The Shore (4 page)

Ryan could feel her cheeks burn and goose bumps form on her arms. She caught Cody’s eyes as he leaned back and smiled softly at him. “Thank you.”

Not letting go of her hand, Cody turned and pulled her toward the water.

The air was warm but the water was still chilly from the winter. It would take some getting used to, but it felt refreshing.

Breaking the silence, Cody asked, “What’s your favorite color?”

It was like the question came out of left field. Ryan thought for a second and answered, “Steel gray. Yours?”

“Blue. Have any brothers or sisters?”             

“Just the one sister – Paige. You probably knew her when you were younger.”

Cody looked away so Ryan couldn’t see the expression on his face. He could understand how he didn’t recognize Ryan – she hadn’t really been part of the group he hung out with as a teenager. But he had made the connection the night before and was doing his best to ignore it.

Paige was his crush growing up. They didn’t hang out all that much over the summers, but there was one night he would never forget. And he had hoped, oh, how Cody had hoped Paige could have been his. Now here he was with Paige’s little sister.

Why did I ask that question?

“Oh yeh, Paige. Yeh, I knew her. We didn’t hang out much, but I remember seeing her on the beach and stuff.”

Cody couldn’t lie worth a shit. Not that he was lying, per se, there was just a lot he wasn’t telling her.

“What about you? I know about Riley, but do you have any other siblings?”

Cody focused his attention back to Ryan. “Naw, it’s just him and me. We were enough for our parents to handle,” Cody grinned. “Favorite movie?”

“Oi. You’re hitting all of the hard questions, aren’t you?” Ryan teased. “Let me think … I don’t think I really have a favorite. Of course I like romantic comedies, and action flicks, and sometimes horror movies. It all kind of depends on my mood. What about you?”

“Same here, well, except for those romantic comedies. Watching chick flicks can be painful.” Cody grinned at Ryan.

“You’re right. Some of them are pretty bad.”

Cody was shocked. He’d never heard any female diss a romantic comedy before. He knew he liked this girl!

“What about …” Cody thought for a moment. “Your favorite band?”

“Hmm… I don’t really have one. I can listen to almost anything, but I mostly listen to country. I guess you could say that’s my favorite genre. I like some rap, but I’m not a huge fan, and definitely no classical. That just puts me to sleep.”

She thought for a moment more. “I have seen Bon Jovi in concert five or six times, but I’m not sure I’d say they’re my fave. What about you?”

“Well that’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“I’ve seen Bon Jovi quite a few times myself. They are definitely one of my favorite bands.”

“Me, too!” Ryan laughed. “I may have to challenge you to a duel.”

“A what?” Cody asked, turning his head to look at her.

“Are you going to ‘Give Love a Bad Name’ or forfeit?”

“Ahh, I see,” Cody laughed, understanding now what she meant. “I don’t know. Are you ‘Living on a Prayer’?”

“Sometimes I am. Most often I’m ‘Living in Sin.’” She’d played this game a few times and “Living on a Prayer” almost always came up first.

“Hmm…” Cody said. “That could be interesting. I would have never guessed that about you,” he continued, giving Ryan a wink. “Does that mean you’re also living on the ‘Right Side of Wrong’?”

Ryan looked at him through narrow eyes. “Ah yes, I remember that song. It was off the ‘Bounce’ album, right?”

Cody nodded, smiling.

Ryan looked out to the ocean, then countered, “Well, I’m ‘Just Older’ and ‘This Ain’t No Love Song.’”

Cody laughed. “A twofer, huh? Let’s see…”

He stopped to think for a moment, scratching his chin for added effect. There had to be a way to one-up her. “’I Want to Be Loved’ is the ‘Story of my Life’ in this ‘Two Story Town.’”

