Tory Richards's Blog, page 67

Passions Last Promise by Christie Adams

Blurb:

Hers to protect…his to serve…
When a failed kidnap attempt leads to CEO Dr. Simon Northwood acquiring a bodyguard, he isn’t prepared for close protection specialist Ros Edwards, a former captain in the Royal Military Police. Experienced submissive though he is, having a woman stand between him and any further threat is completely untenable.

Assigned to protect the genius behind a project of national importance, Ros unexpectedly encounters the most delicious man she’s met in a long time. As a Domme, she’d love to play with him, but even if he weren’t in need of her professional skills, there’s no way he’s submissive.

A determined man. A stubborn woman. When passion flirts with danger, the last promise is the toughest one of all…


Buy links:

Amazon: http://getbook.at/PLP

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-passion039slastpromise-1940493-147.html

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/book/passions-last-promise/id1131728778?mt=11

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/passion-s-last-promise


*****

Excerpt:

“Problems, Miss Edwards?”

“Not at all, Dr. Northwood.” She turned towards him and slipped the smartphone back into her jacket pocket. “A minor logistical issue, that’s all. Is there something I can do for you?”

“I was wondering if we were still on schedule to depart for Oxford as planned.” From what he’d heard, Simon had his doubts.

“Of course, sir. As I said, a minor logistical issue.” She paused, fixing him with her coolly assessing gaze. “I was just about to make coffee—would you care to join me?”
He had a conference call in a few minutes, his third of the day, but Simon suddenly found himself more in need of a shot of caffeine, and another opportunity to try to goad her into going Domme on him. He’d been trying all week, and this morning was the closest he’d come yet. He strode over to the desk to call his PA.
“Alicia? Can you let Martin know that he’ll be handling the finance call in ten? Give him my apologies—something’s come up that requires my attention elsewhere. Thanks.” He replaced the receiver and turned his attention back to his bodyguard. “I don’t mind if I do, Miss Edwards.”

She gave a brief nod in acknowledgement. He watched her disappear into the adjoining kitchen, only to hear seconds later the crash of breaking glass followed by the colourful and creative cursing he was coming to associate with his beautiful bodyguard. Simon headed for the epicentre of the disaster.

As if someone had flicked a switch, his nonchalant attitude came to an abrupt end. Ros was running her hand under the tap, washing away the blood that was oozing from a cut to her hand. Broken glass littered the worktop and the floor.

Simon’s protective instincts kicked into action, sweeping aside all thoughts of provoking her again. He grabbed the first aid kit from one of the cupboards. “Let me help.”

“It’s all right, I can manage.”

“No—you can’t. What happened?”

To his surprise, she allowed him to take her hand in his. Strong and capable, it was at the same time neat and feminine, with short but immaculately manicured nails. No rings, but as he’d told himself the first time he’d checked, that didn’t necessarily mean anything.

“Kamikaze glassware.” Ros glanced up at the open cupboard. “When I was getting the mugs to make the coffee, I accidentally nudged a couple of tumblers. They decided to take their name seriously and try out for the Olympic gymnastics team. I can tell you now, their technique sucked.”

Simon pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh at the latest glimpse of her taste in humour. She’d caught him unawares like that once or twice before, with a little nugget of dry wit. “What were you trying to do? Catch them or juggle with them?”

She shot him a dark scowl. At that precise moment, she looked more like the recipient of a sense of humour bypass, then he realised she was more annoyed with herself.

“I was picking up the pieces. Some of the shards started slipping out of my hands and I grabbed at them on instinct. Stupid thing to do. At least it’s not my right hand.”

He quirked a questioning eyebrow.

“Trigger finger.” She waggled the digit at him. “Can’t pull a trigger if I’m bandaged up.”

“Or if you end up slicing through tendons.” Simon’s slightly harsh tone was a reflection of his discomfort at the way she spoke so candidly of using firearms. “A dustpan and brush might have been safer than trying to pick up the broken glass.” He nodded in the direction of the tall corner cupboard.

