Finding Strength (The Searchers Book 5) Read online

  “You missed your opportunity,” Ryan said. “The rest of us didn’t.”

  “I’ll do it,” Matisse said and waggled his eyebrows.

  “No, thanks,” Seok replied and held out his hand. His friend tossed him the bottle of lotion, and he sat up. As he spread it over his chest, he glanced down. They were right. He pressed against his skin. It blanched white before pinking again. That was going to hurt later.

  “What about you?” he asked Cai as the man settled on the edge of the pool and eased himself into the water.

  “Nora got me earlier. But I don’t usually burn.” He disappeared beneath the water only to pop up a short distance away. Lying on his back, face lifted to the sky, Cai looked totally at ease. Peaceful.

  Must have been nice.

  “I thought we’d go out for dinner tonight,” Nicole called from where she sat in the shade. She placed her e-reader on the table next to her and adjusted her hat. “I wanted to give Nora the Cajun experience.”

  “Alligators?” Ryan asked.

  “And airboats,” Genevieve said.

  “We’re going to Cotnoir’s Crawfish,” Nicole said.

  Matisse snorted. “Dad is going to Cotnoir’s? They have plastic tablecloths and fountain sodas.”

  “Your father isn’t a snob,” Nicole replied, looking at them from over her glasses.

  No matter how long he’d been in the States, it never failed to shock him when one of his friends argued with his parents. Not that Matisse was being disrespectful, but the familiarity and banter he had with his mother was something Seok had never had.

  “I’ve grown to appreciate Cotnoir’s.” The doors slid shut as Matisse’s father stepped onto the patio. “I’ve mellowed in my old age.”

  Seok watched the expression on his friend’s face. Utter confusion. Maybe what Nicole had said was true: his father wanted to make amends for the fact that Matisse had a juvenile record because of him. Not so long ago, Guillaume had taken advantage of Matisse’s naivety and love for his family. From the way his father watched him, Seok could tell the man had come to some hard conclusions.

  “Okay,” Matisse answered. He glanced at his mother and then back to Guillaume. “What time?”

  “After the early birds,” Guillaume answered. “I’m old, but I’m not that old.” He pulled a chair closer to Matisse’s and started to talk in low tones.

  Seok stood and moved to the pool to give them privacy. Unlike Cai, who’d gotten into the water slowly, he dove in. The cool water shocked the breath out of him, but it felt so good against his heated skin. It also worked to get rid of the half-mast erection he’d been sporting.

  He surfaced and swam over to Cai, who’d found a lounger and crawled onto it.

  “You talk to Apollo again?” Cai asked without opening his eyes.

  “Not today,” he answered. “I texted him, but I haven’t heard back. He’s probably at the gym. The fight’s in a few days.”

  “We’ll be back for it.”

  Seok nodded. “I hope he doesn’t do this again.”

  Cai sat, the lounger popping up on either side of him as he sunk in the middle. “He will. As long as he keeps winning and they keep paying him…”

  Seok went under the water, tipping his head back to get his hair out of his face. “He’s determined to come out of school without debt. But all it takes is one injury.”

  He swam to the shallow part of the pool where he could touch the bottom. Ryan had moved into the water as well. He sat on the steps, elbows bent and toes out in front. “What are you talking about?”

  “Apollo,” Seok said, sitting next to him.

  Ryan nodded. “He’s home.” He meant Seok’s house. Until he’d seen Jessica, Apollo had been staying with his trainer. “That will make it easier to talk him into staying.”

  At the end of the pool, Cai had situated himself back on the floating lounger. Matisse had finished his conversation with his dad and was currently tiptoeing to the edge of the pool. “Don’t do it.” Cai opened one eye.

  “How’d you hear me?” Matisse huffed and walked to the shallow end where they sat. “Super hearing. Fucking annoying.”

  “Tisse,” Nicole called, “unexpected language.”

  Stifling a laugh, Seok stared at his feet.

  “Sunday can’t come soon enough,” his friend mumbled.

  “I heard that,” Nicole said.

  “Fuck me,” Matisse whispered. “Can’t even swear in my own pool.”