Ryan stood there with her mouth open while Cody watched her with a shit eating grin. Apparently she’d met her Bon Jovi match. She’d have to get her guns blazing to win this one, no pun intended. Taking her time, she thought about her response, turned to face him and finally answered. “Maybe if you were ‘Born to Be My Baby’ you could ‘Lay Your Hands on Me’ while you ‘Stick to Your Guns’ and ‘Make a Memory.’”

“Aww, crap. You win!” Cody laughed, releasing Ryan’s hand and throwing his arms in the air in defeat. “You’re probably just making shit up now.”

“I can prove every one of those is a song,” Ryan answered. “Wanna bet?”

“Hmm… no. I believe you.”

“Good,” Ryan smiled, feeling pleased with herself.

She might have won the Bon Jovi duel, but Cody could win in other ways. Bending over, he ran his arm through the water and quickly splashed it toward Ryan.

“Oh!” Ryan gasped. “That’s cold!”

Cody started to back up as Ryan began walking toward him with the look of revenge in her eyes.

“You’re gonna get it, Calloway!”

Within moments a water fight ensued. In their own fun they managed to get others wet as well, which only increased the number of people that joined in. Soon it became the guys against the girls and everyone ended up dripping wet.

For the next few hours, that was how the day went: a little splashing, a little resting, a little playing, a little chilling. Ryan was having a great time and Cody’s friends were pretty easy to get along with. Everyone was nice and very inviting, even after getting most of them wet. She felt like she blended in pretty well and felt a little silly for being so nervous all morning.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As the sun began to set, Cody helped his buddies gather kindling and rocks to start a fire.

Ryan was ready to get out of her bathing suit for the day but needed privacy to do it. She’d never mastered the female art of changing her clothes while still clothed, so she started walking toward the dune, thinking she could quickly change while Cody was busy. At least she’d be half covered and away from the group.

Cody saw her walking with her bag and followed.

“Hey, everything okay?” he asked, running up to Ryan and putting a hand on her arm.

“Oh, yeh,” Ryan answered, stopping in the sand. “I just wanted to get out of this wet suit and into dry clothes.”

“Want some help?” Cody offered with a big smile on his face.

Ryan narrowed her eyes at him and grinned. “No. Thank you.”

“I’m kidding. Well, kind of. I can hold the towel for you. I promise I won’t look.”

Ryan eyed him suspiciously.

“I swear! I’ll be a perfect gentleman and stand here with my back to you while I hold the towel, okay?”

“Okay. Come on.”

They walked closer to the dune and Ryan handed Cody the towel.

“Turn around. And no peaking!”

Laughing, Cody turned around, unfolded the towel and raised his arms behind him. Neither said anything as a minute or so passed, and Cody needed something to take his mind off what he knew was happening behind him.

“So are you having fun?”

“I am. Everyone’s been great and they all seem really nice – even after we got everyone wet.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

Cody felt Ryan’s hand on his and lowered his arms. He turned slowly, wanting to give her a chance to stop him if she needed it.

“Thanks for your help,” Ryan said quietly.

“Anytime,” he said with a soft smile. She had put on a light pink shirt that softened the crystal blue color in her eyes. As his eyes moved to her lips, he wondered again what it would be like to kiss her. He’d been having the same thought periodically throughout the day.

Ryan started to sling her bag over her shoulder when Cody took it from her and put it over his own. He reached down and took her hand in his. Something came over Ryan just then and she laced her fingers with his. Cody looked down at their hands and then at Ryan and smiled.

“You hungry?” Cody asked. “We can grab the food from the cooler.”

“That would be great.” Ryan answered as they made their way back to their spot.

Cody had packed sandwiches, fruit, and chips. He’d already seen her down a burger the night before, so he knew she wasn’t a vegetarian. He picked up one of the towels, shook off the sand, then laid it down so it faced the fire and sat down.

“Ham or turkey?” he asked.

When they finished eating, Cody put the trash in the cooler. Turning back to face Ryan, he opened his legs and patted the space between them. She turned and scooted herself so she was leaning back against his chest.

