Heat Wave

Cincinnati, Ohio

Eden Bradley

6470A Glenway Avenue, #109 Cincinnati, OH 45211-5222 This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. eBook ISBN 1-59426-535-6 Heat Wave © 2005 by Eden Bradley All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. 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. Cover art © 2005 by Stacey L. King Phaze is an imprint of Mundania Press, LLC.

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Heat Wave

Chapter 1

"El Nińo strikes again with the worst heat wave to hit Southern California in twenty years…" Leigh reached over her kitchen table and shut the radio off, then stood up to lift her long hair from her neck. If only she had air conditioning! One of the reasons she'd moved to this small Craftsman cottage in Santa Monica was because of the temperate weather. The mercury rarely rose above the low eighties this close to the beach, even at the height of summer. No such luck this year. She grabbed a dishtowel to stroke away the perspiration pooling at the base of her throat and trickling between her breasts. Even the light cotton sundress she wore felt like too much weight on her skin. She watched through her kitchen window as the sun began to set in a splashy blaze of watercolor orange and pink, the colors filtering through the leaves of the date palm in her yard. Hoping the evening air might be cooler outside than in, she took her glass of iced tea and wandered out to her small front porch. Settling onto the narrow wooden bench, she leaned back, stretching her long legs out in front of her. Languid with the heat, she sipped her tea and gazed around her neighborhood. Somewhere a dog barked in the deepening twilight, and she heard the faint swoosh, swoosh of somebody's sprinklers. The banging of a screen door caught her attention, and she watched her new neighbor across the street step onto his lawn. He was a 3

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large man, his height and bulk casting a long shadow in the amber glow of his porch light. She'd noticed him before, had watched the muscles in his big forearms flex when he'd moved his furniture in a week earlier. He was built like a football player, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist that tapered into a pair of low-slung cargo pants. His sun-streaked light brown hair was a bit too long and fell into his eyes. She hadn't been close enough yet to see what color they were. But the man was sexy as hell, and she'd been waiting to catch another glimpse of him. Leigh liked big men. She was tall herself, and a large man always made her feel more feminine. Her ex-husband had been well over six feet tall. Don't think about that now. No, better to think about the basketball player she'd dated briefly in college, his long, lanky form draped over hers on the too-small single bed in his dorm room. Sweaty afternoons there when she should have been in calculus. Math had never done her as much good as an afternoon of sex had. She stroked the beads of sweat from her icy glass with an absent finger as she watched her neighbor move across his lawn to bend down and pick up a few tools at the edge of his driveway. Like her, he'd probably waited until the heat of day had passed before venturing outside. He was graceful for a man of his size. Even in the near-dark she could see how the fabric of his pants stretched taut over his firm backside. Nice. Made her want to cross the street just to touch it. It had been a long time since she'd touched a man, which was probably why her thoughts were treading down such a lustful path now. She'd been divorced for about a year, and hadn't dated since she'd caught her ex with a co-worker. The woman was everything Leigh wasn't: petite, with a lush figure, dark and exotic. Leigh herself had always been too tall and lean 4

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for her own taste; she stood five-foot nine and had an athletic body with small breasts. But her ex hadn't cheated because of her breasts. He'd cheated because he was a selfish bastard with no self-control. He'd blamed Leigh for his infidelity. He'd claimed that she lacked passion, that sex with her was boring. Well, it hadn't been great for her, either, but she hadn't cheated on him. Asshole. Enough of that, she chided herself, pulling her attention and her gaze back to the appealing sight across the street. Her new neighbor peeled his T-shirt over his head and she watched as a narrow waist gave way to a tight six-pack. Then as he whipped his shirt completely off, his beautifully muscled chest came into view. Leigh allowed her eyes to rest there for a moment before letting them wander to his strong shoulders and then to his arms. His biceps flexed as he loaded the tools into a small wheelbarrow. His arms looked as big around as one of her thighs. Very nice. The sudden flash of heat between her legs surprised her. She shifted in her seat, trying to ease the sharp stab of need soaking her panties. When was the last time she'd had this kind of reaction to a man? Maybe when she'd been a teenager and those first surges that came with the shift in hormones had assaulted her innocent body. Certainly not since then. Her mind wandered as she watched him work in his yard, imagining those big hands on her, slipping over her sweatdampened skin. The heat between her legs spread into her belly and became a jagged throb. Her neighbor stood and ran a hand over his stomach, making hers tighten in response. Let me do that for you next time. She wiped the beads of perspiration from her upper lip. "Oh god," Leigh groaned quietly as she rose to escape back into the hot, stuffy house. Her body was screaming for release, 5

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just from seeing a half-naked man in the dark. A big, musclebound man with a sexy line of hair that led from his navel to places she almost didn't dare to think about. Inside, she turned the lights in the living room down low. Moving across the room, she switched on the radio to a classic rock station and flopped onto the couch in front of the one small fan she owned. As the sultry tones of an old, bluesy Janice Joplin song played in the background, Leigh released the top two buttons of her sundress to catch as much of the cool air as she could. The breeze played over her damp skin. It felt good, but did nothing to cool the lustful thoughts she'd been having about her new neighbor. If anything, the sensation of air blowing teasingly over her skin heightened her senses even more. She undid another button and moved the fabric aside. Her nipples peaked as the artificial breeze played over them. Her hands drifted to her breasts, her fingertips brushing the hardened tips. A soft moan escaped from her throat. She needed so much to be touched, and not by her own hands. Her mind went immediately to the man across the street, to the image of his naked torso gleaming in the moonlight and the faint glow from his porch. She moved her hand lower to lift the hem of her dress, slid it up over her damp thighs. Her body went rigid as she moved the elastic of her bikini panties aside. They were soaked. With a sigh, she brushed her fingers through the rough curls there…and froze at the loud knock at her front door.

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Heat Wave

Chapter 2

Leigh bolted upright, pulling her dress together to cover her breasts. She fumbled to fasten the buttons, the fabric brushing painfully across her erect nipples. Trying to get her brain to function, she stood up, running a hand through her thick hair. She'd left the door open, with only the screen to offer any privacy. Could whoever was there have seen her? She didn't think so, since the couch was at the opposite end of the room and she'd turned the lights down. But still… She took a deep breath as she approached the door, then exhaled with a sighing breath when she saw who stood on the other side. "Hallo?" His voice was deep, rumbling in that big chest, exactly as she would have expected it to sound coming from a man of his size. And it held a delicious edge of a British accent. "Anybody home?" She tried to collect herself, but the throbbing between her thighs was still so sharp she had to squeeze her legs together to ease it. She reached the door, hoping she wouldn't sound as breathless as she felt. "Hi." "I hope you don't mind me coming over uninvited, but I saw you go inside just a few minutes ago." "No, not at all." She noted with disappointment that he'd put his shirt back on. But it was the first chance she'd had to see him up close. He had a handsome face, with a strong jaw line and 7

