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  Chasing Forever

  Amber Skyze

  Jordyn has longed to make her relationship with best friend Diego more than platonic. Her body drips with need to know what it would feel like to have his lips kissing every inch of her skin. Desire to wrap her legs around his waist and plunge into deep waters with him fills her every dream.

  Diego is one with the ocean. His passion is surfing and chasing that ultimate wave. He doesn’t have time for a relationship. Or does he?

  A storm is brewing and when a tragedy occurs, Diego and Jordyn need to decide if they’re both chasing the same dreams.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing

  www.ellorascave.com

  Chasing Forever

  ISBN 9781419934940

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Chasing Forever Copyright © 2011 Amber Skyze

  Edited by Helen Woodall

  Cover art by Syneca

  Electronic book publication June 2011

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Chasing Forever

  Amber Skyze

  Dedication

  This book is for my friend Lisa Marie. We share many of the same journeys, whether good or bad. I’m glad fate stepped in and brought you into my life. I wish you much success in all avenues of your life.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Jeep: DaimlerChrysler Corporation

  Jet Ski: Miracle Recreation Equipment Company

  Chapter One

  Jordyn sat on the beach towel watching Diego riding out the waves. Her pulse raced. He knew he shouldn’t be out there. Hurricane Ivan was heading inland and the weatherman had warned of the dangerous undertow. She’d attempted to chase a few waves, but once she’d swum a few yards she knew it was a mistake. She’d quickly swum back to shore and waited while her best friend tried to prove he was smarter than the ocean.

  The waters had turned mean and ugly over the last twenty minutes and the sky was an ominous gray. The hurricane was moving closer. A breeze came in off the water and a chill passed through her body. She’d unzipped her wet suit down to her waist, exposing her bikini top when she exited the water. She should cover up again in case the rains poured down.

  She scanned the waters. Someone on a Jet Ski buzzed around, stopping every so often to take some pictures. She hoped he would keep away from the jagged rocks. The razor-sharp rocks were Jordyn’s bigger fear with Diego being out on the water. One wrong move and a wave could drag him under and throw him against the rocks, ending his life.

  Jet skis were prohibited at any time on this part of the beach, but it didn’t stop them, especially on a day like today. They’d swarm around the surfers—in this case, just Diego—hoping to get a great shot of him nailing a thirty-foot wave.

  Hopefully that’s all he catches.

  She scanned the beach looking for any other fools. People with cameras hoping to click the ideal picture of the perfect storm peppered the sand.

  “Dumbasses,” she muttered. What did that make her? She was on the beach too. Why had she allowed Diego to convince her this was a good idea?

  “Because I’m a fool too.” She buried her foot in the sand and watched how the tiny particles glided between her toes. If she was smart she’d grab her board, jump in her Jeep and hightail it back to her place. Common sense flew out the window when it came to Diego, because she was head over heels in love with him.

  Too bad he doesn’t feel the same. He loved her like a sister he’d said a few too many times, especially on drunken occasions.

  If she’d had a nickel for all the times he’d said, “If you weren’t like a sister to me, I’d fuck you.”

  How her pussy moistened with the thought. A few times she’d been tempted to sock him one and other times she’d wanted to tackle him and show him the woman inside waiting for him to fill that void deep within.

  Instead she’d sat back and waited.

  Cupping her hand over her eyes she scanned the water for Diego. She spotted him getting up on his board as a monstrous wave approached. There was someone else out there with him and he was close—dangerously close.

  Diego was up and steadying himself. He’d just caught his balance when the other surfer came crashing into him. Both disappeared into the depths as the wave crashed over them.

  Fear formed in the pit of her stomach as she raced to the shore, shouting his name.

  “Diego!” Dear God, he has to be all right. Please don’t let him die.

  “Help!” she cried. “Please, someone help my friend.”

  No one raced to rescue Diego. The lifeguards were gone once the warnings were announced and the beach officially closed. The onlookers clicked away at their cameras, but not one of them offered their assistance.

  “Fuckheads.” She was considering going in herself, when she saw a head bobbing in the water. The long, dark hair belonged to Diego. She’d know him anywhere.

  Relief washed over her until she realized the other person had not emerged.

  Diego trudged through the choppy waters, his board attached to his foot. Jordyn scanned the waters, waiting for another head to appear, but it didn’t. She paced back and forth, watching for signs of life and for Diego to make it to the shore.

  When he finally walked out of the water to safety she rushed to him and grabbed him in the biggest hug she could manage.

  “Whoa. What’s all this about?” He wrapped his arms around her and she instantly felt safe.

