Page 63 of Rebellious

Bennett, the gentleman he is, hasn’t looked down once. That’s about to change.

Releasing his hand, I bring my palm to his face. His eyes close at my touch. “Look at me, Bennett.” I stroke the overnight stubble, moving my finger to his lips. His breath hitches and with one inhale, he opens his eyes. “I want you to look at all of me.”

I don’t have to ask him twice. His eyes drift down my face, down my shoulders and stop on my chest. If I expected a round of applause, I would have been disappointed.

Instead, Bennett’s eyes burn my flesh with their heat, his words sending a million chills racing down my spine. “Rule,” he drawls, thick and rich. “I’m the only one who will ever see these.”

I nod, not caring that his rule is complete bullshit. Our deal was for the summer, not forever. Although, I wouldn’t be opposed to forever. But Bennett doesn’t go back on his word. He’s honest and loyal to a fault. He promised the summer, and I’m not fool enough to believe he meant any longer.

I nod, focusing on the clenching of his jaw. “Are you angry?” I ask.

I thought he would be happy seeing a pair of tits. What guy isn’t? So for him to stand here and look like he’s ready to punch someone seems odd. But then again, Bennett is far from ordinary.

I stroke his face once more before dropping my hand to my side. “Help me dust the sand off?”

I’m not crazy. No way am I doing it myself when a perfectly sexy man stands in front of me with nothing to do.

Bennett nods, his eyes staying firmly on my chest. Slowly, he lifts his hands, placing them on my shoulders. If he intends to torture me, then he’s doing a magnificent job. My body aches and jumps as he starts at my shoulders, lightly dusting the sand there. My back arches and I feel myself leaning into his touch.

Torturously slow, his palms graze along the dips of my collar bone, cleaning me with a slight sweeping motion. I’m anxious, wet, and completely needy. “Bennett,” I beg. “Touch me.”

I can hear the smugness in his voice. “I am touching you.”

“Now is not the time.” I moan. “The jet ski thing wasn’t that bad.”

He chuckles. “Says the one who was doing the grinding.”

“I wasn’t grinding,” I correct. “I can’t help the waves.”

He blows on my skin. “Sure.”

My back arches as my voice takes on a whiny quality. “I won’t forget this.” I repeat his words. He wants to torture me? I’ll see this tease and raise it. Bouncing on the jet ski will be the least tortuous thing I do to him this summer.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he rasps out as if he too is struggling with the slow pace of his cleaning.

I shiver at the promise of a next time. How long have I imagined his hands on me? Too damn long. And this summer will be a dream come true and a nightmare by the time it ends. We won’t be the same after this. I won’t be able to be his friend and watch another woman, who is not the daughter of his father’s best friend, take his ring and my forever.

I’m just being honest. I might be a strong woman, but I wouldn’t be able to stomach watching someone else take the man I’ve held in my arms since right after he took his first breath. He was mine before he could even recognize my face, and this summer, I’m finally getting all of him.

“Aspen?” His hands stop and I realize I’m crying.

I hurry and put my hands over his, holding him there. “Don’t stop, you understand?” I lock onto his eyes and hold his gaze. Deep within the depths of his emerald eyes, I know he understands why I’m tearful. “Keep going,” I beg. “I don’t want to waste a minute of the time we have.”

He nods curtly, his throat working and his eyes sad. I’m taking it back. I meant what I said. Our time is finite and if I have to live with a shattered heart for the rest of my life, then I will, holding onto these memories like a lifeline.

Without another word, I drop my hands. This time, he doesn’t go to my shoulders, he goes to my chest. His palms grazing the edges of my breasts, circling and cupping as the sand falls through his fingers. I throw my head back, my hands finding his shoulders as I brace myself, holding us together.

“Every part of you is exquisite,” he whispers in the sacred space between us. “Look at me, Aspen.”

My eyes fly open and meet his. “Watch me touch you.”

He grabs me around the waist as my knees give out at his words. “You’re going to need to stand.” He smiles. “I need both my hands.”

Gah, I want to kiss that smile off his face. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind just chaining him to the headboard. I want to be greedy. No one should get to see him smile. No one but me.

Bennett’s smiles are mine. No, fuck that. Bennett—all of him—is mine.

I nod weakly, straightening to my full height. “I’m okay now.”

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