Stripped Down
Authors: Lorelei James
Tags: #Blacktop Cowboy, #Lorelei James, #erotic romance, #1001 Dark Nights
Stripped Down
A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella
By Lorelei James
1001 Dark Nights
Stripped Down
A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella
By Lorelei James
1001 Dark Nights
Copyright 2015 LJLA, LLC
ISBN: 978-1-940887-70-8
Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose
Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
Stripped Down
A Blacktop Cowboys® Novella
By Lorelei James
From
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author Lorelei James, a new steamy story of the Blacktop Cowboys...
Never challenge a cowboy to a little naughty competition…
A flirty game of sexual truth or dare between best man, Wynton Grant, and maid of honor, Melissa Lockhart during their BFF’s wedding reception results in a steamy hookup.
But their plans for a
one and done
change when a family crisis leaves Wyn shorthanded at the Grant Ranch. Experienced horsewoman Mel volunteers to help out and gets way more than she bargained for living under the same roof as the sexy rancher. Playing house has never appealed to Wyn…until now.
But the feisty redhead is keeping secrets and Wyn’s not above stripping her bare—body and soul—to get to the bottom of it…
Lorelei James is the
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of contemporary erotic romances in the Rough Riders, Blacktop Cowboys, and Mastered series. She also writes dark, gritty mysteries under the name Lori Armstrong and her books have won the Shamus Award and the Willa Cather Literary Award. She lives in western South Dakota.
Connect with Lorelei in the following places:
Facebook Reader Discussion Group
Click to purchase
Rough Riders Series (in reading order)
STRONG SILENT TYPE
(novella)
SLOW RIDE
(free short story)
SHORT RIDES
(anthology)
LONG TIME GONE
(novella)
Blacktop Cowboys® Series (in reading order)
WRAPPED AND STRAPPED
(Nov 2015)
Mastered Series (in reading order)
SCHOOLED
(digital only novella)
Single Title Novels
Single Title Novellas
LOST IN YOU
(short novella)
MISTRESS CHRISTMAS
(Wild West Boys)
MISS FIRECRACKER
(Wild West Boys)
BALLROOM BLITZ
(Two To Tango anthology)
Need You Series (debuts Jan 2016)
WHAT YOU NEED
(Jan 5 2016)
Lorelei James writing as mystery author Lori Armstrong
Acknowledgments from the Author
A 1001 thanks to the fabulous Liz Berry for all her love and patience with me—and for asking me to be a part of this amazing project.
And thanks to my readers who wanted to know more about Sutton Grant’s brother Wynton, and London’s pal, Mel. This love story is for you…
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1001 Dark Nights story
The First Night
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Table of Contents
An excerpt from Roped In by Lorelei James
One Thousand and One Dark Nights
Once upon a time, in the future…
I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.
I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.
I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.
I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.
But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.
One afternoon, curious about the myth of the
Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar
(Persian:
شهریار,
“king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.
Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.
Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.
Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.
And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.
And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.
As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.
“Weddings make me horny.”
Best man Wynton “Wyn” Grant turned to look at Melissa Lockhart, the curvy redheaded maid of honor. Today was the first time they’d met, so the comment threw him off—as had the other sexual remarks she’d made over the past two hours. Wyn wasn’t sure if she was playing him...or if she wanted to play. He offered her a nonchalant, “Really?”
She smirked at him. “A strapping, handsome rancher such as yourself doesn’t have anything to say to that besides...
Really
?”
Enough. He angled his head and put his mouth on the shell of her ear. “Gonna get yourself in trouble, you keep teasing me.”
“You think I’m teasing?”
“Only one way to find out, ain’t there?” He traced the rim of her ear with the tip of his tongue. “Words don’t mean nothin’ if you can’t back it up with actions. And darlin’ I
am
a man of action.”
That caused a quick hitch in her breath.
He smiled and backed off.
After the last guests passed through the receiving line, Wyn’s younger brother Sutton, aka the groom, snagged his attention. “The photographer wants a few shots of us alone, so can you—”
“Make sure the wedding party gets to the head table?” Wyn supplied. “No problem.”
“Thanks.”
Wyn’s new sister-in-law, London, whispered something to Melissa.
Melissa leaned over, giving Wyn a peek of her magnificent tits. She attached the train to the back of London’s wedding dress so it didn’t drag on the ground. Then she straightened up and looked at Wyn.
He offered his arm. “The party waits.”