Across the Music (Across the Ocean Book 2) (12 page)

"You haven't completely won her over yet, Loki. There's still time for me," I stop pacing the room to look at him with a smirk. He rolls his eyes at me, shrugging.

"I guess we'll see, won't we?"

"Don't you know who I am? I'm Gunnar!" We both laugh at our false macho-ness, and I slide around him to walk out of the door to the bedroom, and into the kitchen to grab a beer.

I stop in shock, mid-way to the kitchen when I see Katla my ex standing there with my friend Pétur. Pétur is a great guy, I grew up with him but still my chest feels like it's been pulled down into the deepest part of the ocean, cold and full of dread. Katla is going to ruin it for me somehow, I just know it. God, I hope I'm wrong. Her eyes move around the room and stop on me, and the feeling of being underwater doesn't fade. My ears can hear the sound of my blood pumping loudly. I guess there's a bit of anxiety within me. I didn't expect to see her, and I didn't really want her here. I know she still wants me, but doesn't want me. She also doesn't want anyone else wanting me.

You know what? She's just one person. She can't stop me from anything. Sophie is a smart, intelligent woman who can see the good in me if she chooses to, regardless of what Katla says or does – I hope. I am crossing my mental fingers that she doesn't stay long at the summerhouse. I know I didn't invite her. Doing my best to brush off the anxiety, I shake out my shoulders and prepare for what might come.

"Gunnar!" Katla yells loudly, coming towards me with wide open arms in preparation of a hug and a kiss on the cheek (as is our custom). I go through the motions for her benefit, do my best to get myself out of her gripping fingers on my arm, grab a beer from the fridge, and get the hell out of the summerhouse.

"It's nice to see you Katla, but I'm needed outside," I'm not needed, but what else was I supposed to say?

By the time I make it out of the summerhouse, I feel like a spy, or character from some of the video games I play where I need to sneak around to get away from notice. It's silly really, I was just eating dinner with her a few days ago, bored to no end, but there was no anxiety towards her, no stress. I'm not sure why I am stressing now, other than I am afraid that she will give Sophie the wrong idea about the relationship that Katla and I once had, and don't have now. I also know that Katla won't approve of Sophie as a suitable woman for me, and is likely to open her big mouth and spout off a few inappropriate things to Sophie. I'll have to watch out for her.

Standing on the porch, I can see Sophie and Brooke still chatting away in the hot tub, and I'm pleased and relieved to see that Sophie looks incredibly relaxed and happy. Laying deep in the pool with only her head out of the water, resting on the edge of the tub with her eyes closed while she laughs and talks with Brooke. There aren't any stress lines on her face, nothing but a smile. She's gorgeous. Something in my chest, gives a twinge, and I lift my hand to rub at it over my shirt. What is this feeling? I don't understand it, but I look forward to the day when I do.

Now I know why she's so relaxed; it's because she's had an orgasm. Loki is a lucky bastard. Really, he is. I can't believe he got to do that to her. I want to make her come. I want her to moan my name while she does, and I want my fingers inside of her, my cock, or my mouth all over her. I can't think of this right now, I'm going to get hard. I don't think I've ever been so jealous of Loki before. That says something about Sophie, I think.

I take a deep breath and walk towards the tub to join them, while pulling my shirt over my head and holding it with my towel.

"Hi ladies, do you mind if I join you?" Sophie opens her eyes to glance at me, jerking in surprise I think at the sight of me. Unfortunately, it causes the water to lift above her nose level, and she explodes in a fit of sputtering, choking, and coughing. I quickly climb in, and begin to thump her on the back with my hand to help. I think she breathed in water, and that hurts.

A few moments pass of her coughing, and then she finally settles, eyeing me as I sit next to her in the hot tub. Her cheeks are very pink, and it could be from the coughing or the heat of the water. I'll just tell myself that it's because she's so turned on by sitting next to me. I'm hilarious, right? Well, at least I crack myself up. I'm laughing on the inside, you know.

