After a moment, she pulled back. “Can you put away the sex appeal for like five minutes? You’re making it hard to think about anything else.”
I ground my pelvis into her, but this time my dick was rock solid. “Right back at ‘cha, sweets. Can you control yourself?”
Her smile, big and beautiful, brought light to her eyes and revealed cute little dimples that only appeared in moments of real happiness. Among the countless smiles I’d encountered, hers was the most hypnotizing. She captivated me with her authenticity.
“I’ll do my best.” She gave me a quick kiss before moving to grab her purse from the floor. “It was Colton, by the way. And the Uber should be here in about five minutes.”
I paused, tilting my head with a frown. “I did not see that one coming.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised when she grabbed my hand as we walked down the hall to the elevator. Such a simple act, but somehow, it felt like so much more.
This was my first time visiting LA, too, and I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to return.
The traffic. Holy shit, the traffic.
How did anyone get anywhere in a timely manner? It would have been quicker for me to get out and walk.
But eventually, we made it down Highway 1 and to the beach because, for some reason, Cadence—who lived on the Atlantic Ocean—asked to see the Pacific.
“It’s gorgeous!” she yelled, sprinting toward the water, throwing her shoes and kicking up sand behind her.
Watching as she ran, arms open and laughing, it looked like she was having the best day of her life. It filled me with something I hadn’t felt for a long time.
Peace.
Contentment.
Joy.
I was completely at ease, and in the back of my head, that scared me. The last time I’d been like this, opened up to someone, it had ended badly.
I didn’t let just anyone into my circle.
Sure, I was open and friendly on the outside, but I kept pieces of myself locked away from the world. It kept me safe, and it unnerved me to know she had wiggled her way in without me even realizing it.
Especially knowing she’d pulled away from me before…
“Come on!” she yelled again as the wind whipped her locks around her head. “What are you waiting for?”
Exhaling, I ran my hand through my hair. I didn’t have an answer. So, I peeled off my boots and socks and left them in the sand as I followed her, pushing aside those insecurities screaming to be heard.
We played cat and mouse, me trying to catch her, before we pulled the bottoms of our jeans up and stepped into the ocean. The water was freezing, which gave me an idea.
I tilted my head toward Cadence.
“Don’t you dare!” She took a step back from me.
“Don’t what?” I followed her, a mischievous grin plastered on my face.
“Damien… I swear… Don’t! I’m wearing white and you know I don’t like to be cold.”
“Oh, don’t worry baby girl, I’ll make sure to warm you back up.”
She shrieked as I flung water at her, droplets settling on her shirt and creating little see-through circles.
“Oh. It’s on.”
She tried to splash me, but I was quicker than her. After all, I was over a foot taller than her, with much longer legs. I moved out of the way with ease, as laughter surrounded us.
