Knock Three Times

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Knock Three Times ISBN 9781419916922 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Knock Three Times Copyright © 2008 Amarinda Jones Edited by Helen Woodall. Photography and cover art by Les Byerley. Electronic book Publication July 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

KNOCK THREE TIMES

Amarinda Jones

Dedication To my mother for her unfailingly belief in my ability to do anything. To my brother Cameron who was the best writer I knew. To my father who makes sure I keep all my receipts for tax. Where would I be without these people?

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following word marks mentioned in this work of fiction: Bailey’s Irish Cream: R. & A. Bailey & Co. Betty Boop: Fleischer Studios, Inc. Cheetos: Frito-Lay North America, Inc. CSI Miami: CBS Broadcasting Inc. Hallmark Card: Hallmark Licensing, Inc. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Mounties): Royal Canadian Mounted Police Tim Tams: Campbell Soup Company Yoda: Lucasfilm Ltd.

Knock Three Times

Chapter One “Oh chère, you are wasting yourself on that man,” Ballantyne Teague growled low in frustration as he peered through the window of 59 Parmenter Road, in the Brisbane suburb of McDowall. He watched a near naked woman rocking back and forth astride a man who clearly had no interest in the hot, luscious curves rubbing up against him. From what Ballantyne could see through the sheer curtains, the man looked uncomfortable and bored. “You would have to be gay not to want her, mate.” He licked his lips as he imagined the first taste of this gorgeous apparition before him. Ballantyne knew you did not have to taste some women to know they would be delicious. One look was all that was needed. This one was made to be tasted and touched. Every inch of her body was on display in a tiny lacy black outfit that left very little to the imagination. Ballantyne felt his cock press wildly against his trousers as it sought an out and an in. He did not feel bad about looking through the window because that was his job. Ballantyne Teague, of Teague Security, and his team had been hired to track down the Parmenter Road burglar who had been wreaking havoc in the community over the last month. The police had done all they could. His team had been hired by the homeowners in the street to provide security for the locals. “And I would like to secure you, chère.” The woman was heaven. Full, generous breasts and cushion-soft thighs that a man longed to feel wrapped around him. But why the hell she had not bothered to shut the curtains properly, worried him. Hadn’t they given this neighborhood enough warnings about predators? Ballantyne did not normally lurk in the bushes as part of his job. He was only there beside the house in the bushes as he thought he had seen someone in the shadows. Now he wanted to stay and watch the show.

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“Thank you, Lord,” Ballantyne groaned low with gratitude as one breast broke from of its containment and bounced enticingly. Not since he was a teenager had he felt this close to coming in his pants. He blew out a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He could not remember the last time he had been so turned on by any woman. “Oh man.” Ballantyne sucked in his breath as the dark haired beauty swung one leg off the man. She stood beside him, hands on her curvaceous hips as her mouth opened in what he suspected was an angry tirade that was long overdue at her partner who looked liked it was the last thing he wanted to hear. Through the window, he could only hear every other word but he heard enough and saw enough to know the look of a pissed off woman when he saw one. She had every right to be. She wanted sex and the man wouldn’t or couldn’t provide it. Ballantyne cursed with disappointment when she covered up her breast once more. His eyes fixed on the heaving mounds once again dangerously close to popping out of the barely there black lace that contained them. “Please God, I will be good forever if I can see those beauties once more.” Ballantyne could just make out the ripe pink nipples, a sweetly rounded stomach and a glimpse of dark hair between her legs. But he needed more. He closed his eyes momentarily and told himself this was a private moment for her and he should walk away but he found it impossible. Ballantyne was a starving man and she was dessert. Whatever words the man inside said to the woman did not make her happy for she stomped off, her g-stringed ass swaying seductively and quickly out of sight. Ballantyne turned and leaned against the timber of the outside wall. He was on fire with need and his cock was so rigid after just merely watching the woman that he thought it would explode. “Oh chère, I’ll be happy to help you.” He recognized the look of need in her eyes. She wanted sex and he was happy to provide it. Besides it was his job to service the locals wasn’t it?

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“Okay what’s wrong? I am trying to do a sensual lap dance to make you want to fuck me until I can’t walk straight and you look like I am shoving slithers of sharpened bamboo under your fingernails.” Montgomery French looked at Adam Tripp and wondered once more if she was she losing her sex appeal. He never seemed the slightest bit interested in her as a woman anymore. She had deliberately gone out and spent ninety-nine dollars on a piece of crotch splitting lace that was in essence no bigger than a doily and this man looked uncomfortable but not in that “I have-to-slide-insideyou-now-and-fuck-your-brains-out” way which was what she was hoping for. “I’m just not in the mood, Montie.” Adam sighed tiredly as he looked decidedly pained about this confrontation. “Not in the mood?” She slapped her hands against his chest and looked at him in frustration. “You haven’t been in the mood for—what month is this?” Montgomery French hadn’t had a man inside her for so long she was beginning to think that her vagina would close up due to lack of action. “You’re my boyfriend for God’s sake.” It wasn’t obligatory to have sex, but Montie expected some interest in the fact that all her goods were out so prominently on display and awaiting a good taste test. She pulled up the thin lace strap that had slid off her shoulder. Though, if her boobs fell out in front of him now she doubted Adam would be the slightest bit interested. They had not had sex for at least five months. Five long months without a real live penis inside her. It was wrong. And a dildo could only do so much. She need heat, intensity and volume not a toy. I need a frigging man now. “I bought this lace thing for you.” The idea had been to climb on to Adam, rub her body all over his in the hope that he would want to slide on into hers. It appeared that hope did not always spring eternal. The disinterested look in his eyes told her that. Everything feminine within her felt flat and affronted. “You look beautiful, Montie,” Adam responded quietly. That comment sounded so pained that Montie felt sick in her stomach. She wanted him to really need and want her so desperately that nothing else would stop him from

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taking her. At this moment Adam looked like he would be more interested in cutting his toenails. “But you don’t want me.” It was sad to say but true. The gentle hands on her hips were not egging her on, they were supporting her from falling. “We had sex two nights ago.” Oh God, he was keeping count. It sounded almost as if he needed to justify something. “You slid the purple demon inside me. That was foreplay not sex.” “You enjoyed it. You screamed, “Adam pointed out in defense. “But you stopped!” Montie threw her hands up into the air, one breast flew out and bounced dangerously unrestrained. “I wanted to scream more. I wanted you inside me not a purple pulsating toy.” It was good but a real cock was better. She flung one leg over and removed herself from him. She had her pride. This was way too embarrassing to continue. She wanted to be cock-teaser not a cock deadener. “It’s not you it’s me.” Those words made Montie stagger in her three inched spike come-fuck-me black heels. She had worn them to give her height yet Adam’s words were cutting her back down to size. “Oh puh-lease, at least spare me that.” She slid her breast back inside the lace. Adam hadn’t even looked at it. That was not a good sign. Her breasts were the stuff men gawked at. “You know if you don’t want me that’s fine. Just tell me.” “You are stunning, Montie. How could any man not desire you?” Adam’s voice was full of a sad sincerity almost as if he knew what he was saying would not change things. “But not you.” Montie shook her head and sighed. “What is it, Adam? We have been living together for months.” The cohabitation happened about the same time the sex dried up between them. They had moved in with each other to spend more time

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together. I should have bloody known when he did not fight me over having my own bedroom. Montie was a restless sleeper who liked to sleep alone. It appeared she gotten her wish without even trying. “Once it seemed you couldn’t wait to touch me.” Or had I dreamed that? Why can’t I remember what sex with Adam was like? Because it wasn’t that good, but he had been dependable. “Now I throw myself at you and you only just catch me to avoid a health and safety issue.” Adam held out his hands to her as if he wanted to console her in some way. “I love you, Montie.” “As in you’re the woman I want to fuck senseless or you’re a great friend but put your clothes back on?” She already knew the answer. How dumb was she to move in with a guy she knew only a couple of months? Needy, dumb or desperate, or the jackpot of all three. “I don’t know what I feel.” His voice was angst ridden and his eyes tortured as he looked into hers. “Well this is just doing great things for my ego. I am barely dressed, I have my ass hanging out ready for action and you don’t know.” It was not one of her more definitive moments of womanhood. “I want to be with you but I…” Montie looked at Adam waiting for some revelation as to what was making him look so pained and constipated looking. “But?” What could he say that could possibly make her feel better? I am so in awe of your beauty I am scared to touch you? That would be acceptable to her battered ego right now. “I’m tired.” “Right.” Fine. Whatever. No sex but self-service stuff for me tonight. “I’m sorry, Montie,” he sighed in a tired resignation.

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“Not as sorry as I am.” She turned and stormed out of the room. She knew at that moment Adam wouldn’t be looking at her bare ass like any other male. He had not done that in months. “I hope your dick shrivels up through lack of exercise you lousy bastard,” she cursed softly.

Nine months ago Montie French had been wildly in lust with Adam Tripp. He was everything she thought she wanted in a man. Sweet, loving and interested in a way no man had ever been before. Adam was good for her ego in so many ways. After the death of her sister, her last remaining family member, she had clung to him, desperately needing something to hold on to. There had been no one else in her life to turn to and he had been the rock she had needed. What started as friendship between them quickly turned to sex and then love. It wasn’t the love of fairytale romance but it was safe and comfortable and Montie had told herself she needed no more. After they moved in together it changed. The friendship grew stronger but the sexual dynamics changed from genuine need, to duty, then they finally died. Montie initially surmised that they had passed the “honeymoon” phase and they had settled into a strong, caring relationship. “Damn it I want more.” She stomped up the stairs noisily. There was no point in having spiked heels if they could not be used for maximum effect. Montie stopped at the old gilded mirror that hung on the wall in the hallway. She turned from side to side as she looked at herself in the skimpy black lace. Montie knew she was no supermodel but she had expected some vague interest by Adam, her supposed boyfriend, to her near naked state. The lace did not come close to adequately hiding her pussy and nipples but then it wasn’t supposed to. A man was supposed to look and desire. Sure, maybe her flabby thighs and cellulite ass were not exciting but she knew her breasts were full and wantable so what the hell was wrong with Adam?

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“Fucking men—give me a good hard toy any day.” Hmm, do I have fresh batteries? That would be the last straw if she didn’t as she needed something hard and throbbing between her legs. “He’s right you know—it’s not you, it’s him,” murmured a husky male voice. Montie jumped at the voice. “What the hell!” She spun on her heel to look at the intruder. “Holy crap,” she shrieked in alarm, as she propelled herself back from him. “Who the fuck are you? How did you get in here?” Her hands instantly moved down to cover what she could but as it was all exposed it was hard to know where to start. Ballantyne Teague leaned against the wall and surveyed her with a connoisseur’s eye. “I came through the window. You have pathetic security. I just flipped the latch and got in.” Montie shook her head in disbelief at his calm words and nonchalant manner. She wasn’t sure whether she should be frightened or intrigued at the gorgeous stranger standing before her. She closed her open mouth and tried to still the wild beating of her heart. “So what, you had to break in and tell me that?” A sudden thought crossed her mind. This had to be the neighborhood burglar the street was gossiping about. Where the hell was this whizbang security team they had hired which was supposed to stop these break-ins? That was clearly money not well spent. “I know who you are.” And I cannot believe a burglar could look like you. This man in black was hot with a capital H. They did not make his kind anymore and if they did she wanted the rights as she could market him to women worldwide. Wavy, dark brown hair, heavy-lidded eyes and a sexy smile that made you want to give him whatever valuables you had. “Who am I, chère?” Ballantyne smiled at her with in indulgent amusement. Chère? Oh boy, I could come at the sound of his voice. I really should call for Adam… Montie wobbled unsteadily on one heel as she got caught up in the sexy grin he favored 11

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her with. Or maybe I’ll just assess the situation a bit further. Her hormones were officially in charge of her at that moment. “You’re the guy who has been robbing houses.” Oh that smile. Down girl. The hungry look he gave her made Montie’s eyes snap open with surprise. Oh God. That was the look she craved. It was the one that she wanted from Adam—the I-am-goingto-fuck-you until-you-faint-with-pleasure look. It got her right between the legs. She closed her thighs tightly together to avoid temptation. “You won’t get anything here.” “Won’t I?” He chuckled lightly. Uh-oh, I am in trouble. He wanted her. Blind Freddie could see that and every fiber of her being wanted to hand him whatever piece of her he desired. “I’m going to call the cops.” Yes, that was it. Stop drooling and call for help. Montie backed away from him and into the spare room that housed sundry crap like a never used treadmill, a pool table and a cordless phone. “Go ahead, call them.” Ballantyne followed her into the other room. “Or call the guy downstairs to come up and defend your honor.” “I know how to defend myself.” Well Montie didn’t exactly but she had read about aiming for the eyes, throat and groin. It seemed like a pity to aim for such areas of attraction. Maybe she would just stomp her spike heel into his foot. “I’d like to see your moves, chère.” Sexy and confident. Just the way she liked them. She looked at him quizzically. Why aren’t I frightened of him? Because your hormones are on red alert for incoming penis. God! Get a grip woman! “Get out of my—” Montie stopped and thought back to what he said. “What do you mean it’s him? Were you watching us?” Great, her embarrassment at Adam’s obvious rejection of her was witnessed by another. Perfect. I am woman. Watch me crumble with embarrassment. “Actually, I was watching you.” Ballantyne’s locked eyes with hers. “You are incredibly sexy, chère. You can hop on board and ride me any day.” 12

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“Thank God,” Montie blurted out in relief. She wasn’t losing it. Crap, I said that aloud. “I mean, you pervert.” Ballantyne laughed with delight. “You’re pleased I think you are incredibly hot but I am a creep for mentioning it?” “It’s ill mannered to speak to a stranger like that.” But thank you. I needed that. “He’s gay, you know,” Ballantyne pointed out matter-of-factly. “Adam?” Montie looked at him incredulously. “No freaking way.” As if. How could that be? She would know—surely? Hmm… “Every freaking way. Any man who does not take up the offer of his voluptuous, half-naked woman is gay.” How sweet. The hot guy had a point. “He was tired.” It sounded like a piss-weak excuse to her as well but she felt she should defend Adam’s honor. Anyway how could he be gay? Adam had sex with her and— She stopped when she thought of all the possibilities of what that could mean. Montie shook her head. I don’t want to think about it. “When sex with a beautiful woman is on offer, chère, no man is that tired.” He thinks I’m beautiful. That’s probably because he hasn’t got a good glimpse at my thighs or ass yet. “You’re very confident.” And I like it. “I know what I want.” Ballantyne moved stealthily toward her. “I want you.” Oh thank God. “I’m not that easy.” She was grateful, needy and aching, but not easy. “So if I wanted to fuck you up against the pool table, you’d say no?” Ballantyne corralled her back toward the table in question. “I um…” How did one respond to that? Yes, seemed sluttish and no seemed politically correct yet somehow foolish. Never in her life had a man come on to her like

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this. She was usually the wallflower type that no one noticed. But then burglars were probably not that picky. “When did you last have a man hot and tight inside you, chère? Has it been weeks or months?” He stopped a foot before her. “If you leave now, I won’t call the cops.” After all, he had not hurt her and the flattery had done her the world of good. For a bad guy he seemed okay. What? She mentally slapped herself. The overwhelming need for sex was addling her brain. Montie pushed her hands up to ward him off. Her left breast sprang out of its lace containment. He looked at it the way a man should—hungrily. He pulled her toward him by the waist and suctioned his mouth on the nipple before Montie had time to react. “Oh God,” she moaned as his lips tugged at her flesh. His mouth felt so damn good on her. Montie staggered in her heels as his hands went down to grasp her ass and press her against the erection that was bulging in his trousers. All for me? “You’re a burglar.” There was a point to be made but for the life of her at that moment she was not sure what it was. She put her hands to his head and ran her fingers through his hair. This was heaven and exactly what she needed. “So?” Ballantyne’s hands tore at the lace to free her other breast. “This is wrong.” She pushed her other breast forward into his hand. “Why? You’re hot and I’m hot. Let’s burn together.” Montie pulled his head from her breast. “You are so up yourself,” she pronounced breathlessly. But she liked the whole cocky attitude thing. “I would rather be up you, chère.” Ballantyne smiled at her suddenly. “Are you blushing?” “No.” Yes. That someone could want her so badly thrilled and shocked her. Her hands gripped the front of his shirt as she tried to steady herself. I can’t do this. It’s

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wrong. Her fingers ran over the hard planes of his chest. Or maybe I could. Who would know? “I need you, chère.” Ballantyne lifted her up onto the pool table and moved in between her open legs. “Um, I don’t sleep around.” Sex on a pool table? That wasn’t exactly sleeping around now was it? The inside of her thighs was so wet she was dripping at the thought of a complete stranger taking her on the table that still had two payments to be made on it. “I bet you haven’t had sex in months.” Ballantyne held her face in her hands. “You must be aching, chère.” Montie gulped at the sexy tenderness of his tone. It was like he actually cared that she needed the physical contact to make her feel better. “Yes.” Why lie? The man was not stupid he would be able to see the raw need in her eyes. Montie had a feeling it matched what she saw in his eyes. “Do you want me?” “Um…” Montie licked her lips in thought. This man was a rule breaker, an outlaw in society. He was a bad boy who made no apologies for it and yet it thrilled her to the core that he wanted her. What did that actually say about her as a person? That she had loose morals or that she was free spirited? Whatever. Surely every woman ought to have a bad boy at least once in their lives? What would one mad moment of sex hurt her? “Do you have condom?” Wild stranger sex was one thing. Safety was another. “A smart man’s always prepared.” Ballantyne reached into his back trouser pocket, pulled out his wallet and a couple of condoms. “You just have to say no and I’ll walk away, chère.” He shoved the wallet back into his pants. He held the condoms in the open palm of his hand waited for her answer. “No,” Montie responded in a hoarse whisper, not meaning it, as her eyes locked on his.

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“Liar,” Ballantyne answered with a grin as he pushed a wisp of hair from her face with his free hand. “Try again.” She was fooling no one. Montie wanted him. “Um, yes I want you, but what about…” “The guy downstairs? He does not want you but I do.” He placed the condoms on the edge of the table and reached out for her once more. “But what if he comes upstairs and sees us?” Even as she said the words, a strange thrill shot through Montie’s body. Good, boring Montie does the bad guy on the pool table while good, staid Adam is downstairs probably reading a book. “I expect he’ll get a shock,” Ballantyne murmured blithely as he tugged and tore the spidery lace at her groin until the dark curls of her pussy were exposed. “You are incredibly lovely.” His hand ran back and forth across the exposed skin of her lower stomach. “Really?” Montie shivered at his touch. When he said she was “lovely” she actually believed him. She went to kick her ridiculous shoes off. “Never doubt that, and leave your shoes on.” Ballantyne’s mouth descended on hers and he kissed her like he was a starving man who had at last found sustenance. Montie had been kissed before but not like this. This was pure longing and passion that rushed up and grabbed her and pulled her along to a place she very much wanted to go. When he sucked down softly on her lower lip as he broke off the kiss Montie finally understood why women had been known to swoon over a kiss. “Um…” she pushed him away and licked her lips savoring the taste of him. Vanilla flavored mouth wash and all male musk. Yummy. “Um what?” Ballantyne ran his hands down her bare back and smiled as she shivered in response.

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“Well, I’m not really very good at sex.” If the hot guy was thinking he was going to have wild sex with her, then he would be disappointed. She was boring. Her imagination was one thing, her experience was another. An indulgent grin of pleasure touched his lips. Oh chère, you just haven’t been with the right man.” Ballantyne handed her the condom. “Put it on.” “You?” Montie gulped at the thought. What have I got myself into? This was sex right in your face. “No, on the chair leg.” Ballantyne laughed her expression. “I want you to touch me and feel how much I need you right now.” He unzipped his fly. His cock jumped out eagerly. “This is all for you.” Oh my. Long, hard and thick. Thank you, Lord. Montie unwrapped the condom and wondered how such a small amount of latex would cover the column of firm flesh before her. “Um, I’m usually bad at this.” She was always worried about pulling or grabbing too hard as she rolled the condom on or that she would put her fingernail through it the thin rubber. Ballantyne reached up and grabbed her hand. He turned the palm to his lips and kissed it. “Please,” he murmured softly as he drew her hand down to his cock. The look in his eyes made her feel incredibly powerful. That he needed her so badly made her wetter than she thought possible. She bit her bottom lip and concentrated on rolling the condom on. “Are you trying to torture me?” Montie looked at him worriedly and stopped. “Did I hurt you?”

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“I want in you so badly, chère, I cannot wait.” Ballantyne’s hands covered hers as he assisted her to finish the task. “Relax,” he crooned as he pushed her back onto the table so she was lying down spread out before him. He slid his fingers into the exposed cleft between her legs. “You are so wet, chère.” Montie moaned softly as his fingers slid inside her body. He seemed to know just what she craved. She knew the slow moving friction was just a tease until the main event. “Please…” There were rights and wrongs to what she wanted but desire overrode common sense at that moment. “What is it you need?” Ballantyne looked in her eyes as he continued thrusting his fingers within her. “I want you to fuck me.” Any good girl pretensions had left the room. He smiled at her words and removed his fingers. “For you, I would do anything, chère.” Ballantyne pulled her legs up around his shoulders and directed his penis to the entrance of her body. “Now?” “Yes please.” As the hot shaft invaded her body, Montie felt her body arch up to meet his. “Oh my,” she panted. This was exactly what she craved. A senses-invading hot, hard fuck. Once fully inside Ballantyne stopped and leaned into her so they were eye to eye. “How do you feel?” He ran his tongue down the side of her neck. “Chocolate ice cream wonderful.” Ballantyne threw back his head and laughed. “That good huh?” he kissed her nose teasingly. “Yes, now move.” As his cock ground back and forward inside her body, she clutched at the man before her, wondering how someone she knew nothing about could make her feel so hot and alive. She closed her eyes and smiled. Who cares? He did and that was all that mattered.

