I watch him over my mug as I take a sip. He does the same.
“What’s the plan for today?”
“I thought, if you were game, we could go surfing.”
“Hell yeah.” He nods. His eyes widen, and his smile is ridiculously adorable. “Can we go now?”
I laugh. “Yeah, just let me change.”
We get ready for another day at the beach, and Camila wakes up and decides to come too. I’d left my boards here when I moved so we take my hybrid and longboard. Nathan is a natural, and the waves are pretty calm out this morning so I’m able to coach him up onto the board for a couple rides.
Camila stops us as we’re coming in. “I’m gonna head back. I told Jill I’d meet her for lunch. You guys want to come?”
I look to Nathan, and he shakes his head.
“I think we’re gonna stay here. Meet you back at the apartment later?”
She smiles. “Sounds good.”
We take our boards to Camila’s SUV and then head back down to the beach. We drop onto the sand, wet shoulders and knees touching.
“You wanna stay out on the beach or…” I let the sentence trail off with my mind going to all sorts of places.
“I wanna take you out on a date.” He’s sitting with his arms hugging his knees so he has to lean over his arm to kiss me.
“A date?” I ask when he pulls away.
“Mhmm. Thought we could check out the cheesy, touristy stuff you mentioned. Up for it?”
The wind blows my hair into my face, and the wet strands stick to my lips. Nathan brushes them away and tucks the hair behind my ear. I lean into his touch and nod. “Definitely.”
I throw on a dress over my suit, and Nathan pulls on his gray t-shirt.
“Ready?”
Hand in hand, we make our way to the pier at a slow pace. I’ve been here a million times, but seeing Nathan take it in for the first time makes it worth it. There’s a steady line of people, and it’s as busy as I’ve ever seen it with the beautiful weekend. The late summer days are still providing stellar weather, and everyone wants to soak up as much of it as they can before it turns cool.
Nathan insists on stopping and seeing everything, and I don’t mind at all with the goofy smile he wears. We watch a couple getting a caricature done, wander through the arcade, and to the park. I let him set the pace and the itinerary.
He wins me a stuffed bear shooting baskets, and I buy him a Japadog for lunch. When our feet hurt from walking and we need a break, we head down by the water.
“Have fun?” I ask, even though it’s clear he did with the big grin that hasn’t left his face.
“Yeah, I really did. Thanks for humoring me. You’ve probably been here a million times.”
“I can honestly say today was the most fun I’ve ever had at the pier.”
He holds his hand out and opens his palm to me. “I got you a little something to remember it.”
I reach for the keychain. “Oh, my God, when did you get this?”
It’s bright pink and has an outline of a girl on a surfboard.
“Saw it while you were getting lunch. Thought it was perfect for my surfer princess.”
“Thank you. I love it.” I reach in my pocket. “I got you something, too.”
“You did?”
I nod and hand him the tickets I got while I told him I needed to use the restroom. “You can’t come to the pier and leave without riding the Pacific Wheel.”
Up on top of the wheel, Nathan places his hand on my thigh and squeezes. “Is this a bad time to admit I don’t love heights?”
“Are you serious?”
He plays like he’s going to bury his head in my chest but then rubs the side of his face against my boobs. “Ah, much better. I feel safe now.”
I laugh, and he pulls his head up to smile gleefully at me. The hand on my thigh moves up under the hem of my dress and my heart rate increases.
“Today was without a doubt the best date I’ve ever had. I’m sorry I couldn’t take you on every single ride and buy you something better than a cheap keychain.”
I wish I could wave away his money problems and whatever misplaced guilt he has for not having it to spend on me. Doesn’t he know I don’t need it? I’ve had more than I’ve needed my whole life and never been happier than I am just hanging out with Nathan. “Money doesn’t buy everything, Nathan Payne. I’d rather walk around and do nothing with you than have all the stuff you can buy on this pier.”
