Page 51 of Bed of Thorns

“I don’t have on a swimsuit.”

“Neither do I.” He growled, biting down on my lower lip before sitting up. The grin on his face was infectious, mischievous.

“Wait a minute…”

He stood, immediately jerking his shirt over his head and tossing it. Then he held out his arms, beckoning me with his hands. “Come on. Get up.”

I glanced from one side of the beach to the other. There were other houses in the distance, all with lights on. “Edmond. This isn’t a private beach.”

“Who cares? This is our space and our time. We need to enjoy every moment.” He wasn’t taking no for an answer, grabbing me by the arms and forcing me onto my feet. “If you don’t undress, I’ll toss you in the water the way you are.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

He gave me a stern look a split second before tossing me over his shoulder, taking long strides toward the ocean.

“Put me down!” I whined, beating his back with my fists.

“Not until you learn to obey me.”

Obey? Hmm… “I’m not going to obey you.”

His answer was to swat me on the bottom several times, the hard slaps providing a harsh sting through the lightweight material of my dress. “I think you need to learn.”

My God.

He smacked me again, slowing his gait but still heading for the water.

I groaned, realizing I wasn’t going to win this little argument. “Fine. I’ll obey you. Put me down.”

“You promise to be good?”

“Define good.”

As he started swatting me again, I wiggled in his hold, laughing for some crazy reason. He knew how to excite me more than any man ever had before. There was such driven passion in everything he did, a lust for life that was infectious. He continued spanking me for at least a full minute, finally easing me onto my feet. When he cupped both sides of my face, I allowed myself to become lost in the look in his eyes, the way his gaze dropped to the bodice of my dress taking my breath away.

“Good is about learning the rules.” While he issued the statement in a playful tone, I had a sense he was being serious.

“Go on.”

“I may be demanding.”

“A little likeSleeping with the Enemy?” While I was referencing an old movie I’d watched several times, I was surprised that he hadn’t caught the inference. He thought about the question then lowered his head, his whisper tingling my skin, the deep tone spiraling into me as he enunciated every word.

“More like a man who worships the woman he loves, facing his inability to find any control mechanism other than through full domination.”

I wasn’t certain if what he was saying was a riddle, but I knew there was a hidden meaning. He needed me exactly the way he’d thought our life would be together, a fantasy. What about the hidden doubts and secrets I knew we were both holding?

“I…”

“Ssshh…” Edmond placed his finger over my lips. “Let’s not spoil the moment. Undress.” He backed away in dramatic fashion, his grin returning as he unfastened his belt. Already barefoot, I waited as he lowered his trousers, stepping out of them. Good God, the man was gorgeous all over, every muscle like chiseled perfection.

He cocked his head, laughing softly before beckoning again with a single finger.

I turned away from him, teasing him as I lifted my dress, shifting my hips back and forth. While the feeling of being free and wild was a powerful draw, the slightly conservative and inhibited side of me continued to fear being caught.

“Don’t keep me waiting. Your punishment will be much worse.”

His words made me shudder. I yanked off my dress, shimmying out of my panties, the wind turning chilly against my naked skin. However, the explosive heat dancing inside kept my nipples hard and my pussy clenching.

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