Addicted

I chuckled and shook my head. "The middle one is twenty-one and the youngest is nineteen, but they're scoundrels of the worst type. You girls need to find good men who'll treat you right."

"Like you?" Casey asked as she glanced over her shoulder and gave me a flirty look.

"Exactly like me." I pressed my shoulder to Viv's as we walked out into the fray. "Let's go straight. Right here across the street is some of the most beautiful beach in all of Miami."

"Sounds good to me. Lead the way, Case." Vivian took another drink of her beer as I watched her out of the corner of my eye. Her red hair danced about, tickling my arm as I walked beside her.

"Did you sleep good last night? You didn't have any bad dreams from our dark alley event, right?" I glanced over at her, not wanting to let on just how excited I was to be beside her. We were just friends, and if I went over the line, I was pretty damn sure that she wouldn't let it go far, but I wanted more.

"It was okay. I had bad dreams, but more about family shit than the guy in the alley. Sometimes that can be worse, I guess." She chuckled and moved across the street, shifting to walk in front of me as the crowds thickened.

"How long are you guys here for?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Through Saturday morning. We're actually hoping to go to Black's Beach on Thursday night, though. Everyone keeps talking about a big event or something that's going on there." She paused on the other side of the street, and I moved up next to her.

The tank tops she wore left a little of her creamy white midriff showing, but with any luck at all, she would strip down to her bikini once we reached the water. I wanted to lay on the sand and get more acquainted with the view that was sure to steal my thoughts for weeks to come.

"Black's Beach is one of the nude beaches around here. It's relatively new, but I think they're just trying to keep up with San Diego, which has the same thing." I shrugged and stopped to pull off my sandals. "A new club is opening Thursday n

ight. That's the only thing I know of."

"Maybe that's it then. We'd love for you to come with us if you're up for it?" She gave me an innocent look that melted my resolve.

"I should be able to. I just have to take the week day by day thanks to my schedule shifting." I paused by a small open patch of sand and reached for her towel. "Leave your stuff here, and I'll get everything set up. You guys go enjoy the surf."

"I like him more already." Casey pulled off her top and worked herself out of her shorts.

I turned my attention toward the water, not wanting either of them to feel uncomfortable undressing in front of me. I might have nefarious thoughts about my newest obsession, but that didn't mean she needed to be made aware of it.

Vivian turned her back to me and pulled off her tank tops before wiggling out of her shorts quickly, shivering and jogging toward the water.

"You like her?" Casey's question surprised me.

"Yeah. A bit more than I want to talk about actually." I shrugged and tugged my shirt off. Her friend gave me a quick once-over and nodded approvingly.

"She's a good person who's had her heart stomped on too many times. Don't push anything unless you want everything. Got it?" Casey's sweet expression turned hard, and I almost fell in love a little with the girl simply for being ballsy enough to protect Viv. She was a good friend to have.

"I understand." I pointed to Vivian. "She's waving for us to join her. I'll beat you out there?"

"Not happening mister. I might look small, but I pack a punch." Casey turned and took off for the water, hurdling over several people who were laid out sunbathing.

I apologized casually to them as I jogged around the maze of bodies and stopped at the water’s edge, putting my hands on my hips.

Casey was laughing loudly as she pointed at me. "I totally beat you! See? Told you that I was fast."

I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, you better be. You have ten girls back there with sand in their faces from you doing the high jump over their heads. Looks like I'm going to have to pull out my self-defense moves from the alley the other night to fight them back for you."

"Yeah, Viv told me about that. I'm glad you were there, but don't do that shit again. She's my only friend and if something happens to her, I'll come looking for you." Casey gave me a cocky smirk.

"I do feel properly threatened. Can we have some fun now?" I lifted my hands playfully in the air and turned my gaze back to Vivian.

She chuckled and looked around us, but not before her eyes moved down my chest and rested on the front of my shorts.

I bent my knees to catch her gaze and pointed to my eyes with two of my fingers. "I'm up here, pretty girl. He'll talk to you if you want him to, but I'd rather that be behind closed doors."

Her cheeks turned pink as she swatted at me. "Stop it. I was just wondering if you stuff your pants with a sock."

"Has to be a tube sock, right?" Casey put her hands on her hips, the smirk tugging at her lips almost comical. "We should definitely find out."