For a moment she looked like she was about to argue, but then the change in her expression and a tiny, careless shrug acknowledged the truth of his words. Simon turned his attention to her injuries. There were some superficial cuts but the main one wasn’t as bad as he’d first thought—she’d probably get away without needing any stitches in it. Having confirmed there was no glass in the wound, he pulled on some surgical gloves and ripped open a sachet containing an antiseptic wipe.

She was standing so close now. He tried not to be distracted by the calm rise and fall of her breasts, or the subtle floral scent of her perfume. He tried not to respond to her steady gaze resting squarely on him. He tried not to think of the probable reasons why a former RMP officer never even flinched at the sting of the antiseptic.

Having put a couple of Steri-Strips on the cut, he then made the move that was his downfall. It was the small, insignificant act of glancing up at Ros’ face. She was staring at his hands in rapt fascination, lips slightly parted, almost inviting a kiss.

Carpe diem. The Latin phrase blazed through Simon’s mind like a meteor. She hadn’t responded to provocation, so perhaps a different tactic was called for. He swept aside the memory of the altercation they’d had a few hours earlier, focusing instead on this moment.

Simon pulled off the surgical gloves with a snap. In a club, he’d never dream of doing what he was about to do—it went against everything he’d been trained for, but this was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to miss.

Before Ros could move away from him, he took her uninjured hand in his and raised it to his lips. Before his inner voice could convince him he was making a huge mistake, he pressed a gentle kiss to her palm.

“Dr. Northwood.”

He wasn’t expecting the sound of his name to send a delicious shiver through his body. The formality, though…just as guilty of that as she was, maybe even more so, but he wanted it to end. “Simon.”

Desire would be held back no longer—he claimed the sweetness of her mouth, and prepared to take his punishment for crashing through her boundaries…

*****

Author Bio:

After winning an erotic short story competition, Christie Adams waited over twenty years to follow it up with her first full-length erotic romance. The second publisher she approached picked it up, and after a brief spell with them, she moved into the exciting world of indie publishing.

When she was asked about how she got into writing, Christie realised she’s been putting pen to paper—or fingers to keyboard—for longer than she thought. It all started in her teens, with stories featuring characters from her favourite TV shows—usually action dramas—but in her imagination, those characters were given a romantic life to go with the all-action one their audiences saw.

From there, she progressed to romantic novels featuring characters of her own invention, but success eluded her until she spotted the erotic short story competition in a magazine.

Christie lives in north-west England. When not at the day job, she can usually be found wrestling with the characters in her latest novel. Occasionally she finds time for sleep, and maintains her social skills through, among other things, regular attendance at a pub quiz, which forces her to think about other things besides plots and characterisation.

So Damn Hot!

Here in Florida! I absolutely hate the heat. Too hot to go out and do anything. Thank goodness we have a pool for the kids, and a movie theater down the street. Took them to see BFG (Big Friendly Giant) the other day. Was a cute movie, good one for the kids.

MY IDEA OF A HUNKY SLAB OF BEEF

Buffed, but not too buffed. Just enough hair, shaved chests are nice but let's get real, it's not normal. Nicely defined arm muscles. Plus the tool belt indicates he has a man's job, meaning that he isn't a shoe salesmen. I like the tattoo, too. He doesn't even have to be handsome because his body is what does it for me.If I was in the market.Which I'm not.

Romances from Lyrical Press

Heartlandby Sara Walter Ellwood
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:  Contemporary Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:

Sex, drugs, and country music. That was the lifestyle for Emily Kendall, a Texas girl who hit it big on the country music charts--until she found herself pregnant and battling addiction. Now out of rehab and seeking a new life for herself and her unborn child, Emily returns to her hometown of McAllister. The last thing she's looking for is trouble, no matter how good it looks in uniform. . .
A widower, single father, and former Army Ranger struggling with PTSD, Sheriff EJ Cowley hashis own demons to battle while keeping folks safe. The last thing he needs is a troubled celebrity speeding through town in her bright red Mazerati. But when someone from Emily's past threatens her safety and the peace of McAllister, EJ has no choice but to protect her. And soon both will learn there's more to the other than meets the eye. And that wounded hearts can love again. . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
As he reached in the glove box for his pad of tickets, he whistled between his teeth. A Maserati with a Tennessee plate. His computer was in his official Tahoe, which was parked at the station, but he could ticket the driver and enter the citation when he got to the office. Opening the door, he picked up his hat from the side seat and put it on his head as he slid out of the pickup. He caught the female driver watching him through her side mirror and got a glimpse of dark reddish hair and big-lensed sunglasses covering most of a slender face from her reflection.
She straightened in the leather seat and smiled as he stopped at the driver’s door, ducking down to look at her. Despite the sunglasses covering her green eyes, he knew her. The magazines and TV hadn’t done her justice. She was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. Her auburn hair was styled in a short pixie cut that seemed to make her look even more like a fairy than he’d thought of her when she was younger. A sudden flutter hit his gut and rattled his thoughts. What the hell was he nervous about? He’d met famous people before. Besides, he’d known this girl all of her life.
In spite of the reason he’d stopped her, he smiled. “Well, if it isn’t Emily Ritter. Haven’t seen you around here for years.”
Her smile fell the moment the name Ritter slipped out of his mouth. “I don’t go by that name any more and haven’t since I was fourteen.” She shot back as she glanced at his badge and the nametag above it on his uniform shirt. “Edward James Cowley.” The smile returned, but this time it held a hint of mischief. She must have remembered how much he hated his full name and used it to get back at him for his flub. “You’re the sheriff now? You get out of the Army?”
“I got out a little over two years ago, and yes, I’m the sheriff.” EJ pushed the brim of his hat over his forehead. God, he had to focus. “The reason I stopped you wasn’t to engage in small talk. You were speeding. I’ll need to see your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance.”
“C’mon, since when does anyone care about speeding on this old stretch of cow path?” She removed her sunglasses to reveal eyes the color of spring grass. They’d always seemed to mesmerize him, even when she was a kid, and now wasn’t any different. “Hell, the only people out here are my family, the Ritters, your family, and the Campbells.”
Her voice broke the trance her beauty put him under. She definitely wasn’t the girl who’d followed him around when she’d come over to the Double K to visit John Kendall, never knowing the old rancher was her grandfather.
“Actually, I own the Campbells’ place. They sold the Arrowhead Ranch a year ago after Uncle Joe had a heart attack. He and Aunt Sally moved to Arizona to be closer to my mom and dad.” He had to remember this woman wasn’t the innocent little girl he’d teased any more. Or a stunning woman he’d like to get to know better. From what he’d heard on the radio and from the tabloid covers he’d read while standing in line at the grocery store, she’d turned into a drug addict and party hellion after marrying a British rock star. He didn’t even like her music anymore, and there was a time, he’d thought she had the voice of an angel. The thought of her throwing away her talent on booze and drugs sent a spear of anger through him. Someday she’d undoubtedly end up as dead as Raquel had. He held out his hand. “Your driver’s license, Ms. Kendall.”
She reached for her purse, setting on the passenger’s seat, and pulled out her license, then rummaged through the glove box for her registration and insurance papers. As she handed the items to him, she smiled the sweet, breathtaking smile he’d seen splashed on magazine covers and award shows, but it never entered her hard eyes. “Fine. Here you go, Sheriff Cowley.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Although Sara Walter Ellwood has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her contemporary westerns. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for over 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia. Sara Walter Ellwood is a multi-published author and publishes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name Cera duBois.
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author... http://www.twitter.com/sara_w_ellwood...
Buy Links:Amazonkindle, http://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywor... Apple, http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9..., https://play.google.com/store/search?... Kobo, http://www.kobobooks.com/search/searc...  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/97816...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
The authors will be awarding digital copies of all books on the tour to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/06/blurb-blitz-lyrical-press-contemporary.html
a Rafflecopter giveaway

A little Carnal Hunger tease!

warning...explicit!

First chapter in chapter five: I stepped from Iris reluctantly, moaning low. My dick didn’t want to leave her body either. The lady had a nice, tight, pussy that hugged my dick good, too good. I glanced down where Iris was draped limply over the seat of my bike, the shapely white of her ass visible now in the morning light. Further down I saw the glistening results of our orgasms between her thighs. The strong scent of sex was in the air and I filled my lungs with the pungent smell.



due out 8/25
pre-order here

Eight chapters into NO MERCY. This is Rock and Allie's st...

