Red Hot Lovers: 18 Contemporary Romance Books of Love, Passion, and Sexy Heroes by Your Favorite Top-Selling Authors

by Milly Taiden

  When he opened his eyes, he slouched back, head falling against the backboard.

  “Good morning,” I said with a smile.

  “Yes, it definitely is,” he sighed.

  “You didn’t want to come in my mouth?”

  “I did, but since it’s another one of our firsts, I wasn’t sure it was something you liked.”

  I lay at his side, the size of his body overwhelming mine. This time, I was the one to kiss his nose. “If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have gone down on you and would have pulled away and let you decorate the ceiling. But thank you for considering me.” The truth was, not many men would have had the strength to do so.

  “I’m glad you would, T. That was fucking amazing.”

  “You grew,” I said, looking down. Then my hand flew to my mouth as I bathed in the colors of embarrassment, widening my eyes. Where in the world had that come from?

  “And you haven’t changed a bit. Always so beautifully blunt and honest.”

  I giggled. “Sorry. Everything about your body is so different than before. So much better.”

  “You keep that up and my ego will explode harder than I did.” He threw the stained sheets off the bed.

  The orange glow behind the window brightened. Adrian stood up and strolled to the end of the room, pulling the curtains together, and then grabbed a clean sheet out of his closet.

  Setting the crisp fabric down, he pulled me in, covering us with the duvet. “Now why in the world do you have this on?” He slid his hands underneath his t-shirt I was wearing, along my stomach and up to my breasts, pinching my nipple. The sharp nip surged to between my ready legs. “What are you doing waking up this early?” he asked, easing in around me, trying to connect with every naked spot on my body.

  He breathed serenity into my neck, now cupping my breast in his hand like it belonged there. As soon as his broad body encased me, my lids felt heavy.

  “My bladder.” I turned around to face him.

  “We didn’t sleep a lot last night. Couple more hours, or should I just do this?” His hand slid down my belly, cupping my sex, rubbing between my soaked flesh.

  “This,” I whispered, slouching against his body. It wouldn’t take long. It couldn’t take long. That expert thumb of his remained on my clit while his fingers took over my pussy. He nibbled my ear and sucked against my neck as I breathed him in, and I lost it. Adrian had me undone within seconds, coming at his request, heaving into his chest and gripping his arms as I came apart.

  Snuggled against his body, with his fingers still inside me, I closed my eyes, already drifting away on cloud nine.

  CHAPTER 23

  I sat on the porch swing, sipping a fresh cup of coffee. Adrian had gone to shower. I was wearing his white shirt and a pair of his boxers, enjoying the quiet morning. Most of the fog had lifted. The sun’s beams pulled up patches of white steam from within the fields, which hovered there as if part of a magic show.

  Rocky played with his yellow duck on the porch. I swung lightly, savoring my last hours of sanity before I returned home. As deeply as I missed my kids, I couldn’t deny that being here with Adrian was definitely something I could get used to. And there was no better person to spend a morning with than Adrian. After last night, something has changed inside me. My confidence beamed. Adrian brought out the woman in me; the one who’d been struggling to flourish for years.

  Far in the distance, faint dust rose under the wheels of an approaching car. I didn’t think much of it at first, but when the Miata turned into the driveway, I froze. My mind told me to run inside, but it was already too late.

  Oh, shit!

  Fearing I’d drop the coffee mug, I set it aside on the small table and straightened my shirt. Would he notice if I hid under the blanket? My ex-husband tore across the dirt road as if he was racing to put out a fire. With the rooftop down, music blared on the radio. Why in the world was he here? And where had he gotten the car keys?

  Rocky barked as if he were the biggest guard dog in the world, but when Dan stepped out of the car on the passenger side, holding a manila envelope, the pup curled under the swing. For once I wanted to trade places with the Chihuahua.

  Kayla sat behind the wheel, and the moment of reprieve I’d thought I’d have to chew him out for driving disappeared. She waved at me shyly.

