Obsession

Beach

Caleb

Jenson stood on the sand, the waves tickling his bare feet, as he threw stones into the sea. From just a couple of feet away, I had the freedom to just look at him ... the way the sun brought out his olive coloured skin, how the wind was teasing his dark hair. He was standing strong. Confident. Relaxed.

And all I could do was stare at him.

His eyes were scanning the horizon and I could tell by his wonderful profile that a small smile was playing on his lips.

I hadn't been sure that he wanted to come to the summer house with me. I had been preparing myself for him to turn me down. To say no. To tell me that he couldn't make it.

But, instead he'd say yes. Over a cheeseburger and fries at his local diner, he'd explained that he would come with me. Explore a little more of what California had to offer before he came out here to study. And it had taken everything in me not to drag him over the table we'd been sitting at and pull him into my lap to shower him with kisses.

I mean, I would have done it. No matter how many people saw us.

I didn't care.

I watched as he pulled his arm back and shot a stone high into the air, watching as it plopped into the sea.

The waves lapped the shore, the sound soothing. The sun shone high in the sky, heating up the air around us. We were the only ones on the beach.

And it was perfect.

I took a mental picture, storing it away so I could come back to this place once we were back home.

"You don't have to keep staring, you know." Jenson's voice broke through my thoughts and I refocused my attention to his mouth, to find him smiling.

Shaking my head, I managed a small smile of my own. "Sorry. Got lost in my own little world there." A world where he seemed to be the centre.

Jenson sauntered over to me, shoving his hands in the pockets of his shorts. Glancing around, I saw him take a deep breath. "It's nice here."

"It is." I agreed. "Rebecca and I used to love coming here as kids. I still do."

"Does your sister still come out here?"

I nodded. "Yeah. When she's not at college. She's coming out here with some friends after we leave. She'll probably stay till she has to go back to college."

"How about your parents?"

"They come out here when they want to entertain their clients, or get away from the everyday stress at home." And then they'd stay out here for a while and forget they had two kids at home. Which was why we had a nanny growing up.

Jenson peered over his shoulder at the house, and raised his brows. "Have we got to clean that place while we're here?"

I chuckled, and reached over to grip his elbow. "No. We have some people do it for us. They cleaned it before we came, and they'll be here every day around lunchtime to keep the place tidy." I shrugged. "Clean up any mess we make."

I tugged on Jenson's arm till his hand was pulled out of the pocket, then I reached down to squeeze his fingers in my hand. His palm was warm, his skin rough. I watched as he let his gaze wander over the quiet beach, taking in our peaceful surroundings.

And it was peaceful. Serene.

I had this guy all to myself for two weeks. Warmth bloomed across my chest and I squeezed his fingers once more.