Chapter Nine
CHAPTER NINE
“ D on’t take this the wrong way,” I said as I struggled to regain my breath. “But aren’t pregnant women supposed to—I don’t know—rest and shit?”
Marin grinned at me from across the room, not even the least bit winded. She was on mile five or six? I’d lost count.
“It’s annoying, right?” She laughed as she took a gulp from her water bottle, not even bothering to slow down. “I never used to use the treadmill, much less visit the gym, but since I met Macon?—”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I know. Now, you’re the workout queen.”
She’d been reluctant, to say the least, when Macon challenged her to start running with him. But now, it was one of their favorite things to do together.
“Don’t act like you don’t go to the gym, too.”
My legs burned and felt sort of like Jell-O when I stepped off the elliptical. The Ocracoke Gym—I had to give it to them on originality when it came to names—was small, but thankfully clean. With only a few machines and a set of weights, I couldn’t imagine how stifling it might get in here with more than a few people.
Today, it was just the two of us.
Lucky me.
“I work out, sure,” I answered, reaching for a towel from a large stack in the corner. “But I am starting to realize my definition of the word and yours are vastly different.” I wiped the fluffy terry cloth over my brow and down my face. “When I go to the gym, I get my cardio in while I read or catch up on a show. You? You seem to be training for a marathon or the Olympics.”
She grinned. “I just really want to beat Macon.”
“You’re trying to beat the guy in a race? Have you seen him run? He’s ex-military. He’s a freaking beast.”
She shrugged. “I almost had him,” she bragged before adding, “Once. But I might have cheated a little and flashed him.”
Laughter filled the small space, and I reached for my water bottle and checked the time. It was late afternoon, and we’d already been here for over an hour.
Surely, she was done, right?
Marin had spent the morning at the sheriff’s station, trying to console Macon. After she confirmed what he’d already suspected—that Zander had fled the island without so much as a good-bye—he was understandably upset. Marin said he was both angry and heartbroken. He’d waited years to get the chance to talk to his brother, and now, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get another. He sent a string of texts to Zander that ranged from telling him off to begging him to come back, but all of them went unread and unanswered.
After Marin left Macon at the station, she texted and asked me to join her for lunch and a trip to the gym. I’d been so ready to get out of the house at that point that I practically flew out the door.
I was not handling the downtime of vacation well. I needed a hobby, and stat.
Billy’s was one of the most well-known restaurants in Ocracoke. The owner, Billy Radcliffe, also happened to be Macon’s best friend and their next-door neighbor. The restaurant’s patio overlooked Silver Lake Harbor and was known for its laid-back atmosphere and amazing food.
Unfortunately, the shade of the umbrellas and the slight breeze from the bay had done nothing to hinder the stifling humidity of the July heat, and no amount of convincing could get Marin to eat inside, where the air-conditioning was.
“It’s beautiful outside,” she’d said.
“Island life has changed you, my friend.” I’d glared at her as I proceeded to down my weight in water.
Now, after an afternoon in the heat and an hour in the gym, all I could think about was how gross I must smell and how much I wanted a shower.
“I can see the way you’re hovering near the door, Elena.”
“Come on, Marin,” I begged her. “Stop torturing yourself. Think of the baby!”
The treadmill started to slow, and I felt a glimmer of hope.
“This is the time when you should be eating ice cream and pickles. Not running so much that you dry-heave.”
“When did you see me dry-heave?” She scoffed.
The treadmill finally came to a stop, and I silently cheered. I watched as she stepped off and grabbed a towel, wiping it down her face and neck. It was the first time since I’d arrived in Ocracoke that I’d seen her in something formfitting, and I could already see the small changes in her body. Her normally slim, flat stomach slightly swelled out under the tight fabric of her yoga pants.
I stared at her for a moment, momentarily stunned.
There was a fucking human in there.
“You okay?” she asked, looking slightly concerned.