Eight chapters into NO MERCY. This is Rock and Allie's story. He's the Phantom Riders MC's Vice President. Remember there was a brief mention that his love interest had run away years earlier after getting pregnant? Well, she's been found!

Ramona Lockwood is working on the cover now, can't wait to see what she comes up with. She does great work.

Fluffers

I was 54 before I heard the term for the first time. At work, and sadly enough a younger co-worker had to educate me on the definition. Then I had to wonder how she knew what it meant, but I never asked. According to my resources, which is usually Wikipedia, a fluffer is a person who keeps a male actor aroused while a desired angle is being set up on the set. It can involve touching in the way of a blow-job or non-penetrative sex. The main goal, obviously, is to keep the actor excited until the grand finale.

Did you ever wonder how the star in the porno you were watching remained hard for so long? I didn't, I just thought he had good stamina, and sometimes I wondered if it was ever going to end! lol

Ride 'Em by Delphine Dryden

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GENRE: Erotic Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Saddle Up
Mindy has come to Logan’s dude ranch to convince him to sign away his land’s mineral rights to her stepfather. She doesn’t want to beg, but she will if she has to, like she does Friday nights when she submits to her master’s desire . . .
Buckle Down
Logan doesn’t like to be jerked around, in business or pleasure. And when he learns what Mindy is up to, he’s ready to teach her a lesson. In fact, he’d like to tie her up, strip her down, and give her a spanking she’ll never forget . . .
Ride Hard
With passion riding high, Logan and Mindy indulge in carnal play that leaves them both wanting more. And with their jobs on the line, they realize that their erotic fantasies might be their ticket to success . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:

As a kid, Logan had never appreciated how much work his grandparents put into running Hilltop Ranch as a vacation spot, or really understood why his father had decided to close down the guest cottages and all but abandon the place except for weekend hunting trips. Now Logan got it, but it was too late to reconsider his decision to reopen the ranch to visitors. He’d burned his bridges, leaving his job in Houston and selling his house there in order to help finance the buyout of the ranch from his parents. His brother and cousin had gone in with him, but both of them had kept their day jobs. Logan hadn’t wanted to leave himself a way to cop out. This commitment was for the long haul, but he was only beginning to realize the magnitude of what he was in for.
Running the guest ranch was like managing a hunting lodge, stable, bed-and-breakfast, and a sleepaway camp, all at the same time. He had Robert to cook and deal with the laundry, Diego to keep track of the game and help out with maintenance, and Lamar overseeing the stables, but Logan felt the pressure of entertaining the guests squarely on his own shoulders. As it should be—he had taken it on himself to be the man in charge, to finally own that role in every sense of the word instead of just in the bedroom or at the kink club. But this was an awful lot of hospitality. It wasn’t enough for the guests to enjoy the stay, either. They had to want to come back. They had to want to tell their friends. If he didn’t get some word of mouth going, he was screwed, because he was all out of financial padding. He’d been late on two note payments already, juggling funds and shifting other bills around to try to stretch his funds, and his loan officer was breathing down his neck. This week had to be a success.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Delphine Dryden majored in English at the University of Texas at Austin. She has written contemporary and erotic romance for Carina Press and Harlequin, and mainstream steampunk romance for Berkley Publishing. Her writing has earned an Award of Excellence and Reviewers’ Choice Award from RT Book Reviews, an EPIC Award, an IPPY Gold Medal, and a Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence. She was the also the inaugural winner of the Science in My Fiction contest.
http://www.delphinedryden.com/https://twitter.com/deldryden
Buy the book:https://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=9781601836755https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ride-em/id1088651882?mt=11https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781601836755&c=bookshttps://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/ride-em-5http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ride-em-delphine-dryden/1122783830?ean=9781601836755

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Delphine will be awarding a digital copy of Ride 'Em to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/06/blurb-blitz-ride-em-by-delphine-dryden.html
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Newsletter Subscribers

Listen up friends. The 14th is right around the corner and some lucky devil is going to win a nice little GC for Amazon for $25. Each month the amount varies and all you have to do is find the rafflecopter and enter. Easy peasy! A new winner will be announced in tomorrow's newsletter.

