Making Waves: A Perfect Kisses Novella by Ophelia London Page B

out. I didn’t know how else to get a hold of you, but I needed to see you, to apologize for exploding like that.”
    She couldn’t help laughing. “Will, I forgive you. Of course, I do. But I—”
    “Listen.” He took her arms, their wet bodies sliding together. “I don’t give a damn about the interview. That was me being selfish and stubborn for the wrong reasons. My publicist says I should thank you. Chase Ryder is trending again.” He grinned and pulled her in, resting his mouth against her cheek. “I trust you, Justine.” His voice was low but solid. “With everything.”
    She couldn’t help it—she jumped up and wrapped her legs around him. Will broke into laughter, but she cut it off. On his lips, she tasted him and salt and a sweet forgiveness that warmed her whole body.
    The next thing she felt was her feet touching the sand. They were out of the water now, a few feet from shore. Will pulled away but kept one hand on the side of her neck. “I want to tell you something else,” he said, wiping his other hand over his face. “I need to be completely honest.”
    Justine nodded and glanced past his shoulder, realizing Anton and the rest of the guys were gone. They were alone on the beach in the stormy twilight.
    “What?” she asked.
    “Last year, when all that shit went down, we’d only known each other a few weeks, but I missed you. I knew we had a connection and when it was over so fast, nothing made me happy. Not even the natural high from surfing. That’s when I stopped competing.”
    Empathy and the last traces of regret from the past pressed against Justine’s heart. “I’m sorry you were sad, too. What made you want to come back this season?”
    “Like you, I hated that I was running from a problem. You were afraid of the water, and I’d lost my love for it. Neither of us was in a healthy place. When I finally got back to L.A. and so much time had passed, I didn’t come find you. I was sure you were over me.”
    “Over you,” she said, running her fingers across his cheek. “Will, were you over me?”

Chapter Thirteen
    Will didn’t have to consider his answer for a second. Slowly but firmly, he shook his head.
    “I was falling in love with you.” Once he admitted it, the rest of the words came surprisingly easily. “The truth is, I never stopped and yesterday was like falling for you all over again, but at warp speed.” He moved his hands to her shoulders. “Please tell me I’m not crazy.”
    Justine didn’t speak for a long moment. At first she just gazed at him, then a full, beautiful smile curved her lips. Tiny teardrops mixed with rain and sea clung to the corners of her eyes.
    “You’re not crazy,” she said.
    As she took his face between her hands, a deluge of hope and desire flooded his heart, maybe too much for his entire body to hold.
    “I thought I was the crazy one,” she continued. “I mean, who the hell falls in love in one day?”
    “We the hell do.”
    He was about to tell her how relieved and happy he was, how happy she made him. Before he could say one more word, Justine rose up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She hovered an inch from his mouth, driving him crazy. At last, she pressed her gorgeous lips to his.
    His head swam as she tugged him close, locking their bodies into a perfect fit. He skimmed his hands around to her back, feeling her skin, silky smooth and warm. Together they tumbled to the sand. She released an exquisite sigh as his hands glided down her curves, searching to touch every inch.
    “I can’t believe you stripped for me again,” he whispered. “And what the hell is this?” His finger slid under the tiny piece of fabric around her hips.
    “It’s called a thong,” she said. “When I got dressed this morning, I didn’t plan on wearing it to jump into the ocean.”
    “I’m very glad you did.” He ran a hand over her stomach, feeling her quiver, watching her bite her bottom lip. “You’re so amazing,”