“Yeah, I just…” I shook my head, feeling completely bewildered. “You’re fucking pregnant, Marin.”
She laughed, tossing the towel in the dirty bin. “Uh, yeah. Tell me about it. Lunch today was the first time I could keep a meal down in days.”
“And this is how you choose to celebrate? By torturing me?”
She shrugged. “It’s the first time I’ve felt this good in weeks. Besides, isn’t any time we spend together a gift?”
“Uh, no. I want to see the return policy.”
When she moved to grab her stuff, I didn’t hesitate.
Oh, thank God.
The baby bump had me thinking…
“Hey, I meant to ask you. Your wedding dress. The one we picked out a few months ago?—”
“Yeah, that one’s out.”
She’d originally picked a gorgeous cream-colored lace gown that had a mermaid-style silhouette. It did a beautiful job of accentuating her slim curves and tall frame.
“I found something similar that is a bit more forgiving. I’m not sure how much I’ll grow in the next three weeks, and I wanted something that I wouldn’t have to panic over if my belly suddenly popped out.”
“I get that.” I wasn’t even pregnant, and there were times when a little bloat could mean the difference between a dress fitting or ending up back on the rack.
“I actually need to go pick it up this week. It’s at that same bridal shop we went to up the coast.”
“We should make a day of it,” I suggested. “Grab an early ferry and do some shopping. Have lunch?”
“That would be great,” she agreed. Then, her eyes wandered to the other side of the gym. “Oh shit. I forgot to do weights.”
She set her stuff back down and started making her way to the weight station. She looked over at me.
My arms folded over my chest, and I shook my head. “No way. That’s a hard pass for me.”
“Oh, come on! It will just be a few minutes.”
“I love you. I truly do, but I’ve had all the endorphins I can handle for the day.” I bolted for the door. “And despite what Elle Woods would say, they do not make me happy.”
She snorted. “You would leave a pregnant woman all alone?”
“Don’t try and guilt-trip me,” I hollered over my shoulder. “That’s just low. You have a phone and the sheriff on speed dial.”
“Enjoy your shower!” she hollered.
“Enjoy your weights!”
And then I ran.
I stepped out of the bathroom, feeling like a brand-new woman.
It was amazing what a good shower could do. Although Macon might not agree with me when he got his water bill this month. I walked into my room, my head bopping with the music coming from the small Bluetooth speaker on the dresser. A billow of steam trailed behind me as I tugged the soft towel tight around my body. It was time to make a plan.
A plan for vacation.
I was going to be here for three weeks—okay, it was technically two and a half weeks now, but whatever. The remainder of that time, I could not be solely reliant on Marin for entertainment. Yes, I’d come here to help her with the wedding, but she wasn’t going to need me twenty-four hours a day. It had become clear to me that I was going to have to find things to do by myself.
So, I decided to make a list.
A mental one, but a list nonetheless.
I plopped down on my neatly made bed, folding one bare leg over the other as I leaned back against the headboard.
What to do with myself for two and a half weeks.
Nearly five minutes went by, and I was coming up blank.
I was not used to failing…
I was staying on an island people purposely paid money to visit. Surely, I could find an activity or two. Maybe take up a hobby?
I thought back to the last few years of my life, and while I had told Marin I used my gym time to catch up on books and shows, the truth was, I usually used that time for—yep, you guessed it—work.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually finished an entire book.
So, maybe I could take up reading? I made a mental note to go check out the stack of books Macon had in the living room.
What else?
Fishing? One of Macon’s old classmates owned a company that took tourists out on boat tours.
I scrunched my nose at the mere thought of touching a fish.
Nope.
Suddenly, my mind pivoted back to Zander.
Guitar lessons?
My mind conjured up an image of his large frame curled around me as he helped place my fingers on the right strings. His lips nearly brushed my ear as he praised my efforts…
I shivered, and goosebumps dotted my flesh.
