Biting Serendipity: April Fools For Love (Biting Love Short Bites Book 4) (13 page)

When the Lights Go Out

Named after the date of her conception, April Prime was used to hiding away and avoiding the world on April Fools’ Day. Or at the very least, avoiding her parents who tended to celebrate the holiday very differently from the rest of the world.

This year would be different. This year she closed on a home, and was taking control of her life. A few hiccups had her headed to an office supply store in search of moving supplies. Crashing through a bathroom door, she stumbled on a bit more than she expected when mister tall, dark, and indisposed was already using the facilities.

Taylor James was stuck being the brunt of yet another round of April Fools’ pranks. One of them being a change of the bathroom door signs. He went to work knowing he’d have to navigate a mine field. What he didn’t expect was a woman bursting in on him only to send his head spinning.

Despite the scenery, April is ready to make a red-faced retreat. That’s when a car crash knocks out the power to everything inside the store, including the electronic locks.

By the glow of the emergency flood light the two realize they may be stuck for a long while. April and Taylor could wait out the inconvenience in silence, or they could capture a moment together, and just maybe find something special when the lights go out.

Warning: Sex in the dark may lead to orgasms and head injury.

Enjoy the following excerpt from
When the Lights Go Out:

“Want to know why I hate April Fools’ Day?” she asked.

“If you can top being glued to the toilet seat and getting assaulted by a bucket of bouncy balls before coffee, have at it.”

“My parents conceived me on April Fools’ Day.”

“Why do you know that?” He couldn’t imagine having knowledge of his conception from his own parents.

“They named me after it.” She sighed. “My first name’s April, all right? It’s their favorite funny story. They told it to everyone. Every date I took home. Every friend I invited over. And mind you, my very first birthday sleepover they told all the girls in my second grade class, that they had sex on this very night eight years and nine months ago.”

“Thinking of your parents having sex every time someone says your name? Okay, you win.” Taylor couldn’t stop laughing. “I do know your first name now. Wonder if I’ll get your last name out of you before we’re rescued.”

“Not a chance, mister. You’re not getting any more out of me. We’re having an intimate conversation between strangers.”

He heard some crinkling.

“What is that?” he asked the blackness. Her mother had slipped two things under that door. One was food, the other… He opened his eyes further to try and process.

“I got hungry,” she said around a bite of the granola bar. “Don’t worry. I’ll share.”

Taylor wasn’t sure what she was sharing, but he damn sure wasn’t thinking about food when her hand crept higher.

Without his sight, the touch had every nerve in his body going off like a strobe light in the darkness. The hand that touched him was small, but definitely not shy. She pressed at the midpoint of his thigh as she shifted her weight and adjusted, so her knees were no longer touching his.

She pressed the half empty wrapper against his abdomen. She walked her fingers up his chest. His heart pounded as her digits tickled his nipple while they slid past.

He would have said something, but he wasn’t sure the sounds he made would be at all appropriate, and they might’ve been past that point now anyway. Her fingers continued up his neck and then traced along the line of his jaw. Even though it made no difference in the amount of light, Taylor felt his eyes close. He kept silent and he felt his face go lax with pleasure. Whether he should or not, he enjoyed her touch. For once he wasn’t worried about if the woman was marriage material or if she would be able to put up with his schedule. He wasn’t thinking about any of that. In the dark, he didn’t even have to worry about how she was reacting, because he couldn’t see. It was all about how she made him feel, and he felt alive.

Then her fingers found his lips. His suddenly dry lips. Without thinking, his tongue darted out to wet them, but he ended up licking her finger instead.

“Oh.”

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Fringe Benefits

Business meetings can be hell, and business trips even worse, especially when one employees lusts after another. Linda wants nothing to do with her overly aggressive boss whose idea of sensitivity training involves porn and a rubber chicken.

Fortunately she’s got a good buddy along, and together she and Stacy manage to thwart those devious plans. Stacy finds her own fun and Linda stumbles over the most gorgeous man sleeping off what looks like an afternoon of sun and beer. And boy, he’s “loaded” in the best sense of the word.

