Page 21 of Bad Rio

He gaped, stared, almost swallowed his tongue.

Full, rounded, and with light pink areolas, they were the most perfect tits he’d ever seen. He went instantly hard. A droplet of water clung to one sweet nipple and his mouth went dry. Both her nipples were puckered, as though hoping for a man to suckle them. Hoping forhim. He’d pay a king’s ransom to sip from that breast. He’d give all he owned for a single taste.

She whirled away, and snatched up a garment from the bed to cover her chest. Yet she’d turned too late and he’d gotten a clear view of her glorious breasts.

All the furious beating off into the snow he could ever do would not douse even the tiniest spark of desire he had for Rebecca De Monte. He knew that now.

She hurried to pull a garment over her head, and he saw that it was one of his old white t-shirts. She must have gotten it from his bag. While not snug, the fabric was worn and thin. It lay over her chest with only the barest of covering. The outlines of her breasts were obvious. Her nipples thrust against the cotton and he stared at them. He was wholly unable to blink.

“Sorry,” she said, eyes downcast. “I—I’ve been wearing my shirt and bra for over a week and I stink.” She gestured at a small pile of clothing she’d thrown onto the floor. “Couldn’t stand it anymore.” She gave a weak laugh. “Like I said, I thought you’d be gone longer.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said hoarsely. Turning away from her, he took off his coat and cap and squeezed his eyes closed.

Mercy!

For something to do, he knelt at the cooler and took out a red apple, two granola bars and two bottles of water. With a folding knife from his pocket, he closed the cooler, sat on top and peeled the apple. He tried to still his shaking hands.

When she said nothing further, his brain slowly began to clear. What a coincidence that was, him coming in and finding her damn near nude. Yeah, sure.

Men in his line of work didn’t like coincidences, didn’t believe in them. They were to be distrusted, disbelieved.

Had Beccawantedhim to see her?

Rio stopped in mid-peel. He glanced up at her and found her staring at her fingernails. As though she thought the thin t-shirt maintained her modesty, she made no move to cover herself further. Staring at her nipples, he felt his mouth water. A simmering satisfaction started low in his gut and rose into his chest. If she even wanted him a little, he now knew what to do. Hadn’t she been the one to rub her butt cheeks against his cock?

****

“It wasn’t really acoincidence today, was it?” Rio asked Becca suddenly. The apple in his hand, he paused, mid-peel.

Becca jerked her head up and she wondered what was on his mind now. “What?”

“You know what I mean. Me coming in. You half naked.”

She sputtered. “You think Iplannedthat?”

He showed his teeth. “Didn’t you?”

“No!” Still sitting on the bed, she faced away from him. “You’re crazy.”

Rio set down his apple. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. If it happens—us two in the bed—it will be your choice. Hell, it’ll be your idea. Okay?”

“You’re damn right.” As she climbed back beneath the quilts, Becca fumed. How dare he assume she’d been waiting for him with her breasts on full display? Why, the idea was ridiculous. Hewascrazy. She’d merely taken her time, thoroughly washing her arms, her chest, her face. Of course she knew he was coming back.

While he was gone, it was only natural to give her poor beleaguered thoughts some free rein. For almost a week she’d been terrified, knocked sideways, sick, out of control. Finally she’d been able to let some of her tension subside. Before then, she’d hadn’t a moment to herself to relax, to do even the smallest thing. She wanted a wash. So what?

So what if during that time she’d indulged in a little sensual fantasizing? Particularly the fantasies she secretly desired ... exhibitionism. Perhaps the big strong Viking-looking man might come back and catch her bathing? What difference would it make if she slowed her ablutions and let her mind take flight? He’d seemed intensely interested in her breasts. For her entire adult life, she’d always had ultra-sensitive nipples. In the past, she’d encouraged her few lovers to concentrate on lightly pinching them, rolling them in their fingers, suckling them. It made her lower extremities pulse in delicious throbbing heat. When attention had been paid to them during lovemaking, she always reached orgasm in a hurry.

She knew her face was attractive, even pretty. However, she’d never tried to fool herself that she was beautiful. She kept herself fit and her hips were slim, her legs shapely. Yet there was no doubt that her breasts were her best feature. Was there anything wrong with a woman enjoying what providence had given her?

What could be the harm in allowing an appreciative man like Rio a glimpse?

She forced herself to consider his conclusion: had it been a coincidence, when he’d come in to gaze upon her nude flesh? She pondered the thought and felt a tiny smile come to her lips.

Well ... maybe a little.

****

Rio had been rightabout his chances of seducing her, and now he knew it was possible. She wanted him, but like a skittish, wild doe, she needed charming, wanted leading, would respond to tender coaxing.

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