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craggy brows over dark eyes. And his mouth was frankly luscious; wide with a full lower lip that begged to be nibbled on. "I'm Jared Townsend, by the way." "Oh, hi. Leigh Novack." She pulled the screen door open to extend her hand. When his large grasp encased hers, a bolt of sensual heat shot up her arm and raced through her system, igniting her already overloaded senses. Reminding her of what her own hand had been doing when he'd knocked on her door. He smiled at her, a row of strong white teeth that she couldn't help but imagine sinking into her flesh. "Very nice to meet you, Leigh Novack. I suppose you know that I moved in recently. I'm still not unpacked yet and can't find…well, anything. I was hoping you had a bottle opener I could borrow?" "Of course. Come on in." She backed away as his solid wall of a body moved past her, dwarfing her small living room. He smelled faintly of freshly cut grass and just a hint of sweat, and her whole body gave a long shiver. She gave herself a mental shake and headed for the kitchen, where she found her bottle opener. She paused to take a few long breaths to clear his enticing scent from her nostrils before she went back to hand it to him. "Thanks." He smiled again. "Hey, would you like a cold beer? It's hot as hell tonight." She wanted something, all right, but it wasn't a beer. Still, it would do for now. "Sure." He gave a quick tilt of his head. "Come on over, then. I've a few bottles of Guinness. Hope you like a good stout." "I do, actually." "Ah, wonderful. Seems a lot of you Americans drink nothing but light beer. An insult to the trade." Leigh laughed. "Americans are known throughout the world 8

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for their bad taste, so it shouldn't come as a surprise." She fell a bit behind Jared's long stride as they crossed the dark street and used the opportunity to savor the site of his tight behind. His shoulders were impossibly broad, straining against the cotton of his shirt. Her mouth started to water and she pressed a hand to her damp lips. Lord, he was gorgeous, every solid inch of him. But who was this man? He seemed nice enough, nothing to alert her radar. No, the only thing he set off was her sex drive, which was currently screaming into high gear. Jared led the way onto his front porch and held open the door for her. "Sounds like you've traveled a bit, then?" "A bit. I spent some time studying in Paris and Milan." "Did you? That's unusual for Americans." She nodded as he moved a stack of books from the couch. She noted an ancient copy of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe and a Stephen King thriller among them. Interesting… "Have a seat," he said, gesturing to the spot on the couch where the books had been, then disappeared through an archway into what she assumed was the kitchen. His living room was a mess of open boxes. An enormous couch covered in soft, brown leather held a few throw pillows in colorful, ethnic prints. A few framed prints stood stacked against one wall and she wondered what was behind the bold, primitive abstract at the front of the pile. Track lighting above the sofa illuminated the mantel. He was obviously a man who liked art. Even better… She sank into the couch, the leather chilly against her bare thighs. When the coolness reached her still-damp panties, she squirmed. The contrast against that aching heat made her all the more aware of the man on whose couch she sat. He reappeared a 9

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moment later with two tall bottles. "Sorry, I haven't found the glasses yet." He grinned, his white teeth flashing. "No problem." Jared settled onto the couch beside her and Leigh drew in a lungful of air to steady her racing pulse. Trying to ignore the sharp twinge between her legs, she sipped her beer. The cold bitterness felt good as it slid down her throat, the tangy bite of it pleasantly distracting. "So, where did you live before moving here?" she ventured, hoping to learn more about him. "All over, really. The last apartment I had was in New York. Prior to that I stayed in London for a few years, and before that was Cape Town, in South Africa. That's home for me. I've wanted to live at the beach again ever since I left." "I thought your accent was English." "English?" His face creased in a mock scowl. "Englishmen are a different breed entirely. Pansies, all of 'em." He took a swig from his bottle. "No, I lived among them for a time before moving on. I'm a photo journalist, so I go where the stories take me." "And the stories have brought you to L.A.?" "It's a good home base. I like it here. Beautiful beaches, although not as good as at home. And beautiful women." His dark eyes roved over her for a moment, then came to rest on her face. His voice deepened, a low, smoky tone that sent a shiver up her spine. "I hope you don't mind my saying so." Leigh swallowed hard as his eyes connected with hers. They looked almost black in the dim light of the room, and seemed to look through her skin, inside her somehow. She wondered briefly if he'd caught sight of her touching herself when he'd knocked at her door. A rush of heat hit her sex, making it clench 10

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in remembrance. "I don't mind." She tried to smile but her insides were shaking too hard for her to do more than quirk one corner of her mouth. She lifted her bottle and took another quick slug of the Guinness. She was suddenly hyper-aware of everything; the ticking of a big brass clock on the mantel, the soft chirping of crickets outside, her own breathing. And mostly his dark eyes, which were still fastened on her as he took another pull on his ale. "I've been watching you. Just a quick glimpse of you now and then. I hope you don't mind that, either." "I, uh…" She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Sorry. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'm not a stalker or anything. I simply appreciate a beautiful woman." Leigh looked into her lap. "Well, thank you." She was surprised to feel his fingertips tilting her chin up. "You are, you know. All that blonde hair and those long, tanned legs. A real California girl. Just like the song." He grinned, a bit of a wicked glint in his dark eyes, and Leigh couldn't help but smile back even as her insides melted at his touch. He pulled his hand away. "So, what is it you do, Leigh Novack? Isn't that what all Americans ask each other when they meet?" The way his mood shifted from sensual to wicked to pure humor and back again made her head spin. She covered her confusion with a small laugh. "I'm an interior designer." "Ah, I'm assuming that has something to do with the study in Europe? "Europe is a very inspiring place for anyone with an artistic sensibility. I loved it." Jared nodded. "An artist, like me. I knew we'd have something in common." 11

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"Did you?" "I hoped." He leaned toward her. She caught the scent of his body so close to hers, sweat and grass and pheromones released in the sultry heat. She struggled against the singing of her blood, the sensation of her mind emptying as desire took over. Another long sip of ale cooled her throat, but did nothing to ease the lust raging through her system. She decided she'd better leave before she did something foolish. She stood up. "I'd better go. I have to work early tomorrow." He rose, towering over her. "Well, thanks for the company. And the bottle opener. Mind if I hang on to it until tomorrow?" "No, not at all." It meant she would see him again soon. "Thanks for the beer. Good night." He held the door open for her as she left, giving her one last whiff of his unique essence. She crossed the quiet street, climbed onto her own porch and let herself into the house. What was it about the way that man smelled? And the way he looked, and those dark eyes, and that accent? Every cell in her body responded to him on some primal level. Her whole body was slick with a thin sheen of perspiration, and even slicker between her thighs. A cold shower was definitely in order. Leigh kicked her sandals off and pulled her dress over her head as she moved down the hall to the bathroom, her bare feet padding on the hardwood floor. She reached into the vintagetiled shower and turned the cold water all the way up, adding just enough warm water to make it bearable. She whisked the scrap of white lace panties down over her legs, then stepped in. Her breath caught when the first shock of water hit her skin. After a moment her body stilled beneath the cool spray. She closed her eyes, enjoying it. But soon an image of Jared invaded the quiet moment. His 12