Before she knows it, Linda becomes sex-crazed over Richard. Between wine, skinny-dipping and nights of incredibly imaginative bliss, the two of them explore delights neither could have anticipated.

However, as the meetings come to a conclusion, there’s one more surprise in store for Linda. And it involves an April Fool…

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Fringe Benefits:

Linda was transfixed. She didn’t realize she was staring, her nipples hard, or the fact that he’d woken up and was watching her gawking at him.

“My name is Richard by the way, but you can call me Dick if you’d like.” He smiled and fixed his shorts. He groaned, scratching his short black hair and rubbing his scalp.

Linda’s face turned a bright shade of red. She dropped her head and water dripped down her burning face.

“Sorry, I…uhh. I was just looking at your…umm, tan. Yes that’s it, your tan,” she said and couldn’t help but giggle like a schoolgirl. She leaned sideways to squeeze the water out of her hair. Her bathing suit accentuated her body.

Richard stared at Linda. She was a beautiful woman and he appreciated beauty. He also appreciated bathing suits, and breasts and… “I like your suit. It looks good on you.” He wondered what it looked like off her.

Linda sat down on the chair beside him to take in a little sun and they began to chat.

“I’m here for an important business restructuring meeting at the hotel. I missed my morning meeting because the damn flight was delayed.” He rubbed his head, finally getting some feeling back in his scalp.

His firm in San Francisco was here for a meeting with another company. He had a nasty hangover from the airline drinks. Mixing drinks on a redeye flight was a bad idea. Partying with his buddies in the airport bar made it worse.

“Tequila, beer and airline peanuts don’t mix well,” he mumbled. His bloodshot eyes and throbbing headache were proof.

In spite of his condition, he noticed Linda’s body becoming tense as his gaze caressed her skin. He again found himself staring at her. There was something intoxicating about her. Maybe that or the warmth of his blood rushing through his veins to his groin area.

“Well, I’d take a hangover instead of the crappy trip here in a car with a man I’m uncomfortable with.” She shifted on the chair.

“Don’t be so sure. The flight was short but I feel like I chipped my tooth on a bad peanut.” Richard smiled and shook his head, laughing at his stupid jokes. “I’m pitiful at this small talk. Isn’t this weather great?”

They both burst into laughter.

“Hey Linda, um, can I have you for dinner? Uh, I mean will you have dinner with me?” Richard grinned at his stupid remark. “I’m such an idiot.” It was true that he wanted nothing more than to eat her for dinner but he wanted to ask her out first.

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Heart Mates

Pull of the Moon
, Book 1

Shifters and witches? Forbidden on pain of death. Might as well stick a fork in a light socket. Yet those are the kind of sparks witch princess Sophia Blue feels when she meets wolf shifter Noah in her aunt’s bookstore.

But Sophia is stuck. Her aunt is missing and Noah, the last person to see her, is Sophia’s only hope. If not for that and her aunt’s new, cute little doggie, Sophia would run as far as she could from the sexy, hard-hewn alpha.

Noah’s stuck too. Before disappearing, the aunt hit him with a hex gone horribly wrong—he’s the doggie. By day he’s fifteen pounds of yippity-yip, and with five anti-alpha wolves nipping at his heels, that’s deadly dangerous. Only Sophia can help him, but she has lost her magic.

Then an evil mage from Sophia’s past shows up with murder on his mind, and all Noah’s instincts shout to protect the woman his misguided heart thinks is his mate.

Warning: Sinfully sexy alpha thrown together with a hot witch in a small town. Sass, sparkle, a meddling aunt, snafus, growling, fighting, and oh yeah, sex. Might want to get up to date on your shots.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Heart Mates:

Sophia, looking for her missing aunt, seeks alpha wolf Noah at beta Mason’s garage.

Any words forming in her brain never made it to her mouth as his lips claimed hers.

Male. Exciting. He dazzled all her senses, the scent of crisp cotton and fresh outdoors, the taste of dark and wild magic. His lips caressed her, soft and sweet, while the spear of his tongue blazed. Her sighs were underscored by his pleased growls.

Awash in him, her heart thudded and her blood sang. Bursts of pleasure sparkled like firecrackers. She lifted on her toes for more.

