Текст книги "Chasing Mr. Wrong"

Автор книги: Joya Ryan

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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 10 страниц)

Chapter Seven

Ryder measured the wood again, marked with a pencil the spot he needed to cut, and let the tape snap back into the holder. This cabinet was going to be the centerpiece of the entire Davenport Hall and the first thing anyone saw when walking in.

It had to be perfect.

Which was why, despite the time-consuming process, the piece was custom made, right down to the blood and sweat he was putting into it. From the design to the intricate crafting, everything about this one piece was tasteful and elegant.

He took another measurement, glanced at the plans for the design, and made a few more marks.

What’s Whitney doing right now?

Jesus, where had that thought come from? He ran a hand over his brow, then leaned over the workbench and continued with his task.

The workbench was the perfect height. He could hop Whitney right up, toss her legs around his waist, and be inside her in a millisecond—

He flicked his pencil away and took a deep breath. He needed to get his mind right and focus. But damn it, he could still feel her. Smell her on his skin. She was lingering in his brain, his dreams, and his body.

He stared at the massive project in front of him and commanded himself to focus. Yet the one truth he’d known since the other night with her was ringing clear:

He was still thinking about next time he’d see her.

“Hey,” Huck said, coming up behind him and slapping down a stain sample on the cabinet. “Davenport just called and said he wants to go with this lighter stain color,” Huck tapped the sample, “instead of the darker.”

Ryder exhaled and grabbed up the card. “Glad he changed his mind before I started.”

“Yeah,” Huck agreed.

Ryder unhooked his tool belt and adjusted his hat.

“You’re leaving?” Huck asked.

“I’m going to get the stain now. I need a breather.” Which was the understatement of the damn day. He needed to clear his head, and a quick trip to the store was a good excuse as any. So long as he stayed away from the diner, everything should be fine.

It only took him a few minutes to go to the store and grab the color, but already he was feeling better. With the item in hand, he looked over the selection of wood stains—

When a pair of sexy legs in cutoff shorts caught his eye.

Whitney.

She was looking at the mini paint cans, and Ryder couldn’t help but slink down the aisle closer to her. She took down a can and bit her lip while she looked it over, only to put it back and examine another one.

He was convinced right then that everything the woman did was sexy. Even looking at paint.

“Looking for something in particular?” he asked.

She jumped a little, startled by him, and he grinned. Catching her off guard was a special kind of delight.

“Just some paint,” she said.

“Pretty small job if you’re only looking at the tiny sample sizes.”

“There’s some chips and marks on some of the booths at the BBQ. I thought I could patch them up. Penny thinks it’s a great idea.”

Ryder took a step closer, it was his turn to be surprised now. “That’s some initiative.”

She was in town for a short while, yet she treated her job and his sister with respect. There was a lot of character in Whitney, more he was discovering every day. Which wasn’t helping his resolve to resist her.

“Just doing my job. And I like to stay busy,” she said, but he knew it was more than that. She cared enough to help in small ways. There was a lot he wanted to say to her—do to her—but the aisles were lined with people.

“Busy?” Ryder asked. “I take it you’re not the ‘take it easy and relax’ kind of woman?”

The way her gaze hit his chest, then trailed down to his belt and back up, made his cock instantly respond, and those fantasies he’d been fighting climbed to the forefront of his mind.

“There’s way too much to experience for me to relax,” she said, with a throaty tone and a lusty look. “For example, did you know people get naked, cover their bodies in paint and have sex on a big sheet of paper?” She tapped one of the cans and looked his body over as if imagining a painting session herself, and his thoughts were right there with her.

“That right?” he rasped. “Well, I’ve never been much of an art genius, but some body paint sounds right up my alley.”

“Maybe it’s an experience you should consider,” she said with a smile.

He knew right away what she meant, because he’d give up sleep just to stay in orgasmic bliss experiencing her.

He closed in the last few feet until his mouth hovered over hers. He placed his hand on the paint wall behind her and leaned in…

Crash!

One of the paint cans fell to the floor, snapping him back to reality.

Everyone looked his way, and he bent down and picked up the can, thankful it hadn’t exploded.

The trance was broken, and he was kind of pissed at the paint can for that. He set it back on the shelf harder than he meant to.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your experience painting,” he said. With that, he grabbed the red paint he knew matched the color of the booths and handed it to her. He turned and walked back to his own aisle.