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midnight eyes, his too-sexy mouth, that huge, muscled body. And his scent. She could almost smell it now if she tried. Despite the cold water coursing over her skin, her body went warm all over, the heat thickening in a melting pool between her legs. Her hand immediately lowered to ease the ache there. She leaned against the green tiles, her head falling back while her hand made a tentative exploration. Her fingers slipped between the slick folds. She probed gently at the opening, pressed first one finger, then two inside, and let out a gasp. Teasing herself, she skimmed her fingertips over her outer lips, sliding in for a moment, then out again, refusing to touch her already swollen and pulsing clit. She turned her body into the needle-sharp spray of water so that it stung her hardened nipples. She lifted her other hand to caress her breast, taunting the nipple, grazing and pinching lightly. Her legs quaked as she pictured Jared's mouth on her, at her breasts, between her legs. She could imagine how hot and wet his tongue would be, pretended it was there instead of her fingers, teasing her clit now with light caresses. She stroked harder. When she grasped her nipple between her fingers and pinched, hard, she exploded in orgasm. The shock of pleasure jolted through her as the water sluiced over her shuddering body. She gasped, hanging onto the shower head with one hand, her legs threatening to go out from under her. If only a man could make her come like that. Her pulse fluttered, then calmed. She wondered if Jared could be the first. The first time a lover would make her shiver, cry out, explode. Wondered if he were half as good with his hands and his mouth as he was in her imagination. Her hands skimmed over her breasts, the nipples still engorged and tingling. Her body came to life once more, heat blooming in her still 13

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throbbing pussy. She groaned and pressed her hand between her thighs, her fingers caressing her clit. She had better find out soon, or she was going to spend the rest of her life in the shower.

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Heat Wave

Chapter 3

Leigh spent the early part of Sunday working on some sketches at the drafting table in her bedroom, but it soon became unbearably warm. She wandered into the tiny kitchen, moving listlessly as she pulled the big plastic pitcher of tea from the refrigerator and poured it into an ice-filled glass. It was too hot to stay in the house. Probably too hot to go outside. She went out anyway, hoping for a small breeze in the shade of her front porch. The glare of the mid-day sun made her wish for her sunglasses, but the heat made her too lazy to go back inside to find them. Squinting, she spotted Jared across the street with a bucket sloshing soap suds in one hand and a long length of green garden hose in the other. He set the bucket on the ground, then turned on the hose and aimed it at his black SUV. She almost called out a greeting, but something compelled her to watch in silence as he washed his car. He was dressed in khaki cargo shorts and a black tank. His feet were bare. Why did they look so naked, so vulnerable? Leigh watched as he moved around the car, the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexing with every motion. He soaked a sponge in the soapy water, then wrung it out, the suds spilling over the backs of his big hands in bubbling rivulets. It made her think of the shattering orgasm she'd had in the shower the night before, with the cool water running down her body, and desire stabbed through her once more. 15

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Cold water had been her only relief from the summer heat lately, but her body craved something more. She bit her lip and shifted in her seat, squeezing her thighs together, her eyes still on Jared. Almost as though he'd felt that same spearing heat, he suddenly looked up, turned and saw her. He smiled crookedly and waved. Leigh rose to her feet and waved back, her pulse fluttering and her sex throbbing. Still watching her, his dark gaze never leaving her face as his smile faded, he took the hose and let the spray wash over his chest, soaking him. He let the water pool in one big hand, then splashed it over his head, slicking his hair back out of his face. Her legs went weak. A small trickle of moisture glided down between her breasts, another slid down the inside of one thigh. She was mesmerized by the sight of him. Even knowing he'd done this on purpose, it didn't seem contrived to her somehow. Her eyes still locked with his, she moved down her front steps, found herself crossing the street, until she stood before him. Jared held the hose, letting the water surge down over his hand. She wanted to feel that cool water almost as much as she wanted to touch him. "It's hot." His voice was low, quiet. Leigh nodded. Without saying anything more, he reached out, lifted her hair off her neck and moved the hose so that the water sluiced over her neck and down her back. She closed her eyes and shivered in delight, her whole body instantly cooling, her flesh prickling with goose bumps. Her white tank top and denim cutoffs soon became soaked. It felt good. The cold water, the sensation of it on her skin, standing next to this man whose sun-heated skin smelled like sex 16

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to her. She let her eyes flutter open, and found his were still on her. It made her shiver deep inside, that sense that he could see into her, knew her darkest secrets. And liked what he saw. She reached out and covered his hand, guiding the hose so that the water poured down the front of her body. His eyes widened a bit as her tank top soaked through and no doubt became translucent, but they never left her face. She knew her nipples were hard as two small rocks, could feel them straining against the wet, cold fabric. Wanted nothing more than for him to touch them. He dropped her hair and it fell in a damp curtain against her neck, but it was nothing compared to the wet heat collecting between her thighs, along with an insistent ache that demanded to be sated. The seam of her denim shorts rubbed against her full pussy lips teasingly as she shifted from one foot to another. She thought of Jared's hands there instead. He was like a statue, watching her face, his gaze hot with fascination and lust. It poured off of him like his scent did, danced in the air between them, daring them. Leigh loved nothing more than a dare. "Your place or mine?" She managed a smile, even as the words came out in a voice too rough to be her own. "Mine is closer." "Right." "Go inside. I'll shut off the hose." It was a command issued and impossible to disobey. Leigh didn't mind, maybe even liked it. She didn't want to think too much about it, didn't want to think about anything right now. She pulled open the screen door and stepped into Jared's living room, took a deep breath of air, hoping to catch a whiff of that unique aroma of his. A moment later, he was there. Standing behind her, wrapping a heavy arm around her waist, his scent wrapping 17

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around her senses just as readily. She inhaled, held her breath, held the scent of him inside her. It made her want more of him inside her, quickly, now. But she would wait; savor the waiting and each exquisite moment which would inevitably lead to what she craved. Jared moved her hair aside to kiss the back of her neck. She shivered, a chill of pure pleasure running down her spine. He traced his lips over the sensitive skin there and lower, between her shoulder blades. Moving his free hand down her body, over the curve of her hip, it came to rest on the delicate flesh of her inner thigh. When he tucked his fingers beneath the hem of her shorts it was all she could do not to buck her hips forward. The skin of his fingertips was silky and rough all at the same time as they teased her heated flesh, taunting her. Close, yet not quite touching that part of her that wept with need, literally wept and threatened to run down her shaking legs. "Jared." She moaned his name but he didn't stop kissing her neck to answer. Leigh pressed her body back into his, into the solid strength of his big frame. He felt like a wall of heat behind her, a wall with an impressively large erection pressing into the top of her buttocks, at that point at the base of her spine that was so sensitive. She needed to touch him. Needed to hold his throbbing cock in her hands, to run her fingertips over the smooth planes of his body. Needed with a force she would never have been able to resist had he not held her so tightly, locked against him. He continued his assault of kisses, nipping and sucking at her neck and down over her shoulders as his fingers teased at the edge of her denim shorts. Did he know he was driving her crazy? Yes, this man knew exactly what he was doing to her. When he loosened his hold on her she thought he'd turn her around to face him. Instead he slid his hand up to cover her 18

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breast, so gently she thought she might scream with the need for more. He held her breast in his hand, moving it a little, as though testing the weight of it. Then his fingers took possession of her nipple through the cold, wet fabric of her top. Leigh bit back a moan as he rolled it between his thumb and forefinger and a bolt of heat lanced through her. She pressed her backside more firmly into him. If anything, his erection had grown even more. Saliva gathered in her mouth at the thought. She wanted all of that inside her, craved it. Wanted him to fill her to bursting. She didn't care that it might hurt. "How does this feel, Leigh?" The question surprised her, and she was even more surprised to find herself capable of answering. "It feels good. Too good. I need more." "And I intend to give you more. But a little at a time." His voice lowered an octave and she almost had to strain to hear him, even though his lips were next to her ear, breathing into it as he spoke. "I'm going to go slowly, so slowly that by the time I'm ready to take you, you'll be begging for it. And when you come, I want you to scream." He paused and took a nip at her neck, then gave her nipple a sharp pinch, making her gasp. "Scream with pleasure. Scream my name. Scream for more." He pinched again, hard. "Scream for mercy." "Oh, god." There was nothing more to say.

