Excerpt: Fighting the Current
The strength of friendship and love....
Kaleia knew that with Hayden by her side, she would always be safe.
Kaleia knew that with Hayden by her side, she would always be safe.
Excerpt from Fighting the Current
(c) Angela Penniman, 2013
Do not copy/reproduce for ANY reason.
So I don’t get to make my own decisions? I’m seventeen— not a child. You guys can’t protect me from every rogue wave that heads my way. You can’t stop me from seeing the terrifying things out in the world. Maybe I needed protecting when I was a little girl, but that’s just it--I’m not a child anymore. Don’t order me around.” I stalked off to my room.Hayden chased after me and shut my bedroom door behind us. I spun around and glared at him, feeling angry and tired of everything.
“What?” I yelled.
“Talk,” he demanded.
“No!”
“Kaleia, talk,” he said, clasping my shoulders. I could smell the scent of the jasmine flowers on him from when he sat on the back porch.
“Please let me help you. Quit trying to shut me out, Leia.”
“I—I don’t want help,” I muttered, softer than my tone was before. “I can handle it all.” My legs wobbled slightly, so I sat down on the edge of my bed. “I can,” I insisted.
Hayden kneeled in front of me and clasped my hands. I hesitated before looking into his eyes. He gazed at me with a mixture of love and strength that provided a comfort I desperately needed.
“I know you can, but it’s okay to ask for help. Remember our conversation in the hospital? You are not your mother. Not now—not ever.” He brought one of my hands to his lips and kissed gently.
I studied his face. His light blue eyes were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen.
We stared at each other. I wanted to ask him about his future plans, to see if Kane’s concerns were justified. I opened my mouth, but just as I started to speak, he grasped my hand.
“You’re so strong, Leia. I don’t think I’ve ever respected anyone as much as I do you.”
His eyes started to water, startling me. What was wrong?
“I wish I could’ve told my father to go to hell when he forced me to leave. I wish I hadn’t left you to deal with Neela and your mother. I’m sorry I’m not as strong as you.” A couple of tears slid down his cheeks. I worried that he would burst into tears.
“Hayden.”
“I didn’t want to leave, but my father…he always gets what he wants. He’s cruel and always gets his way when he makes up his mind. I wish…I wish things could be different.”
I put my hand on his shoulder.
“Hayden….”
Hayden lifted my chin with his finger and smiled at me. He brought his beautiful mouth to mine.
“You’re sweet, strong, and beautiful. It’s so easy to love you.”
Then he brought his lips to mine for another soft kiss. I resisted at first, but then melted into his kiss. Surprising him, I pressed my mouth harder against his. I pulled away and felt my chest heaving as I gazed at him.
“I love you too,” I whispered.
His eyes widened. “I knew it,” he teased. Leave it to him.
I rolled my eyes. “Barney,” I added, insulting him in our local slang.
He scoffed and then lunged at me, knocking me onto my back on the bed. His fingers danced over my ribcage and my flat stomach, making me giggle uncontrollably. I squealed and bit my lower lip as I tried to remain quiet. What would Kane think?
Hayden chuckled as he continued to tickle me, which made me laugh harder. The covers twisted as our limbs tangled, but we didn’t care. We were silly children again, giggling at each other without a care in the world. His fingers continued their assault on my arms and stomach, and I giggled and struggled to escape.
A moment later, however, Hayden fell over and landed on top of me with a grunt of surprise. We both froze and stared at each other, the laughter dying on our mouths. Suddenly we were two teenagers once again, pressed together in an awkward position.
Our faces were just inches apart, and I could feel his warm breath brush against my cheek. We stared at each other with identically shocked expressions. He’d somehow become wedged between my legs. After a brief glance down, his eyes met mine again.
“Am I really a barney?” he asked after a moment. I shook my head.
“Good.” The right corner of his mouth lifted in amusement. “You’re so sweet,” he whispered. “When I’m around you, I can’t think straight. When I’m not around you, you’re all I think about. I can’t help it.” His eyes blazed with an unfamiliar fire. I held my breath, unsure of what to say or do.
