Summer Sizzlers [Anthology]

SUMMER SIZZLERS ANTHOLOGY by Karen Mandeville, Brenda Williamson, C’ann Inman, Ann Cory, Jenna Howard, Sherrill Quinn,...

Author: Williamson Baldwin

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SUMMER SIZZLERS ANTHOLOGY by

Karen Mandeville, Brenda Williamson, C’ann Inman, Ann Cory, Jenna Howard, Sherrill Quinn, Jamie Hill, Susan M. Sailors, Emma Wildes & Barbara J. Baldwin

WHISKEY CREEK PRESS www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Published by WHISKEY CREEK PRESS Whiskey Creek Press PO Box 51052 Casper, WY 82605-1052 www.whiskeycreekpress.com Joy Ride Copyright  2006 by Karen Mandeville His Hot Kiss Copyright  2006 by Brenda Williamson School’s Out Copyright  2006 by C’ann Inman Courting Love Copyright  2006 by Nancy Jackson Sizzling Summer Copyright  2006 by Jenna Howard Hot Time In The City Copyright  2006 by Sherrill Quinn Far From Ordinary Copyright  2006 by Jamie Hill The Labyrinth Copyright  2006 by Susan M. Sailors Satan’s Slave Copyright  2006 by Katherine Smith Magnolia Summer Copyright  2006 by Barbara J. Baldwin Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ISBN 1-59374-530-3

Credits Cover Artist: Jinger Heaston Editor: Chere Gruver Printed in the United States of America

Dedication For all our wonderful readers who like their summers and their romance hot and steamy!

Table of Contents Joy Ride 1 Karen Mandeville

His Hot Kiss

13

Brenda Williamson

School’s Out 41 C’ann Inman

Courting Love

61

Ann Cory

Sizzling Summer 77 Jenna Howard

Hot Time In The City

103

Sherrill Quinn

Far From Ordinary

127

Jamie Hill

The Labyrinth 149 Susan M. Sailors

Satan’s Slave

165

Emma Wildes

Magnolia Summer Barbara J. Baldwin

189

JOY RIDE by

Karen Mandeville

1

Summer Sizzlers Anthology

Jaymi snaked her hand along her neck and flicked her long hair out. It was damp. She was a hot girl. She sighed as it was not a good hot. The heat was so stifling, it was almost too hot to do anything, let alone touch another person. It was not the weather for long hair but she rummaged all through her handbag with no luck for a band to tie it back. She heard people passing her talking about the weather and how this snap heat wave was going to last for the next week. She waved her hand in front of her face in a desperate attempt to cool herself, but that provided little relief. Must get home. Get out of the heat and into a cold shower. Bring on winter! She smiled at the man standing in the shade of a lone palm tree in the center of a car park. “You might consider going inside,” she called. “Airconditioned.” What a fool. She groped in her bag for her keys as her heels clicked on the hot ground. Jaymi let her handbag strap drop from her shoulder to her elbow as she neared her car. The car alarm beeped as she pressed the button to open the lock. Swinging the door to her silver sports car wide open, the hot air knocked her back a few steps. She slid into the car seat and slammed the door shut. The heat from the seat against the back of her body caused her to jump. 2

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Fuckin’ hell, that’s hot,” she called out to no one, grabbing at the material of her skirt to cover the backs of her legs. She gasped as the stifling hot air filled her lungs. In an instant, she coughed as she fought to breathe the hot air. She felt like she was in a sauna. Sweat beaded across her face and under her hair. She grabbed at the window handle and wound it down. “It’s hotter than hell inside here!” It was the hottest summer she’d experienced in a long time. Summer was her most hated season. It was just too hot to do anything. If she walked to the mailbox, she felt overheated and sweaty. If she wanted to work out, she would have to do it first thing in the morning to avoid heat exhaustion. The only thing she liked about summer was the excuse to eat ice cream and swimming. She wore the lightest clothes she could find, falling short of walking around in a bikini to keep cool. Her strappy heels were the coolest thing available for her feet, other than going barefoot. She fumbled with the keys to get them in the ignition, desperate to turn on the air-conditioning. The first blast was hotter than what it was outside the car but within seconds, the air had taken on a welcome chill. Adjusting the vents, she waited for the seat to cool down before she reclined. She smiled at how the blast of air licked at the ends of her hair causing them to tickle her face and neck. Her skin prickled against the two contrasting sensations of the cool air in the hot surroundings. The hot seatbelt strap burned between her breasts as she clicked it into place and gripped the steering wheel. Flinching, she let her fingers dance as she searched for a place that didn’t burn her hands before pulling out of the parking space. “Teach me to park outside,” she cursed. She slid her hand along her thigh before she flipped the hem of the skirt up. The 3

Summer Sizzlers Anthology air blasted toward her just enough to lift the edges of her skirt. She sighed as the cool air made its way where she wanted it to go. Pushing her sunglasses high on her nose, she pulled her car onto the road. What a day. The only thing she had her mind set on was a nice, cool shower and then a night in front of the television with a huge bowl of ice cream. She never did cope well with the heat. She pushed the hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand and let out a long breath. Turning onto the freeway, she voiced her disgust. Jaymi shook her head as she looked at the line of traffic ahead of her and groaned. Then she checked the rearview mirror. More traffic. She was blocked in. Nowhere to go but follow the gridlock. She was thankful for the air-conditioning as she twisted the dial to its highest setting. The whole car filled with crisp, cool air that made her skin prickle. She looked at the people in the cars surrounding her. Some of them had all four windows down. She rested her hands on her thighs as she waited for the traffic to crawl forward. The motor hummed as she curled her fingers around the bottom of her skirt and lifted it away from her skin. Jaymi rolled her hand back onto the rest as she felt the cool air through her black lacy briefs. She shivered with the coolness coming from the other vent aimed at her neck. Her damp hair took on the chill of the air as it pressed against her neck and shoulders. She flicked her damp fringe off her forehead and leant her arm against the hot leather on the window frame to prop her head. Praying for the traffic to move, the cool air worked to 4

Summer Sizzlers Anthology decrease Jaymi’s rage. All she desperately wanted to do was to get home, but from the looks of the traffic backed up, it was going to be a while. Jaymi flicked the radio button and wound the volume. Shifting the gear into park, she tapped her fingers on her thighs with the tune. The low bass beat made her grind her hips into the warm leather seat. She’d heard this song many times before, but there was something new about it. Something sexy. She wriggled her hips to the beat and adjusted all the vents so they pointed at her. The cool air had turned cold as she opened the top button of her shirt and spread it wide to show off the top of her bra. Her nipples were hard from the chilly air. Her hands moved slowly over her shirt as she wound the volume up more. Her fingers caressed her inner thighs causing shivers to run down her spine. She smiled as she snapped her knees shut from the tickling sensation. She could feel her pussy squelch gently as she opened her legs again to the air conditioner. Jaymi had been so preoccupied by work and the heat that she had to think of the last time she’d took time to pleasure herself. She jumped when her cell phone rang. “Hello?” she said after pressing the hands-free button and turning down the stereo. “Hi, Jaymi, it’s Andrew.” “Hey, how are you? What have you been up to? I’m stuck in a traffic jam, so it’s a perfect time to chat.” “Which freeway?” “The National.” “Me, too. Which section are you on?” “I just turned on from the city. It’s gridlocked where I am.” “Oh, I’m about ten minutes behind you then.” 5

Summer Sizzlers Anthology I’d like you behind me, she thought with a smile. “So I haven’t heard from you in a while. What’s been happening?” Andrew asked. Jaymi had deliberately been avoiding his calls. She was slightly reserved about Andrew. Andrew worked for the same company she did, just in a different department. Several of their co-workers had worked hard to try and set them up, but Jaymi never liked the thought of an office romance. Andrew was her opposite. He had light hair, hers was dark. His dark eyes were the exact opposite to her light-colored ones. There were many qualities that she liked about him but it was not enough to give her the confidence to follow through. She’d decided that she was happy for him to be a part of her fantasies for now. “Everything has been happening. Work is good. Keeping me very busy. This heat is just fucking awful. Stopping me from being busy.” “This heat is a bit of a joke. Perhaps we could take a cold shower together?” Jaymi’s mouth dropped open. Did he just say what I think he said? “Are you still there, Jaymi?” he asked. “Yeah, I’m here. Sorry there must have been a bit of interference,” she said, shaking her head. “What did you say?” Andrew laughed. “What did you think I said?” “I don’t know,” she lied. “It was all muffled and distorted. Sounded like you said something about a shower.” “Well that would be interesting,” he said. “What are you doing now?” “Trying to get this air-conditioning to cool me down a bit,” she said. Jaymi’s hard nipples tingled with the brush of the cold air. The mesh on her bra clamped down tight as she continued to seat dance. She looked at the traffic on both sides crawling along 6

Summer Sizzlers Anthology while her lane stood still. Her heavily-tinted windows kept her concealed. Rolling her eyes and tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, she let her attention go back to the growing sensation of the air blowing under her skirt. “So when are we going to let me fuck you?” Andrew said. “What!” she said, reaching to turn the music off completely. “I said when are we going for this drink?” he asked. Jaymi wasn’t sure if it was a slight case of heat stroke, the music or the sound of Andrew’s voice sounding sexy as he spoke, but she felt very relaxed. Was he really saying those things, or was she hearing what she wanted him to say? She inched her fingers along her inner thigh as she waited for any sign of movement from the cars ahead of her. “Oh, sorry. There must be a lot of static. I don’t know. I’m planning an early night tonight. Get the air-conditioning going at home and then just flake out. I’ve had a busy and long week. Need some kick back time,” she said. “Well, we all need that,” he said. “I can sense you feel a bit funny about us working together and then having something going. Would you like to get a beer and chill out? I have a great outdoor setting that needs to be broken in. I haven’t had guests over for a long time. I’d really like to get to know you better, you know. On a non-work level.” She was slightly shocked but also impressed. Was this his way of announcing his interest in her? “That sounds great. I’ll let you know,” she said. He sounded too sexy for her inner voice’s liking. She let her hand move between her legs. She was surprised at how wet her underwear was. She didn’t know how much was perspiration or from inside her. “Oh the traffic is moving now, Andrew. I’ll ring you when I get home and tell you if I’m coming over, okay?” 7

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She was desperate to get him off the phone for fear of replying with a yes and then wanting to sleep with him. She didn’t want to make her job any more complicated. “Um, okay, well I’ll talk with you soon,” he said. “Uh-ha,” she said, flicking the button on the phone and putting her hands on the steering wheel. “Shit, shit, shit. What have I done?” She liked Andrew. He had become her secret lover. So secret that he didn’t even know. She used him in her fantasies and if she started to see him, then the lines would become blurred. She needed her focus to be sharp. She worked with him. She couldn’t date him. She turned the stereo up and resumed moving to the music. Her skin felt cool as she ran her tongue over her lips, while her fingers outlined her knickers. Moving her hand under her skirt, she snagged her underwear and pulled them down. They were wet. She smiled and took no time in bunching them up and throwing them over her handbag. She’d done that many times before. If an underwire from her bra was sticking into her, she’d take it off. The same applied for her underwear. She shifted in the seat and spread her legs. The cool air was a stark contrast to the heat coming from her wet opening. She shivered from the delightful sensation. She fantasized about his hands touching her. Caressing her skin. Feeling every inch of her body. She let her hand roam to her hairless opening and parted her lips. Her fingers found no resistance from her wet pussy. Her clit contracted from her touch as she continued further down between her legs. She pushed her sunglasses higher up her nose as she looked to the surrounding cars. 8

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She smiled at a neighboring driver as she wriggled her fingers into her hole. He had no idea what she was doing. Not that she really cared either. It was too hot to care. She didn’t think that anyone could see her hands down there anyway. She closed her eyes and imagined it was Andrew’s hand moving over her. Her legs opened wider and she cried out as her right knee connected hard into the door with a thud. She held her fingers to the vent until they tingled and quickly returned them to her clit. She let a small gasp escape from her lips as the delicious sensation crawled up her spine. She fondled her clit until her fingers warmed. She loved the fact that her car was automatic. Reaching her leg over the gear stick and wriggling deeper into the seat, she returned her fingers to the vent as she crawled the car forward. She unbuttoned her blouse further and exposed her bra as she hitched her skirt higher. She pinched her clit between her fingers and gave her hard nipple a tweak. Jaymi shifted in the seat as tingles ran up and down her spine. She pulled her fingers free, then she grabbed the steering wheel and moved the car forward. Putting the car into park once more, her fingers returned to her hot spot in an instant. Her hand kneaded her breast as she scooted to the edge of the seat. Her juices squelched as she pushed through the folds. Her tongue darted across her lips as she continued to play with herself. She imagined Andrew’s lips taking hold of her nipple and suckling at her breast. She leant forward and giggled at the feel of his imaginary mouth. Her insides grasped hold of her fingers as she relaxed onto them. She could hear the faint sound of the engine purring over the music as she felt her heart beat in time 9

Summer Sizzlers Anthology with the bass. Pulling her fingers out, she trailed her juicy fingers up to her clit and rubbed it. She gasped gently as the small nub moved under her touch. She rocked against the leather seat in time with the music. She cursed when she had to roll the car forward another car length. She steered the car with her knee before putting the gear in park again. She quickly returned her fingers to continue her pleasure. She focused on her clit as she pinched it between her thumb and forefinger. She brought her hips to the edge of the seat and held onto the steering wheel as she rubbed her clit harder. Her fingers worked a tiny foam through her juices as her toes started to curl in her shoes. Another heavy bass song kicked in over the stereo, heightening her senses. She closed her eyes just for a moment and imagined she was not stuck in her car. No one else was around. She had all the space in the world to do whatever she wanted. Just her. Her fingers worked the buttons on her shirt and pulled at her bra, exposing her breasts fully. She circled her left nipple with her fingertips as her finger worked on her clit. She took another deep breath as the muscles in her legs and butt flexed involuntarily while her clit contracted. She relished the sensation she could give herself. She rubbed both sides of her clit before pinching it again. A hundred tiny tingles started in her pussy and coursed throughout her body as she rubbed faster. Her legs spread open further as she savored the feeling. She reached back and grabbed hold of the headrest as she sucked in a quick breath before letting out a long, loud sigh. Pressing her clit, she dug her nails into the material before moving her fingers to enter her pussy again. Her fingers curled against the front wall. She could feel a connection between the 10

Summer Sizzlers Anthology inside of the pussy, her clit and the heat from her body swimming in the cool air. It was all becoming too much. Her mind was going foggy. She bucked against the seat and moved on her hand. The music pumped as her clit bounced. She let go of her grip on the headrest and returned her fingers to circle her clit. Her pussy clenched and trapped her wiggling fingers. Her back arched, beckoning for both hands to push harder. Swirling her hips around and around, she was pushed to the point of no return. She cried out as the tingles turned into waves. She couldn’t help but grind her hips onto her hands as she struggled to calm her breathing. She gasped as her body pulsed. Pussy juice covered both of her hands as she struggled to breathe. A low hum had turned into a squeal as she came on her hands. She pulled her fingers free and pulled at the top of her vagina to fully expose her clit. Her clit nerves tensed as her fingers worked it over up and down. A short wave turned into a continual one as she shuddered. She swallowed hard trying to catch her breath. Her throat ached from the cool air as her body shook with her touch. Her skin prickled again. She could smell herself. She liked how she smelt. She forced herself to stop playing her fingers over her clit as it pulsed gently. Visions of her last sexual experience in a car made her laugh. She was with a boyfriend and the majority of what she saw was the ceiling interior. How things have changed, she thought as she gave her clit one last rub. Another shudder ran through her body. She smiled at the thought of turning a boring situation into a great one. With a shaky hand, she reached to turn down the stereo. Her few moments of bliss were shot to pieces when a horn sounded from the car behind her. 11

Summer Sizzlers Anthology The fog of bliss disappeared as her eyes opened wide and she jumped to uncurl her leg from the gear shaft and put the car in drive. As she moved the car forward, she caught sight of her exposed breasts. Pussy juice smeared over her breasts as she grabbed at her shirt to cover them. She looked around to see if anyone had been watching her and snickered at the thought of being caught. Jaymi’s giggles turned into belly laughs at the thought of what she had just done. She moved and pressed down on her wet pussy savoring the last of the sensations. She knew she was going to have a wet spot on the back of her skirt but she didn’t care. She was heading home. She felt a huge sense of release. She pulled the rearview mirror to look at her disheveled hair. Being stuck in a traffic jam no longer bothered her. She searched for Andrew’s number in her phone. “Hey, you, sorry about that,” she said breathlessly. “I’m sick of living in a traffic jam. How about that beer?”

12


HIS HOT KISS by

Brenda Williamson

13


Mallory looked up from her exam of the blueprints of the house they were currently building. “Watch out!” someone shouted. She tripped over an electrical cord and fell hard on the unyielding concrete slab. The whole framework of a freestanding interior wall fell. It crashed within inches of her and spared her added pain. “How the hell did that fall?” She eyed the workers. “Where’s the bracing for this wall?” “Mallory, are you all right?” Cort yelled, working his way through the framework of an exterior wall. “Find out who removed the brace from this wall,” she ordered him. “Your father’s here,” he nodded to the pickup truck parked near her jeep. “Great.” She groaned when she saw him talking to one of the workers. She tried to think of how to fight the argument he’d bring up. “So, you’ve had another mishap. How did it happen?” She took a short, deep breath. His grim face told all of his thoughts. Every aged line with the set of his straight, tight lips warned her he was going to try to pull her off the job again.

14

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “I don’t know, Dad. The wall had a brace and someone removed it.” She rolled up the blueprint and nervously tapped it along her leg. “This is the third accident in two weeks, Mallory. Maybe this isn’t where you should be.” He draped an arm over her shoulder and led her along through doorway gaps of wood until they were outside. “This is getting serious, cupcake. Let Cort handle this house and you can run the show on another.” “This is my project. I’ve waited years for you to let me finally be the one in charge instead of him. I own half of this business and I have an equal say. I’m not your twelve year old little cupcake any more, I’m twenty-four.” “I know you can handle the actual job and the problems. It’s this particular one that worries me with the threats, and the environmentalist group being involved.” “I don't know why the law can’t do anything about those activists. If you ask me, Braden Harwood needs to spend a little time dealing with this situation himself.” “The police have all the information,” a man said from behind her. “There’s no proof the environmental group is behind the problems here.” Mallory turned to see the body attached to the sexy deep voice. He reached a hand past her to her father. She picked up a hint of his cologne, a spicy musk, very appealing. “Mr. Parker, another problem?” he asked, shaking her father’s hand. “No problem, a small construction mistake by a worker, that’s all. It’s been taken care of. This is my daughter, Mallory. She’s in charge of your project.” “Miss Parker.” He offered his hand and a smile. “I’m Braden Harwood.” Mallory put her fingers in his warm palm. He didn’t seem to care she stared too long, and she didn’t mind the long minute 15

Summer Sizzlers Anthology he took to rub a caress with his thumb over the back of her hand. Electric shocks rode up her arm making the chambray shirt she wore feel even hotter than she’d thought earlier. “A lot has been done. I’m impressed. If I’m not interrupting, maybe you could give me a tour, Miss Parker?” “Yes, of course.” Mallory took her time going through the different planned rooms and reminding him what they were. “I’m not sure I like where the laundry room is located,” he commented as they went through a kitchen area and another utility room before coming to where the laundry facilities would be. “It’s exactly where it’s shown on the design.” She started to unfurl the blueprint. “Oh I don’t doubt that, I guess I just didn’t pay much attention to the layout. My fiancée was pretty much in charge. Can it be changed?” He put his hand on the edge of the blueprint and leaned against her back to look over her shoulder. A tremor turned up every hair follicle on her skin. She wondered if her deodorant and mouth wash were still working. “Your architect could make the alteration. If you’d like, I could call him and see what could be done.” She inhaled the intoxicating scent of his cologne. “No, that’s all right. I don’t want to get into a time consuming battle with him.” “I could make an addition of a small stackable washer/dryer unit in this linen closet.” She flipped the page over and pointed to the hall on the second level. “Near the master bedroom?” His finger followed the hall lines to the doorway. “Too close? We could…” She held her breath. He had slanted further and she felt the distinct bulge in his pants press against her ass. 16

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Not close enough for me.” He rubbed against her. “Then sitting it right in the bedroom would be ideal, yet I think it would also be considered an eyesore. I like your idea. Do it.” She nodded, afraid her voice would come out as a squeak. “To have such a quick fix makes me think you’ve already studied this plan.” He put a hand on her back. The heat leached through her shirt. Then he suddenly stepped back. She let out a fast but silent puff of air. “Yes. Sort of a habit with me to find what I think are flaws. I don’t mean that your design is bad. It’s little things like the washer and dryer. It comes from living alone and doing for myself, I suppose. I just imagined having to go that far to wash my clothes and then carrying them back upstairs.” “Precisely my problem with that laundry room, I suppose Jenna didn’t consider it because she’d have a maid.” He looked through the frame of where windows would give a view of the gulf. “Do you have any other suggestions for changes you’d make?” “I do, but some would cost a considerable amount to make now that we’ve already framed the lower half of the house and are working on the second story.” “I’d still like to hear them. How about over dinner tonight at my condo?” “Any changes might be better for you to visualize from here, instead of on a piece of paper. Besides, don’t you think you should ask your fiancée first?” She tried not to let him catch her looking at him, but he seemed to be doing his own share of observing her. “I’m sorry, did I not mention Jenna is my ex-fiancée? We’ve gone our separate ways. Seems I wasn’t as in love with her as much as I thought.” 17

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Oh, I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you,” she said as sincerely as possible without meaning it. “I suppose we could just discuss the changes I would make first and if any sound like they’d interest you, we could go over them here.” “Then my place for dinner?” “An early one, I do have to show up here at seven tomorrow morning.” “Five o’clock? I could come pick you up, if you’d like.” “I can manage to drive myself, Mr. Harwood.” “It’s Braden.” He ran a hand over his blond, sun-bleached hair. The wavy locks obeyed his positioning of them. “I suppose I should go see about cleaning up my condo. No telling where I’ve left my dirty clothes scattered.” He chuckled. “I’ll see you later.” She felt the sigh bubbling up her throat and swallowed. **** At three o’clock when they quit for the day, Mallory stayed behind to go over the ideas she had. The elaborate changes would encompass so much more of the view. Measurements, calculations, and considerations were given to the details she jotted down. She made notations faintly in pencil on the blueprint so she could erase them later. Then she looked at her watch with the idea she had plenty of time. “Oh no, four thirty already! I’m going to be late.” She hurried to her jeep and drove the fifteen minute drive home. During the drive, she tried information and discovered no listing for Braden in Gulf Shores. She tried his cell number from the blueprint, but only got his voicemail. “Braden, this is Mallory Parker. I’m sorry but I got held up. I’ll be late by about half an hour.” She hung up the phone and then dialed Kara’s apartment and got the machine. “Kara, pick up the phone. It’s important.” 18

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Mallory? I thought you were going to Braden Harwood’s for dinner?” “I am and I’m going to be late. Would you go in my apartment and pick me out something to wear? I’m turning on our road now.” “Sure, but just how sexy do you want to be?” “This is work related and dinner is at his home, make it something in the way of conservative please. I’m parking the car, Kara, hurry up.” She found Kara rummaging through her closet, tossing clothes on the bed. She jumped in the shower just long enough to do the basics, thankful she had shaved all areas of herself the night before. “Kara! I can’t wear that, it’s too tight,” she wailed, blow drying her shoulder-length hair. “Oh go on. You’ve got the figure for it. Besides, it’s conservative.” Then she giggled. Mallory groaned in defeat and tugged the sleeveless fleshtone dress over her head. The stretchy, clingy material followed every curve from neck to knee. She glanced in the mirror. “I look naked.” “I think you’ll knock his socks off…and maybe his shirt, shorts, and any other clothing he might be wearing.” Kara pushed a hand into Mallory’s hair at her temples and fluffed it up. “You look terrific.” “I better get going.” She slipped on the tan pumps with the short, fat heels. “Lock up for me,” she called, rushing out the door and down to her jeep. **** Braden paced the length of his living room. Five thirty, where is she? He hadn’t felt an attraction to a woman in a long time and he hoped he wasn’t wrong about the way she looked at him. 19

Summer Sizzlers Anthology The doorbell rang and he rushed up to open it. Not even a hesitant look through the peephole slowed him down. “I’m sorry I’m late.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “I was going over some details at your house and the time just seemed to slip away. I left you a message on your cell.” “Oh, I think I might have left that in the car. No problem.” He gestured for her to come in while his gaze surveyed her every curve. His hand itched to put a hand on her…anywhere. He didn’t think it would be possible for her to look even more beautiful than when he first saw her. “You have a lovely condo.” She went immediately to the balcony doors and looked out. “Thank you.” He reached around her to open them for her. “You have a nice view of the Gulf as well. I love to watch the waves gently rolling into the foamy surf along the beach. I see the bright blue umbrellas with white chairs lined up on the sand and I wish I were little again.” She leaned on the railing looking down. Her shapely leg bent up and with a mindless wiggle of her foot, her shoe sprung on and off. He took the moment with her back turned to adjust his pants and batten down his ready cock. “Would you care for a drink?” “Water would be perfect. I’m not much into alcoholic beverages.” “I’ll be right back then.” “Do you spend anytime on the beach?” she asked when he returned. “Not recently. Not since Jenna and I split.” He handed her a wine glass half filled with a couple cubes of ice and water. “She liked the beach?” “Detested it, said if God meant for her to have sand in every crevice of her body, he’d have put it there.” 20

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Would seem some of us don’t mind the torture.” She laughed. “Would you like to go down? Dinner can wait.” He stroked a finger along the outer edge of her shoulder. “No that’s all right. I’m not exactly dressed for playing in the sand.” She headed back into the condo. The fist wobble, Braden grabbed Mallory’s waist. He heard the wine flute, thin and fragile, crack in her hand. Blood dripped onto his arm while he cupped her elbow and held it up. “Here, come into the kitchen.” “My shoe is caught.” He looked down to see her shoe heel wedged in the sliding door track. “Take your foot out and leave it. We need to see how bad your hand is cut.” He guided her around the broken glass on the floor. She limped, one shoe on, one shoe off. Her hobble let him feel the body beneath the dress. She made him hot. He trailed his fingers along her hip. At the sink, he causally glided his hand over her supple bottom. Then he turned on the faucet and ran water slowly over her fingers and palm. Holding it up, he examined her skin in detail to remove shards of glass. “Tell me if you feel any more.” He dabbed her hand with a clean dish towel retrieved from a drawer. The white cloth soaked up every spot of blood that oozed from her flesh. “It just stings. I don’t think there’s any glass.” He pulled off his blood-spotted shirt and wrapped it around her hand. “Braden, that’s an expensive shirt!” “It’s not important.” He held her elbow as she limped toward a chair at the table. “Here, you might as well take the other shoe off.” 21

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He bent down and lifted her foot. He held her leg for just a minute. Then he retrieved the shoe from the door track and put the pair on the counter. “A little battle worn.” He showed her the scrapes on the leather. She plopped down on the wood seat and shrugged her shoulders. “I have others.” “Ready to eat?” “Actually yes, I’m starved. I forgot to eat lunch.” Braden turned the stove on to heat water for spaghetti. “Why don’t you tell me some of your ideas for my house?” “That was the other reason I was late.” She groaned. “I had stayed at the site making notations so we could go over them and I left the blueprint on my seat when I went home to change. When I got back in the jeep, they were missing.” “Missing? Are you sure you didn’t take them inside?” “No, I remember thinking they would be perfectly safe. Somebody must have stolen them. Luckily, I have other sets, but not with all the work I redrew today. We could go to my office and get another set. I don’t know all the measurements, but I remember all the ideas I had.” “That’s all right. We can do that in the morning at the house. You can just give me a general idea tonight. One day isn’t going to make a difference now.” “You know what I do for a living. What do you do?” “I own things.” “Sort of a supercilious answer, don’t you think?” “Sorry, I don’t mean to sound like a snob. But I own things like stores, a charter airplane service, fishing boats…just things that happen to make money.” He checked the garlic bread in the oven and added the spaghetti to the pot. “So you don’t do anything physically to make money?” 22

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “You mean like swing a hammer? No, nothing that physical.” He let his eyes drift the length of her leg. The muscled calf crossed over the shin of her other leg. “Maybe if I did, I wouldn’t have to work out in my gym four days a week.” “I suppose you stay pretty busy watching over things.” “Don’t really watch them. I have people who do that also.” “There’s nothing you do, or would like to?” He brought a salad to the table with the urge to dump it on her and get her out of the dress. “I didn’t exactly say that. Tell me about you. How long have you been actively building houses?” “Oh my, I started when I was sixteen, so that would be, ah seven years now.” She stabbed a piece of lettuce with her fork and put it in her mouth. **** Throughout dinner, they talked mostly about his house, the conversation never seeming to get back to personal information. Braden liked many of the ideas she had and said he thought he might like to make the changes. After all, he told her, he’d be living there and he’d like the house to be perfect. “I should go. It’s already past my bedtime.” She gave a small laugh. “I’m afraid leaving for work at six fifteen doesn’t allow me to stay up much past nine at night.” She went for her shoes still on the counter. While she could have put them on herself, Braden took the tan pumps from her hand and stooped down. His hand slid from her calf to her heel slowly as he put one shoe on. When he did the other, she was not prepared for the continued caress of the back of her leg. His fingers were firm, smooth, and hot on the sensitive skin behind her knee. “You have beautiful skin.” His hot whisper touched her leg. She didn’t move and he took the invite to journey further. The dress glided up hooked on his thumbs as he stroked the back 23

Summer Sizzlers Anthology of her thighs. She clutched his shoulders for support as the dress went higher. She made a small sound when she felt his fingers grasp her thong panties. They rode down with a trail of small, soft kisses. Her thighs trembled even after he stopped slurping over her leg. He lifted her foot and removed the thong. Lifting higher, he put her foot, still in the scuffed shoe, on the chair. Her dress stretched tight from hip to hip. Her shaved cunt quivered in the cool air. Braden kissed the inside of her thigh with feathery touches of his lips. She breathed heavier, faster, and small whines of excitement were carried on each exhale. “Tell me if I should stop,” he murmured when he had kissed up the length of her leg. With her center exposed as wide as the inside of a rose in full bloom, speech didn't seem possible. If he wanted a verbal answer, none would come. Her mind screamed don’t stop, her conscious thoughts fell on are you kidding? The first wiggle of his tongue rode her engorged clit. She had started the orgasm on his journey up her leg. She heard him gulp the juices he lapped up from her twitching core. He took turns with nipping her shaved skin and tickling the nubbin ready to dance for him. She was in the middle of a long dry spell as far as sex was concerned. She wasn’t sure she wanted sex with a man she just met either. It didn’t matter once he drove her thoughts away with his tongue thrusting inside her. He cupped one cheek of her ass and kneaded it greedily. A tremor went through her limbs and she burrowed her fingers into his hair. She twisted the blond waves until her fingers were locked to his scalp. Her other hand gripped the back of the chair so hard, her knuckles turned white as his tongue laved from bottom to top. Her body hardly finished cresting one wave of tremors when his tongue brought on another, deeper eruption. He worked a finger into her vagina and pumped while sucking her 24

Summer Sizzlers Anthology clit. His other hand slid up her belly under her dress. He worked her bra up so his fingers squeezed and massaged her breast. With each tug of her clit between his teeth, he pinched her nipple. The combination stimulated every heated pore and brought on an exquisite climax. It weakened her stance and she thought she’d collapse. Her spasms jolted her and he held her ass, her tit, and her clit until she stopped jerking. Without warning, he pulled away, his fingers skimmed her stomach, and he lifted her leg off the chair. He made the move so deftly her foot went into the panty leg hole. Sliding her thong up into place, he lowered her dress. Her bra remained bunched over her breasts. She turned from him and managed to get the wadded lace cups back in place. She didn’t know what to say. When she looked back, he stood wiping a hand over his mouth. He grinned liked a cat having licked away the evidence he stole of a bowlful of deliciously forbidden cream. “You want to stay here tonight?” The way he asked, Mallory felt as if he hoped she’d say no. “I suppose that’s not fair.” He picked up her purse and walked her to the door. “You already said you had to get up early.” Now she felt insulted. He made her feel as if he didn’t like what he so unceremoniously lapped up without formal permission. “You’ll be at the job at seven?” he confirmed. “Yes.” She felt rushed. The old phrase “Here’s your coat, what’s your hurry?” came to mind. Except she had been the one pleasured like a princess. “I’ll see you then. I know this may be pushing things a little fast, but will you have dinner with me again tomorrow?” His hand rested on the small of her back. 25

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Hope sprung anew. She didn’t want to think things could get serious. A simple fling couldn’t hurt. After all, he did know how to skillfully work his tongue into a very needy part of her. “Can I let you know in the morning?” She played it cool, not wanting him to know how desperately she wanted to be his dessert again. “Sure.” She tried not to think why he confused her with the heat of his hand caressing her backside as if he didn’t want her to leave. Yet, at the same time, he guided her out of the apartment. He walked her to the elevator. “I could drive you home.” “I think I can manage. Good night.” She stepped into the elevator and didn’t take her gaze from the lust-filled aquamarine eyes looking at her until the doors shut. Mallory leaned back against the mirrored wall and let out the breath she had been holding. “Oh God!” she gasped as everything sunk in. “Wow!” Generally, on a first date, she was kissed on the cheek. Braden boldly took the prize for the best first kiss and it was nowhere near her face. A glance in the mirror would have told her right off she was blushing like a teenager. Her wet thong left her a reminder of what she’d missed for several months. Her right breast ached in protest at not having been handled at all. Mallory rummaged in the bottom of her purse for her jeep keys while crossing the parking lot. The sudden roar of an engine and bright headlights made her freeze like a deer in the middle of some country road. The car’s tires squealed and she stared in a trance at the car aiming for her. **** Braden didn’t know what made him hurry down the emergency stairs, intuition or sheer agony in his groin. It was a good thing when he saw Mallory in the path of the oncoming 26

Summer Sizzlers Anthology car. He knew words would not be enough and he ran to knock her out of the way. “Are you all right?” His hands hovered everywhere as he lifted off her. “What a jerk.” She lifted her arm with a cry. He looked over the scrape on her elbow. Examining her knee, she had the same road rash of bloody lacerations filled with grit. “Your neighbors should try turning on their headlights before gunning their engines to go speeding out of here.” “I’ll take you home.” He helped her to her feet. With a firm hold on her, he walked her to the driver’s side of his car. She got in and scooted to the middle, where her knee bumped the dash. “Ouch.” “Maybe I better take you to the emergency room. You may have broken something. I pushed you awfully hard.” “I’m banged up a little but nothing’s broken.” He slid in next to her. She went to move over and he put a hand on her thigh. “You’re over far enough.” She leaned her head against his shoulder and gave him directions as he drove the thirty minute drive from his condo. “Turn right at the next light.” Braden walked her to her apartment, slow and cautious of her pain. He cradled Mallory to his side, took her key, unlocked her apartment, and guided her inside. “I can stay.” “I’m a big girl. I’ll do just fine on my own.” They both turned to the knocking on the door. “Mallory?” Kara called. Mallory opened the door and let her in. “Hi.” “Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t…” 27

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Kara Perkins, this is Braden Harwood,” Mallory introduced. “He was just leaving.” He couldn’t find a way to argue against it. After all, they were strangers and her prudence in not having him around all night added to her charm. **** Mallory folded her hand over his and enclosed her keys in his palm. “Could you pick me up in my jeep tomorrow morning about six thirty?” “Sure.” He brushed the back of his finger on her cheek. She wanted to be kissed. However, Kara’s wide eyes and big silly grin prevented her from seeking one. He left and she closed the door. “Well, did he kiss you?” Kara bounced across the room following her. “And what happened to you?” “Some idiot tried to run me over in the parking lot at Braden’s condo. If he wasn’t there to push me out of the way, I’d be in worse shape.” “A handsome hero, how gallant. So did Prince Valiant kiss you?” She had the eager look of a teenager wanting to know about sex. “Come in the bathroom while I take a long hot soak in the tub and I’ll tell you all about it.” Mallory carefully removed the dress with Kara’s help as the hot water filled the tub. She hummed slinking down under the suds until they came to her neck. “So, tell. Is he a good kisser?” “Kara, he kissed me until my toes curled.” She sighed. “Lot’s of tongue?” “All tongue.” She lifted her hand up and took off the wet bandage. “Kara, he never touched my mouth.” “Then where did he…oh, he didn’t?” 28

