The Letter (Bedtime Stories)

by Rosemary Gunn

  Chapter One excerpt

  “Sam, do you have a couple of minutes?”

  At the words and light tap on the door, Samantha Brooks swiveled around, reenergized; her pulse skipped a beat at the sight of her colleague. And lover. Eve Penn had leaned around the door frame to make the inquiry and a lock of auburn hair fell forward against her cheek.

  Sam grinned as Eve tucked it behind her ear for what was probably the hundredth time. By the end of the day, the shoulder-length mass of curls had usually won out against both clips and hair products. That suited Sam fine. She loved how it shimmered in the soft light falling through the windows behind the desk, the blinds partially closed against the July heat. The trim black skirt hit just above her knees, accentuating shapely legs encased in black stockings. Tailored to fit Eve’s voluptuous curves, the matching jacket enhanced all things feminine in a nonthreatening, nonsexual manner.

  Yet as she leaned forward, Sam caught a glimpse of red lace cupping one smooth breast. Sam couldn’t resist a partial grin; catching her bottom lip between her teeth, she flicked the inside with her tongue. Her own nipples peaked as her small breasts tightened at the unexpected treat. Heat, delicious and primal, pooled between her legs. Sitting straighter, she gazed at her lover of nearly three years and felt the familiar trip in her heart rate before the steady acceleration.

  Sam had fumbled through a few high school disasters, though she never considered herself anything but heterosexual. In law school she’d fallen fast and hard for David. Sex had been sweet and fun. The three had been acquaintances, even studied together occasionally, but there wasn’t a close relationship at that point. Then David had died and Sam’s world had collapsed.

  Devastated, Sam had leaned on Eve. The friendship had continued after they started clerking at the law firm six years ago. They moved up through the ranks at about the same pace and now enjoyed the status of senior associates.

  Glancing at her watch, she couldn’t believe it was after seven. With the advancement up the ladder came the added responsibilities. A meeting with one of the junior associates about a case had taken longer than anticipated and she needed to talk to one of the partners for his input on how to proceed with the case. She’d just updated her calendar when Eve knocked.

  Sam took off the glasses she used while working at the computer, holding them by the bow. Smiling, she said, “Sure. Go ahead and shut the door. It sounds like the maintenance guys are hanging some new shelves down the hall.”

  Eve smiled mischievously, green eyes sparkling as she closed the door with the distinctive click of the lock.

  Turning back to her desk, Sam tapped a few keys on the laptop and the sounds of Billie Holiday whispered from the speakers. Except for a handful of people, the building was always empty at this time on a Friday night. The partners and associates of various levels would have left by six, along with the paralegals, clerks, and runners.

  Desire clawed at the back of her throat as her skin warmed with keen awareness, nerves jangling from head to foot. The locked door meant only one thing. Eve wouldn’t wait until they got home to their condo to set the pace for the evening’s adventures.

  “I just got off the phone with Roman,” Eve said, excitement texturing her voice as she crossed the room, thick carpet muting her steps, and eased herself between the chair and the desk. Sam stared, fascinated, as the flush spread along her slender neck and colored her cheeks, making her green eyes more vibrant than usual. Standing in the V of Sam’s legs with her butt propped on the edge of the desk, Eve took the glasses from Sam’s fingers and slipped them onto the delicate bridge of her nose. Sam had long ago come to consider the gesture as a kind of physical endearment. Eve peered over the dark frames and Sam laughed, resisting the urge to kiss her breathless.

  “And...?” Surprised at how calm she sounded, considering the nervous anticipation that had kept her in a state of arousal most of the day.

  She’d felt happiness before. Her life, though not charmed, hadn’t been one of deprivation either. Far from it. Money wasn’t everything, though. It didn’t make up for the emotionally starved family meals and general lack of affection in her family, where children were tolerated and then only because they did as they were instructed. Love tended to make things messy, and as far as her father was concerned that kind of behavior wasted time and cluttered the air.

  “And he’s headed to the hotel,” she said, giggling like a teenager. “He sounded nervous.”

  “Imagine that,” Sam said, tilting her head and lifting a brow. “Being asked by his best friend to have sex with her lover could make a guy a bit nervous.”

  Her stomach fluttered at her own words. Heat burst there and radiated outward to her breasts, nipples poking against the lace of her bra. An empty ache settled between her legs. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed a man inside her until they began talking about the possibility of inviting a third to their bed. There was no going back. Hunger had become a living thing.

  Eve sighed and smoothed her hands up her legs, pulling the fabric of the skirt with them. “He said he could think of little else. I know how he feels. This week has lasted forever.” Eve toyed with the hem, teasing. Lust coiled tight in Sam’s stomach at the mingling of mischief and desire in Eve’s eyes.

  If the partners or other colleagues knew what lay beneath the conservative clothing and level-headed manner, they’d be shocked to the tips of their deerskin loafers.

  WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OPEN PROPOSAL:

  “Will tug your heart strings and will make you melt.” Just Erotic Romance Reviews

  “"A juicy and satisfying menage story that restores my faith that a good f/f/m menage can be written more often than the rare comet that comes along.” Loving Venus - Loving Mars

  Now let’s enter the sleepy town of Awry, where the secrets of the past are beginning to howl like the wind.

