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Ah, it sounded a little corny but he had to admit, it also sounded damn good. He’d only had one real relationship and that had been with Brad. He’d been a shitty boyfriend, had only agreed to be with him anyway because Brad had forced him. Not a good way for a relationship to start.

With Michaela, he
wanted
to be there for her. Wanted to support her, enjoy her, love her like she deserved.

“Yeah.” He still held her hand and he drew his thumb across the back of it, her cool skin like a balm to his heated emotions.

“I thought you didn’t do relationships.”

“I’ve been waiting for the right person.”

“And I’m the right person?” Was that hope in her voice?

“You are.” He cleared his throat, squeezed her hand. “I’m in love with you, Michaela.”

“What?” Her voice was the barest whisper, her hand clutching his, her body leaning toward him.

He knew right then he had her. She was his. And he was hers. Nothing was going to change that.

“I love you,” he murmured, hauling her onto his lap and settling back against the couch. She wrapped herself around him, her arms circling his neck, her legs straddling his thighs. “And I’m hoping like hell you can return the favor.”

She giggled and kissed him, her lips cool and damp. He clutched the back of her head, his fingers threading through her wet and tangled hair, holding her to him. “I can return the favor.”

“You can?” He kissed the tip of her nose, the corner of her mouth. One hand slipped down to the center of her back, where he slowly drew the tie of her bikini top undone with one tug.

“Austin.” She gave a little gasp, feigning shock as his other hand undid the tie at the back of her neck, her top falling into his lap. “What are you doing?”

“Undressing the woman I love.” He cupped her breasts, his thumbs playing with her nipples and she arched into his touch. “Hoping that she’ll eventually say the words I want her to.”

“Maybe I should string it out. It’s kind of fun this way, no?”

“No.” He schooled his expression, going for stern disciplinarian. Just how she liked it. “It’s not fun this way. If you keep this up, I think I’m going to have to punish you.” He pinched her hard, pink nipples for good measure.

“Promise?” Her voice grew husky, her stomach quivering beneath his fingers as one hand slid down to tease inside her bikini bottoms. Her pussy was hot, unbelievably wet, such a contrast to her cool skin and he groaned at the first contact.

“You feel so good, babe.” He searched her folds, flicked her clit and she moaned, her hips thrusting toward him. “But before I take this any further, you’re going to have to say the magic words.”

“Pretty please?” She fluttered her lashes at him.

He withdrew his hand from her, brought his cream-covered fingers to his mouth. Salty sweet, just like the woman. “Not quite.”

Her green eyes flared as she watched him lick her juices from his fingers. “Do it now?”

It was his turn to laugh. “I don’t think so.”

“Well then, how about this.” She pressed her bare breasts against his chest, leveled her mouth close to his. “I love you, too, Austin. How’s that?”

“Perfect,” he said just before he took her lips in a sweet kiss.

Epilogue

Nerves flitted in Michaela’s stomach and she checked herself in the mirror one more time, smoothing a hand over her already neat hair. She didn’t look different from any other day. She wore a simple white sundress printed with delicate yellow and green flowers, the cut and color emphasizing her lightly tanned skin. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail since it was hot and she had kept her makeup simple so she wouldn’t melt outside in her parents’ backyard under the intense afternoon sun.

But her eyes sparkled and her cheeks were flushed, not from cosmetics either. It was happiness, pure and simple. Pure, unadulterated joy at having found a man who understood her needs, her desires, everything about her.

A man who loved her. A man like Austin.

She flicked off the bathroom light and went out into the living room, glancing at the clock that hung on the wall. They had plenty of time to get to her parents when the annual Labor Day gathering started, but she still wanted to leave soon. Wanted to make sure they got there in time.

Then again, she also wanted to stay home, stay away from her family. They’d been asking a lot of questions, her parents, about her new beau. Her father had called him that, embarrassingly enough, and they’d insisted she bring him to the barbecue. They wanted to meet Austin, find out what all the fuss was about, and one part of her wanted to share him with her family, show him off.

Another part wanted to hide him away and keep him all to herself.

And yet another part of her wanted him to dress in full on crazy Austin attire and scare the shit out of everyone. The uptight banker wish didn’t just extend to her, her entire family was filled with bankers, corporate heads, attorneys.

Her theatre-working, edgy-looking boyfriend would be just the ticket to send them into horror.

“You almost ready?” she called as she sank into the overstuffed couch.

