0 comments/ 8781 views/ 2 favorites Waves and Dreams Ch. 01 By: leejames Author's note: Hey friends, I decided to completely revise this first chapter, it needed a lot more depth and since it was my first submission, I was just testing the waters. Please re-read it and leave me comments! I have really been enjoying working on this series. "Tell me everything you need now, anything at all..." Soft vocals drifted through the house, she could hear it from where she sat at the table. No matter what, she always seemed to come back to these Lifehouse songs. Laney sighed, pushing the bottle away from and watching it slowly roll back, hitting her curled fingers. The incline of the table had led to a boring game for the last half hour. She looked down at her feet at the large black dog that was serving as a foot-warmer, at the moment. "Poor Rexie, he's so bored," she cooed softly, smiling at the answering thump, thump of his tail on the floor. The house was immaculately cleaned, everything was taken care of, and she was bored out of her mind. Most people at her job worked every day, but she took a few days off a month to work on her thesis. Getting her bachelor's is what had brought her to the island in the first place, but once she'd gotten it, she couldn't seem to stop. After achieving her master's, she'd plunged head-first into her doctorate thesis. And it was kicking her ass. Finally standing up from the table, she let the bottle hit the floor as she moved into the living room, looking for her cat. No doubt he was asleep on top of the bookshelf. She called, softly, staring up at a short silver and black tail. "Tugger, come down here, Tugger." She heard some shuffling and a large silver head appeared over the edge of the shelf. She smiled to herself as he languidly stretched, moving to drop down onto the papasan chair, and then walk over to her slowly, as if he had all the time in the world and she was blessed at his acknowledgement. Sighing, she scooped up the large Bengal cat and cuddled him into her lap as she sat down. His beautiful spotted body gave the appearance of a wild animal, but she knew better than that. Rum Tum Tugger was just a big love bug, but that made for some less lonely days. Rex still lay at his spot on the floor of the kitchen, enjoying his nap, but she could tell his eyes were watching her. Bored, and noticing the gorgeous sun outside, she stood, picking up a leash. Rex was on his feet in a second, Tugger looking at both of them disdainfully. She clipped the leash onto the dog's leather collar, and bounded out into the sun, determined not to sit around all day. When she sat around, too many things started to try to flood back in. Things that she didn't want to remember. ******* She was a goddess, or maybe a siren from the sea, meant to draw men to their deaths. But lying there, naked, in the sand, she was all his. Her body was tanned, perfectly, without the slightest tint of orange. He moved over her, covering her with his form as he stole a kiss from her parted lips, trailing lingering, desiring nips across her jawbones and down her throat, moving between her breasts. He took a nipple into his mouth, working restlessly against it as she moaned and pressed her body against his in desire. He teased it to a painful stiffness, and then moved to the other one, biting gently but not enough to bruise. Her blue eyes were full of hunger, heavy and half-lidded. He lowered himself down onto her body again, positioning his aching member against her entrance, and.... Woke up. Again. Jack allowed a noise of frustration to leave his lips, throwing the sheets off to help cool the sweat from his aroused body. He glared down at his erection, seeing it glaring right back at him. Every night, for the past few months, he'd been dreaming about the same girl. He'd always move to at last join their bodies together, and he'd always wake up as he was about to enter. Glaring at the clock, which glared back in angry red numbers, he saw he still had some time before he needed to leave to get to work. Subconsciously, his hand dropped down, hoping to ease the aching arousal. He closed his hand in a familiar fashion, pumping up and down slowly at first, thinking of his blond temptress on the beach. So aroused already, he was soon moving faster and faster, feeling that familiar clench that told him he was almost there. Finally, long spurts of seed shot out, and he shuddered, not relenting until he had drained all he could. Jack sighed, relaxing back into the sheets, sweating even more. Wiping himself off with a towel that had been left on the floor last night, he closed his eyes, disappointed to find he felt even more aroused. It just wasn't the same as getting to feel her...a girl he'd never seen or met, and probably never would. ******* Working had done nothing to ease the unease that Jack had felt all day. He'd never liked working. At least, not in a fish market, stocking fish and smelling like shark had puked on him. On the island, catching fish to sell at the market was a respectable position, but the adrenaline, the challenge, the unknown, these were the things that were lacking. Anyone could do this, he thought, throwing another tuna onto the ice pile. God, I'd rather be surfing right now. Now that was a job he could get into. Too bad the pros were so difficult to break into, because honestly, it was the only thing he knew how to do, and the only thing he was good at. Great at, really. The fact that he was the best on the island didn't really mean much; no scouts came to Galveston to find professionals. The waves were hardly high enough to warrant decent surf, anyways. Back in Australia, when he'd had the chance to actually do something with his life, he might have made it all the way. But sitting here, throwing fish, those days seemed long gone. Jack turned to stare at the clock, wishing closing time would come so he could get down to the beach, forget his life for a few hours, and tune out the girl that continued to haunt him. ******* Laney never planned on ending up at the beach, but it's where Rex always wanted to go, so here they were. They'd spent the entire day exploring the island, Rex delighting in the waves that crashed against him on the beach, and meanwhile Laney tried to find good specimens