Page 39 of Triton

“Wow. That’s so cool. I’d love to visit the island one day. I’ve read so much aboutit.”

I eyed her. “Well, you can’t. The island is restricted to the military. Unless you are a biologist. We occasionally have environmentalists come out to examine our impact on the native ecosystem. There are a couple of endangered species there—the San Clemente loggerhead shrike and the island fox.” Leaning down, I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “The entire island is really breathtaking. I’ll show you pictures.”

We made small talk as we headed to the parking garage under my condo to grab my bike. Then we walked to the trail in front of theDel.

“Hop on, champ. You have perfect balance. I’ve seen you pop out of the water on onefoot.”

She bit her finger nails. “It’s different in the water.”

“Get on the bike. I got you, babe. You’refine.”

She strapped on the helmet, climbed on the bike, clutched the handle bars, and put both feet on the ground instead of the pedals. Waddling like a duck, within a few minutes, she maintained an awkward glide.

“That’sit.”

She stopped and just glared at me. “This is ridiculous. Everyone is staring atme.”

I looked around, and a few tourists were gawking, but maybe they recognized her. “Forget about them. Get back on thebike.”

She exhaled and then gave me a dirty look when a boy of around six lapped by her. But she mounted the bike again and placed her feet on the pedals. Though a bit wobbly at first, she slowly began toride.

I hopped on my own bike. “See, you’re a natural. It’s easy.” I yelled, but by now she was in front ofme.

We biked through the neighborhoods and cut into Star Park where we passed L. Frank Baum’s former residence, a two-story yellow house. I stopped on the sidewalk and showed her the Wicked Witch peering out from the side of the home and the Wizard of Oz sign hanging above the frontdoor.

Her face beamed at the sight. “I loved the Oz books when I was a littlegirl.”

“Yeah. He wrote Wizard of Oz here and based the Emerald City off theDel.”

“I didn’t know that. That’s so cool. Thanks for showing methis.”

We got back on the bikes and continued down the path. Aria had no problems keeping up with me at all. We headed to the North Island Naval Base, and we stopped in Bayview Park for a break.

She dismounted her bike and took a swig from her water bottle. We sat on a bench in the shade. I put my arm around her, drawing her close, and we gazed at the beautiful San Diego skyline.

“I can’t thank you enough for forcing me to overcome my fear. It’s been this secret of mine for years. I feel free. That was so muchfun.”

I grinned down at her. “It’s hard for me to believe you are afraid of anything.”

“My entire identity is wrapped up in being an Olympian, Erik. At being the best. I often feel like people only like me for my accomplishments.”

I leaned over and gave her a kiss under a towering tree. “I don’t like you because you are a champion. That drew me to you at first, but you are so much more than your title. You are a beautiful woman. And you are adventurous and sexy.” I tilted my head, and she leaned in to meet my lips. This wasn’t our first kiss, but this time everything felt different. More intimate. The kiss was slower, yet laced with longing. When her hand reached behind my neck, a tingle shot through my body. With that jolt came a realization.

She was beginning to trustme.

Her hand gripped my upper thigh, and my cock ached forher.

I wanted to fuck her right there on the bench. But a chill took over me. I had to ask her if she would accompany me to dinner with my client next week. When I’d met her, getting her to help me with my business had been a goal. But now, I was falling forher.

I hoped I wouldn’t erase all the progress we had made together by asking her for a favor.