STORY EXCERPT

Anja tucked a strand of long black hair behind her ear and stared out the wide front window of her dance studio. The main street wasn’t New York busy, but it was busy enough for a small town.

“I can’t stand it,” Ellen said from behind the counter. “This isn’t like you. You have to stop being so indecisive and just get out there. Time waits for no one.”

Anja gave her friend and employee a withering glance then turned her eyes back to the delicious sight out the window. A team of workmen was putting a new front façade on the sporting-goods store across the street and the owner was outside helping them.

Zenn Carder, businessman, football hero, and the tall, dark, and buff star of last night’s vivid midnight dream was right in the middle of the workmen. His chest glistened and his arms bulged with muscle as he assisted another man in lifting a wooden plank.

Anja could hardly breathe when she remembered her dream of clinging to those broad shoulders while lying beneath that driving, muscular body. It was all she could do not to fan herself at the flash of heat the images inspired. The dream was happening more and more often. If she had a teaspoon of courage, she would walk across the street and try to make it a reality.

“Well?”

“I am not good with words. I’ll say something wrong. I can’t just walk over and beg for his help,” Anja said through her teeth. She couldn’t trust herself to stick to topic and not beg him for more than a dance. The moment she opened her mouth, sure enough, she’d start to stammer like the shy child she had been. Even if her speech problem didn’t make an appearance, she might lose her train of thought in his presence and blurt out something humiliating. Something like, “Take me, I’m yours.” Lately she could think of nothing else and it was making her crazy.

“Why not? He might like it if you beg. Some men do.” Ellen was grinning. “You’ve literally got nothing to lose here. If he refuses, you’ll be in the same position you’re in right now, but at least you’ll know one way or the other. And then we can finalize the program for the performance.”

Ellen was a great employee and a great friend, but she could be surprisingly obstinate at times.

“No.”

“Just tell him the money we raise will be funding a dance scholarship,” Ellen persisted. “He’s from around here, so he probably knows Genessa’s family. I’m sure he’ll be willing to let you use his famous name to help raise some money for her schooling. His brother is a businessman and I’m sure he knows a lot of people. Maybe Zenn will even make a personal donation.”

Anja groaned. “That’s exactly what I am afraid he’ll think. I do not want to talk about taking money from him.”

“We’ve talked about this every day this week. If you aren’t going to even talk to the man, then we’re just going around in circles.” Ellen waved her arms in the air. “I feel like I’m on a merry-go-round with no way to get off.”

“Fine.” Anja hated it, but there was no denying that Ellen was right. She took a deep breath and opened the door before she could change her mind.

She marched across the street and stood near Zenn and the workman he was helping. When he finally noticed her standing there and turned to face her, she didn’t speak. She had used up all of her courage just to get there, and staring into that incredible face close up froze the words in her throat.

He smiled. Eyes the irresistible color of bitter chocolate crinkled at the corners in his lean, tanned face.

Anja was entranced. Words swirled in her head, but nothing intelligent came to mind. She could feel her face heating as the silence lengthened between them.

ADULT EXCERPT

Zenn untied her hands, and Anja just looked at him. She couldn’t believe it was over already.

Surely he would not reject her now, send her running away again? What had she done wrong?

He seemed to sense her panic and brushed her cheek with one big hand.

“Trust me,” he said softly.

He guided her to lie on the bed and when she was comfortable, he took her hands and raised them above her head in the classic pose of submission. He used his silk tie to secure her wrists to the wide post of the headboard.

When Anja realized that he was just repositioning her, that their encounter wasn’t over, she felt a surge of relief so strong that it raised the delicate hairs all over her body. She relaxed into a long sigh and let him have her.

Zenn finished tying the silk and leaned back to view her body. His eyes heated as they travelled from her bound hands down her legs to her feet. Anja felt her toes curl and she arched and rubbed her feet on the comforter. She was so aroused she thought she could finish just by rubbing her thighs together, but then he might punish her. The thought sent a jolt of electric energy through her.

“Please,” she whimpered.

Zenn smiled down at her. He leaned down and nipped her earlobe.

“Trust me.”

He smoothed his hands down over her breasts, gently circling, cupping, and squeezing as he explored. He took her flesh between forefinger and thumb in a series of tiny sharp pinches all around the underside of her breasts.

After the first startled moment, she arched and moved with him as he followed a master plan only he knew. Gradually she realized he was moving inward in concentric circles toward her stiff nipples. The excitement rose in her like a wave when she understood what his goal must be.

At the moment when he finally reached the center, he grasped her nipples in a firm grip and rolled them between his fingers and thumbs.

She gasped aloud as lightning rolled through her in a flourish of bright heat. Her hips rolled and her pussy gushed a trickle of warm liquid. His nostrils flared and his eyes heated to a blaze that burned her.

“Yes,” he said. “Good girl.”

He rubbed her breasts gently then settled one big hand over her belly. His hand was heavy and warm and she squirmed to feel him better.

“Your next climax is mine to command. You will wait until I give permission. Do you understand?”

It took her a moment to find her voice.

“Yes, Zenn.”

“Good. If you feel too close to the edge, I need you to tell me and I will tell you yes you may or no you may not.”

Anja squirmed. Her legs were trembling. She was still so high and she needed more. Why was he trying to have a conversation?

“Say that you will agree.”

“Yes, Zenn.” She would have agreed to anything if only he would continue. She had come too far to stop now. Didn’t he realize that?

His hand smoothed over her stomach and down to cup her hot pussy through the delicate lace.

Anja arched in reaction and Zenn used her movement to swiftly remove the panties. He dropped them and focused on her most feminine flesh. The look in his eyes burned her. He stroked both hands up her smooth inner thighs, back and forth, never touching the wet pussy that was aching for him.

Anja writhed and tugged against her bonds, trying to entice him, but he only smiled and continued. When he finally bent his head to her and licked once, she gasped out a cry that was his name.

“Mmm,” he rumbled against her soaked flesh, and she quivered. He settled down and made himself comfortable between her legs, using his broad shoulders to hold her thighs apart. The vulnerable position raised her arousal to another level.

He used the stubble on his cheeks and chin to tickle her pussy and clit and then slid his stiff tongue up and down through her silky swollen folds. He lapped with the flat of his tongue until her hips were rising to meet every luxurious touch.

Zenn drew back and looked. Anja could feel her pussy twitch, begging without words. She knew he was watching her and the knowledge sent a shiver of heat through her.

“Not yet,” he said, and she almost groaned. He cupped her buttocks in his big hands and tilted her up.

“Wrap those long legs around my head and squeeze.”