Body Check. Elle Kennedy

tortured her.

      “Your skin tastes like…” He kissed her jaw, then nipped at it. “Strawberries. And honey.”

      All she could do was shiver in response.

      “Take off your clothes,” he said roughly.

      She swallowed. “Now?”

      “Now would be a good time, yes.”

      She reached for the hem of her sweater, trying to fight the insecurity spiraling through her. She’d never stripped for a man before. Was she supposed to put on a show? Dance? Well, forget that. No matter how much she wanted him right now, she wasn’t going to pretend to be the sexy seductress she wasn’t.

      She pulled her sweater and tank top over her head, pleased to hear Brody’s breath hitch at the sight of her lacy wisp of a bra. When she reached for the front clasp, he shook his head. “No. Not yet. First the jeans.”

      Well. Commanding, wasn’t he?

      Obligingly, she wiggled out of her jeans and let them drop to the floor. Her black panties matched her bra, and they, too, left little to the imagination.

      Brody’s eyes widened with approval. She was starting to get the hang of this stripping thing. Hooking her thumbs under the spaghetti-thin straps that constituted a waistband, she pulled her panties down her thighs, slowly, bending over a little so he could get a peek at her cleavage.

      Naked from the waist down, she held his gaze. “Like what you see?”

      His serious expression never faltered. “Very much. Now the bra.”

      In one slow, fluid movement, she unclasped her bra and tossed it aside. Strangely enough, she no longer felt insecure.

      “I like—” he stepped closer and brushed his thumb over the swell of one breast “—these. A lot.”

      She wondered if he realized he still hadn’t kissed her lips. Though the way his eyes burned every inch of skin she’d just exposed to him, she felt thoroughly kissed.

      “Your turn. Get rid of your clothes.”

      He grinned. “Why don’t you do it for me?”

      The thought of undressing him was so appealing that her nipples hardened. He didn’t miss the reaction, and his grin widened.

      “Gets you going, doesn’t it, the thought of peeling these clothes off my body?” he taunted.

      “Yes,” she blew out.

      “Then do it.”

      With a shaky breath, she grasped his sweater, bunching the material between her fingers before lifting it up his chest and over his head. That first sight of his bare chest stole the breath from her lungs. Every inch of him was hard. His defined pectorals, the rippling abs and trim hips. He had a two-inch scar under his collarbone, and another under his chin that she hadn’t noticed before, but the scars only added to his appeal, making him appear dangerous.

      A badass tribal tattoo covered one firm bicep, while the other boasted a lethal-looking dragon in mid-flight. It reminded her of her own tattoo, the one she’d gotten for the sole purpose of pissing off her father after he’d grounded her for missing curfew when she was seventeen. Even now the spontaneity of her actions—getting a tattoo!—surprised her. Darcy always teased that she had a secret wild side, and maybe she did, but it rarely made any appearances.

      Tonight, though, her wild side had definitely come out to play.

      “Like what you see?” Brody mimicked, the heat in his eyes telling her he was enjoying the attention.

      She licked her lips. “Yes.” Then she reached for his fly, un-buttoned it and pulled the zipper down. She bent over to slide his jeans off, admiring his long legs and muscular thighs and the erection that pushed against the black boxer briefs he wore, a thick ridge that made her mouth water.

      Dear God, this was insanity.

      Stumbling to her feet, she tugged at his waistband and helped him out of the briefs. Leaving him as naked as she was.

      She shyly appraised his body, which was toned, muscled and unbelievably male. She eyed his impressive erection, then trembled at the thought of that hard, pulsing cock buried deep inside her.

      Suddenly she could no longer bear it.

      “For God’s sake, kiss me,” she blurted out.

      “Yes, ma’am.” His eyes gleaming, Brody pressed his body against hers and finally bent down to capture her mouth.

      Oh, sweet Jesus.

      He felt and tasted like heaven. With skilled ease, he explored her mouth, swirling and thrusting his tongue into every crevice, hot and greedy. When he sucked on her bottom lip, she let out a deep moan then pulled back and stared at him in awe.

      Brody seemed to know exactly what to do, turning her on in a way she’d never anticipated. He fondled her breasts for an excruciatingly long time before finally dipping his head and sampling one mound with his tongue.

      He sucked the nipple hard, flicked his tongue over it, nibbled on it until she cried out with pleasure that bordered on pain, and just when she thought it couldn’t possibly feel better than that, he turned his attention to her other breast.

      Arousal drummed through her body, until her thighs grew slick from her own wetness, and she found herself choking out, “We need a bed. Now.”

      DAMN, HE HADN’T expected her to be like this. Deliciously demanding and so gorgeous. Something about Hayden sent lust and curiosity spinning through him, the need to both claim her and unravel the mystery of her.

      And there was definitely plenty to learn about this freckle-faced professor who had initiated a one-night stand when it was obviously not in her nature.

      He sucked on her nipple once more before pulling his head away and straightening his back. His mouth went dry as sawdust as he stared at the evidence of his handiwork on those high, full breasts. His stubble had chafed the hell out of her creamy white skin, leaving splotches of red, and the tips of her dusky pink nipples glistened with the moisture, making him want to feast on her again.

      His eyes dropped to the wispy line of dark hair between her thighs. He knew it was called a landing strip and goddamn but he couldn’t wait to land his tongue down there. The sparse amount of hair offered a mouthwatering view of her swollen clit.

      His already hot and hard body grew hotter and harder.

      “Where’s the bedroom?” he groaned.

      Hayden’s mouth quirked. Without answering, she turned on her heel toward the unlit hallway.

      Brody took two steps, then stopped when he noticed the tattoo on her lower back. Oh, man. In the shadowy corridor he could just make out the shape of a bird. A hawk, or an eagle. Dark, dangerous, incredibly sexy and completely surprising. He’d known this woman was different. Her tattoo was so tantalizing he marched up to her and gripped her slender waist with both hands.

      The top of her head barely reached his chin. How had this saucy little woman reduced him to a state of foolish hunger?

      As his hands trailed down her hips, she twisted her head slightly to send him a look that said she was curious about his next move.

      His next move consisted of dropping to his knees and outlining the tattoo with his tongue.

      Hayden shuddered, but he kept one hand on her waist, keeping her steady. “Why an eagle?” he murmured, kissing her lower back.

      “I like eagles.”

      A very simple answer from a very complicated woman. He stroked her ass with his hand, then lowered his head and bit into the soft flesh.

      “Bedroom,” she gasped.

      “Screw it,” he muttered.

      Still holding her secure with one