I could be one impulsive son of a bitch.

As carefully planned out as our missions were and as high stress as my family could be, sometimes, I just needed a release.

Signing up to teach skydiving while I was home had been a whim. Telling everyone who worked there to call me Jae another.

But teaching and jumping out of airplanes were two things that I loved to do. And, to be totally honest, I needed a new thrill.

Something besides my big bro's upcoming wedding and the yacht club gossip to banish thoughts of sucking chest wounds and heavy gunfire.

Because that shit was haunting my dreams.

Camilla took a seat next to me at the bar wearing a pair of tiny jean shorts and a cute tank top. Her thick blonde hair twisted into a bun.

I took a sip of my drink, trying not to stare. But damn, it was impossible.

She was like a ray of positive energy, and I wanted to soak up some of her light after being trapped in the dark for so long.

Everything about her felt bright and spunky and fun. And then there were those long legs of hers. Damn. I couldn't stop thinking about them wrapped around my waist.

Or my neck.

Call me crazy, but I thought I recognized her from somewhere. Youth group, maybe?

Inviting Camilla out for drinks after we fell through the sky strapped to each other was admittedly selfish.

But, I had to know more about her. Why she had tears in her eyes and why she seemed so familiar.

"So, what made you want to go sky diving today all on your own?"

Camilla swirled the red wine in her glass. Not meeting my eye. "What do you mean all on my own?"

She was avoiding my question, but whatever.

"Don't girls do things in packs?"

She let out a laugh, and I found that I was smiling too. "You got us all figured out, don't you?"

"All the girls I've ever known need an entourage around them."

Camilla gave me a pointed look.

"You know, they can't do anything alone. Walking and giggling together. In fact, I'm convinced women can't pee without a friend listening in."

Camilla shifted towards me, wine glass in hand. "I promise you women can pee alone."

"Prove it."

She took another sip of wine then said, "You want me to get up right now and go to the bathroom?"

"Yep."

Her brows raised. "You're serious?"

"I'm always serious," I said in a teasing voice.

Camilla drained her glass of wine before sliding out of her chair. I couldn't believe it. She was really going to go. My arm snaked around her waist and pulled her back before she could take another step.

"You don't have to prove anything to me," I told Camilla. "I was just joking around."

Our eyes met, and I found it impossible to look away. Honey brown eyes studied me with a flash of interest. My hand was still riding comfortably on her waist, and Camilla eased her hips against my knees.

Again, it felt like I knew her. I tried to shake off the deja vu, but it was almost impossible.

"Tell me something, Jae," Camilla said, her head canted to one side. "Do you keep a bottle of wine at your place?"

My knees opened, and I pulled Camilla closer. The scent of her beachy perfume intoxicating. "Are you interested in finding out?"

I didn't invite chicks back to my place. I liked my things a certain way. Years of living with an admiral for a father had ingrained order and discipline into every aspect of my life.

But fuck. Something about this girl had me wanting her to say yes—the impulsive part.

Camilla gave me a naughty smile. "Maybe I am."

I was grinning. Mesmerized. She had no idea that I was a Navy SEAL, yet she wanted to have drinks back at my place.

It felt kinda freeing.

She wanted me as Jae, a sky diving instructor. Not as South Tenney.

And, the amazing thing about being around Camilla all afternoon was that I hadn't thought about the nightmarish stuff I'd done or seen. Her positivity and light seemed to swallow it.

I paid the tab, grabbed her hand, and we walked up the street to the little apartment I was staying in while on leave. Fifteen minutes later she was on my lap, fisting sections of my hair and biting my bottom lip like she owned the damn thing.

I'd never met a girl like this before. Bold and confident and ready to be as crazy as I was.

Each kiss brought me closer to this quiet place inside my head, and being with Camilla was like falling out of the airplane all over again.

Her hands snaked beneath my shirt, nails dragging up my back, and I let out a moan so loud my neighbors probably heard.

"Damn, Camilla," I breathed between kisses that came as fast and hot as I'd ever had. "You are un-fucking-believable."

