Page 57 of The Dare

I nod and act interested, but really I’m considering my own college degree and wondering if I’ll ever be in a position to have a beach house like these that I can ignore for most of the year.

What’s this doctor specialize in? Printing money?

“Almost there,” Michael announces, easing the car around wide, crisp looking tree-lined streets. Huge walls and gleaming black gates are broken up with wider parks and plenty of open spaces.

The freeway seems like a distant memory. The suburbs?

They don’t exist out here.

As much as I’ve never been to or seen the beach, I bet most folks who live out this way have never been to my neighborhood either.

And if I had the choice, I’d gladly prefer to stay here myself.

Feeling like a snob already, I can’t hide my amazement when we slow as we reach a massive pair of wrought iron gates.

No gated community either.

This place looks like a palace at the top of a rise, overlooking the gate in one direction, a golden strip of sand and emerald water in the other.

“Oh my god,” I exclaim loudly, letting the window down, feeling my inhibitions disappear. I want to explore. To see the huge house and the beach.

As long as Michael is with me I feel like I can do anything.

“You like?” he asks, laughing to himself. Glad to see me so happy.

“I...I love it. It’s just… Beautiful,” I gasp, feeling the strange new sensation of the sea breeze against my face as he takes my hand, helping me out of the car that he’s parked halfway up the curved driveway so we can check out the view.

“It sure is,” he comments to himself, not even looking at the view. I can feel his eyes on my profile before he hooks an arm around me, a man who’s nothing but content. “It sure is,” he murmurs again, kissing the top of my head as we stand and watch for a while.

The breeze picks up to a chilly wind, signaling what’s to come as we both notice some dark clouds on the distant horizon.

“How long’s this little path down to the beach?” I gulp, figuring it must be a mile long hike considering how high up we are.

“Do you wanna find out now or shall we freshen up?” he asks, pulling me closer and growling as he nibbles my neck.

“I think you’re fresh enough as it is,” I giggle, but grip his forearms with my hands, not wanting him to stop for a second.

“I’d love a shower and a change of clothes,” I admit, and without any further encouragement, he’s unbuttoning my blouse in silent agreement.

I’m not sure if it’s the sound of the huge gates closing electronically behind us, or his finger finding my thick and rigid nipples that make me jump, shivering with sudden arousal.

“We’re quite alone up here, too,” he explains, kissing my neck tenderly now as his hands trace over me.

“A girl could scream her head off and nobody would hear,” I counter, feeling my happy expression shift to one of need as one of his hands glides between my legs.

“I thought you’d like it,” Michael says in a low voice, guiding me effortlessly towards the huge wooden doors that are the front entrance.

“I love it,” I tell him.

Love everything. Love him. I never want this to end and I know it’s only just begun.

Chapter Eighteen

Michael

The beach house.

More of a mansion, granted.