Page 28 of Her Secret Wish

Before she could move out of the way, he leaned down to kiss her glossed lips. “You look stunning.”

Though it was dim in the hallway he thought his no-nonsense Marine might have blushed. She waved a hand and pulled him inside. “Whatever.”

She started to pull away but he put a hand on her elbow. “No, you are. You are beautiful. Maybe not in the conventional sense, but it’s all in the eye of the beholder, right? I paid you a compliment because you are absolutely stunning to me. You need to take it nicely and believe what I say.”

Damn, he wished there was more light in here. Now he thought he saw tears glinting in her eyes.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

When she turned he allowed her to lead him into the room. There was quite a spread on the dining room table; two different kinds of pizza and a big bowl of salad.

Dean looked at her in consternation. “How do you stay so damn fit? Do you eat fast food all the time?”

Rachel propped her hands on her hips and he forgot what they were talking about. She looked gorgeous in her flowing green dress. The damn thing cupped her yummy breasts, swept in at her tight waist and flared out, draping gently round her hips. It was the most feminine thing he’d ever seen her wear.

“…and why are you staring at me like that? Have you heard anything I’ve said?”

Dean blinked and stepped close, tilting her chin up with his finger. “No, I haven’t. I’ve been too busy drooling. Is this one of the things you bought the other day?” he motioned down to her dress.

“Y-yes.” Then she smiled. “And a few other things.”

Arousal hardened him even more as his eyes drifted down. “Oh, really? Like what?”

“Well, I bought some casual outfits. You know, something other than BDUs and t-shirts.”

He leaned into her, brushing his lips against her temple. “What else?”

“Well, I got some sandals to go with the dresses. I feel very naked with them on though.”

Dean chuckled. She probably did feel naked. He’d only ever seen her in boots.

“What else?” he whispered.

“Well, Shannon talked me into going to Victoria’s Secret, and I have to admit, there were some very… wow… um, kinda, um,wildthings in there. I might have bought something…”

His erection pushed at the zipper of his pants. Holy hell, she was going to kill him. Just the thought of lingerie on her already fabulous body was the stuff of dreams. “What did you buy?” he demanded in a harsh, strangled, whisper.

Without answering him, Rachel nudged him backwards until he dropped to the couch cushions. “Wait here,” she ordered. She reached behind him to swing the drapes closed on the front windows, then she padded barefoot into the dim hallway.

Dean wrapped his hand around his dick, debating whether or not to strip down. No, he would let her do that. She could come out wearing a potato sack and he would still think her the loveliest thing, the most beautiful woman on the planet. She was leery of his compliments, though. He would have to remedy that. Or just beat her down with repetition. He wouldmakeher believe she was beautiful.

There was a thump in the hallway and he looked up in time to see her enter the room.

His heart melted, but he almost came in his pants. Rachel stood uncertainly in the living room doorway, unsure where to put her hands. And he could understand her problem.

Rachel wore a, well, he guessed it was a negligee. He wasn’t really sure exactly what it was called. A froth of off-white satin fell to mid-thigh. See-through lace held her breasts but certainly didn’t hide them. Actually, the pattern of the lace itself seemed to highlight her dark nipples.

Her dark blond hair was down around her face and he couldn’t see her expression, which worried him. Then she cocked a hip provocatively and started to walk toward him.

“So,” her voice was whisper soft and nervous. “What do you think?”

Dean barked out a laugh, surprised that he could actually speak. “I think I could come in my pants in about three seconds.”

His arms were spread along the back of the couch, clutching the cushions and his breathing had deepened. If she didn’t come over here soon, he was going to have to go after her.

Rachel seemed to understand that he was about at the end of his rope. Moving into the room, her tan legs looking miles long, she made her way to him.

Dean could see her face now and he hoped the look in her eyes meant what he thought it did. She went to her knees in front of him and wedged in between them, leaning into him as she started to unbutton his shirt. Dean cupped her shoulders in his hands, then ran a finger along the length of her clavicle and down her chest. He could feel the heavy beat of her heart beneath his touch. He wasn’t the only one affected.

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