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Boldly going where no man has gone in a long, long time,” she wistfully replied. “How did he manage to get in that position?” “I had my shoes off and he knelt down to put them on me. He stayed on his knees for ten minutes giving me one hell of a hot kiss.” “And just why did you have your shoes off?” Mallory gave her every detail from her entrance until ending up back home. By the time she got in bed at midnight, nothing could fill her thoughts more than Braden. **** Braden found his condo door open when he reached for the handle. He pushed it and looked at his ex-fiancée lounging on the sofa. “I figured you might be here when I got back. I’ll have the lock changed tomorrow.” He held the door open wide. “Now leave, Jenna.” “Who is she? Some prostitute you picked up on the boulevard?” She stood up and Braden gave himself credit for not feeling the slightest urge to look over her long, sleek legs. She pushed a lock of her platinum hair into place and walked toward him. “She’s none of your business. You could have killed her.” He stepped back from the long, red-tipped fingernail she poked at his face. “Just remember that when you think of putting your mouth between some filthy slut’s legs again.” “This is ridiculous, Jenna. Whom I kiss and what part of their anatomy is not any of your business. Mallory is a beautiful, uninhibited woman and I will be seeing her again.” Braden pushed her out in the hallway. “Come near me or whomever I’m seeing again, and I’ll have you arrested.” 29

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Jenna banged on the door and shouted for fifteen minutes. After cleaning up the glass on the floor from the wine glass Mallory broke, he sat on the balcony. He put his feet up on the railing and listened to the sounds of night birds as the moonlight danced on the water. He enjoyed the evening, when the summer day cooled. He hadn't been swimming yet that year. Everything with Jenna had changed his lifestyle. He sat until five am when he dialed Joe Parker. He should have waited, but his impatience prodded him. “Joe, this is Braden Harwood. I’m considering some major changes on the house. I’m meeting with Mallory this morning to go over them. I anticipate it will take at least…” he counted off the rest of the days of that workweek. “Three days. Have your crew stop working until Monday when Mallory can go over the new plans with them. I’ll pay the five thousand a day late penalty myself, as well as paying the workers. Of course, you can just bill me for the added changes.” The other end of the line remained silent and he stopped putting on his clean clothes. “Joe? Are you awake, did you understand what I said?” “Yes, Mr. Harwood. I understood all of it.” “Braden, call me Braden. Oh, by the way, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to date your daughter. Goodbye.” **** Mallory let Braden into her apartment and limped to the sofa. “You are very arrogant, Mr. Harwood. To begin with, you shut down my job and then you informed my father you’re going to date me?” “So you feel worse after sleeping?” “God, the car may as well have run over me, for it surely couldn’t hurt any less.” 30

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “I want to talk to you about that. I would have told you last night, except you were tired and I thought maybe you should have a good night’s sleep before I got into a somewhat long story.” “I did not get a good night’s sleep.” She looked at the seriousness to his expression. “But go ahead and tell me, because I’m wide awake now.” “I’m sorry about that.” “It’s not your fault.” She leaned her head back on the sofa and closed her eyes. No work meant she could go back to sleep. “It is, sort of.” He sat down next to her and picked up her hand. “It was Jenna who tried to run you over.” Mallory pulled her hand away and got up. “Your ex-fiancée is a psycho lunatic?” “I didn’t know she would try to hurt you; though I’m thoroughly convinced she is insane.” “How would she even know about me being at your place?” She limped around the room trying to work out the kinks in her muscles. “She has a key to my condo. Seems while I was…ah…telling you goodbye, she opened the door and watched.” “How nice, the lunatic ex-lover is also a voyeur.” “I’m really sorry, Mallory.” “Since you’ve arranged it so I’m not working today, do you mind if we go over your house plans later this afternoon? I could use some more sleep.” “You want me to go. I understand.” He walked toward the door. “Call me when you know what time you want to meet at the house.” He leaned and picked up a pencil on the entrance table. “This is my home number. It’s unlisted because of Jenna.” She watched him write down the number. 31

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “I really do need some more sleep.” “I could use a nap myself. Jenna was at my condo when I got home last night.” His fingers weaved into his blonde locks and scratched his head. “You two have a fight?” she asked curious but not wholly interested in discussing his ex-lover. “No fight. I kicked her out immediately and then listened to fifteen minutes of her colorful language. I sat on the balcony, drank a beer, and thought about how much I’d like to spend time with you.” He opened the door to leave. “I have a king-size bed.” She grabbed his arm. “I mean, instead of you driving home, you could sleep here. I don’t take up that much room.” His hand gripped hers. He shut and locked the door with the deadbolt and the chain. She thought of his crazy ex-fiancée and decided to forget about everything. The woman wouldn’t know where she lived. Then she led him to her room. “I sleep in just a t-shirt and boxer shorts,” she told him, removing her robe. “You can sleep in your...” It occurred to her maybe he didn’t wear underwear at all. “Boxers,” he answered her unfinished question. She watched him remove his shirt. She’d already seen that part of him the night before. He sat on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes, socks, and with hardly getting up, his trousers. The show gave her nothing. He lay back on the pillow and looked over at her. “Pleasant dreams.” “I think that just might be possible.” She rolled over and lay next to him with a hand to his chest. She stroked the short fan of pale hair over his heart. The slow rhythmic thump on her palm began lulling her to sleep. She wanted to laugh at how she had a sexy gorgeous man in her bed and they really were going to 32

Summer Sizzlers Anthology sleep. It calmed her every nerve and aroused her attraction for his consideration. **** Braden woke and watched Mallory peacefully asleep. They had become separated and she lay sprawled out on her belly. The sheet was kicked away from her and he looked over her shape. With her shirt pushed up, a strip of her back exposed her smooth skin. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her spine. She stirred with a soft moan. She rolled over and stretched her arms. Her pert breasts rose and fell beneath the shirt with her yawn. “What time is it?” “We’ve been asleep for six hours.” “No wonder I’m starving.” “Would you like to go out, or order in?” he asked. “Neither, I’d like it to magically appear right now.” Braden leaned over her. His finger gravitated to the wisps of brown hair at the side of her face. Kissing her sounded like a good idea, however, it would lead to more. “I’ll make you breakfast. Do you mind if I use your shower first?” “No. Go ahead.” Braden showered and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn’t know how to proceed. He wanted so much to make love to her, it became painful to look at her without having an excruciating hard-on. The bathroom door opened and he grabbed the towel around his waist so it didn’t fall. “Sorry, am I taking too long in here?” he asked. “No, I just wanted to know what you’d like in your coffee.” “Milk, creamer, whatever you got, and some sweetener,” he replied, fixing the towel snug around his middle. 33

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He lifted his gaze and stared at her through the reflection in the mirror. “Here, you take this one then and I’ll go get myself another.” She sat the mug on the sink and left. He put on his clothes and the loud sirens outside took him to the kitchen. “What’s going on?” “That witch!” Mallory shrieked. He looked out and saw smoke curling up from her jeep. She ran to her bedroom and he followed. He stopped in the doorway and watched her strip off her boxers and her tiny tshirt. She stood naked at the dresser digging out other clothes. He felt his heart pounding harder than he thought his chest could handle. “She set my jeep on fire!” Mallory yelled, hurrying past him hopping to put sandals on. He grabbed her arm to steady her. “I can do it,” she snapped. By the time they got outside, the ruined jeep sat smoldering. Bits of paper lay like confetti everywhere the fire didn’t touch. Mallory’s missing blueprint. “Look at my jeep,” she moaned. “Do you know how this happened?” a police office asked. Braden put an arm around Mallory’s small shoulders. “My old girlfriend, Jenna Baxter,” he told the man. “She tried to run Mallory over last night. She’d be the one to talk to about this.” “Do you have an address for her?” The officer jotted everything down quickly and moved on to question people who might be witnesses. “I’m sorry, this is all my fault. If I had pressed charges against her before, she wouldn’t have been able to start this crazy obsession of hers again.” 34

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “She’s done this before to another woman?” Mallory's eyes went wide. “No, the last time, it only involved me.” He took her hand and pulled it up to his lips. “I won’t let her hurt you again.” “I don’t know how to tell you this, but crazy people don’t live by the same standards we do.” She laid her head against his chest and he held her. **** In the apartment, Mallory watched Braden fixed them omelets. It came as a surprise she even had the fixings, since she rarely ate at home. The sweetness of having a man take care of her began to fill the hole of loneliness she sometimes felt. Her mind looked for reasons for him not to kiss her and she really didn’t understand the aversion. He stood at the sink loading dishes in the dishwasher. She went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He stiffened when her hand glided over his stomach and down to the waistband of his trousers. Everything about the man turned her on and he froze when it came to her touching him. It wasn’t the first time. It was every time. She backed away from the chill of silent rejection. “Braden, is there a reason you don’t want to kiss me?” She waited and watched him grip the edge of the counter. “Are you gay?” His laugh made her uneasy and warned her that his answer would not be pleasant. “The doctor calls it impotency. I don’t kiss you because I’m afraid you’ll want more than I might be capable of giving you.” She swallowed the lump in her throat choking her voice. She reached out and unfolded his arms, placed his hands on her hips, and draped her arms over his shoulders. She glanced down between them and leaned in more. “It doesn’t exactly feel as if you have a problem.” 35

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She stroked the quickening pulse in his neck. He bowed slightly, gripped her ass and pulled her into him. She ground her hips to his and weaved her fingers into his blonde hair. She didn’t have to encourage his face to come closer. He aimed there on his own. A shadow of stubble darkened the lower half of his face. His breath, flavored with coffee, mixed with hers. He raked his lips over her cheek. He sipped at the corner of her mouth. She felt him test everywhere with sweet pecks. The tip of her nose, her eyelids, and her temple were bathed with affection. “You make me feel alive, Mallory,” he whispered. She whimpered at the retreat of his lips; so near, yet not touching hers. And then he crushed her pout in a kiss, taking her breath away. His tongue slid over her teeth and explored with eager hunger. Their tongues curled, twisted, licked, and developed a bond. She finally knew the taste of his mouth and she liked it. His hands roamed from the seat of her pants to her back. He hugged her so tight, she thought her lungs would burst. Turning her so she stood sideways, he wrapped his muscled bicep around her and his fingers worked her zipper down. She gripped his arm across her when the first finger pushed into her. Then she felt a second finger fill her. She writhed in his embrace. He thrust deep with alternating strokes over her clit. “Braden,” she gasped. “Braden, please.” She rubbed the front of his pants. She could feel his cock as hard as stone. “Not here,” he murmured against the side of her head. “I want to take you someplace private.” She agreed. She didn’t want any interruptions from Kara, her father, or the psycho bitch that trashed her jeep. If Braden’s hot kisses were a sampling of his skill, then she wanted to be this man’s lover in solitude. 36

Summer Sizzlers Anthology **** Braden drove her to the beach house he bought to hide out in from Jenna. He watched his rearview mirror to make sure they weren’t followed. He took the long way. Mallory could easily notice but she didn’t say anything. She sat in the center of the seat and snuggled to his arm. When they arrived at the house, real nervousness set in for him, and Mallory gave only a cursory look around the place. “I didn’t take a shower yet, so now I get to use yours,” she said, heading for the bedroom. He watched her alluring moves as she crossed the room. The door remained open so he couldn’t miss the removal of her clothes. He clenched his fists with frustration. In her arms, she gave him power. At a distance, he felt somehow weakened. In his head, he kept telling himself, Mallory wasn’t anything like Jenna. She wasn’t like anyone he had ever known. Her open, uninhibited character created envy in his soul. It also increased his lust. The therapist said to push at the fears and so he stalked the bathroom for his prey. He stopped at the sight of her behind the clear glass shower enclosure. Water beating down on her moved under her hands roaming her skin. He wanted his hands to travel those same areas. “Mallory?” She looked at him and then pushed the door open. He stepped in fully clothed. Her laughter relaxed him as it echoed in the cubicle. “I’m sorry, but I feel like I’ve just invited the school geek in to watch me bathe.” Braden turned, put his hands on the wall, and breathed. Mallory pushed his shirt up and over his head. She reached around, unfastened his pants, and they dropped to his ankles. Her hands felt good sliding down his legs, removing his shoes 37

Summer Sizzlers Anthology and socks. Her lips pressing kisses over his back and ass almost made him squirt his sperm on the shower floor. He turned around shoving his heap of clothes in the corner. He snatched her up in his arms. “God, you’re beautiful.” He groaned, then kissed her face. His cock stood erect, hard, and demanding. The water splashed over them and even that didn’t cool the blood racing through his veins. He rubbed her smooth cunt, making some of his passes light and ticklish. While others, he pressed his thumb against the swollen knot of flesh. She pulled his hand up and sucked on his finger. “Fuck me.” He maneuvered her into a position that allowed him to hoist her up with her legs belting his waist. She sank onto his throbbing cock. The sheath of her cunt glided over his erection perfectly. He braced her back on the wall and she shivered. He thought she was shivering from the cold ceramic tile until her vaginal muscles clenched hard. He rocked into her a few times. Going without made him ready too soon. “I have to stop,” he groaned and tried to pry her free. “No, you can do it.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “Oh, honey, I know, but you’re unprotected.” “Fine time to think of that now, but I’m on the patch as far as pregnancy goes.” She cupped his face. “It’s been a long time for me, too, and it’s just habit.” “Good habit,” he grunted. His hands spread on the wall while his body jerked involuntarily. He held Mallory’s gaze for as long as he could until the climax became violent. His hips pounded into her as he filled her tight, hot core. She squeaked with each jolt. He kissed her hard on the mouth and sucked in every sound of ecstasy she emitted. He 38

Summer Sizzlers Anthology roared with a final thrust pumping the last drop of his sperm into her. He gathered her tight and stepped from the shower. Their energy had them practically dry. Braden carried her to the bed. He threw back the blanket, lowered with her, and tugged the covers back up. With Mallory coiled to him, he didn’t think he could fall asleep. His heart pounded too hard within his ribcage. He knew without a doubt he was falling in love with her. **** Mallory sat up to a loud bang. She watched Braden get up and go to the window. His magnificent backside made her desire him again. His firm round buttocks, solid thick legs, and the beautiful contours of his rippling back made her fingers curl in the covers in anticipation. “It was just a car backfiring,” he said. He turned around and she couldn’t stop the gasp from her mouth. He had a terrible wide scar on his thigh. Her heart nearly broke when she saw the pain in his gorgeous aquamarine eyes. He immediately took denims from a drawer and left the room. “Braden?” She looked in his closet and took out a long shirt. She found him sitting on the sofa. “Jenna said if I wasn’t going to marry her, she’d make it so one would want to. Then before I knew it, she took a steak knife and tried to fillet me like a fish.” “You should have told me.” “It’s not like I could drop my pants and say, hey, look at this.” “I don’t know. You could have given it a try.” She snuggled against his arm. “I let you see me without my underwear.” She rubbed his lips with her finger. “So now what?” “I don’t understand?” She got up. “Do you think it makes a difference to me?” 39

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He didn’t say anything and then a strange smell took her to the bedroom. She looked out the window facing the front of the beach house. “Braden, there’s a fire outside!” She grabbed her purse and ran out with him. She got out her cell phone out and dialed 911 while he got a hose. All the bushes around the bedroom windows were blazing. The crunch on the gravel turned her around. “You little tramp!” The wild-eyed woman yelled at her. “Jenna!” Braden intervened and tried to wrest the knife from the woman’s hand. Mallory rushed at giving details to the emergency operator. She cringed when the knife cut into Braden’s arm. Blood poured out. He knocked Jenna down and stepped on her hand when she tried to get the knife. “Oh no you don’t.” He picked it up. A police car swung into the drive a minute later. “She tried to burn the house down around us.” Mallory told the officer before he aimed his drawn gun on the wrong person. For an hour, Mallory clung to Braden. Even the paramedics couldn’t pry her from him while they bandaged his arm. Once they stood alone, he hugged her. “After we build our house just the way you want it...” “Our house?” “You do whatever you want to make that house a home to you.” “Braden, we’ve known each other less than twenty-four hours.” “Didn’t you say it’ll take a year to complete the house? Well, that seems the right amount of time to get to know each other before we move in together.” “I do like a practical man.” She puckered up and held on for one hell of a hot kiss. 40


SCHOOL’S OUT by

C’ann Inman

41


Julie Shaw let the sun beat down on her bare body while she studied the other sunbathers through her dark glasses. Many of the women had their tops off and several people were sunbathing nude. Clothes were optional at the resort. It was one reason she always spent a month here after the school session. The only rules were no gawking and always showing respect for others. She didn’t have to worry about high school students who thought they could do whatever they wished at whim. Sometimes, summer vacation was the only thing that saved her sanity. Freedom. She sighed as she looked around. The sun was setting, and she would be going back to her room soon. Dinner would be in an hour. Usually, she met someone she was attracted to, or at least liked. This trip had been one dismal failure. Julie didn’t go looking for sex, per se, but she wasn’t averse to having it when she could. With one last look around, Julie stood and removed her light blue towel from the white plastic chair she had been laying on. Her dark brown hair was twisted up into a small knot on her head, and she loosely wrapped the towel around her nakedness and knotted it, too. She slid on her brown leather sandals and started to move forward, when she abruptly ran into someone’s chest. Her hands came up quickly so she didn’t fall onto the concrete. And then 42

Summer Sizzlers Anthology she looked up into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. “I’m so sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t see you there.” The man’s mouth curved into a brilliant smile. His white teeth gleamed in his tan face. “No need to apologize. I simply came over to say hello. I underestimated your quickness. I thought I could make it over before you got up to leave.” Julie’s hands were still on his bare chest, and she tilted her head. The man was stunning. And young. She looked a little closer and liked what she saw. His sandy blonde hair was a little shaggy, but he had beautiful cheekbones, and a mouth she couldn’t take her gaze away from. “Would you care to join me for dinner?” she asked. “My pleasure.” His hands came up to cup her elbows. “What time?” “About an hour.” Julie’s voice became breathless. For some reason, he looked familiar to her. She opened her mouth to ask, when he nodded once. “One hour. In the dining room. I’ll look for you.” He smiled and turned to walk back to his chair. She watched as he removed the towel from his chair and belted it loosely around his waist. He had opted not to go completely naked but had on a pair of small, loose-fitting shorts that barely covered his ass. Julie watched his muscles flex as he walked and then bent over. She licked her top lip and smiled. Oh my. Her trip was looking up considerably. The man looked up, gave a little wave, and then walked back to his bungalow. Julie grinned and turned around. Maybe she finally found the distraction she was looking for earlier. **** Julie spent extra time cleaning up and trying to look her best. There were only so many things she could do with her thirty-six year old body. But that was also a perk to being here. 43

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She didn’t really worry about letting it all hang out. There was a couple here in their sixties. There was even a seventy year old woman whose nurse wheeled her around. They were both nude at all times. There was the younger crowd, of course. But no one really cared about how any one else looked. The first time Julie made up her mind to come to the resort, she was shocked. She hadn’t really known what to expect. She just knew she personally thought clothes were overrated and didn’t want to feel like she had to keep them on. Her first trip had been five years ago, and it was an eye-opener. Julie had been expecting some debauchery at the very least. It didn’t happen. When she hooked up with a forty year old man the second week she was there, it was the most natural thing in the world. No one came to get laid. They simply came to recuperate and relax. If a connection was made, great. If not, then that was fine, too. Several businessmen frequented the spa. There were two models. Several couples came together. It had a great atmosphere. Julie always dressed for dinner. She applied make-up expertly and then slid on a simple, black sundress. She let her hair fall loosely on her shoulders and slid her feet into her sandals. She thought of the young man waiting for her and grinned. Maybe she had made another connection. There were several ways to relax. And she was sure he knew quite a few. She applied a shiny lip-gloss and checked herself in the mirror one last time. Perfect. Julie ran her fingers through her dark brown hair one last time and stepped out of her room. She locked the door and started up the path to the dining room. She could hear soft instrumentals on the light summer breeze and grinned. The soft glow of the dining room spilled out onto the rock path she was walking on. There were already several couples dancing to the slow music, and she watched wistfully. 44

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Julie stepped inside and immediately looked for her date. He was waiting for her on the upper deck with a bottle of champagne chilling. She walked slowly up the stairs and to the table. He stood immediately and pulled out the chair for her. His hands brushed against her shoulders, and she shivered. “Cold?” His voice was concerned. “No.” She smiled as he sat down. The man was dressed in khaki slacks and a white short-sleeve, button-up shirt. His muscular forearms rested on the table for a minute before he gestured to the champagne. “May I pour you a glass?” “Please.” Julie offered her glass up and watched the man pour the sparkling liquid into first her glass, then his own. He offered up a toast, and their glasses clinked together. “To a wonderful evening.” Julie inclined her head and took a sip of the bubbly. It was wonderful. She studied the man above the rim of her glass and felt the sensation again that somehow, she knew him. She placed the glass down and tilted her head. “I know this is going to sound odd. But have we met?” The man’s eyes widened in shock, and then he threw back his head and laughed. Julie studied him silently. “I take that as a yes?” The man’s smile broadened, and he stuck out his hand. “Derek Flynn.” Julie’s jaw dropped and all the color drained from her face. It couldn’t be. She bit her lip to keep from making a sound. Of all the things that could happen to a teacher, this had to be one of the worst. A former student was sitting across from her after seeing her sunbathing nude earlier. She fought down the humiliation and took another drink. “I didn’t recognize you.” Julie worked to keep her voice calm. He had filled out considerably since she’d seen him last. 45

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He was taller and more muscular. His hair had grown out, and he had a tan now. The grin was still the same, though. She should have known. “It’s been six years.” He shrugged. “I imagine that’s part of it.” “Yes.” She picked up her glass again to take another drink. His blue eyes locked with hers. “I’m no longer a student, Julie. I’m a twenty-four year old man. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with us having dinner together.” She tried to smile. “You’re right. Of course. I was simply shocked for a minute.” Julie squirmed in her seat. “What brings you here?” “I imagine the same thing as you. A little vacation. Things have been hectic of late. I needed someplace to unwind and forget about it for a while. Do you come here often?” “Every summer.” She watched as Derek poured more champagne in her glass, and she reached for a menu. His hand shot out and held her wrist. Julie looked up and saw desire deep in his blue eyes. He stroked his thumb over her pulse point, and his voice was low. “We’re no longer teacher and student.” His eyes dropped to her mouth. “And I’m rather glad.” “Are you?” Her voice was breathless. The feel of his hand against her skin was causing her heart to beat frantically in her chest. She shifted in her seat again as desire spiraled through her. Her nipples hardened against the front of her dress, and she almost groaned at the sensation. Derek Flynn was doing things to her body she hadn’t felt in quite some time. Julie glanced at his mouth again and knew she wanted to feel it all over her. The thought sobered her, and she looked around. “Nobody cares.” Derek’s voice was teasing. “They only see a man and a woman. The same as I do.” 46

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Julie took one more sip of champagne and picked up the menu. “Then let’s order dinner, shall we?” They both studied the menu and ordered. When the waiter left, Derek picked up her hand in his. “I’ve thought about you.” His voice was soft. “It’s hard to forget the first women I had a crush on.” “You had a crush on me?” Julie’s voice wavered, and her eyes widened. “You’re kidding!” “Nope.” Derek leaned back a minute and studied her. “You always wore those skirts with a little slit up the side. And the button-up shirts that I wanted to unbutton.” He took a drink and leaned forward. “And that shiny lip-gloss that I always wanted to taste.” Derek ran his thumb over her lips. Then he brought his thumb to his mouth and his tongue snaked out and licked it. His blue eyes darkened as they studied her. “I knew you’d taste good.” Julie’s body flushed at his words. She knew where she wanted his tongue, and it wasn’t licking the lip-gloss off his thumb. Her body throbbed as she thought of where he could stroke her with it. “And you always had your hair put up.” Derek threaded his fingers through her hair. “I like it this way better.” He tugged lightly and brought her face closer to his. His mouth brushed lightly against hers, and he smiled. When he moved back, he took a sip of champagne. “Have I shocked you?” “A bit.” Julie shifted in her seat again. “I never imagined running into a former student here.” She licked her lips. “But I’m glad, too.” The waiter brought their food, and they ate while talking of jobs and favorite pastimes. Derek confessed that he had tried to look her up two years after graduating, but his job had taken him away. 47

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Julie hid her shock behind a calm façade. She knew her feelings for Derek right then were anything but educational. And she realized that this evening could be anything she made it. They finished their meal and Derek stood quickly. “Would it be all right if we retired to my room?” His blue eyes moved over her body and darkened. “Yes.” Julie’s pulse quickened as she stood and put her hand in his. They walked quietly up the rock path to Derek’s bungalow. He unlocked it and stood aside. Julie stepped over the threshold and waited. Derek flipped the light on and shut the door. The lock clicked loudly in the room. She watched as he walked over and smiled. He pulled her body close to his and whispered in her ear. “Do you want me to fuck you?” The words, spoken so soft, made her pussy wet with excitement. Derek’s hot breath fanned across her ear, and she moaned. “Yes.” Julie pressed her body tighter to his and felt his hard cock pressing against her through her dress. “Fuck me,” she demanded. Derek pulled back and smiled. He moved Julie to the couch and sat her down. He loomed over her. “Show me your pussy. Show me what you want.” His hand moved down where he unzipped his pants and pulled out his cock. He began stroking himself. Julie moved her dress up over her knees and then her thighs. She spread her legs and watched Derek. His eyes were fastened on her gleaming pussy. She brought her left hand down and spread herself farther. “I want your cock in me.” Her fingers began manipulating her clit, and she moaned. Her eyes met his. “Do you want to watch?” 48

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Another time.” Derek sank to his knees and buried his mouth against her, searching with his tongue. He found her hard nub and began licking and sucking on it. Julie spread her legs farther and clutched Derek’s hair as he clutched her ass and worked her against his mouth. “Oh,” Julie moaned. “Fuck me with your tongue. Oh yes.” Her voice was husky and demanding. “Suck my clit. Make it feel good.” She clutched his head and thrust her hips up. Derek moved his hand up and began thrusting two fingers into her. Julie arched up and screamed out as her orgasm ripped through her. Her breath hitched in her throat as she tried to calm her breathing. “Don’t get comfortable.” Derek stood and licked his lips. “We’ve just started.” He moved to his knees and placed the tip of his cock at the opening of her pussy. “I want you to watch. I want you to see my cock moving in and out of you.” He opened a small package and rolled a condom over his hard cock. Julie smiled at the consideration. Derek winked at her and then began to move slowly inside her, and Julie groaned. She watched as his big cock moved in and out of her wetness. He was in no hurry, and she enjoyed the friction he was creating. Derek kept her legs spread and watched as she licked her lips. “Do you know how many times I wanted to lift your skirt and taste you?” Derek began to move a little quicker. Julie shook her head, not trusting her voice. Derek moved his hand between them and began stroking her clit. “I love the way your pussy feels. Hot. Wet.” He traced her pussy lips. “So soft.” He moved his hands up to clutch her hips. His cock pistoned in and out of her, faster and faster. Julie arched her back and tried to move closer. Derek’s body pressed against hers, and she could feel herself tighten in response. 49

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He leaned down and brushed his cheek against hers. “Come for me, Julie. Come for me.” She gasped as his hand stroked her hard clit until her body shattered into pieces. Derek thrust into her two more times and groaned as his body shook in release. His head dropped down, and he blew out a breath. When he brought his head up again, his blue eyes sparkled. “That’s been a long time coming.” He grinned. “No pun intended.” Julie snickered and put her hand against his hard chest. “Worth the wait,” she murmured. She shifted and pulled her dress down as Derek stood up. He turned and walked into the bathroom. When he came back, Julie stood and smiled. “I’m going back to my room.” She raised on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for the lovely evening.” Derek smiled. “My pleasure.” He took her hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow, won’t I?” “Yes.” Julie nodded and walked outside. She heard the door shut behind her, and she shivered in the night. Her pussy still throbbed with her orgasms, and she knew she would sleep like a baby tonight. Derek Flynn had grown up to be quite a man. Her nipples hardened again. Tonight had been a nice taste of pleasure. But tomorrow, she would be sure and have the whole meal. Julie grinned to herself as she let herself into her bungalow. She showered and fell into bed with a smile on her face. **** Julie woke at ten o’clock the next morning and stretched in her bed. Her former student was uppermost in her mind. Would he come and find her? Should she go and look for him? She stood up and pulled a yellow sundress over her head and twisted her hair up quickly. Maybe she would have breakfast first. 50

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She was just reaching for the doorknob when someone knocked. Julie opened it, and her jaw dropped in surprise. Derek stood in the doorway with a tray in his hand and tulips in the other. “Julie.” He handed her the flowers with a smile. “I’ve brought breakfast.” “You read my mind.” She stepped back and waited for him to step inside. “I’m starving.” He placed the tray on the kitchen island and turned around. “I didn’t know what you liked.” He lifted the lid and grinned. “So I brought one of everything.” Julie threw back her head and laughed. One would be an understatement. There were stacks of pancakes, French toast, sausage, bacon, and eggs. Sides of syrup, butter, and jelly were placed on the side. “Good grief!” Julie moved closer, and her mouth began to water. “Who did you sweet talk?” “I have a cousin in the kitchen.” Derek wriggled his eyebrows. “Connections, you know.” He opened the closest cabinet and took down two plates. “First, we eat.” Julie arched her eyebrow. “And you have plans for after?” “Definitely.” Derek nodded. “I have lots of plans.” “Good.” Julie fixed her plate and then sat down at the table. Derek joined her and motioned to the cabin. “This is a nice one.” “It’s my usual.” Julie pointed with her fork. “They had the most beautiful coverlet I had ever seen. It was a garden of flowers that seemed to mesh and embrace each other. Almost like a watercolor. And I made sure when I made my reservations, that I kept it. Every year they redo the interior but always leave my coverlet.” Derek glanced over at the bed. “It is beautiful.” He took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. “A little lonely, though.” “Lonely?” Julie echoed. 51

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Yes. It needs company.” His blue eyes studied hers. “Mm. Hm.” Julie’s lips twitched, and she told herself not to rise to the bait. She liked the way Derek was playing around and flirting. It had been a long time since she’d felt the need to tease with a man this way. A lot of playfulness had ceased with age. It felt good to embrace it again. “You look lovely this morning.” Derek’s soft words wound around her, and Julie smiled. “Thank you. Did you sleep well last night?” “Yes.” Derek ate a bite of French toast and grinned. “I needed the rest.” “Indeed.” Julie arched her eyebrow and took a bite of pancake before she could laugh. Derek’s eyes followed the fork to her mouth, and she licked her lips. “You do that on purpose.” His voice was low and husky in the room. “Yes.” Julie lowered her eyelids and smiled. “Are we done with breakfast?” He stood quickly and moved over to her. He slid the chair out, and Julie stood up. She turned to face him when his hands stopped her. “Don’t.” She shivered as she felt his hands slide down her body and stop at her waist. Derek’s right hand moved between her thighs and cupped her pussy through her dress. Julie moaned and spread her legs further apart. His left hand moved up and brushed the straps off her shoulders, one at a time. And when they moved, Derek pulled the fabric down slowly, exposing her breasts. His left hand cupped her left breast, and he tugged gently at the nipple. Julie moved her ass closer to his cock and arched her back. His hardness pressed unrelentingly against her, and she moved her body against his. 52

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Derek’s right hand pulled the sundress up higher and higher until Julie felt herself exposed to the cool air. She heard him unzip his pants and felt her excitement grow. Her pussy throbbed with anticipation. She could almost feel his hard cock inside her. His left hand grew more insistent, and he rubbed on her breasts as he bit the back of her neck. “Bend over.” Julie’s breath caught as his hand rubbed against her hard clit. “Bend over, Julie. I’ve got something for you.” Derek rubbed his hard cock over her bare ass. “I’ve got something you’re going to like.” His right hand moved around to the back, and he shifted her legs. “You’re so wet.” Two fingers slid inside her, and she gasped in pleasure. He eased them in and out slowly. Julie tried to position herself so he would stroke her aching clit, but he kept his hands lower. She groaned in frustration, and he chuckled. Derek pushed her down lower across the chair so he could have better access. He teased her pussy mercilessly while his hard cock rubbed against her opening. “I’ve wanted to lift your skirt so many times and see your wet pussy waiting for me.” His fingers moved rhythmically while his thumb found her hard nub. Julie knew it wouldn’t be long before she came against his hand. Derek played with her taut nipples while his other hand pleasured her. He bit at the back of her neck and whispered in her ear. “I used to stroke my cock when I got home and dream of bending you over your desk. I would hike your skirt up, and you would spread your legs for me. Your pussy would be hot and 53

Summer Sizzlers Anthology wet while you unbuttoned your shirt and played with your breasts. And you would beg for it.” “Yes,” Julie moaned. “Give it to me. Now. Fuck me, Derek.” Derek moved his hand so quickly, she didn’t have time to respond before his hard cock filled her completely. Julie’s breath was ragged as he grabbed her shoulder with his left hand and buried himself inside her. He slammed into her over and over again, and she cried out as she came. “Not yet.” Derek’s breath fanned against her ear. “Put your fingers between your legs, Julie. I know you know how. Make yourself come once more. I want to feel your pussy tighten around me again.” She sobbed as her left hand found her clit and began stroking it. Derek’s hands moved to her waist while he pounded into her. “You’re so fucking tight. Tell me you want it,” he demanded. Julie shuddered in pleasure. “Yes. I want it. I want your cock.” Her voice was ragged as she felt her clit swell again. If she didn’t lose consciousness, it would be a miracle. Derek’s rhythm sped up, and she felt her body tighten again. Her ears were ringing, and she moaned as her breath caught. He caught her as she started to slide forward and picked her up effortlessly. Julie tried to open her eyes but couldn’t keep them focused. “Sleep.” Derek’s voice was soft in the room. She sighed once and drifted off. **** Julie came back to consciousness slowly and peered around her room. Other than having her brains fucked out, everything looked fairly normal. Breakfast was gone, and lunch had taken its place. There was a tray on her table with a note beside it. She 54

Summer Sizzlers Anthology stretched luxuriously and smiled. Her former student was an excellent lover with a fantastic body. Not a bad way to spend a vacation. She sat up slowly and then stood. Julie walked over to the table and picked up the note. Derek would be back this evening for another “lesson.” She threw back her head and laughed. Lesson, indeed. He was full of surprises. She wondered what this evening would hold. Julie took a shower and then ate lunch. She rummaged through her few clothes until she found exactly what she was looking for. A tight, black skirt with a slit on the side and a white peasant blouse. She would spend her time getting ready for her evening with Derek and not sunbathing. Her memories of Derek were quite different than the man he had become. She remembered he was so studious in her class. Apparently, he was studying her. He had passed the class with a high “B.” His real love at the time was football. He was a wide receiver for the high school with magic hands. Julie blushed as she remembered those magic hands on her body. What had she gotten herself into? Was there some statue of limitations on teacher/student dating or something? There were twelve years between them. Twelve years. Was she just being foolish? She sank onto her bed and sighed. Maybe she let her body do all the thinking this time. There was a lot more to this than met the eye. Julie shook her head. It would be fine. She would enjoy those magic hands while she could, and then she would move on. **** Julie heard the knock at exactly seven o’clock. She was just putting her lipstick on when he arrived. She finished up quickly and went to open the door. Her jaw dropped immediately. 55

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Derek stepped forward and bowed. His black satin tuxedo was tailored and expensive. He had managed to pull back his shaggy hair into some semblance of tameness, and he smelled divine. “Derek, you look marvelous.” He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. “As do you.” His eyes took in her outfit, and his grip tightened for a minute. “I see you’ve found one of those skirts I have a penchant for.” “Do you like?” Julie stood back and twirled around. Her hair bounced slightly, and she smiled. “Yes.” He paused. “I like.” Derek offered his arm, and Julie took it with a smile. “Are they expecting us in the main hall?” Derek looked at her quizzically. “No. Why?” Julie tilted her head. “Then where are we going?” “Ah, my fair Julie. We’ll be dining in town this evening. I hope you don’t mind.” “Not at all, Derek.” She smiled. “Not at all.”

