Summon Me Swiftly

SAPPHIRE BLUE BOOKS are published by: Sapphire Blue Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 42255 Phoenix, AZ 85080-2255 Copyright © 2009 Christle Gray Publisher’s Edition Copyright © 2009 Sapphire Blue Publishing Cover Art by Kendra Egert All rights reserved. eBooks are not transferable and cannot be given away, sold or shared. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, faxing, forwarded by email, recording or by any information retrieval and storage system without permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law, as this is an infringement on the copyright of this work. Brief quotations within reviews or articles are acceptable. Sapphire Blue Fairy Logo © 2009 Sapphire Blue Publishing, LLC ISBN 978-1-934657-29-4 Publisher’s Note. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to a person or persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is purely coincidental. First Sapphire Blue Publishing, LLC electronic publication: November 2009 Visit Sapphire Blue Publishing on the World Wide Web at http://www.sapphirebluepublishing.com

Other Sapphire Blue titles:

Second Chances Christle Gray

Love in Disguise Missy Jane

Summon Me Swiftly By Christle Gray

SAPPHIRE BLUE PUBLISHING http://www.sapphirebluepublishing.com

Dedication This book is dedicated to every woman who dreams about that perfect guy. Wishes can come true…

Acknowledgements Thanks again to the wonderful staff at Sapphire Blue Publishing! You guys are a wealth of knowledge and support, and you’ve made me a better writer! Thanks to all my author buddies in the Sapphire Blue Authorial League who keep me on my toes and make me laugh every time I check my email!

Summon Me Swiftly

Chapter One “I should have known better than to go to that Halloween party. Nothing but drunk, horny men, as far as the eye could see!” I noisily tossed my keys on a nearby table as I kicked the door to my tiny apartment shut with my foot in a very ungraceful gesture of annoyance. I sighed the most pitiful sigh I cold muster as I trudged to the small kitchen and leaned against the counter. My friend Tanya had talked me into attending the aforementioned complete waste of my time, disguised as a Halloween party. And while she found the one fabulous hunk in the room and promptly ran off into the sunset with him, I was left to fend off the inebriated dregs who formed an unending queue to impress me with their “amazing” pick up lines after they’d consumed a keg full of beer. I mean, how long can a girl listen to such drivel? I’ll show you a trick if you’ll be my treat, baby. Or, I’m the kind of stranger your mama warned you about. Or the best one—I’ve got a piece of candy for you, Mandy. The last jerk ended up with what was left of my drink dripping down his face after I dumped it over his head. Pity, too. I was really digging the apple martini. A warm, soft body pressed against my leg and startled me out of my thoughts. I glanced down to find my black cat, Juniper, purring contentedly as 1

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she circled my calf. I scooped her into my arms and firmly plopped her on the counter in front of me. “I should have just stayed home with you, Juni. I’m sure it would’ve been a much better time.” Juniper licked an ebony paw, looking uninterested. “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could just order up the perfect man and have him delivered to my doorstep?” My little black cat sat back on her haunches and peered at me with her golden eyes, as if she were giving my question serious consideration. I pondered that thought for a moment. The perfect man for me. What exactly would that mean? “Let’s see, he would have to be tall. I don’t really like short guys. And smart. Dumb men are just too much work.” I propped my elbows on the counter. “He’d have dark hair and dark eyes—I don’t dig blonds very much. And he would have to be kind. And charming. Also, the ability to give me multiple toe-curling orgasms wouldn’t hurt.” Juni bumped the top of her head against my hand, rubbing against the edge of the ruby ring my Grandmother gave me that I wore on my left index finger. I grinned and scratched her chin on the side of the gemstone. Juni was particularly fond of a good chin scratching. “And he would have to like cats, of course.” My furry friend meowed her agreement with that point as her purring went up a notch in volume. But who was I kidding? There was no such thing as a perfect man. And definitely not one who would just show up out of the blue. My mother always told me I’d have to kiss a lot of toads before I found my prince. Trouble was, I feared I was working on a good case of emotional warts. Juni meowed again, gaining my attention. Her golden eyes went all squinty as she continued to rub her face along my ring. I sighed again, my hopes cascading to the floor in a heap at my feat. My buzz from the party was fading. 2

