Stripped(51)

“Okay,” Abby said, thinking. “Sure, I can help. What kind of swimsuits did you bring? You’ll need a bikini.”

“I have one, but it’s old and it doesn’t match.”

“We’ll need to stop at another store, then.”





Charlotte sailed through the front door of the beach house, bags in tow.

“Hi, babe,” Reed said from the couch, where he was watching Sports Center with his feet up.

“Where’s everyone else?” Charlotte asked.

“Chris is in the kitchen making a sandwich. Everyone else is at the beach.”

“Great!” Abby said. “Charlotte and I were just talking about some beach time before dinner.”

“It’s a little cold,” Reed said.

“We’ll be fine. Let’s go change,” Abby said.

“The beach?” Charlotte whispered. “This is your idea? For him to see me in a bikini? That’s not gonna do it.”

“Just change and follow my lead, alright?” Abby said.

As she dashed into the room she and Chris were sharing, Abby smiled when she saw his large duffel bag on the floor. It reminded her that they were staying together; not just in the same room, but in the same bed, for the next several nights.

She changed into the modest navy blue bikini she’d bought, grabbed a bottle of suntan oil from the linen closet, and hurried back to the living room to meet up with Charlotte.

“Hey,” Chris said, grinning widely as he saw Abby.

“Hi, how was your volleyball game?”

“Good. Come here.” He pushed the plate with the sandwich he was eating aside as Abby approached, and she felt conscious of Reed being in the room. The look in Chris’ eyes left no doubt about what he was thinking.

“Ready?” Charlotte asked, nearly running into the room. “We have to catch the last of the good sun.”

Abby felt a burst of pride as she saw Charlotte in the red bikini they had worked so hard to pick out. It showed off her tiny, lean body very well. Reed’s eyes lingered on her as she gestured toward Abby.

“First we have to put on this oil I was telling you about,” Abby said, shaking the bottle as she walked over. Charlotte reached for it and Abby raised her eyebrows in warning.

“I’ll do you first,” she said. A look of uncertainty crossed Charlotte’s face, but she nodded.

Abby took her time pouring the oil into her hands and rubbing it into them thoroughly.

“Hold your hair up,” she said. Charlotte grabbed her pale blond hair and piled it on top of her head. Abby rubbed her way across Charlotte’s shoulders and down her back, slipping her fingers beneath the straps of the bikini.

She felt goose bumps on Charlotte’s arms as she methodically worked her fingers up and down them.

“You could get uneven tan lines if we don’t put it everywhere, but I’m sure you’d rather oil your own breasts than have me do it,” Abby said, raising her brows again. Charlotte stared back for a beat, seeming to know what she needed to say but trying to find the courage.

“No, go ahead,” she said smoothly.

Abby slid her fingers under the bikini top, and Charlotte gasped lightly at her touch.

“This is working,” Abby said under her breath. She had snuck a glance at Reed, who was watching them with his mouth open.

Charlotte jumped a little when Abby slid her hands into the bottom of the suit, but she recovered quickly.

Abby passed her the bottle so they could repeat the process.

“Slowly,” she said in a low voice. “Act like they’re not even here.”

When Charlotte finished, Abby met Chris’ gaze.

“Come sit outside with me?” she asked. Chris stared at her, his eyes blazing. Abby chanced a glance at his lap to see if the suntan oil application had excited him, and he smiled when he noticed her looking.

“Of course,” he said, getting up.

“I’ll come, too, but I want to find my swim trunks,” Reed said. “Can you help me, Char?”

“They’re on the bathroom sink,” Charlotte said dismissively.

“I could really use your help,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Oh. Oh.”

Charlotte gave Abby a quick smile as she followed Reed, and Abby felt an odd sense of victory.

“What was that?” Chris asked, grinning.

“Don’t judge,” Abby said, smiling back. “We all have our specialties. If someone needed a wound stitched or a heart jump-started, they’d see you. Help getting your guy hard, now that’s me.”

“I don’t want you getting anyone hard but me,” he said lightly, reaching for her waist.

“That was just an assist. Won’t happen again. How can I make it up to you?”