**** Thirty minutes later, they pulled in front of a huge colonial. The first story had wraparound porches, and the second boasted a balcony. Trimmed hedges bordered the property, and Julie watched in amazement as Derek pulled close to the house. “Where are we?” “My home.” The words startled Julie so badly, she almost dropped her purse. “This is your home?” The disbelief was hard to disguise. Derek shrugged. “The family home. But I seem to be the only family left.” “I’m so sorry.” Julie put her hand on his arm. 56

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He turned to her and flashed a smile. “It’s all right.” He parked the car. “They’re expecting us.” Derek came around to her side of the car and helped her out. “It’s just dinner, Julie. Calm down. The staff will retire early, and you and I can be alone.” He wriggled his eyebrows. “That skirt and I have a date.” Julie laughed and let him lead her up the front steps. The butler opened the front door and stepped aside. “Mr. Flynn and Ms. Shaw.” He bowed low. Julie shot a look to Derek, but he appeared not to notice. “Thank you, Cooper. Tell the cook we’ll be ready to eat in an hour please.” “As you wish.” Cooper bowed again and strode from the room. Derek brought Julie closer to him. “You. Me. The den. Let’s go.” He tugged at her hand until she relented and followed him. He pushed open two massive wooden doors with huge brass handles. The room opened up into an enormous library/office. Julie’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “It’s beautiful, Derek.” Huge oak columns held book after book and priceless heirlooms. The heavy, emerald brocade curtains swept against the hardwood floors while the oil paintings on the wall made her aware of how much money it must have taken to decorate. “Thanks.” He shut the doors quickly behind them. When she turned to look at him again, he was taking off his tuxedo coat. His words about eating in an hour came back to her. Apparently, they had more plans. Derek walked slowly over to her and put his hands on her hips. He pressed his body close and murmured in her ear. “This is where I want you, Julie. Right here. Right now.” His hand threaded through her hair and pulled her head back 57

Summer Sizzlers Anthology slowly, exposing her neck. Derek’s tongue flicked against her pulse point while she closed her eyes. Julie’s hand moved between them and unzipped his pants while her fingers moved inside and cupped his hard cock through his underwear. She stroked him up and down while Derek kept his mouth on her throat. “I love the way you taste.” His whispered words made her smile. She sank to her knees slowly and adjusted her skirt. It rode up to her waist, and she smiled. Julie pulled Derek’s pants off his hips and then freed his hard cock from his underwear. She looked up at Derek while she took the tip of him into her mouth. Derek’s breath caught, and he clutched at her hair. Julie moved her mouth up and down, sucking his length, while her hands gently cupped his balls. She flicked her tongue against his cock head and then continued to suck every inch of him. Her hands came up to his hips, and he groaned at the feeling of his length being sucked so deeply. “Enough,” he growled. Derek moved back and looked down at Julie. His hard cock moved in front of her face, and she licked it again. “Get on the desk.” Julie stood slowly, not bothering to pull down her skirt. Moisture dripped down her legs at the thought of Derek’s cock sliding into her pussy again. She moved back until her ass touched the desk and then sat on top of it. Derek pulled her shirt down over her breasts and licked his lips. “That’s what I want to see.” He moved one finger against her swollen clit and smiled in satisfaction. He brought the finger up to his lips and licked it. She spread her legs farther and reached for his hard cock. Derek moved forward and smiled. “Lay down.” 58

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Julie moved her back against the desk and let her legs dangle. He spread them and sank to his knees. She bucked up against his tongue as he swirled it around her hard nub and sucked it. Derek bent her knees so he could move his tongue deeper against her. She began to shake as her orgasm built until she found herself crying out. He was relentless. Julie felt the first wave hit and let herself ride it out over and over again until she lost count of how many times she came. Her legs shook, and she tried to steady them. “Shhhh.” Derek stood and lifted her feet up to his shoulder. “I’ve got you.” He slid his hard cock into her and squeezed her ass. “Does that feel good?” His eyes darkened. “Because I like the way it looks.” He looked down between them at his cock sliding out of her wet pussy. His strokes were slow and sure. Julie’s breath was shallow as she tried to regain her balance. The slow movement of Derek’s cock sliding in and out made her breath catch. It felt so good. She lifted herself up to her elbows and watched her pussy take in his full length over and over again. Her eyes met his, and she shuddered. “You’ve got such a pretty pussy.” Derek’s hands moved between them and lightly touched her. “I like it when you watch.” Julie brought her hands up and cupped her full breasts while she plucked at her nipples. “Are you going to make me come again?” “Yes.” Derek’s voice was confident. She moved her hand between them and took his into hers. She brought it to her mouth and sucked on his fingers. Then she moved it down to her pussy again. “I like it when you rub my clit in slow circles.” Her voice was low and demanding. She smiled when she felt his rhythm increase. His hand moved to obey her words, and she threw her head back. 59

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Derek’s fingers swirled around the hard nub while his cock eased in and out of her with a quicker pace. “Make me come, Derek.” Julie’s breath grew ragged as she moaned aloud. Derek clutched her ass as he moved faster against her. She closed her eyes as she felt her body impossibly tighten again. “Please,” she moaned. “Please.” He pressed himself closer to her, and she whimpered as her body shook uncontrollably. When she was sure she couldn’t take it anymore, her back bowed, and she came again. Julie’s body went limp on the desk, and she would have fallen off if Derek hadn’t cradled her close. He breathed in the scent of her and chuckled. “Maybe I should have made it two hours. Then cook would definitely be serving us hot food.” Her eyes fluttered, and she grinned up at him. “You think?” She tried to move, and he steadied her with his arms. “I like you, Julie.” His tone was serious, and she stilled immediately. She looked up into his deep, blue eyes and smiled. “I like you, too, Derek.” Julie shifted around on the desk, and he stepped back. They both adjusted their clothing, and she stood up on shaky legs. Derek held out his hand, and she slipped hers inside. He squeezed it tightly. “I’d like to see you after the summer ends.” The words warmed her heart, but she knew it would be difficult. She was completely honest with him. “I’m going to be extremely busy during the school year. I have classes, cheerleading practices, and all sorts of extra things that take up my time.” She thought back to all the dates she’d missed being wrapped up in her school kid’s lives. They really needed someone to care about them and what they were doing. His eyebrows arched. “This isn’t a blow-off because I’m a little younger than you? You aren’t afraid of appearances?”

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology “What?” Julie’s anger kicked into high gear. “You think I give a damn what people think about my personal life?” Her eyes flashed dangerously in her face. Derek stepped back and held up his hands. “Whoa, woman!” “Of all the stupid,” she shoved her hair back behind her ears, “insane,” she said as she glared at him, “…bullshit!” Julie’s scowl deepened. A slow grin spread across his face. “So you’re serious when you say it’s all about time?” She simply glared at him. “And what would you say if I told you that time wouldn’t be an issue?” Derek arched an eyebrow. “Mm hm.” Julie snorted in disbelief. “Sure.” She folded her arms. “Julie.” Derek moved forward and took her in his arms. “You’re looking at the new assistant football coach at the school.” The words took a second to sink in. “What?” she stammered. “You?” Her eyes widened in disbelief. Julie lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “Me,” he repeated softly. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know you’d be at the resort. And I’d be lying if I told you that I haven’t been waiting for that moment for over a year.” He kissed her softly on the forehead. They heard a knock on the door, and Derek looked up. “Dinner time.” Julie laughed in astonishment “Quite the plotter, aren’t you?” “Yes.” Derek kissed her smiling mouth. “Looks like one hell of a school year.”

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COURTING LOVE by

Ann Cory

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Judge Hammond slammed his gavel down roughly. “Court adjourned until tomorrow morning. You are all dismissed.” Minna took a cloth from her jacket pocket and blotted her forehead. The heat inside the courtroom matched the scorching temperature of the hottest summer Portland, Oregon had seen in years, setting record highs. She couldn’t wait to get home and slip into a lukewarm bath. Her calves were aching from the much-too-high heels she’d foolishly chosen to wear. As she stuffed bundles of files, folders, and notebooks into her briefcase, she stole a sideways glance at her archenemy, Devin Sanders. Even in the heat, he looked cool and carefree. If she had a sponge, she’d wipe the smug look off his face. Her curious eyes drank in his chiseled features and followed down along his starched white shirt. She didn’t dare look further than his belt loops and risk getting caught staring. A new sensation of heat started between her thighs and left her feeling a bit dizzy. Why was he—the one man who could squash her flawless record—so damn irresistible? Minna knew the case like the back of her hand, and was determined to see her client awarded the damages he deserved, but the distraction in the courtroom was affecting her professionalism. She listened to Devin make small talk with a few people, then he gathered up his things and headed down the center aisle. For a brief moment, he turned back around just as she looked up. Their eyes locked and her legs buckled. Minna thrust her 63

Summer Sizzlers Anthology hands out for the tabletop to keep from losing her balance. He winked at her and chuckled before walking out. Better yet, strutting out, with his nice ass firmly secured in a pair of tight tan slacks that made her want to reach out and touch…something. “Are you all right, Miss Delaney?” She put on her best smile and turned to her assistant. “I’m a little dehydrated, Mark, that’s all.” “I see. Well, I suggest you go home, have a nice refreshing drink, and get plenty of rest. You’ll need to be in top form tomorrow.” “Are you trying to suggest I wasn’t at my best today?” Mark’s eyes lit up as he chuckled. “Honestly, I’ve never seen you so unsure of yourself. Are you trying to hand this case over to Mr. Sanders?” Minna sighed. “No. He’s the last person I’d ever want to win an ass. I mean, a case.” She felt her face turn red. Her assistant’s eyebrows raised high on his forehead and he gave her a strange stare. “You know, I think I better go home and do like you said.” Stepping out into the hot sun instantly made her feel sticky. Dressed in a dark pantsuit with long sleeves, she wasn’t looking forward to the fifteen minute walk home, in heels no less. **** At the crosswalk, she waited for the signal to turn when a red convertible stopped in front of her. The window opened midway and she bent down in time to catch a familiar face sporting a pair of sunglasses and a sexy smile. Why him? “Hi, Devin. What’s up?” “Did you want an air-conditioned lift to your car?” He lowered his sunglasses, revealing gorgeous chocolate brown eyes that made her melt even more. “I…um. I’m walking home today, actually and…” 64

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Someone in a blue pickup truck laid on their horn, blocking out the rest of her sentence. Devin flipped the guy off and then smiled back at her. “The nerve. Hurry up and get in before this guy runs me over.” Her throat was much too dry. “No, I can’t. Thanks anyways.” “Come on, get in. I promise not to bite.” The person honked several more times, but she didn’t dare look over at the driver. Minna felt a tremendous amount of pressure. This was Devin. There was no way she could accept a ride from the likes of him! “I’ll sit here all day until you do get in.” With an exaggerated sigh, she shrugged her shoulders and got in his car. She’d hardly had any time to close the door and buckle up before he tore down the street like it was a racetrack. At least the nice, cool breeze was a welcome change. “What street do you live on?” “Fifth and Piedmont. I live in the Vintage Oaks Condominiums.” Devin whistled and changed gears, his finger brushing up against her leg. “Fancy schmancy. Believe it or not, we’re practically neighbors. My temporary residence is Midas Towers.” Now it was her turn to be impressed. “Wow! You must have one hell of a salary to live there. I checked the place out when I first moved here and it was way out of my league. Course I’m paying back a huge student loan. Not to mention, constantly fixing my damn moody car.” “So you don’t usually walk then.” She shook her head while pulling her hair out of its constricting bun. Her honey-blonde locks fell like silk around her neck. “No. My car is in the shop. Again. Every other month, something else goes wrong with it. I’m somewhat attached to it, 65

Summer Sizzlers Anthology so I have a hard time letting it go. I think I’ve bought myself a new car twice over.” “I see.” Minna bit her lip and stared out the window. What was she doing in here, and with him? The courtroom had been close enough quarters, but now, she could reach over and grab his… “Guess tomorrow morning we’ll get a final verdict. I’m not a morning person at all. Takes me at least until noon before I start to wake up. How about you?” She tried to think of something witty to say, to make her look like she’d have an edge over him. “I’m up at six every morning. I…jog. Yeah, I really like jogging. For some reason, I have my own personal body cock that wakes me up—” Minna realized what she’d said and put her hands to her mouth. She did her best to drown out Devin’s hearty laughter, but it was impossible. “I have one of those too.” “I meant body clock.” Somebody just shoot me, please. “It’s nice to talk to you outside of the courtroom. I had a feeling you have a great sense of humor, and you just reinforced it. I like a woman who can laugh at herself.” “Um. Yeah. That’s me.” “You always seem so stuffy when you’re working. It’s really a nice change.” Minna pulled her briefcase closer, pretending it was somehow a barrier between them. To her relief, he pulled into the parking lot of where she lived. “Thanks for the ride. I would have died before getting home in this outfit.” “You should consider wearing lighter clothing tomorrow. It’s supposed to be the hottest day yet.” “Seriously?” 66

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “That’s what the weatherman said. So I guess I’ll see you in the morning. Hey, wait. Want me to pick you up? It being on the way and all.” He smiled and her whole body reacted. It took everything inside her to not lean over and kiss him. “Um, sure. I wouldn’t mind. It would definitely get people talking.” “Oh I don’t care about them. We’re professionals, aren’t we?” She wrinkled her nose and opened the door. “See you in the morning then.” **** After downing a large glass of iced tea, she ran a bath. Her feet ached from her shoes and she swore to never wear them again. Minna piled her hair on top of her head and shoved several clips in it to keep the loose strands up. She circled her toe in the tub and decided it was just the right temperature—not too hot, but warm enough to allow for a nice, long bath. She stepped in and let the rush of warmth ease the tension from her pending court case. Too many nights had been spent pouring over files and paperwork, instead of taking a moment to breathe new life into her spirit. Her client’s statement would have to wait until the wee hours of the morning. Pampering was in order, and it was long overdue. The water mixed with the vanilla-scented bubble bath and churned into a foamy lather. She acclimated her body a little at a time as she slid all the way in. Gentle ripples of water caressed her shoulders and lapped at her neck. The soothing texture of the rich foam draped over her body like a blanket and kissed her skin. Minna took a deep breath and blew all the air out. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander. Most days, she enjoyed her work, but the current case was a clusterfuck. Her friends had made fun of her when she told them her plan to study law. They considered her soft-spoken 67

Summer Sizzlers Anthology features, the sprinkling of freckles across her nose, and a painfully shy demeanor a weakness, and felt she wouldn’t be taken seriously. After winning her first high profile case, she had more than proven them wrong. Now she was one of the most sought-after attorneys in the city. They’d misjudged her fiery temper, an attribute that was more of an asset than a hindrance. What she did find daunting about her work atmosphere was how stuffy and serious everyone was. It was rare to see someone smile or make light of an unpleasant situation. As a child, she’d been subjected to three pranksters for siblings, and always found herself doubled over with laughter and tears running down her face. She had to make due with finding solace in imagining the honorable judges as possible sexual conquests. More than once, she’d caught herself daydreaming while waiting for the jury to return from deliberation. Had she any nerve, she’d crawl underneath the judge’s podium and deliver a blowjob that would garner an additional recess until he’d regained his composure. Judge Hammond, a total sourpuss of a man, would be the crème de la crème in her books. She seriously doubted his wife ever had the pleasure of what lay beneath his long black robe. Still, her current headache—or rather distraction—was Devin Sanders. Dark wavy hair, a firm, square jaw, and a sexy cleft in his chin stirred up emotions in the pit of her stomach. The first time she looked into his chocolate brown eyes, she’d completely fumbled her words. No man had ever flustered her before, and it bothered her to no end. When he spoke, his voice was gentle and melodic. His smile, now that was something she didn’t mind. He could light up a room with his smile. It wasn’t him that bothered her, but the fact that his presence made her feel like a schoolgirl with a crush on the hunky quarterback. Minna shook her head and tried to think about something else. She inhaled the sweet aroma of vanilla and sank further into 68

Summer Sizzlers Anthology the tub. With nice, even breaths, she drifted off into a dreamy haze. When she opened her eyes, the scene had changed, and it was Devin who kneeled before her, his lips set in a carefree smile. She felt heat spread across her face and tried to hide her nakedness from him. “I’ve watched you in the courtroom. My eyes have undressed every inch of your voluptuous body. I’ve longed for you to expose the legs you keep tucked underneath conservative pants, and don them in short skirts, with satin slips and silky nylons. I’ve wanted my fingers to tear away the white blouses you insist on buttoning to your neck and fondle beneath the seductive lace camisoles that hide your full breasts. That image is not the person you wish to be.” She was taken aback. “What do you know of the real me?” “You’re not so hard to read, beautiful, especially when you have only a layer of foam to cover you.” Minna wanted her hand to slap him hard on the cheek, but she reached up and stroked his face instead. A light sheet of stubble brushed along her fingers as she traced his jaw. “I think I want you to leave,” she whispered. “I think you want me to stay.” She sat up, her breasts half visible above the water. Devin slid his arm behind her back and brought her nipples to his mouth. She gasped at the moist warmth that trailed in languid circles. He suckled at her nipples, giving ample attention to each one until their pink nubs raised and hardened. The room became filled with a dreamlike haze, a kaleidoscope of soft hues and glints of golden light. “What is all this?” She sighed. Devin stopped and looked into her eyes. “I’m giving you something you want. Please, let go of your tough exterior, and let me get to know your softer side.” 69

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Minna opened her mouth to protest, but was met with his lips pressing against hers. Tender, dewy kisses grew hungry as tongues explored and danced to the music of their breath. His hand made its way down her rib cage, continued beyond her bellybutton, and rested on her hairless mound. A rush of energy radiated inside her abdomen; a craving she’d missed for too many years. Minna parted her thighs and felt the warm water swirl, lapping at her sex. Devin let his fingers sweep along her sacred inner folds. Her muscles tensed for a brief moment in anticipation of what was to come next, and then completely relaxed. She wanted this, and she needed him. He brought his lips to her ear, lightly nibbling at her lobes, making her giggle. Minna’s eyes flashed open. She realized she’d been rubbing herself and was close to an intense orgasm. The water had cooled considerably but her body was still quite warm. With her fingers, she circled her clit, willing the spiraling whirlpool from her fantasy to free itself into reality. A guttural cry escaped her throat and echoed among the bathroom walls. She clung onto the side of the tub as powerful spasms erupted through every pore of her body. Her breasts heaved and sloshed against the water. For a single moment, she bathed in the aftermath of her fantasy encounter, amazed at how real it had all felt. The scent of vanilla would always remind her of it. Still shaking, she sat up and pulled the plug from the drain, watching the water disappear down the silver ring. She dried herself quickly with a big, thick towel and lay down on the bed. It wasn’t long before she’d escaped into another dream. **** A knock at the door woke her from a sound sleep. A glance at the clock showed it was a few minutes after six. Minna moaned and clumsily stood from the bed. Her mirrored reflection met her with rumpled hair and smudged eyeliner. She 70

Summer Sizzlers Anthology hoped it was no one important and wrapped a silk robe around her body. With a lot of effort, she managed to reach the door and looked through the peephole. Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, Devin Sanders looked ready to explore the great outdoors. This was about to become terribly humiliating. She checked her breath and opened the door partway. “Um. It’s a little early. Isn’t it?” Devin delivered a smile that was blinding. “Thought I’d get into a healthier habit myself and join you in your morning jog. Our clocks must be off.” Minna swallowed hard. Why had she lied? Especially when it had to deal with excercise? “I was just…on the phone. My mom called to wish me luck on the case, so I’m running behind. Give me two minutes and I’ll be right with you.” She closed the door and ran to her bedroom. It would be a miracle if she found anything that resembled athletic wear at all. After barreling through her closet and drawers, she finally settled on a pair of cotton shorts that were actually a bit tight, a sweatshirt from her college days, socks with balls on the end and a pair of worn sneakers. The look wasn’t exactly her, but it would have to do. As a finishing touch, she put her hair into a ponytail and rubbed away the remnants of her eyeliner. She was almost all set when she remembered her morning breath. A quick brush of her teeth and five breathmints later, she opened the door and stepped out. “Sorry about that.” Devin stood from where he’d been sitting on the steps and flashed her a winning smile. “No problem. I can see why you start so early. You beat the humidity.” “Yeah. Exactly.” “Hope you’ll go a little easy on me. I haven’t jogged in ages.” 71

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Minna wasn’t about to let on that her calves were killing her from the other day. “Oh, I think I can manage that.” She did what she thought were a few good stretches and then jogged in place. Each step made her wince in pain. “Since you’re the pro here, I’ll let you lead the way.” In her opinion, the man looked way too energetic to be up so early, but she had been the one with the big mouth. She’d seen signs that there was a park a block or two up ahead and decided to go that way. Once they crossed the street and she saw the big hill up ahead, Minna knew she’d be paying big time for the rest of the week. Devin let out a long, low whistle. “You are certainly in fine shape if you jog up that every morning. I’m impressed!” She smiled and took a deep breath. This was going to hurt. **** By the time they had reached the top of the hill, her lungs were on fire and she was gasping for air. Her only consolation was he had to walk up the last little bit, though he still looked calm and collected. She didn’t even want to know how disgusting she looked with her bangs plastered to her face from sweat. He leaned over and rested his hands on his knees. “Whoa. Five mornings of this every week and I’ll have a butt of steel in no time.” The image in Minna’s mind was like a second wind. “Mind if we walk for a bit?” “Not at all.” They followed the sidewalk until they reached a beautiful garden with water fountains and statues. Scores of flowers and plants were in full bloom. Lush green lawns were recently mown and a chorus of bird songs filled the air. “What a reward for getting up the hill. This is amazing!” 72

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Minna didn’t even know the gardens existed. “It’s a great place to come when you need to get away from life.” “No kidding.” She took a deep breath in and let it out slow. Already, she felt rejuvenated. It was quiet and peaceful, unlike any place she’d been for ages. And not a single person in sight. She pretended it was their private sanctuary. Together they kept to the path, pointing out one colorful blossom after another. Minna felt relaxed for the first time around Devin and didn’t mind his presence at all. She tried to walk a little slower to check out the way he looked in his shorts, and found herself sprawled on the grass, face forward, and slightly dazed with her ankle wrenching in pain. “Are you okay?” He squatted down next to her and placed his hand on her leg. “Do you mind if take a look? I hope it isn’t sprained.” Minna wasn’t sure what the hell had happened, but the pain lessened with his touch. “No. I don’t mind.” Devin untied her shoe and pulled off her sock. “That was a big rock.” “Yeah. I was so busy staring at, I mean, looking at the flowers, I didn’t even realize it was in front of me.” He massaged it for a few minutes, flexing it in various directions. “Does it hurt?” His face was so close. Minna liked his smell, it was exotic and musky. “Not right now.” She closed her eyes and tilted her face up to soak in the sun. All at once, his lips were pressed against hers. Rather than fight him, she gave in. Her hands had a mind of their own and laced around his neck, pulling him toward her. 73

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Devin was the first to break away, but he didn’t move far. “Minna. I had no intention. That is…I obviously have thought about it many times before but didn’t mean to. Oh my, this is awkward.” She giggled at his nervousness. Here was the man she’d given so much power to. The man she’d been sure was full of confidence and strength. And right now, he was nervous, fumbling his words, and even trembling. Nothing could have turned her on more. “I thought a lot about you last night.” He blinked his brown eyes several times and cocked his head to the side. “Really?” “Yes.” “What did you think about?” “This.” She pulled him in again and this time, the kiss took on a life of its own. His hands came up and stroked her face, and they were soft and gentle. “I have a confession to make. I like you, Minna Delaney. I’ve liked you for a long time, actually.” The words brought goose bumps all over her skin. “I have a confession of my own to make.” “Oh yeah? What’s that?” “I lied about jogging.” “I know.” Minna stuck out her lower lip. “Was I that obvious?” “Oh yeah.” She couldn’t help but laugh. “While I’m pouring out my heart and soul, I might as well confess that I’ve got a thing for you, too. Damn, that sun is relentless.” Devin pulled her sweatshirt up and over her head. She unhooked her bra while he stripped off his shirt. 74

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “I’d say we’re about to turn up the heat. Think you can handle it?” Minna looked up at him dreamily. “I’d welcome it.” He shimmied off her shorts and panties and lay down beside her. His tongue lavished her nipples, bringing them to stiff peaks swiftly. Minna loved the way she felt, completely free of any inhibitions. It was not like her to be this way with a man. Her nature was to push them away and find fault with herself. Devin was different, as if he really could see beyond the courtroom facade. “I dreamed about you last night, too.” “You did?” “Mm hmm.” “How did your dream go?” His fingers explored between her inner folds, massaging her swollen nub with his thumb. She found it harder to lie still. Emotions ran rampant throughout her entire body. Her senses were being awakened by every sensual stroke. He slipped two fingers inside, brushing along areas that had been inactive for a long, long time. “I feel like I’m everywhere at once,” she half laughed, half cried. He leaned down between her legs and flicked his tongue against her swelled clit. Her body jerked in a single spasm, like she’d touched an electrical outlet. His fingers stretched her wide open until his tongue dipped where his fingers had explored. “It’s too much,” she cried out. Minna reached for his head to bring him back up to her. “You’re not enjoying?” “Oh trust me, I am, but just a little too much. I’m embarrassed, but I haven’t been with a man in years, and I think I’m on sensory overload at the moment.” He winked at her and stroked her breasts. 75

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Then I’ll change the pace.” Minna liked the way his body felt on top of hers. She slid her hands along his upper back, tracing the outline of his shoulders. He had muscles that were just right for his size and physique, not overdone, but nicely defined. “I didn’t want to like you,” she said. His fingers slid up and around her breasts, watching her nipples react to the slightest touch. Devin rose up on his arms and brought his legs between her thighs. “I’ve imagined what it feels like to slide into you. When you walk around the courtroom, I can hear the sound of your thighs brush against one another. It gives me an incredible hard-on every time. I’m always afraid to stand up without something to hide in front of me.” “I didn’t know you felt that way.” “How could I not? Everything about you turns me on. But I like it here, with your naked body beneath me, vulnerable, and sexy. Inside our own garden paradise.” Devin brought his lips to hers and they kissed until their lips were raw and tingling. She felt his bulge growing and pressing against her inner thigh. It was clear he wanted her as much as she desired him. Minna reached down underneath his body, and guided him into her. The moment of entry caught her breath in her throat. He too made a sound, a deep moan that let her know he’d experienced it, too. “You feel good.” She sighed. He brought his lips to her ear. “You feel incredible.” She stretched her legs wider so he could venture deep inside. Her body shook with each unhurried thrust. A single tear rolled down the side of her face; she wanted to savor this moment. Minna moved her hips in time with him until they’d found a natural rhythm. He looked into her eyes, smiling, with 76

Summer Sizzlers Anthology little beads of sweat forming across his brow. Blood raced through her veins in a frenzied panic, her heart pounding in a quick drumbeat cadence. All the energy united in her core, circling like a whirlpool, just waiting for the right moment to be liberated. She placed her hands on his lower back and pulled him into her, grinding, like she was a never-ending vessel, unable to reach a point of too far. “I can’t hold back,” she cried. A fiery flash sped through her body and she lurched beneath him. Devin closed his eyes and threw back his head, thrusting into her rapidly, moaning so loud, she was sure anyone within miles would hear. Once he slowed down, he opened his eyes and kissed her face. “You’re so beautiful.” Minna ran her hands through his hair. Everything felt right. Until she thought about the time. “Oh no! We’re supposed to be in court at eight. I have no idea what time it is!” Devin sat up and crossed his arms. “I see what this was all about now.” “What?” Minna grabbed for her clothing and tried to get dressed in a hurry. “You little seductress. I’ll bet you had this planned all along and used jogging to lure me here to your little playground of Eve.” Her jaw dropped open and she flashed him an innocent look. “I’ve never even been here before, if you must know.” As soon as he started laughing, she realized he was joking. “You’re the witty one. Come on, hurry up and get dressed! We still have to change and get to the courthouse!” ****

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology Minna and Devin walked hand in hand through the double doors of city hall. She was dressed in a short airy skirt with a beige top and much shorter heels. “You clean up pretty good,” she said while admiring his outfit. “Somehow, I’m going to have to pretend you aren’t such a distraction.” “Just remember, I’ll be doing the same.” He held the door open for her and gave her a nice swat on her ass. A flurry of whispers started up as soon as she walked in, followed closely by Devin. Judge Hammond banged his gavel down three times and peered at them through his wiry glasses. “I hope you two have a good excuse for keeping the court waiting.” “Summer heat, your honor,” Minna answered without hesitation. “It’s enough to make you melt.”

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SIZZLING SUMMER by

Jenna Howard

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What the hell are you doing here, Durst? He twirled his sunglasses by one narrow metal arm, listening to the music flooding the campground. He belonged at a barbecue like ants did. Too bad he couldn’t stay away. He came to celebrate Canada’s birthday in Henderson’s campground every year. Why? Because you’re a moron. Nodding to himself, he braced his elbows on his knees. Jackass was a better word. Smokey laughter came from the massive pig spit and a shiver traveled down his spine. Fuck. He glanced up, automatically finding the owner of the laugh. He could find her anywhere. In the dark, in a room filled with clones, he always knew where Summer Drummond was. Last fall, she had drifted back into Henderson a little ragged around the edges. Now with the help of her three sisters, they were fixing up the restaurant across the street from work. So he saw her everyday. Every fucking day. Seeing her didn’t get easier. Never had. Never would. Shaking his head, he glanced down at the glasses he spun around. He still felt as if someone was squeezing his heart, slowly killing him. The death was taking a long time. Really long. Go home, Durst. Instead, he reached down for the can of icy soda that rested by his foot. He returned to watching Summer. Every time they came face to face, she split. Always running, fleeing. He didn’t blame her. He was a fuck-up. Run, Su. Run fast. 80

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Want some advice?” A hand slapped him on his back and he glanced up at his cousin. The guy was smiling all the time. Mitch wanted to punch the grin down his throat. “No.” “Same advice you gave me. Fuck her, man.” Grunting, he wished that were the solution. Summer was different. There was too much between them. Mistakes too massive to be fixed with sex. “Go play with your girl.” Winter Drummond and Lucas Durst. Shit on a stick that still felt like a Mac truck hitting him. His cousin slowly grinned, saluted, then wandered off to find the oldest Drummond sister. He watched Lucas wrap an arm around her neck, tilt her back, then kiss the hell out of her. He envied Lucas. His gaze returned to Summer. “Let it go, Mitchell. Let it go.” He drained his cola and abandoned his post. He had to do something or he would go crazy. Insane. He just wished there wasn’t this ball of pain in his chest that grew larger every day. **** Glancing over her shoulder, Summer saw the vacant spot, then searched faces until she found Mitch. A man wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt should look like he was melting beneath the July sun. Not Mitch. Chewing on her thumbnail, she watched him fish a soda from the collection of coolers and head away from the festivities. A couple kids on bikes swerved around him and he turned, walking backwards to watch them take the bend. He resumed walking forward, disappearing between some trailers and vanishing from sight. “You okay?” An arm slipped around her waist and she shrugged. She wanted to lean into Winter to absorb some of her strength. She was beginning to understand her sister. Finally. Thirty years later. “Getting there.” 81

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Talk to him,” she whispered before waving to someone who called out her name. Summer shook her head inhaling the scent of roast pig. “When did you become a coward, Summer?” Always. That was the thing with façades. They were so deceiving. “One day,” she lied. What could they say to each other? What was there to say now? Eleven years later when everything had been said, everything done. Everything…gone. Pushing aside memories, she went to distract herself by finding something to listen to. She walked by the large tent set up by the Watering Hole, Henderson’s bar, who had provided the music selection and then followed the route Mitch had taken. Not to talk. Never talk. They had never been good at talking. Sex? Yes. Conversation? Not so much. He straddled a log by the river that divided the campground with his back to her. She was positive she had made no noise but he turned, looking right at her. Her heart stuttered in her chest as she felt his gaze. Fighting the urge to tug on her shorts while wishing she had worn a few more layers, she contemplated running. She was good at running. “You remember this place?” She nodded, relieved when he looked away. “Yeah.” Tucking her hands into the pockets of her shorts, she approached cautiously. He had taken her virginity on the other side of the river at a barbecue like this a lifetime ago while fireworks had exploded above them. “Remember when Jimmy tried to jump this thing on his bike?” His brother had hit the rocks, skidded, then flown over the handlebars, knocking himself out. The bike, a cheap motorcycle, had flipped into the river and the spot became known as Idiot Jump. Apparently, it was an annual tradition for someone on a dirt bike to try to take the small natural bump to leap the river. So far, no one had made it. She kicked a rock into the water and 82

Summer Sizzlers Anthology smiled at the memory. The river wasn’t wide. The ground was treacherous, devious in what it concealed. “Been awhile.” Surprised, she looked up. “What?” “Since I’ve seen that.” He pointed a finger at her mouth before grabbing a handful of rocks. One by one, he fired them into the water. “Wanna walk?” Lifting a shoulder, she nodded. “Yeah.” They walked upstream until the music was a distant memory. She snuck a glance at Mitch. His deep blue eyes were hidden behind the mirrored sunglasses and her gaze followed the scar that pocked the left side of his face. Her stomach clenched remembering the blood. The scars, she knew, covered the entire left side of his body, arm, leg, thigh, chest. Road rash. An intricate tattoo covered his left tricep, hiding the marks. Her heart began to pound fast when she saw the name woven into the artwork. Evie. Oh God. She stumbled and his hand flattened on her stomach. Evie. She wanted to touch the tat just to feel her name. Tears burned and she clutched his wrist. “Su, don’t. Shit, babe. Don’t.” His other arm hooked over her neck and pulled her against him. His t-shirt was hot from the sun. The strength beneath the cotton urged her to relax and let him take care of matters. Her hands fisted on the cotton while pain threatened to swallow her alive. “Cry, god damn you,” he whispered in her shoulder. “Cry.” She shook her head. If she started, she’d never stop. She heard the can fall to the rocks, spraying cold, sticky pop onto her calf. The liquid tickled her hot skin when the drops began to flow down to her sneakers like tears she couldn’t shed. His hand slipped under her hair. “I have you this time, Su. I have you.” 83

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She shook her head and pushed back. “No. No!” She spun away and ran, following the manmade path. Don’t cry. Push it back. Carry on. Run, Summer. Run! She hopped onto the red gravel path and across the footbridge. Abandoning the path, she ran to escape. She tripped on a root and went down hard. Gasping for breath on her hands and knees, she pushed the pain down, burying it. “God damn you.” He grabbed her from behind and flipped her over. “Are you hurt?” Yes. She shook her head as he patted her down seeking any injuries she might have received. She folded her arms over her face so she didn’t have to see him. “One day, you will cry, Su. And one day, you will forgive me.” She rolled onto her side, ignoring him. She felt his fingers comb through her hair. “One day.” He sighed and fell silent, the strokes light, familiar and soothing. **** The first explosion had her jerking awake. Beneath her palm, she felt Mitch’s shirt and heart beating. His arm lay along her back. “Look.” She followed his other hand and saw the sky come alive with colors. Fireworks always took her breath away. The way the colors sparkled against the night sky. “I slept?” “Yeah.” And he had stayed. She tilted her head back to study his face. It wasn’t a handsome face, and not just because of the scars. He simply wasn’t a classically good-looking man. He was rough around the edges and gritty on the inside. Her fingers itched to soothe the marks the gravel had made on his cheek. A sharp whistle had her gazing back at the sky. Red, white and green dazzled the night. 84

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She tried to ignore the weight of his hand on her hip, the thumb that would be hooked in a belt loop, the pinky tucked in the back pocket of her jeans. Whistles and bangs filled the night and she glanced at his face. He was watching her. The night had turned his eyes inky. She had been sixteen when the bad boy had caught her eye. She had wanted him the minute he had looked up. Before she knew what lust was, what sex really was, she had yearned. A smile had curved his hard mouth. He studied her studying him. “Ride?” He had said in his deep voice. Her heart had nearly leapt out of her chest. Mitchell Durst was talking to her. She had shucked her friends, despite their arguments, climbed on the back of the eighteen year old’s Harley and had learned a lot of things. He had been a lot of first things: first arousal, first kiss. First love. First heartbreak. He ran his thumb down her cheek, the touch so familiar, it made her eyes burn with memories. A firework exploded into shimmering bits. He rolled her beneath him and kissed her. Her heart stopped as his lips caressed hers. Lips only, no tongue. She pressed a hand against his shoulder. Push him away, Summer. Her fingers curled and she pulled him closer. His weight settled on her chest, different yet familiar. Gasping for air, she let her head fall to the ground. “Yeah?” His hand caressed along her leg, sliding under her knee and bending her leg. “Yeah,” she agreed and lifted her head, kissing him with a hunger she hadn’t felt in years. They were good at this. Even now. His palm, rough from his job in the garage, stroked down her calf, up her shin, then down again. Finally his hand settled on the top of her foot, his thumb brushing back and forth along her ankle. He remembered. “Oh damn,” she whispered. She felt his smile before the kiss deepened. She opened for his tongue, the first stroke striking memories. 85

