Love Me Knots

by Dee Tenorio

  “Who? You mean Young Andy? Young, young, young Andy Raymond.” She was too damn giddy about ruffling his feathers.

  “Youth isn’t everything when it comes to sex. In fact, it’s usually detrimental.” He leaned toward her. “Experience goes a long way.”

  “That’s a good point. Maybe not Andy. I mean, if I’m going to sleep around, I might as well enjoy it.”

  Oh, for the love of God. “You’re not sleeping with anyone!”

  “I don’t remember asking permission, Josh.” She rose to her feet, putting her hands on her bare hips in a few lithe movements he shouldn’t have noticed. Unnerved at facing her waist level, he stood too. Unfortunately, for him, the space between the two lawn chairs they’d been sitting on didn’t allow for two adults to stand. He ended up wrapping an arm around her still-wet form to steady them both, and she pressed flush against him. The mixed smell of coconut lotion and Miranda, tempered by chlorine and wide green eyes blinking in surprise, dizzied his senses.

  Or maybe it was just feeling her again, his body automatically taking her weight as if it still remembered the one time he’d been allowed. The time he’d been trying for years to forget. Now it was impossible to ignore the electricity he’d only ever felt with her. The air around them crackled almost audibly. His arm tightened on her at about the same time that she rose on her tiptoes and tentatively pressed her lips to his.

  When opposites attract, they are screwed three ways from Sunday

  Jinxed

  © 2009 Inez Kelley

  Frannie learned the hard way that a McHottie doesn’t always equal marriage material. She’s happy with her vanilla life. She has friends, a career and a double-D-powered vibrator. Then Fate shoves her, literally, into Prince Charming’s lap. His declaration of love at first sight is cute—and spikes her bullcrap meter into the red zone.

  She’s more than willing to give in with her body. But she’s barricaded her heart behind castle walls—and permanently welded the gates shut.

  Tragedy taught Jinx that time is too precious to waste, so when a series of uncanny coincidences thrusts Frannie into his life, he holds on tight. He knows she thinks he’s several fries short of a Happy Meal, but he’s determined to breach the fortress around her heart and give her a Happily Ever After.

  Even if he has to carry her fanny-first into his kingdom.

  Warning: includes jelly shoes, a narcoleptic cat and meatloaf. The steamy sex scenes may lead to fogged windows and wet panties so proceed at your own risk. Do not attempt to read without tissues, napkins for spewed beverages, and a booty call on speed dial.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Jinxed:

  After slicing two pieces of cheesecake, hers less than half the size of his, Frannie went to the coffeemaker. When she offered Jinx a cup, he agreed but a dare seeped into his tone. “Take one guess how I like it.”

  As she poured liquid creamer in her cup, she smirked. She added an equal amount of the rich white cream to his cup and handed it to him.

  Chuckling, he took a small sip. “Perfect.”

  “You know, this has got to be some kind of cosmic thing.” She pulled her knees up under her on the chair. “It’s unreal how similar we are.”

  “Well, there are some important differences,” he pointed out, hiding a smile behind his coffee cup. “I don’t have three romance novels tucked underneath my thong panties.”

  “You went through my suitcase!” The accusation in her voice should have made him feel guilty. Instead, he just laughed, arching that devil-black left eyebrow.

  “Tell me you didn’t do the same.”

  Since she couldn’t, Frannie wisely stayed silent and sipped her coffee. A panicky thought burst through her brain. Had she packed anything embarrassing? No. Her vibrator was still in her nightstand drawer and she hadn’t needed the acne cream so far this month, so she was covered. But just knowing his fingers had touched her underwear made her blush. Peering over the rim of her cup, she caught him studying her with intense eyes. The crackle of mutual attraction electrified the air.

  Before she could think of a response, Hocus and Pocus wandered into the kitchen. Idly, Jinx reached down and stroked one silky cat as it twined through his feet. A love-starved Pocus pushed his broad head against Jinx’s calf. With a deep chuckle, he reached lower to pet the animal. A second sneaky black paw darted out from behind his chair. Suddenly, he jerked his arm up, hissing in surprise and pain.

  “Hocus! Pocus! Out!” Frannie scolded, sending both cats scurrying into the living room at breakneck speed. Flirtation fled as mortification barreled into the room. Three long scratches just above Jinx’s right wrist oozed blood. He took a paper napkin and dabbed at it as she ran water on a clean dishcloth.

  “I’m so sorry. Hocus doesn’t like men but he’s never drawn blood before.” Face burning, she handed him the cloth.

  “It’s okay, it’s just a scratch, but it stings like hell.”

  My luck he’ll get some weird cat fungus and sue me. “Come in here. Let me wash it out and put something on it.”

