Landon

I sprang up in bed completely out of breath. The sheet, damp from my perspiration, clung to my cock as it protruded stiffly from my body.

Why is my heart racing?

Last I remembered I was…

Oh, shit.

It took all of 2.5 seconds to figure out what it was that woke me up. I hesitantly lifted the sheet to see the evidence of a wet dream spread over my bare abs in a sticky mess. Leaning over, I snatched my Rolex off the nightstand and cursed to see it was only five fucking a.m.

I hadn’t had a wet dream in years. The break from my very hectic everyday life apparently not only unmasked an introspective version of myself, but an adolescent one as well. How did a thirty-one-year-old successful, well-adjusted, insanely confident man become…shit, I didn’t know what I’d become. The opposite of everything I was in LA—that was for fucking sure.

Obviously, living on a secluded tropical island would be different from my posh lifestyle in California. I guess I had thought, going in, I’d still be me, or the movie star version of me at least. Living shoeless most of the time with nothing to do but contemplate my life was completely expected. And that was the point of this hiatus, wasn’t it? To detox all of the hustle and bustle out of my system, to find myself, and, most important, relax to the point of tedium?

Boredom was also something I needed to expect, even though it wasn’t something I was familiar with. Too much time to ponder, doubt, and second-guess everything I thought I knew. Work hard, be the best, grab success by the balls and drag it along with you, refusing to let it go. That’s what I had always known. Yet now, I was quickly learning there was a lot to be said for simple living, genuine connections, and being okay with giving in to emotion.

I dragged my frustrated and pathetically unsatisfied ass into the bathroom to take a shower. As I washed away the bits and pieces of what I’d dreamt, new thoughts slunk into the forefront of my mind and with each snippet I became more and more aroused. Tepid water pounded over my flesh. I couldn’t shut off my Zara-induced thoughts, not that I really wanted to, anyway. So I went with it, and being awake while controlling the second time I came that morning was a bit more satisfying, but a ton more frustrating.

My goal for the day was to concentrate on Logan, but he was nowhere to be found in my thoughts. I couldn’t even beat myself up about it, because what I was currently feeling had little to do with my mourning and all to do with needing a connection. The need to connect to someone outside of my normal world suddenly overwhelmed every piece of me. The need for someone to understand me on every level consumed me.

After my shower, I made a huge pot of coffee. With my first cup in hand, I walked out onto the porch to get some air. For the first time since arriving, dark low clouds stretched over the horizon with rain alternating between a fine mist and a relentless pounding. The dreary weather matched my melancholy mood, and loneliness hit me full force. I stared out at the waves crashing violently against the sand, trying to understand the overpowering surge of uncertainty that seemed to envelop me.

It didn’t take long to pinpoint the source. Eventually, the reality that I’d be returning to my old life while forced to forget I had ever met her was what stretched ominously like the gray ocean that churned before me. Should I just come clean, tell her everything, and hope she found the humor in the situation?

Deep in my gut I knew that could take our already shaky relationship and bring it to a grinding halt. Selfishly, I needed her friendship to get through the rest of my time in Lanai, even if it remained platonic. The alternative was to leave now, and I wasn’t ready to go back yet. So the bottom line was either to continue as we were, under false pretenses, or risk losing her with the truth.

Shit, I am damned if I do and damned if I don’t.

My internal debate was rudely interrupted when Palu, sporting a bright yellow raincoat, came into my line of sight. The thing made him look like CeeLo Green wearing a peanut M&M costume.

“Hello, Mr. Lance,” he said cheerfully, stepping up onto the porch.

“Hey, Palu. How are you?”

“I’m well. Miss Zara said you were looking for me yesterday?” The mention of Zara excited me more than it should have.

“Yes, I wanted to give you the donation I promised. Come in.” He wiped his feet on the small welcome mat before following me into the bungalow. “Would you like some coffee?”

