by Box Set
I loosened my legs from around his waist and within seconds he was plunging himself deep inside me. He stayed motionless once he was buried to the hilt, he didn’t move. Instead, he snatched another cube of ice from the glass and popped it into his mouth, and then he kissed me, savouring my lips and the ice slipped from his mouth to mine and back again. I left my mark on his back with my nails when he reached for another ice cube and rubbed it against my body. Calvin loved to make me wait for what I wanted, and the ice was a nice distraction.
He pulled out, only to push back in with full force. I yelped at the sensation of sudden fullness. “Put your hands over your head, sweetness. It appears you are losing control.”
“No, no, Calvin.” Shit! “I’m sorry. I have to touch you, baby.” Touching him meant everything to me; I hated it when he ordered me to keep my hands off him. I brushed my fingers against his back delicately, and he shivered.
“Sweetness,” he moaned against my lips before kissing me with love.
Every one of his moves made me feel good. The way he touched my curves, I had never felt so sexy. Calvin’s hand pressed against my hips, holding me in place while he pulled in and out of my body. I responded to him, a warm feeling spreading under his hands and electrical prickles building up in my lower regions. I caressed Calvin’s ass, held him close to me and matched him thrust for thrust.
With the heat surrounding us, we kept our movement to a minimum. That being said, I loved how slow and soft Calvin was with me. My senses opened up to him, everything my body and mind were going through intensified tenfold. He reached deep into my sex and teased me with his tongue, licking around my ear lobe. He murmured sweet words to me in a sensual voice.
“How do you like it now, sweetness?” he questioned.
I couldn’t bring myself to speak, but I responded with my body, pushing against his and he groaned into my neck.
“You, Iris, are an absolute turn on this morning.” The tempo of his thrusting accelerated and his thumb rubbed against my clit.
My heart started beating faster. I fisted my hands in his long hair, holding on to him tightly. He rubbed himself against my breasts and my nipple puckered even more, the sensation of his skin against mine pulling at something low in my groin. The reactions of my body came together with force, there was no way of slowing things down now, I couldn’t control anything anymore.
“Come for me, sweetness,” he begged, breathless.
The pressure on my sex and his lips against my collarbone had me reaching my peak. I screamed his name, as I said I would. The force ran throughout my body like a cacophony of lightning and thunder. God! It feels so good! Calvin pumped even hard, determined to come inside me before my own moment died. He seemed determined he wanted to experience this with me.
“Fuck, yeah, sweetness!” He came deep inside me, and the warm liquid filled me. He let his full body weight relax onto mine. The chair was too small for the two of us but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I love you,” he said, smooching my lips.
“I love you more.”
“You have no idea how much I love you, because I love you to infinity. It’s impossible to love more.”
I grinned. “Are you ready to fight over this, Banks?”
“Hartwell, there’s no reason to fight. I love you more, end of story,” he said, all business-like.
We laughed and relaxed under the hot morning sunshine.
“Someday, you’ll be my wife and I’ll spoil you, love you and do anything to make you happy.”
“You already do that, baby.”
He offered me one of his charming and seducing million dollar smiles. “Well, then, it’s only a matter of time.”
The End
If you enjoyed this tale, the best compliment you can pay the author is to leave a review where you purchased it, or tell a friend! Thank you for reading.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thanks to everyone who has helped me in the process of publishing this book a first and second time. Many hours were spent editing or proofreading. What a journey!
Thanks to Debbie Williams, Tami Adams and Megan Noelle for agreeing to work with me.
A special thank you to Susan Ramsey, your help came at the perfect time. I was freaking out and you saved me from a disaster.
Another thank you to everyone who’s following me and interacting with me. It means so much. Sandra Chevrier, Lisa Matthew, Dana Clark Klugerman, Simone Beaudelaire, Sylvia Nguyen, Sonya Steele, etc.
THANK YOU, you make it all worth it.
WHO IS JUDE?
Jude Ouvrard is an author who writes from the heart, and reads with passion and devotion. Jude enjoys stories of drama, true love, tattoos, and everything in between. While writing is her therapy, reading is her solace. Life doesn't get better than books and chocolate, and maybe a little bit of shopping.
A romance lover, Jude writes about love, pain, heartbreak and matters that will challenge your heart. A book can tell an unexpected story, no matter which directions it takes. Jude embraces words that have haunted her for years.
Jude is a working mom who dedicates her time to a law firm and writing books. She has an energetic superhero son, and a supportive boyfriend of many years. Her family is her rock; she could not survive without them. Born a country girl, she transformed into a city woman who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Although French is her first language, Jude decided to write in English because she liked the challenge.
Jude Ouvrard is the author of two novellas, Under the Sun and Wonderland, and four novels, Lost Dreams, Body, Ink, and Soul, Ophelia and Music, Ink, and Love. She is currently working on a new project.
