STORY EXCERPT

Anna couldn’t believe she was actually going to go through with this.

But it was time to start her life, and going to the Answers Spa was going to be the first step in reinventing herself. That was why she had moved to Vegas in the first place, to get away from the small town life in Oakwood, Ohio. She couldn’t do anything in Oakwood without the sheriff, the PTA, the town council, and her parents finding out about it. She was twenty-six, and it was definitely time to get involved. She had packed up her bags, cleaned out her savings account, and hit the road.

Arriving in Vegas two weeks ago, she had rented a small apartment and found a decent job waitressing in a tiny off-the-strip café. She was settling in, and though her life wasn’t all that exciting at this point, she had made her list of things to do to make over the mousy little Anna James from Ohio.

And the first thing on her list was to find out what all the fuss was about when it came to sex.

Anna heard about the spa from one of the other waitresses at the café. On break one day, Carol had told her of a place where all your questions would be answered and no one need be the wiser. After a bit of research, namely eavesdropping on the other girls’ conversations during breaks, Anna had decided to spend a bit of her savings on herself and try to find out just what it was that tripped her trigger. She had called the spa and inquired about reservations. They were more than happy to schedule her retreat. After receiving some paperwork from them, a questionnaire about her “experience,” and check sheet about things she was interested in, she sent it back via return mail and hoped she didn’t appear too backward about the subject of sex. She was no virgin, but having sex with her high school boyfriend had been nothing to brag about. Orgasm? Hah. Johnny could get her just to the edge of what felt like a rocket getting ready to go off and then…he was done. Which meant so was she.

So, she had booked the weekend at Answers, and even though she was nervous, she was looking forward to someone paying attention to her wants and needs for once. She closed her suitcase and picked up the scrap of paper with the map Carol had scribbled on it. Biting her fingernail, she studied the map, hoping she could find her way to the spa. It looked pretty remote, and she didn’t know the Vegas area all that well. The traffic here sure wasn’t comparable to home, back in Ohio. The county she had grown up in had roads that were posted “Don’t travel when wet.” If someone did, they’d be calling a wrecker soon enough because half of the roads were nothing more than dirt tracks. Here in Vegas, everything was busy, busy, busy. She wasn’t used to driving in all this wildness, but she’d get used to it. She was determined. She had something to prove.

When she overheard Gloria Rose talking to the other girls in the restroom at her cousin Judy’s wedding reception, Anna was stunned. All the girls she had graduated high school with were in attendance that night, celebrating one of their own tying the knot. Of course, the conversation always turned to what was going to happen later that night when Judy and her new husband finally found some time alone. The topic was sex, and when the girls talked, they revealed some secrets best left untold. Anna was in one of the stalls when the group of them came into the restroom. They didn’t know she was there, and Anna would never admit she’d overheard them either. What she did hear caused her face to flame in embarrassment. The conversation was about what they all had given Judy as a wedding present. They had gone in together and purchased an assortment of sexual appliances. When one of the girls chimed in about how Anna had been reluctant to contribute cash for the gift, Gloria chuckled viciously. Gloria Rose joked about the fact Anna probably didn’t even know what a vibrator was, let alone how to use one, and it didn’t bother her one bit that Anna had decided to purchase her own gift.

After the women had left the restroom, Anna took a deep breath and vowed to recreate the woman they thought she was. They all thought she was shy and plain, unworldly. She was going to show them. When, and if, she ever returned to Oakwood, she was going to be a completely different woman. One who had seen a bit of life.

Now that she was here in Vegas, the next step of her plan was about to take place. She folded the map and shoved it into her denim purse, sliding the strap onto her shoulder. She picked up her small suitcase and started for the door. She was anxious to begin her journey into the world of sensual pleasure. Grabbing her keys off the tiny, two-person kitchen table, she took three steps and the phone rang.

She froze, squeezing the keys in her hand. Placing the suitcase on the floor at her feet, she dug in her purse and pulled out her cell. Glancing at the face of it, she recognized her mother’s number flashing. Just great, her mother calling to remind her of the things she was trying to forget. “Not now, Mom.” She ignored the call and shoved the phone back into her purse, tilted her chin up, and walked on out the door.

ADULT EXCERPT

“I think I’m going to like you, Taylor,” she said finally, sincerity and seriousness steadying her voice.

“I know I like you.” He wrapped a strand of her hair around his index finger. “Now, what do you say we get to know each other even better?”

“What do you have in mind?” She leaned toward him just slightly, but he noticed.

Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. He slid his hand to the nape of her neck and pulled her toward him. “Just let your body lead you, okay?” Then, before she could say anything, he covered her lips with his.