Listening to everyone around the fire, it was like they had all turned back into a bunch of kids. It was obvious most of the group had known each other for a while and everyone got along well.

This was the kind of group Ryan had always wanted to be part of. Sure, she had friends growing up and people she was close to now, but there wasn't a group atmosphere of any sort in her life. She liked the idea of being close to several people, knowing they all knew and liked each other, and spending time together was just something they did. While she sat in the comfort of Cody's arms, she watched the interaction amongst everyone and smiled.

One of the girls started passing around the makings for s’mores just as the sun dipped below the horizon. Cody grabbed enough for two.

“How do you like your marshmallows?”

“Umm…” she answered.

“Lightly browned or burnt to a crisp?”

“I’ll go with lightly browned.”

After placing the marshmallows on the end of the stick, Cody lowered it so the marshmallows hung just above the flame. Of course, that meant one of his arms was wrapped around her, and she wiggled herself back a little bit, not that there had been much space between them a moment ago. He put his hand on his other knee and Ryan raised her arm to put her hand on his. Her entire body tingled with his touch.

Cody enjoyed the feel of Ryan on his chest, but was struggling to make his cock behave, especially every time she wiggled herself against his crotch
.

Windows. Rain clouds. Great Aunt May.

Ryan had to give it to him – those marshmallows never caught fire. Anytime she’d tried to toast one, it inevitably ended up in flames. Finally Cody pulled the stick back, letting go of her hand, and placed one marshmallow on top of a graham cracker and piece of chocolate. He covered the concoction with another graham cracker and handed it to her.

“Thanks,” she smiled. She took small bite and her smile grew even more.

She looked up at Cody. “Thank you. This tastes amazing.”

When they had both finished their s’more, Cody lowered his mouth to Ryan’s ear. “You want to take a walk?”

Goose bumps traveled down her arms. Cody hadn’t moved his mouth, so when she turned her head to the side and answered, “I’d like that,” she felt him smile and place a small kiss behind her ear.             

Ryan leaned forward giving Cody room to stand. He walked in front of her and grabbed her hands, helping her to her feet. As he turned to start walking along the beach, Cody released one hand but held her other, interlacing their fingers again.

They walked in silence for a few minutes along the water’s edge. Ryan could feel her heart pounding so loudly, she was sure Cody could hear it. It had been a good day and she was hoping this walk would lead to a kiss. There had been several times during the day when she wanted to pull Cody away from the group and kiss those lips of his, but it would be their first, and she didn’t want to have it in front of a crowd.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Cody said, squeezing Ryan’s hand and breaking her train of thought.

“You, too,” Ryan answered.

Cody stopped and turned to face Ryan. He sank slightly in the sand as the waves brushed over his feet.

“I’ve been thinking about today. How much fun we had. How everyone seems to really like you.” He stopped for a moment, his eyes moving to her lips. “How I’ve wanted to kiss you. All. Damn. Day.”

Ryan could feel herself blush again and her heart began to race. “Oh yeh?”             

“Yeh,” Cody said quietly, slowly raising his hand and caressing his thumb over her cheek, each stroke getting closer and closer to her lips. He slowly ran his tongue over his bottom lip.

Ryan loved the color of his eyes, and the way they were looking at her, it was like he would do anything to kiss her.

“Whatcha waiting for?”

Cody grinned just the slightest bit as he raised his other hand and placed it on her other cheek. He brushed his lips lightly against hers. When he pulled back and looked at Ryan, she was smiling, but he saw a want in her eyes, too. He slowly lowered his mouth to hers again and started with a light kiss that quickly deepened.

Ryan lifted her arms and circled them around Cody’s neck.

God, he tastes wonderful, like chocolate and marshmallows.

His tongue started to tease her bottom lip and she opened her mouth to him. Gently, their tongues played. Cody ran a hand down her back to her waist and pulled her closer. He wanted to feel her body against his. Her lips were so soft and the way she tasted… His cock began to stir and he knew he needed to stop.