Chapter 11 Matthew
MATTHEW
“I can’t believe you got that dolphin to jump,” Sam says with a laugh.
“I was just lucky I guess,” I admit as I take a sip of my beer.
Sophie smiles. “Animals pick up on vibes, you know. And you have some of the best vibes.” I can’t help the flush that hits my cheeks at her compliment. She casually sips her iced tea, barely touching her wine tonight.
“I think that sounds like so much fun,” her mother says.
“Have you heard from your fiancé, at all?” she asks and Sophie stills beside me.
Oh, shit.
I guess she hasn’t told her mother yet about her breakup.
“Uh….”
“You said he was resting, right?” I offer, and she looks at me with a mixture of surprise and relief.
“Yeah.” Her voice cracks, and for a moment, I think she’s going to cry.
Shit, I didn’t mean to—
At her mother’s questioning look, Sophie continues, “Plus, we’ve been kind of busy, so—”
“I still can’t believe you’re getting married in two days,” Elijah interrupts, turning the group’s attention to Sam and Raegan.
Sam sighs, wrapping his arm around his to soon-to-be-wife, who beams from the touch.
I hope one day I can have a love like theirs.
Though every day, I think that possibility is getting less and less likely. I’ve tried the dating apps. Tinder, Bumble. But every time, it just doesn’t feel right. Things go great on dates, but then they always want more, and I just…
I know Benny says I need to just do it.
I need to not overthink sex and just do what feels right. If I like a woman and feel attracted, I need to give in to the urge and instinct.
Elijah says it’s perfectly fine to wait and I shouldn’t listen to Benny.
Sometimes I don’t know who to listen to, which is why I just sort of stopped trying to go on dates altogether. I can just focus on myself. I work from home most of the time, which I’d planned to do for a bit until I found a job I wanted, but that was over a year ago at this point.
Benny hasn’t kicked me out, and I don’t think he’s going to, but still, I keep looking, hoping something will pop up. Though I do kind of like living with him and Elijah. They’re my friends. And most of the time, they aren’t so bad as long as they aren’t arguing over Sophie.
I turn to look at Sophie, at her bright eyes.
“Thank you,” she mouths to me.
I give her a soft smile. “Of course.”
“Me either, man,” Sam is saying. The air around us is warm and full of love, because we’re all here to celebrate him and Raegan, and when those two are in the same room, it’s impossible to not feel their love.
It’s infectious.
“Tomorrow is the big bach party,” Benny says. “And then…poof. You’re old and lame come Saturday morning.”
Raegan giggles. “I’ll take old and lame any day,” she says. “As long as it’s with you.”
Mr. and Mrs. Martin aww as Elijah sighs and Benny rolls his eyes. Sophie bristles next to me as the Martins are delivered the check and Lucy, Natalie, and Tiffany all get up.
“Where are you ladies headed?” Benny asks.
“Nat wanted to check out the campfire on the beach. You in?”
I notice Sophie tense and then I see where her eyes are glued. Benny.
I’m not a detective, but I’m not blind either. She’s been glaring daggers at the man all day, every time one of the bridesmaids talks to him. Lucy, mostly.
Lucy has been flirting with Benny for the last few months, probably angling to try to get the Benny Battering Ram experience.
Sometimes I don’t know what’s worse—being a virgin and being judged because I don’t want to have sex with just anyone, or being known for one’s sexual prowess and nothing else.
Because contrary to popular belief, Benny seems to hate having the reputation he has.
But he’s the one who built it, so I don’t understand why he gripes about it, though I guess maybe after a decade it would get old.
“Yeah,” he says bitterly. “Eli, you want to join us?”
Elijah looks at Sophie, then at me, and I can feel the judgment dripping off of him. It’s then I notice the faint glimmer in Benny’s eyes, almost like he needs Eli to say yes. Like he really wants him there.
Eli nods. “Yeah, I guess.”
“I’m going for a walk on the beach,” Sophie says, standing up, and immediately I follow.
“I was planning on heading down there and having a drink, so you know what, I’ll join you.”
She looks at me in question, but nods. “Sounds great.”
“Catch up with you guys later?” I ask.
Elijah nods and I don’t wait to settle my hand on Sophie’s back and lead us out of the restaurant.
She doesn’t bristle or jump like she did before.
Instead, she leans into my space, almost as if she’s seeking more of my touch.
So I don’t think twice about resting my hand on her hip, pulling her closer.
“You didn’t have to cover for me like that,” she says as I use one hand to open the doors.
“I know,” I say. “But I wanted to.”
