Page 7 of Tease Me

Sexy! Okay, he’s forgiven.

He trotted ahead of me in a smooth, practiced gait, and I fell in behind, enjoying his stunning derriere as it bulged and flexed with each move. His muscular ass was like some kind of hypnotist trick, guaranteed to make me do whatever he wanted.

“Come on, catch up.” He waved, urging me forward.

I caught up to him, and we fell into a comfortable stride. It was hard to decide which one of us was setting the pace. Together, we left the path, crossed the raised wooden platform, and hit the sand. We remained side by side even once we reached the part where the sand was firmer from the outgoing tide.

“You’re good, Jane.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“Most women can’t keep up.”

“I’m not like most women.” My quick statement shocked me, but Ifeignedconfidence by raising my eyebrows at him.

He smiled at me, and the sun dazzled in his mirrored sunglasses. “No, you’re not, Memphis.”

We carried on in silence.The crashing waves and our shoes crunching in the sandwere the only sounds.It felt good, basking in the glorious winter sunshine and breathing in the crisp morning air.I really should do this more often.

If Corben and Iactuallyhooked up, wouldthis be something we didevery day?I just about face-planted at that outrageous thought.

As if a guy like him would want a girl like me.

I shook my head and concentrated on the red and yellow lifesaver flags in the distance.

It wasn’t until we neared the Mermaid Beach Surf Club that my breathing became ragged. I knew from experience that we’d run a distance of two miles,a run thatusually took me fifteen or so minutes. I was sure we’d done it much quicker today.

As if some bell had sounded, we both slowed to a walk at the same time, right next to the lifesaver’s Jet Ski parked on the shoreline. The surfers were out in force today, smelling of suntan lotion and capturing me with their lithe, tanned bodies. They looked amazing, but next to Corben, they resembled underdeveloped teenagers.

“Ready to head back?” Corben spoke his first words in about five minutes.

“Sure.” We turned around, and Corben walked toward the chair built out of surfboards near the beach shower. Curious, I followed. He sat and began undoing his laces. Taking his lead, I did the same. Then, with our shoes dangling in our hands, we walked past the mingling surfers again and down to the water. We skirted tumbling waves as we strolled back toward the Hot Horizon Hotel.

I tried to take glimpses at him without being too obvious. In the glorious morning sunlight, he was a rough diamond with dazzling facets in all the right places and muscles in all the rest.

He was more than six and a half feet of male perfection, and as we walked along, every person strolling toward us ogled him like he was Channing Tatum.

“So, what’s your story, Memphis Jane?” His voice was a deep baritone.

I raised my eyebrows. “Story?”

“Yeah. What makes you pretend to be someone you’re not?”

“Who says I’m not?”

Even Corben’s mirrored glasses suited the scene. Yummy. “Me.”

“Oh.” A wave crashed over my ankles, and I angled up the beach slightly, pushing him aside as I went.

“The woman who stands behind the reception desk at that hotel is nothing like the woman who sneaks into men’s rooms to get her jollies.”

I gasped, ready to retort, but then realized he was right. “I don’t sneak into rooms,” I finally said, half-hearted.

“No, you’re right, but the rest is true. So why do you do it?”

Oh, God, did Ireallywant to have this conversation? Several more waves tumbled at my feet as Corben silentlywaited formy response. Eventually, I shrugged. “Because it’s fun.”

He nodded as if my answer made perfect sense. “Jane doesn’t have fun?”

---