Chapter Five #2
He pulls in beside me at the red light, gloves back on, helmet down, one hand loose on the throttle like he didn’t just race to catch me. I glance over, and even through the visor, I know he’s grinning.
I lift my middle finger.
He stays with me the whole way to the beach, never getting too far in front, slowing whenever traffic separates us, like he’s making sure I’m still there.
Annoying.
Cocky.
And, apparently, not letting me out of his sight.
By the time we reach the beach, the parking lot is overflowing. Cars are wedged into every space, music spills from open trunks, and people cross between traffic carrying chairs, umbrellas, coolers, and enough inflatable shit to open a store.
Revel finds a spot for his bike near Echo’s car.
I have to circle twice before I see someone pulling out.
When I finally park, he’s already waiting beside my door.
“You took your time.”
“I was parking a car, pendejo. In case you haven’t noticed, this place is packed.”
“You could’ve ridden with me.”
“I’d rather walk barefoot over hot asphalt.”
He grins. “Didn’t seem to hate being pressed up against me last night.”
“That was temporary insanity.”
“Felt pretty fucking sane from where I was sitting.”
I roll my eyes, waving him off before heading down to the beach.
The sand is hot enough to burn through my sandals. The air smells like salt, sunscreen, coconut oil, and food from the stand near the boardwalk. Music gets louder as we reach the crew, mixed with waves breaking and people yelling across the beach.
They’ve taken over a spot close to the water, towels and chairs spread all over the sand like nobody else was planning on using the beach.
Bexley’s lying under the umbrella in a red bikini, sunglasses on, while Echo digs through one of the bags beside her. Thorne is standing behind them trying to open a bottle with a key instead of just asking someone for an opener.
The volleyball net is crooked, and Draygon and Talon are already arguing over who set it up wrong. Reign and Sayshen are heading toward the water with the boards while everyone else talks over the music.
I drop onto the towel beside Echo, pop open a can of Mango Loco Monster, and pour it into my tumbler. Then I add a generous splash of Tequila, give it a quick stir with the straw, and take a drink.
This is why I came. The girls, the beach, the sun.
Not Revel.
Except he’s standing near the water with a surfboard under one arm, laughing at something Sayshen says, and he’s impossible not to notice. The sun catches on his tattoos, his shorts sit low on his hips, and when he tips his head back, a few women nearby look over.
Of course they do.
He looks like every bad decision I’ve ever been warned about, and he knows it.
Echo follows my gaze. “You know staring doesn’t count as ignoring him.”
“I wasn’t staring.”
“You’ve been looking at him for a full minute.”
“I’m looking at the ocean.”
Bexley adjusts her sunglasses. “The ocean has tattoos now?”
“Shut up.”
She laughs and rolls onto her back.
The next hour passes in a blur of noise, drinks, and people yelling about rules no one follows.
Talon and Draygon challenge Thorne and Reign to volleyball. Sayshen joins halfway through, even though no one invited him, and starts playing both sides depending on where the ball lands.
Revel spends most of the game making everything worse.
He jumps the net to argue a point, steals the ball from Draygon, and gets tackled into the sand for it. When he comes up laughing, covered in sand from shoulder to hip, he looks over at me.
Always me.
Like the whole beach disappears whenever he finds me.
I look away first.
By the time the game ends, I’m halfway through my fifth drink despite saying I’d have only one.
The sun is lower now, less brutal, turning the water bright orange along the horizon. Bexley and Echo are talking beside me about plans for guys race next weekend, while I nod in the right places and try not to pay attention to Revel.
It works until a girl in a tiny green bikini walks over to him.
She’s pretty. Tall. Tan. Long dark hair that looks too perfect for someone standing in wind and saltwater.
Revel is holding his board upright, talking to Reign, when she steps between them.
I can’t hear what she says, but I can see her hand though.
She touches the side of his board, fingers sliding along the edge while she smiles up at him, then she laughs and touches his arm.
My jaw tightens.
Bexley stops talking.
Echo looks over.
Neither says anything.
Smart girls.
Revel doesn’t touch her back. He says something that makes Reign laugh, then shifts the board slightly.
The girl follows it.
Her hand goes back to the board and I finish my drink, setting the tumbler down.
Bexley watches me stand. “Where are you going?”
“To save him.”
Echo’s mouth twitches. “From what?”
“Bad decisions.”
“What decisions?”
I push myself up, and dust the sand from the back of my thighs. “Any involving that puta.”