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Ahhh…reality. “You think such a man exists in this world, Juni?” I stared into the shimmery eyes of my cat, mesmerized by the intelligence I always saw in their depths. But then a wave of foolishness washed over me, the icy ripples sobering me up completely. Was I really postulating over my dream guy with my cat? “And what guy wouldn’t want a catch like me, the weird lady who talks to cats like an idiot?” Juni stepped backwards and raised her chin, giving the air a prominent sniff. Looking abashed, she jumped down off the counter and sauntered away, her tail twitching indignantly behind her. “Great. And now it seems I’ve pissed off my only friend. Absolutely wonderful.” Suck it up, Mandy. You always knew that life had the ability to suck relentlessly. Now you just have to be a grown up and deal with it. Wishing my inner voice would drop dead and leave me alone, I wearily trudged into the bedroom to change my clothes. I hurriedly peeled the costume from my body and slipped into a pink cotton cami and shorts that sufficed as pajamas. In the bathroom, I scrubbed the makeup from my face. After a rinse of cool water, I studied my reflection in the mirror. I wasn’t a knockout by any means, but I could call myself pretty. Large, dark eyes stared back at me from a smooth, ivory complexion. I’d always toyed with the idea of coloring my mousy brown hair, but never had the guts to follow through with it. I did finally summon up the courage to cut it a month earlier, so it skimmed my jaw in a sleek bob. A few extra pounds rounded out my figure, but not so much that I considered myself to be fat. Curvaceous, maybe. But not fat. So what’s so wrong with me that I can’t locate a decent man for any amount of looking?

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I stuck out my tongue at my reflection, then plodded back to the bedroom, head hanging low. So it was with utter surprise that I plowed directly into the solid chest of a man. A solid, naked, chest, to be precise. “What the…” My heart shifted into overdrive as my gaze travelled up to find two chocolate brown eyes regarding me intently. I swallowed and took a shaky step backwards as cold panic zipped through me like a ricocheting bullet. “Amanda Swift, your summons has been heard, and I am here to serve.” He bowed at the waist, the elegant gesture a little odd for someone I realized wasn’t wearing any clothes. The absurdity of the situation froze my voice in my throat. My brain shouted at me that I should be screaming my head off or calling the police, but another part of me insisted that the naked stranger in my bedroom wished me no harm. Obviously, I had gone off the deep end. Mouth hanging open, I managed to give the man a good once over. Dark, wavy hair framed those eyes that looked like a pool of expensive chocolate. A chiseled jaw led to a broad chest, which I knew was very muscular, having just run into it. A thatch of dark chest hair tapered to his waist, which led down to thighs that looked like they could crush walnuts. And did I mention he was naked? That particular attribute was hard to miss, as Mr. Happy appeared absolutely delighted to see me. Hoo boy. I tore my gaze away from parts that seemed to be vying for my attention and stared into his brown eyes once more. What in the hell was going on? “You do not look pleased, Amanda Swift. Am I not to your liking?” He held out his arms toward me. I vaguely noted a slight Italian accent. The hormones in my body noted it more, coming to full attention and filling me with heat. My skin broke out in little prickles from the rush.

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I opened and closed my mouth a few times, then managed to find my voice. “Who are you?” It came out as a soft squeak. Not very sexy, but I seemed to be functioning on half a brain at the moment. The naked hunk furrowed his brow. “I am Torin. You summoned me, did you not?” My head shook back and forth in the negative, obviously under some sort of control I still managed to wield over my body. He crossed a pair of thickly muscled arms over his chest. “It is not like the agency or myself to make mistakes.” I scrunched up my nose. Agency? Was this one of my friend’s idea of a sick joke? Anger and embarrassment throbbed in my stomach like a burning coal. “What, are you, some kind of stripper gram or something? Did Tanya put you up to this? If so, I’m not amused.” I propped my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes. Torin cocked a dark eyebrow. “I do not know this Tanya of whom you speak. Nor am I a stripper gram, whatever that is. I was sent by the agency in regards to a summons earlier.” With a snap of his fingers, a small business card appeared in his hand. I blinked, unsure of what I’d just seen. He held the card out to me. As I took it, my fingers softly brushed his and little fissures of electricity danced up my arm. I took a deep breath and read the text on the card. Dream Lover, Inc. We bring your deepest desires to life. Torin, Professional Incubus I blinked again, the words wouldn’t seem to process inside my brain. Professional what? When I looked up, Torin was staring at me, the intensity of his dark gaze making all sorts of little sparks go off inside my body. My breathing hitched as the sparks heated my blood, making my skin flush with heat. Confusion 5