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“Look at me, chère,” Ballantyne ordered softly as he thrust faster and harder. “I want you to remember our first time together, forever.” Montie looked into the dark caramel eyes that held her. Our first time together, forever? The burglar was a romantic. “I don’t think I could ever forget you.” She stiffened as she felt the orgasm hit. She had never come so quickly. The feeling pulsed out from her vagina, down to her toes and up her back. “Oh crap, I’m going to scream.” As wonderful as this was and as much as she would like Adam to know what he was missing out on, it would be mortifying if he walked in and saw her like this. Ballantyne’s mouth moved to hers and his lips caught the shriek of pleasure that escaped. As their lips parted, Montie sighed happily. Oh yeah, that’s what I needed. “Thank you.” “My pleasure, chère,” Ballantyne growled as he gave one last thrust and came within her. “Fuck, that was good.” Montie giggled and clasped him to her she he fell forward into her arms. This was how she liked her men. Real and to the point. “Do you do this often?” Small talk with the man who still had his cock inside her body. “I plan to do it a lot more with you.” Ballantyne pushed the hair back from her face. “What is your name, chère?” “Montgomery French—Montie.” A burglar had just fucked her on the pool table. It was the perfect time to get to know each other. “Frenchy—ooh-la-la.” Ballantyne kissed her lingeringly. There was something so powerful in a man who kissed you as if his very existence depended on you being in it. She felt his penis stiffening inside her.

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“Really?” Montie asked in amazement. She had never had a man want her more than once at a time. “I’m not sure I can do this again.” Though she had read about multiple orgasms she figured the closest she would ever come to that would be at a cocktail bar drinking the Bailey’s Irish Cream concoction. “Because it’s never happened before?” Ballantyne lifted off her and removed his cock from her body. He grabbed her hands and pulled her off the table and onto her feet. “Then the men you had before me were all amateurs.” He turned her around so her ass faced him. Montie felt his wet cock prod against her butt. “Um, you’re not going to…” She shook with the thought of what he might do. It was something she had longed to try. “Do you want me to, chère?” Ballantyne whispered against her ear as he moved in close behind her and nudged her legs apart with his knee. A door banged below. Montie stiffened. She had forgotten all about Adam. But then this man could make her forget her own name. Had Adam gone out? Did she care? Umm… “Yes or no?” He licked the side of her neck. “Yes.” Oh God yes. “Stay exactly where you are. Do not move, chère.” He grabbed a spare condom and moved away from her. Montie heard him walk down the hall. She stood with her hands on the pool table, her legs spread and her bare, cellulite ass on display. Not her best feature but that did not seem to bother this man. She shook her head in wonder. Here she was, selfsufficient Montgomery French, standing naked and waiting for a man to do whatever he wanted to her. It was against everything she believed in. “Okay so I’m flexible in my beliefs,” she muttered to herself. She stiffened suddenly. A wild thought occurred to her. “Oh he wouldn’t have…” He hadn’t gone and left her all bare assed and waiting?

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“He wouldn’t have what?” Ballantyne slipped in behind her. “Oh, I thought you’d left.” She leaned back into the hot, male flesh and sighed with pleasure. Her hormones danced wildly with joy at the possibilities of what might happen next. “I’m not finished with you yet.” He dropped the jar of cold cream on the table beside her and turned her around. Montie looked down at the fresh condom-covered, erect cock and then at her expensive night cream, she kept in the bathroom, that she had bought specifically to use on her neck. It cost an arm and a leg but at thirty, while she believed in aging gracefully, Montie also believed in giving Mother Nature a hand. “Um…” She wanted to come across as sexually sophisticated but the fiery red of her cheeks was a dead giveaway. “You say ‘um’ a lot,” he observed as he reached over and unscrewed the jar of cream. “It’s awfully cute, as is the blushing.” Ballantyne scooped up a dollop and placed it into her hands. “Cream me up, chère.” Montie’s mouth dropped open at his words as she knew what he had in mind. He grabbed her hands and placed them on his cock, slowly guiding them up and down his slippery shaft. A thrill of excitement ran through her body knowing what he planned to do next. “Who are you?” She knew there was more to this man then met the eye. He was no ordinary burglar that was for sure. “I am your lover,” he answered in a voice that stated it as a fact. “What is your name?” “Ballantyne Teague.” A unique name for a unique man. “Um, Tyne I’ve never… But I wanted to…” “Trust me, chère.”

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“You steal for a living.” Yet the eyes that locked with hers were full of a sincerity that could not be faked. “But I make love to you because I want to.” Ballantyne removed her hands and turned her to face the green-felt-covered table top. “Relax.” He bent her forward and parted the cheeks of her ass. When the first finger slid into her anus, she jumped at the intrusion, but Ballantyne just held her close and kissed her shoulders softly. When the second followed she leaned back into him and gave in to her needs. When the third finger followed it wasn’t such a shock, more a prelude of what she knew would come. “Can I come inside you, chère?” “Yes.” Was that her voice that sounded so deep and filled with longing? As cock started to replace fingers, she gasped. “Are you going to fit?” As he inched in slowly the uncomfortable became the comfortable and Montie wondered why she had never done this before. The hot fullness of him was intoxicating to her senses. “We fit each other perfectly,” Ballantyne growled in throaty satisfaction when he was fully inside. His hand moved around to her clit and massaged slowly as he started to pump deep within her. Montie’s head dropped back as she succumbed to all she was feeling. At that moment she did not care who or what this man was, only that he was with her. “Tyne,” she moaned, as the push and pull of cock touched nerves that sent of thrills of delight racing around her body. This was a man who not only knew how to make love but he did it damn well. “Yes, chère?” “Make me come.” “My pleasure.” When the orgasm hit, Montie was glad Ballantyne was holding her up as she would have dropped to her knees with the force of it. One leg did buckle under her and the

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stiletto heel snapped. She grabbed hold of the table and allowed him to ride her to a wild, hot climax. Montie struggled to catch her breath as did the man behind her. “Bloody hell, you can snap my heels anytime.” Ballantyne laughed with delight. “That’s good because I plan to visit you again,” he said as he hugged her to him as the aftershocks passed. “I will knock three times so you know it’s me and you will let me in because you want me as much as I want you.”

***** Ballantyne Teague was not the only one who had seen the half-naked woman as she had writhed on the man’s body. Another man had stood in the darkness and watched as well. “Slut,” Grenfell Spragg spat out. Was she so unaware that her curtains were that flimsy or did she want everyone to see her? He had lusted over her for days. She was all tits and ass and he wanted her. Spragg would have had her tonight if not for the other man. The bastard head honcho of Teague Security who was making his life a misery had gotten to her first. This neighborhood had provided him with some good loot and their security had been lax. But now, because of Teague, almost every homeowner had taken precautions and Spragg had been left out in the cold. Though as smart as the renta-cop was, he had not been able to catch him. That made Spragg proud. He was good at what he did. No one had ever come close to catching him. He knew how to get in and out of a house quickly. If it was a big item like a refrigerator he dressed like a delivery man in overalls. If it was small and pocketable like jewelry, he walked casually away with the loot as if he was on a Sunday stroll. It amused him to walk past the so-called security team and smile pleasantly at them knowing they did not have a clue who he was.

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When he had seen Teague slip inside the house, he had sworn bitterly. He also knew about the poor security on the eastern side of the house. It had been his plan to force a particular window open, then force himself inside the woman. But Teague had gotten there first, and even though Teague had not caught him, Spragg wasn’t about to push his luck. If it had been the other man, the milksop, he would have stomped right over the top of him to take her. But Teague was different. He was probably fucking the woman at this very moment. “Asshole.” No matter. His time would come. Spragg knew someone somewhere would slip up. He knew which houses in the street had received new goods through their insurance policies. Spragg had seen the empty television and stereo boxes placed neatly on the curb for trash pickup. He just had to watch and wait for someone to get slack. He thought about the woman. His cock was twisted in agony because of her. Bitch. When he was finished with this neighborhood, he would well and truly have fucked both her and it over.

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Chapter Two Montie watched Adam thoughtfully over the rim of her coffee cup. Was he gay or was Ballantyne just being gallant and saving her damaged pride by saying that could be the only reason a man would not want her? She smiled. He was awfully sweet for someone who prowled around and stole for a living. And how good had he made her feel? Her thighs ached and her butt was a little tender but if he walked into the room right now Montie knew she would jump Ballantyne Teague in a heartbeat. She was absolutely certain that was how a man was supposed to make a woman feel. He was right. Her two previous lovers, including Adam, had no clue when it came to sex. Montie tried to dredge up some guilt at her sluttish behavior but none could be found. When Ballantyne said he would come back to see her she doubted that. It was fantastic knee wobbling sex but Montie was realistic. Stuff like that did not happen in real life. Promises made in a heated moment were not always kept. She accepted that. At least she now knew what it felt like to be loved by an expert. It was one great moment she would never forget. Her mind went back to Adam. So what’s up with him? He sat quietly at the table reading the newspaper as he did every day. Adam liked routine. Montie thrived on the chaos principle. How they had ever gotten together in the first place was beyond her. His neat blond hair and lean physique was what had attracted Montie to him. But what kept her there was the fact Adam Tripp was a really nice man. He was the kind of man you could bring home and the family would fall to their knees in gratitude that he was so normal and handsome and everything you wanted your daughter to have in a man. Problem was he clearly was no longer interested in her the way a lover should be and if she was truthful she felt the same way. Last night was about overwhelming need. That having been fulfilled, Montie could now look at the situation with her brain engaged and not her hormones. 25

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So, was Adam gay? He did not look gay but then what did a gay man look like? There were no obvious signs that she knew of other than those displayed by the overly camp. Not all neat, caring men were gay. And yes, they kept separate bedrooms for their own comfort but that did that mean that Adam was gay or that she was a lesbian. Montie liked her own space as did Adam. As friends they worked well, as lovers they were only okay. She had wanted to believe it was more, as she craved a connection with another human being. But Montie could see now that she had been holding on to a dream. She bit her lip and pondered last night. If Adam was gay, as Ballantyne who knew nothing about either of them suggested, how uncomfortable would she have made him feel last night? She grimaced in embarrassment. Montie had put her own needs ahead of another person and she was ashamed. “I’m sorry about last night, Montie,” Adam said in soft apology, almost as if he had been reading her mind. Are you gay? Montie mentally slapped herself. It’s not your business. Build a bridge. “Adam, we need to talk.” Suddenly three loud knocks sounded on the front door. Montie’s eyes widened in surprise. Holy crap, could it be him? She jumped up from where she sat and followed quickly behind Adam as he went to answer the door. As it swung open, Montie gasped loudly. It was him. Adam tuned to look at her in concern. “I stubbed my toe,” she murmured as her eyes roamed hungrily over the face of Ballantyne Teague. Weren’t burglars supposed to carry out their job at night? And yet here he had the gall to be standing on her doorstep looking all normal and innocent when they both knew he was anything but. She looked at him pointedly. What the hell are you doing here? Even as she thought the words, her pussy moistened with excitement. He has come for me. Montie could almost hear her hormones singing hallelujah.

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“Ballantyne Teague, security patrol.” He showed his security identification, then shook hands with both Adam and Montie. “Just doing a check of the neighborhood. Is everything okay here?” Ballantyne’s eyes were on her face and his hand lingered longer in hers than it should have. Montie clamped her thighs together as the moisture rushed down in anticipation. The nerve of him wandering in like he was part of the neighborhood security. She knew she should say something but the words got caught up in her mouth when she thought of last night. Added to that how could she think clearly when he looked so damned sexy dressed all in black. Was that like a burglar trademark uniform? “Everything’s fine here,” Adam advised. “Mind if I look around and check your security?” Ballantyne asked as any good security professional would. “I have to get to work but Montie here can show you everything.” Adam smiled at her. “I am sure we can find time to talk tonight.” Montie and Ballantyne watched him walk out. “Confession time tonight, huh?” Montie walked up to him and poked him in the chest. “You’ve got a nerve showing up and pretending you’re security.” “Oh chère, I plan on making you very secure.” Ballantyne’s hands dropped down to her hips to pull her in close. “I have to get to work.” Montie did not want to go but work was boring and safe while this man was neither. The bulge in his trousers as their hips met indicated what he planned to do and it had nothing to do with employment. “Call in sick later—and don’t tell me you are too prim and proper to do that because we both know you’re not,” Ballantyne responded at the offended look on her face. He reached down and grabbed her hand. “Where are you taking me?” She asked as he pulled her along.

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Ballantyne moved up the stairs swiftly. “Which bedroom is yours, chère?” He smiled at her disgruntled yet surprised look. “It does not take a genius to work out you are not sleeping with that man.” “Um, why do you need to see my bedroom?” Yeah it was a dumb question but it was the only thing she could think of to say. This was all happening really fast and she knew she should stop and think but she recognized the juggernaut that was Ballantyne Teague was not an easy one to stop. “Because I have had the taste of you on my tongue all night and I want more.” Oh yes. That was exactly the right thing to say. “I can’t.” Good girl rationally kicked in and squashing legs-apart bad girl. “Why not?” “Because you’re a, um…” “What? A bad boy? Yes ma’am, I am,” Ballantyne smiled wolfishly at her. “Tyne,” Montie said as she hesitated at her bedroom. How did she explain to someone so open and free that last night was great but in the cold light of day she was not someone who jumped into bed with just anyone willy-nilly?

Ballantyne smiled. No one had called him “Tyne” for the longest time until Montgomery French came along. He liked the sound of it on her lips but then he loved the taste of those lips. He had spent the entire night thinking about Montie. The need to be with her again was overwhelming. He had never met a woman like her. She was sweet and sexy and he wanted to give her whatever she needed to make her happy. If it was possible to fall in love with someone on sight, then Ballantyne had done it. He felt slightly bad about making her believe he was a burglar. Eventually he would tell her who he was but until then he wanted her to have her fantasy of being taken by a bad boy.

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“Yes, chère?” he asked as he looked around her bedroom. This was not male territory. Pink and red and sensually feminine. No man lived in this room. That suited him as he wanted to spend hours with Montie in here as the room was so her. “Um, last night was great but…” Ballantyne smiled at her “um”. It was the one sign that gave away the fact that a normally confident woman was out of her depth. Her lack of sexual experience enthralled him. He wanted to give and teach her great pleasure but at the same time, he loved the shyness that came with each um. “But,” he encouraged as he turned her around and unzipped her dress. “Stop that.” Montie squirmed to get away from him. “You don’t want me to stop.” Ballantyne ran a finger down her back and smiled as he felt the shiver run through her and into his hand. He needed to feel her flesh against his once more to know that what he felt was not just a fantastic dream but a wonderful reality. “I just think that this is going way too fast.” “I can do slow.” He moved in close to her ass and rubbed his rock-hard cock against the soft mounds as he pulled her dress from her shoulders. Ballantyne kissed her neck. She trembled in his arms. He had never felt so powerful before. “Don’t be scared of what you feel, chère.” “Um, I’m not.” Montie moved around to face him. “Liar.” Ballantyne tweaked her nose affectionately. She was so sweet and excitingly innocent. “I would never hurt you, Montgomery French.” “I know.” Those two simple, honest words made him feel wonderful and fiercely protective. Ballantyne tugged her dress to the ground. He liked the way it stopped as it should at the mounds of her breasts, her real-woman hips and her luscious thighs. He adored a woman who had genuine, full curves and not bony, razor sharp edges a man could find

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no comfort in. Ballantyne’s eyes lingered on the cleavage on display. He knew it would take nothing to pop those beauties out of that bra. “I have this most desperate need to make love to you, Montie.” He grinned at the shock in her eyes. It was a crying shame that no one had ever loved this woman as completely as she should be loved. But, it was also a bonus for him as she delighted him with her genuine responses. “It’s lust.” “Lust can become love in a heartbeat.” Even as he said the words Ballantyne knew it was true. No woman had caught his attention as this one had. “You’re blushing again.” That made him smile.

Montie wished she could be more sophisticated when it came to sex but she wasn’t. That was probably why she had stuck it out so long with Adam. He was safe and boring and required nothing from her. She never blushed or umm-ed around Adam. It amazed her that this man could slip under her radar so easily and lock onto what she needed. “I’m scared,” she said the words out loud then realized she had not meant to. She shivered when she became aware there was more going on between her and this stranger than she ever thought possible. In an hour he knew her better than people who had supposedly known her for years. “Oh chère, you never have to be with me.” Ballantyne’s voice was soft and soulful. “Just be yourself. Ask anything of me and I will do it.” This stranger, a self-confessed bad boy, made her feel more real and alive than any other man. Her eyes locked with his. Ask anything? “Take off your clothes.” Bloody hell, was that her voice? So husky and raw? She blushed anew as he smiled at her with delight. Ballantyne held his arms out from his body in invitation.

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“Take them off me.” Montie felt hot all over despite the fact she was only in her underwear. The look he gave her made her feel like she was the most desirable woman in the world. He made her feel so good about herself. She moved in and touched his chest. She could feel his heart hammering. She was thrilled that he was as excited as she was. Montie plucked the buttons undone on his shirt. She needed to touch his flesh. Last night Ballantyne had not been naked. She needed him naked now. Montie pulled his shirt open and ran her hands over the hair roughened skin. Yum. She leaned forward and licked him, savoring the salty, musky taste of him on her tongue. ”Take what you need, here.” Ballantyne’s voice was soft with understanding. “Really?” Montie looked up at him at shyly. Sex had only ever been a rushed or sometimes boring affair to her. She had wanted to taste and investigate but she had never been invited to do so before nor had she ever gotten up the nerve to ask. She leaned forward and licked him again. The solid warmth of his body under her hands made her feel secure and confident. “Anything?” She liked the way he jumped at her touch. “Yes,” he growled as he strained to keep his hands from her. Montie pulled off his shirt and then dropped to her knees to work on his boots and socks. She had never pictured a moment when she would be on her knees to any man but this was different. This was all about satisfying her needs and cravings. She looked up at the bulge in his jeans. She licked her lips in anticipation. She slid her hand up his legs until she gently caressed the straining mound. “Oh chère,” Ballantyne gasped out as if he was trying to restrain himself. Encouraged, Montie smiled softly and unzipped his fly. Why have I never done this before? Why was I too scared to ask? Ballantyne’s cock jumped out as if relieved to see her. Excellent, the man went commando. Montie gently pushed his penis out of the way as she continued pulling his trousers down his lean hips and strong muscular thighs. She

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could not believe such an athletically formed man would want someone as soft and pudgy as her. “What?” Ballantyne asked when he saw her look of disbelief. Michelangelo’s David had nothing on this guy. Montie felt a moment’s intimidation. What the hell was she doing with this guy? He could have anyone. “You’re perfect.” She reached out and traced the long vein in the shaft of his penis. “So are you.” Was he blind? “I’m all cellulite and flab.” “Chère, you have a body that I want to rest against, bury myself in and never come out of.” Ballantyne’s voice was warm with sincerity. “I would walk miles just to collapse in your arms and to be held against your body.” Montie’s mouth dropped open at his words. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her. “Really?” She stroked his cock slowly. “Yes.” His voice was hoarse with strain as if he was trying to keep control. “Are you saying this because I have your happy friend in my hand?” She grinned up at him. Ballantyne reached down and cupped her face. “You are beautiful, Montie. You know the truth when you hear it.” Yeah she did. She could tell by the look in his eyes that this man meant every word. “So I can do anything I want?” His penis pulsed with life in her hand. She wanted to do something she had never done before. “I’m yours.” Montie leaned in and touched the head of his cock with her tongue. It was smooth, firm and slightly salty.

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Ballantyne jerked forward in reaction, his hands caressing the contours of her face. “You don’t have to, chère.” “I want to.” She teased his straining flesh with soft catlike stokes some more. “I’ve never had the chance to before.” She wanted to see and taste everything with this man. “What?” Ballantyne sounded amazed. “No man ever?” “No one appealed to me enough.” It was true. Past lovers had been boring. It had been a chore not to yawn midway through their exertions. “I appeal to you?” His words sounded possessive and proud. “Oh yeah, big time.” Montie sucked the head of his cock into her mouth. The fact that the man above was completely at her will excited her. She fondled the head with her tongue as her teeth lightly grazed the surface teasingly. “You’re killing me, chère,” he growled gruffly. Montie let the head slide out of her mouth with a pop. “You seem pretty alive to me, Tyne.” Montie rested one hand on his muscled thigh and the other curled around his penis as her tongue began tracing the long vein from the head to the base and back up again. “That’s enough,” Ballantyne groaned as he gently pushed her from him. “Did I do something wrong?” She looked at his wet shiny cock. It certainly seemed happy enough. “Chère, you do everything so beautifully right I cannot believe how lucky I am to have met you.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her up to face him. When Ballantyne’s lips touched hers, Montie sighed. It was the sort of kiss she dreamed about. Hot, firm and experienced enough to take and give at the same time. She felt his hands unsnap her bra. Montie pulled at her panties to free herself of all restrictions to the man she loved. Loved? She broke off the kiss and looked at him shocked. Loved? Nah, this was lust. Wasn’t it? Whoa! If she had to tell herself that then that was a worry. She steadied herself again him.

