Page 131 of All at Once

My fingertips reach the surface of his skin, and a shock so strong crescendos throughout my chest before filling every corner of my body. And this can’t just be since it’s the first time I’m touching a guy’s back like this. It’s that his skin is so perfect. This is the only logical conclusion I can make at the moment, wondering how he’s feeling under my touch when I’m in such a dazejustby tracing along his back.

As my hands start spreading the cream over him, his body shifts ever so slightly.

All this touching is making me forget that we’re going to be in the water any minute now.

_________

Once we’re far enough from the shore, Luca helps refresh my memory as he straddles his board. “Do you remember which foot worked better for you in the front?”

Placing my weight over the surfboard quickly reminds me how impossible this felt the first time. As I test out both feet, I confirm, “For sure left one forward is better for me.”

“Okay, cool. Remember, bend your knees a little.”

“Okay. Got it,” I say, trying to maintain my focus on him, despite how quickly my legs are starting to wobble again.

“Face more at an angle,” he recommends. “Remember the 45-degree angle rule?”

“There was a 45-degree angle rule?”

“I’m glad to see you remember everything exactly the way I taught you,” he deadpans.

“I told you that you weren’t thebestat teaching me,” I say.

Luca scoffs as he reaches out to hold my ankle, helping me find the right balance again.

I watch him as he moves his hand to the side of my thighs, noting how he’s touching me. So delicately that I barely even feel it. Almost hesitantly.

“What happened to you?” I tease. “You weren’t this shy the first time around.”

His cheeks flush. “I’m not shy.”

“Okay. Whatever you say.”

I feel his hands rest on my hipbone, my body shuddering at the sudden contact.

Before I have a chance to fall, Luca grips onto the side of my hip. His arms are extended so firmly that if he let go right now, I’d immediately tumble into the water with how my knees are struggling at the moment.

“It’s good to know your balance has improved.” He laughs.

I scoff while trying to get more familiar with keeping my balance in this position he’s helped me find.

After a good 45 minutes of practicing, Luca encourages, “Okay. There’s a tiny wave coming if you want to try and ride it.” My jaw drops just to mess with him. “It’s a surfing term.Fuck.”

So I try and ride it, his words, not mine.

And I’m not doing as bad as I thought as I try to keep my balance on the small wave. “Look! I’m doing it!”

“You’re doing great!” He paddles toward me, his grin just as wide as mine. “I’m proud of you. That was really good.”

Currently on an adrenaline high from riding my first wave, and now at his words, I say, “Thank you. I guess your teaching wasn’t half bad then?”

“I mean, you weren’t really followinganythingI told you.” I roll my eyes. “But you still did great. Maybe surfing just comes naturally to you then,” he adds, smirking.

“That’s nice of you to say. But I’m afraidnothingcomes naturally to me,” I reply.

“You already know I’m not going to agree with that.” Luca gives me a knowing glance as he caresses my shoulders. “Just look at how easily you make me blush,” he says so casually before he starts to paddle away again. I don’t know if it’s the sun or his words, but the saltwater suddenly feels like it’s boiling.

The second wave I try to challenge myself with doesn’t goquiteas well, when Luca’s effortless surfing distracts me.

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