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swirled with the attraction that definitely held my attention, causing a slew of mixed signals inside my brain and body. I laid the card gently on my bedside table, then rubbed my eyes, hoping this was all some sort of hallucinationthat some jerk at the party had laced my drink with mind altering drugs. Then I looked up again. Nope. Naked dude still standing in my bedroom. This seriously couldn’t be happening. I cleared my throat. “I don’t know exactly what you think is going on here, but I didn’t summon anyone or anything. Especially not an incubus, whatever that is.” Torin’s brow furrowed again and a Blackberry materialized in his hand. A Blackberry. Further proof that technology had roots in evil. I had to be losing my mind to be seeing these impossible things. He punched a few buttons, then raised his head. “It says right here, Summons from Amanda Swift received.” He pressed a few more buttons. “Object of power and magic from a familiar used to call upon the underworld. Match found. Contract issued.” Contract? There was a contract? He held out the phone to me, but I waved it away. I wasn’t about to trust my vision right now. He shrugged and the phone vanished. Weird. “I don’t have any object of power, or a familiar. There has to be a mistake.” My heart pounded like a jackhammer as I gawked at Torin. The edges of things turned a little fuzzy. I really hoped I wasn’t heading for a big faint. “Then what do you call this?” Torin gestured to the floor, where Juniper rubbed against his leg, purring loudly. “My cat.” He stooped and picked up Juni, who promptly rubbed her head along his chin. “This cat is no mere pet, Amanda. She is special, a familiar with superb intelligence. She serves as a focus for your inherent powers.” 6

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I started a bit at his words. Powers? I was pretty sure the only inherent powers I had involved consuming vast amounts of chocolate in one sitting. So, I contemplated the furry orphan that had shown up on my fire escape six months ago. Little Juni, a creature of power? I inhaled deeply and snatched my apparently magical cat from Torin’s arms, scooting over to the door where I deposited her on the floor. With a flick of her tail, she sashayed toward the kitchen. I turned to Torin. “You want me to believe that my cat is magical and helped me to summon a naked man out of the ether?” Torin shook his head. “Not the ether. The underworld.” As I stared at him, my gaze kept wandering down to his groin, which apparently still wanted to be the center of attention, as the thick cock beckoned to me invitingly. “Could you please put on some clothes or something? I’m having trouble making sense of this as it is, and it’s hard to concentrate when all your manly bits keep pointing at me.” I was having a difficult enough time processing complete thoughts without my brain trying to think of the myriad ways Mr. Incubus could please me with that marvelously large bit of his anatomy. “As you wish.” Another snap of his fingers, and suddenly naked hunk was not so naked, but instead clad in a pair of red satin boxer shorts. Better, but still distractingly sexy as hell. I massaged my now throbbing temples with my fingertips. “Okay, I think we need to start from the beginning, because right now, not a damn thing I’m seeing or hearing is making any sense.” I stumbled over to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. Torin moved so he stood in front of me, his chiseled torso at my eye level. Lord, but the man was gorgeous, no matter what he was or was not wearing. I forced my gaze upward to his facehis model-perfect Italian face. After a long breath, his deep voice filled the room. “I am an incubus—a being from the underworld that provides pleasure when summoned. The 7

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agency received your summons, ran your criteria through the system, and matched you with me.” I stared at him and blinked a few times. I was getting really good at the confused, blinky stare. Perfecting it, really. But then my gaze focused on his mouth and what naughty things his lips could do to me. He did say he provided pleasure, after all. I swallowed and concentrated on keeping my breathing even. “The agency in question. That would be Dream Lover, Inc.?” Torin nodded. “The underworld used to be nothing but chaos before the demon lords decided to organize the different branches under corporate entities.” Torin leaned down, his voice a sultry whisper. “Before the agency took over, some poor incubi were so overworked, they could barely perform, which is the kiss of death for someone in my profession, if you know what I mean.” My gaze wandered once again down to the satin-covered bulge in his boxers. Hey, I’m only human. “The demon lords also do not spend as much time fighting amongst themselves. The underworld runs like a well oiled machine, now.” “Huh.” That’s all I could think of to say as my muddled mind attempted to process this information. But I did find it amusing that the underworld apparently ran efficiently under the guise of the modern American corporation. Who knew? Torin sat beside me on the bed, his body heat tickling me and beckoning me closer. I forced myself to scoot away from him. But only a little bit. “Even if you are unsure of how you summoned me, I was sent here to please you, Amanda. Do you not wish to partake of the pleasures I offer?” Despite the shiver of desire that marched down my spine, I wasn’t going to touch that one with a ten foot pole. “You said earlier that an object of power was used. What does that mean?” A change of subject seemed like the wisest course of action.