Surrender to Desire Chapter 1

Chapter 1
With an unlady like snort of disgust Callie Peters tossed the crinkled map aside, and swerved over to the side of the road with a sinking feeling in her stomach that she was good and lost. For the better part of an hour she’d been driving around, looking for the sign that would direct her to the Evans Ranch, and her future place of employment. Yet she hadn’t passed as much as a single mailbox. She whipped off her over-sized sunglasses and tossed them onto the dashboard, taking in the surrounding area.

The road stretched on until it disappeared into the darkening horizon. Nothing but rocks, dry dirt, and dried out pot holes. Grass and wildflowers knee high swayed with the breeze along the shoulder, and further, past the barbed-wire fence that lined both sides of the countryside. An occasional tree dotted the landscape, some dying and nothing more than twisted, bare branches that looked like fingers clawing their way out of the earth.

She opened the door to her dusty Volvo and got out to stretch her legs, the last forty-eight hours-at least thirty of that behind the wheel-beginning to take a toll. Turning in a three hundred and sixty-degree revolution she saw absolutely nothing that indicated that anyone, human, that is, lived in the vicinity. She’d seen plenty of cows and horses, but where were they now? She supposed they were brought in for the night.

Closing her door, she walked to the middle of the narrow road, looking back in the direction she’d come. The thought of turning around and losing more time didn’t appeal to her, and besides, she only had about an hour before it would be dark. Her gaze took in the fact that there were no power lines, which meant she’d be lost out there with nothing but the headlights of her car to guide her.

She sighed, already knowing there was nothing behind her. Should I keep going? Her gaze landed on a small hilltop in the distance, a lone mushroom-shaped tree perched on the center of it like an open umbrella. Maybe she could see something from there. Without hesitation, Callie began walking toward the fence, realizing she’d have to climb between barbed wire to reach the hill.

She wondered how much trouble she could get into for trespassing, as she cautiously made her way between two rows of fence to the other side. No one could accuse her of being there to steal any live stock; this particular pasture didn’t look like it was being used, as far as she could tell. Still, she glanced around for a moment to make sure, before marching up the hillside toward the tree. She should have a bird’s eye view once she got there.

Callie had no sooner made it to the hill top when her gaze immediately spotted the large black cow, just on the other side. It was massive! If the size hadn’t intimidated her the massive horns certainly did the trick. For a moment she stood still, in awe, never having been so close to anything like it before. She could hardly count the calves she’d been allowed to hug and pet at the state fair each year.

The animal hadn’t noticed her yet, and was contentedly munching on the new grass growing at its feet. Then, suddenly the huge head swung up, and large dark eyes zeroed right in on her. Callie held her breath as their gazes locked. She didn’t think cows were dangerous, but she’d grown up in the city and didn’t know very much about them. She took a fearful step to the right, thinking she’d be safe closer to the tree, and that’s when the cow vaulted into action.

With a cry of alarm Callie realized she was in trouble. There was nowhere for her to go and she doubted she could outrun a cow in the open pasture wearing sandals. She wasn’t about to wait around to see if the animal was coming to check her out in friendly curiosity, either. Her only hope was the tree. She didn’t give her girlish attire a second thought as she jumped for the first branch and pulled herself off the ground. It was funny how adrenaline helped you do the unthinkable when fear ran through your blood.

By the time she was a safe distance in the branches above the cow was directly beneath her, staring up at her with big friendly looking eyes. I’m not falling for that, big boy. She positioned herself in the fork of the tree and leaned back against the trunk. Great, just great, Callie thought to herself as she took in her barren surroundings. Now what am I supposed to do?

****
Blade Evans pulled his stallion Calypso to a halt, searching the ground beneath them for signs that Satan had passed that way. The prized bull was getting ornery and independent these days, disappearing at will when the mood struck him. But at least he was predictable, Blade noticed, taking in the deep hoof prints left in the soft earth next to the watering hole. Raising his head, he squinted as he searched the horizon, seeing a small black spec in the distance. Yep, at least he was predictable.

