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  I snagged her swim bag from the floor outside the bathroom and grabbed her hand pulling her inside my bedroom and locking the door.

  I tossed the bag on my unmade bed, the sheets still rumpled from the hours tossing sleeplessly before Karen had called. When I turned back to Simone her pretty honey hued eyes were wide with trepidation.

  “Don’t be afraid, babe.” I closed the short distance between us quickly plunging my fingers into her wet hair and tilting her head back. “I just need to kiss you again.” Taste you. Touch you. “Privately.” I lowered my head and touched my mouth to hers, satisfaction roaring through me when her lips parted for my probing tongue and her hands skimmed seductively over the water droplets along my spine to bring me closer.

  Again and again I thrust my tongue into the dark recesses of her mouth, her sweet flavor an addictive ambrosia. Moving her backward I rocked my hips between her thighs once I had her body pressed against the door.

  She whimpered and I groaned deepening the kiss when she ground her pelvis over my cock seeking relief for the fire that burned within her core. Heat licked every single inch of my skin. Suddenly the towels were too much between us. I ripped my lips from hers.

  “Linc.” Her fingers dug into my shoulders. “Don’t stop.”

  “Not planning to, babe. But I need to touch you.” I reached for the spot between her generous breasts where the towel was still knotted. Lifting my gaze to hers I silently sought her permission.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  That was the word I longed to hear. I whipped the towel aside and pulled in a sharp breath my heart slamming madly as I took her in. Sure I had seen her all day in that bikini but seeing her without a scrap of fabric to hinder my enjoyment was another thing entirely. Her full tits had dusky rose nipples so hard they begged to be sucked. Her hips were perfectly rounded and the thatch of dark curls nestled between her shapely legs called for my cock.

  “Mona,” I groaned appreciatively, my blood on fire and my heated gaze scalded by the sexy goddess before me all tanned skin but for the paler parts her bikini shielded from the sun. I covered her mouth with my own again no longer gentle but in full out possession mode.

  I didn’t care that we didn’t have time. I didn’t care that I hadn’t yet told her exactly how I felt. I was going to show her.

  She was mine.

  I unclasped my towel, smashed my body into hers and crushed my hard lips to her soft ones. She met each thrust of my tongue with sweet slick slashes of her own. My heart raced and my mind blazed with only one purpose. She seemed to be with me. The low sexy sounds she made in the back of her throat told me so and made my already aroused cock as hard as steel.

  Filling my hands with her tits I flicked the nipples with my thumbs.

  She moaned into my mouth and I groaned shifting my body, grabbing her thigh and positioning her leg around my waist so I could align my pulsing cock with her center.

  “Linc.” I felt the shudder that rolled through her as well as the damp heat between her thighs. I was just about to lift her in my arms and throw her on my bed so I could reach the supply of condoms in my nightstand when a sharp rapping on the door startled both of us breaking us apart. Simone’s half-masted eyes widened.

  “Linc!” Ash’s shout sounded harsh after the soft feminine sighs I had been feasting on. “You and Simone need to get out of there. Fast. We gotta go. We’re gonna be late for work.”

  Warmth flooding my cheeks I ducked my head into Linc’s chest. I couldn’t believe I’d almost made love to him while his cousin had been right there outside the door. Surely he had heard my moans. How would I ever look Ash in the eyes again?

  Warm fingers curled around my chin and lifted it. Before I could get totally freaked out Linc’s warm passion darkened visage filled my own. “Don’t be embarrassed,” he whispered. “Ash knows how I feel about you. I’m sorry I got so carried away. But only because we don’t have time to finish what we started.” His gaze intensified. “But we will. I promise you.”

  A louder knock than before bounced into my shoulders. “C’mon, man,” Ash cajoled sounding exasperated.

  “We’ll be right out.” Linc’s tone was gruff. “Give us five minutes.”

  “We don’t have five.” Ash sighed heavily. “You know how her dad is.”