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Torin shrugged his shouldershis bronzed, muscular shoulders. “Some sort of object or talisman that has been infused with power.” I chewed my lip and wracked my brain, trying to figure out what this object might be. Automatically, my fingers began nervously twisting my Grandmother’s ruby ring. “What is that?” I glanced at Torin, whose eyes were fixed on my hands. “What?” “This.” He reached for my hand and brought it to his face, studying the ring intently. “Objects of power are quite often worn as jewelry.” “It’s just a ring that my grandmother left me.” I could barely form words as I concentrated on keeping my hand from trembling in his warm grasp. But his touch made me tingle from head to toe, which I found hard to ignore. “This ring has symbols of Aphrodite carved around the band, which would make it a powerful tool if used in magic of the heart.” Torin glanced at me, his eyes darkening even further. “Or magic of desire.” I gulped, my pulse rate spiking at his words. “But I’ve had this ring for years. Why would it only work now?” “It is Samhain, or Halloween as you mortals call it. The veil between worlds is at its thinnest. Combined with the focus of your familiar, all things fell into place and brought me here, Amanda.” I brought him here? His thumb rubbed along my knuckle, turning the tingles into outright fires that blazed through my body. The tips of my nipples tightened under my cotton shirt and there suddenly didn’t seem to be enough air in the room. “It’s Mandy,” I croaked out, my throat amazingly dry. Torin cocked an eyebrow and my pulse skittered. How could such a simple gesture be so damn sexy? “But Amanda is such a special name. It means ‘deserving of great love.’” He lifted my hand to his lips and lightly brushed his lips over my knuckles. Desire blossomed in my gut, sending out waves to all my other body parts that wanted an invitation to the party. My nipples had already RSVP’d 9

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and threatened to tear through my shirt, they were so hard. Heat built between my thighs exponentially. This guy was good. “What does Torin mean?” My voice had dropped to a mere whisper. “Tender.” His tongue darted out and skimmed over the tip of my index finger, briefly sucking the digit into his warm, wet mouth. My breath caught as I fought the urge to moan. Torin leaned forward and gently brushed his lips across mine. A kiss so soft and sensual, I barely registered it was happening. But the subsequent fireworks that exploded inside my body brightly reminded me, the sparks popping off and boiling my blood. His tongue slid past my lips into my mouth. This time, I did moan as he probed and prodded, then pulled me roughly against him. My breasts pressed against the solid planes of his chest, the ache in the hard tips almost unbearable. The firmness of his erection behind the thin satin of his boxers rested heavily on my thigh as he eased me backward onto the bed. Raw need swept through me, making me wet as he kissed all sense and reason from my brain. My body throbbed in time with my pulse. He moved his sensual lips to my ear, the heat of his breath seeping into my skin. “Let me please you, cara. For just this one night, all I have will be yours.” The words he spoke flashed like a warning bell inside my brain, returning me to my senses like a cold splash of water. I pushed him away and scrambled out from under his devastating body to stand beside the bed. Torin sat up, confusion and hurt clouding his lovely eyes. “What is wrong, cara? I thought this was why I was here.” My skin was hot and prickly with the rush of desire he had awakened inside me. I concentrated on my breathing, so my heart rate would return to normal. “You said one night. What happens after that?” He ran a hand haphazardly through his dark hair. “If you summon an incubus more than once, then there will be a price you must pay.” 10

