Page 12 of Under the Boardwalk

"I don't want you to. Just… be gentle. Don't hurt me."

"I would never, ever hurt you, Alina. Never."

"I know."

I stroke him, and the sounds coming from him make my head spin. He's above me now, and I guide him to my center, and I close my eyes and wince, waiting for pain, but he's careful, gentle. He stops and asks me to look at him.

"You feel amazing." He starts to move, slowly. "Look at me. If you're not okay, I will stop."

"Don't. Stop." I say between panting breaths.

He fills me completely. Our bodies become one. A part of him becomes a part of me. I never imagined this could feel so intense. He rocks into me, his movements controlled and unhurried, and I am lost. His mouth and hands are everywhere, and when his fingers dip into the place where our bodies meet, finding my clit, a firecracker explodes inside of me, and the wave takes me under.

"Alina. Oh, god,” he calls out as I clench around him, following me over the ledge, getting pulled under the crashing waves with me as he loses himself inside me.

We stay wrapped around each other as we come down from the high. He's heavy, but I'm reluctant to let him go. I’m not sure how long we lay there, still connected. Our hands slowly trailing over one another before he finally asks, quietly, "Are you alright?"

"More than alright. Thank you," I respond, smiling up at the ceiling.

"For what, beautiful?" he asks, lifting his head to meet my eyes again.

"Being my first. You made it… perfect," I say, refusing to look away or let my shyness win.

"Thank you for trusting me,” he responds before giving me a soft, sweet kiss.

"Do we have to leave the bed today?" I ask, snuggling more deeply into the pillows, still reveling in his weight over me.

"Nope,” he responds, popping the P as he trails lazy kisses over my neck and jaw.

"Good," I say with a sigh, tightening my hold on his shoulders, letting myself be swept away in him once again and knowing there is nowhere else I ever want to me.

Chapter Ten

Riley

We are lying in bed, Alina’s head on my chest, and I can't help but feel simply… complete. There is no coldness between us, no walls or barriers. No degrees that hold her in higher standing or cheesy jokes that help me make it through my day. My parents and what they have might work for them. Maybe they are happy, and that is truly what they were meant to have in this lifetime. Pulling my girl closer, though, I know this is all-consuming, passionate, die for her, live for her, breathe for her, and love some people never have the chance to experience.

I never want to be without her. I watched Grayson fall for Harper and thought it was young love that can't be erased, but not always meant to last. I saw Kas fight for Charli’s heart and still thought the end of the summer would bring heartbreak for my best friend and his girl, though she tried to fight it with everything she could. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be thrown into the depths like those two love-sick birds. Turns out I was the worst of them all. I had her under my nose the whole time, and it took one song, one kiss under that boardwalk to change my life forever. I don't know what the future holds, but I know that come hell or high tides, my Siren will be right beside me the whole time.

Speaking of my Siren, I smile as she stretches out beside me. She smiles shyly when she realizes I’ve been sitting here watching her.

“Oh no, don't hide from me now.” I smile, leaning over and tickling her sides until she's laughing unabashedly while the sheets are at our feet. She's completely naked and on display for me, and though I can see the rosy blush traveling from the roots of her head down her chest, she still lets me look my fill. I love her bravery, but I know she's probably still sore from last night. So with a regretful sigh, and one kiss to her stomach, I place the covers back over her and move until my face is lined up with hers.

“Morning, Siren,” I whisper, kissing the tip of her nose.

“Morning,” she says, leaning up and giving me a peck on the lips. I swear I'm smiling so wide I have to be glowing.

“What were your plans for the day, baby? I have to work for about four hours today, then I get two days off,” I tell her, excited to finally get some uninterrupted time with her. She sighs, and with that one breath, I know I’m not going to like her suggestion.

“I think it might be time I get back home. As much as I hate to leave you and our little bubble, I have to face what's coming,” she says, and I can hear the fear in her voice. That fear is nowhere near as strong as her determination, and while I'm proud of her. The last thing I want is for her to leave.

“We can stay here as long as you want, Siren. There is no rush,” I tell her, not ready to admit that she could have gone home two days ago. She must be already getting used to my looks because, somehow, she can tell I'm being evasive. Though I don't know why I'm surprised, I could feel her moods since that very first day. This connection we have runs deeper than surface level.

“What's going on? You're hiding something from me, Riley,” she says, touching my cheek and making me meet her eyes.

I hoped to have a little more time to make her fall for me before having this conversation. It will be hard to tell her about my involvement in the situation, but she has a right to know. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to keep her safe, even if that means losing her forever. If she's safe, that's all that matters to me. I might be a shell of a person, but I’ll use that hard shell to protect her for as long as I live. I just have to spit it out and get this over with.

“I need to tell you something, but you have to swear you won't freak out and leave,” I try to say calmly. That does not work… at all.

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