Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Blakely

“Do you really think I can do this?” I ask, shielding my eyes from the sun.

Renn grins. “Well, you probably won’t go pro after this session. But, yeah, I think you can get the hang of it.”

I gaze across the ocean. The water is a beautiful blue, glistening in the afternoon sunlight. The rays make the surface of Byron Bay shimmer. Wave upon wave rolls onto the beach, delivering surfers and swimmers back to shore.

“Let’s practice one more time before we go into the water,” Renn says. “Lie on your board.”

“It’s so sexy when you say that.”

He rolls his eyes but laughs anyway. “Okay. Good. Now, paddle, paddle, paddle.”

I pretend to paddle against the sand.

“Good. Now up!”

I hop onto the board like he taught me, keeping my back foot close to the tail. “My crouch is low. My arms are balanced.” I glance over my shoulder. “My ass looks great.”

He smacks it, his hand causing a crack in the air. I yelp, giggling, and pretend to fall off the board.

“You ruined my wave,” I say.

He grabs my hand and pulls me into him. He nips my bottom lip with his teeth. “I’m going to ruin more than that when we get back to the house.”

“You know what? I changed my mind.” I trace my name on his chest. “I don’t really want to learn to surf.”

He laughs again while pressing a kiss against my lips. “Too bad. You’re in Australia. You have to try to surf. It’s the law.”

“Oh, it is not.” I pick up my board. “Besides, you didn’t even let me have the real board with the wax. I have the foam one like a child.”

“It’ll be easier for you to use. Trust me.”

I express my displeasure with a whine. My annoyance melts away rather quickly as Renn approaches the water’s edge with his board, leaving me with a view that steals my breath.

Screw Mother Nature. This is the view that will never, ever get old.

His back muscles flex as he walks to the water. The silky dark strands of hair that I love to run my fingers through sit wildly atop his head. Sweat kisses his tanned skin, showcasing the tattoos on his arms and the single line of script down his side.

And his legs— holy fuck, those legs . If power comes from your thighs, that would explain a lot.

“Come on,” he says with faux exasperation.

A couple walks between us, waving as they pass. Their presence keeps me from shouting something dirty back to him— come on what ? I think he knows I had a retort because he’s chuckling when I reach him.

“How long do I have to do this?” I ask.

“ Blakely . You are the one who asked to surf today.”

“Yes, but that’s because you sexually satiated me after breakfast. But you just bit my lip and promised to ruin me. And now I can’t think about waves and boards. The only crouching I want to do is over your face.”

A slow smirk spreads across his face. “You’re right. Fuck it. Let’s go back.”

“ Oh no .” I grab his arm and pull him back. “We’re surfing. I had to endure the lesson, so I’m getting use of it. I just don’t want to do it all day.”

“You’re going to be the death of me, Mrs. Brewer.”

“Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen by way of shark.”

He shakes his head and leads me into the water. “Try to listen and cooperate so you feel like you used your lessons, and we can go back to the house.”

I laugh.

“Get on your board and let’s paddle out,” he says.

I follow his lead, getting situated on the middle of my orange piece of foam. We paddle a short distance, then place our hands on the board and press up to go over the breaking wave.

“Nice,” Renn says, smiling proudly beside me.

“I’m a natural.”

He snorts. “Keep paddling.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

The only good thing about this activity is staring at Renn without fear of running into someone or wrecking a car. And if I get eaten by a shark, at least I’ll go down with stars in my eyes.

His arms are cut to perfection. Watching the water droplets slip off his skin, caressing the lines of his muscles is akin to foreplay.

“Okay, babe, here comes a wave,” he says.

Babe ? My stomach flurries, distracting me from the task at hand.

“Hands on your board,” he says. “Pop up, shoulders square— Blakely !”

Splash ! I topple spectacularly into the water, taking in a mouthful of salt. I’m met with his laughter once I get back to the surface.

“Are you okay?” he asks, offering me a hand.

I spit a few times to rid my mouth of the grit of the sea.

“Try again?”

I blow my hair out of my face. “I really think you’re wrong about the hair being down thing.” I struggle but manage to get back on my board.

“Your tits in that bikini top are incredible.” He wiggles his brows. “I prefer them in my mouth, but this is my second favorite look.”

“Glad to know that. Now focus on the waves, pal.”

He fights a smile and paddles alongside me.

“Okay …” I take a deep breath. “Hands on the board. Pop up. Arms out and shoulders square— gah !”

I fall into the water again. This time, I keep my mouth closed.

“I’m not even getting to crouch,” I say, jutting my bottom lip out. “What am I doing wrong?”

Renn turns on his board to face me. “Nothing. This isn’t easy. It just takes practice. You’re doing great.”

I get back on my board.

We attempt wave after wave, getting pushed back to shore and having to paddle out again. Renn is ridiculously patient and sweet, encouraging me with tips and positive reinforcement.

