Page 8

It felt amazing to be back out on the water, catching waves and riding them like I was born for it. It feels like home, and as much as it reminded me of Mitch, it was in a good way. In a way that felt right.

I’m still thinking about it when I walk into the little restaurant where I’m meeting the girls. All three of them are already there, tucked into a booth in the back where we always sit.

Daisy tosses up a hand, signaling for me, and I smile, walking over to sit down. They all have beers, and they’re laughing and talking. Sage is filling them in on the Luna Mae sexy times, still mortified that Tanner thinks it’s her.

“Was it you?” Sage asks Sloane, her question said with some hesitation, and she slides over, making room for me. “How about you?” This time her question is directed at Daisy, and Daisy lets out a laugh. It’s like this big mystery, and it seems Sage needs to solve it.

“Omg, why would you think it was me?” Daisy chirps out, sounding insulted. “I haven’t hooked up with anyone since…” she trails off, not wanting to admit who she’s been with since Miles. It’s been tough for her, but I do wish she was the one hooking up on Tanner’s boat. With Miles and not that dick she’s with now. She needs it.

“I don’t know,” Sage says. “Everyone thought it was me and Nate, but why would we? We have our own place, and we don’t even use condoms.” She lets out an exasperated sigh, and we all laugh. She’s so bothered by this. “Sloane?”

“Nope, not me. I’m as far from the random hook up as it gets,” she says, shrugging. “You all know that. Maybe it was Alana.” Sloane hits me with a pointed look as the rest of the table does the same. As far as everyone knows, Sage is the only one getting laid on a regular basis, so tossing it in my direction is no surprise.

I can feel my heartbeat quicken, worried that I’ve been caught, and wondering if I should just admit to it. But instead, I blurt out the one thing that I know will shut them up.

“I’m going to surf Maui Pipe. I’m doing it. I’m not dropping out.”

The entire table falls silent. Daisy’s mouth hangs open before she lets out a loud whoop of joy. Sloane and Sage follow suit until they’re all talking at once, excited for me. Not that I didn’t think they would be, but this is more of a reception than I expected.

“We are going out tomorrow,” Sloane says. “I’m getting the jet ski, and we’re spending all day out on the water. You need to catch up on your training.”

I nod, that little bit of guilt and sadness still lingers, but I want to go big more than I want to hide and mourn the loss of Mitch. I want to win this whole damn thing. It wasn’t a lie when I told Flynn I’m scared of letting people down.

To this little town and to my friends, this is a huge deal. It’s been so long since a local made it this far, and I don’t want to disappoint them by failing to even place. But if I don’t even try, that feels like a bigger failure. They’re all counting on me, including Mitch. I owe it to him more than anyone.

“I’m in,” I tell Sloane, and Daisy asks to tag along. “How about you?” I now ask Sage, and she pauses, looking at Daisy and then Sloane and then back to me.

“I don’t know anything about surfing. I’m not sure I’ll be any help,” she replies sweetly, sounding perfect like she always does.

“Stop it. You are totally coming along,” I say, not giving her a chance to argue. “Maybe you’ll learn a few things while you’re out there with us too. And he was your dad, you inherited some natural talent.”

“Fine, fine,” Sage concedes, smiling, her face lighting up at being included in our little girl gang. She fits in so well, it’s like she’s been with us all along.

The waitress comes by, and we order pizza, adding in some more beers for all of us, making plans to meet early tomorrow.

“Cheers to Alana,” Sage says, holding up her beer, and all I keep hoping is I don’t let any of them down. And if I have anyone to thank for pushing me back in this direction, it’s Flynn.

And he doesn’t even know it.

It’s late by the time we get home. Sloane, Daisy and I walked Sage back to her place, and now the three of us are just coming through the door to ours.

“I’m gonna shower and then go to bed,” Daisy says, and I send up a silent plea that she decides not to use the outdoor shower because I’m planning to sneak out and meet up with Flynn.

“Same,” adds Sloane, and instead of agreeing with them and doing the same, I head into my room, changing into a sports bra and a pair of running shorts.

“I’m going out for a run,” I call out to the quiet house, not hearing the shower running yet, but since we only have one indoor one, Daisy is probably outside.

“Okay, look, it’s a little late,” Sloane responds back just like I knew she would. She’s always looking out for us, worried about us being alone. “Take your phone and the pepper spray.”

“Will do, Mom,” I tease back. “Tell Daze so she doesn’t worry, please.”

It’s the best excuse I have, but if I end up staying the night with Flynn, they’re going to panic. I have no idea how to handle this, but right now, all I can think about is Flynn, not the least bit concerned with how I’m going to make my lie believable and how I’ll get back here in time.

I feel like I’m sixteen again, sneaking out of the house to hook up with some guy my mom hated. No one even knows about Flynn, and it’s going to get even harder to keep it a secret when he’s staying on the same property as Nate and Sage.

Jogging down the gravel driveway, I head toward the road, staying off to the side. I try to play the part, looking like I’m exercising when in reality I’m just warming up for my real workout.

I slow down, coming to a walk when I’m only a few feet from The Pipe Dream. I check to see if the lights are still on at Nate and Sage’s, but luckily it looks like they’re in for the night.

I creep around the back, stopping to make sure they aren’t sitting outside around the firepit, and I breathe a sigh of relief when they’re not.