Even though everything in his body was screaming for him to turn around.

Diamond: Bright, Shiny, and Rough around the edges.

Whitney held up the T-shirt and looked at the bright red lettering. Hmm. It was her first day off since she’d been in Diamond, and it was a tradition that she always got a shirt from the places she’d been. But she was having trouble picking out the right one.

At least it was giving her something to do until the next time she ran into Ryder. After the paint aisle run-in with him the other day, she’d resolved to stay away from the hardware store, and anywhere else he frequented, because holy hell, just being near him got her hot. And she knew that wasn’t the way to get naughty Ryder to come out and play again.

He wanted distance? She was giving it. It was only a matter of time before that distance ate away at his self-control and brought him back to her for another round.

After they’d had sex on his truck—pause for shivers at the memory—she’d realized that Ryder liked his boundaries and rules and control. And Whitney was learning she liked losing control with him. Especially when he lost it back. He just needed time to convince himself he was in control. And then? Pause for more shivers.

She held up another shirt and looked at the slogan.

Diamond: vampire-free but we still sparkle.

She raised a brow. It felt more lackluster than anything, but she liked the creativity.

“Hi there!” a sweet voice rang out. Lily McCade stood next to her in pink scrubs, with a small basket dangling from her arm.

“Hi,” Whitney said. “How are you?”

“I’m well, thanks. Just getting off work. It’s nice to see you again.”

Whitney had met her briefly when she’d come into the BBQ a few nights before. She and Penny seemed to be BFFs of some kind.

“You settling in all right?” Lily asked. Her sunny hair and rosy cheeks gave off a glow no one else seemed to have. She wasn’t much older than Whitney, yet she was decades beyond her in experience. There was a maturity and patience in Lily that made Whitney feel at ease. It was the same kind of light she’d loved about her sister Kacey.

“Yeah, I was just looking for a T-shirt.”

“Oh, well those look like great choices.” Though her words were nice, her frown made Whitney think twice. Lily shook her head slightly. “I think those are too big for you, though.”

Whitney glanced at the shirt she was holding. It was, in fact, two sizes too big. “I like them a bit bigger.” She usually tied them up to wear during the day, and they could double as nightshirts to wear in the evenings.

She tapped the one in Whitney’s hand. “Well, this green here is a great color. Would look great with your skin tone.”

She glanced at Lily’s basket. It had a toy water gun, Cheetos, and peanut butter in it. Though this little shop on Main wasn’t a grocery store, it had odd knickknacks and a few essentials. They also had a bulk candy bin in the back that Whitney had her eye on. She’d need to stock up on Sour Patch Kids sooner than later. But it was small and quaint and seemed to be a place a lot of people frequented.

“I was just getting a little toy for Alex.” Lily sighed and held up the water gun. “He spends most of his summers in the water, and I assume this year will be no different.”

Whitney nodded. “How old is he?”

A proud smile lit up Lily. “Almost seven. I can’t believe how fast it goes.”

Judging by Lily’s youthful glow, she must have had Alex when she was young. The closer she looked at those big blue eyes, the more she saw not only patience, but sadness, like life had been hard on her a time or two. Whitney recognized that look. It was one worn by a person who had loved and lost.

Whitney couldn’t help but wonder who Lily had lost.

“You have anything planned for Saturday night?” Lily asked, reaching past Whitney to grab a bottle of tequila off the nearby shelf. She might be a mama, but apparently she also knew how to have a good time.

“Just working,” Whitney said. “I think I have the breakfast to lunch shift that day, though.”

“Yeah, Penny mentioned that Rocco would work the late shift so you two could come over.”

Whitney frowned. “Come over?”

“Yes, girls’ night at my place. You have to come. I hope you like margaritas and The Bachelor. Although…” She let out a long huff. “We can’t actually talk about The Bachelor much anymore because Autumn gets really mad. And it has nothing to do with pregnancy hormones. She starts going off on how all the men are jerks and that no one really likes roses anyway. But she’s still lots of fun!”

Whitney remembered Autumn—aka Auto—from last week. “She’s the pregnant supermodel, right?”

Lily laughed. “Yep, that’s her. Only she runs the mechanic shop.”

Whitney nodded. It sounded like fun, a night with girls. She hadn’t done that since…

Kacey was alive.

In fact, she hadn’t really made friends in the entire year she’d been bouncing from place to place.

