Forbidden: Playing With Fire, Book 1

by Karen Erickson

  “I thought you were going to get all gussied up.” He looked delicious enough to eat no matter what he wore, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.

  Today was supposed to be all about the shock value. There was nothing shocking about him whatsoever.

  Austin laughed, the sound wrapping around her and making her smile in return. “There’s no way I could do that. Today is too important. I’m trying to impress, not scare them away.”

  “Impress them? My family? But why?” She stood and went to him, giving a little gasp when he grabbed her hand and hauled her close.

  “I don’t want them to freak out when they see me, Michaela. I understand your plan and would’ve gone along with it if our relationship had been the way it was…before, when we were just friends. Or maybe if we were seeing each other casually, and I wasn’t so freaking crazy over you. But I’m serious about you.” He touched her face, his hand cupping her cheek. “I have intentions, you know.”

  “Intentions?” Her voice shook, her entire body trembled and even though she knew they’d ventured into serious territory it was another thing that he actually acknowledged it.

  “Yeah, like maybe I want to make a good impression so your parents understand how important you are to me. How much I love you.” His fingers stroked downward, making her skin tingle. “And I do love you, Michaela. More than you know.”

  “I know,” she murmured, tilting her face to accept his kiss. “I love you too. So much.”

  “Right.” He withdrew from her, his dark brows lifting as he studied her. “So I can’t walk in there with the eyeliner and the clothes and the punk ass attitude. I have to look like an upstanding citizen, you know. A man who might want to be a part of your family someday.”

  A thrill shot up her spine at the thought of Austin as her husband.

  Sigh. A girl could certainly dream. Especially when her dreams were in sight, as in he was standing right in front of her.

  How did she get so lucky?

  “My dad will probably like you though he takes some time warming up to new people.” She tapped her lower lip with the tip of her index finger, studying him. “And my mom will think you’re hot.”

  He rolled his eyes, and she swore he blushed. Her Austin blushing. She’d never seen such a thing.

  “Don’t say that. The last thing I want your mom to think is that I’m hot.” He shook his head though he couldn’t stop the smile from forming. “But if she falls under my charms, I’m not going to protest.”

  “All women fall under your charms. It’s part of your appeal. You’re very charming.” She went to him again and hugged him tight. Her face was nestled against his warm chest, the steady beating of his heart sounded loud and clear beneath her ear. “Are you ready to go?”

  She pulled away and he breathed deep, the nervousness on his face clear. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Are you nervous?” She’d rarely seen him nervous either. It was kind of cute.

  “Well yeah. I’ve never met my girlfriend’s family before. I just want them to like me. To…approve.” He grabbed his car keys from the kitchen counter and she followed him, picked up her purse, which also rested on the counter.

  She stopped him with a light touch on his forearm. “They’re going to love you.”

  Austin turned to look at her. “You think?”

  “I know.” Michaela nodded. “They’ll love you almost as much as I do.”

  “Hopefully that’s enough.” He gazed into her eyes, hypnotizing, crystal-clear blue.

  She could stare into his eyes for hours. Forever. “It will be.”

  And she never doubted that for an instant.

  About the Author

  After leaving the crazy working world to become a stay at home mom, Karen realized she needed to get crackin’ and pursue her lifelong dream of being a published writer. A busy mother of three, she fits her precious writing time in between chasing her children, hanging out with her wonderful husband and pretending she has a maid. She lives in California.

  To learn more about Karen Erickson, please visit www.karenwritesromance.com. Send an email to Karen at www.karenwritesromance.com/contact or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as Karen! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karenericksons_newsletter/

  Look for these titles by Karen Erickson

  Now Available:

  Spontaneous

  Fortune’s Deception

  Fortune’s Chance

  Fortune’s Promise

  Jesse’s Girl

  Coming Soon:

  Tangled

  He blew his chance once. Now he intends to blow her mind…

  Jesse’s Girl

  © 2009 Karen Erickson

  Rick blew it, and he’s never forgotten it. It’s bad enough his best friend Jesse showed his true colors and stole Blair, the girl Rick wanted. Rick never understood what Blair saw in the loser, and still kicks himself for letting her slip through his fingers. But what’s done is done.