Pulling on the reins sharply, Blade directed Calypso in the direction of the hilltop. Satan was beneath his favorite tree, standing poised as if he were telling the world he was king of the hill. He appeared to be daring anyone who got in the way, ready to back up that challenge with a twenty-five hundred pound body and the massive horns he wore like a crown on his head. In spite of the aggravation, a smile spread across Blade’s mouth as he nudged Calypso into a faster trot. He’d promised Marissa he’d get home in time for dinner for a change.

“Satan, you old devil, I’m getting damned tired of having to come looking for you,” Blade grumbled upon reaching the bull. “You keep this up and I’ll hang your hide on the wall in my bedroom.” The animal just glared at Blade as if he didn’t have a care in the world. And why should he worry? He was making the Evans’ Ranch a ton of money.

“Excuse me.”

Blade knew he wasn’t hearing angel’s voices but he glanced up all the same, because that seemed to be where the voice was coming from. His eyes widened with disbelief when they landed on a pair of sandaled feet. Attached to those sandals was a pair of the prettiest legs he’d seen in a long while. His eyes continued up, widening when they reached the bright red triangle covering her pussy. Then suddenly the sight was taken away from him when the woman dropped her long, gypsy style skirt. His gaze slid up the rest of her body, taking note of her full, curvy shape.

The flowing skirt she was wearing outlined her waist and generous hips. The peasant style blouse, hanging half off her shoulders, brought attention to her large breasts and cleavage. Hair the color of hay was piled haphazardly on top of her head. Caught by the slight breeze, loose strands moved against her forehead and neck. By the time his gaze took in her full lips and pretty brown eyes, his breathing had turned slightly uneven.

Christ! His body’s reaction to the unexpected situation caught him totally by surprise. The fact that he was responding so rapidly to her, a stranger, told Blade he’d been too long without a woman. Months. There just hadn’t been time. With his brother Chaz gone most of the time on company business, and his other brother Beau married and living on his own spread, someone had to stay home to run the family ranch. Evan’s Security had gone from a three-man operation to one-man, temporarily.

“Hello?”

Blade grinned at the impatience in the woman’s tone. “Yes, ma’am?”

“I’m not up here because I want to be.” She flashed him a smile.

“Just why are you up there?”

“Your cow chased me up here.”

“Satan?” Blade snickered. “Satan is a bull, ma’am. And the only thing he chases around here are the females he’s about to mount.” Her skirt moved with the breeze, teasing him with glimpses of her shapely legs. He was hoping to catch another look at the silk between her thighs. “Do you need help getting down?”

Her gaze shot to Satan, while her teeth chewed on the corner of her bottom lip. “If you don’t mind.”

“Just drop down and I’ll catch you.”

He could sense her hesitation.

“I’m no lightweight,” she said after a while.

Blade paused, thinking about how to answer that. Women tended to be sensitive about their weight. As far as he was concerned there wasn’t a thing wrong with a woman who had a little meat on her. And from what he could see, there was definitely nothing wrong with her.

“Yes ma’am.” He kept his tone neutral. “I think I can handle it.”

“What about your cow, ah, bull?”

Blade followed the direction of her gaze to where Satan had wandered off. “Satan is the reason I’m out here. He escaped from his pen. You’re lucky he did. We only use this pasture during the winter months.”

“At least something is working out in my favor today.” She smiled down at him. “Get ready because here I come.”

Blade watched her take a careful step onto a lower branch, holding her skirt against her legs. He gripped Calypso tightly between his thighs to keep him steady. When she ran out of branches he raised his arms. The next thing he knew she dropped down right onto his lap. He caught her against him, and for a moment he was being smothered by her sweet flesh, exposed when her skirt got caught up on his hat. Several mind numbing thoughts registered at once, her subtle fragrance of something wild and tantalizing, the satiny softness of her skin, the arousing little gasp that passed through her lips.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!”

She began to squirm against him, desperately pulling her skirt down and tucking it between them. When she realized she’d ended up on his lap facing him, she turned ten shades of red. Blade clenched his teeth until his jaw hurt. She might be embarrassed but his body’s reaction to her squirming against his cock was no laughing matter. He was turning hard in record time.

