“That’s not a bad idea.” Cherri smiled as she drank her black coffee, heading to her room to get ready for the day.If only I knew where to find him.
Despite everyone’s constant warnings,I found myself wandering on the very beach I had been told to avoid. I couldn’t help it. The ocean had always called to me, luring me to it whenever I was near. Growing up in Golden Coast, I would spend every waking moment here on its shores, breathing in the salty sea air while listening to the waves as they crashed into the shore. It was magical.
The bright yellow police tape from the day before was still tied to the wooden posts, a hazardous beacon for all to stay away. I ripped the measly warning, stepping onto the sand with my bare feet. It was strange seeing the shoreline so empty and barren, especially at the tail end of summer. I strolled to the edge of the water, watching as it washed around my feet, creating tiny bubbles, reminding me of the brutal shark attack that occurred less than twenty four hours ago, the vivid recollection still occupying my thoughts.
“Delilah!” I whipped my head around to see Dale jogging to me.
Glancing around the beach, I noticed my dad and a few of his fellow officers gathered, pointing out to the ocean. “W-what’re you doing here?” I asked, completely oblivious to the presence of everyone else.
Dale smiled, his mustache moving with his lips. “I was about to ask you the same thing. The beach is closed, Delilah. You really shouldn’t be out here.”
My dad noticed me, doing a double take as he quickly rushed over to join Dale and me. “Delilah? What the hell did I tell you?”He grabbed my arm, dragging me back towards the access ramp. “The beach is closed. This is a crime scene!”
“A shark attack in the water doesn’t make this a crime scene.” I yanked my arm free, snapping back.
He glared at me, his eyes burning into mine through his dark shades. “You listen here, young lady. You are to leave the beach this instant, and I better not find you back here until it’s been reopened to the public.” I stared at him, my hair blowing in the wind. “Do you understand me?” he snapped, the hostile tone jolting my body.
“Yes, sir,” I growled, clenching my jaw tight.
My father walked away, rejoining his officers as Dale once again approached me. “Same old Delilah.”
“Piss off, Dale,” I snapped, turning as I began to stomp away.
“Nice lip shade you got there!” he yelled after me.
My fingers touched my lips, realizing I had worn my signature color out today.Shit. My feet began to pick up in speed as I hurried into a jog away from him.
I kicked an empty beer can,watching as it bounced across the sand. I had ignored my father and Dale’s warnings, refusing to leave the beach. Instead, I only wandered further to the other side, away from their prying eyes.Fuck them. I kicked at the sand, nearly tripping. My hands wavered, balancing my weight while adjusting the short hem of my red summer dress.
As I continued further along the coastline, I noticed someone sitting near some beachgrass, perched atop a small sand dune. His hair and tattoos seemed familiar to me, driving me closer until I was standing directly adjacent to him. “Reef?” I spoke.The man snapped his head up, shocked to hear his name called. I was right. It was him. Reef.
He stared up at me, his arms looped around his bent knees.Does he even recognize me?Reefsmiled, slowly looking me up and down. “Well, if it isn’t the late-night swimmer herself.” He patted the sand next to him. “Want to join me?”
My heart raced that he remembered me, my cheeks flushing as I cheerfully plopped down next to him. We stared at one another, the wind blowing my hair in all directions as my mind scrambled to form a single thought.
Reef’s eyes lowered as they landed on my exposed stomach through the cutouts of my dress, his fingers tracing the shark bite along my skin. His touch was electrifying, causing my skin to sizzle with an overwhelming craving to feel more of him. I wanted more. “You’ve been marked,” he stated, raising a brow.
“What?” I asked, confused by his statement.
“This.” He tapped my torso, his fingers lingering on the puncture wounds. I winced, gasping quietly as he examined it, the feeling both painful and inviting. “Some say that if a shark bites you but doesn’t kill you, it marks you…claiming you as his.”
“His?” I raised a brow, toying with him, unsure of what he even meant. Reef grinned, removing his hand as he stared back at the ocean. I sat there, scanning his features as I absorbed the beauty of his presence, my thoughts returning to that night we shared. “Where did you go that night?” I asked. “I mean, we were having a pretty good time, and then you just left.”
Reef laughed lightly, shaking his head. “I didn’t go far.”
I narrowed my eyes, twisting my lips in a playful manner. “You’re a curious fellow, Reef.”
“I am?” He tilted his head. “What about you? How many other women decide to go swimming late at night and masturbate in the ocean? You should be glad someone like me happened to come along. At least I know how to take care ofyou.” He winked, nudging me with his shoulder. “No,youare the curious one...and I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Delilah,” I spoke.
Reef smiled. “Your name may be Delilah, but you sure remind me of a barracuda.”
“What?” I smacked his large, muscular arm, unsure of if I should feel offended or proud of the comparison.
“Oh yeah.” He chuckled. “Strong, scary beautiful, and ferocious. There’s something dangerous about you, Delilah.” He rotated, leaning closer as he whispered to me. “You have this predatory aurora to you, something that makes my skin tingle in fear yet draws me in as my curiosity begs to know more.” He crawled over me, hovering as I tried to hold myself up. “When I’m near you, my conscience screams for me to run, but at the same time, every fiber of my being burns, desperately wanting to fuck you again.” His hand caressed my cheek, his thumb trailing my lower lip. “I’ve thought about you non-stop since our night together.” A soft whimper escaped my throat as my body ached for him. “And now that I’ve had my taste…” He leaned forward, breathing into my mouth. “I think it’s time I had my meal.”
Reef tucked his hand under my left thigh as he roughly flipped my body over and onto my stomach. My hair fell forward over my face, sand hitting my cheek as he leaned against my back, his hot breath traveling along my neck. My spine instinctively arched into him, beckoning him closer.
