Page 20 of Keeping Kama

His lips twitched as he stared down at his still bare chest. Derek nodded. “I’d appreciate it.” Pulling the dangling half of his wetsuit up, Derek pushed his arms through the sleeves. He wiggled his arms for a minute, until the suit fully covered his broad shoulders. “Okay, I’m ready.” He took a backward step toward her, stopping a mere two inches from her.

Leia’s fingers trembled as she clasped the zipper. Her fingers slipped for a second and grazed Derek’s back. Immediately, goosebumps sprawled across his skin. Knowingly, Leia smiled, zipping it up the rest of the way. Leia was satisfied that the feeling of attraction was mutual.

Unable to resist, Leia patted the top of his wetsuit covered shoulders, Leia said, “There you go.” She removed her hands, and Leia took a few steps away in a need to widen the gap between them.

First, he stretched his arms above his head, Derek said, “Thanks.” Then he twisted from side to side then bent forward, no doubt trying to get his wetsuit to form to his body.

Taking her hairband off her wrist, Leia put it between her teeth, gathering her hair into a bun. Once she smoothed out the top, Leia replaced the band. With a wink, Leia said, “Let’s do this.”

“Umm.” Derek scratched his head and finally said, “I guess there is no time like the present.”

At the back of the truck, Leia pulled out her surfboard. Derek followed suit and removed the other surfboard. After rearranging their items, Leia closed the back of the truck.

In tandem, with their surfboards underneath their arms, they walked to the edge of the water. Soon, the warmish saltwater ran over the top of their toes. Leah pushed her toes into the sand, allowing the gritty mixture to wiggle in between the empty spaces around her feet. Water nipped at her ankles.

As she glanced across the water, Leia took in the scene of the turquoise water, the brightest blue sky, and a smattering of other surfers. Leia loved it here. It had been ages since she had surfed. Making a promise to herself, Leia vowed to come here more often. As she took a few steps forward, Leia let the water soak into her wetsuit around her calves. Slowly, her body adjusted to the temperature of the water, making her brave enough to move further out into the water.

Leia raised an eyebrow and found Derek’s gaze. “Are you ready?” she asked.

With a wide grin, Derek replied, “I was born ready.” With his free hand, he scooped up a handful of water with the upcoming tide, tossing it in her direction. Leia shrieked and jumped away as the cool water seeped into her wetsuit. His lips twitched mischievously. Derek continued, “You know you talk a lot of trash, and now I want you to prove you aren’t all talk.”

Leia jutted her chin and puffed up her chest. “I don’t talk trash.” Leia kicked water at him. “I can’t help it if I happen to be good at most things.”

“Oh, I know …” Derek splashed her again. Leia attempted to use her surfboard to block herself from getting hit. After a long pause, Derek remarked, “I like it, Leia. I like it a lot.” Their eyes locked, making her breath catch in her throat.

Warmth flooded her middle as she kicked more water toward him, Derek leaped out of the way. “What do you like?” inquired Leia.

Playfully, Derek scooped up another handful of water, tossing it at her. She shrieked again as the cool water landed in the center of her back, trickling down the length of her wetsuit.

Grinning as if he had won, Derek said, “I like your confidence. In fact, I think I like everything about you.”

“Is that so?” Leia suddenly felt anything but confident. “I— I—” stammered Leia.

Derek’s uncanny gaze rocked her. “You know you can just say thank you,” said Derek without breaking eye contact.

Unconsciously, she chewed on the inside of her cheek. Leia said, “Then thank you.” The playfulness from moments before whisked away with the ocean breeze. Leia smacked Derek on the arm. “Quit trying to flatter me to get out of surfing.” She hoped to bring back the flirtatious energy pulsating between them.

Holding up a hand, Derek replied, “I’m not trying to get out of anything. I only speak the truth.”

For a second, they stared back at each other, Leia wondered if he was going to kiss her, which was an absurd thought. Derek was here in Hawaii to buy half her family’s farm not to try and date her. Her back stiffened. The playful mood from before seeped right out of her.

Leia looked away first, taking in the vast wide ocean. “Let’s surf.”

She’d show him. Leia wasn’t all talk.

Without hesitation, when the next wave crashed on the shore, Leia walked further out into the water with her surfboard under her arm. She didn’t stop until the water hit her waist. Dragging the surfboard beside her, Leia swam once she could no longer touch the ocean floor. Derek soon appeared next to her. Matching her stroke for stroke with his long broad arms, Derek kept up with her brisk pace. It took them a few moments to make it out past the breaking waves. They swam until the water smoothed out.

Once in calm waters, Leia brought herself up onto her surfboard, straddling the board with one leg on each side. A glance over her shoulder confirmed Derek was only seconds away. Once next to her, he used his strong muscular arms, to bring himself up and onto his board, straddling his too.

A few minutes ticked by as they sat on their boards, waiting for a wave big enough for them to surf. Contentment filled her being, as Leia took in the beauty surrounding her.

Derek broke the silence. “How old were you when you learned to surf?” He kept his gaze straight out at the water.

Swiftly, she brought her hands to each side of her board and dipped her fingers into the water. Spreading her fingers apart, she let the water lace in between her fingertips. “I don’t remember.” Leia kept her eyes on the waves too. “I simply remember always knowing how. How about you?” She allowed herself one peek at him, taking in his strong square jawline.

Derek ran a wet hand through his hair, smoothing it out. The water made his blond hair dull to a light brown. “My dad taught me. I think I was maybe six or seven years old. It was a wonderful day being out on the water with him.” He smiled to himself, making the lines around his eyes scrunch up.

For a second, Leia thought he’d continue, but he didn’t. “What made it so great?” asked Leia.

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