Page 19 of Riptide

Any other day, he’d go to the garage, pack up his board and set off to surf. The ocean, so out of control, tested him, drove him to push himself harder, faster, smarter. The ocean always reminded him that he was just one small connection in the vast universe and put in perspective his troubles of the day.

As he entered his bedroom he looked to his inviting bed. Exhaustion reminded him that his body, still healing, needed rest, and running on adrenaline would only get him so far. If he planned on protecting the woman who’d rescued him, he’d have to build his strength.

Something about Kaimana drove him to protect her even though he still didn’t trust her completely. Seth shook his head, knowing his dick had something to do with it. “Fuuuck. Dude. Not now.” You know better. He looked up and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. “And you need a shave.” His shaggy hair appeared disheveled. Blood stained his fine white cotton pajamas. “She’s not gonna get with you like that.”

Seth sighed and stripped off his clothes, tossing them onto the floor. Jesus, what was he thinking? Nearly half dead a week ago, but now his libido seemed to have a mind of its own with the strength of a thousand men. Aside from the crazy threesome he’d had that night with Lars and Braelynn in Big Sur, he’d been in training, focused on waves, not women. When he considered his reaction to Kaimana, he hoped it was the lack of sex attracting him to her and not something more that would surely lead to trouble.

As he headed toward the bathroom, determined to wash off the stench of death, he knew he’d have to release the pressure building inside him. Bad guys trying to kill him left and right. Hot woman in his home who attracted danger like a moth to flame. He told himself to get it together. Focus. Breathe.

Having the confidence of a man about to surf an eighty-foot wave, Seth steeled his nerves, pumped for the challenge. Tonight, sleep. Tomorrow would come soon enough, and the fight would continue.

* * *

A creak in the floorboard woke Seth, his body jolting upward on alert. The security panel on his bed assured him the home remained secure. He looked to his clock, noting it had only been a few hours since he’d fallen asleep. His heart caught in his chest at the sight of a familiar silhouette in the doorway. Kaimana.

“You okay?” he managed.

She stepped forward but remained silent.

“You okay?” he repeated, his chest tightening with concern as she came closer. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “What’s going on?”

“I—” She sucked in a deep breath and released it. “It’s um…too much. I can’t sleep.”

Some people were good at running but he suspected Kaimana’s spirit had been shattered. His strong savior had taken too many blows in battle. Too much violence. Too much death. Her body needed rest, but more so her mind.

“Come here.” A gentle command passed through his lips. Jesus, he knew better than to do what he was about to do, but he, too, was too weak to fight.

Her gaze fell from his eyes to his hand which patted the bed.

“It’s going to be okay, Kaimana.” His heart pounded in his chest as she approached and reached for his hand. “Come lie down. Get some rest.”

She didn’t say a single word as she crawled into bed next to him. As she curled against his chest, Seth instantly sensed the desire curling within him.

As her body melded against his, his cock stirred, and he instantly regretted asking her to stay. Fuck no, not now. The trauma of the night’s events stung like sea nettles on his soul. Yet his body responded to hers and he was at a loss to control it.

Emotions rose to the surface as his arms surrounded her, his fingers brushing a hair away from her face. A tightness brewed in his chest as her warm tears brushed his skin. A visceral reaction to her body against his swept through him. Sexual awareness tempted him, his thoughts teemed with lust and desire.

A gentleman to a flaw, it took every ounce of self-control not to kiss her. Fuuuck. Seth sighed, forcing his muscles to relax. He stared down at her, the connection between them growing stronger with each second.

Her wild theories about his dead friend should have been enough to send him running. He didn’t even know her…yet. Oh, but he would. He’d memorize every inch of her body, he suspected, and uncover every secret she kept.

* * *

Dreams of Kaimana danced in his mind as he slept, erotic musings teasing him. His cock throbbed as she stroked him, his hips thrusting into her hands. Fuck, yes.

Her beautiful long brown hair draped down her back in a braid. He looped it around his hand and tugged her head backward, exposing her neck. His other arm wrapped around her waist, his fingers teasing under her breasts. Her bottom gyrated backwards, deliberately brushing against his cock.

“Hmmm…” A feminine voice interrupted his dream.

He moaned, his eyes still closed, hoping to recapture the fantasy. A hint of reality entered his mind, sending the dream fading into mere tendrils of sensual bliss.

“Hmmm…” Her voice echoed in his ear.

Seth’s eyes flew open, and his heart caught in his chest. What the hell? With his cock still hard as fuck and his body flush against Kaimana’s back, he slowly inched away from her and slipped his arm off her waist. What am I doing?

Seth stilled as she rolled over to face him. Her eyelids fluttered open, still dazed and sleepy, her palms brushing his chest.

His heart pounded as he gazed into her eyes. They swirled with mystery and desire, strength veiled in innocence. But his thoughts were far from innocent, and it took everything he had to not fuck her right there. Logic told him to run, but his heart? That mother fucker was a traitor like no other, whispering in his ear to kiss her, in collusion with his dick. Fuck all.