Need You Now (7 page)

Not only the cabin is a blast from the past, so is the occupant of her bedroom. Tyler Nichols, a guy she remembers as quiet and nerdy…
nothing
like the drop-dead gorgeous hunk who knows how to fill out his underwear.

One look at all-grown-up Julie refuels Tyler’s memories of long, lazy summer vacations, and the crush he was too shy to admit. It would be gentlemanly of him to leave, but the amazing woman in front of him elicits visions of the wickedly lusty things he’d like to do with her.

With work pushed to the back burner and a weekend indulging with Tyler on high simmer, Julie makes a startling discovery. Tyler is the real deal. And maybe, if he agrees, she might have time for a life after all…

Enjoy the following excerpt for
My Favorite Mistake:

Damn, she looked sexy. The sun warmed her skin, making it appear golden and creamy. She shifted her long, bare legs, the already-short shorts riding up her thighs and giving him a glimpse of pure heaven. Images of those shapely thighs wrapped around his waist as he pounded his cock deep inside her flashed through his mind, and he shifted. Afraid she might catch sight of his sudden erection.

“I could sit out here all day,” she murmured, her voice so soft it almost got carried away with the breeze. “I can’t remember the last time I sat outside and just did…nothing. I don’t even have my Blackberry on me.”

“Is it normally attached permanently to your hand?” He could relate. He thought his iPhone was the greatest invention ever created.

“Oh, yeah.” She laughed, then paused. A look of panic crossed her face. “Maybe I should go back and check it. People are always emailing me, texting me, whatever. Clients, employees, I’ve always told them I’m on call twenty-four/seven.”

Julie started to get up but he grabbed her hand, stopping her. “Relax. They can wait for a few hours. Nothing could be that urgent, could it? Especially on a weekend.”

Her fingers flexed within his grip and she slowly sat back down next to him. “You’re right. I think I just urged myself right into a panic attack.”

“Over nothing,” he agreed. They still hadn’t let go of each other’s hand, and he gave hers a gentle squeeze. “Just enjoy the day. The lake is the fullest it’s been in years, you know.”

She nodded, wisps of fiery hair brushing against her face. “From all the rain and snow we had this winter, I’m sure.”

“Exactly. Imagine how cold that water is.” He leaned in close, his mouth hovering just by her ear. The delicate shell dotted by a single pearl earring tempted him. To kiss, to nibble, to lick. “What do you think you’d do if I pushed you in?”

Julie turned toward him, eyes wide with surprise. “You wouldn’t dare.”

With a chuckle, Tyler shook his head. “Nah, I wouldn’t. I’m afraid of what you might do to me if I did.”

She laughed as well and released his hand, nudging his shoulder with the tips of her fingers. “You’d probably like to see me come out of the water all wet like a drowned rat.”

All wet…wrong choice of words on her part. He immediately thought of her T-shirt clinging to her like a second skin, hard nipples poking against the soaked fabric, goose bumps dotting her flesh as the water dripped down her body.

Yeah, his dick was really getting eager now.

“You’d be in a lot of trouble,” she agreed, the laughter dying on her lips as her gaze zeroed in on his mouth.

He was leaning in closer, as if he wanted to kiss her. Which he did. The past years of longing, the more recent years of curiosity, all of them came crashing down upon him at this very moment, and he decided he didn’t want to wait any longer.

Tentatively, he set his lips upon hers, not wanting to push for fear she might not react the way he hoped. But she didn’t pull away. She scooted closer, her lips parting from his for the briefest moment before she returned. Soft and plump, damp and clinging to his, she kissed him, her mouth opening for his more and more until he teased her with his tongue.

A little groan escaped her, and he slipped his arm around her shoulders, hauling her to him. They sat on the edge of the dock, their legs swinging over the ledge, lips locked and arms around each other. Just as he’d envisioned so long ago in his teenage dreams.

He wasn’t one to be sentimental but this was getting to him. Their tongues touched, danced against each other and he slipped a hand into her hair to anchor her close. The strands were silky soft, clinging to his fingers and he stroked her, reveled in the softness. The beauty of her.

Julie broke the kiss first, her breath accelerated, her eyes bright with what he hoped was lust. “Wow,” she whispered.

