It became harder for me to keep my untamed desires in check.
Maddox eventually came to a stop and the sound of crashing waves filled my ears. “We’re at the beach?”
He helped me off the bike, before straightening up to his full height. Maddox unbuckled the chin strap and pulled the helmet off. Once the weight was gone, I almost groaned in relief.
His thumb stroked my collarbone in a delicate manner before he caught himself and pulled away. “I brought you to my favorite spot. Let’s go.”
He grasped my hand in his and pulled me forward. My heels sank into the sand, and I stumbled forward, a surprised giggle spilling from my lips. Yeah, that wasn’t going to work. I kicked off my heels, my bare feet sinking into the soft sand. It felt so nice.
We walked closer to the waves, hand in hand. I could see the reflection of the full moon in the ocean, and the sound of the waves were melodious to my ears. We came here last year, with the rest of our friend group, on our summer vacation. It was good to be here again, but this time – just the two of us.
I didn’t want to admit it… but it was intimate.
Maddox and I settled on the sand, watching the waves crash against the shore. We fell into a comfortable silence, and I watched him from the corner of my eye. His face was hard and pensive, with shadows under his eyes. Maddox was okay without his parents in his life, but every time they made their presence known… I’ve seen Maddox retreat within himself – a place filled with anger and hate. He battled his inner wars on his own and in silence.
My heart ached because I wanted to hold him.
I wanted to soothe him, save him and to love him in ways he has never been loved before and in ways only I can love him.
If only he’d let me.
If only he was mine.
If only...
“Are you cold?” His voice echoed through my ears, and I shook away the muddling thoughts.
“No, not cold.” I went back to staring at the ocean. The urge to dip into the water was strong. “I want to take a swim.”
“We can, tomorrow.”
“Or…” I left the sentence hanging.
Maddox read my mind, and his eyes narrowed on me. “Lila,” he warned.
“Troublemaker. I learned from the best.” I blinked at him in fake innocence. “I dare you to go skinny dipping. Right now.”
He gave me a blank stare, before releasing a sigh. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Well, I don’t think this is that big of a deal. You dared me to wear a potato sack to the club last week! Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?”
The tension in his shoulders unraveled. Maddox half-shrugged. “Can’t be as embarrassing as you making me wear a fake pregnant belly. I was waddling around campus all fucking day, Lila.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. Oh, that was a sight to see. I’d never seen Maddox so offended in his life, and Colton still wouldn’t let him live down that fateful day.
Over the years, Maddox and I have done countless dares. Some of them wild and crazy. Some just plain… stupid and embarrassing.
Maddox taught me how to enjoy life, how to let go of fear and the need for control and to just… live.
I wasn’t just surviving any longer or simply going through the motions of life after the death of my parents.
I was… living and breathing life.
“So, do you dare?”
Maddox stood up and slowly unbuttoned his white shirt. He tugged at his bow tie, and it fell on the sand beside me. He peeled off his shirt, and my mouth went dry.
His stomach clenched, his abs rippled, and my stomach pooled with heat. My eyes traveled up the length of his torso up to his chest. His strong pecs and his nipples…
My pussy tightened. The silver nipple piercing shone under the moonlight.
I had to remind myself to breathe. My gaze slid up to his face. Chiseled jaw. Full lips. Nose that was slightly crooked, but it was only noticeable if someone paid close attention and his eyes blazed a deep blue – as deep as the ocean--eyes that could see inside my soul.
“I’ll get in the water on one condition. You have to do it.”