Page 25 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

We paddled together when the next wave came rolling in toward us. It was only small, but that was all I wanted. As soon as the board gathered its momentum, I pushed up with my arms and launched myself onto my feet . . . and instantly overbalanced.

I came up to the surface, gasping, and reached for my board. Josh was immediately with me. He steadied the board for me, while I heaved myself back onto my stomach on it. Even though I couldn’t hear the other guys, I could tell they were still laughing at me. Just great.

“It’ll probably take you a few goes to get your balance back. You’ve got the right technique, though.”

I took his words as encouragement and added some of my own determination as we paddled back out.

The next five times resulted in much the same, although I seemed to last a little longer each time before I came to a watery end. I was panting a little as I paddled back out, but smiling just the same.

“Getting a bit tired?” Josh asked, smirking a little.

I thought about lying, but my body was sore. “My arms are aching.”

“We can go in any time you want.”

“I’ll have a couple more goes. You can stay out if you want. I can watch you.”

Josh grinned. He seemed to like that idea.

A wave swelled toward us. I started to paddle hard, trying to ignore the burning in my arms. As soon as the wave caught me, I jumped to my feet, keeping my knees bent and my arms out for balance. The water churned behind me, threatening to toss me off, but I bent my knees a little more and forced myself to stay standing.

As the wave’s volatility subsided, I straightened up a bit and cheered for myself, pumping my arms excitedly. I was so happy I didn’t lose my balance, I decided to stick my hands in the air in victory. “Yay! I did it!”

Whistles and cheering came from the beach, reminding me I had an audience, but this time I didn’t care. I did it!

Josh was already in the shallower parts, standing in waist-deep water, watching. When I came up beside him and looked down at him, he was grinning from ear to ear.

Without a thought about what I was doing, I jumped off my board and threw my arms around him in excitement.

It wasn’t until I felt Josh’s arms go around my waist that I realized just what I’d done. I pulled back, an apologetic look already on my face, but the second our eyes met, my excitement swiftly changed to something else entirely.

We stared at each other for exactly three heartbeats before Josh’s lips came down on mine.

Chapter 18

Josh

I was in so much trouble.

Olivia may have only been kissed twice in her life, but she obviously had some pretty wicked intuition.

After the first initial surprise, her body melted against me like warm chocolate. Her lips were so soft and full. One little taste was just not enough. It was an automatic reaction to pull her tighter against me, and when I did, her lips parted with a soft gasp.

I expected her to break away, to say it was just going too fast, but her hands only tightened on the back of my neck, pulling my lips back to hers. I needed to taste more of her.

Ever so gently, I bit down on her bottom lip, then soothed it with my tongue. She groaned, then one of her hands moved into my hair and clasped it tightly.

The waves crashed against us, but I was too lost in her kiss to care. I had known she’d taste like heaven, but I didn’t think she’d be able to make me forget my own name. I slid one of my hands around her waist, trailing my fingers over her ribs, up between her breasts, until I was cupping the side of her neck. Her head tilted back a fraction, like a glorious invitation for me to kiss and taste.

Whistles from the beach broke into my thoughts, and with an enormous amount of effort, I managed to pull my lips away from hers and break the kiss. Damn, I was glad we were outside in the water. If we were anywhere near a bed right now, or even a sofa, for that matter, I would be a goner.

Breaking the kiss was as far as I could force myself to get, though. Our bodies were still clutched together, and I could still feel her little pants of breath against my cheek. She shivered. “You’re cold. You should go up and have a hot shower.”

Good idea. I really needed her to go do that. Right now. And I would go have a cold one.

I looked down at her to see her cheeks tinged with pink, and I realized she was embarrassed the guys had just witnessed us kissing.

“Okay,” she said softly.

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