  Blair is horrified when she realizes that Jesse’s lies cost her the happiness she might have found with Rick. It’s been over with Jesse, but he won’t leave her alone. Help comes from a totally unexpected source—Rick.

  When Rick sees them together, he’s confused but tells himself to get over it. Until Jesse lays a hand on her in anger. Now all bets are off. A second chance is all he’s ever wanted and he intends to use it…up against a wall, in his bed, over and over again.

  Until she surrenders to the idea that she was meant to be his girl. Forever.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Jesse’s Girl:

  Rick’s every freaking dream was coming true right here, right now. Blair standing close, offering herself to him. Her hands rested on his chest, her touch set him aflame and he breathed deeply, trying to gain some sort of control.

  After she’d hooked up with Jesse, he never thought this moment could happen. He thought he’d lost his chance with Blair forever. Even after hearing about the break-up he figured there was no way she would be interested in him.

  Guess he’d been wrong.

  “What do you say?” Her soft voice wafted over him, caressing him much like the brisk fall breeze and he inhaled sharply, marveling at the gift she offered him.

  Herself. She would be all his. For tonight at least. Did she want more? Would she want more from him?

  He hoped like hell that answer was yes.

  When he didn’t answer, her brows lowered, her sexy mouth turning downward. She looked perplexed, confused and he reached out, trailed his fingers over the soft skin of her cheek. He heard her sharp inhale, let his gaze drift to her chest and saw her breasts lifting with her every breath.

  He’d seen her breasts in the skimpiest of tops, dreamed of having his hands all over her countless times. He couldn’t wait to get her naked, explore her soft skin.

  If he didn’t watch it, he’d burst his jeans.

  “Rick? Are you all right?” She sounded upset and the last thing he wanted was for her to be upset. What had started out as just another Friday night was going to end hopefully as one of the best nights of his life.

  No way did he want to mess this up.

  “Sorry.” His fingers drifted along her jaw, then up to trace her full lips. He loved her mouth, the plump fullness of her lower lip, its berry pink color. She wore no lipstick that he could tell and still her lips looked juicy. Delicious. “I’m thinking how much I’d rather be anywhere but here.”

  Those brows furrowed even deeper and he leaned in close, brushed his mouth against hers. Just once. It was the barest of touches and his entire body went on high alert. “I want to be somewhere else. Alone. With you.”

  “Oh.” Her breathless answer told him she felt the same way. The blaze in her beautiful blue eyes told him that too. She was so beautiful he could stare at her all night. “Let’s go then.”

  “Are you sure?” Once they made this next step there was no going back. He wasn’t about to let her walk a
way from him now that he knew her relationship with Jesse was really over and had been for a while.

  This wasn’t going to be a one-night thing. With Blair, he wanted the real deal.

  “I’m sure.” She nodded, her hands curling into the fabric of his T-shirt. He wanted to feel her touch his bare flesh, stroke him into oblivion, those delicate fingers curling around him. Just the thought of Blair touching him nearly had him ready to explode in his jeans.

  Rick took her arm and they started toward the parking lot. “Let’s go then.”

  He linked his fingers with hers, clutched her hand tightly as they moved through the crowds and toward the parking lot. Grim determination led him on, didn’t allow him to be deterred despite the fact that he saw people he knew. A few of them waved and looked ready to stop and talk.

  Nope, he didn’t want to talk. He had other things in mind.

  Three men, a tomboy…and one erotic game that could change everything.

  Three for Me?

  © 2009 R. G. Alexander

  A Children of the Goddess Story

  Simon, Eric, Rafael, Lee…and Charli. It’s never mattered that Charli is the only girl in the crowd. She’s always been a tomboy, anyway. Just one of the guys.

