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He glanced down at his revived erection. “Yeah, but I’m going to have a he
lluva time facing the other guests. Especially if you’re in the room.”
She smiled. Knowing that he’d be fantasizing about her too—oh yes, that would comfort her as she attended one wedding event after another. Her imagination might take a side trip—or twenty—to revisit this moment, in his shower, with his cock practically begging her to stay.
She pushed out of the glass door and reached for a towel. Behind her the water turned off, but she didn’t turn to look at him. She saw now how to bring him to his knees and leave him wanting more. And knew she could win no matter what happened with the bet.
She glanced over her shoulder at the dripping wet sailor tracking her movements, his gaze filled with a mix of amusement and desire. And one look at his lower half confirmed that he still wanted her.
Her opponent was still standing, but she’d won this round.
“This feels good,” she said, securing the towel at her breasts and relishing her victory.
He raised an eyebrow. “I can do better than a towel.”
She laughed. “Good. Because you’re going to need to up your game if you plan to win the next round.”
Up my game? Win the next round?
Naked and still dripping, Jack followed Natalie out of the bathroom. She pulled on her clothes with stunning efficiency. But her gloating grin remained firmly in place.
He stole a glance at the untouched bed. He wanted to toss her on the smooth surface and keep her there until they were tangled in the sheets, hot, sweaty, sated, and ready for another shower. He wanted to claim the ultimate victory.
But he could wait. They’d get there. After that shower, he felt pretty damn sure he’d win the bet. Another time. Right now, he wanted to keep that smile on her lips.
He placed his hands on his hips and cocked his head, ready to challenge her. “That was just a shower, Natalie.”
She arched an eyebrow. “When was the last time you had a shower like that?”
“Never,” he admitted as he closed the space between them.
Her dark eyes dropped to his dick, lingered a moment, and then shifted back to his face. He stopped in front of her. He was close enough to reach out and pull her close, but he didn’t dare.
“I played by your rules in the shower,” he said, his gaze locked with hers. “No sex. Take away that rule…and trust me darlin’, you’d never look at a shower the same way again.”
“Maybe not,” she said with a wide, daring grin. She stepped back until she bumped into the door. She reached for the knob. “But you won’t win.”
She opened the door and disappeared into the hall. She moved quickly, seemingly determined to have the last word.
“Yes, I will,” he murmured to the empty entryway.
Because he didn’t lose. Ever.
And because Cade was right. Jack cared a lot more than he should for the woman who’d made it clear she didn’t want him—not in her bed, not in her shower, and not in her life.
Except when he issued a challenge…
Chapter Thirteen
“I hear Jack survived the afternoon,” Cade said in his familiar baritone. “How about a drink? I owe you for giving my best man a ride and entertaining him today.”
Natalie looked up from the creative seafood display and raised her champagne flute. “Thanks, Cade, but I’ve already taken a trip to the open bar.”
He sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Determined to hide behind the shrimp all night?”
“I’m not hiding,” she lied, which was foolish because a) Cade would call her bluff, and b) she’d won. She’d walked out of Jack’s room and left him wanting more. And yes, maybe she should have done that before they’d taste-tested the chocolate body paint. But it had ended up working out for her anyway.
Just knowing she’d been able to step into the shower with him—nothing between them but water and soap—and resist the temptation to jump him, that knowledge sent a wave of confidence through her. She could do this. Hell, she’d done it.