Riding the Surf (16 page)

She smirked. “Derek, your mouth can lie but your cock can’t.”

His dick twitched at her words.

“And I want to. And I want to do something else too.”

Derek moved up the bed until his tip was at her mouth. She tiled her head and took him into her mouth. He felt her throat as he slid inside, feeling the wetness of her mouth. He gasped loudly, knowing he’d come quickly. She moved her mouth quickly, keeping her teeth behind her lips. Her tongue stroked him while she took him like a pro. Then she pulled him out of her mouth, making him whine like a puppy.

She pulled his cock to the valley between her breasts then pushed her tits together.
She arched her back and slid him through the space between her breasts. Derek grabbed her neck while she moved, unable to process how good it felt. He started to thrust his hips, moving against her skin. Derek knew he wasn’t going to last long. The orgasm was already there. The sight was too beautiful and sexual for him to control himself. When he felt himself crumble, he pulled his dick out then cupped the tip. She pulled his hand away and made him squirt on her breasts. That made his orgasm even better.

“Paola…” He pressed his face against hers while he caught his breath. The amount of pleasure he experienced was more than he could handle. His world had never been rocked like that. He kissed her forehead then her lips. “You’re my greatest fantasy.”

Her eyes softened when she looked at him.

Derek pulled away then moved between her legs, pushing them back. Without preamble, he kissed her tender area, exploring her folds with his tongue.
She was wetter than usual, tasting sweet. His pussy tasted different than the others and he liked it. He sniffed her while he licked her, feeling her fingers clench his hair for dear life. She arched her back, holding back her moans as she came immediately. Derek continued to kiss her, letting her enjoy it as much as possible.

“Derek….you’re so amazing.”

He loved hearing that. He loved it. After one more kiss, he climbed on top of her and pressed his face close to hers. “Let’s talk about that some more.”

“You’re just soo…oh.”  She arched her back again, coming down from her high.

Derek kissed her neck. “And when we make love, your neighbors are going to call the police because you’ll be screaming so loud.”

She grabbed his face and wrapped her legs around his waist. “I can’t wait for that.”

He lied beside her then pulled her into his arms. “Are you sure you still want to sleep with me?”

“Don’t ever leave,” she said quickly, holding him tightly.

His heart squeezed painfully. He loved hearing her need for him.

“And thank you for letting me stay here. I hate that apartment. I was robbed a few months ago.”

Derek held her to his chest. “You’re safe here, baby. I’ll always take care of you. I’m honored that you let me.”

“It’s hard to keep you away,” she whispered. “You get me like no one else does. I can’t explain it.”

“I can.”

She looked at him.

“You’re in love with me.”

15

Derek was glad Paola was spending time with Sydney and Ren, but he was also irritated. If she was with them, she wasn’t with him. When he got home from school, he worked on homework while his sister cooked a snack in the kitchen.

“Why is Paola staying here?” she asked.

He glanced at her. “I didn’t like her apartment.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It isn’t safe.”

“So, is she living here?”

“No, after we pay off her medical bills, she’ll get her own place.”

“We?”

“She needs help. Her mom passed away from cancer and the bills have fallen on her. They are almost paid off.”

“Wait a second.” She put the pan on the stove and stared him down. “You can
give her thousands of dollars but I can’t do the same for Ryder?”

“It’s not the same thing.”

“It’s exactly the same thing.”

“I didn’t give her my life savings.”

“How much did you give her, then?” Cheyenne asked.

“Twenty thousand.”

“Are you fucking serious? You are such a fucking hypocrite.”

“No, I’m not. Paola and I love each other. We’re in a committed relationship. She’s not using me for money. And even if she was, that’s beside the point. I’m the man in this relationship and I take care of her. I would never take her money to save my own life.”

“Fuck you, Derek.”

“No, fuck you. You’re being a brat.”

“No, I’m not,” she said. “You wonder why I don’t listen to you. It’s because you’re a fucking hypocrite. You do everything you tell me not to do. If I sleep with a guy, it’s the end of the world, but you’ve fucked half the island.”

He glared at her. “I’m a man.”

“What the fuck does that matter?”

“I stand on my own two feet and take care of myself. When you get your own place, pay your own bills, and establish your independence, then you can do whatever you want. But right now, you just cling to people, needing someone to take care of you. Keep your legs closed until the guy is in love with you.”

“Are you in love with Paola? You just met her.”

“Yes, I’m madly in love with her. And time has nothing to do with it.”

“It has everything to do with it,” she said. “If I’m making a mistake with Ryder, you’re making the same mistake with her.”

“So be it,” he said. “I can survive the heartache. You can’t.” He slammed his book shut and stormed into his bedroom, not wanting to look at his sister. He studied for hours until Paola came back to the apartment.

“How was your day?” Derek asked.

“It was fun,” she said. “I like your girlfriends.”

“They are pretty cool. So, did you get any slutty lingerie?”

“Why would I need it when I’m naked anyway?”

He moaned. “I like your thinking.”

“And you would just take it and jerk off with it.”

