Spring Break Fling

Chapter 47

47

NIKKO

I slid my hand around her waist, feeling the familiar thrill that always accompanied being this close to Hannah. Seeing her smile made me wonder how I ever handled days without it. As we walked to the front door of the tattoo shop, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders that I didn’t even realize I was carrying.

I never imagined I would see her again. I truly believed it was over. I was convinced she was going to meet some hotshot New York dude and never look back.

“Diego, take her stuff to my house,” I said.

“Do I look like your errand boy?”

“Yes. Do it. And don’t drink all my beer.”

“Thank you,” Hannah said to Diego.

“Just doing my part for love,” Diego said.

I led her to where my bike was parked. I handed her a helmet, our fingers brushing in the process.

She took it from me, her hands steady. “You’re taking care of me already?”

“Always,” I replied with a grin. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” she said, putting on the helmet .

I remembered the first time I took her on my bike and just how afraid she had been. Things had changed.

I got on and she slipped behind me like it was where she belonged. Her body fit perfectly against mine. My hand went to her thigh and gave her an affectionate pat.

I started the bike and took it easy at first. I felt her thighs squeeze my own and smiled. I was the horse, and she was trying to tell me to giddy up.

I chuckled under my breath and decided to give her what she wanted. Accelerating smoothly, I took us onto the winding roads that led out of the city, relishing the feeling of freedom that came with every mile.

The air was cool against our skins, the sun setting in a blaze of glory on the horizon. I could feel Hannah’s grip tighten around me whenever I revved the engine, her excitement tangible. The road stretched out before us, lined with trees that swayed gently in the evening breeze.

As we rode, I thought about everything that had led up to this moment—the fight, the breakup, the reconciliation. It had been a rough ride, but here we were, literally moving forward together. It felt like we were finally syncing up our lives in a way that made sense.

She was practically vibrating with excitement, her laughter spilling over me every time I hit a curve. It had been too long since I’d heard her laugh like that, and damn if it didn’t do something to me.

I pulled off the road onto a secluded path that led straight to the beach. The moment the engine died, Hannah hopped off, her eyes lighting up like I’d just handed her the moon.

“You remembered,” she said softly, glancing around at the familiar stretch of sand.

“Our first date,” I said with a grin.

“Was it?” she said, scrunching up her nose. “We had already had sex. I don’t know if that night with the wine and cheese really counts as a first date.”

“It does in my book.”

“Are you about to pull out more wine and cheese?” she teased .

“If I knew you were coming, I would have packed wine, cheese, and those Ghirardelli chocolates you love so much. But since you decided to surprise me, you’re going to have to settle for just me.”

“That’s not settling,” she said. “Not even a little.”

We kicked off our shoes and made our way down to the water, the sand cool underfoot. It felt surreal, sitting here with her again after everything. She plopped down beside me, crossing her legs and looking up at the sky.

“So,” I said, leaning back on my hands. “Catch me up. What’s the plan now that you’ve burned every bridge in Manhattan?”

She gave me a sly smile. “Oh, it was more of a controlled demolition than a fire, thank you very much.”

“Fair.”

Her expression softened as she gazed out at the ocean. “Honestly? I’m done chasing things I don’t care about. I’ve spent years trying to be what other people expect—perfect job, perfect resume, perfect life. But none of it made me happy. So, I’m starting over. I’m going to figure out what I want, and for once, I’m going to do it my way.”

“About damn time,” I said, nudging her with my shoulder.

“And you?” she asked, her voice gentle. “Are you working at the shop again?”

I smiled and shook my head. “No. I’m opening a new shop.”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” I continued, feeling a surge of pride. “We went to check out a place the other day. I wanted Marcus’s opinion. He knows a lot more about the business side of things. He offered to partner up with me.”

“After he fired you?” she asked.

I nodded. “I know, right? I was shocked too. He’s putting up the capital and it will be his name on the door, but I run the shop. The spot’s over on the west side of town—bigger, better layout. And there’s a small gallery attached where local artists can exhibit their work. I want it to be a place that supports and promotes all kinds of art, not just tattoos.”

Her hand found mine, squeezing it tightly. “Nikko, that’s amazing! I didn’t realize you were moving forward with that idea. I remember you talking about it, dreaming about it, but…”

“But you thought it was just one of those pipe dreams?” I finished for her with a chuckle. “Honestly, I almost thought so too. But then, after everything that went down, I figured now was as good a time as any to turn dreams into reality.”

“I’m proud of you,” she said. “You must be thrilled.”

“Yeah,” I said, a grin tugging at my lips. “It’s wild. Never thought I’d be running my own place, but it feels right, you know? Like I’m finally doing something that’s mine.”

She looked at me with something that felt dangerously close to pride. My chest tightened. I didn’t think anyone had ever looked at me like that before. Love. Pride. Those were not two things I was used to.

Hannah’s face softened, the moonlight catching her features in a way that made my heart skip. “I’ve always known you had it in you,” she murmured, pulling me closer. “You’re going to make it something incredible.”

