She looks like she’s going to argue with me, but then she drops her towel to the floor, smirking as I fail to keep my eyes from roaming over her body with a slow appreciation.
“You’ve seen me on my modeling shoots in lingerie,” she says as I drink her in.
“I didn’t look then,” I say, my eyes honing in on every curve of her smooth skin.
“Really?”
“That was work.”
“Okay. So what’s this?”
I exhale, biting on my lower lip with a groan as I lift my eyes away from her breasts reluctantly.
“This is… Get in and we’ll talk about it.” I tilt my chin toward the bed.
Sinclair climbs in and I cover her up, then walk to the other side of the bed, which is closest to the door. I lie beside her.
“Aren’t you getting under the covers?”
“Not until after we’ve spoken.”
“Why?”
I glance at her. She’s turned on her side to face me.
“Because I can’t guarantee I won’t touch you if I do.”
“What’s wrong with that?” she teases.
I exhale, fighting down the stirring heat in my groin.
“You have no idea the battle I’m having in my head right now. But we’re… you’re sore… and?—”
“Stop,” she huffs. “Don’t wrap me in bubble wrap. Please. Dad does it. Sullivan does it. Uncle Mal does it. They’ve been so protective over me, keeping tabs on me. And I know it’s becausethey care, but it’s no wonder I didn’t lose my virginity until a couple of years ago?—”
“You lost your virginity thirty minutes ago, Sinclair.”
“What?”
“I’m serious. You lost it to me.” I can’t hide the possessiveness in my tone, but I swear her eyes light up from it.
She gazes at me, unaffected by the way my entire body has bristled at the thought of another man’s hands on her.
“You don’t think what I did with Brad counts?” she asks.
“I know it doesn’t fucking count,” I snap. “I’ve still got the evidence proving it doesn’t all over my dick.”
She wrinkles up her nose and I scrub a hand around my jaw, forcing myself to calm down.
“I mean, no, it doesn’t count,” I say more gently. “I don’t like the idea of you with anyone, especially him. Half an inch from a jackass who couldn’t respect you when you were grieving will never count, okay?”
“Okay.”
She rolls her lower lip into her mouth as she watches me. The urge to pull it free and kiss her hits me like a bullet to the chest.
“You said you got upset when you and he were…?” I’m unable to say more. Just the idea makes my blood boil.
“I don’t want to talk about him anymore. He’s just a friend. Nothing’s ever happened between us since.”