Over and over in my head, I let the excuses play out for why I’m here just in case I run into Nate or Sage. Picking up gear. Needed some surf wax. Got new suits in and wanted to check them out. All of them plausible excuses and not all that weird despite it being after ten.

Luckily, there’s a light on in the little cottage behind The Pipe Dream, the place where Flynn is staying, and the front door is open. Only the screen door is closed, one of those little wooden things that swings on its hinges but never latches.

As soon as I open it and step inside, I see Flynn lying on the couch. He’s shirtless, and his boardshorts are slung low on his hips. His face lights up with a smile the second he notices me.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, a playfulness to his tone. “Out dressed like that. How did you not get stopped by every guy on the island?”

“I was out for a run, and you’ll never believe it, but the GPS took me here.”

He stands from the couch, coming toward me as I walk to him, meeting in the middle. He reaches out, hooking his fingers into the waistband of my shorts, pulling me to him.

“I’m glad you came,” he murmurs, dragging his nose along my jaw, my fingers raking down the bare skin of his back.

“I’d love it if you make me come, too,” I whisper back, the innuendo dancing between us, and he lets out a throaty laugh.

“Alana, you sexy minx,” he now hisses, his teeth dragging along the throbbing pulse in my neck. He nips where his teeth just were, sending warmth weaving through my veins and pooling between my legs.

This man has no idea the effect he has on me, and I never want it to stop. I have no idea how I’m going to get out of here because the last thing I want to do is go home after this.

As he sucks and bites at my neck, heat igniting everywhere in my body, my hands grope at him, desperate for his touch, for him to fill me, for him to make me come.

I moan out loud as his mouth moves lower, capturing my nipple through the fabric of my bra, but I need more, and without words, he pushes my bra up. My breasts are now exposed to him, my nipples straining into painful peaks, begging to be sucked into his mouth.

“Fuck, Alana, you’re so responsive,” he moans, his words raspy and desperate.

His hands grip my ass possessively, lifting me up, I wrap my legs around him. My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging his mouth to mine as he walks us to the bedroom.

Our kisses are feverish and desperate, exploring each other’s mouths like our lives depend on it, and it’s so all-consuming that I nearly forget to breathe, so lost in him.

His knees hit the bed, and he sets me down, stepping back to admire me as I lie back, kicking my shoes off, my breasts exposed. My eyes trail down his body, taking in every inch of lean muscle and I want to explore him with my tongue. I want to trace all the hard lines and taste him.

“These shorts,” he growls, “need to come off.” And I smirk at his words, my thumbs hooking into the sides of them, I slide them down my hips.

“And what about yours?” Extending my leg, I point my toes and let them trail over the front of his shorts, his impressive cock bulging through the fabric.

Slowly he begins to untie them, letting them hang loose on his hips, and my eyes take him in, following the soft patch of hair below his belly button, leading to the cut of his hips. Fuck, this man is gorgeous.

Anticipation builds beneath my skin, waiting for him to touch me, waiting for his cock to fill me in the way that he’s done all those other times.

With a simple move of his hand, his shorts pool at his feet, his cock exposed to me now, and I moan at the sight of it.

Flynn reaches down, fisting his dick, his thumb brushing over the sensitive head, and I can’t take my eyes off him. There’s something so fucking hot about watching him jerk himself off.

I sit up on my elbows, my teeth raking over my bottom lip as he strokes his thick cock. I could watch him do this all day, taking him in, and knowing he’s like this because of me, for me.

“Are you wet for me, Alana?” Flynn rasps, a wickedness to his words that sends my body spiraling with want and need.

“Only for you,” I murmur back, loving the possessive growl that leaves his lips. His eyes turn wild and hazy, climbing on top of me, he doesn’t give me a warning, just thrusts inside of me with reckless abandon.

“I’m not gonna last,” he gasps out, pumping into me hard and rough just the way I like it. I hitch my leg around his hip, drawing him deeper, my eyes falling to where our bodies meet, my arousal coating his dick with each movement.

My eyes fall shut, listening to the sounds of his grunts as he fucks me. My breathing grows hard, chasing the feeling I feel building inside me. His fingers move between us, his thumb finding my clit, he strokes me in time with his thrusts.

I drag my nails down his back, marking him as desperate whimpers fall from my mouth. Pounding into me, my orgasm builds, and I call out his name, groaning out with pleasure as my body falls apart.

I feel myself tighten around him, clenching his cock, and he pulls himself from my body. Fisting his dick, he begins to pump himself, and I watch, obsessed and needy, taking him in.

His orgasm rips through him, his head falling back as he moans loud and desperate. Guttural noises fill the room as thick white ropes of cum drop to my stomach and he milks his cock until he’s spent. I’ve never in my life seen something so fucking hot and erotic and dirty, and I never want it to end.

Looking down at me, his eyes heavy-lidded and dark, I run my finger through his release, bringing it to my mouth, I taste him.

“How the fuck am I ever going to walk away from you, Alana?” he asks, a desperation that makes my entire body ache. I still taste him on my tongue, wanting more of him, and he has no idea that he’s the reason I want to surf again. He’s the reason my body feels like my own, the ocean calling to me again.

“You don’t,” I tell him. “You stay and help me train for Maui Pipe.”