The interaction swells my heart as I imagine him teaching his child how to surf. The gentleness in his voice, the pride when I manage to finally crouch. The way he cheers for me when I stand all of two seconds of my final ride.

“Look at you,” he says, pulling his board next to mine. Our legs dangle in the water. “You don’t even seem like a rookie now.”

“So I’m a pro?”

He laughs, bending toward me. I meet him in the middle, keeping my weight balanced on my board, and kiss him.

Renn’s lips taste like salt, his tongue hot like the sun. His hands are rough against my face as he cups my cheeks with his palms. He kisses me softly and slowly—like he has all the time in the world.

Not like he has less than ninety days to kiss me like this.

Finally, he pulls away. His eyes search mine as he repositions on his board.

“You know,” I say, remembering there are sharks and pulling my feet up on my board. “If I could stop time, I would do it right now.” My cheeks flush as I realize I said that out loud.

“In the ocean?”

My gaze locks with his. “Here with you.”

His pupils widen, but he doesn’t say anything. I don’t know if I caught him off guard or if he’s unsure how to respond. I’m not sure what to say, either.

Did I just blow everything ?

I paddle myself in a half-circle. “I’m going to try to go all the way in this time. My last ride.”

“Get it.”

I swallow hard, emotionally unbalanced from our shared moment, and wait for the next wave. When it comes, I press against the board, pop up, and slide my foot back to the tail. My crouch is low and fairly wide, and my arms are in the position Renn showed me. I think I hear him shouting behind me as I feel the wind in my hair.

“Holy crap,” I say, my legs starting to shake. “I’m doing it. I’m— ah !”

The water rolls awkwardly and tosses me from the board. By the time I resurface, I’m so close to shore that it only takes a minute to find the sand.

I pull my foam buddy out of the water and turn to find Renn. He waves.

“Let’s see what you got, Mr. Brewer,” I shout, shivering despite the heat.

Like a professional athlete, he makes quick work out of getting to his feet and riding a wave that would’ve swamped me all the way to the beach.

I clap for him as he trudges out of the surf. “That was impressive. Very, very nice.”

“That was the goal—to impress you.”

“I was impressed before we got here.”

He grins. “Did you have fun?”

“Yeah. I did. It’s so nice here.” I look around us—at the people minding their business. The lush vegetation. The relaxed vibe that makes me feel like I’m in a little piece of heaven. “I think this might be my favorite place on earth. How did you leave it?”

He takes my board from me. “Well, I got fired …”

I laugh. “Oh. Right.”

“I always loved it here, though. I missed my family, of course. But I visited home a lot, and they all came here to visit me off and on. So it wasn’t that bad.”

“Now I’m upset I never got an invitation,” I say, walking alongside him.

“Can you imagine what Brock would’ve done if I would’ve invited you to Australia?” He laughs. “I only got you here now because I married you.” He clears his throat, his face sobering. “Speaking of Brock, I talked to him last night.”

“ You did ?”

We walk a little way in silence. With every quiet step we take, my anxiety rises a bit more.

“Is he okay? Is he just mad?” I ask, prompting a response. “What’s going on?”

“He’s fine. I promise. He’s fine. Just under a lot of stress—physicals and paperwork. You know how it can be.”

I watch him curiously. I do know how it can be. Getting clearances from the medical staff and passing the physicals can be a giant pain in the ass. But he’s never had trouble before.

“Did he say why he hasn’t called?” I ask.

“He’s been busy with all of that. And, you know, he figured that you and I were honeymooning …”

“ Right. I’m sure he was all about leaving us alone to honeymoon .”

He opens the little gate that separates the beach from the stairs leading to the house. “I think he’s settled down a little bit. He wasn’t as upset as he was in Vegas.”

“Did you tell him we agreed to three months? If you did, that’s probably why.”

Renn follows me quietly up the incline.

I wonder why Brock didn’t call me and if I should reach out to him. I didn’t know he was having problems with work, but it makes sense.

Suddenly, I feel bad.

“Are we going home tomorrow?” I ask.

“Jason is flying in tonight our time to pick us up.”

I nod, reaching the patio. Renn rests the surfboards against the house.

“I’ll wait and talk to my brother when we return,” I say, making my way behind Renn to the outside shower. “Maybe absence will make the heart grow fonder.”

He turns the handle, and water sprays from overhead. “That sounds like a solid plan. Talk to him face-to-face. He’s more likely to be cooperative if you’re in front of him.”

“What about you?” I say, stepping in front of him. I rest my palm against my name. “Are you more cooperative when I’m in front of you?”

His eyes blaze.

I drop to my knees, resting back on my heels. The shower mists me as I look up at Renn.

This is one of my favorite things about him—something I’ve never felt with another man. No matter how much we banter, tease, or do, he never makes me feel lesser than. Or inferior. Or embarrassed or shamed or silly for wanting or saying anything at all.

