(Complete Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances #1-5)

by Michelle Mankin

  I stepped out onto the bathmat and started to stretch for a nearby towel but he beat me to it. He unfolded it and held it open for me to walk into.

  “Come here,” he ordered. I took the first step and he moved toward me enfolding me in the towel at the same time that his lips recaptured mine. His mouth was firm and delicious but he didn’t give me a moment to savor before he licked between the seam in mine and slanted his head to deepen the kiss.

  I arched into him, warm heady need and the pleasure I knew he could give engulfing my body. I wanted him. Again. I feared that the time we had was running out. Deep down I knew there was a part of me that was never going to recover when it inevitably did. That there was never going to be another man who could melt me with a single kiss.

  Just when the current kiss was starting to get really good, when I’d gone completely pliable in his arms and had moaned my approval into his mouth, he ended it. I opened my eyes to find him studying me closely. “What’s wrong, Simone?”

  “Nothing,” I lied. A small deception, I told myself. “I’m just tired.”

  “Hmm.” He watched me a moment longer his narrowed gaze drifting across my features as if doubting the validity of my words. “You know you can tell me anything.”

  I nodded held captive by the intensity of his gaze.

  He touched the tip of my nose and his expression lightened. “Come.” He offered me his hand and I took it readily. Why ruin the limited time we had together worrying about things I couldn’t control?

  “I know you saw the strawberries. Maybe after you eat something you’ll regain some energy.” He stopped at the row of bookshelves across the room where he’d abandoned the bucket earlier and turned to face me.

  Hands holding my own towel to my chest I watched him open the Ziploc. When he had one of the succulent berries in his hand he beckoned me closer. Drawn more by my hunger for him than by the chance to sample the delicacy I complied. He held the strawberry out to me and I opened my mouth. He traced my parted lips with the tip of it, his eyes following the berry’s path before he popped it inside. Feeling a warm flush in my cheeks I bit into it chewing while the sweet juice flowed over my tongue.

  “How did you know strawberries are my favorite?” I couldn’t remember ever having told him.

  “I watch. I observe.” He stroked my arm softly igniting awareness every time he touched me. “At the restaurant, you never touch the cheesecake. You just eat the berries.”

  My blush deepened. He noticed a lot. He caressed the round of my cheeks with the pad of his thumb before swiveling to pluck another berry. When he brought it to my lips his gaze was hooded.

  “Open again,” he ordered his voice low. When I parted my lips this time he teased me tracing the slopes of my breasts with the chilled end then lowered his head to follow the same path with his tongue.

  “Oh,” I moaned my nipples immediately tightening in response to the feel of his warm breath and wet tongue and a darker ache began to build much lower.

  “Delicious.” He lifted his head, popped the berry into his own mouth and gave me a crooked smile before he started to chew. When he withdrew another berry I peeked into the bag. There were at least seven or eight more. I wasn’t going to survive it. My heart was already trying to pound its way out of my chest.

  “What would I have to do to get you to ditch that towel?” he mused reflectively while tracing his sexy lips with the strawberry.

  “Just ask.” I met his hot stare boldly. “Nicely.”

  “Please.” How was it that he could make that one word sound like a command?

  Head down I untucked my towel. It dropped to the floor at my feet. Cold air licked my skin. My rapid breaths made my breasts rise and fall. I raised my eyes to look at him. His eyes were midnight dark, pupils enlarged, barely any blue showing. I stood before him wanting his touch and waiting once again as his gaze leisurely traveled over my naked form. I was just about to speak when he reached for me drawing me closer, a warm rush of heat piercing me where his hands gripped my ass to that part of me that ached to be filled by him. I could tell that he was thinking along the same lines as me by the size of the erection tenting his towel.

  “Open your lips,” he commanded. I leaned forward and nipped his fingers surprising him as I took a big bite out of the strawberry he seemed to have forgotten he’d been holding. His expression grew hungry as he watched me consume it.

  “Now,” I said when I was finished. “What about that towel of yours?”