My eyes closed as my thoughts drifted back to our brief time together. I wondered where he was right now. Had he made it to the airport? Was he already on his way back to LA?
Has he thought of me?
I’d been furious to find out he left this morning. He knew what it would do to Macon, and yet he’d done it anyway. But more than that, I was upset because he’d left me, too.
I’d felt something for him. I wasn’t sure what it was, but when he’d come into my room and held me while I cried, I thought he’d maybe felt it, too.
A connection. A spark.
But then he’d left without so much as a, Good-bye. Hope you have a nice life.
So, now, all I had were a few fleeting memories of him and maybe a little regret. What if I hadn’t run out that night in the bar? Sure, things would have gotten complicated the morning after, but would it have been worth it? To spend one night with him regardless of how things turned out in the end?
I knew without a doubt the answer was yes.
He would have taken my hand and led me out of the bar and to his car. My head would have been pounding with anticipation and nervousness. We would have driven down to a secluded spot on the beach, where no one would bother us.
I squeezed my thighs together as my body began to ache from the sheer thought of being alone with him. My nipples hardened, the slightest movement becoming unbearable as they grazed against the terry cloth of my towel. Opening my eyes, I reached for my nightstand and grabbed the one thing that could bring me relief.
Unlike Marin, I did not feel embarrassed when it came to self-pleasure. Although, if I was being honest, I did feel a little guilty when said pleasure involved fantasizing about her brother-in-law.
A new song drifted through the speakers. The sultry guitar mix filled the small space as my mind wandered back to that night.
Or at least the version I was imagining in my head.
Warm sand, hot summer night, scorching need.
I tugged at the towel and let it fall to either side of me on the bed. As my hands began to explore my body, I imagined it was his callous fingers touching my naked skin and palming my breasts. When I turned the vibrator on and used it to tease my clit, I wondered what it would feel like to have his tongue between those slick folds. Just thinking of him had me so wet that when I sank two fingers into my core, I let out a loud moan as I imagined him buried deep inside me.
“Oh God.”
I writhed against my hand, dropping the vibrator on the bed as I began to wantonly grind my hips against my own hand. My heart was hammering in my chest as I chased my release. My back arched off the bed, and as I closed my eyes, I saw us on that beach. A tangled mess of naked limbs as we lost ourselves in each other until the sun came up.
I cried out as I shattered. My body shook as I rode out every last wave of pleasure. It was so intense that I felt like my body had left the earth for a moment.
That never happened.
Usually, my self-induced orgasms were pretty damn good, but nothing compared to the release that came with sex.
If fantasy sex with Zander was that good, I could only imagine…
I guess I will never know.
Well, if that was a mood killer…
My breathing began to normalize, and I sat up and let out a sad sigh.
Grabbing the towel, I made quick work of cleaning up my little toy in the bathroom. After it was put away, I picked out some clothes and blew my hair dry. I skipped makeup, not knowing what I was doing for dinner.
I grabbed my phone off the dresser, deciding it was time to check in with Marin, and realized she’d already texted me.
Guessed she’d finally left the gym…
Marin
Zander came back! Macon just called me after they met at the coffee shop. Crazy, right? Anyway, he’s on his way back to the rental. Just wanted to give you a heads-up!
I stared at the text for far too long.
He’d come back?
And then my eyes went wide as I noticed the time.
“Shit!” I exclaimed under my breath.
It had been well over twenty minutes since Marin had sent that text. In any normal city or town, that wouldn’t be anything to sweat over. But in Ocracoke, where it took less than five minutes to get anywhere…
I took a panicked look around the room, my eyes landing on the nightstand, where I’d just tucked away my freshly cleaned vibrator.
I swallowed a nervous lump in my throat.
Surely, he hadn’t heard anything. I mean, I’d had the music up really loud, and…maybe he wasn’t even here yet.
I looked out the window and found his empty rental parked on the curb.
