the school year she’s gonna go stay with Blade and his family. She needs a stability that I can’t give her.” I move to rest my hands on his chest and stare into his eyes. I know he’s come a long way with her and he does the best he can.
“You have been an amazing brother to her. You have really come a long way from where you were as a man in general.” His hands rest on my shoulders, warmth spreading through me.
“Yeah, maybe. So, tell me how this works.” Nodding toward the water, his eyes lock with mine.
I can’t help but think of what he means by this. I know he’s talking about the competition, but that lingering voice in the back of my mind says its more about us and if I win. I don’t even want to think about t
hat because Triton has come to mean so much to me in the short time that I’ve known him. The idea of not having him around or in my life is too much to handle.
As best as I can, I try to mask my unease over these thoughts. But one look at Triton and I know he must be able to decipher what he sees in my eyes. His hands shift, coming to rest on my cheeks forcing me to look him in the eye when all I want to do is hide from the truth.
“It’ll be fine. We’ll figure it out, Say. I don’t plan on lettin’ you go that easily, you have to know that.”
“It’s across the country, Triton.”
“Stop. We’re not doin’ this now. You need to focus!” He snaps and it melts my heart that he cares that much.
“He’s right. You’re up,” Wiley chimes in from next to us, but I can’t pull my gaze from Triton’s. He smiles and leans in to kiss me.
“Go out there and kick some ass, darlin’,” he whispers against my lips.
Pulling him in for a hug, I realize I never want to let him go. But I do. I smile once more before grabbing my board and attaching the leash to my ankle. Heading toward the competitors tent, I wait for them to call my name. When they do, I’m at the water’s edge, ready to for the whistle. As soon as it blows, I race toward the waves.
As I paddle out to the break, my mind goes to its safe place, the place that my mother holds me in her arms. The place that lets me know that I’m just as much a part of the sea as the sea is a part of me. I inhale the salty air and close my eyes. I’m home.
“Mom, I know you’re with me. You always are when I’m out here. I need you today more than ever.” My words are only meant for her, and she’s the only one who hears them. She’s here, I can feel it.
“You guys are in for treat today. As you can see out there now is your local favorite, Saylor Robinson. Last year she had some problems and didn’t advance to the finals, but we all have high hopes for her this year. You can see her out there watching for that perfect set, Jim.” The commentators go on but I try to drown them out. My focus is on watching the sets coming in. When I see the perfect set forming, I turn my board and begin to paddle hard toward shore.