Baiting the Maid of Honor (Wedding Dare #2)(33)

Surprise written on her features, she lowered herself into the chair opposite him. She seemed to be choosing her words. “I have to say, I envy that. Working with family…it’s a lot of softening your opinion to save people’s feelings. Half the time, you end up offending them anyway. Your job might be more dangerous, but at least it’s all about bagging and tagging the bad guy. No questions asked.”

A laugh escaped him, sounding odd to his ears. “Bagging and tagging? Pretty ruthless, pixie. Maybe you’re in the wrong line of work.”

Amusement playing around her mouth, she shrugged daintily. “I think I’d make a fine policewoman. Anyone gets unruly and I’ll just talk them to death.”

“That’s my line.”

“Thought I’d beat you to it.”

Reed rubbed a hand along his chin, trying to get rid of the damn smile. “Nah, you might look hot as hell in the uniform, but you’re too soft, baby. You’d want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes it’s just not possible.”

“I’m not soft. Not always,” she murmured.

The change in her tone kicked up his heart rate. “Come over here and prove it.”

A flush spread up her neck. “What did you have in mind?”

Reed knew what he was doing. The conversation, the mood between them, had turned too comfortable, too damn perfect, and this was his way of putting them back on a playing field with which he felt familiar. Even knowing his reasons didn’t stop him. It only encouraged the change. He didn’t know any other way. “Get over here. Don’t make me ask again.”

For long seconds, she looked thrown off by the change in him. No, he decided. She looked excited by it. She wet her lips, palms running the length of her thighs. Finally, she rose and came toward him. When she paused a few feet away, he narrowed his eyes to draw her closer.

“You asked for my fingers earlier in exchange for a punishment later. Time’s up, pixie.”

With a shuddering exhale, she stepped in between his legs, gasping as he reached up to undo the tie of her robe. “Reed…someone might see…”

“I told you once before I would never allow someone to see you like this.” He yanked the tie hard. The robe fell open. “Are you doubting me?”

“No,” she whispered.

He parted the sides of her robe, swallowing a groan when he found her naked beneath the fluffy material. Her smooth skin looked flushed, soft and pink from her shower. Simultaneously, he leaned forward and pulled her toward him so he could bury his nose in her belly button, inhaling the peach scent he would forever associate with her. Fingers slipped into his hair hesitantly, holding him there. He wanted to stay there indefinitely, but it felt too good, so he pulled back. “Straddle my thighs.”

Julie’s body jolted a little at the steel in his voice, but using his shoulders for balance, she did as he asked. Opening herself to him. Naked, save the robe draped on either side of his legs, core exposed by her spread position, she embodied temptation. Reed was forced to unzip his jeans to accommodate his surging erection. Her willingness to trust him, to let him bring her pleasure in ways she was unfamiliar with, wreaked havoc on his mind. His body.

He rewarded her by sucking her nipples, flicking and rubbing them with his tongue until her hips began to shift in the air, seeking pressure she wouldn’t find. Knowing her sex trembled for satisfaction, but wouldn’t get it unless he allowed it to happen, made Reed groan around the beautifully formed nipple in his mouth. Made him draw on it harder. Blindly, he tore a condom from his pocket and rolled it on.

“Reed. Please t-touch me. I need you to touch me.”

His hands slid up the backs of her thighs to her ass, gripped the flesh hard. Her breathy whimper shot lust straight to his belly. “Every time you ask, I’ll make you wait longer.” The hands on his shoulders flexed as she nodded, expression pained. Taking his time, Reed trailed his hands down her legs and around to the juncture of her thighs. “I’m going to spank you, pixie. But not in the way you expect.” His grip on her thighs tightened punishingly. “These legs…the objects of my frustration.” One hand moved higher to palm her *. “I know they lead straight to here. That’s what f*cks me up, baby. Now it’s going to feel the sting.”

Then he gently slapped her between the legs. Her gasp of shock turned into a moan as her knees buckled. With a growl, Reed quickly put her back in a standing position. And did it again. And again. The light slapping sounds of his hand connecting with her wet center drove him wild. If he allowed it to continue, he wouldn’t last five minutes. Indulging himself, he slapped her delicate heat once more, right over the spot begging for attention. Julie’s grip on his shoulders trembled; her legs began to shake. He moved on, slapping the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. The backs, the sides.

“Hiked your skirt up for me, is that right? Did you think you’d get away with that?”

“No.” Her chest shuddered. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

Julie leaned down and tried to kiss him, but he jerked back, wanting an explanation. She finally answered on a breath. “I didn’t want to get away with it.”

He groaned his pleasure. “That’s what I thought. Mine from the beginning.” Jerking the robe off her shoulders, Reed grasped her buttocks and sat her down on his erection, filling her to the hilt. He swooped down with his mouth to swallow her scream, loving the taste of her desperation on his tongue. Already she’d begun to tighten and shudder around him. The driving need for her to move mingled with delicious frustration. “Goddammit.” Flexing his hips, he groaned. “I knew that first night. From the way you walked. Moved. I knew you’d be tight as f*ck, Julie.”