Dangerous Grounds (26 page)

“Gabe?” She looked up at him with sudden dread. Maybe it was too late. Maybe they could forgive each other, but that would be as far as it could go.

Her fear evaporated when he lowered his head to hers and covered her mouth with his own, his tongue moving between her lips to slip deep inside. Madison gave something between a sigh of relief and a laugh as she wound her arms around his neck.

“The feeling is mutual,
mi vida
,” he finally whispered against her mouth as backed her up against the door.

Gabe shoved the fluffy dress up around her waist while she went to work freeing him from his tuxedo pants.

“I’m on birth control now,” she murmured as he pulled her nylons off, followed by her panties. “Have been for a bit.”

“Good.” He plunged two fingers between her legs and inside her.

“Oh God.” Her knees went weak as he moved his fingers in and out. She could hear her own wetness and it made her hotter.

Gabe lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. A second later he thrust into her and Madison’s body clenched around his thick erection.

Footsteps sounded in the hall and then came voices nearby. Gabe froze, buried to the hilt inside her with his fingers digging into her ass cheeks.

Madison bit her lip to keep quiet and ducked her head against his shoulder.

“I don’t know where he could have gone!” Lannie’s exasperated voice came from right outside the door. “And Madison’s disappeared, too.”

Gabe rotated his hips, moving deeper and making Madison’s mouth open on a silent gasp.

“I’m sure they’re fine.” Christy’s voice sounded a bit weary and hinted that she knew more than Lannie did. “I’m not up for dancing right now anyway. Come on. Let’s just go back to the reception. We can skip to the father-daughter dance.”

“All right,” Lannie muttered. “But this is really weird. You would think they’d be in the other room waiting…”

Their voices drifted away and Madison let out the groan she’d been suppressing.

“That was close.” Gabe pulled out a bit and then thrust back in hard, making her jerk against the wall.

“Should we hurry and go back out?”

“Do you really want to go and socialize with a bunch of stuffy old people?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.

“You’re right. Let’s stay in here and keep doing the sex thing.” She tilted his chin so he looked up at her. “I love you, Gabriel Martinez.”

She watched the flicker of possessiveness in his gaze and, as it settled into something deeper, her throat tightened with emotion.

He shook his head. “God, I love you so much, Maddie.”

She gave him a watery smile and lowered her mouth to his again.

About the Author

To learn more about Shelli Stevens, please visit
www.shellistevens.com
. Send an email to Shelli at
[email protected]
or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as Shelli!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shellistevens

Look for these titles by Shelli Stevens

Now Available:

Seattle Steam

Dangerous Grounds

Tempting Adam

Seducing Allie

Chances Are

Anybody but Justin

Luck be Delanie

Protecting Phoebe

Holding Out for a Hero

Going Down

Command and Control

Flash Point

Trust and Dare

Theirs to Capture

Four Play

Coming Soon:

Foreign Affair

Savage Hunger

The man she wants is the one she must deceive.

Tempting Adam

© 2008 Shelli Stevens

Seattle Steam, Book 2

Christy Wallace may be a respectable Seattle Spanish teacher, but she’s got a sultry side. She lets it come out to play during the summer, when she moonlights as a Salsa dancing instructor.

Sexy, cowboy Adam wants more time with her than just a fleeting cup of coffee, but she makes it clear that if he wants her, he’ll have to sign up for dance class. Amazingly enough, he does. And Christy finds herself falling for a charming country hick with hands as fast as his feet.

Adam’s no hick, though. He’s the owner of Adam’s Apples, the fastest-growing cider business in eastern Washington. To his own surprise, one night with her has him thinking in terms of forever. That is, until he walks into a restaurant for a family lunch—and finds Christy on the arm of his brother.

Is there a logical explanation? Or is something rotten in Seattle?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, dirty mechanical bull riding, and the violation of blueberries.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Tempting Adam:

Adam wondered how he managed to do just that. Smile and dance Salsa like he really gave a damn. He didn’t care an ounce for Salsa dancing. Now the woman he was dancing with, he cared a great deal about getting to know her better.

