Page 84 of Playboy

I can’t say it wasn’t magical. Daniel wrapped his arm around my chair and tugged me close. He filled my plate with a little of everything set out for us, then fed me bites of each while we chatted with the other guests about where they were from and what they were hoping to do here. From what I could tell, no one recognized him, and we were able to steer clear of questions about our occupations. It might have been the most relaxing morning I’ve ever had.

“We can’t accomplish that monster of a bucket list if we’re stuck in one place.”

I giggle and crack my eyes open. “We don’t actually have to do everything on it. I know some of them are ridiculous.”

He cocks a devilish brow. “Yeah, I don’t think we’ll be running with the bulls anytime soon.”

“Fine. We can remove that one, but I still want to do a gondola ride in Venice. And karaoke.”

“Karaoke is not a bucket list item. Just go out with Aiden on a Friday night or hang out in our locker room before a game.” He shakes his head. “Actually, no. Don’t do that.”

“Oh, come on. I’ve always wondered what you boys do in the locker room. Swing your dicks around, I’m sure.”

He swivels his hips aggressively. “Obviously.”

“So who’s the biggest?” I ask, trying my best to bite back a smile.

Head dropped back, he guffaws, the sound so loud he startles the birds in a nearby tree, and they take flight. “Is this really even a question?”

It’s not. I’ve got it on good authority that the honor goes to Daniel. From my personal experience with it, I 100 percent believe the rumors. The guy is hung, but I’ve never hooked up with any of the guys on the hockey team and have zero intention of ever doing so. I have, however, heard the guys talk about their dicks on more than one occasion. I swear that’s all they do, and every freaking time, they talk about how hung my man is.

My man.My heart stutters right out of my chest.Whoa. What the hell was that?

When I don’t reply, Daniel grasps my wrist and tugs me into his chest. He tips my chin up with one finger and leans down. “Do I need to remind you of just how big I am, or can you still feel me between your thighs?”

My body pulses with a desire that never seems to wane when he’s around. I lick my lips, hungry. No, famished. It must be hisage. I’ve never met a man who could keep up with me the way he can. “We could cross off another item on the bucket list.”

He brushes his lips against mine. “Which one?”

I bite down on his lip softly, then in one quick move, dart back and take off at a run. “Skinny dipping!” I yell as I head straight toward the falls ahead.

When the forest opens up and they come into full view, I pull up short. Holy fuck. All around, there’s nothing but lush greens, a flowering mountain, and the heavy, thundering rush of water. The way the sunlight glints off the water makes the whole clearing glow. Like an oasis. Like a mirage. It’s too beautiful to be real.

Daniel barrels into me, sweeping me off my feet and heading straight to the edge of the water. “I’m going in first to make sure it’s safe.” He sets me on my feet, then gives me the sternest expression he can manage. “Seriously, if you listen to nothing else I say, let this be the one thing you do.”

I smile. “Aw, you want to protect the baby.”

With a grunt, he yanks me in for a kiss. It’s not a brush of lips. No, he goes for it, his tongue massaging mine as he holds me in place, forcing me to accept what he’s trying to tell me. Then, just in case I didn’t get the message, he pulls back and ducks so we’re nose to nose. “I want to protectyouand the baby. You are nonnegotiable in that equation. You get me, dream girl?”

“I’m beginning to,” I say, the words barely audible with the way emotion clogs my throat. He’s told me again and again that I’d eventually get it, and now, I think that maybe I’m beginning to. “Now strip.” My voice is a little stronger now.

With a slow, cocky smirk, he grasps the hem of his shirt, and with a ridiculous amount of teasing, he inches it up his torso, showing off his abs. He dances to nonexistent music, swinging his hips in a way that would have his dick rolling if he was naked.

I scan the area to make sure we’re truly alone before I egg him on. “Take off the pants, Hall. Remind me what we’re working with here.”

He unzips his pants, and when he whips out the goods, I have to bite down on my lip to keep a moan from slipping out.

The way his eyes flash tells me he caught the reaction. “All right, dream girl, stay on the shore,” he reiterates as he steps to the edge and dips his toes in. “Shit, it’s cold.”

“This is almost worse,” I whine. “I think I’d rather jump in. Get it over with quickly.”

“Not happening.” He growls at me. But in the next heartbeat, he does just that. When he lands with a big splash and then stands up easily, he swipes the water from his face. “Okay, hot girl. Now you can come get wet.”

“That’s what she said,” I mutter.

Daniel’s laughter is like a balm for my soul. Every moment of this day has been. I make a show of undressing for him, and like the good boy he is, he hoots and hollers until I’m running toward the edge and cannonballing into the water beside him.

When the ice-cold water hits my body like a million pinpricks, I surface and practically throw myself into his arms. “Holy shit, you said it was cold, not frigid.”

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