His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(76)
Author: Shayla Black

Bailey gasped. Each inch of him rippled and bunched with every movement. Dark satin skin stretched across hard flesh. A light dusting of hair over his chest led to a treasure trail that zipped down the line bisecting his chiseled abdomen. Honestly, if she had conjured up a fantasy man, he’d have looked a heck of a lot like Joaquin.

“Your turn,” he said thickly, sliding a finger under her bra strap. “Tell me to take it off.”

She swallowed down nerves. As a ballet dancer, she wasn’t exactly the most gifted in the breast department. Small boobs worked great in a leotard, and she never had to worry about curves messing up her lines. It was even a bonus when she wanted to wear something backless or strapless because she didn’t have to worry about finding the right garment to support girls she lacked. But staring a potential lover in the face . . . A man as downright manly as Joaquin probably expected ample breasts. He’d probably had some beautiful ones in his past.

“I’d rather see you lose the rest of your clothes.”

“Maybe so, but I might not be motivated to lose my pants until I see your nipples. Give me permission to strip you out of that bra.”

His gaze looked fixated on her breasts. The undergarment didn’t hide much. He had to be able to see that, well, there wasn’t that much to see. Her legs and her butt were way better.

“You seem like the kind of guy who always gets what he wants. I’m in the mood to make you wait.” She gave him a mock sigh. “But after bagels and booze and other stuff I almost never eat, these jeans are awfully tight.”

As she toyed with the button just below her waist, he watched. “Are they? We can’t have you uncomfortable. You want to lose those or do you want help?”

If she dropped these jeans, the chances they’d actually have sex increased exponentially. Bailey doubted very highly that he’d be okay with making love to her with her breasts still covered. On the other hand, maybe she could occupy him in other ways before she had to expose her nonexistent chest.

“Why don’t you help me?” She dropped her fingers to her zipper and let it fall with a quiet hiss.

Joaquin gripped the denim, looking at her like he couldn’t wait to tear into her. Her heart skipped. Blood rushed to all the places it only should when aroused. Lord, she was probably in way over her head. So why was she baiting the beast? Because he made her feel desired and sexy, and she wanted him every bit as on edge as she felt.

“I can’t resist a damsel in distress.” He tugged on the fabric around her hips.

As she held on to the lacy waistband of her nude panties, he made quick work of her jeans, jerking them down her thighs, past her knees, then shoving them beyond her feet. He tossed them across the room, too—in the opposite direction he’d thrown her shirt.

As he looked down at her now, his eyes darkened, glittered with lust. He gripped her hips, his hands so big that his thumbs almost met on top of her mons. Bailey’s breath caught. He nearly touched her there, and as electric as her body pinged now, she couldn’t imagine how turned on she’d be when he actually did.

“Pretty panties, but useless. I want to see that beautiful pussy underneath.”

Joaquin had more than a way with words in bed. He’d probably done this a few hundred times. Bailey felt herself both falling under his spell and mentally flailing. How did she answer him?

“I took something else off. Now it’s your turn. Your jeans would look better on the floor.”

Where had that voice come from? She’d sounded almost seductive.

He gave her a hard stare. “Somewhere along the way, you’ve gotten the idea that sex with me is an egalitarian activity. Let me assure you otherwise.”

“You think you’re going to run this show?”

“There’s no think about it, baby girl. Since you and I have come here, I’ve had more than a conversation or two with Thorpe and Sean. I’ve realized a few things about myself.”

Callie’s assurances that Joaquin had all the earmarks of a Dom rushed back to her. “Oh.”

“That bother you? Because if it does, we need to stop now and have a long talk.”

She could stop this train wreck with a little white lie. No exposing her small breasts or her needy soul to a man who’d probably crush her in a single night.

Even knowing he would probably hurt her sooner or later, Bailey just shook her head. “It turns me on.”

Relief slid across his face. “Good. I can tell that wasn’t easy for you to admit.”

“When I was a senior in high school, someone dared me to swallow straight Tabasco sauce. That was easier.”