  “It’s my pool, Tisse,” his dad said and that was it. Matisse threw his hands into the air and stomped into the house.

  “Don’t be a baby!” Genevieve teased as he stormed inside. The door closed behind him, and she sighed. “I missed him.”

  4

  Nora

  Nora turned, back to the mirror, and pressed two fingers to her shoulder.

  “I didn’t know you burned,” Ryan said, dropping a kiss onto her skin.

  She would have shrugged, but she had a feeling it would hurt. “I don’t usually. I put on sunblock, but it’s been months since my skin has seen sunlight.”

  “Here.” Ryan took the aloe vera gel on the sink and squeezed it into his palms. “Let me.” Gently, he smoothed the gel between his palms and then spread it onto her shoulders.

  Closing her eyes, she reveled in the sensation of coolness. “Thank you.”

  “It’s just along the top of your shoulders. We put a towel on you… must not have reached all your bits.”

  “All my bits?” Nora teased.

  Ryan moved to stand in front of her and lifted his eyebrows. “I still have some left, are there any other places that need to cool off?”

  Nora met his gaze. He was daring her, pushing her, and she shifted, squeezing her thighs together. She stood in her underwear and tank top. The spaghetti straps rested on her biceps, but with her eyes on him, she pushed them down until her breasts were exposed.

  Ryan followed the descent of her clothing, and his breath sped up. He glanced up at her. “Not too sore?”

  She shook her head and then smiled. “I can be on top.”

  He moved fast. Placing his hand on her neck, beneath the curtain of her hair, he yanked her to him. His kiss was hard, and she touched his face to feel his jaw working. Her fingertips grazed his chin, and he pulled back, opening his eyes.

  Still holding her close, he took her fingers and lifted them to his mouth, pressing his lips against the tips. Then he grabbed her waist, lifting her into his arms so her legs went around his hips.

  Ryan groaned and suddenly, they were both frantic. Nora lifted herself, grinding against him. He wore jeans because he was ready to go out.

  “We don’t have time,” Nora got out.

  “You’re going to come before we leave this house.” He’d somehow managed to get them to the bed and sat at the edge. Her knees touched the mattress, giving her the leverage she needed to rub against him.

  Her core felt hollow, and she grabbed his hand, shoving it between her legs. “Touch me.” She didn’t know where her confidence came from. Maybe it was because Ryan liked to challenge her, and she liked to meet his challenges. His face was proud, green eyes blazing as he pushed her panties aside to dip two fingers into her.

  Nora cried out. That was what she needed, to be filled by him. He withdrew, fingers scissoring on both sides of her clit, and he squeezed, a rhythmic pulse that had her bucking into him.

  He groaned as she tore at his buttons. They were so close there wasn’t room for her hand, but she needed him. Nora slid back, dropping to the floor. The heat of his hand disappeared, and the shock of air had her clenching her inner muscles.

  There was no finesse to her movements. She yanked the zipper down, and he lifted his hips enough for her to pull his jeans and underwear to his knees.

  He gripped himself and slowly pumped his fist down his length. She stared at him, at the way the muscles flexed in his arm as he pushed and pulled.

  Nora scooted closer. The angle was p
erfect, the bed just high enough. She reached for him, wrapping her hand around his so she could feel how hard he gripped and the speed he used.

  With her free hand, she touched his stomach, and he jumped, muscles clenching like she’d surprised him.

  She lifted herself a little higher and breathed against his tip.

  “I said you were going to come.” Ryan didn’t sound like himself. His voice was low, almost guttural.

  “I will,” she said.

  He took his hand from under hers and leaned back, bracing himself against the mattress as she ghosted her lips across his tip.

  He hissed out a breath as she slowly slid him between her lips. His skin was so smooth, and so hot, and the sounds he made… Nora touched between her legs to feel the wetness he conjured.

  Ryan suddenly leaned forward and grabbed her hand, pulling it away. She felt his breath against her wet fingers before he sucked them into his mouth.

  Her breath caught, and she began to move a little faster on him. “Nore.”

  Was he warning her?

