STORY EXCERPT

Regina Piercy stared at the e-mail her sister or one of her cohorts had sent, time for vacation. This meant her sister was in trouble and she herself possibly in danger. But it all seemed melodramatic, like a thriller movie. Although she never had understood exactly what Sylvia did, she had suspected it was dangerous. Whereas Regina preferred the quiet comfort of normality, Sylvia had always loved the excitement of the unexpected.

What was she going to do? She’d promised to go with some male friend of Sylvia’s named Graham and stay in the middle of nowhere until word came Sylvia was safe. Regina didn’t know the man or where he would be taking her. She smiled to herself. Maybe he’d be her knight in shining armor.

Glancing around the library, she saw people reading or looking for books. A few stood at the desk just like any normal day, but not for her. She had to go to her boss and tell her there was a family emergency, which wasn’t completely a lie, and then wait for him.

She deleted the e-mail and went down the hall to her supervisor’s office. An unsettled feeling made her stomach ache. Regina didn’t like disturbances in her life.

Her boss, Mrs. Grimshaw, raised her head when Regina knocked on her partially open door.

“Good morning, Regina. Come in and have a seat.”

Regina took the chair in front of her and clasped her hands tight. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I just got an e-mail, and there’s a family emergency. I need to ask for a leave of absence.”

“I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Nothing except grant my leave.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“I’m not sure. I need to leave the return date open ended. I can use my vacation first if you’d prefer.”

Mrs. Grimshaw sat back in her chair and studied Regina. Regina knew she was taken by surprise as Regina was one of her most dependable employees. Her heart beat rapidly. She didn’t want to lose her job.

“Yes, take your three weeks’ vacation and then the ninety-day leave. I’m sure you know if you have to be gone longer, you must resign.”

“I know the policy. I’ll try my best to be back before that happens.”

“Good. I’d hate to lose you.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Grimshaw. I’ll finish out today or most of it. A friend is flying in to get me.” Regina hurried out before Mrs. Grimshaw could ask about the friend. Regina wasn’t sure if the man would come to the library or to her apartment. She hoped here. If she felt uncomfortable she’d refuse to go with him and find a place to hide on her own.

* * * *

Graham glanced at his watch. By the time he picked up the car at the rental place it would be close to five. He hoped the library would still be open.

Thankfully the sports car he’d ordered was ready to go. He’d already checked on the directions to the downtown library. He drove fast, but not fast enough to get a ticket, which would only delay him. He paid to park in the garage across the street and took long strides across and into the main lobby. He’d called ahead and knew which floor Regina worked on. When he stepped off the elevator he looked around for the main desk.

But he spotted her almost straight in front of him. She was helping an elderly man find a book.

Soft auburn curls framed her pretty face, and her long hair hung in loose waves halfway down her back. The picture hadn’t done her justice. Her figure was slim, but she had curves in all the right places, and when she looked directly at him, he saw her eyes were more golden than brown. For a second, he couldn’t move. He just stared. Her face flushed a rosy red across her cheeks, and she bit the side of her bottom lip. Unexpected desire shot straight through him.

She blinked and turned away to walk toward the desk at the end of the room. Graham’s long steps caught her halfway there.

“I think you need a vacation,” he whispered.

Her head jerked around, and her soft floral scent of jasmine and lilies filled his head. Up close, her cupid-bow lips shimmered in a golden color that almost matched her eyes. He wanted to pick her up and carry her off.

“Come with me,” she said.

“Gladly.” He walked beside her past the desk and into an empty hallway.

“I want to see some identification.”

“Did your sister tell you my name?” he asked as he was taking out his wallet.

“Your first name.” She looked at his driver’s license. His hand covered his address.

“We’re going…”

“I’m keeping it a secret. We don’t know who might be listening.”

It hadn’t really hit her until now that she was truly in danger. A shiver ran down her spine.

“Are you ready to go?”

ADULT EXCERPT

She was breaking all his rules. So he’d break one of his. He scooped her into his arms.

