The house had been built on a rise to overlook the ocean rather than straight out at it. It was in a gated community with a private beach, separated by a fence that would keep children in but still allowed you to see the beach beyond it from any height in the yard.
Before that was a pool only slightly smaller than Olympic, enclosed in a tall, child-proof fence. To the right side was a large patch of lawn that would be perfect for a swing set and playhouse. On the left was a granite slab with a basketball hoop at each end, divided by a low, removable net.
And that was all after a large stone patio with a dining area and a circle of couches and chairs surrounding a built-in fire ring.
“I’m so glad you like it.”
Chloe turned around and came back to the table, smiling. “I really do.”
If she hadn’t, I would have put my house up for sale and moved wherever she wanted, but I was happy we were on the same page because I really did love it here.
I held out her chair, and she took a seat, then I helped her scoot it in before dropping into the chair to her right rather than across the square table.
“So tell me about your competitions so far this season,” I urged as we filled our plates.
She lit up and talked animatedly about all her experiences since the season started in January. Some of the stories had me in absolute stitches, and her enthusiasm only made me fall harder for her.
Although all her stories revolved around surfing, Chloe revealed a little about herself in each one. I soaked up every detail, eager to know everything about her. I asked questions but was careful not to reveal the level of my obsession to her.
We were just finishing up when she rolled her eyes and smacked herself on the forehead. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I talked about myself for the past hour. You must think I’m so self-centered.”
“Not at all. I loved every word.”
Chloe blushed and smoothed back some hair that had escaped her ponytail in the night breeze. “I’m not sure what to ask you because it would all be personal questions since…um…to be honest…um…I already know just about everything there is to know about your career.”
A grin split my face, and I leaned back in my seat, stretching my legs out in front of me. “Are you a fan, Chloe?” I asked cheekily.
“You could say that,” she hedged, making me chuckle.
“Excellent. Then we’re closer than I thought.”
Chloe cocked her head to the side and studied me curiously. “Pardon?”
“Hold that thought.” I stood and moved around to help her from her seat. Then I led her over to the couches and sat her down in the middle of the softest one. I spent a few minutes starting a fire, then took the seat next to her and hauled her onto my lap.
“I’ve been holding back so much that I wanted to say tonight,” I admitted. “I’m caught in your web, baby. I’m yours, and I want you to be mine. And I’ll take any advantage I can get, which means I’m more than willing to exploit your fangirl feelings toward me.”
“You want me?” she whispered, her expression awed.
“Can’t you feel how much?” I asked softly before pushing my hips up to grind my big, rock-hard cock against her ass. She shivered, and her brown eyes grew dark as her tongue darted out to lick her lips. My tongue itched to follow the same path.
“But what about your plan for that woman…?”
She trailed off when she saw my raised eyebrow. “Think a little harder before you finish that sentence, baby,” I told her, not bothering to hide my smirk.
“Me?” she squeaked.
I didn’t bother to reply.
“But we don’t even know each other!”
“I disagree. I’m pretty much an open book, so my more obsessed fans”—I winked at her, and she glared at me—“know me well. And you just spent our whole dinner giving me the chance to learn about you. After tonight, I’m even more convinced that my first impression of you was correct.”
“Your first impression?” she parroted. “And what was that?”
“That you’re mine.”
Chloe’s expression turned hopeful, then it fell. I frowned, figuring whatever she said next would probably piss me off.
“I don’t know if you’ll still feel that way when I tell you the truth about me.”
Now it was my turn to be flabbergasted. What could she possibly mean? Then I asked myself, was there anything she could say that would change my mind? Nope.
“I doubt it. But why don’t you tell me this terrible secret, and we’ll see what happens?”
She took a deep breath and tried to move off my lap, but I put my hands on her hips and held her in place. Looking down at her hands, she fidgeted with her fingers for a minute before speaking. “I don’t know if you noticed how I dodged your questions about my goals.”