“I don’t want to intrude,” she said, but Lily just frowned fiercely and put a hand on her hip.

“You aren’t. I invited you because I want you there. So do the other girls.”

Wow, Lily had the mom glare and tight language down. From the tone of her voice, she was bringing Whitney into the fold, and there was no chance to turn down the offer. Like Whitney was family, and that was that. Period.

“Okay.” Whitney caved instantly, unable to deny the bright-eyed, tough chick a thing. She knew how to deliver a command, that was for sure.

“Great!” She smiled, back to being Mary Sunshine. “Just come on over with Penny. It’ll be so fun. I can’t wait!”

“Can I bring anything?” Whitney asked.

Lily glanced at the bottle of tequila. “Just your liver and your gossip voice. Because I’m dying to hear more about Mr. Diamond and how he’s all riled up by you.” Lily winked and headed toward the register.

Whitney watched Lily walk out into the midday sun. God, what had Whitney done to deserve that kind of goodness? Usually she couldn’t wait to get out of town, but the city of Diamond was already working its way into her heart. Heck, at this rate, she might even enjoy her summer.

Construction noises rang loudly. She peered across the street and saw a massive, beautiful, old-looking building with men in hard hats going in and out. But what really caught her eye was a familiar red truck parked out front.

Ryder’s truck.

The sounds of sawing and banging rang out again, and Whitney caught a glimpse of the tall, chiseled man who made her knees wobbly walk from the building to his truck. He was covered in sweat and dust, and a tool belt hung low on his hips. She licked her lips, watching all his muscles bunch as he hopped up into the bed of his truck and looked through some supplies.

Whitney didn’t remember when, exactly, she’d put the shirts back and walked outside. She also didn’t remember when she’d started hovering behind an antique-looking streetlamp. Her eyes just stayed on Ryder, and she lifted to her tiptoes to get a closer view of the sexy contractor bending over. Damn, those jeans molded perfectly to the finest ass she’d ever seen.

It was a work of art.

He glanced up and—shit, shit, shit, caught her staring right at him.

She spun around, but it was too late.

“You know if you stop hiding behind the pole and come closer, you can stare at me even better,” he yelled.

She turned back, and he tossed her a wink. Great. Just great. He’d caught her, and now his ego was likely off the charts.

All she could do was fake nonchalance and strut over. So she did. In her best I totally meant for you to catch me walk. And she tried not to let the heat of embarrassment show on her cheeks.

He hopped down out of his truck just as she reached him.

“Well, hello there,” he said. “Mighty fine day we’re having.”

He wanted to comment about the weather? Fine, she could dish small talk.

“Yep,” she said drily.

“Enjoying the town and all it has to offer?” he asked in a husky tone. He lifted the edge of his T-shirt and wiped his brow, putting on display those impressive abs. Holy God of all things holy, the man was made of pure stone. Tan, lickable stone.

The couple of times she’d been with Ryder, she hadn’t gotten a good look at him, and that was turning into a big fat regret at the moment, because he was not only strong, he was ripped. She was suddenly desperate to touch what she’d finally gotten to see.

“Suppose I could be enjoying it more,” she said.

“Oh?” He let his shirt drop, and she checked the urge to pout. “Well, you let me know if I can help in any way. I’m mighty proud of this town and would be happy to show you whatever you’d like to see.”

She licked her lips for the hundredth time and glanced at his belt. She wanted to see a lot, and only Ryder could help her with that. But the other night raced through her memory. She remembered how horrified he’d looked after taking her against his truck. That recollection alone made her stomach turn to ice.

“I’ll figure it out on my own,” she said and spun to walk away.

“Hey.” He caught her hand, and she froze—but not from the cold, from the heat. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

She faced him. “I’m not. Just giving you distance. Boundaries, remember? Isn’t that what you want?”

His thumb brushed back and forth over her knuckles. “Yes.”

She nodded. Super. This was just super. She was drooling for a guy that wanted space from her, and she was ready to push him into the back of his truck and jump him at the first sight of his muscles.

Get ahold of yourself!

“How about dinner?” he asked, those gray eyes glinting with the reflection of sunshine.

“I’m not working at the BBQ tonight. Day off.”

“Well, that’s great luck, because I was talking about me making you dinner.”

“Did you hit your head recently?” she asked. “Because I can’t figure out how you say you want boundaries then dinner in the same breath.”