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I crossed my arms and eyed him warily. “What kind of price?” “Each one is different. Sometimes it is money. Or possessions. But in some instances, it could be your soul.” I staggered backwards, my hand clapped to my chest as alarm snaked through my veins. “You want my soul?” Torin stood and held out his palms in a gesture of surrender. “All I want, cara, is to be the man you dreamed of for one night. Beyond that, the choice is yours.” I narrowed my eyes. Then let me make that choice.

~~~ “Do you really mean to make me sleep on your sofa, when you have a perfectly nice bed we can share?” Torin pleaded as he stood next to me in front of my living room couch, the light of the lamp on the end table bathing his body in a golden glow that threatened to turn my knees to rubber. I fluffed the pillows I had retrieved from my tiny linen closet as I ignored the desperation that tinged his sexy voice. “You said the rules state you must stay the night, and I can’t send you back before daybreak.” “But we are supposed to spend the night together, cara. Exploring the delights of each other’s bodies.” His words made a shiver run along my spine as I unfolded a sheet and placed it on the couch. I had to force my thoughts away from the images my brain continued to replay of our previous kiss in the bedroom. “I think I’ve told you more than once this evening, that isn’t going to happen. I rather like my soul, thank you very much.” He collapsed onto the cushions of the couch in a heap. “Your soul is only at risk if you summon me more than once, and even then, it is not set in stone.”

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I planted my butt firmly on the chair next to the couch. “I know that given what you are, and what you do, this will be hard for you to understand. But I don’t want one amazing night with a man I can never see again. I’m thinking in the long term here. I’m not the type of girl who sleeps around like that.” A glossy dark eyebrow arched, and I shifted uncomfortably in the chair. “Well, maybe during my junior year of college, but not lately.” Geez. Everyone’s a critic. We sat in silence for a moment, me still trying to convince myself that doing the right thing was…well…right. “Don’t you ever want to settle down and have a life with someone?” Torin stared at me like I had just asked him to cut off his head, his brown eyes bugged out with apparent surprise. I shrugged. “What? It’s a perfectly legitimate question.” “No one has ever asked me that. Through the centuries, the only thought of the women whose summons I answer is how I can please them. Not what I want at all.” “Oh.” That actually sounded kind of sad. Pity welled in my chest. His life even sounded lonelier than my own vacant life. “What do you want, Torin?” He continued to stare at me, his eyes still wide. “I have never really thought about it, cara. But as soon as I find out, I will be sure to let you know.” “Well.” I stood and shuffled over to him and held out my hand. “It was nice to meet you, Torin. I apologize for the mix up and wish you luck.” He gently took my hand and kissed it, those delectable lips making me warm and melty inside. “Good night, cara mia.” “G’night.” I reluctantly removed my hand and commanded my feet to carry me in the direction of my bedroom, far, far away from the sexy incubus who occupied my couch. I shut the door and leaned against it for a moment, the wood cool and solid against my back.

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Was I crazy? Was I really forcing the sexiest hunk who had ever graced my presence to sleep on the couch? One who wanted to please me in every way? I shook my head as I flipped off the bedside lamp and crawled under the covers. This night had been too much. Not only had I found out there were such things as incubi, but apparently, there was a whole hierarchy of underworld beings that existed as well, right along with magic and evil corporations. I pulled the sheet up to my chin and closed my eyes, the situation finally hitting me full force. The man of my dreams had indeed shown up on my doorstep. But he turned out to be an incubus that I could only have once, or possibly risk my soul. Life truly sucked sometimes. My chest tightened in a vise of loneliness as a silent tear slid down my cheek, sleep beckoning me closer. Suddenly, warmth filled the space beside me in the bed, drawing me away from the claws that pulled me into dreamland. A finger softly caressed my cheek and wiped away the tear. My groggy brain made my reaction time sluggish. “Torin? What are you doing?” A warm hand lighted over my heart, which kicked into overdrive. “Your loneliness, cara, it calls to me so loudly, I cannot bear it. Let me take it away.” His thumb brushed over the tip of my breast, making me gasp as the bud tightened, the sensation turning my body into a wanton traitor. Smooth lips gently nibbled along my jaw line, over to the spot above my collarbone that always made me squirm. My body seemed intent on overriding my brain. I had to stop this before I had no resolve left. “Torin, stop.” He moved his head so his lips rested against mine. “You asked me what I wanted. No woman has ever cared enough to ask that. So this is what I want, cara. I want you.”

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Even in the dark room, his eyes shone with an inner light that diffused all my protests. He pressed his lips firmly against mine and I melted under him, giving in to what my body obviously desired. His tongue swept into my mouth, chasing around my tongue like a cat hunting a mouse. Not to be outdone, his skilled hands got in on the action of ridding me of my clothes. Before I had a chance to think about what he was doing, my pink cami and shorts were off and lying somewhere on the floor of my bedroom. My nipples hardened to tight points in the cool air of the room, the tips aching to be touched. As if he sensed my need, Torin’s wicked lips released my mouth and planted feather light kisses down my neck. I squirmed a little beneath him, my neck having always been a hugely erotic zone for me. He took his time, torturing me with his lips, and it seemed like an eternity before the wet tip of his tongue flicked the sensitive nub on my right breast. Zings of bliss zipped through me, his tongue masterful as he licked the right nipple, then paid due respect to the left nipple in turn. I moaned loudly, words turning to gibberish inside my brain, my body taking charge. And when he sucked each nipple into his mouth briefly and blew air over the sensitive peaks, I buried my hands in his silky hair. A bright electric current of pleasure spiked down my body to my pussy, already slick and ready for the impressive cock I had gotten such a long glimpse of earlier. But Mr. Professional Incubus wasn’t even remotely done with me yet. His mouth traveled along the plane of my stomach, down to the thatch of moist curls between my legs. I cracked open one eye, my chest heaving as I struggled to breathe. A devilish grin spread across Torin’s lips as he moved lower and parted me gently with his tongue. He laved at my wet opening, his tongue sliding across the dewy folds from bottom to top and back again. His naughty tongue was like velvet against my overheated flesh. He alternated between teeth and tongue, nibbling then licking my flushed skin until I could barely stand the intensity and yelled 14

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loudly at the ceiling. I grabbed fistfuls of the sheet as he relentlessly pleasured me with his tongue, the tension building in my womb like a coiled spring about to break. The tender nub of my clit stood up and demanded its fair share, so Torin sucked it into his mouth, rubbing his tongue along the underside. My pussy was taut with the edge of one marvelous orgasm approaching quickly, all my muscles clenched as I bucked my hips against his mouth like a woman possessed. So when Torin nipped at my clit with his teeth, the delight was so intense, it was all I could do to keep from screaming like a banshee as I came hard, the waves of ecstasy radiating through my body like a dam that burst. Before I could even catch my breath, Torin crawled up my body like a cat on the prowl, his mouth claiming mine once again. I tasted a hint of my own musk as our tongues warred with each other, which only heightened the eroticism of the moment. His warm cock throbbed against my thigh, the hairs of his chest tickling my breasts where our bodies pressed together. Even in the aftermath of the best oral sex I’d ever had, my pussy pulsed with a need I’d never experienced before, and I wiggled my hips, urging him onward. Getting the message loud and clear, Torin used his knees to spread my thighs, settling at my slick entrance briefly before pushing forward. A very loud moan filled the room, that I realized came from me, as his cock stretched and filled me completely, his heat permeating every atom of my body from the inside out. He stilled for a moment, allowing me to get used to his well above average assets. I leaned up and sucked his bottom lip into my mouth. He responded with a low growl, and withdrew until only the head of his cock remained inside me, then thrust forward, establishing a steady rhythm to claim me completely. I arched my back and met him thrust for thrust, each time deeper than before. The exquisite tension started building within me once again, and I grasped his shoulders, my nails digging into the sinewy muscles. He lowered

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his head, and his tongue traced the outline of my lip before it dove inside for a taste. I moaned again, the sound muffled by his hot mouth on mine. I decided at that moment to explore the defined planes of his chest, the skin smooth and perfect over hard bands of muscle. I ran my nails lightly along his skin, reveling in the muscles flexing under my touch. This time he gasped, and lowered his lips to my ear. “You drive me wild, Amanda.” The heat of his breath tickled my ear and sent shivers down my spine. “Come with me, cara mia. Let yourself go.” His words shot through me like a rocket, driving me closer to the edge of bliss. I wrapped my legs around him as his cock pistoned into me, a wanton woman on a mission for release. I arched my back, my thighs locking around him as the first stirrings of my climax hovered just on the periphery of my awareness. Torin thrust harder, slamming into my body roughly as the pleasure dam burst again, and bliss washed over me, filling my body with a hot euphoria that made me scream his name as the walls of my pussy contracted around his fabulous cock, gripping him tightly. Torin shouted his own victory call of release as his cock jerked inside me, filling me with heat. We stayed like that for a few bliss-laden moments, riding the waves of pleasure, as sensitive body parts throbbed, flexed, and spasmed. He finally collapsed on top of me, my heart doing the samba against his as my breathing fought to return to some sort of normalcy. He nuzzled my neck and I sighed, but this time in contentment. It felt right, our bodies connected like this. If only we could stay this way. Neither of us spoke. I didn’t want to get all wishy-washy, and words just didn’t seem appropriate for some reason. Besides, I didn’t want to go getting all guilt-ridden and regretful. Not yet, anyway. Fatigue washed over me, the lateness of the hour making itself well known as my eyelids grew heavy. Torin rolled over on his side, taking me with him and hooked my leg over his hip, keeping us connected. 16

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The warmth of his iron-clad embrace while he remained deeply buried inside me lulled me off to sleep.

