Funny how having that one person you can’t live without makes all the difference. It shifts your perspective.
Gage lets my feet fall into the sand as we reach the edge, where the water laps the shore. Waves recede as we stand there, staying in place as the water rushes back.
“You have to experience this with bare feet.”
“Letty.”
“Boots off,” I order. “I’m serious.”
He crouches to untie his boots, but the wave that hurtles toward us is bigger than the last one. It hits us with enough strength that we both go down. I laugh hard as Gage’s ass plants in the wet sand.
Kicking off my shoes, I walk a little closer to the water’s edge and hold out my hand. “Come on!”
Gage joins me. I notice that he’s rolled up his jeans to the knee, which is smart. His hand clasps around mine as the next wave slams into us, and we resist toppling over. I feel the granules slipping away beneath my feet, and it never fails to thrill me.
“That feels odd,” Gage observes.
I know just what he’s talking about. “The sand is disappearing from underneath you because the tide is washing it away.”
“Yeah.”
“There’s no other feeling like it.”
“It could be less cold.” He spits as foam sprays our clothes. Some of it gets in his mouth. “Fuck, that’s salty.”
“Right? You never think about it, but the ocean is very salty. I try to avoid getting any in my mouth. But it’s worth it to feel the power of the ocean and the sand beneath your toes.”
“I’m gonna agree with you, babe.”
We stayed on the beach for over an hour. The sky is overcast, but I know from experience that your skin can still burn. It’s almost worse when it sneaks behind the clouds. I’ve had somebad burns in the last four years. I’m better at protecting my skin now.
“We’d better take off, or we’ll burn.”
Gage helps me up the beach until we’re away from the spray. We have to shake out our socks and shoes, clearing them of sand. It won’t get rid of it completely, but it helps not to walk on it with wet soles.
By the time we walk back to the house, I notice Mom’s car. It’s outside the garage instead of inside, but maybe she’s leaving again soon and doesn’t want the hassle of dealing with the garage door.
Gage corners me on the deck, just outside the kitchen doors. His hand lifts, circling my neck. I step back against the wall as his big body cages mine. Just that little action makes me wet for him. I bite into my bottom lip as he growls.
“Do it again.”
“What?” I ask, nearly breathless with the way his hand tethers my throat.
“Bite your lip.”
I blink, feeling too warm all over like I’ve just been dunked in hot water.
“Bite into that pretty, puffy pink lip and show me how bad you want me.”
Good God, this man is sin and grit, danger and an adrenaline shot. All of it injected straight into my heart and beneath my skin. He’s my addiction. I won’t ever get enough.
His mouth slams down on mine, and on instinct, I arch into him, needing friction and connection. Just as he’s about to deepen the kiss, I feel him stagger like he’s been pushed.
He grunts as someone appears behind him and swings a baseball bat. The wood cracks against his skull as I scream.
The sliding glass doors open, and a hand clamps over my mouth. I try to fight, but I’m not strong enough. I’m easily overpowered as I watch Gage hit the deck. He’s unconscious.
It’s not until I see Liam and Theo that everything clicks into place. They found me.