Resistance is no longer an option…

A Little Bit Naughty

© 2010 Anne Rainey

A
Tahoe Nights
Story

Faced with the annual family reunion in Lake Tahoe, Amanda Harding cringes inwardly like the awkward teenager she used to be, not the successful bookstore owner she is now. Once again she’ll be bombarded by questions about her dreadful status as a single woman. And, like always, she’ll feel the weight of her parents’ disappointment that their only child isn’t happily married and pregnant with their first grandchild.

As she relates her troubles to her good friend, Leo, she’s shocked to the core by his offer to pose as her soon-to-be fiancé. Then all she can think about getting tangled up in the sheets—and with Leo’s deliciously hard body.

Leo Prentice has always wondered what his quiet, bookish Amanda looked like beneath the conservative suits, but the prospect of wrecking their friendship has kept his dirty mind in check. Until their first fake kiss. Playing Amanda’s lover seemed like a win-win. But the little bookworm stirs a fire in him unlike any other woman.

Soon, the teasing touches and sensual looks are all too real…and not nearly enough.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
A Little Bit Naughty:

He cupped her face in his palm. “You and I are going to share that bed, sweetheart. Are you okay with that?”

Forcing down the tremors his touch invoked, Amanda said, “There are two rooms.”

“I know, but I don’t want to sleep in an empty bed. Do you?”

Did she? What would happen if she slept next to Leo all night long? Could she keep her hands off him? She didn’t know, but one thing was for certain. She didn’t want to waste a single second of this trip. She had Leo to herself, and she wanted to know more about the sudden sparks flying back and forth between them. The only way to achieve that would be to act like a woman and not a silly teenager on prom night.

Feeling a little more confident, Amanda murmured, “I don’t want to sleep alone.”

One side of Leo’s mouth kicked up into a crooked grin. “Good answer, sweets.” He stepped back and dropped his hand. “Now, how about dinner? I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.”

He moved around her and headed toward the kitchen. Amanda took a few seconds to calm her racing heart. When she heard him call out to her, she smiled. For the first time in her life she was actually going to enjoy one of the Harding family reunions. Go figure.

Leaving the bedroom behind, Amanda went in search of Leo. She found him bent over, peering into the refrigerator. She licked her lips at the sight of his jean-covered ass. When he straightened and turned, Amanda’s cheeks heated. Had he noticed where her gaze had been?

“Your mom thinks of everything doesn’t she?”

Okay, so he hadn’t seen her eyeballing his butt. Whew. “Uh, yeah, pretty much.”

“She’s left us hamburger meat, hot dogs and there’s even potato salad in there. Looks homemade too.”

At the mention of her mother, Amanda relaxed a little more. Moving toward a cupboard, Amanda found two plastic cups, took them out and placed them on the little table in the center of the room. “Mother wouldn’t have us eating store-bought potato salad. In her opinion that’d be tacky.”

Leo leaned against the counter, as if content to quietly watch as she took out plates, utensils and napkins. It wasn’t until Amanda opened the refrigerator and took out two cans of pop that he finally spoke. “So, what are you in the mood for?”

You, she ached to admit. Instead she said, “How about hot dogs?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“There’s a grill out back, but that’s a lot of work and we’re both tired. How about we just nuke them?”

“That’s fine by me.” He pushed away from the counter and took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. “In fact, how about you go take a nice long bath. I’ll get this.”

Amanda thought of the Jacuzzi and practically moaned. Massaging jets of hot water? Oh, yes, definitely what she needed to relax her frayed nerves. “Are you sure?”

Leo chuckled. “I’m not helpless, Amanda. I can microwave a few hotdogs without help.” Leo reached around her body and swatted her on the bottom. “Go. Relax and enjoy. Let me take care of this.”

Amanda stiffened. Leo had delivered a friendly little spank before. It didn’t mean anything. Except this time his hand had lingered a second longer than usual. And, Amanda admitted, she liked it. Too much. Unable to speak without possibly revealing how easily his touch affected her, Amanda silently and swiftly left the room.

