by Callie Croix
It sucked that she was too depressed to care.
One of her coworkers popped her head in the door. “You're not coming for lunch?"
"No thanks. I've got work to do."
Her friend frowned. “You should come out. The break would be good for you."
"Maybe some other time.” When she left, Jessica sighed and turned back to her computer. God, and to think she had to be at Bridgette's wedding tomorrow. The last thing she felt like doing was watching another woman marry the love of her life when it felt like her heart was bleeding.
If she'd been introverted before her trip to Texas, now she was pretty much a recluse. She went straight home from work and waited for the phone to ring just to hear Deacon's voice. They talked every night, but it didn't help the unrelenting pain gnawing at the center of her chest. Her feelings for him hadn't diminished at all. If anything, they'd grown. He was kind, dependable, and sexy enough to make her toes curl just thinking about him. Remembering the hot bouts of phone sex they'd had made her body tingle. She was learning to love being a bad girl for him.
He'd told her in vivid detail all the things he wanted to do to her, then given her explicit instructions on how and where to touch herself. His deep voice leading her through the sensual explorations and the images he'd planted in her mind had driven her to dizzying orgasms. And yet, as amazing as those sessions had been, it wasn't nearly as satisfying as having his hands on her.
Jessie let out a frustrated sigh and opened her next file.
Her body ached for his touch, and the thought of dating or letting another man's hands touch her made her skin crawl. He'd ruined her for anyone else, yet there was no future for them. They couldn't be together, and they came from different worlds. His life was on the ranch, and hers was here in the city.
If you could call what she had a real “life.” What the hell was she going to do?
When all her work was done, she packed up her files and laptop and drove home to her condo overlooking the water. She took the stairs to her third floor unit, opened the stairwell door...and stopped dead.
Leaning against the wall, Deacon straightened from his position next to her door and gave her that sexy smile she dreamed about. “Hey, sugar."
The laptop bag fell from her fingers. A funny sound escaped from her throat. She dropped her purse and ran, throwing herself into his waiting arms. His wonderful, strong arms.
He laughed and lifted her off the ground as he hugged her, and sudden tears burned her eyes. “Miss me?"
"Yes.” Hardly able to believe he was there, she held his face between her hands and devoured him with frantic kisses. Deke groaned and took over, sliding his tongue into her mouth, sending ripples of pleasure throughout her starving body. He felt so good, even better than she remembered. She couldn't get enough of him. Wanted to climb his body right here in the hallway and rip off his shirt so she could feel his naked skin again. Her neighbors might not appreciate that, though. After a minute, she pulled away and grinned up at him, blinking back the tears. “What are you doing here?"
His hands cupped her face as he leaned in for another kiss. “I figured you might need a date for the wedding."
"Oh.” Some of her excitement dimmed. “You fly out Monday then?"
Something flickered in his eyes. “That depends."
Not wanting to have this conversation out in the hallway, she opened her door and let him in. “On?"
He glanced around her cozy place for a moment and out the sliding glass doors to the shining waters of the Sound, then met her gaze. “On what we decide to do about us.” When she gave him a quizzical look, he smiled and brushed his thumb across her cheek.
She grabbed his wrist so he couldn't distract her further with his touch. “What does that mean?"
"It means I want to know what you want."
"I want to be with you.” She said it without hesitation.
His smile widened, and his eyes filled with relief. “I want that, too. So I did a phone interview last week with an old buddy of mine. There's a paramedic job opening with the local fire department if I want it."
Hope inflated her chest until she thought it might burst. “You want to move here? Full time?"
"If you'll have me."
If? He had to be kidding.
She'd already bared her soul to him. What harm would it do to tell him what was in her heart now? “I want you to, but before you make up your mind, you should know something.” Gathering her courage, she held his gaze. “I'm well on my way to falling in love with you."
His eyes darkened, and a wide smile spread across his face as he drew her into his arms. “Then I guess I'm staying, sugar, because I've never felt this way in my life."
Blinking back tears, she let out a watery laugh. “Okay. But don't think this means you're going to keep me away from my laptop when I've got work to do."
"Wouldn't dream of it.” He rested his forehead against hers and dropped his voice to a seductive whisper. “But I'm warning you now, if I start to feel jealous of that thing...I'll tie you to the bed and make damn sure I've got your full attention while I have my wicked way with you."
The erotic promise sent a surge of warmth through her body. Bursting with happiness, she grinned up at him. “Then I guess I'll be bringing a lot more work home from now on."
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About the Author
Callie Croix has always loved to read and write romance, but then she read Lisa Marie Rice's books and became hooked on the hotter stuff. Now she writes her own steamy stories, featuring yummy alpha male military heroes that know how to temper their dominance in the bedroom with toe-curling tenderness. She lives in beautiful Vancouver B.C. where the high annual rainfall amount gives her plenty of time indoors to write.
Visit Callie at
www.calliecroix.com
To chat with Callie Croix and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
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Coming Soon
Book Two of The Dumen Ranch Series
Dustin's Gamble
by
J.J. Ranger
* * * *
Sexy model Shannon Piermont comes home for her cousin's bachelorette party at the Double D Ranch and the reading of her beloved grandmother's will. When she runs smack into the love of her past, cowboy and ranch owner Dustin Dumen, she knows it will be hard to resist his charm and deny the desire that burns inside her. However, when she discovers exactly how caring Dustin had been before her grandmother's death, she gives in to her lust and decides maybe a weekend of lust can't hurt. Can she change this good guy's mind that a career and a family can mix?
* * * *
Look for Dustin's Gamble and other erotic titles, visit www.thewilderroses.com.
* * *
Visit www.thewildrosepress.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Trademarks Acknowledgement
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
About the Author
Coming Soon
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