STORY EXCERPT

Instead of a basket, she chose a cart and went down the first aisle, her heart beating faster when they flanked her. “I thought you’d be back in Dallas by now. Shopping for dinner?”

Dirk chuckled softly. “We don’t cook. We came to find you.”

His closeness, the brush of his arm against hers, and the clean fresh scent of him bombarded her senses, reminding her just how dangerous he could be. “We want to take you out to dinner. We have a reservation at an Italian restaurant in Tulsa.”

She paused and turned to face him. “Why?”

Dirk’s eyes narrowed as he studied her features. “Because we’d like to get to know you better.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Shaking her head, Anna turned to get some lettuce and slammed into Heath’s hard chest. Swallowing heavily, she carefully avoided his gaze, which meant she found herself staring at his chest. “Excuse me.”

Her ragged breathing made her words come out breathless, and when he used a fingertip to lift her chin, she couldn’t seem to breathe at all.

With a faint smile, which heightened the awareness to her nipples and slit, Heath eyed her steadily. “Why don’t you think it’s a good idea?”

Anna stepped back, only to run into Dirk, biting back a moan when his hands closed on her shoulders. “Because I’m not interested in playing games. You’re a little too sophisticated for me, and I don’t like the idea of being an amusement for you.”

Moving around Heath, Anna grabbed a head of lettuce, tossed it into the cart and moved forward again, until Dirk gripped the cart.

“If we wanted a sophisticated woman to play games with, we have plenty at our disposal.” Dirk’s eyes narrowed. “Instead, we find ourselves consumed with thoughts of a woman who seems hell bent on avoiding us. Now we know why. We just want to get to know you better, Anna. Won’t you have dinner with us so we can talk?”

Heath grinned. “It’s only dinner. Unless you’re afraid?”

“Reverse psychology?” Anna snorted. “Games. Not interested.”

Dirk gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger and lifted her face to his. “Please, darling. We just want to get to know you.”

Anna hated the warm, fuzzy feeling his endearment provoked.

Damn it.

“I’ll think about it while I do my shopping. You have until I finish to convince me that going to dinner with you is a good idea.”

Going out with them would be exciting.

Going out with them could mean trouble.

Dirk’s lips twitched as she chose tomatoes. “You have to eat anyway.”

After bagging her tomatoes, she placed them in the cart. “Not convincing. I’ve already planned my dinner. In fact, I’m shopping for it right now.”

Heath moved in behind her and placed his hands on the cart on either side of hers. The heat of his body warmed her entire back, the heat spreading to encompass her nipples, disconcerting her.

The feel of his lips just beneath her ear sent an erotic shiver through her, and closing her eyes, she imagined that if that small touch created such havoc, just how good it would feel to have his touch on other, more intimate places.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“We can talk about the chemistry between us.”

He turned with her so that he remained behind her and Dirk stood in front of her.

While Heath ran his lips over her neck, beading her nipples so tightly they ached, Dirk bent and brushed her lips with his own.

“And maybe we can figure out why Heath and I can’t forget about you and why you have that little catch in your breath or why your nipples are always hard when we’re near.”

Dirk ran the tip of his tongue over her bottom lip before capturing it with his own, his kiss light but packing a powerful punch. “Please.”

Anna would bet a year’s pay that Dirk could count on one hand the number of times he’d pleaded for anything. The combination of their effect on her system and Dirk’s soft plea wiped away her resistance, the yearning inside her too strong to deny. Pushing away from both of them, she took three steps back. “Damn you.”

Dirk inclined his head, his lips twitching. “I’ve thought the same about you a few times myself. It’s about time we figured this out. Don’t you agree?”

Anna sighed, making the decision she’d known she would make all along. “Something tells me I’m going to regret this, but I’ll go out with you.”

The flash of pleasure in Dirk’s eyes had a predatory gleam that unnerved her, but since they were friends of people she trusted, she threw caution to the wind. Closing the distance between them again, he ran his thumb over her bottom lip, reigniting the tingling from his kiss. “You won’t be sorry. I promise.”

Anna closed her eyes and blew out a breath, confident that she was going to regret this at some point but equally confident that, until it crashed and burned, it would be a hell of a ride. “I’m afraid that’s a promise you’re not going to be able to keep. I’ll finish my shopping tomorrow, but I have to shower and change before dinner.”

When they both smiled, Anna shook her head. “And, no, you can’t come into my apartment. You have to wait outside.”

Heath ran a hand down her back. “Honey, it’s not like we planned to attack you.”

