Beauty (A Midsummer Suspense Tale) by Asha King Read Free Book Online

to look at, though that was certainly part of it. But she was genuine. He was more than certain now she didn’t know who he was and it wasn’t some kind of scam. Whatever her history was, she was out of the loop where he was concerned.
    She wouldn’t have made a face when encountering his band’s music otherwise—that reaction was completely honest, he was sure. Suppressing a chuckle at it had not been easy.
    He glanced over his shoulder, ready to tease her again, and stopped dead in the water.
    She’d stripped off the jacket and her shoes. Jeans were coming next, her slender fingers working at the button and zipper. She eased them off her hips, wiggling in a rather tantalizing way to get them over her thighs. Her eyes met his, one brow arched to suggest she’d meet any challenge he gave her.
    He’d have to file that bit of info away for later.
    Despite the temperature of the water, his body was responding as he watched her slip off her T-shirt, leaving her in a bra and panties. Both were cotton and simple, unmatching, and it was a refreshing kind of simplicity to it. Just a normal girl who hadn’t planned on getting naked, now revealing herself boldly. Not that there was a way to remain gentlemanly at this stage of the game, but still he tried to hold her gaze as she unhooked her bra and let it fall to the sand. Next she looped her thumbs through her panties and worked those down too.
    Gentlemanly. Right. He failed entirely.
    His gaze swept over her, taking in her high full breasts and narrow waist that flared into small hips. The moonlight arched a pale silver line along her body, tracing her the way his fingers itched to.
    She took a step toward the water. Then another. The moment waves lapped over her toes, she flinched, and for a moment he thought she’d chicken out. Sawyer chuckled and Bryar glared unconvincingly, continuing forward.
    His breath came hard and fast as his gaze swept over her body, from her naked breasts with their firm nipples begging for attention down to the tantalizing spot between her legs. He was not new to attractive naked women—that ship had long since sailed—but the anticipation of being near her, of touching her, had his blood pumping south in a hurry. She shivered and he wanted to lunge for her, draw her into his arms and get both of them nice and warm.
    Sawyer waded back a few more feet, the icy water creeping up his body as she responded in turn, continuing toward him. “It’s better if you just go for it.”
    Bryar blew out a breath and contemplated the dark water for a moment. She stood straight despite the temperature, her arms loose at her sides instead of crossing over her chest—she showed no shyness, remaining bold about her nudity. Eventually, her expression resolved, she splashed forward, submerging herself up to her collarbone. She let out a yelp, her dark eyes growing wide. “Goddamn, that’s cold.”
    “You’ll get used to it.”
    “Liar.”
    He grinned. “Yeah.” Of course, another possibility would be to use the skinny dipping here as a precursor, and then invite her back to the beach house’s hot tub. Provided Val and Scott weren’t still using it.
    A dose of reality hit him then, though. How would he explain the place? Sure, he’d told her he was staying with relatives. But he wasn’t stupid—that house would definitely make her question precisely who these relatives were to afford to rent it. Then there’d be the matter of explaining her presence to the others and hoping they didn’t let anything slip.
    It was risky and stupid. Best to just enjoy this.
    She was frowning at him as she approached, treading water just a few feet away now. “Change your mind? Water freezing your brain?”
    He blinked and tried to snap out of it. Be in the moment. Enjoy the moment with a pretty girl who has no clue who you are—these moments are few and far between.   “I was thinking this must be quite the spot in summer.”
    “It is, but technically it’s all