A bath. That’s what she needed. A hot soak, some food to settle her rumbling stomach and a good night’s rest. Tomorrow she’d feel more like herself. As she stepped inside the bedroom, Amanda’s gaze strayed to their luggage. Why had she agreed to share the same bed? How in God’s name was she supposed to actually sleep knowing Leo lay mere inches away?

Crap.

Leo’s cock hardened. He’d knocked. Twice. He’d even called her name a few times. Entering the bathroom uninvited had been his only option. Hell, she could’ve drowned, right? What else could he do but check on her? As he stared at the bubbling water, Amanda’s head back, eyes closed, he knew a moment’s guilt. He should look away. At the wall, the sink, the damn toilet, anywhere but at his friend’s naked body, which, by the way, just happened to be barely covered by hot, bubbly water. He couldn’t really make out anything, he told himself.

Liar.

Pink. Bubble gum pink to be more accurate. Now he knew what shade her nipples were. And there went his cock, again. More of that and he’d have a friggin’ zipper print tattooed permanently on his dick.

“Amanda?” he called out, unwilling to wake the sleeping beauty, but much more of this and he wouldn’t be able to keep from reaching out and stroking something. Anything. Everything.

A slow smile spread over her face. “Hmm?”

Christ, that was a sexy look. “Uh, sweetheart, you need to get out of the tub now.”

Her eyelids shot wide, and she yelped. “Leo!” Slick, feminine hands covered round, firm breasts as water sloshed over the sides of the tub. “What are you doing in here?”

Quickly turning away, he rushed to say, “I’m sorry, but I tried knocking and you didn’t answer. I was worried.”
Yeah, look away now, asshole, after you’ve had a good eyeful.
“Uh, dinner’s ready.”

“I… You—”

“You’ll be right out. Got it,” he helpfully supplied.

“Yes,” she squeaked. “Right out. Yes.”

Leo left the room, and the slick, sleek goddess behind. It was no easy feat. In fact, he would have rather stood under a beehive covered in honey than leave Amanda in that moment. Damn, what he wouldn’t give to go back in there. To watch her rising out of the water. Little droplets streaming down her voluptuous body. She wouldn’t even need a towel—he could just lick her dry. Leo glanced down at his crotch and groaned. “Christ, you need to chill, bud. She needs time.”

“What?”

The feminine voice had him stiffening, and not just his spine either. He sent up a silent prayer that Amanda was naked, that she’d decided to put him out of his misery after all. He turned slowly and then Leo’s hopes fell. She wasn’t nude. ’Course, the little pink tank top and black cotton shorts did wonders for her curves. His cock sure as hell approved. Large, round breasts and wide hips had his mouth watering.
A bite, a suck, that’s all I’m asking. Is it so much?

With her hair wrapped up in a towel and feet bare, she looked sweet, adorable, innocent. He was none of those things. And it didn’t matter because she wasn’t going anywhere. Before the weekend was over he’d have her naked and in that great big bed. And he’d finally get to taste all that creamy satin.

“Leo?”

Need You Now

S. L. Carpenter

In a world where everything’s for sale, some things simply can’t be bought.

A
Tahoe Nights
Story

Janice hadn’t planned to take her long-awaited getaway alone, but when a girl catches her boyfriend with his pants around his ankles…well, let’s just say that at age thirty, there aren’t many princes waiting in line to take the frog’s place.

She arrives in Reno ready to break out of all the molds life has crammed her into. In short order she’s not only getting lucky at the blackjack table, she’s hit the jackpot with Mr. Sex-On-A-Stick. A man who seduces her with his eyes and shows her how a woman should be treated.

Aaron is living the dream. His gift for pleasuring women brings him everything a man could want: a home in the beautiful Lake Tahoe basin, money, gorgeous, rich ladies vying for his very expensive time. Yet there’s a void that haunts him as he lies alone in bed at night. At first, Janice is just another empty job. Then she opens a door and fills his empty life with something he never dared to imagine, let alone want.

Warning: Contains scenes of decadent and erotic sexual interaction between a heroine, just like you, and a man specially trained to give women eye-rolling, toe-curling pleasure, several times a night. Unfortunately, his number is not available at this time and even if it were, you probably wouldn’t be able to afford him. Buy this book instead.

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.