  Frannie led him to a small half bath off the hallway. She poured peroxide on the thin red lines and tried to ignore the way he seemed to take up all the space in the tiny room. There was barely enough room to turn around with him standing beside the sink, and she fumbled with the bottle lid. He was too close, too male, too delicious. The scent of pure masculine essence intoxicated her. She couldn’t think straight.

  It’s not fair. No one should be capable of making a bathroom a sexy place.

  But he did, just by being there. Gone was the easy friendly presence and harmless flirtations which had developed in the kitchen. Here in the tiled closet, he oozed sex appeal. And I like the ooze, damn it! He stepped even closer. Concentrating on drying the foaming bubbles from his arm, she tried to ignore the jerk in her heart. His quiet voice fanned the hair at her temple.

  “So, no husband, but is there a boyfriend I need to worry about?”

  “What?” Why do I always turn into an idiot around this man?

  “If I kiss you, is there a boyfriend somewhere who’s going to clean my clock?”

  Frannie raised her head and stared directly into the deep pools of his eyes. Thick lashes framed his searing gaze, rekindling the smoldering fire he had sparked on the plane. He’s a snake charmer and I’m dancing to his tune. Mesmerized, she couldn’t speak and simply shook her head. He took the damp cloth from her hands and tilted her chin fractionally upward with his knuckle. Her eyes closed as her mouth parted in anticipation. Since the encounter on the plane, she’d been dying to taste his kiss. Soft as a snowflake’s landing, his lips settled across hers.

  Like met like and the electric surge shocked them both. In the same instant, their eyes flew open and locked. A battery charge, the sexual tension sparked with a blue-hot sizzle. Chemistry collided and exploded into immediate and frantic lust. The kiss rocketed from a timid first taste to frenzied longing.

  Frannie moaned as the drum deep inside began pounding. Passion sang through her veins. He nipped her mouth and, without thought, she nipped back, sliding her tongue across his bottom lip. Jinx knew how to kiss—or at least how she liked to kiss—and gave as much as she took, took just what she could give. It was perfect—not too wet, not too dry and just enough oh-my-Gawd-do-that-again. With a half-muttered groan, Jinx pulled her to him, her arms already seeking his shoulders. Like water on satin, her fingers weaved through his hair.

  Good Gawd, if this is heaven, take me now. She met and challenged each thrust and parry of his tongue until they were both breathing harshly. He tasted of creamy coffee and rich cheesecake, two of her weaknesses. A strong suspicion grew that he could easily become a third weakness. She swayed against him, her skin aching to be closer.

  Jinx hefted her up until her butt met the cold marble of the sink vanity. Caught between her widespread knees, he framed her face in large hot hands while he drank his fill from the well of her lips. The increased height perfectly positioned her da
mpening crotch against his straining zipper and he pulled her hips closer. Her feet met behind his legs as she arched to him. The rough fabric of his fly ground into her flimsily covered slick center. The tightening bud nestled there hardened and throbbed, and she let her head fall back, giving full access of her throat to his heated mouth. He found a spot just below her ear that turned her bones to jelly.

  So maybe this flavor-of-the-month thing had benefits.

  Consumed with the need to feel his skin, Frannie tugged at his shirt collar and he raised her tee shirt hem. Both tops landed on the floor with a soft thwap. Heat engulfed them as passion arced higher. Flesh on flesh, the sparse hair on his chest pricking her nipples, she gasped into his mouth. Jinx seemed as hungry as she was. He cupped a small breast and lightly pinched the tip, swallowing her cry of pleasure. She arched her hips into his groin and felt through thin cotton how hard he was, how hard she’d made him in so short a time. Power surged through her. Clamping her thighs around his hips, she pressed herself harder against the hidden steel. A deep masculine moan sounded low. The rumble deep in his chest vibrated against her swelling breasts, thrilling her. He grabbed her hips once again, pulled her hard against him and rocked his hips forward, lips never leaving hers.

  This is going to be good. It’s like he’s reading my mind. Let’s hear it for similar brain patterns! Wahoooo!

  His maddening mouth slid down her jaw. With her head back against the mirror, she whimpered. Her neck beckoned for his tongue and he skimmed her throat as he tasted and caressed down to her swollen breasts. At last, his lips captured one aching peak. An internal spotlight shone on her, intensifying every zing of pleasure Jinx plucked from her sizzling flesh. Hot and teasing, his tongue provoked each bud to stinging awareness before drawing them into the warmth of his mouth. A soft hum buzzed the pebbled crests.

  Every nerve ending in her body sat up and screamed his name. The soft brush of his hair in her hands was more noticeable than the bite of the faucet in her lower back. The feel of his hot skin against hers created a firestorm, baking her in its heat. Her core turned to molten lava, she pulled his head back to hers and kissed him. Gawd, hurry!

