Page 36 of On Her Terms

“Let me get your lines fixed and get you up again,” Beck says.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to help her.” Luca turns to me. “That’s if it’s okay with you?”

“I don’t want to take you away from boarding. I set this up for you.”

He steps toward me, cups my chin. “I can board anytime. Right now I want to help you.”

I swallow, never having seen him so intense before. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure,” he says and sits on the ground, cross-legged, dragging me down with him. I feel a little breathless as we stare at each other. Luca says, “Beck went over everything with you, but you panicked, and you panicked from fear. It happens.” He takes my hands in his. “What you need to know is I’m right there with you, and I won’t let anything happen to you. When I get you up, I’ll stay by your side and guide you through the motions, letting you know when to pull and push until you’re comfortable trying it on your own, okay?”

Good lord, why is this guy still single?

He said he wasn’t opposed to marriage, if it was with the right person. Could that right person be me?

My God, what am I saying!

He’s doing me a favor, and we’re having some great sex. That’s all. Right?

Beck stands by, offering occasional words of encouragement as Luca goes over a few more things with me; then Luca leans in and presses his lips to mine. “All set?” he asks, his mouth lingering on mine.

“I am.”

“Nervous?”

“Not really. I think I got this.”

“Okay.” He stands, and we take up our positions. I tap my head to let him know I’m ready, and once the wind picks me up, and I’m in the water, I start to lift fast again. I pull down on the bar, and I’m instantly lowered and in more control of my kite. I glance over my shoulder to see Beck helping Luca get into the air. I turn my attention back to my kite, and water zings around me as I let the wind pull me along.

Luca zips by me and I grin at him. “Doing good?” he yells out.

The wind takes me up again, and I let it this time, just a bit. Excitement wells up inside me, and I adjust the bar to lower myself. Now that I’ve gotten the hang of it, it’s kind of fun. A little scary, but exhilarating, just the same. We play on the boards for a good long time and, show-off that Luca is, he does tricks as I keep my board in the water. I laugh at his antics and soon enough my arms grow tired. I catch Luca’s attention and tap my head to let him know I’m tapping out.

I let the breeze carry me to the embankment and adjust the bar so the kite falls into the water. I’m breathless and exhausted by the time I climb out. Luca comes in behind me, and he’s grinning like a child on Christmas morning.

“That was a blast,” I say. “You can go back up if you want.”

“Nope.” He slides one arm around my waist and drags me to him. The cooler mountain air rushes over us and I shiver. His stomach grumbles and I laugh.

“That really builds up an appetite,” I say as my own tummy grumbles.

Luca gives me a smack on the ass. “Let’s get going.”

“Do you want to grab some lunch on the way back?” It’d be more like dinner; we’ve been here for most of the day.

“Nope.”

“But you’re hungry.” He gives me a mischievous grin. “Wait. What are you up to?”

“You’ll see.”

“Luca...” I warn in a playful voice as he helps me from my harness. I’m about to press but Beck runs over to us. He gives me a high five and helps us gather our equipment. We return it to the rental shop and go to the locker rooms to change back into our clothes.

A yawn pulls at me when I step outside and find Luca waiting for me. He captures my hand, brings it to his mouth and gives it a kiss. “Thanks for this, Brianna.”

“My pleasure,” I say.

His gaze narrows and then moves over my face. “Want me to drive?”

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