Page 34 of Crashing Into You

He releases me, and his voice is shaky. “Uh, shall we go?”

I nod, unable to speak, clinging to his hand as we take the underpass to the beach. My legs feel like jelly, and I just want more more more of him, want his hands, his tongue, every part of him on me. A dip in cold water is exactly what I need to shock myself back to my senses.

But he pulls his T-shirt over his head, dropping it on the sand, then drags me into the waves with him, wrapping his arms around me as water slams into us. I cling to him, laughing and gasping as he kisses me again.

“Is this okay with you, Claire?” His mouth is so close to mine. “Because I’ll stop. Just say the word.”

“Don’t stop,” I say, kissing him back. I grab his ass, feeling the hard muscles beneath the thin nylon shorts. He growls against me, and I can feel a growing hardness pressing into my stomach. His hands slide over my body, then one comes between us, cupping my breast, his thumb playing with my erect nipple. Holy fuck. This is going too fast.

I push against him, slightly. He releases me and we stare at each other, both panting. Waves smash into our thighs, wet heat still pulsing between my legs.

“I’m sorry if—” he starts.

I shake my head. “No. Nothing to be sorry for. I just… It’s moving fast, that’s all.”

He nods. “It is.” He holds my gaze. “This isn’t what I expected when we started this. I don’t want you to feel pressured in any way, Claire.”

“I know.” I do know it. I don’t care what kind of reputation he has. The Bryce I know is nothing but thoughtful and kind, a decent guy. Someone I want to get to know in more ways than one. “And I don’t. Feel pressured, that is.”

We both stare at each other some more. Then he smiles. “So, what happens now? Do you want to keep going with this?”

“With…?”

“Getting to know each other. Properly. We might have a deal, but I can’t deny there’s something between us. So if you feel the same way, I’d like to explore that… Explore you.”

Fuck. The way he says, “Explore you.” My entire pelvis clenches in response. I want him to explore me. I want to explore him. Preferably while naked.

But I also need to be careful. The little voice, the warning voice that lives in my mind ever since Simon, rears its head. I kind of hate that voice. But, at the same time, I know it’s looking out for me. I don’t let a lot of people into my life. If I’m going to let Bryce in, it has to be for more than just lust.

“I’d like to explore that, too.” I feel breathless, light as air, as though I might dissolve into sea foam like the little mermaid. “I just… Can we take it slow?” I kind of wince when I say it. Bryce is used to threesomes and god knows what else. Why would he bother with a sad little virgin like me? Not that he knows I’m a virgin. Not yet.

But he just smiles. “You set the pace,” he says. “I’ll just follow where you lead.”

“Well, maybe not in the surf.” I laugh a shaky laugh. “You might need to take the lead out here.”

His smile widens. “Yeah, possibly.” Before I can react, he lunges forward, picking me up in his arms and taking me out into the waves. I scream with laughter, hanging on to him as he drops forward, submerging us both. I emerge spluttering, still giggling, smoothing the hair back from my face, blinking salt from my eyes. The water is only chest deep, thank god, but the waves rolling over us are big enough and I have to jump with each one.

“I needed a cold dip,” he says, with a wicked glance. “Thought you might too. C’mon, I’ll race you back to shore.”

He catches the next wave, bodysurfing it towards the golden curl of sand. I do the same, delighting in the pound and roar of water against my body, the feeling of being tumbled and taken by a force larger and more powerful than I could ever be.

It kind of feels like how things are with Bryce. What started as a simple agreement has, in the space of just a week, become something far more. I can let it tumble me, stranding me on the shore. Or I can ride it, and see where it takes me.

I decide to ride.

ChapterSixteen

Bryce

When I get back to Matt’s place Kylie is in the kitchen, making dinner. When she sees me come in, still damp from my swim, she pulls a few more sausages from the fridge.

“No,” she says, when I start to protest. “I’ve already made loads of potatoes and salad. Just chuck these on the barbie and then there’s plenty for all of us.”

“Nice.” I grab the sausages and head back out through the sliding doors to the patio, where the barbecue is already smoking, a delicious scent of roasting meat in the air. I drop the sausages on the grill and head back inside. “Need a hand with anything else?”

“No,” she says, “I’m all right. Grab yourself a beer. Matt is down at the shops, but he’ll be back soon.”

“Righto.” I grab a beer. “You want one? Or a glass of wine?”