Page 17

I’ve been running with Alana every morning for the past couple of days now, and it’s been nothing short of awesome and also totally shit, all at the same time.

Awesome that I’ve been getting to know her, getting to learn more about who she is and what she loves. Awesome that everything I do learn is so fucking amazing that it just makes me want to hang out with her more and more. Like every single day, all the time.

And totally shit because I can’t do all the other things I want to do with her. The things I know she wants to do too.

And we come so fucking close every time we run together. It’s like we can’t even be in the same postcode as each other without wanting to touch, to kiss, to fuck, to...all of it. I want this woman so bad, and I don’t ever remember feeling like this about anything. Including surfing or competing.

It’s killing me but I can’t seem to stop, can’t seem to stay away from her.

This morning when we ran, I dropped behind her for a bit when the path had narrowed, torturing myself with the view of her sweat-covered body as she ran up the rocky path. By the time we reached the waterfall for the second time, I was so turned on, I backed her up against a tree and kissed her hard, one hundred percent set on saying fuck it to the consequences.

I felt like Alana might have been on the same page too. Her hands were all over me, grabbing at my skin, pulling me closer as she kissed and bit and sucked.

But then my phone rang, and despite ignoring it at first, the caller, Nate, rang back. Today is the Keiki Chaos thing, a mini Maui Pipe comp for the kids, and I promised Nate I’d help out. Now that he knows who I am, he’s also roping me into being a judge for the whole thing, something he’s publicizing widely.

So I stopped and answered my phone, even though my body was screaming at me to just keep going.

I know Alana and I are walking a very dangerous line here. We are both being reckless and crazy and borderline stupid, but it also feels like neither of us is able to be any other way.

And to be honest, I’m not sure I want to be either.

I pull into the parking area by the side of the shop before heading inside to take a shower and jerk off, needing to release some of this pent-up frustration. As I step under the hot water, my dick already hard, I grab the soap, lathering up my hand.

Leaning against the tile, I grip my dick, slowly stroking as I close my eyes, my mind going back to this morning when I was pressed up against Alana, my tongue in her mouth and her hands all over me. It’s not hard to remember how good it felt as my grip tightens around my cock and my strokes get faster.

“Jesus, fuck, Alana,” I groan, remembering the way her body felt as my hands roamed all over her warm skin. The feel of her nails against my back, marking me as she pulled at my bottom lip with her teeth.

I come hard and suddenly, making a mess all over the tiles, but the release does nothing to curb my want for her. It’s probably just as well I’m not competing at Maui Pipe because my head is a mess over this woman, and I’m not sure I could focus.

After I clean up, I dry off, wrapping the towel around my waist as I wander back to my bedroom, hearing my phone ping out a text.

Jade: How come you’re not staying in the same place as me on Maui?

Typical message from Jade, no hello or how are you, just straight to the point, which is usually all about her. I type out a response.

Me: Cause I came out here earlier for a break.

Jade: So where are you?

Me: On Maui…I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.

Jade: No, I mean where are you now, I’m here.

“Oh fuck,” I groan, shoving a hand through my wet hair. Why the fuck has Jade come out here early? Half the point of me coming out here early was to have a break from not just everything, but also her.

There’s no denying Jade is a good surfer, although she lacks the natural talent that Alana has, and it’s part of why I’m coaching her. But she is tough work at times and there comes a point when I just need a break from her. That’s what this was supposed to be, a longer period between surf comps when I could come out to Hawaii, a place I’ve always loved, a little earlier and just do my own thing.

Now with Jade being here, not only is she going to be up my arse twenty-four-seven, there’s even less chance of me being able to do anything with Alana because if Jade were to even suspect anything was going on between us, the shit would hit the fan in a big way.

Me: I’m having a break, and I’m busy right now. Why don’t you head out to surf, get some practice in?

She doesn’t respond to my message, and I know it’s because she’s pissed off at my dismissive response and me not telling her where I am. But Jade knowing where I’m staying is the last thing I need because I do not want her coming around here whenever she wants, disrupting this cool thing I have going here.

I like hanging out with Nate and Sage, and Alana and I don’t need Jade here banging on about her own shit like she tends to do.

With a sigh, I throw my phone onto the bed and get dressed, not giving a shit about whether I’ve pissed Jade off or not.

When I walk into The Pipe Dream, Nate hits me with a grin and an apology. “Sorry for the multiple phone calls this morning, things are kinda blowing up a bit now that we have a world champion judging this thing. The kids are going crazy.”

“No worries,” I say, waving his apology away, even if his phone calls did interrupt something that was about to get very hot and heavy between Alana and me. I’m trying not to see it as a sign, even though I probably should be. “What do you need me to do?”

Nate points toward a bunch of banners and flags. “Can you take those to the beach and get them set up? Kai and Miles are already there, so you’ll know where to go.”

“Cool, and it’s at Starfish Cove, right?” I check.

“Yep,” Nate replies with a nod. “Thanks again, Flynn. Really appreciate your help with this.”

“All cool,” I tell him. “Maybe I’ll find the next world champion,” I add with a grin.

Nate laughs. “Maybe, and maybe you should try for it again,” he says, giving me a look that I know is meant to be encouraging.

“Nah, I think that ship might have sailed.”