“I enjoy testing myself,” he said with a sly smile.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “So I’m a test to you?”

“You test a lot of things. But I’d like to have dinner with you. Tonight. My place.”

She raised her chin. “And what test should I expect? The ‘coffee’ kind where you’ll polite me to death until I can’t take any more of your respectable manners?”

“Yes, that’s the test.” He stepped closer and rasped, “And it’s one I’ll likely fail.”

Her breath hitched. “I don’t want to be your buddy, Ryder.”

“Good. I don’t want that either.”

“Dinner sounds like a date. The kind I already turned down.”

“So you won’t go out to coffee with me or do anything that resembles a date, but truck sex is on the table?”

She pursed her lips, but she couldn’t deny…

“Yeah, that’s basically it.”

“You make no sense to me, sweetness,” he said, and the smell of him was getting to her. Rough, raw male, spice and sweat, all mixed with a hint of cologne. It was enough to make her crazy.

She made no sense to him? The truth was that she didn’t make sense to herself, either. She could do sex, no commitments, no dates, no expectations. Just sex. But Ryder was trying to make their interactions walk a line between friends and lovers that felt like a tightrope. One minute polite and cordial, the next wild and wanton.

“I’m not looking to date you,” she said, more for her own good than his.

He leaned back against his truck. His tool belt swayed a little, and she couldn’t help but imagine him wearing nothing else.

“Oh, I know that, sweetness,” he said with a sly smile. “So then you’ll have no problem coming over for dinner? Just two people having a meal. I promise to be on my worst behavior.”

She laughed a little, and he tilted his head to examine her with interest—a look like that did funny things to her chest.

“So long as we understand each other.”

“I understand that we want two different things. I’m going to do my best to show you that just hanging out can be worthwhile.”

She started to tell him that was the problem. She didn’t do “worthwhile,” not when she was never around long enough to get attached to anyone. The risk of losing them was too great, and she refused to ever experience that pain again.

Except Ryder wasn’t asking for her to get attached. He was playing their usual game, and she finally understood that those rules might be what would help her get another piece of him without her taking the risks she knew to avoid. This way they could stay temporary. This way she could stay safe. This way she could maybe get her lips on his again. And she’d love seeing him try to stop her.

“You mean you’re going to try to deny me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” His eyes roamed over the length of her and melted her core instantly with a single sweep of that gray gaze.

Casual was good. Casual was where she operated. Because she’d leave, he’d stay, and life would go on. He wanted dinner? She wanted sex.

“Looks like I’m going to have to bring my A game then, Mr. Diamond.”

“Game on, sweetness. Game on.”

Chapter Eight

Ryder was either the biggest idiot on the planet or plain delusional. Because he knew, knew, he was waging a losing war against Whitney, but here he was, yet again running into the fray, half-cocked and ready to go. Literally.

But this was a fresh battle. One on his home turf, which gave him the advantage. She wanted him for sex, which he had to admit made his chest puff out a little with pride. But he wanted to attempt to maintain some kind of damn willpower, because if he kept up this habit of bedding her every time he saw her, it was going to be a tricky summer.

He stirred the Top Ramen and checked on the Bagel Bites in the oven. He couldn’t cook for shit, but he needed Whitney to come over to his house for a very important reason. Dinner was the best excuse he’d come up with. And if he could make it through tonight without wanting to lay her down every time he looked at those sexy thighs, he’d consider himself a winner.

The past few days she’d barely looked at him, had spoken even less, and that bothered him. He should be happy she was maintaining distance, but all it did was heat his blood every damn day that he saw her and she ignored him. He’d watched her work, slinging drinks and running plates to tables. Smiling, laughing, and engaging with other customers. But not him. He was…jealous.

Everyone else got to see her smile. They got to hear her voice. He didn’t. Platonic or not, that couldn’t continue, either. Yes, he needed control, needed to keep boundaries, but he couldn’t watch her and not get a taste of her presence. It was a special kind of torture and he was dangling somewhere between trying to date her, trying to be her friend, trying to bed her, and trying to stay away from her all at the same time.

He blew out a breath. It was exhausting. But he could do this. Could keep his will power. Be friends. Be in her company and be a gentleman of sorts. Because giving in to the wild was a bad idea. But staying away and missing out on all her light was frustrating as hell in its own right.

