Free Baiting the Maid of Honor by Tessa Bailey Page B

The man watching her with a
    predatory gleam in his eye, looking so at home surrounded by nature it could be his natural habitat,
    wasn’t interested in playing Marco Polo.
    You made it this far, Julie. Hop to. He’s already seen your butt and he seemed to like it just fine.
    And if you have to get naked in front of a man, this is the best lighting you could ever hope for.
    Strip.
    Before she could talk herself out of it, she tugged her dress over her head and kicked off her
    sandals, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
    “What the hell are you doing?” His raw, slightly startled tone thrilled her, heated her further. She’d
    surprised him. Good.
    When her hands went to unhook her bra at the back, she thought she heard him groan but wouldn’t
    allow herself any hesitation to find out. The panties came next, tossed onto the pile with the rest of her
    clothes.
    As Julie waded into the water, she cast what she hoped was a sultry look over her shoulder. “Are
    you going to stand there and look all night?” Strategically, she bit her lip, ran her hands over her hips.
    “Or are you going to come in here and make yourself useful?”
    She sank into the divinely warm water and closed her eyes, focusing on the gentle breeze and night
    sounds, hoping to take her mind off the possibility that Reed wouldn’t take her not-so-subtle bait. A
    moment later, when she heard his pants and belt hit the ground, she turned away so he wouldn’t see
    her victorious grin, but she couldn’t resist looking back to see him in the nude.
    Really, it was only fair after she’d given him a close-up of her birthday suit.
    Moonlight spilled over his muscular stomach and thighs, so sleek and toned she could do nothing
    but shake her head as he entered the spring. His long, thick erection demanded her attention next, had
    her catching her breath on a shudder. She felt a brief resurgence of nerves, but pushed them aside. Her
    choice. She’d initiated this. Determinedly, she dragged her gaze up his impressive chest to meet hard,
    lust-filled eyes.
    “I don’t say anything without a reason.” Submerged now past his waist, he stalked her. “Once my
    mind has been made up, it doesn’t change.”
    His hypnotic voice vibrated inside her, his deliberate movements battering her with their
    sensuality. With a mental shake, she tried to focus on his words. When he moved within reaching
    distance, she inhaled deeply for courage and rose to her full height, causing water to course down her
    breasts and belly. She ran her hands over his chest and let their damp bodies meet, looked up at him
    through her eyelashes. “Aren’t you even going to let me try?”
    His head dipped toward hers, and he nipped at her bottom lip with a growl. “No. Enough
    questioning. We both take some relief tonight, but not all of it.” A rough hand smoothed over her
    bottom, gave it a light slap. “You’ll know the difference when I fuck you.”
    Reed’s mouth descended on hers. His fists tangled in her hair and angled her head so he could kiss
    her hard, tongue sweeping in to claim absolute possession. Julie clung to his wide, slippery shoulders
    and lost herself in the kiss, moaning as heat slammed through her in pounding waves. She’d been
    frantic for the taste of him without even realizing just how much. Now, she made up for the achy,
    restless feeling she’d been cursed with all day and took, took, took . He growled when her fingers slid
    up into his hair and tugged, her body pressing flush against his simultaneously. Reed fit his hips
    against the notch between her thighs and surged up, creating a wave around them. With each strategic
    push, Julie’s throaty cries echoed through the night.
    “Do you hurt between your legs, baby?”
    “Yes,” she sobbed, writhing on his lap, frustrated by the water hindering her movements. “Reed,
    please don’t make me wait. It hurts so badly.”
    “Who made it hurt?”
    “You know you did,” she