by Claire Adams
"I've been denied a few times." I sat up and glanced down at my chest to make sure I wasn't getting too burnt.
"Yeah, right." He moved to the driver's seat and started the boat. "Clay and Derek are wading into the water now. We're going to be late picking up the girls, thanks to this insanity. There's no way in hell we'll make it in ten minutes with the number of boats on the lake today."
"Let me drive. I'll make sure we make it." I turned around and gave him a cocky grin. The world almost seemed to be set right by the fact that I didn't have a doubt that Cora wanted me. There didn't need to be any more games between us. Now the only concern I had, and she seemed to share, was whether sleeping together would leave us wanting more of each other or being sated. Something told me that after our afternoon the day before, I'd always want more. It was a weird thought to entertain, and yet I couldn't help it.
"You guys should see how many people have packed themselves on that fucking beach." Clay grunted as he pulled himself up onto the boat.
"I can see from here. I'm not interested in checking it out for myself. It looks horrible." I leaned back and looked up at the sky. "We're gonna get burnt today."
"Seeing that there are no clouds in the sky, it's highly likely." Derek pulled himself up into the boat and walked over, shaking like a dog and covering me in cold water.
I jerked up and turned to give him a look. "Okay, cowboy. It's gonna be on later tonight."
"Oh, yeah? You gonna show me up in front of the girls?" He laughed and dropped down beside me. "Speaking of girls. I saw that pretty blonde you were with the other day. She was looking for you."
"He's not interested. Him and Cora are hooking up." Clay sat down in the other captain’s chair and gave me a glare my dad would be proud of. "Right?"
"Yep. I guess." I shrugged and turned away from them. "I'm not sure what's going on with us, but I know I'm ready to see which tiny bikini she wears today."
Derek laughed and patted my back. "You're not getting sweet on a girl, are you?"
"Me? Hell, no." I glanced over at him. "All you guys have been acting like pussys for the last week. I'm not soon to join you. It's almost concerning. All these hot girls walking around and you guys are hooking up like you're looking to offer up some chick a ring this summer."
"No, I just like Cindy a lot." Derek turned to face the water and ran his fingers through his hair. "It's just a fling, though. A fun summer thing. I'm headed up northern Arizona to take my place with Mom and Dad at the ranch, and she's probably going east."
"And you?" I turned around, yelling above the sound of the wind and waves.
Clay moved closer and yelled back. "Me what?"
"Are you thinking that this thing with Emily is going to go somewhere after the summer?" I pulled my sunshades of my head and put them on.
"I'm hoping so. We're both staying here in Arizona, so it should be too hard. Have you decided if you're staying here or heading up to Seattle?"
I'd been offered a job in Seattle with my uncle's company that was appealing in some ways and not in others. It was a desk job, which sounded like absolute hell, but it would help me save up for a house and prove that I was capable of making good money and being a stable kinda guy to some woman.
A woman like Cora.
"I don't know." I looked out across the lake, grateful that Daniel took a turn driving. He was the most cautious out of all of us. "I have a lot to think about, obviously."
"Emily said that Cora just got out of a nasty relationship, so don't be offering something you can't come through on." Clay got my attention.
"Why are you so focused on me not hurting this girl? What if she hurts me?"
Everyone started laughing, even Daniel. I smirked to play it off, but the fact that they didn't seem to think I had real emotions under my cocky exterior was concerning.
"Anyways, just be careful with her. Be honest if you start to think you're gonna want to see her after today." Clay patted my shoulder and moved to the back of the boat. "The sun should be setting in the next forty minutes. Let's get the girls and get to the center of the lake to drop our anchors. It's going to be packed, but they're saying that it's the best place to see the fireworks show from."
I ignored him and got up, walking to the back of the boat as we pulled up to the dock. All four girls were standing on the pier, laughing about something. Their arms were full of what looked like snacks and drinks, and I couldn't help but hope that one of them would have considered the fact that we were idiots and hadn't eaten lunch yet.