Maybe he was a selfish bastard. Wanting her the way he did. Wanting to be near her. Wanting to feel that high she made him feel, but wanting to keep control…

A knock came at the front door. Excitement flooded through him like he was eight and Santa had shown up early. He forced himself not to run and open the door.

He stopped, took a long, measured breath, and then opened the door.

Whitney stood there in a red sundress, the thin straps draped over her delicate shoulders and the hemline dancing high on her thighs. All that olive skin was on display, and thick glossy hair hung down her back in large, natural curls.

Yep, he was definitely selfish. Because this was why he wanted her around. The woman was like a damn sex dream come to life. This was going to be harder than he thought.

“Good evening,” he said and let her in.

She stepped through the door and looked around. “Nice place.”

Ryder nodded and glanced at what she was seeing. He’d built the place with an open floor plan. Rustic wood and stone. Exposed beams that gave the house a log cabin feel. He’d worked hard on it, side by side with his dad years ago. Everything about it felt like home, and damn if Whitney didn’t look like she belonged there.

“Seriously,” she said on a wispy breath, looking out the large, floor to ceiling windows that gave a view to the setting sun and Diamond Lake off in the distance. “This is amazing.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“Did you build it?” she asked. “I know you’re a contractor, but do you build houses or just remodel buildings?”

“Both. Land development in its entirety is my area. But my father and I built this place years ago.”

She nodded as she walked over to the fireplace and ran her hand along the smooth stone. “On my way here, I kept winding down this back road, and I thought for a minute that you were luring me out into the middle of nowhere.” She tossed him a grin.

“I did.” He smiled back.

“All this land is yours?”

He nodded.

“You must work very hard.” There was seriousness and respect in her voice, and Ryder clung to it. He did work hard. For every damn thing. But usually what he got from women were questions.

How much land do you have? How much are you worth?

But Whitney looked at his home and complimented his work ethic. She didn’t want to steal a piece of him or his family. And that made an ease settle over his skin.

She was different. He’d known that. There was something grounded about the tumbleweed before him. She’d said she didn’t come from anywhere, but the way she looked longingly at his home, as if she could take warmth from it, made him think she was desperate to have something stable in her life. Yet he also saw the vibrant wild-child in her eyes, the soul of a woman who refused to be tied down to things.

The timer went off on his stove. He took out the Bagel Bites and turned off the oven.

She came to stand by him and looked at the ramen and mini pizzas. “You didn’t tell me you were breaking out the fancy cooking skills. How am I supposed to resist you now?” She smiled.

“Told you this is part of my plan to—”

“Polite me to death?” she said. Just like she’d said the other day. Maybe that was what he was doing. It was all he could do, because he wanted to be around her, but he needed his control. So this was how he got both. He mentally made a note to take yet another cold shower tonight.

Yep, control…totally worth sexual frustration and freezing water. Totally.

“These are actually my favorite,” she said, lifting her chin at the mini pizzas.

“Don’t fib,” he said.

“I’m not. I had these almost every day after school when I was a kid. My sister and I lived on these.”

Her eyes shot down like she’d said something she hadn’t meant to.

“You have a sister?”

“Had,” she said, then walked toward the big window again. “So…” she said with a large smile. But it didn’t reach her eyes. “Now that you’ve lured me out here, how about a grand tour?”

She was changing the subject, and Ryder let her. Whatever memories her sister brought up looked like painful ones. Maybe he could eventually get some kind of history out of her. In the meantime, he’d stick with what he did know for certain.

“Actually, there is something I want to show you,” he said.

She took several sultry steps until she was back within reach. She glanced at his belt and bit her lip. “I like where this is going.”

Damn, she was hard to resist. Especially when just her hot chocolate stare at his cock made it start to harden.

Maintain.

“Come with me,” he said, and then grabbed her hand to stop himself from grabbing something else. The woman had a power over him that was hard to beat. But he had to.

With her hand in his, he led her outside and around to his shop, where several pieces of equipment were housed. He’d brought out one piece of machinery earlier and parked it in the middle of the field in anticipation of Whitney’s visit.

“What is that?” she asked, looking at the black and yellow machine.

“That is an excavator. Otherwise known as a heavy piece of machinery.”

Her eyes shot up to his. They were wide with happiness and a look like that made him feel like a superhero. He just smiled down at her. “Key is already in it.”

“Are you serious?” she asked around a growing smile. Looking between him and the rig.

“I never joke about heavy machinery,” he replied. “Just like I take your ‘I’ve Nevers’ seriously.”

