“Ben Hartly got arrested for indecent exposure...in Las Vegas.”
I gasp.“No!”
“Yup.Not his first offense either.But this time, someone photographed him doing it, and he pled guilty.”
“Holy shit.”
We’re quiet for a moment, and then Silas clears his throat.“Hunter still told me you were off-limits though.”Silas’s knee presses against mine under the counter, and neither of us moves away.“He’d probably punch me again if he knew what we’ve been doing today.”
“Then it’s a good thing,” I say, my voice coming out huskier than intended, “that I don’t tell my brother everything anymore.”I lean closer.“Do you?”
His pupils dilate.“Not a chance.”
The air between us shifts.Charges.I can see the exact moment his gaze drops to my mouth.My heart hammers so hard I’m sure he can hear it.
“Bailey,” he says, and there’s a question in the way he says my name.
“Yeah?”
“We should probably establish some boundaries.”But even as he says it, his hand comes up to rest on my knee, his thumb tracing small circles that make it hard to think.
I look down at his hand, then back up at him.“Okay.”
He takes a long drink.“Want to hear mine?”
“Sure.”
His eyes meet mine, and they’re molten.“I don’t have any.”
The words land like a match to kindling.My breath catches.The lace teddy suddenly feels like fire against my skin.
“Good,” I breathe, and then I’m closing the distance between us.
Bailey
I started the kiss,and I’m not backing down.My hands fist his shirt, pulling him closer, and when his lips part in surprise, I take advantage—deepening the kiss, biting his bottom lip just enough to make him gasp.
Then Silas takes over.He rises to his feet with a groan, slotting his hips between my knees, forcing my legs apart.His nose grazes my cheek before his lips capture mine.I suck in a big breath of air, rising up to press harder into him.
Our tongues and lips clash, and there’s an earthquake of excitement deep in my stomach.My hands grip his waist, feeling the firm, warm flesh beneath his shirt.One of his arms is behind me like a band, the other travels from my waist to my neck, his fingers splaying to cup my throat possessively.
Then he slows our kiss, leaning back and leaving sweet, tender kisses on my sensitive lips.His hand is still at my neck, his thumb rubbing against the soft skin, and my body pushes back against him with the racing of my heart.
“God, watching you all day today was torture.You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
The words hit me square in the chest.Most beautiful.Not “you look nice” or “you’re pretty.”The most beautiful woman he’s ever known.
I want to deflect, to make a joke, to protect myself from believing him.But his eyes are lust-stricken and earnest—no teasing, no exaggeration.He means it.
His thumb travels over my chin to press my bottom lip down.I flick at it with my tongue, still processing what he just said.
We’re quiet, raggedly breathing over the soft music from my phone.Silas’s other hand is at my waist gently rubbing back and forth over the lace of the teddy.
His hand leaves my face and is replaced by his mouth again.He tugs at the top, carefully pulling it up and over my head.
My breasts are barely contained by the material of the teddy.The cups are padded, and Silas runs a big hand over the left one, bending his head to mouth the edge of the lace.I moan as his hot breath meets my skin, which breaks out in goose bumps.
Then the warmth is gone.Silas straightens and tugs me gently off the stool.“Take your jeans off.”