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“What?” Ballantyne continued the downward slide of her underwear until it dropped to the ground. “Um, nothing.” Um, everything. It was not rational to fall in love with not only a stranger but also a burglar. “There’s an ‘um’ in there so it has to be something.” Ballantyne ran his hands caressingly up and down her back. Well, you see, I just had this epiphany that I may love you after such a ridiculously short amount of time and no, I am not a bunny boiler. But I am confused. “I need you inside me now, Tyne.” That was something she was completely certain of and it was a statement that was less likely to get her into trouble. Montie did not doubt for one second that no man, including Ballantyne Teague, wanted a woman declaring love like this and she did not want him running away just yet. “I am happy to oblige.” Ballantyne lifted her into his arms, his hands under her ass as he carried her over to her bed. As he laid Montie down on the handmade quilt he smiled knowingly at her. “Where are they?” “What?” “Your stash.” Montie looked at him puzzled. She needed him inside her now, not asking confusing questions. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” Nor did Montie care as she wanted him in now. Ballantyne leaned down over her and looked her in the eyes. “Last night you said and I quote, ‘Fucking men—give me a good hard toy any day’.” Montie opened and closed her mouth in surprise. He not only listened to her but remembered that? Her faced flamed with embarrassment. Having a toy was not something she wanted to share with everyone as it made her look desperate and

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oversexed and while this might be true, it was a private thing. And yes, being inside her was also a private thing but there were different degrees of private you shared with people. “I was kidding.” “I don’t think so.” Ballantyne sat down on the bed beside her. His traced a circle around one of her nipples. “This is how I see it. You’re a sensuous woman who is starved for attention. How do you give yourself pleasure? You have toys.” “Um…” Oh crap this was awkward. Sex with an actual man was one thing but playing with yourself was another. So did she admit and show him or get all offended and storm out of the room missing out on what she knew would be excellent sex? Montie licked her lips in thought. Just how much of herself was she willing to give? “Chère, I don’t think any less of you for wanting pleasure.” “Oh God, this is so embarrassing.” She sighed deeply and averted her eyes from his. He already knew way too much about her. The less he saw in her vulnerable moments the better for her own survival. “Top left-hand corner of the bedside table.” “You are so cute when you blush,” Ballantyne murmured happily. He reached over and pulled out the drawer. “Never seen a purple one before.” He pressed one of the buttons. The purple vibrator started rotating. Ballantyne barked out a laugh. Another button made it pump. “Does it play music as well?” Montie started to get off the bed. This was more than enough for her. Although she knew he was teasing she had no idea how to react. Ballantyne was not like any other person she had ever met. Her composure was shot to hell around him. Ballantyne grabbed her arm and halted her progress. “Let’s have some fun.” He revved the vibrator up. “But I want the real thing.” His cock bounced eagerly in agreement. “You can have both.” Ballantyne smiled at her knowingly. “Turn over.”

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There were so many reasons why Montie should just walk away from this right now. But none of them were as compelling as being with this man. She licked her lips and looked at him thoughtfully. “Um, the condoms I have are pretty old.” Before Ballantyne she had rarely used them as Adam hadn’t touched her in months and no other man had appealed to her before Ballantyne. As horny as she was, Montie was not about to have sex without a condom. “What were you going to use with your less than ardent swain Adam?” “To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking very clearly.” Montie looked at him shyly. “I was too overcome with need.” Ballantyne kissed her lips softly. “I have some, chère. I’ll look after you.” He looked at her in puzzlement. “What now?” “Well, um, ass up is not exactly my best angle.” Yes, he had seen it all last night but in the cold, harsh light of day it was fatter and paler than it was in the dim evening light. Ballantyne rolled her over and patted her ass. “You have a great butt.” “I knew it. You’re on drugs, aren’t you?” There was no way her ass was “great” unless cellulite had suddenly become fashionable and she doubted that, as all the women’s magazines would be advertising it. Montie reluctantly allowed him to pull her to her knees. Ballantyne smacked her butt lightly. “Stop worrying about silly things, Montie.” Ballantyne left her for a moment and returned with a condom. He rolled it on over his penis and winked at her turned head. “Lubricated for our enjoyment. Now spread your legs.”

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“But I’m really wet.” Any wetter and it would be embarrassing. Montie did as she was told and watched as he picked up the vibrator. She felt his body slide in close behind hers. The heat of it was both comforting and exciting. As the head of the vibrator slipped inside her pussy Montie sighed in disappointment. “I want you, Tyne.” “Chère, you will have me, just be patient.” Ballantyne ramped up the power on the dildo and began thrusting it back and forth within her tight, wet channel. Montie moaned at the pumping action inside her. It wasn’t bad but she knew the real thing was better. She could feel Ballantyne part her ass cheeks and slide two fingers into her anus. “Oh,” she shrieked as she jumped forward at the contact. This was better. “Are you going to…” “Fuck you in the ass?” His fingers thrust in time with his other hand that manipulated the vibrator. “Do you want me to?” “Yes.” Lord, how she wanted to feel him inside her like that again. The thought of both cock and toy pulsating away at the same time, in such close confines, made her hot all over. “Please, do it now.” “Anything for you, chère.” As cock replaced fingers, Montie stiffened at the hard pressure that pushed through the tight puckered hole of her ass. It amazed and delighted her that such a large piece of flesh could fit into such a small opening. As he made it all the way inside, Montie pushed her ass back against Ballantyne needing every inch of him inside her. “Oh Tyne,” she whimpered as the friction increased. She wasn’t sure how he managed to keep vibrator and cock in motion at the same time but she did not care as long as he did. “‘Like this?” Ballantyne whispered into her ear, never once breaking the rhythm. “I love it,” Montie gasped as she gripped the quilt beneath her trying to hold onto her every hot, delicious moment. “I can tell you have done this before.”

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“Yeah but not with anyone who mattered as much as you do.” Ballantyne leaned in and kissed her shoulder. He was officially the sweetest man on the planet. His words were said with such sincerity that she wished they were true. But how could that be? Still it was nice to dream for a moment. As the orgasm started to grab at her, Montie panted trying to hold on to the delicious sensations racking her body. But it was impossible. The sensation was too fierce to prolong or deny. She screamed loudly as the orgasm overwhelmed her. Ballantyne chuckled in pure, masculine triumph. “Let’s hope the neighborhood watch didn’t hear that.” He gave a series of thrusts and came. “Oh chère, you are something else.” He gently removed the vibrator and his cock and turned her to face him. “I am going to keep knocking for more of this.” Ballantyne wrapped his hands arms around her body as his mouth descended on hers. Montie returned his hungry kiss eagerly. Her door would always be open to this man.

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Chapter Three Later that afternoon, Montie stood juicing up carrots and thinking about Ballantyne Teague. She recognized the truth. In the space of a couple of days she had gone and fallen wildly in love with a man she barely knew. It was not the smartest thing to have done but it had happened and she had to deal with it. Realistically she knew why she had latched onto him. It was classic psychology 101. She wanted love so the first man who looked at her with any interest was the one she would fall for. Add that to the fact the Adam did not want her and it was fait accompli. “You would probably fall in love with a head on a stick you’re so desperate,” she muttered to herself in annoyance. Undoubtedly falling in love with Ballantyne would end in tears for her but she would cross and burn that bridge when she got to it. At the moment she felt desired and sexually attractive and Ballantyne was sweet to her. That he was a law breaker bothered her less and less. Yep, fantastic sex is excellent for avoiding the real issues, Montie. She sighed lightly as she ground another carrot down in the juicer. What do I actually know about love? The last person who loved her unconditionally was her sister Kate. Adam loved her, but as a friend. She herself loved distantly but in an uncomplicated, non-involving way. She had never met anyone she felt anything deeply for until Ballantyne. But did that count? Was overwhelming lust, love? “I don’t bloody know.” Was thigh-tingling and heart-pounding a sign of love or the need to go to the doctor for a checkup? Suddenly three decisive knocks were delivered on the back door of the kitchen. Montie immediately jumped with excitement, spilling carrot juice everywhere. It was him.

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“Be calm,” she told herself as her heart started beating wildly at the thought of seeing Ballantyne again. She refrained from rushing to answer the door like a giddy schoolgirl awaiting her prom date. “It’s open,” she called out pleased that she sounded so in control. Ballantyne let himself and walked over to her. “You should keep your doors locked,” he instructed. “That sounds funny coming from a burglar.” “I know security.” “I bet you do.” She grabbed another carrot and shoved it tip down in the juicer, grinding it to pulp. Carry on like he is just like anyone else. “You like carrots, huh?” Ballantyne leaned against the bench top beside her. “Who wouldn’t? They’re long, hard and orange.” She picked one up and curled her hand around the length of it and stroked it gently. “And they’re such a nice shape.” She licked her lips proactively. Nice but not as nice as man who had stolen her heart. Ballantyne took the carrot from her hand. “I can get an orange condom.” His fingers linked with hers. “You’re assuming we’ll have sex again.” It felt so natural to hold his hand. “I know we will.” Her thighs started to sweat at his words. Sex with Ballantyne was a gift and a given. “Shouldn’t you be out robbing someone or watching out for the security patrol?” And yet here was Ballantyne walking around like didn’t have a care in the world. Montie supposed that was the way the best thieves worked—studied nonchalance. Be a part of the scenery but not of it.

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that was what Ballantyne wanted. He wanted her to fall in love with him. Sure the whole thing was rushed and unconventional. And yes he should tell her the truth about who he was, but he was enjoying himself and he did not want to stop just yet. “The neighborhood is pretty secure.” It was. He and his team had made it so. However he knew the real predator was out there somewhere looking for chinks in the armor. The people who he had stolen from now had new televisions, jewelry and electronic gadgets. They were ripe for the picking once more. Ballantyne had to make sure no one else got plucked. It annoyed him greatly that they had still not been able to locate the real burglar. But they would. “Well they do have a security guy making sure the street is protected.” “Have you seen him?” In some ways, Ballantyne was grateful then he and Montie had not met under his normal work circumstances. That they would have got together regardless was a given. But their wild, unconventional beginning was something they could smile about in years to come. “No but I expect he is some buff no-neck wonder who is anal about locks and stuff,” Montie replied with certainty. Ballantyne smiled at her words. Yeah he was picky about “locks and stuff” but he had a neck. As for “anal”, he had some definite ideas about that and they revolved around the lady before him. He drew her away from the juicer and into lounge room. “People can be deceptive. Look at you, chère. You’re all prissy on the outside but inside you are so hot, sexy and exciting. “And you’re a bad boy.” “And you like that.” He could see by the gleam in her eyes she did. “But there is more to me than that.” “Oh yeah? What?” Montie looked at him in skeptical amusement.

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“Let’s see. I like to read and I can cook.” Ballantyne’s real life was very sedate compared to his fictitious life as a thief. The only thing he had been missing was a woman to love. Now that he had found her, he had no plans to let her go. “Okay so that tells me you are smart and you know how to appeal to a woman. What else?” Ballantyne pulled her into his arms. One hand slid to her waist, the other enfolded hers. “I like to dance.” His body touched hers and he smiled at the small sigh of satisfaction that escaped her lips. He knew in his heart that this was his woman. No one had touched him as quickly and as deeply as this before. Ballantyne gently started swaying back and forth, his eyes locked with hers and his lips just an inch away. “Wise men say,” he hummed softly, as he spun her around the room. Oh God. If there was ever a moment she would swoon this was it. Her knees started to buckle, her heart was pounding and she had the overwhelming urge to cry. Fool that I am, I love him. Ballantyne’s eyes were so loving and sincere that for one moment she almost believed he was falling in love with her. Ah, the power of an Elvis song. Ballantyne crooned softly as he swung her gently around. Get a grip Montgomery French. “Do you seduce a lot of women this way, Tyne?” Because it worked. “I only sing to those I love and I’ve only ever sung to one woman.” That stopped Montie stopped in her tracks. She opened her eyes wide and looked at him. “Um…” What was he saying? What was she going to say? Montie could have sworn she knew stuff before Ballantyne came into her life and jumbled it up. “I am falling in love with you, chère.” “What?” Montie pulled back from him in shock. While part of her was—woo hoo he loves me. The other part was thinking—this is too fast to be real. “You cannot possibly love

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me.” It was different for her to love him because she knew what she was thinking. Did Ballantyne Teague really mean the sweet things that he said? Was she wanting to believe him because she loved him or was this all just sex to him? “Are you for real?” “Why not?” He pulled back against him and swayed softly. “Is this because we have just met?” “Well yeah,” Montie put her hands to his chest. “That and a hundred other reasons.” While in theory she knew time was irrelevant, in practice it was another thing. “I loved you on first sight. You took my breath away.” Montie wanted to believe him but there was something about this whole thing that did not ring true. Maybe it was because of his less than honest profession, maybe not. Maybe she was just scared of jumping into untested waters. Yep, that would be it. “I was half naked and writhing on Adam’s lap.” “I was panting for you.” Ballantyne’s hands ran up the sides of her body to her breasts. “You wanted sex.” “Yes but I mainly wanted to be with you.” His hands pulled at the buttons of her blouse. “I can have sex with anyone. I wanted to make love.” “You are either an incredibly good liar or very good at seduction.” Montie allowed him to remove her blouse and bra for to deny him access denied her pleasure. Ballantyne chuckled at her words as he tugged down the shorts and underwear she wore. “So my singing turns you on? What else can I do to please you, chère?” His hands caressed her breasts lovingly. Montie arched her body toward him. “Suck me.” She needed to feel his mouth on her body. “Yes, chère,” Ballantyne danced her back to the sofa.

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Montie fell backward, spread her legs and held her arms out to him. He willingly went into them, his mouth hovering near her breast. But it hovered only for a moment before he dropped his head down to her pussy and sucked down hard her clit. She jerked up at the unexpected contact. “Oh Tyne,” she gasped. This was the most wonderfully erotic thing anyone had ever done to her. He looked up momentarily and licked his lips. “Do you like that?” “Yes,” she murmured as she clutched his head. “I always wondered what it would feel like.” Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined this. It was intimate yet wildly exciting. Ballantyne shook his head in a mixture of bewilderment and disgust. “The men who made love to you in the past were pathetic.” “They were okay,” she panted as he started dragging his tongue back and forward from her clit to anus. “However you are fantastic.” She bit her lip and dug her fingers into the fabric of the sofa to contain the scream she knew was imminent. “I know,” Ballantyne answered with a pleased grin. “But then you taste so good. I don’t want to stop.” He slid his tongue inside her vagina. He thrust in and out of her while his fingers slid between the folds to massage her clit. Montie screamed with delight as the wave of intense bliss raced through her body setting every nerve on fire. She almost choked as she tried to catch her breath. ”So that was a happy scream?” He looked at the woman who was spread out lazily before him. “Let’s see if we can make you scream again. Before Ballantyne Teague she would have said no, but anything seemed possible with this man. His mouth left her pussy and traveled down to her inner thighs placing sucking kisses on the soft, smooth flesh. Any embarrassment she may have felt at such intimate actions no longer existed. Ballantyne could do anything to her and she would

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love it and him. His tongue slid down her legs to her feet and then he licked his way back up, stopping only to suck her clit once more. “You’re killing me,” Montie panted at his actions. He did not respond, so intent was he on his job. As he made his way up her body Montie ached for him to slide inside her once more. “I can’t hold on,” she whimpered as Ballantyne’s mouth tugged on her nipple. “I mean it Tyne.” She pulled his head up, her nipple bouncing wetly from his mouth. “Condom now.” Ballantyne rifled through his pocket and pulled out a several condoms. “Pick a color.” “I am serious. I am going to come with or without you.” With would be so much better. “No you won’t, chère, because you need me inside you.” Ballantyne quickly threw all but one condom to the ground. “I think neon blue.” “I don’t care if it’s pink with purple spots. Get inside me now.” Montie lay back and looked at him through slitted eyes. She needed action not color coordination. Ballantyne threw back his head and laughed. “You like me—admit it,” he murmured in pure male satisfaction as he quickly unzipped his trousers and sheathed his cock in bright blue latex. “Yes, I like you. Now get inside me now before I explode.” “Yes, chère.” Ballantyne pulled her legs over his shoulders and impaled her in one stroke. “Yes!” That was what she needed. The heat and the fullness that was Ballantyne. She stiffened suddenly when she heard a familiar sound. “Fuck.” “That’s what I am doing.” Ballantyne pumped hard in and out of her body.

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“I think I heard Adam’s car.” Montie clutched at Ballantyne’s shoulders in alarm. They had maybe two minutes alone as Adam always stopped and walked down to the mailbox to retrieve the mail. “I am sure he has seen people having sex before.” “Hurry up. I don’t want him to see me like this.” Sure they were no longer a couple and he had seen her naked but there were just some things an ex-boyfriend did not need to know. “I have a feeling it’s not going to bother him.” Ballantyne quickened his pace. “He’s not gay.” She gritted her teeth as she tried to swallow the orgasm she felt ripping through her. “You’re in denial, chère. However I am inside you and I bow to your wishes.” Ballantyne’s mouth descended on hers as the orgasm caught at them both and pulled them over the edge. “Okay out,” Montie ordered breathlessly as she pushed at his shoulders. “Get in, get out. You are so romantic.” He slid from her body and watched as she frantically threw on her blouse and shorts. “Hide.” She could hear Adam’s keys in the door. “Like a surprise party?” Ballantyne murmured in amusement. “Do it now.” Montie pushed him behind the sofa. “Oh crap.” She saw her underwear and the extra condoms on the floor. She kicked them under the sofa. “Hi,” Montie greeted Adam as he walked into the lounge room. She prayed he could not see Ballantyne. Yes, she was an adult and she could do what she wanted but she did not want to be flinging her lover in Adam’s face so soon. “Hello.” Adam looked at her curiously. “Are you okay? You look kind of flushed.” “I’m fine.” She had just been thrilled, excited and fucked and she loved every minute of it. “We need to talk.” It was better to get everything out in the open. Maybe

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he was gay, maybe not. It was irrelevant. She needed to bring to an end what happened the other tonight as it remained an awkward barrier between them. “I’m bushed,” Adam responded. “Can we do it tomorrow?” “Sure.” His avoidance was making her wonder if what Ballantyne said was correct. Montie could almost hear Ballantyne’s thoughts as he listened in.

***** Grenfell Spragg lurked outside the window and watched the three people. The woman left the room with the blond guy. She looked confused. The other man behind the sofa stood and causally brushed down his clothes and headed in the opposite direction from the couple. Of course he knew who the dark-haired man was. He was the smart-assed security guy who was making his life difficult with all the extra measures that had been taken by the householders in the street. It was virtually impossible to break in anywhere. But he would keep trying as he knew a lot of good stuff had been purchased with the insurance money from the goods he had stolen. He knew someone would slip up with their precautions and then he would get in and out with whatever loot he could. The other reason he was sticking close to Parmenter Road was the woman. He licked his lips as he thought about Montgomery French. That was her name. He’d read it on the mail in her mailbox. He’d wanted to fuck this woman before but more so after watching her and the security guy making out on the sofa. She was everything he desired in a woman. Buxom and willing. That she enjoyed sex was evident by the look in her eyes as she willingly allowed the dark-haired man to throw her legs up over his shoulders and fuck her wild and fast. His own cock had been on fire as he stood in the bushes. He had come close to jacking off as he imaged sliding into her and making her beg to come. He would have her soon. The bonus would be teaching the security guy a fucking lesson—that he could not keep his woman safe.

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Chapter Four “I waited until they left,” Ballantyne said as Montie answered his three determined knocks and let him inside her house the next day after work. “Adam and David have gone to play racquetball.” Every Wednesday afternoon, the two went off and did not return until late. “It’s boys only thing.” Which suited her as Montie was not the slightest bit athletic. She saw the smug look in Ballantyne’s eyes. “And no, playing racquetball with a friend doesn’t mean he’s gay.” Though ever since Ballantyne had brought it up, she had started to think about Adam’s relationship with David. He had been hanging around ever since they had moved in together. Montie liked David. He was unfailingly polite to her. But it did not mean he was gay. “You look nice.” Ballantyne’s eyes lingered on the thin batik material of the sarong that left her shoulders uncovered. It was a hot, humid Brisbane afternoon. Montie had taken a quick, cool shower after she came home from work. Dressing in a loose sarong was not unusual for her. Adam barely looked at her body. But with Ballantyne it was a completely different thing. She felt naked under his hungry gaze. “Anyway what do are you doing here?” She knew the answer of course. Her pussy moistened instantly at the thought of him. The man in question smiled such a knowing, sexy smile then Montie gulped in response. What was not to love? “I need to see, taste and touch you again.” “There’s more to me than just sex.” In the last forty-eight she’d had more sex than she had in months and her lover knew nothing about her but the sexual needs of her body. “I know that,” Ballantyne responded as he moved to stand before her. “Show me what else you like to do. I want to know everything about you.” 48

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“Everything” bespoke a permanence that both thrilled and alarmed her. Yes, she was falling in love with Ballantyne but just how much of herself did she give away when she was unsure where she stood with him? “I just do stuff.” Hardly anything that would excite a thief. Actually it would most likely bore the socks off other people. “Like what? Or is it something embarrassing?” He grinned at her suggestively. “No but it would be mundane to someone like you.” “Tell me.” Ballantyne’s hands moved to rest on her hips. “I’m interested in you.” “Okay, I like to do quilting.” Montie saw his eyebrows arch in surprise. “I told you. It’s boring.” “No, it’s sweet and old-fashioned just like you.” “I’m neither,” Montie scoffed. “Sweet, old-fashioned girls do not jump burglars.” “That’s irrelevant and you know it. It’s all to do with feeling and need between us, chère.” I so want to believe you. Despite the circumstances, she needed to know that she was not falling in love with a man who wanted nothing but the superficial from her. But then, what exactly did he want from her if it was not sex? Did Ballantyne really love her? Most confusing. “You could charm the birds out of the trees.” “I know.” Ballantyne grinned a cocky grin of satisfaction. “So show me this quilting.” “I don’t think so.” It was a peaceful hobby. Ballantyne was the complete opposite. “I want to learn about you, chère.” Ballantyne looked so sincere. Montie decided, for the moment, to accept the sincerity on offer. Besides, she had planned to do some of her hobby once Adam left for his game as she knew he would be gone for hours. It was nice being in the house all alone and concentrating on nothing but her own thoughts. Not that Adam dominated 49

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her life. He was more like a polite friend she passed by every so often. She wondered once more why she had moved in with him. Montie sighed. “What are you thinking about?” She had willingly let Ballantyne into her body. He already had a hold on her heart. Did she let him into her mind as well? Steady girl. “Nothing,” Montie replied as she looked him up and down. My oh my, Mr. Teague is a prime piece of real estate. “Haven’t you got a house to rob or something?” “Everything can wait. You’re way more important, chère.” Montie gulped at his genuine response. She hadn’t felt important to anyone in the longest time. “Seriously?” Was this just a line to get into her pants or did he mean it? Please mean it. “I would not lie to you, Montie.” “Okay.” She blew out a soft sigh and drew away from him. “Follow me.” She went to what she called her work area but in essence was the third bedroom that was full of assorted junk, the treadmill and a bench full of cotton and fabric swatches. Montie passed by the pool table and smiled softly as she remembered her first encounter with Ballantyne. He gave a cocky grin that acknowledged he was thinking the same thing. She picked up her silver rimmed spectacles and put them on. “Oh chère.” Ballantyne growled low and deep as he moved quickly to where she stood. “What?” Montie looked at him inquiringly. Her hobby wasn’t the sort of thing you rushed over to watch. “I always wanted to make love to a woman wearing glasses.” Ballantyne made a grab for her. Montie put her hand out to stop him.

