Scandalous 2 Page 0,38

to tell you that? I need to feel it. Just painting anyone doesn't work. You know this, Gus." Jack stares at his friend and shakes his head. Gus opens his mouth to speak, but Abby steps between them.

"I'll be your model, Jack." She's looking up at him like she can't believe she said it.

"Really?" he asks, astounded.

"Yes. I want to be part of your life." She smiles crookedly at him and shrugs a shoulder. "Besides, it's art. It's not like you'd get jealous if another guy saw me naked."

Gus lets out a high-pitched laugh, "Yeah, you guys figure it out on your own. I don't think I need to hear this part." He ducks out the door, grinning.

Jack feels the mischievous smile lace across his lips. His eyes burn into Abby's. She has the smart, sexy smirk on her face. It makes him completely crazy. He steps toward her and pulls her to him, yanking her waist hard. "Is that a confession, Mrs. Gray?"

Her eyes glitter with mirth. "Take it how you want to, Mr. Gray."

"Like I'm going to let you leave it at that." Jack grins before scooping Abby up in his arms. He swings her around in the air, letting her scream wildly. She alternates between trying to get herself free and holding on like she's going to fall.

"Say the name, Abby. Who else saw you naked?" When she doesn't answer, he tickles and spins faster.

Her hair is a streak of red, and her laughter fills the air. "Ahhh! I'm going to pee! Jack, stop!"

Breathless he looks down at the woman in his arms. Her face is bright red and she's still laughing. "Are you going to fork over that name now?"

"Are you planning on telling me every girl you saw naked?" she asks coyly.

"That wasn't an answer, Mrs. Gray." Jack takes off running, with Abby in his arms. He pushes through the back doors and runs toward the water.

"What are you doing? Ahhh!" Abby screams, clinging to him as Jack bounces down the beach toward the surf.

"Tossing you in," he replies, laughing.

"Let me go!" Abby digs her nails into his neck, like she intends to hold on. She kicks her feet wilding, but Jack just laughs more.

"Do it harder, baby. That just turns me on."

She laughs just as they reach the water. The cold wet sand clings to Jack's feet. It's cooler today than it has been. Breathing hard, Jack asks one last time. "A name please. Give me the name of the other man who has seen my sweet bride naked." Sucking in air, he looks down at her in his arms.

"You think there's just one?" She giggles with that sexy smirk on her face. "I can make you a list."

"You are so going in." Jack wants to drop her on the sand and make love to her until she screams his name. Instead, he steps into the water, wading in past the shallows and gets ready to throw her. "'I can make you a list,'" he mocks.

Jack swings her once. "Don't you dare," Abby warns, still thinking he won't do it. Then Jack swings her twice. "Jack," she says, her voice cracking this time. On the third swing, the time he intends to toss her, Abby cries out, "It was Jonathan Gray! He's this really sexy artist. I slept with him, Jack." She laughs hysterically. "He was the best I ever had."

"Good to know, but you're still going in."

"What?" she shrieks as Jack tosses her. Abby tries to cling to Jack, but he's too strong. She lifts from his arms and hits a wave. When she comes up, she's sputtering water and dripping like a wet dog.

"You are so going to pay for that!" She rushes toward Jack and jumps on him. Jack gets knocked off-balance and they both fall into the water.

When Jack comes up, they're both soaking wet. He reaches for Abby, and pulls her against his chest. She jumps on him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and takes his face between her hands and presses her mouth to his. Every fantasy Jack ever had about this girl comes rushing back; the way he used to think about her swimming with him, wrapping her body around his in the water, feeling her bare skin on the hot beach. Jack's body responds to the kiss, to Abby. The cold water isn't enough to stop it. Nothing could ever stop how he feels about her.

Breathing hard, Jack looks into her face, "You'll be my