“That’s a good point.”

She smiled then pulled off her dress, standing in her panties.

Derek bit his lip while he looked at her.

“Things better with your sister?”

He wasn’t listening to her. Derek grabbed her and pushed her on the bed. He stripped his clothes then kissed her everywhere, worshipping her body with his burning lips. She lay back and ran her fingers through his hair. He moved his mouth to her pussy and kissed her the way she liked.

“Derek, I love it when you do that.”

He kept up his ministrations until her legs shook, her back arching. She bit her lip while she came, breathing heavily.

“Right there,” she said with a musical sigh.

His tongue glided inside her, making her orgasm last as long as possible.

When he was done, she pulled him to the bed and immediately pushed hi
s cock in her mouth. Derek lay back and enjoyed the feel of her wet lips around his cock. She moved up and down and used her hand vigorously, building him up until he released inside her mouth. He didn’t last long and squirted in her mouth. Derek watched her swallow it then wipe her lips.

“I’m sorry I can’t last long,” he said with a heavy breath. “I’m not usually like this.”

She crawled on his chest and straddled him, her breasts in his face.

He reached up and grabbed them, massaging them.

“Why can’t you last?”

“I don’t know,” he said as he groped her. “I’m ready to cum before we even start.”

“That’s how I feel too.”

“I’ll be better when we have sex.”

Her eyes brightened. “I like the sound of that.”

“I’ll rock your world, baby.”

“I know you’ll deliver.”

“You should go on birth control,” he said.

“I should?”

“That way you’ll be ready when we do have sex.”

“What makes you think I’m ready?”

“I didn’t say you were,” he said. “I’m just planning ahead.
”

“But I think I am ready,” she said, gliding her hands down his chest.

Derek wanted to make love to her more than anything, but he knew they weren’t there yet. There was something he wanted from her first. She still hadn’t delivered it. He grabbed her face and kissed her before he lied beside her, running his fingers through her hair. When he pulled away, he turned off the light and set the alarm.

She stared at his face in the dark. “Why won’t you sleep with me?” she whispered.

Derek could detect the hurt in her voice. “Baby…”

“Do you not want me?”

“How can you even ask me that?” he said with a sigh.

“Then why?”

He stared at the ceiling for a moment. “The most pain I’ve ever felt was when my parents died. It was the worst time of my life. But I know if you hurt me, it would be even worse. I wouldn’t recover and I would just be shattered. I’ve never given my heart to anyone like this, made myself so vulnerable. I’m totally open and exposed, but I can’t give you anymore unless you meet me halfway. When you do, I’ll give in.”

“Why do you think I’m going to hurt you?”

“I’m just afraid you’ll get tired of me and leave. Or you’ll find someone better. To me, you’re a dream. And dreams end. I’m waiting for you to drift away when I wake up. You’re just too good to be true.”

“Derek, I admit I was scared before, but I feel differently now…”

He waited for it.

Her hands moved down his chest. “I don’t want to leave.
”

Derek took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He wanted to hear the words from her lips, but they never came. “Are you ready to be in a relationship?”

“I think so.”

He cringed. “Then I’m not ready to have sex.”

She stared at him then cuddled into his side.

Derek didn’t understand what was holding her back. She was living with him, they spent all their time together,
and they had so much in common. They were meant for each other. Whenever he thought about it, it made him depressed. The thing he wanted more than anything was sitting in his arms. But he was afraid she wasn’t real.

Paola stayed with him for a month and they didn’t talk about having sex again. Derek took her out to dinner, to the movies, and for romantic walks on the beach and everything was wonderful. But she still didn’t tell him what he needed to hear.
He would be as patient as she wanted, but he knew his heart was on the line.

She and Derek paid off the rest of her medical bills. When she sent in the last check,
she cried. Derek held her tightly and let her cry herself to sleep. He knew it was more emotional than he could understand. The passing of her mother was really over. Now she could move on.

Coen mentioned Paola again, saying he knew her from somewhere. Derek tried to brush it off, saying it was because she was
a champion surfer. Coen didn’t seem convinced. He would sit there and ponder it for minutes at a time. All he had to do was type in her name on Google and everything would pop up. He prayed that didn’t happen. If it did, he would have to tell his friends to keep it to themselves. It would break Paola’s heart if she knew.

Derek considered looking up the pictures. Now that he’d seen her naked, he was interested. But out of respect for her, he never did. She
was ashamed of what she’d done and he would never do that to her. If she didn’t want him to look, he wouldn’t.

Paola moved into another apartment, one that Derek approved of. She didn’t have the money for the security deposit so he took care of it. He also did a search of sex offenders in the area and was pleased when he didn’t find any in close range. He inspected her locks and her windows, making sure everything was sturdy. Then he went to her neighbors and introduced himself, feeling out each person. He was pleased that most of the inhabitants were families, not the pot selling scumbags at her old place. Paola thought his protection was excessive, but Derek knew she appreciated it. If the place wasn’t perfect, Derek would force her to live
with him. Actually, he didn’t want her to leave at all, but since she didn’t tell him she loved him, he couldn’t ask her.

