Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
In which I discover how salty the ocean is and that surfing is much, much harder than it looks.
My accountant had reported that, so far, he hadn’t found anything suspicious or alarming in his audit of the Krause Group, much to my relief. Not that I had expected anything else, but still. James had gotten Garrett’s approval to give me seven days for my audit and decision without them considering anyone else’s offer, but I expected to be able to make the call after the weekend. Unless something shocking came up out of the blue, I was going forward with the deal.
Ocean, of course, pointed out that since I was waiting for the audit results anyway, I might as well take the day off. He had this way of asking me things—or maybe it was more like telling, really—that made it impossible for me to say no. Before I knew it, I agreed. And then he told me we were going surfing.
Excuse me, what now? But, of course, resistance was futile as Ocean got his way because I caved way too easily. I still grumbled during our long drive to the beach since Ocean shouldn’t think he could boss me around that easily, but I think we both knew it was a performative protest, especially after that spanking.
My ass had recovered in a day, and strangely enough, I’d been somewhat disappointed. Weird as it sounded, I’d liked the sting. It had been a reminder of the truths we shared, of how he’d taken care of me. It had mattered. We hadn’t mentioned it since, and I was pretty certain Ocean was giving me some space to process, which I appreciated.
We picked up two surfboards from a surf shop in Torquay before driving a few more minutes to the nearby surf beach, and then Ocean led us to a quiet spot, our footsteps leaving trails in the warm, wet sand. The salty air tickled my nose, a heady reminder of the adventure we were about to embark on. Ocean chattered on about the waves and swells, but my mind was focused on the warmth of his hand enveloping mine. Something simple, yet it felt so good.
“You’re gonna love this,” he told me, full of his usual confidence. “The wind is perfect for beginners today, very gentle.”
I shot him a skeptical glance. “I don’t know about this. I’m not the most athletic person on the planet.”
He grinned, revealing a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Don’t worry, baby. I have faith in you.”
His confidence was infectious, or maybe it was the way his words seemed to caress my very soul. And how I loved it when he called me baby or sweetheart or any other pet name.
“Here, let’s set up camp.” Ocean waved his free hand grandly at the stretch of pristine golden sand before us.
As he unpacked our things, I admired the way his muscles rippled under his board shorts. No matter how often I saw him naked, I still drooled over that perfect body. He was so sleek, so graceful, every line of his body defined.
“First things first, we need to choose the right board.” He gestured to the surfboards resting in the sand, and I refocused. “This one’s for beginners.” He nudged a smaller, thicker board with his foot. “She’s as forgiving as a mother’s hug.”
I chuckled at his poetic analogy, my apprehension ebbing.
“And this”—he ran his hand sensually down the length of a longer, thinner board—“is for when you’re ready to ride the big waves.”
His gaze flicked up to meet mine, and a thrill that had nothing to do with the upcoming lesson shot through my veins.
“Let’s start with the first one, shall we?” I asked, my voice a little hoarser than I liked.
Ocean flashed me a knowing grin. “Smart choice.”
We started on the sand, where he had me kneel on the surfboard and then jump up to my knees. The first time I tried, I ended up on my ass in the sand. The damn thing was still on dry land. How the hell did he expect me to pull this off? But Ocean never made fun of me. Instead, he corrected my posture until he felt I got it right.
Then it was time to paddle. I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I waded into the water with the surfboard clutched awkwardly under my arm. The cool waves lapped at my thighs, a welcome reprieve after the hot sand. Ocean glided effortlessly beside me, looking every bit the surf god he was.
Ocean knelt in the shallow water, holding the board steady as he guided me onto it. I straddled the rigid foam, my heart pounding from anticipation and nerves. He stood behind me, his hands on my hips and his body pressed against mine, sending shivers through me even in the cold water.
“Relax,” he purred in my ear, his warm breath tickling my neck. “I’ve got you, baby.”
“I-I’m trying,” I stammered, my grip on the board so tight my knuckles whitened. If he wanted me to concentrate, he really had to stop standing so goddamn close to me.
He chuckled, his laughter like a soothing balm on my frazzled nerves. “That’s better. Now, when I say go, I want you to paddle. You hear me?”
For the first few minutes, I was too busy frantically checking for sharks to do anything else, but then he forced me to focus and taught me how to paddle. That was a lot harder than it looked—and it explained why his arms were in such excellent shape.
