He fucks me hard and fast, his finger and his cock finding a rhythm that’s insane. I try to meet each thrust, but I start to shake, and then I give in. Heat rips through me, and I cling to Gunner like I’m afraid I’m going to float away if I don’t.
He groans in my ear and holds me in place as he pulls out of me and groans loud and deep. His hands soften on me and I kiss him softly, trying to catch my breath and keep my heart from running away with me.
“It’s not the sex I wanted.” He whispers in my ear. “Sex is easy. Finding someone who is impossible to ignore, that knots me until all I can think about is her and how to please her, someone who wants to know more about me than what my cock can do and how far my money goes … that’s what I’ve wanted.”
I swoon right here. Gunner smiles and kisses me deeply like he didn’t just fuck me. I shiver and clutch him tighter. I lick across his lips as I drawback. “I do want to know everything.”
He nods but studies my eyes like he’s waiting for the catch. I brush my fingers over his face. “See how nice it is to use your mouth for talking?”
“Like you don’t like the other things I use it for.” He teases.
I smile wide and shake my head. “I like everything you do with your mouth.” I shiver. “And I like when you share with me. I feel like you know so much about me, but I’m still catching up.”
“Maybe I’ll write you a book. It will be terrible. I’ve never figured out what the plot of life is.” He chuckles as he lets me go. “We’ll see.”
“I’ll read it,” I say with a promise as I swim towards the breaking waves. “All of it, Gunner. From childhood and awkward puberty stories to your wild parties.”
“You couldn’t handle my parties. I couldn’t handle my parties. I only remember about half of them.” He chuckles.
“Well you better remember this!” I shove him into a wave before diving under it when we get back to shore, Gunner’s lagging behind, enjoying the waves.
Roman’s stretched out over the beach, enjoying the last rays of the sun while every passing woman drinks him in. Nick is almost fully clothed painting with Holden. Holden looks frustrated but nods at whatever Nick says.
I feel Roman’s hand on my calf as I pass to grab a towel, then I go over to Nick and Holden to see what they’re working on. Nick has blocked out areas and has a beautifully done sky. Hell, if I held the canvas at the right angle, I bet it would match perfectly.
Holden’s is scratchier, with canvas showing through and not as skillfully blended, but it’s better than I’ve ever done trying to paint along with Bob Ross. Holden snorts. “This isn’t my cup of tea.”
“It looks good.” I encourage. “Both of you are doing really well.”
Nick smiles at me, and there’s something calm in his eyes. Usually when I look at him, I can see traces of stress, but right now, there’s just him—excited, happy, relaxed. Nick rubs down my back, then adjusts my towel, so it’s wrapped around my shoulders too.
“Don’t get cold.” He murmurs.
“Can I watch? Sit in on the lesson?” I ask.
“Please, take over.” Holden huffs, setting a brush down and offering me the paint palate he’s made. “You can only make it better.”
“Together?” I offer.
He rolls his eyes but nods. Holden and I both work on his canvas, trying to bring the waves to life. Nick reminds us to sweep the brush gently because we can always add more paint. Holden and I shake our heads at each other, but our waves look completely different. I chuckle and shake my head.
“Nick, I think you’re the clear winner here.”
“Art doesn’t have winners.” He murmurs. “That’s why I like it. It’s just what it needs to be. A way to let go and reflect how you see the world.”
“If you can make the paint agree with you,” Holden grumbles.
I nudge him and kiss his shoulder. He tries to put some veins of foam and green in his waves like Nick is, but they just look like they’re tied together. I do the same, but it doesn’t come out any better. By the time we get to the rocks and the sandy shore, our painting looks like two middle schoolers looked at a picture of a beach and tried to finish it in art class.
Nick’s painting is so much more detailed, so fully realized. I take a step back to look at the paintings. Holden and I didn’t do a terrible job. It’s obviously the ocean, even if it’s not perfect. And, even better, it means that we all spent valuable time together.
Even Gunner shows up in Nick’s painting, playing frisbee with Roman. I play with my fingers in front of me as I look over the guys. They’re happy, smiling, relaxed, and … and I’m a part of it.
Me and my wild heart, thudding against my ribs like it can’t relax around them. Just a few weeks ago, I felt awful for kissing all of them. I felt like I was abusing the situation, felt like a terrible person for being so greedy and wanting all of them.
And now, being with them on the beach, I can’t imagine it any other way. I can’t imagine just choosing one of them to spend all my time with. Not when each of them offers so much, not when we’re all so happy together.
Just like this.
The sun dips into the horizon, and then Roman scoops me up and drags me into whatever game we’re playing. Nick and Holden join in as their paint dries, and we run around, tossing the frisbee while laughing and talking about nothing at all.
A perfect day.