Inky (22 page)

“And if I…”

“Stop talking Anika.” He laughed as he took my breast into his mouth, biting my nipple lightly through my bra and shirt.

“You’re kind of bossy, aren’t you?” My arms dropped to my sides in defeat, hanging limply.

“You’re funny.” He put his hand back onto my leg where he had stopped before, “I was here, right?”

“What? Yes, there.” I answered. He moved his mouth to my other breast, never removing my shirt which made the whole thing even sexier. His fingers on my legs moved upward to the edge of my panties, a single finger moving beneath the elastic and slowly moving toward what was now my aching sex.

“Well, just as I expected. You don’t need to wax anyway. Unless this is the result of a recent grooming?”

“What? Oh my God, you’re killing me!” I could barely catch my breath. “Did you get me all worked up just to find out if I wax my bikini line?”

“No. Well, maybe but I plan to leave you breathless and begging by the end of this day and make tonight unforgettable.” With a self-satisfied smirk, his mouth was at my ear once again. “In the meantime…” he pushed my panties to the side and slowly dragged his fingers upward. He removed his hand from under my skirt, bringing his fingers to his lips, “Something to remind me of what I have to look forward to later.”

“Oh. My. Lord. You are a filthy, filthy man…it’s spectacular.”

“Great!” He said clapping his hands together like we’d just closed a big business deal, “Shall we go then?” He grinned from ear to ear, knowing that he had left me a quivering puddle of wanton female.

“Sure. Go. Let’s.” He only laughed harder as I followed him to the car.

***

As we drove North on P.C.H., I looked out to the ocean on my left. I found it unbelievable how my life had shifted in only a day. What surprised me the most was how happy I felt. I was calm and for once, I didn’t feel like there was a huge weight on my shoulders. I’m not even sure I had noticed it before. I knew that if Cole pulled the car over right now and asked me anything, I wouldn’t hesitate to answer him. I also had a sneaking suspicion that whatever happened to him must’ve been horrific.

“Penny for your thoughts?” He asked, his hair was flipping back and forth around his aviator glasses because of the wind from the open window.

“You really want to know?” I asked dryly.

“I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”

“I was thinking about you.” That was the truth. “I think this might be the most honest – whatever this is – I’ve ever had.”

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that. What do you want to know about me, Anika? Except for the family stuff. Two o’clock... Not while I’m driving a car.”

“Fair enough. What do you do exactly and how old are you?” I thought early to mid-thirties and perhaps in the mafia.

He let out a big sigh. “I’m the heir to Carlyle Corporate. That includes various smaller businesses but primarily mining. In the last ten years, the company has ‘absorbed,’ for lack of a better word, companies that were desperate and failing so now we have the Trinity Hotel and Resort chain which pissed off a lot of people. It was a family company and my dad pretty much bullied the previous owners to give it to him. So, in answer to your question, I’m now apparently running the hotel and resort part of the company. Oh, and I’m thirty-five.”

“You’re thirty-five?!” How are you that old?” As soon as I said it, I regretted it but he threw his head back and laughed.

“I know. I’m so old.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” I laughed “I just assumed you were younger. It sounds like that’s pretty recent. What did you do before?”

“The short version? I went to SDSU for four years, was meant to get my Master’s but didn’t. Instead I got really depressed and spent my days surfing and drinking. A twenty-two year old with disposable income can be pretty self-destructive. But then my Mom insisted her social commitments were getting to be too much for her and asked if I would help ease her workload. If I didn’t have my head up my ass, I would’ve seen she was fine and loving every minute of it but once again, she subtly saved me. I make the company look good since everyone thinks my father is an asshole. She seems to think I have a good eye for art. I was already going to the Gillies Exhibition before your boss called me actually. But the Hotels are supposedly mine. I have endeavored to not use my dad’s money so when he bought Trinity Hotels, I arranged that any money I made paid his company for the purchase. Does that make sense?”

“I think so. So, you run Trinity, not Carlyle whatever?”

“Yes.”

“Cool.”

“Other than that, I surf, look at the stars, swim, drink a beer on the beach and watch the sun go down, listen to the ocean and look at your painting…but that’s not a job.”

“Wow. So, you’re, like, loaded.”

He smiled and shook his head back and forth.