  “Kiss me.” Eyes getting even darker he popped the remaining part of the berry between his lips and waited. Feeling the heat and the power of him through the thick Egyptian cotton I drew closer, touching my lips to his then suddenly sweeping the berry from his mouth into my own. I started to pull back as I chewed and swallowed my prize but he easily caught me. “Tricky minx.” He straightened, his eyes shining with mirth and the extra something that I now recognized was love. He grabbed me by the shoulders and hauled me forward bringing our mouths together firm lips melding to mine. Mint and strawberry flavors burst from his tongue as he swept it between them. Insistent swipes. Deep bone melting licks. I trembled and burned in his embrace realizing as I pressed closer to him that his towel had vanished. Only his hot hard body and my melting one remained.

  “Linc,” I begged when we both paused, lips hovering close enough to still touch but far enough apart to suck in needed air. “No more. I can’t. I need you. Please.”

  “You don’t have to beg, babe.” His expression was tight, his eyes glowing dark with the heat of desire that ruled us both. “Your every wish is my command.” His hands went to my ass, strong fingers kneading the sensitive cheeks making the fire between my legs blaze even hotter. “Wrap your legs around my waist, gorgeous.” He hefted me and I complied eagerly grinding my aching need against the hot, perfectly formed length of him.

  He groaned and tossed me back on the bed so hard I bounced. His hot possessive gaze captured me when I came up on my elbows tossing my hair out of the way. Our heated eyes melded together. A warm shiver of anticipation made me tremble as he tore open a condom packet and rolled it on. Hands to the mattress he put a knee down and stalked toward me his gaze filled with wicked intentions.

  Yes, please.

  I licked my lips as he moved between my legs and moaned long and low because the instant his lips fastened on mine his hot cock surged inside me. The perfect fit. The wet heat inside me burned hotter with each deep purposeful stoke of his hardness and matching glide of his slick tongue into my panting mouth.

  The ache within me grew unbearable. Every time he withdrew he surged back inside even harder. Thrust after thrust I arched to meet him, fingers flexing into his tight ass to help him go deeper, growing more and more desperate with each perfect glide over my sensitive swollen flesh.

  “Now, Mona.” He plunged inside, delectably deep, grinding his hips and touching that perfect spot.

  “Yes, Linc. Yes!” I reached the starry pinnacle, pulsing around him, moaning his name over and over, the sound of my passion and the rhythm of my pleasure propelling him into the blissed out stratosphere with me where he let out a long deeply satisfied male groan.

  “I love you,” he declared in my ear as he collapsed his passion slickened weight on top of me.

  I love you, too, I thought wrapping my arms and legs fiercely around him.

  Chapter Forty

  * * *

  Linc

  We dressed slowly on separate sides of the bed after bathing again. Head bowed as she drew on her dress, I could feel her withdrawing from me the way she had after we had made love the first time.

  I didn’t like it and it wasn’t acceptable.

  “Simone,” I called softly.

  “Yes.” She turned my way and I could see that it was worse that I’d thought. Something had snuffed out that inner light of hers. I didn’t understand it. Not after the incredible night we just shared. The most incredible of my entire life.

  “What�
��s wrong? And don’t tell me you’re tired.” I finished buttoning my shirt and moved behind her brushing her hair to the front so I could draw up the zipper for her. Grasping her shoulders I turned her to face me. “There’s more to it than that.”

  “This was incredible, Linc.” Her eyes filled. “You’re so incredible. But I’m scared. The things Ash said…they’re legitimate concerns.” She dropped her chin to her chest. “I don’t want to lose you,” she mumbled.

  “You won’t, Mona.” Damn, Ash. I lifted her head and brushed a soft kiss across her trembling lips. “You’re not going to. I swear it. But…”

  “Linc.” Ash’s voice startled both of us. I glanced at the clock and cursed under my breath.

  We were out of time.

  “I waited for you at the dock like you told me to,” Ash called from the other room. “But when you didn’t show…” He trailed off and cleared his throat. “You two need to hurry. I don’t know if I we can get Simone home in time. I don’t want to get caught speeding at this hour of the night. It’s hard enough to get Dad to lend me the van.”