What sounded like a thrilled giggle burst from her, and she hustled toward the machine and climbed up. She looked so excited, and pride boomed beneath his rib cage that he could give her something so simple—an experience she’d never had.

He was right behind her, standing on the edge of the machine and holding on to the side while he explained the controls.

“Turn over the key there,” he said as she wiggled in her seat. She twisted the key, and the machine started up with a loud rumble.

“Now, these levers here move the bucket back and forth.” He reached in and showed her. “Then up and down is like this.”

She watched him work the levers and studied how the machine responded.

“Then if you want to drive forward, just push on the gas and do this…” He showed her how to steer and move. Her eyes were fixed on his movements, and her smile seemed to grow even larger throughout the quick tutorial. “You ready to handle this rig yourself?”

“Yes!” she said and clapped a little.

He hopped down and yelled, “Go on then, girl. Give it some gas.”

She drove the excavator slowly, lifting the bucket and lowering it as she went. There were acres and acres of open field she could drive through, so she could feel free to run as wild as she pleased. She drove in circles, only pausing to mess with the jaws of the bucket.

“This is so cool!” she yelled over the loud machine and continued to move the joystick around. Ryder smiled, and when she caught his eyes on her, she smiled back. And then her look turned form happy to intent.

She killed the engine and moved to get out of the cab. Ryder was right there, hands ready to grab her hips and help her down. But instead of lowering her, he brought her into his body, and she threw her arms around him and yanked him in for the hottest kiss of his life.

She moved her mouth against his in what felt like lust and gratitude all mixed into one. He chanced a look at her face, and her delicate brow was knit and her eyes squeezed shut like she was lost.

If he wasn’t careful, he might get lost, too.

“Thank you,” she whispered against his mouth. The sun fading over the horizon gave off light purple colors that made the woman in his arms glow like a dream.

He set her on her feet, and she looked up at him, her hands sliding down his chest and over his stomach, until finally she took his hands in hers.

“Now it’s your turn to follow me,” she said with a saucy grin, and headed toward the lake.

Ryder let her pull him along, realizing that he would, in fact, follow her into the pits of hell, likely with a smile, if she simply looked at him the way she just had.

Whitney did the one thing she’d been dying to do since she’d met Ryder Diamond.

She bossed him around.

“Shirt, pants, boots, off. Hop to it, cowboy,” she said, coming to stand by the lakeshore.

“Still not a cowboy,” he said, then reached behind his neck and tugged the T-shirt over his head and off. The moon was shining bright and high in the sky, coming down on them like a spotlight. Thank God she could see him. The man was incredible, with large, hard chest muscles that tapered to even harder abs.

He kept his eyes on her when he reached for his belt clasp. Those biceps flexed as he worked the metal open, and the deep V of his hips made her salivate with anticipation.

“You have your own private lake, and you’ve still never gone skinny-dipping?” she asked, tossing off her sandals and standing in the thick grass, just a few meters from the lapping water.

“Like I said…never had the opportunity.”

“Or maybe you didn’t have the right company,” she teased.

But he looked serious. “Agreed. But I’m set to change that.”

She raised an eyebrow. The fun side of Ryder was starting to come to the surface. Which was good, because a moment ago, when he’d fulfilled one of her “I’ve Never” moments, she’d been ready to hug him and kiss him and…like him. Like, really like him. For more than a night at a time. Which was why she not only would return the favor and resolve his “never gone skinny-dipping” issue, she’d remind herself that this was just one experience at a time.

“So…this is you wanting to see me without clothes on?” she challenged, sliding her thumbs beneath her straps.

His hands on his belt paused, and his gray gaze stayed transfixed on her. “If you kept your dress on, that defeats the point of skinny-dipping,” he said.

“Yes, but I recall you saying something about boundaries.” She let one strap fall down her arm. Then the other. “This dress is one tug away from giving you your ‘I’ve Never,’ but then…uh-oh!” She ran her fingertips along the low neckline of her dress, which was getting lower by the second, thanks to gravity. “That would just wreck all those boundaries you like so much.”

A low growl rumbled from his chest as he stared her down. Keeping his eyes on her, he bent to unlace his boots, then he kicked them off. His hands here back at his belt, letting it open completely, and then he unsnapped and unzipped his jeans. With the fly spread open wide, she caught a glimpse of his hard cock straining against his boxer briefs.