of seashells for her latest project. Truthfully, she had too many things going on to keep up such projects, but she found she would go crazy without something fun that she did just for herself. Not that her job wasn't fun, but still. She'd meandered down to her favorite private beach, opting just for a bikini top and little mesh shorts, accented with her favorite hot pink tennis shoes. Laney hadn't been much on fashion, but she hated running in heavy cotton clothes, and the outfit she usually jogged in let her run right in the surf with Rex, which was where he really wanted to be. The best thing about the private beaches on the island was the most obvious, no tourists. The locals usually came to this place, though, because of the great swell. A few surfers were out there now, getting some great waves. She stopped to watch, amazed by the grace they had. She did her fair share of surfing, but these guys were the true talents. She was drawn to one in particular, and though he was far out, he was definitely close enough to appreciate how handsome he really was. Maybe not just handsome, either. This guy was drop-dead gorgeous. At least, to her. She'd had the most particular taste when it came to men, and most women didn't feel the same. Still, you'd have to be blind to not appreciate those washboard abs, she thought to herself. She watched the grace he exhibited as he rode a wave in, and she gasped a little, getting a closer look at his features. Like all locals, he was tanned from spending time at the beach, and his hair had been sun-bleached a little, but was still a light brown that hung as if he had no energy to cut it, but wasn't so long that he looked like a slob. She couldn't see the color of his eyes from where she was, but she had the feeling they'd have the same determined look in them she was seeing in his surfing. His jawbone was strong, masculine, and there was no facial hair to be seen, completely clean-cut. His body was long and sinewy, and she could tell he spent a lot of time out on the waves, to have such a form. His cheekbones weren't pronounced, but were average, and there was nothing in particular about him that was fascinating, except when she watched him surf. She felt the grace and power that he displayed as he took on the waves, and felt herself moving in time to him, even though he was out on the water and she was at the beach. She could see a red mark, faintly, on the side of his left ribcage, and she was curious how he'd gotten such a scar, in such a perfect circle. Laney watched, breath taken, as he nailed a fantastic wave and rode it in, hopping off his board as it beached and undoing the leash, then running up the beach, towards where she was standing. ******* Running in after a long evening of stellar waves was just the adrenaline rush that Jack had been dying for. He pushed his hair from his eyes to survey the other beach goers. Most were surfers; some were just there for the sunsets. The best thing about living on the island for so long was that he knew the best private beach spots, where the tourists hadn't yet found. He looked up, seeing if the girl he'd noticed was still watching him. When he saw her, directly in front of him, he came to a dead stop. Flashes filled his mind immediately, flashes of dreams, flashes of disappointed mornings, and he gaped at her. It was the same girl he'd been dreaming about. He'd know her anywhere. She was wearing a top that made her clear robin's egg blue eyes stand out even more. Her figure was full, like a woman who'd just gotten her hips and breasts in, and was no longer a gawky teenager. Her blond hair was long, and hung to the middle of her back, falling in soft waves that the ocean air had created. Her mouth was captivating; full lips settled into an amused grin, and he could see white, straight teeth just behind. She was the perfect tan, it was obviously natural, and her eyes stared at him with the same fire he remembered from every dream. After living here for so long, the girls hardly caught his eye, he'd seen enough of them and they all looked the same. Fake, plastic, and downright skanky. She cleared her throat and he realized he was gawking at her. She smiled, a little shyly, but good-naturedly, and offered him her hand. "Hey, I'm Laney. You were really amazing out there." In truth, he'd been showing off when he'd noticed a girl rooted to the spot, staring. Something about the male ego just forced boys to show off when they knew they were being watched. He took her hand in his and was surprised, pleasantly, at the self-assured grip she gave him. Her hands were tiny, really everything about her figure was petite, and he was surprised she was so strong. Her compliment made him glow. "Thanks! I love the adrenaline rush. I'm Jack." His hand lingered in hers longer than necessary, and he was snapped out of the trance of those blue eyes by a low, throaty growl. He looked down and saw a giant, black animal that may have either been a massive wolf or a small bear watching him, hackles slightly raised, but teeth still covered, which was good. It was just a warning. He dropped her hand and took a step back, watching the dog and pleased that it calmed down and lay protectively in front of his goddess. She scowled at the dog, which he decided was a black German shepherd, and spoke, her voice full and ringing of laughter. "Sorry, this is Rex. The dog sat, but he still looked like he might snap Jack's leg in half. Jack tried to distract himself by making friends with the dog, his excitement bubbling up from his stomach, or maybe someplace lower. This was the girl, the girl he'd been dreaming about. He had to be careful not to blow this chance, she was obviously special. Laney looked at Jack speculatively while he leaned down to try and spoke softly to Rex. He is so gorgeous. She plopped down in the sand, not missing the expression of pleasure on Jack's face, and leaned back, relaxing against the sand. With her eyes fluttered shut, she missed Jack's growing erection as he tried to hide it, sitting down in the sand next to her, still rubbing Rex behind the ears. They chit-chatted for a little while about the weather, living on the island, and how awful the tourists were, or "terrorists", as Laney called them, and then suddenly, she