Crazy For You Alexander, S.B. (ebook reader 8 inch .TXT) 📖

I did, the sky was dark, the waves were higher than normal, and I couldn’t find Josh anywhere. He was a pretty good surfer and knew how to swim, of course, but no amount of expertise can save you from the power of the ocean. Funny how Mother Nature takes a turn on a dime and life changes instantly.”

I blinked away my own tears.

He sucked his lips in. “I dove in the water, not even thinking straight. I swam and swam and swam. But it got me nowhere with the way the ocean was tossing and turning. I almost drowned, myself.”

I swallowed a bucket of emotions, trying not to cry my eyes out. As he was telling me the story, I could picture the ocean, the waves, the storm clouds. I’d seen many days like that while sitting on the beach, and I knew how quickly the weather could change.

“Anyway,” he said, “it’s a day I want to take back. I want to try again.” His body trembled. “I’ll never get that chance.” He turned so fast, I didn’t have time to track him. “Please, Skyler, don’t ever drink and walk into the ocean. When you did that night at Grady’s party, I lost my shit. Then today. I hadn’t been that frightened since Josh’s death.”

I gasped. “I’m sorry, Colton.” I threw myself at him. “I’m so sorry, for Josh, for you, for causing you to relive a terrible incident.” Nausea settled in my throat.

He opened his arms, his legs, and when I was holding him as tightly as I could, I cried for him, for me, for my stupidity, for Josh, for Mom, and even for Dad. No amount of words could heal, but as Dad always said, “Hugs are the medicine everyone needs.”

So with all my strength, I locked my arms around him, and I wasn’t letting go.

“Skyler.” Colton’s sexy drawl tickled my ear as he rubbed my back.

Funny how the roles had reversed, and I was the one who was emotional and shedding tear after tear.

Sniffling, I adjusted myself so I was sitting cross-legged between his legs.

He swiped fingers over one side of my face, taking with it a lone tear. “I’m leaving town, Skyler.”

My eyebrows drew down, the air leaving my lungs on a gush. “Why?” He couldn’t leave. “Are your parents sending you back to the academy?” Oh God. Please say no. Please don’t leave.

“No, but I’m going to stay with a friend from the academy who lives in Virginia.”

Panic clutched me like a vise, a crushing force that was stealing more and more air, making it harder to breathe. It was none of my business. But does he mean girlfriend? Is that the reason he won’t kiss me? Is that the reason he couldn’t lose control with me?

“What about school?” An earthquake rocked through the question.

He entwined his hand with mine like he knew I needed comfort. “I can get my GED online.”

“Football?” My voice began to wobble. I needed to come up with something, anything, to convince him to stay. I was beginning to realize I needed him. He was the one who kept my mind from wandering down a dark lane with no future. He was the one who had a way of massaging my heart when it was about to break over Dad.

“I’m only playing to fill my time, and to do anything other than be home.”

“Stay at my house.” That came out desperate. We didn’t have an extra bedroom, but we had a couch, and he could even share my bed. Dad would have a cow. Nan probably wouldn’t allow it, but I didn’t care. “Seriously. You can’t leave, Colton.” You can’t leave me. We are just getting to know one another. I scooted as close to him as I could, inhaling the salt and sweat that intoxicated me because it was pure Colton. “Please consider my offer.” I wasn’t above begging.

The corners of his mouth tipped up as he leaned in, his lips an inch from mine. “Where would I sleep?” His eyes darkened.

Worrying my bottom lip, I looked down, and when I did, I gulped. The bulge in his swim trunks was a sight to behold. I blinked just to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. Nope, not at all.

A fire burned low in my belly, sparking flames to my core. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to lose my virginity. No one was around. The home behind Colton was empty.

We didn’t say anything for long seconds, minutes, or maybe hours. I lost track of time, lost track of reality.

“Make the first move,” Mia or Georgia had said. I couldn’t even think straight. Regardless, I had to take a chance. If he was leaving town, who knew when he would return. I might never get another chance to be with Colton Caldwell.

My fingertips glided up his bare chest, tracing every dip and valley along the way. When I finally reached the base of his neck, his Adam’s apple bobbed. I stole a look upward to his lush, thick lips, then farther until our gazes collided, and I sucked in salt air.

His brown eyes were darker than a storm cloud. His chest rose and fell.

The saying “go big or go home” was a faint whisper in the back of my head.

So I went big and crashed my mouth to his.

He stilled, not moving, not reacting, not opening his mouth for me.

I pushed down the hurt and was about to get up until he grasped my hips, and one second later I was straddling him.

He studied me, one beat passing, then five or maybe ten. So I tried again, only this time, I gently pressed my lips to his, silently pleading that he wanted me as much as I wanted him. In a flash, his tongue dove into my mouth, aggressive, possessive, and wild with need.

I squealed and moaned, tasting salt and him.

I was floating, soaring, flying like I’d been set free from the cage I’d been in