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Chapter 4

Leigh was ready to scream already. Scream with wanting him, needing the pulsing length of his cock inside her. But she felt limp and helpless in his arms. All she could do was moan and grind against him. "You excite me, Leigh," he growled in her ear, pressing his swollen member into her flesh. "I can hardly stand it. But I will. It'll be well worth waiting for." He pulled her toward his bedroom, shoving the door open with his foot. Through the thick haze of lust Leigh was aware of a big bed in the center of the room. Light shone dimly through heavy curtains, casting a warm, red-tinged glow. He pressed her down onto the bed, then pulled her tank top over her head. His own followed. Leigh barely had time to admire the muscular expanse of his chest before he put his hands on her shoulders, pushing her back onto the mattress. He bent over her, breathed onto the naked flesh of her breasts and Leigh thought, this is it. This is where I scream, as his warm breath hit her skin. She arched her back, trying to get her full, tingling breasts closer to his mouth. And then Jared's tongue shot out, flicking at one hardened tip, and Leigh snaked an arm around the back of his neck to pull him closer. He pulled away and dislodged her hold on him. "No, darlin'. Lie still." "Jared, I can't wait." 20

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"Ah, but you will wait. I'll not have it any other way." His words, the commanding tone of his voice, caused her sex to contract in a sharp spasm. She rubbed her thighs together to ease the sting of blood pounding there, but it did no good. She needed his hands there, his hot mouth, his throbbing cock. Nothing else would do. She held her arms at her sides and resigned herself to waiting. "Better." He smiled at her approvingly and his bottomless, dark eyes glinted with the fire of lust. Leigh shivered. Jared bent his head and she waited for the exquisite torture to begin again. But instead of teasing her this time he immediately pulled her nipple into his mouth. Leigh breathed out on a long sigh when his soft lips clamped over the rock-hard nub of flesh. His hot tongue swirled over the tip before he began to suck. It was almost painful, yet exquisitely, sharply arousing. His hand came up to cover her other breast, to draw circles around it with his fingertips. When he crimped her nipple between his fingers and tugged she nearly came up off the bed. Nearly came, surprised to find she had to hold her orgasm back. No man had ever done anything like this to her. She had never come with a man without long and concentrated work. What was different about him? But she had little time to think about it as he snapped open the button of her shorts and tore them down over her hips. Yes, touch me there. She eased her hand down to cover her mound, to press there in desperation, but Jared's big hand quickly covered hers and moved it away. "Allow me." A wicked smile lit his strong features. A rakish dimple appeared in one cheek, and Leigh couldn't help but smile back. "I'll get there soon enough, I promise you, darlin'." He bent 21

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his head once more, drew his hot, wet mouth over her body. Beginning just beneath her breasts, he ran his tongue down the center of her ribcage. Leigh trembled beneath him, her skin lighting in a blaze of sensation everywhere he touched. When he reached her navel and dipped his tongue in, a groan escaped her. God, she was soaking wet already. Hurting with wanting him. Wanting to push his clever mouth down further, not daring to do it lest he stop. Instead, she arched her hips. "Yes, I know exactly what you need. And I'll give it to you." He punctuated his whispered words with soft, moist kisses pressed into the flesh of her belly. "I'll give you everything. And more." His head dipped lower and he blew a breath on the tight curls at the apex of her thighs. Leigh let her legs fall open wider. "Yes, that's it. Open for me. Ah, lovely, like a flower." His warm breath made her shiver all over, a shiver of pure anticipation. Pure pleasure. Pure need. She fought to hold still. When he planted his mouth on her wet, aching pussy it took everything she had not to cry out. Pleasure stabbed through her when he used his fingers to part the soft folds, then drew his tongue along the slick inner lips. And when his tongue came to rest lightly on her clit, not moving, simply resting there, she thought she'd lose her mind. Her whole body began to tremble, yet still he didn't move. The heat of him was driving her crazy—that hot, wet tongue pressing ever so gently on her clit, causing it to swell and throb with need. "Jared!" She couldn't help it, couldn't hold it back. And when he shoved his fingers roughly inside her she came in a violent explosion, her sex pulsing around his fingers. The spasms seemed to reach out, spreading over her body like 22

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wildfire. She swore she came with her entire body; her legs and arms and breasts buzzing and convulsing. The heat and the intensity of it left her shaking and weak. She raised her head to look at him, and his dark, glittering gaze met hers. "Oh, I'm far from done with you, darlin'. I've barely gotten started. Lay back." She watched him run his tongue over his lips before she obeyed. Leigh didn't care what he did to her. She knew it would be good. Her pulse fluttered and her pussy filled once more. Ready. Ready for anything. Jared didn't disappoint. He got up and undressed quickly while she watched, enjoying the sight of his big body. His stomach was a tight wall of muscle, leading to a tapered waist and lean hips. When he tore off his black boxers, an impressive erection jutted out. The deliciously thick shaft was topped by a round, knobby head. Leigh's inner muscles convulsed again. Her mouth watered. And while she watched, Jared took his shaft in his hand. He held it loosely in his fingers, ran them up and down the length of it. "I want you to touch me like this, Leigh. I can't wait to feel your hands on me. Your lovely mouth." His face was all raw planes and tense lines, and his dark eyes glowed with lust in the dim light. His mouth was full and sensual, and still damp with her juices. Leigh's nerves danced, the sight of him bringing her to full arousal again. She licked her lips. "I want to touch you." "You will. But not yet." He pulled a foil packet from his nightstand and sheathed himself before kneeling on the edge of the bed. This time he explored her with his hands, his fingers diving into the slick heat 23