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“Oh please, everything turns you on, Tyne.” Even as she said the words she could feel her pussy moisten with excitement. “I am but a simple man.” He held his empty hands out and looked at her meekly. “An oversexed one.” “You like it.” Well duh. “Anyway, it’s hobby time.” Montie knew she had to get with the program or she would be naked and filled in no time. “My hobby is making love to you.” His smile was so sexy that she almost gave in then and there. But that was not the point. He was here to see that she was more than just a body. So remember that, Montgomery. “I thought you were interested in me as a person?” “I am, chère.” “Well you’re not taking this seriously.” Her voice reminded herself of her fifth grade school teacher Mrs. Sloane when she had been annoyed at Montie’s disinterest in learning to play the recorder. Despite Mrs. Sloane’s insistence that she would regret not learning to play a plastic tube with holes in it, Montie had gotten by just fine in life without that skill. Who knew? “Yes, you are right.” Ballantyne picked up some swatches of fabric and ran them lightly through his fingers. “So what do you make?” How could he make touching fabric appear so sensuous? “Um, mainly bed quilts.” She remembered vividly how those fingers felt on her skin. Settle petal. “Beds are good, chère.” Says the man with the sleepy bedroom eyes. “You have a one-track mind.” 51

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“And yet it works for me.” He sat down on the rocking chair. “Come sit a spell and talk to me.” Ballantyne patted his lap in invitation. “Just talk? Montie did not believe that for a second. If she got on that lap she may not get off again without screaming. “My word of honor.” He crossed his heart and did his best to look angelic. “Tyne, you steal things for a living.” And why wasn’t she more upset about that? Montie believed in the law. People should not steal. Yet here she was knowingly hanging out with a thief. Your brain is addled by sex, woman. “But I am honorable.” Ballantyne grinned at her confusion. “Come on. What are you frightened of?” He motioned Montie toward him. Mainly that I have no underwear on under my sarong and it would be so easy to slide on down over that nice hard surprise package in your trousers. “Chicken,” Ballantyne taunted mockingly. Montie put her hands on her hips and looked at him in stern amusement. “What are you six years old?” “Humor me, chère. Nothing has to happen unless you want it to.” And that was the problem. Montie wanted too much. One glance at his sexy, chocolate brown eyes and she knew was in trouble. But then she also needed to prove to them both that while the sex was excellent they were capable of being together without being naked. Yeah, good luck with that. Montie moved over to him and sat down primly sideways on his lap. “Spoilsport.” He chuckled as his hands came to rest lightly at her waist. “Is this because you have no underwear on and you’re afraid of what may come up?” His leer was overly theatrical. Montie crossed her arms. Her breasts were awfully close to his face. There was no point giving him any further ideas. She could clearly feel under her ass that his cock was primed and loaded for action.

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“So tell me about your job, chère.” “Office administration.” That was a safe yet exceedingly boring subject. “Do you like it?” Ballantyne’s hand slid down to her thigh. “I hate it.” Where was he going with that hand? “Why do you do it?” “It keeps me off the streets,” she quipped cynically. How did you explain to a burglar the sheer boredom and crap of a nine-to-five job? Maybe other people loved their job but she didn’t. She turned up because she got paid. Although she had known him for such a short time, Montie knew Ballantyne was a man who lived for excitement.

“It’s a shame to do something you hate, chère.” Ballantyne’s hand found the split in her sarong and he slid his fingers into the gap to feel the soft, warm flesh beneath. He genuinely wanted to spend hours talking to Montie for she intrigued him. There was so much she did not say that he wanted her to. However this conflicted with the overwhelming desire he felt for her. He knew he had to balance the two carefully or he would risk losing her. The problem was the minute he saw Montie, Ballantyne was so hungry for her that his cock was permanently hard and his mind did not always stay on course. He was a man, he knew he was flawed that way. But he wanted her. He needed her. Ballantyne knew he had to tell Montie the truth about who he was. But not just yet. They were both having too much fun at the moment. Would Montie be pissed when she knew the truth? Oh hell yeah. She was a woman after all—his woman. Ballantyne was aiming to keep it that way. “I thought you wanted to get to know me?” Montie placed her hand on his to stop any further advancement up her leg.

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“I can’t keep my hands off you forever.” Ballantyne felt like he was on a honeymoon of discovery. He wanted to taste, touch and feel and he doubted he would ever satisfy his need for her. Montie arched her brow cynically. “So basically, Tyne you’re saying you can’t keep control.” She tut-tutted in mock disappointment. “I would have thought a strong self-sufficient man like you would have had more power over his rampant sexual needs.” Montie smiled at him, a wellpleased-with-herself look on her face. “My rampant sexual needs?” Ballantyne chuckled in amusement. This woman interested him in every way. Her words were stern but sexy. He knew he was not the only one turned on by what was happening between them. Ballantyne could see the jutting outline of her nipples under the thin fabric and he knew if he touched her pussy she would be drenched with anticipation. “Don’t try to mind game me, chère.” “I’m not. I’m just disappointed that’s all.” Montie looked at him blandly as she primly pulled his hand from her leg. “I expected more from you.” Ballantyne leaned back and smiled at her schoolmarmish voice. The glasses were a definite turn-on, especially the way she kept pushing them back up onto the bridge of her nose. “So you are trying to teach me a lesson by making me think I cannot walk away from you without sexually satisfying myself.” It was a cute lesson. “If that’s how you want to see it.” Ballantyne stood up, gently tumbling Montie from his lap. She fell onto her ass, her sarong splitting open to reveal her body. He groaned inwardly and refrained from dropping to his knees and taking advantage of the treats on display. Ballantyne knew it was going to take the strength of ten men to do what he was about to do. “So neither of us is going to have sex to teach me a lesson?” His eyes locked on the glistening moisture that clung to the curls between her legs. “I can do that.”

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Well bugger. That’s not what I want. Montie realized she sucked at playing hard to get when she wanted to be gotten. She expected Ballantyne to make some effort to override her but he didn’t. He just went along with her words. “Um that’s good.” It wasn’t. She needed him now. Montie rested back on her elbows, her breasts bare and thrusting out. She widened her legs to entice him on in. Montie could see by the sweat on his brow he was tempted. Instead he laughed. “Oh chère, as much as I would like slide on in there, I will play your game and leave us both frustrated.” Damn. “I won’t be,” Montie murmured, arching her back and licking her lips. Come on Tyne, you know you want to. “I can get by without sex.” This was a complete and utter lie and they both new it. They had met because of her need for sex. “Liar. You want me badly.” Ballantyne smiled at her in delight. “Anyway, I have got to go and check out what’s on offer next door.” “What?” The woman next door, Glenda, was a forty-two-year-old divorcée who would ride anything with a cock. This was not a good idea getting him all hot and bothered and then sending Ballantyne off to the Glenda welcome wagon. “So you’re going to steal stuff?” Montie knew she should be ashamed at herself for praying he would steal Glenda’s stuff and not fuck the divorcée but damn it Ballantyne was her toy and she did not share. “Jealous? Do you think you’re the only woman I can have sex with?” His eyes locked with hers as if awaiting her answer with interest. Hell yes. “No.” Montie had her pride, even if she was spread out like a banquet begging to be eaten.

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“That goes both ways, chère. No one touches you but me.” Ballantyne’s voice was hotly possessive. “Anyway, a burglar always has to assess his options. I have seen what’s on offer here and although I would fuck you in a heartbeat, I will play your game for now.” “You’ve taken nothing here.” Montie would have noticed if the few valuable things she owned had been taken but nothing had. “Haven’t I, chère?” He smiled at her. “Some things aren’t so obvious. I’ll be back later. You know what to listen for.” Three simple knocks. And Montie would be waiting because she loved him.

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Chapter Five Excellent sex always made Montie hungry and not having sex when she really wanted it made her ravenous. “Dummy. The man was there ready, willing and able and you had to go and teach him a lesson. What a dimwit you are,” she muttered in frustration to herself. She had just had another quick shower to cool her burning hormones down and was now heading to the kitchen pantry and her stash of Tim Tams. She needed to replenish all the calories she had burnt up in the last couple of days making love with Ballantyne Teague. She smiled softly to herself. Making love with Tyne. Yeah, that’s what it was. Montie wanted to believe him when he said he loved her but something was niggling at back of her mind and holding her back. If she was realistic it was not just the fact that they had only just met. It was something else that did not ring true to her spider-sense. That he was a good guy she did not doubt. A woman could always tell. But was he a burglar? If so he didn’t seem as committed to the whole stealing thing as she imagined a burglar would be. While it was nice that he wanted to spend time with her, she wondered how that cut into his profits. He had to focus to be successful and— Montie laughed suddenly and shook her head. She wanted her man to show more potential at his chosen field of thievery. Crazy. The kitchen pantry of 59 Parmenter Road was one you could walk into and sit a spell and munch on chocolate cookies if you wanted to. The house was built at the turn of the twentieth century when people took the time to build with care and thought. Montie sat down on a stool and assessed her Tim Tam stash. Double choc coated or chewy caramel? What was she in the mood for? “Bugger it, I’ll have both. I deserve it.” She ripped open the first pack and bit into the first biscuit. The smooth taste of chocolate on her lips was almost as good as a 57

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lover’s kiss. “Mmm…this is my happy place.” She sighed in contentment as she chewed. As she reached for another cookie, she heard a noise in the kitchen. It sounded like Adam. He was back earlier than she expected. “Montie’s not home, I checked,” Adam said. Montie stiffened suddenly at his words. Why would Adam need to check on her and who was he talking to? “I like Montie. She’s sweet.” It was David. He was a nice guy too. She often wondered why no woman had snapped him up long ago as he was so handsome, polite and sincere. Montie had been contemplating taking a crack at David if Adam held out from her much longer. But now she had Ballantyne she needed no one but him. She snorted softly. “I’ll be writing Montie Teague over and over on a piece of paper next.” Montie sighed. Time to deal with Adam. They had been awkward toward each other since the lap dancing thing. It was not like it was something you could forget easily. I had this plan to fall repeatedly up and down on your cock but you weren’t interested, so no big deal, please pass the salt. “I have to tell her the truth.” Adam’s voice sounded strained. Montie’s eyes snapped open in surprise. Ooh, tell me what? Any thoughts of leaving the pantry disappeared. Sure, eavesdroppers heard no good of themselves but at least they heard juicy stuff. Montie took another bite of her Tim Tam and jumped up from where she sat, Tim Tam pack in hand to sneak a peek out the pantry door. David and Adam stood side by side. Neither could see her. “Yes, you do,” David touched his shoulder gently. “You can’t let it go on like this.” “What?” Montie mumbled questioningly, her mouth full of cookie. “You know maybe, this is wrong between us.” Adam shrugged away from David in frustration. “Maybe we should stop this now before we go any further.”

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David grabbed Adam by the shoulders and slammed him up against the wall. He held Adam’s hands above his head and kissed him hard and savagely. Montie almost choked on her Tim Tam. Holy snapping ducks! Ballantyne was right. She stood agog as she watched the man she thought she knew be overwhelmed by the hungry kisses of another man. And she had contemplated trying to seduce David. Boy, did she ever have it wrong. “We have been through this before. How can we possibly stop this?” David asked as his hands slid down to rest on Adam’s chest. “I love you and I need you. Don’t say you don’t feel the same way because we both know that’s a lie.” Montie was gobsmacked. Ballantyne Teague, a stranger, had seen in a minute what she had been blind to. She knew she needed to make her presence known as it was the right thing to do in this circumstance, but she was unable to move. She watched as Adam pushed David from him and back against the refrigerator. Fridge magnets hit the floor on the impact. Her Betty Boop magnet was decapitated. Bugger. “I feel it.” Adam ground his body against David’s. “But I need time.” His hands slid down to the other man’s lean hips. “I love Montie and I don’t want to hurt her.” “You have to be true to yourself, Adam.” David touched his face lovingly. Of course he bloody did. Montie was mortified over what she put him through the other night. Unwanted sex was wrong. She felt ashamed of herself. She had let her own needs overwhelm her good sense. It did not matter that she did not know, she still shouldn’t have done it. God, how awful it must have been for him. Montie watched as Adam’s hand rubbed against the obvious bulge in David’s sweat pants. She knew she should shut the door and sit quietly in the pantry to give them some privacy but she was fascinated by the two hot alpha males making out in the kitchen. There was something so raw and earthy about them that made her want to watch. Her eyes snapped open when Adam exposed David’s cock. Holy crap! It was huge. There was no way she could ever compete with that even if she wanted to. The greedy look in Adam’s eyes mesmerized her. That was the way you wanted a lover to 59

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look at you. Like you were a feast and they did not care about counting calories as they wanted to gorge themselves on you. Montie picked up a nearby pack of bin liners to fan herself. Was it hot in here or what? Adam ran his hand down the long length of David’s cock as if testing the strength and assessing its limits. Montie kept telling herself that voyeurism was bad. But, on the other hand, new experiences were good. She could justify anything if she really wanted to. “How badly do you want me?” Adam growled low and husky as his other hand fondled David’s tight balls. “I can barely breathe for wanting you.” David responded as his mouth sought Adam’s. “Oh wow,” Montie whispered as she dropped the bin liners and reached for another cookie, her eyes glued on the two men. She felt hot and wet and so incredibly turned on by the passion of the moment. Adam pulled David into his arms and the two men kissed and fondled each other in a quiet desperation. Montie felt a strange sense of sadness wash over her. To be so desperately in love and to hide it was wrong. She thought about Ballantyne. That was different. Hiding her love for him was purely for her own survival. “I need you inside me now,” David breathed out against Adam’s mouth. “Oh boy,” Montie took another bite and chewed furiously. It was like watching a great movie. She was riveted. Adam turned David around to face the kitchen bench. He pulled off his t-shirt and stroked his back lovingly. Montie sighed. He had never touched her like that. Now she understood why. Then his hands moved lower to David’s ass. Great butt—all taut muscle and… Montie gulped as Adam pushed those muscled ass cheeks apart. Okay, she knew what was coming next. She did not have to watch them make love.

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“Whoa!” Montie whistled softly through her teeth as she saw the size of Adam’s erection. She had almost forgotten what he looked like naked and for the life of her she could not remember him looking that large. But then, she had clearly never turned him on like David did. The man in question bent forward and spread himself wide to receive his lover. She watched as Adam reached over for the expensive bottle of extra virgin olive oil. A sudden thought struck Montie. “Oh he wouldn’t…that cost us thirtyseven dollars.” Montie wasn’t against anyone having sex but there was a cheaper brand of oil in the cupboard. Adam was always telling her to use the better olive oil for special occasions. Clearly this was one. Adam flicked off the top of the oil and poured some into his cupped hand. He spread the oil liberally over his erection. “Oh I can’t watch,” she muttered, her eyes riveted on the two men. Adam kissed David’s shoulders and prodded between the cheeks of his ass with his cock. As he plunged hard inside, David howled with a cry of almost primal relief and joy. “Well fuck.” Montie was agog. Adam thrust hard and deep. His movements were both savage and aggressive yet wildly arousing and hot. Adam’s face was strained with a mixture of pleasure and intense need for fulfillment. His hands reached around and pulled back and forward on David’s cock. The two men’s hips bucked frantically together as they searched for completion, oblivious to anything else. As they came, Adam clutched David to him possessively and David groaned out loud. Montie shut the door and sat back down. She wiped the thin layer of sweat from her brow. Now she understood. She needed to see it to believe it. There was a raw, fierce beauty in what she had just witnessed. Montie could not allow Adam to hide what he felt. It was wrong.

***** “I turned a man gay.” Montie blurted out the next afternoon when she saw Ballantyne. She had been thinking about what she saw all day at work. It was a relief to hear Ballantyne knock on the door. She needed to talk about what she feeling with someone who understood her. She stiffened at that thought. Ballantyne Teague 61

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understood her. Montie felt a strange sense of relief rush through her. Someone finally “got” her. Ballantyne listened quietly to her words. “Chère, you can’t turn someone gay. They just are.” Realistically Montie knew this but realism did not always play a large part in life when feelings were involved. “I feel so stupid.” She rubbed her hands over her face in frustration at herself. “Hey, I need to see your beautiful face, chère,” Ballantyne said as he pulled her hands down and held them within his own. “Why do you feel stupid?” “I should have known. How horrible would it have been for him when I rubbed myself all over him and demanded sex? I acted like some sex-starved harpy. I’m so embarrassed.” How was she ever going to face Adam again? “Well, technically you were sex starved but you were never a harpy.” Ballantyne grinned at her words. “Personally I love it when you rub yourself all over me, chère.” Montie slapped his chest lightly. “You know what I mean. I was so in his face demanding sex. I was pathetic.” “Chère, this has nothing to do with what you did or did not do. The man loves another man. There is nothing wrong with that and no, before you ask, there’s nothing wrong with you.” Ballantyne curled his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to his body. “I don’t know, I just feel so—inadequate as a woman.” It was crazy but true. Ballantyne smacked her on the ass. “No fucking way!” he told her adamantly. “He loves David. You could have known the Karma Sutra backward and it would have made no difference to Adam.” “I guess so.” This man sure knew how to make her feel good. He was a keeper. That was, if she was looking for one and she wasn’t, but she needed a template to work from. Keeping Ballantyne Teague forever? Get a grip. 62

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“I know so.” Ballantyne leaned in and kissed her lips softly. “Would I lie to you?” “Are you really a burglar?” Was this sweet, romantic man someone who stole for a living? Her heart said no. “I am what I am, chère.” Ballantyne kissed her nose playfully. “Does it make a difference to you?” “No, it doesn’t matter.” Because I have already lost my heart to you. “You know I want Adam to be happy.” There was no way he could be until he allowed himself to admit the truth to her and himself. She was a little surprised and hurt that Adam had not felt he could turn to her. It was not like Montie was a moralistic prude. People could do what they liked as long as they hurt no one else. Keeping this secret was only hurting Adam. “I know.” He looked at her with interest. “So, you were in the pantry watching them make out.” “I couldn’t leave, they would have seen me.” When Ballantyne smiled into her eyes like that she knew she was in trouble. “But you could have said something before it started to heat up between them.” Montie looked at Ballantyne wondering how she could justify her actions. Not that she had to and it annoyed her that he was putting her in the spot that she did. Damn him for knowing how to paint her into a corner. “I did not want to embarrass them.” Now shut up and leave it alone. “Were you turned on by what you saw?” “Um,” she hesitated. How did she say she was without sounding like she was oversexed, which she was beginning to think she was. She only had to look at Ballantyne and her pussy tightened instantly. “Um?” Ballantyne repeated with a grin. “I love it when you ‘um’ and blush.” Montie was a grown-up. It was just sex. So she watched and enjoyed it. It was just so hard to be sexually sophisticated when you blushed like a schoolgirl.

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“Yes, I was turned on.” She looked at Ballantyne for his reaction. Turned on was one thing, wanting to have sex with two men was another. She was only interested in sex with one particular man. Ballantyne looked neither surprised or alarmed. “There is nothing wrong with that, chère. Sex is exciting.” With him it certainly was. “Would you find watching two men making love exciting?” Even as she said the words, Montie knew the answer. The man was a realist but he was a women’s man and thank God for it. “No but I understand the feeling and needs behind it. It’s the raw hunger and the driving passion that make it exciting.” “You’re a romantic,” Montie murmured as she touched his face gently. The scrape of stubble against her fingertips made her wet between the legs. The simplest things could also turn her on. “I am romantic because you make me so,” Ballantyne told her as he kissed her cheek tenderly. “I love you, chère.” I love you too. The words were so easy to say in her mind. They sounded perfect and natural there. It was getting them onto her lips that was the problem. “Um, I need to get out of the house for a while.” A definite change of subject was needed. Yes, she loved Ballantyne and there was every likelihood at some time she would say it but now was not necessarily that time. “So I take it we’re avoiding the love thing for the moment?” Ballantyne chuckled at her obvious change of direction as if he sensed she was scared if what she felt. “Okay, for the moment I can cut you some slack, chère.” Ten minutes later they were out of the house and walking around the neighborhood. Ballantyne’s hand held hers, the night breeze was light and balmy and

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everything at that moment was right in Montgomery French’s little world. It was almost too perfect and perfection worried Montie. “Why are people are nodding to you?” Although it was a pleasant neighborhood it fascinated Montie how easily Ballantyne charmed the locals. Would these people be so neighborly if they knew he had stolen their stuff? And where was the whizbang security team? She recalled seeing a black van with a company logo on it once. Clearly they were not doing their job if a burglar could wander around like a local. Of course she did not want Ballantyne caught but it made her wonder. “I find it odd that they treat you almost like a friend.” Some of their faces Montie could not even put a name to. “I’m a likeable guy, chère.” Ballantyne bumped his hip into hers teasingly. “For a burglar.” When he curled his arm around her shoulders it was only natural for her to slide her arm around his waist. “Is this how you work, Tyne? Get under people’s guards then find a way in?” “It worked with you, chère.” Ballantyne looked at her knowingly. “Yeah it did,” she admitted. “But who are you really?” There had to be so much more to this man than she knew. She wanted to know everything. “I am the man who loves you.” Montie did an unladylike snort at his words. “Stop being so sweet and give me the dirt on who Ballantyne Teague really is.” He threw back his head and laughed with delight. “Okay, what do you need to know?” “Everything.” She was a nosy woman. It was her job to know all. “What about your family?” “Two brothers and seven nieces—you?” “No one left standing.” For a horrible moment Montie thought she would cry and she hadn’t done that in a very long time. Toughen up.