For fuck’s sake. Of course, he’s here.
How in the world had I not heard him come in? Had I been that into my fantasy that a fucking intruder could have marched right through the front door?
My mind drifted briefly back to that earth-shattering orgasm.
Yes. The answer was yes.
I looked down at Marin’s text again and then back to my nightstand.
Oh, you know what? Fuck it.
I was a grown-ass woman, and if I wanted to masturbate in the middle of the day on my damn vacation, well then, try and stop me.
I straightened my back and flipped my hair behind my shoulder. I marched toward the door and opened it.
Remember , I thought, you command courtrooms. You eat men for breakfast. You are fierce.
I stepped into the hallway and turned. I slowly walked to the living room and found him sitting on the sofa, a book in his hand. He looked very comfortable, like he’d been sitting there awhile.
I inwardly groaned.
“Marin texted me that you were back,” I said, squaring my shoulders.
I tried to come off as bored and unaffected by his presence. But in reality, the mere sight of him affected me.
Deeply.
“Guess I wasn’t as done as I thought I was.” Those emerald eyes met mine.
God, his was beautiful.
“So, are you staying long?” I asked, instantly looking away.
I maintained my detached and aloof demeanor. He pretended to be deeply invested in his book. We were both failing miserably.
“Until the wedding,” he stated. “Macon asked me to be his best man.”
What? He did what?
“Oh.” I managed to keep my mouth from falling open.
That meant that he and I?—
Fuck.
My phone buzzed, and I thanked the heavens above for the auspicious interruption. I looked down and found another text from Marin.
Marin
Dinner at our house tonight. Come over whenever.
I nearly wept with joy. Time to get the hell out of here.
“Well, it’s good to see you, I guess,” I said, adding the last part simply because I was still mad at him for leaving this morning. “I am headed out for dinner.”
I started to turn but noticed him rising from his spot on the couch. I couldn’t help but watch. He wore ripped black jeans today and another vintage tee. That bomber jacket he loved clung to his body like it had been made for him, but all I wanted to do was push it to the floor and find all those hidden tattoos.
I had not done myself any favors today.
If the sexual tension had been bad before, it was off the chain now that I’d pictured him naked while I got myself off.
The man ban was gonna suck extra hard now that he was back.
He started to breeze past me but stopped short. “They invited me over for dinner, too.” He grinned.
I pressed my lips together. “Oh.”
“I’ll go grab my keys, and we can ride together?”
I merely nodded, my brain going crazy with the sheer proximity of him.
“Oh, and one more thing.” He stepped even closer. I could feel his hot breath on my cheek as his lips curved upward into a mischievous grin. “Do you always scream that loud when you come?” he asked, and then he leaned in closer, nearly brushing his mouth against my skin. “Or is it just when you think of me?”
I forgot to breathe for a second. He was so close, his mouth a fraction of an inch away from mine, and his voice—God, his voice. And then the haze started to lift, and I registered the words he’d uttered.
My eyes widened, and I shoved him, heat flushing my cheeks, but also pooling in my thighs. My body was so confused.
“I cannot believe you!”
“Hey, I can’t help what I heard. You weren’t exactly quiet.”
“I didn’t know I had an audience!” I threw my hands up, flustered. Why is it so damn hot in here? “ And I was not thinking about you!”
“You called out my name, Louie.”
“I—”
Oh my God, please tell me I didn’t
No, I definitely didn’t.
Pretty sure.
Mostly sure.
Fuck.
His grin widened. “I’m just fucking with you, but good to know where your mind was.”
“Oh my God.” I covered my face with the palm of my hand. “You’re impossible. Can we please just forget about this?”
He shook his head, pinning me with those green eyes. “Yeah, I don’t think so. Those sounds are permanently etched into my brain now. Never gonna forget anything about that…”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he was already gone, walking down the hallway with a definite pep in his step.
And all I could do was watch him.
God, I was so fucking screwed.