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between her thighs while with his other hand he held her body down. Leigh loved it. Loved his fingers stroking her cleft, loved the way he took total control of her body. Loved the sheer, overpowering strength of him and the element of danger that went along with it. And she loved it even more when he began to pinch her clit between his forefinger and his thumb, rolling and tugging in some rhythm she didn't need to understand. Her body knew what to do with it. Her mind went blank as the tension built, pleasure washing over her in waves, then slamming into her full force when he pinched her clit hard. Her body came up off the bed, her breath rushed out in sharp pants as he took her to the edge--and stopped. Tears filled her eyes. "No!" Jared laughed, a little wickedly, and said, "I'll take care of you. You know I will, don't you?" "Yes," she rasped out as her muscles pulled tight and her poor, deprived pussy thundered with blood and fire. Jared knelt between her legs as he had before, and when he lowered his head a sigh of relief blew out with her breath. The sigh turned to moans when he tongued her opening, flicking teasingly over her needy flesh. Avoiding the raw, hard nub that needed his touch the most. She drew in a breath. Waited. He used his hands to open her up, used his tongue to trace the outline of her vulva. He stiffened his tongue and dipped inside her and her body went rigid in expectation. But just as quickly, he withdrew. "Jared, please," she groaned, not caring that she was begging him, just as he'd said she would. "Please what, Leigh?" "I need your mouth. I need you to put your tongue and your 24

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hands inside me." "Like this?" He took his thumbs and, still holding her wide open, slipped them both inside her hot, wet pussy. "Yes!" He withdrew them. "And what else?" "Oh, god. You're trying to torture me, aren't you?" Her words came out on a ragged breath. "Yes. What else?" "I want my clit in your mouth. I want your cock inside me." Another wicked laugh from him. "I can hardly do both simultaneously, now can I, my girl? But let me see if I can find some way to please you." Leigh groaned and spread her legs even wider. "Yes, please yes." Jared bent his head again and though she expected him to take his time in pleasing her, drawing it out, he immediately took her clit into his mouth. He swirled his tongue over the tip, then sucked, then swirled again. Her clit felt hard as a rock, like a tiny erection. It was so painfully engorged, she could hardly stand it, even as she loved every second. Could hardly bear the sensations he was creating with his clever tongue, then with his fingers as he pushed one, then two inside her, moving them in rhythm with his tongue. She pushed her hips into his face. She wanted more. The tension built as he worked her with his hands and his mouth. She determined to hold her orgasm back this time, to enjoy what he was doing for as long as possible. But when he began to suck on her clit in earnest, to suck it hard and fast, she lost it. Her mind left her body as she came on a wave of painful pleasure, sharp, stabbing, like fireworks going off in her throbbing pussy, shattering her completely. She sobbed as she came, while Jared continued to suck her and pump her with his fingers. 25

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When it was over she was trembling all over, shaken to her core. And when Jared moved up to cover her body with his, she knew she'd never needed anything more than this man, at this moment. And then he slid home. Even though Leigh was as wet as she'd ever been in her life, it hurt a little going in, he was so big. But she loved it, loved the feel of his big, solid body over hers. Loved how his cock filled her in a way she'd never been filled before. He kissed her mouth and she tasted her own sweet oceansaltiness on his lips. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, thrust his thick member inside her. She tightened around him, wanting to come again. She wrapped her legs around him, looping them over his wide back as he moved, his hips undulating. His cock was hot and huge, grabbing her inner flesh as it pushed in, pulled out. She felt each thrust like a shockwave of pleasure. He sped up, thrusting faster, harder, and she moved with him. The shockwaves turned into thundering ripples as another climax took her, as he took her, pounding into her with the force of the ocean. As her pussy pulsed around his throbbing flesh, he cried out, slamming into her now, dragging her orgasm out until she no longer knew who or what she was. All she knew was sensation. Overpowering, heated, aching, throbbing sensation. Time expanded, became nothing. She became nothing. She went limp in his arms.

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Chapter 5

After an endless stretch of time in which they both lay gasping, Jared rolled off her and onto his side. He pulled Leigh into him, holding her against his body. She heard his heart thundering in his chest, knew her own was hammering no less erratically. With her mind still half-numb, Leigh tried to ignore the thoughts trying to filter in through the post-sex haze. But they were too persistent. When had any other man been able to make her feel like Jared did? To know her body and its wants and needs without her having to speak? What other man had ever played her body the way he had, alighting her flesh with a tiny, orgasmic sensation with every stroke, every caress, every kiss? What man had ever recognized her need to be taken over, dominated, commanded? For Jared it had come naturally. Instinctively. He knew she needed it. Knew everything she needed, as though they were each part of the same person. But no. That was going too far. This was surely nothing more than a summer fling. Leigh knew better than to begin thinking about any other sort of connection. He was a superb lover, a true artist in the art of lovemaking. That was all. And she intended to appreciate the experience for what it was. She'd be a fool not to. When he kissed her hair she suppressed the responsive lurch of her heart. 27

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"You are a most amazing woman." His voice was deep, gravelly, soft around the edges. "And you are a most amazing man. An amazing lover." "You inspire me. In fact…" He sprang up, startling her. "How can you even move after that?" "I told you, you inspire me. Be right back." He stepped through the door, only to poke his head back in a moment later. "Don't move." "I hadn't planned on it." Leigh stretched luxuriously, enjoying the ache of muscles long unused. Jared returned, his thick hair gloriously disheveled, giving him a rakish, boyish look. His dark brown eyes were glittering again, and he held a camera in his hand. "Let me photograph you, Leigh." She groaned. "I'm a mess!" "You're beautiful. Glowing." He stared at her, a smile on his full, sensual mouth. How could she resist? Especially when his accent washed so deliciously over her along with his words. And she was still too sated, too content, to argue. "What do you want me to do?" "Just lay there. Move a bit, if you like. Doesn't matter." He crouched down and began shooting, the clicking camera looking tiny in his large hands. Leigh felt a sudden surge of shyness and rolled onto her stomach, hid her face in a pillow, then peered out from beneath her tousled hair. "Beautiful. Come on now, move onto your side. Yes, that's it. Perfect." He paused to bend down and kiss her breasts, making the blood rush into them again, the nipples peak to attention. "Yes, that's it. God, you're gorgeous." As he shot the pictures, his cock filled, thickening, until it was lusciously hard again. Leigh's sex filled and tingled just 28

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looking at him, thinking about what it felt like to have him thrusting inside her. Yes. "Jared, come back to bed. I need more." "Ask nicely." That devilish smile again. Instead, Leigh turned onto her back once more, spread her thighs and used her fingers to stroke her cleft. "Oh, you are very persuasive, aren't you?" Jared took one last shot, then set the camera aside and lowered himself on top of her. Leigh clamped her legs around him. "I want it hard and fast this time." "Just a good, hard fuck, my darling? You shall have it." He grabbed another condom from the night table, sheathed himself, and just as quickly pushed into her. She let out a gasp as he filled her. She lay still at first while he began to move, pushing in slowly, pulling out, thrusting harder with each stroke until his big cock was buried to the hilt inside her. "Christ. Hold on," he warned, his voice raw with lust. Leigh obediently reached behind her and grabbed a wooden bedpost. Jared thrust his hips, his cock pumping inside her, the tempo building quickly. Her pussy contracted, squeezing around him, every exquisite sensation bringing her toward yet another orgasm, her whole body tingling, trembling. He pumped faster, his hips piston-like, hammering, driving his heated flesh home. Her own hips bucked to keep up, grinding her mound against him with each thrust. Her clit was on fire. Her insides melted around him, the sensations overwhelming her again. And she hung on to the bedpost for dear life while his enormous body pummeled her. She loved every second of it. When her orgasm hit, it hit like a ton of bricks, slamming 29