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“Oh chère,” Ballantyne stopped and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry.” He kissed her lips warmly. “What happened?” The words, which normally stuck in her throat when she discussed her family, came up freely as he cradled her gently to his side. She talked of her parents’ deaths so long ago and the shock of her sister Kate dying from cancer so young. Every thought, feeling and emotion spilled out of her. To her horror, Montie started to cry. She tried to pull away from Ballantyne to collect herself. She normally never let anyone see her like this. She wanted no pity. Ballantyne was not letting her go. Instead he tenderly wiped the tears from her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. “Hey you, never pull away from me.” He held her chin in his hand, his eyes filled with understanding. “Don’t be scared to say what you feel—not with me.” “Are you real?” She touched his face as if to make sure. “You are so kind to me.” It made Montie feel warm, safe and loved. Did it really matter who this man was or what he did? “You make it easy for me to be so.” They stood silently for a moment, each enjoying what they had found in the other. Montie sniffled and tried to compose herself. Spontaneous heartfelt emotion was one thing, prolonging it was another. Life went on and so did she. “So I know you sing and you like to dance.” Montie looked at the man before her. Ballantyne was intriguing. He was a mix of tough guy, bad boy and sensitive soul. He was everything a woman could want in a man. I want him—every single part of him. “And I also play the piano, cook and do my own laundry,” Ballantyne added, rattling off a list of domestic achievements as if selling himself to her. She was sold on him though the cooking thing was a nice bonus as she preferred to cook only when no other option was available. Normally Adam cooked the most wonderful meals. How did I not see he was gay?

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“You, Ballantyne Teague, are almost the perfect man.” Montie leaned back and looked at him quizzically. “You’re not gay are you?” If he suddenly confessed he was she was going to swear off sex for life as no other man would do. Ballantyne pulled her hips in close to his. “What do you think, chère?” The tightly contained cock against her groin indicated which team he wanted to play on. Hers. He was the cocaptain. Normally Montie wasn’t a team player but for Tyne she would gladly don whatever colors he wore to be with him. “You want sex now?” It was a dumb question but she felt obliged to ask. Montie had never had a man want her this badly before. It was as amazing as it was exciting. “Chère, I would want sex with you if every body part but my cock, was in plaster.” Montie giggled at his words as Ballantyne pulled at her hand. “You are so sweet and to the point.” In fact the point of him was insistently pushing into her. Subtly was overrated. Montie preferred it straight, hard and direct. “I need to be inside you why should I pretend otherwise?” Montie liked a man who said what he wanted without preamble. It reminded her of their first night together on the pool table. Ballantyne was right. She would always remember the first time they made love and not just because it was the pool table. It was the man who made it special. “Where?” “I know a place not far from here.” “Is it outside?” Could she do sex alfresco? “Um, I’m not one for exposing myself in public.” It had been hard enough exposing herself before Ballantyne—not that he gave her the chance to do otherwise.

“No one will see us,” Ballantyne assured her. “Come with me and I will make you come.” He smiled at Montie’s nervous yet excited giggle. She fascinated him. One 67

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moment she was the tough-talking woman who was throwing attitude in his face and the next she was crying softly in his arms reaching out to him for support. I love her so much it hurts. He knew the neighborhood well, though not well enough to catch the blasted burglar he knew still lurked awaiting his chance. Ballantyne looked down at the woman who followed him so trustingly. He knew he needed to tell her the truth about himself soon. The problem was he was unsure how Montie was going to take it. She was no fool and despite her efforts to hide it, he knew she could be hurt easily. Ballantyne knew it would come as a shock to her and that after the telling he would need to convince her quickly using the reasons behind what he did. Not that they were great reasons but he did it all for her—to give her the excitement she craved. Ballantyne bit his lip lightly. Oh yeah, I can see Montie taking that explanation really well. “Are you leading me literally up the garden path, Mr. Teague?” Montie asked as they passed by the thick bushes of the nature reserve that was behind the houses where she lived. As yet, no one had developed the land for housing. If the locals had their way, no one ever would. Montie had to agree. There was so little untouched land left in Brisbane. They needed to preserve what greenbelt they had. “Chère, I would never do anything to hurt you.” Ballantyne stopped and pulled her into his arms. He needed this woman in his life on a permanent basis. He did not want Montie thinking he was not serious about her. He was. He wanted the whole deal— marriage, the white picket fence, even kids eventually. “I’m joking. I know you would never hurt me, Tyne.” Just hearing her say that meant the world to him. “I love you, Montie.” As his lips met hers he heard her sigh of pleasure. Montie loved him. Ballantyne knew it and he could wait for the words. He wanted to spend the rest of his life kissing this woman. In the past he had never thought of himself as a forever kind of guy. Ballantyne adored women but no particular one had ever stood out to him. Until Montgomery French. One look at her and he was hooked for life.

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“You sure know how to kiss a woman, Mr. Teague.” “I know how to do lots of stuff with a woman.” He picked her up in his arms and carried her close to his heart. He smiled as she flailed around in surprise. “Um, I weigh a ton,” Montie sputtered out in shock as she clutched at his shoulders to steady herself. “Chère, you are but a feather.” “Oh my God, you’re drunk.” “With love,” Ballantyne retorted with a grin. “Just enjoy the ride and let me show you something special.” “I bet you say that to all the girls.” Montie looked around her. “You know this is the nature reserve. There’s nothing special here other than grass and trees.” “Be quiet oh skeptical one.” Ballantyne walked with her to a clearing in the woods. The peace and tranquility of nature was the only thing they required to make the evening special. Not everything depended on fine wine and candlelight. “Wow, look at the stars,” Montie murmured in awe. “I’ve never been out here at night.” Ballantyne placed her on the ground. “I have seen no one here before and that’s a shame as they have nature literally in their backyards.” He ran his hands down to her hips. “Let’s get back to nature.” “Um, here?” Montie bit her lip and looked at him in surprise. “Um yes.” Ballantyne stepped back and started to remove his clothes. “Scared?” He knew when they were eighty-two Montie would still be “umm-ing” him and he liked the thought of that. “Of you? No,” she scoffed as she pulled at her clothes. “If I’m eaten by mosquitoes you are in big trouble.” Ballantyne loved that Montie was shy and wild all at the same time yet not about to be challenged by anyone. 69

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“The only one who will be eating you is me, chère.” He planned to devour her.

When she stood totally naked before him, Montie shivered with anticipation. Every time with Ballantyne was like the first time. It was exciting and filled with anticipation. She wondered if she would feel the same way in ten or twenty years from now. Ten or twenty? Was that her reality? Is that what she wanted? She looked at the man who held his arms out to her. Oh yeah, most definitely. She walked into his arms willingly, the warmth of his flesh heating her instantly. Montie looked into her eyes. “I love you, Tyne.” There. She had said it and the earth had not cracked at her feet nor did planets suddenly collide into each other. “What the hell had I been worried about?” she thought. Montie actually felt pretty good about saying it. It was the right time and the right place and most definitively the right man. If life was a fairytale, then this night was like a page from it. The evening air was sensually warm, the stars in the sky were designed for romance and she knew the man who held her so possessively was the only one she would ever love. Montie had never believed in the allure of romance before. She thought it was all hokum to sell perfume and sports cars. But she believed now with Ballantyne. “And I need you in my life,” she added. “I know,” Ballantyne replied smugly as his hands slid down to caress her butt. Montie leaned back from him and arched her eyebrow in amusement at his cocky words. “What?” Here she was being all romantic and needy and he was Mr. Super Confident. He was such a smarty pants. Or in this case a Mr. Smarty No Pants. “Please, what’s not to love,” Ballantyne swept one hand down his body in mock adoration. Despite herself Montie laughed. She wanted to be stern and flip but the man made her giggle. And it was true. One of the most loveable parts of him was prodding instantly at her stomach seeking entrance to moist, tight climes. 70

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“And you think I’m not romantic.” Montie wasn’t but she loved that Ballantyne was and that he could make a sweet joke just when she was at her most vulnerable. It was like he knew how hard it had been for her to say the words I love you. And that was why she loved him. He was not only sex on a stick he was smart with it. “I think you are many things, chère—intelligent, beautiful, a pain in the butt.” He grinned at her as his hands lightly massaged up and down her body. “Wow, you are just overwhelming me with seduction tonight,” she replied as she put her hands on his chest and looked at him cynically. “I know how to treat a lady.” “So what’s your plan? Are you going to use that bad boy between your legs or are you just going to talk trash?” Smart money indicated action and not talk. “I thought women liked insightful, caring New Age males who could communicate with sensitivity.” Game playing as foreplay. That suited Montie as she knew he would not be able to hold out forever. “Oh we do but I need more.” She licked her lips enticingly. “I need you to fuck me hard and fast and make me scream.” Montie felt his penis jump at her words. Well of course it would. It was now in command. “Screaming is good,” Ballantyne replied, his voice husky as if he was trying to control himself. “Fucking is better.” “So are you up to it or what?” she challenged. “I’m both up to it and planning to be in to you, chère.” Ballantyne gently turned her in his arms and dropped her softly to the grass in one swift move. Montie lay back and watched as he flopped down beside her. “What now?” Whatever he wanted she was happy to do. Ballantyne stretched out, his hands behind his head. “I think you need to show some initiative, chère.” 71

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“Oh yeah, Tyne?” Montie was amused at his carefully bland voice. She knew he was trying to marshal the testosterone that was surging through his body into some semblance of order. That he wanted her was evident. How long Ballantyne could hold out would be the interesting thing. “Climb on board.” He patted his thighs in invitation. “On that?” Yes please. “It looks kind of tense.” She reached over and touched the shaft tentatively. “And it’s awfully hard,” she said in mock fright. If he wanted to play games then so would Montie. She wanted to show him she was just as in control as he was. “It won’t bite.” Ballantyne waggled his eyebrows theatrically. “Hmm, maybe I will,” she responded as if weighing up her options or in this case option. There was only one choice. “Do as you please, chère. I can lie here all evening watching the stars.” Liar, liar cock on fire. Montie rolled over and slid her leg over his body and sat astride him. His cock jumped excitedly at the feel of moist, female flesh so close. She leaned down over him, his shaft sandwiched between their bodies, until she was at eye level with the sexy brown eyes that still fascinated her. “So how badly do you want me?” On a scale of one to ten, Montie could feel he was at twelve. Ballantyne blew out a carefully controlled breath. “I am happy to wait all night.” Montie laughed at his words. “You are big, fat liar.” She tweaked his nose the same way he liked to tweak hers. “Not everything is about sex you know, Montgomery.” Ballantyne made no move to touch her. “I am just happy just to lie here with you.”

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“Bullshit, you want in.” Montie could see it in his eyes and the determined set of his mouth. He would not be holding on for much longer. She raised herself to her knees and moved back until she was level with his cock. She grabbed it and rubbed the bulbous head back and forward along the slick valley between her legs. “I really can wait,” Ballantyne growled out, convincing neither of them with his words. “We can talk some more.” “Really?” Montie placed the tip of his cock inside her. “What do you want to talk about? World peace or man’s inhumanity to man?” She inched down on him a bit more then pulled almost all the way out. “What about petrol prices and they way they go up and down?” She shimmied back down on him almost to the base. Montie saw him grit his teeth. “Are you a bit tense, Tyne?” She slid back off quickly again leaving only the head inside. She could see the sweat on his brow and feel her own on her upper lip. Pay time was good but the real thing was better. “You’re gritting your teeth.” “Just trying to keep the bugs out of my mouth.” Montie chuckled softly at his words as she leaned forward, keeping the tip of his cock inside and dangled one breast before his mouth. “So you’re not putting anything in your mouth tonight?” She smiled as she heard the soft growl that came low in his throat. “‘Getting a bit hot and bothered there, chère?” Montie did her best Ballantyne Teague impersonation. “I am in complete control.” “Uh-huh.” She moved back and slid down all the way on his cock. Montie sighed happily as the heat and the fullness suffused her body. “Hmm, this is awfully nice but too much of a good thing will kill you.” She slid off him suddenly and flopped down beside him. She pulled one leg up and crossed her other over it and swung her foot casually as if she did not have a care in the world. Of course, Montie was on fire with need but it was his turn now. “What are you doing?” Ballantyne demanded hoarsely. Montie liked the slight crack to his voice. Oh yeah, I’m winning. 73

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“I’m looking at the stars with you.” The sky was full of them. She would have to come here more often at night. Such interesting things happened in nature. Ballantyne rolled into his side, his body touching hers. “Are you going to finish what you started?” “Oh gee, I’d like to but you don’t seem in the mood. Besides, I can’t see how I can as we have no condom.” “Oh, I’m in the mood, chère,” he growled. One hand trailing up to her breasts. “I have a condoms in my trousers.” Ever ready Ballantyne. Montie looked over at them. “They seem so far away.” She sighed lightly, she pulled one leg from the other and spread her legs wide. Montie knew she had Ballantyne’s full attention. She ran her hand down to her clit and slowly began to massage the hard nub. “Just as well you can wait. Tyne. Though your friend looks a little edgy.” She had to be careful herself. It would take almost nothing to rub herself to an orgasm. Lightly does it, Montie. Ballantyne eyes were riveted on the actions of her hand. He swallowed hard. “You’re very good at driving me wild.” He smiled at her as his fingers pinched her nipple lightly. “I know,” she mimicked his words. “So are you in or out, big boy?” “Oh I’m in.” Ballantyne dedicated. “As much as I would like to watch you drive yourself to an orgasm with your fingers, chère, now is not the time.” He grabbed her hand and pulled it from between her legs. “Do not touch anything or move a muscle.” Montie sighed happily as she watched him get up quickly and move to his trousers. The taut muscles of his ass flexed as he walked. When he bent over she smiled. He was all man. Her man. When he turned back to her, his condom covered cock bobbed along as if happy someone had finally made a decision. “Hurry up.” Enough was enough. Montie wanted hot, hard flesh between her legs.

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Ballantyne sauntered back as if amused her attention was solely on everything he did at that moment. “I’m coming.” “That’s the goal.” Montie opened her legs wide to receive her lover. Ballantyne dropped down beside her and rolled in between her legs. “Hi.” He smiled into her eyes. God he was beautiful. “Well, hi yourself.” When their lips touched, Montie sighed lightly and gave herself up to the wondrous feeling of being with the man she loved. Yeah, they were totally exposed in the open but at the moment she did not care. Only she and Ballantyne existed. No one else mattered. “I do like kissing you, chère,” Ballantyne said in between, soft sucking kisses. “You taste so sweet.” His lips trailed down to her breasts and fastened onto one nipple and sucked hard. “Oh yes,” Montie groaned as the suction of his mouth drew a direct response between her legs. “I need you inside me now, Tyne.” “My pleasure, chère.” Ballantyne’s mouth left her breast as he lifted her legs up over his shoulders so she was totally exposed to him. When he plunged inside Montie bit her lip. She had the overwhelming urge to cry. Ballantyne instantly stopped in concern. “Hey are you okay? Did I hurt you, chère?” He wiped a tear from her cheek. “You make me feel so good, Tyne.” He loved her as a complete person—the good with the not so great. Ballantyne smiled widely with pleasure as if she had given him a precious gift. “I can make you feel even better.” He moved his hand down and pushed two fingers into the puckered hole of her ass. Ballantyne thrust both fingers and cock in perfect union. 75

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Montie’s head dropped back at the sensation as she closed her eyes and panted with excitement.

Grenfell Spragg watched them. That woman was such a slut giving herself totally to that man without any thought and in a public place. She was just the sort of woman he liked—up for anything. He could hardly wait for his turn. He smiled as she moaned loudly as the other man thrust deeply in and out of her. It delighted Spragg she loved being fucked any way and anywhere. It confirmed his belief that all women were whores. “Oh how you will scream for me, bitch,” Spragg murmured as he undid his trousers and ran his hand up and down his turgid cock quickly as he imagined what she would feel like to split open. He howled in primal satisfaction.

“What was that?” Montie’s eyes snapped open at the keening wail. “It sounded like something in pain.” “Probably just an animal,” Ballantyne said as he started pumping harder inside her. “Anyway you’re supposed to be concentrating on me.” “You have cock and fingers inside me. Trust me, my attention is completely on you.” “I know,” he growled with masculine pride. “You’re all mine, chère.” If any other male had said that to her she would have thought him an arrogant pig but this was Ballantyne Teague. Her man. Sometimes possessiveness had its moments. “You are so cocky tonight.” And Montie loved it. She was on the verge of a toe curling orgasm and she wanted whatever he could give her. “Why thank you, chère. I live to serve you,” Ballantyne said as he pulled his fingers out from her inside her. He shifted position and angled her body so he could penetrate even deeper.

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“Smart ass.” She clutched at his body as he pushed in and out of her vagina. Her muscles tightened around the engorged shaft not wanting to let go. “Are you going to make me come or are you just playing around?” She had her legs up around the man’s neck and anyone could walk by and see her but Montie could not care less. Ballantyne’s answer was to pull out of her body completely then dive back in hard. “Oh God.” Montie squealed. She was so excited she almost swallowed her tongue. “Do you need to come?” Ballantyne said as his tongue licked her breasts as they bounced before him. “Does a chicken have lips?” Montie choked out as she tried to keep up the pace. If he stopped now, she would die of orgasm interruptus. “I don’t know, chère, I’ve never looked at a chicken’s lips. Montie giggled breathlessly at his words. “Be the strong silent type and make me shriek.” “Yes chère,” Ballantyne pounded deeply in and out of her body. This was exactly what Montie craved. Hardness, heat and him. “You can come too.” Ballantyne threw back his head and laughed. “You’re very generous.” “I know.”

Three strangled cries split the night air—two in passion and one in murderous rage.

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Chapter Six The following morning Montie stumbled downstairs when she heard the three knocks on the door. Adam had gone out jogging with David. She now began to wonder if “jogging” was a euphemism for the something else they were obviously doing together. But then it was none of her business. It they were happy that was all that mattered. She opened the door to a smiling Ballantyne. She wondered if he was here to ask her to go jogging. “You look terrible.” “Gee, just what a woman needs to hear first thing in the morning,” Montie responded cynically. “Remind me not to wake up with you beside me.” “Too late for that, chère, you are stuck with me.” Ballantyne grinned as he followed her into the house. “What’s up?” “I couldn’t sleep.” After Ballantyne had brought her home last night from their interlude in the nature reserve, Montie had felt so relaxed she thought she would fall asleep instantly. But that was not the case. She had spent the whole night tossing and turning, her thoughts alternating between Ballantyne, Adam and whatever the hell that rustling noise was below her bedroom window. When she woke up she felt like death warmed up. And oh goody, I have to go to work. Montie staggered about showering and dressing with the enthusiasm of a rag doll. “Were you lying awake thinking about me, chère?” Ballantyne caught and held her against his body, his hands roaming over her breasts. “Yeah, it’s all about you Tyne,” Montie scoffed cynically. His hands felt awfully good on her tired body. Maybe breast massages could become the next big thing. “You love me.” “You have your purposes.” 78

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He chuckled at her words. “If you were in my bed you would have no trouble sleeping as I’d exhaust you.” “I think I’d enjoy being exhausted like that.” Montie wondered what it would be like falling asleep beside the man she loved. Did a burglar settle down into a stable, white picket fence relationship? Was she even looking for that? Her head had been turned so quickly by all that had happened between them. Was she seriously contemplating forever with Ballantyne? Yeah, I am. “Poor chère, why couldn’t you sleep? Hmm?” Ballantyne leaned in and kissed her softly. He is so sweet. Montie explained about the noises below her window. “I wasn’t frightened by them, they just kept me awake.” Ballantyne looked at her in concern. He was not happy. “What sort of noise?” “I don’t know. A noise noise, I guess.” “A person or a thing noise?” Ballantyne asked, as if trying to sound casual. “What is this, Tyne? Name that noise?” What did it matter? The bottom line was it kept her awake. “Initially I thought I might have been you but I know you would have come inside.” “Inside you—yes.” He pushed her gently back to the wall, his body melding against hers. “You have a one-track mind.” But then so did she, as being with Ballantyne consumed her thoughts. “You like me though.” Ballantyne leaned into her, linking their hands and raising them above her head. Montie shivered as his lips nuzzled at the sensitive flesh on her neck. “Um, why are you here?” Dumb question with the penis poking into her stomach. “I want you,” he replied simply. 79

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“Tyne, I have to get to work.” Even as she said the words they did not sound believable to her own ears and there was hot penis on offer. Work could not compete with that. The best it could do was lukewarm pizza on a Friday. “Really, chère?” “Yeah, you know, pesky things like bills need to be paid.” Ballantyne dropped their hands from above her head. “Quickie sex then?” He breathed against her mouth as their eyes locked. Montie had never had a man desire her with such urgency. It thrilled and empowered her. But, more than that, she knew he loved her and that made her happy. “You’re kidding.” His lower body rubbed himself against her. “You’re not.” “I only have to look at you to want you, chère.” “I don’t have time to…” Whatever she had been about to say dissolved under the warm, intoxicating taste of his mouth on hers. She could feel his hands pushing up her skirt and pulling her panties down. “Underwear is such a waste of time, chère.” Ballantyne broke off the kiss and concentrated on ridding her of the barrier that denied him access. When the panties hit the floor, his fingers slid inside her. “You’re so nice and wet.” “I’m always wet around you.” Montie reached for his fly. “I thought you said you did not have time.” Ballantyne’s fingers massaged her clit gently. Quickie sex was very doable. “I’m making it.” Montie pulled out his penis and smiled in anticipation. She suddenly felt incredibly awake. “Condom now please.” She saw the look of panic cross his face as he searched his trouser pockets. “Damn, I don’t have one.” The look of frustration in Ballantyne’s eyes matched her own. 80

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“You’re kidding right? You get me all hot and bothered then nothing?” She looked at him incredulously. “I want you now.” “Adam would have condoms.” Montie’s eyes widened in amazement. “I can’t go and just rifle through his stuff.” “I thought that’s what women did when they wanted to know something about man.” Ballantyne smiled down at her knowingly. “I would never do that—unless it was an emergency.” Montie clarified, knowing that maybe on occasion she had casually flipped through some of Adam’s things. She would most definitely rummage through Ballantyne’s stuff given half a chance. “Uh-huh,” Ballantyne murmured completely unconvinced. “And I think this qualifies an emergency. Montie looked it his erect penis and then at her skirt rucked up around her waist. “Okay we’ll…”She stopped still in shock as she heard a bedroom door upstairs close. “Bloody hell, I thought Adam had gone out jogging but he’s still in the house and you were about to—” “Fuck you up against the wall.” How embarrassing would that have been? It was one thing to see someone else having sex but something completely different when it came to someone watching her. “What do we do?” She was on edge and burning with need. “This is all your fault,” she whispered furiously. Ballantyne snorted in amusement. “How it is my fault?” “I wasn’t planning on having sex this morning.” She pushed down her skirt and picked up her panties. “And do something about that.” Montie pointed at his erection. “Chère, I plan to.” Ballantyne snatched her panties in one hand. “Souvenir,” he murmured as he pulled her by the other hand up the stairs quickly into her bedroom. 81

