STORY EXCERPT

Zerina DuKet hated pretty people. They annoyed her, like a bad rash with no relief. And now that Iron Horse Saloon was being remodeled, thanks to a fire that had destroyed the back storeroom, she was forced to be around said pretty person. Every day she came into work, she was greeted by him. His golden-blond hair, crystal blue eyes, and pearly white teeth he couldn’t help but flash around like some supermodel, and his irritatingly toned body that stretched higher than six feet.

She gritted her teeth.

Fucking annoying.

Worse still, he was a do-gooder, a fireman, one that helped put the fire out at the bar, a damn golden boy. God, she hated him and they hadn’t even said more than a few words to each other. But she could sense him watching her, feel his eyes scanning over her body like the rise of warm sunlight. Maybe he was disgusted by her lack of prettiness. Unlike his templelike body, hers was covered in tattoos and piercings. She loved body art and dug the ring in her nose, the tiny ring hoops that chased up her earlobes, and the amethyst studs in each of her eyebrows. For an added bonus, she colored her hair black with purple tips. Sometimes she’d switch things up a bit and make the tips red, but that was only when she was feeling extra bitchy. Sort of like a fuck-off warning sign to those she preferred not to be bothered by.

Perhaps it was time to change to red again.

She rolled her eyes at Pretty Boy as she stalked back up to the counter. He’d been on the phone, doing God knew what. She hoped he’d get his shit together and finish up so he would leave her alone. At least then she’d be able to work without being eyeballed.

“Hey,” he said, and the buttery smoothness of his voice only added to her dislike of him. He probably smelled good, too.

She groaned, sounding like a bear coming out of hibernation too early. “Do you need something?” Wow, did she sound excessively bitchy. If he hung around, it was only because he liked abuse, and if that were the case, she would be instantly sweet to him.

“No,” he told her, a grin exploding on his face. “I was just saying hey.”

Damn, he was too cute. A guttural groan rolled in her throat and she returned to stocking up the front bar.

“I never had a chance to introduce myself. I’m Jeremy Lawrence.” He reached his hand out, but she scrunched up her face as if it smelled bad.

You’ve gotta be kidding me. Perfect-looking with a boy-next-door name, seriously?

She snubbed him. “Look, Jer, I’m a bit busy here. Do you need something or are you just wasting my time and my boss’s money?”

He eyed her, his brow furrowing as he registered just how much she disliked him.

Good. He needed a clue. She could make a hard-edged man cry. He didn’t stand a chance.

“You must be the main attraction when this bar’s open.”

What the hell did that mean?

His voice lowered to just above a whisper as he continued, “Not only are you sexy as hell, but your hardass attitude can make a man forget himself.”

She frowned. Had she just heard him right? Had he referred to her as sexy?

She opened her mouth to speak, but not a single word popped out. Had he actually stunned her into silence?

“Well, I better get back to work. We’re almost done. Might only take a few more days and we’ll be out of your hair.” He stepped around the bar, but stopped, catching her eyes as he shared, “Not that I’m looking forward to that or anything.”

For a moment that felt like minutes, they stared at each other. She heard every word he said, but she still couldn’t shake the fact that he’d called her sexy. Was he being a total douche and messing around with her? That wouldn’t be the first time that had happened to her.

“I’ll have to come back up to visit. Maybe even buy you a drink.” He winked, slipping past her and into the backroom.

A cotton ball held more moisture than her mouth. She popped the top off a beer, chugged it, and slammed the empty bottle down onto the bar.

“You gonna pay for that?” Jason asked, slipping up beside her to grab one for himself.

“No, you are, so thanks.”

He chuckled. “Good thing I like you, Z, or I’d have fired your smart ass a long damn time ago.”

“You love me and you know it.”

“True.” He sipped his beer. “Everything okay?”

She leaned her elbow on the bar and stared in the direction Jeremy had gone. “What’s his story?”

“The young fireman that has you rattled?” There was humor in his tone.

She scoffed. “He doesn’t have me rattled,” she argued. “I find him… annoying.”

Jason laughed. “Right,” he said, dragging out the word. “That’s what that was.” She curled her lips, preparing to protest, but he cut her off. “Well, I hope you don’t dislike him too much. He’s going to be here a bit longer. I’ve decided to make some other changes to the bar. It’s time we cleaned up our little watering hole and drew in some new business.”

Her heart pounded. Why was knowing that Jeremy would be around longer not as upsetting as it should be?

