Rogue Wave by Isabel Jolie (reading eggs books txt) 📕

“Fuck, you feel so good.”

“This what you needed?” I gasped as he stroked up and down.

“Yes. This. It’s exactly where I fucking. Need. To. Be.”

Chapter 15

Tate

In the morning, I woke as the sun seeped into the bedroom. Luna’s long, tangled hair fanned out across the bed, as did her arms and legs. Somehow, the girl laid claim to the entire bed. I took up my one portion on the right side. Her head lay below the crook of my arm, one arm draped over my stomach. Her naked body flailed out wildly, unencumbered and unashamed.

My college self would have fallen madly in love with her. Not necessarily because she was the epitome of a free spirit, because there were plenty of those in college. Not even because we shared a major and the same passions and causes. The marine biology department was a niche, but not that niche. And we were all environmentalists. All of us were idealists, yet to be burned by life’s reality. But no, Luna had that heart of gold that Neil Young endlessly searched for. An idealistic dreamer, yes, but an energy and a zest for life and a willingness to risk and go for what she wanted that appealed to me…or back then, when I was younger, I would have been a shark to blood.

At thirty-five, oddly enough, I still couldn’t stay away from her. At twenty-two, I knew what I wanted from life. I wanted to make a difference in the world. As a teacher, she made a difference in our community, in individual lives. I thought I could be like her, only do more. I thought I could take up a cause and right wrongs.

At thirty-five, I knew nothing. I lay in bed with Luna, clueless. She didn’t seem to have any expectations, not for us. I had forgotten how free it felt to be twenty-two. Your entire life in front of you. Why would she be worried about tomorrow? Or where the relationship was going? She just wanted experience. She had a steadfast optimism that everything would work out, that she’d achieve her dreams. At her age, I had been the same.

I should have been okay with that. Happy to have this gorgeous young woman sprawled out naked in my bed, for me to do as I pleased. But my older brain worked differently. Now that I’d allowed myself a taste, I didn’t want to let her go. But go, she would. And my thoughts circled reality nonstop.

She’d finish her assignment here and move on to Belize or to the Galapagos. Somewhere tropical and exotic. And then after that, she’d accept a new gig. Maybe she’d end up in a doctoral program, or maybe she wouldn’t. But she’d go years bouncing from one exciting opportunity to another. Doing field research in safe locations. Exactly as she should.

For my part, I had a commitment on the horizon. One I wouldn’t back away from. My opportunity to make a real, indisputable difference.

She rolled over onto her back and spread out like a starfish. Her nipples peaked, exposed to the breeze of the overhead fan. I considered taking one in my mouth, but instead positioned myself between her legs and dipped my tongue, tasting her, while watching for her to awaken. She wanted experiences. I aimed to give her many.

She moaned, and her thighs tightened around my head and her hips gyrated ever so slightly against my mouth. As she squirmed, she mewled. Undecipherable sounds of pleasure. “Tate.” She whimpered my name. And my cock grew painfully hard at the thought of being in her dreams. I found her pearl and circled my tongue, then grazed my teeth over it just the way I knew she liked. Her eyelids fluttered, and her head snapped up as her body quivered.

“Good morning.” I smiled from between her thighs.

“Yes. It is.” She pushed her hair out of her face. “Now, I want you.” Damn this girl. A dream.

After a rather fantastic wake-up routine, I stumbled downstairs and searched the refrigerator for breakfast options. The coffee pot dripped, and the faint sound of the upstairs shower mixed in with the hazy sound of waves. A strong paint odor replaced the mildew stench. Covering the drywall and ceiling water stains had done wonders for brightening the place. Day by day, I replaced rusted vents and fixtures. One of Luna’s recommended contractors replaced the windows and the shingles on the roof.

I leaned against the counter and contemplated shower design options that could better accommodate us both. Five loud knocks shook the kitchen wall. I closed the refrigerator door, confused. The knocking continued, demanding and urgent.

I swung the front door open. A burly man pushed inside. I focused on the pistol hanging off his belt. I didn’t know the man, but his heavy work boots, dusty jeans, and angry, forceful persona all added up. I’d been expecting someone like him.

The shower turned off overhead, a reminder we weren’t alone.

“I didn’t invite you in.” I balled my hands into fists.

“Don’t need an invitation.” He twisted his head and glared down at me. Then he scanned the room, pausing on the coffee pot. “I’ll take some of that. Black is fine.”

“Who sent you?”

“I’ll give you three guesses.”

“What does he want?” I had known my last repo gig would haunt me. I just hadn’t known when the ghost would show.

“There’s another ship. He says it’s the motherlode. Sent me to find you.”

“No.” I shook my head, emphatic. “I told Zane I’m done.”

“This gig—it’s a million-dollar contract. Zane says he’ll split with you.” His hand rested on the handle of his gun as steps on the wood upstairs creaked. “You gonna get me some coffee?”

I poured him the coffee, then took down a to-go mug from the back of the cabinet.

“Let me get my guest out of here. Then we’ll talk.”

His leer lit a visceral reaction in my gut. When he asked if I