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“You’re not with Adam anymore, right? So why you care what he thinks about you being with another man?” “I would rather tell him than show him and I’m picky about who sees me naked.” “Okay, I agree with that. No one but me is ever going to see you naked again.” He pushed his swollen cock inside his pants. “Where would Adam be now?” That had to be painful pushing all that into one small space though it wasn’t that like that when he was inside her small spaces. “It sounds like he’s in the shower.” Montie could hear the old water pipes clunking away. They did that whenever a tap was turned on. “And his room is down the hall?” Ballantyne asked as he headed to the bedroom door. “Yes, second door on the left.” “I’ll be back,” Ballantyne said giving her is best Terminator impersonation. Montie got the giggles at the exaggerated accent. “Don’t get caught.” She paced around her bedroom in agitation. She had to admit sneaking around with Ballantyne was an incredible turn-on. He was back before she knew it. “How did you know where to look?” “Men aren’t that inventive when it comes to condoms. They want them fast and it’s generally the bedside table.” Ballantyne handed her the condom and looked around Montie’s room. “His room is a lot neater then yours.” “I think gay men are genetically predisposed to be neat— It’s black.” Montie looked down at the condom she had unwrapped. It was black and ribbed. Adam had black condoms. “Oh jeez I don’t want to think about why it’s black. Get this on now, burglar boy,” she ordered Ballantyne as she tossed the condom to him. “And make it snappy.” Montie watched as he unzipped and rolled the condom over his straining flesh. When he reached for her, Montie stepped back. “Don’t mess my clothes any further than you have. I don’t want to get changed again as I don’t have time as it is to get to work.” She

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was going to have to think about some fabulous excuse for being late and having quickie sex with a burglar, thought true, was probably not going to sound believable. “You’re so bossy.” Ballantyne murmured in amusement. “I like being bossy when it comes to you.” She pushed him over to the bedroom chair. “Sit.” The minute he did she straddled his lap allowing his cock to plunge upward into her to the hilt. Montie sighed with pleasure. She undid her blouse and unsnapped her bra, keeping them both on so she could redress quickly. “Suck me.” She pulled his head down to her breasts. “My pleasure, chère.” Montie whimpered as his mouth sucked down hard on her breast. She clutched at his shoulders and began riding his cock hard and swiftly. The primal growl from Ballantyne indicated his approval. “Montie,” Adam called through the door. “Oh crap,” she mouthed at Ballantyne when he looked up at her. He was smiling as if he was enjoying himself. “Y-yes, she stammered out as his mouth went back to her breasts. “When you go shopping tonight can you get me some more toothpaste please?” Adam requested, oblivious to what was going on. “Um, sure,” she responded as she concentrated on not breaking the pace of her ride. When the orgasm hit her, Montie ground herself back and forward on Ballantyne milking every last moment of pleasure. “Are you okay?” Adam sounded concerned. “Oh God… I mean yes thanks.” “Have a good day.” “You too,” Montie choked out as her body shuddered. Ballantyne held her tightly against him as he came within her. She no longer cared about whether her clothes got messed up. To be in this man’s arms meant more to her than anything.

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Ballantyne stroked Montie’s back gently. They were still joined but neither was in a hurry to move. Getting to work no longer seemed to be an issue with Montie. Making love to her was sublime but holding her in his arms in the aftermath was like being at peace, at home. “You’re going to have to tell Adam you know about what’s going on with him,” Ballantyne said, realizing as he did that Adam was not the only one who had truths to tell. He needed to tell Montie that he was actually a part of the security team the neighborhood hired and not the man they were still trying to catch. It worried him that Montie was hearing noises outside her bedroom. That her room was on the second floor was no comfort. A determined thief could do anything. “It’s really none of my business what Adam does or who he does.” “Chère,” Ballantyne murmured quietly as he looked into her face. That she loved him still amazed him. He had heard of love at first sight but he never dreamed that such a corny concept could be a reality. But here he was and Montie was his reality. Montie pushed back from him. “Well, it’s not something that’s easy to bring up— ‘Oh by the way, Adam I noticed your cock plowing in and out of David’s ass and I’m thinking that probably means you’re gay. Is that correct? Would you like to discuss it?’ Yep, that’s a conversation you want to have—not.” “You both deserve more and he needs to stop hiding behind you.” Though, Ballantyne suspected Montie was doing her fair share of hiding as well. “Why do you care?” “You know I love you, chère.” Ballantyne pushed a stray piece of hair from her face. Montie shook head in confusion. “This has been a hell of a couple of days. My now ex-boyfriend or whatever he was, is gay and I’m having sex with a burglar. I’m not sure I know what is true anymore.”

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“I don’t lie about stuff like this.” Other stuff, sure. But that he would fix as soon as Montie was so entrenched at his side that she would not contemplate leaving him however angry she was at him for lying. “So speaks the burglar,” Montie quipped as she lifted up from his body. “You can’t fight what you feel.” He stood and pulled the spent condom off and threw it in the small trash can Montie held out to him. Ballantyne cocked his head as he heard a noise outside. “Is that the noise from last night?” If so it was man-made and too close to the house for Ballantyne’s comfort. He had to get his mind back on the reason he was in this particular neighborhood. Making sure Montie was safe was his numberone priority. “Yeah, that’s it. I expect it’s a stray cat or something.” Montie looked at him in concern. “You shouldn’t be here. What if someone finds you?” “You’re worried about me, chère?” That she cared for the man and not what the man did or did not do was telling him that when Montgomery French loved, she loved deeply. “I don’t want you to get caught.” Montie set about straightening her clothes. “I’m going to take a look outside.” If it was the man they were trying to catch he was either incredibly brazen to be stalking the street in daylight or he wanted something in this particular house. There was nothing of any great value in the modest abode but for Montie. Could the burglar have gone from wanting valuables to people? Ballantyne remembered the first night he had seen Montie through the sheer curtains. Had he been the only one watching? “Be careful, Tyne,” she warned. “It’s daylight.” That Montie was anxious for him made his heart beat faster with joy. “Stuff happens during the day as well as night,” Montie pointed out as she watched him go.

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Ballantyne was back in ten minutes. Although he had seen no one suspicious, in his gut he had an uneasy feeling. The garden beds under some of the windows looked trampled. Was it from a stray dog or a human being? “You need to get a real job,” Montie said as she came down the stairs ready for work. “‘Want to reform me, chère?” Ballantyne leaned into her. “I just think you have potential but I have to get to work.” Ballantyne could not dismiss the edgy feeling. “So what are you doing tonight?” “Why, I thought I’d take the air at the local supermarket after work.”

***** “I am obviously going insane,” Montie muttered low as she refrained from looking over her shoulder for the seventh time in a row. She was not someone who got the creeps easily but all day she had felt like someone was watching her from the moment she had gotten out of her car at work to when she bought lunch at the local café. Maybe it was the way that man had bumped into her and his hand had brushed her breast. He had been apologetic but it had thrown her all the same. It was crazy and paranoid but she could not shake the feeling off. She kept thinking it was most likely Ballantyne but then he wasn’t the stalking kind. If he wanted something he made his presence known and he just took it. Now as Montie walked to her car at the end of the working day she could still feel someone’s eyes upon her. She was a confident person by nature. She did not jump at shadows. She made herself walk slowly to the car even though her heart was beating madly. Montie had told no one at work about how she felt because they would have insisted she ring the police. But what would she tell them? Well, sure I am having wild sex with a burglar but it’s the invisible man that worries me.

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“Yep, that would be rational,” she murmured as she zapped the car and climbed into its safe confines. Montie was headed to the supermarket. Grocery shopping was a bore but being among a thronging crowd of after-work cranky people hunting and gathering food would be comforting after the weird feelings she had felt all day.

***** “Aisle ten my ass,” Montie swore under her breath as she pushed the wobbly wheeled trolley in search of eggs. Why did she always get the trolley with the crap wheel or were they all built that way to drive shoppers insane? “I cannot bloody see them.” The bored checkout chick had told aisle ten was stocked with eggs but Montie suspected by the look of her it was unlikely she could count that high. It was probably checkout chick code for “I hate annoying customers. Go away.” “Do I really need eggs?” Was it worth tramping the aisles in search of them? The bright side was she was getting her exercise for the day. Though, with Ballantyne around burning up calories was not going to be a problem. The man sure gave her a work out. “Fuck it, I don’t need eggs.” If she had them it would only encourage her to cook and that would be a bad thing. Montie liked quick, simple meals preferably that someone else had cooked. Montie stiffened as she felt a presence behind her. She was right. Someone had been following her. Scream, shout or aim low with lethal force with the can of cooking spray oil that was close to her hand? “Eggs are good for you, chère,” Ballantyne leaned down and whispered in her ear. She spun around and looked at him in relief. “What are you doing here?” Montie thought a million things at once. Thank God it was Ballantyne. How dare he scare her like that? Lord he was gorgeous. “I’m shopping.” Ballantyne took over the control of the trolley. He aimed a booted blow to one of wheels and the trolley suddenly glided as if on ice. “It’s a gift,” he said with a wink at her amazed look.

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“Are you following me?” Had it been Ballantyne who had instigated those eerie feelings from earlier on? She doubted it as she never felt anything but hot around him. “Maybe you’re following me.” “You’re such a smart ass.” Montie looked at the ass in question and licked her lips in anticipation of what the man had planned for her later. She could tell by the gleam in his eyes, he had something in mind. “But you love both me and my ass.” Ballantyne steered the trolley into the health and beauty aisle. “I need condoms.” Montie raised her eyebrows in amusement. “You think you’re going to get lucky, fella?” He was, but a token resistance was always good. “The minute I met you I was,” Ballantyne responded as he stopped at shelving displaying the condoms. “You’re corny yet strangely sweet.” Montie watched as he grabbed at least two dozen boxes of condoms. “That’s a lot.” “I plan on us having lots of sex.” Ballantyne threw in a couple more packets. “Got a problem with that, chère?” He leaned into her pressing her back into the shelving. “No, I’m up to the challenge.” The challenge in question was prodding her in the stomach as she spoke. “Um, but what will the checkout chick think?” Why was it no one but Ballantyne made her blush? “She will think that you’re very lucky.” He smiled down into her eyes as his fingers caressed one pink cheek. “You’re blushing. Are you embarrassed about us having sex?” “No, it’s just that’s a lot of condoms. It makes us look like we are oversexed and desperate.” Ballantyne had crowded her up against the shelf and Montie could feel his hands pulling up her skirt. “We are desperate for each other, chère.” Ballantyne covered her body with his as he successfully managed to get the front of her skirt up.

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Montie stiffened when his fingers unerringly found her clit. “What are you doing?” It was a dumb question when his fingers were playing the tight bud between her legs. “This is a public place with cameras and people everywhere shop-ping.” The last one came out erratically as his fingers started massaging with intent. “The cameras are for shoplifters and no one can see what I am doing,” Ballantyne assured her as his tongue licked at the corner of her mouth. “You can’t do this h-here.” Montie could feel two fingers on her clit while another two on the same hand slid inside her. She clutched at his shoulders. She wanted and did not want him to stop. ”Why not?” Ballantyne’s eyes locked with hers as if needing to see everything she was feeling. “Don’t you like it?” “That’s not the point.” Would it be a bad thing to push him flat on his back and fuck him in the middle of the aisle? It would give “clean up in aisle twelve” a whole new meaning. “Oh Tyne,” she moaned as she felt the buildup of pressure between her legs. He chuckled lightly. “I like touching you, chère. You always get all hot and bothered looking.” Just the low husky way he spoke made her tremble with need. “How would you like it if I did this to you?” she gasped out, trying to keep control and failing rapidly. “I would love it.” “You know I will scream.” “No, you’re a lady, so I bet you hold it in.” Ballantyne smiled politely at the people passing by. He reached over with his free hand and picked up a box of condoms. “Will these make me look fat?” He asked in an ultraserious voice. Montie started to giggle.

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“Stop this now.” She slapped his shoulder lightly. If he removed his hand now, she would be able to leave the supermarket with some dignity intact. “Come and I will.” “I can’t come on command.” Montie never had before but then she was doing a lot of things she had never done before with Ballantyne. “Chère, you are so wet you will.” Damn it. He was right. She could feel the orgasm starting to throb in her core. “Kiss me now.” Because Montie knew she was going to wail like a banshee. “Yes, chère,” Ballantyne responded softy, his mouth covering hers and the scream was muffled. He removed his hand and held her in his arms until the aftershocks subsided. “You are a bastard.” Montie muttered halfheartedly, her forehead leaning against his chest. “Yeah but you love me and that’s all that matters.”

***** Spragg had been following her all day. He liked the way she kept looking around nervously as if she could sense his presence. He had almost ejaculated into his pants when he rubbed against her in the café. Just to touch her breast had made him shake with need. And the smell of her—it was delicious. It made him even more determined than ever to give her the fucking of her life. He had watched them in the supermarket. He knew what they were doing although everyone else seemed oblivious to it. “Soon, fucking soon, Montie,” he hissed under his breath as he stalked away from them.

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Chapter Seven After another sleepless night of unexplained noises she tried to ignore and wondering what mischief Ballantyne was in, Montie knew for sure that there was one matter she could not hold back from any longer. Ballantyne was right. She had to speak to Adam and let him know she was okay with whatever life he wanted to have. It was madness trying to be someone you weren’t, especially if you were in love. “We have to talk,” Montie said the minute she came into the kitchen. She looked at Adam. He was a very nice handsome, intelligent man who needed to be loved by the right person. In her way Montie loved him but it was more like that of sibling affection. “Maybe later, Montie.” Adam drank his coffee quickly. “I have to get to work.” “It’s seven-thirty in the morning. It takes you twenty minutes to get to your job that starts at nine.” The man was on edge. That was understandable. Secrets did that to you. Montie went over and stood beside him. “It never hurts to be punctual.” “Adam I know,” she said as she reached over and took his hand. He immediately stiffened at her words. “What?” Adam asked as he tried to regain the composure he had momentarily lost. “About you.” Montie smiled at the flash of panic she saw in his eyes. “You could have just told me.” Adam pulled his hand out from under hers. “I don’t know what you mean,” he bluffed lightly. Okay, time to call a spade a shovel. “I know you’re gay.” Montie held up her hand to stop whatever words she knew he was going to say. “No, please don’t deny it.”

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Adam sat down hard on a nearby kitchen stool. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed heavily almost as if a giant burden had been lifted and he could breathe again. “How did you find out?” Montie did not plan to mention Ballantyne Teague just yet. This had been enough of a surprise for Adam to deal with. “A woman knows these things.” She saw Adam narrow his eyes dubiously at this statement and she smiled. “Okay, I’m not that smart. I saw you in the kitchen with your—er, David.” Adam looked at her horrified. “Oh God, I’m sorry. That must have been awful for you.” “No, it wasn’t it was, um, educational.” She grinned at his incredulous look. “Oh please, I’ve seen you naked before. That was no big deal. Though, I had not seen David naked before. That was somewhat of a treat. He’s quite yummy isn’t he? Oh but hey, you know that.” Montie dragged a chair over and sat down beside him. “And why are you sorry?” “I never meant you to find out like this.” Adam looked at her worriedly. “God, I’m glad I did. I don’t care that you’re gay. I care that I embarrassed you the other night when I bounced up and down on you like the cranky, oversexed woman that I was.” The memory of writhing around half naked on Adam was not one she was proud of but when desperate you did dumb things you did not think about. “You didn’t embarrass me, Montie.” Adam smiled at her as he touched her hand gently. “You are a stunning woman and part of me wanted to make love to you but…” “But not the part I counted on.” “I’m sorry.” “If you say that again I’ll slap you,” Montie threatened mockingly. Adam laughed at her empty threat.

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“David is…” He hesitated as if trying to find the right words to sum up his feelings. “Hot as.” Montie added her own words. “And you love him.” “Yes, I do.” Adam nodded in agreement, his eyes soft with that love. “Okay, so here’s what I think—stop hiding what you feel.” “It’s not that easy Montie,” Adam grimaced as he spoke. “There are a lot of people who will take it badly.” “So, let ’em. The important thing is that you’re in love and the people who love you will understand that.” Adam looked at Montie in loving gratitude. “When I said to you the other night ‘it wasn’t you it was me’ I meant that.” “Yeah, I know that now. Then I didn’t. Then I thought you were a lousy bastard and I wished that your dick would drop off.” She smiled at him. “I may have been a tad emotional.” Montie looked at Adam thoughtfully. “So at the start was it great with us or was it an act? If so, you were a hell of an actor.” “Oh I wanted you. You fascinated me with the way you talked and moved and made love. It was all so intense and sexy that I honestly believed at one stage the cravings I had for men were just some phase that had passed.” Adam’s placed his hand on her thigh. “You’re a fantastic lover, Montie.” The hand on her thigh maybe once would have made her all hot and bothered but now it was nothing more than one friend touching another. “Yeah but it wasn’t right for you and you can’t fake that forever.” “No,” Adam nodded his head in agreement. “You should have told me long ago.” “I wanted to,” he admitted in guilt. “But I was worried how you would take it.” Montie laughed sharply in amusement. “I thought I was losing my sex appeal. I would have kissed your feet if you had told me you were gay ’cause it would have meant I was okay.” Sex appeal intact. Appealing 93

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sexual partner in Ballantyne. Life was good. “Was I like your cover or something?” Montie wondered how much Adam had hidden behind their “normal”, straight relationship. “At the start, no, but in the last couple of months—” “Five months and three days,” Montie interrupted him overdramatically in correction. “Wow, you have been desperate for sex.” “You clearly have no idea how much.” She had spent more time with her fingers on her clit bringing herself to orgasm that Adam had. “So how long had you and David been, um, lovers?” Did you have us both at the same time? And if so please tell me you used a condom. “I stopped making love to you when I started making love to David.” Adam answered her unspoken question. “I used you to hide behind and I regret that.” He stood up and looked around the kitchen. “I love this house. But I know I’ll have to move out now.” “Why? Because you have a boyfriend?” The house had always been of more interest to Adam than her. Montie knew he had put a bid in to buy it. Besides in her heart she knew it was time to move on. In many ways she had been using Adam as a crutch until she had been ready to strike out on her own. In a lot of ways they were similar in their actions. “Do you think I am narrow-minded?” “God no, Montie, you are perfect in my eyes.” “And I have always loved your blindness to my faults.” Ballantyne had been right. She needed to have gotten this out in the open. Montie felt better about a lot of things. But then honesty did that to you. It set you free. “So how did your family take it?” She knew what his family was like. They were the strict, religious straight anal types that quoted things like “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”. Or in this case David. Yep, they were a fun bunch the Tripp family. Her eye twitched constantly whenever

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she met up with them. Woo hoo—bonus. No more Tripp family meetings for me. Adam was on his own with that crew. “Mixed reactions,” Adam told her. “At first they blamed you.” He chuckled when he saw the look of surprise on Montie’s face. “They actually were beginning to believe you a lesbian because we were not engaged.” Tight-assed wankers. “So when they discovered it was you who played ball, literally, on the other team how did that go over? Like a lead balloon?” “Half the family won’t speak to me and they blame you for turning me to men and the other half grudgingly accepts it and blames you for being a secret lesbian.” Montie shook her head in resignation. There was no point even bothering to change their opinion of her as they meant nothing to her. “They’ll get over it.” And if they didn’t who gives a rat’s ass? “What about you?” “Me?” She felt dandy now that all the mismatched pieces had fallen into place. “You need someone is your life, Montie.” “Maybe I have someone.” He is a hot burglar who is probably robbing houses as we speak. Can I pick a good catch or what? That was more information than Adam needed. “You’re not the only one having surreptitious sex.” “I’m so glad. You were so desperate,” Adam responded teasingly. Montie slapped his chest playfully. “I was not.” She stopped for a second for thought. “Okay yes, I was, but it was all hormones and I cannot be held responsible for that.” “I want the best for you, Montie.” Adam’s voice was full of sincerity as if her happiness meant a great deal to him. “Is he a good man?”

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Montie smiled softly. Ballantyne Teague was good in so many different ways. He fulfilled her sexually, made her feel safe and special and he loved her. The only glitch was the burglar thing but she was prepared to overlook that to be with him. “Yeah he’s a good guy.” ”I’d like to meet him.” “You did. He was the man who came to the door the other day.” Adam wrinkled his brow in thought. “The security guy with the strange name?” “Yes, Ballantyne Teague and you could say he’s into security.” Just not the way you think. As if on cue, three knocks on the door. “Speak of the devil. That’s him.” “You have a code? That’s so cute,” Adam murmured in amusement as he watched Montie get up and answer the door. “We’ve had the talk,” Montie whispered softly to Ballantyne as she led him inside. “Oh yeah, how did it go?” Ballantyne asked as they headed into the kitchen. “Good.” She reintroduced the two men. “He’s cute,” Adam leaned over and whispered teasingly in her ear. “Down boy, he’s mine.” Montie saw the quizzical look Ballantyne gave her. “Adam thinks you’re cute.” She giggled at the raised eyebrow look he returned. “Relax Tyne, I told him you’re mine.” “Look after her,” Adam said, as he held his hand out to Ballantyne. “She’s precious to me.” “And to me.” Montie watched as the two men shook hands and Adam left, looking happier than he had in ages. “God I feel like I am the Olympic torch being handed from one runner to another.” “But I’m not letting go,” Ballantyne as he pulled her to his side and kissed her softly. 96

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“So I have a bit of time before work.” Montie could go some hot, knee wobbling sex at that moment. “I’m hungry.” Oh crap. He wants to eat? “I suppose I could cook something—unless you want to.” That’s right. The man said he cooked. What a bonus to a woman who loathed cooking. “Nah, it’s a different kind of hunger, chère.” Ballantyne picked her up in his arms and looked around the kitchen assessingly. “I’m thinking the bench near the stove is the right height.” “What for?” Montie asked as she was laid back on said bench. Ballantyne flipped up her skirt and reached for her panties. “I told you, I’m hungry.” He dropped her pants to the floor and replaced them with his mouth. “Bloody hell,” she squeaked as he began licking her with a thoroughness that made her dizzy with delight. “Oh Tyne,” she moaned when his tongue plunged into her channel. Montie grasped his shoulders and opened her legs so he could have full access. How was it possible that this man could make her want to come so quickly? “I want to come.” Ballantyne lifted his head and grinned softly her. “So come. I want to taste you when you do.” Montie shuddered as his mouth fastened back on her clit and he sucked hard. A week ago she would have been appalled to have a man attached to her clit and her cum in his face. But a week ago she had not known Ballantyne and her idea of sexual freedom was not so free. As the climax hit her, she moaned loudly as the convulsions of her body pushed her groin further into Ballantyne’s face. “You are beautiful, chère.” He rose up and kissed her passionately. The taste of her own body on her lips was strange but not unpleasant.

