Author's note:

Here we go... Luke Sawyer's very own back story! I really, really enjoy writing this story, and I hope you all stick around for the ride. I'm so excited!

Major thanks and love to all those who followed and favorited this story, even though I only posted a summary! You guys ROCK! Tell your friends! ;)

Tell me what you guys think. Did you like it? What didn't you like? What do you think will happen next chapter?

Playlist for this Chapter:
Looks like Sex- Mike Posner.

MUCH LOVE!
:) XX

Chapter One.

I woke up with the hot Californian mid-day sun streaming through the wooden blinds in the apartment I was sharing with my buddy, Jason. We met when we were eighteen, both nervous as fuck because we were just two shitheads signing up for the US Marine Corps. I think we had some half-assed bonding moment over our tattoos or something.

There is a loud pounding on the door, "Luke! Get your lazy ass out of bed, brother! We're missing some sick waves!" Jason sounds so fucking awake.

"Ugh… What time is it?" I groan loudly. We had just arrived in our apartment at around midnight. It was a long flight from Iraq, and now Jason wants to go surfing. What is sleep?

"Dude, it's two in the afternoon. My grandma sleeps less than you. Get up." His voice holds a hint of amusement.

Jason opens the door to my room and I take my opportunity and chuck a pillow at him. "I'm getting up okay? Just fucking give me a minute." I growl. My temper is really hard to reign in, I need a serious work out to get rid of some of this aggression. Surfing it is.

"Chill dude. You need to get laid." He smirks at me and walks away, "I'm leaving in fifteen minutes, with or without you, bro." How the hell am I going to last three months with this? I scowl to myself.

I sigh again. I'm only twenty-one but I feel about a hundred. I quickly skirt around the various bags, takeout boxes, and dirty clothes that are scattered around the floor of my room. I grab a pair of swimming trunks and a towel out of the giant blue hamper outside my bathroom door. They look clean enough.

Five minutes later, I am showered and freshly shaved. I have to route around my closet for a few minutes until I find a wetsuit. I have to admit that I do feel slightly better. I do care about Jason. I trust him with my life, he's proven that he would take a bullet for me any day. I know every single man in my unit would do the same. But sometimes, Jason is just a giant pain in my ass.

I round the corner and walk into the spacious living area. "Oh good. I already loaded up the truck. Ready to catch some waves? And maybe score a few pretty girls?" Jason smirks. The only time he isn't thinking with his dick is when we are on tour somewhere with our necks on the line.

"Yeah, let's go. Can we stop somewhere for coffee on the way?"

"Sure, bro." He smiles and practically skips out the door. I wish I was a morning person.

…

We are almost at the beach when Amnesia, a new song by some boy band, starts playing on the radio. I make a sound of disgust and spit out my coffee. "Please shut that shit off, Jay." There are tears in the back of my throat. I fight them back.

Jason gives me a surprised look at my outburst. "Dude, Natalie was a bitch. I thought you were over her."

"I guess it's hard to get over someone you love." I sigh. I really don't want to have the same conversation that we have every single damn time I have some stupid memory of Natalie.

"Dude, you walked in to your apartment, after almost six months in Iraq, to see her boning some asshat on your bed." He punches me lightly in the arm. "You didn't deserve that man." He pulls into a parking spot. It appears we made it to the beach. Suddenly, I'm itching for some physical activity. The thought of my cheating ex really gets my temper soaring.

Jason turns to me with a mischievous glint in his bright blue eyes, "You need to find yourself a smoking hot babe. It's summer break, they're everywhere. Get under one and I promise you'll get over Miss I-can't-keep-my-legs-together." I can't help but let out a laugh. This is why I love Jason. He's great for putting a smile on my face.

I grab my board, I can't think about sex with some college girl right now when I still have the clear mental image of my beautiful, long legged, golden hair and skinned ex on my mind. I quickly zip up my wet suit and grab my board. Time for aggression release.

….

Half an hour later, I am completely beat. My muscles are burning, and my feel full of salt water from bailing out so many times. I have to admit to myself that I have spent too much time away from this sport that I've lost my edge. But all in all, I feel content. I have three months to get better at this.

The hot June sun is warming my back as I sit with my feet in the sand. It's been a long time since I've felt this relaxed, but then again, being in a war torn country with an unstable government can do that to a man. It's nice to be on home soil with no worries.