ADULT EXCERPT

Jeremy broke the kiss, easing back. Zerina’s mouth was swollen and red, and her eyes were consumed with arousal. Good. He wanted her that way, overcome with so much desire she couldn’t think, only feel.

His entire body stirred with just the sight of her. “You’re so beautiful.” His words were raspy and deep. Standing in his living room was not where he had pictured his first night pleasuring her. “Come with me,” he ordered, taking her by the hand and leading her toward his bedroom.

“Where are we going?”

“I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted more than to fuck you.” He shoved open his bedroom door and guided her toward his bed. “I want you out of these clothes. Now.” He spun her toward the bed, nipped at her neck, and unzipped her skirt. The skimpy black leather dropped to the floor, and she stepped out of it.

“What about my boots?”

He followed her gaze downward, and she shifted her ankle to the side indicating the boots that laced up almost to her knee.

His cock nearly punched a hole through his jeans.

“Leave them on. I think they’re hot.”

She whimpered as he kissed her neck, his fingers kneading the flesh of her hips. He skimmed over the edge of her panties, gently working them down her legs. When they reached her ankles, she kicked out of them and he couldn’t resist the chance to nibble on her perfectly round derrière. She gasped as he kissed and nipped her skin, massaging her hips and waist as he did. Then he stood and turned her to face him.

“On the bed.”

Her eyes widened at his words, but then a wicked smile emerged. “All’s fair in love and tasting,” she informed him with a husky sound in her voice, and he couldn’t be more pleased.

“I like the idea of you sucking my cock.” With a gently shove, he encouraged her to get onto the bed. “But I’m first.”

She leaned back on her elbows and glanced down at her partially covered body.

“What about my shirt? Don’t you want me naked?”

The woman was fearless and void of any shyness. He liked that about her. Her brazen behavior was sexy and exhilarating.

“Right now, I want to taste your pussy. I’ll get to those beautiful breasts soon enough.”

He’d waited weeks to be able to have her honey on his tongue, and whether she realized it or not, her bantering had left him with a serious case of blue balls, something he was going to remedy all night long.

He would also show her just how good it could be with someone who desired her. No games. No illusions or pranks. Only pleasure.

He tore his shirt up over his head, kicked off his boots, and stripped down to his boxers. His cock was hard and eager to be buried deep inside the slick heat of her body, but he had to wait. Tasting her pussy was more important. Knowing how sweet her juices were was all he’d thought about.

As she wiggled her way to the center of the bed, he crawled toward her, shouldering her thighs apart until his lips were inches away from the swollen folds of her sex. The heavy scent of her arousal had his cock drilling into the mattress. He pumped his hips once, pressing hard against the bedding to keep from coming.

With one hand, he parted the wet folds and licked slowly, lapping at her juices. She moaned and her hips lifted as he flicked his tongue over her clit.

“Oh, God. It’s been awhile,” she confessed, and he couldn’t help but glance up to see her blush. Damn, that look did something to him. “I’m either going to come in seconds or it’s going to take you forever to get the job done.”

He grinned. “Then it’s a good damn thing I like a challenge. Relax and enjoy the tongue spankings, Princess.”

He latched onto her sensitive bud and sucked as his tongue danced furiously. The sound of her heavy breathing had his hips slamming forward in a mock effort to fuck the bed. His muscles clenched as her flavor drew him to the edge of sanity. He lapped at her wetness, hoping he wouldn’t send her over the edge too quickly. He liked the sight of her spread in front of him. Her tightly wrapped breasts screaming for release and her heavy-lidded eyes drenched with the pleasure he gave her.

She fisted her fingers in his hair, anchoring his head between her legs. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop. Feels so good.”

Stop?

Never!

He couldn’t if he wanted to. She tasted too damn good. He pushed a finger deep inside her, pumping in and out as he flicked his tongue wildly over her clit. The moment he added a second finger, she splintered in two. He tasted every drop of her cream, wringing every ounce from her sated body.

He kissed her thighs and worked his way toward her belly, dragging his tongue over the smooth flesh, nipping playfully at the bodice she wore. “Now that didn’t take near as long as I’d hoped.”

She rolled her hips, teasing his still-covered cock. “Think you can do it again?”

“I plan to.” He leaned toward the nightstand to grab a condom, and before he moved an inch she snatched a hold of his wrist.

“Forgetting something, Princess?” she asked teasingly, throwing the playful pet name back at him.