hopped to her feet. Jack stood up just as quickly, worried because of her abruptness. Without a word, she took off into the ocean, glancing behind her to see if he was going to follow. He realized she was playing with him and ran after her, scooping her up as they reached the surf. He spun her around before dunking her under the water, but he found out quickly she was no weakling, and although inches shorter than him, she still managed to dunk him, in return. Rex swam around them, barking happily, and then dove off after some minnows he saw, leaving the two of them alone. In a moment of one of the wrestling matches, they suddenly both stopped, staring at each other. Jack had her scooped up and pinned against his chest, holding her like a child, and had her hands tunneled into his hair, as if to pull it if she needed an emergency release. They were both dripping with saltwater and sticky, their swimsuits clung to them. Although he was holding her pretty high, Jack knew she could felt his growing erection against her bottom. As if simultaneously, Jack dropped his head as Laney lifted her chin, and they met in a shy, tentative kiss. Laney felt the fire rushing through her veins, white hot and terribly arousing, and she tightened her hold in his hair, both the kiss and his obvious arousal fueling her. Their kiss quickly changed from tentative to hungry, and when Jack pulled back, he saw the desire in her heavy-lidded eyes just the way it was in his dream. She was panting softly, her lips slightly parted, and he could see how bad she wanted more. As bad as he wanted to take her, right there, he knew he couldn't mess this up. There was a reason he'd been dreaming about this girl. He could feel the heat and slickness from between her legs as she slid down into the water, and he grabbed her hand in his, pulling it to his mouth and sucking on one middle finger long and hard before letting her go. Her blue eyes widened in surprise, then pleasure, then disappointment as he released her. Jack pulled her close, unwilling to let her off so easy. "Eat breakfast with me tomorrow," he murmured in her ear, feeling her trembling against him and knowing he had to leave before he took her. She surprised him by backing up a little and shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I can't. I have to work," With a sigh, she moved away from Jack, as if to continue down the beach. Rex had reappeared and was by her side, wagging his tail. "Well, it was nice to meet you; maybe we'll see you around." Jack was surprised but smiled slowly and responded, "I sure hope so, I'll be sure to look for you next time I come down here. See ya, Rex." Then, before she could head off, he waded out of the water and grabbed his board, making his way down the opposite end of the beach. Laney's eyebrows rose. Normally guys around here tried to take a girl home as soon as they met her. Maybe this one was different, she thought to herself, scratching Rex behind the ears and turning to head back to her house. Even so, it'd just be a matter of time 'til he found out, and then, another one gone. Sighing, she started off at a jog, Rex leaping in the waves and barking beside her. Despite her pessimism, she found herself hoping she'd run into Jack again very, very soon. Waves and Dreams Ch. 02 Laney burst back into the house, feeling winded and pleasantly alive. Rex came bounding in behind her, moving quickly to jump on Tugger. "Rex! DOWN!" In mid-flight, the giant dog dropped to the floor in a "down" position, looking wistfully at Tugger, who walked prissily past him, flicking his tail and giving a general glance of disapproval before going to rub on Laney's legs. Smiling, she reached down and scooped up the enormous cat. "Tugger, are you teasing that poor dog?" Tugger's eyes closed into half-slits, but she could see the smugness on his face. Smiling, she sat the cat down and went into the kitchen, idly opening the fridge. "We have to eat before work, guys. But nothing in here looks good." She let the door fall closed and went into the living room, Rex still laying on the floor and Tugger curled up in the papasan chair. Smiling, she called Rex to her and clipped his leash on, glancing at the clock. "We'll run to the store before work, and get some things." Rex smiled a wolfish smile back at her, as much as any dog could, and she went back out the door, leaving a sleeping Tugger to guard the house. ***** "C'mon Jack! Don't take all day with this load; we still have two more coming in!" Jack looked over at his boss, Larry, and sighed. This job was becoming more of a chore every day, and he couldn't stop the fighting urge to quit. But today, his thoughts were elsewhere as he threw fish, namely on that blonde from the beach. He hadn't seen her again for the rest of the week, even though he'd gone every day. His thoughts weren't lending much to his skill at stocking up fish, and he winced as the whole pile hit the floor. Larry whirled around, his eyes blazing. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! Can't even pay attention enough to stack a bunch of fish? Get outta here; come back when you can focus!!" Jack didn't have to be told twice, he whirled around and left. He knew Larry well enough that when he would show up tomorrow, it wouldn't be mentioned. I really can't get any work done without thinking about that girl. Maybe I do need a day off. He moved down the sea wall, looking at the waves hitting the beach. He could feel the urge to surf rising up in his muscles, but he stopped short as he caught sight of a large movement of black. Outside of the local grocery store, a huge, black, furry dog was tied up to a bike rack. He knew that dog anywhere, and grinned to himself as he moved towards it. The dog looked over at him, its ears perking up and a grin covering its mouth. "Hey, Rex, how ya doin' boy? Where's your pretty little mama?" Rex didn't answer his questions, but moved closer to him, eager for more of the petting he was receiving. Jack jumped when he heard a voice behind him, smooth like silk. "Right behind you." Laney was grinning at him, her pretty nose wrinkled a bit in amusement. Jack whirled around and smiled back at her, sucking in a breath at the sight of her. Rex, however, completely changed, and offered a throaty