Chapter 28
twenty-eight
ORION
I make it back to shore and remember why I normally do this early in the morning—the sun is beating down and I’m drenched in sweat. I want nothing more than to submerge myself in the ocean again.
But my shower will do.
I pull my phone out of my bag to let Carina know I’m back. She’s the reason I didn’t go out earlier. She kept me awake most of the night, claiming that since she didn’t have any meetings and I didn’t have any charters, we could sleep in. Of course, we slept in separate beds, but I spent a lot of time in hers.
I look at the screen in the glare and see I have several missed calls from my sister and a text. I tap the screen and see a selfie of her and Spencer in front of my house.
What are they doing here?
I don’t bother to call her. I drag my kayak across the beach and down the path through the dunes to see a rental car parked on the street next to my driveway. But they are nowhere in sight. I’m not surprised she’s made the trip without telling me. She’s not a big planner. The second she gets an idea in her head, she acts on it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she decided to come last night and booked the next flight out.
I’m about to call as I open my garage, when I hear Carina’s front door open and I turn, expecting her to step out. But Brooklynn and Spencer emerge.
“Orion!” She sprints toward me, crossing both our driveways, and hugs me, not caring how sweaty I am.
“Brooklynn, I didn’t know you were coming,” I say, embracing her in return.
“I know!” She steps back to look at me, basically bouncing with excitement. “We wanted to surprise you. This might not be great timing and I don’t know what your schedule is like. But we have time off. We can hang out with Alex or explore on our own. You don’t have to entertain us.”
“And I’m more than happy to show them around.”
I hadn’t noticed Carina stepping out of her house. She looks awfully smug. I shake hands with Spencer, but my attention stays on Carina. “What did you do?”
“I gave your sister leggings,” she says innocently.
“And?”
“Now I know about kindergarten.”
I look back at my sister.
“They are very nice leggings.” Brooklynn looks a little sheepish.
“I know they are.” I’m slightly horrified at how quickly these two have become friends. My sister will see right through to my feelings for Carina, and I don’t want to spook her. I wanted us to be out in the open before she met my family.
But she’s smiling at me and so I accept she now knows about the glue-eating incident.
“It’s fine. Let me shower and then I’ll show you around.” I indicate they can go inside. “There’s a guest room to the left, across from the stairs.” I have a lot of charters this weekend but I should be able to manage time with my sister between them. Or offer to let someone else captain. I hired some qualified help for the company, but they haven’t been out as much as I would like before turning them out on their own.
I wait until Spencer and Brooklynn are inside before giving Carina my attention. “You’ll pay for this,” I threaten. Her eyes go wide, catching my tone. I’ve made her pay before, and she’s always been left melty and unable to move.
“I look forward to it.” She smiles and lifts her shoulder before turning in an almost twirl to go inside.
The annoying part is it’ll be a few days before I get her in my arms again. I don’t know how she’s reacting to my sister being around. Her nonchalance is more tied to our frenemies game and not us having sex on a near daily basis. I doubt I can convince her I’m an expert at sneaking out of my house without my sister knowing.
In the past, I’ve brought too many women home to meet my family. I’d convinced myself this one was different , no matter how many times I’d been wrong before. But things are different with Carina. The fact that I want to protect what we have is enough evidence. She wants to keep us quiet and has reasons I don’t agree with. But I have enjoyed the chance to be with her without any interference from anyone else.
We said we’d explore each other and see if there is something here. But I don’t need to learn anything more—I’m committed. I’ll find the right time to tell her soon. Sometime when we’re rested. So she won’t be able to find an excuse for why it’s not real.
Back in my house, I take a quick shower after telling Spencer and Brooklynn to help themselves to whatever’s in the fridge. When I come out, they both lounge in my living room with iced tea.
“This is really beautiful,” Brooklynn says. “The pictures you sent don’t do it justice.”
“Thanks.”
“I really like the photos you brought from Mom and Dad’s.” She points to one of the two of us on the lake when we were little. “I think that was your first boat trip.”
I smile at the memory. This house feels like the first solid thing I’ve ever built. “It’s a great location too.”
“And Carina?” she asks.
I’m tempted to share the truth, but I don’t. “She’s a good friend. Introduced me to people. Got me into yoga.”
“I was telling you for years it would help your back,” Brooklynn says.
“I know, I know.”
Brooklynn will see right through both of us.
We make the trip to Paradise, sweating again before we even get to the beach, and Alex joins us for lunch. He and Spencer have been friends for a long time, but Spencer has never visited before. Bristol serves us with her usual local charm, telling us about the good places to go for water activities.
I see light in Brooklynn’s eyes. She’s never been to Florida and mostly knows only the Florida Man stereotypes. I see her wanting to experience more than strip malls and beaches. They’ll be here for four days, plenty of time to make this trip memorable for her.
Once we’re back in the air conditioning at my place after an afternoon hitting the tourist spots, she asks if we could check out one of the springs Bristol mentioned. “The one with the mermaid shows sounds like so much fun,” she says. “But you have to work.”
“Weeki Wachee,” I say. “I got the charters covered.”
“Yes, there! But I’d rather not kayak. Your accident freaked me out. I’d rather try paddleboarding. Do you think we could rent or take lessons?”