"Drama, true love, and tattoos...and everything in between!"
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Tempting Trish
Chantel Rhondeau
Description
Defense attorney Trish Brier’s luck has taken a turn for the worse. Six weeks before a holiday getaway with her fiancé, Trish found him entertaining his secretary in his office—no clothing required. Trish’s sister is insistent that she jump back into dating. Her sister books her on a fifteen-day singles’ holiday cruise and demands Trish let her hair down, meet new men, and have fun.
Private investigator Rider Stone often sees the worst parts of humanity. Given reason to question the integrity of his current client, he’s in no mood to celebrate Christmas. His job takes him aboard a singles’ cruise under the worst possible circumstances, but he can’t help but be drawn in by Trish.
When people aboard the ship come up missing, the cruise line doesn’t want to admit that someone is making them disappear. Despite their reassurances that everything is under control, Rider’s suspicions increase the longer the cruise continues. He’s determined to catch the culprit and make Trish fall for him—all before reaching their final port.
Electronic Edition
Copyright 2016 Chantel Rhondeau
Cover Design: Chantel Rhondeau
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to an eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, names, events, and places in this novel are used fictitiously or are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or to places, businesses, or events, is entirely coincidental.
To all the fabulous ladies who keep me on track and help me out with every book. You rock, Clare, Sara, Liza, Rebecca, and Alicia!
Chantel’s Books
R
omantic Suspense
Stand-alone titles:
Always & Forever
Crime & Passion
Murderous Lies
Agents in Love Series:
Love & Deception – Book 1
Love & Redemption – Book 2
Love Under Fire Series:
Blazing Love
Blazing Hotter
Contemporary Romance
Stand-alone titles:
Season For Love: A Christmas Romance Novella
Unexpected Gift (Sweet Christmas Romance Novella)
Loving Lucy (Sensual Christmas Romance Novella)
Tempting Trish (Sensual Christmas Romantic Suspense)
Serving Up Love
McCallister’s Paradise:
Happy Endings –1
Diving Into Love –2
For Love or Charity –3
Love’s Ride –4
Cooking Up Love –5 (coming soon)
Chapter 1
Trish Brier stepped from the elevator of Baker & Lutz Law into the lobby. Her high-heeled shoes clacked on the marble tiles with every step across the nearly-deserted room.
Trish’s sister, Lucy, glanced up from her position behind the reception counter. A smile graced her full lips, and as always, Trish throttled down the surge of envy that consumed her. Even after nearly a year of wedded bliss and family life with Blake Carmichael, Lucy still looked like every guy’s wet dream. It wasn’t fair.
“Hey, sis!” Lucy’s warm smile was a welcomed change from the contentious relationship the women had shared a year earlier. “Are you ready for the Christmas party tomorrow night? Mr. Baker will announce your promotion to the entire company. I’m so proud of you!”
Trish groaned and set her purse on the countertop, leaning into it while her energy drained even further. “I wish I could skip the party, but partners are required to attend. Remind me why I wasn’t happy being a junior defense attorney?”
Lucy chuckled, throwing dark brown hair over her shoulder as happiness sparkled in her deep brown eyes. “Because my sister is a go getter and would never be happy until she rose to the top of the firm faster than anyone before her.”
While Lucy’s praise should have had a warming effect, all Trish could concentrate on was Lucy’s smile. That bastard, David Feltmate, never would have cheated on a beauty like Lucy one month before their wedding if she had been his fiancée instead of Trish. Lucy had everything Trish lacked, and perhaps that was the real reason Trish had been such a spoiled brat toward her sister for so many years.
As though partially reading her thoughts, Lucy asked, “Is David coming to the party? I’m surprised he hasn’t had dinner with us the last few weeks. Is he busy at work? We really need to finalize your wedding plans. The two of you haven’t been in the same room together lately to work on that.”
Trish suppressed another groan. How could she admit that after years of acting superior, karma had finally caught up with Trish? While it was true she had realized the error of her ways and worked hard the past year to repair the rift she’d caused in her relationship with Lucy, the world must have decided that wasn’t atonement enough.
“David won’t be there,” Trish admitted. “But that does remind me of something.”
Fishing into her purse, Trish found the envelope containing her Christmas bonus check. She thrust it toward her sister.
“What’s this?” Lucy unfolded the tucked in flap and extracted the check. “Wow. That’s a lot of zeros. Your promotion included a bigger Christmas bonus, huh? Congratulations.”
Lucy tried to press it back into Trish’s hand, but Trish shook her head. “That’s yours. You won our bet fair and square last year when you settled down with Blake. Just think how much shopping you can do for Aaron and the new baby with this bonus. It’s going to be a great Christmas at the Carmichael residence.”
Lucy’s mouth dropped open for a few seconds before she closed it and shook her head. “You didn’t think I’d really hold you to that bet, did you? I won the best prize of all by marrying Blake. You keep your bonus. You have a wedding to pay for.”