“Gimme another minute,” he yelled from his bedroom. Their bedroom. She didn’t know what to call it.

She hadn’t slept in her bed since they had declared their love for each other, the both of them much preferring his since it was so much larger. Oh and the things he did to her in that bed. Just last night he’d tied her to the posts with scarves so she lay sprawled across it, a blindfold covering her eyes. He’d touched her, licked her, drove her absolutely crazy, and when he’d finally rewarded her for the torture he put her through by sliding deep inside her body she’d been beyond frantic to touch him. He’d untied the scarves, lifted the blindfold off and the love that had shone in his eyes when she first saw him had been a revelation.

It had been wonderful. She wanted to do it again. Tonight. Only he would be the one tied up and she’d do all the torturing.

Michaela smiled and squirmed, trying to push the forbidden thoughts from her mind. Now was not the time to get all worked up. They needed to leave soon. She couldn’t get distracted by sex right now.

“I’m ready.” His deep voice pulled her from her thoughts and she glanced up, a gasp escaping her when she saw him standing before her.

He looked downright…normal. Clad in dark blue jeans and a simple button up shirt, he was an everyday guy. He’d recently gotten a haircut and his hair was short, almost too short for her tastes though the top still had some length, enough to run her fingers through again and again. He wore absolutely no makeup, his beautiful blue eyes clear, the thick lashes dark and blinking at her in question. The only thing he clung to were the earrings, tiny black studs in each ear. He wore nothing she had expected him to.

“I thought you were going to get all gussied up.” He looked delicious enough to eat no matter what he wore, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.

Today was supposed to be all about the shock value. There was nothing shocking about him whatsoever.

Austin laughed, the sound wrapping around her and making her smile in return. “There’s no way I could do that. Today is too important. I’m trying to impress, not scare them away.”

“Impress them? My family? But why?” She stood and went to him, giving a little gasp when he grabbed her hand and hauled her close.

“I don’t want them to freak out when they see me, Michaela. I understand your plan and would’ve gone along with it if our relationship had been the way it was…before, when we were just friends. Or maybe if we were seeing each other casually, and I wasn’t so freaking crazy over you. But I’m serious about you.” He touched her face, his hand cupping her cheek. “I have intentions, you know.”

“Intentions?” Her voice shook, her entire body trembled and even though she knew they’d ventured into serious territory it was another thing that he actually acknowledged it.

“Yeah, like maybe I want to make a good impression so your parents understand how important you are to me. How much I love you.” His fingers stroked downward, making her skin tingle. “And I do love you, Michaela. More than you know.”

“I know,” she murmured, tilting her face to accept his kiss. “I love you too. So much.”

“Right.” He withdrew from her, his dark brows lifting as he studied her. “So I can’t walk in there with the eyeliner and the clothes and the punk ass attitude. I have to look like an upstanding citizen, you know. A man who might want to be a part of your family someday.”

A thrill shot up her spine at the thought of Austin as her husband.

Sigh. A girl could certainly dream. Especially when her dreams were in sight, as in he was standing right in front of her.

How did she get so lucky?

“My dad will probably like you though he takes some time warming up to new people.” She tapped her lower lip with the tip of her index finger, studying him. “And my mom will think you’re hot.”

He rolled his eyes, and she swore he blushed. Her Austin blushing. She’d never seen such a thing.

“Don’t say that. The last thing I want your mom to think is that I’m hot.” He shook his head though he couldn’t stop the smile from forming. “But if she falls under my charms, I’m not going to protest.”

“All women fall under your charms. It’s part of your appeal. You’re very charming.” She went to him again and hugged him tight. Her face was nestled against his warm chest, the steady beating of his heart sounded loud and clear beneath her ear. “Are you ready to go?”

She pulled away and he breathed deep, the nervousness on his face clear. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Are you nervous?” She’d rarely seen him nervous either. It was kind of cute.

“Well yeah. I’ve never met my girlfriend’s family before. I just want them to like me. To…approve.” He grabbed his car keys from the kitchen counter and she followed him, picked up her purse, which also rested on the counter.

She stopped him with a light touch on his forearm. “They’re going to love you.”

Austin turned to look at her. “You think?”

“I know.” Michaela nodded. “They’ll love you almost as much as I do.”

“Hopefully that’s enough.” He gazed into her eyes, hypnotizing, crystal-clear blue.

She could stare into his eyes for hours. Forever. “It will be.”

