Heat Wave(86)

“Woman, you’re going to tire me out, you know that?”

I laugh. “I know firsthand that’s impossible.”

And it’s true. I don’t care how old Logan is, he has all the control in the world combined with the stamina of a fucking teenager. Meaning, he can go again and again and again. That first night together wasn’t a one-off thing, that’s the way it is with him every night. It gives new meaning to the word insatiable.

It’s still pretty early in the morning so the dirt parking lot at Hanalei Bay isn’t too packed and it’s easy to find a spot. We walk through the pavilion where a lot of the derelicts hang out and drink their cheap beers, and head out onto the beach.

Hanalei Bay is a gorgeous spot, and, in my opinion, the prettiest beach on the island. At one end there’s the historic pier which stretches out into the water where people fish from and outrigger canoes flank the shore. In the middle, where we are, the waves are gentler and a few surf schools dot the swells, while hobby cat sailing boats are lined up on the beach, waiting to be used again in the calmer summer months.

At the far end, the more experienced surfers take the waves and the long stretch of white sand gets wilder, peppered with reef and volcanic rock. And of course the ever-present mountains of the Na Pali Coast preside over all, reminding you at all times that this island is a wondrous, magical force of nature.

Logan takes the board, carrying it with ease on his head, and starts heading down the beach away from the surfing classes and the kids until we’ve got space and privacy. In a couple of hours the beach should be packed, especially on a day like today.

“Get in,” he says, nodding at the water.

Honestly, even though the fact that I’m alone with Logan here is pretty amazing, I’m not sure if I’m sold on the whole surfing thing. I would much rather go back to his place and shove his head between my legs. My memory of surfing to “Kashmir” is a pretty good one, and I don’t want to mess that up by bailing.

“I said get in,” he says.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re bossy?”

He raises a brow, crinkling his forehead. “Well I am your boss, aren’t I?”

“Not right now,” I tell him, hands on my hips.

“Fine,” he says. Before I know what’s happening, he’s striding over and picking me up, carrying me caveman-style over his shoulder. I yelp and he starts running into the water, slicing through like there’s no resistance at all.

Then he chucks me over his head like I’m a volleyball, and I fly into the water with an ungraceful splash.

“You jerk!” I cry out as soon as I break the surface, spitting out the water. Luckily the bay here is shallow for a long time and I can easily stand on the bottom.

Logan is laughing, a full-on gorgeous sound that almost makes me forgive him. Almost.

“Well now you’re in, Freckles. Who’s the boss now?”

I stick my tongue out at him. “Just because you’re some superhuman caveman that can throw me around like a rag doll, doesn’t mean I don’t have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Like…withholding sex.”

He laughs. “Right. I’ll have you changing your mind pretty soon. Now stay put. You’re surfing.”

He goes back on the beach and grabs the longboard, hauling it into the water beside us.

“Wait a minute,” I tell him, treading water where the bottom slopes into a sandy hole created by the waves. “You still owe me a surf.”

“This is about you.”

“Yes and you promised me ‘Purple Rain.’ Now get on the board and show the student who the master really is.”

“Master,” he muses, eyes twinkling. “I like the sound of that.”

I pat the board and swim toward the shore until my feet touch again. “I mean it. Sing.”

“You do realize I made that all up, don’t you?”

I stare at him in confusion. “What? Made what up?”

He bites his lip, trying to keep his smile in check. “The whole ‘sing a song and ride the wave’ deal. It was complete horseshit. Made it up on the spot.”

I blink. “Are you kidding me?”

He’s grinning now. “Nah. I just wanted to hear how bad of a singer you were.”

“You asshole!” I smack him on his arm.

“But it worked!” he protests, shrinking away from me. “You caught that wave and rode it.”

“While looking like a total idiot!”

“You only sounded like a total idiot.”

I growl at him and smack him once more. “You know what? You owe me now on principle. Get up on the damn board and sing me some Prince!”