Sex, Sin and Surf Read online

  Contents

  Back Cover

  Copyright

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  About Lauren Fraser

  Titles by Lauren Fraser

  Excerpt from The Geek Next Door

  Sex, Sin and Surf

  Vacation to an exotic destination? Check

  Surf lessons? Check

  Hot, steamy, no-strings-attached sex with a younger man? Check

  Wait...what?

  On vacation to Mexico, Celeste Kopp vows to break out of her rut once and for all, she just never imagined it would be with her surf instructor. Her incredibly sexy, surf instructor.

  Ben is more than willing to live out Celeste's fantasies as well as a few of his own. But their holiday romance turns out to be more than either of them bargained for when the connection between them deepens. Being with Celeste forces him to deal with his own baggage in a way he never expected.

  So much for no strings attached. Uncheck

  As the vacation draws to a close, Celeste realizes she wants so much more from Ben than a holiday fling but can she convince him that their future together is worth the risk?

  Warning this book contains a sexy, pierced, surf instructor and a woman who is determined to make this a vacation she'll never forget.

  Sun, Sin and Surf

  Copyright © 2010

  by Lauren Fraser, pseudonym

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Warning:

  This book may contain graphic sexual material and/or profanity and is not meant to be read by any person under the age of 18.

  CHAPTER ONE

  The heat from the tarmac blasted Celeste Kopp's face the moment she stepped off the plane. Excitement hummed through every cell of her body. A vacation with her girlfriends was exactly what Celeste needed to de-stress and get out of this restless funk she'd been in for the past few months. Having the divorce decree finalized, even though it had been three years since she'd left the loser, had hit her harder than she'd wanted to admit to anyone. She'd tried burying herself in organizing new showings for her art gallery to get over the hump, but the funk remained.

  Celeste closed her eyes and sighed. Damn, the sun felt good. When she'd left Seattle this morning it had been a miserable rainy day. She could definitely get on board with two weeks of this kind of weather. Her best friend Sarah linked arms with her. The wide grin on her pale face bubbled with excitement as she propelled them toward the terminal. Nancy stumbled along behind them, flipping through her customs forms and passport to ensure she had everything in order.

  "As soon as we clear customs, we'll grab our rental and hit the road." Sarah squeezed Celeste's arm. "God, I can't wait. Two whole weeks to do nothing but laze around on the beach."

  "Hey, don't forget we're sharing the cooking," Nancy piped up from behind them.

  "Yeah, yeah." Sarah waved her hand. Nancy linked up on the other side of Celeste. "I must need this vacation more than I thought if I'm actually volunteering to eat your cooking."

  Sarah scowled at Nancy. "Ha-ha very funny." Her eyes narrowed at Celeste. "Not a word."

  Raising her eyebrows, hoping to look innocent, Celeste smiled. "Did I say anything?"

  "No, but you were going to," Sarah replied.

  The line-up to clear customs was crazy. The women filed into the queue behind a group of loud, spring-breakers eager to get started on their drinking. Celeste rolled her eyes at Nancy. Thank God they were past that stage.

  When they finally get through customs, the women bolted for the car rental agency, eager to get started on their vacation. With keys in hand, Celeste eased her body behind the steering wheel and guided the rental SUV into traffic. Forty minutes later, she pulled the vehicle into the resort parking lot in Sayulita. After checking in, the women strolled across the lawn toward their bungalow, following the concierge, Miguel, and another young man toting their bags.

  "This place is amazing, Cel." Nancy sighed and shoved the welcome packet toward her. "Look at this. We can do yoga in the morning in that gazebo area there." She pointed to the enclosure overlooking the beach.

  "Sounds good," Celeste replied.

  When Miguel stopped in front of a thatched roof bungalow right on the beach, Celeste gasped. It was even better than she had imagined. A handful of steps and they were on the beach. Sarah gripped her arm and squealed. Nancy high-fived them. "This is going to be fantastic."

  Following Miguel inside, she gazed in amazement at the marble floors that stretched throughout the house. The Mexican furnishings, so rich and festive in color, immediately brought a smile to her face.

  "The first bedroom is right here." The concierge gestured to a room. The bed draped in canopy looked like a romantic fantasy. "Can I take this one?" Nancy asked. Celeste smiled to herself. Nancy was always such a sucker for romance.

  Sarah shrugged.

  "Sure," Celeste told her.

  Sarah scooped up the next bedroom the second she saw the large TV that covered one wall. It would be perfect for her late-night movie marathons. This left the last bedroom for Celeste.

  As the concierge led Celeste to her room, he grinned at her. "The master suite."

  He pushed open the doors. Celeste grinned back and raced to the French doors and swung them open. She would be able to lie in bed and look at the water. The ocean breeze glided into her room, bringing with it the sound of the surf. "Oh, this is heaven."

  He smiled. "Can I get you anything else?"

  "No, I think we have everything we need."

  "In the kitchen beside the blender is a complimentary bottle of tequila to welcome you to the hotel."