The waves lapped gently against the shore as we sat in silence, each lost in our thoughts. The future suddenly seemed a lot less daunting with her by my side.

We talked for hours about everything and nothing, until the stars blanketed the night sky. It was one of those rare nights with no clouds.

“Want to tell me what happened in New York?” I asked her.

She groaned. “Do we have to talk about that now?” she asked, turning to face me with a playful grimace.

“It’s just curiosity,” I said, nudging her shoulder lightly. “And maybe a bit of concern. And maybe I’m wondering whose ass I need to kick.”

Hannah sighed, brushing her hair back from her face, letting the ocean breeze catch it. “It was nothing dramatic, really. I just realized that the life I was leading wasn’t mine. It was expectations I set for myself but never truly wanted. ”

“And what about you?” I prodded gently. “What does Hannah want?”

“That’s just it, Nikko,” she said, looking back at the sea. “I’m still figuring that out. But I know it’s not a high-rise office or cocktail parties where nobody listens to each other. I want real conversations, real connections… like this.” She squeezed my hand. “I think my upbringing is rearing it’s ugly head.”

“How so?”

“My parents raised us without schedules and expectations. The only expectation was to be happy. They were constantly encouraging us to be free. They wanted us to try new things and explore.”

“And the life you created for yourself was all about rules and working to meet others’ expectations.”

“Exactly,” she replied. “I kept pushing myself into this mold that I thought I needed to fit. It worked for a while, or at least I convinced myself it did. But it wasn’t true to who I am.”

It was beautiful to see her like this—raw and real, a stark contrast to the polished facade I’d first met. This was the feral Hannah. This was the woman she was always meant to be.

“So, you came back to reconnect with yourself?” I asked gently.

She nodded slowly. “And maybe to see if you’d take me back for one more wild ride,” she added with a wry smile.

“We’re kind of doing that now, aren’t we?” I chuckled.

“Yes, we are,” she agreed, leaning against me slightly.

“And I hope we don’t stop anytime soon.”

“Think you’ll let me crash at your place?” she asked suddenly, her tone light but her eyes serious. “Is it safe?”

I hesitated for half a second before nodding. “I’ll make sure it is.”

Her brows furrowed. “How?”

I smiled. “Leave that to me.”

“Have they, I mean, have you talked to your dad?”

“No.”

“And what about the men that want to kill you?”

“I’ve been handling it,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “I’ve made some… arrangements. Don’t worry, it’s nothing dangerous, just some security measures and keeping a low profile.”

Hannah looked at me skeptically. “Nikko, those guys are serious. You can’t just brush them off. They won’t stop until they?—”

“I know,” I interrupted, squeezing her hand to reassure her as much as myself. “But they don’t get to dictate how I live my life anymore. I’m tired of running from my father’s problems. If they come back, I will go to the police.”

“We’ll handle it together,” she murmured. “You know, there’s something we didn’t do last time we were here.”

“And what’s that?” I asked.

She got to her feet, flashing me a mischievous smile as she reached for the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head, revealing nothing but a black lace bra. She quickly undid her jeans and peeled them off to reveal matching panties.

“I like the way you think,” I said and jumped up.

When I reached for her, she swatted at my hands. “Not that.”

“What else are we going to do on this secluded beach all by ourselves?” I teased.

“Skinny dipping,” she said, already walking toward the water.

“You’re insane,” I said, laughing as I kicked off my jeans.

“Insanely fun,” she called over her shoulder, unhooking her bra and letting it drop into the sand.

I followed her in, the cool water a sharp contrast to the warmth of the air. She let out a little yelp as a wave splashed against her, then turned to face me, her eyes sparkling.

“This feels freeing,” she said, her voice quieter now. “Like everything is finally falling into place.”

I closed the distance between us, pulling her into my arms. The water lapped around us, but all I could feel was her—warm and soft and mine.

“Feels pretty perfect to me,” I murmured, brushing a strand of wet hair from her face.

She tilted her head back to look at the sky. “You know,” she said, her voice almost wistful. “I didn’t realize how good it would feel to finally speak aloud what I want. To just go for it.”

“What’d your friends think?” I asked, trailing a finger along her collarbone.

She blushed. “I haven’t told them yet.”

I laughed. “You might want to get on that before they come after me with pitchforks for stealing you away again.”

“I will,” she promised, resting her hands on my chest. “But not yet. This is too perfect to ruin with reality.”

She kissed me, her lips soft and salty. As she drew back slightly, she looked me in the eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I replied without hesitation.

“We’ve both changed so much,” she whispered, tracing the line of my jaw with a gentle finger. “But this feels like coming home.”

“I feel like a new man and it’s all because of you. I don’t feel like I’m stuck. Like my life is a waste.”

“Your life is absolutely not a waste,” she said.

Her hands slid down my torso and around my back. Then lower to grab my ass. She kissed me again, not bothering to hide what she wanted.

What I was more than willing to give.