This is my opportunity and I know it. I’ve never been to Weeki Wachee Springs. It’s natural to invite someone to show us around. And even better if that person loves to paddleboard.
“Let me see if Carina wants to come. She’ll know more than I do.”
“You’re sure she’ll be able to?” Brooklynn asks.
“She’ll probably love the chance to show off,” I answer. I move away from the table and head for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To ask her.” I could call or text, but I need to see her. Need to hold her.
I walk around the fence and to the side door she leaves open for me. If she wasn’t home or was busy, she would lock it.
I leave my shoes at the door and walk through her office, smiling at the smell of orange blossoms she probably doesn’t even register anymore since it’s everywhere she is. She’s not there or her living room. I make my way up the stairs and see her bedroom door is cracked.
I push it open and she shrieks, jerking the covers over her bare chest. “Fuck, Orion. I thought you were an intruder.”
“You left the door unlocked.” I hear something vibrating. It’s not her phone. “Really, Carina? It’s been twelve hours.” I’m impressed I can form words because my blood has rushed directly to my dick. I love the evidence she needs this as badly as I do.
“Longer than that, and that’s rich when you’re sporting wood.” She gestures to my shorts.
“You really expect me to not get instantly hard knowing what you’re doing under there?”
She shrugs.
“What were you thinking about?” I grab the back of my shirt and pull it off in one swift movement.
“Not you,” she says with a smile.
She might not admit it, but I know I’m the only one for her. “Liar.” I crawl toward her, pulling the blankets down so I can see her in her naked glory. She grips the wand vibrator. “Let me have it.” She looks like she’s about to fight me for it. But hands it over. “Is this the setting you like?”
“Yes.”
I kneel between her legs. She’s sitting against the headboard with her knees up. I place myself between them. She looks down at me. I came here for another reason, but seeing her wet and ready has pushed thoughts of anything else out of my mind.
I thrust two fingers inside her at the same time as I touch the vibrator to her clit. She comes instantly.
Holy fuck.
“That’s not for you. I was close when you walked in,” she pants.
“Sure, whatever you say.” I sit up against the headboard next to her and pull my shorts off. “Come here,” I order. I fist my cock. She turns to face me. “Nope, your back to me.” I’m not done with her vibrator.
I hold on to her waist and ease her onto my length. Even the way her fingers wrap around my cock feel divine. Then she leans against me, and my arms are around her.
“You good?” I ask.
“Yes.” She turns her head to kiss me and swivels her hips. If I’m not careful, I’ll come too soon.
I grab the vibrator and adjust the setting down. With the slightest pressure, I rub it where we are joined.
“Fuck,” she moans, leaning forward and bracing her hands on my legs.
“That’s it. Use me, princess.”
She looks back at me and I marvel at her. I can’t believe this magnificent woman lets me this close to her. That she lets me do this to her. Fuck, I’m not even doing anything. I’m just holding on to her and her vibrator and letting her find what gets her off.
I thrust up to match her movements as her moans become louder. “Come on, Carina. Give me another one.”
“The first one wasn’t yours.”
Sweat drips down her neck and I pull her back to me to lick it off. She tastes so fucking good. “My fingers. My orgasm.”
“I can hop off you right now and finish myself,” she says.
“Please don’t.”
She squeezes her inner muscles, and I might come right there, but I hold on.
“Come on, Orion. Beg for me. I bet you do it perfectly.” The sly grin on her face tells me she knows exactly what she’s doing.
I fucking love it.
And I don’t hesitate. “Please, Carina. Come on my cock.” I increase the setting on the vibrator and she pushes into it. “I need it.” Need her.
“Oh god.” It only takes a few more seconds and then she silently screams and pushes the vibrator away.
I come with her, holding her tight against me, loving how her skin feels against mine and the way we’re both slick with sweat.
It’s never been this good.
It’ll never be this good with anyone else.
We lie there for a moment, then I reach over to turn off the vibrator. “That was…” I start.
“Yeah,” she finishes. I kiss her neck. “You okay?” she asks, turning and brushing my hair away from my forehead.
“Yes. I missed you, that’s all,” I say.
“We spent last night together,” she counters.
“I know.” But it wasn’t enough.
“Your sister…” she starts. She thinks that was stressing me.
“We’re fine. She’s always been unexpected and energetic. I’m happy she’s here.”
But I can’t talk about my sister while I’m in Carina. I grip her hips and lift her off me. She makes a quick dash to the bathroom, and when she steps out we’re both dressed again.
“You barely mentioned her. I didn’t know if I overstepped,” she says.
“No, you’re fine. I came over to see if you’d come with us to Weeki Wachee tomorrow.”
Her eyes light up. “Of course. Have you been?”
“No, not yet. Brooklynn and Spencer want to paddleboard. I thought we could rent and then you can give them some tips.”
She shakes her head. “I own at least four boards. Two are inflatable. My board and your kayak can go on the roof. It’ll be easy. No need to rent.”
We spend a few minutes discussing logistics. Who’s buying what for the cooler. What time we’ll have to leave to attempt to beat the crowds.
If she’s anxious about spending the day with my family, she doesn’t show it. I hope at this point I know her well enough that I could tell.