  Lifting his sunglasses to the top of his head, Dan stopped in his tracks when he saw me. After an initial pause and quick assessment, he strolled toward me. I wondered whether my I’ve just been fucked by someone else hair gave me away more than Adrian’s clothes on my bare body. I crossed my arms at my front, covering my breasts.

  “Is this the guy you’ve been seeing?” he asked stepping up the three steps.

  “He’s more than just a guy, Dan.”

  “Really?” Dan asked sarcastically.

  “It’s not what you think. No, wait. It is what you think, but it’s not the way I wanted to tell you.” My leg twitched uncomfortably.

  “Look, you don’t owe me an explanation. I… I better get going.” He dropped the envelope on the seat where a minute ago I’d still been enjoying the peaceful morning. My heart felt as broken as when I’d first found out he cheated on me. Why was I feeling this way? And why in the world was he acting like Adrian was the last person I should be with?

  “Dan, I’m sorry. But you knew I was dating—”

  “Dating and fucking are two different things.”

  “Fuck you,” I spat back. “You have no right—”

  “I’m sorry, Mia. But this guy is trouble, trust me on this.”

  What?

  “Just don’t get too attached. All men have an ulterior motive.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked. Dan didn’t know Adrian. He had no clue what he was talking about… did he? I knew Adrian could be calculating in business, but this was different. Adrian was different.

  “That’s all I can say, Mia. Just give that to him. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Dan grumbled and left.

  What the hell was that about? The car had already turned a corner when Adrian stepped out onto the porch, a white towel wrapped around his hips. I slouched down on the swing.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Who was that?” he asked.

  “My ex-husband. He left this for you,” I gave him the envelope, my eyes welling up.

  “Hey, come here, T.” Adrian sat beside me, taking me into his arms. “Why are you crying?”

  “This wasn’t the way I wanted Dan to find out. I pictured wearing my own clothes.” I pulled the sniffles through my nose.

  “You should have come and gotten me.” He kissed the top of my head.

  I eyed him from the bottom up. “Trust me, that would have made it worse.”

  “I’m sorry your morning was ruined.”

  “He left as if he’d been burnt. And he warned me to be careful.”

  “Why would he do that?” Adrian asked.

  I simply shrugged.

  “Come, have breakfast with me before you go home.”

  “Is it bad that I want to stay here, like, forever?”

  He tightened his arms around me, saying, “No, it’s not, because I’d love for you to stay forever too. But as much as I want you for myself, I know I need to share you. Christa and Jonathan will begin to wonder.”

  “Knowing my mother, she’ll have a good excuse for me not to be there this morning.”

  He chuckled. “That’s one conversation you’ll have to tell me all about.”

  “And one I’m not looking forward to.”

  After a late breakfast, we said our goodbyes. As I drove away, that shine I’d felt with Adrian dimmed to a tiny glow.

  CHAPTER 24

  Sunday after church, Dan joined me and the kids for lunch. The uncomfortable silence between us felt like a staring match, and I sure wasn’t going to blink first. At home, he shuffled through the kitchen. The awkwardness was beginning to drive me nuts, and I wondere
d whether I’d been going about introducing Adrian to Dan the wrong way. Wishing to spare Dan’s feelings, I’d instead dug a deep wedge between us.

  After the kids ate and left to play badminton, he finally lifted his head, saying, “Look, I’m sorry for yesterday. I was a jerk.”

  “Yes, you were.” I sighed. “But I should have told you how serious this was earlier. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “I know you didn’t. So… how serious is it?”

  I twisted my hands, clasping them together. “I haven’t felt like this in a long time. He means a lot to me.”

  “I can tell.” Dan paused. “You’re one of the most responsible women I know, and I just want you to be happy. You deserve it.” He opened a can of iced tea and took a long swig.