  Tears poured from her eyes as she held on to him, afraid to let him go. “I thought you were dead out there. I thought I lost you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. No wave can defeat me. You should know that better than anyone.” He pulled out of her clutches and looked at her pointedly. “I’m safe and sound.”

  His cocky attitude was what bothered her the most. He had no fear when it came to the water, but she knew it was the ocean that ruled them, not them ruling it.

  “Did you see the other person who collided with you?”

  Diego shook his head. He stepped away from her and looked out at the water.

  “There. Over there,” someone shouted.

  Both Jordyn and Diego turned toward the voice and then followed where she pointed.

  It didn’t take long to register that the body was floating facedown, likely knocked out from the force of the wave crashing into him.

  Diego didn’t hesitate. He rushed back into the water.

  “No,” Jordyn cried. She knew her reasons for wanting him to stay on shore were selfish, but she couldn�
�t help it.

  Diego didn’t have a selfish bone in his body. Someone needed help and he’d die saving them. Hopefully in this case he’d make it back out alive.

  “Your boyfriend is fearless,” the woman said, walking closer. “It must be nice to have a real-life hero.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend.” She winced as she spoke the words.

  “But you love him. It’s clearly written in your eyes.”

  Jordyn couldn’t look at the woman as they spoke. She focused on Diego and his rescue attempt.

  “It’s a one-way love. He thinks of me as a sister.”

  The woman chuckled and Jordyn couldn’t help but turn toward her.

  “Why do you find that funny?”

  “He hardly thinks of you as a sister. I’ve never seen admiration run so deep from a sibling.”

  What did she know? She couldn’t tell from where she’d been standing. Diego had told her over and over again, his love was purely platonic.

  “Well, someone forgot to tell Diego he was in love with me.” Her voice was bitter and she didn’t care. She’d fought these feelings for Diego for a long time. The cold hard reality of it was she’d never have him for her own.

  She returned her attention to the ocean. Diego had a hold of the guy and was dragging him back through the rough waters. The Jet Ski moved in and pulled Diego and the body inland. As they neared the shallow waters Jordyn moved in and helped him pulled the guy onto the sand.

  They managed to get the surfer up where the water wouldn’t hit and turned her on her back. What Jordyn had thought was a guy was actually a girl.

  “She needs CPR,” the strange woman said.

  “Do you know it?” Jordyn asked.

  “No.”

  “I do,” Diego said. His deep voice told Jordyn he was in control and they didn’t need to worry. “Call 9-1-1 while I give her mouth-to-mouth.”

  “Right.” Jordyn ran back to her beach towel and dug for her cell phone in her bag. She found it and quickly dialed 9-1-1. She was back by Diego’s side while he performed CPR on the lifeless body.

  As his mouth met with the victim’s she couldn’t get the thought that this could’ve been him lying there out of her mind. He could’ve been the one needing CPR, and who would’ve performed it? Not her, because she didn’t have the experience.

  Diego continued performing the CPR until paramedics arrived. In the end there was nothing anyone could do. She was gone. The truth of it left Jordyn sad and lonely as they returned to her Jeep and loaded their surfboards in the back.

  “Do you mind driving? I can’t concentrate. My brain is in a fog,” she asked Diego.

  “Not at all.”

  She tossed him the keys and climbed in the passenger’s seat. Diego seemed to be running on pure adrenaline. He jumped behind the wheel, started the Jeep and tore out of the parking lot. They drove in silence until they reached her place.

  “Wanna come in?” she asked hopefully. She didn’t want to be alone right now. She needed the one person she’d feared losing today.

  “You sure you want company? You seem really down.”

  “I’m positive. I don’t want to be by myself. I’d really like it if you kept me company.” She was fighting her own demons.

  He nodded and parked in the gravel driveway.

  Jordyn grabbed her bag from the backseat and they headed into her place.

  “Want a beer?” she called over her shoulder, walking into the kitchen. She knew she needed something. Preferably something stronger, but beer was all she had in the fridge. Luckily she kept it there for times like today when Diego came over.

  “Sure.”

  She retrieved two bottles from the refrigerator. She placed them on the counter while she dug through the junk drawer looking for her bottle opener. She popped the lids off and returned to living room, where Diego had settled on the couch. His feet were propped up on the coffee table, the remote in his hand, and he was flipping through the channels.

  “Where’s your wet suit?” Somehow in the short period of time she’d been in the kitchen, Diego had removed his suit and thrown on dry shorts.

  “I stuffed it in my bag. I didn’t want to get your furniture wet.”

  “Thank you. I’m gonna go change quickly myself.” She handed him a beer and headed to her bedroom. As she stripped out of the suit she thought about all that had happened and the girl dying. She couldn’t shake the knowledge that it could’ve been Diego who died today and not some stranger.