Her hair slipped loose from the bun when I peeled off that little tank top, tumbling past her perky breasts.

And...

Oh fuck. Somebody kill me now.

She had fresh ink tattooed all down the left side of her ribs. Two birds carrying a little sash in their mouths. Sisters forever. Flowers and clouds and a yellow sun.

I brushed back her hair and ran my fingers across the tattoo. Camilla stilled, watching me as I marveled at all the little details.

"This is beautiful."

"Thanks," Camilla whispered, but I heard a hint of sadness in her voice.

I didn't know anything about this girl, except that she was gorgeous and just as impulsive as I was and had a fresh tattoo of two birds dedicated to her sister.

I had plenty of tattoos dedicated to my sister and brothers.

I pressed a kiss against one of the birds and then another. Camilla gasped, arching into me as I continued to press kisses up her side and over her breasts. Folding down the cup of her bra and taking her nipple in my mouth.

I wanted this girl so damn bad, but I also didn't want to push her. That sadness in her voice gave me pause.

I took that pretty face of hers in my hands and slowed it down for a second. Her lips and mine meeting for long, open kisses that had me wanting more than what I was comfortable with.

"Camilla," I breathed. Easing us apart. "Just so we're clear, you don't have to prove anything to me, okay? We don't have to go any further if you don't want to."

"I'm not trying to prove anything to you. I'm doing this for me. Because I want to. Because I want you."

That was all I needed to hear.

I flipped Camilla over, caging her hips with my knees, and pulled off my shirt.

I loved the smile that formed on her lips as she studied me. I had a few more tattoos than she did.

Her fingers didn't move to the stars on my collarbones or the night sky over my ribs. Or the compass I had covering my heart. She traced invisible lines over the chunky scar I had below my breastbone.

I took her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm before leaning in and taking her sweet lips with mine.

Camilla didn't ask, and I didn't tell her what that scar was from. Instead, I lost myself in the smell of her hair and the way she kissed me like she needed this, too.

Like she needed me right now as bad as I needed her.

I never had more fun with a girl on the first go. I fell into an easy rhythm, holding her and touching her while diving as deep as I could.

The room grew darker the longer we spent wrapped around each other. "I could do this all fucking night," I whispered in her ear as her long legs wrapped around my waist. "You feel so good, babe."

"Then don't stop," Camilla whispered back. "Let's see how long we can make this night last."

Holy fuck. Challenge accepted.

It was past midnight when I finally couldn't take it any longer. We were both covered in sweat, and I had ruby red nail tracks all down my back.

I collapsed on my pillow, panting, barely able to believe that just happened. Camilla's head leaned against my chest and I wrapped my arm around her.

"Do you wanna have dinner with me tomorrow?"

"No, I'm good."

I tilted my chin towards her. Kinda shocked. "Was I that bad?"

"No, not at all. This was amazing. But, I just want to keep this to a one-time thing. My life is busy, and..."

Damn, this girl was shutting it down. Way to flip the script on me.

"I get it," I said. Trying to sound casual. "My life is busy, too."

Camilla reached for her lacy thong, sliding the tiny piece of fabric up her long legs before sitting up.

She was as beautiful as any girl I'd ever seen. Little sun freckles dotting her shoulders and back. I wanted to kiss each one.

All of a sudden, I didn't want her to leave.

"Well, this was fun."

"Hold up," I grabbed Camilla's wrist before she could get out of bed and pulled her back against my chest. "If we're never going to see each other again, why don't we turn this fucking night inside out?"

Camilla gave me a look that had me grinning. "What did you have in mind?"

"How about I pour us another glass of wine, and then we do this all over again?"

Her gaze dropped to my lips. "I thought most men wanted to sleep after sex."

I almost laughed.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm not like most men."

A/N
😏😏😏😏😏

So... What are the chances these two are never going to see each other again?

Yeah you're right. Probably none. 😂

Thank you again for checking out Riding South!

xx
AJ