~~~ I stretched, the claws of sleep finally letting me out of their grasp. Light from the window peeked through the curtains and I sat up, blinking. I glanced to the right. Emptiness greeted me from the space beside me in bed. As memories from last night flooded back, those feelings of regret and guilt I’d been putting off finally made an appearance, settling in my stomach like lead weights. Last night had been something I’d most likely never forget. And it wasn’t just about mind-blowing sex. I’d shared a connection with Torin. He’d touched something deep within me. If sex was always like that with an incubus, no wonder people risked their souls for it. I would consider a little soul-risking for a night like that again. I looked down at my hands, realizing I was fidgeting with my ring. “Can’t have a mistake like that happen again.” Slowly, I slipped the band off my finger and placed it gently on my bedside table. Right beside the business card Torin had given me, I noticed with a twinge of pain in my chest. “I guess it’s back to my regularly scheduled life. Pitiful and lonely as it might be.” I tossed back the covers and shuffled to the bathroom, intent on letting the spray from the shower wash away my cares for a bit. I stepped inside, drawing the curtain closed behind me before turning the water on. As the heat of the spray cascaded over my body, I grabbed the bottle of shower wash from the shelf. Arms circled around my waist. “Aack!” The bottle clattered to the floor as surprise and panic flowed through me like an electric current. I spun to find myself staring at a familiar naked chest.

