What Happens In Vegas...: His Wedding-Night Wager

“Did I agree to that? I think that’s your fantasy.”

“Let’s not quibble about the details.”

“Well, I wish I’d planned better. I think swimming in the moonlight with you could be a lot of fun.”

“What didn’t you plan for?”

“No swimsuits.”

“We don’t need them.”

Skinny-dipping. Despite the fact that she was thirty-two, the thought of it was still forbidden…naughty somehow. And Shelby had spent her entire life following the rules in a game that had always seemed weighted against her.

She pushed to her feet and Hayden stood up next to her. “Did I shock you?”

“Did you want to?”

“Yes. You seem so self-contained, so…untouchable, sometimes I want to shake you up.”

He had no idea how much he did. She watched him carefully, her fingers going to the hem of her black shirt. “Will this count instead of the sexy dance?”

“You want to bargain now?”

“Yes.”

He scratched his chin. “I’m not giving up my dance, so we’ll have to bet on something else.”

“What? There’s nothing out here but the two of us.”

He studied her carefully, gliding forward until no space remained between them. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her fully against his rock-hard body. Each breath he took caused his chest to brush against her breasts, rubbing over her already sensitized nipples.

She struggled to keep him from noticing her reaction. But she could tell by the look in his eyes that he knew she wanted him. He knew she was his for the taking. She pushed against his chest.

He was too used to the power, too used to being in control. Shelby needed to be in charge. Just this once, she thought.

“Last one in is a rotten egg,” she said. She kicked off her sandals while tossing her shirt on the deck.

Hayden was a competitor who liked to win so he stripped out of his clothing as fast as he could. Watching Shelby’s curvy body emerge from under her clothing slowed him down, however. He knew the moment she realized that he was watching her.

She tipped her head to the side and ran her hands over her breasts and down the center of her stomach. Her fingers toyed with the button at her waistband. “Are you giving me a head start?”

Her voice was deeper than normal, husky almost, brushing over his aroused senses like the whisper of a win in a gambler’s ear. The lure was totally irresistible and all he could do was helplessly watch her long legs.

Winking at him, she pivoted away from him and bent at the waist to push her pants off. The thin strip of her black thong pulled tight against the crease in her backside. He clenched his hands at his sides as she straightened.

She glanced over her shoulder at him and pulled her hair free. Shaking her head, she let her hair fall in a cascade down her back. He saw red. A haze came over him and he stepped toward her, but his pants caught at his knees and he almost stumbled.

“I’m going to win,” she said, taunting him as she daintily folded each bit of clothing she’d removed. Then she took a leap off the edge of the boat.

Hayden’s pants caught on his feet and he kicked them off just before he tumbled over the side, splashing down a scant second before she did. As the water closed over his head, he heard the sound of her laughter filling the air.

Lazily he pushed to the surface, coming up behind her. Reaching for her, he skimmed his hand down her spine. She trembled under his touch.

“I won,” he said.

She glanced back at him. “Don’t get all arrogant about your victory.”

“Why not?” he asked, pulling her closer while he treaded water to keep them both above the surface. The action forced his legs between hers.

“Because there was no skill involved,” she said, undulating against him so that her entire body caressed his.

“Then you know that resistance is futile,” he murmured against her skin.

She pulled away from him. “Did you say ‘resistance is futile’? Isn’t that from Star Trek?”

“I thought you said you didn’t watch TV.”

“Star Trek is more than TV. But it doesn’t seem your cup of tea.”

“I went to that exhibit over at the Hilton a few years ago, to see about doing something similar at the Chimera.”

“Did the hotel benefit from that trip? Because apparently your legendary charm didn’t.”

“I beat you once, Shel. Don’t make me do it again.”

“You can try,” she said, and dived. He followed her easily, making out the shape of her white legs under the water.

He caught her ankle and pulled her to him, using a powerful scissor kick to bring them both to the surface.

His skin was too tight and he felt as if he was going to explode if he didn’t get inside her soon. But he loved the sensual way she moved. He snaked one arm around her waist and fondled her belly button before cupping her breast in his hand.

“I don’t need skill. I have raw talent.”

“You’ve got raw something all right, but I don’t think it’s talent.”

“I’ll prove it,” he said. It had been too long. Still, he knew he had to take this slow, because despite her teasing, Shelby was still feeling her way in this new relationship with him. And the last time, sex had clouded everything else.

She pushed away from him and dived under the water once more.

Shelby still hadn’t surfaced when he felt her hand on his knee, skimming up the inside of his thigh. She cupped him in her hands.

He forgot to tread water and started to go under. Shelby surfaced a few inches from him. “Still going to prove something to me?”

He laughed. This was what had been missing from his life. This element of sexy teasing had been absent in all of his relationships until now. He stroked over to her, capturing her from behind.

She turned in his arms and kissed the base of his neck, nibbling at him and then soothing the ache with her tongue. He tightened his hands on her soft body. He wanted to toss her up on the deck of the boat and bury himself hilt deep inside her. He wanted to bind them so close to each other that they’d never really be separate again.

She lifted her head, her eyes sparkling up at him. “Don’t try to tempt me with that smooth voice. I remember it well.”