Sweet Deal (29 page)

Cameron giggled, cupping his face with both hands before she planted a big kiss on his lips to soothe his injured male pride.

When she spoke again, concern rang in her voice. “I just want to help my baby sister. It would do her good to get hooked up this weekend.”

“She doesn’t need your help,” Sean barked, staring straight ahead at the road.

The vehicle’s headlights bounced off the slick asphalt when they hit a bump. A light snow flurry had begun. White crystals accumulated on the hood and along the windshield wipers.

Cameron’s eyes widened with amusement, but she tried to hide it behind an innocent expression, which was so not her. Then she narrowed her attention on Sean. “What’s got your panties in a twist, dear brother?”

“Nothing. Just leave Sydney alone.”

“Like you? Don’t think I didn’t see you chasing away those men. Our sister is a grown woman. She needs a little action from time to time. Maybe you wouldn’t be in such a bad mood if you had brought home a little tail.”

From out of nowhere, the sting of jealousy whipped through Sydney. The thought of him in another woman’s arms made her shudder. Not only was she uncomfortable with the topic, this conversation had to end before someone said something they couldn’t take back.

“I know she’s a grown woman,” he snapped. “And my personal life is none of your damn business.” Brother and sister exchanged glares, until he tore his gaze off hers to focus on the road.

“Excuse me. Did you two forget I’m sitting right here?”

Cameron again glanced over her shoulder. “No, honey, but it’s time Sean saw you for the woman you are and not his little sister.”

Ohhh… I don’t think Sean sees me as his little sister—at least not after tonight.

“Dammit, Cameron.” Sean caught Sydney’s attention in the rearview mirror. “I haven’t been ignoring the fact that she’s a beautiful and desirable woman.”

Cameron’s brows furrowed. “I meant strong and intelligent, but beautiful and desirable works too.”

Harry drew Cameron into his arms, kissing her quiet. As the man continued to sip from her lips, she apparently lost interest in Sydney’s or Sean’s love life.

Thank God.

Some of the stress knotting Sydney’s shoulders released. She eased back against the seat, thankful silence reigned for the remainder of the trip.

Snow fell heavily by the time they pulled into the garage. No one spoke, but she could see excitement etched in everyone’s smiles. Tomorrow they would have fresh powder for snowboarding.

Ted curled an arm around Louisa’s waist as they all congregated in the kitchen. “I think we’ll call it a night.” He placed a sweet kiss on his wife’s nose. She looked adoringly at him.

“Us too.” Cameron flashed Harry a mischievous grin that revealed there would be no sleep for either of them anytime soon.

As the two couples drifted out of the kitchen, anxiety slithered across Sydney’s skin. Before she could retreat, Sean grasped her hand and drew her to him.

As their eyes met, she gulped. Frantically, she reached for words to tell him why this was wrong on so many levels, but failed. A multitude of reasons raced through her mind. They were as different as day and night. Although not related by blood, they were family. And there were the other reasons she had thought of in the car.

His large palms smoothed up and down her arms, before pulling her closer. “I want you, Sydney.”

Time to put out…or get out.

Risk It

© 2011 Natasha Moore

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 2

On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.

Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.

Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.

When Will shows up way,
way
late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.

Warning: Sparks flying, angry words flying, clothes flying, and a loving couple trying to find their way back to each other.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Risk It
:

…Amy glanced around the room again. She didn’t want to see the empty bed, didn’t need the reminder that she wouldn’t be using that wide mattress tonight. She dropped her purse by the wall and shut the light back off, plunging the room into darkness. Now the room was more like a movie theater with a wide screen and comfortable seating. She trembled slightly as she crossed the floor to stand in front of the window to the next room.

A pretty, petite blonde stood in front of the window wearing a silky silver dress. She looked as if she was staring right at Amy. She shivered even though she knew the blonde couldn’t see her.

A tall, pleasant-looking young man with light brown hair stood behind the blonde. He was bare-chested, watching her with an adoring expression on his face. They were talking, but of course Amy couldn’t tell what they were saying to each other. The pretty blonde swayed her hips to music Amy couldn’t hear. Slowly, seductively, the blonde drew her skirt up along her thighs, teasing her man. When she flashed a peek at her smoothly waxed sex, Amy’s breath caught in her throat. She swallowed, hard, and kept watching.

The man had his hands on the blonde in an instant, wrapping her in his embrace. Amy’s breasts began to ache as she watched him cover his girl’s breasts with his long fingers. Amy saw the young woman’s reaction in the way she moved against him, the way her lips parted and her eyes closed. She reached back and grasped Lover Boy’s head, and then arched her back. She pushed her breasts so close to the mirror, Amy thought she heard his knuckles thud on the glass.

Amy could almost feel his hands on
her
skin, imagine the pads of his fingers brushing along the surface, gently at first, sending shivers of desire dancing along her body. Would his hands be smooth and soft, stroking her like rich velvet? Or were they rough and calloused? Would they lightly scrape her skin, maybe even leave tiny scratches on her breasts as a reminder of his hands on her?

She couldn’t remember the last time Will had taken the time to make love to her breasts the way this young man was doing for his girl. Amy had almost forgotten the pleasure that kind of stimulation had brought her.