  Between work and Couch Potato Thursdays, life is pretty full. Sure, no man alive can get through the friend gauntlet, but thanks to her boys and her toys, she’s got plenty of fantasy material. It’s a win-win situation. Until Lee has a destination wedding in Cozumel—and Charli’s “best man” duties take a kinky turn.

  Through what looks to be foul play by Lee’s new brides, Charli finds herself on a decidedly decadent shore excursion, playing “The Race Erotic”. With each sexy challenge, it becomes clearer that down deep, she desires not one, not two, but all three of her remaining single buddies.

  They’re the only family she’s ever known. She can’t imagine living without them. Will she have to choose? Or will the final score be three to one?

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Three for Me?:

  “I wanted that outfit.” Natalie glared at her, looking intimidating in a leopard print body stocking.

  “I’m sorry?”

  Shelly came and got between them. “Nat, you know you don’t get to choose your outfits. Besides, you’ve already been the naughty schoolgirl several times now. Give someone else a chance.”

  Naughty schoolgirl. Charli covered her face with her hands, peeking at herself in the mirror through her spread fingers. She’d had her hair put in pigtails. She hadn’t worn pigtails since she was nine.

  The little Mary Janes and thigh-high white stockings were bad enough. The plaid skirt was so short she could see her clingy white underwear that had, thankfully, been in a store-bought package beside the ensemble. But it was the shirt, most of all that was giving her fits.

  Button-down and white, it stopped right beneath her breasts, leaving her midriff bare. Already so thin they could see the shadow of her areoles. Shelly and the other woman had patted her with a damp cloth, making it entirely see through. She’d never be able to face the boys again.

  “Don’t be nervous. It’s just two songs. And it’s pretty dark in there. The game rents the upstairs club for as long as we’re here, so no one but the other racers will see you dance. And I’m pretty sure they’ll be too busy to look.”

  Charli was feeling a little warm. Maybe it was from the tequila, but she wasn’t necessarily afraid of this challenge. She was the lifelong friend of four very manly men. She’d been to a strip club before. And she did love to dance. If only she didn’t have to wear this humiliating outfit.

  She remembered what Connie had said about her having the body of a pole dancer. Had she known this would be one of the challenges? She was going to have a good long chat with Lee’s new wife when they got back.

  Shelly led them all to a curtained doorway. “Up those stairs you’ll find a main stage that will lead you to your individual walkways. Dance one entire song on that walkway for your men. When the next song starts, give him the lap dance of his dreams, and just be open to the pleasure. It’s a wonderful experience. The men know what they have to do to get the next clue, so go on and show them what you’ve got!”

  Shelly stopped Charli as the others went on ahead. “Your guys have already been told, but I wanted to let you know that you can only pick one to lap dance with, and the other men can watch, but they aren’t allowed to touch you until the song ends. Okay? Great!”

  She rushed off, clipboard in hand while Charli took a deep breath. Was she really going to do this? The music started, and she walked out onto the main stage. Of course she was. She never backed down from a bet.

  Charli strode to the rhythm of the beat, watching her counterparts do the Time with a smile. Dawn, despite her shyness, seemed determined to do this for Tim. And from the expression on his face, Charli could tell he appreciated it. She walked to the end of her walkway and placed her hands on her hips. “If any of you laugh at me, I’ll give you a wedgie. Or steal your lunch money.”

  “Charli?”

  “Dear God. And thank you. Amen.”

  “Fuck, Chuck. You look—”

  She lifted her chin threateningly, but Simon’s gaze was focused entirely on her breasts. He sighed. “Amazing.”

  “Yeah?” She caught Shelly making a dancing motion and started to sway to the music. Eric, Raf and Simon were staring at her, looking dazed and totally enthralled. Heat pooled between her thighs. Being the focus of this kind of attention felt…well it felt great. Empowering. Something she could definitely get used to.

  There was a pole, and Charli had always wanted to try one. All those mountain-climbing muscles were put to good use as she leapt up onto the steel cylinder, using her thighs to cling, her arms spread out in a backward arch that gave her the perfect, upside-down view of her audience.