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He knew her body like no one else. He hooked her foot over his hip and settled against her. Chest to chest, stomach to stomach. Groin to groin. She felt his erection pressing intimately against her and when the next firework exploded, his hips flexed forward. She gasped, the sensations bursting in her. “Don’t,” she pleaded. “Don’t make me feel again, Mitch.” She grabbed the back of his head and dragged him back to her mouth. Tongues slid together and his thumb caressed the one spot that made her shiver. “Please don’t, Mitch.” He rolled, dragging her on top. Against her pussy, he was hard. Her hands curled into her stomach and she looked down at him. His fingers stroked the hair hanging down. Her hands moved to her shirt and he slowly shook his head. “So you can get up, dust yourself off and pretend nothing happened?” His hand covered hers. “I will not be another forgotten memory for you, Su.” Summer released her shirt. His hands settled on her hips. Caressing up his left arm, she turned it so she could see the artwork. Evie. She mouthed the name. He sat up and gripped the front of his tee. He lifted it up and she saw the tattoo stretched across his chest, vines and elegant ribbons of black paint. Buried in the scrolls and swirls, above his heart was one word. Summer. Her heart jerked in her chest and she shook her head. “No.” He took her hand and flattened it over skin that was spotted with scars. Her fingers followed the dents and scratches. “Feel, Summer. Feel.” She pulled her hand back. “I can’t,” she whispered. “Don’t you understand? I can’t.” She climbed off him and walked away. “Ah fuck, Summer. God damn you.” The words were said in a soft voice, but carried. She flinched but didn’t look back. She couldn’t afford the consequences of what he asked of her. 86


**** The shrieking of metal and screams yanked him awake. He slid his hand over his chest, expecting blood and finding only sweat. The silence of his bedroom was broken by his gasps of air. “Mother fucker.” He sat up and swung his feet to the floor. Clasping his hands behind his head, he stared at the carpet. He recalled everything. The bike that had slid far from him because the guy couldn’t read stop, Summer lying on the road. The pain licking his body as he stared at his wife, so still, like she was dead. The sirens, the pain. He had swerved to miss the car, hit the gravel and lost control—lost Summer at his back and everything that mattered in his life in that one moment when his body slid over rocks that tore through clothing, flesh…his soul. No one had told him if she was dead or alive. They had pushed him into one ambulance and her into another. Hours had gone by. They’d drugged him and began to pick rocks from his flesh. Summer. His first word, waking up to see Lucas by his bed. Summer. His first scream when told the baby hadn’t lived. Their baby. Summer, rolling away from him and curling in on the pain he couldn’t reach because of his own. Summer. “God damn it!” He grabbed his lamp and hurled it across the room. Standing up, he headed into the bathroom. Slapping his hand against the light switch, he narrowed his eyes against the harsh light searing his eyes. He caressed the tattoo on his chest, then the one on his arm. The artwork slid down his side, hip and to his upper thigh. One night, he had gotten drunk and had walked into a tat parlor and ordered them to cover up every god damn scar in the hopes that he would forget he had failed Summer. They had. He hadn’t. 87

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Their marriage had been a spontaneous decision. He had loved her, wanted her in his life forever. He had rolled over to look at her painting her toes a glossy, hot pink and said, “I want to marry you.” The day she had turned eighteen, she had crept out of her house. On the back of his Harley, they took a road trip South through the States to a quickie wedding chapel in Vegas. Her parents had been pissed. He still remembered her mother screaming that Summer had ruined her life at eighteen and was she pregnant. She hadn’t been. Yet. Summer’s grandmother had looked at him, cupped his chin and stunned everyone, including him, with her words. “He’ll do.” She had patted his cheek and that had been the end of that. Until Evie. Evie. He hadn’t known how to deal with the fucking pain and he had reverted to his old ways: carousing with Lucas, drinking, racing. Anything to forget. And he had forgotten. For a time, he had forgotten his wife was hurting too. Hell, he had damn near forgotten he had a wife, until it was too late. He had sobered up, but too late. She was gone and he had been alone in a hell he had made for himself. Alone. God, he was tired of being alone. **** She wasn’t expecting a house. The motorcycle in the driveway, along with a half completed hot rod weren’t a surprise. What are you doing, Summer? Climbing up the front steps, she wished she had an answer. She rang the doorbell and stared at the porch swing. Did he use it? With anyone? Doubtful. Mitch wasn’t the type to kiss two women at once, although there had been rumors. With Mitch, there were always stories of myth and fact. His mom had run around on his dad and some lessons in life did take. So, she highly doubted he was seeing anyone. The door opened and she faced him. 88

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Su.” “I, um. Hm.” Okay, girl. Now what? He leaned against the doorframe, waiting. Do it. Just…do it. She cleared her throat. “Autumn is looking for guinea pigs to try out recipes for the restaurant. Would you like to be one?” She took a deep breath at the end of her strung together sentences. God, she sounded like Spring when she was nervous. She rubbed her forehead with her wrist. “What was that? Missed it.” “Shut up,” she muttered, kicking his knee softly. “Yes or no?” He pushed himself up and started to walk toward her. “Do you want me there?” “I could care less.” A hand reached out to snag the front of her jeans. Saying her name very softly, he dragged her close. “I would. Yes.” “I’ll be there then.” His finger traced her belly button and paused when he encountered the ring there. She studied the pale green paint around his windows. “Okay. I have to see this.” He pulled her behind him and sat on the swing, stopping her between his legs. He pushed her shirt up and stared at her stomach. “It’s a ring. People have them.” “Yeah,” he sighed. “Fuckin’ A.” She blushed. She had never heard him speak like that before. A little awed, a little aroused. He flicked the ring with his fingernail. He played with the small, red bead. Sliding it up, then down, his finger brushing her stomach with each swipe. Mitch leaned forward and the sensation of his tongue against the skin wrapped around the ring made her jump. This time it was his tongue that guided the bead up and down. Up and down.

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology Her skin tingled with each caress of his tongue. The tip ventured into the heart of the circle and she gasped. Lips closed around the ring and gently he sucked. Fire licked her flesh, burned in her blood and pooled in her pussy. The ring popped free and he looked up at her. The smile was wicked, classic Mitch. His teeth caught the ring and he tugged. She felt the pull deep in her womb. The second sensual tug had her moaning. Gripping her hips, he turned her around and lowered her to his lap. “I remember that sound,” he breathed in her ear. His hand stroked along her stomach and he pulled on the ring. Crying out, she arched, moisture soaking her panties. His fingers toyed with the ring as his other hand pulled the zipper of her jeans down. She arched with each tug. “Let’s see if I’m right.” Reaching back, she clutched his neck when his hand tunneled under denim and panties. They both moaned when he found her slick and swollen. Her hips rocked forward. She bit her lip and he caressed her while he tortured her bellybutton. She had forgotten. How could she forget? She parted her legs more. All his fingers stroked along her pussy, brushed her clit, then slid back down. “Mitch.” The swing began to sway. He abandoned her stomach, stroking up to her breast. She cried out when he grazed her clit and nipple at the same time. She covered the hand toying with her nipple like he had the belly ring. She gasped and surged against his fingers. He pinched her nipple. Pinched her clit. She bowed, lifting off his lap as hunger exploded in her. She shifted, bracing her knees on the swing, her hands on his knees. “Ah, babe. Yeah.” “Yeah,” she echoed. Her hips found the right rhythm. Their rhythm. A finger penetrated and her back dipped like a cat. “Mitch.” Flinging her head back, her hips glided up and down. 90

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She could feel herself creaming around his finger and her heart threatened to burst. She froze and her pussy clamped tight around his finger. “Milk me. Come.” She cried out, the rhythmic pulses exploding in her. Her fingers curling into his thighs, she rained over his hand. He caressed her through the hot jerks of her body. He gave her no recovery time. He scooped her up and carried her inside, kicking the door behind him. Her orgasm vibrated through her as he carried her down the hall to his bedroom. He dumped her on the bed, yanked her jeans down and caressed up her thighs to her ass, then around to her pussy. She rose up on her knees to allow his fingers to slide through her slickness. He dragged her shirt off, flattened a hand between her shoulders and pushed her forward. The grind of his zipper made her shudder. The bed gave beneath his weight. Through her splayed legs, she saw his jeans were still on. Patience wasn’t in his vocabulary. His hand slid between her legs, parting the slick nether lips. Her breath caught in her chest when she felt him slide into her, filling her. Her stomach jerked when he stroked her clit, then began to move. She pushed back into his thrust, the edges of his fly abrading the flesh of her ass. Her fingers flexed when he slid back, then sank into her again. An arm banded above her hips and he began to plunge deep, hard. She felt each inch slide in and out, bumping her cervix, rubbing her g-spot. The silence was broken only by their harsh breathing, the sound of flesh meeting flesh. She ached to look back, to gaze upon his face but a part of her was afraid of what she’d see. The past. Shared memories. Everything that lay between them unspoken. 91

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Deep in her womb, the heat built. The familiar sensation of him inside her was the same, yet different. They were different now. But the passion hadn’t changed. They did this really well. Had since her first orgasm. No one felt like him. No one touched like him. The intensity flooded her and she pushed backwards, wanting him to erase everything. Needing him to make her forget. Biting her lip, she let the sensation swamp her. Tears blurring her vision, she came. Her back bowed. His fingers stroked down her spine while he pumped through her orgasm. She heard him suck in his breath, then felt the silky spurts of him releasing into her. Familiar. Different. She pressed her face into the sheets that smelled of soap and man, fighting the tears. So much unspoken and still they said nothing. An emptiness grew inside of her. He lowered them to the bed. He buried her face in his neck and Summer reached down, gripping his hand. Say something, Summer. Anything. Her fingers tightened as his spread, allowing them to entwine. She held on, the silence yawning between them. The silence of the past was a scream between them and she was afraid to face him, to confront what had once been. Don’t let go. He shifted their arms, resting them between her breasts and still the silence continued until words were too late. **** He felt the heat of her arms wrapped around him, the little kiss behind his ear. The Harley growled beneath him and they took the road toward her grandparents. She wanted to share the news. Shout it from the highest point. He reached down to caress the silk of her arm briefly. He had never thought that at twenty, he’d be married with a baby on the way. Shit. He was an adult. God damn. 92

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He eased his speed when he came to what he and his cousin reverently called Hell’s Corner because the intersection was hidden. He never saw the car. He heard Summer scream his name, screaming brakes and then there was nothing but a terrifying silence. He lost Summer at his back and hit the gravel on the side of the road. Summer. This time he got up and walked to where she lay. Too much blood, he thought. Wondering where the blood came from. He eased her over and sightless eyes stared up at him. He awoke with a jerk; his heart trying to rip its way out of his chest. A hand rested on his chest, the flesh warm, alive. Picking up her hand, he pressed her wrist to his lips. That was her pulse. Right? Swallowing, he waited and against his chest, he felt her exhale softly in sleep. “Shit,” he whispered, dragging his hand down his face. Sometimes he could go months, years without the dreams and others, he was hammered with alternate variations or actual events. Moving slowly so he didn’t wake Summer, Mitch sat up and let the air whispering through the window dry his back. He could cover the scars but they were still there. Looking over his shoulder, he stared at Summer. She was in his bed. God knew she was in his heart. He wanted her back in his life. She shifted, sighed and rolled onto her stomach. She wasn’t ready. Hell, he knew that. First, the past needed to be dealt with. Fuck. He wasn’t ready for that. “Mitch?” The sleepy murmur along with the hand on the small of his back made him hope in the impossible. “Yeah, babe.” He leaned back, bracing his arm on the other side of her. “You okay?” Lowering his head, he kissed her shoulder. “Go back to sleep, Su.” 93

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “’Kay,” she breathed into the pillow, falling asleep again. His hand feathered across her shoulders and down her hair. She stirred but didn’t wake up. Mitch eased up and left the bedroom. Closing the door behind him, he stared at the second door. The house had been an impulse buy with the money he received from the accident. Flattening his hand on the wood, he leaned forward to rest his forehead beside his hand. Like money had fixed everything. His baby was still gone and Summer could disappear at any given moment. Naked, he walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, hoping to find inspiration. Answers were never found in condiments. Grabbing the carton of orange juice, he opened the small drawer and removed the key. “Fuck, Durst, don’t do this.” He kicked the fridge closed and headed back down the hallway. Sighing, he mentally tried to talk himself out of this. Nothing good is behind this door, Mitchell. Let it go. He slid the key into the lock he had installed ten years ago. You think answers are going to appear by magic in that room? You think you can change time. Do not open that door. The lock popped and he turned the knob. The door swung silently open and he stood at the threshold, eyes closed, while memories hit him from every side. Every night since leaving that shitty little apartment because the pain and anger couldn’t be contained, he remembered. Summer’s tears. The drinking. The racing of the bike as if to elude everything. One day, coming home and she was gone. All that had remained was the wedding ring on a note saying she couldn’t hurt him anymore. What a pile of shit. He had hurt her. He stepped into the bedroom, the carpet soft beneath his toes, and opened his eyes. Every time he came in here, the pain 94

Summer Sizzlers Anthology increased. It was filled with flea market and thrift store finds, because money had been so tight, pennies were a cause for celebration. “Fuck,” he whispered, his knees gave out and he sank onto a rocking chair they had picked up at a garage sale. The crib taunted him. The dresser that had been Summer’s was a kick to the heart. A pale gold ring, bought from a discount store, glinted on the dresser in front of a framed picture. He leaned forward and eased the ring onto the tip of his pinky finger. He reached for the photo next. Summer lay on their mattress, one of his grubby work shirts buttoned to just below her breasts. With bright red lipstick, he had drawn a heart on her bared belly, then taken her picture. She was so young. So fucking happy, he could see the joy in her eyes. He pressed the glass against his forehead. He had never expected to find love. Had never experienced it until that day he had looked up from fixing his bike and there she had stood. A little reckless, a little wild, and a little sweet. The pain was swift and unforgiving in its brutality. Only in here could he acknowledge the pain of his losses: Summer, Evie. He felt like he was being shredded from the inside out. He wanted her love back. He wanted that feeling back. “Summer,” he whispered, all the pain crawling through his body and exploding in his heart. Tears he couldn’t fight in this room, this shrine to what could have been, and they escaped. Only in this room did he allow himself to remember the bitter truth. Two years, eight months and fifteen days. That’s how long someone had loved him. **** The bed shifted beneath his weight and Summer opened her eyes. The feel of him beside her was so familiar, she could almost forget everything. Almost. 95

Summer Sizzlers Anthology What happened now? She felt his gaze, a physical touch, in the darkness of his room. Had she known this was going to happen? Was this why she had come looking for him? She started to roll over a hand flattened on her back. “Don’t,” he said, his voice low and rough. Her heart sounded loud in her ear and the back of her neck began to prickle and burn. A whisper of breeze danced down her spine and then she felt his mouth press a kiss at the nape of her neck. Her fingers clutched the edge of the pillowcase, clinging. His hand followed her spine, pushing the sheet aside. Then continued down the crease of her ass until his fingers rested against her pussy. She counted the heartbeats as his hand only cupped her. Her skin grew hot and achy for him to touch her. Really touch her. No one touched her like he could. No one. A caress, even a look, all made her body come alive. Something hot began to flutter in her stomach from the presence of his fingers. She gasped, her fingers squeezing the pillowcase. Her bottom pushed up and moisture coated his fingers. “Let me in,” he whispered against her ear, covering her back. His body was heavy, hot. Familiar. Against her ass, she felt the heavy weight of his cock. Her leg slid up and her hips rolled back. “Let me in, Su.” His hand moved, sliding back, then forward. Heat spread throughout her body. “Let me in,” he repeated, kissing his way down her spine. The words were whispered against the small of her back and she froze. “Let me in. Let me…please. Let me in.” She rolled over and he pressed his face against her stomach, his fingers trailing along her ribs. His head lifted and his eyes made her cry out. Pain. His pain was revealed. She saw his mouth move and his hand flattened over her heart. 96

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He buried his face in her stomach and his massive body shuddered. This was a strong man breaking. Tears filling her eyes, she struggled to figure out what to do. What could she do? He slid his hand to her breast, squeezing as his mouth drew a wet line to her sex. His tongue stroked her and she bowed up, even though she knew this wasn’t the answer. He pushed her legs open and she moaned when his tongue dipped into her. They had tried this before. Her eyes opened and she stared at his ceiling. Healing like this. “No,” she whispered, pushing against his head. “Mitch, no.” Because what would there be afterwards but regrets? “Why?” he shouted as he rose above her. “Why, damn it? Why won’t you let me in?” Summer flinched when he roared, wrenched the pillow from beneath her and flung it out the door. Her hands covered her mouth. He slammed his fist into the wall above the bed. “Fuck.” Tears caused him to blur. A shudder made the bed shake. “You won’t give me your heart. You won’t give me your trust. You won’t give me your love! Give me this. Give me…” He raked his hands through his hair, the thick muscles in his arms tight. “I’m so tired, Su.” He dropped his arms and looked at her. “I’m so tired of loving you.” The words were a swift, killing blow. They reverberated in the room, through her body, into her heart and destroyed her. His eyes were bleak as they stared at each other. “I can’t,” he whispered, brushing the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “I can’t be this anymore. The pain hurts, Su. It hurts so much and I just…can’t.” He pressed something into her palm and folded her fingers over it. His touch was gone. The mattress creaked when he stood up. Then he was gone. Some words, she thought, opening her fist and staring at her wedding band, should never be spoken. Rolling onto her stomach, 97

Summer Sizzlers Anthology she dragged his pillow to her, hugging it while her fingers clenched around the ring. The pain came, swamping her until there was nothing left. A tear fell. Then another. The sob ripped through her and with it, came everything. Gone. He was gone and she had no one to blame but herself. She didn’t want to hurt. Didn’t want to feel like this. Not again. Never again. Curling into a ball, she pressed her fist between her breasts. She didn’t want to hurt him. But she did. She had. She was. Stop hurting. She wanted to stop hurting. Stop hurting him, her. Everyone. That’s what she did. Her heart hurt. If he stopped loving her, who would? Who could? But he deserved something more. Someone who didn’t act recklessly with other lives, who wasn’t broken on the inside. “God, please,” she whispered into his pillow. Make it stop hurting. “Mitch. Please.” Make it stop. Someone. Anyone. She wanted it to stop hurting. **** She was killing him. Every sob was a lash on his skin. Mitch slid down the door, his arms resting on his knees provided support for his weary head. Summer. His heart. What had he done? Ah, fuck. If she begged one more time for the pain to go away, he was going to fall apart. He wanted to clamp his hands over his ears like he had as a kid to block out the reality of his home. His throat closed up as every sound from his room stabbed him. “Don’t.” The whisper was hoarse and he lifted his head to see her on the floor. “Oh, babe, don’t,” he pleaded as she crawled to him. 98

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “You can’t. Okay?” His hands shook to touch her, to yank her close and tell her he was wrong. Was he? She stopped between his feet and took his hand. She placed the ring in his palm. “Summer. Don’t.” She flinched at her name and he saw her pull in to herself. Long time since he had called her that. “Okay,” she whispered; she sank down. Defeat had her crumbling. “Okay. I—” She swallowed and met his gaze. “I’m sorry. About Evie. About…” She glanced at the ceiling, tears dripping down her cheeks. “I should have thought. You know? I was supposed to take care of her. That was my job. I…I should have thought. Been smart. What kind of person, Mitchy, gets on a motorcycle when she’s four months pregnant? I didn’t think. I never thought. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for taking her from you.” She leaned forward and caressed his cheek. Her tongue darted out to catch a tear that slid close to her mouth. “I was supposed to take care of you, too. And I didn’t. I was just so—” “I know. Me, too.” “Yeah,” she whispered. “Okay.” She leaned forward and kissed him, a soft, sad, salty kiss. “Good-bye, Mitchy. Thank you for loving me.” Oh fuck. He shut his eyes and fisted his hands in her hair. “It wasn’t your fault, honey.” “Yeah,” she breathed. “It was.” She slipped away and left him. The rustle of clothing came to him and he ran his thumb around the small ring. A hand caressed his hair when she walked by. A few seconds later, the door closed softly behind her. “I drove the bike,” he whispered in the loneliness of his house. Loving her hurt. Losing her ravaged him. “Summer, don’t leave me again.” **** 99

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Fifteen minutes was how long it would take her to walk from Mitch’s house to her parents’ if she cut through yards like she had on the way over. This time she took the long way. What was waiting for her? Her old bedroom in the basement? Dad’s drunken ramblings about how the world hated him? The memories of the basement? Crossing her arms over her chest, she measured every step and wondered why she and Mitch always wound up hurting each other. If they called each other names, or fought all the time, maybe that would be better. She had loved him. Passionately. With all that was in her and when they had been unable to turn to each other in the cold, lonely night, she had missed him. Passionately. Leaving had hurt. Leaving had seemed the only option because she hadn’t wanted to wake up one day with nothing. They had stopped talking. Stopped touching. Stopped living after the miscarriage. All they had left was their pain, which they tried to ease through sex. Silent sex that couldn’t erase anything. Like tonight. Same story, different page. Brushing the tears away with her fingers, she wished she were different. That she had Winter’s strength of spirit, or Spring’s lack of fear, or Autumn’s gentle heart, because, maybe then, she’d stop hurting Mitch. Mitch, who didn’t want to suffer again. She didn’t blame him. Let me in. She wished she could trust herself, her love. Maybe then, she’d get smart. Maybe then, she’d be brave. Maybe. Summer followed the web of sidewalks that would take her back to her childhood home. She wondered why she had come back nearly a year ago. 100

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She had been down South, her wanderings had taken her through the States. She remembered the moment clearly. All of a sudden, the need to be home had filled her so much that her hands had trembled. There was nothing in this world that could fix her. No answers were found in any of the stamps in her passport. And so she had come back, where nothing changed, and she made the same mistakes, over and over again. Better, she thought, turning down the familiar street, if she’d hated Mitch. Then there wouldn’t be hope. There wouldn’t be this hollowness in her chest. She looked up, her footsteps slowing when she saw the man sitting on the front steps. The light someone had left on shone down on the slump of his shoulders. He rolled her ring back and forth between his two index fingers. Under her arms, her fingers began to tremble. “When I sobered up and saw,” he eased the tip of his finger into the ring and lifted it so the light sparked off it, “this, I thought, yes. It will finally stop hurting. Only it didn’t.” His thumb stroked the smooth gold and he met her gaze. “When the papers came, I thought, now, now it will stop hurting.” New tears escaped and she wondered if she’d ever stop crying. Crossing the lawn, she stood before Mitch, his feet on either side of hers. He sighed. “It didn’t. Tonight.” His eyes closed and his head fell forward so it rested on her stomach. “Let me in, Summer. Please. Because you…” His hands gripped the back of her jeans. “You are everything I am.” She combed her fingers through his hair; his whispered plea flayed her. She knelt on the bottom step, the cold concrete soaking through the denim. His hands slid up to her back, where he gripped her shirt as if she would try to escape. And where would she go? What was out there? Nothing. No one. “Love me again,” he breathed against her neck. Again? When had she stopped? 101

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “I wasn’t there for you either, Su.” He rested his forehead against hers and she saw all his regrets in the inky blue depths. “Until you were in my life, I didn’t know what it was like to love someone. When we lost Evie...” The tears she saw made her hands shake. She stroked his hair. “I didn’t know what to do. To come so close. And because I was mad at myself and the world, I hurt you. You,” he whispered the word, his fingers brushing away her tears. “I didn’t know what to do with heartache because, until you, I never knew what it was. Now I know nothing but. Make it go away, Summer, and love me again. Let me in.” She whispered his name, her arms tightening around his neck. She confessed the secret she carried in her heart. “I never stopped, Mitch.” Stop loving him? Impossible. His arms crushed her against him and his large, tough body began to shake. “I never stopped.” **** In the quiet of her bedroom, he whisked her shirt over her head and it fell to the floor in a whisper. A kiss was placed above her heart while his fingers blazed tingling trails down her side to the waist of her jeans. When his mouth captured her nipple, she sucked in her breath. Fire licked through her. One touch was all it needed for him to arouse her, one look. One smile. The button gave and slowly, reverently, he eased her jeans down to the floor. He said nothing, but the fine quiver in his fingers as they feathered up her body spoke loudly. Tiny sparks rippled through her when he caressed her bottom. He leaned back on her bed and she followed. Bracing her hands by his head, she looked down at Mitch. He lowered her over his cock. She sighed as he filled her. Complete. That’s how she felt. His hands flowed over her back, down her sides, then her legs. 102

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She couldn’t look away from him. She moved, rising slowly along his hot length, then down. Her mouth parted on a gasp, he was everywhere inside her. There was no rush in the quiet that was silent. The whisper of flesh brushing flesh, the way he looked at her, the way she felt. No words were needed. She bent down, kissing him. Their tongues glided in a new dance. A hand cupped her ass as she rocked over him. He rolled them and he caught her hands, entwining their fingers. How could there be so much fire with such a slow burn? I love you. Her neck arched and the kiss broke. Her fingers flexed as she came. His grip tightened, she felt the whisper of his breath against her lips before he thrust one final time into her. The feel of his seed inside her made tears burn. He released her left hand, wiping away her tears. His eyes glowed; the smile slid under the surface and curled his lips. The sight stole her breath and she lowered her hand to touch the soft flesh beneath his eyes, the pained shadows melting away. The glint of gold made her stop and stare at her ring finger. Her ring. She met his gaze. Mitch. She lifted her head, kissing him without breaking the silence that filled the room. The silence didn’t hurt now because everything unspoken had a voice. He was her heart, her home. “I want a baby, Mitch.” He lifted his head. “I want my wife.” He picked up her hand, turned it over and kissed her palm. “Come home, Summer.” “Yeah,” she whispered. He began to move in her again. He flattened her hand over his heart that pounded with the speed of hers. “Yeah.” He nodded and kissed her again. “Yeah.” This time they weren’t so quiet. **** Mine. Autumn brushed her fingers along the pristine oven that glistened like a gem. The new fridge was stocked with food 103

Summer Sizzlers Anthology for tomorrow morning’s prep work and her fingers stroked down the long handles. Mine. She fought the urge to drop to her knees and run her hands over the tile floor not yet spotted with grease. Instead, she caressed the white chef jacket with Autumn stitched in a fall yellow. Mine. All mine. Laughter drifted from the front of the house and she pushed through the swinging door, following the joyful sounds. Her family that seemed to be growing larger by the day, sat around a cluster of tables, cardboard boxes from Lou’s Pizza piled on the floor. Mine, she thought, leaning against the mahogany bar. Her gaze shifted from her family to the restaurant. The wedding picture of Grams and Gramps greeted anyone who walked in the door. Ours. This is our dream. The dream may have started off as her eldest sister’s, but Autumn had clung to it desperately. Winter had wanted this restaurant, Autumn had needed it. Once Seasonal Changes had been the dream of her grandparents. This is our dream now. And if she was lonely, she kept that to herself. The restaurant would fill the hollow pit in her stomach. She was used to being alone.

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HOT TIME IN THE CITY by

Sherrill Quinn

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Brandt De Winton walked with heavy steps toward the front door of Friends, Incorporated, the private investigation firm that he owned along with his brother and two cousins. Well, one cousin, now. The air, thick with humidity, matched his mood. He’d totally screwed up his life, lost the best thing that had ever happened to him all because he had to do his job and fuck the consequences. Damn it. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, then kicked it closed behind him. Shaking the rain from his umbrella, he dropped it on the floor by the front door and punched in the code to deactivate the alarm. He twisted the deadbolt and stared out into the darkness. Late April rains lashed the surrounding area. Flashes of lightning punctuated the sky, lighting up the empty intersection of Brandywine and Creighton like some kind of deserted disco floor. Brook’s Place might be a small, quiet town, but halfway between Cleveland and Toledo, it was close enough to big cities for a criminal element to filter in. At two in the morning, it was better to be safe than sorry. Because of his background in security, he was especially aware of the numerous ways people left themselves open to be victimized. Leaving doors unlocked was one of them. Glancing toward Addie’s office, he shook his head and frowned. Damned girl had to go off and marry her vice cop and 106

Summer Sizzlers Anthology move to Toledo. Now it was just the three of them: Addie’s twin sister Sydney, his twin Turner, and him. The way Turner’d been panting after that Northrup woman, it probably wouldn’t be long before he was out of the picture, too. Damn. Brandt hated change. Not that he wasn’t happy for his cousin and his brother. He was. And, if he were honest with himself, he was just a little envious. He didn’t think he’d ever find someone he wanted to share his life with. The vision of a spunky, auburn-haired temptress flitted through his mind’s eye. Dakota Jennings. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens employee and, for a time, the prime suspect in his last case. He settled behind his spacious oak desk and clicked on the table lamp. Flipping open his briefcase, he pulled thick manilla folders out of it, placing them on his desk. He clicked the case closed and stowed it under the desk. Staring at the top folder, he took a deep breath before opening it. The picture of Stan Hywet Hall, the stately home of the founders of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, was on top. It was now a historical landmark, and Dakota had acted as assistant curator. He flipped the picture of the house over. Dakota’s picture was next. With an index finger, he traced the outline of her face, clenching his jaw at the pain that tightened his gut. He’d been such a fool. A lot of the evidence had pointed toward Dakota being behind several thefts at the historic home. His gut had said ‘no.’ Why the hell hadn’t he listened to his gut? Instead, he’d harangued her and harassed her. Except for two nights of mind-numbing sex, he’d generally made her life miserable, ruining her reputation and costing her a damned good job. 107

Summer Sizzlers Anthology And in the process, he’d lost probably the best thing that had ever happened to him. He heaved a sigh and closed the folder. No use in regretting the past. Regrets never did anyone any good. He’d get on with his life and try to forget the woman who, however briefly she’d been in his life, made him wish he was a better man. **** “Killian doesn’t really have any family, Brandt.” Sydney Langdon stared up at him, her gaze bright with hopeful pleading. “Turner’s already agreed to stand up for him. Come on. Please?” “Why do you have to have a goddamned summer wedding, anyway?” Brandt stared down at his cousin, trying to steel himself against the pitiful look in her slate-blue eyes. He tossed the last orange peel from his late lunch into the black mesh wastebasket beside his desk. “It’s hot as hell out, humidity’s up. It feels like a fucking sauna outside.” Syd crossed her arms, her look going from pleading to glaring in a split second. “You have been like a bear with a bee up his butt since you got back from Akron three months ago. You haven’t stopped cussing, either. What’s your problem?” He ground his teeth together, refusing to answer. What could he say anyway? That he’d totally fucked things up for himself when he was in Akron? That he’d condemned himself to live half a life because he’d been too damned stubborn to accept the gift he’d been given? That he’d thought Dakota had been too good to be true, and had set out to prove it, only to be slapped in the face by the truth? The truth that she was good and honest and so goddamned sexy, he got hard just thinking about her? No, he couldn’t tell anyone what a total ass he’d been. He was too ashamed of his callous behavior. Too hurt by the memory of her tear-stained cheeks. 108

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Raking a hand through his hair, he swore under his breath. “Fine,” he muttered, turning from her to sit behind his desk. He rotated his shoulders, trying to ease the knots that had been there since April. “Fine. I’ll stand with Turner and be co-best man for your fiancé.” “Thank you.” Syd walked forward and perched on the edge of his desk. Her voice soft, she asked, “And the other? Do you want to talk about it?” “There’s nothing to talk about.” When she would have said more, he held up his hand to stop her. “Really, Sydney. I appreciate your concern, but there’s nothing to discuss.” She got off his desk and walked out of the office. “Okay, okay.” Pausing at the door, she looked back at him. “But if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.” He leaned back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose where a headache was forming. Damn it. Four months, and he was walking around like a lion with a thorn in his paw. He couldn’t get Dakota out of his mind—wondering how she was doing; what she was doing; who she was doing. And that was what made him the craziest. The thought of all that silken skin bared for another man; her lush breasts hard and ripe for another man’s mouth; her beautiful, swollen pussy spread for another’s possession. He should do something about it. He could. But he had no right. Not after the way he’d treated her. Closing his eyes, he saw her again as she’d looked sprawled beneath him, her face flushed, eyes dark with desire. Voice throaty and pleading as he sensually tortured her. “Hello, Brandt.” Her husky voice intruded, crawling through his nerve endings, setting them on fire.

