Layers(66)

“I’m almost done,” he declares with his back to me, holding a picnic cooler. “I’ll just drop this in the car, one minute Hales,” he mutters, already on his way out.

“Why, you look hot,” Daniel announces a moment later as he comes back, appraising me in the suit.

“Thanks,” I smirk. “Who bought it?”

“That would be Rafael,” he responds idly.

“I’ve actually been meaning to ask you about him. Does he live here?”

“Yeah, he watches the house for me and restocks it before my visits. His mom does the housekeeping.”

“Oh, and where does he go when you’re around?” I observe him as he fetches a round new surf wax from one of the top drawers of the wide kitchen island. “I think his parents, I’m not sure. We can call and ask him,” he responds with a lazy smile.

Got you, D, bored of the topic?

“Okay, that should be everything.” He throws the surf wax up and catches it as it falls down. “Let’s go, baby.” He appraises me yet again with a lavish smirk plastered on his face. Shaking his head from side to side, he murmurs, “A work of art.”

I copy his smug, infectious grin. And you should talk …

He opens the door for me so I can get in the graphite-gray BMW SUV parked in the driveway, two surfboards secured on top. He pats my butt as I climb in, in a mood that seems too cheerful, not like his usual self.

“The X6 is my favorite car,” I say, admiring the interior.

“It’s a nice car, though I’d much rather drive the Viper or the Spider … but I’m glad you like it.” He smiles at me. “Too bad I don’t have one of these back in the city, we could have exchanged it with the Beemer you’re driving,” he murmurs, as though to himself.

As simple as that. Change one insanely luxurious car for another.

He adds, “If you like you can drive it on the way back.” I reciprocate by smiling.

“It’s a short drive down the beach but we have some stuff in the back I didn’t want to carry around.” He answers my unspoken question over Ellie Lawson’s energetic voice playing in the background. He glances at me, that same smirk from earlier still dancing on the sides of his mouth. I could easily get used to this.

Suit peeled down to his waist, bent over my new ivory surfboard, Daniel rubs wax in long skillful strokes over the center to top of the board leaving a thin, lumpy layer. I watch him, fascinated at his long muscles flexing under his tight, tanned skin. His tattoo adds the last touch to his gorgeous, awe-inspiring bad-boy self. I sigh, not able to stop staring at him.

“Like the sight?” He tilts his head my way with a mischievous, crooked smirk; eyes slightly narrow, avoiding the still-blinding sun.

“Beyond like.” I beam.

“Shall we?” he asks rhetorically, as he zips up his suit by pulling a long string at the back. I grin at him nodding, thrilled. I hold my waxed board under my arm as we walk side by side toward the water.

“We have a couple of hours before sunset,” he says as our feet touch the clear, revitalizing water.

“Enjoy, baby,” he says, letting go of my hand. I nod, proceeding through the water. Inhaling the fresh sea air I mimic him, wading deeper in.

I paddle toward mid-ocean, water splashing against my sides, shuddering in small, clear drops. I glance Daniel’s way. At the same instant he looks at me and our eyes interlock for a brief moment of unspoken connection. Breaking it, he nods toward a coming wave. I nod back and start paddling faster, getting the momentum for the wave to launch me forward. I put my hands on the rails of the board under my chest, waiting.

As the board unites with the wave, I forcefully push up in a quick snap, jumping to my feet. For a fraction of a second I find myself stabilizing my posture and soon I am standing firm riding the wave, utterly ecstatic. How I have missed this. I take a step forward and balance again riding the fast swaying wave back and forth in singular foot movement to synchronize with the motion of the water, maximizing the velocity of the ride. The feeling is ultimate, this sense of being one with the ocean. I feel like I’m riding the top of the world.

Paddling back to catch my next wave, I watch Daniel from afar, how he gracefully owns the board with the pace of his own wave. Locks of his golden hair are tousled over his handsome face, and the wetsuit warps his toned tall body in a way that makes my heart skip a beat.

We surf, each in our own solitary state of mind, becoming united with the water for as long as the day’s light allows us. When the sun starts melting into the sea, coloring it a scenic blend of red and auburn, I notice Daniel paddling toward me. He smiles as he approaches; I echo him, content to have him by my side again.

Halting next to me he lifts himself to sit upright at the middle of the board, his legs to the sides resting in the water. “Come.” He sends his hand to help me climb and settle astride facing him. Our knees touch with tiny electrical currents passing through our suits.

“Here, give me your leash,” he asks, and as I do he ties it around his ankle. He stares at me for a long moment studying my face.

“You amaze me, Hayley,” he says in a low voice, his eyes sincere and affectionate. “You do,” he repeats as though to himself, brushing my wet hair to the sides. He holds my face, gently inclining it toward his; he tilts his head slightly to align his lips to precisely reach mine. First, with a fluff brush, then a shift up to press more intently, pulling my face deeper to him, drawing me into a breathtaking kiss. He tastes so good: of salt, sea and Daniel. There is a warm wave beginning at my throat, trailing along every corner of my body, slowly heating my blood. D, you tantalize the very heart of me.