  With each downward slide, she twisted her hand against his hardened length. She increased her suction, pulling a little stronger at his tip.

  “Too much,” he got out before he lifted her up. In a smooth glide of movement, he pulled her onto his lap and pushed inside her.

  Nora rocked. It felt so good, stretching and filling her. She raked her fingers through his hair, guiding his head back so she could see his eyes.

  It was almost too much; she could read every emotion in his eyes. And he let her. In the end, that was what pushed her over the edge.

  He let her see everything. His love. His devotion. The way he got so much pleasure from her.

  She kissed him so hard his bottom teeth cut her lip, but she didn’t care. She wanted to breathe his air directly from his lungs as he rammed inside her.

  The bed squeaked, brass headboard and footboard rocking beneath their movement. Faster and faster. Ryan’s tempo became hectic and uneven. Everything inside her was focused on the feel of him. His skin dragged against hers, leaving her empty and then filling her up again.

  She was going to explode. Ryan’s hips snapped, and he held himself inside her. The pressure was too much, and she came. She pushed herself down on him, trying to keep him inside her as he met her release with his own.

  “Oh fuck.” Ryan moved fast. “Shit.” He lifted her off him. “Nora. Fuck. I came inside you.”

  Confused he’d ruined the bliss they’d just had, she stared at him. Then it hit her.

  They hadn’t used protection.

  “Oh fuck,” she answered.

  “I can’t believe I did that. Nore, I’m sorry.”

  She gave a shaky laugh. “It’s not your fault, Ryan. We’re both responsible. Or not responsible. I should have gotten on something before now.” Self-consciously, she walked backward to the bathroom.

  He stood, kicked free of his jeans and tore his shirt over his head. “Why are you walking backward?”

  She’d done it without thinking. “I—uh—I don’t know really.” She could feel him, leaking out of her, and her face heated. “I’m going to…” Hurrying the rest of the way, she turned on the shower and jumped inside without waiting for it to heat up.

  Ryan came in a second later, closing the shower door behind him. “Where are you,” he asked, “in your cycle?”

  She did some quick calculations as Ryan squeezed body wash into his hands and began to clean her. “We should be good,” she said.

  “Okay,” he said, smoothing his hands down her arms. “You know we’d take care of you if you got pregnant.”

  She did. Ryan was nothing if not responsible, but she didn’t want to get pregnant this way. Not because she been horny and couldn’t stop long enough to get a condom. And not when things were still so rocky with Apollo.

  “I’m going to get on the pill,” she said. “No more talking about it. Tomorrow, I’m going to do it. There has to be a Planned Parenthood around here.”

  “I’ll take you,” Ryan said. He washed himself quickly and reached around her to shut off the water. “I’d like to take more time with you in here, but I’m afraid everyone is probably waiting.”

  “Right,” she said and jumped out. She’d have to air dry.

  “What about aloe?” Ryan asked as she ran into the bedroom and shimmied into her underwear and a strapless romper Genevieve had lent her. She glanced in the full-length mirror. Though she and Matisse’s sister had different body types, the material had enough give in it to smooth over her curves.

  “No time,” she said. She pulled the elastic off her wrist and began to wrap her hair around in a bun.

  From over her shoulder, she caught Ryan staring at her. “What?” she asked. She moved a little closer to the mirror. Maybe she had a hickey? No. She didn’t see anything.

  He finished buttoning his jeans and reached for her. He pulled her into his arms, turning them so they faced the mirror together. His chest was damp, glistening in the late afternoon sunlight that streamed through the window. “You’re beautiful.”

  She’d been thinking something similar. “I think you are,” she said, turning. Nora stood on her tiptoes and kissed his chin, then when he dipped his head, his lips. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” he said. “Now let’s go. Before I rip this thing off like it’s begging me to do.”

  Goosebumps blasted along her spine, and she shivered in delight. She could almost see it, and from the way Ryan narrowed his eyes, so could he.

  “You go down first.” He pushed her away and glanced down at himself. “I need a minute.”

  Nora giggled and left him, hurrying downstairs. The house was quiet. It took her a few minutes to find everyone.

