Take the Bride (The Knight Brothers 1.5)

“I’m not leaving the room in this!”

He winced. Manning up, he returned to face her. “Come on, it’s not that bad.”

“It’s nonexistent, that’s what it is!” She held up the tiny red bikini for him to see. Not that he’d been able to get the idea of her wearing it out of his mind since he’d seen the suit on the mannequin in the store.

He couldn’t help the grin lifting the edges of his mouth. “Wear it for me?”

Her gaze softened at the request. “Here in the room, yes.” She pointed to the spa tub. “Not out in public.”

“When we use that tub, you’re going to be naked,” he told her. This time those blue eyes of hers darkened with need. “Come on. Just change into it and let’s enjoy the day.” He used his best cajoling tone.

Frowning at him, she snatched up the suit and stormed past him into the bathroom.

He chuckled, calling out, “You might need help with some of the ties!”

She cursed at him from behind the door.

A few minutes later, he’d changed into the shorts and slipped on his shirt just as she walked out of the bathroom in the bathing suit he’d chosen.

He nearly swallowed his tongue at the gorgeous sight. Despite her concerns, the top of the suit had a ruffle over her breasts but her ample cleavage was evident above the edging. She held the sides together with her arms, the strings dangling in the back. And the bottom was a sleek triangle that left little to the imagination and had his mouth watering.

“Turn around and I’ll help you.” He made a pivoting motion with his finger.

“No.” Her eyes flashed icy fire at him.

“You’re going with it untied?”

She shook her head. “I’m not going.”

He bit the inside of his cheek. “Turn. Around.”

“Fine!” She spun one hundred and eighty degrees, giving him a look at her sleek back… and the globes of her ass.

His cock throbbed inside his shorts. He’d be lucky if they made it out of this room. “You look edible,” he murmured, cupping his hand over one cheek and squeezing the bare skin.

She sucked in a startled breath. “You can’t really expect me to go out in this.”

“I can.” He reached for the strings and tied the back of the suit into a tight bow. “And I do. You look amazing and the girl at the desk promised me we’d be alone. They’re fully booked at a concert on the pier. It’ll be fine.” He leaned in close and pressed a kiss to the flesh between her neck and shoulder.

A full-body tremor shook her frame. “Ryder,” she said in a husky voice.

“Sierra. Come on a picnic with me. You won’t be disappointed. I promise.”

* * * *

Thank goodness Ryder had bought a tank top dress for her to wear over the bathing suit. Red, in the resort colors, with the white Paradise Cove logo above her breast. Sierra didn’t care because her ass cheeks were now covered.

She walked beside him and he took her hand. She couldn’t help but notice how good her hand felt in his bigger one. How right. She pushed those thoughts aside and focused on where they were heading. They approached the far side of the resort, where he gave his name and a golf cart was waiting for them.

The man in charge handed him a resort map and indicated where their destination was by drawing a circle with a magic marker. “Basically follow this path until you reach the bay,” the older gentleman said.

“Thank you.” Ryder tipped him before helping Sierra into the passenger side of the cart.

He walked around, joining her, and soon they were off.

The sun beat down overhead, but the covered cart protected her skin. And when she’d packed a bag for the day, she saw that Ryder had bought them sunscreen, too. She’d noticed a picnic basket and ice bucket in the back of the cart, and she had a feeling he’d thought of everything for this little trip.

She glanced at his profile, his face covered in sexy scruff, a Paradise Cove baseball cap backwards on his head. His facial features were relaxed as he maneuvered the cart with one hand.

Considering all they’d been through in the last twenty-four hours, it was amazing they were here. Together. She couldn’t say she didn’t want to be here, and that scared her.

“Looks like this is it,” he said, pulling the cart up to the edge of the path and parking it.

She’d been lost in studying his handsome face, she thought, as she turned to look at the scenery in front of her. Sun danced over the water. The sky was clear, the temperature warm. It was a beautiful day, and she was glad he’d dragged her kicking and screaming here. She knew they couldn’t go into the lake. Although it was hot today, the temperature hadn’t been consistently warm enough for the water to be comfortable for a dip.