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“Fuck me, Tyne.” “My darling chère, I would love to but I can’t.” “What?” Montie asked in a daze. How could he do that and walk away? His cock must surely be on fire? “I’ll be back tomorrow for more, chère.” He kissed her one last time. “There’s just something I need to sort out first.”

***** As reluctant as he was to leave, Ballantyne had other things to do. He hadn’t planned on touching Montie. Ballantyne had planned to go in, see how she was and then leave. But it was impossible not to touch her and now his cock ached with need. However his need would have to wait. Ballantyne wanted to concentrate all his efforts on finding the burglar. So far his team had come up with nothing and he blamed himself as he was paying more attention to Montie than the job at hand. That was sloppy and these people deserved more. While his team had stopped the burglaries, the fact that they had not caught the man annoyed Ballantyne. Like the Mounties—they always got their man. And he had every intention of getting his woman as well. Ballantyne looked casually around him. Where was the guy hiding out? He knew in his heart he had not left the neighborhood. The pickings had been too easy for him and now, with all the new appliances people had bought with their insurance money, it had to be a great temptation to a thief. Parmenter Road was a haven for a crook. That and the fact that many of the houses had large overgrown bushes—Montie’s in particular. The thing that really worried Ballantyne was that it was not unheard of for burglars to add other crimes to their repertoires. There was no way he wanted Montie to become another statistic. “I will find you,” he murmured quietly but with intent. Ballantyne hoped the man was lurking nearby and heard him.

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“Lots of luck rent-a-cop,” Grenfell Spragg sneered in contempt. He wasn’t stupid. He knew his days were numbered if he stayed in this area. But there was something he needed to finish before he walked away. He wanted the woman who so eagerly threw her legs up in the air and fucked like a whore. “I will have you,” he gritted out angrily between his teeth. “And you will remember me for the rest of your life.

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Chapter Eight “I’m security, ma’am.” The buff man in black with the regulation crew cut of a nightclub bouncer informed Montie. “We’re checking all the houses to see if there are any security improvements that need to be made. Montie looked at him through the screen door. Yeah, he looked like the no-neck wonder she expected would be doing security. She had hoped it was Ballantyne but she suspected if the security patrol was around doing their thing that it was unlikely a thief would want to be nearby. “Can I see your identification?” Even though he looked the part Montie wasn’t about to let just anyone into her home. Besides it was late Saturday afternoon, dusk was falling and she just wanted to relax without having to deal with strangers. She did not need anyone intruding on her time—security or not. “I’ll be quick, ma’am.” His voice was brusque and to the point. “Okay but I still need to see some ID.” Surely this as not such an odd thing to ask someone who was employed to protect your interests? Montie looked at the blond man suspiciously. “That’s understandable but I haven’t been asked before by anyone else in this area.” The man smiled at her tightly. “I’ll have to go get it.”

Spragg walked off angrily. Fucking bitch. She was infuriating with her supercilious, tight-assed voice. He planned to loosen that ass right up. Just being so close to her had given him an instant hard-on. He was wild at himself that he had walked away but he had not been able to think clearly with her standing there in her cutoff denim shorts and a t-shirt that stretched tightly across breasts that were clearly not contained in a bra. The shape of them made his mouth water with the need to bite and devour. 100

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He breathed deeply and tried to contain the rage that gripped him. He needed a woman. And he needed one now.

***** Later that evening three familiar knocks sounded on the door of 59 Parmenter Road. “Oh it’s you,” Montie said as she opened the door to Ballantyne. “Gee, that’s good for my ego.” He stepped inside and wound an arm around her shoulders. “Who were you expecting?” It was so nice to have warm masculine body to snuggle against. Montie leaned against him happily. She had never considered herself an overly tactile person before but with Ballantyne Teague she wanted to touch and taste and love. “I thought you were the security guy.’’ Ballantyne stopped suddenly and looked at her. “Really? What did he look like?” His words were carefully bland but his eyes were focus intently on her. “A blond, crew cut, no-neck bruiser. Pretty much what I expected.” Montie wondered why Ballantyne suddenly looked so serious. Sure, he worked the other side of the law from them but he must have come up against law enforcement all the time. “Why the serious look?” “It’s just good to know who to watch out for.” His brows knitted together thoughtfully. The worry on Ballantyne’s face concerned Montie. What if something happens to him? What would I do? I am sure I don’t have the money to post bail. She mentally slapped herself. Why was she talking herself into problems? “You should get a proper job.” Which translated into—I need you so don’t screw this up for me just as I have discovered I love you. “I like thrills, chère.” 101

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“So I gathered.” But thrills killed and incarcerated those who indulged in dangerous pursuits. Ballantyne pulled her into his arms to face him. He kissed her softly. “Are you worried I’ll get caught?” He continued to nip gently at her lips. “Yeah.” And I would miss these kisses. “Why have you never called the cops on me?” Ballantyne’s eyes were gentle on hers almost as if he knew the reason he just needed to hear her say it. “I’m using you for sex.” Montie smiled as he laughed out loud at her words. Ballantyne had such a great laugh. It made her feel happy and a part of something and someone that she needed. “Is Adam home?” Ballantyne’s hands went down to caress her ass. “No, he’s gone out.” And Montie was glad as she had been hoping for a quiet evening at home with Ballantyne. “So what were you planning to do tonight, chère?” She could feel his fingers sliding up under the ragged edge of her shorts. Montie had no panties on. She liked the feel of bare skin against denim—better still, bare against Ballantyne. “I was going to paint my toenails, eat junk food and watch television.” But if he had a better offer… “That’s sounds good to me,” Ballantyne turned her out of his arms and directed her to the lounge room. “Haven’t you got a house to rob?” Montie asked, hearing herself asking the question and wondering when thieving had become acceptable to her. It was like she wanted her man to do well at his chosen field. Bizarro world. “I mean you don’t seem really dedicated to the looting and pillaging thing.”

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What could he say? Ballantyne Teague was dedicated to catching the burglar. But he was also dedicated to keeping Montie safe. He had a gut feeling the best way to do that was to stay close to her tonight. The noises she had heard worried Ballantyne. So, as soon as he had spoken to his team, he’d made his way to Montie’s. He wanted to be with her because he loved her. But Ballantyne was worried. Now of course would be the perfect time to tell Montie the truth about who he was. But it might also scare her. The woman wasn’t stupid. Montie, if she wasn’t mad at him, which he suspected she would be, would most likely work out that a security operative and the noises last night were linked. Ballantyne did not want to panic her. He also did not want her to think he was only with her out of duty to protect her. Although Montie loved him, she was still shy enough to assume the wrong thing and push him away. Ballantyne decided for the moment he would keep who he was a secret. It was better he kept her safe and secure and risk her wrath later. Besides he had a feeling subduing her anger would be yet another delightful experience. “It’s my night off and I want to spend it with you.” Ballantyne smiled down at her, amused at her suspicious yet pleased reaction. “I’ve never painted a woman’s toenails before.” “Seriously? I thought you were quite the ladies’ man and had done pretty much everything with a woman. “Not yet,” Ballantyne drawled, as they came into the lounge room. “But I have a list of ideas I would like to try out with you, chère.” He saw the packet of chips, the one of Tim Tams and a bottle of wine beside a small cylinder of bright green nail polish on the floor beside the sofa. It looked like a girl’s night in. “Well never let it be said I did not indulge you in your quest to try new things.” Montie picked up the nail polish and plonked herself down on the sofa. Ballantyne moved a nearby footstool over and sat down. He smiled as she shook the small bottle vigorously. Her breasts bounced gently under the thin fabric of her tshirt.

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“So green, huh?” “Yep, anyone can paint her toenails red. I like to be different.” Montie handed him the bottle and stuck one foot up toward him. “I like different.” With bottle in one hand, Ballantyne took the foot she offered in the other and cupped it in his palm. By the angle of her leg, he could see the flash of the curls of her pussy. Excellent.

Montie watched as he juggled foot and bottle and began painting her toenails or more to the point, the skin on her toes. “You suck at this,” she murmured in merriment at the concentration on Ballantyne’s face as he went over what he had just painting making it a blobby mess. “Hey, I am new to this. Show me some encouragement.” Montie laughed. “Oh please, Tyne, like you need to be encouraged.” She loved the mischievous grin he gave her. “Move your legs further apart,” he ordered as looked down the length of her legs appreciatively. “Why?” When Ballantyne looked at her like that Montie felt she had the legs of a supermodel and not of a short, fleshy suburban goddess. “Because I need you to.” He put the bottle down and picked up her other leg, pulling them apart. He looks like he is going to eat me up. She licked her lips eagerly. Montie was rather hungry herself. She knew what he was looking at. Her shorts were old and raggedy and left nothing to the imagination. “You’ve seen the whole shooting match, Tyne.” “Yeah but I need to take another shot,” he murmured as he got off the stool and traveled up the length of her legs toward her. 104

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Montie held her arms out willingly. When Ballantyne kissed her she melted. Would it always be like this? Each time like the first kiss or the first touch? “What about my nails?” Ballantyne twisted her beneath him and climbed on top. “You said it, I suck at painting toes.” He hoisted up her shirt until her breasts were exposed. “But sucking can be good when it comes to some things, chère.” His mouth descended on one taut, pink nipple. “You suck so well.” Montie struggled to pull the t-shirt off over her head. She did not want to lose contact with Ballantyne’s mouth but she did not want to be strangled by cotton knit. As she flung the t-shirt off she managed to roll them both off the sofa and onto the carpet below. “Ouch,” she moaned as she hit the floor, her head cushioned by the bag of chips that split open on impact, sending the contents scattering. Montie was impressed that Ballantyne was so dedicated to his task that he did not lose suction for a moment however his elbow did slam down hard into the packet of Tim Tams crushing them. That was just wrong. “Um, Tyne.” Ballantyne looked up from his task, his hands now busily removing her shorts. “Yes, chère?” he pulled back from her and wrenched them down her legs. “You’re crushing my Tim Tams.” Ballantyne threw back his head and laughed. “Well we can’t have that.” He stopped what he was doing and removed his elbow. He gently placed the Tim Tams on the sofa cushions then went back to his task. “How chivalrous.” You had to love a man had who his priorities right. Ballantyne pulled her shorts off and threw them across the room. “I can be all sensitive and New Age,” he reached into his front pocket and pulled out three condoms. “I’ll even let you pick a color.”

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“Be still my heart.” But that would be impossible of course. It was beating such a rapid tattoo in anticipation of the moment. She looked at the colors. “Red would be nice.” “Anything for my lady.” Ballantyne tossed the others and undid his fly. He sighed dramatically. “‘Bit tight in there was it?” She giggled at his exaggerated expression. “Tight is good. It just depends where.” Montie knew some women found the whole condom thing distasteful but she found it fascinating. It was like the rules of physics fighting the laws of nature in having thin latex expand over a fat cock. “Are you going to be able to get it on over that bad boy?” She leaned back on her elbows seductively. “Trust me, at this moment I can do anything.” Once it was on, Montie laughed as the red protrusion jumped merrily around. “Hey, you should not laugh at us sensitive, New Age guys.” Ballantyne crawled between her thighs and balanced his weight above her so only their lower bodies touched. “Sorry, however can I make it up to you?” The eyes on hers were so loving that Montie again felt an overwhelming urge to cry. Okay yes, he was a burglar but everyone had flaws. Ballantyne pushed the hair back from her face. “Just love me, chère.” God, he was so sweet. How did I get this lucky? “How can I not love a man who understands the importance of chocolate biscuits?” She smiled up at him. “Now get inside me.” “Yes ma’am.” Ballantyne plunged fast into her to the hilt. “Whoa!” The sudden infusion of hot, male flesh was such a rush. 106

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“You wanted me in,” he murmured against her mouth as he began to move deeply back and forth inside her. “Tyne?” Montie’s eyes locked with his. “Never change.” She loved the man the way he was. Sweet, funny and incredibly male. Ballantyne stopped and looked at her seriously. “Things change, chère. Sometimes stuff happens beyond our control.” Ballantyne looked suddenly guilty and Montie understood why. “So, give up the burglary business.” “I plan to. But first, I need to make love to you like there is no tomorrow.” He began pumping inside her once more. “Cripes. That’s poetic.” Montie clutched him to her, loving every hot, sweaty moment. “I told you I am sensitive,” he teased mockingly. “Fuck me until I scream, Mr. Sensitive,” she whispered against his lips.

The scream of delight from the woman tore into Grenfell Spragg’s brain. He could not see what was happening but he could guess. He leaned against the outer wall, breathless with rage, hidden by the large oleander bush. “Whatever happens tonight is your fault, Montie,” he hissed as he stalked off, the delighted sound of her still echoing in his mind.

Montie’s eye rolled into the back of her head as the orgasm hit her. If they stayed like that forever then that was okay because sex with Ballantyne was worth it. She knew now, until he came into her life, all other sex was just amateur hour. This was the real thing. She smiled when he growled his satisfaction as he came hard within her. “Do you think we’ll be doing this when we are eighty?” she panted out as she tried to catch her breath. 107

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Ballantyne rolled them both onto their sides, his arms wrapped possessively around her body. “That’s sounds like you’re looking for a commitment, chère.” His eyes were intense on hers. Whoa, he was right, it did. And the thing was she wasn’t one of those clingy women who bagged herself a man as a trophy and would not let go. “Um, no.” Bugger, I have to stop saying “um”. “I just wondered if eighty-year-old people still had wild sex like that.” “You said when ‘we are eighty’.” Ballantyne kissed her nose teasingly. “Did I? I, um, can’t remember.” Pathetic lie fifty-seven. “It must have been the lack of oxygen to my brain there for a moment.” Montie looked up at the crushed packet of Tim Tams. Great sex deserved great chocolate even if it was crushed. Besides if getting sidetracked with a mouthful of creamy chocolate was a great way to avoid discussions of commitment. She wasn’t against it per se, Montie just did not want to jump into it after knowing someone barely a week. And, there was the burglar thing to think of, though the great sex seemed even that out. “I think you and I would be great together forever,” Ballantyne said as he allowed Montie to free one arm to grab the packet of biscuits. “Let’s just work on the now and perhaps up to the day after tomorrow and see how we go.” The sleepy brown eyes on hers were mesmerizing. Montie could see forever in them. Was she after forever with Ballantyne Teague. Yes, possibly but I have to be cool and calm about this. “I love you, chère.” Ballantyne leaned in and kissed her. Montie ripped open the distorted pack of Tim Tams. “I need time.” “I’ll be waiting.”

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Chapter Nine “I just heard some terrible news.” Adam announced as he jogged up the driveway toward her with David in tow. As far as Montie was concerned it was just wrong to be out jogging so early in the morning especially on a Sunday and at eight-frigging-a.m. She could barely open her eyes let alone contemplate putting her body into a forward motion to exercise. Montie bent down and picked up the neatly rolled Sunday paper from the lawn. She was still dressed in her pajamas and had plans of going back to bed with the paper and a large pot of strong black coffee. She would most likely stay in her pj’s all day as Montie was worn out from the night before. She did not need to jog. Sex with Ballantyne burnt up the calories. Her thigh muscles ached and her ribs were tender and she would do it all over again in a heartbeat. “What news?” Montie asked trying to focus on the two men who jogged on the spot marking time and being all healthy-like. Yeesh. “Please stop, I can’t concentrate when you do that.” After Ballantyne had left last night, Montie had been a little pissed off. She had hoped he would have stayed the night but he told her duty called. It appeared the need to thieve outweighed the need for her to have another orgasm. So Montie had downed the bottle of wine while watching a repeat of CSI Miami on television. She was damn sure Horatio Caine would never leave a woman alone for the evening. The wine had mellowed her out but now in the bright morning light, imbibing had been a bad idea. Her head was pounding and her eyeballs were so bloodshot she was sure she was in danger of bleeding to death. “Okay spill it.” “There was a rape in the nature reserve behind the houses last night.” Montie’s staggered slightly in shock. “Oh God, how horrible.” This happened in their street? 109

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“It was a lady from another suburb out jogging,” David added as he put a hand under Montie’s elbow to steady her. “They think it was the burglar.” “What?” Montie gasped her eyes snapping wide open in horror. The pain of her headache was nothing compared to this news. Ballantyne? No way. He wouldn’t. “They think this creep has been lurking the neighborhood unable to break in and he got so frustrated he assaulted this poor woman. Montie held up her hand and tried to collect her whirling thoughts into some sort of coherent pattern. This had completely thrown her for a loop. “Who are ‘they’?” While it was true she had not known Ballantyne long, she considered herself a bloody good judge of character and she knew in her heart he was not capable of doing that. “Ballantyne told me.” “My Ballantyne?” Montie asked, even though she knew no other men called by that name. “Well it’s his company monitoring security but of course they never expected anything as ghastly as this.” Montie pushed away from David and charged up to Adam furiously. “His what?” He had a security company? How could that be? He was a burglar and…oh you dummy. Of course. He was no damn burglar. Why the hell did he make her think that? Was it a game to him? “Teague and Associates Security.” Bastard. “That’s the name of security people?” Of course it bloody was. That’s why all the neighbors waved to him the other night. Everyone but she was aware who he was. “Yes—you look kind of pale, Montie.” “I thought he was a…” she muttered angrily under her breath. Adam and David exchanged confused looks. 110

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‘What’s wrong?” Adam touched her arm in concern. “Nothing.” Montie just realized that was it. She meant nothing at all to Ballantyne Teague if he could not tell her the truth.

***** “I knocked three times, four times over.” Ballantyne said as Montie opened the front door to him. Initially she hadn’t wanted to see him for she knew she was not calm enough to handle him without wanting to hit him in the stomach. Montie wanted to match the blow he gave her. But she knew she had to face him, to ask him why before she ended it. She knew she wasn’t the best person on the planet but she was truthful and she did not play games with other people’s feelings. “So you’re Teague of Teague and Associates.” Montie watched as the smile died on his face. “Surprise! I know. It sure as hell surprised me.” “I can explain,” Ballantyne began as he reached for her. Montie pulled away from him. “I just bet you can.” He would try to sweet talk her into another bout of sex. That wasn’t going to happen. Adam’s words from earlier still echoed in her ears. “Can I come inside and discuss this with you rationally?” “No and I don’t want to be rational so bugger off.” Montie was not about to be swayed by the hurt in his eyes. She was a wake up to him now. “Chère, please.” “Oh don’t ‘chère’ me. If I was so dear to you then why couldn’t you tell me the truth? You said you would never lie to me. Surprise! You lied.”

Ballantyne sighed and ran an agitated hand through his hair as if trying to find the right words to explain why he did what he did to her.

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“I didn’t—you just inferred I was a burglar. You wanted to believe that. It was a fantasy for you to be taken by a bad boy.” Montie snorted loudly in derision. Okay, maybe that was partly true but that was not the point. He lied to her. “What a crock! You just wanted into my pants and you were determined to tell whatever half-assed lie you needed to do it.” He could have had her just as easily with the truth. “I feel stupid.” How dumb am I to fall for such a tale? Dumb, lonely and desperate. “I did not mean it to happen this way.” Ballantyne held his hands out to her beseechingly. Montie wasn’t about to fall for that “I love you” look in his eyes because that was no doubt a lie as well. “Well no, getting caught always sucks.” She swallowed the hard lump in her throat. She was determined not to cry over this man. “What else aren’t you telling me? Are you married with five children?” “I love you, Montie.” “Yeah whatever.” Ballantyne was a good actor. She almost believed him. “Love is about truth. You were game playing to get a free fuck.” It hurt to say it but Montie knew it was the truth. She needed to toughen up and remember that. Ballantyne shook his head in dismay and disappointment. “Do you think so little of yourself? Or of me?” “I don’t even know you!” Montie snapped at him. “Please let me explain.” “No, now please go before I call your own security firm on you.” She slammed the door in his face. She had hoped it would make her feel better but it didn’t. Montie just felt empty. It was a feeling she knew well. “Stuff him.”