growl, positioning himself between the two of them. Jack shook his head. "He sure doesn't want anyone near you, does he?" Laney laughed and untied him, petting the dog's head and idly stroking his ears. "He's pretty possessive. I really enjoy having him that way, though, since I live alone." Her cheeks flushed slightly under his gaze, and he got the feeling that she thought she shouldn't have mentioned that. Good, Jack thought to himself, no boyfriend. Or at least, no live-in boyfriend. He ran his fingers through his sun-bleached shaggy hair, his jade green eyes searching her face. She continued to look down at the dog, and he decided to go for it. "So, hey, what do you think about getting some breakfast together?" he asked, not really sure what she might say. With girls he was always so sure, but this one seemed different. She smiled, brightly this time, and he felt his body burning again, but not because he wanted to get to the surf. "I wish I could, but I have to work. Maybe next time," and with that, she started walking away, Rex trailing her. Jack blinked, not sure how to take the rejection. Was it a challenge, or was it just a refusal? He'd known girls in the past, he was far from being virginal, but this one didn't even act like she was interested. Sighing, he turned and began walking away, looking towards the beach. Maybe I'll do something besides surf today, he thought. After all, it wasn't too often that Jack got a day off. ***** Laney smiled wearily. She was exhausted, but happier than she ever was when she was at home. Nikko nudged her hand delightedly, and she swatted back at him, watching as he backpedaled out of her reach. Or maybe back swam. Laney had always known that she wanted to work with dolphins, but she'd never thought she could make that dream a reality, especially after everything that had happened four years ago. Maybe that's why I've busted my ass so hard in the first place, she thought to herself, scrubbing at the sides of the pool distractedly. While getting the opportunity to train them was amazing, the research was just as satisfying, and she found more and more that she loved about her job every day. Still, it came with some tough chores, and right now she was trying to get Nikko's pool cleaned up. He was the youngest of the pod, and her special training project. He wasn't used in the shows, but he would be, when he was a little older. The tank had all glass walls, so people could see in, and she could see out, though she didn't often notice. However, with Nikko off inventing a game with a ball, she felt an intense gaze, and it wasn't directed at the dolphin. Slowly, she turned around, and was face to face with Jack, the man she'd met at the beach, and then seen that morning at the grocery store. She didn't think he would recognize her with her mask on, but he must've been looking closer than she thought. She smiled, though he probably couldn't tell, and waved tentatively. The smile he returned took the breath out of her, and he waved back just as shyly. She pointed to the top of the tank, demonstrating she'd get out, and he nodded, motioning to her that there was no rush. ***** Jack had thought that the little scuba diver cleaning the tank looked familiar, but he hadn't realized it was Laney until she'd waved at him. The little bit of her face that he could see stood out in his mind, and it scared him a little that he could recognize her so easily. When he'd decided to go to the aquarium during his day off, he'd had no idea that she worked there, or that he'd be seeing her. He just loved everything to do with the ocean, and the sharks particularly were his favorite. At least, they had been. He still loved them now, but it was with a wary, almost fearful reverence. He knew he should hate them, after what had happened, but he just couldn't be angry. It's not like they knew what they were doing; he'd reminded himself day after day. Still, four years from now, it was a daily battle. Lost in his thoughts, he snapped back to reality when he saw Laney emerge from the staff area, dressed in just a swimsuit that was meant for practically, but that had his thoughts moving faster than he could stop them. He saw the pouty smile on her full lips, and her blue eyes were lit up, which gave him the thrilling thought that she was happy to see him. He moved towards her, smiling. She seemed so at ease here, and so confident. "Stalking me now, are you?" she grinned, a smile dancing on her face, mischievousness in her eyes. "Well, I was determined to spend the day with you, so I figured if you weren't willing, I'd just have to follow you around at a distance. Guess I gave myself away..." he shot back, feigning mock repentance. She laughed a full, deep laugh that set his nerves on fire. It wasn't shrill or high-pitched, but strong and bold. He found her surprisingly easy to be around. "Well, listen, I've gotta get back to work, but why don't you hang around until closing? I can introduce you to my friends," she said, smiling at him. "Can't leave my stalker out on the high and dry, now can I?" She laughed again. He joined her, trying to hide his ecstasy at being invited. "Sure, I'll meet you here when you get off, then?" he asked, trying to grin casually. Laney nodded once, then turned and walked off, towards the coral aquariums. "See ya then." **** Laney squirmed uncomfortably, becoming more and more nervous by the second. Why did I invite him?! I don't even know him. This was a terrible idea. She was still arguing with herself when she found Jack, right where he said he'd be. He was smiling, a boyish, sexy smile, and she felt smugly happy that she'd told him to stay, even though she was afraid. She'd meant to introduce him to Nikko, but now she was wondering if he even liked dolphins. He looked a little nervous too, though, so she felt better. "I thought I'd introduce you to Nikko," she said breathily. "Whoa, really???? One of the dolphins? In person?" Jack looked like a little kid who'd just gotten free run of the candy store. Laney was suddenly inordinately pleased she'd invited him. She nodded and motioned for him to follow her. They made their way up the staircase and into the aquarium floor, which was really just a platform to allow her a place to stand when training. Nikko