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“Torin! How…but I thought…” I struggled to form words, my mind racing. I held up my hands in front of his face. “I couldn’t have done it again! I took the ring off! See?” That tempting grin of his made an appearance as he took my hands in his and kissed the knuckles slowly. I melted under his touch, but luckily, not enough to go right down the drain. “I had some things to take care of, cara, but now I am back. You were sleeping so soundly, I did not wish to wake you.” Confusion blanketed me, my thoughts a twisted jumble. “I don’t understand.” He cupped my face gently in his hands as he gazed into my eyes, water glistening most distractingly on his body. “A very beautiful and sexy woman asked me a difficult question, recently, and forced me to think about the life I have, versus what I would like it to be. And so, I made a decision.” My blood pumped fiercely through my veins, making me lightheaded. “What kind of decision?” “I used my seniority from my years at the agency to put in for a transfer. As of right now, I am officially a member of the Contracts Division.” I scrunched up my nose, still utterly confused. “Meaning?” He leaned forward until his forehead rested against mine. “Meaning, cara, that I am now able to have a life of my choosing. My actions do not solely rest on the whims of others.” I pondered for a moment, chewing my lip. “No more answering summons from sex-starved females?” He chuckled. “You seem to be the last sex-starved female I will answer.” The joy that suddenly filled my heart made it seem like the madly pumping organ would pop right out of my chest. I grasped his wrists where his hands still cupped my face. “But how did you do it so quickly?” “Time is different in the underworld. It passes more swiftly. I had the paperwork processed before you had time to dream, cara.”

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Summon Me Swiftly

I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and pushing him backwards against the shower wall. I wanted to break into a happy dance. I wanted to shout at the heavens. I wanted to pounce on my sexy incubus right there and then. He laughed and peeled me from his body enough so he could see my face. “I take it that you are happy with this decision?” My head bobbed enthusiastically in agreement. I stood on my tip-toes, a feat not that easy in a wet and steamy shower, and claimed his mouth in a kiss. He was already hot and hard as he pulled me roughly against him. He lifted me easily and I wrapped my legs around his waist, crossing them behind his pert and proud derrière. Torin reached between us, and immediately he was inside me, his lovely cock filling all the empty places I had so longed to have filled. And as he moved slowly inside me, one thought broke through my passion-fogged brain. My toad kissing days were over.

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Second Chances

Enjoy this sneak peek at Second Chances from Sapphire Blue Publishing…

Chapter One “Sophie, must you preen in front of every single photographer here?” David McDougal’s Scottish brogue thickened with his frustration as he ran his hand through his hair while Sophie circled his waist with her arm and smiled brilliantly at the man with the camera. As the flash momentarily blinded David, spots danced in front of his eyes. He blinked rapidly until his vision returned to normal. Sophie stood in her gold beaded evening gown glaring at him, her bright smile vanishing as soon as the photographer was out of sight. “Must you be so naff? Why can’t you just relax and try not to embarrass us both?” She carefully inspected one of her well-manicured nails. “And I don’t preen.” Her bottom lip protruded as she pretended to pout. He used to find that expression adorable on her. Now, it bordered on irritating. David took a large sip of scotch and loosened the collar of his shirt. “You know how I feel about events like these. And given our ‘situation,’ I like them even less now.” Though they had agreed to call off their engagement a month ago, Sophie had convinced David to keep up appearances in public. The crowded room had been totally festooned for the occasion, massive red flower arrangements adorned the tables while glasses of champagne and expensive appetizers floated on trays carried by waiters in tuxedoes. England’s most prestigious were in attendance to give money and buy art at London’s Royal National Gallery. Others were here purely to be seenlike Sophie. She ceased the appreciation of her manicure and turned to face him. Her slender fingers gripped the lapels of his silk suit. “We only have to pretend for a short while, darling. Just until I finish the filming for this movie. Then, we can get everything sorted.” 1

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She ran her fingers slowly along his jacket collar and smiled at him sweetly. “This is what’s best for both our careers, not just mine. The wrong kind of press could ruin things for us right now.” David sighed as he stared into her cold blue-gray eyes. He hated that she was right. Bad press could hurt the both of them. But lying to his friends became more taxing with each passing day. He was stuck. “I know, I know,” he grumbled. “Just don’t expect me to do such a bang up job of pretending if you drag me to many more of these social functions.” Sophie shook her head, her blond hair not moving an inch from its elaborate French twist. She patted David’s shoulders condescendingly. “It’s no wonder your career was headed nowhere before you met me. Networking is essential to getting ahead, my darling.” She swiveled her upper body and snapped up a glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray. David stiffened his shoulders and bristled at her comment. Just because he hadn’t been on the fast track to stardom when they met, didn’t mean his career was headed nowhere. He would have found his own way, eventually. But Sophie never saw it from that perspective. Just another reason he knew they were wrong for each other. Sophie sipped her champagne, staring out over the rim of the glass at the people, as her diamond earrings caught the light. The gems sparkled along with the large engagement ring she still wore on her left hand. David had wanted her to wear his grandmother’s ring, but Sophie had insisted that she have a ring more befitting her status. Now the gaudy thing mocked him as it flashed upon her finger. Sophie smiled and nodded as people passed by, totally absorbed in the activity around her. He might as well not have been there for all the attention she paid him most of the time. Leaning over, her eyes glimmered with interest. “My new assistant said there would be reporters from OK! Magazine here tonight. We should try to hunt them down and get an interview to go along with the photos.” David’s shoulders slumped. This woman never quit. Not wanting to face 2

