STORY EXCERPT

Giving up on getting any work done, Jessica dressed and headed to meet Cane. She arrived early so she took a seat at a table in the corner to wait. She nodded to Angel and received a wink from Gavin, who were both seated on the opposite side of the restaurant. They both looked relaxed, but as she watched them, Jessica noticed that they were completely aware of their surroundings. They eyed everyone that came through the door and tracked every move Ali made as she served the small lunch crowd. Jessica knew Chase would take no chances with his baby sister’s safety, and she knew he had left her in the hands of nothing but the best. Looking at Angel, people automatically knew he was dangerous. From his silent stare to the long, thick scar going down the side of his face, people instinctively turned and went the other way to avoid him. Angel seemed like he preferred it that way. Now Gavin, he was a wild card. He was the type to grin in a person’s face to make them comfortable around him before he struck. She had a feeling he left people staring up at him in shock as they slowly died.

“Hi, Jessica,” Ali said as she came over with a huge grin on her face. “So my brilliant plan worked?”

“Hey, Ali. Let’s just say last night worked out better than I expected.” Jessica didn’t have the heart to wipe the satisfied look off Ali’s face by telling her she couldn’t go through with it. “I’m just meeting Cane here for lunch.”

Cane came through the door at that moment followed by Logan. Although Duncan was on duty, he wasn’t too far behind. “We got one hour, and then I’m back under house arrest,” Cane said when she reached the table. She kissed Ali’s cheek and sat.

Jessica waited until they both ordered and Ali had left before she began. Ali may have been almost eighteen and very mature for her age, but she was too young in Jessica’s opinion to hear what she had to say.

“I’m taking it the plan worked?” Cane asked, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

“No,” Jessica sighed. “I chickened out. I felt like I was being dishonest, so I just told him the truth.”

“And how did Riley take it? Him staying the night was a good thing right?”

“He took it way better than I expected. He had the complete opposite reaction from my ex.” Jessica could feel her face getting red just thinking about Riley’s reaction. “And yeah, he stayed the night.”

“So far I’m not hearing any bad news, but the sound of your voice tells me there is a but coming.”

Jessica sighed. Sometimes having a best friend that could read you like a book sucked. Cane saw right through her. “You’re right. He wants to go away together to make it special so we can…you know?” She couldn’t even bring herself to say it out loud. And you call yourself an erotic romance writer.

“I’m still not seeing the problem here.”

“My problem is what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to act? What am I supposed to wear? Last night I had no problems. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing so I didn’t have time to think. I was just ready, but Riley wanted to wait. Now, he wants to plan things out which means I have time to think, and I’m starting to freak out.” Jessica could feel a panic attack coming.

“Okay, okay, just calm down. How do you feel about Riley?”

“What?” Jessica asked, confused.

“I’m asking how you truly feel about him. I know you like him, but how do you really feel about Riley?”

“I love him,” Jessica simply answered. That was the easiest question Cane had asked all day. There was no doubt she was hopelessly in love with Riley. “I haven’t told him how I feel yet so please don’t say anything.”

“Well, there you go,” Cane said as she waived Jessica’s last statement away. She waited for Ali to sit their lunch on the table before continuing. “You love him, he loves you, and everything else will work out the way it’s supposed to. Just go on the trip, relax, and enjoy it.”

Could it be that simple? Was she making a big deal out of nothing? Jessica knew losing her virginity was major, but she was planning on losing it to the man she was in love with. She had found her Prince Charming, and Riley was determined to make the event as special as possible. What more could she ask for?

Jessica could feel the tension leaving her shoulders as she decided to take Cane’s advice. “Who knew I had such a smart best friend?” she joked.

“Yeah, I do have my uses.” Cane blew a breath on her nails and buffed them against her shirt. She leaned in to whisper, “Now, enough of this serious talk. Do you want to know what I saw going on out on the patio this morning between Chase and Kerri?”

