Burning Hunger (11 page)

“Come for me, honey.” He kissed her cheek.
“I promise I’ll be here for you.”

Val tried to focus her glazed eyes but it
was impossible to see through the haze of desire blinding her.
Every stroke of his finger brought her closer to heaven. She could
read between the lines as good as anyone, but she had to be sure
she didn’t misread the sincerity in his husky tone. She had to be
sure.

“You will?” she asked weakly, using every
ounce of strength she possessed not to move her hips with his
movements. She tried not to notice that waiters were moving from
table to table, filling everyone’s champagne glasses for the
official toast, aware that if she was going to let go it had better
be soon.

“Yes, don’t you know that by now? I’m not
going anywhere, honey. Besides, you’ve ruined me for other
women.”

Val’s soft chuckle quickly turned into a
sound of pleasure as she let herself go, unleashing the climax
gripping her body…and soul, secure in the knowledge that Chaz would
be there for her, that he wouldn’t let her crash without the
protection of his strong arms. As she exploded in bliss and her
gaze locked onto his, it dawned on her that she felt something
else, something stronger.
I love him!
Tears filled her eyes
with the depth of her emotion, while her lower body twitched and
shook around his embedded finger. It was too much for her to
handle.

“What is it, baby?” His tone was tender,
deep with concern.

Val shook her head. “No-nothing,” she could
barely speak for the lump in her throat.
So this is what love
feels like.
And what a time to discover it!

Chaz removed his hand from beneath her
skirt, and before Val could prepare herself he pulled her out of
her chair and onto his lap. It didn’t seem to matter where they
were. He wrapped her in his strong arms and held her against his
chest. He hadn’t been kidding about his hard-on.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” he
asked above her head.

“That’s just it, nothing is wrong.” Except
that I’ve fallen for you. “I just realized how…how much you mean to
me.” Since he was holding her sideways against his chest she was
able to see the lower half of his smiling face. A glance around the
room showed Val they were drawing attention. She pulled away from
Chaz to look into his eyes. “People are starting to stare.”

“Let them.” He reached up and wiped a tear
away with his thumb. “Does it bother you that we have feelings for
one another?”

Val stared into his warm eyes until Chaz’s
words had sunk in. “You have feelings for me, too?”

“Honey,” he laughed, “I’ve had a barrage of
feelings for you since the moment I saw you walk into my brother’s
house with that look-but-don’t-touch-attitude. Amusement, anger,
lust. More than once I wanted to put you across my knee.”

She couldn’t help it, she laughed.
“Naked?”

“Now that’s a thought.”

The tinkling sound of someone hitting the
side of their glass with silverware drew everyone’s attention
toward the bride and groom’s table. The music promptly ceased. Beau
was standing there with a champagne glass in his hand, obviously
ready to make the official toast as first best man. Val hadn’t even
seen him leave their table. Without prompting, everyone was
suddenly reaching for their glasses.

As she stretched to get hers Chaz beat her
to it, handing her a glass before picking up his own.

Still holding his flute high in the air,
Beau was about to speak when Blade touched him on the arm. They had
a brief exchange of words and then Beau sat down. Blade remained on
his feet. “Before my brother makes his toast, there’s something I’d
like to say to my bride.”

He turned to Callie, who was staring up at
him with a happy smile on her radiant face. Blade held his
champagne glass toward her, and as if some silent communication had
passed between them, Callie picked up hers.

“I remember a time when my brothers and I
thought we’d never meet that special someone we’d want to spend the
rest of our lives with. Not long after Beau married Marissa, I
asked him how he’d known she was the one. It didn’t take him long
to come up with an answer. It was simple. He just knew, he said.
Just like I knew the moment you landed on my lap beneath that tree,
and I gazed into your beautiful, laughing eyes. I knew you were
going to be trouble. You took my breath away, you turned me inside
out, you touched my soul, but most of all, you complete me. To a
long life together, honey.” By the time Blade was done, tears were
rolling down Callie’s face. He backed up his toast by pulling her
against him and kissing her long and hard.

Once the clapping stopped, Beau rose to his
feet again.

“That will be us some day,” Val said
jokingly. “I must be getting heavy.” She made a move to get off his
lap.

“I have no doubts,” Chaz responded, deadly
serious. “Unless we elope to Vegas or the Bahamas. And stay right
here.” He easily kept her from moving. Val just looked at him, not
knowing how to respond, afraid to give in to the happiness waiting
to burst through. “We were meant for each other, honey, and we’re
good together. Why else did we both stop playing the field after
that night at my brother’s house? Somewhere down deep you must have
sensed it, too.”

