“I love…” There’s a small piece of me that refuses to give in.Giving myself a small shake, I stare back defiantly.“I love myself enough not to jump into making such a serious statement too soon.”
Strangely enough, this pleases Theron.Tilting up my chin, he kisses me.
“Keep your secrets, Aila, but sooner or later, you will share them with me.Don’t forget we have the whole summer.”
“Mmmm-uh…” I was always a stubborn child, so I fight him all the way.Shutting my lips, I refuse to agree.“A summer where I will be working my ass off since my mom decided to turn this into a working holiday, Theron!”
Stroking my hair and smiling, he gives me a quick hug before letting his hand slide down my back.“And it’s such a nice ass.”He gives it a pinch.
Tens across the board for Theron’s charisma.This man doesn’t let the opportunity to give me a compliment pass by.
I try to remember what sent me skittering away from Theron, but it has slipped my mind.
I feel weak and even a little bit giddy, but at least my mouth is no longer dry.
Don’t want to swim, need forty winks.
He leads me back to the shady grove, makes a pillow for me out of his leather jacket, and leaves me to lie down.
“I will watch over you while you sleep, Aila.You have nothing to worry about.”
Giving a tired chuckle, I am only half-awake when I reply.
“Oh, I wish that were true…”
Like a layer of icing on a cracked cake, it feels like something sweet and heavy is clogging my head when I wake up.
Theron is lying next to me, staring at my face in the graying light.
“How long was I asleep?”
Struggling to sit up, I suppress the urge to yawn.I stretch like a lazy cat, but it is closely followed by a shiver.I can tell from the chill in the air that it is evening.
“Many hours.”Kissing the end of my nose, he moves his mouth over my cheek as he whispers.“Poor honey was so tired.”
I can tell from Theron’s expression that he is assessing my mood.
I’m assessing myself.It feels as if parts of me are missing.When I try to focus on how I spent the day, most of it is blank.Is this what it feels like when someone fucks your brains out?
“Do you still want to swim?”
Oh yes.We had sex and then… I wanted to swim in the creek.But I guess I got tired.
When I look up, Theron has his legs straddling the Harley and when I look down, I see that I am also fully dressed.Time is skipping like rocks on the surface of the water.
“Come on.Let’s go before your mother asks Luna to send out a search party.”
Climbing on behind him, I have a million questions I would love to have answered.
“How come you don’t have to wear your helmet anymore?”
“Because moonlight doesn’t burn my face, Aila.”
For some reason, Theron seems to have come alive as the evening turns to night.He’s even making jokes.
“If I keep the revs low, no one will hear us or see us ride by, sweetheart.So, if anyone asks us where we have been, this is what I want you to tell them… You spent the day exploring the island alone.I came looking for you a couple of minutes ago and offered you a lift.Got that?”
He guns the engine and begins reversing us back down the narrow pathway using his legs.For one moment, I’m distracted watching the muscles in his legs flex, but by the time we are riding sedately down the hill, I say what’s on my mind.