ADULT EXCERPT

This was it. The moment she had been waiting for. She was about to give herself to Riley. She was surprised to find that she wasn’t nervous at all. She was definitely excited, but not nervous. That alone told her she was making the right decision. Jessica lifter her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. She went for the button of her jeans, but Riley grabbed her hands to stop her.

“Let me.”

It was a command that she was all too happy to obey. Too bad he didn’t immediately go for her button. Riley started at her neck and gave her the same treatment she had given him earlier. He nipped her neck and then soothed the bite with his tongue, sending shivers down her body. She felt moisture flood her already-soaked panties and pressed her thighs together. She whimpered when the seam of her jeans brushed against her sensitive clit. Hands on her nipples through her bra brought her attention back to Riley as he pinched her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers and gently squeezed.

“Oh, God. Yes,” Jessica hissed. She had done this hundreds of times to herself, but there was no comparison. When Riley did it, it felt like electrical sparks shooting through her nipples. They stood hard and ready, waiting for more of his special attention.

The moist heat of Riley’s mouth on her breast almost had Jessica coming in her jeans. The man reduced her to incoherent moans and the only thing she could do was grip his hair and hold on for the ride.

His lips scorched a trail down her stomach until they got to the waistband of her jeans. Jessica held her breath as she waited to see what came next. Her hands itched to touch Riley, but she held still. If this was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up. He unbuttoned her jeans and pushed them down her legs. Using his shoulder to steady her, she lifted each leg as he helped her out of the pants. When he was done, he stood, stepped back, and just stared at her. Jessica felt those absent nerves starting to make their presence known. She knew what most people saw when they looked at her. She was either too skinny or too pale. Did Riley think the same? She was in nothing but her bra and panties, and he was still fully clothed. Was this how the night was going to end?

“Damn, you’re beautiful. I don’t know where to start.”

Well, that certainly shut the voices in her head up. Was he reading her mind? Jessica gave up all thoughts when Riley started to undress. He lifted his shirt over his head and she felt her mouth water at the smooth chest and stomach he revealed. Riley was lean, but Jessica could see the definition of each muscle. She wanted to trace each line with her tongue. She stopped breathing when she heard the rasp of his zipper and trailed her eyes down just in time to see him push his pants down his legs. The imprint of his hard cock through his boxer briefs caught her eye. If the size of the bulge was any indicator, the man was huge. Jessica gulped and reached out to touch him.

“No, not yet.” Riley grabbed her wrist before she could reach him. “If you touch me now, this will all end before we even get started.”

From the grimace on his face, Jessica had a feeling he was telling the truth. He had given her orgasms twice now and had been left unfulfilled. She was determined there wasn’t going to be a third time. She may have not been experienced, but she had one hell of an imagination. She was pretty sure she could figure out a way to make him feel just as good.

Lying down on the bed, she watched as Riley slid his briefs down his legs before climbing on top of her. He straddled her waist and Jessica was able to see his cock as it rested against her lower stomach. He was hard, and the moisture she could see glistening on the end of the red tip told her he was just as turned on as she was. Her palms itched to touch him, but she waited to see what Riley would do next.

She didn’t have to wait long as he leaned down and kissed her. Jessica relaxed into the bed and put everything she had into the kiss. She trailed her hands down his back, marveling at the pent-up strength she could feel as his muscles bunched and relaxed. Jessica did what she had wanted to do for years. She moved her hands down to his butt and squeezed. Just as tight as I imagined.

Hands at her waist turned her attention back to what Riley was doing. He gripped the waistband of her panties and stopped to stare at her. Jessica answered his silent question with a nod of her head, giving him permission to continue. As he slowly slid her panties down, Jessica moaned when the cool air blew against her damp curls. When Riley was finished, he gently gripped her knees and pushed her legs apart. He then lay on his stomach between her legs with his face level with her pussy. Jessica held her breath and waited for what came next.

“Relax, little rabbit. I promise you will like this.”