Page 25 of Tracing Holland

She glares at me, making it clear that’s not going to work for her.

“Not a chance.”

She grabs the hem of my shirt and starts pulling it up my chest.

“Hey!What are you doing?”I cry.

“Stripping you so you have fun for five seconds.”

Shocked, amused, and completely turned on, I stop resisting and let her yank it over my head.The humor fades as she stills, inches away, our bodies close, but totally off-limits to each other.She’s at the right angle that I can see her eyes through her sunglasses now, tracking every detail of my form, and I’m sure I hear her suck in her breath a bit.

“My god,” she whispers.“Seriously?”She searches my eyes and I can sense every ounce of her sudden fascination.My blood pounds, my heart racing.She wants to touch me.It’s all over her face, her body language.She even glances at the others, testing her limits, and I follow her gaze.I’m sure I feel the same pain of frustration she does at their attention.

We’re on stage.

She lets out an awkward laugh and takes my hand instead, pulling me toward the waves as if nothing had happened.I have to force a smile to hide the volcano erupting inside me, and nearly wince as we step into the surf.The water may have been warm for ocean water, but it feels like ice against my burning skin.

The others laugh and splash in the distance, but my gaze is glued to Holland.I love everything about the joy on her face as she joins in the fun.The fact that someone so deep and introspective is also able to let go so completely.It’s captivating, magnetizing.I’ve never been able to do that, not without the assistance of substances that could totally abduct my brain and mask my consciousness.I don’t regret getting sober for a second, but I do miss those moments of stepping outside my own saturated existence.It gets exhausting being me.

“Luke, get over here!”Holland yells.

“Yeah, come on, grumpy!’Callie echoes, and I roll my eyes.

“Ok, I’m coming,” I concede, fighting the small waves as they crash against my knees.I have to jump to avoid being slapped in the face by a few more, but finally reach the three of them hovering a few feet beyond the breaking point.The rest of our group is a hundred yards away, diving into the ripples, and I understand their position much better when I notice a cluster of bikini-clad women setting up nearby at the water’s edge.It’s only a matter of time before that party happens.

“Wow, they’re pretty hot.”

The voice startles me, and I almost jump at the intrusion.

“Huh?”

“Those girls.”

“Oh, what?No,” I say, shaking my head and focusing back on Holland.She’s grinning, so I know she’s just teasing me.“Not my type,” I add, not sure why.

“Hot girls in bikinis aren’t your type?”

“Not unless they’re just as hot when they open their mouths.”

She laughs.“How can you tell they’re not your type then?”

She’s close now, way closer than she needs to be.I can feel the heat of her body, the intentional contact that can still be disguised as an accident as she pretends to squint at the gathering on the beach.It’s messing with my head again, not that I would have known how to answer her question anyway.I just know from experience and that’s not a conversation we need to have right now.Or ever.

“I don’t know.Just my gut.They picked that spot to be noticed.They’ve been studying our boys just as much as our guys are checking them out.There’s nothing wrong with the game, it’s just not my thing.”

“Really?Your reputation says otherwise.”Surprised, I glance over at her, and she shrugs.“What?Am I wrong?”

I stiffen a bit, annoyed at her bluntness, at myself for making her right in the first place.“About my reputation?No.About me?Maybe.”

“You don’t even know what I think about you yet, so how do you know?”

“I know you think I’m hot,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.She laughs and shoves me a bit.The playful contact is enough for my body to react again.Shit.I’m just glad the water is past my waist.

“Everyone thinks you’re hot.That shouldn’t even count as an observation.”She quiets.“What I didn’t know was that you were also a little shy, kinda sweet, and so damn intelligent.”

“Careful.You’re going to ruin my reputation as a badass.”

She grins.“Don’t worry.I think your bad reputation is safe.”

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