jumped out of the water, showing off, and did a somersault before splashing down right beside them. She laughed along with Jack and pulled her clothes off, revealing that same suit from before. "He loves attention; he's just showing off for you. He'll make a great entertainer, once I teach him a little more." Jack looked at her, eyebrows raised. "You train him?" She nodded and laughed, jumping into the water in a cannonball, soaking Jack. She normally wasn't so brave, but something about this place skyrocketed her confidence. She was in her element, here. She splashed around with Nikko for a few minutes, and then turned to Jack, who was watching her like a hungry wolf. His intense gaze made her blush. "You comin' in, scaredy-cat?" she jeered at him. He shrugged his shoulders and peeled off his shirt, and she knew he heard the swift intake of breath she released without realizing it. He then peeled off his jeans, and she realized he didn't have on any underwear underneath. He made eye contact with her cockily before jumping in after her. She was grateful for the interval while he was underwater - she was bright red and could hardly breathe. He surfaced, and Nikko immediately engaged him in a game of ball. Nikko could be enamored with anyone; he just loved to play so much. Laney quickly swam over to them and took part in the game, laughing and enjoying some human company, for once. Nikko quickly grew bored of their company and swam off on his own, finding his favorite toys. At this obvious dismissal, she turned to face Jack, only to find him staring at her. He swam over to where she was treading water, easily coming within inches of her body. "Thanks for asking me to stay, this is a blast. I've never gotten to do anything like," he murmured, so close now that anything louder would seem like shouting. She surprised him, and herself, by moving closer, so that their skin was touching. "I'm glad you accepted, it's so nice to have some company," she said, a little shyly. The heat between them was intoxicating, and she was grateful that they were alone there. She could feel his arousal pulsing against her belly, and when he moved his mouth closer to hers, tentatively, she couldn't help but lift her chin up, to receive his kiss. A jolt of hot fire coursed along her veins when his lips touched hers, and she submitted willingly, allowing him to deepen the kiss and coax her lips open, his tongue dancing with hers delicately. She could feel the desire deep in her stomach, her body aching with arousal and excitement. He pushed his lips more hungrily to hers, and she felt his arms encircle her and lift her tight against him, so that his member actually hurt against her stomach, as close as he was holding her. She reflexively lifted her hips, allowing him to push against her, and she knew he could feel the chemistry between them to. He moved her over to the platform and braced both of them against it, his mouth moving away from hers and down her throat, gaining little gasps and moans when he found the right places on her neck to nibble. He moved one of his hands to tunnel in her hair, and was surprised at the ferocity with which she kissed him back, almost knocking the air out of him. His mouth ravished hers in return, and he let his fingers drop and run along her body in the water slowly, lightly, enough to draw goose bumps. His fingers traced the undersides of her breasts and she could feel his inhale of breath as sharply as hers. In a single, terrifying moment, she could feel how barely restrained his desire was, and she knew he wouldn't stop, in truth, she didn't want him to. So, when he stopped and let her go, she felt very confused, and angry. "I'm sorry, Laney. I shouldn't have let that go so far. I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you. I'll...I'll see you around," he mumbled, and hopped out of the tank, pulling his clothes back on and leaving her there alone, confused and incredibly aroused. Waves and Dreams Ch. 03 Chapter 3: An Unexpected Visitor Laney shoved the papers away, irritated and unable to focus. Sighing, she dropped her head into her hands, running her fingers through her hair. She hadn't seen or heard from Jack since that night he'd left her without an explanation, and she had been distracted and irritable all week. She glared at the stack of papers across the table, not wanting to get back to work, but feeling the press of a deadline. Putting herself through the bachelor's program had been difficult, but now that she was in her doctoral program, she barely had time to breathe. She stood, moving into the kitchen, hoping to distract herself with something to eat. Out of nowhere, Rex jumped up, growling and staring at the closed door to the house. Laney came out of the kitchen as she heard a knock and muttered something that seemed to calm the dog before moving to open it. When she did, she squeaked and slammed the door shut, shocked at the visitor on the other side. How in the world does he know where I live? She thought, then moved to reopen the door, holding Rex back with her leg. Jack looked as good as ever, relaxed and smiling, though a bit surprised at her initial response. She didn't offer to let him in, but rather stepped out onto the porch, cursing herself for not putting more into her clothes and makeup that morning. "Hey, how's it goin'?" Jack asked, too casually. She snorted softly. "Are you going to explain to me how you know where I live, or should I actually be freaked out?" He laughed good-naturedly, only aggravating her further. "I went by the aquarium to see you, but they said you were off. This guy there told me where you lived." Her eyebrows rose. "So they're giving out my address just like that?" He shook his head. "Not exactly. I told him I had something that I wanted to give Rex. He seemed to think if the dog liked me enough for me to get him something, I must know you pretty well." Despite herself, Laney laughed. It was a pretty clever trick, she hadn't counted on Jack being so clever. Still, she was angry that he'd left her in the dust like that, and then hadn't heard from him for so long. She'd decided he was just like all the other guys...except, well, he had stopped. He'd known what he wanted and that he could have it, but he'd stopped anyways. This