“What are you doing?” she asked, in a sexy, sleepy voice.

Striding to her door, he flung it open. “You painted after I said no painting!”

“You didn’t specifically say no painting, and it’s just a tiny space. The room’s more pleasant now. Not so cold and clinical.”

He turned, kicked his door wide open, and carried her inside. Staring into her large, seductive eyes, he tried to growl.

“You knew the rules, but women always want to bend them. First, the kitchen, then the bedroom, at this rate before you leave my whole house won’t be mine anymore.” He had difficulty keeping his mind on what he needed to emphasize to her. Her pink lips teased him to taste them.

“Put me down. I promise this is all I planned to do with the decorating. I won’t touch your sterile living room or your man cave.”

Graham let her feet slip to the ground. “Sterile living room?”

Gina leaned her head way back and frowned. “I should call it the second man cave. Two chairs, a small couch, and a television does not make for welcoming guests.”

“Maybe you don’t understand what I’ve been saying to you. I don’t want company, and I don’t have company.”

“You do now.” She started to walk off, but stopped to give him a flirty smile over her shoulder. He rushed forward, swung her into his arms, took two long steps, and dumped her on his bed.

He followed her down and cupped her face in his hands. “I warned you about teasing.” His lips captured hers. They were soft as a baby’s skin. He nibbled on her stubborn bottom lip. He’d hungered to taste it. Her body moved under his, and his cock pulsed against her in happy anticipation.

Most of his weight was held off of her small frame by his elbows. Graham took his time kissing her face and nibbling on her satin-smooth neck. He straddled her when he got to the high neckline of her gown.

“This looks like a virginal bridal gown.” He caught a fleeting expression in her eyes and swung himself off of her. “Are you a virgin?”

She licked her lips, raising the fever in his body. “No, it’s been a long time, though.”

“How long?”

“None of your business. Do you want to make love to me or not?” Her eyes sparkled with defiance.

“Hell, yes.” He stood and had his clothes off and his cock sheathed in a minute. Then he took hold of the top of her gown and tore it down the middle.

“What are you doing?” she yelled.

“You painted my perfectly good bedroom. I’m getting rid of your ridiculously modest nightgown.” He pulled the gown from under her and pulled off the bikini panties she wore underneath.

“Now that’s the way I like to see you.” He surveyed her delectable, dainty body. She looked like a perfectly proportioned porcelain statue his mother might have on her mantel.

The thought crossed his mind that he might hurt her. She looked stunned studying his body and especially his hard cock.

“Do I frighten you?”

She swallowed and cleared her throat. “Only your size compared to mine.”

“We’ll take our time. If I hurt you, let me know right away.”

Gina took a deep breath and nodded, but the concerned expression remained on her face. Graham lay across her body, again keeping the majority of his weight off her. He kissed her eyelids, her cheeks, and bit the edge of her jaw where she always jutted it up toward him to make her point. Inside he smiled, but he also burned for this woman.

When his mouth touched hers, she opened her lips, and her tongue and his tangled together. He sipped her sweetness and moved his hand to cup her breast. She sighed into his mouth and noticeably relaxed. His body, like a desert, soaked up her touch, her fragrance, her exotic flavor. He couldn’t get enough of her. Sliding down, he took her breast inside his mouth and sucked.

Her hands held his head against her chest as his tongue licked across her sensitive nipple. She reminded him of when he’d lain in a cherry tree and eaten the sun-ripened, sweet fruit. Warmth rushed through his veins, and her scent sent his desire into overdrive. He wanted to plunge into her pussy, but he had to take his time. She was small and needed to be ready before he entered her.

Moving farther down, he blew kisses over her stomach, then ran his finger between her wet folds and sucked on her clit. She screamed and raised her body to meet his mouth.

Graham tilted her hips where he could taste and lick her juices. “You’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted,” he said and glanced up at her face. Desire flashed in her golden eyes.

His tongue flicked into her pussy opening, and he rubbed her clit with his thumb.

“Take me, please.”