“I’m sorry, that was kinda rude of me, wasn’t it?”

“Technically I am, but it’s not mine. I didn’t earn it. I’m an only child so I will inherit one day but I only started to really earn a wage when I took over the Hotel part of the business.” His entire demeanor changed into bitterness, “I wanted to start fresh. I wanted to get as far away from my father and his company as possible but Emma loved it. She loved shopping for the next event and meeting this person and that person. She had me convinced that the best way to get back at my dad was to beat him at his own game, become more powerful than him.”

“She didn’t know you very well then, did she?” It was a statement more than a question.

“She played a good game, Anika. She knew exactly what to say and how to say it. I hate that my dad was right. Anyway, that’s what I’ve been doing the last twelve years.”

We drove in silence for a while after that. I felt like he was leaving something out, something important but he would tell me eventually, he said he would. He stopped at Starbucks but we took our coffee and pastry and continued on to wherever it was we were going.

***

“Are you selling me into white slavery?”

“No” he laughed. “I think going the opposite direction on P.C.H. would’ve been the direction for that activity. Maybe next time.” He smiled.

“You’re not gonna tell me, are you?”

“Don’t you like surprises, Anika?”

“As a rule, no. Unless it involves food items. Coffee’s a favorite. I’m also partial to bacon.”

“I’ll remember that. I want to cook for you so I thought I’d take us to the famers market. Aside from incredibly over-priced produce and organic meats, they sell coffee and pastries, beautiful desserts…I’m gonna leave that part up to you. I’m expecting a delivery around two and I’d like to be there when it arrives. We can go out again after that if you want. Hey, do you want to take a fishing charter out in the morning?”

“What? I mean, slow down. Let’s just take the day as it comes. It’s only Saturday, Cole. I won’t turn into a pumpkin until Sunday evening. Afternoon at the earliest.” I had to laugh at him. He was so excited for some reason, almost anxious. As we arrived at the market and parked the car, he stared out the window saying and doing nothing. “Is something wrong? Cole?”

“No, sorry, I zoned out for a minute there. Okay, there’re a couple of shopping bags in the back there if you wanna grab ‘em. I’ll get your door.” What was that all about?

After an hour of filling the hemp bags to the brim with all sorts of culinary delights, we were on our way back to Cole’s magnificent beach house. When we arrived, I noticed there were two large bags sitting by the front door. “Damn, I missed the delivery guy but it doesn’t matter. I didn’t want to ruin the surprise but they’ve wrapped everything up. That’s for you…later.” His devilish grin made me wonder if he’d had a delivery from a sex shop. “It’s not what you think so wipe that smile off your face.”

“What? How do you know what dirty thoughts I’m thinking?”

“Because that delivery isn’t due until four, Anika.” Now I knew he was teasing me. This was easy, being with him. Too easy, but I wasn’t going to dwell on it. I was having too much fun.

After a delicious lunch of grilled chicken and mango salad with a dressing he just whipped up in front of me, he left the kitchen and returned with a bag. “You did buy sex toys didn’t you?”

“No” he laughed. “But I did get some things I think you’ll need while you’re here and this is the first one. Open it.”

Inside was a bikini. It didn’t leave much to the imagination but I assumed that was the point. “Can I ask how you managed to get this delivered here and when did you have the time to do it?”

“I have an assistant. I really hate to use him for anything not business related but, there’s a first time for everything. I hope the size is right. I was going to surf for a bit, thought you might like to, I don’t know…watch me and cheer me on? Is that what girlfriends do? I’m new to this whole thing. How about this? I would love for you to put on that sexy bikini and come watch me surf.”

“I would be honored to come watch you surf. Let me just go slip on this…this…teeny, tiny sewing project. Seriously, this is like doll clothing.” I laughed. I hoped I could do it justice. I was proud of my body. I was curvy but tried to stay as lean as possible. My only regret was that I seemed to be the opposite of tan. I just burned, then freckled a bit and went back to white. “I’m gonna need sunscreen, though. A lot of it.”

“I’ll lube you up when you’re ready.”

“That wasn’t suggestive at all.” I rolled my eyes in mock annoyance and walked toward the downstairs bathroom to change. When I had the suit on and looked at myself in the mirror, I felt sexy. I couldn’t believe Cole picked this out. Correction, I couldn’t believe his assistant picked it out. Hmm, I’d have to ask about that.”