was completely confusing and quite maddening. Her thoughts must've run across her face, because he moved closer to her, his hand reaching up to cup her face and run his thumb over her lower lip. She looked up, and her eyes met clear, brilliant jade. "I'm sorry about the other day. If I hadn't left when I did...well..."he murmured gently, his gaze intense. "I wasn't sure if you'd want to see me, so I left you alone, but I just couldn't stand it any longer. Something about you is just..." he stopped mid-sentence as his mouth settled on hers, and that fire that she'd felt the last time he kissed her roared once again, strong and intense. She didn't kiss him back right away, still apprehensive, but his lips were persuasive, and soon she found he'd coaxed her mouth open and was lightly dipping against her tongue. She responded, a little shyer than last time, and after a long moment, he stopped, pulling away. His cheeks were just as flushed as hers, and she knew he felt the intense chemistry between them. "So...uh...anyways, I came to see if Rex wanted to go down to the beach. You can come too, if you want." He grinned at her, and she found herself grinning back. "Sure, let me just grab his leash and we'll go," she opened the door and let herself in. As Jack followed in behind her, she murmured to Rex, who after a moment, began to wag his tail and walked over to get some more scratches behind his large ears. Jack laughed and sat down on the giant overstuffed couch while Laney ran into her room to change into shorts. His curiosity got the best of him, and he couldn't help looking around, noticing a prescription bottle on table. Knowing he shouldn't, but unable to help it, he moved towards it, catching the bottle up in his hands and going to read the prescription. At just that moment, he heard a door close, and he quickly sat the bottle down, pretending to look around the kitchen as Laney walked in. Although she should've been nervous about a stranger in her house, she just wasn't, not with Rex there. She didn't worry about any kind of attacks when he was around. Seeing where Jack was, she moved over towards the kitchen. "Sorry, I should've given you a grand tour, I just didn't think you'd follow me in." She scooted around the table, and he couldn't help but notice that she discreetly picked up the bottle and dropped it into a satchel in one of the chairs. He just smiled back at her, but he couldn't help wondering what was in that bottle, and why she wanted to keep it a secret. Well, whatever it was, he knew it wasn't his business. Shaking off the weird moment, he reached for her hand and pulled her towards the door. Rex trotted along after them out into the sun, and Laney reached down, clipping his leash on. All set, they headed down the short path that led to the beach. Jack wondered how she could afford a beach house, what with what marine mammal trainers made, but he kept it to himself, just happy to enjoy her company and the fact that her hand was still in his. ***** A short while later, they were meandering down the beach, Rex's leash long past forgotten, watching the black dog jump in and out of the waves. Jack casually put his arm around Laney's shoulders, pleased when she leaned into his side rather than pulling away. She stopped and looked at him with a childish smile, motioning over to a pile of sand that had accumulated during low tide. "Do you want to build a sand castle?" she asked, with a somewhat impish grin. Jack knew they were going to build one whether he wanted to or not, so he accepted the job of bringing water up to her with an abandoned bucket they'd found. When they finally had enough, they set to work, Jack trying to follow her directions, but often messing up so she'd reach over and correct him, just to get a feeling of her skin against his. His mind drifted off, watching her work so busily. He was pulling her close, trailing soft, sultry kisses down her neck, feeling the tightness of her body as she responded, making little noises that drove him crazy. He peppered kisses across her throat, just like in his dream, and she subconsciously arched her body towards him, thrusting her perfect breasts into the most delightful position. He could feel the power he was wielding over her, her breath was becoming labored as he gently moved over the soft skin of her back, feeling the coil of her muscles as she arched beneath him, so receptive to his touch. He lowered his face to her neck, hoping to drown in her scent. Her smell alone was intoxicating, and he fancied he could smell the musk of her desire, though her shorts were still on. He moved up to nip at her earlobes, tunneling his fingers into her free-flowing hair as the other hand rested on her stomach, rubbing along her belly towards her gentle curves, then back down as if to venture below her waistband, then back to her curves again. He continued his slow torture of her body, constantly teasing her and delighting in the way she lifted to meet his hands no matter where they were sliding, her body trembling in both need and frustration as she longed for him to touch her. He finally slid beneath her panties, but it was just to rub along her hipbones, aggravating her further and drawing a little moan of lust. He knew he shouldn't tease her so, his erection was possibly the hardest it had ever been, but he delighted in escalating her need further. When he finally relented in his teasing and dropped a little bit further, Laney thrust her hips up, surprising him and forcing his hand to come into contact with her delicate womanhood. He gasped despite himself, he couldn't believe how wet she already has. He gently caressed her, circling around her entrance, not giving her the pleasure she so badly wanted, but teasing her further. When he could tell she was finally fed up, he let his fingers dip into her, watching the rush of relief wave over her body. He could see her nipples, hard and erect, from the over-stimulation, and he moved over them with his mouth, taking in one gently and suckling as he gently thrust his fingers into her, feeling a rush of passion as she writhed underneath him. He moved his mouth to the other, biting and licking in turn, continuing to use his fingers to drive her closer to that point of no return. The