And she never doubted that for an instant.

About the Author

After leaving the crazy working world to become a stay at home mom, Karen realized she needed to get crackin’ and pursue her lifelong dream of being a published writer. A busy mother of three, she fits her precious writing time in between chasing her children, hanging out with her wonderful husband and pretending she has a maid. She lives in California.

To learn more about Karen Erickson, please visit
www.karenwritesromance.com
. Send an email to Karen at
www.karenwritesromance.com/contact
or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as Karen!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karenericksons_newsletter/

Look for these titles by Karen Erickson

Now Available:

Spontaneous

Fortune’s Deception

Fortune’s Chance

Fortune’s Promise

Jesse’s Girl

Coming Soon:

Tangled

He blew his chance once. Now he intends to blow her mind…

Jesse’s Girl

© 2009 Karen Erickson

Rick blew it, and he’s never forgotten it. It’s bad enough his best friend Jesse showed his true colors and stole Blair, the girl Rick wanted. Rick never understood what Blair saw in the loser, and still kicks himself for letting her slip through his fingers. But what’s done is done.

Blair is horrified when she realizes that Jesse’s lies cost her the happiness she might have found with Rick. It’s been over with Jesse, but he won’t leave her alone. Help comes from a totally unexpected source—Rick.

When Rick sees them together, he’s confused but tells himself to get over it. Until Jesse lays a hand on her in anger. Now all bets are off. A second chance is all he’s ever wanted and he intends to use it…up against a wall, in his bed, over and over again.

Until she surrenders to the idea that she was meant to be his girl. Forever.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Jesse’s Girl:

Rick’s every freaking dream was coming true right here, right now. Blair standing close, offering herself to him. Her hands rested on his chest, her touch set him aflame and he breathed deeply, trying to gain some sort of control.

After she’d hooked up with Jesse, he never thought this moment could happen. He thought he’d lost his chance with Blair forever. Even after hearing about the break-up he figured there was no way she would be interested in him.

Guess he’d been wrong.

“What do you say?” Her soft voice wafted over him, caressing him much like the brisk fall breeze and he inhaled sharply, marveling at the gift she offered him.

Herself. She would be all his. For tonight at least. Did she want more? Would she want more from him?

He hoped like hell that answer was yes.

When he didn’t answer, her brows lowered, her sexy mouth turning downward. She looked perplexed, confused and he reached out, trailed his fingers over the soft skin of her cheek. He heard her sharp inhale, let his gaze drift to her chest and saw her breasts lifting with her every breath.

He’d seen her breasts in the skimpiest of tops, dreamed of having his hands all over her countless times. He couldn’t wait to get her naked, explore her soft skin.

If he didn’t watch it, he’d burst his jeans.

“Rick? Are you all right?” She sounded upset and the last thing he wanted was for her to be upset. What had started out as just another Friday night was going to end hopefully as one of the best nights of his life.

No way did he want to mess this up.

“Sorry.” His fingers drifted along her jaw, then up to trace her full lips. He loved her mouth, the plump fullness of her lower lip, its berry pink color. She wore no lipstick that he could tell and still her lips looked juicy. Delicious. “I’m thinking how much I’d rather be anywhere but here.”

Those brows furrowed even deeper and he leaned in close, brushed his mouth against hers. Just once. It was the barest of touches and his entire body went on high alert. “I want to be somewhere else. Alone. With you.”

“Oh.” Her breathless answer told him she felt the same way. The blaze in her beautiful blue eyes told him that too. She was so beautiful he could stare at her all night. “Let’s go then.”

“Are you sure?” Once they made this next step there was no going back. He wasn’t about to let her walk away from him now that he knew her relationship with Jesse was really over and had been for a while.

This wasn’t going to be a one-night thing. With Blair, he wanted the real deal.

“I’m sure.” She nodded, her hands curling into the fabric of his T-shirt. He wanted to feel her touch his bare flesh, stroke him into oblivion, those delicate fingers curling around him. Just the thought of Blair touching him nearly had him ready to explode in his jeans.

Rick took her arm and they started toward the parking lot. “Let’s go then.”

He linked his fingers with hers, clutched her hand tightly as they moved through the crowds and toward the parking lot. Grim determination led him on, didn’t allow him to be deterred despite the fact that he saw people he knew. A few of them waved and looked ready to stop and talk.

Nope, he didn’t want to talk. He had other things in mind.