  Celeste reached into her pocket to pull out a bill for the tip. Handing it over to the concierge, she grinned. "Complimentary tequila? Oh, now I really am in heaven."

  He bent at his waist in an old world gesture. "Enjoy your stay."

  "Thanks, we plan to."

  Celeste walked him to the door of the bungalow. When she closed it behind him she squealed. "All right, ladies. Let the vacation officially begin."

  Nancy and Sarah poked their heads out of their respective bedrooms. "Slap on your suits and sunscreen and meet me on the deck in ten. Nancy, you're on margaritas," Celeste called out as she walked down the hall.

  *****

  Celeste stood on the deck of their suite and looked down at the rolling waves.

  A surfer caught the edge of a wave and rode the crest toward the beach. The huge tattoo on his back shifted, making it look as if the bird was ready to take flight and she was unable to take her eyes off him as he moved to the rhythm of the water. Nancy leaned on the railing beside Celeste and held out a margarita.

  "That's how I want to spend my vacation," Celeste said, motioning to the surfer.

  "What? With the guy or learning to surf?"
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  "Take your pick." Celeste laughed. "Could you imagine hooking up with someone like that for vacation?" She fanned her face. "Wow. Unfortunately, I think I'm a little too old to attract someone like that, but I'd love to learn to surf. Always have." The whole point of this vacation was to enjoy life. She took a sip of her drink, enjoying the cool burn of frozen tequila sliding down her throat. "I'm doing it. I'm going to take lessons and learn how to surf this trip. New me, new experiences. You with me?"

  Nancy looked at Celeste then glanced down at her own body and slapped a hand to her ass, jiggling her butt. "I don't think I have the same coordination as you do, this sucker throws off my balance."

  Celeste rolled her eyes. "Your balance is just fine and you know it, chicken."

  Sarah strolled out and leaned on the other side of Celeste against the rail. "What are you talking about?"

  "Cel wants to do that," Nancy said, pointing down to the surfer.

  "Oh, me too. Damn, I didn't know they made men like that in real life."

  "Not the guy, the surfing." Celeste smacked Sarah's arm.

  "Oh well...why not the guy?"

  "Because we're old." Nancy nodded her head down to a couple of middle-aged men walking across the beach with drinks in hand. Their dark, leathery-brown stomachs glistening with suntan oil. Beneath the bulge of flesh popped their little Speedos. "That's the kind of guys we have to date now."

  "Oh hell no." Celeste shook her head. The women whooped, drawing the attention of several people on the beach.

  Celeste covered her mouth. Shit, she hadn't meant to be that loud. Dialing it down a notch, she said, "I just turned forty-one. That's nowhere near old enough to date a Chachi like that."

  Her gaze was again drawn to the hot surfer they had all been ogling. Now that was the kind of man she wished she could still date. Everything about him looked so free, so relaxed and happy. She rubbed the knot in her shoulder that had become a permanent part of her body. She didn't remember the last time she actually felt stress-free. As she stood at the railing watching him, he glanced up from his place astride the board while he waited for the next wave. A slow smile spread across his face before he leaned down and paddled his board farther out into the waves.

  Nancy and Sarah plopped down onto the lounge chairs on the deck with their drinks, but Celeste was unable to look away from the man carving through the waves. Draining the last of her margarita, she turned to her friends. "All right, I'm going down the beach to find out about surf lessons. Who's with me?"

  The two women looked at each other, Sarah chewed her bottom lip. "Um, I don't know if I can do that. I'll make a complete ass of myself."

  "So? We don't know anyone here. This is the perfect time." Celeste grabbed her friend's foot and tugged it off the lounger. "Come on, girls, we're on holiday, let's live a little. When's the last time you did anything adventurous? I thought this vacation was about letting loose."

  Slipping wraps around their bathing suits, the women left the resort and made their way down the beach. They eyed up several little shops along the way. The small-town feel of Sayulita encompassed the long stretch of beach. Celeste was glad they hadn't chosen to stay at a huge resort area. Theirs was virtually the only hotel around. The moment they walked onto the stretch of sand they were immediately engulfed in the feel of real Mexico.

  Drawn to a family being given tips on how to do the stand-up paddleboards, Celeste stopped outside a shop to listen to the explanation. She turned to her friends. "Maybe you guys should try that."

  Sarah eyed the long boards and paddles. "Yeah, cause that looks so much easier."

  Celeste linked her arms with her friends. "Come on, let's go inside and check it out."

  She pulled the women toward the counter, determined to get them signed up for lessons. She leaned against the counter and waited for the young man to finish talking and notice they were standing there. Finally, his friend nudged him and the youth turned. "Qué puedo hacer por usted?"

  Sarah stared blankly at the man. Celeste smiled. "Habla Inglés?"

  "Si."

  "Perfecto. We're interested in learning to surf."

  The kid started laughing and turned toward his friends. "Puede usted imaginar estas viejas surf?"

  Sarah pushed on Celeste's arm. "Come on let's go someplace else."

  "We aren't going anywhere else," Celeste replied.

  Nancy nudged her and whispered, "I told you this was a bad idea."