He thought she had plenty of time to figure out how she felt about the two of them, but apparently, she still needed longer. Paola never introduced him to her friends, and she went out to parties on the weekends once in a w
hile. Derek simmered in jealousy while he stayed at home with his sister.

The relationship between him
and Cheyenne was still strained. If she broke up with Ryder, everything would be different, but she never did. He wanted to slap his sister for being so stupid.

When he was at school with his friends, Paola hadn’t arrived
yet.

“How are things going with you guys?” Sydney asked. “Ren and I love her,
by the way.”

Ren nodded. “We want her to be in our group.”

“I do too,” Derek said. “But that’s up to her.”

Sydney gave him a sympath
etic look. “Trouble in paradise?”

“I tell her I love her all the time but she still hasn’t said it back.”

“Sorry,” Coen said.

“And she hasn’t recognized me as her boyfriend. I’m starting to wonder if she even wants me. Maybe I’m just there so she isn’t lonely.
”

“I think she loves you, Derek,” Sydney said. “There’s no way she doesn’t.”

“Then why hasn’t she said it?” Derek asked.

Coen shrugged. “I don’t know.”

He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

Paola joined the table and set her yogurt down.

Derek eyed it warily, wishing she’d eat something better.

“Hey,” she said with a smile.

“Hey, baby,” he said as he kissed her on the cheek. They acted like a couple, but they weren’t. It was confusing.

Coen stared at her, trying to place her face in his mind.

Derek stared at his face, not seeing the recognition in his features.

Henry and Ren joined them and sat down. Henry looked Paola. “You’re a lingerie model?”

Paola dropped her spoon on the table.

“Fuck,” Derek mumbled under his breath.

“You are!” Coen said excitedly. “I knew I recognized you from somewhere.”

Henry took out the magazine from his backpack. “My sister had this in the living room.” He handed it to Coen, who opened it to a page Paola was on.

Derek grabbed the magazine and shred it to pieces before he shoved it into his backpack. When he looked at Paola, his heart fell. Her face was red and tears were streaming down her face. She grabbed her bag and left the table. Derek chased after her.

When they were outside, Paola turned around and slapped him hard, using the mu
scles of her arm to send him stumbling back. “I trusted you!”

He grabbed her arms and pinned them to her sides. “I didn’t say a word to them. Coen and Henry recognized you. They just figured it out.”

“I’ve never been so humiliated in my life.”

“I didn’t tell them, Paola! I was going to tell them just so they wouldn’t bring it up, but I knew they’d look up the picture
s. In either case, I’d lose. But I tried to protect your privacy as much as possible.”

“You expect me to believe that?” she snapped. “I know you tell them everything.”

“I tell them everything except your secrets. If you tell me not to reveal something, I won’t. I promise. I swear to you that I didn’t say a word.”

“Well, you obviously did. If they had known I was lingerie model, they would have recognized me right away, not a month later. I haven’t done a shoot in a year.”

“Baby, I’m not lying!”

“Fuck you, Derek. I knew you hadn’t changed.”

“Yes, I have! I’m a new man! I’m in love with you, Paola. It’s obvious in everything I say and do.”

“It wasn’t obvious when you showed your friends pictures of me half naked.”

“How many times do I have to repeat myself? I swear I didn’t say anything!”

“We’re done,” she said. “I knew this was a mistake.”

“No, this isn’t a mistake, and no, we aren’t done.”

She turned away.

“No.” He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back.

“Let me go,” she snapped.

“Baby, I love you so much. Please don’t go.”

“You’ve violated my trust. You can’t get that back, Derek.”

“Just come back to the cafeteria and my friends will tell you the truth.”

“I’m sure they would lie for you.”

“My friends always have my back, but no, they wouldn’t lie for me. And they wouldn’t need to. In fact, they’d be totally confused. They have no idea what’s going on.”

“Goodbye, Derek.”

He glared at her. “I see exactly what you’re going. You’ve been waiting for the first bump in the road to end this relationship. You haven’t given yourself to me, told me you loved me, or committed to me because you’ve been waiting for me to fuck up.” He shook his head. “I didn’t fuck up. This relationship is ending because it never began. I’m madly in love with you and I’ll tell anyone I see. If you walk away, it’s because you’re ruining what we have. I’ve never done anything wrong.”

She stared at him then looked down.

“Baby, please don’t go.” He felt his tears burn behind his eyes. “I’m not lying. I love you and I would never hurt you like that. After everything we’ve been through, how can you not trust me?”

She shook her head then wiped her tears away. “Don’t call me.”

Derek’s heart fell. “No…”

She turned and walked away.

Derek felt himself fall apart as he watched her walk away. She was the love of his life, the light in darkness, the sunrise on the morning sand, the air he relied on to survive. He breathed deeply, trying to control his emotions. He felt stranded in the middle of the desert, without water or shade. He was lost, having nowhere to go. Every direction led to more desert. He watched her until she disappeared behind a building, taking his heart with her.