  At the mention of my father the remaining passion smoldering in my body fizzled out. I slid my naked body along the wood of the door while looking for my bag, but he was too distracting. Even just out of the corner of my eye the view of Lincoln Savage naked was a view that demanded attention. Potent male. Fully gloriously aroused. Tanned skin everywhere except where board shorts would cover. Lean and sexy contoured muscles that my fingertips tingled with the urge to trace.

  I licked my lips. Linc took advantage of my momentary indecision grabbing me firmly by my shoulders and turning me to look at him. He stroked the pad of his thumb across my cheekbone. That’s all it took. I shivered feeling the heat of passion licking my skin once more.

  He lowered his head and brushed three warm soft kisses across the path his thumb had taken. Without consciously deciding to I stepped closer pressing my body to his. His strong hands glided down the length of my spine coming to a stop on the curve of my rear. He turned his head. “We’ll be right out,” he shouted to his cousin before turning back to me. “It’ll be ok,” he asserted his tone low and soothing. “I’ll help you get dressed. I won’t be able to walk you now but Ash will make sure you get there in time. Promise. Ok?”

  I nodded numbly my mind trailing behind him tripping on his words. What did he mean about helping me get dressed?

  He stepped away and my gaze stalled on his pale tight ass. When he turned back around and caught me staring his lips curved into a seductive half smile. “Babe, you can’t look at me like that. You gotta help me out.” He opened my bag and sifted through the contents withdrawing a nude satin bra and a matching lace thong. “You wear things like this all the time?” His gaze was hot as it traveled the length of me.

  “Yes.” I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry as the desert. My undergarments in his masculine hands made for an erotic tableau. “My mother’s French. She values fine lingerie and gives me a generous allowance to buy my own. I like the feel of them against my skin. They make me…”

  “Damn sexy,” he finished for me his voice a deep rasp. “Come here,” he ordered in that insistent way of his that made my skin tingle. As I moved toward him toes skimming over the braided rug by his bed he slid the bra strap up his wrist where it dangled. He bent stretching my lace thong open between his thumbs. “Step in.”

  Resting my hands on his firm wide shoulders curling my fingers into his warm skin I did as I was told dipping one foot and leg inside and then the other. Long masculine fingers caressed my legs and then my hips as he slid the thong into place. Heat shot like an arrow straight to my sex as he lingered for a moment his grip tightening possessively his thumbs stroking lightly back and forth just inside the waistband scant inches from where I ached for them to be. If he would just delve a little deeper he would feel how hot I was for him, how much I needed him, how much I longed for him to make me his.

  My breath hitched when he glided his strong hands over my hips and down slowly smoothing the small triangle of lace at the top of my behind.

  He lifted his hooded gaze, dark blue eyes liquid with passion capturing and holding mine. “Beautiful,” he intoned reverentially as he leaned in touching his lips to mine and brushing a soft tantalizing kiss across my mouth while lovingly massaging the bared globes of my ass. When he straightened my breathing was uneven and he had my bra outstretched between his hands. I lowered my eyes to watch his masculine digits slide the delicate nude satin straps up my arms. His smooth purposeful motions and the contrast between us made me feel more feminine and pretty than the lingerie ever had.

  “Turn around,” he ordered and I did, though I did it in a daze as his capable hands arranged the silk cups over my breasts weighing and shaping
them as he did so. My nipples jutted hard against the cool satin. “Fucking gorgeous,” he whispered as he fastened the clasp. “Shame to cover all that beauty.” He trailed warm fingers across my hot skin turning me back to face him.

  I gulped as I took in the stark look of male hunger on his handsome face. He sank to the bed behind him and closed his eyes briefly as if to regain control. “Linc,” I called stepping between his legs. I couldn’t stand for him not to be touching me anymore. I ran my fingers through his thick wavy hair.