His kiss slanted and deepened, the wild taking of the wolf but also the mastery of the man, one who knew how to give a woman what she wanted. Her mouth opened and his tongue plunged. His fingers threaded in her hair to pull her closer. Their bodies melded like two candles dripping hot wax.

Mason cleared his throat.

Noah stiffened. Lifted his head with a soft sigh.

Without the liquid caress of his hot, expert mouth, Sophia’s sanity returned.
What had she done?
Witch and shifter…no, not,
never
. She gathered enough tattered willpower to step out of his arms.

“I’m sorry…” Her voice was breathy. Damn singing hormones. She tried again. “I’m sorry that happened.”

He stepped back too. “Why?” He crossed his arms, his biceps and pecs bulging. “I’m not.”

She swallowed her tongue, totally forgetting why she should be sorry. Oh yeah, shifter/witch taboo—but he wouldn’t know she was a witch. And even if he did, he wouldn’t care. Most shifters pretended the Witches’ Council didn’t exist.

“Hey,” Mason said. “I didn’t want you two to stop. I just wanted to let you know that if you’re going to get
friendly
—” Mason’s grin was so big Sophia wanted to punch him, “—I’m heading out now. There’s a couch in the office. Lock up when you’re done.” He lumbered off.

“Stars,” she said. “What was that all about?”

“He’s encouraging me to find a wife.” Noah grimaced.

Noah wasn’t mated.
Yes
. No. None of her business.

But poor Noah. He had his own Aunt Linda, nagging for the pitter-patter of little paws. Although with the confident way he stood there, bigger and badder than anything, it was hard to feel
too
sorry.

Noah thrust his hands in his pockets. It framed all that was glorious. “I should go too.”

“Wait. I wanted to talk with you.”

“Why?”

“Why? Um, well, the reason I wanted to talk with you is…” What had she wanted to ask? Are you dating? What’s your phone number?
What size condom do you wear?
She rubbed her eyes. “My aunt. Linda.” She dropped her hand and met his silver gaze. “I think you were the last person to see her. Do you know where she went?”

“I’m sorry, no. She left the bookstore when I did, but she didn’t share her plans with me.”

Disappointment gnawed Sophia’s gut. “Can you at least tell me if she was okay?”

“Yes.” His response was immediate and reassuring. “Don’t worry about your aunt. She was fine. A little flustered, but fine.”

He’d seen her worry and didn’t hesitate to comfort her. He must be a very good alpha.

“I’m relieved to hear it. What about that boy my aunt called you in for? Was he still in the store at that point?”

“Marlowe? The boy is my responsibility. I can assure you he will be punished and your aunt reimbursed. In fact, if you want to get repairs going, I’ll personally vouch for the funds.”

“Thank you.” All that muscle, and responsible too. Some little she-wolf was going to be very lucky someday. “But that’s not what I meant. I’d like to talk with him. Do you know where he lives?”

Something shuttered in Noah’s gaze. “The boy left before I did. He knows nothing.” The reply had “back off” stamped all over it.

As if that would stop her. She gave a mental shrug. She’d have to get the boy’s address another way. “I’d better get back to the bookstore. If you think of anything, come see me, okay? The sign will be Closed, but I’ll be there.”

“You and me. Alone.” His molten gaze ran over her, chasing a shiver from her head to her toes and back again, lingering on her lips so long she had to work not to lick them. Finally he said, “Let me get this straight. You want me, a stranger, to come to the bookstore, where we’ll be alone—after what just happened between us?”

Put like that, reinforced by his hot all-over gaze, it sounded like an invitation to ravish her. “Uh…yes?”

He shook his head, more disbelief than a no. “You’re temptation on a stick. I’m not quite that masochistic.”

“Me? Have you been chewing Viagra?” She considered herself, banker chic in navy-blue pants suit, pumps and pearls. “I’m no cover model.”

“I’ve never cared for
eau de airbrush
. Believe me, your real beauty is far more alluring.” His eyes fired white-hot on her, a beastly hunger that was pure
wolf.

That look promised instant ravaging. Hot, hard, animal sex.

She swallowed all the way to where she was wet. She wasn’t completely certain she’d stop him.

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