I hear Bexley and Echo laughing behind me, but I keep going.
The girl is still touching Revel’s board when I get close enough to hear her.
“So, do you give lessons?”
“Sorry,” I cut in before he can answer. “He’s already got a student.”
She looks between us. “Oh. Okay. Maybe another time?”
“Nah.” I give her a sweet smile. “You should probably find a different teacher.”
Her face tightens as she pulls her hand off the board, muttering, “Whatever,” and walks off toward her friends looking properly pissed.
Reign barks out a laugh beside him.
I smack his arm as I pass. “Shut up.”
“What?” He throws a hand up, still laughing. “Bro, that’s not fair. Revel, get your girl.”
Before I can hit him again, he takes off toward the water with his board tucked under one arm.
“Coward,” I call after him.
Revel is still standing there, grinning like this is the best thing that’s happened to him all day.
I point at him. “Do not look at me like that.”
“Like you just scared off a girl and claimed me as your surf teacher.”
“I didn’t claim anything.”
“Sure, Mama.”
I fold my arms. “I was helping you.”
“From the scary woman asking about surfing?”
“She was asking about more than surfing.”
“That bother you?”
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
“Not even at all.”
He gives me a look that says he doesn’t believe a word of it, then shifts the board under one arm. “Yeah, alright. I’ll play along. We getting out there or what?”
I glance toward the water. “Out where?”
“The ocean. You did just tell her I’m your surf teacher.”
“That was an excuse.”
“Sounded like your idea.”
“It wasn’t.”
He reaches for my hand before I can step back, hooks his fingers through mine, and starts tugging me toward the water.
“I don’t surf.”
“That’s why you need a lesson.”
“I hate you,” I tell him, digging my heels into the sand even though I’m still letting him pull me.
He looks back over his shoulder, grinning. “Yeah, well, you can hate me out there.”
“I’m not going in.”
He turns, walking backward now, still holding my hand. “Scared?”
“Of drowning? No. Sharks? Very fucking much.”
His eyes drop to my mouth. “You really think I’d let a shark take a bite out of you before I get the chance to?”
Ay, cono.
The way he says it—low, filthy, like he isn’t talking about teeth at all sends heat straight between my thighs.
I yank on his hand, trying to pull mine free, but he only tightens his grip and tugs me against him.
“You’re disgusting.”
By the time we’re waist-deep, I’m already questioning every decision that brought me here.
The water moves harder this far out, pushing against my hips in steady pulls that make the sand shift under my feet. The board rocks beneath me as we move farther out, and I grab Revel’s shoulder when a bigger wave lifts us.
He looks at my hand, then at me. “Thought you weren’t scared.”
“I’m not. I’m keeping you close in case a shark shows up.”
His brows lift. “So you can hide behind me?”
“So I can shove you at it and swim back.”
He laughs, one hand still gripping the side of the board to keep me steady. “Cold, Mama.”
“Survival. Plus, I am too cute to die.”
Another wave rolls under us. I wobble, and his free hand closes around my thigh before I can slide off.
The grin drops from his face.
“Easy,” he says, steadying the board. “I’ve got you.”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t have to pretend with me.” His thumb presses lightly into my skin, his eyes holding mine. “Being scared of the ocean is honestly pretty fucking valid. It deserves your respect. Shit can turn dangerous fast if you get careless.”
I glance toward shore. It looks farther away now, the crew smaller beneath the orange light.
“I don’t like not being able to touch the bottom.”
“Yeah, I get that.” His voice stays calm. “But I’m right here. You’re not going anywhere.”
A wave catches the side of the board before I can answer. I lose my balance and slide toward the edge.
Revel moves fast, catching me beneath the arms and lifting me before I hit the water. He sets me back in the middle of the board, hands firm at my waist until I’m steady.
“See?” he says quietly. “I’ve got you.”
The sun hangs low behind him, throwing gold across the water. He stays beside the board, chest against the edge, his arms draped over it while his hands settle near my thighs.
“You can let go now.”
“I could.”
His fingers brush the side of my leg.
“But then you might fall again.”
“That was one time.”
I narrow my eyes, but he only grins and drags his thumb slowly along my wet skin.
The touch is light.
Still, my breath catches.
His eyes drop to my thigh, then lift back to mine.
“That doesn’t look like fear.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“I’m not.” He shifts closer, the water lifting him against the board. “Your body’s doing it for me.”
Ay, cono.