“What makes you think I want to get rid of the sand? I live at the beach, and every time the sand rubs against my skin, I’ll have a reminder of how I made you mine, if only for a few minutes on the beach.”
She blushes a little, and it’s the most adorable thing in the world. I take her hand and hold it, like we have been together forever. Like it’s the most normal thing in the world to do. And, to my surprise, she seems to relax.
“Where did you park your car? I can take you back to it if you want or take you home or…”
“I want to stay at your place tonight. I can’t face my family at my condo. Or Wes. I think you owe me enough to let me spend one night with you.”
I grin. “You’re welcome to stay at my place for as long as you like.”
What the hell has happened to me? I don’t say things like that. I don’t let women stay for as long as they want. I call the shots.
“Just remember that my place doesn’t have as nice of amenities as you are used to.”
She cocks her head to one side. “The shack I stayed in is your only place?”
I nod.
She smiles. “Really? It’s your only place? You make who knows how much money with your sponsorships and championship winnings, and you don’t have a nicer place than that shack and this beat-up truck that doesn’t even run properly.”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Because I have realized that possessions don’t make me happy. Even when…”
“Even when what?”
“Nothing. It doesn’t matter. I just realized that I was happier in a shack on the beach with awesome sunsets than a large mansion with lots of rooms.”
She smiles. “I prefer the mansions.”
I laugh. “Well, good thing we aren’t getting married then or doing anything beyond tonight. We would make a terrible couple. We have nothing in common.”
“You’re right. We would be miserable together.”
“Yep. Miserable.”
I turn left onto the gravel road leading toward my shack. “Last chance. I can always take you to a hotel to stay at tonight if you prefer.” Although that is the last fucking thing I want. I want her in my bed, shower, couch. I want to claim her in every inch of my shack if this is our last night together.
“I think I can handle the shack for one night.”
I exhale deeply as I relax, knowing that I get to have her at least one more time. Or a dozen times if I get my way tonight.
I pull up next to my shack of a house and turn off the engine. Then, I hop down out of my truck and run over to Sloane’s side of the car to open the door, like the gentleman that I am. I hold my hand out to her to help her down. Her dress is still undone, barely hanging on to her body, as she begins walking toward the front door.
“The door is unlocked, so just go on in. I need to get my surfboard out of the truck.”
“You don’t keep your front door locked?”
“No. Why would I?”
She smiles and then walks into my home. I hurriedly take my surfboard out of the truck and rest it on the rack to keep it out of the elements in case it rains, as it does so often here in the early summer. And then I run inside to find Sloane.
I open the door and find Sloane already completely naked, standing in my living room/bedroom—depending on how you look at it since I really only have one large room that is everything.
She turns and grins at me before she nibbles on her finger. “Your mouth is hanging open,” she says, her smile widening.
I instantly close my mouth. “I’m sorry. You are just so incredible.”