“You play with me all the time.” His hand covers mine, pressing my palm closer to his chest, sending a rush of awareness zinging through my already buzzing body. “You’ve been playing with me for months, looking at me like you want to eat me alive then making a run for it before I can get a word in.”
“I’ve never eaten anyone alive. Or dead. So that’s…ridiculous.” I gulp and press my lips together, grateful for the darkness.
Because I’m positive I’m blushing. Bright red.
I hadn’t realized my attraction to him was so embarrassingly obvious.
“You know what I mean.” He steps closer, his hands dropping to my hips. “Things haven’t been the same since that morning in the bakery. I can’t stop thinking about you…”
“Thinking about me?” I echo, heat curling from his fingers to sizzle across my skin. He’s never touched me like this before, but I like it. I like it way too much.
“Yeah,” he whispers. “In ways I’ve never thought about you before. And no matter how hard I try I can’t seem to stop.”
A wave of desire pulses through me, making my nipples pull tight inside my bra and the flesh between my legs begin to ache. And even though I know messing around with Jamison is a no good, very bad idea, I’m suddenly desperate for him to touch more of me, all of me. I want his mouth on mine and his hands everywhere.
Which reminds me…
My eyes narrow as I step back, brushing his hands from my hips. “You did a pretty good job of not thinking about me while you were slobbering all over Blondie a few hours ago.”
“You told me to stay away from you,” he says, with a non-apologetic shrug. “I was just trying to get my mind off my troubles.”
“I am not your trouble,” I say, lifting my nose into the air as I circle around him and move down the beach. “I’m not your anything.”
“Where are you going?” He falls in beside me, following as I drift farther from the fire, wandering along the moonlit water until I reach a stretch of beach far enough from the others that there’s little risk of being observed.
I stop, nodding in approval at the waves. “Yep. This is it.”
“This is what?”
“My skinny dipping spot.” I stretch my arms over my head, fingers wiggling at the stars, already anticipating how nice the cold water is going feel on my heated skin.
“I’m not letting you get into the water drunk,” Jamison says. “If you get hurt, I’ll never forgive myself. Not to mention your brother and sister will kill me if I let you drown.”
I laugh. “I’m not going to drown. I lived on an island for six years. I swim like a fish.”
“You certainly drink like one,” he mumbles. “I can’t believe you’re still standing after all that whiskey.”
“Believe it,” I say, reaching for the bottom of my T-shirt and pulling it over my head, a thrill racing through me as I toss it away.
This is what I love about whiskey. It makes me feel ten feet tall and bullet proof, capable of indulging the wild, decadent side of myself the normal Maddie keeps tightly under wraps. Normal Maddie would never dream of stripping down to her skivvies in front of Jamison.
She’s probably going to be pretty pissed when she wakes up tomorrow, in fact, but that’s not my problem. Tonight, Whiskey Maddie is in control and she’s enjoying the pained expression on Jamison’s face as I step out of my shorts, revealing my lacy white panties.
He looks…hungry.
And I like it. I like it a lot.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but stop taking your clothes off, Mad,” he says through what sounds like a clenched jaw. “Right now. I’m serious. If you get in the water, I am coming in there after you.”
“Is that a threat?” I ask, reaching for the back hooks on my bra and popping them free. “Or a promise?”
I toss my bra to the ground, electricity dancing across my skin as I meet Jamison’s gaze. Even in the moonlight, I can see how much he’s enjoying the view. How much he wants to touch me. Maybe even as much as I’m dying to be touched.
The realization makes me feel even more invincible.
Invincible and confident and ready to ask for what I want.
I back toward the water, beckoning him with a crooked finger.
“Come and swim with me, Jamison,” I say. “I dare you.”
And then I turn and stroll into the water, secretly hoping he’ll dare more than a swim.
A whole lot more…
Chapter Three
Jamison
I’m fucking frozen, paralyzed by the sight of Maddie Whitehouse slinking into the waves in nothing but a pair of lacy panties.
Fuck. Fuck. And more fuck.
I shouldn’t be looking at her, let alone thinking the things I’m thinking right now, but I can’t tear my eyes away. She’s all curves, the deadly, heart-stopping kind that make my hands itch to memorize every inch of her skin. I want her full breasts pressed against my chest and her ass in my hands more than I want my next breath.