“Oh, that’s good,” he praised, and my treacherous insides lit up like fireworks. I was such a slut for praise. “We’ll have you riding waves in no time.”
After about half an hour, my muscles were screaming, I’d choked down salty seawater more times than I cared to think about, and I was exhausted. “We’re done for today, right?” I asked as we headed back to shore.
“Nah, but we will take a break.”
I dragged myself onto the beach, letting Ocean take care of the surfboard. Seriously, that thing could drift off to New Zealand for all I cared. I was wiped.
When I made it to the spot where we’d dropped our stuff, I collapsed on the towels Ocean had laid out, my chest heaving as I released a laugh despite everything. My muscles ached in places I hadn’t known existed, but somehow, I was still having fun. Imagine that.
“Look at you.” Ocean’s voice carried over the sound of crashing waves as he jogged toward me. “Surfing like a pro and laughing like a kid. It’s a good look on you.”
I propped myself up on my elbows. Ocean looked like a bronze god. Droplets meandered down his smooth chest, and despite having had my fill of saltwater, I wanted to lick them off. “A pro? I think your standards might be a bit low.”
Ocean dropped beside me. He rummaged through the big bag he’d brought and offered a bottle of water. “Here, hydrate before you turn into a raisin. And my standards are fine, thank you very much. You did great for your first time, paddling those waves like they owed you money.”
I gratefully accepted the bottle, our fingers brushing momentarily. Even that small touch sent a jolt through me. “Thanks. Though I think it was more like the waves were collecting on a debt. I swallowed half the ocean out there.”
Ocean’s laugh was rich and warm. “That’s all part of the experience. You’re not a real surfer until you’ve tasted your fair share of saltwater.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I definitely qualify.”
I grinned back at him, caught up in his infectious energy.
Ocean’s voice softened. “Hey, turn over for a sec. You’re starting to look a little pink.”
I obliged, rolling onto my stomach. I heard the snap of a bottle cap, and then Ocean’s hands were on my back, smoothing cool sunscreen over my skin. “Wouldn’t want that billion-dollar skin of yours to burn,” he teased, his fingers working deftly across my shoulders.
I let out a small groan as his thumbs found a knot in my muscles. “God, that feels good,” I murmured, then immediately felt my cheeks heat at how that must have sounded.
Ocean just chuckled, continuing his ministrations. “Relax. I’ve got you.”
And I did relax, more than I had in years. There was something so tender, so caring in the way Ocean touched me. It wasn’t sexual, despite our flirtations. It was nurturing. Protective.
As his hands worked their magic, I fought back an unexpected wave of emotion. When was the last time someone had taken care of me like this? Not because they wanted something from me, not because I was paying them, but simply because they cared?
“You okay there, Cash?” Ocean’s voice was gentle, concerned. “You went quiet on me.”
I swallowed hard, grateful he couldn’t see my face. “Yeah. Just…thank you. For all of this.”
His hands stilled for a moment, then resumed their soothing motions. “Anytime, baby. Anytime.”
He put some sunscreen on himself, then wiped his hands off on a towel and rummaged through that big bag again. Good god, what had he brought? He pulled out a large, insulated container. “You must be starving.”
My stomach growled in response, and I realized I was, in fact, ravenous. “You brought food?”
Ocean grinned, opening the container to reveal an array of gourmet sandwiches, fresh fruit, and what looked like homemade cookies. “Courtesy of the Queen Victoria’s kitchen. I had Mike arrange it before we left.”
I stared at the spread, then at Ocean, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the sun. “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”
He shrugged, but I could see the pleased look in his eyes. “I wanted you to have an amazing day.”
He might not see it, but to me, this was a big deal. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had put this much thought into taking care of me. My meals were usually rushed affairs, eaten alone at my desk or in high-end restaurants with business associates. This simple picnic on the beach with Ocean felt more nourishing than any Michelin-star meal I’d ever had.
“Thank you. This is really thoughtful of you.”
Ocean’s smile was as bright as the sun above us. “Eat up. You’ll need your strength for round two of Cash vs. The Waves.”
I groaned dramatically but couldn’t keep the smile off my face as I bit into the sandwich. As I savored my meal, my mind drifted. Ocean lounged beside me, and my eyes kept drifting back to the sight of him, my heart swelling with a mix of desire and something deeper. Something that terrified me as much as it thrilled me.