Hayden tilted his head and tentatively moved his lips closer to mine. I closed my eyes as I tilted my head and moved closer to accept what he was offering. I greedily accepted the kiss and pressed my lips harder against his.
Hayden groaned as our kiss deepened. He coaxed my mouth open, and my lips timidly opened like flower petals on the first day of spring. I felt a little unsure, but I didn’t want to miss experiencing the warm sunlight he offered. My arms and legs began to tremble from the boost of adrenaline pumping through my veins, but I kept them from shaking.
Hayden cupped my face with both of his hands as he pulled back. Then, as an afterthought, he kissed the tip of my nose. I gazed at him, breathless. Hayden studied my face and then clasped my hands, entwining our fingers.
I watched as his chest rose and fell in an unsteady rhythm as he took a few deep breaths, as if he had sprinted circles around the beach. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped. I couldn’t help but return a look to his mouth.
“If you keep looking at me that way, I won’t be able to control my actions,” he teased in a hushed voice, interrupting my thoughts.
I smiled at his words. He leaned over and kissed me again, this time with more force, as if he wanted to prove to me how he really felt. I melted into his arms and returned every kiss with the same fiery passion. I couldn’t help but run my hands over his firm chest and arms, sculpted from all the times we had surfed and exercised together. He closed his eyes, inhaling sharply. I let my fingers glide against his shoulders, moving off of the thick straps of his tank top.
My right index finger stroked a two-inch scar on his left shoulder. He had wiped-out during a ride one time at Queens on the south shore of Oahu when we were ten years old. The bottom was made of reef with sand, which was fairly safe, but he hit a sharp rock. Blood had streamed down his shoulder and arm like a crimson waterfall, frightening me to the core. Kekoa didn’t skip a beat and took care of the cut like he was a medical professional.
I remembered how scared Hayden had been, even though he tried not to let it show. He kept his chin jutted forward and his eyes locked on mine as Kekoa administered first aid. He had been a professional at keeping his fear at bay.
As I glanced at him, I smiled. His body was shaking now, just as when he had gotten hurt. Despite his fear, he locked his gaze on mine and gave me his bravest smile. I knew he would be all right—and so would I. We would take care of each other.
He placed his hand over mine. “What?”
I shook my head and leaned over to stroke his scar again. I thought I felt him shiver.
“I was just thinking about the time you pearled at Queens. How you bled for forever, but Kekoa fixed you.”
He grinned. “He’s the best. I would’ve flipped if he hadn’t been there. Or if you hadn’t. You keep me strong, Leia.”
I blushed.
I gazed into his beautiful ocean-blue eyes. I plunged into the depths of them, not afraid anymore. Fear had kept me from letting myself completely go with him, but now I didn’t feel afraid. Instead of paddling against the waves, I had turned around and popped up to the right position. I was eager to see how far this wave would take us.
He cupped my cheek. “Leia,” he whispered. He licked his lips before bringing them to mine. I sighed as his mouth locked with mine in a gentle caress. Kissing him felt better than any rush I felt when I surfed or swam in the wildness of the ocean. Kissing him felt natural, like breathing. I threaded my fingers through his hair as thousands of jolts of electricity shot through my veins.
His hands moved to the small of my back and up my sides, one hand resting directly above my pounding heart. I threaded my fingers through his hair as the kiss deepened. My heart was beating so fast, I thought it would burst through my chest.
I pulled back and pressed my lips against his shoulder and then his neck. I felt him tremble under my touch. Hayden gritted his teeth, trying to control his emotions.
“Kaleia, we’re losing control,” he whispered through another kiss. I nodded, but said nothing. Hayden’s mind hadn’t completely fogged over yet. “Kaleia—should we stop?”
We gazed at each other. I took a deep breath as I once again asked my heart what I wanted. His mouth hitched into that familiar smile, even though I saw the nervousness in his eyes. Once again he was trying to appear stronger than he may have felt. Always the strong one. I knew he would always be. No matter where life would take us, one thing was for sure: Hayden would never let me down. He would always be there for me.
I moved my hands to the straps of my dress. “I don’t want to stop,” I whispered.
“Are you sure?”
I smiled. “Absolutely. Are you?”