Sophie gazes back at me for a moment, biting her lip as if she wants to say something, but thinks better of it.
She takes her flip-flops off and I do the same as we come up to the sand. This place is aptly named, that’s for sure. I haven’t been on a trip like this ever, and I’m slightly worried it’s going to shade my view of future trips.
The private beach is nice, and so is the cabana service. I’ve been under those umbrellas as much as possible, because ordering drinks that they bring to you while you’re on the beach has to be one of the best feelings.
But the best feeling is this one.
The one I feel when Sophie and I can just…be.
Hang out.
“Race you to the water?” I say with a raise of my eyebrow.
“I’m in a dress, Matt,” she says as if that makes a difference.
“So?” I motion to the almost empty beach.
It’s practically sunset, and I’ve learned most of the folks here don’t stay out on the beach past sundown.
Not when there’s so much live entertainment and the place is huge.
It’s got like three serenity pools plus indoor and outdoor pools.
Apart from a couple walking down the beach through the surf right now, there’s no one out here but us.
She sighs, but I don’t miss the smile as I drop my hand and instead gently tap her arm.
“Tag, you’re it,” I say as I take off like a bat out of hell.
“Matthew!” she says in a huff, but takes off after me like I knew she would. Sophie’s always been competitive, and it’s one of the things I always admired about her. She catches up to me quickly, reaching out to tag me, but I evade her, rounding about and picking her up.
She squeals, kicking her legs, but it’s laughter.
“Oh my God, Matthew, put me down!”
I sling her over my shoulder and fireman carry her through the surf as she twists and turns, trying to wriggle out of my hold.
“Nope,” I say.
“Put me down!” She squirms, her dress riding up her thighs. “I’m going to flash the whole beach!” she fusses, but her laughter tells me she’s not pissed about this one bit. I wade deeper into the surf, up to my knees.
“You’re not throwing me in there!” she says, squirming.
“Oh yes I am.”
“Matt! You’ll ruin my dress!” she whines.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
I bend to set her down, but stumble as she situates herself, wrapping her legs around my waist as she tries to climb me like a tree to avoid the water.
My cock jumps, because her legs are wrapped around me and her ass is definitely exposed, and the sudden realization hits me.
I’m more than aware of how close she is to my aching hardness, and I lose sight of my focus and stumble forward, both of us going down like a stack of cards. I hold her close to me, shifting us at the last moment so she’s on top of me, so she doesn’t fall hard against the shells and sand.
I brace for the smack, and it does hurt, but I don’t focus on that at the moment. The water rushes up around us, around her knees which straddle my hips. Water soaks my shorts, my shirt, but I hold on to her tightly, not wanting to let go.
The tide recedes and when I look up at her, I see the glimmer of something in her eyes that I’ve never seen before.
“You okay?” I ask, and then she moves and rubs right against my erection. I let out a faint gasp as I realize she can probably feel it. And I don’t know how to process…that.
Sure, I’ve thought about this moment a lot, especially when I was younger.
She nods, and I brace for her to freak out. To move. To maybe even yell at me and tell me how inappropriate this is right now, but she doesn’t do any of those things.
“Are you…okay?” she asks.
My cock throbs against her where she has me pinned. I have to remember how to breathe, because right now, this…
It feels really fucking good. I want her to keep moving, keep grinding over top of me, but I’m overwhelmed by the fact that she hasn’t moved yet and she’s the only thing keeping the evidence of how aroused I actually am, covered.
I should have jacked off this morning.
This is my fault.
I’ve definitely slacked on taking care of my needs while I’m here, because I’ve just been so busy doing things. And now…
Now I’m laying in the surf with the one woman I’ve always wanted with my clothed, wet cock between her legs.
Holy fuck.
“No,” I say, because it’s pointless to lie. I’ve never lied to Sophie and I’m not going to start now.
She moves slightly to get off of me and help me up, but I stop her. I hold her thighs with my hands. “Please don’t move,” I whisper, because I can feel my balls tightening already.
“Are you in pain?” she asks, her voice concerned.
Oh, I’m in pain alright. But it’s not because of the seashells digging into my back.
The water rushes around us and my cock throbs, aching for release.
“No, I just…” I swallow harshly.
“Matthew,” she whispers, leaning forward as she brushes some hair from my face. The movement is too much. Her warm pussy slides over the edge of my covered cock and I come. Hard.
“Oh fuck.” I close my eyes as embarrassment floods me.
This is not how I wanted this to happen. Ever.
“Hey,” she whispers, her hand in my hair smooth and gentle.