Desire: Ten sizzling, romantic tales for Valentine’s Day!

by Opal Carew

  “You’re remarkable.” Warner pulled Taddy in close and they sat back down with Vive and Blake. “You know that?”

  “You bring it out in me.” She kissed him.

  “Wow!” Vive shrieked, breaking their sweet talk. “Who the fudge balls is that stud?”

  Motorcycle helmet in hand and covered in more tattoos than Warner remembered, his brother walked up.

  “Hello, Manhattanites,” Sheldon greeted. “Brother.” He nodded.

  “Meow,” Blake hissed playfully.

  “Everyone, this is Sheldon.” Warner pulled up a chair for him to join them.

  “Sheldon, this is Vive, Blake. You passed Lex at the door on her cell, and my girlfriend, Taddy Brill.”

  “Shel! Come sit next to me,” Vive demanded.

  Taddy’s friends laughed.

  Chapter 22

  Neve Adele’s Candy Land Reality

  Let’s party!

  Up in a swing, Taddy hung from her ballroom ceiling over the crowd, playing her part as Princess Lolly. She threw glitter dust out at the dancers below.

  On the dance floor, shirtless, in a white fur thong which covered his cock, Warner carried a large lollipop scepter whirled in colors. On his head was a gold king’s crown. A sash across his chest read ‘King of Candy Land’. He was such a good sport.

  God, he’s fucking hot! And he’s mine!

  Gyrating their hips around him in a small circle were Lex and Blake. Lex had been iced from head to toe in crystals. Taddy had convinced her to get vajazzled at the Exhale Bliss Spa, hoping she’d get laid that night. Lex played Queen Frostaine better than anyone. Blake held his hands up, clapping. Dressed in purple tights as Duke of Swirl, Blake had the legs to pull it off.

  Instinctively, she searched for Vive then remembered Miss Farnworth had hosted a pre-Candy Land Ball cocktail party and may have been too trashed to make it. Damn her.

  The music’s volume lowered, as did her swing. Yellow lights focused on her in the middle as she descended over the audience.

  She held on to a microphone. “Good evening, New York City.” Her voice boomed in surround sound from the Candy Hearts Room to the Molasses Swamp and created feedback noise in her earpiece. “Thank you for coming. We’ve raised three million dollars for charity tonight.”

  The crowd screamed.

  “My Brill girls have been working their asses off to bring you a new accessories lifestyle line inspired by an iconic reality TV star. She’s the reigning Miss Glamour USA who’s captured America’s hearts.”

  A build of anticipation filled the room. No one knew who the surprise guest was except for Blake and his team. They’d kept it a secret.

  “Some of these treats are in your goodie bags tonight, darlings,” Taddy continued.

  “Brill. Brill. Brill,” the audience chanted.

  Taddy pressed on. “America’s number-one reality TV star is in Candy Land to make her music debut with her new song, ‘I’m A Reality’. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Neve Adele.”

  Going bonkers, the audience screamed, “Neve Adele!”

  The swing came all the way to the floor and dropped Taddy off in Warner’s arms.

  “You were amazing.” He hugged her tight as she handed her microphone to a nearby stagehand.

  The lights focused on the stage as Neve Adele came out from a curtain, singing to her track. She wore an Easton Essentials gown made by Lex in her signature color, lilac.

  “Is she lip-synching?” Warner asked as he wrapped his arms around Taddy. He pulled her in to him as they listened to the synthesized song. Neve’s verses were about her life as a beauty queen spouting off in a monotone lisp.

  “She sure is,” Taddy whispered in Warner’s ear. “She’s our manufactured superstar.” Taddy smiled and put her hands up, cheering Neve on and danced.

  Warner grabbed Taddy’s hips pulling her in closer. It made her happy to be with him. She put her arms around his waist. “I love you, Warner.”

  “I love you, too.” Swinging his hips with hers, Warner’s cock grew hard against her. Taddy wanted to celebrate for having Warner in her life. She knew it would be hard to let go of her past completely, but with such a wonderful future ahead of her, she focused on the good.