“You mean that?” He threads his hand through my hair and holds the back of my neck. “Because there were some pretty kick-ass trinkets back there. I think you might be getting the short end.”
“Not even close.”
I kiss him with the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean and the pier lights buzzing as they come to life. The wind whips around us and I press against his warm sun-kissed skin. The weeks of wanting him and holding back make our kisses frantic and sloppy.
We stumble off the wheel and down the pier, laughing and stopping every few feet to kiss and stare at each other. I feel like we’re finally seeing each other without any pretenses or expectations, and us like this—as a real couple—we’re even better than I ever imagined when we’d been faking.
Camila sent a text to tell us she went to a bar down the street from her apartment and to stop by if we wanted, but when the Uber drops us off, it’s a race to be alone. Inside my old room, he kicks the door closed and presses me against it.
Soft lips caress while the scruff on his face scratches. Gentle and hard. Tender and demanding.
We’re both sober, so tomorrow morning there’ll be no regrets and no excuses. I want him and he wants me. Period. End of discussion.
Nathan slides the straps of my dress down and his mouth follows, trailing kisses from my shoulder to the top of my breasts. I arch into him, wanting more even as his erection presses into my hip.
I hook my leg around him, which causes my dress to slide up. His fingers find my ass, and he lifts me up so I can wrap both legs around him. The new positioning has him just where I need him, and I grind against him at a pace that has us both breathless and panting.
“Condom,” I rasp.
He curses under his breath. “I didn’t bring any.”
“Bathroom.”
He seems to understand and tightens his grip on my right side. His left hand opens the door and then steadies me as he carries me down the hall toward the bathroom.
“Where?” he asks when he steps over the threshold.
Neither of us bothers to turn on the light as I reach around him to the top right drawer where Camila and I have always stored the condoms. I grab three. Better to be prepared than not. “Got ‘em.”
He places me on the counter and pushes himself between my legs. Both hands frame my face as he kisses me, deeply owning my mouth. Savoring and exploring all at once.
We have the entire place to ourselves. Which makes my screaming out as Nathan’s mouth moves lower and bites down on my sensitive nipple awkward only for the neighbors.
His hands press into my thighs and move up until both thumbs brush against my pussy through my bikini bottoms. He alternates torturing me. Left then right. His touch is too soft even when I push against his hand. It started just like this last time. I make a little sound like a whine and he chuckles.
“You remember.” He adds pressure. “You remember how I tortured you until you begged me. I thought you didn’t remember, but you do, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s test your memory, shall we? What did I do next, princess?”
“Mouth.” My one-word answers are bordering unintelligible, but Nathan understands.
“Hmmm. Sure it wasn’t this?” He slips one long finger under the material.
It feels good, and I don’t want him to stop, but it’s not what he did last time.
“I’m sure,” I say finally when he stops and withdraws his finger. “You said you wanted to taste me and then…”
He smirks and lowers his head. Softly, he kisses my inner thigh and glances up, waiting for me to say it.
“And then you licked me through my panties.”
Just saying it makes my sex clench. No amount of alcohol could keep me from remembering the feel of his wet tongue lapping at me through the satin barrier, though I’m insanely happy for the repeat I think is about to happen.
When his tongue flattens against me, I groan, and my hands go to his hair. I thread my fingers through the thick strands and pull, showing my appreciation and urging him along.
He doesn’t seem to need any help, despite my attempts. His mouth covers me completely. My bottoms are soaked from him and from me. He alternates swiping his tongue along my seam and pushing it inside so the material wedges, creating a whole new sensation.
By the time he hooks a finger under my wet bikini and slides it inside of me, I’m already writhing on the counter. I’m ninety-nine percent sure his mouth and index finger are the only things keeping me from tumbling onto the floor.
The first orgasm lasts so long I can’t be sure it isn’t two. And before I gain full control of my body, he’s got my bikini bottoms on the floor, covers himself, and pushes in.