How can I argue when he’s speaking the
truth? She was vaguely aware Beau had begun his toast, but couldn’t
draw her attention away from Chaz. “So what does that mean?”

Chaz stared into her eyes with an emotion
she’d never seen before. “It means that.” He indicated the bride
and groom’s table with a nod of his head. “It means babies.” They
both glanced across at the baby in Marissa’s arms. “It means a lot
of this.” He kissed her firmly. “If you want it.”

If she wanted it? Val never thought she’d
find such happiness. As the sting of tears filled her eyes, a
trembling smile spread across her face. “Yes,” she whispered
huskily, her heart swelling with love. “Yes.”

They sealed their unspoken love with a kiss
that spoke volumes about their feelings for one another, and the
future they had ahead of them.

The End

Thank you for reading Burning Hunger. I hope
you enjoyed it, and would appreciate you leaving a review where you
purchased the story. You might also be interested in reading A
Perfect Fit, and Surrender to Desire, books one and two of this
series.

A Perfect Fit blurb – Marissa Lambert is
furious with her agent for hiring a security agency to protect her.
The last thing she needs is some Texas cowboy following her around,
and telling her what to do. Just because two plus-sized models have
turned up dead in a month doesn't mean she's at risk. And besides,
she can take care of herself.

Beau Evans owns and operates Evans Security,
and he's the unlucky one who gets to babysit the beautiful Marissa.
The moment he watches her strut her stuff down the runway, in a
revealing corset that hugs her generous assets, he gets an itch
that doesn't go away. Their first encounter ends with an angry
exchange and a battle of strong wills, but once they succumb to the
lust in their blood there's no turning back.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Perfect-Fit-ebook/dp/B00AX37N5E/ref=la_B002DBFNUQ_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378927866&sr=1-7

Surrender to Desire blurb – Callie thought
her man troubles were over when she accepts work at the Evans
ranch. Until Blade Evans rescues her out of a tree and she winds up
in his arms, and his bed. Against her will she starts to fall for
the handsome rancher. Then begins to wonder, as his new
housekeeper, is she just a convenient outlet for his sexual urges?
Or does he feel the same way about her?

http://www.amazon.com/SURRENDER-TO-DESIRE-ebook/dp/B00D5ZIO2S/ref=la_B002DBFNUQ_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378928049&sr=1-9

Please continue reading..

Up in Flames – grab your FREE copy here:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/290834

Blurb –

Rachel Masters has had a crush on her sexy
boss for three years. As far as she knows the millionaire architect
is oblivious to her, walking past her desk every morning with
barely a nod in her direction. But when the power goes out and
they're trapped in an elevator, the truth comes out in one steamy
episode designed to take Rachel's mind off being
claustrophobic.

James White doesn't have a crush on his
receptionist. He wants her, it's as simple as that. He senses
there's a real beauty hidden beneath the granny glasses and
professional suits. And he plans to find out how hot she is as soon
as the chance presents itself.

My first paranormal erotic romance COMING!
11/15/13

THE MATING RITUAL

On the run for her life, Toni finds safety
with an uncivilized group of people living deep in the Carolina
Mountains. Direct descendants from a legendary creature, they are
more human than beast. With the exception of being big and tall,
they no longer carry any of the original Bigfoot hairy, monstrous
traits. Yet they prefer the simple, uncomplicated life their
beastly ancestors lived. They remain far away from civilization,
feeding the locals with rare sightings that keep the myth
alive.

Captured by their rugged leader, Cormac,
Toni must undergo an ancient mating ritual in order not to be
claimed and mated by any of the other males. Once Cormac mates with
her in front of the whole clan, she will be off limits to everyone
but him, something Toni is grateful for. She gradually falls for
the powerful leader, willingly giving in to his ravenous demands
for sex. He vows to protect and love her, but can she give up
everything to live with him in the mountains?

The Mating Ritual will be available at
Amazon, Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks, and many other venues.

Amazon Author Page -
http://www.amazon.com/Tory-Richards/e/B002DBFNUQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Book List

The Mating Ritual

Bishop's Angel

Burning Desire

Surrender to Desire

Instant Attraction

Yield to Me

A Perfect Fit

Cupid's Arrow

The Senator's Daughter

Wicked Desire

Her Hands-On Man

It's All in the Jeans

Someone to Love Me

All the Right Moves

The Mercenary Way

The Cowboy Way

Breathless Surrender

Talk Dirty to Met

The Promise

Passionate Encounters

Hot Spot

Up in Flames