Cora's eyes met mine, and I smiled. Where most girls would shy away from acknowledging the heat between us, she seemed to be perfectly comfortable with it. I hoped like hell that she would let me take her back to the cabin after the fireworks and finish what we started the day before. I hadn't stopped thinking about her since she left me hard and needy when she left me to join her friends for a girl's only night out.
"You look beautiful." I smiled at her as we pulled up. "All of you do. You want to hang out with a band of bad boys all evening and see if you can make good men out of us?"
They chuckled, and Emily reached for Clay's hand. "Something tells me that there is little to no hope for any of you."
"Hey." Daniel got up and lifted his hands to the side. "Not even me?"
Cora smiled and reached for me, sliding down my body as she got into the boat and moved toward Daniel.
"Maybe you, Dan, but only you." She glanced over her shoulder. "The rest of these guys are lost causes."
He smirked and sat back down. "That's good with me, then. Just making sure you guys didn't label me as you do them. I'm only guilty by association."
I rolled my eyes. "In most courts of law, that would be more than enough."
Dedra moved up behind Daniel and leaned over, kissing his cheek as they started in on their conversation. I made my way to the front to get around all of our friends and find the one person I wanted to spend the evening with.
Cora.
"Help me get all this stuff laid out on the deck and we can make everyone a sandwich, unless you guys already ate?" She was bent over, working to get stuff out of one of the bags. Her shorts were short and her bikini top tiny, letting plenty of her breasts show.
I reached down and tugged her up as she put a Cheeto in her mouth. She gave a little yelp as I wrapped my arms around her and leaned down, kissing her softly twice.
"I expect you to come give me a kiss or something when we see each other. I'm jealous that these other girls are trained so well." I kissed her again and licked at my lips. "Mmmm, cheesy."
"Yes, you are." She smiled and ran her hands up my back. "I didn't realize you wanted attention."
"I'm a needy kinda guy. I always want attention." I leaned down and kissed her again, taking my time until the catcalls at the back of the boat caused me to pull back. "Shut up, guys."
"They're just jealous." She pulled away from me and turned back to the food. "Did you eat lunch?"
"Nope, and I think I might love you for the simple fact that you brought food. I'm fucking starving." I leaned over and made a quick sandwich for myself.
"We all are." Derek moved up with Cindy beside him and muscled me out of the way to make one, too. I didn't mind so much seeing that my new spot a little bit farther back gave me a great view of Cora's long legs and shapely ass.
She turned and lifted her eyebrow at me. "Are you checking me out?"
"Girl, I've stripped you already and was working on making you my dessert." I smirked as her cheeks colored and Cindy giggled.
"You're not right, you know that?" She picked up a bag of chips and walked to the back of the boat, bumping me with her shoulder as she did. "Come with me."
"There's nothing I'd rather do." I spun on my heel and walked to the back, stopping only to grab two beers for us. I sat down next to her and offered her one as I shoved more of my sandwich in my mouth and tried to talk around it. "You like beer?"
"I love it." She reached out and wipe
d the side of my mouth before popping the top on her beer and taking a long drink.
I couldn't help but stare at her for a few seconds, a little surprised at how comfortable she was around me after we'd made a mess of each other the day before. I leaned over and kissed her cheek before pressing my lips to her ear.
"Let's watch the action and then go create some of our own. You wanna?"
"We'll see." She smirked and nibbled at her sandwich. "What have you guys been up to today? You're all looking pretty burnt."
Maybe was better than no. I'd learned that a long time ago. "We've been out here dicking around with the other million people on the water. Waiting on you guys while you were shopping. How much shopping do you girls do? Doesn't it get old?"
"No." Emily sat down beside Dedra and smiled over at me. "We went over to the other side of the lake where the strip center was. It's pretty over there. We should have a picnic next week or something when the Fourth of July people have finally cleared out."
"Sounds like fun to me. I have this new baked bean recipe I want to try, anyways. Maybe you guys could grill burgers for us that day." Cindy licked at her fingers and glanced over at Derek, who was watching her like a hawk.
