STORY EXCERPT

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go in and have a drink. Our dinner reservations aren’t for half an hour yet.”

The valet opened her door and extended his hand to help her out. Then Joshua was at her side. He slid his arm around her waist and led her inside.

At a desk near the front door, a man in black tie looked up. “Rosen,” Joshua said. “We have reservations for eight, and we’ll be in the bar.”

“I’ll let you know when your table is ready.”

“Thank you.” Joshua guided her to the right, into a room lighted with candles and low illumination from wall sconces. The only point in the room with decent lighting was behind the bar, where two men busily mixed drinks for the many people seated at the oak bar and tables scattered across the floor. Joshua pointed out an empty booth against the far wall. “If you’ll wait there, I’ll order for us. What will you have?”

Evelyn rarely drank, but this evening’s adventure called for something celebratory. Her dad drank whiskey, but that was too strong for her. “A screwdriver, please.”

He nodded and turned to the bar.

The walls were a mosaic of the cities’ skylines, done in silver against black—sleek but comfortable somehow. A stage and dance floor were at the far end of the room. She didn’t realize Harve offered dancing, too, and live performances. In all the time she’d known him, she’d never come to his restaurant. It was far too pricey for her, but now that she saw the place, she realized that it said a great deal about him. Sleek and modern. Relaxed and comfortable. Efficient yet personalized. So many contrasts all rolled into one establishment, into one man.

She looked around. People were having a good time, laughing, talking. Drinks and cigarettes were in handy supply. She almost wished she smoked so she’d have something to do with her hands. Then Joshua came and slid in beside her. Taking one of her hands and thus ending her dilemma, he rested their hands on her thigh.

“The waitress will be here in a minute with our drinks.” He looked around, too. “What do you think of the place?”

“I like it. It’s relaxed and yet modern. I’m not sure how Harve pulled it off.”

“Yeah, old Harve is a real wunderkind.”

The thick sarcasm threw her for a minute, and then she laughed. “You two are like oil and water. Is there anything you agree on?”

He faced her. His black eyes glittered like polished onyx. She blushed under the intensity of his stare, but she couldn’t turn away. His hand tightened over hers, and he rubbed the backs of his knuckles on her dress, at her thigh.

“I’m pretty sure there’s one thing.”

“Your drinks, sir.” The waitress bent low, showing off a generous cleavage. To Evelyn’s surprise, Joshua seemed not to notice. He tipped the woman, handed Evelyn her drink, and focused on her once again.

“To many more evenings,” he said.

“I’ll go along with that,” she replied. The vodka burned on the way down, but the orange juice sweetened the sip. Her second taste was smoother, and the third, downright refreshing.

“What happened to that pin you had in the case yesterday?” Joshua asked.

The alcohol spun through her system, made her settle into the soft leather banquette seat and feel warm all over. “What pin?”

“The one in the front display case. The circular one with the stones set into it. It wasn’t there when I stopped by earlier today, and I just wondered if the owner came back for it.”

Evelyn took another sip and then examined her glass. It was nearly empty. How had that happened? She blinked and focused on Joshua. “Circular stones pinned in my display case?”

Joshua smiled and removed her glass. “You don’t drink very often, do you?”

She plopped her elbow on the table and her chin in her palm. “Nope. Maybe if I had a friend to drink with.”

“I’ll be your friend, Evelyn,” Joshua said quietly.

She swiveled her chin in her palm and squinted at him. “I like that, Joshmea.”

He brushed a tendril of hair from the corner of her mouth to behind her ear. “You’re so beautiful, Evelyn.”

She started to giggle. Good God! When had she ever giggled? No one with brass balls giggles. And she giggled again. “Am not.”

“Are, too.”

“Oh, Joshea, I’m just avmerage. You are handsome, though. You and Harve both, just damned handsome.” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “Oops! I said damn.”

Joshua started laughing. “Wow. You’re in trouble. Shall I go and find some soap?” He looked over her shoulder and then nodded at someone. “Our table’s ready. Are you able to walk, Evelyn?”

She sat up straight and waved her hand. “Oh sure. I learned how to walk a long time ago.” He laughed again. What had she said that was so funny?

She scooted to the edge of the banquette, but somehow her legs didn’t obey the command to stand. Joshua held out his hand, the sweetheart, and she grabbed hold. Rising to her feet, she wobbled in her heels for a second or two and then steadied herself. How far was it to their table? She’d stay on her feet if it killed her. With great confidence, she stepped off.

And fell flat on her ass.