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology He hunched his shoulders. His tortured thoughts had conjured an audio hallucination. God, it was confirmed: he had lost his fucking mind. “Brandt?” Looking up, he saw her standing in the doorway, a tremulous smile on her face. She was really here. He shot to his feet, knocking his chair back against the wall. Striding to her, he grabbed her upper arms and pulled her into the room, slamming the door behind her. He released her and leaned against the door, blocking her exit. His first thought was to keep her from leaving. His second thought: Damn. She looks good. Her dark red hair was pulled back, with long, highlighted wisps framing her face. She wore a tight knit shirt that stretched across her generous breasts, and blue jeans that hugged trim thighs. As he stared, her nipples puckered and stood out against the soft material of her shirt. In his suddenly too-tight pants, his cock returned the salute. **** Dakota crossed her arms defensively—hiding the evidence of her desire from his knowing eyes—and jerked her gaze from where it was fastened on his own hardening arousal. She hadn’t come here for that. Even if her entire body ached for him—had ached for him since he left—she wouldn’t succumb to his charm. She’d done that four months ago, ignored the warnings from that inner voice and let him seduce her. He’d hurt her, badly. She wouldn’t give him the chance to do it again. No, she’d get his help and keep it strictly business between them. She’d just have to ignore how sexy he looked in his crisp dress slacks, with his shirt sleeves rolled up to showcase strong forearms, the top three buttons undone to reveal curly, dark hair 110

Summer Sizzlers Anthology on his muscled chest. She’d have to pretend she couldn’t see the sexual heat in his eyes, the long thickness of his cock under his pants. The air-conditioning unit clicked on and blew a slight scent of his cologne her way. Her core heated and loosened, like it always did whenever she smelled him. Or saw him. Or touched him. God, she must’ve been out of her ever-lovin’ mind to come here. What had she been thinking? She’d been thinking that he was the only one who could help her. And he owed her, big time. She just needed to stay focused and stop thinking about how his big body felt on hers; how thick his cock was, driving into her, making her crazy with lust. “What’re you doing here, Dakota?” His deep voice rasped over her sensitive ears and started a lazy shiver circling low in her belly. To keep him from seeing how very badly he affected her, she sat on the leather sofa against the outside wall and nonchalantly crossed her legs. “I need your help.” She was proud of the way her voice came out: smooth and steady, nothing at all like she felt. He threw her off-balance; he always had. He cocked an eyebrow, but otherwise, didn’t move. This was harder than she’d thought it would be. Taking a deep breath, she blew it out from between pursed lips and plunged into her explanation. “My grandfather has gotten himself in trouble with…some people. They’ve told him that unless he pays up, they’ll kill my grandma.” She felt cold inside and was afraid she’d never really be warm again. “What the fuck…” Brandt left his position by the door and sat on the sofa next to her. He took her hands in his and her 111

Summer Sizzlers Anthology breath hitched to feel the warm comfort in his touch. “Start at the beginning, Dakota.” She swallowed and stared at their clasped hands. Her skin was so much lighter than his tanned tones; her hands so much smaller. Yet another indication of their differences. “Granddad has racked up over a million dollars in gambling debts, from illegal games, mostly. They’re demanding that he give them the Necklace of Sheba for repayment.” He whistled. “The Necklace of Sheba. Isn’t that worth over two mill?” Dakota nodded. “Yes. It’s a diamond and ruby choker worth almost two and a half million dollars.” Her breath hitched on a sob. She fought back tears, afraid that if she gave in to them, she’d never be able to stop. She’d be of no use to anyone then. “It’s currently on loan to the Cleveland Museum of Arts.” **** “And just where does your granny fit in?” Brandt knew she was shaken, as she had yet to pull her hands away from his. It gave him hope that, somewhere under the hurt and anger she surely felt toward him, remained the love she’d had at one time. “Granddad got a call from some man. He told Granddad that they have Grandma. Somewhere. They told Granddad that if he doesn’t give them the necklace by Wednesday, they’ll give him a dead wife.” Brandt heard the break in her voice and, without stopping to think about what a bad idea it was, he pulled her into his arms. One hand cradled her head, the other swept up and down her back in an attempt to give comfort. “It’ll be all right, honey.” She jerked away from him, staring at him with tear-glazed eyes. “How will it be all right, Brandt? Tell me how, ’cause I really want to know.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “I’ve tried and tried to figure it out and I keep coming up empty. So empty.” 112

Summer Sizzlers Anthology The last words were spoken on a dispirited whisper that broke his heart. He knew all about feeling empty. Except in his case, it was his own damned fault. “Listen, honey, I can help you. Sit tight for a minute, okay?” He cupped her face in his hands and stared at her, willing her to not run away. “Okay?” She nodded, wiping at her tears with shaking fingers. He pressed light kisses against her eyes, her cheek, one corner of her mouth. When her tongue came out and swiped his lips, he was lost. With a groan, he covered her mouth with his; a desperate, needy melding of hearts and souls and gut-wrenching need. It wasn’t gentle; it wasn’t smooth. It was hard and rough. The way he felt. His tongue swept into the depths of her mouth, slaking his thirst, drinking her taste deep into his throat. Fuck, she tasted just like he remembered: creamy and sweet, like chocolate with a hint of raspberries. She pushed against his chest and he backed off. “Don’t!” she gasped. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. “You’re right.” His voice was gruff, tight with the pain of her rejection. Clenching his jaw against the ache of his rock-solid erection, he stood and walked toward the door. With a cock that felt like a third leg, he was pretty sure he was limping some. “Let me talk to Sydney. Stay put, okay?” “But—” “Just wait.” This time he didn’t wait for an answer. She needed his help; she’d stay. He hoped to God she’d stay. If she left before he could make amends, well…somebody better just shoot him now. **** 113

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Dakota stood and paced to the desk and back again, gripping her elbows in her hands. So much for keeping it professional, you nitwit, she castigated herself. But, oh, God, he’d tasted just as good as she remembered. Better, in fact. He tasted dark and tangy, coffee and oranges lingering in his mouth. Catching sight of the peels in the wastebasket beside his desk, she guessed he’d eaten just before she came. Seeing the way his erection had strained against the pleated front of his dress slacks, she was glad she wasn’t the only one so affected by this reunion. But that only made it harder to keep her hands off him. She shook her head at herself. Harder, indeed. It was a long shot, getting him to help her. With his background in security, he seemed a logical choice. She’d needed to explain her plan to him before he completely sidetracked her with his kiss. She could tell that her abrupt refusal of his kiss had hurt him. He’d left before she could even begin to talk about the Plan. To steal the Necklace of Sheba. With the few contacts she still had in the museum world, she knew she’d be able to get close enough to it without glass and security barriers. But she needed Brandt to make sure that the security systems were deactivated. She didn’t care if she went to prison. She had to protect her grandparents. They were all the family she had left. And she’d make sure she shielded Brandt, as well. She’d ensure, if she were caught, he wouldn’t be implicated. Whether she liked it or not, he was important to her, too. When he walked back into the room, she turned to face him. “We’ve got it covered, Dakota. All you have to do is tell me where your grandfather lives.” 114

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “What?” She frowned. “Why? What good will it do for you to know where Granddad lives?” He grimaced and motioned toward the couch. “Please sit down, and I’ll try to explain.” Once she was seated, he took his place beside her. “It’s rather…well, you’ll have a hard time believing it. I know I did.” He fidgeted next to her and her frown deepened. He acted nervous, even embarrassed. What the hell was he going to tell her? “Okay. Here goes.” His chest expanded with a deep breath that he blew out of his mouth. “My cousin Sydney’s fiancé, Killian Murphy, is a werewolf.” She blinked in surprise. All righty then. Whatever she might have thought he was going to say, it hadn’t been that. She searched his face. He seemed serious. But, still…“He’s a werewolf.” She meant for it to be a question, but it came out as more of a statement. Clearing her throat, she observed wryly, “You know, you hide your insanity pretty well. I would never have guessed.” He grinned, flashing the deep dimples in his cheeks, but sobered quickly. “I’m serious, honey. Tell me where your grandfather lives. Killian and a few of his friends will go talk to him. They can grab something of your grandmother’s and use it to, um, sniff her out.” “They can use it to sniff. Her. Out.” She pressed her lips together, not sure if she wanted to laugh or scream. Screaming felt like a good idea. Taking several deep breaths, she reined in her near-hysteria and said, “Like a bunch of bloodhounds.” “No, like a pack of wolves.” Leaning forward, he took her hands in his. “Trust me on this, honey.” With those words, all the old hurt bubbled up and threatened to boil over. Dakota forgot about werewolves and necklaces and rode the wave of anger. She snatched her hands 115

Summer Sizzlers Anthology away and stood. Walking away from the sofa, she stopped by the desk, her back to him. “I seem to remember you saying those words to me before, Brandt. And look where it got me.” She whirled to face him and ticked the list off on her fingers. “A ruined reputation, no job, and very few friends left.” She clenched her fists. “You bastard! I trusted you.” He rubbed his hands over his face, then stood. “I know. Shit.” Walking forward until he reached her, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Listen to me.” She tried to shrug them off, but he tightened his grip. “Listen to me.” “I can listen without you touching me.” The heat from his hands burned through her clothes and seemed to settle in her core. God, she was such an idiot. The one man she should be running the hell away from, and all she could think of was knocking him to the floor and getting down and dirty with him. **** “But I can’t talk without touching you.” Brandt stared down at her, trying to think of what he could say to make her understand why he’d acted the way he had, when he barely understood it himself. “I didn’t think you could really exist.” She blinked at him, which told him he’d surprised her. “You’re kind, intelligent, funny, and so goddamned sexy, you keep me twisted up in knots.” He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m too cynical, too quick to judge, and too stupid to see what a good thing I had until it was gone.” He turned away from her and stood in the open doorway. His eyes were blind to the offices; he looked inward and wasn’t pleased with what he saw. He’d really blown it this time because he’d been too afraid of what she made him feel. “I fell in love with you so fast and so hard…I was afraid it wouldn’t last. So, I hurt you first. Before you could hurt me.” He faced her, trying to find the right words. Coming up empty, he spoke what was in his heart. “I love you, Dakota. And 116

Summer Sizzlers Anthology if you’ll give me the chance, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for what I did to you back in the spring.” She stared at him, her usually expressive face betraying none of what she felt. “Say something.” He clamped his jaw against the burgeoning pain. She didn’t feel the same way; or, if she had, he’d killed it with his callous treatment of her. “You handcuffed me.” “Yes.” “You hauled me into the police station like I was…was…a criminal.” Her hands clenched at her sides, the knuckles showing white. “They fingerprinted me and made me pose for a mug shot, Brandt. A mug shot!” “Yes. I’m sorry. God, baby, I am so sorry.” He stared at her. “What else can I say?” “You can tell me why!” She swung away from him and stared out of the window. He could see the fight for control she waged, and his heart broke all over again. Damn it. She hadn’t deserved it. Turning to face him, she wiped at a tear that rolled from the corner of one eye. “For God’s sake, Brandt, we’d just had sex like a couple of horny bunny rabbits. I thought it meant something, but the next thing I know, I’m turning in my personal belongings at the property desk and being booked for grand larceny.” Fuck! He hated to see a woman cry. He hated it especially now because it was Dakota, and he was the cause of her tears. “The evidence pointed to you.” He shrugged. “I thought my…lust was mucking up my instincts, which told me you were innocent.” He slammed his hands into his pockets. “I wish I’d listened to my gut, baby. God, I can’t tell you how much I wish I’d listened.” Taking his hands out of his pockets, he made an 117

Summer Sizzlers Anthology entreating gesture. “But you’ve gotta get past this for now, Dakota. Get past it and trust me.” “I told you I loved you, and you…” She walked up to him and slapped him, hard. His head turned with the impact. He felt the sting, then the heat from the imprint of her hand. When he looked back at her, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” she said softly. Tears shone in her eyes. “I deserve a hell of a lot worse, Dakota.” His voice was quiet, regretful. She sighed and her shoulders slumped. “I still think it would be better if we just stole the damned necklace.” “Stole…” He gave a short laugh. “You wanted me to help you steal the Necklace of Sheba?” Crossing her arms, she glared at him through the tears. “It would work. I’ve got it all figured out.” He couldn’t wait to hear her grand plan. Knowing her, it was going to be convoluted as hell. “I still have some contacts in the field,” she paused, sending him a meaningful glare, “who are willing to help me.” “Wait a minute.” He propped his hands on his hips. “You’ve already talked to people about this harebrained scheme?” “It’s not harebrained, and yeah. I have.” Her frown deepened. “Are you gonna let me explain, or not?” He held up his hands in surrender. She gave a sniff. “My friend at the Cleveland Museum of Arts has said he’d let me into the exhibit without the security system on. I figured you could distract him with questions about security while I grab the necklace and run.” “And then we both spend…oh, I dunno, maybe twenty-five years behind bars.” He’d been right. Convoluted as hell. “No.” She placed one hand on his forearm, then quickly withdrew it. “I'd planned to tell the judge that you didn’t know I 118

Summer Sizzlers Anthology was going to steal the necklace. And you,” she poked him in the chest, “you’d keep quiet about it.” “It would never work, baby, and you know it.” He cupped her face in his hands and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We’d both be caught, and then what would happen to your grandparents?” She sighed and pulled away from him, eyes glistening with the remnant of her tears. “But werewolves? I mean, come on, Brandt.” “I know, I know. But I promise you, I’m not making it up.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “They’re real, and they can help us.” She studied him for a moment. Then, with a glint in her eyes that had nothing to do with tears and everything to do with the dogged determination he remembered, she said, “Okay. I’ll trust you on this and do it your way. But,” she said, poking him in the chest, “I have a couple of conditions.” He should’ve known she wouldn’t make it easy. He didn’t deserve easy. “Name ’em.” “First, your friends don’t go anywhere near my grandma unless they are one hundred percent certain they can get her out safely. I want your word on that.” “You have it.” His heart picked up its pace in anticipation. She was going to trust him. Could he win back her love as well? “Second, I get to use those handcuffs on you.” **** Three hours later, after Brandt’s unusual friends had rescued her grandmother, Dakota twined her fingers together and watched the competent way Brandt handled the Jeep Cherokee, his hands strong and sure on the wheel. She couldn’t get it out of her head, what those hands felt like on her skin. What his thick cock felt like in her body. That had to explain why she’d pretty much caved. 119

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She was addicted to him. But when they made love again, it would be on her terms. If he trusted her enough to let her do what she wanted to with his big, hard body, she would trust him again with her heart. He pulled the green SUV into the driveway beside a twostory Victorian-style house. The house was white with blue trim, and slate-gray shingles on the roof. “This is charming,” she said. “You don’t have to sound so surprised,” he muttered, throwing the car into park. He unbuckled his seat belt. “Turner and I inherited it from our folks.” “Oh, I’m sorry.” She lightly placed her hand on his arm. When he looked at her with a heated glance, she quickly removed her hand. “If you don’t mind my asking, when did they die?” He shook his head. “They’re not dead.” “But you just said—” Twisting in his seat, he crooked an arm around her neck and hauled her in for a kiss. “You are so damned cute when you’re confused,” he whispered against her lips. Just as she leaned in for another kiss, he pulled back and opened his door. “My dad is really good about giving us our inheritance while he’s still around to watch us enjoy it. He and Mom bought a place down in Florida.” The smirk on his face told her that he knew she’d been about to kiss him again. Just wait ’til I get you in handcuffs, buddy. We’ll see who’s smug then. Dakota got out of the vehicle and walked in silence with him to the front door. Once he’d unlocked the door, he motioned her inside. “Are you hungry?” Turning, she backed him against the closed door. “Not for food,” she whispered, and started unbuttoning his shirt. Each baring of flesh made her hotter and wetter. Deep inside, her belly did a slow flip-flop. When the shirt was 120

Summer Sizzlers Anthology completely open, she slid her hands over his chest, under the flaps of the shirt, and pushed it off his shoulders. The light blue shirt pooled around his feet. She reached again for his chest, running her hands over his muscles. When her fingers brushed his nipples, he stiffened. “Like that, do you?” she murmured. Leaning forward, she brushed one hard, male nipple with the pointed tip of her tongue and rubbed its twin with the pads of her fingers. He groaned and his big hands came up to cup her breasts. As much as she wanted him to touch her, if he did, she knew she’d lose focus. She had a point to prove here, after all. To him, and to herself. Taking his hands in hers, she placed them back at his sides. “No touching, Brandt.” She pulled back from him. “Come to think of it, we should probably go someplace a bit more comfortable. Like your bedroom.” His eyes dark with passion, he grabbed her hand and dragged her across the foyer. They started up the stairs and, after only a few steps, he grunted and swung her over his shoulder. Taking the stairs two and three at a time, he soon deposited her back on her feet beside a king-sized wooden rail bed. Before she could do much more than let out a startled yelp, he bent and lifted her left foot. She squeaked and put one hand on his shoulder for balance. He pulled off her sandal and repeated the action with the other foot. Then he yanked her top up and over her head and stripped her jeans down her legs. With one arm, he picked her up out of the jeans and tossed her onto the bed. She bounced and laughed. He toed off his shoes. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he reached down and pulled off his socks, giving her an excellent view of his wide, muscular back. Before she could touch him, he stood and faced her, unbuckling his belt. He unbuttoned his pants and slowly slid down the tab of the zipper. The rasp sounded loud in her ears. 121

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Her pulse leapt. He bent, pushing slacks and underwear down his legs. When he straightened, her eyes drifted over his body. His well-developed, hair-covered chest tapered to a slim waist with defined obliques. A dark trail of hair arrowed down from his navel, pointing directly at the treasure below. Her stomach clenched. Holy Hannah, what a treasure it was! His cock was thick and long, rearing up from its nest of silky hair. A clear drop of viscous liquid clung to the bulbous head. Getting on her hands and knees, Dakota crawled over the expanse of the bed until she reached the side. She placed first one foot and then the other on the floor, slowly. She felt primal, and she wanted him to feel as if he were being stalked. Because he was. By a horny woman with sensual vengeance on her mind. Standing close enough that his cock pressed into her belly, she slid her hands up his torso, splayed them over his pecs, then traced her fingers over his collarbones. She loved the feel of him, so hard, so warm. He reached for her bra and she stepped back. “Where’re your handcuffs?” Brandt stared at her. “You aren’t serious,” he said, hoping against hope she’d agree. “I am. And you agreed, remember?” Only because he hadn’t thought she was serious. Fuck. She held out one hand, palm-up. “Handcuffs.” Brandt hesitated, staring at her. The red bra she wore was very low-cut, barely covering her nipples. The lacy cups plunged between her breasts, the fastener a small clip in between. His gaze traveled down her slender stomach to her hips, where a pair of matching lacy red panties rode low on her curvaceous hips. Before his captivated gaze, she ran her palms up her torso and cupped her breasts, plumping them up. He caught a glimpse of the creamy pink of her areolas and his cock twitched in 122

Summer Sizzlers Anthology response. While one hand remained on a breast, pinching the nipple between thumb and forefinger, the other slid slowly back down her stomach to glide under the band of her panties. She cupped her sex, her hand moving under the silken material. When she withdrew her hand from her panties, her slender fingers glistened with her cream. Walking forward a few steps, she ran her index finger along the seam of his lips. Unable to resist, he licked his lips, drawing her sweet and spicy essence into his mouth. When he once again reached for her, she sidestepped him and wagged her finger. “Uh-uh-uh. Handcuffs.” Silently, Brandt stalked over to his bureau and opened the top drawer. Withdrawing the silver police-issue cuffs, he walked back to Dakota and smacked them and the key into her hand. He was not happy about the idea of letting her put him in cuffs, but it seemed important to her. And, if he were honest, he owed her. Big time. If playing with him while he was restrained would help her trust him, then that’s what he’d let her do. He only hoped she showed more mercy with him than he had with her. “Up on the bed, please,” she instructed in a husky voice. Complying, he stretched out on the bed. He could feel her growing excitement, and it fueled his own. She placed the key on the end table, a soft smile playing about her lips. When she straddled him and leaned forward to loop the metal links around one rail of the headboard, he curled his fingers into fists to keep from grabbing her and stopping this thing before it got started. The cuffs clicked shut and he felt a momentary pang of unease, then thought, This is Dakota. He shrugged off his worry and tried to prepare himself for a long, tortuous ordeal. Dakota braced her palms on Brandt’s wide chest and forced herself to drag in deep, calming breaths. She was so hot, she was 123

Summer Sizzlers Anthology ready to come, and he hadn’t even touched her. Having him restrained and at her mercy gave her a high she never expected to feel. “Well?” he asked, his mouth curved in a wicked smile. “Help yourself.” His eyes glittered with hot lust and she gave him a sultry smile. “Oh, don’t worry. I intend to. But I mean to make you crazy first.” Sliding her hands up her sides, she cupped her breasts and pushed them together. Then she moved her hands to the front clasp and undid it, letting the lacy material separate. It clung to her breasts, hiding her nipples. His hands jerked as if he tried to reach for her. “You want something, sugar?” she asked, hearing her voice come out rough and low. She could feel his long, thick cock rubbing against her panties. God, she was so turned on, she’d be lucky if she could finish what she started. Shrugging her shoulders, she loosened the bra and slid the straps down her arms until the garment dropped behind her. Brandt sucked in his breath. When Dakota palmed her breasts and pinched and rolled the nipples between her fingers and thumbs, his eyelids dropped to half-mast and his breath quickened. Placing her hands under her breasts, she pushed them up. She bent her head and, with a quick flick, licked across one nipple. “God, baby,” he groaned. “Let me do that. Give me your breast.” She leaned down and he raised his head. He swiped the flat of his tongue over her nipple and then pulled it between his lips into the heat of his mouth. Putting her hands behind his head, she supported him while he suckled her nipple. The sweet motion of his lips sent sparks straight to her creaming pussy. She moaned and undulated against his groin, 124

Summer Sizzlers Anthology wanting him inside her so badly, she almost gave up then and there. Looking down, she saw a glint of sexual triumph in his eyes, as if he knew he had her. With a scowl, she pulled back. Her nipple left his mouth with an audible pop. Ignoring the frown he sent her way, she inched down his body until her face hovered over his erection. Her tongue flicked out, tasting him with light, quick flicks, drawing his flavor into her mouth. He tasted like salt and vinegar and hot, hot male. With one hand, she grasped the base of his straining cock and closed her mouth over the pulsing tip. He groaned and rotated his hips. Glancing up the length of his prostrate body, she admired the view of strong muscles covered with miles of darkly tanned skin. Except where she worked so industriously. Here, he was as white as a baby’s bottom. She pulled her mouth away and fisted his length, grinning when he let out a sexy growl. With the flat of her tongue, she licked her way down the underside of his shaft until she reached his balls. Stretching out her tongue, she pulled one of his testicles into her mouth. Feeling the way the inside of his sac moved in her mouth, up and down and around as she carefully sucked him, increased her arousal. And if his groans and the frenetic bucking of his hips was anything to go by, it worked for him, too. “God, Dakota. Please, baby.” His words were strangled, wheezing from a chest that breathed harshly. While she rolled his sac in her fingers, she moved her mouth to his other testicle. She tongued him, lapping at him like a cat, then moved her mouth back to his cock. Giving him a wink, she reached out with her tongue and touched the tip to the drop of liquid glistening on the head of his cock. She savored his flavor, then flicked her tongue out for another taste. 125

Summer Sizzlers Anthology When she rimmed his weeping slit, his eyes flared and then narrowed, the green of his irises nearly swallowed up by the black of his pupils. He hissed out a breath and jerked against the handcuffs; his eyes drifting closed. “Oh, Christ,” he groaned. “You’re killing me here.” Dakota smiled, feeling sly and very, very feminine. “I can stop.” His eyes snapped open and locked on hers. “Don’t you dare.” He jerked his arms again, the muscles corded with the strain. “Suck it.” His voice gentled and he added, “Please.” “Well, since you asked so nicely,” she whispered. Shifting her weight, she grasped the base of his cock in one hand and took him deep into her mouth. He shouted and arched, his body supported for a moment only by head and heels. When he settled back onto the bed, she stayed with him, focusing on the hard flesh thrusting into her mouth. Stroking and swirling her tongue over the throbbing head, she sucked strongly. There was nothing like this in the world, driving a man insane with lust, holding all of his strength and vulnerability in my hands. When she did it for the man she loved, the pleasure increased tenfold. Within moments, his hips pumped steadily, more and more of him driving into her mouth. Fiercely concentrating on suppressing her gag reflex, she stopped moving her head and let him do the work. She grasped his stalk and stroked him on each withdrawal from her mouth. Moving her free hand between his splayed legs, under his tightly drawn balls, she gently rubbed the skin there. Feeling him harden even further in her mouth, she braced herself. Suddenly, he stopped moving. Dakota looked up at him, startled. Releasing him, she asked, “What’s wrong?” 126

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “I want…” He cleared the rasp from his throat. “When I come, I want to do it inside you.” Dakota wanted that, too. She wanted Brandt to ram himself into her as hard and as deep as he could, taking them both to a raw, brutal completion. And she wanted his hands on her. Scrambling off him, she reached for the key to the cuffs. She’d barely unlocked one cuff and he had her under him, her legs splayed wide. With a wildness she’d never seen in him before, he ripped her panties off her in one long shred of satin. Reaching between her thighs, he dipped his fingers in her slick folds, then fisted his cock, lubricating himself in her cream. He leaned down and took her mouth in a fierce, hard kiss, and penetrated her in one swift thrust. She moaned at the full sensation and wrapped her arms and legs around him, trying to bring him even further inside her. “Oh, God, Brandt. You feel so good.” He held still a moment. She let her body adjust to his long, thick length. When he withdrew his cock from her slowly, she shuddered at the way her pussy grasped at his hard shaft, trying to keep him inside her slick heat. When he rammed back into her, she cried out, throwing her head back, giving herself over to the heat consuming them. Brandt slid his hands under Dakota’s hips and lifted her, allowing him the deepest possible penetration. As his control eroded more and more, every thrust into her snug sheath came faster. He closed his eyes and bit down on his lip, hard, feeling every ripple of her cunt over his thick length. “Touch yourself, sweetheart,” he encouraged. He was close, and he wanted her to come with him. Harder and faster he drove into her, pushing deeper and deeper. Her fingers brushed against his shaft as he plunged in and out, and they both moaned. When she started circling her clit, 127

Summer Sizzlers Anthology he felt the beginning contractions of her channel. Her cunt spasmed around his turgid length and she screamed her release. His balls tightened and, on a long, low groan, he gave one final thrust, holding himself deep inside her as he ejaculated over and over into her. Her contractions seemed to go on and on, milking him of every drop. Finally emptied, he collapsed on top of her. Her arms wrapped around him, hugging him close. He rested against her, his head pillowed on her full breasts. When he’d finally caught his breath, he said softly, “I didn’t even think about protection.” Bracing himself on his forearms, he smoothed silken auburn hair off her brow. “All I could think about was getting inside you.” She smiled and stretched under him, her brows lifting when his cock twitched inside her. “Before you say anything,” Brandt murmured, “let me say one thing.” He paused, trying to find the right words. “I’m not good at this, talking about how I feel.” He gazed into her brown eyes, hoping against hope that he didn’t fuck this up. “I love you.” Leaning down, he caught her mouth in his, feeling her immediate, passionate response. “I need you to believe that, Dakota. I fucked up before. I should never have turned you over to the police. That will be a regret I’ll carry until the day I die.” She put her fingers over his lips, stemming the tide of his words. “I know, Brandt. You showed me very clearly,” she gave him a wink, “that you trust me here and now.” She swallowed, creamy skin moving over smooth muscles. “I love you. Everything else, we can work out.” And as he started moving within her again, slow and steady this time, he knew she was right. They would have bumps in the 128

Summer Sizzlers Anthology road; they were both very strong-willed people. But it wasn’t impossible. He’d spend the rest of his life proving it to her.

129


FAR FROM ORDINARY by

Jamie Hill

130


It was so hot, the trees were whistling for dogs. It was so hot, birds had to use potholders to pull worms from the ground. Luke Mason tried to think of as many clichés as he could to pass the time driving down the lonely rural highway which took him from Tennessee into Georgia. He had been on the road six hours already, making pretty good time from Kentucky, and he had at least another six hours ahead to put him into Florida. He lost the last radio station about an hour ago, and the tape player in his ’85 Le Baron had long since stopped working. Luke lowered one hand to the car seat and snapped it back up again. “It’s so hot, the damn seat belt buckle makes a good branding iron!” He wasn’t sure if he made that up or if he heard it somewhere, but it was true. He eyed his gas tank gauge and noticed the needle was close to the empty mark. The last gas station he passed was closed, its windows boarded up. A billboard near it indicated another station fifteen miles ahead, and he had to almost be there. If his odometer worked, he’d know for sure. Luke sighed and fumbled in the cooler behind his seat for a cold drink. His hand felt nothing but small bits of ice, most of which had melted into water. He glanced at the road quickly before stealing a peek back into the cooler. Damn! Evidently he finished the last can of pop awhile ago. He latched on to a bit of ice and popped it in his mouth. 131

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Another very old billboard indicated The Shadow Diner and Gas Station was a mile ahead. Part of the sign was torn off, but Luke could see a grinning man’s face. It was creepy looking and sure was ugly, he chuckled to himself, but he breathed a sigh of relief. This was no place to run out of gas; he hadn’t passed another car for at least an hour. He drove on, hoping fervently that the billboard was correct. A couple minutes later, he arrived at the ancient little clapboard building bearing the Shadow Diner sign. The place had definitely seen better days. It was a crappy little dump, Luke decided, but he was happy to see it and the lights that shined brightly from within. There were no cars, but he saw people moving around in the restaurant. The front windows were open, their red-checked curtains flapping in what must have been a fancreated breeze. There was certainly no natural breeze, and he guessed the temperature to be at least ninety-eight degrees. Luke pulled up to the lone gas pump and parked. When he got out and attempted to gas up his car, he couldn’t get the pump to work. He flipped nozzles and switches, but nothing clicked and no gas flowed. “What the—” Luke flipped the nozzle a few more times before slapping his hand against the pump. “Don’t tell me…” “There’s no gas.” He looked toward the restaurant and saw a woman standing in the doorway. “Excuse me?” “There’s no gas. Hasn’t been for years.” “I said don’t tell me,” he muttered sarcastically, slapping the pump again and then kicking it. “Well that’s just fucking terrific!” “Take it easy,” she said slowly, her southern accent twanging. “I’m on empty. The last place I passed was closed.” 132

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Most things are down this way. But there’s a fancy new Gas and Shop on about ten miles down the road.” He looked at her, irritated. “I’m not sure I can make it ten miles.” But the idea of civilization and a fancy new Gas and Shop—hopefully some place with air-conditioning—sounded pretty good. She looked at him and smiled. “There’s a gas can around back with five gallons or so in it. That ought to get you there, unless you can’t get two miles to the gallon.” He saw her eying his beat-up car and his face reddened. “I think I can manage that. I’ll pay you for the gas.” “It’s around back,” she repeated. “There’s a washroom back there, too. Come on in to the restaurant when you’re finished and I’ll take care of you.” She turned and walked back into the building. Luke watched her go, feeling a little guilty at his outburst. It wasn’t her fault he cut the gas so close. He’d apologize to her, and that would make him feel better. He walked around the building and saw the red gas can sitting next to a stack of old tires. He hefted it up and carried it around to his car. The lid was rusted on tightly; it was obviously a very old can. He hoped the gas was still good, for crissakes. It took a few minutes to pry the lid off, but soon, the contents of the can was emptied into his car tank, and Luke was returning it to the back of the building. As he stepped into the washroom, he couldn’t help noticing how filthy it was. There were soap and paper towels, though, and he washed his hands thoroughly to get rid of the gas smell. He took a leak and washed his hands again, inspecting his appearance in the smoky old mirror. His shoulder-length blond hair was windblown from the long trip. Luke whipped a comb from his back pocket, but it was almost impossible to run it through the tangles. He did the best he could and pocketed the 133

Summer Sizzlers Anthology comb. It would have to be good enough, he decided, not that he really cared what a restaurant full of hicks in the middle of nowhere thought. Luke wandered around to the front and entered the restaurant. When he thought to himself about a ‘restaurant full of hicks,’ he had largely overestimated the number of customers. There was the one waitress, and him. “I thought I saw more people in here,” he commented. The waitress was cleaning off a dirty table and nodded toward the road. “They just took off. Didn’t you see their car?” “No, I didn’t see any cars,” Luke replied doubtfully. She wiped her hands on her apron and turned toward him, smiling. “Hmmm. That’s funny.” “It’s damned funny,” he murmured irritably, but the annoyance was slowly oozing out of him as he looked her over. She was definitely the most beautiful thing he had seen in the last six hours…probably longer…okay, ever. She was a beauty. Her thick red hair was pulled back loosely into a ponytail at the base of her neck. Long eyelashes fluttered over bright green eyes. A dusting of freckles covered her nose and cheeks—not too many, just a few—and damned if they didn’t give her the most innocent look. But her full lips, all shiny red and luscious looking, well, there was nothing that said innocent about them. Luke’s eyes wandered a bit lower and his eyes bulged as he spotted her large breasts almost bursting out of her waitress uniform. Two buttons held them in place, barely, with a few more fastened down the front of the dress. It was red and white checked with big white buttons, and it was short—God, very short! If she bent over, Luke imagined he’d get a glimpse of paradise right there on the spot. Her legs were long and tanned and she wore no hose, just little white socks peeking out the top of her little white tennis shoes. 134

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Trying to steady himself, Luke looked around the restaurant. It was decorated fifties-style, all red and white checked like her uniform: the curtains, tablecloths, even the menus. But only one of the red and white checked things made his cock twitch, and that was the tight dress on the waitress with the big tits. “Nice place,” he mumbled and cleared his throat. He needed to get a grip on himself. “Very retro.” “Oh yeah?” She shrugged as if she didn’t know what he meant. “We like it. So you want a booth, or the counter?” He tried not to stare at her chest as he answered, “I wasn’t going to eat. I just wanted to pay you for the gas and get going.” “Oh.” She pouted, appearing disappointed. “We don’t get many cute strangers through here. Won’t you stay for awhile? I could get you a burger, or some pie. We have great pie.” I’ll bet you do, Luke thought as he looked at her. Trying once again to pull some blood out of his cock and back into his brain, he decided that the food here would probably beat whatever they sold at the Gas and Shop. He could eat here, and get gas there. That made him chuckle, and she smiled at him. “What?” She took a step closer. “Nothing.” He shook his head. He was barely nineteen, but he already knew that women didn’t appreciate fart jokes the way men did. “I guess I’ll stay. Counter okay?” “You bet.” She twirled a stool and stepped aside. “Have a seat.” Luke sat, and she took another step closer. Her chest was inches from his face. “I’m Stacy.” “I see that.” He stared at the nametag jutting out from her uniform. “I, uh, I’m Luke.” “Well hi, Luke.” She smiled at him warmly. “So did you want to see a menu, or can I bring you one of our special burger and fries?” 135

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “That sounds good,” he agreed, and she headed into the kitchen. “I’ll just go tell Ralph, and I’ll be right back.” “Sure,” Luke replied, starting to calm down. His hard-on was gone, thank goodness. He could handle this, knowing there was a Ralph just behind the silver swinging door. Stacy returned and grabbed a glass. “Coca-cola all right?” “Sure.” Luke watched her fill the glass with ice and then Coke. She set it on the counter in front of him with a straw, but before he could reach for it, she slid one finger in the glass to pull out a piece of ice. “It sure is hot today,” she commented, and ran the ice cube over her face and neck. “Sure is.” Luke stared, fascinated, as she slid the wet cube over her bulging cleavage. So much for his limp dick, it was firming up nicely as she trailed the tiny piece of ice over her slick skin. When the ice was just a sliver, Stacy popped it in her mouth with one finger. “Um, better.” “Yeah,” Luke replied stupidly, not sure what to say. He noticed she was cooler, if the way her nipples poked out was any indication. The one on the left was barely obscured by a white square on her dress, and he could see the dark circle of her areola through the fabric. Lord, he hoped he wouldn’t have to walk for a while. He was not just hard—he was rock-hard. “So what brings you to these parts?” She leaned her elbows on the counter. Luke finally managed to stick the straw in his Coke and took a sip. Stacy’s new position wasn’t helping him; now he could see right down into the valley between her boobs. Moisture settled there, either perspiration or melted ice, he didn’t know which, but it didn’t matter. Luke wouldn’t mind licking it off, whatever 136

Summer Sizzlers Anthology it was. Once again, he forced himself to make conversation. “I’m on my way to Jacksonville, Florida.” “Florida, really?” Her eyes lit up. “What’s in Florida?” “My dad. He has a fishing boat there. I’m going to live with him for a while.” “Where did you live?” She fingered his straw wrapper, tearing it into little bits. “Ordinary, Kentucky, with my mom.” “Ooh, Florida sounds much more exciting than Ordinary, Kentucky.” “I’m hoping for a little more excitement. Ordinary definitely lives up to its name. And at least there won’t be a Ted.” Luke stirred his drink uncomfortably. “Who is Ted?” He shrugged. “Oh, never mind. You don’t want to hear this.” “Sure I do. Let me get your food, first.” Stacy went into the kitchen and returned with a heaping plate of fries and a huge hamburger. She set it on the counter, shoved the ketchup bottle closer, and moved around so she could slide onto the stool next to him. “There you go. Enjoy.” “Wow, this looks great…and massive. I’ll never be able to eat all this.” Stacy shrugged and evidently took it as an invitation to reach for a fry. She popped it in her mouth and smiled at him. “So…Ted?” “My step-father.” Luke poured some ketchup on his plate and dipped a fry in it. “He married my mother a few years back. He’s a dick—pardon my French.” She chuckled and dragged another fry through the ketchup. “Believe me, I know about dicks. My father is the president of the Dickheads of the World Club.” 137

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Luke laughed and watched the way she swirled her fries in the ketchup. Christ, was everything she did going to turn him on? “Ted must be the vice-president then. I could never do anything to please him. My grades at college weren’t good enough, and when I decided I wanted to take a semester off to work and make some money, that wasn’t good enough either. He drove me crazy.” “How’s your mom?” she asked. “She’s okay, but boring. Really, really boring. The life they lead is so tedious, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I actually haven’t spoken to my real dad in ten years. Mom always said he was a bum who left us, and I believed her. But when I discovered where he lived, I decided to give him a shot and see exactly what kind of a guy he might be.” “Wow.” Stacy pinched off a piece of the hamburger and ate it. “So he doesn’t even know you’re coming?” “Nope.” Luke tried the hamburger and found it fantastic. He made the right decision staying here to eat. The company wasn’t bad, either. “But I figure whatever I find in Florida has to be more exciting than what I left in Ordinary.” “Or this place, which I like to call Hole-in-the-wall, Georgia.” Stacy added sadly, “I would have given anything to have a mom to live with.” “What happened to your mom?” She shrugged. “She took off when I was little, with a salesman she met here in the restaurant. Never heard from her again.” “Holy cow,” Luke muttered. “I bet that made your old man mad as hell.” “Oh yeah. He never let me forget what a slut she was. He was bound and determined that I not turn out that same way.” “Jesus.” Luke shook his head, and pushed the plate away from him. He was full, and felt bad for Stacy. He always thought 138