  “There you are!” Nicole noticed her and waved her over. “Sweet tea?”

  “Yes, please.” Nora accepted the glass and tipped the liquid into her mouth. Sweet tea might have been her favorite thing about Mississippi. That and the weather.

  And the food. God, the food was so good. People weren’t afraid of butter and sugar. She didn’t know how Nicole and Genevieve stayed so slim. Matisse strode toward them, limbs loose and shoulders relaxed. He wore a lazy smile, and looked so happy she couldn’t help smiling back.

  “Hey,” he said, kissing her hair and wrapping an arm around her waist. “We’re just waiting for Gen and Ryan, then we’ll get going.”

  “Okay.” She closed her eyes and leaned against him. His arms tightened around her.

  “Aww! Love!”

  Nora opened her eyes. Genevieve stood, hand on one hip, watching them. Her voice was teasing, but she wasn’t mocking them. Each day that Nora spent with Matisse’s family, she saw more and more of him in them. They were, all of them, honest. And while Nicole might have been the most diplomatic, none of them said anything except what they meant.

  “I’m going to ride my bike,” Matisse said. “I have an extra helmet. Want to come?”

  She pulled back to look up at him. “Like, a tandem? Is it very far?”

  He stared at her, confusion swirling in his eyes. “A tandem?” He barked out a laugh. “No. Nora. A motorcycle.”

  “Oh!” She tried to picture Matisse riding a bike, and she couldn’t. But a motorcycle? That she could definitely imagine. “Sure.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Cai asked. He glanced up at the sky. “What if it rains?”

  “It’s not supposed to,” he answered. “And look at that.” He pointed up. “Blue sky. Not a cloud in sight.”

  “If you have a helmet, I’m in!” She’d never ridden a motorcycle, and she loved the idea of flying past the ocean. She glanced down at herself and her strapless romper. “Should I change?”

  “You’ll be fine,” Genevieve said. “Just hold yourself really tight against Tisse. I’ve ridden a thousand times, and I’ve only ever flashed people once or twice.”

  Grimacing, Nora glanced back to the house. How long would it take her to
change? But at that moment, Ryan walked out, and Guillaume announced they were leaving.

  All right, then. There was every possibility Bijoux Shores was going to get an eyeful.

  With her and Matisse taking the bike, the rest of the group piled into two cars. They made a happy little caravan, off to eat seafood. “Meet you there!” Nicole called out the window of her sedan.

  Cai and Ryan gave her a wave from the backseat, and Seok nodded at her from where he sat next to Matisse’s dad.

  As they rolled down the driveway, Matisse went into the garage. He came out a second later, pushing a motorcycle in front of him.

  “That’s not made for two people,” she said dryly.

  When Matisse said they were going to take a motorcycle, she’d pictured something a little more… solid. Something with lots of chrome and big wheels.

  But this? This looked like the sort of thing people raced around a track. In order to drive it, Matisse would have to be stretched out across it. What was she supposed to do? Lie across his back?

  Slinging a leg over it, Matisse sat and lifted an eyebrow. “Come on, chére. Don’t be a ’fraidy chat.”

  His sexy French was starting to persuade her. Still… “You can’t be serious, Tisse.”

  “As a heart attack.” He picked up a helmet and held it out to her. No way was it going to fit over her hair. Even as she shook her head, she pulled the elastic band from her hair and shook it out.

  “My ass is going to be in the air.”

  Matisse shifted. “Don’t give me a boner. I can’t drive with one.”

  “Great,” she said. God, this thing was tight. It squeezed her brain. “I look like an orange on a toothpick.” She gave her head a bobble for good measure.

  Matisse laughed. “Come on.” He slapped the back of the motorcycle and grabbed the helmet hanging off the handlebars. He slid it onto his head, then held out his hand. “Come on!” His voice was muffled, but she got it.

  She eyed the motorcycle warily as she lifted her leg over the back. Yeah. This was awkward.

  “Ready?”

  No.

  The motorcycle jumped to life. It definitely wasn’t one of those rumbling ones that announced their presence four blocks away.