Mad Sea (3 page)

He walks over to me, his gaze hungry almost, until he’s towering over me. Another shiver ripples through me when he dips his head and sniffs me. Yes, sniffs. Normally, I’d be offended, but this time I can’t help but hope I smell good enough to eat.

“You look fucking amazing,” he growls, not moving away from my personal space. “I’m not really good at this whole dating thing. Right now, all of my thoughts involve you, and none of them are the least bit respectful.”

I lift my chin and meet his darkened eyes. Lifting an eyebrow at him in question, I smile. “To be honest, I’m not good at this whole dating thing either. So maybe we can navigate this together. I’m not entirely opposed to coming up with our own way of doing things.”

He grins, flashing me his bright white teeth, and I wonder what it would feel like to have them nibbling on me. When I shiver again, he brings his massive palms to my bare arms and runs them up and down along the flesh to warm me back up.

“Want to ditch this fancy shit and do something different?” he questions, his head nodding to the restaurant.

I laugh. “It’s like you read my mind. There’re some food trucks down by the pier. Want to grab some food from one of those?”

He takes my hand, firm but gentle, and guides me away from the restaurant. The walk to the food trucks is about a mile, but we aren’t in a hurry.

“So,” I say with a chuckle, “how exactly does a guy like you end up in a frozen yogurt place. Do you really like frozen yogurt, or do you come to see me?”

His hand squeezes mine, and I swear he growls. The deep rumble excites me. “I saw you walking in one day and wanted to know you. You’re not like the other women I’ve been around. It was refreshing. I had to know you.”

I turn my head to find him staring straight ahead. His blatant honesty makes my heart thunder in my chest.

“I’m glad you did. You’re certainly different than any other man I’ve encountered,” I tell him.

He stops and reaches for my other hand. Once he’s pulled me in front of him, he peers down at me. “You have no idea just how different I am, Hali. I’m probably the worst kind of guy you could ever get wrapped up with. That should stop me. I should walk away and pretend I never saw you.” I frown at his words. “But I can’t. There’s something about you that calls to me. I’m different around you. If my friends could see me, they’d think I was a pussy. I won’t lie to you though, beautiful. I’m a bad man.”

His eyebrows furrow in frustration at his admission. It makes me want to hug him. So I do. As soon as I tug my hands from his and wrap my arms around his middle, something happens. I’m dizzied by our connection. He squeezes me to him and kisses my hair, also doing that inhaling thing I like so much again.

“Why are you hugging me?” he questions in a huff, almost as if he’s angry at himself for asking.

“Because you looked like you needed one.”

“Now I don’t want to let you go.”

I smile against his chest. “So don’t.”

His fingers run through my wavy hair, and he groans. “Did you hear that part about where I’m a bad man but I crave you and can’t seem to stay away? That I’m bad news?”

Lifting my chin to meet his stare, I inspect his features. He’s beautiful. God wouldn’t create such a magnificent creature and make him evil. Not possible.

“Then out with it. Tell me what it is you think I’ll run from.”

He sighs. “I’m the president of a motorcycle club. We aren’t the friendly Sunday riders type either. Drugs, weapons, crime…it’s a norm for me, Hali. I don’t want that world to touch you, though. I’d like to show you I’m more than that.”

I consider his words. “So tell me the more.”

“Well, I’m an avid swimmer. The ocean is my second home—the place where I feel most comfortable. I hate seafood and won’t touch the shit with a ten foot pole. My adopted mother is a wind chime freak and loves cats. About once a month, I go on a hunt for a wind chime she doesn’t have. Something unique and wonderful like her. I’m a huge rock music fan. And apparently, I’m a froyo yuppie on Sundays.”

We both laugh. I like the way the moonlight makes his eyes dance with mischief.

“Sounds like you live two lives,” I say thoughtfully, understanding how he feels. “And you want to know me in one of them.”

His eyes close, but he nods. “Essentially, yes. Not that I am embarrassed of you. Fuck that. You’re just too sweet and pure for that other world.”

While his eyes are still closed, I stand on my toes and press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Maybe I’m not so sweet.”

He threads his fingers into my hair and tugs gently until my lips part open. When his full lips descend upon mine, I let out an eager moan. It’s been ages since I’ve kissed anyone. Far too long. The moment our lips connect, his tongue is on a search for mine. I like his taste, minty and clean. It doesn’t take long before I’m desperately trying to taste all of him. His teeth find my bottom lip and he nibbles me before diving back into our kiss. I’m embarrassingly needy for his kiss. So close to climbing his body like a tree.

“Come on, beautiful,” he murmurs breathlessly as he tears away from our kiss. “Let’s get something to eat before we devour each other instead.”

We’d bought some gyros and Cokes before settling to sit at the end of a pier, our legs dangling. After we inhaled our meal and Madden disposed of the trash, he sat back down beside me.

“Now tell me about you. What’s your story?” he questions, his arm wrapping around me from behind.