Earlier he’d switched partners, and found himself shuffling around with various other women. But his thoughts had stayed with Christy, and it wasn’t long before she returned to his arms.

She was what his dad would refer to as
enchanting.
With her laugh, her subtle flirting, and how absolutely gorgeous she was. Those wide blue eyes and pale blonde hair. And the smattering of freckles on her nose made him want to kiss the upturned tip.

She was a little more petite than most of the women he’d dated. She was almost tiny, by his standards. But she was rounded in all the right places and had breasts that would be a perfect fit for his hands. And, Lord, that gently rounded ass she’d displayed to him when she did her flirty turns in the dance.

“Almost done,” she whispered as they came inches away from each other. “Can you last for a few more minutes?”

Every time they came in close contact, he could smell her perfume. She smelled sweet, almost edible.

“Darlin’, I can go all night.”

Christy winced, her expression turning wry. “I suppose I set myself up for that one.”

“I suppose you did,” he agreed with a smile. “You going to let me take you out for dinner after this?”

“Dinner?” She raised an eyebrow. “It’s nearly eight o’clock. I ate before I came.”

Adam wasn’t deterred. He didn’t want this night to end when class did. “How about a snack before bed?”

Her eyelashes fell, hiding her expression. “I…I have to get up early in the morning. I’d better not.”

The disappointment stung. What was going on with her? Had she just been stringing him along? Was she playing hard to get? That didn’t seem right. She’d seemed interested in him—he’d seen her response in the coffee shop this morning. The way her nipples had gone hard under her sweater. The blood flowed to his crotch at the memory of it, and he abruptly turned his thoughts back to what might have spooked her.

Maybe she just wasn’t experienced with men. But she’d certainly flirted like she was. Maybe he’d just been too forward. That seemed a little more likely.

The song ended. Christy released his hands to step away from him.

“Congratulations.” She raised her voice to address the class. “You’ve just completed your first Salsa lesson. I’ll see you all tomorrow night.”

Adam stood there. Should he cut his losses and leave? Or try to talk to her more? Christy had already crossed the room and picked up a hand towel from the bench, using it to wipe over her face, which was amusing, since she hadn’t even broken a sweat.

He stopped hesitating and walked over to her. She looked up, seeming surprised that he was still here.

“Did you have fun?” Her question and tone were equally polite.

“It was interesting,” he compromised. “I’m sure I’ll pick up more tomorrow night.”

“You’re coming back?” she asked, and then her cheeks tinged pink. “I mean, I think you should. They’re week-long classes. I just wasn’t sure you’d want to.”

“When I start something, I finish it,” he promised, enjoying watching the flush in her cheeks deepen.

Christy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He’d noticed she did that when she was nervous or embarrassed.

“All right, well I’d better head out.” She slipped a bag over her shoulder and waved goodbye to Carlos who was locking up.

Adam kept pace with her as she walked out the door. “Let me see you to your car.”

“Thanks, that’s sweet of you.” She cast him a sideways look. “Do you have a long drive home?”

“I’m not from Seattle. I’m just in town for the week.”

Disappointment flashed across her face before she could turn away to hide it. Hmm, so she wasn’t looking for a one-night stand. Then again, neither was he. Not with her. She intrigued him like no woman had before. One night with Christy would be like watching half of the Super Bowl.

“But I have a lot of business here. I come back often.”

Her smile seemed a bit forced now. “Well, you picked a good week to visit. Now you get to be one of my students.”

“It’s been a long time since I was a student,” he admitted and stopped when she reached her car. “But I’m mighty glad you’re my instructor, Christy.”

“Why is that?”

The sudden huskiness in her voice was a good indication that she wasn’t immune to him. Despite his decision not to rush her, he was going to touch her. At least once.

