Page 21 of Hot Stuff

“What thing? With my mouth?” His lips touched mine. “Or with my fingers?” He kissed my neck. “Or?—"

“All of it.” I gasped when his scruff tickled my skin. “But maybe on a bed?” I suggested. He growled and stood quickly, taking me with him. I giggled.

Thankfully, he grabbed a towel and covered me up before he rushed out and into his place, not caring if the neighbors caught a glimpse in the darkness. But his butt was so cute, I didn’t mind someone catching a peek.

Dan

I woke up with a smile on my face and my girl wrapped around my body. Both of us naked, our limbs tangled.

And I had never been happier.

I would have been able to walk away after seeing her that first night. I might have been able to walk away after talking to her face to face. Maybe I could have walked away after knowing what her lips tasted like and how she felt in my arms.

But now?

There was no way.

But how could I stay? The thought kept floating in and out of my head throughout the morning. When she woke up, the smile on her face would be something I knew I’d remember till the day I died.

Karolina was so beautiful, inside and out. Soft and sweet. Crazy smart. She made me laugh and feel like I could be myself around her. Like we belonged together. More than that, she felt like home.

When she realized the time, she rolled out of bed and hurried to get ready. Wearing a pair of my gym shorts and a sweatshirt, I drove her home so she could get ready for work. I waited for her in the car because I knew if I followed her up to her place and walked into her bedroom, there would be no fighting the temptation to take her again.

I returned home and surfed. Washed up in the outdoor shower, where all I could think about was how I’d taken her in it. Then I headed to the boardwalk and checked it out.

The longer I explored, the more I liked Poppy Beach. It was a cute little town with a good amount of tourism that went through without being overwhelming.

I stopped at a fruit vendor and bought a cup of fruit before I turned and saw it. A board rental spot. I had my own, but I found myself walking in and waving hi to the teenage kid working behind the cash register.

The shop reminded me of a skate shop. They sold all sorts of swimsuits and swim trunks. Tees and sweatshirts. I picked up a Poppy Beach sweater for myself and a matching one for Karol, along with a woven, bright-colored striped throw blanket before checking out.

That was when I spotted it.

The sign I had been waiting for.

But this one was an actual sign. One that was nailed to the wall behind the cash register saying the shop was for sale by the owner. I talked to the kid about it. He told me it was his grandfather’s place, and he was moving. The kid was nice and super informed. It was obvious he was bummed about his grandfather selling the shop.

I asked if they rented more than surfboards, and he said they did and showed me the paddleboards and bikes they also offered as rentals. I rented a beach cruiser and rode around with an idea slowly marinating in my head and excitement flowing through my veins.

After I returned the bike, I grabbed a slice of pizza from a small pizzeria window by the pier and sat down and watched the foot traffic that flowed into the shop.

Buy it, a voice whispered. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I loved the beach. The idea of living inland hadn’t called to me. I knew all about watersports and the equipment that went with it.

I could do it. I could buy the place and run it. Hire local kids to run it. Do it, the voice whispered. I took out my phone and made a call.

“You butt dialing me or—" Abel started spouting off, but I cut him off.

“Shut up,” I chuckled. “I figured it out,” I blurted and winced at how stupid I must have sounded.

“What?”

“What I wanna do next,” I shared. “I figured it out. But I’m going to need your help.”

“Oh, yeah? Talk to me.” And I did. I told him about the shop and my plans to stay in Poppy Beach. When I finished talking, he cleared his throat and exhaled.

“That sounds…”

“Bad?”

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