The Jump

15 Home Away From Home

The next day Merrill woke up and started to make breakfast before Lucinda had a chance to. He wanted to surprise her but mostly he missed the routine they had developed on the farm. However, like clock work Lucinda got up before dawn and went for a run on the beach. Her mind fluttered with thoughts of making love on the couch with Raif just the night before. She smiled throughout the entire jog feeling so sneaky about how quiet they had been. Afterward as she stretched her muscles on the sand, she realized how Raif wasn't out on the water. In fact, she didn't see him at all during her jog either, so she decided to go check on him.

Since his backyard opened up to the beach, she figured she would just go through the yard. The hinges on the picket fence squeaked as she opened it and her running shoes crunched against the sand scattered on the stone walkway. She smiled as she past by the lounge chair where Raif had kissed her, and the BBQ grill where he had stood, looking as handsome as ever while cooking. The memory of that night still made her stomach feel as there were thousands of butterflies trapped inside it and fighting to get out. When she finlly got to the sliding glass door to see if Raif was home, she knocked and then pressed her face against it. Somewhere inside she could hear Frank going nuts as he barked at the sound of her knocking. Shortly after, a very sleepy Raif walked up and smiled instantly when he saw her.

"Good morning to you," he said while sliding open the door and then grabbing her waist to pull her inside. "You know, you could've just walked in. I don't keep this door locked."

"Well, I didn't want to assume I could." She gave him a quick peck as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Well then, from now on you can walk in whenever you want, in fact you are very welcome to." He released her and took her hand as he guided her to the kitchen. "So what's up?"

"Nothing, it's just that you weren't out this morning. I got a little worried."

"So you missed me?" Raif teased and flashed her a grin.

A tickle ran through Lucinda's stomach. "Of course." She smiled shyly.

"I wanted to sleep in a little today so I changed the hours for the Barrel Wave." He walked over to the kitchen counter and began making coffee.

"You can do that? Won't people be upset it's not open yet?"

"Nah. Part of the beauty of owning your own business is being able to set your own hours." He leaned over the island and stole a kiss from Lucinda. She grinned. "Plus with it being off season, people usually understand if I open or close at different hours."

"Well, I just wanted to say hi, but I should really get back. Merrill is probably awake now. He'll be hungry."

With a sly smile Raif made his way around the island to her and pulled her hips into him. "You sure you have to leave so soon?"

He started kissing her but Lucinda coyly pushed away.

"Raif I have to get back." Ignoring her, he moved his kisses down towards her neck, "Raif, I'm all sweaty from jogging."

But Raif carried on anyway, now pulling the strap of her tank top down and taking a bite of her collar bone. Lucinda stopped protesting as her skin began to tingle and her craving for him increased.

"Alright!" she exclaimed, breathlessly giving in. "But we need to be quick."

They stripped each other bare in record time and Raif lifted her onto the counter. As he began moving against her, Lucinda thought about what a waste it had been to go three whole years without intimacy. Because as they moved together, it reminded her of just how amazing it felt to be desired and wanted and maybe even loved? However, the way Raif looked into her eyes as he moved, and the way he focussed on how to make her feel good as if his own pleasure didn't matter, she realized that maybe the three years were worth it after all? No other man could've possibly made her feel as alive the way Raif always did. He was worth the wait.