ADULT EXCERPT

Nudging her to her back, he slipped between her legs as though he’d always belonged there. Maybe he had. God knew, he’d dreamed about being there long enough. Lacing his fingers with hers, he positioned their hands beside her head. No need to use his hand to lead his cock to her pussy. It found the sweet spot like an arrow aimed by an expert archer.

“This might hurt,” he said.

“It won’t,” she said back, with such conviction he had a moment’s doubt that she was a virgin. But then, he knew his Evvie, and she was as pure as an angel.

“Spread your legs as far as you can. And try to relax.”

“Harve Liddell, you’re inspiring a lot of things right now, but relaxation isn’t one of them.”

He laughed—a first for him, buck naked and between a woman’s thighs. He took her mouth at the same time his cock sunk into the heat and tightness of her pussy.

He had to push, because her muscles resisted the necessary stretching to accommodate him. She wasn’t kidding—she was anxious.

He swept kisses up her jaw to her ear. He nibbled the lobe and then whispered, “Relax, sweetheart. Let my cock in.” He flexed his hips, trying like hell not to hurt her any more than need be yet feeling the strain himself as each moment passed. It was all he could do not to drive inside and relieve his own urges.

“Feel my dick, sliding inside you?”

“Yes,” she murmured.

“It wants you. I want you. Your cunt wants my dick, too. God designed us that way.” Her breath hitched enough for him to feel it, and she squeezed his hands.

“You’re so sexy. Your tits pressing my chest are driving me crazy.”

The sex talk worked. She raised her hips to push against him and accepted him an inch more. With the next probe, her hymen blocked his way.

“There’s no easy way to do this,” he whispered and thrust hard.

“Oh, my God!”

He was there, deep inside, surrounded by heat and her natural moisture. He took a needed deep breath, letting her adjust to his size. “It’ll be better in just a minute. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

Remarkably, she wrapped her legs around his butt and pushed up. “No, I meant, ‘Oh, my God’ that feels incredible. You’re inside me so far, it’s like we’re one person.”

His Evvie was one in a million. “It’ll feel even better, starting right now.” He pulled out to the entrance to her channel and slid back in.

Out and in. Out and in.

Then he took her mouth again, a conqueror, sliding his tongue in and out, reveling in her response. She sucked at him at the same time she met his cock’s thrusts. Her moans urged him on, harder, faster. He wouldn’t hold out much longer at this rate, but he had to, for her.

Then she shattered beneath him. Her pussy grabbed his dick and contracted, all along his length. He drove in a final time, coming with surprising force.

Harve broke their kiss in order to suck in air. He let go of her hands so he could push his weight a little off her, and she readily wrapped her arms around his neck and stroked his neck and shoulders while her spasms continued rippling over his cock. Her breathing was deep, her eyes closed.

“My God,” she muttered. “My God.”

He had spent his load but remained where he was to let her finish. Her pussy wouldn’t stop, providing an incredible ride inside the world’s sexiest woman. He dipped his head to lick her nipple. She arched her back to feed it to him.

Finally, she calmed completely. His dick, spent but happy, slid out of her pussy. When he removed the rubber to dump in the trash basket beside the bed, it was slippery with her cream.

“I didn’t hurt you?”

“There was a tiny bit of pain, but no. It felt…like nothing I could ever describe to anyone.”

“Good?”

“Fantastic. Remarkable. A miracle. I should have done this years ago.”

“No!” He sat up, propped on one hand, and stared down at her. “No, Evvie. You were keeping yourself for me.”

She smiled sweetly and reached up to cup his cheek. “You’re probably right. It wouldn’t have been the same with anyone else.”

He covered her hand with his own. “It’ll always be good between us.” He turned his head to kiss her palm, teasing her with the tip of his tongue. “I love you, Evvie.”

“I must love you, too, or else how could I feel this good?”

“Oh, the body lies all the time. Yours is meant to respond to a man’s dick, a man’s touch. I want you to love me with your heart and mind.”

“I think maybe I do, Harve. But this has all happened so fast.”

He hesitated, wondering how to approach his question. “Did Rosen kiss you when he took you home the other night?”

She looked away and bit her bottom lip. “Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Did you enjoy it? Did he give you tongue?”

“Harve, those are personal questions.”

“My sweet siren, I’m not the only man who wants you in his bed. Josh Rosen does, too.”

“How do you know?”

“He told me. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s in love with you, too.”

“Oh, no.” She bit her lip again, the sparkle in her eyes dimming. “I have feelings for him, too. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Since my dad died, everything seems different.”

“It’s okay, honey. We want you to think about something. If one of us can make you feel as good as you just did, how much better might it be with two of us?”