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into her with such force she cried out, screamed his name. It sent him over the edge as well. "Leigh!" His muscles convulsed, he shivered all over, then collapsed on top of her. After a while, he lifted his head, nipped her lips playfully. "Next time, you're going to be on top. And after that it'll be bent over the kitchen table and I'll fuck you from behind. And after that…I'll think of something." She laughed. "Lord, I'm starved. Do you like ice cream?" "Who doesn't?" "Right. I'll get it." "You're not one of those drop right off to sleep after sex kind of guys, are you?" "I told you, you inspire me." He stood, grinning down at her. "And I'm hungry. I worked up a good appetite. If only your pussy was full of mint chocolate chip, you'd be the perfect woman." She chuckled again as he left the room. While he was gone she took the opportunity to look around his bedroom. Wooden nightstands on either side of the bed. Dark carved wood, probably Indonesian, as was the big dresser against one wall. Stacks of books were piled on the floor, but she couldn't read the titles from where she lay. A few black and white prints hung on the walls. Extraordinary, she realized, focusing in on them. One was a small Asian boy of about two or three, squatting on the ground, while behind him stretched the Great Wall of China. The focus was on the child, while the undulating miles of stone were soft in the distance. Another was a close-up of an old, dark-skinned woman, her eyes bright, peering from behind a swath of complexly patterned fabric. 30

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A third was a group of brown-skinned, naked children, playing happily in a puddle of water, while an enormous military tank loomed directly behind them. The image was familiar. Leigh sat up and looked for a signature. There it was, in the lower right-hand corner. J.W. Townsend. Jared was the J.W. Townsend. He wasn't just any photojournalist. Four books of his photos had been published, books one saw on the coffee tables of anyone who appreciated good art. He'd won awards, taken pictures in some of the most dangerous locales in the world. Leigh couldn't help but be impressed. Jared returned with a carton of ice cream and a spoon. He plopped onto the bed, pulled her to his side with a growl. "Come here, woman. Help me eat this." "Why didn't you tell me?" "Tell you what?" He spoke from around a colossal spoonful of ice cream. "Hope you like vanilla, it's all I've got at the moment." "Why didn't you tell me who you are?" "I thought I'd introduced myself." He paused. "Yeah, pretty sure I did." "Very funny. I mean why didn't you tell me that you're the famous Jared Townsend?" "Oh, yeah, that's always charming. How do you do, I'm Jared Townsend, famous photographer and modest as hell. Does it matter?" "No, I suppose not. I just feel a little funny. Like I just unknowingly fucked a rock star." He laughed, a deep sound rumbling in his broad chest. Leigh laughed, too. "God, never mind. Now I just feel like an idiot. Give me some of that ice cream." Jared fed her a spoonful, then took another bite while they 31

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sat in companionable silence. His body was warm, and they were both slick with the heat of the day and the heat of sex. The ice cream was a lovely, cooling contrast as it slid down her throat. Suddenly, it occurred to her that the cold sweetness would feel pretty damn good elsewhere. And without her having to say anything, Jared placed the next spoonful on the tip of one of her breasts. He bent over and licked it off while Leigh laughed. But her laughter faded away when he swirled his tongue over her stiff nipple, then took it into his mouth to suck. She groaned. He lifted his head. "More?" "Oh, yes." This time he used his fingers to wipe a glob of the cold ice cream onto her other breast. He took his time licking up the mess, catching the melting rivulets when they slid down over her skin, then drawing her nipple into his mouth and sucking, hard, before pulling away. "The best ice cream I've ever had. Only one thing that could make it better." The mischievous twinkle was back in his eyes and she knew exactly what he was thinking. She got soaking wet just imagining what he was about to do. She sat back against the pillows and opened her thighs for him. Grinning, he took a big scoop of ice cream on his fingers and rubbed it into her cleft. The cold felt incredible on her already throbbing pussy. And it was even better when he lowered his head and started to lick it off. His tongue moved in the slick folds, over her swollen clit, licking and sucking as he went. Then he took another spoonful and rubbed it over her opening. God it was cold, but so good, and his mouth was even better as he sucked the ice cream out of her. When she came it was fast and hard, her body and her mind spiraling upward once more. 32

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Her sex pulsed, her blood pounded in her head, and she pushed her mound right into his lovely sucking, hot mouth. When it was over she was still tingling all over. And there was Jared, grinning, sucking on one of his fingers, then his thumb. His enormous erection sprouted below his belly. Too lovely to resist. "Your turn." "I thought you'd never ask." He leaned back against the headboard and handed her the ice cream carton. She spread the cold ice cream on his cock, watched him shiver. But he was hard as ever. When she lowered her head over him and took him into her mouth, he stiffened all over. He was huge, but she managed to slide her mouth almost to the base of his cock, the ice cream helping the motion. She could taste the vanilla flavor, mixed with the unique taste of his flesh. And what glorious flesh! It pulsed already against the back of her throat. Jared groaned. "God, you feel good. Yes, just like that. Take as much as you can." His hips bucked as she pulled her lips up his shaft, then back down again, burying him in her throat. His hands were in her hair. He was so big, so hard, and sweet with the melting ice cream. When he moaned it made her want even more to please him. She moved faster, sucked as she slid her mouth up and down the thick shaft. She reached down between his muscular thighs and cupped his balls. He groaned and thrust between her lips, into her throat. "Yes, let me fuck your mouth," he gasped. She took as much of him as she could, loving that she could do this to him. And when he came, exploding into her mouth, she tried to swallow all of it. His cum went down her throat with 33

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the sweet tinge of vanilla. After licking him clean, she sat back on her heels and looked at him. His big body was relaxed, one arm thrown over his head. His eyes were almost black. Glossy, hooded. "Did I finally wear you out?" "Only for the moment. Give me a minute to catch my breath. Okay, maybe an hour. Come here." He pulled her on top of him. She lay sprawled over his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It slowed after a few minutes to a lazy lub-lub. Why did she feel so happy here, in his arms? Was it just the sex? No, great sex felt good, but wouldn't give her this sense of comfort, of rightness. Stop right there, Leigh. She was not going to set herself up for heartbreak. This was a man who never stayed in one place for long. She had no reason to think he'd suddenly change his entire lifestyle because they'd just had sex. Great sex. Absolutely stupendous, mind-blowing sex. And it wasn't just that he was such a wonderful lover. It took two people to make that kind of sex happen. Well, screw her ex, she decided. If the sex between them hadn't been great, it must have been as much his fault as it was hers. In fact, maybe it hadn't been her fault at all. It had just taken Jared to show her what she was capable of. "Thank you." "For what?" he mumbled sleepily. "For…" Did she dare say it? Why the hell not? If this was just a fling, did it matter what she said? "For making a real woman out of me." "I'd love to take the credit, but damned if you didn't come that way." He gave a big yawn and stroked her hair, and Leigh felt the warmth of his hand deep inside her. But not between her legs. In 34

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her heart. You are not falling for him. But that warning went unheeded. Because the truth of it was, she was falling hard; mind, body, heart.