He nodded and, after pausing a moment, placed his hands over mine, indicating he would take over.
(c) Angela Penniman, 2013
(c) Angela Penniman, 2013
Do not copy/reproduce for ANY reason.
So I don’t get to make my own decisions? I’m seventeen— not a child. You guys can’t protect me from every rogue wave that heads my way. You can’t stop me from seeing the terrifying things out in the world. Maybe I needed protecting when I was a little girl, but that’s just it--I’m not a child anymore. Don’t order me around.” I stalked off to my room.Hayden chased after me and shut my bedroom door behind us. I spun around and glared at him, feeling angry and tired of everything.
“What?” I yelled.
“Talk,” he demanded.
“No!”
“Kaleia, talk,” he said, clasping my shoulders. I could smell the scent of the jasmine flowers on him from when he sat on the back porch.
“Please let me help you. Quit trying to shut me out, Leia.”
“I—I don’t want help,” I muttered, softer than my tone was before. “I can handle it all.” My legs wobbled slightly, so I sat down on the edge of my bed. “I can,” I insisted.
Hayden kneeled in front of me and clasped my hands. I hesitated before looking into his eyes. He gazed at me with a mixture of love and strength that provided a comfort I desperately needed.
“I know you can, but it’s okay to ask for help. Remember our conversation in the hospital? You are not your mother. Not now—not ever.” He brought one of my hands to his lips and kissed gently.
I studied his face. His light blue eyes were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen.
We stared at each other. I wanted to ask him about his future plans, to see if Kane’s concerns were justified. I opened my mouth, but just as I started to speak, he grasped my hand.
“You’re so strong, Leia. I don’t think I’ve ever respected anyone as much as I do you.”
His eyes started to water, startling me. What was wrong?
“I wish I could’ve told my father to go to hell when he forced me to leave. I wish I hadn’t left you to deal with Neela and your mother. I’m sorry I’m not as strong as you.” A couple of tears slid down his cheeks. I worried that he would burst into tears.
“Hayden.”
“I didn’t want to leave, but my father…he always gets what he wants. He’s cruel and always gets his way when he makes up his mind. I wish…I wish things could be different.”
I put my hand on his shoulder.
“Hayden….”
Hayden lifted my chin with his finger and smiled at me. He brought his beautiful mouth to mine.
“You’re sweet, strong, and beautiful. It’s so easy to love you.”
Then he brought his lips to mine for another soft kiss. I resisted at first, but then melted into his kiss. Surprising him, I pressed my mouth harder against his. I pulled away and felt my chest heaving as I gazed at him.
“I love you too,” I whispered.
His eyes widened. “I knew it,” he teased. Leave it to him.
I rolled my eyes. “Barney,” I added, insulting him in our local slang.
He scoffed and then lunged at me, knocking me onto my back on the bed. His fingers danced over my ribcage and my flat stomach, making me giggle uncontrollably. I squealed and bit my lower lip as I tried to remain quiet. What would Kane think?
Hayden chuckled as he continued to tickle me, which made me laugh harder. The covers twisted as our limbs tangled, but we didn’t care. We were silly children again, giggling at each other without a care in the world. His fingers continued their assault on my arms and stomach, and I giggled and struggled to escape.
A moment later, however, Hayden fell over and landed on top of me with a grunt of surprise. We both froze and stared at each other, the laughter dying on our mouths. Suddenly we were two teenagers once again, pressed together in an awkward position.
Our faces were just inches apart, and I could feel his warm breath brush against my cheek. We stared at each other with identically shocked expressions. He’d somehow become wedged between my legs. After a brief glance down, his eyes met mine again.
“Am I really a barney?” he asked after a moment. I shook my head.
“Good.” The right corner of his mouth lifted in amusement. “You’re so sweet,” he whispered. “When I’m around you, I can’t think straight. When I’m not around you, you’re all I think about. I can’t help it.” His eyes blazed with an unfamiliar fire. I held my breath, unsure of what to say or do.
Hayden tilted his head and tentatively moved his lips closer to mine. I closed my eyes as I tilted my head and moved closer to accept what he was offering. I greedily accepted the kiss and pressed my lips harder against his.
