Page 30 of Body Shot

I lean forward, satisfaction swelling in my chest. “You were, weren’t you? Attagirl.”

“You are so full of yourself.”

I smile. “Yeah, kind of. But most people seem to like me anyway.”

She falls back in her chair, shaking her head, but smiling.

“Should I tell you more? Should I tell you all the things I’ve been thinking about doing to that sexy little body of yours?”

Her eyes go hazy and she catches her bottom lip between her teeth. Oh hell, that’s hot. I shift in my chair.

“I don’t think you should do that.”

She doesn’t sound very sure. I like that. “How about I take you home and tell you?”

Her eyelashes flutter. “I think that might be dangerous.”

That’s not a no. “I’m used to danger.”

“I’m not.”

“Are you afraid of me, Hayden?”

She thinks about that for such a long time, I start to sweat. Finally, she says, “No.”

“Good.”

“I’m just . . . not used to feeling these things.”

“What are you feeling?”

Her eyes shift, then come back to meet mine. “Excitement.” She hesitates. “Arousal.”

“Oh, hell yeah. Okay. Let’s go.”

I’m getting stiffer by the second. Hopefully I can walk out of here and make it to the car.

The crowd on the beach has thinned out now, although a few people remain as the sun lowers toward the horizon. The ocean sparkles and glints, dotted with white sailboats.

“It really is beautiful.” Hayden gazes out at the ocean, a wistful tone in her voice.

Yeah, she needs to take a little more time for fun. For pleasure. I may have felt a moment of guilt for taking her away from her work, but I’m pretty damn sure she needed that. I have a feeling she has an immense capacity for pleasure—her sensitive body was so responsive, and she gave me glimpses of a sense of humor. When she smiles, it makes my heart kick. I want to see her smile more. I want to make her feel good again.

Why am I this hooked on her, someone I just met and barely know? I’m not the type to get all involved with a woman. I’ve had relationships, but it’s never anything heavy or serious, mostly just fun and sex.

So that’s all this is. Fun and sex. Nothing wrong with that.

8

HAYDEN

I’m pretty sure I’ve lost my mind.

Maybe the tequila last night did something to my brain cells, because I’m permanently aroused, aching and wet between my thighs, my nipples tingling, excitement buzzing in my veins. I’m skeptical about people talking about certain foods being aphrodisiacs. The only thing that can account for this state of stimulation is Beck.

I get that he’s hot. Gorgeous face, muscled body, bad boy beard, hair, and tattoos. A sinful smile. On top of that, he makes me laugh, and that’s always sexy. What I don’t get is why he’s interested in me. He’s smooth with those compliments that I want to believe, but some of that high school inferiority complex lingers in me. I need to be more confident. I need to accept that he’s attracted to me and just enjoy it.

Easier said than done. I’m fighting with myself all the way back to my Pacific Beach condo. Am I seriously going to bring him into my home and have sex with him . . . again? Can I really do that? Can I just toss aside all my responsibilities, the work I planned to do today, preparing for my important meeting tomorrow, the grant that could provide more funding which would allow me to continue the work I love? There are people counting on me. This isn’t like me. I’m conscientious, orderly, and sensible. Not sandy feet in flip-flops, laughing over meaningless arcade games, impulsive beer and burgers for dinner.

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