  “Thank you.” A smile crept up on my face. “I’m sorry you saw me that way, you know, in his shirt and all.” My pulse was racing. I was beginning to feel like I was at some sort of a confession that would garner me a long penance. But for the first time in a long time, opening up to Dan wiped out some of the stress bunched up in my shoulders. Perhaps now Dan would be able to completely move on as well.

  His gaze lifted and his eyes narrowed. Dan rubbed the side of his neck, and his lips tensed before he asked, “And you’re sure about him? I mean, how well do you know this guy? And no details, please.”

  The doubt and conflict in Dan’s voice was unmistakable and very sincere. My brows furrowed as I tried to read his expression. It wasn’t jealousy, but protectiveness.

  “Yeah, I know him pretty well. Why do I get the feeling there’s something you want to say?”

  Dan hesitated, drumming his fingers on the counter.

  “I just never pictured you with someone like that, you know, so wealthy and assertive. You’ve always led such a quiet lifestyle, so it just surprises me, that’s all.”

  “We’ve known each other for a long time, and he’s a good businessman. The people he works with need authority, but he doesn’t mix work with his day-to-day life.”

  How else could I explain that there weren’t many people like Adrian in the world? The rich usually flaunted their money, yet Adrian had been bashful about his success. All the riches in the world couldn’t buy him what he’d wanted. It was the reason he’d come for me. I was the reason he was here, not the business that he could have continued in Europe.

  “He’s told me you could be working together, so I’m sure you’re seeing the more professional side of him,” I tried in defense.

  “All right. I trust you. You’re a good judge of character. But men are scum. Trust me, I know. I wouldn’t get too attached to him, you know. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  I could read his warning between the lines quite well. He was trying to insinuate that men like Adrian weren’t keepers. They were players who didn’t stick around. The thought upset my stomach because even if there was a hint of truth to what Dan was saying, losing Adrian now wasn’t even an option for me.

  A glass slipped out of my hand into the sink, nearly breaking. Dan’s hands came to the side of my arms, gently tightening there. “I’m not saying he’s bad, but please keep an open mind and don’t get your hopes up too quickly, okay? It’s only been a couple of weeks, right?”

  Yes—a couple of weeks during which my feelings for Adrian had strengthened beyond comprehension. They’d rekindled in the first second it took me to blink when he stepped into that bar, and had since flared with the power of an Olympic torch.

  “Our business will be done in a couple of days, and we’ll know for sure what kind of a man he is.”

  Dan did know something after all. Had Adrian already spoken to Dan? How much could Dan tell me? I turned around to face my ex-husband.

  “You mean the real estate deal?”

  “Yes, of course. I should have the final signatures by Thursday. And I guess you’ll know whether he stays or goes.”

  Had Adrian discussed with him his entire situation? I mean, as far as I knew, Adrian had already signed his business contracts. If he didn’t buy that house, did that mean he wouldn’t be staying at all?

  Why did I get the feeling that my relationship with Adrian was about to be tested in more ways than one?

  CHAPTER 25

  I parked in front of Platinum Inc. just after eleven in the morning. The two-story building was wrapped in glass windows on both floors that reflected the gray sky, green shrubs, and water fountain like a movie screen displaying a feature. Praying that Adrian’s office was on the other side, I quickly scanned the windows but couldn’t see through any of them. What kind of a surprise would the visit be if he saw me strolling through the parking lot? Especially while wearing a knee-length parka with not much underneath.

  Arriving at Adrian’s workplace an hour before lunch should have given me enough time to gather the courage I needed to pull this off. This was the day I would show him that the adventurous girl he came back for was still inside me. I wanted him to know that I was more than a mother. I needed him to be able to look forward to each day and never doubt choosing me. My wish was for him to always see me as a woman worthy of his thousands-of-miles trip. And I hoped the kind of lunch I’d serve him today would be one of the best ones he’d ever had. After today, Adrian would twitch in his pants at noon like an alarm clock, re-living the memories of today. Deep inside, I couldn’t help but gloat that I actually had the nerve to show up here. Now, whether I would actually go through with this was still to be determined.