I laughed and shoved the rest of my sandwich into my mouth before popping the top on my beer and drinking deeply. They were definitely more than a fling. Hell, everyone on the boat seemed to be settling into a relationship. Even me.
Me? Fuck. Weird.
"You look like you just saw a ghost. What's up?" Cora's voice pulled me from my thoughts and I turned and shrugged.
"Just thinking about that fucking alligator we saw the other night. That thing could have bitten off my dick, and then what?"
Everyone started laughing, and I couldn't help but smile.
Clay shook his head. "Then the men of Lake Havasu could rest easier. The hottest guy on the whole damn property would be out of commission."
I gave him a smile. "Are you calling me good looking?"
"I am." Cora moved closer and ran her hand over my back in slow circles. "And, I'm the one that should count. At least for the next little bit."
"Next little bit? You're already thinking about leaving me, aren't you?" I offered up a sad face, only to get popped in the chest.
"She's decided to go back home in two weeks. Mom and Dad won, but they always do, right?" Emily huffed and glanced over at Cora. "Makes life easier."
"Yeah, I guess." She pulled her hand from me and tossed her sandwich over the edge of the boat. "Two weeks is still a long time, though. I'm glad for whatever I get out here with you guys."
I laid back, trying to ignore the fact that two weeks didn't sound like nearly long enough with the stunning girl next to me. Everything inside of me wanted to beg her to stay, but it was silly.
Besides, the chances of me wanting something long-term with her after the chase was over was slim to none. It felt like she might be different, like this time would prove to be the time, but then again nothing, worked out in my life as planned. This wouldn't, either.
Better enjoy it while I can.
Chapter 25
Cora
"Oh, man. Look at that!" Dedra pointed up toward the sky as if we weren't all staring intently at the fireworks show.
"Beautiful," I murmured and wrapped my arms around myself tightly. The breeze had gotten a lot colder after the sun left the sky, and I'd dressed like it was going to be blazing hot. Showing off a little bit of skin had seemed like a proper way to tease Brody, anyway. The afternoon before had been intense, delicious, addictive.
While I knew hooking up with him was a bad idea on far too many levels, I figured it was going to happen, no matter what. There was too much chemistry between us, and my dreams the night before of his hands all over me left my desire far too heightened to ignore it.
"You cold?" He moved close to me on the boat and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. His skin was warm, surprisingly enough.
"Yeah, a little." I smiled over at him as another firework lit up the sky.
He brushed his lips by my shoulder and smiled. "How in the world are you cold? It's hot as hell out here."
I laughed and turned my attention back to the sky. "Maybe I need to go back to the house and get a coat before we all head to the beach front."
"I have one in the-”
"I want mine." I turned my face toward his, locking eyes with him. "In my bedroom. It's on the floor, just beside a pile of clothes I discarded this afternoon in a hurry."
"What? Oh. Oh...yeah. We should get your coat." He licked at his lips as his hand tightened around my side, tugging me closer.
I leaned in and brushed my lips by his, grateful that he got my hint. I wanted time alone with him. We'd been with our friends nonstop over the last week and a half. After yesterday afternoon's teaser, I was ready to dive in and explore his abilities in the bedroom.
Brody reached up and gripped the side of my face, pulling me in for a longer, more probing kiss. My heart was racing in my chest by the time he moved back. His eyes moved across my face slowly as a smile lifted his lips.
"Well, I guess that was it." Clay dropped down on the other side of Brody. "What now, guys? Are we wanting to go over to the beach where the party is tonight?"
"Yeah, that sounds great, but take us back to the dock. Cora and I will walk over there later to meet up with you guys. She wants to grab her coat." Brody released my face, but kept his strong arm locked around my body.
"Coat?" Dedra laughed. "It's burning up out here."
"Not to me." I pulled my legs up and wrapped my arms around them as I looked over at Clay. "Is that okay? I know it's a lot of trouble, but I'd be grateful."