“No, thank you. I’m trying to cut down on caffeine. I’m a bit addicted to Kona coffee.”

“Gotcha. Well, have a seat. I’ll be right back.” It took less than a minute before I was back in the living room with the envelope. I offered it with a smile. “Here you go. This is my contribution to help create another fantastic luau next year.”

Palu’s already animated face lit up even more as he peeked inside and saw the cash. “Oh, Mr. Lance. How much are you donating?”

“There’s five thousand dollars there. I hope that’s sufficient.”

His eyes bulged as he swallowed. “Five thousand dollars?”

“That’s correct.” I offered a one-shoulder shrug. “Tax write-off.”

“We really appreciate that, Mr. Lance. Thank you so very much. Maybe you can return next year to celebrate Kamehameha Day with us. We would make you the guest of honor in the parade.” The idea of standing before a huge papier-mâché King Kamehameha forced a chuckle.

“That’s quite an honor, thank you.”

“It’s the least we can do. Your tax season would be over by June, no? Why not return to Lanai to relax and vacation with us once again?”

I had no idea where I would be next June, so to avoid lying to my pudgy friend I simply said, “I hope that can be arranged.”

“Wonderful.” He stood and looked up at me. “Okay, I must get back. Zara is scheduled to take her lunch soon, and these short legs can only move so fast.”

“You walked here? I can drive you back.”

“Oh, no, Mr. Lance. I wouldn’t inconvenience you like that. Walking is the only exercise I get.” He patted his belly and shrugged.

“Well, I’m all for staying fit, but it started pouring again. It’s no inconvenience at all.”

His head turned to confirm the weather, and it took him all of two seconds before he nodded. “Okay. I am a little tired from the walk over. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” I grabbed my keys, slipped my feet into flip-flops, and opened the door. “Let’s go.”

I was simply doing a friend a favor. It had nothing to do with running into the girl who worked for him…nothing to do with that at all.

Of two things I was certain. First, there was only one door in and out of town hall. Second, I wasn’t moving until she came out. It was only five minutes after I dropped off Palu when the door opened and she emerged while opening an umbrella above her head. She wore a very fitted sleeveless pink blouse, khaki shorts, and flip-flops on her feet. Her steps immediately faltered when she noticed my Jeep, just as a slow smile spread over her lips.

Leaning over, I rolled down my window and said, “Hi, beautiful.”

“Hi. What are you doing here?”

“Palu came by the bungalow, and I drove him back because of the rain. He said you were due to take lunch, so I hung around to drive you where you need to go.”

“No need. I can walk. I usually go home for lunch to walk Marshmallow. I like walking in the rain.”

“Absolutely not. It’s torrentially raining,” I stated the obvious.

She said something quietly, but the drumming noise caused by the teeming rain as it hit the canvas cover of the Jeep made it hard to hear her.

“What?”

She leaned forward, bringing her upper torso closer to the opened window. “I said that I’m okay to walk.” Okay, I understood she wanted to remain in the friend zone, but seriously?

“Zara, it’s pouring out. Get in the damn car.” I barely waited five seconds before I insisted again. “Zara. Get. In.”

A huge, weighted sigh preceded her grabbing the door handle and pulling it open to slide into the Jeep. “You’re so stubborn,” she said as she closed her umbrella.

“You’re one to talk,” I snipped. My tone left no doubt that I was annoyed. Her giggle left no doubt she found me amusing.

“What’s so funny?”

“You trying to be all macho. The only thing that would’ve made it funnier was if you’d beaten your chest.”

“Ouch.” I shifted into gear, cutting my eyes to the road but leaving my face turned enough for her to see my grin. “I can do that though—beat my chest—if that’s what floats your boat. I’ll go as far as wearing a loincloth, just for you of course.” When I glanced her way, she fought but failed to hide the stunning dimpled smile I fucking loved. “Ah, see? You can’t resist me. I keep telling you that.”