  He made a low masculine sound of approval that seemed to rumble from deep inside his chest. “What are you doing to me, Simone?” He opened his eyes and the clear blue color was barely visible around the black of his enlarged pupils. “I can’t catch my breath. It’s like a massive wave has crashed over me and I can’t find the surface. All I can think about is you.” He reached for me. I felt the needful tremble in his arms as he brought me forward placing his stubble roughened cheek against my smooth abdomen.

  “I feel exactly the same,” I whispered as if we were sharing some deep dark secret. I sifted my fingers through the damp strands of his hair marveling at the contrasting colors of sandy brown, platinum and gold as well as feeling a little frightened by the intensity of emotion that just seemed to keep growing stronger and stronger between us.

  He lifted his head twisting his trim waist as he reached for the rest of the things in my bag. “Let’s get you covered quickly before I lose it.” His gaze was darkly possessive, the message sent that even though I was standing over him he was still the one in control.

  My slightly wrinkled cotton blouse was hastily buttoned. I let out a long shaky breath that I’d been holding as he stood still gloriously naked and still fully aroused as he ordered me to step into the skirt he held open for me. I did and he gently turned me around tucking in the hem of the blouse leaving shimmery trails in his wake wherever his fingers touched my skin. The heat between my legs still smoldered. I still ached for him. I was so temped to throw caution to the wind, to strip to my bare skin again and beg him to take me and make me his.

  The words were on the tip of my tongue when he drew up the zipper and stood, his hands spanning my waist, his hard body pressed against the back of mine so tightly that I could feel the hot insistent thick length of him and answering desire pooled just as hot within me.

  “Please, Linc.” I reached back for him digging my fingers into his taut ass, pulling him more fully into me and turning to look at him over my shoulder.

  “Soon, Mona,” he promised his clear blue gaze seeming to penetrate to my soul. “Very soon.”

  My calves burned as we power walked past the one and two story houses with well-tended lawns like Ash’s until they gave way to commercial establishments the closer we got to Napoli’s. Ash had been mostly silent since we had left his place. I had been, too. Linc and I had made plans to meet up on the beach again the next day but that was over fourteen hours away. The ache in my chest since he kissed me goodbye just wouldn’t go away. The way he made me feel. The unexpected happiness he brought into my life. The group of friends I suddenly found myself a part of. It was all so seductive but unstable like the towering red and orange sandstone cliffs along the Point Loma peninsula that crumbled when too much pressure was put on them from above.

  When we came to the intersection Ash grasped me by the elbow and escorted me across. I glanced at him discovering that his brow was still furrowed, his serious expression unchanged since leaving his house.

  “What did Linc say to you before we left?” I asked.

  “He told me to keep an eye on you for him.” The crease in his brow deepened.

  I frowned. “I can take care of myself.”

  “I bet you can.” Ash’s expression softened as he studied me. “But you shouldn’t have to with your own father.”

  Jaw tightening, I glanced away. Suddenly I was even more reluctant to step inside Napoli’s. I stopped beneath the awning at the back door, the shadow that fell over me matching my darkening thoughts.

  “Hey.” Ash touched my arm. “Don’t be mad at Linc. He’s just worried about you. He’s very sensitive to your situation given his own past.”

  I nodded. A small frisson of doubt made my stomach knot. Surely the way Linc felt about me was motivated by more than just a desire to rescue me.

  “You’re very important to him, Simone.”

  I cocked my head to the side studying Ash the way he had a moment earlier. “You don’t seem very happy about that.”

  “No.” His lips flattened. “I guess I’m not.” He ran his hand through his straight platinum strands and sighed heavily. “I’m afraid the two of you are destined for disaster.”

  Hurt by his words immediate hot tears stung the back of my eyes.

  “It’s not that I don’t like you, Simone.” His tone softened. “In fact I’ve grown very fond of you.” He reached toward me gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Instead of his kind words making me feel better they made me feel worse, his ominous prediction echoing my own unsettled thoughts. And just like Linc I was oversensitive about people feeling sorry for me.

  “Maybe you’re wrong.” I stuck my chin up. “Maybe it’ll work out great between us. Maybe we’ll surprise you.”