Summer Sizzlers Anthology he had things so tough, but he now realized that other people went through things just as bad—maybe even worse. She walked behind the counter and opened a cabinet. “I promised you pie.” “Uh, no thanks,” Luke waved a hand, and watched as she bent over the deep freeze to reach some ice cream. Christ, she wasn’t wearing underwear! He saw two tanned globes peeking out from under the back of her skirt. Shit! Every time he got his mind off sex, she did something to yank it back there. The bulge in his jeans flared up again. Ignoring his refusal, Stacy put a piece of pie on a plate and topped it with some vanilla ice cream. “Here.” She slid it toward him. “It’s peach, and tastes incredible. Try it.” It did look good, so Luke picked up his fork. “Maybe just a few bites.” “Whatever you want.” She moved around next to him again and sat so their knees touched. “Wow, this is really…great.” Luke almost couldn’t complete his sentence as Stacy’s hand ran up his thigh. “Didn’t I tell you?” she murmured. “We have the best pie.” Her hand gripped his thigh and squeezed. “Uh, Stacy.” Luke looked around the restaurant nervously. “We’re not exactly in a private place here.” “I know!” Her eyes twinkled. “That’s half the fun! ’Course we haven’t had half a dozen customers all night, but just the idea that someone could walk in on us...” She reached for the buttons that held her breasts in her dress, and popped them open. Luke gasped as two firm tits spilled out at him. He choked and took a quick sip of his Coke. “What about Ralph?” He nodded toward the kitchen. “He’s in the office doing paperwork and watching the baseball game on his little TV. He won’t hear a thing.” Stacy squeezed her breasts together so the nipples touched each other. 139

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “But if he does…” She shrugged. “He likes to watch. He always has.” She dipped her finger in the ice cream on Luke’s pie and rubbed it over her nipples. She looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Do you like vanilla?” He hopped off the stool and took a step backwards. This was fucking nuts! He’d only had sex twice in his life, but never anything like this. Usually he was the aggressor, as he was the night at the lake when he sweet-talked Marcy Evans into the roomy backseat of his Le Baron. Then there was the one time with Julie Hooper in his bedroom when his mom was gone. Both times were less than momentous, and frankly, over with pretty quickly. But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine this, a beautiful woman coming on to him in a public place. His mind was saying, “Run like hell!” but his throbbing cock had other ideas. “I don’t know,” was the best he could muster. When Stacy leaned down and licked the ice cream off her own breast, he almost came in his pants. There was no turning back now. He glanced around the restaurant. “Are you sure this is okay?” “Very sure.” She reached for the snap of his jeans. “And you’re—I mean, you’re over eighteen, aren’t you?” By God, he couldn’t tell. In some ways, she looked quite mature, but she had this childlike innocence about her. Stacy laughed. “I’m twenty. Don’t worry. This is going to be great.” She unzipped his jeans and slipped her hand down inside, her fingers wrapping around his shaft. “Mmm, you like looking at me.” Luke’s face reddened. He couldn’t deny it; his cock was hard as a rock by now. “Don’t you want to taste me?” She wiggled her breasts at him, the ice cream dripping down and off her. “Oh yes. God, yes.” 140

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She shoved him down on the stool and stood before him. She pressed her breasts into his face, and he licked one timidly. “That’s it, baby,” she purred. “Lick me clean. If you like that, we’ve got more ice cream.” Luke groaned and increased the pressure of his mouth. He licked and sucked at her hungrily, grabbing both tits in his hands and squeezing as he cleaned them off. “You taste good,” he murmured, still lapping at her. Stacy tugged at the rest of her buttons and her dress came open. “Would you like to taste me anywhere else, Luke?” She drew one of his hands down her body and pressed it between her thighs. Luke couldn’t believe his good luck, or the soft feeling of the fuzzy mound beneath his hand. He had never eaten pussy before, but he was ready to give it a try. He ran a finger through her folds and found her slick and wet. “Oh yeah,” he almost moaned. “I want to taste this.” “Great!” Stacy climbed up on the counter in front of him and shoved their dishes aside. She leaned back and spread her legs wide. “Look at me, Luke. Touch me. Taste me.” He couldn’t bear to look for more than a moment before he dived in, mouth first. She was hot and tasted almost spicy. When he glanced up to see if she was enjoying it, he gulped as he saw her massaging her tits with her own hands. Holy crap, this chick was hot! He dived back into her muff, flicking her little nub of a clit with his tongue. “Yes, that’s it!” she squealed at him, and he raised his head to look at her. “Don’t stop!” she demanded, grabbing his long hair and dragging him back between her legs. “Eat me! Suck my clit!” Luke dived into her again, working his mouth over her furiously. 141

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “That’s it…” Stacy sighed and her hips bucked beneath him as her body started to shudder. She cried out loudly when her orgasm hit her, and Luke looked up nervously. She clutched his head and shoved it back between her legs. He didn’t see Ralph or anyone else, so Luke continued licking and sucking until Stacy finally pushed him away. She sat up and grabbed his face in her hands. “That was fantastic!” She pressed her mouth on his and opened it wide so their tongues could dance back and forth. She sucked at his tongue hungrily, pulling her own juices off him. “Oh my God,” Luke murmured when they separated. “I’ve never…that was…” he couldn’t finish. “Yes, it was.” She grinned at him. “Now, it’s my turn.” She hopped off the counter and tugged at his jeans. Dragging them to the floor with his underwear, she settled herself in front of him and looked at his cock. “Look at that, standing tall and waving proudly!” Stacy turned Luke’s stool so he could lean back against the counter. “I don’t know,” he murmured again, a little nervously. But he did know. God damn, this was his dream. He dreamed for years about a woman undressing him and pulling his hard dick into her mouth. He just never expected how great it was going to feel. “Relax,” Stacy whispered to him, and rubbed his stomach for a minute before taking his length inside her mouth. “Mmm, you taste good, too. I just want to eat you up!” Luke shivered. She was doing a good job of it. He ran his hands through her hair, as she had done to him. Her ponytail came loose and he clutched the little elastic band in his fist. As Stacy sucked and swallowed his shaft, he tugged at her silky hair to bring her closer. He had never felt anything so incredible in his life. His climax was close, but he tried to hold out to appear 142

Summer Sizzlers Anthology more experienced. When he felt Stacy’s hand cup his balls, he knew he was lost, and shot his stream down her throat. Luke shuddered excitedly, breathlessly, and watched her face as she took all he gave her and then licked him clean. “Oh my God,” he exclaimed, astonishing feelings flowing through him. Stacy popped up in his face. “You’re fast,” she said simply, and smiled. “But that’s okay. I’m sure I’ll be able to get you hard again.” “Again?” His head fell back. He just wanted to sleep. She rubbed her naked body against his and spoke seductively. “Yes, again. I want you to fuck me, Luke. I want to you pound your cock into me. I want it from the front, and I want it from the back. And then I want to flip you over and ride you. Your cock is huge; I can’t wait to pummel myself on it.” He gulped and realized she was right—she could get him hard again, and pretty damn quickly, too. His dick was already firming up at the thought of fucking her tight little pussy. He’d never fucked anyone from behind before. Hell, he’d never done most of the stuff she suggested. The very idea of her riding him brought his hard-on back, he just hoped when they started screwing, he wouldn’t come instantly. “That’s my boy.” Stacy caressed his dick. “Just let me go check on Ralph, and I’ll be right back.” She stood up and went into the kitchen. “Oh, yeah, okay.” Luke had forgotten about Ralph. He had forgotten about everything, including the fact that they were having sex in the dining room of a restaurant. He walked over to the front window and looked out. There were no cars or people in sight. The sun still beat down scorching the earth, but strangely enough, Luke didn’t feel the heat anymore. The only heat he was aware of was bobbing between his legs, anxious to plant itself into Stacy’s warm pussy. He glanced down at his fist 143

Summer Sizzlers Anthology and saw her elastic ponytail holder with a shiny red plastic flower on it. He snapped it around his wrist, intending to return it to her later. She returned from the kitchen smiling. “Ralph dozed off watching TV. He’s dead to the world.” It was a good thing, Luke decided, considering Stacy was walking around naked. He grabbed her slim waist, deciding to make the first move this time. “Then what are we waiting for?” “Who’s waiting?” She wrapped her fingers around his cock and pulled him closer to her. She climbed on top of a table and spread her legs. “Let me have it,” she demanded and wedged his cock into her pussy. Luke leaned over her, resting his arms on either side of her on the table. “Whatever you want, little lady.” He thrust deeply, and Stacy arched her back. “Oh yes! Do that again!” He drove himself into her and she clutched at his back. After a few more thrusts, she put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. “Lay back,” she ordered. He grinned and did as she asked. “You sure are bossy.” Stacy climbed on the table on top of him, and worked her pussy down over his shaft. She grinned back. “You love it; you know you do.” Luke groaned as she rode him. “Oh yeah, I do love that. Ride ’em, cowgirl.” Peeling off his t-shirt and throwing it on the floor, she leaned over and licked his nipples one at a time. “Sweet Jesus,” he groaned again, very close to spilling his load. A noise in the kitchen sent Stacy scrambling off him to look around. “What the fuck?” Luke mumbled. 144

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Shhh!” she whispered, and tugged him down so they were both kneeling on the floor. “You think Ralph woke up?” “I don’t know. Stay here.” She crawled to the kitchen door and peeked in, then stood up and walked back over to Luke. “It wasn’t Ralph. I don’t know what it was.” “Well, good.” Luke looked around for his pants. “Oh, no you don’t.” Stacy grabbed him by the dick, which had gone limp and rubbery. “We need to get dressed. We’ve pushed our luck enough for one day,” he insisted. “Almost enough,” she corrected, and dropped to her knees. She pulled the length of him into her mouth until he was hard again. “What are you doing?” he screeched quietly. “Are you crazy?” “A little,” she acknowledged, nodding his erection up and down in her mouth. “But you haven’t fucked me from behind, yet. I love it from behind.” “Stacy—” Luke started to protest, but she sucked so hard on his dick, he knew he would give in to her. He wanted to fuck her from behind more than anything. She let go of him and smiled, standing up and bending over the nearest table. “Fuck me here, Luke. Do it now. Hard and fast.” “Sweet Jesus,” he moaned again, feeling her butt. “Not that hole, sugar,” she told him. “Too bad we don’t have more time, I love that, too. Down here.” She reached between her legs and parted her folds. His rigid cock inched forward and slid home. “There you go.” She pressed her ass against him and he filled her pussy. “Oh yes, that’s good.” She left her hands there, one rubbing her clit and one rubbing his balls as they slapped against her. 145

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Very, very good,” Luke panted his agreement as he pumped into her. “I’m going to come so hard,” she called out. They heard a clanging noise in the kitchen and Luke stopped. “Don’t you dare stop!” Stacy grabbed him by the balls. “Fuck me hard as you can and make me come!” “But Ralph—” Luke protested. “Let him watch,” she moaned, clutching him. “Think about him watching. Doesn’t that turn you on?” “I don’t know!” he groaned, but he did know. He had never been so hot in his life. He had a firm grip on Stacy’s ass as he pummeled himself into her pussy. This was the best sex of his life. When he moved his hand and one of his fingers traced over her hole, Stacy cried out “Yes! Stick it in my ass and I’m going to come!” “You sure?” he asked uncertainly. He wasn’t, but he was game. “Yes! Get it wet and stick it in me!” Luke dipped his index finger into her sopping pussy next to his dick to wet it. He slowly attempted to insert it in her ass. The rosebud-shaped hole was tight and didn’t want to be violated, but Stacy groaned, “Do it!” He plunged the finger into her and pressed until he was in up to his second knuckle. She writhed with pleasure and moaned, “Oh yes! Fuck me, Luke!” He pumped his cock into her pussy and his finger into her asshole, feeling her shudders begin from the inside and work their way violently to her extremities. She cried out and clutched her hands on the table in front of her. “Oh my God!” she screamed. 146

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Luke exploded inside her, not caring at that moment who was watching. He kept his tight grip on her until they were both exhausted and spent. He removed his finger and collapsed on top of her on the table. “Oh my God,” he repeated softly. Stacy smiled and squirmed under him. “That was so great.” “Yes, it was.” He couldn’t agree more. They heard another noise and Luke jerked up. Stacy followed, looking around nervously. “It might be my father!” They scrambled to separate. “You’re telling me this now?” He grabbed his clothes and proceeded to get dressed quickly. She smiled again and slowly buttoned her dress. Luke zipped his jeans and looked at her with disbelief. “You wanted him to catch us.” “Of course not,” she replied insincerely. “He threatened to kill the last boy he caught me with.” “Good thing you didn’t mention that earlier,” Luke muttered as he hopped on one foot, slipping into his shoes. “I am so out of here.” Stacy grabbed a handful of his t-shirt and clutched him to her. “Don’t rush off. It’s still so hot. I was thinking we could take some more of that ice cream and spread it all over our bodies.” She kissed his neck. “And spend the rest of the evening licking it off.” “I don’t think so.” Luke headed toward the door. He reached for his wallet. “What do I owe you for the food and the gas?” “Nothing.” Stacy waved her hand. “I just don’t know why you’re in such a hurry.” He looked at her with disbelief. “Your father threatened to kill the last guy you screwed here in the restaurant, and you want me to stick around? I see now that you were using me to get to him—not that I mind all that much, because it was 147

Summer Sizzlers Anthology great…really, really great. But I don’t have a death wish. I’ve got to get going.” “Don’t leave me.” She pressed her hands into his chest. “He’s going to kill me.” Luke was torn. He looked around quickly and said, “Come with me. Come to Florida. I hear it’s beautiful there. We can get jobs—” “I can’t.” Stacy stepped back and looked down sadly. “He’d kill me.” “You said he was going to kill you anyway.” “I just can’t.” She shook her head sadly and reached up to him for one last kiss. “Thank you, Luke.” She pressed her mouth against his, and they kissed passionately for a moment. He pulled back gently. “Come with me,” he murmured softly. “Good-bye, Luke.” She touched his cheek gently, and smiled. He left her with a heavy feeling in his heart. As he started up his car and headed down the road, he couldn’t shake the lousy feeling. He never expected to find love at the Shadow Diner, but that’s what it felt like he was leaving. His car sputtered and Luke wondered if the old gas from that can was going to get him to the next station. He saw a billboard advertising the Gas and Shop in eight miles. “Come on,” he urged his car. He could walk if he had to, but eight miles in this heat would be tough. The car finally stopped rattling and Luke made it to the next station. This one was the complete opposite of the place he just left: clean, shiny, and bright. Luke breathed easier as the gas flowed into his tank, and after he refueled, he dumped the water out of his cooler so he could refill it with ice and pop. He went into the building to pay and get a few supplies. “Afternoon,” the man behind the counter said to him. 148

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Hey,” Luke replied. “Glad to find you open. I stopped at the Shadow Diner but they didn’t have gas.” “That place has been closed for years,” the clerk told him. “The gas station,” Luke clarified, looking at him. The man was probably in his thirties, and his name tag read ‘Dave.’ “Yeah.” Dave nodded. “The whole place. Been shut down for longer than I can remember.” Luke looked at him again. Something wasn’t quite right. He didn’t want to say too much, so he commented, “Oh. I thought I saw a light in the restaurant.” “Damned local teenagers. They love to sneak into the building and mess around. Rumor has it the place is haunted, and the local kids can’t seem to stay away.” Luke’s head was spinning. Haunted? Local kids messing around? Was Stacy a local kid playing a prank on him? Haunted? He said it aloud, “Haunted?” “Oh yeah!” Dave grinned. “Georgia is full of ghosts and ghost stories. We have several here locally. The one about the Shadow Diner is an especially good one.” Leaning against the counter to steady himself, Luke looked at Dave again. He really didn’t want to ask, but for some reason, he felt he had to. “What’s the story behind that place?” Dave lit up a cigarette and sat back on the stool behind him. “The place was owned by a guy with this really beautiful daughter, but he was super strict with her. See, her mama had been a waitress there years before, and had run off with some salesman. So the old man kept a tight rein on the girl, except she didn’t want to be reined in, if you catch my drift.” He winked and nodded knowingly. Luke got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Uh, yeah, I think I do.” “So one night, old Ralph—” “Ralph?” Luke choked out the interruption. 149

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Yeah, the father. His name was Ralph. Well anyway, Ralph catches Stacy—his daughter—doing the horizontal mambo right there in the dining room with some local boy. He hits the roof! Some people say that’s because he was keeping Stacy for himself, if you know what I mean, but I don’t know that for a fact. Anyway, in this angry frenzy, Ralph gets his gun and shoots Stacy and the kid. Then, when he realizes what he’s done, he turns the gun on himself. I guess it was a real mess.” Luke’s stomach was clutching, and he fought the urge to throw up. When he could speak, he asked “So…that’s supposedly a true story?” “Oh yeah,” Dave nodded. “That is a true story. The part in question is the ghost business. Some people say they’ve seen the restaurant all lit up like it was open, with people inside and all. I don’t know about that. I do know the local kids like to hang out there, especially on nights like tonight.” “What’s so special about tonight?” Luke almost hated to ask. “Oh, well tonight…” Dave grinned again. “Tonight is the thirtieth anniversary of the killings. That’s why the local kids are going to be crawling all over that place—” Luke stopped listening. He grabbed some pop off the shelf and a bag of ice from the cooler, wanting to get the hell out, and fast. He slapped some bills on the counter. “Will this cover it, and the gas?” “You bet. Let me get your change.” Dave rang the sale into his register. “Keep it.” He grabbed his stuff and rushed out the door. Quickly dumping the pop and ice into the cooler, he shoved it on the floor of his backseat. When he got into the car to drive, he headed away from the Shadow Diner, but ended up driving back to it.

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology The Stacy he met had to be a local kid pranking him. There was no other answer. But when he got to the diner, he knew that wasn’t possible. The place was an abandoned shack. Luke got out of his car slowly and peered in one of the filthy, broken windows. The red-checked curtains that once hung in the windows were in tatters. The tables and chairs left inside were dust-covered, and strewn about in a big mess. He looked at the table in the middle of the room and remembered Stacy bending over it as he took her from behind. There was about an inch of dust and grime covering it now, with no visible fingerprints. He took a step backwards, not believing his eyes. “Hey, dude,” someone said, and Luke spun around. Several teenager boys stood behind him holding beer, cigarettes and a Ouija board. “Come on in and join us! We’re going to hold a séance. We hear there’s a ghost in here that gives the best head in thirty-two states.” They all broke up in laughter. “I don’t believe in ghosts,” Luke mumbled, rushing to his car. His cock twitched as he got in and steadied himself. It was definitely the best head he’d ever had. Okay, it was the only head he’d ever had. But it had been real, hadn’t it? He could feel Stacy touching and stroking him, and Christ help him, he could still taste her. His cock twitched again. It had felt genuine and authentic. But had it been real? Something caught his eye and he looked at his wrist. The elastic band he took from Stacy’s hair was there, but it looked different. The red flower was faded and fragile, and the band was worn. It looked old—like, maybe, thirty years old. He yanked it off his wrist and threw it out the window. Starting up the car, he pulled to the highway and looked both ways. To the left were Florida and a father he didn’t know, who strangely, didn’t seem so appealing anymore. Plus, to get there he would have to drive deeper into Georgia, which as he now knew, was rich with ghosts and ghost stories. 151

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Maybe excitement wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Suddenly, college didn’t seem so terrible. He knew Ted would get off his case if he went back to school. Luke also knew he could deal with his boring mom and their tedious life. He could handle Ordinary. He turned right.

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THE LABYRINTH by

Susan M. Sailors

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Charity picked up the bright blue book and flipped to the first chapter. She found the description of the prince and read it out loud. “He was tall and handsome. His hair was the color of autumn leaves, and his brown eyes were kind and caring.” She stopped reading and looked up at the man standing in front of her. “Nope.” The man disappeared. She picked up the next one. “As the prince climbed down off his horse, Marian knew this was the man for her. His long blond hair moved freely in the wind and his smile made her feel weak. She trembled with desire as he strode toward her.” The man standing in the middle of the room put his hands on his hips and winked at her. “Marian doesn’t get out much.” The man frowned, and then vanished. Charity looked at the next book. It didn’t have a title, but the black binding was covered in beautiful silver vines. “Damon eyed his enemy with disdain. His gray eyes hid none of his hatred. His hand rested on his knife, ready for action. His black hair moved with the wind, bellowing as his velvet cloak did.” Charity looked up at the man she had summoned. “Not bad.”

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology He was perfect, with long black hair, pale skin and gray eyes. He was dressed in black leather pants, a black velvet tunic, and a long black cape. He stared at her coldly. She licked her lips. “You’ll do nicely.” He leapt forward and grabbed her by the hair. “You think so, princess?” She smiled at him. “Yes. You’re exactly what I want.” His eyes traveled the length of her body. “It’s your lucky day,” she said. “So you say. I didn’t ask to be awakened.” “Sounds like someone’s been asleep too long.” He released her hair. “This is not what I am usually called for. I’m a hunter, an assassin.” “But I don’t need a hunter. I need a man in my bed.” He took in her fiery red hair and pale, delicate features, then her slender, lithe body. “Then go find a nice little story book. I’m sure the pretty boys are already hard just from a glimpse of you.” “But I don’t want them. I like you.” “I’m not made to be some spoiled brat’s lover.” “Isn’t it better than killing people? Would you rather I tell you that I’m pissed off with the blacksmith and want you to cut his hands off?” “I would prefer it, actually.” “You don’t want to have sex with me?” “I didn’t say that.” He eyed her breasts hungrily. “I only meant it is not my primary…pleasure.” “Then come back to my room with me.” “You don’t want me in your bed.” “Why not?” “I’ll hurt you.”

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology She smiled, more to herself than at him. “Maybe I want you to hurt me. Maybe I’m tired of weak, passionless men. I think I need a little darkness, a little something rough in my life.” He pulled her to her feet and slammed her into the wall, crushing her body with his. “You really think so, don’t you?” She writhed against his delicious body. “Yes. I want to be at your mercy. I want you to tie me up and have your way with me.” “I’m a killer. Having my way with you might mean your death.” “You have free choice. You do not have to be bound by the nature of your story.” “But I do. I don’t have to hurt you, but I need something to satisfy my fierce nature.” “You can satisfy yourself in my body. I’m sure I have as much stamina as you do.” He kissed her hard, forcing his tongue into her mouth and grinding his hips into her. She took all he gave, wrapping her arms and legs around him. “You’re full of surprises, my Lady.” He set her down on the floor. “I want to be full to the hilt of you. Take me upstairs.” He shook his head. “You wanted a strong, willful man. You’re sure as hell going to get one.” She sighed deeply and smiled up at him. Her body was already aching for him. “Tell me what you want, and you’ll get it.” “I want to hunt you, capture you.” “What do you mean?” “There is still a garden here? And a maze?” “The labyrinth is still here. Nothing has changed in hundreds of years.” 156

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He smiled. “Excellent. I think we can both have what we desire.” “You want us to go to the labyrinth now? It’s so dark.” “But it’s a sultry summer night. The darkness will only make it more interesting.” He moved past her. “I will go in through the south entrance, on the other side of the garden. You enter through the north, right behind the house. We’ll meet somewhere in the middle.” “Then you’ll make love to me?” “We’ll see what I’m in the mood for.” He eyed her dress. “Go put on something more comfortable. I want you to be able to run.” “Who says I’ll want to run?” “I wouldn’t underestimate me, princess.” “My name is Charity.” “Go get ready, Charity. You have a long night ahead of you.” As he stormed out of the room, she smiled at herself in the mirror. “I certainly hope so.” **** Charity put on a short silver skirt she could move easily in. She added a black blouse that buttoned up the front and slipped on a pair of comfortable black shoes. She hurried outside, wondering what surprises lay in store for her. Her mother had warned her to be careful when summoning men from the enchanted pages of their library, but then the woman had never had any sense of adventure. Charity loved her father, but he was as boring as they came. She had her own ideas about men. She entered the labyrinth and listened carefully. She couldn’t hear anything. She thought she’d given Damon enough time to get to the other side of the garden, so now all she had to do was get to him as quickly as possible. She smiled, thinking she would run away a few times just to whet his appetite even more. 157

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She couldn’t wait to be captured, but she didn’t mind playing his little game. The thought of him chasing her, and finally capturing her, was very inspiring. She strolled through the labyrinth. She knew the way to the center, but she purposely took random turns, trying to get herself lost. The summer night air was warm, but the wind reached her even in the maze, brushing through her hair like fingers. The silence was starting to get to her when she heard a soft sound behind her. She turned, but there was no one there. She listened, trying to hear it again. “Don’t you think you should run?” “Damon?” Charity looked all around, but she couldn’t see him. He wasn’t on her path, nor was he in the trees. She tried to look through the walls but the bushes were too tall and thick. “You better run, princess. I won’t be happy if I don’t get a good chase.” His voice seemed to come from every direction. She turned to her right and ran a little way, then turned to the right again. “You better try harder. Your scent is very strong.” His voice sent a shiver through her. “You can smell me?” He groaned. “You’re making my blood boil.” “Why don’t you come out now? You can chase me again later.” “Run, Charity. I’ll tie you up and leave you all by yourself out here if you don’t.” Charity sighed and broke into a run. She really had gotten herself lost. Now she’d be stuck if he didn’t catch her. She hoped he wasn’t so perverse as to leave her out here all night. She took a series of lefts, thinking she could confuse him by moving in a circle. She stopped twice and crouched behind bushes, trying to hear him. All she could hear was her own breathing, her own heartbeat. 158

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She came to a large opening and looked down the four paths. She didn’t know which way to go. Before she could decide, she felt warm breath on her ear. “You didn’t run fast enough,” Damon said. He blindfolded her and tied her hands behind her back before she could even speak. “Is this what you wanted?” “Yes,” she purred. He pulled her over to the wall, pulled her hands over her head and tied her to a lantern pole. She waited for him to begin, but nothing happened. “Damon?” “You are my prisoner, princess. You will speak when I tell you to.” She sighed and leaned back against the pole. She’d tried running. It wasn’t her fault he was so good. After nearly ten minutes, he came back over to her. He unbuttoned her blouse and exposed her breasts. He cupped them both in his hands and squeezed, rubbing his thumbs over her nipples. Next he pulled her skirt and panties down. He moved them both to a kneeling position, but he didn’t untie her. He began kissing and sucking her breasts hungrily as his hand began to work on her pussy. His fingers slid into her easily. “What made you so wet, Charity?” “You did.” He ran his tongue over her neck. “You want me, Charity?” “Yes.” She moved against his hand, wanting more of his touch. He nibbled her ear. “You want my cock in you?” “Yes.” “You want me to ride you hard?” “Oh yes!” His hot breath on her neck was driving her mad. 159

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He turned his attention back to her breasts. He sucked the nipples hard, biting down just a little. She cried out and bucked against his hand. “Am I that good?” “Yes.” “Tell how good I am.” “You’re unbelievable. You feel so good. I’m so hot for you. I’m so close.” He drove his fingers deeper into her and began rubbing her clit with his thumb. “Oh yes,” she said. “Make me come.” He crushed her mouth in a fiery kiss when she began to cry out her pleasure. She writhed against him, breathing hard. He removed the blindfold. “You were wonderful,” she said. “We aren’t through yet.” “Mmmm. I hope not.” He made her stand up, and then positioned himself between her legs. “Let’s see if you taste as good as you smell.” She cried out again as his lips found her pussy. She’d barely even recovered from her first orgasm. His tongue delved into her, licking up all her sweet cream. She moved her hips in rhythm with his tongue. He put her legs over his shoulders and buried his face deeper in her pussy. She felt her orgasm building, and she squeezed him tightly with her legs when he began to suck her clit. “Is there anything you can’t do?” “We’ll soon find out,” he groaned hungrily. His voice sent her over again. He kept working her with his tongue as she trembled all over. “Oh, yes! Yeeessss!” 160

Summer Sizzlers Anthology He stood up quickly and untied her. She reached for him, but he turned her around and removed her blouse, and then he tied her hands above her head. He moved her hair aside and began kissing and biting her neck. She moaned and rubbed her body against his. He slapped her ass and bit her shoulder. “Yes,” she whispered. “Can’t you say anything else?” he teased. She laughed. “Now.” He found her entrance and buried his cock in her. She was so wet, he slid in fast and deep. She pressed herself against him, wanting all of his cock. The leather felt good against her, so hot and smooth. He pumped into her. “You have a sweet little pussy, princess. It sure is hungry for my cock.” She moaned and tried to kiss him. He captured her mouth greedily. She came again, squeezing his cock just right. He released her mouth. “Yeeessss!” he roared. He slapped her ass as he ground her body into his. He filled her full, and then pulled out when her pussy released him. “You didn’t seem to want to let me go.” “Hmmm. You have such a big cock. How could I resist trying to keep it buried deep inside me?” “You can have it again, as soon as we get back to your room.” He untied her and fastened his pants. She got dressed, and then he threw her over his shoulder and carried her back into the palace. Charity had to fight to keep quiet. She wanted to giggle, to cry out her pleasure. She thought she saw someone in the shadows, but no one approached them, and when she looked back, everything was still.

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology She closed her door quietly behind them. “That was amazing. I think I’ve finally found what I’m looking for. Why don’t you tie me up and do it again?” He looked down into her eyes. “You should be openminded, Charity, willing to try new things.” She giggled with delight. “I’m willing to try anything.” He cupped her face in his hands and just looked down into her eyes. After a nearly endless moment, he leaned down and kissed her with surprising gentleness. She lost herself in his sweet kiss. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. There he made slow, sweet love to her. He looked into her eyes as he entered her, refusing to let her look away as he brought her to climax. He kissed and caressed her face as her body touched and satisfied him. She curled into the sanctuary of his arms afterward. “That was good, too.” “It isn’t the sex that brings so much pleasure, princess. It’s the person you’re having sex with.” She was surprised by his comment. She turned to face him, but he put a finger on her lips to keep her silent. She fell asleep in his arms as he rubbed her back. **** Charity’s mother came into the dining hall with a serious look on her face. “Charity?” “Yes, Mother?” “There are books scattered all over the library, and a strange man in the garden. I’m assuming you can explain this.” “Yes. I woke him up yesterday.” “To what purpose?” She found she had to think about that. “I’m not sure yet.”

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Really? You both seemed to have a very particular purpose in mind last night when I saw him carrying you back to your bedroom.” “I’m old enough to make my own decisions, Mother.” “That doesn’t mean you’ll make the rights ones, Charity.” “You want me to send him back?” “If you don’t intend to let him stay, you should send him back now.” “Why?” “He’ll become too attached to you.” Charity started to object, but then she thought about what he’d said to her the night before. She shook her head. “I won’t let that happen.” “He’ll die if you send him back against his will.” “What do you mean?” “His story will have no purpose, no meaning, if all he wants is to be with you. The book’s pages will fade, then they will rot, and soon, the book will be dust.” “And if I don’t send him back?” “The book will create a new hero in time. Then he won’t be able to return, so you’d best make up your mind.” “How long do I have?” “A few days. Either way, your rejection could destroy him. If you reject him and he cannot go back, he will fade in this world as well because he has no story here other than the one he has made with you. You give him meaning and life in this world.” “That doesn’t sound very fair.” “That is why I have always told you to be careful. That library is very old and mysterious. It seems to have its own agenda at times.” “Are you so concerned because of you and Father?” “What do you mean?” 163

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “I found a second edition yesterday. We don’t have that many, so I had to see who the hero was. He seemed awfully familiar.” “Your father was a woodcutter. He was never meant to be a king, but I was so tired of princes that I wanted to meet a normal, common man. We were crazy about each other, but our marriage was very hard at first. My own father died before you were even born, and Harold had to become king before he even knew how to be a prince.” “I thought as much. I’ve never known a king who seemed to find being one so tedious.” She looked up at her mother. “But you do love each other.” “Of course we do.” “That’s what made the difference.” She laughed halfheartedly. “Even if he was just a woodcutter.” Charity’s mother looked out the window. “I think you should go talk to your young man. I’m not saying we have not been happy. We do love each other very much, darling. But a marriage is a great deal of work, even when people have a great deal in common. Just think about it.” She turned back to her daughter. “What is he? He looks terribly fierce.” “He’s an assassin.” “Interesting choice for a princess. Might not be a bad idea.” “Mother! Will you make up your mind, please?” “Well, Charity, think about it. Who would try to assassinate a king who used to be an assassin? Who would even think of plotting against our family with him around?” “I’ll talk to you later. I better go see to my ‘young man’ now.” **** Damon was sitting by the fountain when Charity found him. “You look quite serious,” he said. “I just got a good talking-to about you.” 164

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Really?” “Yes.” She sat down next to him. “What did you mean last night?” “When?” “You know exactly when.” “When I stopped being a fantasy and starting being a real man? When I made love to you instead of just fucking you?” She blushed. “Yes.” He smiled, unable to resist teasing her. “Is that all you can say?” “Later. I want to talk about this now.” “Yes, you have to decide what to do with me, don’t you?” “I didn’t ask for this to become complicated. I just wanted to spice up my life a bit. I never really thought about the potential consequences.” “Do you want to send me back?” “I won’t stop you if you want to go.” “That isn’t what I asked.” “I don’t know. I think I would like you to stay. It’s a heavy decision to make so quickly.” “Which is why you must be careful. I was created to kill important people, not fuck them.” “You would prefer to go back?” “I didn’t say that. I was simply pointing out that you made a hasty decision.” “Do you wish I hadn’t?” “I’d like to get beyond all these vague questions. No. I am very glad you called me. Last night was most enjoyable. I’ll be blunt, if you’ll do the same.” She hesitated for a moment. “Go ahead.” “I want to stay.” “I think I would like that.” He smiled. “Was that so hard?” 165

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “What about what my mother said?” “And just what did she say?” “She said I should be careful. But then she said you might be a good choice.” “Really? Seems a very wise woman.” Charity laughed. “She said it might be good protection for us and the family.” “It’s a very good point. I might be a more practical choice than we first thought.” “Is it really this simple? You’ll stay, and we’ll get married.” “For now, I’ll stay and keep your bed bouncing every night. I suppose we ought to get married eventually.” She laughed and tried to hit him. He caught her in his arms and pulled her onto his lap. “I don’t think that will do. I am a princess. We need to do things as ‘properly’ as possible.” “I could take you captive and hold you in my hideout until the wedding day.” She ran her hands over his broad chest. “Keep me tied to the wall for the next few weeks?” “I’d let you down now and then. There are some things you just can’t do tied up.” He picked her up and carried her to her bedroom, ignoring the servants who got quite an eyeful of them as they passed by. **** An hour later, Charity found herself doing something she’d never done before. She took his cock deeper into her mouth, amazed at how much she was enjoying it. She’d never done it before, nor had she wanted to. It had seemed disgusting to her before, but now she wanted to do it. She sucked harder as she listened to his groans. His hands were tangled in her hair, holding her there between his legs. He groaned loudly and arched his back, then he pulled her mouth away from him. He 166

Summer Sizzlers Anthology pulled her up and brought her down on him fiercely, sending his cock deep inside her. She gasped. She hadn’t expected that. He came quickly. “I did that well?” she asked. “You did that very well,” he said, stroking her hips. She started to move off him, but he held her in place. “There’s more to come, my Lady.” She felt him becoming hard again and giggled. “I don’t want to wear you out.” “There’s no chance of that. I can’t get enough of your pussy.” He slapped her ass. “Come on, princess. Ride me hard.” She started to move up and down. “You asked for it.” She leaned back to brace herself on the bedposts. She moved quickly, loving how perfectly they fit together. She closed her eyes for a minute, but opened them again. It was much more exciting to watch him. “Oh, Damon,” she moaned. “You were right.” “About what?” he whispered. “Oooohhhh…tell you in a minute.” She leaned forward and braced her hands by his sides, grinding her hips against his. Her orgasm came fast, and she soon brought him over with her. She collapsed on top of him, happier than she had ever been before. He stroked her hair, kissed her cheek. “What was I right about?” “What you said last night. The person you’re with does make a difference.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I’m glad you’re staying. I think I need someone like you.” “Someone like me?” “Someone as strong-willed as I am. Someone who seems to know exactly how to handle me.” “You think I can handle you?” he teased.

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology “You handle me very well. You were right. I am a spoiled brat. I need a man who isn’t afraid to stand up to me.” She giggled. “Or tie me up, when I deserve it.” “Fate has a way of working things out.” He held her close and kissed the top of her head. “Well matched or not, we’re going create a bit of a scandal. A princess and an assassin falling in love. What will people say?” “Well, it’s my kingdom. They can get over it. If not, they’ll have to answer to you.” “Anything my mistress commands.” She looked up into his eyes. “Is that a promise?” “For the rest of my life.” He kissed her gently. “Mmmm. So I get to tie you up tonight?” He began kissing her neck. “If that will bring you pleasure,” he whispered. “I’m sure there’s a great deal of pleasure awaiting both of us,” she said before letting him claim her lips again.

