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“Thanks. It’s not much, but I like it.”

She twirled to give him a full view, and his gut tightened to see her ample ass practically spilling from the garment.

Not much was correct.

“Sexy.”

He connected the life jacket, and when she turned around, a blush filled her cheeks. Carla stood in front of him, taking in his natural scent and wanting to taste him.

“Thank you.”

Waves brushed their feet, and they stared at each other so long they both considered abandoning the activity in lieu of a different physical activity.

Still, neither one of them acted on it.

“Should we?”

“Yeah,” Carla said.

Finally turning his attention, albeit slowly, towards the waves, Jacob grabbed the surfboards, and the couple walked into the water, then put the boards on the surface. Lying flat on their bellies, they paddled out with their arms.

“This is going to be exciting,” Carla chimed, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm.

They began to pick up momentum.

“Pull up with your left!” Jacob instructed. Together, they moved to stand, pulling up with their left knee then rising to their feet, arms out, and bodies slightly bent.

“Wooo!” Carla shouted, drawing a sexy grin from Jacob.

He rode the soft waves beside her, keeping Carla in his sight. “That’s my girl!”

She laughed and blushed as they turned slightly, riding a marginally larger wave than the last.

“Yeaaaah baby!”

There was something about her pure enjoyment for all things that made his heart zestfully alive. Not that it hadn’t been before. But this was different.

For years, Jacob had become content in his bachelor lifestyle. It saved him from any misunderstandings, any infidelities, any doubts, or worries about what his spouse might be doing.

But this wasn’t similar to what he had experienced before in previous relationships. It was the purest and most tranquil relationship he’d been in, even for a newly-kindled friendship.

“Slightly bigger wave coming!” Jacob shouted.

“Oh, shit!” Carla’s eyes bulged, and she mumbled something Jacob couldn’t understand.

They rode up the turquoise waters. “Right, then left!” Jacob instructed as they climbed to the top. Directing their boards, they leaned right, then left, and glided down the wave with efficiency.

“Oh!”

Water splashed around them, and for a second, Carla went down to one knee. She steadied herself, just as Jacob was set to jump off and go after her should she flip.

With eyes straight ahead, Carla took in a deep breath, then glanced at him and smiled—her heart warmed that he was in a position to save her once again.

“I’m good!” she yelled over the birds squawking above their head and the waves crashing together. “Let’s go again!”

“Are you sure?”

Carla nodded. “You’re not scared, are you?” she teased.