“This… Oh, God, do I remember this.” I grip his shoulders as he fills me completely and pauses. His eyes close, and his chest shakes like he’s as overwhelmed as I am.
When he starts to move, it’s slow. An unhurried pace that contradicts the strain on his face telling me he’s holding back until I’m close.
Draping my arms around his neck, I kiss him with everything in me. Emotions and promises and desires. My feelings for this man run the gamut. I like him.
I really like him.
I like how he wanted me that first night. I like that he wanted my number the next day despite my throwing him out of my dorm. I like that he’s never made me feel unwelcome.
His climax comes on the cusp of mine, and we hold on as our bodies shudder.
I let my back fall against the mirror as Nathan gets rid of the condom and cleans me with a washcloth.
Both our heads snap up at the jingle of keys, and we run from the bathroom to my bedroom. He shuts the door just as Camila calls out, “Anyone home?”
“Welcome back,” I yell and collapse onto the bed in a fit of laughter. My dress is bunched up around my waist and my bikini bottoms are missing.
Nathan’s deep chuckle echoes mine, and he walks from the door to the bed. His shorts are untied and he’s sporting some serious just-sexed hair but other than that, he looks as good as before he fucked me in the bathroom.
He plops down beside me and rolls on his side so he’s facing me. “You almost got me caught.”
“Me? That was all you. You and that hot as sin mouth.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you remembered?”
“It’s foggy. I remember parts of it. I don’t remember finishing or passing out after.”
“We drank a lot that night.” He grimaces. “Sorry about that. I should have looked out for you more. I’d had a shitty day and then there you were standing by yourself in red looking like you were trying to decide between fighting the world or hiding from it.”
I sit up so I can adjust my dress to cover my bare vag and boobs.
“Let me help.” He pulls from the hem and lifts it over my head, taking my bikini top with it so I’m completely naked. “Much better.”
“Not fair.” I pull at his shirt, and he raises his arms so I can get it over his head. I toss it to the floor and nod to his shorts. He smirks as he strips naked and throws his trunks toward his shirt.
He’s comfortable in his skin. And he should be. His body is a work of art. Most athletes have bodies built for their sport, but Nathan’s body is chiseled beyond anything necessary for basketball.
“I should have gotten a glass of water before I let you get me naked,” he says. “Think Camila will mind if I walk through her house like this?”
“I don’t think anyone would mind if you walked around naked all the time.”
He smirks and winks. “I’m gonna grab some water. Want something?”
He stands and grabs a pair of boxers from his bag.
“I’ll come with you.” I grab his t-shirt and put it on while he watches me with amusement.
“I don’t know why that’s so sexy, but fuck.” His heated gaze sweeps over me. “Come on.”
We walk quietly down the hallway like we’re sneaking, which makes me feel like a kid. If Camila saw us, she’d probably high five Nathan and pat me on the ass and tell me to get back in there.
In the kitchen, I rummage through the junk spot. In the tallest cabinet above the refrigerator. We used to buy chips and cookies and stash them there for late nights, and I’m happy to see it still contains my favorites.
I pull down a bag of Tostitos as he fills two glasses with ice water from the fridge.
Sitting on the counter with my chips and him leaning back against the counter with a glass… it all feels so natural. Since we both have roommates, our time together never feels like this… like it’s just the two of us. And sure, Camila is just down the hall, but right now… right now, it’s just us.
I don’t know what we are or what tonight means to him, and I’m trying not to go there. This… tonight… means everything. I know even as I’m in the moment that it’s going to be a day I never forget.
22
Nathan
“No way, I don’t believe you,” Chloe says. “How long?”
“Above my shoulders. I could get it in a little man bun and everything. God, the guys gave me shit for it.”
“I can’t picture it.” She narrows her gaze. We’re sitting on the bed totally naked talking. Speaking of the guys giving me shit… I’m pretty sure they’d kick me off man island if they knew we’d been doing nothing but talking for the past few hours. Totally naked. My dick stayed hard for the first two, but the poor guy has given up the fight.
