A Favor (16 page)

The rest of the day flies by and when I get home I don’t remember the drive at all. With Sam’s drive, even though we’re now on the same schedule it takes him longer to get home. I change into a long white peasant skirt and a loose off the shoulder white stretchy top. I go into my studio and look around. It was all but bare now. Between the gallery and the website almost as soon as I painted something it’s gone. There are only three remaining now. I love this room. I can’t imagine painting anywhere else, even in the heat of the summer. Running my hand over my work table I remember that Sam had followed through on his desire from that first time he’d been in here. He had bent me over the work table so many times I could no longer count them. He won’t allow Taylor to just give me the house, would he leave, would he want to move and would he want to take me with him?

I hear his truck and go into the bedroom. I’m sitting on the middle of the bed, my legs crossed as I wonder how the next few minutes will go. He finds me and leans against the frame of the door and watches me.

“What’s wrong?” He asks without moving from the door.

Sitting up straighter I look him in the eye. “When Taylor asked me to go see you he said it was a favor at first. When I was quiet too long because I was surprised he went from it being a favor, to it being a deal. If I got you to Austin and to talk to him, whether you took the job or not when I paid off the mortgage with my rent, with this month’s rent, he would give me this house free and clear.”

Sam’s tense and his eyes darken but he doesn’t move and his eyes don’t leave mine. “This house now belongs to you?”

“No, I told him I would need to talk to you first. If you say yes then okay but if you say no then he’ll keep the house.”

“You’ve never had a place to call all your own, a home that was just yours and Taylor is willing to give that to you and you’re willing to turn that down when I say no because you know I can’t deal with that?”

The tears are a surprise and I look down, what he said about saying no isn’t a surprise so why am I crying?

“Why?” He moves and is at the edge of the bed. “Why are you willing to accept me saying no?”

“Because if say no and I accept then you’ll leave and it won’t matter it’s mine, it won’t be home anymore.”

Moving over me his voice is husky, “Why?”

“Because I love you damn it.”

His smile is wide and his happiness is as clear and bright as an Austin day in July and just as hot. “Well, it’s about damn time.”

He wipes the tears away and I can only stare back in shock. “Sam?”

“Zoe, I loved you from the beginning. Lust from the minute I laid eyes on you but then you told me you wanted me but you weren’t going to hurt me. You were trying to protect me from you. I’ve never met someone so selfless like that before. But when you told me that, I knew it was coming from someone who had known pain so deeply they didn’t want to hurt anyone the way they had been hurt. I knew I’d have to take it slow and allow you time to get used not just to love, but how it felt on both sides.”

“Then why did you say only six months?”

“There’s slow but I was also desperate, baby. I needed you and I didn’t want to give you time to think too hard about it.”

“Oh, Sam! I was so worried you would figure out I loved you and that you wouldn’t want that because you were afraid I would become all clingy and demanding.”

“You are demanding, very demanding of my time and my body and I love it.” His kiss is nearly savage and both of us are nearly frantic with need.

A long time later he rolls away to the bedside table on his side of the bed and pulls out a ring box and I just know and the tears start up again. Wiping them away he swears, “I keep telling you that when you cry it makes crazy. I’m begging you, baby, no tears.

This a happy moment, from now on, no crying at happy moments.” He opens the box and I inhale in shock, it’s beautiful.

“Sam, it’s huge.” It’s a large oval, with four prongs holding the six carats in place.

“Has to be, got to make sure any man who looks your way sees just what he’s up against.” He slides on the ring with a small smile and then brings my hand up to his. “We’re going to get married fast. I love you too much to wait. ”

My heart clenches at his words. “Me either, fast works for me.”

“I agreed to buy in as partner with Taylor. You have a choice, you either work for me or you can stay home and paint full time. If you stay on and work with me it will only be until our babies come.”

“Babies?” It’s a whisper of excitement and hope.

“Oh, sweetheart, I’m going to fill you so full until you beg me to stop.”

“Another way to make sure men see that I’m yours? With your baby in my belly and on my hip?”

“You learn fast.” He kisses me as he rolls me under him.

“I learn you fast.” I correct him.

“Yes you do. I know you love this house, I’ll buy it from Taylor at the appraised price and both of our names will be on the deed. We’ll fix up your studio, make it more comfortable for you in the summer.”

“Yes, Sam, whatever you say Sam.”

“That’s my girl, now tell me you love me, I’m going to need hear it every day.”

“I think I can do that. I love you, Sam. I love you so much, now make love to me and show me your love.”

“I can’t believe he stole my secretary and the favor came out to a lot more than I thought it would.”

“Oh please, you knew he wouldn’t allow her to keep working for you. It won’t be for long though, she told me she’s going off the pill when they come back from Italy, so it wouldn’t have been long before she quit anyway. That favor was nothing compared to what you got in return and you know it. Two weeks paid for her honeymoon compared to getting Sam and all that comes with him. You can huff all you want but I know it’s just to cover up how happy you are.

