Page 101 of Scandalous

I frown down at my hands. Ezra reaches over, grabbing it a moment.

“Anyone who has anything negative to say about the friendship we are forging can leave the conversation now. We are here providing content to entertain you, but you have neither the right to invade our privacy nor tear us down. Do better. Be better. It doesn’t cost a thing to not be a cunt.”

I swallow hard but smile up at him.

“Let’s keep this positive, guys. You know I ignore the negative anyway. I believe that allowing negativity a position in your life will only bring you down. So who has some more positive questions?” I force a smile.

As the guys continue to give me questions, I answer them with a smile, but my mind can’t help but dwell on what the man in the comments said.

Is that how the world will view me? As a whore getting gangbanged?

Can I handle that?

* * *

This morning, I woke Aurora up before sunrise and dragged her out of bed.

She looks over her shoulder at a sleeping Drake and frowns when she turns back to me.“Only way I’m getting out of this bed before the sun comes up is if you promise me coffee,” she whispers.

“Done. Now put a swimsuit on and meet me at the jeep in the garage.” I lean forward and kiss her.

By the time she met me, I had a surfboard and supplies loaded. When she came out in that tiny little blue bikini, I had second thoughts. I wanted to pick her up and take her back to bed and have my way with her.

“What are you thinking about?” Aurora asks, pulling me out of my head.

“Just thinking about how I wanted to drag you back inside when you came into the garage this morning,” I tell her honestly.

Aurora throws her head back, her messy bun flopping as she laughs. “I would have been so mad if you pulled me out of bed for nothing.”

I wrap my arms around her waist as we sit on the board and watch the sun come up.

“What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful.” She sighs as she relaxes back into my arms. “Honestly, it’s not as busy as I would have guessed it would be. It’s nice and peaceful.”

“Only locals or serious surfers come out this early.”

“Or us,” she points out.

“Or us,” I say as I make sure we aren’t in anyone’s way.

I had planned on trying to teach Aurora to surf, but with this being her first time in the ocean, I decided to hold off for now. I’ll do it once she’s comfortable in the water. So, for now, we sit on my board and watch.

“Do you miss it?”

I take my time answering her question, really thinking about it. “It’s hard to miss something that was never yours to begin with,” I tell her honestly. “Don’t get me wrong, I love it here, but it’s not home.”

“Where is home?” she asks softly.

“Wherever the guys.” I pause, licking my lips. “And you are.”

I feel Aurora’s breath catch at my confession. “Relax. I don’t want to freak you out, but I really fucking like you, Aurora Blake.”

“I really like you too.”

She turns her head and kisses the corner of my mouth. Turning my face, I kiss her back, deepening the kiss. The only reason I pull away is when I feel the wave coming in.

“Are you ready to go?”

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