*****

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“Oh hello,” Montie recognized the man at her door. It was the security man from the day before. She had been reluctant to open the door thinking it was Ballantyne and she certainly did not want him to see her swollen eyes and know she had been crying over him. A stranger who meant nothing to her was different. “What is it you want?” “I need to get in,” he said tersely, his fists clenched at his side. Montie wondered why he looked so pissed off. Had he also had a lover lie to him? “Have you got your ID?” Yes she was probably being an annoying, pedantic bitch but surely someone who dealt in the area of security would understand her need to check. Besides, in her current mood she felt like being a bitch. So there. “Oh yeah, here is my identification, you slut.” Spragg aimed one large booted foot at the locked screen door and kicked through it as if it was tissue paper. The three-point locking buckled and part of the door frame splintered under the force of his boot. “Holy shit!” Montie shrieked as she ran from the man as he advanced. She skittered in a panic through the house as she heard the slam of the front door and heavy boots charging toward her. She took a frantic look behind her and knew there was no way she could outrun this ape. He was built like a brick shithouse—indestructible. She was tempted to stop and phone for help but stopping did not seem like a good thing to do at that moment. Okay, be calm and think and do not run like a ninny. Oh fuck that! Montie tore up the stairs, knowing if she could get to the bathroom at least she could lock the door. Sure, he would most likely kick it in but she would be ready to spray him in the face with deodorant. She had seen that in a movie somewhere. “You did not ask the man who’s fucking you for identification,” he roared as he charged toward her. “I watched you with your legs around his neck as you begged him to slam into you.” This blond gorilla had been watching them? It did not take a genius to work out he was the burglar and rapist. Fuck! Where was the cavalry when you needed them? Montie made it to the bathroom and slammed the door and locked it. The slide bolt was flimsy and she knew it would take only a minute for him to kick it in if the front door 113

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was anything to go by. She scrambled over the sink and grabbed a can of Adam’s deodorant. Nonallergenic? Fuck that. Montie chucked that one and picked up one of her own. All day protection. Yep, that’s what she needed right now. She also picked up her fingernail scissors. They were small but sharp. Just like her. Montie heard the boot slam against the door. She stood her ground, can in one hand scissors in the other. Spray and stab was the plan. The initial panic had subsided. Now she was just pissed off. How dare this asshole do to this to her. The second kick splintered the wood. It flew open on the third. As he reached for her, Montie sprayed him with a long burst of deodorant in the eyes. The man howled in pain and clutched at his face. “Get the fuck out of my house.” She yelled as she stabbed the scissors into the beefy arm that swung out at her in blind rage. The sharp point sliced into his triceps and stayed there. Blood poured down his arm. Now was a good time to leave. Montie scrambled by him and looked around her. Upstairs or downstairs? Crap! What to do? “Fucking bitch!” The man bellowed in pain as he pulled out the scissors and turned on her. Montie ran to Adam’s bedroom. He had a cordless phone that was reachable from inside the door. If she could get that and head back downstairs then she could run and dial emergency all at the same time. As Montie grabbed the phone, a hand slammed into her back pushing her facedown on the floor. She rolled over quickly and looked up at her attacker. Blood dripped down his arm and his eyes were red. He wasn’t a prize before but he looked even scarier now. She edged back from him as fast as she could. “Fuck off!” Montie yelled at him. Surely someone must have heard what was going on? Her attacker laughed and grabbed her foot. “I’m not going anywhere until I have had a taste of what he has.” He grabbed at her pajama bottoms, the cotton tearing easily. He leered at the curls between her legs. “Very nice, Montie.” 114

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She kicked out at him wildly. “You know my name?” “I told you I have been watching you fuck the security guy.” He pushed away her feet as she kicked out at him. “I also noticed you’re very flexible in where you like a dick shoved into you.” “Not that flexible. I don’t do animals.” She was bare assed with a rapist. The odds of getting out of this without getting assaulted were zip. She looked around her wildly. There had to be a weapon somewhere. Montie saw the red vacuum cleaner. Thank God Adam was a clean freak. If it had been her bedroom she would have nothing but dust to fight him with. That would be okay if he was an asthmatic. The vacuum cleaner gave her hope. She had nicknamed it the “instrument of death” as once it latched onto something it refused to let go. Everything got sucked inside. Shoes, clothes, rugs and books. Once it had a hold of something it sucked until it swallowed the item whole. Perfect. She just had to get to it. As the man dropped to his knees before her, Montie lashed her foot out one more time whacking him hard in the groin. The big man howled and clutched his genitals. Bull’s-eye. It gave her the time she needed to get to the vacuum. She got to her feet and dashed to the cleaner. “I was going to try to be nice and not hurt you the first couple of times but now I am going to rip you apart,” he gasped out low in fury as he staggered to his feet. Montie grabbed the vacuum cleaner and pointed the nozzle at him, her bare foot resting on the “on” button. She saw the ugly bulge in the front of his trousers and she knew she had to act fast. If he came any closer she was going to give cock sucking a whole new meaning. “Are you looking to die?” Spragg sneered menacingly. “Not for a long time, ugly.” Montie slammed her foot on the switch. The sound of heavy suction hummed in the air. The attacker laughed at the woman who stood with the vacuum in her hand.

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“What are you going to do? Give me a good cleaning? He shot out his bloody arm to grab hold of her. Montie swung the nozzle at him and it latched on the bulging front to his trousers. As she suspected the instrument of death attached onto its target with no intention of letting go. The machine was no longer the bane of her cleaning existence, it was her champion. “Hey—get it off me.” Her blond attacker wailed in a panic as he pulled frantically at the nozzle to no avail. Montie knew only too well the suction of the cleaner. The only way it would detach from its death grip was if the power was turned off and she wasn’t about to do that. Hard suction was the only thing that stood between her and rape. She watched as his face reddened as the nozzle sucked the fabric in hungrily. “This is painful, you bitch.” “It is meant to be, you dickhead,” she yelled at him over the noise. “Or maybe you won’t have a dick head when it’s finished.” That would be justice. “Montie,” Ballantyne yelled wildly as he charged into the room. He stopped dead in his tracks as he took in Montie’s naked bottom half and the purple-faced man who was painfully attached to the vacuum. “Ah…” He stopped as if confused. “It’s all under control, Tyne.” Montie replied coolly though she was incredibly relieved to see him. All the strength seemed to dissolve from her arms and legs as the fight or flight adrenaline rush left her. As if sensing this, Ballantyne moved toward the attacker and punched him hard in the face. There was the sound of bone cracking and the man fell to the ground under the power of the blow, the nozzle still attached to him. “Move and I will kill you,” Ballantyne threatened in a dangerously menacing voice. “I am glad you did that.” Montie kicked off the power to the cleaner. “I need something to tie this asshole up with.”

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Montie looked around Adam’s room, her eyes agog when she spied the handcuffs on the dressing table. I don’t want to know. She threw them to Ballantyne who kicked the man over and quickly cuffed him. “Remind me never to piss you off,” Ballantyne remarked when he straightened up and turned to her. “You already have.” Montie had the overwhelming urge to fall into Ballantyne’s arms but then she remembered she hated him and that could be viewed she had forgiven him. Montie was a grudge holder. “How did you know I needed you, um, I mean your help?” She casually placed her hands into front of her groin to hide her pussy. Yes, Ballantyne had seen it before but that was when she thought she loved him. It was different now. Ballantyne pulled off his jacket and threw it to her. “I couldn’t leave things the way they were between us. I came by to talk to you, chère. I saw the kicked in door and I knew you were in trouble.” Montie tied the arms of the jacket around her waist in a sarong-like manner to cover what needed to be covered. “There is nothing more for us to say.” She reached down to pick up the cordless phone she dropped earlier. Calling the police and getting the animal on the ground taken care of was the priority. As for Ballantyne, well, the sooner he left the quicker she could harden her heart to him. It was impossible to do it when he was standing right in front of her with such a sweet, understanding look in his eyes. Montie dialed and spoke to the emergency service operator. “They will be here in fifteen minutes,” she murmured as she disconnected the call. “Did he hurt you?” Ballantyne asked his voice tight with suppressed emotion as he was ready to hurt the attacker in kind. “Just bruises. I stabbed him in the arm with my nail scissors.” Ballantyne smiled softly.

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“Well done, chère.” He held out his arms to her. “Come here.” Yes please. “No, I hate you.” “No, you don’t.” He left his arms outstretched toward her as if he had no intention of giving up. Montie looked at him in annoyance. Okay Ballantyne was right. Hate was a strong word but she wasn’t about to admit that to him. “Whatever.” It as a half-assed response but under the circumstances it was the best she could do. “You should put your arms down or you’ll get a cramp.” “Would you care?” He dropped his arms. “I could not give a rat’s ass what happened to you, Ballantyne Teague.” He chuckled softly at her words. “Liar.” “That’s the pot calling the kettle black.” Montie retorted angrily as she stormed up toward him and poked him in the chest. “I wanted to believe you!” Oh shit, I am going to cry. She blinked furiously in an effort to stop the tears. “You can believe in my love for you.” Montie poked Ballantyne in the chest again. “What a load of crap.” She lifted her head as she heard the sirens. The attacker groaned. Montie turned and kicked him hard in the ribs to shut him up. Unfortunately, she did this in bare feet and the man had ribs of steel. “Fuck,” she muttered as she staggered at the pain. “Chère…” “I’m fine.” She sat down on the bed and massaged her foot. “No you’re not,” Ballantyne responded as he looked at her knowingly.

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“Piss off!” Montie snapped. She was angry at him, herself and the prick on the floor. She heard booted feet running up the stairs. Any further conversation with Ballantyne was finished as soon as the police appeared.

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Chapter Ten “So are you planning to sit on the sofa all day in your robe and eat Tim Tams, Montie?” Adam asked as he sat down beside her. “No, I may change to Cheetos in a moment as I feel the need for something cheesy.” “This is not going to help you.” He shook his head sadly. “Yeah but it won’t hurt.” Montie did not need a heartfelt lecture on picking herself up and moving just at that moment. Maybe tomorrow when her jeans were tight, she would move on. Or maybe she would not wear jeans. The thing was, she wanted to mope, she was entitled to mope and damn it she would mope. She had called in sick at work specifically to do so. “You will forgive him.” “No, I bloody won’t. He lied to me.” Ballantyne would have to cure cancer before that happened. Okay wait, that was irrational. Maybe she would cut him some slack and make it the common cold. “You lied as well.” “I did not.” She looked at him indignantly. Adam was gay. Montie expected him to understand the way she felt and not take Ballantyne’s side. Bloody men—they always stuck together. She dropped the last biscuit back in the pack. She was feeling a little queasy. “How can you say such a thing?” “Well you lied when you said you loved Ballantyne.” “I do love him.” He was, at the moment, a complete and utter bastard and needed to be punished. Another woman would understand immediately. “So what’s your problem then?” Adam arched a quizzical brow at her. Smart ass. Trying to use logic on me.

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“He… I… Tyne should have told me.” Wasn’t that enough? “Yes but Tyne did not really lie, did he?” Adam the pedantic. “By omission he did.” It was what Tyne did not say that hurt her. Montie felt like a fool. Adam reached out for her hand, wiping a smear of chocolate from it, before he held it companionably in his. “Do you think maybe he was trying to give you the fantasy you wanted? That making you happy made him happy? Let’s face it you fell for the man and not his occupation. Did you turn him away for being a thief?” “No but…” Logic sucked. Montie looked thoughtfully at Adam. “Is that what you did? Tried to play it straight with me so everyone would be happy?” “Yeah and it did not work.” Adam smiled knowingly at her. “I had to come to terms with who I was instead of worrying about what people would think. I hid behind you when my own happiness was at stake.” “Yes, well, that’s true.” Adam was happier now that she had ever seen him. “As for Ballantyne, he was never hiding behind me, he was playing some game right in front of me.” Adam shook his head at her words. “Maybe he went about it in the wrong way but he’s the man who wants to stand at your side if you’ll let him.” “You sound like a Hallmark card.” Montie looked at him pensively. Did Adam remember this was Ballantyne’s fault? “Anyway it’s not as easy as all that.” Forgiveness was hard when you were hurting. “It’s not that hard either, Montie,” Adam observed wryly. “Do not push him away just because for one small moment he did not measure up in your eyes. No one, man or woman, will ever be perfect.”

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Okay, yeah she had been doing that. And yes, while Ballantyne had not told her the exact truth, she was maybe at fault for wanting to believe the whole bad boy thing. Adam was right. Montie loved Ballantyne for the man he was not the man she thought he was. Uh-oh. “I think I may have screwed this up.” The realization of it hit her hard in the stomach and conflicted with the self-pity Tim Tams. “Not totally.” The confidence in Adam’s voice buoyed Montie. She ran a hand through her tangled hair in frustration. “How do I get him back?” Adam smiled at her. “You never lost him, Montie.” “You are being very Zen-like, Adam.” The man was normally calm but at this moment he was almost Yoda-like in his wisdom. “Nah, I am just being realistic whereas you want to punish Ballantyne for having one crazy, human moment where he wanted to impress his woman.” He held up his hand dismissively to her. “And don’t deny it. The bottom line is the man loves you. He wants you and he needs you. I suspect Ballantyne is waiting for you to make the first move. He is not going to allow you to stuff this up for the two of you.” “Gee, thanks Adam,” Montie snorted cynically, even though she knew she was lucky to have a friend who pointed out the obvious so bluntly. “So what are you going to do?” Montie blew out a sigh as she wondered how she could get Ballantyne back. “Any suggestions, Yoda?” Adam smiled and patted her cheek fondly. “Swallow your pride and go and see him now.”

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“You are right.” Montie stood up, crumbs dropped to the floor as she did. “I’ll go and see him and—crap! I don’t even know where Tyne works or lives.” What the hell sort of a basis was that for a relationship? Adam reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a navy blue embossed card. “Here’s his business card.” He placed it in her hand. “One of us was thinking.” “I was blindsided by sex.” Montie looked down at the card. Teague and Associates Security. “And love,” Adam added as he stood up beside her. “That too.” Mainly that… and the fantastic sex. “I’ll go now.” “Ah, I would suggest you change and shower first.” “Good plan.” She looked at Adam pensively. “What if…” “Just do it, Montie. Forget ‘what ifs’ and go with your heart. The rest of the stuff that may or may not have happened isn’t important if you love the man.”

***** “Is Ballantyne Teague in?” Montie asked as she looked at the woman behind the reception desk of the sleek, cool office that bespoke a calm, elegant confidence. The receptionist looked like a supermodel. Did Montie even have the right place? She was so nervous she could have wandered into any office. Though why she was so nervous she had no idea. This was Ballantyne. He said he loved her. Hopefully, he had forgotten those horrible things she said to him. If not this would be the shortest meeting of her life and she would officially be off sick from work due to her own wild temper. She took a deep breath and looked at the supermodel, er, receptionist “Um, is this Teague and Associates Security?” Montie looked at the subtle gold lettering on the wall proclaiming it to be so. She wasn’t sure if she was more jealous or impressed that Ballantyne had such a stunning employee to meet her. She was an employee, right? Montie eyed her warily.

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“Would you be Montie?” The woman asked with a pleasant smile as she rose gracefully to greet her. “Um, yes.” Montie shook hands with the woman who introduced herself as Sandra. How did she know who she was? “Come with me.” Sandra opened the office door beside her and led Montie inside. “Ballantyne has stepped out for a moment but he will be back soon.” Montie looked around the inner office. It was totally masculine and it bespoke strength and reassurance. Just like the man. “Um, maybe I should come back.” Montie was questioning the sanity of her being there. It would have been different if she had seen Ballantyne straightaway to gauge his mood. Sitting and waiting for him was an entirely different thing. “I have strict instructions not to let you go if you came into this office. Ballantyne Teague’s words were to ‘tie her down if you have to but do not let her escape’.” Montie felt a shiver of excitement run through her body. He wants me. Though whether this was to have in his life or just to give her a piece of his mind before he told her to piss off was the question. Montie looked at the glamorous creature before her. How could she hold her let alone “tie her down” and not break a nail? “I have a black belt in karate,” Sandra murmured as if sensing her thoughts. Okay, question answered. “I guess I can stick around.” Montie sat down on a nearby chair. “Good answer. Coffee or tea?” Montie arched her eyebrow at her. “Are you going to beat me up if I say no?” Sandra laughed in amusement. “I like you, Montie. You’ll be good for Ballantyne. Thank God you turned up as he was driving us all insane.” “Really?” Good to know Montie wasn’t the only with sanity issues. 124

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“Yeah and he had given himself until tomorrow to keep away from you.” Montie felt a rush of warmth suffuse her body as the thought of Ballantyne trying to keep in control when he really wanted to be anything else. “What happens after tomorrow?” “I believe he was going to kidnap and seduce you.” Sandra winked at her wryly. “Damn I would have liked that.” “I can still do it, chère,” Ballantyne said as he came into the office, his eyes locked on her. “Thanks Sandra.” He waited for her to leave. “Hello you.” “Um, hi.” Montie felt like a giddy schoolgirl facing her prom date. She was on edge with excitement and did not want to mess this up again. “Starting with an ‘um’, this must be important. And you’re blushing.” Ballantyne sat down on the edge of his desk and smiled at her. “What do you have on your mind, chère?” Montie looked at him and could not think of what to say as everything was so jumbled in her mind. “I, um…ah… Oh crap, I don’t know.” She stood up suddenly. Maybe this was a bad idea to come here. “Don’t know what?” Ballantyne eyes never left hers. She threw her hands up in the air. “I don’t know what the hell to say to you, Tyne.” Everything she practiced in the car on the way over now seemed so dumb to her. “What about that you love me?” he suggested standing and casually moving toward her. “You know that,” Montie said as she wondered how she was going to explain when she felt when it was so jumbled up in her mind. “It’s everything else that I let get in the way. You were right. I wanted to believe in some dumb burglar fantasy and I was looking for an out when you got too close.” 125

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“I know that, chère,” Ballantyne’s voice was soft, like a caress. Montie sighed in frustration. The man was irritating with his know-it-all attitude. If she did not love Ballantyne so much she would walk out on him then and there. “See, now that just pisses me off when you say stuff like that.” “Because I know you so well?” Ballantyne stopped still before her. “Yes and I know nothing about you.” He had this whole other life with a smart office and a gorgeous receptionist that she knew nothing about. “Oh chère, of course you do.” Ballantyne’s hands slid down to her waist and held her gently as if scared to be too forceful or to let go. “What do I know?” she asked in exasperation. “That you have a lickable body and I would gladly die in your arms and spend eternity with you inside me? That you have the sexy, teasing smile that makes me hot all over when I think of the possibilities between us? That your eyes are so mesmerizing that I want to come just looking at you?” Montie rambled on wildly letting her feelings out. “That you say the sweetest, kindest things to make me feel good, to feel safe and protected? That I can do and be whoever I want to be around you?” Montie stopped and looked at Ballantyne. Oh duh. She knew him and the rest she would find out about so why was she beating herself up over nothing? Ballantyne smiled at her words. “You know a lot about me, chère.” He gently pulled her against his body. This was home. “You’re a good man, Ballantyne Teague.” She touched his face lovingly. “You make me so, Montgomery French,” he answered, his heart in his eyes. Montie looked at him in wonder. “Really?” “Really,” he confirmed, as his lips met hers.

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Montie gave herself up completely to the kiss. This is what her soul had been craving for. This man fulfilled her needs like no other. He understood her and he loved her. What more could she ask of him? There was something. Montie broke odd the kiss. “Who exactly is Sandra?” Ballantyne chuckled at her words and cuddled her in his arms. “She is a colleague and nothing more.” He touched her nose teasingly. “There will be no other woman for me but you.” “That’s the perfect answer, Tyne.” “I know, chère.” He grinned in satisfaction. “You know, I expect I am probably going to mess this up at some stage.” That was a given to Montie. She was new to this whole love thing and anything new had the possibility of her stuffing up. “That’s okay I can deal with that because I love you.” Montie kissed him, flinging her arms around his neck. She had never been one to initiate affection or emotion but then she had never been given the chance. Ballantyne had given her that. “That means everything to me, Tyne. You mean everything to me.” “This is for keeps, chère.” Montie pulled her head back and looked at him in mock seriousness. “I hope you intend to keep me in the style I have become accustomed to.” “I will buy shares in Tim Tams to honor you, my lady.” Ballantyne promised in an overly gallant voice. “Be with me forever?” “Yes please.”

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Epilogue “Wise men say only fools rush in… “But I can’t help falling in love with you,” Ballantyne sang low into Montie’s ear as they swayed together on the dance floor. She sighed happily, her body plastered against his as they barely moved. They were just content to be in each other’s arms. “You had them play that.” Ballantyne was, in her eyes, the sweetest man on the planet. They were dancing at Adam and David’s commitment ceremony. The band, played, the guests were merry and the food and drinks abundant as they celebrated the happy couple’s day. “Yes, chère,” Ballantyne confirmed lazily, his sleepy eyes on hers. “I thought I’d get you liquored up, sing to you and then have my wicked way with you.” He sang softly in time with the music. No alcohol was needed for that. “You think I am that easy?” For Ballantyne, she was. He rolled his eyes at her mockingly. “You are anything but, chère.” He twirled her suddenly. “You drive me crazy.” Montie held onto him as Ballantyne tried out his Fred Astaire moves. “I’m your woman, that’s my job.” She smiled smugly at him. “And you do it wonderfully well.” Ballantyne looked over at Adam and David. “They look happy.” The two men in question were laughing and excited as if they knew this was the first step in a long life together.

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“Yeah, I am pleased for them.” Adam had been through a lot. He deserved happiness. “What about us, chère?” We need to set a date.” Montie and Ballantyne had gotten engaged a week after their reunion. It was quick and sudden but it was no different from how they met. “I like being engaged to you, Tyne.” It was true. All the things Montie had thought she would not like sharing on a permanent basis, she loved. She liked rolling over in bed and seeing his face in the morning, all scratchy with stubble. And as promised, Ballantyne cooked and cleaned. He was a miracle. But most importantly she loved him with a passion and an honesty she never thought she was capable of. But she was, because of Ballantyne. “I am in no rush to get married.” Montie knew they would when the time was right. “Okay just so long as I’m not making you look like a fallen woman.” “Oh I have fallen for you,” Montie started to sing along to the music. Ballantyne instantly put his hand over her mouth gently. “I love you but never sing in my presence again.” Montie pushed his hand away. “You’re just jealous of my voice, Tyne.” It was ghastly Montie knew but that did not stop her singing whenever she felt like it. “Yes, that’s it. I am jealous of your ability to shatter glass with your voice.” Montie laughed at his words. Ballantyne always made her smile. “Take me home,” she whispered against his lips enticingly. “I want to fall a little further.” “Yes, chère.”

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About the Author Amarinda Jones believes anything is possible and sometimes just asking for the impossible will surprise someone enough that they will give it to you. Writing is like that. Put it out there and wait for a response. There is always the possibility you may fall on your ass, but after all, that’s what cellulite is for. Amarinda believes in taking chances, speaking her mind and aging disgracefully. Twenty years from now she plans on being the neighborhood witch that all the kids are scared of. But then, everyone has to have a hobby.

Amarinda welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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Also by Amarinda Jones Because I Can Mad About Mirabelle Maid for Death Marlow’s Curse Seducing Celestine Shades of Gray Thief of Mine Unbreakable

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