  It made her want to live for today as if tomorrow might never come, because in all honesty it might not.

  Diego took a long drag off the heady liquid. He’d almost lost his life today. He wasn’t foolish enough to not recognize just how lucky he’d been. He felt terrible about the girl. He’d done everything he possibly could to save her life.

  When he’d emerged from the water he’d looked frantically for her. When she didn’t surface shortly after him he’d known the outcome would be grim. He did the one thing he knew was important—he swam to shore.

  He was surprised by Jordyn when she grabbed him and held on tight. She’d held him as if she’d never let go. When she’d started crying it had broken his heart. He wanted to kiss her and promise her everything would be all right, but he knew in the back of his mind he had to look for the girl who’d crashed into him, and then when the other woman cried out, the moment was lost.

  “Shit.” What was he going to do about the situation? He couldn’t act on his feelings. He’d told her for too long she was like a sister to him. It’d seem pretty creepy for him to hit on her. Yet he’d lied to her and himself all these years. He’d been afraid she’d reject him and then as they grew closer and their friendship became stronger, he’d been afraid of losing that.

  Diego felt like he was in a no-win situation. He wanted Jordyn. He dreamed about her long blonde hair cascading over his chest while she kissed his body. He’d thought about those luscious lips caressing his cock. He longed to taste her nectar, which he imagined would be as sweet as her.

  He groaned as he readjusted his throbbing dick.

  Jordyn chose that moment to walk back into the living room, dressed in skimpy cutoff shorts and a tank top that highlighted her perky breasts. Diego wanted to die. She was every man’s wet dream and she was his best friend, which meant she was off-limits.

  “What are they saying about the storm?” She plopped down on the couch next to him.

  She smelled fruity, as if she’d sprayed something on her skin while she was gone.

  “It should be hitting us in the next hour or so.” He grunted. He felt like a heel for being abrupt, but being this close to her was too much temptation for one guy. He had to get out of there or risk losing their friendship.

  He sat up a little too quickly, because he squeezed his hardness against his leg. “Oh.”

  “What’s wrong?” She sat up and touched his shoulder.

  “Nothing.” What was he supposed to say? I have a raging hard-on and want to fuck you senseless? “I’m gonna take off before the storm arrives.”

  “No.” She pulled on his arm, forcing him back against the cushion. “Please. I’m afraid to be alone.”

  “Since when? You love storms.”

  “Since I watched a girl almost kill you, only to wind up dead herself.”

  “It was scary. It’s been a while since I’ve come that close to death. I did everything I could for her, you have to believe that.”

  “I know you did. Doesn’t it make you worried about being out there, trying to defeat a raging ocean?”

  He knew where she was going with this. She was still fighting her own demons with the loss of her father many years ago. It surprised him she still surfed, but she claimed she had to. She had to prove to herself that she didn’t hate the ocean. Diego sensed it went much deeper. She wanted to not hate the waters but she couldn’t. How could she love something that took her loved one? Today only cemented her fears.

  “Jordyn, I’
m not afraid. You know it’s a high for me. I get a rush like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I become one with the ocean. I feel like I was born to surf.” He covered her hand with his.

  “Do you fear death?”

  He shook his head. “When it’s my time, it’s my time.”

  “Do you really want to be taken by the ocean?”

  He wanted to drag her in his arms and reassure her that what happened to her father wouldn’t happen to him, but he couldn’t. The simple fact was that the death of the girl could very well have been him and could be at any time.

  “I’m not your father, Jordyn.”

  Her blue eyes welled with tears and Diego knew he was fucked—royally.

  Chapter Two

  She hadn’t meant to sound so needy, but the truth was she was desperately afraid to be alone. Too much had happened between them today. First the fear that he’d died and then an unnamed girl had died. That woman had family out there somewhere. She had people who loved her and were going to be devastated when they learned she’d perished.

  Tears flooded from her eyes and Diego brushed each and every one away. He whispered softly promising he wouldn’t leave her. He’d stay as long as she wanted.

  “I’m not going to desert you in your time of need.”

  “Thanks, I’m sorry for being a blubbering idiot. It’s just that when I thought I’d lost you…I didn’t know what to do. I haven’t felt that helpless in a long time,” she cried. The tears slowed and so did the sobs that racked her body. Her breathing returned to normal, but Diego didn’t move. He continued holding her face in his hands and telling her how beautiful she was.

  At first she thought she was hearing things.

  “I’ve wanted to kiss you for so long. If you don’t want me to, say so now, because once I start I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.”