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Chapter 6

Night brought cooling air and darkness speared with stars. A faint breeze blew through the open window, playing over Leigh's sweat and sex dampened skin. The scent of the ocean was in the air, mixed with that unique, summertime smell of pavement baked all day in the sun. She ached pleasantly all over. When she stretched, Jared stirred beside her. "Hungry?" he asked. She grinned. "You're always hungry for one thing or another." "All day in bed with you, my sweet, and I'm famished. For you--" he paused and gave her nipple a playful nip. "And currently for food." He popped out of bed. "Do you like Indian food? There's a great place down on Venice that delivers. Brilliant curry." "Yes, anything." "Anything?" He quirked an eyebrow and his eyes sparkled dangerously. She laughed. "Anything to eat now, and anything else you want later." "You're a good woman, Leigh." "I aim to please," she said lightly while her heart danced in flitting spirals at the easy compliment. The promised curry arrived quickly. They ate naked in Jared's big bed, propped up against piles of pillows. "I suppose this is the getting to know one another segment 36

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of the evening." Jared popped a piece of chicken into his mouth. "Not if you don't want it to be." "That's why I asked, darlin'. After what we've been doing all day, we shouldn't be strangers." His fork paused in the air and his deep brown eyes held hers. Leigh's chest tightened at the sincere intensity of his gaze. She swallowed her mouthful of rice. "What do you want to know?" "What would you like to tell me?" She shrugged, suddenly self-conscious. What did he really want to know about her? What was there to tell? "Well, you already know I'm an interior designer. I've been doing it for about five years." "Is your family happy with what you do?" "They'd be happier if I'd stayed married to my ex and made grand-babies for them." Damn. How had that slipped out? "Sorry. We don't have to talk about that. Change of subject. I have a younger sister, Erin. She's coming to visit some time this summer. She's in a rock band. Plays guitar. She's a genius. Writes all her own music." "Interesting. Perhaps I'll get to meet her. So, what happened with your ex-husband?" "What? I'm sure you don't want to know about that." "You and I don't need to keep secrets from each other. Do we, Leigh?" Jared set his plate down on the nightstand, took Leigh's empty plate and set it aside as well. He pulled her to his side, one arm draped around her shoulders. "Tell me." Another command. Different than during sex, yet just as compelling. She shrugged, took a deep breath. "It's the same old, sad story as everyone else. I was never good enough for him and 37

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eventually he found someone else who was." "Don't ever let anyone tell you you're not good enough," he said quietly, his voice firm with conviction. Her heart contracted again. She had to stop allowing him to affect her like this. It was dangerous. She was feeling too wellused, too well-loved. Vulnerable. "What about you? Have you ever been married?" "Me? No. I move around too much. No woman in her right mind would put up with me." He sounded as though he were trying to convince her of his unsuitability. He only confirmed her assumption that he wouldn't be around for long. But why not enjoy him while she could? She stuffed her emotions down, vowed to lock them away and not think about the future. He was here now, and the present was a very pleasant place to be. *** The following weeks were a haze of blazing days and sultry nights. Leigh spent nearly every weeknight in Jared's bed, and weekends they rarely left it at all. He'd accomplished little unpacking, and colorful take-out menus littered the tops of the boxes piled around his house. Leigh hardly noticed. All she knew was that this man did things to her body no one had ever done before. She awoke each morning sore all over, yet wanting more. Every moment of the day seemed to be infused with sensuality. Jared had awakened her senses, and there was no shutting them down, whether she was with him or not. On the few evenings he was away, her body yearned for him, demanding satisfaction. She had to stand in the shower, her soap-slicked hand rubbing furiously between her thighs, until, thinking of him, she came in a fierce explosion. But more than that, she missed him. She tried not to. But 38

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every cell in her being needed him; her heart as much as her body. Thankfully, their evenings apart were rare. On July 4th they walked down to the Santa Monica Pier to see the fireworks. The weather was perfect, the summer heat giving way to a cooling breeze. They arrived early, and were treated to a spectacular sunset while they sat on a blanket and drank champagne. Giddy with the champagne, Leigh smiled when Jared pulled her to sit between his legs. She leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her, his hands coming to rest beneath her breasts. Her body tingled while darkness settled around them, while the crowd along the beach hummed with expectation. She didn't move when Jared's fingers began to tease one nipple through her light gauze top. Her nipple stiffened and she moaned. He whispered in her ear, "When I get you home I'm going to fuck you so hard you'll come for an hour. What do you think of that?" "I think we can leave now." "Naughty girl. You'll have to wait until the fireworks are over." He gave her nipple a firm pinch before pulling his hand away. "You're so cruel." "Poor girl. You're a tortured soul." "I am," she pouted. "Then we shall have to do something about that." He reached into the leather backpack they'd brought along and pulled out a beach towel, which he draped over her lap. "Jared? What--" "Shh. Watch the sky. The show's about to begin." The air rumbled and a fiery shower of color burst in the darkness over the ocean. The crowd applauded. Jared's hand 39

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crept beneath the hem of Leigh's short skirt. His fingers were cool against the hot skin of her thighs. He moved upward. She parted her legs to accommodate him. And let out a gasp when he thrust his fingers into her waiting pussy. "Quiet, darlin'. There are a thousand people here." "Yes," she breathed. That made it even better. She rocked her hips to take his fingers more fully inside her. Her sex squeezed when he began to slide them in and out. When he positioned his hand so that his thumb pressed on her clit, she had to suck in her breath to keep from crying out. The fireworks exploded above them, the force of the launchers shaking the ground. The crowd oohed and ahhed. And still Jared worked her with his fingers, his thumb circling her throbbing clit. She moved against his hand. Jared whispered, "Come for me, darlin'. Come into my hand. Fuck my hand. Yes, that's it." When the finale rocketed into the sky in an electric burst of red, white and blue, Leigh's orgasm rocketed through her. Jared plunged his fingers deeper inside her, driving her on as she came. She squeezed her eyes shut, bit her lip to muffle her cry, then went limp against him. She was trembling. Her pussy was still in the last throes, convulsing around his fingers. "God, Jared. You are wicked," she panted. "I pride myself on that. I'll have you converted yet, my girl." Her heart turned over at those possessive words. No, it's just sex. But it was getting harder and harder to convince herself of that. He pulled his fingers from her, then one by one, put them in his mouth and sucked them clean. "You taste so good. Like summer." She was still shaking. "Can we go now?" "Yes!" 40

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*** Later, in his bed, they dined on cold chicken and washed it down with more champagne. He had fucked her hard and long, as promised. Leigh's thighs trembled and her sex ached. But more than that, her heart ached. She loved this simple, companionable comfort. Things were always easy between them. They laughed together, often talked late into the night after they were both worn out from sex. She knew this was a temporary arrangement, so there weren't the usual questions hanging in the air between them: Where is this relationship going? How do you feel about me? Leigh knew how she felt. And she knew Jared wasn't the kind of man who got into anything permanent, so she pushed her feelings aside. Despite the incredible sex, the easy companionship, the laughter, the many things they had in common. No, despite all that, he wasn't for her. He would move on eventually. And take a piece of her heart with him. "Leigh." His deep voice broke through her reverie. "Hmm?" "I'm leaving soon." "What?" She bolted upright, blood pounding in her head. "I'm going to Paris." "Paris?" "I've been offered a project. It's a book of architectural photography, a variety of photographers. Some of the best in the world. And my agent managed to get me a show there at the same time." "Oh." She swallowed, hard, the disappointment and the hurt going down like acid. He reached out and tipped her chin up with his hand. "Look, darlin', I'm sorry to go. But this is a brilliant opportunity for me." 41