  “We’ll be right out,” I shouted over my shoulder then had to grab her as she scooted toward the door eyes wide in her pale face. “Mona, stop.” She jumped as I put my hands on her shoulders. “We have to talk. About your dad. About us. About the future. I’m not hiding anymore and I’m not letting you go. Ever.” My fingers tightened to emphasis my point.

  “I’ve got to go, Linc.” She twisted away from me. “We can’t tell my father. You don’t understand.”

  Ash’s brows lifted as we both emerged into the central hall where he was waiting jiggling a large ring of keys in his hand.

  “Give us a minute,” I growled before he could interrupt. I grabbed Simone’s arm, her long hair swirling around her slim shoulders as I brought her back to face me. Her hands fluttered along my forearms. “Why not, Simone?” My eyes drilled unrelentingly into hers. “Why can’t we tell him? What does your father have against me?”

  Her fingers dug into my arms. “It’s because of my mom. She had an affair with a surfer before I was born. She ran off with him but then he abandoned her. My dad took her back but he’ll never let her live it down.” Tears streamed from her eyes. She swallowed hard before continuing her voice barely audible. “I used to pray that I wasn’t his, but the math doesn’t add up for me to belong to a stranger.” Another tear slid down her cheek and I captured it with my thumb. “I think my mom thought a child would help him forgive her but he never has. I hate living in that house, Linc.” My eyes were soft on hers. I hated that she hurt like this but I was glad she had finally told me so I could understand. And understanding the problem was the first stop toward a solution. But I needed to find an answer soon.

  Chapter Forty-One

  * * *

  Simone

  Tucked into Linc’s side my arms were tightly wrapped around his lean waist and my cheek was pressed to his solid chest. The wind whistling through the split side windows of the ’63 Volkswagen camper van lifted strands of my hair as Ash drove the vintage vehicle with its whirring engine at a steady pace of forty five miles per hour. Squished together on the bench seat that really was only large enough for two, the three of us were trying to ignore the tension that was building. There was no way we were going to make it to my house on time.

  My thoughts pinged around inside my head. I knew how much trouble I was going to be in. But I was beginning to grasp why my mom had done what she had all those years ago. If she had felt for her surfer even a tenth of what I felt for mine…

  I peered up at him. His jaw was set and his thick hair was stirred by the breeze. He was so handsome it hurt my heart to look at him. I was so tempted to trust him, to believe it would all work out the way he had asserted it would back on the yacht after I had told him the truth about my parents.

  “You ok, Mona?” His troubled gaze dipped to mine as he sifted through my hair.

  “I’m alright.” I hugged him tighter breathing in his ocean scent but tensing inwardly the closer we got to the spot where Ash and I would get out and walk to my house as if we had been together all this time.

  Linc shifted in my embrace and I felt him press his warm lips into my hair as Ash slowed the van and pulled over to the curb.

  “C’mon, fake girlfriend.” Ash turned off the ignition and popped open the door on his side. “Let’s go.” His tone was light but forced. I scooted over and took the hand he offered me to help me out.

  “Be careful with the Bug.” Ash told Lincoln as he slid over to take his cousin’s place at the wheel. “You know how my dad feels about it.”

  Standing on the curb beneath the street light my gaze met Lincoln’s. I desperately wanted him to stay with me. Tonight had changed everything. I had never been in love before, never really understood the intensity of the emotion until he came along. No wonder my mom had been willing to give up everything just for a chance to make something real and lasting. But was I brave enough to do the same thing?

  With my father involved I knew it very well might come to that kind of choice.

  “Simone, wait. Hold up.” Linc ripped off his seat belt and climbed out of the camper as if reading my thoughts. He tossed Ash the key ring on his way toward me. “Wait for me in the van. I’m walking Mona home.”