168


SATAN’S SLAVE by

Emma Wildes

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The commotion that had awakened her seemed to be getting worse. The sound of running footsteps echoed thunderously and there were shouts punctuated now and then by a woman’s scream. Good God, what was happening? The man who burst into her stateroom was huge and bearded, with a wickedly curved sword that he waved with what looked like skillful precision. Only half-dressed, Lady Caroline Kendrick gasped, snatching up her dressing gown and clutching it to her chest. She ordered unconvincingly, “Get out.” Dressed oddly in tan breeches and a red vest that bared his brawny arms, the big man smiled, revealing crooked teeth. His gaze ran over her, from the long, loose tumble of her hair, to where the material of her robe didn’t quite cover her bare legs. “Oh yes, my Lady, you’re the one all right.” He chuckled, his eyes small and bright in his dark face. “Hair like golden fire, Satan said, and as fair as the sunrise over a turquoise sea. Come with me, beautiful one.” Satan. At the mention of the famous pirate’s name, Caroline felt a quiver that was suddenly more fear than outrage. “If you wish to rob me, do so and be on your way,” she said with credible dignity, considering she was clad only in her lacy chemise.

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Oh aye, I’ll take your valuables, make no mistake, but first I need to deliver you abovedeck. I always follow orders, my Lady.” “Don’t touch me.” She stepped back, bumping into the bed, panic flaring as he approached her with purpose. Before she realized what was happening, Caroline found herself heaved face down over the giant’s shoulder, her head barely missing the top of the narrow doorway as she was hauled out of her room, her bare legs dangling and her bottom up in the air. Too frightened to be mortified over the indignity of the position, she squirmed in protest, her long hair streaming down the back of the man holding her and obscuring her vision. His arm around her knees, he carried her as easily as he would have a sack of meal, making absolutely no response to her furious objection or the pummel of her fists on his broad back. When they gained the top deck and the warm, tropical breeze washed over her thinly-clad body, Caroline fell silent suddenly, her struggles ceasing as she saw through the veil of her disheveled hair the bound and gagged members of the ship’s crew sitting on the sea-worn boards, guarded by two rough-looking men with pistols. Other passengers huddled in a frightened group, most of them, like her, in various states of undress or nightclothes since it was barely dawn. “Ah yes, Henricus, I see you have my prize. I would recognize that enticing backside anywhere. Set her down please.” At the sound of the cool, familiar drawl, Caroline stiffened in disbelief. And when she was deposited in a flurry of tangled hair and trembling limbs on the deck, she whirled around in confused apprehension. Her lips barely moved. “Charles?” The man standing before her smiled. Not the polite, charming smile she remembered from elegant London ballrooms and shadowed summer gardens, but a wickedly sensual curve of his well-shaped lips as his gaze deliberately traveled slowly up 171

Summer Sizzlers Anthology and down her half-nude body, examining every inch. “But of course. Surprised to see me, my dear?” Shock held her speechless. It was Charles Somerset, she saw in numb immobility, but not at all the same well-dressed, wellmannered man she knew back in England. Instead a tall, arrogant-looking stranger stood before her, dressed in a loose white shirt opened carelessly to show his strong neck and muscled chest, black tightly-fitted breeches, and polished kneehigh boots. His hair, dark and glossy, brushed his shoulders, and a rakish stubble of black whiskers ran along his jaw. A very businesslike pistol was stuck in the belt slung around his lean waist, and in his hand, he held a sword similar to the one her abductor had brandished as he invaded her cabin. But his eyes…those were the same, Caroline realized with a tremor. Dark as night and as intense as ever, long-lashed and yet starkly masculine. And the achingly handsome features of his face were unmistakable; high cheekbones, straight nose, firm lips… “I don’t understand,” she whispered, her hair, tugged by the capricious breeze, blowing softly across her shoulders. A second ship rocked next to their own vessel and even her inexperienced eyes could see she was impressively armed with cannon and guns. Charles lifted one ebony brow and said softly, “You will, sweet Caroline…believe me, you will.” Then he turned and nodded to several of the men who crowded around him openly looking at her, though their faces were impassive. “Take her to the Tempest and lock her in my cabin. If the lady offers any resistance, tie her up.” “Aye, Captain.” One of them grabbed her by the arm. “Captain? Does he mean you?” “Yes, indeed. Now go along and behave yourself.”

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Charles,” Caroline gasped in affront, feeling as if she’d fallen into some kind of farcical fantastic dream. “You are…kidnapping me?” His smile showed a gleam of white teeth and he laughed lightly, standing with his long legs braced against the gentle movement of the ship on the swell of the sea. “See, Lady Kendrick, I told you you’d understand.”

**** He’d been generous with the crew and passengers of the Dove, but then again, he could afford to be since he’d gotten exactly what he wanted more than anything on this earth. Charles had ordered his men to take nothing but coin, leaving other valuables like jewelry and watches, and though his crew grumbled a little, they had obeyed as always, their loyalty born of both a respect for his famed sword hand and the recognition that when they sailed with him, they gained not only infamous legendary status, but spoils unequaled by any other pirate ship sailing the seven seas. He was, he mused as he watched the mainsail being adjusted with narrowed eyes, a very wealthy man. In fact, he could have quit this dangerous double life a long time ago…but his restless nature had kept him from retiring both his sword and his sinful nickname. That and his obsession with the one woman he could not have—the gloriously beautiful daughter of the Marquess of Tansley, Lady Caroline Kendrick. But now, she was his for the taking. Turning on his heel, Charles nodded at his first lieutenant, a burly Frenchman who bore hideous scars on his back from some long ago crime and intensely hated Bonaparte. Henricus was both a friend and a fierce fighter, and Charles trusted him 173

Summer Sizzlers Anthology implicitly. “I’ll be in my cabin.” He smiled thinly. “Though I have my doubts over the lady’s reception.” “Louis tied her to the chair.” Henricus grinned. “And it was his pleasure to do so, he mentioned.” “From now on, no one touches her but me.” Charles said the words with implicit authority. “Good luck then, mon Capitaine…for she was spitting mad like a treed cat when we left her.” Considering that Caroline had lived a privileged, pampered existence and probably never had to do anything against her will in her life, Charles could believe it. “I accept the luck then, Henri…and I will see you later.” With a sparkle in his black eyes, his companion laughed, a booming sound that echoed over the deck. “Much later, I take it, Satan, my friend.” Thinking of all the months he’d spent courting and trying to win the incomparably lovely Caroline, Charles said with cynical conviction, “Yes, indeed, much later.” Minutes later, when he opened the door to the captain’s cabin, he found that Henricus was right, the woman in question was trussed to a sturdy chair with the tie to her own dressing gown, one of his inventive crew cutting it to pieces and using the silken cloth to bind his prisoner. Her spectacular strawberry blond hair, gleaming and flowing over her slender shoulders, shone red-gold in the sunlight coming in the porthole, and her flawless alabaster skin was flushed with both anger and frustration. Caroline apparently had, at least a little, recovered from her shock over his identity as an infamous pirate for she glared at him, her aquamarine eyes full of matchless fury. “You are a coward, a liar, and no gentleman,” she said flatly, her delicate features ablaze with emotion. Clad only in a lacy chemise, she looked delectable…and undeniably incensed. 174

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Perhaps the latter two,” Charles agreed, stepping inside and carefully latching the door shut behind him, “but forgive me, I refuse to agree to the first.” “Only a coward abducts a woman against her will.” Her slim, shapely ankles were bound together, her fragile wrists looped to the back of the chair. Charles noted that she didn’t seem to be in any physical distress and decided it was prudent not to untie her at once. “Or,” he corrected softly, “a man who is not perhaps a coward, but a frustrated lover who cannot think of another way to gain the woman he wants so desperately.” Her fury seemed to abate a fraction, but her soft mouth set stubbornly. “You could have just about any woman—and have— if the rumors are at all accurate, in England, Charles. Do not try to make me think you have been pining away for me alone, for I will not believe you.” “Whether or not I have been celibate is not the issue,” he said, just to taunt her, for the memory of her dancing and flirting and charming other men still stung, “but I most certainly can’t seem to forget you…so here you are. The invitation to visit Lady Lowell at her Jamaican plantation was made at my behest, for I knew you would pressure your father for permission.” Her stare widened. “You…plotted all this?” “Oh, yes. Satan never leaves anything to chance, not if he can help it. How else is it I can move through the exalted circles of highest English society and still command the most daring pirate ship on these seas?” Caroline rasped, “You are insane.” “And you are…delicious.” His gaze traveled insolently over her body, fastening on the luscious mounds of her quivering breasts. “And every inch of you is my prisoner and at my disposal.” 175

Summer Sizzlers Anthology There was no mistaking his meaning or the way he examined her half-exposed curves with lascivious interest. Thinly, she whispered, “You wouldn’t rape me, Charles. Whatever you are, pirate or gentleman, I know you would never force yourself on me.” Standing there in his comfortable cabin, arms crossed over his chest, Charles lifted one brow slowly. “I do not think, if my memory serves me well, that I will have to, now will I? Unless you were acting, in which case, my Lady, a career on the stage awaits you…for I know well what it feels like to have a willing woman in my arms.” Rubbing his chin, relishing the fact he undoubtedly looked quite different unshaven and dressed so informally, he added in mock contemplation, “In retrospect, I should have taken you that last time, at the Christmas ball when we found that little alcove and celebrated the season with a kiss that I still remember with amazing clarity. You were like melted wax against me, Caroline, and I resisted the temptation to lift your skirts only because I was certain your pompous father would accept my marriage proposal.” It was still galling to recall her father’s reasons for refusal of his suit. He added coolly, “I should have just fucked you when I had the chance.” “Don’t be crude,” she stammered hotly. “I would not have allowed you to…that is, oh! To think, I once fancied myself in love with you!” Narrowing his eyes, he said softly, “You would have most certainly allowed it; we both know it. You will allow it now, for I am done with the niceties of proper courtship.” Approaching the chair, he squatted down so he was eye level with his gorgeous prisoner, seeing with satisfaction the veiled gleam of anticipation in the aqua depths of her eyes. Her stiff stance and the defiant set of her mouth were at odds with that furtive excitement. Charles had counted on her very basic attraction to him—he suffered from the same malaise when it 176

Summer Sizzlers Anthology came to her—and it pleased him to know he had not miscalculated. “You are as beautiful as ever,” his fingers trailed over the smooth curve of her cheek and down the slender length of her throat, “perhaps even more so with your hair unbound and half-dressed. These,” he cupped one full breast through the lacy material of her shift, “are the very stuff of my dreams, my Lady.” “How romantic you are, Charles.” Her voice was caustic but her lips parted slightly as he stroked over the soft tip of her nipple with his thumb, and her lashes half-lowered as she swallowed, a ripple of her slender throat. He laughed, still fondling her, liking the way her bound hands behind her lifted those pale tempting mounds high. “I feel quite certain most women would think it was romantic to risk the gallows for their favors.” “Or that you are a damned fool.” “Twice damned, yes. For wanting you, and worse, loving you.” For once, that seemed to render her speechless, or maybe it was the fact her breast swelled slightly in telltale response to his deft caresses, the nipple growing into a firm bud as it hardened. Pulling the tie of her chemise loose, he slipped his hand inside to find warm, satiny flesh, and Caroline made a small sound. “Untie me,” she whispered. “Please.” Cradling her bare breast in his hand, Charles grinned devilishly. “I rather like you this way. Submissive is not at all your normal pose, my haughty Lady.” That brought sparks back into her azure eyes. “I am not submissive.” “Good, I was jesting. I have no desire for you to be. I want you to be eager and hot and wild in my arms.” Slipping out the knife from his belt, he cut the bonds holding her arms and then freed her ankles. Taking her hand, he pulled her to her feet and stared down into her lovely, flushed face. “Just think,” he said 177

Summer Sizzlers Anthology persuasively, “there are no rules here, lovely Caroline. We are miles from home in the middle of the lawless seas. You can give yourself to me…give us both what we have wanted since the moment we met a year ago, without recriminations or censure.” Stunningly beautiful, disheveled and half-naked, she gazed up at him defiantly. “Charles…if I did wish to…to lie with you back in London, it was the foolish yearnings of a naïve girl captivated by your easy charm and handsome face.” Recognizing her father’s words, Charles felt his face tighten. “I see. I was a passing fancy, like a treat at the dessert table. Very well, my Lady, let me satisfy your sweet tooth.” Caroline gasped when he swept her up and strode across the room. Light streamed in the window, the summer sun warm across the golden wood of the well-appointed cabin. Dumping his captive on the bed in a flurry of flame-colored hair and outraged womanhood, his hands went at once to the lacings on his shirt. Deliberately untying it and pulling it off over his head, he smiled lazily, not willing to let her see she had wounded him in any way. Caroline’s eyes widened at the sight of his bare chest, and even in her innocence, she obviously recognized the bulge in his tight breeches for what it was. “You cannot mean to do this.” “You are already ruined, my Lady, for you have been taken by Satan in front of witnesses and whisked away. No one in society will believe you were not properly ravished.” Lifting one brow, he added, “And I mean to make sure you are very properly ravished.” Color burned her smooth cheeks. “You…you—” “Lascivious oaf?” he supplied, reaching for the fastenings on his pants. “Blackguard? Rapacious pirate? Lustful villain?” “Yes, all of those,” Caroline said tartly, but she didn’t try to scoot away, instead lay supine on the soft coverlet and watched with widening eyes as he stripped out of his boots and breeches. 178

Summer Sizzlers Anthology His erection seemed to draw her entire attention, the long length of it high and pulsing against his stomach now that she lay—finally—on his bed in a state of near undress. Her fascinated stare did not hold fear, he noted, but then again, he had been confident all along that she wanted him as much as he desired her. Lightly stroking his erect cock with one finger, wiping off a smear of semen from the throbbing tip, he said huskily, “See how much I want you?” “It’s too big.” At that breathy declaration, he laughed. “Try it first, my Lady, and then let me know if you think it is too large.” Reclining on the blankets, supine, her eyes having gone a misty color like the serene island seas, Caroline whispered, “I am not some wanton strumpet. You are forcing me to do this.” Laying down next to her and reaching for the hem of her chemise, Charles murmured soothingly, “Absolutely, my Lady.” **** She wanted him to kiss her…and more, and though her body burned with the shame of it, it burned brighter with the same reckless passion she always felt when Charles Somerset was near her. And when he smiled at her with that sensual, teasing curve of his well-shaped lips, she wanted to swoon from the sheer need she felt to be in his arms. In fact—though she would never admit it to him for the man was already too arrogant by half—he looked even more devastatingly attractive this way; with a dashing beard gracing his lean jaw, his thick hair tousled, and the dangerous glint of raw, male desire in his dark compelling stare. His body, too, Caroline saw as he settled next to her, was powerfully built, tanned and ridged with hard muscle, his long-fingered hands gentle yet insistent as they slid over her skin, pulling her shift upward and over her head, leaving her nude. 179

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Sweet Caroline.” His mouth nuzzled her neck, his breath warm and tantalizing. “You are too gloriously desirable. My fantasies did not do you justice.” Denying him was futile…not because she was a hostage and at his mercy, but because she wanted him with an equal fervor. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Caroline turned toward him, her arms sliding around his neck as she pressed closer. “Kiss me,” she commanded, letting her lashes drift lower. “Kiss me like you did the night of the Christmas party, Charles. It felt so wonderful and I wanted it to last forever.” The light in his eyes grew heavier at her request and obvious capitulation. “I wish only to please, my Lady.” His mouth captured hers, firm and tasting deliciously like whiskey as his tongue pressed between her lips and began a skillful, leisurely exploration. His hands moved with the same exquisite expertise, cupping her breasts as he kissed her with scandalous possession, kneading the pliant flesh in a way that made her body tingle, sliding down to measure the curve of her buttocks and urge her closer. His body was hot and hard and infinitely different from hers, and that part of him which made him male lay against the softness of her stomach, rigid and alive. Instinctively, she rubbed against it, a slight undulation of her body that rewarded her with a small sound coming from the depths of his throat and the tightening of his arms. “Be careful,” he growled against her mouth, “for while I wish to go slow for your first time, I cannot promise finesse if you push me. I have wanted you a long time.” Artlessly kissing his faintly stubbled jaw, her hands running impatiently over his strong back, Caroline said truthfully, “I’m not sure I want finesse…oh, I feel so…restless. Do something, Charles.” In a flat second, she was on her back, his mouth ravenous at her breast, closing over the aching nipple with heated 180

Summer Sizzlers Anthology ownership. Sensation streaked into the pit of her stomach and she arched backwards with a low cry, offering herself freely. A low pulse seemed to center between her legs as he kneaded and suckled her breasts, his roaming fingers dark against her pale sensitive skin. Licking and nipping, he trailed lower across her stomach, his hands sliding between her thighs and pushing them open wide. And she allowed it. What’s more, Caroline spread her legs willingly as he nuzzled her pubic hair and she felt the first incredible foray of his tongue slip into her sex. Acute pleasure made her tremble and moan, the sight of his dark head nestled between her thighs shocking…and somehow arousing in a wicked, wanton way. He parted the secret folds of her female cleft and teased with both tongue and lips until she shook uncontrollably, her hands frantic in his hair as she panted and reached for something elusive… And found it finally, with a small muffled shriek of both surprise and blissful release, her body wracked with tremors of sheer physical delight like nothing she had ever known. Charles kept her there, pressing his mouth to that throbbing center of her pleasure until she twisted slightly away, unable to take a second more. “Stop,” Caroline pleaded weakly. “Oh…Charles, you truly are a devil.” Grinning, he shifted a little and she realized he had settled between her damp thighs. His hard chest brushed her peaked nipples as he braced himself over her, his dark eyes alight with wicked promise. “My legendary talents are ever at your disposal. As is any part of me you wish to pleasure you, my passionate captive. You like my mouth, my Lady, shall we try my cock?” Already Caroline could feel the thick nudge of his shaft at her burning entrance, the sensation of invasion deliciously slick and hard. Still limp from that marvelous physical climax, she 181

Summer Sizzlers Anthology breathed out slowly as he pushed his rigid penis into her vaginal passage, making only a small sound of protest as she felt the tearing loss of her innocence. When he was completely inside her, Charles kissed her, his mouth warm and erotically teasing. “You are mine now,” he whispered. “There is no going back. I am your lover, the only man who has carnal knowledge of your body, your master and your slave, my Lady.” With intemperate longing for whatever other marvels he could give her, Caroline lifted her hips a little. “Never my master,” she corrected breathlessly. “We’ll see.” Charles laughed; a low, masculine sound. “For instance, would you like me to move?” She did, and while she was resentful of the smug expression on his handsome face, she was infinitely more curious about the rising need inside her. “Yes,” she admitted. “Show me what comes next.” “Are you sure I am not too big?” “Damn you, Charles, stop teasing me and do something.” “For a prisoner, you are very demanding, my dear.” His teeth shone in a wolfish smile. “I suppose I can accommodate you, being the gentleman that I am. Hold on, darling, for the ride might be a little short. You are too damned hot and so tight, I’m barely hanging on.” The slide of his sex backwards within her made her suck in a breath, and when he plunged forward, she felt a delirious friction that tantalized and consumed her senses. Within moments, she was moaning and clutching his wide shoulders, moving with him in the pattern of give and take, and when he reached between them to stroke the sensitive spot between her legs, she shattered wildly, uncaring of anything except the sublime red-hot pleasure coursing through her body. Charles stopped moving as she rippled around him, his expression fierce and dark, eyes shut, his brawny body rigid as 182

Summer Sizzlers Anthology he flexed hard inside her passage, releasing a flood of warm liquid against her womb. The moment hung between them, private yet shared, primal but subtly charged with emotion. He was right, Caroline realized in dazed comprehension of how her life had just dramatically changed. She was irrevocably ruined, bedded by an infamous pirate…and she had loved every minute of it. What the devil was she going to do now? Staring down at her, his shaft still embedded deeply in her body, Charles said huskily, “You are beyond compare, Caroline. I knew you would be a vixen in bed, both temptress and lady, and every inch a woman.” Looking up at him, she lifted her hand and lightly touched his face, wiping away a bead of sweat from his lean jaw. “Did you happen to think beyond the bedroom when you plotted to abduct me?” There was a trace of unhidden bitterness in her voice. “My life in England is forfeit, for as you say, not only will everyone think I am ruined, it is true.” “Yes, indeed,” her lover told her, his voice deepening in timbre. “I plan to whisk you away, my glorious Lady, and keep you forever.” Uncertain, a little confused by her feelings for this unpredictable, enigmatic man, Caroline demanded, “Where are you taking me?” His smile was dark. “Paradise.” **** Fierce hot sunshine poured over the golden beach, the water as beautiful and clear as the arch of cobalt sky above. Sitting in the sand and leaning lazily against the trunk of a halfgrown palm tree, Charles watched as Caroline stooped and retrieved something from the sand, her exclamation of delight carrying on the light, warm breeze. Hair blowing free—the color of wine made from fresh new strawberries, her skin 183

Summer Sizzlers Anthology showing a soft gold from the kiss of the sun, she looked young, healthy, and overtly female. Her lissome figure, lovely face, and vital personality were both a delight and an addiction, and—he couldn’t help but remind himself with pure male appreciation— she had taken to sexual initiation with uninhibited enjoyment. “Look,” she called, smiling and holding up a conch shell, the gleaming prize delicately formed and colored in swirls of pink and cream. “Isn’t it pretty?” In the two weeks since they had arrived at the house he had built as a retreat between voyages as Satan—the mansion hidden on a tiny tropical island well-off the main trade routes—his beautiful guest had accumulated an impressive array of similar treasures. With a theatrical groan, Charles said, “Darling, it is my pleasure to indulge you, however, I am up to my ears in the former homes of deceased sea creatures. Can’t you collect something useful? Perhaps coconuts, for at least we can eat those eventually.” Laughing, she feigned a very adorable pout. “I cannot keep it?” “Fearsome pirates do not decorate their lairs with pretty seashells.” He scowled convincingly, one arm propped on his bent knee as he watched her approach. Dressed in the manner of the women of the surrounding islands, she wore a bright wraparound skirt and a top that fastened around her neck and tied at the waist, leaving her entire back and shoulders bare. With her loose rich curls and long-lashed aqua eyes, she was every man’s Venus, a barefoot fantasy come true. He added, “However, I might consider granting you permission to take in yet another chunk of useless animal matter, if you come here and…please me.” One red-gold brow inched upward as she approached, her hips swaying provocatively. “Um…I am not sure I can charm a rogue as black and wicked as Satan. They say he can kill a man 184

Summer Sizzlers Anthology simply by glaring at him with his obsidian eyes, and despoil a young maid with a touch of his hand.” Grinning, Charles said, “Well, that depends, of course, exactly where he touches her. Care for me to demonstrate?” “I am not sure.” Caroline gave a mock shudder. Her voice dropped to a sibilant whisper. “It is an indelicate subject, but you are rumored, sir, to have a very large…well, manly appendage.” “Is that a problem?” Snaking out a hand to capture her slender wrist and tumble her into his lap, Charles nuzzled the delicate hollow of her throat, inhaling her feminine fragrance. Caroline sighed teasingly, her fingers sifting through his hair. “I think I might be very stretched, if a virile lover like Satan were to try to ravish me. What if I could not take all of you?” Relishing the light playful touch of her fingertips as they drifted down his neck, Charles recognized well, after hours and hours of sexual gratification in the arms of the woman sitting on his lap, the sensual glimmer in her remarkable eyes. With one hand, he deftly unfastened his breeches and freed his swelling erection, then adjusted her position so she straddled him, jerking her skirt up around her hips. Sliding his fingers between her open thighs, he found her already sleek and dampening, her gaze darkening perceptibly with carnal need as he touched her with slow, rotating strokes. The small bud of her clitoris swelled and wept as he touched it, and Caroline made a needy, completely female sound deep in her throat, her head tipping back. Grasping her waist, he lifted her, positioning the tip of his hungry cock at her moist opening, then lowered her with slow precision, his eyes drifting shut as she accepted every hard, long inch of his erect shaft. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she began to move at once, her breath warm against his cheek as she lifted and sank down again, riding him with a slow, sensuous motion at first, her vaginal walls tight and succulently wet as they clenched his penis firmly. Always vocal in her enjoyment of 185

Summer Sizzlers Anthology intercourse, Caroline moaned freely, her cheeks flushing as she climbed toward orgasmic release, and Charles found himself entranced not just by his own glorious pleasure as she rode and milked him in erotic abandon, but also by her elemental desire that so perfectly matched his own. Normally self-controlled with his lovers, he found that with Caroline, he had little rule over his sexual arousal and when he felt his testicles tighten in preparation for ejaculation, he shut his eyes tightly and swallowed, thrusting up hard as she slid downward, going all the way to the softness of her womb, impaling her fully. She gave a high thin scream, convulsing around him. His own climax was an intense rush of rapturous, explosive release as he buried his face in her hair and pumped out a torrent of semen, coating and filling her. Arms wrapped around each other, perspiring and breathless, they sat there until Charles could feel his heart slow a fraction, his breathing still choppy and uneven. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear. And as usual, Caroline just smiled and did not respond, one finger tracing the curve of his lower lip. Then, rising up so he slid free of her body, she untied her skirt and discarded it, then unfastened her top and tossed it in the sand. Splendidly nude, her full breasts still taut and tight from sexual stimulation, she said, “It’s so warm, Charles, and I’m all sticky. Shall we swim?” And even after such spectacular orgasmic completion, his wayward gaze fastened on the red-gold curls at the apex of her long, slim legs. Shiny streaks of sperm dampened her thighs, heightening the effect of a fertile, gorgeous goddess. If he couldn’t have her love, he thought with a tinge of painful savage resignation, then her body would have to do. God knew she liked fucking him—maybe that would be all she ever gave him. 186

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Getting to his feet, he gave her one of his signature slow smiles as he stepped out of his breeches. “Satan is very at home in the sea, my Lady.” **** For an infamous scalawag, her handsome captor certainly liked a settled routine. Dinner was punctually at eight each evening, the dining room of the spacious plantation house furnished in elegant European style, the crystal and china reminiscent of home. Reaching for her glass of wine, Caroline took a small sip, covertly studying her lover over the rim of the fine crystal. He was a curious mixture of polite, refined gentleman and bold buccaneer, a masterful lover who both shocked and delighted her body…balanced by an almost boyishly sweet courtier who brought her hand-picked flowers in the mornings and whispered tender words as he held her in his arms. She was beginning, against her will, to actually believe Charles Somerset was sincere when he said he loved her. If it were true—that they had more between them than a romantic tryst on a tropical island where they pleasured each other freely and without commitment—then there was a future to be considered. A future she wanted. With a notorious pirate, she thought wryly, setting down her glass. It was definitely not the aristocratic, settled marriage she had envisioned. Across the table, the giant beefy man called Henricus boomed with laughter, his black beard bristling in the candlelight. He had dined with them once or twice before during the days since Charles had brought her to Paradise Island and Caroline had grown used to his thick, soft, heavily-accented speech and dry wit; his brutish size and appearance at contrast with the gentle humor in his eyes. This evening, he had brought a companion, a voluptuous brunette with black eyes and olive 187

Summer Sizzlers Anthology skin named Cressida, her Greek heritage evident in her coloring and the classic sculpted boldness of her features. Dressed in an emerald gown of the latest fashion, she spoke only a few phrases of English, so she and Caroline conversed mostly in French, speaking vaguely of the food—shellfish bisque, roast pork, a tropical dessert made of coconut and some sort of indigenous creamy fruit—and the weather. It wasn’t until the men excused themselves to go smoke a cheroot outside on the wide veranda facing the ocean that Cressida leaned forward and smiled mischievously. “He is a rare one, your handsome lover, no? The wild and infamous Satan! Bold enough to snatch you off a ship and carry you here…and ardent enough to make you happy. I, too, am lucky to have been taken prisoner by my Henri six years ago.” A little nonplussed, Caroline toyed with the stem of her glass, and cleared her throat. “Charles and I knew each other back in London. He and my father had a slight…misunderstanding, I believe, over his intentions toward me.” The young woman gave a sage nod, her black eyes sparkling. “I know this, Henri told me of his master’s passion for you. He said the captain came back from England this time with fire in his eyes and his hand on his sword. It is all very romantic.” Caroline couldn’t help but mutter, “It is all very complicated. I had no idea that Charles was a pirate. I knew he was a little reckless, with a reputation for charming women and traveling, but never would I have dreamed he was foolish enough to risk his neck robbing ships and dodging the king’s navy.” Cressida widened her eyes, lifting her hand with a flourish. “They are heroes, our men…so brave and bold.” “They are idiots, doomed to die on the gibbet if they are not careful,” Caroline said frankly, her throat tightening a little. “Tell 188

Summer Sizzlers Anthology me, if you love Henri, have you not thought of asking him to abandon his rash career for something more tame…and safe?” Taking a gulp of wine, Cressida shook her dark head. “A woman does not ask such a thing.” “I might,” Caroline said thoughtfully. “Charles says he loves me. If it is true, he will understand that I want to be legally married, bear his children in a safe civilized world, and have him at my side as I grow old.” “Henri will not sail without his captain,” Cressida objected, then frowned, her brow creasing in obvious thought. “Though, I suppose I would also like to see him safe and in my bed more often. He is rich enough to never have to plunder another ship.” She smiled then suddenly, a gleam of endearingly crooked teeth. “Yes, the idea is pleasing to me.” Considering the size of the house and the fortune Charles admitted he had built from his nefarious career, Caroline was certain enough that none of the crew would suffer if the Tempest never sailed again. Smiling, she lifted her glass in a toast. “I will see what I can do.” “You are new to the ways of love,” Cressida said with a lift of brow. “May I give you a little advice?” **** He was being both seduced and coerced. Wary but compliant—considering the manner of his persuasion—Charles lay back and held his breath as he felt the first delectable whirl of a soft tongue touch the crest of his swollen shaft, a low sound emitting involuntarily from his lungs. Naked and on her knees, her lovely reddish blond hair a soft, shimmering curtain, Caroline bent over him and took the entire tip of his erection in her mouth, sliding downward until the crest touched the back of her throat. Anything, he thought hazily. Diamonds, gold, the palaces of the world…he would give her the very blood in his veins if she 189

Summer Sizzlers Anthology would continue to suck his cock with such inexperienced yet effective technique. “You like this,” she murmured, for a moment lifting her head, her voice sultry. “Yes,” he rasped, “God in heaven, Caroline, don’t stop.” Obliging, stunningly beautiful, and incarnate womanhood, she smiled and dipped her head again, one palm lightly holding his balls, the other hand braced on the bed. Her soft lips touched, kissed, and then her tongue came out to leisurely lick a slow, sensuous pattern downward… Sweating, lying back against the bed linens with his entire body on fire, the warm breeze off the ocean carrying in the scent of salt and sand…he tangled his fingers in the softness of Caroline’s hair and groaned as he came forcefully, spending himself in her mouth, watching through half-closed eyes as she swallowed and sat up, her lips glistening, her slender body washed by tropical moonlight. When she slid on top of him, nestling her body over his in overt sexual offering and lifting up to rub her breasts on his chest, he said weakly, “Whatever it is you want, my dear, the answer is yes.” She froze for a telltale moment before she lightly kissed his chin. “What makes you think I want something?” “I’ve been a victim of female calculation a time or two,” he responded dryly. In the darkened interior of the room, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t think,” she said coolly, “that reminding me of your past lovers is prudent, Charles.” “And I think,” he ran his fingers down the length of her body as he spoke, “that I would give you anything you ask for, with or without your undeniably talented tongue, my Lady.” Lifting his brows and relishing the light feel of her curvaceous body on top of his, he added mildly, “You have only to ask.” 190

Summer Sizzlers Anthology She bit her lip. “You might say no.” Trying to picture a scenario wherein he denied her was impossible. “I would die for you,” he said simply. “So if what you want is less than that, I think you are safe.” “Marry me.” Her words were hushed. “Done.” He smiled. “See? Isn’t that easy?” She shook her head. “I’m not finished.” “I’m not surprised. Go on.” “I like it here, but…I want to go back to England. It’s my home and I never intended to leave it permanently.” “Nor I.” Charles cupped one luscious buttock in each hand, lifting his brows. “Even when I play Satan, I always come home.” Obviously surprised, he felt her stiffen. “I don’t want a pirate for a husband. I want plain Charles Somerset, who might be a bit of a rake, but still a proper gentleman.” “I suppose any respectable woman would.” He laughed, giving her a wink. “Not that any respectable woman would put her mouth on a man’s—” “Charles.” Her objection was fervent and she clapped her hand across his mouth. “Stop it. Cressida said it would make you very…amiable.” He kissed her fingers, one by one. “It did. See how amiable? The truth is, my dear Caroline, did you not know the Tempest sank almost two weeks ago off the coast of Tortuga? The rumors are flying but it is said all the crew of the notorious ship went down with her and lie in watery graves.” “Oh.” It was a low breath. “Luckily, I, plain Charles Somerset, was coming back from a trip to the colonies when my ship was blown off course by a rare and violent summer storm. We were forced into port on one of the islands and I heard a report of a beautiful English girl offered for sale, part of the plunder of one of Satan’s evil raids. Coming gallantly, but safely, to your rescue, I duly paid the sum, 191

Summer Sizzlers Anthology we were married by a local priest, and we sailed for home as husband and wife. Even your father,” he said sardonically, “cannot possibly object to me after we present him with that fantastic tale.” Caroline kissed him, a warm, lingering pressure of her soft mouth. “The truth is even more preposterous, though you are a very skilled, very handsome liar.” “What truth?” he asked, pulling her lush, nude body closer, nibbling at her earlobe. “That Satan’s slave fell under the spell of her master and even though he sold her off and had the bad taste to sink with his ship, she will remember him always with fondness. After all, though he ravished her against her will, he was…tolerable in many ways.” “Just…tolerable?” “Keep in mind, I am at heart a very respectable Englishwoman who wishes to be married to a very respectable gentleman.” Charles grinned, one brow winging upward. “I have to be respectable, darling?” “Well,” her smile was pure magic, her soft body enticingly female as she wiggled against him, settling more comfortably in his arms, “I love Charles Somerset and always will, though I suppose now and then I might allow Satan a small visit.”

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MAGNOLIA SUMMER by

Barbara J. Baldwin

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North of Nashville, 1866 Thomas Remington remembered Richelle Farnsworth as a happy girl with braids who had followed her brother, Peter, and him around like a shadow. Of course, that had been eight years ago—before the war and before Peter had died. And even though he had seen her at the funeral, by that time he had hardened his heart until all he thought about was revenge. He watched her now as she descended the curved stairway for her eighteenth birthday party and his breath caught at her beauty. She was dainty and soft-spoken, and the scent of magnolias reached him where he stood in the shadows. She spoke to each person who greeted her with birthday felicitations, her smile never faltering and her responses genuine. As the night wore on, he realized there was more substance to her than most other women he knew in Nashville. Her eyes sparkled with wisdom, yet her mouth curved upward with just a hint of humor. She was the epitome of all things gentle and southern, and she reminded him of what he had missed during the war and of everything he had lost. He was strongly drawn to her, his body throbbing in reply to each smile she gave another. He hadn’t expected to actually like Richelle Farnsworth, and that made his mission all the harder.