“Wow! You make that bikini look really good. I made Anthony drive to three shops to find the one I saw on the internet until he found it. It was worth it, that’s for sure. Come here.” I walked toward him and saw a tube of lotion. “Turn around. I’ll get the parts you can’t reach.” Lifting my hair out of his way, I waited for him to apply the lotion to my back, over my tattoo. Too much sun makes the skin age and tattoos bleed, or that’s what Nico told me. I don’t expose my back, ever, so it’s never been a problem before. He didn’t linger, I didn’t feel like he was examining me, he just efficiently put sunscreen on me. “There. I think I’ll let you get the front or we’ll never make it down to the beach. Would you mind holding this? There’re a couple of beers, a bottle of water and some towels. You ready?”

“Sure. By the way, before I forget, I want you to know that you, in board shorts all low on your hips…”

“Bad thing?”

“Oh, no, no, no…have you ever seen Fight Club?”

“Of course, what guy hasn’t? I love that Pixies song at the end.”

Dream guy!

“You have that whole Brad-Pitt-stomach-thing going on. It’s a good thing. Even Martha Stewart would agree, I’m sure.”

“Right.” He laughed. “Follow me.”

Chapter 22

I nursed my beer and watched Cole take his long board out to surf. He made it look so easy but I knew it wasn’t. I had a firm respect for the ocean but I didn’t really want to be in that water. It’s a food chain fear and not wanting to be part of it. I laid back and fell asleep for a while into what was one of the most restful naps I’d ever had. When I woke up, Cole was next to me, his skin wet, lying with his arms propped up, watching the waves.

“Did you have a nice nap?” He asked.

“I did. I can’t believe I slept. I’m sorry. I did watch you for a long time though. You’re very good. You make it look so easy.”

“I can teach you if you want.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” I stated this firmly leaving no room for negotiation.

“Are you scared?”

“Let’s say that I love the ocean, I respect the ocean…kind of like the forest. You don’t just walk through the forest.”

“Why not?” He flipped his wet hair away from his face. In slow motion it would’ve been a commercial for Ray Ban’s.

“Because it’s not your natural habitat. Once you walk into the bear’s house or the shark’s house, I think you’ve introduced yourself as a potential meal, not a houseguest.”

He let out a light laugh, “I’ll get you in the water eventually. You’ll see. And I’ll protect you. In these waters your biggest threat would be the odd great white but that’s pretty rare.”

“You’re not really selling me on the idea, you know. I love the ocean. It’s the perfect relationship; sometimes it’s loud and fierce; sometimes it’s quiet and soothing. It can feed you, it can sing to you. I think it’s beautiful. I just don’t want it to eat me, that’s all.”

“You’re beautiful, Anika.” He smiled at me. A beautiful, gleaming smile.

“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.” He lay down on his towel and closed his eyes.

“Would you mind handing me my sunglasses? I might just close my eyes for a little while too, unless you want to go back up to the house and go in the pool?”

“No, I’m fine right where I am. Here ya go.”

“Thanks.”

I heard his breathing become slow and steady and I couldn’t help but watch him. His normally perfect hair was tousled with water and sand, his perfect body tanned and toned from his shoulders to his toes. How did I hit the man jackpot? After what I assumed was about another hour, he began to stir and reached his hand toward mine. The sun was getting lower and the afternoon light, my favorite light to paint in, was casting a beautiful golden glow over Cole. I began to trace my fingers down his arm, down to his hand and gently laced his fingers with mine.

When I reached his wrist I could see a deep white scar. I started to trace it with my finger when he suddenly snatched it away and stood up. He gathered the bag and the towel and began the ascent to his house. There was his pain. He hadn’t covered it with a watch or a tattoo but I don’t think he was ready for its discovery either.

After wiping the excess sand off, I went to find him. As I entered his bedroom, I heard the shower. I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t know him very well but my instinct and my own fucked-up past told me to go to him, face it and tell him I’m not afraid of his brand of crazy. I had my own special brand and so did every other person on God’s green earth. I didn’t have any confirmation of what his scar was but I was pretty damn sure.