My stomach rumbles loudly and I realize that I haven't eaten anything today. Way to neglect yourself soldier. I look around to see if Jay wants to join me for a quick burger at The Stand, at the other end of the beach, but I notice that he's immersed himself in a crowd of women in skimpy bikinis. He's no doubt giving them his "I'm a US Marine and I'm lonely" routine. Whatever works, right?

I decide to go sans wingman to The Stand, after dropping my board off in the truck. I'm not surprised to see that the line isn't that long, it's around four in the afternoon and most people are still soaking up the hot Californian sun. I missed this place.

I step up and order a double bacon cheese burger, plain. The lady gives me a sexy smile and tells me very seductively that my order will be ready in ten to fifteen minutes. I give her one of my crooked smiles and she visibly swoons. I'm not surprised, I've had this effect on women since I hit puberty at fourteen.

I don't know what they see in me though. I guess I'm good looking. I have to stay in shape because of the Corps, but I also like to exercise to take out my aggression. The activity has given me a very muscular body. Every girl I've been with loves my eight pack, and my summer green eyes.

I laugh to myself as I recall how Jason was pissed at me almost nine months ago, on my twenty-first birthday, when I met Natalie. I didn't have to tell her my Marine status to get her to go home with me. She was like melted butter in my hands the minute I gave her my seductive panty-dropping crooked smirk. Jason, on the other hand has to play the "Marine card" quite frequently.

...

"Well, hello Gorgeous." I hear a soft feminine voice from behind me. I have no idea how I managed to hear it over the loud, thumping bass music in the club, but I find myself shivering in anticipation. If this women looks half as good as she sounds, I won't be able to control myself. It's been forever since I've felt the warm and soft embrace of a woman.

Our last tour ended just a week ago and we decided to go to Miami, at my insistence. I vowed never to return to San Diego if I could help it, and Jason went along with it no questions asked.

I slowly turn around and am met with the most shocking eyes I've ever seen. They are such a deep grey, they are almost violet. Full pouty lips and high cheek bones are framed by long, flowing golden locks. I am slightly blown away, I've never seen such a beautiful women in my life.

I quickly recovered my charm, "Hello to you too."

"What's the occasion for you to be here, on earth?" I must have looked confused because she gave a sweet tinkling laugh, "You my dear are Adonis personified. What are you doing away from Olympus?"

I throw my head back and laugh, "Isn't it my job to come up with some kind of cheesy, embarrassing line like that?"

"I suppose so." She smirked, "What's your name? I suppose I can't keep calling you Adonis."

"Let's just say that I am living in the moment, and I don't have much time. It's my twenty-first birthday, can I buy you a drink? If you're still around after that, I'll tell you my name." I give her one of my crooked smiles.

I think I hear a soft moan leave her plump lips as she stares into my eyes. "Deal. I would love a Pina Colada."

The night went smoothly, and before I know it, she was in my hotel room with me. Making love to Natalie for the first time was like fireworks. Its cliché, but I had no other way to describe it at the time.

Laying there, in our afterglow, with her head on my chest was one of the best feelings I had ever had. I knew right then that she was special. She stared into my eyes like she could read my soul.

"My name's Natalie." She whispered.

I am pulled out of my pitiful day dreaming by a shy, sweet voice. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to bother you, but I see that you aren't sitting with anyone, and I was wondering if I might sit with you?"

I look up from my burger that I had barely touched, right into the frightened ice blue eyes of a woman that must not be over twenty. Immediately, my training kicks in as I look around for possible threats, but of course, I don't find anything more suspicious than usual.

"Of course you can sit next to me." I smile gently and offer my hand. "My name is Luke. Luke Sawyer."

She shakes my hand rather firmly, but I cannot ignore the fact that she is shaking.

"Look, I'm so sorry if I interrupted your thinking process or whatever." She rambles on and I find myself staring at her full, glossy lips. Her chin is quivering slightly like she may cry. Great. I've never been good at comforting people who cry.

Instead of crying, she looks me in the eyes and says, "I guess I owe you an explanation."

I smile, "I guess it would seem that way, but having a nice lunch date with a pretty lady works for me. You can keep your tales to yourself if you want."

There is defiance in her eyes as she stares back at me. "No. I feel that I do owe you an explanation. Please hear me out?" All the while she has me locked with her soul searing gaze.

"Okay. Shoot."

"My ex-boyfriend is a very possessive man. I didn't tell him I was going to come to San Diego for the summer because I felt that he would just follow me here. I didn't want that." She takes a deep breath in and closes her eyes for a few seconds. "I just want to be free of him. You know?"

