Defending Hayden (Second Chances #7)(50)

“Which is a good thing,” Kate offered.

Derek sighed and put his arm around me. “Want to be my date? You might have to sit with one of the guys during the ceremony, though.”

Chris walked by and winked. “She can sit with me. I’ll make sure she’s not lonely.”

Derek pointed at Chris as he strolled off. “Don’t you dare put your hands on her. I’ll f*ck you up.” Everyone around us laughed.

“Are you one of the best men?” I asked Derek.

He nodded. “Evan asked me when I moved back to town. I couldn’t say no.”

Evan slapped him on the back. “Damn right he couldn’t.” Then he looked at me. “It’ll be a good time. You’ll get to meet Summer and our daughter, Emma Grace.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Have a good night, everyone,” Evan shouted. Michael was still talking to Cooper, but another guy had joined them. It was Aaron Grainger, a running back for the Cougars and the one who was Michael’s type, according to Kate.

“It doesn’t look like there’s a party tonight. Do you want to head back to my place with me?” Derek asked.

I nodded. “Let me say goodbye to Michael first.”

“He can come back to the house if he wants. I know he leaves in the morning.”

Taking my hand, he walked me over to Michael and the other guys. Before I could speak, Michael turned to me. “Do you mind if I go out with some of the guys tonight?”

His eyes sparkled, and I couldn’t be selfish. This was the opportunity of a lifetime for him, hanging out with the team. “Of course not. Go and have fun. Just be careful.” I hugged him hard and kissed his cheek.

“I’ll come by in the morning to tell you goodbye,” he murmured in my ear.

“You better.”

Once he’d left, Derek and I said our goodbyes to everyone else and headed on our way back to his house. “You look beautiful tonight,” Derek said, raking his gaze up and down my body.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. “I’m sure my makeup has all sweated off by now. I swear it was a hundred degrees today. I can’t wait to take a shower.” My T-shirt had been stuck to my back all day.

“So what you’re trying to say is that you need to cool off?” he asked mischievously.

Pursing my lips, I stared at him. “Maybe, why?”

He shrugged. “No reason. I think I might have something in mind.” He reached over and placed his hand on my bare thigh, sliding his finger under the hem of my denim shorts.

“If you’re trying to cool me off, it’s having the opposite effect,” I said, trembling with his touch.

He bit his lip. “Spread your legs and unbutton your shorts for me.” Then he smiled. “Please.” I did as he said and sucked in a breath when he pushed his way down my shorts, sliding my underwear out of the way. He fondled my clit before slipping a finger inside me, then another, slowly thrusting them in and out. “So f*cking wet,” he groaned.

If we hadn’t been in a moving vehicle, I’d have climbed on his lap and finished what he’d started. I was close to losing control, but then Derek slowly slid his fingers out. “Why did you stop?”

He sucked his fingers and moaned. “Because I like to torture you. We’ll be home soon.”

I crossed my legs, hoping it would stop the throbbing, but I still ached for him. “You are going to pay for that, McLaughlin.”

He grinned wide. “Oh, I sure as hell hope so.”

We arrived at his house and I got out, expecting to go to the door, but he walked around to the side of the house. “Where are you going?”

He glanced back and me and smiled, so I hurried up and followed him. Before I knew it, he was fully naked and jumping into the swimming pool. When he surfaced, he laughed and waved me in. “You said you wanted to cool off. The water’s pretty warm, but I think it’ll do. Unless you’re scared.”

Moving to the edge of the pool, he leaned against it, watching me with his raw blue gaze. I wasn’t scared, and I was going to show him. Slowly, I lifted my shirt and tossed it on the ground, followed by my bra. A slow smile spread across his face, and I almost lost it when I could see him stroking himself underneath the water. Not only did it empower me, it made me feel sexy. No man had ever shown this much interest in me. Once my shorts were off, I dove into the water and surfaced.

“That was so f*cking hot,” he growled, stalking toward me. “I think you need to strip for me more often.”

I slowly backed away, loving the way his eyes darkened. “I’m sure that can be arranged.”

“Then why are you running away from me, love?”

“Because it’s my turn to torture you.”

The tension in the air spiked, and I knew at any moment he’d come full force at me. I knew he’d catch me, and the thought thrilled me. I wanted him to, and even more so, I craved the chase. It was almost as if he heard me and something inside him clicked. Dipping under the water, he pushed off the side and shot toward me. There was no escape, but I swam as fast as I could away from him, laughing the entire time. I didn’t get far before his arms clasped around my waist and I was thrust to the side of the pool.

“I got you now,” he said, pressing his hardened body against my back.