  “Sweet Jesus.”

  “Did you know she could do that?”

  Simon didn’t respond, barely took his blue eyes off her long enough to blink.

  Charli’s smile was wicked. She lifted herself up, sliding down the pole until she was on her knees on her walkway, crawling closer to the edge of the stage. “How are the others doing? Are we winning?”

  “Who knows? Who cares?” Eric’s cheeks were flushed, and Rafael looked over at him, before turning his attention back to Charli.

  “I forgot. You’re fulfilling Professor Eric’s favorite fantasy, sugar. He’s gonna have a hard time keeping his hands off you.”

  Charli stopped her forward motion, sitting up to rub her hands slowly over her damp shirt. Her nipples were hard. Sensitive. The three heartfelt groans made her chuckle. “What fantasy?”

  “Nothing.” Eric glared at Rafael, but Raf just smiled.

  “No use lying about it, friend. Eric used to tell us that his favorite fantasy was of you as one of his students. One of his bad students. Who needed to be punished.”

  Charli blinked. The gush of arousal dampened her white schoolgirl panties, and she slid her hand between her legs unconsciously.

  “She likes that idea, Eric.” Simon’s voice was rough, and she shivered as though he’d touched her skin. “She really likes it. Don’t you, Chuck?”

  She stuck out her tongue, but inside she was quaking. Images of her bent over Eric’s desk, being spanked, being fucked, filled her mind. She closed her eyes, arching her neck as her hand disappeared beneath her skirt.

  The music ended and Rafael made a sound of frustration. All three men shifted in their seats.

  “Time for the next round, ladies. You know what to do. You too, guys.” Shelly’s perky voice jerked Charli out of her fantasy, making her blush. The new music was slower, sultrier. Reminded her of sex. As if anything didn’t right now.

  “You have to pick one, babe. Have to pick one of us to dance for.”

  It wasn’t as difficult a choice as she thought. She’d been planning to pick him anyway, if only because she’d thought he was the least likely to tease her. But now. N
ow she wanted to choose him for an entirely different reason.

  “I choose Eric.”

  There’s only one man she needs to believe in. Him.

  If You Believe

  © 2009 Crystal Jordan

  Unbelievable, Book One

  When it comes to her love life, the name of Aubrey Mathison’s coffee shop says it all: “Bean There, Done That”. There’s only one harmless man in her life right now—the homeless one parked outside the shop. Except the crazy things he says keep coming true.

  She has to laugh at “You'll meet your soul mate today”, though. Divorce taught her that men as gorgeous as sexy police chief Price Delacroix are not to be trusted. She’s totally up for a one-night stand, but more than that? No, thanks.

  Price bears his own scars from the past, but he knows instantly that Aubrey is his. How to convince her he wants more than to be her personal jungle gym? Cut her off. That means no more mattress gymnastics—until she starts seeing things his way.

  Aubrey is just as determined Price’s campaign to wear down her resistance is going to fail, no matter how wickedly determined he is. Until her resident prophet spouts a new prediction: her soul mate’s life is in danger…

  Enjoy the following excerpt for If You Believe:

  Mr. Crazy Man was back. He hummed a little before speaking again. “Dogs are bad luck for you today.”

  Shit. She hunched her shoulder and spun away. “Thanks.”

  If she went her normal route home, she’d have to pass by the dog park that made up a corner of the town square. Maybe she would try a different way. Just for the change of scenery. Change was good for the soul, wasn’t it? If she went by the dog park, it just seemed like too much self-fulfilling prophecy.

  Taking a left off the main path where she usually took a right, she wandered into the older district of town that had great Victorian houses. She’d always loved that style of architecture, but Scott had wanted modern. Now that she lived alone, it just seemed like too much upkeep. And maybe it was because she was afraid it would put her one step away from crazy cat lady to rattle around in a big old house like that. She turned the corner on to her street. She had four blocks left to go.