“Because you’re every man’s fantasy teacher,” he said with a laugh. “And I’m going to kiss you now. If you don’t mind.”

Her lips parted in surprise, and before she could answer, he lowered his mouth to hers.

Her soft lips sent a stab of desire through him, which only increased when he slipped his tongue through the seam of her lips.

She tried to wrap her arms around his neck, but wasn’t tall enough. He laughed when her fingernails instead clutched at the top of his shoulders. She was so small, yet so lush. He settled his hands on her hips to pull her closer. Her nipples were hard, he could feel them brushing against his chest.

Adam stroked his tongue against hers a few more times, and then retreated. Slowing the kiss to just small brushes of his mouth over hers. He didn’t want to spook her anymore than he already had earlier. When he finally lifted his head, her eyes were closed.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night, okay?” He drew the pad of his thumb over her swollen lips.

“Okay,” she murmured, and opened her eyes to look up at him.

Her blue gaze was hazy with arousal, and his confidence surged. There was no doubt about it. She might have gone all shy for a moment, but she still wanted him.

A little lying and misdirection in the name of love is never wrong. Right?

Deliberate Deceptions

© 2011 Leah Braemel

Hauberk Protection, Book 3

Chad Miller once had the perfect life—a beautiful baby daughter, a loving wife, a promising career with the FBI. Within a year, he’d lost everything. Making Hauberk Protection a success salvaged his career, but he’s never managed to get over the one fateful decision that spelled the end of his marriage. And the death of his child.

For eight years, grief and guilt have haunted Lauren Miller’s climb up the ranks of the Light Brigade, a secret international hostage rescue team. Now she’s the target of a vengeful ex-Brigade operative who’ll stop at nothing to take her down. Even if it means taking out everyone she cares about. Including Chad. Getting him to accept her as his bodyguard? It’ll take some fast talking—and faster hands.

Trapped in a remote safe house with Lauren is the last place Chad ever wanted to be. He may finally have the chance to get some answers about why she ran, but with his hard-won defenses crumbling, he’s having trouble remembering the questions. In the heat of their rekindled passion, Lauren struggles to keep her professional focus…and keep the secrets that could break his heart all over again.

Warning: Angst dead-ahead! Lost love. Angst. Reunited lovers. Angst. Sex. More angst. And did I mention the angst? A box of tissues is definitely needed. But don’t worry, there’s still a Happy-Ever-After.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Deliberate Deceptions:

He was so cold, so controlled. The struggle to keep her disappointment from showing challenged Lauren. Did he not feel anything for her anymore? Did he have none of the desire, none of the need that had tied them together? The desire that had flared inside her, setting her body aglow as soon as she’d seen him? The need for him hadn’t lessened over the years. If anything, he was more attractive than he’d been before. She’d always found a man with just a hint of silver at his temples sexy.

How could she get him to stay? To listen to her with an open mind?

She took a step closer.
Please don’t let him leave. Don’t let him close the door between our rooms and shut me out completely.

She toyed with the buttons of her blouse. She’d left the top two undone out of habit, but now she toyed with the next one, undoing it, then the next. The fabric parted just enough to show the lace of her chemise. He’d always preferred the fantasy of wondering what was beneath, letting his imagination take over. “Thank you for volunteering to guard me. I was surprised when they said you’d be the lead op.”

She
had
been surprised, she realized. She’d been half expecting them to call the whole thing off. Fear that she’d screw things up even more and lose any chance for a reconciliation set in, leaving her frozen deep into her bones.

“I should go.” His voice was rough but at least he hadn’t moved.

“Please don’t.” She touched his forearm, letting her fingers rest on him. Heat rose through his cotton shirt, warming her. He was leaner than he’d been. Different. Yet the same. “I don’t think I could get to sleep, not after that helicopter ride.”

His gaze dropped to her fingers, a frown creasing his forehead. “I’d forgotten you don’t like riding in helicopters. Was the flight bad?”