Page 25 of Baited

He locked his jaw. This wasn’t the time to discuss everything. “Let’s get you to bed.” He led her toward the door, but she pulled out of his grip.

“I can’t. I’m blue.” She swayed on her feet, and gestured down at herself.

She was right.

He nodded and eased her back against the counter again. “I’ll get it off, all right?” He wet a washcloth and brought it toher stomach. She squirmed as he washed off the stickiness. He kept his hand steady on her hip while he worked. Her slim waist clenched with every swipe of the cloth.

He worked the muscles in his jaw. “Hold still,” he breathed. His tone sharper than he’d intended.

Her hand rested on his jaw. “I like this.”

He dragged his eyes to hers. She yawned.

A smile tugged at his mouth. “You like what?”

“This feeling.” She stroked her thumb over his stubble. He swallowed. Her fingers trailed lazily down the side of his throat. “But I don’t like you very much.”

Her words cut into him, but they stung more than they should have. The tip of his tongue burned to ask why, especially since he’d only wanted to help her. He’d assumed her distance from him had been due to a recent breakup, but to hear she flat out didn’t like him ate through him. “Thanks for sharing.”

“You want to know why?”

He wet the cloth again. The blue was gone, but the stickiness still clung to her stomach. Being careful not to touch her inappropriately, he wiped at the residue. “No, but I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.”

“You’re pushy.”

Pushy. Okay. If preventing her from rape meant he was pushy, then he was fine with that.

“And nosey.” Her hand trailed down his throat to rest on his chest, leaving a burning path in its wake. Nosey he could handle considering the circumstances of her behavior.

“Is that all?” He dropped the cloth on the counter but didn’t back away. Her fingers knotted in the material of his T-shirt. Her eyes stayed trained on her fingers, and a pink shade crept over her cheekbones. His lips tingled with the need to take her mouth into his.

“I don’t like the way you look at me.” Her eyes lifted to meet his. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the warm, fiery yellow mixed in with her green irises.

Acid burned through his veins. The muscles in his shoulders bunched.

That wasn’t a comment he could brush off. “How do I look at you?”

Her tongue jutted out to wet her lips. She pressed her body closer to his. Her bare thigh slid between his knees. His spine stiffened. “Like you want me.”

Every muscle in his body went rigid. His neck tensed. Her eyes trailed over his face, then down his body. He rubbed his hand over his hair. How could he deny that? He couldn’t. His tongue worked while he chose his words carefully.

He came up blank. “I’m not sure what you want me to say, Riley. But I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable in any way.”

A small smile spread across her lips. She wavered in front of him. “You want me?” Her eyes were heavy lidded, her breath warm in the air between them. Her rock-hard nipples pressed against the thin bathing suit material.

His throat went dry. Christ. He snorted on a chuckle. “You’re a smart woman, I’ll leave that to your imagination. But for now, I think you need to go to bed. You’re drunk.”

Her hands pressed against his chest until he took a step back. “Am not. I feel fine now.” She wobbled on her feet without his support.

“Right.”

She balanced herself on the counter. Her hand reached to the string at her neck and ever so slowly, she tugged. The bathing suit top loosened on her breasts. His heart stalled in his chest.

He snatched her hand in his, stopping her. Her eyes locked with his.

She didn’t move.

“Not a good idea.”

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