  “Maybe,” he allowed. “Only Simone.” The somberness in his tone stopped me before I opened the door to go inside. I turned to look back at him. He was frowning again. “Linc’s life has been tough. Tougher than he’s probably let on. Lucky he got out of Logan Heights at all. You know surfing is his outlet. Like therapy. It’s not an optional thing.”

  “I understand.” Feeling defensive my fingers curled into my palms. “I would never do anything to jeopardize that for him.” I couldn’t believe Ash thought I would.

  “Good.” He nodded curtly. “I don’t really think he would let you or anyone else come between him and his surfing anyway. Surfing is his true love, Simone. I’m not sure he has room for another.”

  I stumbled as I entered the building and his words sank in. My initial impression of Ash was right. He didn’t want us together. He was just as protective of Linc as Linc was of me. But what Ash failed to realize was that we were really on the same team. We both loved Linc and wanted what was best for him.

  “Hey, Karen.” Simone sounded defeated on the other end of the line.

  “No, it’s me.”

  “Linc.” She breathed my name like I was an answer to a prayer. She was definitely the answer to all of mine.

  “Karen let me borrow her phone.” She and Patch were so hot and heavy in the other room where we’d all been watching a movie that I didn’t think my request had even really registered with her. “Ash says you can’t come to the beach tomorrow.”

  “No.” A short pause. “I’m sorry. My dad wants me to help supervise a deep cleaning of the kitchen.”

  “It’s ok,” I reassured. She sounded as disappointed as I was.

  “I guess you could probably use the extra time to do some more surfing.”

  “Sure but I’d rather spend it with you.”

  A longer pause. “Maybe you shouldn’t.”

  “Why the hell not?” I sat up straighter my fingers tightening around the cell.

  “Your competition isn’t far away. I don’t want to be a distraction.”

  “Who the hell said you were a distraction?”

  “Ash,” she whispered.

  “That interfering bastard.” I let out a long breath. I appreciated where he was coming from. I was sure he thought he was helping me, but he and I were still going to have some serious words. “You are not a distraction. You are my inspiration. I want to win first place in Fiji just to make you proud of me.”

  “I am proud of you, Linc.”

  “Really? I’m glad. We’re from different worlds you and me. College is never going to be an option for me. It’s too damn expensive, even if I wanted it. I’ve got my whole future riding on this surfing thing.”

  “You’re phen
omenal. I’m sure you’ll succeed.” Her voice lowered. “I’ll be thinking about you the entire time you’re gone. I’ll go to the church and light a candle for you.”

  “Thanks, babe.” So sweet. Every word. Everything she did made me fall further under her spell. “Don’t worry about tomorrow.” My voice deepened reflecting the weight of my feelings. “I’ll be thinking about you all day. And you have your fake date with Ash tomorrow evening. Right?” My cousin had apparently asked her out in front of her father before his shift started. I owed him big for that and for watching out for my girl for me.

  Ash had quickly called in that favor. I was going to front the band at their Deck Bar gig. No way I would have done it otherwise. It was going to seriously cut into my date with Simone. And I had big plans for tomorrow evening. I had a promise to fulfill to her and to myself.

  My parents were both up in my room with me before my ‘date’. Ash had so totally won my father over that he had uncharacteristically extended my curfew until two a.m.

  When he left, my mom remained, a silent presence until the door clicked closed behind him.

  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” she asked from her position on the edge of my bed, wine glass in hand sounding surprisingly coherent considering the fact that I knew she was on her second bottle of wine.

  “Sure, Mom.” I smoothed the silky fabric of the short hem of my dress over my thighs and turned around to face her. “Why do you ask?”

  “You just seemed so excited about that other boy and now,” she pursed her full lips and tapped on them with a thoughtful finger, “you seem to have moved on rather quickly. That’s not like you, Simone.”

  “I’m good, Mom.” With Lincoln and what I hoped would happen later tonight. Beyond that I had tons of doubts but those were uncertainties I refused to dwell on.