Pleasure With Purpose
Read Pleasure With Purpose Online
Authors: Lisa Renee Jones
Pleasure with Purpose
By
LISA RENEE JONES
Published by Lisa Renee Jones
Copyright 2011 Lisa Renee Jones
Includes new EXCLUSIVE EXCERPTS:
HOT VAMPIRE KISS
And
THE STORM THAT IS STERLING
Cover by LFD Designs
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the supplier and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at [email protected].
All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.
Table of Contents
Romantic Times – Jones scorches the pages!
Booklist--Jones’ suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.
Praise for Hot Vampire Kiss:
Wendy - My Book Addiction and More
HOT VAMPIRE KISS is book 1 on Lisa Renee Jones' new series, the Vampire Wardens. Fans of paranormal or vampires will adore this great new voice in the genre.
Kelly - Books - N - Kisses
If you are looking for a really good, fast, hot short read. I would encourage you to go grab a copy of Hot Vampire Kiss by Lisa Renee Jones.
Lady Raven Romance Novel Junkies
I was so excited that we got to meet Aiden and Troy, they are just a bundle of vampire hotness.
Larena, Red Roses for Authors
Praise for Hot Vampire seduction:
On Legend of Michael:
“Lisa Renee Jones has created a fascinating, exciting, and wonderfully romantic read in The Legend of Michael. Michael is to die for!”
—Pamela Palmer, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of RAPTURE UNTAMED, a Feral Warriors novel
“A thrill ride of non-stop action, intricate suspense and scorching love scenes!”
—Stephanie Tyler, New York Times bestselling author of HOLD ON TIGHT
“Sexy, edgy, pulse-pounding adventure. The Legend of Michael will keep you reading all night!”
—Susan Grant, New York Times bestselling author of THE LAST WARRIOR
“Grabs hold of you from page one and never lets go. Packed with action, suspense and sizzling sexuality, The Legend of Michael is a book not to be missed!”
—Rhyannon Byrd, National bestselling author of TOUCH OF SEDUCTION
“Hot enough to singe your fingers.”
—Cynthia Eden, National bestselling author of DEADLY FEAR
“Edgy, dark and creative. A raw new world filled with action, danger and plenty of sizzle.”
—Eve Silver, National bestselling author of SINS OF THE FLESH
“Utterly absorbing, deliciously edgy, and instantly addictive. If you haven’t added Jones to your must-read list, you need to.”
—Donna Grant, Bestselling author of DANGEROUS HIGHLANDER
“A breathlessly-paced ride through twisting secrets, fractured loyalties, and deadly espionage.”
—Sylvia Day, National bestselling author of THE STRANGER I MARRIED
Chapter One
“
You’ve never had an orgasm!”
The exclamation from her best friend had Heather Brown ready to climb under a rock, or rather the brown leather couch she sat on. “Will you
please
keep your voice down,” she pleaded, nervously peeking over her shoulder at the closed bedroom door directly behind her. Good grief, she was going to regret allowing that confession to spurt from her lips.
“
He’s asleep,” Brenda Carrington declared about her brother Brad, and none too softly either. “It’s Sunday morning. The only time he allows himself to rest.”
“
He won’t be if you keep talking so loudly.”
“
After bumming his spare bedroom for six months, I can assure you he’s deadwood this morning. The man might foot the price tag to live in downtown Dallas just to be near his law practice, but Sunday is where he draws the line on work.”
Heather inhaled, thinking of Brad, in bed, only a few feet away. Naked. He liked to sleep
naked
. She knew this because she’d accidental walked in on him when she was sixteen, on one of the many weekends she’d spent at the Carrington’s home while her mom worked a second job. He’d been a man, seven years older than her, and she’d been embarrassed and infatuated. And now, ten years later, she still remembered that moment, still fantasized about the dark hair sprinkled over taut muscle, the pure perfection of his long, masculine body. Dang it, she hated that she still remembered. Heather shook herself for the silly schoolgirl crush on Brad that had long outlived its welcome. The man had never paid her boney knees and flat chest any mind back then, preferring bosomy blondes, who he’d gone through as if they were candy corn meant for seasonal pleasure. Time, and a few more inches on her chest, hadn’t changed that either.