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"I know that." She was furious when tears thickened her voice. "Oh, now, don't do that. I can't bear it." He leaned in and kissed her mouth, kissed her tear-damp eyes, her hot forehead. Her heart twisted at his tender touch. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. For a moment she thought she saw something in the dark brown depths of his gaze. A glimpse of emotion. But she knew it was only her own wishful thinking. "When do you go?" "On Friday." "So soon?" That was only two days away. "I just got the news. And I don't think long goodbyes do anyone any good. Leigh, you knew I'd be leaving eventually, didn't you? I never led you to think otherwise." "No, you didn't. I've always appreciated your honesty." "Right then. Can we enjoy the next two days? Do you want to be here with me?" "Yes. Of course." If only he knew how much. "That's my girl." He rubbed a stray tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I've had the most wonderful summer with you. You're an incredible woman, Leigh." "Don't say that. Please." "It's true." Then why wasn't he staying with her? Jared lay back on the bed and pulled her on top of him. He kissed her again, softly. His lips were so sweet and so fine against hers. He tasted faintly of the sparkling wine they'd been drinking all evening. Her body heated up, despite her aching heart. "Make love with me, Leigh," he whispered. He'd never called it that before. It was always fucking. But 42

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who was she to protest? She slid her body against his, her already tight, hard nipples grazing his chest. He cupped her bottom in his big hands, and pulled her hips into his heavy erection. "Ah, Leigh," he groaned. She reached into the nightstand and found a condom, slipped it over his thick shaft, and positioned her wet sex over him. She needed to feel him inside her. Needed to have at least that much of him. She parted her lips with her fingers and slid onto the hard length of him, his cock filling her. He reached up and took her face in his hands, drew her down for another kiss. When his tongue pushed into her mouth, meeting and twining with hers, she began to move. His hands threaded through her hair, caressed the back of her neck, her shoulders, while she rocked her hips against him. This was different, she thought, even as the familiar stab of pleasure shot through her. He was different. Was she fooling herself into believing that he felt something for her, too? That he was going to miss her the way she missed him even now? He thrust into her, faster and faster. His pelvis ground against her clit, and the pressure built quickly. And when she came, pleasure crashing over her like the waves of the ocean, she cried his name out loud. And moments later he stiffened beneath her, pulled her body close to his, her breasts crushing against the hard wall of his chest. And her name escaped his lips on a long sigh.

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Chapter 7

Leigh didn't see him again. She realized the morning after Jared had given her the news that it would just be too difficult. When she told him about her decision, he didn't argue. That hurt. In her girlish fantasies, he would have fought for her. But this was no fantasy. This was real life. And the truth was, he didn't want her. She'd known from the start it would end this way. That along with the sultry heat, he would be gone at the end of summer. But she still wanted him, on every level. Her body still trembled with need whenever she thought of him. His tall, hardpacked body, his fathomless brown eyes, his hot, kissable mouth, the silken shaft of his cock. And her hands would find her soaking wet cleft, massaging and pinching her clit until she came in a shivering torrent. Even worse was the yearning in her heart, in her head. She couldn't sleep. She missed him in a terrible gut-wrenching way that drained all of her energy. She couldn't stop thinking about him, even for a moment. Was this obsession? Maybe so. But there were reasons why she felt the way she did about Jared. Why she loved him with all her heart. Her aching body. Her soul. He was everything she could want in a man: kind, funny, creative, confident. He was the sexiest man she had ever met, and it was more than his big body, tight with muscle. Or even his beautiful face and deep, dark eyes. It was something about the 44

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way he carried himself, the way he moved. The way he smelled. Her mouth watered and her sex clenched just thinking about it. And he made her feel about herself all of the things her ex never had: sexy, smart, beautiful. Maybe because he saw her that way. But it wasn't enough to make him stay, was it? The morning of Jared's scheduled departure Leigh moved about her house like a wraith. She couldn't seem to sit still. She was too full of grief. She was afraid if she allowed herself to stop moving, the grief would take over and she'd never get it under control again. It sat like a stone in her chest. Heavy, burdening her every breath. She kept away from the windows. She couldn't bear to see him pull away in the cab. She'd already imagined that horrible, sad scenario in her head too many times during her sleepless night. By ten A.M. the heat of the day was already stifling. She went to open her kitchen door to let some air in. And there he was. Her breath caught in her throat and she was sure she'd never breathe again. He was too beautiful, standing there. "Hallo, Leigh." "Please Jared. I can't do this." "I can't either." "What?" He took her arm, pushed past her into the house, pulling her with him. They stood in her small kitchen. He took something out of his back pocket and put it into her numb hands. "Come with me." The warmth from his hand on her arm was seeping into her skin. He smelled like Jared. Like clean skin and sex. She thought her legs might go out from under her. What had he just said? She 45

Eden Bradley

glanced down and realized she held a pair of plane tickets. "Go? Go where?" She couldn't seem to make sense of his words. "To Paris. To Paris now, and later, wherever. Wherever you want." His dark gaze locked onto hers and her shocked brain finally understood that he was serious. His fingers stroked her cheek, and it was a moment before she realized he was wiping away the tears that fell there. "I can't go without you. I won't do it. Say you'll come. I love you, Leigh. I've never said those words to anyone else. I've never wanted to. Say those tears mean you love me. Say you'll come." Her heart was filling up slowly, with a warm joy that consumed her. He loved her! Looking into his eyes she could see it there. His expression was intense, hopeful. It was the first time she had ever seen him unsure about anything. She wanted to kiss him, had to. His lips were soft, more pliant than they'd ever been before. But he tasted the same. Like the man she loved. His arms went around her and pulled her into his big body. And she felt safe. And loved. And she would follow him to the ends of the earth. She pulled away long enough to whisper, "I love you, Jared." He crushed his mouth to hers once more, and that sultry heat flooded her body. She melted against him. "And yes, I'll go," she told him when she could. "But there's one thing that just can't wait. Love me, Jared." "I do, my girl." And he did. ~~~

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Eden Bradley

writes erotica and sensual romance in between her duties as book review editor and member liaison at RomanceDivas.com, where she has published several articles on writing love scenes. She is also the author of Cherokee Cowboy, a steamy romance novel from New Age Dimensions Publishing (December 2005), written under the pen name Lisa Bradley. She lives in sunny Southern California with the love of her life and a small menagerie. When not busy writing, she enjoys a sybaritic life of cooking, eating, gardening, shopping, traveling, lounging and reading everything she can get her hands on. She particularly adores sultry, sensual stories of love. Please visit her website at: www.edenbradleyerotica.com

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