"All better now?" I ask before taking a drink of my beer. She nods sheepishly at me, apparently embarrassed.

"Yep. Thanks mate. I'm not as experienced in hot tubs as one might think, believe it or not." She winks at me while lifting both of her arms up to rest along the edge of the tub, almost touching my arm even. The motion draws my eyes down to her body in that delectable, red string bikini. The water isn't completely still around us, so it is distorting my view, but I know that I'm not going to allow myself to miss watching her stand up to get out of the tub later.

On the other hand, I'm quite happy the water isn't still, so that no one can see that I'm sporting a hard-on. I phase back into the real work to realize that Brooke and Sophie are talking to each other again.

"My mother was terrible too, you know. She didn't love me or want me. I can totally relate to you, and you're not alone anymore. Just remember I'm always here." Brooke gives Sophie some serious sincere puppy eyes, and Sophie nods and laughs, the sound once again music to my ears. I'm super happy to hear the two of them getting along so well and connecting.

"Is there room for one more?" Katla's voice is suddenly behind me, causing me to jerk in my seat with surprise. Talk about a buzz kill.

Katla's got a fruity alcoholic beverage in her hand, and is encased in a strange type of deep purple bikini. Granted, the color looks great on her since she's got a rocking body, and I'm sure it's all the rage in Icelandic fashion these days, but it looks very complicated with the lattice design and strange cut-outs. I can't imagine how she would look if she were to get tan lines with this thing on. I suppose it's good for her that she has such a deep tan already. I move closer to Sophie, and gesture to the open side of the hot tub for Katla to sit at. There's plenty of room in here, but I don't want her to move me away from Sophie.

I've been quite enjoying how the flow in the water keeps causing our thighs to brush against each other, and our feet to touch as they float. I'm not ready for Katla to ruin it for me; I just got in here goddamn it!

Sophie leans forward and extends her hand to Katla. I'm not sure if they'll remember each other from the Italian restaurant or not, I'm hoping more for the not. Katla can be so annoying when she thinks there's a threat on her territory (me).

"M'name is Sophie, what's yours? You look kind of familiar?" The end of that was filled with uncertainty, but I'm doomed. Katla will remember now. I only hope she's nice to Sophie. One of the downsides to growing up and living in a small place is that everybody knows everybody, and it's hard to get away from some people. Katla is one of those people.

"Hi… Sophie. Is that how I pronounce your name? Where are you from? Are you Icelandic?" Katla accepts Sophie's hand very lightly, as though she's unsure if Sophie is completely clean. The fact that Katla needs to speak English to Sophie should already answer her question as to whether or not she's Icelandic.

"No, I'm from New Zeal-"

"OH. You're the girl who spilled the wine on us at the Italian place last week, aren't you? I remember you. Gunnar wouldn't take his eyes off of you. It's kind of rude since I was sitting right in front of him, if you ask me. I mean, who does that?" Katla interrupts her rudely and looks at both Sophie and me disdainfully, and I cough out of discomfort. Way to make things awkward. Katla said all of that with a smile on her face to Sophie; I can tell that Sophie isn't sure where she's supposed to take the conversation now. She's throwing glances between Katla and me, probably wondering if I haven't informed her of a key piece of information, and I don't blame her.

"I think it would be rude if you and Gunnar were dating, Katla. There's no need to be so dramatic here. None of your females are around to hear you, so sit back and relax with us without causing any trouble." I'm surprised it's Brooke who speaks out, and I look at her and mouth "thank you" to her while Katla shrugs dramatically and heaves a great sigh before sitting back against the wall of the tub. Her eyes are watching Sophie, and all of us know it. Talk about uncomfortable.

Well, that was awkward. Obviously she is either Gunnar's ex, or is obsessed or in love with him. Might have to handle this carefully. I definitely don't want to stir up any trouble for these wonderful people who invited me here. Now might be as good a time as any to get out of the hot tub. I'm not used to them yet, so my whole body is thoroughly heated through and it's a little much for me to take so soon.

