I didn’t have much to offer her, but she could have it all. Everything I had was hers, without question. I turned my head and kissed her temple, smoothing her hair away from her face. Then I tilted her face to mine and kissed her on the lips. I could taste the salt from her tears and I vowed then and there to protect her from any more pain. She had taken much more than her share. She had lost everything, everybody. I felt lucky by comparison. I still had my home, my family, my friends.
I pulled her closer. I had to show her how much I loved her, not just tell her. She climbed onto my lap, straddling me as the kiss deepened, and I held onto her waist as her knees tucked into my side. I felt both disconnected from my body, and insanely alive at the same time. My heart pounded as we drew apart finally, breathless. I looked up at her and I knew she wanted this as much as I did. There was a deep desire within her eyes that spurred me on. She was no longer shy and guarded. She was letting me in, completely and unreservedly. She was giving herself to me, and I was taking her.
Heart, soul and body. In that order.
I WATCHED THE SUN peeking over the hill, setting fire to the beach. Manu Bay at sunrise was a magical place, caught somewhere between real life and dreamland. The golden glow of the rising sun was like an ancient signal, telling us that now was the time.
Or maybe it was just me.
Last night had given me the kind of glow that was like a neon sign, for all to see. And the first person to see it was Vinnie.
I picked him up outside his place, just before sunrise. Waiting at the top of the driveway in my truck, he jogged towards me in his wettie, carrying his board under his arm. He had thrown his board onto the deck of the truck and jumped into the cab beside me.
“Mornin,’” he said, glancing over at me.
Then he froze, and a slow grin spread over his face.
“Scratch that,” he said. “Details, bro. Lots of ‘em. Go.”
“What do you mean?”
I was wasting my time playing dumb, but I couldn’t help it. I had no luck keeping the smile from my face either.
“What do I mean? You look like the cat who got the cream. I’m guessing Maia’s cream is the cream in question?”
“Dude!”
He just nodded, not even bothering to look embarrassed. I really needed to do some work on toning him down before they spent any real time together.
He chuckled, fastening his seatbelt. The ride out to the bay was long and tedious, frequently punctuated by the request for details. Reluctantly, I gave up a few minor ones, just to get him off my back. He was delighted, lapping them up. I kept the good ones to myself, though.
Like the fact that her breasts fit perfectly in my hands.
Like the fact that she was just as comfortable taking the lead as I was.
Like the fact that my favourite part of her was the hollow of her waist, and when we curled up together afterwards, my arm fit in there like it belonged.
None of this was any of his business, but it made me smile just thinking about it. He had no idea what a wrench it had been to climb out of bed this morning and leave her behind. He also had no idea that I had stood in the doorway for a good five minutes before I left, just watching her sleep.
Granted, we didn’t get that much sleep last night, but at least we got some. And, for all I know, she was still sleeping, and soundly, too. Good. She needed it. I felt a little hum of joy burning inside me. Maybe I had created the perfect environment. Henry, the waterfall, making love to her. I doubted we’d have any call for the sleeping pills.
“Oi!”
I looked over at Vinnie, who was grinning back at me across the water.
“Stop thinking about what you’re gonna do to her when you get home and get your head in the game!”
I flipped him the bird, trying to keep my mind on the waves rolling in. The truth was, for the first time in living memory, I would rather be at home than out on the water. I itched for her. My body ached, as if missing a limb. I wondered what she was doing now. Was she awake? Having coffee? Missing me?
“Yo, dude! Are we doing this or what?” Marlow called from further out in the line-up.
I waved him off. He knew something was going on, and I knew it was only a matter of time before Vinnie spilled the beans.
Joel was on the other side of him, grinning like a loon. Great. I felt like I’d just lost my virginity and everyone knew about it.
Cool points: zero.
Vinnie flicked water in my face, bunting me with his board.
I wiped it off. “Dude. Grow up.”
He shrugged, bunting me again. “I’m gonna keep doing this till you catch a wave.”
“Fuck, you’re annoying,” I mumbled, lying down on my board and paddling out of striking distance.
I sat up, spotting a particularly large swell making its way towards us. The familiar rush of anticipation flooded my system and I turned my board around and paddled slowly towards the shore, glancing behind me.
“Ride it like you ride her!” Vinnie called, whooping it up.
I was beginning to think one of us was most definitely adopted.
BY THE TIME I DROPPED Vinnie off and got back home, Maia was in the shower. I hesitated for a moment, then opened the bathroom door. She peered around the shower curtain, smiling as soon as she saw me.