I lean into his warmth. My gut begs for me to gift him with the stories of my past. To slice myself open and show him what makes me, me. But I’ve worked too hard to put the past behind me. I’ve created a life here in Miami that doesn’t involve my over-protective father and his insane wishes for me. Here, I’m me. Hali Morgan. Here, I don’t have to follow rules.

“Just working at the yogurt place until I can get my photography going. I’ve been taking classes on the side. One day, I’d love to make money doing what I love. I thought it would be neat to take pictures for postcards for a gift shop or something. Hadn’t really thought exactly what I’ll do, but my heart lies, like yours, with the beach and ocean. I feel at peace here.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls something out. “After you agreed to our date, I found this. Reminded me of you.” When he opens his palm, I gasp. In it is a beautiful shell—reds and greens shimmering in the moonlight.

“I love it,” I murmur as I take it from him. He watches me as I turn it over in my hand and run my thumb along the grooves. “This type of shell isn’t found often on the beach. That was a lucky find, Madden.”

I’m eager to get it in the sunlight and take some pictures of it. Once I safely tuck it away in my purse, I turn to look at him. His expression is serious as he devours me with his gaze.

“I want to kiss you again,” he states plainly, the corner of his mouth quirking up into a half smile that looks incredibly good on him.

I bat my eyelashes at him. “So kiss me.”

His palm finds my jaw and he guides me to him for another kiss. After only a moment of his tongue in my mouth, I am already craving more from him. This is exactly why my father and I butted heads. He had a plan for me that didn’t involve desire or connection or love. It was all about power and status. Nothing I cared about.

“More,” I moan, mostly to myself.

He drags me into his lap, and I straddle him while we kiss. It drives me wild knowing he’s hard for me. As I grind against his erection, I begin to wonder how big he is. If he’s good in the sack. Is he a generous lover? I’m not that experienced. Once, Steffan’s cousin who was in town, ended up going down on me after one too many vodka shots. My roommate never knew, thank God. It was interesting, but not necessarily satisfying. That’s where my experience ends. Alyssa, my friend from back home, once told me sex isn’t worth it until you’re with someone worth having sex with. She’d been with a ton of guys. Her tune changed once she met Alec. I hadn’t really wanted to sleep with anyone, until now. Hadn’t ever really even thought about it much.

Madden’s large hands grip my ass through my dress and he pushes me against him, clearly needing the friction as much as I do. If there weren’t people at the end of the pier, I’m afraid I might turn into a whore and beg him to fuck me right here. I’m getting turned on by that image when I’m attacked.

By a moth.

A stupid fucking moth.

“Get it off of me!” I screech as I sit ramrod straight and swat at the thing that’s bigger than any damn butterfly I’ve ever seen.

Madden’s rich laughter warms me until the thing attacks my face again. My first instinct is to push away. And away I go.

The fall from the pier seems to go in slow motion. My eyes fixate on the moon above me, and I wonder if the moth is still hunting me. I’m torn from my thoughts the moment my back makes impact with the cool water. Fire whips across my backside. Before I can regain my bearings, a wave rushes over me and pulls me under.

I’m still dazzled by the fall, so I don’t realize I’m under water until two strong arms wrap around my waist an instant later. As soon as he touches me, my flesh erupts in a sensation I’ve never felt before. It’s like his soul is slithering from his body and enveloping mine. I’m dizzied by the unusual feeling. It’s erotic and exotic. I like the addictive way it feels.

“Relax, I’ve got you,” he murmurs against the shell of my ear as he swims us to shore.

I’m an excellent swimmer, but right now, I’m enjoying being rescued by this god of a man. I’ve probably ruined our date. A part of me should be sad at the notion. But all I can think about is how much better our date got, now that his body is molded against mine.

As soon as we reach the shore, he scoops me into his arms and carries me to a sand dune. He sets me down to regard me with concerned eyes. His black shirt is pressed against his muscled chest, making me crazy with the need to peel it from his body.

“Stay here. I’m going to fetch your purse, my phone and wallet, and my shoes. I’ll be right back.” His lips find mine for a moment, and then he’s gone.

I watch him as he trots off, his toned ass flexing with each stride. If I hadn’t have fallen in, I’d have missed his beautiful butt and how it looks in a soaked pair of slacks.

This date is definitely one I won’t ever forget.

I
let her fall.

She was in my arms, and I let her go.

A growl rumbles in my chest, anger crackling through me like bolts of lightning in a storm, as I carry her purse back to where she’s still sprawled out on her back staring up at the moon. Hali could have broken her neck or fucking drowned. Unbelievable.

“I’m sorry our date is ruined.” Disgust is thick in my voice. I fall to my ass in the sand and look down at her. Her brows are furled together.

“Because of me?” Her bottom lip wobbles for a brief moment and all anger fades away. Now, I want to kiss away whatever is making her sad.

“Fuck no. Because of me. I should have held onto you. You could have been killed, woman.”

“Come here,” she whispers lowly, almost low enough I can’t hear her. “I need to tell you something.”

I stretch out beside her and lean toward her face. She smiles in a wicked way that has my dick hardening as she clutches onto my wet shirt. I’m yanked to her mouth where our lips, once again, fuse together as if they were meant to do so.