Amy kicked off her shoes and dropped onto one of the large, soft pillows lying in front of the sofa. She leaned back against the sofa, parting her thighs before she’d even realized it. Her skirt rode up, bunching at her hips. She watched the blonde pull her lover’s head down and capture his lips in a hard, hungry kiss. Amy moaned and moistened her lips with her tongue, imagining how he would taste. Would he have a light, peppermint taste or a darker one laced with coffee or maybe whiskey? It had been so long since she’d kissed a man other than Will that she couldn’t even remember what it was like.

She’d always loved the slip and slide of wet kisses. When had she and Will last indulged in a long, hot kiss, one that wet her lips and her panties at the same time? Why didn’t they do that anymore? There were so many things they didn’t do anymore.

Amy’s thighs parted farther as the young man kissed his way down the blonde’s body. He nipped the back of her neck and tingles ran down Amy’s spine. He kissed the girl’s shoulders and Amy shivered. He licked his way down the blonde’s back until he knelt behind her, and Amy squirmed in her seat. He unzipped the dress, and when it fell to the floor Amy saw the girl was completely naked underneath. She hadn’t even bothered with any fancy underwear. Her young man apparently didn’t miss them either.

Why had she spent the time and money on the black lace push-up bra and the matching panties? She’d hoped it might make her seem sexy to Will again. Maybe she should have made more of an effort, before it was too late.

Through the window she watched the young man run his hands over the blonde’s body. Will used to touch her like that, as if she were adored. As if he thought she was someone special. She swallowed when the young man rolled his girlfriend’s nipples with his long fingers. Amy’s nipples prickled and throbbed, almost as if he were playing with her nipples too.

Amy let out a ragged cry. She tore her blouse off and tossed it away. With trembling hands, she unhooked the bra her husband would never see and let it fall to the floor. She squeezed her bare breasts as she’d imagined the young man doing a few minutes before, wincing as she dug her fingers roughly into her flesh. She threw her head back and plucked at her aching nipples. As she twisted the sensitive buds, she tried to take her mind off the man who wasn’t there. The man she loved, even though he couldn’t make the time to be there with her. Sparks of need shot from her nipples to straight between her legs, and her pussy clenched.

Lover Boy pulled the pretty blonde into his arms again. This time when they kissed, she brushed her naked body against him. Slowly. Sensuously. Rubbed her firm skin against his bare chest and the thick bulge in his trousers. It was a sensual dance that made Amy’s pulse quicken. Her breath caught in her throat. Their love was so evident in every touch, every movement. In the sweep of her hands and the brush of her breasts and the touch of thigh against thigh.

As she watched, Amy’s body crawled with erotic sensations, her body throbbing with desire. She’d forgotten how hot it was to watch. Her fingers stroked her skin, so soft beneath her fingertips. Her caresses brought even more incredible sensations sweeping through her. When she closed her eyes, whose hands did she feel touching her so intimately? The young man busy with his own woman? Or the husband who’d left her alone tonight?

Stop being stupid!
They were her own damn hands.

She pinched her nipples roughly, trying to take her mind off Will and broken promises. Back onto the erotic need finally building again. She didn’t need him. She could take care of herself.

She slid one hand down to cup the hot wet spot between her legs. Her panties were soaked and the pressure from her palm teased her clit. Prickles shot through her, both from the nipple tightening beneath her punishing fingers and from her swollen clit aching to be touched. Her pussy throbbed and her heart raced and—

The door opened and a sliver of light broke through the darkness. She quickly sat up straight and yanked her hands from her breast and panties. When she turned her head, she saw Will, still dressed in his dark business suit, standing in the doorway. His brown hair shone in the light from the hallway. His face was half in the shadows.

She didn’t want to feel the burst of joy that came from his arrival, didn’t want to hear the voice inside her that cried, “He’s here!”

“Amy.” His voice was breathless.

Sweet Deal

Kelly Jamieson

The relationship is pretend. The chemistry…isn’t.

After her last job ended with a broken heart and a humiliating exit from the company, Shelby Leighton’s project management career is back on track with a new job and a high-profile project. The problem: her new boss is a little too friendly, and the staff is talking. Can you say, “déjà vu?”
 
The solution: casually mention a fictional new boyfriend.

New problem: she’s expected to bring her new man to the upcoming corporate picnic.
 

Jake Magill doesn’t do relationships. It’s casual or nothing, but the hot blonde he’s been eyeing at the coffee shop sure is something. Especially when she confesses her problem, and he finds himself offering to act as her date.
 

Sounds simple. Stroll around the party with Shelby’s sexy curves clinging to his arm? He’s all over it. Until he meets her boss—the man who once stole and married the one woman Jake thought he loved.
 

Now Jake’s the one with a reason to pretend. If only to save his own pride…and Shelby from the predatory gaze of the man who could ruin her, and any chance of finding out if their fake connection is the real thing.

Warning: Contains one desperate lady in need, and a pretend boyfriend who shows impressive dedication to nailing all—
and then some
—elements of his role. Oh my!

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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.