Page 44 of Turbulent Fires

It doesn’t take long for Wolf to find me, a beer in his hand. “You realize you’re becoming infamous around here,” he says.

“I do love to stand out,” I tell him. “And, my backward bowline was a thing of genius.”

“And made your captain sweat,” he says with laughter. “That takes true talent.”

I turn to look at him, feeling content. “This place washes away my always-racing thoughts. I love it.”

He places his arms around me. “That’s what paradise is supposed to do. It peels away the bad layers and makes space for something real.” I smile. I don’t need to add anything to that.

We rejoin the party, and I sip a drink as I move from person to person, hearing more stories of the island. I look over and love watching Wolf banter with his brothers as Cooper and Nick swap stories that earn gasps and laughter from the locals. Even Jayden is relaxed with his arm draped over a chair as he leans back with a smile on his lips.

Even as relaxed as I feel, and with the warmth and love surrounding me, my heart’s fluttering. It’s overwhelming and confusing. I’ve never had this much emotion flowing through me. When there’s a chance, I slip away to the other side of the deck, sighing as I focus on the water drawing me in. A breeze brushes my skin, and the smell of eucalyptus and brine calms my senses.

“You have a way of disappearing,” Wolf says as he quietly moves up behind me. I smile.

“You always find me.” He wraps his arms around me, the heat from his body the perfect warmth as we enjoy the harbor lights. “I might have to stay on this island forever,” I tell him.

“You’re more than welcome to. It really is like being on a different planet.”

I take a deep breath. “I’m scared that if I choose something,reallychoose it, I’ll lose it, or lose myself in the process. I’m afraid I might wake up one day and realize I’ve disappeared and don’t know who I am, and I’m living in someone else’s life.”

“We don’t have to lose ourselves in others. We can find the best parts of ourselves with them,” he assures me.

“I’m not sure I’m capable of standing still. I’ve always run.”

“You aren’t the only one. I’ve been known to do the same.” I turn to face him, looking into his beautiful eyes. I reach up and touch his strong jaw. He truly is beautiful inside and out.

“When I lost my parents, I thought I’d never stop running to escape the pain. I’ve realized, as time goes by, that pain can only catch us if we allow it to. We’re in control of our lives and our destinies. No one can control that unless we allow it.”

“I’ve never had a traumatic experience like that. I simply overthink things too much,” I tell him.

“Many of us do. Maybe we’re both changing because we’re good for each other,” he says, his smile easy, his expression relaxed. My lips turn up as I tremble in his arms. I lean forward and kiss him, loving how his body feels against mine.

It’s a deep, slow, aching kiss that shows vulnerability and love, that gives him everything I’m unable to say aloud. He has most of me, and could have the rest if only I could figure out how to unlock the fear.

We hear someone call our names and reluctantly pull apart. “We better get back before they hunt us down,” I say. I want to be alone with him, but we have a lot of people visiting.

“We can kick them all out,” he says. He isn’t joking.

“There’s no way I’m allowing you to do that so they can all talk about us having sex. I’ve heard how these islanders talk. There are no secrets here,” I tell him with laughter as I shake my head.

We make our way back to the group, and I move to the fire, enjoying the heat from the subdued flames. The music has lowered as the crowd begins to wind down. Island life begins early so not many people stay up late. I watch as the fire crackles lazily, casting golden light on the stone patio and throwing flickering shadows onto the stucco walls.

By ten, the locals begin saying goodbye with sleepy hugs and claps on the back. Jayden slips away to one wing of the house, muttering about getting some writing down for a new plot twist he’s just come up with, and Drake disappears with a bottle of tequila and a group of locals, telling us not to wait up for him.

Suddenly, I get exactly what I want, alone time with Wolf, the fire glowing low, the embers warm and on their last legs. I look to Wolf, who clearly has hunger in his gaze, waiting to see what I’ll do next.

I move to him with purpose and wrap my arms around his neck. His eyes grow hungrier. I don’t make him suffer. “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”

He smiles before sweeping me off my feet and moving with confidence through the large house that I pray has soundproof walls. I don’t get a chance to look around as my gaze is captured by him alone. It doesn’t take long before he steps through a door and firmly shuts it behind him.

He moves into a large bathroom and sets me down before turning on the shower. He comes back to me and slowly peels away my clothes, making me shake before him. It doesn’t take long before we’re both naked. We step into the shower together, and as the warm spray runs over our bodies, all semblance of control is lost. It’s been too long since we’ve come together.

Wolf pushes me against the wall as he leans down and takes my mouth in a passionate kiss that makes it impossible to breathe. Hunger rushes through me as I slide against him, not able to get close enough.

My hands run up his wet back as he reaches down and grips my butt, then lifts me. I wrap my legs around his waist as our kiss goes on and on while the water cascades over us. I wiggle against him, wanting him buried deep inside me. But he’s torturing both of us instead. I’ve made him wait, so now it’s my turn.

He rips his mouth from mine and I moan in frustration until he leans me back, then bends and captures a nipple in his mouth. He bites down before sucking the sensitive bud, making me bite my lip to keep from crying out. He lavishes attention on one nipple as his fingers squeeze my butt, sliding along my skin, the tips hitting the edge of my heat, making me squirm even more.

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