Twenty-Eight

 

 

Linc

 

She was perfect. She was everything.

And I didn’t think I could say goodbye tomorrow. Not now. Not after being with her. Worshipping her. Her body. Loving her until we both fell asleep in a mess of tangled limbs. Her body fit mine flawlessly. The saying that two people were made for each always seemed like absolute shit until now. Indie was made for me.

I woke some time during the night, not because I was tired, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about the following day. The sun would be up too soon, and that meant we only had a short time together before it was time to part ways.

I was going to do everything in my power to see her every weekend. She would only be a few hours away, and it was only for another six months until she graduated. Once she was finished with school, we could plan our future. As long as I had the surf and Indie, I didn’t need anything else.

I traced my fingers lightly down her spine and across her back. In the moonlight, I could just make out the light dusting of freckles on her nose, her eyelashes casting a shadow on her pink cheeks. Her lips were still slightly puffy from kissing for so long, but I couldn’t get enough of her.

Her breathing increased, and her arm tightened around my waist. She was awake. She slid her leg between mine and pressed a kiss to my chest before looking up at me with a sleepy smile. “Hi.”

“Hi, Princess.” I brushed her hair out of her face, rubbing my thumb across her cheek and lips.

“Why are you awake?” She pushed herself up until she was lying on top of me, her mouth millimetres from mine.

I wrapped my arms around her back and held her close. “Watching you.” I rubbed my nose along hers and captured her mouth with mine when she sighed.

“What time is it?” she asked quietly.

I shook my head. “Sun will be up soon.” My voice was subdued, and the light in her eyes dimmed as the reality of the situation sank in.

“Do we have to go?”

“Afraid so.” I cupped her face and kissed her again, languidly exploring her mouth. She moved against me, her body soft and warm, her hips lined up with mine. I pulled back just enough to speak when I realised what she was doing. “Ace?”

“Please.” Her lips moved against mine, our breath mingling.

I leaned forward, closing the tiny gap, joining our mouths as I lifted her hips a fraction before helping her lower herself on me.

I swore I saw stars. Flashing lights. I might have even passed out. I would never get enough of her this way. Open. Trusting. Vulnerable. Mine.

 

***

 

We had a shower together. A long, hot, silent shower. No words were exchanged. The mood was very downcast. Indie was so lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t even notice when I washed her hair and lathered her skin. She didn’t notice when I shut off the water and wrapped her in a thick, fluffy towel, then dried her hair and her body.

I did get a small, grateful smile from her pretty mouth when I pulled the bathrobe on and tied it around her waist. We didn’t need to speak, though. We’d said all the words we’d needed to. All the important ones. We’d spent an incredible night together, and now it was over. We had to leave for the airport in a few hours, and that would be it until one of us could make the trip to see the other.

Room service arrived, and we ate on the balcony like every other morning. Indie poured my coffee, while I filled her plate with pancakes and syrup and berries, just the way she liked. It seemed the hotel went the extra mile for us, today being our last day. But the silence was getting to me now. I wanted to know what was going through that gorgeous head of hers.

“Talk to me, Ace. What’s up?” I asked, only to receive a blank stare. I climbed out of the chair and grabbed Indie by the hands, pulling her to her feet as well.

I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight, breathing in the scent of her hair, memorising how every curve felt pressed against mine. Her fingers dug into my back, and she buried her face in my chest.

“Indie, please? I’ve tried to be patient and give you time to think, but I can’t cope with this silence any longer. What’s wrong?” I tilted her face up to mine. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

“I don’t want to say goodbye.” She sniffed and bit her bottom lip to stop it from trembling.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay.”

“How do you know? You’ll be home in Blackhill, and I’ll be across the country at uni. What if you get tired of waiting? What if you change your mind? What if—”

I slammed my mouth down on hers. Gripping her hips, I lifted her and pressed her into the wall behind us. Her legs tightened around my waist, and she moaned into the kiss, while her fingers found their way into my hair.

“I,” I said against her lips.

“Have.” I skimmed my nose along her jaw.

“Waited.” Kissed below her ear.

“Fifteen.” Traced my tongue down her throat.

“Goddamn.” Grazed my teeth over her collarbone.

“Years.” And crashed my mouth against hers again, sliding between her parted lips. I kissed her until I couldn’t kiss her anymore. I kissed her until we were both breathless and struggling for air.

“Nothing is going to take you away from me. I won’t get bored. I won’t change my mind, and I sure as hell won’t give up on us. I already told you, we’re getting married someday, Ace, so quit worrying and kiss me while we still have the chance.”

“Stupid ass,” she muttered then wiped a tear from her eyes and kissed me.

“Yeah, I love you too, Princess.”