It looked like Trish would have to come clean about the fact there wouldn’t be a wedding. She had hoped to put off telling her family the news until after the Thanksgiving holiday next week. With the law firm partners having vacation until after the New Year, Trish could hide out in her apartment and avoid everyone after breaking the news. Next year she could return, refreshed and less bitter—she hoped.
“I don’t need the money,” Trish said, instead of blurting out the truth of the matter. “And it isn’t mine anyway. I honor my bets, sis.”
The elevator doors dinged across the room, drawing both women’s attention. When they opened, Blake Carmichael stepped out.
A wide smile split the accountant’s handsome face as he looked at his wife and quickly crossed the room. “Hey there, beautiful. I finished the accounting spreadsheets, and I’m done for the day. You about ready to go home?”
Lucy nodded. “I just need to run a few messages up to Mr. Baker’s assistant, and then find Jerry to lock up behind us.”
Encompassed in their bubble of happy love, it was as if Blake and Lucy didn’t realize Trish stood near them. Sighing inwardly, she left the check where it sat on the counter and picked up her purse.
“Wait,” Lucy ordered, realizing Trish prepared to leave. “Do you want to go to the spa with me tomorrow? We could use some of our Christmas bonus to get seaweed wraps and facials before the company party.”
“Sure, I’d like that,” Trish agreed. And maybe she would make an appointment with the stylist at the day spa and dye her hair to its natural brunette color. She needed some changes in her life now that she was no longer David Feltmate’s fiancée. “I’ll make arrangements in the morning and call to let you know when I’ll be by to pick you up.”
“The company party.” Blake’s gaze unfocused as though he looked at something in the distance. “That’s the first place I finally got up the courage to talk to you, Lucy. This year will be awfully boring without you dancing and sitting on laps.”
“And who says I’m not going to?” Lucy giggled.
Blake let out a playful growl and reached across the counter, tugging lightly on Lucy’s hair and drawing her toward his mouth. “Because you only do that for me now, wife.”
Not sure how much more she could tolerate of the happy couple, Trish raced to the door to escape them. Stepping out into the brisk November night reminded her why being a partner would be a welcomed change. Partners were provided parking spots next to the building, not forced to walk the two blocks required to reach the nearest parking garage.
Sayle, Washington was only thirty minutes north of Seattle but far enough inland that the constant winter rains often turned into slushy snow. Looking at the dreary sky, Trish wondered if it would open up and dump on her while she rushed to the garage. Too bad she’d left her umbrella in the office. No way would she go back inside and risk seeing Lucy and Blake making out.
As she rushed along the damp sidewalk, Trish was lost in her own misery about David. She didn’t notice a man walking toward her until she nearly ran into him.
“Oh, goodness!” She stepped back a pace, readying a smile for the stranger. “I’m so sorry. I was—”
His hand darted out, grabbing her wrist. “Give me all your money, bitch.”
Without thinking, Trish yanked her arm back, trying to shake his hand off.
“Don’t struggle.” His other hand came into view. Even in the darkness of the stormy November night, Trish couldn’t miss the glint of light from a streetlamp shining on a large knife. “Hand over your purse, and you won’t get hurt.”
Her heart thudded loudly in her ears, and Trish shook so hard she thought she’d fall to the ground. “I don’t have any cash,” she explained, hastening to remove the purse’s strap from her shoulder and give it to the man. At least she’d left the bonus check with Lucy.
“No cash for a fancy bitch l
ike you?” The man snorted as though disgusted. “Then give me your jewelry.”
Trish glanced around, hoping to see some form of rescue. However, Friday night in the business district was like hanging out in a ghost town.
The diamond necklace her father had presented to her when she passed the bar was worth more than this worthless crook could imagine. Even though she knew better, Trish hesitated, stepping backward and fluttering her hand against her throat. “I can’t—”
He tossed her purse to the ground and lunged forward, the cold steel of his blade pricking through her coat and bumping against her ribs. “Now. Unless you want me doing worse things than rob you.”
Trish squeaked as fear paralyzed her.
As though realizing his dominance, the man gave a throaty chuckle. “You’re a pretty enough thing for an uppity bitch. Where to do it, though. Wouldn’t want to be interrupted before I got what I want.”
No! She wouldn’t let that happen. Couldn’t! But he had a knife and was in control. Trish didn’t doubt if she screamed or resisted the man would stab her without a second thought.
“I’ll give you the necklace and promise not to call the cops,” she managed to gasp out. “Just don’t do anything else to me.”
Obviously no longer as interested in the diamonds, he continued looking over the area, presumably for a private spot. Suddenly he grimaced, giving only that warning something had changed.
“Stop right there,” came a deep voice from behind her back. “Let the lady go.”