  The heat inside Celeste began to boil. Who the hell did this kid think he was calling them old ladies? Her friends didn't even understand Spanish and they knew they were being insulted. Nice customer service. "Apuesto a que nunca pensó una vieja que una patada en el culo."

  The boy's eyes widened and from behind her she heard a muffled laugh. Celeste turned toward the sound. Holy shit. Her hot surfer god was standing behind her and he was even better up close. His board shorts hung dangerously low. Damn, she loved the look of a man's hipbones. Her eyes lingered on the muscles on his chest and the intricate skull tattoo that rested over his heart before slowly gazing up at his face. Jesus, his face was the best part about him. Dark, sensuous eyes glittered with amusement as he looked back at her.

  "I don't think you should kick his ass," he told her. His husky, lightly accented voice slid over her body, caressing her with its sexy cadence.

  Surfer god stepped around the counter and shot the kid a fierce look before he eased the boy out of the way. "Sorry about him. What can I help you with? You ladies interested in learning to surf?"

  "Well..." Nancy grumbled.

  "Which is easier to learn, surfing or paddle boarding?" Celeste asked before her friends could change their minds.

  "That depends really. A lot of people find the paddleboard a bit easier because they have something to hold onto for balance."

  Celeste stared at him, unable to speak. His English was flawless, with almost an American rhythm to it, but everything about his body language said Latin American.

  Realizing she was staring at him like an idiot, she smiled. "Okay, well maybe we'll start with that."

  She turned to glance at her friends. Focused on the surf god in front of them, it hadn't registered on the two women that Celeste had turned around. Celeste bit back a laugh. God, they were like a bunch of dirty old ladies ogling the man. He was just a baby, probably not much older than his early twenties. "Any chance you guys have lessons or something since we've never done this before?"

  "We can certainly help you out. When did you want to go out?"

  "Tomorrow sometime?"

  He pulled out a day-planner from under the counter and flipped it open to the next day. "Do you have a preference if your instructor is a male or a female?"

  Hell, if they were going to humiliate themselves, they could at least enjoy the view while they did so. Celeste rested her elbows on the counter. "Any chance you could give us a lesson?"

  She couldn't be sure which one of her friends gasped. But if forced to guess, odds were the outraged noise had to have come from Nancy. Screw it. This was her vacation, and she was going to enjoy it.

  His gaze flickered over her shoulder, amusement lingered in his eyes before he turned his attention back to Celeste. The look on his face quickly changed, a slow sexy smile eased across his face. He rested his elbows on the counter, his face inches from hers. "I could probably teach you a few things tomorrow afternoon."

  Her nipples beaded tightly beneath her bathing suit. Without breaking eye contact, she licked her lips. "That sounds perfect. What time works for you?"

  A strong nudge to her hip forced her to look away from the man and toward her friends. Nancy glared down at her. Celeste wrinkled her eyebrows and mouthed, "What?" Nancy's jaw clenched tightly as she stared back at her. Clearly, Nancy wasn't on board with the whole relaxation and trying something new experience yet. Rolling her eyes, Celeste stood up. "Right, so what time tomorrow for our lesson?"

  He laughed. "You're on vacation, ladies, Mexican time.
We're a little more relaxed here on the beach. Do you plan to take a siesta during the day?"

  "Not that I know of."

  "All right, well, the waves are pretty tame mid-day so why don't you come down after you finish your lunch, maybe around one p.m.? I'll take you out then."

  Nancy stepped closer to the counter and asked, "So our appointment is for one p.m.?"

  Surfer god laughed. "Around then, yes."

  Nancy growled, which made Celeste and Sarah laugh until she turned her glaring stare to them. Celeste coughed to cover her amusement. "Sorry, Nance. Tomorrow around one-ish works just fine for us."

  "But..." Nancy stammered. Not giving her a chance to speak, Sarah pushed Nancy toward the door of the shop.

  "What's your name?" Surfer god asked.

  "Celeste."

  He grinned and wrote her name in the book. "Celeste. I'll see you tomorrow." He nodded his head toward her friends. "Your friend needs to have a couple more margaritas to get her in the vacation spirit."

  Celeste laughed. "She already did."

  He snorted and shook his head. "I'm Ben by the way." He grabbed a business card from the counter. "Call if you need to make any changes to the lessons."

  "Oh, I won't."

  "I didn't think you would, but I imagine your friends might."

  "Nope, they'll be here too."

  "All right then, I will see all three of you tomorrow."

  "Great, sounds good," Celeste said. Turning, she herded her friends toward the entrance.

  Celeste walked by a rack of t-shirts and glanced back. Ben was watching her ass as she left. She turned back around, a smile on her face. She still had it. She added a little extra sway to her hips as she left the store.

  Once she stepped onto the beach, she kicked off her shoes and strolled down to the water. Her friends immediately joined her. "What were you thinking flirting with that guy?" Nancy demanded.

  "What do you mean? I thought we were on vacation. Weren't you the one who said a little vacation romance would be good for me?"