She stiffened for a moment, and then he could tell the exact moment she allowed her instincts to take over. Her firm lips turned soft and pliant beneath his, and it didn’t take much prodding for her to part them to allow him entrance into the warmth of her mouth.

Taylor closed his eyes, savoring the flavor of her. She tasted of cinnamon, as if she’d just finished chewing a piece of gum. It was warm with a hint of bite, and he wanted to taste more of her, all of her. His heart thudded in his chest, his reaction to her slight hesitation surprising him. It was sensual and intriguing. As if she were a virgin and he would be the one to introduce her to the pleasures her body held tightly bound.

His cock responded with a vengeance. God, he wanted to be inside her. He wanted to run his hands over her full curves, learn every part of her body.

She moaned, sounding like a kitten. The sound went straight to his cock like a shot of lightning. Her arms found their way around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. She wanted him, too. It was obvious.

He pulled back from her, almost breathless in his need to be joined with her. “Anna, I want you.” His throat felt tight with desire.

“You said to let my body rule me.” Her voice was low and sexy. “My body says yes, take me.”

That was all he needed to hear.

Slowly, he took hold of the hem of her blouse and lifted, urging it over her head. Tossing it to the floor, his eyes travelled to the cleft of her cleavage. She was full-breasted, her bra barely containing her. His fingers tingled, wanting to touch. But he held himself back. “Stand for me, please,” he whispered, pulling at her hand. He had to get her naked. Now.

* * * *

Anna felt purely alive, her senses firing on all points. The feel of his touch, blazing against her skin. The taste of his mouth, the pungent taste of coffee. The scent of him, a woodsy scent, as if he had been hiking in the forest. The sound of his groan and the way he didn’t seem to realize he’d done it. And, oh, the vision of him with his eyes glittering in the dim light, the hungry look.

Taylor had said to let herself go, and this one time, she was going to do it.

She rose from the couch and helped him remove her slacks, their hands bumping, both of them in a rush. She was no virgin, but she had the distinct feeling this was going to be like getting introduced to sex all over again.

Anna stepped out of the slacks and kicked them to the side. Taylor’s hands were on either side of her waist, and he was looking up at her, a crooked smile on his face. “What?” she asked, wondering about his expression.

“You have no idea how sexy you are. I like that.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to calm down. Heat was beginning to flow through her veins, making her bare skin ultra-sensitive. Her nipples felt like hard little pebbles pressing against the cotton of her bra. She vaguely wished she had thought to slip on some sexy underthings before leaving the house, but here she was in all her glory wearing white cotton. How sexy could that be on a body like hers? She must look like a virgin, or worse—her granny.

“So, Taylor,” she said, wanting to get off the subject of her body. “I’m standing here almost naked, and you’re still sitting on the couch, fully dressed. What gives?” She was taunting him, but dang, this was so different and it actually felt good. She put her hands on her hips and raised one eyebrow. “Are you going to join me?”

He barked out a laugh. “Try to keep up.” With that, he stood, and within the span of a minute, he stood naked in front of her. He placed his hands on his hips, mirroring her stance.

Anna swallowed hard, a lump in her throat forming as her gaze travelled over his chest to his narrow waist and down. Oh, my Lord. His cock stood hard and thick, pointing directly at her like a loaded gun. The sight of him made her mouth dry and her mind spin.Stop thinking and start moving.

“Well, then,” she said, trying to keep the shakiness out of her voice. “You are a sight.”

He hooked one fingertip into the waistband of her panties and pulled, letting it snap back. “You’ll need to get rid of these.” He sat down on the couch in front of her and grabbed her by the hips, moving her closer. Leaning forward, he looked up at her, his fingers massaging her flesh.

Anna shuddered, his breath hot against the skin of her tummy. She rubbed at the spot, a little thrill running up her spine.

Taylor moved his hands down, following the curve of her hips, and slid her panties down her legs. His hair brushed against her stomach, and she sucked in a breath. Biting her lower lip, she fought the urge to just climb on top of him and fuck him like she’d never fucked anyone before. The thought stunned her. She normally didn’t think in terms like that. He tapped her ankle, and she raised her foot, stepping out of her panties. Then the same with the other foot.

“I honestly can’t wait, Anna,” Taylor murmured, one hand slipping between her legs.

“Oh, geez,” Anna breathed when his deft fingers delved into the cleft of her pussy and stroked her clit with expertise. Her pussy quivered, clenching, wanting to be filled.

“You’re already wet. I’ve got to fuck you.” He leaned back on the couch, pulling her with him.