She shook her head, trying to be serious but failing miserably. “You’re delusional.”

“No way. I’m perfectly sane.” I snuck a glance her way and added, “By the way, you look gorgeous in pink.”

Her dimples winked at me. Her honey-brown eyes looked even more vibrant than usual against the dreary landscape. Her lips looked delicious. Her scent invaded the inside of the Jeep. And once again I was seriously fucked.

The argument to keep seeing her in one way or another sprinted past the argument to be honest and let her go. With arms spread open wide, it ran through the finish line in a spectacularly grandiose fashion.

I did my best to focus on the drenched dirt roads leading to her house. I pretended it was the conditions that caused my white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel, and not the desire that rotated within me like a fucking tornado.

“Marshmallow is going to be thrilled to see you. You may have to wait in the Jeep until I get him walked, or he’ll never cooperate to do his business.”

I laughed at the visual of him doing his pee-pee dance in the rain. “Then I can see him?”

“Do I have a choice?” she teased.

“Ah, you’re learning. See, it’s very simple to agree. Although, there are times I do enjoy your feisty combativeness. Use your imagination as to when, and surprise me.”

“I’ll do my best.” She rolled her eyes and pointed. “It’s the third house on the right.”

“I remember.”

The only other time I’d seen where she lived it had been dark out, and the struggle between my logic and my lust made me drive off without getting a good look. The houses on the street were all the same—except for their paint colors. Small and well kept, neatly lining the tree-lined road like little dollhouses. If she opened her bedroom window, she could have a conversation with her neighbor without having to shout.

I turned the Jeep into her narrow pebbled driveway. The pale-gray painted shingles of her house were accented with deep maroon shutters and front door. Beside it was a small detached garage of the same color scheme. A few steps led from the concrete walkway to a tiny square concrete landing. Adorning the house on both sides were trimmed hibiscus bushes loaded with opened blooms.

“Just give me five minutes to walk him…oh, and duck down when he comes out.” She grinned through the last part before flying out of the Jeep to open her umbrella. The thing jammed as she sprinted toward her door, and I watched her toss it in frustration while fiddling with the key in the lock. By the time she entered her house, the thin cotton blouse and khaki shorts she wore were thoroughly drenched.

It was less than a minute later when she emerged still wearing her soaked clothes, with a bigger umbrella in one hand and Spike in the other.

I crouched lower in my seat as he relieved himself against one of the saplings that dotted their front lawn. The moment his leg lowered, I opened the door and jogged over to them, ducking under her umbrella and getting right into her personal space.

Our close proximity forced Zara’s head to snap up in surprise.

Standing so close, I could smell the scent of papaya that the rain released when soaking her. Our bodies touched in so many places it was hard to distinguish if I was wet because of her or because of the rain I’d just run through. Under the shadow of the umbrella I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the way the thin cotton of her blouse molded over her breasts, the fabric so wet I could see the lace pattern of her bra. Her damp hair stuck to her cheekbones, and that audacious smile I loved but rarely saw spread over her lips.

The way she smelled and the way she looked into my eyes caused the raging conflict within me to ensue once again.

My mind shouted, Abort…abort!

My cock shouted, Move in…move in!

I leaned down, she leaned up, and then Spike’s true-to-form whimpering and wiggling snapped us both out of our trance.

Zara quickly glanced around before her eyes focused on the house across the street. “My nosy neighbor is home” was all she said, but her meaning was clear.

“Well, then maybe we should get out of the rain and away from nosy neighbors?” I snatched Spike up. “Hey, dude, how’ve ya been?”

“He really wasn’t done, but we can forget any chances of him pooping now,” she said with a frustrated sigh.

“He’ll poop for me. Won’tcha, buddy?”

“Yip.”

“See?” I took the umbrella, the leash, and little plastic baggie from her hands. “Go ahead in. I’ll walk him until he goes.”

And until my cock calms himself down.