I turned to grab my board and lifted my eyes to see Ethan glaring at me. I gave him an apologetic shrug and headed out to make sure Lana was strapped onto the board correctly before Ethan started up the boat.
“He looks angry,” Lana said, studying Ethan as I swam over to check her position.
“Yeah, he does.”
“Do you think he’ll sling us?”
I shook my head. Ethan was pissed but he wasn’t stupid. Lana had trusted him. He wouldn’t screw that up. Also, beat the shit out of him if he scared her. I was pretty sure he knew that too.
“Is the fit tight? You feel locked in?”
She nodded and gave me a nervous smile.
Lana
What the heck had just happened? My body was still tingling and I couldn’t even think about the strange sensations going on in my um... private area. Dear God, I’d been about to hump Sawyer right there in the water in front of everyone.
“You ready?” Sawyer asked from beside me. I nodded and hoped I was. It had been awhile but I knew how it felt when I was pulling back on the rope just the right amount.
The motor on the boat roared to life and Ethan gunned it, which I’d also been expecting. When Kayla and Toby had gone first I had been sure to pay attention to everything they did. Kayla jumping the wake and flying up in the air wasn’t something I was going to give a go but I still watched carefully.
Once I was safely up and not about to pitch forward into the water I chanced a peek at Sawyer. He was grinning at me with approval and my chest tightened. He was so beautiful. He closed the space between us and I focused on not losing my balance reminding myself he knew what he was doing. I just needed to focus on not moving to the left or right.
“You got this,” Sawyer smiled at me and then he was gone. I watched as he swung out, jumping the wake and flying even higher in the air than Kayla had done before coming back down and grinning like a little boy as the group on the boat whooped and hollered. I didn’t even swing out to the right. I had no doubt I’d wipe out if I gave it a go. I took quick peeks over at Sawyer as he continued to do tricks on his side of the boat.
My arms were burning and holding on was becoming increasingly harder. Biting down on my bottom lip, I tried to deal with the pain.
“Your arms burning?” Sawyer called out to me as he pulled in beside me.
I nodded, hating to end his fun.
“Let go of the rope on three,” he replied and began counting.
We both let go of our ropes when he said three and sank down slowly into the water.
“Take your board off,” Sawyer called out as he stayed in position. He was going to go again without me. I didn’t feel as bad now for needing to stop.
The boat got back to us about the time I had the board unstrapped from my feet.
“Give Toby the board, then come here,” Sawyer instructed and I did as I was told. Maybe he needed help with something.
“You going again?” Jake yelled from his spot on the boat.
Sawyer nodded “Yep, her arms were burning.”
Toby got the board from my hands and once he had it safely on the boat, I swam over to Sawyer.
“Sit in my lap and straddle me. Wrap your legs around my waist and hold on real tight,” Sawyer said with a wicked grin in his eyes.
“What? Why?” I stuttered confused.
He let go of the rope with one hand and motioned me to come closer, “Come on, Lana. Wrap those long legs around my waist. I won’t let you get hurt. Trust me.”
A squeal and clapping distracted me and I turned to look back at the boat. Kayla was extremely pleased.
“Do it Lana! I’ve seen Sawyer do this with Ash many times.” Kayla called out.
I turned back to Sawyer, “But Ash can do tricks. I can’t.”