Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
When we haven’t seen another turtle for quite some time, I lie back on the blanket, and Jack does as well. The moon is bright in the cloudless sky. I yawn, feeling tired but not wanting the night to end. “Tell me about growing up here.”
“Just a normal childhood, really. Except for the being-gay part.”
My eyes drift closed to the lull of his voice. I like hearing him talk, and he doesn’t do it nearly enough, I can tell. He’s very selective with his words as well as his trust, and I’m grateful he’s chosen me to spend time with.
“Tell me about your first crush.”
“Well, fuck, haven’t thought about that in a long time.” He snickers. “My gym teacher in the eighth grade.”
“Let me guess…he was totally hypermasculine,” I say around a yawn.
“Of course.” He nudges my arm. “And you?”
“I was a late bloomer. It wasn’t until high school that I figured out I liked guys. For me, it was a kid in shop class.” And damn, when the realization hit, it was like I’d been struck by lightning.
“Did he feel the same?”
“He did, thankfully.” So many furtive glances and make-out sessions after school. “It was a full awakening. I figured out what I like after a ton of practice.”
“Is that where you got that scar? From all that practice?” he teases as my fingertip skims my brow bone.
I smirk. “I wish. Flying debris from Dad’s workshop. Wore my goggles religiously after that.”
“Glad it didn’t take your eye out, kid.”
“Aw, thank you.” When I turn to him, his gaze is filled with amusement. This might be my perfect opening. “What happened with the guy who broke your heart?”
He stiffens briefly, and just when I think he won’t answer, he does. “His name was Theo. He was a trucker who delivered supplies to the station. He loved being on the road, practically lived like a nomad. Eventually settled in a rental unit in Aqua Vista for a couple of years, but he always had wanderlust. Thought we could make it work after he relocated to Sacramento, but it became difficult, to say the least. It was destined to fail, quite honestly. Our communication sucked.”
“I’m sorry.” And now it made sense why he would never entertain the idea of an outsider being interested in more with him. Not that I could be, living elsewhere.
“Don’t be.” He shifts a shoulder. “That’s life.”
“True. Suppose we all learn from those experiences. What was your lesson?”
“It wasn’t a good one,” he mutters.
“It’s why you don’t trust easily.”
He’s quiet for a long beat. “Maybe.”
I reach out to stroke his forearm, and he shivers. When our eyes meet, I angle my head to kiss his shoulder, then trail my lips up his throat to his ear. “I like the way you smell.”
He groans. “Don’t wear any cologne, so not really sure what’s enticing you, but it’s nice to hear.”
“Maybe it’s just Jack. He’s enticing all on his own.” Sand and sea salt and an undercurrent of motor oil.
He gathers my face in his hands and stares into my eyes as if looking for any teasing or dishonesty. When he slants his head and brushes his lips across mine, I can barely take the gentleness—it’s bound to ruin me for other guys.
Maybe it’s better to stick to hot and hard sex, where my brain shuts off, but I can’t find it in me to stop. I melt into the softness of his lips and the heat of his mouth as he deepens the kiss. The pace is slower than in times past, his mouth and tongue setting the tempo and capturing my undivided attention. He knows exactly what he’s doing. I’ll give him that. Just a little bit of tongue, enough to drive me to the brink. Enough to make me want more. Want everything.
We kiss like that under the moon and stars, with an ocean full of baby turtles learning to swim. My lips feel tender, but I don’t want to break the connection, and it seems neither does he because after drawing away briefly to catch his breath, his forehead rests against mine. My eyes shut as we breathe the same air, and before I can count the seconds, the lapping waves lull me to sleep.
20
JACK
I wake with grit in my eyes, a stiff back, and a hard body beside me throwing off some serious heat. As my eyes adjust to the hazy glow of morning, everything that happened last night comes rushing back. The turtles, talking, soft lips against mine. Jesus fuck, that was the most sensual night of my life, and we didn’t even have sex. My heart feels achy at the idea that I shared parts of myself with Aaron that I haven’t with anyone in a long time. And he’ll be leaving town tomorrow morning.