Nate scoffs. “That’s not what Alana says,” he tells me, and I’m suddenly very interested in what Alana has been saying to him about me. “She says you’re an amazing surfer, still,” he adds, brow raised. “And maybe you just need someone to believe in you again.”

I scrub a hand across my jaw, the stubble bristling against my palm. “I wish it was that easy.”

“Maybe it is,” Nate says with a shrug. “Alana was in a bad way and not wanting to compete after Mitch died, but then something changed with her. Right around when you got here actually, and suddenly she was all in.”

Chuckling, I say, “I kinda get the impression Alana would have eventually changed her mind.”

Nate smirks. “Yeah, she’s definitely super competitive, and getting that entry was huge for her. I don’t know why she finally changed her mind, but I’m glad she did.”

I nod, wondering if maybe I’m part of the reason for why she changed her mind. I hope so because Alana is born to surf, and she needs to compete. I truly believe she has a legit shot at placing and maybe even winning this thing. She’s that good.

She’s definitely better than Jade, and it’s really going to rub her the wrong way when she sees Alana on the waves, especially when she finds out she’s still an amateur.

“Yeah, me too,” I say. “Anyway, I’ll get this shit all set up for you,” I say as I make my way over to all the stuff I need to get to the beach.

“Thanks, dude. Appreciate it.”

When I get to the beach, it’s not hard to see where the surf comp is going down. Grabbing all the shit from the back of my car, I make my way over to where the guys are.

“Hey, Nate asked me to bring this stuff down. Where do you want it?” I ask.

“Hey, hey,” Kai says, grinning at me. “We need the starting banners over there and then you can just stick the others around. Doesn’t need to be super organized.”

His brother scoffs as he looks over at me and says, “I mean, we don’t want it looking shit, though.”

Laughing, I reply, “Got it. I’ll make sure it’s semi-organized and not shit.”

I’m driving the last of the banners into the sand when I feel someone standing behind me. Turning, I find Alana, her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun as she watches me, that bottom lip of hers between her teeth.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey yourself,” she says, smiling.

We don’t say anything more, just stand here staring at each other. I don’t know if she’s thinking about this morning, but right now, I sure as shit am. And it’s taking every bit of self-control I have to not reach out and grab her, pick that kiss right back up again.

“How are you feeling after this morning?” I eventually ask, immediately realizing how that sounds.

She smirks. “If you mean the run, then I feel pretty good. But if you mean the other thing that happened, then I feel...hmmm...”

“Horny?” I suggest.

Alana laughs. “That’s one way of putting it.”

Smiling, I step closer, even though no one is around to hear us. “I had to jerk off in the shower when I got home,” I tell her, my words a low growl. “And I’m still fucking desperate for you.”

“Me too,” she whispers, her eyes dark as she looks up at me.

“What the fuck are we doing, Alana?” I blurt out. “I want you and you want me and I’m fucking sick of trying to fight it.”

“Me too,” she whispers.

I nod, taking another step closer. “We could just not tell anyone,” I say, knowing what I’m suggesting is very dangerous.

“You mean keep it a secret?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I whisper, hating the idea of not being able to tell anyone but preferring it over not being able to touch her. “Just for now,” I quickly add. “Until we can sort something out. And hey, maybe we just need to get it out of our system,” I suggest, already knowing that’s total bullshit.

Alana lets out a laugh, which tells me she thinks it’s bullshit too. “Didn’t we already try that?” she asks, head tilted to the side.

“Did we?” I ask. “We sorta started something that ended before we could, well, before we could get it out of our systems.”

She laughs again, her head falling back. “If you say so, Flynn.”

I blow out a breath. “Okay, look, I know that’s bullshit. This isn’t a work-it-out-of-my-system type of thing for me, Alana.”

“Me either,” she says quietly.

“Soooo...”

She licks her lips, pulling that bottom one between her teeth again. A low growl rumbles in my chest and I’m two seconds away from saying fuck it and just kissing her anyway, when I suddenly hear someone shout my name.

“Flynn!”

Closing my eyes, I let out a breath, hoping to fuck it’s not who I think it is. I have no idea how she’s found me, but I guess this kid’s comp is bigger than I realize.

I turn around just as Jade throws herself at me, her arms wrapping around my neck as she kisses my cheek. With my hands on her hips, I gently but firmly remove her, easing her back so there is some space between us.

“Surprise!” she says, smiling up at me.

“What are you doing here?” I ask. “I thought I told you to get some practice in.”

She lets out a huff, pouting as she says, “No point in practicing if I don’t have my coach there. Besides, the guy at the hotel told me about this competition, and I thought I’d come check it out.”

“Right,” I reply, shoving a hand through my hair.

“So, are you going to show me around? Introduce me to everyone?” Jade now asks, linking her arm through mine.

I step away, pinching the bridge of my nose as I turn to where Alana stands beside me. When our eyes meet, I can see the disappointment and something that looks a lot like hurt on her face because I think she probably knows who this is and what her now being here means.

I really hope she’s not reading too much into that fucking hug Jade just gave me, though because there never has and never will be anything going on between Jade and me.

“Jade, this is Alana,” I start. “Alana, this is Jade Whitlock. She’s here to surf Maui Pipe.”