Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

He's still looking down at me with those bright blue eyes.

I force myself to focus on my work. It's like a tattoo. Skin is skin. That's what Dean says.

So what if this skin belongs to the guy I want more than I want anything?

My body ignores my logic.

Desire races through my limbs. It builds in my fingertips, my nipples, my sex.

My toes curl into my sneakers.

My fingers curl into Dean's skin.

I force my palm to flatten, but that's no good. Now I'm touching more of his broad chest.

"You

okay?" He brushes a stray hair behind my ear.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You're red."

"I am not." I rub sunscreen into his taut stomach.

"Yeah, you are."

There. That's all his front. "Turn around."

He spins on his heels.

There. I can blush in peace. He's doing it on purpose. He's winding me up even though there's no way we can act on our desire.

He's evil.

The thought runs through my brain as I rub sunscreen into his muscular back and shoulders. But, bit by bit, my body takes over. My fingertips linger on his skin. I move closer. Inhale the scent of him.

Linen, sunscreen, and something all Dean.

He steps forward, breaking our touch. "Need me to do you?" He turns so we're face-to-face.

I shake my head. "Already done." For a second, I curse my habit of applying sunscreen every morning. But this is a good thing. If Dean starts running his fingers over my skin, I'm a goner.

He offers his hand. "I've got extra water in my trunk."

"I'm good." I press my palms into my sides. Move toward the trail. "Come on. Stop stalling. Let's do this."

He nods and follows me onto the trail.

It's all dirt and dry brush. The plants are short, waist high at most. Shade is rare.

He places his body behind mine, blocking the glare of the sun.

"Thanks." I dig my heels into the dirt, but my heels don't have enough grip. I need to keep my footsteps light.

"Need the tan anyway."

"Is that right?"