Page 25 of The Pact

The golden hue of his tanned skin provides a perfect contrast to his light blond hair. The piercing dark blue of his eyes illuminates a face with perfect features. High cheekbones, square jaw, lips that look softer than the few clouds that are amassing on the horizon when we arrive at the beach.

Bode parks his car just a few feet away from the boardwalk that leads to the stretch of beach where I met the guys earlier.

He runs to the passenger side to open my door and offers me his hand, helping me out of the car.

I’m surprised by the rough, calloused skin of his palms.

“All windsurfers have rough hands, I’m afraid,” he comments as if he could read my thoughts. “It comes with the territory. We’re always touching ropes and holding onto the boom the whole time.”

He says it as he pulls me to him and wraps one arm around my shoulders.

Anything I could’ve said in response, literally evaporates as I’m engulfed by Bode’s beachy scent. He smells of coconut but with something spicier and more masculine, like the scent carried by the ocean breeze.

I have to work hard to suppress a shiver at the tingle of excitement caused by that intoxicating scent and the feeling of the soft cotton of his Hawaiian shirt against my skin.

“Let me, pretty girl,” he says, kneeling down to help me take off my shoes as we’re about to step off the boardwalk and onto the sand.

I’ve chosen a pair of white sandals with a kitten heel and he unfastens the small buckles at my ankles with deft fingers, keeping his blue eyes fixed onto mine the entire time.

My heart right now is beating so fast and I feel grateful when Bode is done with both our shoes and his arm returns around my shoulders. Not only because I missed his touch but, in all honesty, I need the support because being near him is making me feel like my knees are about to buckle under me any second.

We slowly walk toward a fairly large group of people. Some guys I don’t recognize from anywhere are tending to the bonfire while Shep and Ashton are a few feet away, kicking a soccer ball with some other people.

They both abandon the game and run up to us.

“Hey smoke show!” Shep is about to hug me but he’s intercepted by Bode who half-wrestles his friend away from me. “Let me go, asshole. You ain’t the one who’s smoking hot!” Shep chuckles. “I came here to hug Ausra, not your ugly ass.”

Bode gives him a friendly slap on the back. “Aww, really?” he laughs with a mock wounded expression. “I thought you meant me when you said ‘smoke show’. Which, by the way, is weird. I wish you were normal, Shep, and just said smoking hot.”

I find myself smiling at the fun banter between the two friends until I’m pulled against a strong, ripped chest. “Hey cutie. Nice to see you here.”

His gray eyes sparkle in the rapidly declining daylight and I begin wondering how is it possible that these guys all smell so damn good. Ashton’s scent is bright and citrusy and his solid, perfect body is warm against mine. I can’t help but notice the white gleam of his teeth in a smile that wouldn’t be out of place in a toothpaste commercial.

Bode and Shep are still ribbing each other and Ashton chuckles with a playful eye roll. “I wanted to ask you to be my date tonight but Bode was faster than me.”

Right.

I offer him a non-committal smile as I realize that this party tonight is my first date ever.

“Will you dance with me later to soften the blow?” Ashton asks, lifting my chin to look into my eyes and I nod. I don’t see anything wrong in one dance.

“Hey baby.” Kelley walks over to us leaving a group of people that was hanging out by the keg next to a folding table where I can see several big bowls of snacks.

He drags me closer to him by pulling on my hand.

His amber colored eyes are intense as we’re standing so close to each other that the tips of our toes are touching. His gaze descends to my lips and for a moment, I think he’s about to kiss me, like he did last night.

I don’t know how I really feel about it after his outburst earlier on but my heart picks up its pace and I know that if Kelley tries, I’ll kiss him back.

I’m equally relieved and disappointed when his lips brush against my temple. “I just wanted to say thank you for the brownies you brought earlier. They were delicious.”

My smile is completely genuine when I take his hand in mine. “No, I’m the one who should thank you, Kelley. If you hadn’t been looking for me last night—”

“I could’ve killed that bastard, baby,” Kelley says, cupping my jaw.

I’m not used to touching and being touched by others very much aside from my sister and my niece. My parents have never been very touchy-feely and things only got worse once McKayla was kicked out of the house.

I tell myself that this is why Kelley’s touch is making me lose control of my body, as my toes curl into the cold sand.

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