  “Going to get a drink. Catch ya later.” Blake held onto Lex as they left Taddy and Warner alone.

  “I’m real, I’m a reality, I’m beauty. I’m a beauty queen,” Neve sang her chorus. Catchy, it would be a hit with the gays.

  The lights spun around the ballroom with a flash. Then everything went dark. Pushing her body against Warner’s, Taddy felt his chest and rested her palm over his heart.

  “I know what you want. It’s real. It’s a star. It’s a reality star.” Neve’s song sped up.

  Taddy’s body vibrated to the music, but it remained impossible to keep up with Warner’s insatiable pace. Everything on King Candy danced. She stepped back letting him get into his groove.

  The music changed out as Neve’s song came to a close. DJ Dejon, who’d flown in for the night from Utah with Kiki, spun a remixed ‘90s classic. Taddy had convinced them to come back in time for the ball.

  Techno pulsated through her body. It was time to show Warner who she really was. She pulled his head down to hers and whispered. “I want to show you something.”

  “What?”

  “It’s a hidden room. But you have to promise you won’t judge.”

  “I swear.”

  Taddy led Warner through the dance floor, staged to resemble the Lollipop Woods. She waved and introduced people to Warner as they weaved their way through the crowds at the Gumdrop Mountains. The marble floors dusted a luminous green, the Baccarat chandeliers dangling from the ceilings.

  She spotted Lex and Blake at the bar. “Did Vive seriously miss this?”

  “Afraid so.” Lex sighed.

  “I don’t mean to sound like a hypocrite as I chug this cocktail, but we need to send her back to rehab.”

  “Yeah. She’s off the pills, but I don’t know how you get a Farnworth to quit booze,” Lex confessed. She, of all people, should know after living with Birdie.

  “Let’s discuss Operation-Vive-Intervention tomorrow,” Taddy said and turned toward her bedroom. She knew Vive could do it. She’d just need a little motivation.

  “Where are you two going?” Lex asked, raising her voice as they started off.

  “My dungeon!” Taddy shouted after pushing Warner farther. He walked slowly on purpose, she could tell.

  “Dungeon?” He froze.

  “You’ll see.” She grabbed his hands. “Come on, Big Daddy. Come on!”

  She picked up speed, taking him down a long hallway. They passed a roped-off area away from Candy Land and headed into Taddy’s personal living quarters. The penthouse walls were decorated in large-scale photos, most of her and Lex as young children.

  “You’re taking me to your bedroom?”

  “Sorta.” Taddy opened the double doors.

  “Why didn’t I see this the other night?”

  “Relax.” She led Warner into a large shoe closet and stood before a mirrored wall. The Shih Tzus were sound asleep in their little beds.

  “You wanna tell me you have a shoe fetish?” Warner asked.

  “That’s obvious. But watch.” She slipped the key into the hole.

  The walls separated, a vacuumed suction released, and the air streamed a new draft from one room to the next.

  “Wow.” Warner stepped into the room. Red leather adorned the walls. There were gadgets and gizmos Taddy guessed he’d never seen.

  She kissed his cheek, feeling her naughty girl coming out. “I know you’re not into the rough stuff, but—”

  “What?” Warner had to have known she was a bad girl.

  “I was hoping we could try.” She tempted him.

  “No.”

  “Oh, come on. A lil’ BDSM play is fun!” Taddy would only accept yes as his answer.

  A couple’s laughter came from the corner. They
turned around to see against the far corner. Kiki was spread out on a bed, her eyes wide, her mouth hung open in a gasp.

  “Kiki.”

  “Miss Brill!!! We weren’t doing anything, I promise.”

  “Ahuh.”

  “Mr. Truman, you remember Dejon.” Kiki tried to smile. Her face red, she covered herself with a sheet.

  “Hi, Dejon.” Warner laughed.

