Baiting the Maid of Honor (Wedding Dare #2)(18)

Her gaze caressed his shoulder. “That’s an awful story.”

“Maybe. It’s also the best thing that ever happened to me.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I almost didn’t make it that night. Lost too much blood. I applied to the academy the day I was released from the hospital. If I have to die, I want there to be a purpose behind it.”

Julie looked at him in awe. “This has to be the least romantic moonlight walk in the history of moonlight walks, you know that?”

“Hate to disappoint, but I don’t have a romantic bone in my body.”

“You don’t say.” She sighed. “I know you were trying to make me feel better and it worked.”

“Because you like the idea of me getting stabbed?”

“No, even I’m not that bloodthirsty.” She tilted her head. “Because if you’ll tell that terrible story just to make me feel better, then you’re not half as bad as I thought.”

“I’m worse.”

She smiled, but it faded almost immediately. “Reed, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I don’t understand it either. We’re…attracted to each other. I won’t deny that. But I think we both known that is the extent of what we have in common. Let’s not make this something it isn’t.”

An odd feeling crept over him. He didn’t recognize it, even though her words had a ring of familiarity. Probably because he was usually the one to say them. To someone else. She wanted him for sex and nothing else. He should be backing her against a tree. Instead, he felt more determined than ever to prove her wrong.

…

Julie looked up into Reed’s face, confused by what she saw there. Irritation, conflict, and surprise all took their turn passing over his hard yet intensely handsome features until she nearly got dizzy trying to keep up. She’d actually mustered the courage to follow this potty-mouthed, tattooed stab wound recipient into the dark woods and now he refused to just put the darn moves on her already. Once he touched her, once their mouths met, she wouldn’t have any room to think. She required the distraction from her thoughts. Didn’t want to think of all the reasons she should be tucked safely in her hotel bed, eye mask firmly in place.

For one, she’d never had sex for the sake of sex. Usually, basic fondness or even genuine romantic interest was involved. How did one behave after a one-night stand? A handshake? An email address swap?

Two, she could easily be a big fat disappointment to him. She could count her partners on one hand and Reed…she suspected there weren’t enough hands at Beaver Creek Resort to match that impressive number.

Third, she was starting to understand him a little and that simply couldn’t happen. She didn’t want to feel anything for this man. He would chew up her good-girl butt and spit it out. Heck, he’d already bitten her there once, hadn’t he? Hard, too. Absentmindedly, she rubbed the spot on her bottom where he’d bitten her earlier, stopping when Reed arched an eyebrow.

After what seemed like ages, he finally spoke, his gruff tone startling her. “Let me get this straight. You want to skip the small talk and get right to the good stuff?”

She raised her chin, refusing to give in to the urge to turn around and bolt for the hotel. Instead, she inched closer. “I’ve been making small talk all night. I’m ready for something…else. Are you the one who’s going to give it to me or not?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Normally, pixie, I wouldn’t hesitate to give you a nice, thorough pounding for challenging me like that. God knows, we both need it.” He swept her head to toe in a single hot glance. “But it’s not going to happen. Not tonight, at least.”

Her feminine pride took a nosedive. “What did you haul me out here for in the middle of the night? I thought this is what you wanted.”

“You’ve had me hard for days, baby. I want to f*ck you more than I want to breathe.”

Scorching heat bathed her head to toe. She tried not to make it obvious when she squeezed her knees closer together. Something, anything to alleviate the ache he’d initiated. But wouldn’t fulfill? It made no sense. “Then I-I fail to see the problem. I came out here with you, despite my better judgment—”

“There.” Reed jabbed a blunt finger in her direction. “Despite your better judgment. Of me. That’s the problem.”

With a confused frown, Julie opened her mouth to question him further, but he cursed and took her arm, leading her into the wooded area, off the beaten path. Mulling over his words in silence, Julie followed behind him for a few minutes before he came to an abrupt stop. A few feet in front of them, what looked like a small pond was nestled among the trees. Soft light filtered through the branches and illuminated the surface, giving it an almost ethereal look. Combined with the soft sounds of the woods and the warm breeze sifting through the trees, the scene before her could only be described as breathtaking.

Their odd conversation forgotten for the moment, she felt Reed’s gaze on her and turned. “What is this place? How did you know it was here?”

He shrugged, but didn’t look at her. “Went for a run this morning and found it. It’s a hot spring.”

As he stared off at some invisible point in the distance, Julie studied his strong profile closely. Proud, stubborn, strong…gorgeous man. And evidently, thoughtful. Whatever his motive, the front-runner being taking her to bed, Reed had thought about her tonight. Made sure she ate a hot dinner. Brought her to this beautiful spot for her enjoyment. She’d wounded his pride by referring to him as a lapse in judgment. Although he would probably wear a blond wig and a push-up bra before admitting it out loud. Julie couldn’t stop the laugh that tickled her throat at the image and only laughed harder when Reed shot her a suspicious glance.