Seaside Seduction (Sun Stroked Book 1) Read Free Page B

then…
    “I’m okay,” she squeaked out, pressing against him, loving how good it felt to be in his arms and thinking about how much better this gorgeous hunk of man would feel between her legs.
    His striated muscles bunched and his brow furrowed as he glanced down at his reddening nipple, but he didn’t question her action. He just shifted her in his arms and trekked onward. Danielle’s body continued to quiver, but for entirely different reasons now.
    As she melted into him, her flesh soaked in his warmth. She inhaled his fresh scent. He smelled like sun, sand, ocean... and man.
    She took that moment to peruse the Greek god who had appeared out of nowhere and come to her rescue. His short hair was damp and slicked back, his face was tanned, cleanly shaven. Water clung to his dark lashes and dripped from his even darker hair. Danielle moistened her already wet lips and bit back a moan of pleasure as she continued her leisurely inspection.
    His hand slid closer to her ass, repositioning her in his oh-so-capable arms. As his fingers neared the swell of her backside, heat prowled through her.
    Packaged against his rock-hard body as she was, it was easy to tell he kept himself fit and finely tuned. She had to admit that she liked a man who took good care of himself.
    His brow was furrowed and his gorgeous lips were compressed, set in a grim line. Did the man ever smile? She guessed him to be in his late twenties or early thirties, which was far too young to be jaded.
    Although she took him for a well-disciplined military man, she sensed a darker side to him. Underneath that cool exterior, he seemed restless, troubled somehow. Before she could stop it, a strange gurgle crawled out of her throat and she burped.
    “Sure you’re okay?” he asked.
    “Yeah, just waterlogged.” Nothing a little mouth-to-mouth couldn’t fix, she mused.
    With his lips positioned close to her ear, he said, “I could call for the doctor.”
    She had a better idea, maybe they could play doctor. “No, I’m fine, really.”
    Alpha that he was, he continued to take charge of the situation and carried her through the door of her cabana. He glanced around and then deposited her in a wicker chair. Strange how she felt absurdly safe in his arms. Back in Chicago she wouldn’t dream of letting a stranger into her place, no matter how much he resembled a Greek god. But there was something about this man. Something trustworthy and fiercely protective that put her at ease.
    As he inched back, his gaze left her face and skated over her barely clad body. She watched his nostrils flare as his eyes roamed over her mouth, neck, and chest, and lower. Her nipples swelled under his probing gaze. Dayum…the guy was blatantly checking her out.
    “You’re burnt.” Or not.
    She threw her arms up in the air and told him, “I was cursed with strawberry blond hair and delicate skin.”
    His jaw muscle twitched. “Not cursed.”
    Danielle wasn’t sure whether he meant it as a compliment or not but decided to take it as one just the same. She held her hand out, realizing she didn’t even know her rescuer’s name. “I’m Danielle Carrigan. It’s nice to meet you, Mr…” She caught herself before she added “Hardbody.”
    He squared his broad shoulders, nodded his head in acknowledgment and met her handshake. “Ethan Sharpe.”
    Oh, he of so few words.
    She motioned for him to sit. He didn’t.
    Once again his eyes narrowed on her skin and she could feel her flesh tighten and tingle although she wasn’t sure if it was from his gaze or the impending sun blisters.
    “You need after-burn lotion.” Before she could tell him that she hadn’t brought any, he disappeared into her bathroom and came out with a bottle of green aloe vera gel. Now, how did he know that was there?
    He flipped open the cap. “A bottle in every cabana,” he said as though reading her mind. She reached for the bottle, but he ignored her. Clearly used to taking charge, he leaned