“I’ve got some pictures from when it was long.” I walk over to grab my phone out of the front left pocket of my shorts. Her eyes sweep over my body from head to toe and… there he goes… my dick stands back at attention.
Sitting on the bed together with our legs crossed, knees touching, I pull up my photos and scroll back to last spring. I stop on one of me and Gabby and hand it to her.
“Wow.” She looks from the picture to me and back again. “You’ve got a whole thing going on here… and I am here for it. Why did you cut it?” She holds the phone up. “Do you mind?”
I nod my permission, and she flips through the pictures while I try to figure out how to answer her. I did it so my best friend would date me isn’t exactly the truth, but it isn’t a total lie either. Gabby had all but told our friends she didn’t like my hair, and Gabby represented everything I thought I wanted—sweet, beautiful, and fun.
“It was indirectly Gabby’s idea,” I say. “She made a comment about liking short hair. I miss the long, but I don’t have to steal hair ties from chicks anymore, so there’s that.”
Chloe’s eyes snap to me. “Did you have a thing with Gabby?”
“No.” I shake my head. The sting of rejection is still there. “I did like her for a while, or maybe I just liked the idea of her.” I shrug. “She didn’t feel the same way.”
I wince at my honesty and how it sounds when I say it out loud.
“Her loss.” She puts the phone on the bed and crawls into my lap. I’ve never been so happy to have been rejected. I don’t have feelings for Gabby anymore, not like that, but if Chloe wants to take pity on me and try and prove how happy she is that things didn’t work out with my best friend… well, I’m not about to stop her.
The next morning, I stand back while Chloe and Camila hug and tear up saying their goodbyes. I look at my phone while they talk, trying to let them have their time. I glance up as Camila looks over Chloe’s shoulder. She smiles and waves me over.
“I’m so glad you came. Thanks for looking out for my
girl. You’ve got my number now if I need to come down and cut a bitch.”
“Easy, killer.” Chloe laughs and hugs her again. “But thank you. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Chlo.”
The ride back starts out cheerful. Loud, very bad singing, on my part, to songs on the radio. Chloe knows exactly zero song lyrics despite claiming to know them all. I don’t care, though. Off-key, wrong words, her voice makes my chest feel like it’s cracked wide open.
About seventy miles out, the singing stops and Chloe goes to staring out the window. Pressing and talking about feelings isn’t really my bag, but I know I have to say something.
“Missing California already?”
“Yeah and thinking about how crazy our schedules are going to be now with your games starting soon.”
For the next seven months, basketball runs my life. I look forward to it and dread it equally every year. Sounds like she does, too, but it seems like she’s in more than a life’s about to get crazy funk.
“Worried about seeing your roommates again?”
“No, not really. I mean, we still have a long way to go, but I’m not worried they tossed my stuff out into the hallway while I was gone. They’re probably not waiting by the door anxious for my arrival either.” She shrugs. “Cam thinks I should come clean with them. Tell them that you and I aren’t really together. Except…” Hands resting in her lap, she twists the rose gold ring on her thumb. “Now I don’t know what we are.”
She doesn’t give me time to answer. Her face scrunches up, and she visibly cringes. “Oh, God, sorry. I’m totally that girl.”
“What girl?” I glance from the road to her face. I bite back a laugh at her panicked expression.
She gives me a look that says she’s not saying any more, so I put her out of her misery. “You’re not that girl. We’re hanging out.”
The words don’t quite describe us, I know, but we’ve only been dating for real for two days.
“Hanging out?”
Desire to claim her, tell her I want her to be my girlfriend, and that we’ll figure out the rest later courses through me, but I can’t do that. Who knows what she’ll want in another few weeks after her teammates come around? And they will.
The Fake: A College Sports Romance (Smart Jocks #4) Page 15