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology **** The night was magical, and Richelle felt quite elegant in her new ball gown and upswept hair, both styled to show the world she had reached maturity and should be taken seriously as a woman. As she danced with gentleman after gentleman, mostly friends of her distant cousin, James, she evaluated them as potential suitors. The war was over, and she was determined to carry on—to marry and have a family. She had no experience to speak of, for all the eligible men in the county had been to war for the past several years. That had left the young stable hands, who had been more than willing to experiment with her, but their wet kisses and heavy petting had added little to her education. Even with those thoughts in mind, she felt nothing toward the men who held her gently and politely waltzed her around the ballroom. Richelle felt sure there should be a spark of some kind when they touched; a glimmer of danger in their eyes when they gazed at her; a physical throbbing in her loins as when she touched herself in the dark of night. “Richelle, will you honor me with this dance?” James didn’t wait for an answer but swept her into his arms and out onto the dance floor. “You look ravishing,” he said, pulling her closer than was proper. When she looked up at him, his gaze was glued to her bosom, his lips a smirk. She didn’t care for her cousin. He had moved in with them at Farnsworth Hollow years ago, and from the time Richelle had turned sixteen, he had pursued her with a single-minded purpose. Now, she tried to put some distance between them without causing a scene, but he squeezed her hand in warning. “You know what is to happen, cousin. And if you do not smile sweetly and appear happy with your prospects, you shall never set foot on your precious Hollow again.” Before she could 195

Summer Sizzlers Anthology ask his meaning, he stopped dancing and tugged her toward the front of the ballroom. A curt chop of his hand silenced the orchestra. “My dear friends. I am most pleased to announce that Richelle has agreed to become my wife.” Richelle tried to tug her hand loose; to deny his claim and leave, but James twisted her arm behind her back and jerked it upward to the point of pain. To anyone looking on, it would appear an embrace from the front; a show of affection. Richelle knew better. “We will, of course, be married as soon as possible and reside here on Richelle’s beloved Farnsworth Hollow.” Polite applause greeted his announcement and his friends immediately surrounded them. In the midst of the camaraderie, she managed to pry his arm from around her and slip away. He knew she would not go far. After all, the Hollow had been her home all her life and with no family left, she had nowhere to go. She breathed deeply as she hurried along the outside patio, stepping lightly down the stone path and moving toward the gazebo at the other end of the garden. The summer air was heavy, as though a storm was imminent, and the rich scent of magnolias was everywhere. Normally, Richelle loved the summer months. The days were unbearably hot, but the flower gardens were in full bloom; the foals romped in the pastures, and the fields were fertile with crops. Tonight, however, she noticed none of the splendor of her home as she hung her head, tears silently falling into her lap. Oh, how she missed her father and brother. If they were here, she wouldn’t be forced to marry. It was because they had died in the war that James would inherit the Hollow, and the only way she could remain a part of it was to marry him. She shivered in repulsion. 196

Summer Sizzlers Anthology A sound off to the left in the shadows of the trees caused Richelle to straighten, though she was not afraid. She knew every inch of the plantation and all who lived there. Still, she watched carefully as a darker shape detached itself from the night gloom and came toward her. “I have watched you grow from an inquisitive and mischievous child into a beautiful woman,” a man said as he leaned a broad shoulder against one pillar of the gazebo, crossing his arms over his chest. His voice, deep and smooth as the richest velvet, touched a chord deep within her that was scary and exciting all at the same time. The moonlight made his hair shine gold, but then clouds bedeviled her view and she could not clearly see his face. It mattered not, for she knew it was Thom, her brother’s best friend, and though Richelle had not seen him for three years— since Peter’s funeral—she had loved him since she was ten years old. “I promised your brother and father I would look after you as though you were my own sister,” he continued as he stepped into the gazebo, the sound of his boot heels not as loud as Richelle’s rapidly beating heart. “But seeing you here, like an angel gracing our humble midst, I find my thoughts are anything but brotherly.” Her breath caught at his words, innately knowing he wanted something more from her than conversation. She put out a hand to touch him and he pulled her to her feet and into his arms. **** Thomas wrapped his arms around Richelle and bent his head to her lips. He kissed her hungrily, ravishing her mouth and forcing her lips apart to delve deeper. Keeping her securely anchored against him with one arm, he stroked her shoulder, sliding the puffed sleeve of her gown down her arm. Roughly his 197

Summer Sizzlers Anthology hand cupped her bared breast, squeezing and molding it to fit his palm. To think, he had actually stepped forward in the ballroom to request a dance from Richelle, thinking she would welcome a visit from him. That was right before she had stood beside his enemy and announced her intention to marry him. Now, Thomas thought, what better way to extract revenge against James than to bury himself in his betrothed and take her virginity. Ah, that would be the ultimate revenge. He twisted about and sat, pulling Richelle onto his lap. Taking both her hands in a gentle grip behind her back, he kissed her again, sucking her tongue into his mouth, then following it back to hers in a duel for control. He gathered her skirts up, sliding his hand along her bare leg to her knee. He left her sweet mouth to kiss a heated trail down her throat to her breast. She was so soft; her skin like the finest silk. He laved her nipple with his tongue, nipping the rigid peak before sucking. His hand skimmed over the ruffled edge of her pantalets, higher until he insinuated it between her tightly clasped legs. He could feel her heat through the cotton and it spurred him on. “Open for me,” he whispered against her breast, then sucked harder on the outer softness, wanting to leave his mark on her skin so James would know she had been with another. “Thom,” she cried softly, tugging against the hold he had on her wrists even as she spread her legs, allowing him to caress her intimately. And his name on her lips was his undoing, for he realized he could not exact his revenge on Richelle. His honor demanded he watch over her but as her womanly scent reached his nostrils, he knew he would have to finish what he had started, albeit leaving her innocence somewhat intact. He released her hands and she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, lifting her face for his kiss. His mouth swallowed her cry as he speared her with his fingers, feeling the 198

Summer Sizzlers Anthology heat and wetness of her feminine core. She stiffened at the onset but then moved against his fingers as though wanting more, urging him to deepen his strokes. He slid his thumb along her curls before finding the hidden pearl of her sex. Stroking her lightly and then deeper, he brought her to climax, her juices flowing where he cupped her. He fleetingly wondered if she had already taken James for a lover, but at this point, knew it would make no difference. He slid his hand down, released her from his kiss and set her on the bench. Even though he ached from unfulfilled passion, he steeled his voice to speak. “Think of this on your wedding night, sweet Richelle. You will be in the arms of another, but you will remember how this felt; how I made you ache and cry out in ecstasy.” “But I never—” Richelle began, but he never heard her finish as he faded back into the dark and once again, silent night. **** “You will set a wedding date before this week is out!” James shouted at her across the space of the table and Richelle flinched at his tone. He had insinuated himself into their family years ago, but as long as her father or Peter had been in residence, his tone had always been cajoling and docile. How had Richelle ever thought him a gentleman? When she didn’t answer, James threw his napkin on the table and stormed to where she sat. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “If you do not do as I say, perhaps I shall marry another, and you will be forced to leave your beloved horse farm, forever.” “I do not love you,” she replied, her gaze meeting his cold, flinty stare. He laughed harshly. “Love has nothing to do with it, my dear. But if you continue to thwart me, I shall have to fuck you; perhaps even get you with child, and then you will have no 199

Summer Sizzlers Anthology choice.” He bent close, his breath sour against her cheek. His finger traced the swell of her bosom above the ruffle on her dress and Richelle shivered in loathing. “In fact, perhaps I should fuck you anyway, just to teach you a lesson.” His hand cupped her breast and squeezed painfully. Richelle swung her foot out, kicking him in the shin and surprising him so he loosened his hold. She quickly stood and moved to the other side of the table, grabbing the servant bell and ringing it quickly. Nathan entered immediately. If there was one thing Richelle had learned about James in the time he had been there, it was that appearances were everything. He would never make a scene, even in front of servants. “You rang, Miss?” Nathan’s voice was not in the least submissive, and Richelle felt better knowing that the servant, who had been with her family forever, somehow felt the unpleasant undercurrents. “We are through here, Nathan.” Richelle spoke to him, but her gaze never left James and she hoped he understood the words were actually directed at him. **** Richelle awoke, heart racing and gown damp and clinging to her skin. Her body throbbed with unfulfilled passion and she could only think she had once again been dreaming about Thom. Her hands skimmed over her breasts, the tips rigid and aching, the cotton of her gown abrading them. As her palms slid further down her body, she closed her eyes on a sigh, wanting to feel again the pressure of his fingers, the touch of his hot breath on her skin. With a dainty curse, she swung her feet over the side of the bed and stood, knowing no amount of touching could give her the same pleasure that Thom had on that single night in the gazebo. He had certainly been right when he said she would recall it, for not a night went by that she didn’t want him with an 200

Summer Sizzlers Anthology aching intensity. She wandered out on the balcony, hoping a breeze would cool her fevered skin. A quarter moon cast shadows across the lawn and she searched each one, hoping he would emerge from the darkness and come to her. Thomas Remington’s family had owned the land next to the Hollow, and when his parents had died in an accident when he was young, her father had purchased Misty Valley to hold it in trust for Thom. In the meantime, Thom had become part of their family, and he and Peter had been best friends. Richelle had tagged along behind them, riding her pony after them as they galloped across the pastures, even climbing to the hayloft the day they had taken two dairymaids up to the hay. At ten years of age, she hadn’t understood what was happening, but she had secretly given her young heart to the handsome eighteen year old. By the time she was old enough to understand what her body craved, the war came and both Peter and Thomas were called to serve the cause. Her father felt duty-bound also, and by the time it was all said and done, she had lost them both. Only Thomas had returned unharmed, and when he came to the funeral, so achingly handsome in his uniform, Richelle had thrown herself at him, begging him to take her with him when he left. He had refused, perhaps because the war was not over, or because Richelle had only been fifteen and Thomas was a gentleman through and through. Whatever the reason, he had kissed her gently on the forehead and left her again; her young heart grieving for her loss and for something she could not name. Now, that same sense of need stole over her as she silently traversed the stairs from the balcony and wandered across the lawn. The damp grass felt cool against her bare feet, the slight breeze welcome in the sultry summer night. When she reached the gazebo, she turned back toward her home, a dark silhouette against the wavering light of the moon. She ached for everything 201

Summer Sizzlers Anthology that might have been; for she knew in her heart, she could never marry James, even if it meant losing Farnsworth Hollow forever. Richelle sat in the gazebo, the air heavy and oppressive, and her skin hot, even though she wore only a thin cotton nightgown. It was only slightly cooler during the night, for the summer was at its zenith, when the fields begged for a drop of moisture and the heat rose in lazy waves from the landscape when the sun blazed down at the height of the day. She remained quiet, hoping that if she waited long enough—wished hard enough—he would come to her again. It had been seven nights, eight if she counted this one, since her birthday ball. And not a day had passed when she didn’t think of him. Alone in her bed at night, she would allow her hands to wander the path his had taken, pleasuring herself as he had done. But it was not the same without the heat of his kisses. Even the brand he had left on her skin had faded and she longed for him to come to her again. She was drawn from her thoughts when she felt his presence. The glade was utterly still, as though holding its breath for something momentous to occur. She tried to still her racing heart. He stepped closer, taking her hands and drawing her gently to her feet. Richelle caught the glint of mystery in his gaze, his tawny eyes reflecting the moonlight. His movements reminded her of a jungle cat—a predator—far more dangerous than she had imagined. She tried to pull back but his grip was firm. And then it was too late. **** Without thought of discovery, Thomas swept his black cloak around Richelle, completely blanketing her pale gown and hair before lifting her in his arms. Long strides took him swiftly across the manicured grounds, into the trees and away from the light spilling from the Farnsworth Mansion. The bundle in his 202

Summer Sizzlers Anthology arms was featherweight, and even though she struggled to free herself, Thomas had no problem holding her securely. He did, however, have a problem keeping his mind on the matter at hand for her soft curves made him ache. “Let me go!” Her voice was muffled, and each wiggle against him heated his blood. Without answering her, he lifted her into the boat, signaling quietly for his oarsman to shove off and row the skiff around the bend to where his schooner sat at anchor in the wide Cumberland River. Not until he had her safely aboard the Revenge did he dare set her down and uncover her head, securing the clasp of his cloak at her throat. It took only a moment for her to get her bearings, but before she could scream, he placed his hand over her mouth. “Not only will no one come to your aid, fair Richelle, but I do not need the noise to compound the headache I already have this eve.” He gazed into her emerald eyes where tears threatened to spill down her pale cheeks. She said but one word when he removed his hand. “Why?” Thomas felt the boat move beneath him and braced his booted feet to take the sway. He gripped the railing on either side of her to steady her as they began to move downstream. Only then did he answer her. “I’m honor bound to watch over you.” “I would have come to you on your word alone. You would not have had to steal me from my home.” She squared her shoulders and Thomas wondered if he’d have a fight on his hands. He almost hoped so, for it would somehow absolve him from guilt for having taken her for his own purposes. “This is how you honor my father’s request?” **** 203

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Thom sighed, running his fingers through his hair, not realizing what it did to Richelle’s emotions. Even though she was being kidnapped from the only home she’d ever known, she wasn’t frightened. After all, this was Thomas, and deep in her heart, she loved him. “It is complicated,” he cryptically answered. She touched his cheek, loving the feel of smooth, taut skin. His eyes were haunted, and she ached to take away the hurt she saw there. She turned and reached for his hand, leading him down the stairs, along the narrow corridor to what she assumed was the captain’s cabin—his cabin. She didn’t speak until she had closed the door behind her. She turned to face him, dropping his cloak from her shoulders. “Then help me understand.” The light from the cabin lantern glowed behind Richelle, making her nightgown transparent and highlighting lush curves. Thomas knew he was lost as he gathered her in his arms. “Not a night has gone by when I haven’t dreamed of you,” he whispered raggedly as he feathered kisses across her face. “I should never have touched you that night, for now I ache for what I cannot have.” “I know there is more than what we shared. Teach me to please you, Thom.” Her hands were everywhere as she spoke, pulling his shirt from his breeches, skimming her palms along the muscles of his back. Thomas groaned. “You are promised to another—” “I do not want to marry James!” She pushed against him and he let her go, hoping the distance would calm the fires raging within him. “I never agreed to marry him. The announcement he made was without my knowledge.” “You did not refute it.” “I am doing so now, to the only person who matters to me.” 204

Summer Sizzlers Anthology As he watched, she reached down and grabbed the hem of her gown, pulling it up and off. Thomas’s breath caught. She stood straight and proud, her breasts firm, her slim waist and the flare of her hips causing his palms to itch in want. “I want only you.” Her words crashed over him as a ship on a rocky shore, breaking his defenses and washing away his anger. She came to him, her dainty fingers gathering his shirt and tugging it over his head, and still he could only stand there, gazing at her beauty. She wrapped her arms around his neck, brushing her breasts against his chest. With a growl, Thomas swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. She gazed trustingly up at him as he stripped out of the rest of his clothes. When Thom stood before her gloriously naked, Richelle’s heart beat so hard, she thought it would burst from her chest. Where she had once compared him to a jungle predator, she now thought him more like the stallions that raced after the mares. He was certainly hung like one, and she couldn’t stop herself from reaching out for him. She knew nothing about pleasuring a man; instinct alone guided her as she caressed him. That and Thom’s quivering hips and the groan she heard as she leaned over and kissed the tip of him. He threaded his fingers through her hair, urging her on, and Richelle felt her own ache build as she took him into her mouth, sucking lightly and swirling her tongue along the rigid underside. “Enough!” Thom growled, gently removing her hands from him before lying down beside her. His lips found hers and Richelle could feel the hunger in the forceful way he invaded her mouth—tongue exploring, enticing her to taste him. She forgot to breathe as his hand skimmed her shoulder, then her breast. She squirmed restlessly as he caressed her for a mere second before sliding down over her hip to the juncture of her legs. He didn’t have to ask this time, for Richelle bent one leg, opening 205

Summer Sizzlers Anthology herself to his explorations. She was wet and aching and needed what she knew Thom could give her. He rolled her onto her back, settling his hips between her legs. She could feel the hot length of him against her thigh and her own temperature rose. When he released her mouth from his drugging kisses, she breathed rapidly, feeling panic rise in her chest. “There will be no going back.” Thom moved his hips forward and back and she could feel him probing her feminine opening. “Is this what you want?” She spread her legs, raising her knees and he settled more heavily against her hips. “I want you,” she whispered as she circled his neck with her arms. Her wetness and scent were enough to drive any man insane, and Thomas knew he couldn’t stop, even though honor demanded he make sure he had Richelle’s permission. When she opened more fully to him, he was lost. He reached down and positioned himself, knowing he would have to go slow for her to take his length. He rubbed the secret button of her sex as he pushed forward, slid back and then forward again, a little deeper this time. Richelle locked her legs around his waist, lifting her hips to meet his movements. “More,” she breathed huskily, and he pushed forward again, this time breaking through her maidenhead and seating himself deep inside her. She stiffened briefly but did not cry out. Instead, she tightened her legs around him and urged him on. Thomas rocked forward again and again, the feel of her sending liquid fire through his veins. She took all of him and when he pulled back to the very edge of her, her heels pushed against his buttocks to bring him back deep within her. “I feel you,” she rasped, “in every part of me.” And then she gasped in wonder, her eyes locked with his as she climaxed. 206

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Thomas didn’t stop, the friction caused by his movements and her orgasm pushing him over the edge. He came in hot, hard spurts, throbbing inside her heat as she continued to squeeze around him, draining him. His arms quivered as he tried to hold himself up so as not to crush her with his weight, but she tugged him down and so he rolled to the side, bringing her with him. She peppered his chest with kisses, her hand caressing his hot skin. Too sensitized to handle any more, he grabbed her wrist and held it still against his chest. “I felt you come.” Her voice held a sense of awe. “You are so long and thick, and it was so hot, deep inside me.” He looked down at her and couldn’t help but chuckle. “You are not supposed to speak of such things.” “Why not?” “Well, because fine ladies just…” He didn’t know what to say. “Does it always feel like this?” she asked. He could only shake his head at her audacity. “I wouldn’t know. I’m not a lady.” She gave him a dazzling smile and wiggled her hips against him, causing him to stir to life already. “You certainly aren’t. And I am ever so glad of that fact.” She pushed against his shoulder and he rolled until she was on top of him. She straightened, sitting tight against his hips, his shaft still embedded deep within her. “Do you want more?” he asked, his hands sliding up her ribs to cup her breasts. She covered his hands with her own. “Might I please?” she said in her most ladylike voice. **** Much later in the morning, Thomas left Richelle sleeping in his berth as he went topside to speak with his first mate. They 207

Summer Sizzlers Anthology would head downriver for Nashville, where Thomas would set his plan in motion. He grabbed some breakfast in the galley, and then had his cook fix a tray to take back to his cabin. When he entered, he found Richelle brushing her hair, her body only partially covered with one of his shirts. He immediately hardened, his shaft straining against his breeches, his hands gripping the tray to hold it steady. He hadn’t realized she would have such an effect on him, and only hoped he could remain steadfast in his plan. Her face brightened when she saw the tray and promptly sat at his desk, allowing him to serve her. He found he liked the idea of taking care of her, and sat in a chair opposite to watch her eat. When she finished, she gazed at him over the rim of her coffee cup. “Are you now ready to tell me why you kidnapped me?” Her eyes glittered with humor, and Thomas recalled her comments about coming willingly. Had he known what would transpire when he had her alone, he might have moved his plan up by several months. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to shut out her winsome figure and what they had done last night. He thought instead of James and all that man had cost him. “Your cousin has claimed all that belonged to your family.” He hardened his voice as he spoke. He thought crushingly of her father’s and Peter’s tragic deaths in the horrid war. “It became his by right of birth.” He frowned. “I don’t believe that was what your father would have wanted. Many women now own property, and I’m sure your father would have known the Hollow would be safe in your hands. Yet there is no way to prove it. Be that as it may, Misty Valley was mine, and James has claimed that also, for back taxes which he says I did not pay while I was away fighting for his birthright.”

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology Thom’s anger was an almost tangible force, and Richelle knew how strongly he felt about the horse-breeding farm he had started on land her father had held in trust for him. “Perhaps if you allowed me to talk to him—” she began. “There will be no talk—unless he agrees to my ransom.” He jerked up from the chair, moving to brace his hands on the small porthole and not looking at her. Richelle’s stomach dropped, dreading the question she knew she must ask. “What ransom?” she whispered. “Misty Valley,” he paused, his tone full of regret, “in exchange for you.” She gasped. “You would do that, after all we have shared?” Thomas looked over his shoulder. She stood and watched his gaze travel from the deep vee in his shirt where her breasts were clearly visible, down to where her bare legs showed below the hem, which only came to midthigh. He pushed off from the wall, turning toward her with a sigh before giving her a wicked grin. “I fear I must now come up with a different plan.” **** Thomas made port in Nashville, giving his men a long awaited furlough. He spirited Richelle to his rented rooms where he hoped to come up with another plan to regain his rights to Misty Valley. Richelle, however, had other ideas. Since he had abducted her without even so much as a petticoat, she could not leave his rooms and so they spent their days and nights exploring each other. Richelle was unquenchable in her thirst for carnal knowledge, and Thomas found himself indulging her every request. She liked being on top, and at that very moment, rode him like a wild stallion. Thomas bucked beneath her, ramming deep each time she ground her hips against his. He loved watching her changing expressions, which varied from wanton lust to wonder 209

Summer Sizzlers Anthology and awe each time she climaxed. She was glorious to look at, her hair in wild array, her breasts jiggling with the rhythm of her hips. Her bare skin glistened with a fine sheen of perspiration from the heat, but it hadn’t stopped her from wanting him. And it hadn’t made Thomas hesitate to take her again and again, whether in the heat of the day, or the middle of the night. Her movements increased and he knew she was close. “Come with me,” she rasped, catching and holding his gaze. He clutched her hips, holding her firm as he felt her come, squeezing around him. “Yes!” he shouted, pulsing hot and heavy deep inside her womb. She collapsed on his chest, her breathing as ragged as his own, and he held her close. He knew now that he loved her, and wanted to spend the remainder of his life with her by his side. But at present, he had nothing to offer her unless he could reclaim his inheritance. When his breathing had calmed so that he could speak, he asked, “Does James have papers documenting that Farnsworth Hollow became his upon your father’s death?” Richelle lifted her head, propping her chin on stacked fists on his chest. “Must we speak of him?” She made a face when Thomas nodded. “I have never seen any documents, but then I have never thought to ask. When first Father, and then Peter died,” she paused, drawing a shaky breath and Thomas gently stroked her bare back. She continued, “I was beyond despair. By the time I began taking an interest in things, James had fired Father’s man of business and had taken over the record keeping. He had also replaced the head groom in the horse barn, and had put a different overseer in charge of the fields. I didn’t question his right to do so.” “So perhaps the Hollow is actually yours,” Thomas mused, then sat up so suddenly that Richelle nearly fell off the bed. He 210

Summer Sizzlers Anthology grabbed her just in time, sitting her on the rumpled sheets as he began to pace the room. “Why else would James be trying so hard to marry you if not to legally claim that which is yours as your husband?” Richelle scooted up against the headboard, not at all minding the sight before her, for Thom was naked and beautiful to behold. His muscles bunched in his legs, his male member swinging free with his movements. His skin was bronzed from the sun, his dark blonde hair curling wildly about his face. He looked like a pirate, and Richelle was happy to be his booty. “That’s it!” He swung to face her, fists on hips. “Oh, yes,” she said, her gaze on a certain portion of his anatomy, “that most certainly is it.” Thomas felt himself immediately respond. He tried to concentrate on the matter at hand, which Richelle made quite difficult, given she lay naked on his bed. He had come up with another plan, but he didn’t think Richelle would care for it at all. In truth, he didn’t like the fact it would put her in danger, but it was the only way they could put an end to his quest. **** “I will not seduce James!” Richelle shouted at him and Thomas knew his entire crew could hear, even though they stood alone on the bow. He had waited until they were sailing upriver before broaching his plan to her, knowing she would react in just this way. “You won’t have to actually sleep with him,” Thomas tried to soothe her. “Just keep him occupied long enough for me to search the study for documents pertaining to ownership of Misty Valley and the Hollow.” “I thought the idea was ransom—me for the land, but once you had the deeds, I just wouldn’t show back up at Farnsworth Hollow.” 211

Summer Sizzlers Anthology Thomas glanced away, not wanting to hurt Richelle with the truths he had recently learned. However, to obtain her assistance for his new plan, he felt he must. “Your cousin is telling everyone that you are dead, and to honor your memory and his love for you, he has recently changed the name of the Hollow to Magnolia Mansion because of the beautiful flowers you loved and planted in abundance around the grounds.” “Dead?” He watched the surprise show on her face, and knew when he told her the rest of it, she would readily agree with his plan. “In reality, he received the ransom note and has refused to part with the acreage and prize thoroughbreds, even in exchange for your life.” “How do you know this?” she asked in a small voice and Thomas could tell she couldn’t believe her cousin would stoop so low. “Nathan sent word through my man.” “That…that bastard,” she swore, her eyes narrowing. “I shall try to seduce him if only to get him close enough to kill him.” Thomas wrapped her in his arms, chuckling over her vehemence, even as he kissed away her anger. “It will do me no good to regain Misty Valley if you are hanged for murder.” “We are ready, Captain,” his first mate interrupted the moment. Thomas set Richelle away from him. “Can you do this?” He searched her face. She took a steadying breath. “If I know you will be nearby.” He kissed her quickly. “I would not send you there without knowing I could protect you. Besides, the place will be surrounded by my men, and Nathan knows we are coming.” **** 212

Summer Sizzlers Anthology James didn’t seem all that surprised when Richelle walked into the study where he sat behind her father’s desk. “Did Remington have no further use for you after I refused to grant his ransom?” Richelle suppressed a shiver at his evil look. “I managed to escape.” She forced herself to smile at him. “You know I would do anything to stay here on my beloved Hollow.” Her hips swayed seductively as she ventured closer, still keeping the desk between them. “You mean you would whore for me?” She blanched at his words, but forced herself to go on. “I will do whatever it takes.” His eyes narrowed and he got up, walking around the side of the desk toward her. “Perhaps I would be willing to fuck you.” He reached for her so suddenly, Richelle didn’t have time to retreat. Roughly pulling her against him, James’ mouth took hers in a brutal kiss. His hand cupped her breast, squeezing painfully and it was all Richelle could do not to cry out. “Not here,” she managed to say when he released her mouth. “Upstairs.” James savagely pulled her from the room and Richelle had to grab her skirts up to keep from falling. Her heart beat rapidly, her arm bruised from his cruel grip. The only thing that kept her from fighting back was the glimpse she had of Thomas in the shadows as James dragged her up the stairs. James tossed her onto the bed and turned to lock the door. Richelle quickly regained her footing and moved across the room. When he turned back, already jerking off his coat, she sent a silent prayer for Thomas to hurry. “Well, let’s see if that bastard taught you anything,” James smirked, pulling his cravat off and stretching it between his hands as he sauntered toward her. When she didn’t move, his eyes narrowed. 213

Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Is this some kind of game?” Richelle shook her head. “No. I…we don’t have to hurry.” She moved shaking hands to the buttons at her throat. Oh, God, she couldn’t do this. But then she recalled James’ deception and her hands stilled. Ever so slowly, she began undoing her bodice, her eyes never leaving his face. He had divested himself of waistcoat and shirt and when she didn’t move fast enough, he cornered her by the window seat, ripping her blouse and chemise to the waist. She gasped, trying to cover her nakedness, but he twisted her around, slamming her against the wall, pinning her there with his hips. “You’ll fuck me now!” He twisted a hand in her hair, tugging painfully as he grabbed at her skirts with his other hand. When she felt his hand on her bare thigh, she screamed. “Thomas!” James immediately stilled, nostrils flaring, eyes narrowed. “You bitch! I should have known it was a trick.” He slapped her and Richelle fell against the window seat. Before she could recover, James had removed a pistol from the drawer by the bed and was hurrying to the door. “No!” Richelle scrambled to her feet, racing after him. She stopped at the top of the stairs, frozen by the scene before her. She had yelled for Thomas to save her, and he must have heard for he was partway up the staircase, a cluster of documents in one hand. James stood two steps down from her, his pistol leveled at Thomas’ chest. Richelle bit her lip to keep from crying out. “So, you have found out my little secret,” James spoke with a sneer. “I was here for years, taking care of everything while you and Peter and the old man were off seeking glory in a war I knew was hopeless. And yet you were to have Misty Valley and 214

Summer Sizzlers Anthology he left me nothing!” His voice rose as he yelled at Thom and Richelle could see the pistol waver in his shaking hand. James gave an evil laugh. “I was even willing to marry the bitch to keep it all legally.” At his slur, Thomas growled and moved up a step. James steadied his hand. “But you got to her first, and I will never take your leavings!” The click of his pistol being cocked spurred Richelle into action. She stepped forward and shoved him in the back as hard as she could with her foot. The pistol discharged as he tumbled down the stairs and she saw Thom fall against the wall. “No, oh, God, please no!” she cried, rushing down the remaining stairs, carefully stepping around James’ still form. She crouched beside Thom, her trembling hands touching him everywhere, looking for wounds. “Do I have to be bleeding for you to continue this attention?” Thomas asked as he circled her arms, settling her on his lap. “You’re not hurt?” she asked, her hand on his arm, her gaze searching his face. It was then that Thomas noticed the bruise on her cheek and her torn dress. He gently caressed the valley between her breasts, wishing he could kill James all over again for what he had put Richelle through. He dipped his head to kiss her fair skin before he heard footsteps running from the rear of the mansion. Quickly he removed his coat and wrapped it around Richelle’s shoulders, protecting her from the servants’ view. Shotgun in hand, Nathan cautiously approached James, but the man didn’t move. Thomas helped Richelle to her feet, keeping himself between her and James. She clung to him, refusing to let him move from her side to investigate. He had to smile, wondering who was protecting whom.

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Summer Sizzlers Anthology “Is he…” she began, and Thomas hoped she had not killed James. For even if it had been an accident and thoroughly justified, he did not want a killing to weigh on her conscience. Just then James groaned, but when he tried to sit up, Nathan put a booted foot to his back and held him down on the floor. The servant looked over at Thomas. “Never did care for that man, no siree.” Thomas grinned. “Have the men take him out to the stables and secure him in the tack room. We’ll have him transferred to Nashville for trial as soon as we can notify the authorities.” He turned and scooped Richelle into his arms. “Have someone bring water up for a bath and some food.” He started up the stairs as he spoke and Richelle circled his neck with her arms, snuggling close. “And tell everyone Miss Farnsworth is not to be disturbed.” He could feel her kiss his neck, his skin instantly heating beneath her lips. “For days,” he added. “Yes, sir!” Nathan said, and Thomas didn’t have to look behind him to know the servant was smiling. **** “Don’t leave me,” Richelle begged when he put her down beside the tub of hot water. “I was so afraid he had shot you; that I had caused your death.” She clung to his neck and Thomas rubbed her back, murmuring soothing words close to her ear. Gradually she quit shaking and began to return his caresses, her hands sliding down his back to his buttocks. “Love me.” She rained hot kisses on his neck, up his chin to his face. “Make me forget his touch.” Thomas growled, recalling her torn bodice. Had he gotten to her too late? He set her away from him, but she refused to be still. Her hands divested him of his shirt, and then skimmed down his bare torso to the fastener on his breeches. As he yanked his boots off, 216

Summer Sizzlers Anthology she stripped off her dress and underclothes until she stood gloriously naked before him. She took his hand and stepped into the tub, letting him settle into the water before she sat down in his lap, sighing as she relaxed back against him. The warm, fragrant water smelled of magnolias, which would forever remind Thomas of her. She took the hand she held and placed it over her breast, but Thomas needed no urging to take what she offered. He caressed her breasts, then lower where he slid a finger through her curls to the heat within. She arched against him, pushing her soft derriere against his shaft. “Now,” she demanded, moving her feet to the outside of his thighs, opening herself to him. She caressed his length before positioning herself so he could slide into her. Thomas smiled as she sighed. Richelle was a woman to be reckoned with, but he didn’t mind giving her what she wanted, for pleasuring her insured an equal amount of ecstasy for him. Most of the bath water had been splashed onto the floor by the time Richelle cried out in rapture and Thomas groaned as she squeezed around him, rapidly following her climax with one of his own. He cradled her in his arms, content with his life, until she began shivering with cold. Only after he had toweled them both off and tucked her beside him in her bed did he think about the documents he had found in the study. He propped himself up on his elbow, turning toward Richelle. She lazily opened her eyes when he began a slow caress of her breast. “I did find the documents we needed in your father’s study.” Her eyes widened. “And does James really own the Hollow and Misty Valley?” He shook his head. “I can’t believe he actually kept papers which clearly show Farnsworth Hollow belongs to you, to be 217

Summer Sizzlers Anthology held in trust by your husband if you marry before you turn twenty-five; otherwise, it is yours free and clear. I suspect he thought to marry you, secure the trust, and then either get you to sign the land over to him, or kill you.” She shivered and he bent to kiss her, sharing his heat and his love. “What about Misty Valley?” She curled her fingers into his hair, holding his head to her breast. He could feel her heart beat beneath his lips and kissed the soft skin there before he answered. “There were also papers from your father stating the taxes and arrears to Misty Valley were paid in full before he left here and that property shall remain mine, or my descendants.” He rolled over and slid between her thighs, hungry again for what only she could give him. “Or our descendants, if you are willing to share my life.” She laughed delightfully, opening herself to him and as he slid deep into her warmth, Thomas realized that revenge was a useless emotion, and he would be better served if he spent his time loving Richelle and making a life with her. For although property and material possessions may be necessary to sustain life, they could never compare to the warmth of her smile, or the sharing of laughter and love.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Australian author Karen Mandeville writes a variety of genres including erotica, dark fantasy and paranormal romance. Five of her twenty-eight years have been spent as a journalist and she has eight contracts signed for releases in 2006. If you would like to know more about Karen, then head over to http://www.karenmandeville.com where you can see when her next chat is, learn more about her writing and read interviews about her upcoming releases. She also has a newsletter to keep everyone updated, all you have to do is head over to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karenmandeville and join up to receive your free copy of BeDevilled. Brenda Williamson lives to write and create stories containing timeless love with sensual, sexy, and spicy themes. For more information, visit her website: http://BrendaWilliamson.com. C’ann Inman is an Oklahoma author who loves to spin wild and wicked stories for her readers. She realizes that romance can be found in many places and many ways. Her stories celebrate the sensuality of relationships. Her first short story, Naughty and Nice, is available in the Winter Wishes Anthology from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid January 2006. Her second short story, Intervention, is

available in the Spring Flings Anthology from Torrid April 2006. Her first full novel, What He Wants, is available from Torrid. C’ann loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her email at [email protected]. Erotic romance author Ann Cory invites you to sample her literary offerings in the hopes of leaving you with an acquired taste for sophisticated reading. Visit her website http://www.anncory.com to see what is new on her publication menu. The voices in her head. They compel Jenna Howard to do twisted things like write. That’s probably the best alternative because the voices could be telling her to clean her condo. Due to an allergy of cleaning, Jenna can most often be found sitting at her computer where she’s supposed to be writing but usually, she’s rapidly pressing her email button. Living in the wilds of Calgary, Alberta, she's not quite as lucky as her heroines, having no hunky guy to call her own, but, considering the avalanche of books in her bedroom and the layer of dust coating everything but her iBook, that’s probably a good thing. Since this writer is a lonely creature and a slave to the voices in her head that demand really good stories, great sex and maybe a weapon or two, Jenna’s starved for human contact and will happily talk to anyone unfortunate enough to email her. Test the theory by visiting her website at www.jennahoward.com.

Sherrill Quinn grew up in Northeast Ohio, moved to Tennessee, back to Ohio, and finally ended up in Arizona. After putting twenty years into a career in Human Resources, she switched gears and started working on a second career: erotic romance author. Hot Time In The City is her third release with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. You can read more about her at www.sherrillquinn.com.

Jamie Hill was born and raised in the Midwest, where she continues to live with her husband and two sons. She wrote her first novel on notebook paper at the age of ten, eventually graduating to screenplays for her favorite TV shows. She now juggles her spare time to include writing, as much reading as possible, tinkering on the computer while listening to country music, the occasional nap, and watching movies (especially scary ones!) with her family.

Susan M. Sailors lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband Jonathan and her cats Shadow and Motley. She lectures at the University of Tennessee, but spends most of her free time writing and watching Dark Shadows.

Emma Wildes loves historical settings and long past customs. The author of thirteen novels and numerous short stories, she creates heroes who are the epitome of their times; gentlemen who are a little bit rougish and arrogant; balanced by women who are more independent and selfsufficient than tradition suggests…and sometimes, sparks do fly! Please visit her at www.emmawildes.com Barbara Baldwin likes to think there’s gypsy blood in her background, but the fact of the matter is, she just loves to travel. The sexy stories she writes for Whiskey Creek Torrid are all set in different locations, because that gives her the excuse to go somewhere new. Her favorite saying—Life’s too short to go through it in a bad mood— epitomizes her writing as she loves telling tales of happyever-after. Barb can be reached at [email protected] or through her website at www.authorsden.com/barbarajbaldwin.

For your reading pleasure, we welcome you to visit our web bookstore

WHISKEY CREEK PRESS www.whiskeycreekpress.com

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