  With my hands practically glued to the steering wheel, I’d been sitting in my car for fifteen minutes now, listening to the falling rain hit the roof top. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. The last time I’d visited someone I cared about at his office, I found him jarring his hips into another woman like a brand new jackhammer.

  I shook the image off. No, I couldn’t even let the thought enter my mind. There was no way Adrian would ever do that to me, or anyone else. Whatever was going on inside my chest — the hammering, the nerves, the anticipation of his reaction, and the hope that he wouldn’t throw me out of the office—I had to overcome it.

  If I couldn’t do this, if I couldn’t be the woman I knew hid deep inside me, then I didn’t deserve Adrian. He’d given up everything to find me again. He took a chance, for which I’d forever be grateful, and I couldn’t disappoint him. I had to show him we could have the kind of relationship he’d dreamed about, even without marriage. I was as committed to him without a ring or a vow spoken because he would always own my heart.

  Outside, the clouds held close to the ground. The day was perfect for my outfit. My mid-length parka covered the little clothes I wore underneath, hiding my lecherous intentions.

  I shook my head

  This was so not like me, yet deep inside, I couldn’t help but feel proud. This was the exact confidence I remembered from when I was younger, single, and so ready to jump into love.

  A rush of pure adrenalin and lust flew through my veins, giving me that swift kick in my ass I needed to open the car and finally go through with my plan. After all, Adrian had said I could visit him any time…

  I pushed the glass door open to be welcomed by a crying girl in the lobby. She was holding a box of what looked like personal items.

  Had she just been fired?

  “I can’t believe we have to move,” she sobbed.

  “We’ll keep in touch, Sara,” her friend consoled her. “I’m so sorry about the job. But you know if there was anything Mr. Reed could do for us, he would. I’ll see you soon.”

  Moving? Was Adrian’s company moving? No, this couldn’t be right.

  “Excuse me, where do I find Mr. Reed’s office?” I asked.

  “Take the elevator to the second floor. The secretary will let you know.”

  “Thank you.”

  I pushed the elevator button, my hand visibly shaking now. The three second ride up felt like an hour. When the door opened I faced another employee holding a cardboard box full of desk items, includi
ng picture frames. He simply lowered his head, shrugged, and stepped in as soon as I got out.

  What was going on?

  I shuffled my feet toward the reception area to see a girl in her early twenties behind a desk. Her eyes were reddened and traces of smeared mascara that hadn’t been fully washed off covered her cheeks. She had obviously been crying a few minutes earlier. Would she be packing up as well?

  “Hi, is Mr. Reed available?” I asked.

  “Yes. Are you Mia?” she asked

  “Yes.” I answered, leaning a bit toward her. “He isn’t expecting me, is he?”

  “No,” she shook her head. “He’s just told us so much about you. And he has your picture framed on his desk.”

  “Oh.” I felt my cheeks heat.

  “Just down the hall to your left. He’s on a conference call now, but I’ll message him that you’re here.”

  “Can you not mention it’s me? Instead say it’s a…”

  “…a delivery?” she winked.

  That was also the moment I decided I really liked her.

  Why did it feel like she could see through my intentions? “Yes, please.”

  She quickly typed something on her computer and I headed toward the waiting area. My pulse was beginning to race as I mentally went through what I’d say to Adrian when I saw him. I’d imagined pulling the parka open to reveal the sexiest laced lingerie I owned—countless times—but whether I could actually act that frivolous was another question.

  Before I reached the open space with leather couches and chairs, I saw Adrian through the glass wall, and he took my breath away. He stood with his back facing me, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up, and once every few seconds he drew his hands through his hair. His side profile showed him speaking, although of course I couldn’t hear him. He didn’t look happy; in fact, Adrian’s forehead creased more each second and the tension in his neck was wound like I’d never seen before.

  “Argh.” Someone behind me cleared her throat.