Hayden groaned as our kiss deepened. He coaxed my mouth open, and my lips timidly opened like flower petals on the first day of spring. I felt a little unsure, but I didn’t want to miss experiencing the warm sunlight he offered. My arms and legs began to tremble from the boost of adrenaline pumping through my veins, but I kept them from shaking.
Hayden cupped my face with both of his hands as he pulled back. Then, as an afterthought, he kissed the tip of my nose. I gazed at him, breathless. Hayden studied my face and then clasped my hands, entwining our fingers.
I watched as his chest rose and fell in an unsteady rhythm as he took a few deep breaths, as if he had sprinted circles around the beach. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped. I couldn’t help but return a look to his mouth.
“If you keep looking at me that way, I won’t be able to control my actions,” he teased in a hushed voice, interrupting my thoughts.
I smiled at his words. He leaned over and kissed me again, this time with more force, as if he wanted to prove to me how he really felt. I melted into his arms and returned every kiss with the same fiery passion. I couldn’t help but run my hands over his firm chest and arms, sculpted from all the times we had surfed and exercised together. He closed his eyes, inhaling sharply. I let my fingers glide against his shoulders, moving off of the thick straps of his tank top.
My right index finger stroked a two-inch scar on his left shoulder. He had wiped-out during a ride one time at Queens on the south shore of Oahu when we were ten years old. The bottom was made of reef with sand, which was fairly safe, but he hit a sharp rock. Blood had streamed down his shoulder and arm like a crimson waterfall, frightening me to the core. Kekoa didn’t skip a beat and took care of the cut like he was a medical professional.
I remembered how scared Hayden had been, even though he tried not to let it show. He kept his chin jutted forward and his eyes locked on mine as Kekoa administered first aid. He had been a professional at keeping his fear at bay.
As I glanced at him, I smiled. His body was shaking now, just as when he had gotten hurt. Despite his fear, he locked his gaze on mine and gave me his bravest smile. I knew he would be all right—and so would I. We would take care of each other.
He placed his hand over mine. “What?”
I shook my head and leaned over to stroke his scar again. I thought I felt him shiver.
“I was just thinking about the time you pearled at Queens. How you bled for forever, but Kekoa fixed you.”
He grinned. “He’s the best. I would’ve flipped if he hadn’t been there. Or if you hadn’t. You keep me strong, Leia.”
I blushed.
I gazed into his beautiful ocean-blue eyes. I plunged into the depths of them, not afraid anymore. Fear had kept me from letting myself completely go with him, but now I didn’t feel afraid. Instead of paddling against the waves, I had turned around and popped up to the right position. I was eager to see how far this wave would take us.
He cupped my cheek. “Leia,” he whispered. He licked his lips before bringing them to mine. I sighed as his mouth locked with mine in a gentle caress. Kissing him felt better than any rush I felt when I surfed or swam in the wildness of the ocean. Kissing him felt natural, like breathing. I threaded my fingers through his hair as thousands of jolts of electricity shot through my veins.
His hands moved to the small of my back and up my sides, one hand resting directly above my pounding heart. I threaded my fingers through his hair as the kiss deepened. My heart was beating so fast, I thought it would burst through my chest.
I pulled back and pressed my lips against his shoulder and then his neck. I felt him tremble under my touch. Hayden gritted his teeth, trying to control his emotions.
“Kaleia, we’re losing control,” he whispered through another kiss. I nodded, but said nothing. Hayden’s mind hadn’t completely fogged over yet. “Kaleia—should we stop?”
We gazed at each other. I took a deep breath as I once again asked my heart what I wanted. His mouth hitched into that familiar smile, even though I saw the nervousness in his eyes. Once again he was trying to appear stronger than he may have felt. Always the strong one. I knew he would always be. No matter where life would take us, one thing was for sure: Hayden would never let me down. He would always be there for me.
I moved my hands to the straps of my dress. “I don’t want to stop,” I whispered.
“Are you sure?”
I smiled. “Absolutely. Are you?”
He nodded and, after pausing a moment, placed his hands over mine, indicating he would take over.
(c) Angela Penniman, 2013