“You wait outside. Deal breaker.”

Heath grinned and ran the back of his finger down her cheek. “It’s interesting that you’re afraid to be alone with us.”

Anna set her tomatoes and lettuce back, careful to avoid their sharp looks. “I don’t know you very well.”

Dirk ran a hand down her back. “That’s something we plan to rectify.”

ADULT EXCERPT

When he lowered her to her bed and followed her down, Anna breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped her legs around him. His kisses went on and on until her arousal was at a fever pitch and kisses had long ceased to be enough.

The light from the hallway cast his features in light and shadows, giving the atmosphere an even more intense erotic edge.

When he lifted off of her, both of them breathing raggedly, Dirk gripped the front of her dress and pulled it lower, baring her breasts and then down her legs and off.

She reached for him as he removed his shirt, only to have her vision blocked by Heath’s handsome features.

Pushing loose tendrils of her hair back, Heath used his thumbs to caress her cheeks. “Hearing those soft moans and cries from you made me crazy. I want a taste.”

His warm breath against her lips warned her of his intentions, but after being kissed and touched by Dirk, she stiffened and looked past Heath to meet Dirk’s gaze as he lowered himself to the bed on the other side of her.

“It’s okay, baby.” Taking her hand in his, Dirk pressed it back against the pillow and lowered his head to his breast, kissing and licking all around her nipple without touching it. His hand slid up her thigh again just as Heath lowered his head and captured her lips with his.

It all happened so fast it stole her breath, and while Dirk used his mouth on her breast and pulled her leg toward him, holding it in place with his own and sliding his finger through her slit, Heath deepened his kiss.

A kaleidoscope of colors exploded behind her eyelids, her muffled cries of pleasure unlike any sounds she’d ever made.

Bursts of pleasure exploded everywhere.

Her orgasm stunned her but did little to satisfy the raging need inside her.

Heath cupped the back of her head, keeping her in place for his kisses while he stroked her other nipple. Lifting his head slightly, he brushed his lips over her jaw to a spot just below her ear that drove her wild. “So beautiful.”

Avoiding her clit and making her crazy, Dirk slid a finger into her pussy, his lips hot against her other ear. “I want you.”

“Yes!”

She hovered on the edge, so close to coming again that her eyes burned with tears. She opened them, staring up at Dirk as he rose slightly. “Please! I need—”

Dirk rolled on a condom and covered her body with his, his breath warm on her lips. “I know exactly what you need.”

Poising the head of his cock against her pussy opening, Dirk lifted her face to his. “Tell me you want this.”

Anna swallowed heavily and gripped his shoulders. “Yes! More than anything in the world.” Lifting her hands to his face, she trembled with a need so encompassing she couldn’t resist it. “Take me. Oh!”

She was so wet that he thrust into her with ease, his cock filling her so completely it left her breathless.

Dirk slid a hand beneath her bottom and the other behind her neck. “Open your eyes, baby.”

Struggling to catch her breath, Anna clutched his shoulders and forced her eyes open.

“It’s been a while for you, hasn’t it?” Dirk’s smile was just what she needed. “Easy, baby. I just want you to feel good.”

The fact that his words came out rough and tight made Anna smile. “And I want you to feel good. Let’s both feel good together.”

“Amen to that.”

Holding her and keeping his weight braced on his elbows, Dirk began to move, taking her slowly at first, each stroke of his cock bringing her closer and closer to the relief she so badly needed.

He kissed her while he moved, his kisses roaming from her mouth to her ear and then to her temple. “Anna.”

Tightening her legs around him, she lifted herself even higher into his thrusts, crying out at the sharpened pleasure.

Each stroke pushed her closer and closer to the edge, and the fullness and friction, the feel of his hard strength surrounding her, proved better than any fantasy.

Her body suddenly shimmered with heat and sensation, the strength of her orgasm almost frightening in its intensity.

The wave of pleasure that washed over her left her reeling.

Needing something solid to hold on to as her world spun out of control, Anna gripped Dirk’s shoulders tighter, crying out her pleasure and riding the wave of indescribable bliss.

Dirk stiffened, groaned, and gathered her closer as his cock pulsed inside her, the feel of his strong arms around her giving her the security she needed when the sense of vulnerability set in.

Drawing a shaky breath, she lowered her hands and legs and pushed at his chest. “You pack a hell of a punch.”

Hoping he didn’t hear that her voice broke, she wiggled free and rolled from the bed. She grabbed her robe and looked over to see Heath leaning against the doorway, munching on an apple. “Did you enjoy the show?”