Free Bending Over Backwards by Samantha Hunter Page B

later.”
    Feeling the door shut on the conversation, Leo lightened the moment by reaching down and scooping a handful of water in her direction, the splash taking her by surprise.
    “Leo!” As the cold water caught her in the face, he laughed.
    The next thing he knew, he was down on his ass in the shallow water, and she was laughing above him.
    “Did you just sweep my ankle?” he asked in shock.
    Jasmine nodded, laughing harder. Leo grimaced as another icy wave crept up the sand and into his shorts.
    “My former boyfriend taught me a little jujitsu.”
    “Really? So you like to wrestle?” He pushed to his feet and squeezed out his shirt.
    “I know enough to be dangerous.”
    “Me too,” he replied, moving fast.
    Before she could anticipate, he grabbed her arm and pulled her in tight to his body, taking them both back down into the surf.
    Jasmine landed on top of him with a thud, and Leo rolled them both neatly, pinning her under him. The receding tide sloshed up around them as if getting in one final, chilly lick.
    “I can’t believe you did that,” she huffed in outrage, but he saw the laughter burbling under the surface. “Oh my God, this is freezing.”
    She squealed as a wave washed up around her shoulders.
    “It is, isn’t it?” he teased evilly. He couldn’t help but notice her nipples hardening against his chest.
    “Couldn’t let a girl take me down and have my manliness called into question out here in front of everyone. I had to even the score.”
    He pushed some wet hair back from her face. She was so damned beautiful. He started to overheat in spite of the icy water.
    “Don’t worry. I would defend your masculinity if anyone gives you a problem.”
    The teasing note in her voice pleased him. He’d so rarely seen Jasmine play.
    “Really? You’d do that for me?”
    He shifted his weight, pressing against her. She had to know how turned on he was, but she didn’t seem to mind.
    “I would. Though if you get up and walk down the beach sporting that big boner, I won’t have to say a word about it. The evidence will be clear.”
    Leo choked on a surprised laugh and fell to her side as she joined him, the two of them rolling in the sand and waves, laughing like kids.
    It was one of the best, sexiest moments of his life.
    When the laughing passed, the heat remained. Luckily, his huge boner, as she put it, had also quelled for the moment. But looking at her, wet hair, wet clothes, damp skin, made the fires kindle again.
    “Jasmine—” he started, unsure of what he was going to say, but she interrupted him.
    “Yeah, let’s go.”
    Apparently of like mind; Leo was almost afraid to hope.
    Back at the beach house and inside the sliding door, Leo started to say something, but Jasmine put fingers to his lips.
    “Enough talk. No talking, no thinking. Just this.”
    Leo didn’t argue when she took his lips in a fierce kiss. It made him forget what he was going to say anyway.

Chapter Eight
    Jasmine meant what she said to Leo. She didn’t want to think. She’d been thinking for every damned second of the last sixteen hours and none of it good.
    Right now, she wanted to feel good. Leo could do that for her better than anyone. She could make him feel good too, and she was about to show him how much so.
    Falling to her knees on the tile floor in front of the double-deck doors where they had come in, she slipped her hands around his butt, then up to the band of his shorts. Deftly, she undid the button there, then the zipper, sliding them down and closing her eyes in utter bliss as she found only skin beneath.
    “Commando.” The word was uttered on a breath as she smiled up at him.
    His eyes were hot, his jaw tight with anticipation.
    Jasmine didn’t plan to disappoint.
    Reaching down, Leo helped her peel the wet fabric from his body, taking off his shirt, as well. Jasmine left her clothes on for the moment. She felt powerful, in charge, even though she was kneeling in front of him.
    Her gaze