STORY EXCERPT

Susannah pretended to snore, peeking through sunglasses covering her slitted eyes at the dark-haired man coming straight for her. She felt his cool shadow cover her body.

If she dared to open her mouth, her moment of privacy was over.

“You’re going to burn if you plan on sleeping out here.”

Why didn’t he just go away? Some people couldn’t take the hint.

Angry only began to describe her mood. She was irritable as all get out.

“Who are you? My mother?” she snapped, not in the mood for playful banter, not in the mood for any of this.

“No, the name’s Ethan. I don’t think we’ve met yet.” He held out his hand to shake.

She sat up warily, regarding him with a new respect. He wasn’t one to back down from a fight or be easily intimidated, and she could respect that. “Sorry, but I feel a little defensive about all this. My name’s Susannah, but I am sure you already heard my whole life story by now.”

She offered her hand back and was surprised when he turned it over and kissed the back of it.

She snatched it back as fast as she could, shocked he would be so forward.

“Not quite, but you can fill me in on those baby years while I put some suntan lotion on you.” He gave Susannah a cocky smile and sat down next to her.

“Nice try, buddy.”

“No worries there. I wouldn’t try anything with your dad watching me like a hawk.”

Susannah glanced toward the patio to see he was right. Her dad had a rather nasty expression on his face, too. Well, he arranged this whole mess in the first place. You would think he would want her schmoozing with the men.

Served him right.

“Okay, but I get to help him kick your ass if you try anything, and you only do my back.” She rolled over on her tummy to bare her back. Immediately, his hands swept over her skin, smearing the cool lotion over the bare skin.

“Oh, he probably would be happy to just fire me.”

“You work for my dad?” she murmured, enjoying the way his large hands massaged the lotion into her skin.

“Yeah, I’m his personal assistant.”

Not the usual type of guest at these types of things. She was curious why her father would invite an employee. “How did he wrangle you here?”

“I volunteered.”

“You know this is a plot to marry us all off, right? You come to the party, and the next thing you know Daddy’s standing at the altar with a shotgun. I didn’t think there could be so many willing victims,” she grumbled.

“Well, actually, I worked on a special project this last month. I know all about his plans, and it doesn’t involve forcing you to do anything. You are going to make your own choices.”

She peeked her head up. “Why don’t you tell me what you mean?”

His face reddened, highlighting his freckles and his nervousness under her sudden scrutiny.

He looked flustered and his face had grown bright red. “No, I think I’ve said too much already. It’s not my place.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll talk to my dad and get you fired?”

“No.”

“Maybe you should be.”

“I don’t think you could be that mean.”

“You are pretty cocky, mister. Where do you get off thinking you know me? For all you know, I could enjoy having you kicked to the curb just for the fun of it.”

“You are too nice. Besides, I am not worried. Mr. Gibson won’t replace me that easily.”

Now, she was beginning to get pissed off. It wasn’t just that silly, know-it-all grin on his face, but the fact he knew what was going to happen this weekend and he was withholding information from her.

It infuriated her to be kept in the dark and to have that know-it-all laughing at her. Susannah stood up and removed her sunglasses.

The lotion fell to the ground when she pushed his chest and backed him toward the pool. “Do you know something, Ethan?”

“No, what?”

“I don’t like you.”

“Why not?” His eyebrows arched curiously. Apparently, he was not told off very often by a woman.

“Do you really want to know, because I don’t think you do.”

“Of course.”

“Well, let’s start with the fact that you’re a cocky know-it-all who thinks he can marry into money by courting his boss’s daughter.” She kept pushing his chest with her fingers over and over again until they were at the edge of the pool. “Its men like you that are the reason I can never get married.”

By this time everyone at the pool party was staring, and Susannah was beyond caring. She gave him one last hard push and watched him teeter over into the pool. Unfortunately one of his arms tangled with hers, pulling her with him into the crystal-blue water.

ADULT EXCERPT

A quiet knock startled her, and she opened it quickly to see Colt was there, as promised. He slipped inside into her arms and kissed her. She managed to shut the door and slide the latch of the lock, securing them against any intruders.

His mouth fell on hers, hot and heavy. His body pressed against hers, his heat, his scent, his everything was hers. She had never done anything so dangerous, and combined with a stranger she might never see again. It was intoxicating. His tongue pushed through her lips into her mouth, seeking and destroying all resistance, drugging her body. Slowing her movements, she relaxed against him.

He smelled so good, and the effects of his hands on her body lit her on fire. The flames of desire threatened to burn her from the inside out.

His hands worked the thin, white, cotton blouse over her head, freeing her breasts for his pleasure. He dipped down low and sucked the tip of her nipple into his mouth. She arched, pushing her breast in his face, holding him there. With his free hand, he kneaded her other breast, flipping his thumb casually across the sensitive nipple.

She noted with satisfaction that his breathing was heavy and he was not unaffected by the encounter, but every action was still controlled, and he enjoyed being in a position of power. A man like Colt wouldn’t be happy with anything less.

He pushed her skirt up high and ran his fingers over her hips and through the small amount of hair she had covering her pussy.

“Susannah, you naughty girl.” He chuckled, finding her panties had been removed and how wet she was for him.

“It’s fun being a bad girl.” She licked his neck, nipping at his earlobe as he dipped lower, tracing circles with his tongue around her belly button and straight to her most sensitive nub.

He went to town down there, sending her into a spasming pool of jelly. If it weren’t for him holding her up she would have fallen to the ground of the lavatory.

“Oh, my God, Colt. This is too good. Don’t stop.” She pulled him close, using his shoulders to hang on. She couldn’t stop touching him. Her fingers combed through his hair, grabbing him closer and pushing him away until her lust escalated into a powerful wave of emotion and power. She rode his tongue and screamed into her fist, trying to stop the cry short of anyone outside the lavatory hearing.

Panting, she leaned against his body. “I wanted to be fucked, but not by your tongue.”

He stood up and grinned at her. “I was just getting you warmed up, baby.”

It was good, but she wanted more.

“Fuck me or it won’t count for the mile-high club.” Happy to assist, he pulled out a condom.

“You won’t need that.” So much for her plan to get pregnant with a random stranger. “You’re clean, I’m clean, and there’s no worry about pregnancy with me.”

“Just the same, I always like to be on the safe side. You don’t want me to be your baby’s daddy, do you?” He quirked an eyebrow high.

Yes!

She wanted to tell him the truth, but she was afraid he would stop if she did. He unbuttoned his pants and slid his boxers and pants down to his knees. His dick seemed to jut angrily from his pants, red and swollen. It was thick and long. A wet liquid dripped between her legs, lubricating her entrance. She watched him as the condom was opened and rolled over his pink tip and down the length of him, wondering how many other women he had practiced on before her. It didn’t seem as unplanned when he had been prepared with a condom.

“Just do it.”