Out in the Surf (Out in College 9)

“Oh, I’ll definitely want to do that,” he assured me enthusiastically. “But you’ll have to be more specific, ’cause you can be on top and still be the one with a cock in your ass. Highly recommend that position, actually. One of my faves.”

I sighed ruefully. “I cannot believe I’m having this conversation over coffee. Or at all.”

Luca snorted. “You never talked about sex with your previous partners?”

“No, we just did it.”

“Ah, well…that’s too bad. If you ask me, communication is important.”

“Sure, but why waste time talking when you can be doing?” I quipped.

“Because if you don’t know what your partner is into, you might fuck up.” He sipped his coffee and stretched his long legs in front of him. “And not in a fun way.”

“Huh. I thought the bonus of hooking up with a dude was not talking about feelings and sex and uncomfortable emotional baggage.”

I kept my tone light, but Luca’s sharp sideways glance indicated I hadn’t quite succeeded.

“Feelings and baggage. Yikes. I was thinking more along the lines of how many fingers you like in your ass, but feelings are good too.” He waited a beat and added, “How do you feel about three fingers?”

“You’re hysterical. And I need to get to work.” I stood, tossing my to-go cup into the recycle bin.

Luca chuckled as he fell into step beside me. “Fine. We’ll save the heavy stuff for later. What time should I come by tonight?”

“You really want to help?”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t. Hey, we can try it. If I’m in the way, fire me. I won’t be offended.”

My mouth twitched in amusement. Luca was very hard to resist. “Okay. I’m closing tonight at six. Knock on the side door if you come any later. I have a workshop set up behind the storage area. I won’t hear you unless you bang loudly.”

“How about if I text you?”

“That works too.”

He grinned. “Cool. Think of all the dirty laundry you want to share and sexy questions you want to ask. I’ll be ready.”

“I won’t be. I’ll be working.”

“All work and no play is no bueno,” Luca singsonged. “Speaking of playing…how much time till your next lesson?”

“Fifteen minutes. That’s enough time for what you’re thinking.”

“Ooh! A challenge. Give me ten minutes. If I can get you off in less, I top first.”

I busted up laughing. “You’re a little crazy.”

“I know. You in?”

Hell, yes. Of course I was in. I’d come to realize that Luca’s so-called challenges were almost always mutually beneficial. And I was no idiot.

Or maybe I was.

It wasn’t like me to allow someone to help me in the workshop. Crafting a board was an art. Sure, some parts of the process didn’t require experience, but any small nick or scratch would take valuable time to fix. I didn’t have time. And while I loved sex and I loved the idea of being inside Luca, I wasn’t a starry-eyed teenager. Nor did I trust easily. But I trusted him. Moreover, I was curious about him.

Luca played the role of carefree college senior on a final bender well, but he was in pain. He’d lost something important, and his struggle to fill the void compromised his vision. On some level, I could relate. I wasn’t sure if that explained why I wasn’t even remotely alarmed at the idea of taking this physical thing between us one step further.

Nope. I just wanted him. Maybe it was as simple as that.

5

Luca

Long Beach State’s campus was very different from the U of M’s. There were no grand old trees or ivy-covered brick buildings dating back to the turn of the previous century. The town wasn’t dedicated to the college the way it was in Ann Arbor. It didn’t shut down for football games, and every other store didn’t sell university gear. But it was cool in its own way.

The campus was easy to navigate, the students and faculty were friendly, and I’d much rather own a shirt with a surfboard on it than a cartoon shark anyway. And get this, the gymnasium was a big-ass blue pyramid building.

I stared at it in wonder, nodding absently as Zoe updated me with her latest boy drama. Either she assumed that being gay gave me sensitive insight into the male mind, or she mistakenly thought I was interested in her revolving list of crushes.

“…if he doesn’t call me by tonight, it’s over,” she grumbled, fidgeting with one of her hoop earrings. “Or should I give him till tomorrow?”

I rolled my eyes and came to a stop at the entrance to the Walter Pyramid. “This is a cool building.”

“You weren’t listening!”

“No, I wasn’t.” I lowered my sunglasses and pointed meaningfully. “What do they play here besides basketball?”

“Volleyball,” Zoe huffed. “And you’re a jerk.”

“Maybe, but I can’t listen to you tell me you’re waiting for some schmuck barista to call you. Games are stupid. If you want to talk, call him. If he doesn’t pick up or he acts like a douche, you have your answer. Don’t wait on a guy, Zoe. You’re better than that.”