low, guttural moan she emitted and the way her body clenched around his fingers told him she had achieved her crest, and he could no longer take it, he moved to take off his own suit; he had to have her right at that moment. He looked down at her, lying in the sand, the flush of passion covering her body, and lowered beside her, ready to experience her at last. He closed his eyes... "Jack?" He started, his eyes flashing open to see Laney's beautiful blue ones staring at him in a peculiar way. She looked amused, and a little worried. He growled under his breath, it was just like his dreams, except this was really happening. He was taken aback at the noise she made and then it clicked: he was modeling a full erection just for her, and it was VERY noticeable underneath his athletic shorts. Even though she'd already seen him nude, and he knew she'd felt his member before at least twice, he was still embarrassed. This wasn't while they were kissing; it was just a sand castle for crying out loud. He winced a little and jumped up, chasing Rex out into the ocean, trying to get to where she couldn't see what he knew she'd already observed. Was he losing his mind? He couldn't stop thinking about taking her, and how in the world would he get to know the girl if every thought ended with them having sex? Two weeks ago he hadn't even known she was real, now his fantasies constantly replayed themselves in his head. He didn't look back at the shore, but floated there, enjoying the crash of the gentle waves and the thoughts of his daydream. ***** Laney wasn't really that embarrassed by what she'd seen, but she had been surprised by his reaction. Sure, she'd seen him before, but she couldn't help but wonder what he had been thinking about to get himself so aroused. She kind of wondered if it was about her, but shook her head, dismissing the thought. Her dreams lately had all been filled with him...him touching her, kissing her, taking her for his own, but she wouldn't ever tell him that, or even expect the same reaction. No, she was just being silly about this, there was no way Jack had any interest in her. He hadn't seen her for so long after they had kissed, so it was obvious. Still, it seemed like every time they were together, they ended up in each other's arms. It was like some chemistry that drew them together, and they couldn't keep their hands off each other. So...it might be fun to tease him, just a little bit. He kept coming around after all, so there had to be something that he wanted. Laney continued to work on the sand castle, positioning herself on all fours, with her bottom stuck high up in the air, in just a position she was sure Jack would find alluring. She tried to look preoccupied with the sand castle, but her thoughts kept wondering. She'd given up on finding a man a long time ago...they were all just the same. She certainly didn't need one now, she was strong and independent and wasn't willing to give all those things up. Still...she peeked over her shoulder to find Jack staring at her from the water, his arm moving slowly back and forth. What was he....oh my god...he was...no...not right in public. She looked back at the castle, really trying to focus while still teasing him. She yelped as she was flipped over and pinned to the ground, her cockiness gone as she stared into Jack's menacing green eyes. He looked...angry. He pulled her into his lap as he leaned backwards into an Indian-style sitting position, his hands still tight around her wrists as she fell into his lap, where she seemed to fit perfectly. She tried to fight him off, suddenly very afraid, but pretending to be very tough. He took no notice of her struggle and crushed her against him, kissing her fiercely. She refused to kiss him back, but suddenly, she realized there was something else in that kiss. It was tender, too. And full of longing. She kissed him back, trying to match his ferocity, but she quickly found that just egged him on, and he only held her tighter, his hands releasing her wrists and moving to wrap around her torso, holding her so tight she could barely breathe. He pulled away from her lips and began biting her neck, almost too hard, and she shivered in delight, and a little fear. He came to her ear, whispering hoarsely. "You should know better than to tease a man like that." She shuddered as his warm breath hit her neck, thrusting her breasts against his chest without realizing what she was doing. He continued to bite at her, much too hard, but she got the feeling it wasn't malicious. She couldn't believe how much she liked it, being so out of control. Jack very suddenly quit, burying his head in her neck, and she could feel the now familiar strain of his body. He wanted her, right there, but he wasn't going to force her. She loved how in control he was, yet at the same time, he never forced too much. It was confusing. Laney sighed, deeply, feeling her heartbeat begin to slow as she rested in his arms, feeling happy and, for once, taken care of. After several minutes, he stood up, picking her up as well, and set her on her feet. "That's a beautiful sand castle." She could tell by his voice that he was sincere. She smiled, feeling suddenly shy. He turned to her, taking her hand in his, and headed down the beach, as if to continue their walk. She followed, not willing to remove her hand, and feeling so deliciously alive and cared for. "So, I've gotten to know parts about you pretty well," he said with a grin, "but I don't know anything about who you are." She looked at him, not sure where to start, and he smiled at her, making her feel like she might melt right there on the sand. "Why don't I start, then?" Jack asked, and she nodded. "Well, I'm not actually from here, as you probably guessed from my accent. I was born in Australia, and grew up there with my mom and dad and my little brother. I started surfing when I was 10 or so, using boogie boards and stuff like that. I'm 24 now," he answered her questioning look. "I was great at it, and I wanted to go for the pros, but my parents wanted me to get a degree, have something more stable. I went to college and got a degree in biomedical sciences." Here he laughed at her expression. "I hated it. My parents wanted me to have it. Anyways, everything in my life was pretty