  In my heart I was absolutely thrilled to extend my time with Linc. He opened his arms and I ducked into them nearly shuddering with relief when he folded them around me and held me tight. “But we can’t let my father see you.” My brain forced me to voice that concern even though I was right where I wanted to be, where I always wanted to be no matter what.

  “I told you I’m not hiding anymore, gorgeous.” He sifted through my hair with gentle fingers. “You’re mine now. There’s no going back. I’m not letting you face him alone knowing how he’s going to react.” His tone was as firmly unyielding as his embrace.

  I squeezed my eyes shut laying my cheek to his solid chest, willing his strength to become my own and wishing his warmth would take away the chill in my bones. I knew he was right. There was no doubt that my dad would be pissed. I didn’t want this nearly perfect night to end in an ugly confrontation.

  “We’d better go then,” I mumbled against his shirt sucking in a deep bracing breath of soul settling Lincoln scent.

  “It’ll be ok.” He pressed a kiss into my hair and rearranged us so that I was tucked into his side for the short walk home. The birds of paradise and the violet blossomed Jacaranda trees were just shadows in the yards along the way, but the sixty foot tall palms lining both sides of the street loomed like sentinels. The comforting whir of the camper soon faded beneath the growing roar of the ocean, but the sound of the waves didn’t sooth me. Even with Linc beside me I grew tenser the closer we got to our destination.

  When we were just twenty yards away, my fears grew. Every single light inside and outside blazed, moths circling them seeking their fiery doom. My heart started slamming against my ribs.

  Linc placed his hands on my shoulders and gently turned me to face him, his expression resolute in the shadows. He leaned down and brushed his warm lips against my cold parted ones. “I’m walking you all the way to the front door. I’m not leaving till I see for myself that you’re ok.”

  “No, Linc.” I put my hands on his sinewy forearms and squeezed. “If he sees you it’ll just make things worse. Let’s ease into telling him about us. Please. I know how to handle him.”

  “I know you do.” He smoothed the pad of his thumb down my cheek. “But it’s not right.” He took my hands. “I’m not budging on this, Simone. C’mon. Start walking.” His fingers tightened around mine as he led me up the front walk lined with oleander. “The sooner he knows about us the sooner he can start getting used to the idea.”

  Beneath the porch lights I stared into his sincere eyes and nodded. He was right of course, but my father was unyielding and this was happening so fast that I hadn’t had time to prepare. I had lived my entire life bowing
to the dictates of my father. In a battle of wills he was used to coming out on top.

  The front door suddenly popped open making me jump. The brighter lights of the interior blinded me for a moment but I heard his voice loud and clear.

  “Simone Bianchi. Get inside this house.” His voice was a solid steel hammer and his frame filled the doorway. I felt my resolve automatically buckling and started to comply but Linc stopped me, his grip tightening and tethering me in place like the cord on his surfboard.

  “Now, Simone.” My father’s furious gaze dipped to where Linc and I were connected.

  “Daddy, don’t be mad. Let me explain. Please. I want you to understand.”

  “I don’t need any explanations. I understand perfectly well.” He raked his salt and pepper hair back from his creased forehead. “You’ve been lying to me. It’s been this boy all along.”

  “Yes, Daddy. I’m sorry I hid the truth from you.” His censuring glare and his words rocked me but I held firm because of Lincoln. He was what mattered more than anything. It all became startlingly clear in that moment. I just needed Linc. The rest I would figure out somehow. “If I had told you from the beginning I never would have gotten a chance to get to know Linc. He’s not what you think. He’s good to me.” My chin lifted belying my inner distress.

  He made a disapproving sound. “He’s nothing but trouble.” He moved closer. I could feel the heat of his displeasure. “We’ve had this discussion before but apparently you weren’t paying attention.”

  “I was only…”

  “Mona.” My protest was cut off by Lincoln. He squeezed my hand. I turned to look at him. His hard gaze was fixed on my father and his jaw was clenched. “Go on inside. Your father and I need to talk. It’ll be alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He leaned in and brushed a tight kiss across my lips, a proprietary gesture his meaning clear. I might be my father’s little girl but I was Linc’s woman now.