Unwrapped by Chantilly White Read Free Book Online Page A

recalling her modeling days. Derrick's eyes watched her from the
blanket. She could feel the heat of his gaze even from this distance, and it
gave her courage.
    The dripping t-shirt clung to her body, streaming water down
her legs in a torrent. Not exactly the image she was going for, but was she
brave enough to bare herself in Allison's tiny suit in front of the entire
beach, let alone Derrick?
    She brought her body clearly to mind as she'd stood gaping
at herself in the mirror, Allison's little floral scraps emphasizing the
fullness of her breasts, the roundness of her hips. The long, sleek length of
her legs.
    Barry really was a prick, and an idiot to boot. I might
never be a size four, but my body rocks. Time to put it to use.
    Decision made, still walking, she crossed her arms in front
of herself and grasped the edge of the shirt in her fingers. She kept her eyes
on Derrick, inching the shirt up a degree at a time, exposing more and more
skin. His hot gaze heated further, scorching her in its intensity. Just a few
more inches and—
    With a startled cry, Mia fell face-forward, her left ankle
twisting in a hole that had, only a moment ago, served as a moat for a child's
sandcastle. Now hopelessly quashed beneath her body, she struggled to push
herself up from the mounds of sand while the child ran screaming to his mother.
Hot tears of humiliation burned behind her eyes, but she held them back through
sheer force of will.
    Damn it, damn it, damn it!
    She couldn't get her breath, nor any traction, but before
she could try again to rise from the ashes of her pride, a flurry of male hands
reached forward and plucked her from the ground. Setting her smoothly on her
feet, they commenced to brushing the sand from her grazed skin, one in
particular a bit too enthusiastically, as he focused exclusively on the bare
parts of her bottom in the little bikini.
    "Are you all right?"
    "Here, let me help you."
    "I've got her, let go, Rod."
    Their voices melded into a cacophony to rival the seagulls.
    Flustered, confused, surrounded by a bevy of strange men,
Mia opened her mouth—to say what, she wasn't sure. Thank you? Get
off?—but before she could utter a single syllable, Derrick was there, the
smile on his lips more like a baring of teeth, his eyes positively feral.
    "I've got her, boys," he barked in a too-hearty
voice, taking her by the shoulders and physically removing her from most of her
would-be rescuers' reach. "That'll do, thank you. Thanks. That's
enough."
    The last was said with force, finally catching her
bottom-brusher's attention, and the man's hands fell from her skin. Instead, he
held them up in a gesture of surrender, backing away from the threat in
Derrick's gaze.
    When the men had slunk back to their towels and beach
chairs, Derrick turned to her, his expression softening. The tears fought
harder now, seeking release, but she bit the inside of her cheek. Not now!
    "Are you okay?" he asked.
    Mia cleared her throat, not sure she could speak without
getting teary. "Mm-hmm. Fine. Thanks."
    She brushed at herself, but it was hopeless. She was covered
in sand, from the top of her head to her feet. It was smeared into the wet
shirt and filled her hair. She had it in her mouth. The roughness of the beach
had abraded her skin, leaving tiny red streaks across her flesh.
    And her ankle hurt, damn it.
    Derrick swept his hands lightly over her, but she held up a
hand to stop him. "I think I'll just go back in the water and rinse
off."
    "Need any help?"
    "I can manage."
    He watched her hobble off, she could feel the weight of his
stare on her back, but she didn't turn around to look. Her plan wasn't off to a
great start, but despite the fall, she felt more resolved than ever. It was
time to end this phase of her life, become a woman in truth, and move forward.
Derrick was the perfect choice for the starring role. All she had to do was get
her equilibrium back after her disaster on the beach. Regain a little
confidence.
    She would