"It's no trouble, at all." Clay's expression softened as he got up and moved back.
"A coat?" Dedra nudged me in the side. "Really?"
Brody moved back and walked toward Daniel as I turned to Dee. "No, silly. I want time with him at the house."
"At the-” Her eyes widened a little. "Oh. Oh, yeah. We gotta get your coat. And tomorrow, I better get every juicy detail of that adventure."
I laughed, unable to help myself.
My friends had no modesty at all, and I loved them for it. I turned and stood up, stretching as I let my eyes move across the lake. There were a zillion boats. Getting back to the shore was going to be a huge pain in the ass; swimming back over there would have been easier, but far too dangerous. Besides, Brody hadn't been kidding. The size of that alligator a few nights back left me not willing to stick a toe in the water anymore, much less dive in headfirst in the dark.
"This should be tricky, but we'll get back over there," Daniel called out. "Just get around the side of the boat, guys, and help me make sure we don't get too close to anyone."
"Turn on the trolling motor and take it slow." Clay moved up beside Daniel as he glanced around. "Why aren't these people moving? It seems like everyone would be headed to the beach or somewhere."
"Maybe there is another round of fireworks?" Cindy asked.
"I don't know, but we can watch them from the beach." Brody moved up beside me at the front and glanced to his right. "Let's go before it starts. That'll just piss people off."
"True," I mumbled and watched for Daniel getting the boat too close to anyone off my side. We made it back to the dock about twenty minutes later when it should have taken two. I almost felt bad being so high maintenance, which wasn't me, at all. Funny enough, no one seemed to mind too much.
We made our way to the back of the boat, and the boys got off first before helping each of us get up to the dock. I smiled at Derek, who pulled me up with ease.
"Thanks."
"Anytime, pretty girl." He winked and moved toward Cindy.
"Alright, so are we walking to the beach now?" Emily wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
"We are, but Brody and Cora are going to grab her coat. Just text us when you head that way so we can flag you down. I'm sure it's insane over there." Dedra reached out and tugged at a fe
w strands of my hair.
"You bet." I extended my hand to Brody. "You okay going with me? If not, I can catch up in a little while."
"Are you fucking kidding me? Some guy will swoop you up and then where will I be? Ninth-wheel? No thanks." He took my hand and pulled me close to him as we started walking back to the cabin. The laughter behind us left me feeling light and happy.
"You know it takes compliance on my part for some guy to 'swoop me up,' right?" I smiled over at him, wondering why the hell I wasn't nervous. Being with him was almost calming all of a sudden. Like the situation between us the afternoon before had opened up the door to just relax.
"This is true, and we know how 'compliant' you are where guys are concerned." He smirked.
"I'm good if I find the right one, but you know how rare that is." We turned to the right and walked down the hill to my cabin as another fireworks show started in the distance. "Oh, hell. You were right. There's another show."
"You wanna go over there and we can hook up later? It's not like we're in a hurry." He stopped and pulled me against him, locking me to his front with the strength of his arms.
"No, I've seen a million fireworks like this. I wanna see yours, instead." I lifted to my toes and kissed him hard.
He leaned down and dove into the kiss as his hands his over my sides and gripped my hips. He pulled back and closed his eyes as his forehead touched mine. "You’re such a good kisser. So thorough."
"Just imagine what else I'm good at." I nipped at his lips and pulled out of his hold. "Come on. We'll watch the fireworks from the house if want to see them."
"I could not care less." He moved up beside me with a smile on his face. It faltered a little, and I could see indecision run across his handsome features.
Oh great. Is he about to play nice guy again?
"What's up?" I stopped at the bottom of the stairs to the cabin and turned to face him.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about you leaving so soon. It sucks." He brushed a few strands of hair behind my ear.
"You know you're really not at all the guy you pretend to be in front of your friends." I lifted my eyebrow and trapped his hand against the side of my face, turning to kiss his palm a few times.
