Page 43 of Wild Tides
I settled on the couch, crossing my legs. Aware the move exposed my thighs. Keeping my expression neutral as I popped the lid off my dessert, pretending like he didn’t affect me, took all of my control.
I dipped my spoon, holding Lee’s gaze as I slid it between my lips. The chocolate was silky smooth on my tongue, rich, with the bite of dark chocolate on the finish.Heaven.
Lee shrugged out of his suit jacket, discarding it on a side table. It left him in his crisp white shirt and slacks, his feet bare except for the boot.
I scooped up another bite of the chocolate mousse. Lee matched me, unbuttoning his cuffs, rolling them up to expose his corded forearms. Utterly gratuitous, but I didn’t care. His arms were lightly tanned and sprinkled with dark hair. Strong and capable, just like the man.
He held my gaze, flicking open the button near his throat, his nimble fingers slowly revealing more skin.
The mousse dissolved on my tongue. I moaned softly, pretending the chocolate was enough to satisfy the craving that made me clench my thighs together. Lee exposed one muscular shoulder, shrugging off his white dress shirt and letting it trail from his fingers to the floor. His broad chest and tanned skin lay fully exposed.
I whimpered. “Damn, this is good.”
I said it into my dessert cup, but I caught the flash of a smile from Lee. His stare burned into me, his eyes dark and full of intent. My skin flushed; a slow creep of heat made me hyperaware of the slickness building between my thighs.Scraping the bottom of my cup didn’t satisfy my cravings. If anything, it only made them stronger. There was nothing to distract me from Lee’s performance.
His hands dropped to his waistband, taunting me with a slow slide under the fabric. The slacks were too nice for him to rip them away in one motion, but the smug glint in his eye made me think of Velcro. Like he wanted to shock me.
But all he needed to surprise me was to be himself. Never in a million years had I imagined my brother’s quiet friend stripping for me.
He flicked open the clasp on his fly. He peeled one side over his hip, exposing the top of black boxer briefs. Like he’d been training for weeks, he kept his movements slow. Practiced. Amateurs rushed. Lee knew exactly what he was doing to me by taking his time.
My internal muscles rippled, already anticipating having him between my thighs. His heat. His length. Taking him all.
He held my gaze as he exposed his other hipbone, shucking the slacks in one smooth motion and kicking them away as he advanced on me.Fuck. I’d really been sleeping on Lee. His usual wardrobe ran more to disheveled in a sexy, uncaring way. Stripped down to boxers, his walking boot, and nothing else, his raw power was on display. With it no longer hidden, he couldn’t pretend to be unassuming or soft. He was all smooth muscle and rolling grace.
My cup and spoon dropped from nerveless fingers.
He loomed over me, extending his hand. “May I?”
Eyes wide, I nodded. I’d give him anything he asked for. The last piece of gum in my purse. A ride to the airport. My kidney. A handwritten coupon for one free murder – no questions asked.
My breath stalled in my chest, choking me as he reached out. Past me. And picked up the other dessert container.
I wilted against the couch, boneless. Raw need burned through my core, like I could immolate from the inside, a phoenix in the making.
The gleam in Lee’s eyes told me he knew exactly what he’d done to me. Building me up, only to let me down. The slick mess in my panties mocked me. I let out a low hiss, my eyes narrowing to slits.
“My turn.” His smirk silently taunted me. He dipped a finger into his dessert, popping it into his mouth up to the knuckle and sucking it off slowly. “Mm. Good. But it could be better.” He scooped up a creamy blob, eyes wicked.
If he started a food fight right now, I’d murderhim. Forget the damn coupon.
Slowly, he leaned in, filling my senses with his heat. His nearness. The mix of chocolate and his soap. He painted my collarbone in chocolate with one long swipe, his expression soft with something akin to artistic fervor.
“Perfect. I bet that’s better.” Sticky chocolate clung to my chest above my neckline, soft and silky. My nipples strained against the fabric of my dress as realization hit – this was how Lee meant to torture me. He arched one brow. “You mind?”
“Go ahead.”
It was creaky, but I was too turned on to care. Volunteering for buffet duty was the only thing on my body’s to-do list. Yes.Please. Eat me up.
His knees settled to the outside of my thighs, his boot tucked under his quads. Momentarily, I felt guilty for not making him sit earlier. The man was still injured. He didn’t need to be on his feet. He braced his hands on the back of the couch, bringing his face level with mine, and every stray thought fell away.
Pure longing beamed from Lee’s dark eyes. His chin dipped, and his tongue swept out, stroking along the trail of chocolate he’d created. Goosebumps bloomed across my chest. The raspof his tongue sent a fresh rush of moisture sliding between my thighs.
“Delicious.” He licked delicately, swirling. He leaned back on his heels, watching me from hooded eyes. “More?”
I nodded, incapable of speech. Mentally reissuing that murder coupon. Anything for him to continue.
His hands traced my shoulders to my forearms, urging me forward. His fingers slid to the zipper at my back. Slowly, he peeled the straps of my dress over my shoulders, baring my breasts. Cool air whispered over my nipples. Everything tightened under Lee’s gaze, my thighs clenching as he sat on his haunches, admiring me.