"Well, I'm getting out. I'm far too hot." I finish off the rest of my beer, set the can on the edge of the hot tub and stand up, secretly wanting both Katla and Gunnar to see what I've got. I need to show Katla that I'm not afraid of her, or at least won't tolerate her poor behavior, and Gunnar just needs to see how well I can rock this bikini. The water sluices down my body, and Gunnar's eyes are definitely roving over me with obvious enjoyment, if him licking his lips means anything.

Running my hands from my forehead, over the top and down the back of my head to help the majority of the water run down and out of my hair, I hear a whistle and realize it's Brooke.

"Wow Sophie, you're a total babe. If I was into women, I think I'd let you sit on my face! Don't you agree Gunnar?" What a sweet compliment! I glance over at Gunnar in anticipation of his response.

"She is a total babe. And I am completely into women. You're welcome to sit on my face any time you want, Sophie." I just about swallow my tongue, and Katla mumbles off something in Icelandic that doesn't sound very complimentary. An arrow of lust shoots right between my legs and the throbbing between my legs begins in time with my heart beat. The instant visual of me sitting on the edge of the hot tub with Gunnar's face between my legs is all it takes for me to become wet and wanting. Now it's time to get out of here.

"I'll remember that, mate," I say as I carefully step out of the tub; my body is so warm from the water that I don't even need a towel to keep from getting cold. Steam is rising from my limbs, and I turn to walk inside and change my clothes.

I'm pleasantly surprised that nobody bothered or interrupted me while I grabbed a light frock made out of a lovely cream colored lace to cover my swimsuit while I took a walk. I slid on a pair of sandals and began a walk around the land around the summerhouse, picking the blooming lupine to put in a vase when I get back.

I keep thinking about Brooke, and how she says she understands how I feel, and that she can relate. I could probably tell her about my brother and mother, and she'd get me. Maybe she could help me move passed it in a way I haven't been able to do on my own.

The breeze ruffles my now-loose hair, the drying waves moving over my face. I lift my hand to take them away, admiring the view. I come from a beautiful country, but sometimes this place just takes my breath away. The colors everywhere are just so dramatic and vibrant; I feel I must be inside a movie of sorts with filters involved to make the colors punch. The soft white clouds stand out against the pure blue of the sky. The sun is getting lower, causing the golden beams to light up everything it touches, turning the ground into a decadent and romantic field of purple and gold. The mountains in the distance still seem so huge, and I feel entirely too small. Birds are chatting like crazy, and we are far enough away from main roads and civilization to not hear any noises from roads or towns. The breeze occasionally carries voices from the patio to me, and I can still see the house easily from my distance.

My thoughts trail back to Gunnar and Loki. Oh, and Katla. I'm not shy of ex-girlfriends, but it sure does make me uncomfortable. Glancing around at the ground, I find a spot I can sit and watch the world move by. I've found that I absolutely enjoy cloud-gazing. They move so fast here, it's never boring. Sometimes I can even see the moisture rise from the ground to form into clouds at the tops of mountains before they head towards the ocean and begin to rain. It's fascinating.

Getting comfortable on my large, flat topped rock, I lean back on one arm while crossing my straightened legs at the ankles. Sometimes just getting away from everybody is exactly what I need. I close my eyes and think back to the song that Gunnar, Loki and I had been playing for Brooke, Ari and company.

I still can't believe that they've invited me to play with them. Being here in Iceland has so recently become way more enjoyable, and way more worth all the trouble to get here. My dad basically blew a gasket when I told him I was leaving New Zealand. He turned it all around, made me feel like the bad guy…

Before Sophie came to Iceland

"Sophie, how could you do this to me? Don't you know I need you?" Dad gripped my upper arm fiercely, shaking me to get his point across. Once his fingers sink it, it's hard to pry them loose. His voice is loud and angry, ringing in my ears with how close he is to me.