I nod my head because I really do know what she means. One of the reasons I came to San Diego was to get away from Natalie's memory. The other reason is one I don't like to think about.

"Anyway, he followed me here today. I just wanted to take a nice walk along the beach." A tear runs down her face and for some reason, I want to reach out and brush it away. "Then I saw you, and I thought that if he saw me with a man as well built as you, he might take the hint and leave me alone."

I laugh slightly at her backhanded compliment about my body. She looks slightly hurt so I offer her an explanation. "I was unaware that you had time to check me out while you were avoiding your ex."

She smiles brightly and I am amazed at how it changes her features. There is a nice pink color in her well sculpted cheeks, her eyes are bright, and her platinum blonde hair blows back gently in the summer breeze. She really is an attractive one. Isn't she? My inner demon licks his lips.

I shake my head, I came here to settle a few things, not to find a girl that will only hurt me again.

"What is it?" She asks, her eyes concerned.

"Nothing. I was only thinking that I don't know your name." I smile my crooked smile and I am pleased to hear her gasp lightly.

"I'm sorry. How rude of me." She looks down and coyly plays with her fingers in her lap.

"Are you going to tell me?" I laugh

"I guess you'll have to buy me a drink and I'll think about it." Damn she's smooth.

"Did I just get picked up by a beautiful girl on the beach?" I tease.

"Yes, in fact, I believe you just did."

"I'll have to have daydreams while eating lunch more often. Maybe I'll attract some more pretty women." I stand and think about offering her my hand, but decide against it. I really don't know this woman yet and I'm really not in the right frame of mind to jump back into a relationship. Just fuck her. My inner demon whispers in my ear.

I shake my head slightly to clear those naughty ideas. This girl looks innocent and I'd rather not be the reason the lightness in her eyes gets extinguished. We walk side by side to a nearby bar, laughing at each other's jokes. Why does this feel so, natural?

…

"And then he fell right off the fucking roof!" She giggles insanely, and I join her. What a luscious sounding laugh. I could just kiss her.

We are still sitting in a booth at the bar we walked to. We've each bought several rounds, and I am feeling pleasantly light and happy. It's a feeling I don't allow often, but it's hard not to be carefree around this beautiful girl.

I stare into her eyes for a few minutes until she snaps, "What? Is there something on my face?"

I can't help but smile, she's so feisty. "No. I was just thinking that you haven't even told me your name yet."

"Oh right. I'm still thinking about it." Her cell phone rings in her pocket, she fishes it out of her denim shorts and looks at the screen. "Sorry, I have to quickly take this."

I nod, and expect her to leave the table, but she stays where she is, across from me. Her eyes never leave mine as she talks into the phone, trying to placate what sounds like a hysterical female on the other end.

"I know, Laura. I'm sorry I didn't call. Yes, I managed to get away from him. No, I'm actually at a bar by the beach with a new friend. I'm not going to tell you his name! Yes, I've been drinking. Okay, I'll text you the address. See you in a few." She quickly hangs up her phone and shoves it back into her pocket.

I can't help laughing at her. "What?" She snaps at me.

"Oh nothing. Just that you're in trouble." I laugh at her some more as she rolls her eyes. She looks so damn cute.

"I'll have you know that Laura is a very good roommate and she was just worried, what with my earlier incident."

"I understand. Is she coming to get you?" Was that regret in your voice? Are you going soft?

"Yes." I am pleasantly surprised to see that she looks equally upset about having to go our separate ways.

"I really enjoyed today. Thank you, I don't get out much." I give her a shy smile.

"What are you in the army or something?

"Something like that." I smirk. Her phone beeps twice and she pulls it out.

"I have to go, Laura is here. Thank you for tonight, Luke. I really appreciate you saving me." She winks.

"I'll do anything to save a damsel in distress."

She slides out of the booth, and says, "I'm no damsel in distress Mr. Sawyer." I watch her ass shake in her shorts as she walks away from me.

"Wait!"

"What?" There is amusement in her voice.

"I never got your name!"

"Danielle Trent." She blows me a kiss and walks out the door.

I sit in the booth for a few more minutes, letting the events of the night sink in. Danielle Trent, it's a name that sounds so familiar to me but I can't seem to place it. Sounds like a good name to scream while fucking her. My inner demon laughs.

Will I ever see her again? I realize how badly I want to see this captivating woman again. I wonder vaguely, as I get in a cab, if she will be at the beach again tomorrow. No harm in trying.

For the first time since I walked in on Natalie cheating on me in our bed, I smile genuinely.