Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
I dig through my backpack and pull out the little red bikini I threw in at the last second. It’s the kind of swimsuit that makes me feel brave on good days and slightly scandalous on every other day. The fabric feels cool and slippery against my fingers. I change quickly in the small bathroom attached to my room. When I look at myself I tug at the strings and adjust the top. My cheeks flush pink.
Okay Tia. You’re on a motorcycle club compound. Not a resort. But the ocean is right there and if I don’t get some sun on my skin I might actually start climbing the walls like a deranged houseplant myself. Besides, Vitamin D is good for you. So is another type of D. Oh my god… stop thinking that way right now Miss Tia.
I pull a loose sundress over the bikini. The thin cotton brushes my thighs as I sneak out of the room. My ankle still throbs a little but it’s nothing I can’t ignore. I lose the bandage and head out. A couple of men nod at me as I pass. Their eyes linger but no one stops me. I offer a small wave and a nervous smile that probably looks more like a grimace.
The back door of the clubhouse opens to a path that winds toward the water. The air grows saltier with every step. Palm fronds rustle overhead. Their shadows dance across the sandy dirt. I kick off my flip flops when the path turns to pure sand. The grains feel warm and soft between my toes. They shift and slide as I walk. The private beach stretches out in front of me. Turquoise water sparkles under the bright Key West sun. Waves lap gently against the shore with a rhythmic hush that soothes the anxious knot in my chest.
I drop my sundress onto a patch of sand and stretch my arms toward the sky. The sun kisses my skin warm and golden. A soft breeze carries the clean scent of ocean and distant mangrove. My hair lifts and tangles around my face. I feel lighter already. Freer. Like the water might wash away some of the fear that’s been clinging to me since Dad showed up.
This is nice. Very normal. Just a girl in a bikini on a private beach owned by scary bikers. What could possibly go wrong?
The sand warms the soles of my feet as I walk closer to the water. Tiny shells crunch under my steps. A seagull cries overhead. Its wings flash white against the blue sky. I reach the edge where the waves foam soft and cool. Saltwater swirls around my toes. The cold bite makes me giggle. I wiggle my feet deeper into the wet sand. It squishes between my toes in the most satisfying way.
A deep voice cuts through the peaceful sounds behind me. “What the fuck are you doing out here?”
I spin around so fast I almost lose my balance. Kraken stands there like he appeared out of thin air. Jeans hug his powerful thighs. A black t-shirt stretches tight across his broad chest. The club vest sits over it all. His arms are crossed. The muscles in his forearms flex as he stares at me. He looks every inch the dangerous king of this island.
I blink up at him. My mouth goes a little dry. “I’m soaking up some sun. Duh. Have you seen this beach? It’s basically calling my name. Tia come be a normal human for five minutes and let the ocean fix your anxiety.”
His jaw tightens. Those storm gray eyes drag down my body slowly. Over the red bikini. Over my bare legs. Back up again. Heat crawls up my neck and settles in my cheeks. I fight the urge to cover myself. Instead I plant my hands on my hips and tilt my head.
“It’s really hot out here. You should put on some swim trunks and join me. The water feels amazing. I promise not to splash you too much.”
He doesn’t smile. Not even a little. “No thanks. I’m your bodyguard. Not your beach buddy.”
The words should sound cold. Instead they send a little thrill through me. Bodyguard. The way he says it makes it sound possessive. Like he’s already decided exactly where I belong. I bite my lip and turn back toward the water before he sees how much I like that idea.
Do not stare at the scary hot biker, Tia. He’s off limits. Completely. Totally. Even if he looks like he was carved from pure sin and bad decisions.
I wade a little deeper. Cool water laps around my calves. The waves tug gently at my skin. I glance back over my shoulder. Kraken still stands there. Tall and imposing against the sand. Then he moves. His hands go to the vest first. He shrugs it off with a smooth motion and drapes it over a piece of driftwood. The t-shirt comes next. He pulls it over his head in one fluid tug.