With Renn, I feel beautiful and strong—worthy in every way.

It’s the best feeling in the entire world.

My gaze drops to his cock bulging through his shorts.

Well, it’s almost the best feeling in the entire world .

“Husband?” I ask demurely.

“Wife?”

His voice is rough. The sound prickles my skin, settling off an ache in my core.

I bat my lashes. “May I please suck your cock?”

“ Dammit, Blakely ,” he groans as I work his shorts down his legs. “I— shit .”

I roll my tongue around the head, then lick down the shaft.

“Watching you with my dick in your mouth is one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen,” he says.

I grin, pulling the tip in before letting it pop free.

“What are you feeling this afternoon?” I hold his gaze while I spit on the tip, running my hand over it and down his length. “Do you want to come in my mouth? On my chest? Deep inside me?”

“Are you trying to break me?”

“Maybe.” I lean back and make quick work of losing my bikini top. “Or maybe I just really, really like to watch you come.”

He palms my breasts and guides me back to his dick.

“I want to come in your tight little pussy,” he says, sucking in a breath as I take him in my mouth. “I dream of that—feeling your body explode on my cock.”

I moan against him, the sound vibrating against his hardness.

He plays with my nipples, groaning as the tip hits the back of my throat.

The sun burns my back—the skin still sensitive from the table yesterday. Sweat dots my skin as I take him in and out. I’m unable to look away from his face. Watching him enjoy my attempt at pleasuring him is nearly as good as orgasming myself.

He faces the sky, his throat bobbing as he swallows.

A bead of precum sits atop his cock. I lay my tongue against it, drawing it away and sucking the tip like I’m taking the top off an ice cream cone.

“I’m so wet,” I say before taking him deep again. “My bottoms are soaked.”

He scoops me up beneath my arms and drags me to my feet. His mouth takes control of mine, working my lips like he owns them. His kisses are frantic. Desperate. It’s all tongue and teeth, groans and moans. Gasps for air as he kisses along my jaw.

We stumble beneath the water until my back hits the wall of the house. Oof .

Without missing a beat, he shoves my bottoms over my hips. I kick them away, flinging them into the makeshift shower room’s foliage.

He digs his fingers into my hips as he lifts me. I wrap my legs around his waist. The siding scratches into my back. The water sprays into my face. My breath is stolen as Renn pushes inside me with little notice.

“Fuck!” I shout, arching my back— needing more contact.

“I love being inside you,” he rasps. “Give it to me. Don’t hold back.”

He holds me up by my ass, pinning me against the wall. I use my shoulders as leverage against the wall in an attempt to meet him stroke for stroke.

My vision blurs. I dig my nails into his chest. My body is a blend of sensations from my head all the way to my feet locked at Renn’s back.

“Fuck me harder,” I say, my tits bouncing against my chest. “Like that. Just like that. My God. Ah !”

The sound of him driving into me is audible through the shower spray.

“Is that what you like?” he asks through gritted teeth. “Will that make you fall apart?”

My legs quiver. I press harder against his chest and brace for the orgasm that’s right there .

“I feel you shaking,” he says. “I can feel your muscles starting to lose control.”

“I’m right there, Renn. So close .”

“Come for me. Come hard on my cock.”

“ Fuck .”

I scrape my nails against his pecs as the most intense orgasm I’ve ever felt floods me. There’s no stopping it. There’s no controlling it. It’s wave after wave of pleasure so big and strong that I can’t see or hear— I can only feel .

Renn steps forward and shoves me harder against the house. He shoves deep inside me, his cock pulsing against my flesh. His teeth gritted, his jaw flexing—with sweat dripping down his face, he spills into my pussy.

I grind against him, milking out every last ounce of it.

“There you go,” I say against his ear. I move my hips in a slow circle. “You feel so good inside me. Your cum is dripping down my legs already.”

He growls against my chest. He kisses my sternum before slowly pulling out and helping me to the ground.

My legs wobble. Face flushed. My body tingles with the aftershocks of my orgasm.

He shakes his head and smiles. “I will never be the same man again. You’ve wrecked me for anyone else.”

I try not to beam, but I think I fail.

“Come on, cutie. Let’s get rinsed off.”

“Renn …”

He stops and looks down at me.

When he said he loved everything about me yesterday, I knew he wasn’t talking about love love. But still … those words from his mouth are enough to fuck me up.

I know this isn’t permanent. Renn isn’t my forever husband. But moments like these—when I’m cherished and feel adored—it’s hard not to think he meant more with his proclamation.

My heart skips a beat as I realize what I was going to say—three words that are absolutely asinine. I love him as a friend. That’s all this is. Well, that and the sex is hot. So there’s pheromones, too.

I paste on a fake smile and step under the water. “Nothing. Let’s talk about dinner.”

He pulls me against him, and we stand quietly, letting the shower bring us back to our senses.