Once we were done eating, I discovered he hadn’t been kidding about us not being done. He had me practice jumping onto the board in the water—which was one thing when he held it steady but quite another when I was on my own. But after about half an hour, I managed a few times in a row, and he declared me ready to ride my first wave. God help me.
“Alright.” Ocean flashed me an encouraging smile as he paddled on his own board. “Remember what we practiced on the sand. Feel the rhythm of the water.”
I nodded, trying to project more confidence than I felt. “Right. Rhythm. Got it.”
As a larger wave approached, Ocean called out, “This is your wave! Paddle hard!”
I lay on the board and paddled furiously, my arms burning from the exertion. The wave lifted me, and I struggled to push myself up as Ocean had shown me. For a brief, thrilling moment, I thought I had it, but then the board slipped out from under me, and I tumbled into the surf with a less-than-dignified splash.
Sputtering, I emerged from the water to hear Ocean’s warm laughter. “Not bad for a first try! You almost had it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh despite my bruised ego. His optimism was too damn sweet. “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, as they say.”
“Trust me, the ocean’s a patient teacher. She’ll give you plenty of chances to get it right.”
We tried a few more times, each attempt ending with me face-planting into the water. But Ocean’s unwavering encouragement kept me going. His patience was intoxicating. I wanted to succeed as much for him as for myself. I wanted to make him proud of me.
“You’ve got this,” Ocean called as another promising wave approached. “Remember, bend your knees and keep your eyes on the horizon!”
This time, as I felt the wave lift me, something clicked. My body seemed to know what to do before my mind could overthink it. I pushed up, my feet finding purchase on the board. And suddenly, I was standing.
“Holy shit!” A grin split my face as I rode the wave. The wind whipped through my hair, salt spray on my lips. For those few glorious seconds, I understood why Ocean loved this so much. I felt free.
As the wave petered out and I lost my balance, toppling back into the water, I heard Ocean’s triumphant whoop. “That was fucking beautiful! You’re a natural!”
I emerged from the water, breathless and exhilarated. “I did it! I actually did it.”
Ocean paddled over, his eyes shining with pride. “You sure did. How’d it feel?”
I shook my head, searching for words. “Like closing a billion-dollar deal while skydiving,” I finally managed, earning a delighted laugh from Ocean.
As we bobbed in the water, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Ocean’s face. His enthusiasm was infectious, his joy in my small victory genuine.
“Ready to catch another?” Ocean asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
I held up my hands. “I want to end on a high note, so I’m done. But thank you.”
“I completely understand.” He leaned in for a wet, salty kiss. “And don’t thank me. It’s a pleasure to spend time with you, and besides, you did all the work.”
We had another snack, put on more sunscreen, and then sat on our boards in the shallows and talked, gently bobbing with the waves.
“Preston never went surfing with me,” Ocean said. “He never came to watch me compete either. After my mom died, I was on my own. I would either catch a ride with a friend or RJ, our driver, would take me. He’d watch me and tell me how well I was doing, but Preston never did.”
He’d missed out on so much. It made me realize how lucky I had been with my parents. “I played chess all through middle and high school,” I said. “Arguably the most boring thing to watch, but my parents never missed a tournament. One of them would be there, both if they could make it.”
Ocean smiled at me. “I’m so happy you had such wonderful parents.”
“So am I. Things would’ve been very different if I’d grown up in the foster care system.”
The sun had started her descent, though sunset was still a few hours away. The ocean sparkled and shimmered under the warm light, the waves rolling in with a soothing rhythm. My muscles ached everywhere, a tangible reminder of the new experiences I’d embraced, and the taste of salt lingered on my lips, the result of countless wipeouts and duck dives. The gentle lapping of the waves against our boards created a soothing soundtrack, accompanied by the distant sounds of seagulls.
A deep sense of contentment washed over me. “I can’t remember the last time I felt this free.”
Ocean slowly nodded, a sweet smile playing on his lips. “That’s the magic of the ocean. It has a way of washing away all the bullshit.”
“I didn’t realize how much bullshit I was carrying.”
As I gazed at Ocean, his focus completely on me as usual, a realization hit me with the force of a breaking wave. I was happy. Genuinely, unequivocally happy.
But could it last?