He decided to ignore his situation and pray that she hadn’t noticed it. “Why are you here anyway?”

She met his eyes, and Blade noticed the tempting curve of her full lips, wondering if they were as soft as they looked. “I was looking for a ranch.”

Blade couldn’t help it, he laughed. “In a tree?”

She smiled in return. “No, I’m lost.”Amusement flickered in the eyes that met his, before she glanced away.

He followed her gaze, seeing her car for the first time.

“I stopped at a store a few miles back for directions but I think I took a wrong turn somewhere. Do you know where the Evans Ranch is?”

Blade knew who she was as soon as the words left her mouth. Callie Peters, the woman Marissa had insisted on hiring once she and Beau had moved out. Damn! She’s my new housekeeper? This was trouble. His interested gaze moved over her pretty face, then lowered down to her creamy throat, bare shoulders, and stopped at the breasts crushed against his chest. A strand of her hair blew into his face, arousing him with a whisper soft caress across his stubbled cheek. Then he remembered she’d asked him a question.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Her eyes were hazel, not brown as he’d first thought, and framed with thick black lashes that brushed her cheeks when she blinked. They rounded with happy surprise at his response, and damned if her sexy mouth didn’t form into a shape that made his cock jump with excitement.

Down boy! There’s no way she’s going to bring you any relief.

“Then I am going in the right direction!” Her enthusiasm cut into his thoughts. “Thank goodness. How much further down the road is it?”

“It’s too complicated to explain and I doubt you’d find it in the dark. You’re on the back road. I’ll take you there.”

“But what about my car?”

“Someone can come get it for you and deliver it to the ranch.”

“Will it be safe here?”

Blade chuckled, and then he realized she was serious. “This isn’t New York, ma’am. And you’ve been on Evans land for the last ten miles. It will be safe.”

She released a sigh. “I’m from New York, it’s not all bad there,” she said defensively, with a spark in her eyes. “Do you work for the Evans?”

“You could say that.”

“I really didn’t want to meet them all disheveled like this, and delivered on a horse, but I guess it could be worse.”

Blade had to wonder how. He was sitting there with a cock so hard it hurt, and the only thing keeping her from knowing about it was the layers of material from her skirt. If he didn’t get some relief soon he was going to be a basket case. It wasn’t Callie’s fault he hadn’t been this close to a woman in months, with the exception of Marissa. But she was off limits.

“You’ll need to turn around before we can leave.” Blade knew he could ride with her the way she was but that would be sheer torture having the front of her body rubbing against his with every step Calypso took.

“I don’t have to get down, do I?” She looked nervously at Satan.

“No, ma’am. Just turn around and face the front. I’ll help you.”

“By the way my name is Callie,” she offered, her face softened with a smile.

He gave a slight nod of his head. “Blade.”

Her eyes widened. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Evans.”

Blade glanced at the hand she held his way, then back up at the shining light in her friendly eyes. “Just Blade, ma’am.”

“Okay.” She lowered her hand. “How do I turn around?”

Damn. He wished the eagerness in her voice was for something else. Then Blade realized he needed to get his libido in check. “Lift your leg, ma’am.”

She looked at him with a-deer-in-the-headlights look.

“I promise not to let you fall.” He didn’t want to put his hands on her but he was forced to when she did what he asked and began to slide.

She gasped and grabbed the front of his shirt, and he took hold of her upper arms. The sudden urge to kiss her came out of nowhere and was so strong that he knew if he didn’t do something drastic he would give into it. What the fuck is wrong with me? He was acting like a randy teenager with one thing on his mind. With a sound of impatience to mask his arousal, Blade easily lifted her by the waist and swung her around until she was settled in front of him.

He sucked in a breath the second her rump came up against his cock. Fuck! How am I ever going to make it home like this? Callie’s soft sound of surprise revealed that she finally knew what his predicament was. She immediately sat up and away from his body, but all that did was force her ass tighter against him. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. Well, there was nothing he could do about it now.

He gave Calypso a firm squeeze with his calves, and they took off. He’d have to come back and get Satan in the morning.


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