  “We’ll leave you two to get back to whatever it was you weren’t doing.” Taddy grabbed her boyfriend’s hand and left her dungeon.

  Taddy took the week off to enjoy Manhattan with her new boyfriend Warner Truman. They spent seventy-two hours at her penthouse, locked in her pleasure room and ordering French food from Daniel’s restaurant. She’d showed him her toys. The remainder of the week had been spent at Warner’s penthouse in Tribeca. He’d shared his dungeon with her and barbecued for her on his balcony.

  To his surprise, the Jacqueline Truman Foundation received an anonymous donation. It was for three million dollars. When Warner asked Taddy if she’d made the gift, she said a lady never revealed her philanthropic ways.

  The following week, she went with Warner to Hong Kong, scouting locations for Brill, Inc. Warner had bought land to build a new luxury resort and spa on Connaught Road in the city’s fashion and business district. The lot overlooked Victoria Harbour. The hotel was slated to feature five hundred rooms and be called Forever Red.

  Excerpt - Undressed

  by Avery Aster

  Craving more of The Manhattanites? Undressed is the next in the series…

  Milan’s notorious playboy, Prince Tittoni, seems to have everything—Lamborghinis, exotic women, palaces throughout Europe and business success. Ramping up his fabric company to go global with a new apparel brand, he ruthlessly stops supplying fabrics to the American client who inspired the collection. But once they meet, what’s he willing to give to get her in his bed?

  Upper East Side designer Lex Easton has already endured her fair share of hard knocks. She’ll be damned if she’ll let an Italian stud muffin knock her down. So what if she named her favorite vibrator after him? With Fashion Week approaching, she’ll do whatever it takes to secure the fabrics she needs to make her clothing line an international success—even sleep with her rival.

  Lex’s Louboutins are dug in deep to win this war. All’s fair in love and fashion!

  Acknowledgments

  Big Apple love to Julie, for all your Taddy Brill contributions. Many kudos to my beta-readers, Nicole, Chrissy, Jackie, Jenifer, Kateria, Jodi, Jenifer, Jill D., Crystal Earl, Teri, and Barb H. for being the eyes in the back of my head. As well as to the book reviewers at S&M’s Book Obsessions, I Love Lady Porn, Harlequin Junkies, Book Whores, Under the Covers, Midwest Book Reviews, The Book Enthusiast, We Love Kink, Romance Reviews Today, Ever After Romance, Swept Away by Romance, USA Today Happily Ever After, Reviews by Crystal, Storm Goddess and Please Another Book for the wonderful media coverage on The Manhattanites series.

  Brenda, thank you always for the unconditional support and for pushing me forward. Josh, your humor through my plot twists helped me not lose sight for what mattered. Courtney Howell, your feedback and preparation meant the world to me. Thank you to Kristin and Becky at Hot Tree Editing for polishing up this book so it sparkles. Marisa Corvisiero, my literary agent and lawyer, you are the best. And to my family and friends whom I ignored this summer to finish this novel, George, Pauline, Adam, Sara, Kelly, Shari, Edward, Manuel, Hector, Lynn, Michele, John, Holly, Nackie, Patrick, Ronnie, Bailee, and Shane I owe you many beach vacations.

  About Avery Aster

  New York Times bestselling author Avery Aster pens The Manhattanites, a contemporary erotic romance series of full-length, stand-alone novels, and the naughty new adult prequel companion series The Undergrad Years.

  As a resident of New York City and a graduate from New York University, Avery gives readers an inside look at the city’s glitzy nightlife, socialite sexcapades and tall tales of the über-rich and ultra-famous.

  * * *

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  Website: http://www.AveryAster.com

  All About the Bear

  Tales of the Were Grizzly Cove

  Bianca D’Arc

  Welcome to Grizzly Cove, where the sheriff has more than just the peace to protect.

  The proprietor of the new bakery in town is clueless about the dual nature of her nearest neighbors, but not for long. It’ll be up to Sheriff Brody to clue her in and convince her to stay calm—and in his bed—for the next fifty years or so.