I can’t believe it’s so simple and pretty and she managed to pull this together in only six weeks.”

“Maybe you’re right, but don’t tell Sam and Zoe all that. I like using Zoe’s guilt a little, she found a replacement house and low balled the offer and she got it no time at all. I’m pretty sure it was the guilt that helped.

What’s really hard to believe is that apart from the dress, the rest of it is all Sam. Zoe would have been happy with a bouquet and minister and I had nightmares of you two poring over swatches but Sam hired someone who made his money talk. It is only thirty people but still, for a backyard wedding even as a guy I’m impressed.”

“Taylor, I’m pretty sure it’s her having Sam that given her the confidence for the low ball offer. I can’t believe she’s not crying at all, she said Sam told it would ruin his day if she cried so she had to promise to only smile and she’s done it. I never thought I’d see the day when her happiness came through as a smile instead of tears. It’s really annoying when you’re right but you were so right about them. I’m sorry I doubted you for a second.”

“Hmm, if I’m right about this do you think I could be right about us having a baby not being as scary and won’t turn out as badly as it had for you before? I’ll be there the whole way through, my love, you let me do all the worrying.”

“Sometimes it’s scary how well you know me. When Zoe talked about going off the pill I knew then I was ready to do the same thing. I’m not saying I won’t be a little scared but I know with you, what ever happens we’ll get through it together. Remember, babies can be loud and demanding little things.”

“I think I’m ready for it, if you are.”

“I am. Sam and Zoe are beginning to look desperate. Let’s leave and I’m sure other will follow, it will stop Sam from throwing people out. When I went shopping with Zoe for her honeymoon I found a few things I liked, why don’t we go home and I’ll show you and we’ll start working on a baby.”

“You, my beautiful wife, are a genius and the love of my life. Let’s go.”

Abby Has Gone Wild

It was just supposed to be a one time thing, posting a naked picture of herself on a social website that has hundreds of other women doing the same thing. Only it very quickly hooked Abby on the high of knowing that others desired her body. Until it’s just one man that has her full attention. Jack is gorgeous and he wants her and it’s Abby’s worst luck, she believes, that he’s in the same city of Austin. Abby isn’t ready for more than what she can give from behind the safety of her keyboard. But Jack won’t take no for an answer when her body and her moans are telling him yes. Tracking her down Jack is even more enticing in person than from behind the computer and she can’t ignore that her body wants him just as badly as he wants her. Jack won’t give up on her and Abby has to decide if she’s willing to give up the safety of being alone to let Jack in.

Link to excerpt and buy link on my blog:

http://fionamurphyeroticromance.blogspot.com

His Hostile Takeover

Ellie Shaw has been in love with Greg Turner since she first met him at sixteen. It doesn’t matter that now at twenty four he still treats her like a kid sister, Ellie still loves him. So why did her body go haywire when she first met Dmitri Markhoff? Dmitri was taking over the company she had worked so hard to keep going, Ellie wasn’t part of the bargain. Okay, she needed the job as a personal assistant he was offering and it was only for three months. That was more than enough time to save money so that once the three months was up she could support herself while she found another job. When the three months was up she would be back in Alexandria and back near Greg. She loved Greg. Hormones and never having been touched was all that was making her feel the way she did about Dmitri. She was sure of it. Besides all of that, men as gorgeous as Dmitri Markhoff didn’t look twice at women like her, who wore a dress size in the double digits, they went for models that were a size zero.

Dmitri Markhoff is a ruthless corporate raider and had long given up on soft feelings for women. He enjoyed their bodies and paid for it in diamonds and other trinkets. All he wants is Elise’s lush body that has the kind of curves that should come with a warning sign, love isn’t something he’s looking for. When he figures out that Elise is untouched his body goes into overdrive. Even though he’s aware keeping her is wrong when all he wants is sex, he’s having the hardest time letting her go.

Link to excerpt and buy link on my blog:

http://fionamurphyeroticromance.blogspot.com

His Secretary with Benefits

Laura is a blonde with a bombshell body that has men drooling over her and treating her like a blow up doll, to be used only for their pleasure. Growing up Laura had been taught sex was a dirty thing and it wasn’t to be enjoyed. Her first boyfriend did a good job of making sure she didn’t, same with her ex-fiancé. A job offer comes her way that has Laura’s interest, an assistant is leaving her boss and trying to find a replacement. The only thing is her replacement has to be willing to let her boss have his way with her whenever and however he wants. Laura’s shock is quickly sidelined as the woman describes the complete and utter satisfaction she finds in her boss’s demands. Having never experienced that kind of pleasure before and wanting to know what it’s like Laura agrees to meet Paul.