normal and average. My parents made enough money, I had what I needed, nothing unusual. One day, about four years ago, my little brother, he was 13 at the time, he begged me to take him surfing. I knew it wasn't a good day for it, but I could never say no to him, so I took him out anyways. He had a short board, it was a lot easier for him to maneuver." He paused here and Laney started getting an idea of what was coming, but she kept silent. "I went out first and got a couple of really great waves, so I decided it wasn't as bad as the broadcasters had been saying. I went ahead and told him to come on out. He started to paddle out and was half-way to me when I saw it...a huge, gray triangle in the water. The shark got to him before I could. I never saw him again." He paused here, and she could feel the sadness radiating from him. Laney gently squeezed his hand for encouragement. "They killed sharks for weeks after that and finally found the one that had done it. They knew because of the biopsy...I quit surfing for a while after that. A scout was coming to see me in a professional meet a week after it had happened, but I couldn't get back in the water. Everything was like a memory of seeing Micah out there in that water, it stained red with his blood, realizing I couldn't do anything. I moved to get away from the memory, but I longed for the beach, so I came here, partly because of UTMB, I figured I might as well do something with my degree. Just can't quite figure out what. And I started surfing again when I moved, I feel like I'm doing it for Micah. He wouldn't have wanted me to quit living." But that's what you've done...he thought to himself, disgusted. He felt a squeeze of his hand and looked down to see Laney's typically blue eyes cloudy and sad. "I think you're good enough for the pros..." she whispered. He'd heard it before, but her little comment put air under his wings. He squeezed her hand in return. "Well, that's me, what about you?" He was shocked at her response. She pulled her hand from his and began walking faster; he could tell she did so without realizing it. He was surprised, then concerned, but caught up to her, drawing her to a stop. "Whoa, Laney, what's the deal? Why are you racing off on me? You don't have to tell me anything, sweetheart, it's fine." She looked at him, her eyes still stormy. "Yeah, so you can leave, right? Just like all the others! Let's talk about my past, and then you can just disappear on me, just like everyone else. Oh, but make sure you sleep with me first!!" She slapped his hand away, but he was too stunned by what she'd said to realize it. She raced down the beach, Rex following her, and back towards where her house was, leaving a stunned Jack in the middle of the sand. ***** Laney slammed the door shut, feeling stupid and miserable. She'd had no right to have an outburst like that, Jack certainly hadn't done anything to her, but she'd treated him like a villain anyway. After he'd opened up to her. She plopped down ungracefully on the kitchen floor, feeling too flustered to care, when she heard a pounding on the door. She moved to stand up, but didn't get the chance, as the door burst open and she heard heavy footsteps on the floor. She looked over at Rex, who jumped up, hackles raised and growling, but the dog suddenly fell silent and laid down, and she knew who it was at the door, as if it could've been anyone else. She shrank back in fear as Jack came straight up to her and grabbed her around the wrists, his face clouded with rage. She looked at Rex, but as the dog began to move, Jack shot him a look that had the animal crawling away as if it had been kicked. She knew she was in trouble then. He shook her, gently but firmly, as if trying to put some sense into her. She knew she should have picked her words carefully, but she was enraged at him for thinking he could maul her however he wanted. "Who the hell do you think you are, bursting in here like that?!" she blazed with false courage. He ignored her question completely. "What the hell was that back there? Why'd you leave that way?" his voice was so soft, she knew just by the tone how close to the edge he was. She stubbornly lifted her chin and looked away. Wrong choice. He shoved her down to the ground, making sure she didn't hit her head, but firmly all the same. "Why. Did. You. Leave." He pronounced each word so clearly and carefully, and with her position so vulnerable and open, she didn't know if it'd be best to continue with her false bravery. She couldn't resist. "I don't have to answer you! You're just a goddamn asshole with shit for brains that couldn't get a girl if you were Jesus Christ himself!" She spat at him, immediately regretting it. He picked her up easily and ignored her cries of protest, taking her towards the bathroom. She flailed and struggled as he turned the shower on and cried out in shock when he dropped her to the tub, cold water hitting her and soaking her instantly. Waves and Dreams Ch. 03 "Do NOT talk to me that way. You will respect me and I will respect you back in turn. That means answering my questions. Now you'll stay here until you cool off." She protested again and he turned the shower onto her mouth, making it where she couldn't speak without choking. She was furious, then humiliated, and then broke down in tears. She'd never been forced like this, never had someone so aggressive put her in her place, and...and...never been touched so gently. He turned the shower off and removed her clothes, then turned it back on to much warmer temperatures, slowly washing the chill and pain and tears away. She looked at him, seeing the tenderness in his eyes, and she felt her walls crumbling down. He really, really cared about her. She felt exhausted and when he turned off the shower and began to dry her, it wasn't in a malicious way, but the soft touch of a lover. He got her completely clean and dry then took her to her room and managed to find some sort of clothes to put on her. Once he was satisfied that she was completely taken care of, he sat back down on the bed, pulling her into his lap. She didn't struggle, but moved eagerly, hoping for that comfort that he seemed so ready to give. Feeling safe and warm for the first time in a long time, she drifted off to sleep.