“
I can’t believe you’ve never had an orgasm,” Brenda said, pulling Heather back into the present.
Heather pursed her lips, indignation in her tone. “Of course I’ve had an orgasm. Just not a manmade one.”
“
That’s the only kind that counts, honey.”
“
Yeah well,” Heather admitted reluctantly, “don’t knock a good electric rabbit. They don’t judge you.” The joke barely made it from mouth, before her chest tightened, another confession unexpectedly bursting from her lips. “I’m beginning to think something’s wrong with me in that area. The men I date want to, um, shall we say, please me. I just can’t seem to…”
“
Find satisfaction?”
“
Exactly,” Heather sighed. There was no reason to fight the truth, considering how "out there" she was already.
“
Good grief, woman. We have to fix this and fast. You’re going to lose your twenties to battery-operated pleasure if you don’t get with it. And that is just too, too sad.”
“
Thank you for that positive feedback,” Heather said grumpily. “And in my defense, a few bad attempts at satisfaction that turned horribly wrong can make a girl pretty uptight.”
Brenda snorted. “Those stuffed shirts you date would make any girl feel uptight.”
“
I think you just insulted me.”
“
No. Just your choice in men.”
“
What’s wrong with my choices?” Heather demanded. “I date respectable men. Joseph was an attorney with a large firm. And Robert was a CPA.”
“
Who fit the geeky accountant persona to perfection,” she said. “A little more suave hotness might just get you moaning in all the right ways.”
Heather pressed her hand to her face. “How did I get into this conversation?” She dropped her hand back to her leg. “Will you stop already? Just forget I ever said the word ‘orgasm.’”
“
You know what your problem is?”
“
Why don’t you tell me?” Heather encouraged with a grimace, though Brenda didn’t ever need any encouragement to share her opinions.
“
You’re inhibited. You’re inhibited and I know why.” Brenda jumped to her feet, grabbed Heather’s hand and pulled her to her feet as well. “Come with me.”
“
Where?” Heather demanded suspiciously, digging in her heels. As a chef for a popular Dallas restaurant, Brenda was always cooking up trouble, both in and out of the kitchen.
“
Rome,” she said sarcastically. “Seriously, woman. It’s not like I’m taking you to Brad’s bed or something.” Heather’s jaw dropped at the too-close-to-home comment, at the same moment that Brenda tugged her forward. They stopped in the entryway hall, in front of the hallway mirror, so that they stood side by side.
“
Now tell me what you see,” Brenda ordered.
Heather surveyed Brenda--her friend’s pale skin, perfect even without makeup, her faded jeans and a tee, somehow as perfect as the fiery mass of red curly hair.
“
Don’t look
at me
,” Brenda chided. “Look at you.”
“
This is ridiculous,” Heather mumbled, glaring critically at her own image. Now, she had breasts at least. That was something. She guessed. Not that Brad seemed to notice. When she was younger, she’d been convinced a pair of breasts was all she needed for that man to stand at attention. And, damn it, she wanted to scream. Why, why, why did it always come back to Brad?
Brenda slipped behind Heather and rested her chin on Heather’s shoulder. “You know what I see?”
“
I’m afraid to ask.”
“
I see a gorgeous brunette who’d make any man drool and any female envious. I know I sure am.”
Heather rolled her eyes. “No need to lay on the compliments. I already told you I’d go to the Barry Manilow concert no matter how old it makes me feel.”
“
I’m serious, damn it,” Brenda chided. “What do you see?”
If she were honest with herself, she’d refused to put on makeup today, knowing she might see Brad, as a refusal to make him important. Which was really pathetic, because the very fact that he’d been considered at all, defied her denial. She grimaced at Brenda. “You’re infuriatingly insistent when you want something, so fine, I
see
a ‘Trailer Park Heather.’ My hair is in a ponytail, my makeup non-existent, and--”