Second Chances

another round of flash bulbs and fake smiles, he downed the rest of his scotch. “You go right ahead and find that reporter. I appear to need another drink.” Sophie’s blue eyes darkened as she narrowed them into slits. “But we should talk to the reporter together. Don’t you bloody disappear on me.” The threat of a tantrum was clear in her voice. “I think people would forgive us if we didn’t spend every blooming minute together, Sophie.” He stalked off toward the bar, not caring about her reaction. “I will find you later,” she called after him. David wove through the maze of people as he made his way to the bar. For the first time this evening, he could actually breathe. Sophie suffocated him with her demands. As he reached the bar, David raised his glass toward the bartender so the man could pour him another scotch. He leaned casually on the counter as he waited. When the bartender handed him his glass, David turned to see his good friend and agent Bernard Stone at his side. “David, my good man, there you are.” Bernard smiled and clapped David on the back. “Why exactly are we here again, Bernard?” David fingered the collar of his shirt as he slowly glanced around the room filled with people talking, laughing and drinking. Their pricey suits and lavish evening gowns provided just as much ornamentation for the event as the decorations themselves. “It’s good for you to be seen out in public, David. And it’s a charity event, so it’s good press, both for you and Sophie.” Bernard gave him a head nod as a tall, twenty-something blond walked by and winked flirtatiously. David sighed and stared into his new glass of scotch. Quiet evenings at home with a movie and a beer were his preference, not this “who’s who” kind of party he was forced to attend more frequently than he wished. The down side of his acting career. “Where is your gorgeous fiancé, by the way?” Bernard stared at David expectantly. “Sophie is around here somewhere, dazzling someone, I’m sure. She has 3

Christle Gray

been so busy with filming, she wanted to live it up a little. Our schedules match up so infrequently these days.” David took a sip of his scotch and turned his attention back to Bernard. “Well, that will change once you two get married, I’m sure.” Bernard swirled the olive around in his martini glass and took a drink. The man’s eyes darted around the room just like Sophie’s. “Aye, I’m sure too,” David agreed, though less convincingly. As he scanned the room again, the glass missed his lips and the amber liquid sloshed, landing almost all of it on the front of his suit. A woman in red filled his vision, her black hair pulled back from her face, a few tendrils escaping to fall free. She appeared to be about five foot six, with fair, alabaster skin and never-ending curves. Her large, dark eyes flicked back and forth across the room in what he assumed was a nervous gesture. Next to her a very petite woman in blue seemed to be doing a fine job of chatting up the people around them. He leaned over to Bernard. “Do you know who that is over there?” He tried to point inconspicuously across the room. Squinting in the direction of David’s finger, recognition dawned slowly across Bernard’s face. “I believe that’s Ingrid Pierce. She’s a tiny devil, that woman. One of the sneakiest public relations agents around. Tries to steal my clients, she does. You just need to stay away from that witch in blue.” Bernard huffed, his pudgy face turning a bit red. David chuckled at Bernard’s reaction. It seemed this Ingrid Pierce woman apparently knew how to get his friend up in arms, and rather quickly at that. Bernard was a good bloke, though he could be a bit stodgy at times. He did have a more relaxed demeanor than many other agents David had dealt with in his career. Most people said that meant Bernard was losing his touch, that he was falling behind the times, but David disagreed. Actually, he liked Bernard so much more for that very reason. Bernard wasn’t pushy and insincere, and even though he looked like he slept in his suits most days, David considered the man to be a good agent. 4

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“Not the one in blue, the woman in red, next to her.” David shook his head and grinned as he watched Bernard’s face slowly fade back to its regular color. Bernard squinted in the direction of the women once again, and shook his head. “Don’t know the one in red, but if she’s friends with Ingrid, she can’t be good news.” Good news or not, David didn’t care. He was intrigued by her, and for some reason he wanted to meet her. “Introduce me, Bernard. Introduce me to Ingrid and maybe she will introduce her friend.” David set his glass on the bar and moved toward the two women, not waiting for a reply. When he looked back over his shoulder Bernard stared blankly ahead for a moment, apparently confused by David’s actions. Not usually so bold, David typically hated these types of events. He generally put in a brief appearance, smiled politely to everyone to appease Sophie, and then quietly went home. Acting was his passion, but not the superficial social niceties that were required of him at times. Smiling to himself, David continued across the crowded room, finally hearing Bernard lumber up from behind.

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