  Hearts A Plenty

  (Vintage Love, Book 1)

  Copyright ©2010 Rosemary Gunn

  Published by

  www.LiquidSilverBooks.com

  Claire and Jared love each other. The only snag in their relationship is the love Claire also feels for Mark, her step brother. A twist of fate has Mark staying with Claire and Jared the week prior to Thanksgiving. As the sexual energy explodes, inhibitions and thoughts of family ties go up in smoke.

  They are quickly engaged in the erotic games they have longed to play, but will the delicious bond they share be strong enough to withstand the scrutiny around the Thanksgiving table?

  Chapter One

  “Of course, I’ll be there. It’s been weeks since I’ve seen you and Daddy and I’m dying to see Jill’s baby.”

  Claire Mason wandered around the living room as she talked on the phone, a habit that Jared Young had enjoyed watching during their many months of dating. As part owner of an architectural salvage business, Claire’s place had an eclectic blend of many different eras, but none of that mattered to Jared. He’d been content in the office/living area above his restaurant before more of his stuff started staying at her place than his.

  Now she stopped and leaned her forehead against the wall. The lavender in the old metal newspaper box secured upright usually helped to calm her, but it wasn’t working tonight. She closed her eyes and shook her head, maybe hoping that some of that response to whatever Dorothy was saying would travel telepathically through the phone.

  Jared had been sitting on the sofa watching Claire as she talked to her stepmother, but now went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. She wore a white tailored blouse with a classy high neck, unbuttoned just enough to hint at the delicious upper curves of her breasts and a tan wool skirt hugged her hips. It made no difference to him what she wore, she always looked beautiful. She’d attended a meeting today, but her t-shirts and jeans got him riled up as well. He’d like it if she’d just wear nothing at all.

  She settled against him. He heard and felt the steadying breath she took, knowing she drew st
rength from his touch. He had a feeling about where the topic, and had turned it was confirmed by her next words.

  “And Mark knows of this proposed arrangement?” Jared smoothed his hands up her sides over her ribs, feeling the soft shiver of awareness flutter through her. His own body tensed as he waited for Claire’s side of the conversation. He cupped the fullness of her breasts, rubbing the hard peaks through the crisp cotton and thin lace covering them.

  “I realize that we’re family, Dorothy.” Emphasis obviously being repeated, though Claire’s words had a breathless quality that Dorothy Pierce-Mason’s had probably lacked. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that Mark is going to feel comfortable staying at my place while he’s here.” Another silence as Claire listened.

  Jared took his time unbuttoning the blouse, dragging his fingers along the deep cleft of her breasts, wanting to run his tongue along the heated, scented flesh. Claire wore a sexy musk perfume that never failed to wind him up. He could feel the heavy thumping of her heart against his hand and also where his chest rested against her back. His own kept pace with hers.

  One by one, he released the steel grommets that held the garment secure. She lifted her hips slightly, finding the hard line of his cock and thrusting gently back against him.

  Jared was always ready for Claire. She walked into the room and his senses heightened even as his brain ceased to function. He’d had a secret thing for her for years, but until about a year ago, he’d never really acted on it.

  As he brushed her dark blonde hair away from her neck and settled his lips against the rapid pulse beating there, he thanked whatever God was listening for the woman he held.

  He slid his hands to her hips and squeezed through the long wool skirt, grinding the solid bar of his cock into the cleft of her butt. She continued her sensual gyrations against him, her cheek pressed to the wall. She moaned softly, covered it by clearing her throat, then apologized into the phone.

  “No, no. I’m fine. Mark is always welcome in my home, Dorothy. You know that, just as he does.” More silence. “Okay then, that’ll be fine. I’ll expect him on Friday evening.” Silence. “I’m sure Daddy is thrilled to have Jill’s family there, too. He hasn’t even been into the shop since they’ve arrived.” Silence. “Okay, Dorothy. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone next week, as well. Goodbye for now.”

  She clicked the phone off and dropped it to the floor. “I take it we’re to have a guest,” he said.

  She rocked her hips in a rhythm that had Jared’s blood pounding to the center of his body. Her cheek still rested against the wall and, with her eyes closed, she nodded. He kissed the flushed, hot skin of her cheek. He nudged aside the collar of her cotton blouse, then bit the tender flesh where her shoulder met the elegant line of her neck. Her low moan had nothing to do with pain as she reached up to slide her fingers into his hair, her short nails scoring his scalp and sending a shudder through him. “Finish unbuttoning your blouse, Claire.”

  She trembled in his arms, but did as he asked. Sadness filled her soft green eyes. “I’m sorry, Jared.”

  WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HEARTS A PLENTY:

  “All I can say is, WOW, what a great hot, steamy book!!” The Romance Reviews

  “As far as heat goes, this one was on fire!” Got Romance Reviews

  Find Rosemary Gunn online

  Website: www.rosemarygunn.com

  Blog: www.rosemarygunn.blogspot.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/rosemarygunn