  All About the Bear

  Bianca D’Arc

  * * *

  Copyright © 2015 Bianca D’Arc

  * * *

  www.biancadarc.com

  With heartfelt thanks to Jessica Bimberg, the first editor to see value in my work, way back in 2005. I’m so happy to be working with you again, Jess!

  And, as always, to my family, who continue to make allowances for the crazy writer in their midst. I couldn’t do it without your love and support.

  Author’s Note

  I wrote my first werebear way back in 2006. He was a supporting character in my first werewolf book, Lords of the Were. His name was Rocco Garibaldi and he finally got his own book, called simply, Rocky, in 2013. Since then, it seems a plethora of werebears have popped up all around, and because of that, I hesitated before starting this series.

  I was concerned that there might be too many werebear stories out there. That maybe readers were tired of them. But then I realized, I had to be true to the story in my heart and even so, my bears needed to tell their stories.

  I hope you will enjoy the bears of Grizzly Cove.

  Prologue

  “You want us to what?”

  The question came from Brody, one of the highest ranked of John’s lieutenants. If he couldn’t convince Brody of the genius of his idea, he’d never have a shot at convincing the rest.

  “We’re going to pretend we’re an artists’ colony. That’s the most sensible way we can fly under the radar around here.” He’d researched it, and it was the only plan that made sense for this part of the country.

  “But none of us are artists,” Brody insisted.

  “You can use a chainsaw, can’t you?” He pointed at Brody, then went around the circle of his top men who were all gathered to hear the latest mission plan. “We all know Drew whittles in his spare time. And Sven can carve ice. Remember the swan he made when we were undercover as caterers that time?”

  “Tell me it’s the fucking polar bear that came up with this,” Peter the Russian shot a disgusted look at Sven, who flipped him the bird casually as he sat back to listen. Sven could always be counted on to listen first before jumping to conclusions.

  As Alpha of this team of misfits, John had his work cut out for him, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. All bear shifters, they’d bonded together over years of covert missions and top-secret assignments. And now, when the world had gone to hell and it was time to regroup, John had finally put his long-term plan into motion.

  He’d been quietly buying up a huge tract of land near the very tip of Washington State over the past several decades. Every spare dollar he’d ever earned had gone into the project. He considered it an investment, and now that he had finally revealed his master plan to his men, he hoped they would take a more active role in buying up the rest of the land that they needed.

  It was wild country with few inhabitants, yet the city wasn’t too far away as the crow flies. And there were humans nearby. An Indian reservation and other coastal communit
ies. If John and his team set up house here, they’d have to come up with a plausible cover story as to why there was suddenly a new settlement made up mostly of men in this remote area.

  John had a plan to even out the numbers, too, but they’d have to be in residence first before he could put out the call through the shifter community to invite female bears who were looking for a change—and possibly a mate—to join them. There would probably be a few humans passing through on occasion, so they really needed that good cover story for their little community.

  John laid out the long-term plan for them all for the first time, and thankfully, they listened. Bears were tricky. Most liked to roam alone, only settling down with a mate and raising their family much later in life—if at all. And they usually didn’t live in such close proximity to their Alpha, which was more a ceremonial title than an actual authoritative one.

  But John had been commanding officer to every one of the men who gathered around him at one time or another, and the role of leadership fell naturally to him. He might not be the biggest bear in the group, but he was universally believed to be the smartest when it came to strategy. He had hope for his people that they seemed to understand. He wanted to see these men, who had given so much of themselves to help protect the innocent, have fulfilling lives of their own now that they were retiring from the human world and its troubles.

  Things had changed drastically in the shifter community. Dark times had accelerated John’s plans for his men, but though they remained poised to help, the greater war seemed to be in a lull at the moment. Which left the bears at loose ends. That was why John had brought them all here, to Washington State, to lay the base for what he hoped would be a community that would last for generations.