  “Where’s my shaving kit?” he asked between nips of her lips.

  Why does he want to shave now? Oh, wait…shaving kit…condoms. Hallelujah! “Upstairs on my bed.”

  At her last word, he groaned into her mouth. Wanting him more than imaginable, Frannie was reluctant to leave the warmth of his embrace. The bed could wait one minute longer. With lusty patience, Jinx made no move to unseat her, but allowed her tongue and lips to trace a blazing trail down his neck to his shoulder, where she nipped him with sharp teeth. The untamed savagery brought a shiver which spiked her desire another notch.

  He caught her lips once more before whispering, “Let’s go upstairs.” She nodded into his kiss. “I love you, Frannie.”

  Like a bucket of cold water, his words ripped Frannie from her sexual haze and she shoved him away. He stepped back against the wall and her ass slid into the sink basin. The washcloth soaked her ass, cold seeping into her skin.

  “What did you say?”

  “I said I love you.” Wide devil-dark eyes gaped at her.

  The stunned expression on his face might have made her laugh if she hadn’t gone from incredibly horny to incredibly pissed-off in two-point-two seconds. Struggling to pluck her rear end from the sink, she flailed her legs until her thighs, still feeling his body’s crush, caught on the edge and pulled her free. She hopped off the vanity, grabbed her shirt and threw his at him. It hit him squarely in the face as he followed her out of the small bathroom. Her hair poofed with the force of her cotton tee being snapped over her head.

  “You have no idea how royally you just screwed up. Two minutes ago, you were pretty much guaranteed a piece of ass. Now you can get the hell out of my house and stay out!”

  The world is waiting for her…and he’s waited long enough.

  Wanderlust

  © 2009 KyAnn Waters

  Meg Snow is having hot and wild sex with Cory Traven…in her dreams.

  Four years ago he had his chance for a relationship with her. Instead, he joined the military, leaving her to endure Milcott, South Dakota on her own. Now it’s her turn for adventure and a chance to banish those erotic Cory fantasies once and for all—on a singles cruise to Jamaica.

  Cory has come home for what he’d denied himself four years before. Meg. But she’s made it clear she wants anyone except him. There’s only one way to show her that what she wants and what she needs are two different things. How? Storm the beaches of Jamaica. Infiltrate his way into her bed. Breach the walls of her heart.

  And show her that paradise is not in the Caribbean, but in his arms.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Wanderlust:

  Cory sat on the couch, in the dark. After their conversation on the sidewalk, Meg had practically run into her side of the duplex. She didn’t want to hear any opinion that differed from hers.

  He leaned back and closed his eyes. Images of Meg drifted through his mind. She’d responded when he’d kissed her. Had they been alone rather than the middle of a family barbecue, he felt certain the kiss would have led to more. Could he sleep with her and then let her go if she still chose to leave Milcott?

  After unbuttoning his shirt, he shrugged it off. Toe to heel, he slipped off his shoes. He thought about stretching out on the couch and watching the television, but he’d be dragging ass tomorrow if he didn’t get some sleep.

  He went to his room, dropped his jeans and crawled into bed in his boxer briefs. Outside the open bedroom window crickets chirped. Off in the distance a motorcycle revved up and drove away. Sounds familiar to Milcott lulled his mind. His eyes grew heavy and closed.

  And then he heard a soft murmur. His eyes snapped open, frozen wide as he focused his hearing. He heard it again. Next door. Meg’s window had to be open. He sat up and tossed off the covers. Going to the window, he listened intently.

  He’d heard her vibrator on other nights—and a few mornings. He loved knowing her sex drive demanded release. He didn’t hear the usual rattle and hum, but moans and sighs.

  “Cory.”

  She couldn’t know he listened.

  “I need you.” She moaned long and low.

  Damn, should he go to her? He paused with indecision.

  “Please.”

  If she were sleeping, she obviously dreamt of him and if she were awake, could she know he stood at the open window? Did she want him to come to her bed? An hour ago, she’d made it clear that although she’d enjoyed the kiss, wanted the kiss, all they would have is friendship.

  Dashing from the bedroom, he stopped in the kitchen to grab her spare house key and slipped out the front door. He stood at her door with the key in his trembling hand. After a moment, he inserted the key. Click. The handle turned.

  He didn’t worry about walking around his side of the duplex in the dark. However, Meg lived in an obstacle course. Too much crap and not enough room. Laundry strewn about wasn’t really a problem, but he couldn’t be sure there wouldn’t be a half-full can of Diet Pepsi sitting on the floor.

  Waiting until his vision adjusted to the darkness, he then moved toward the bedroom. If she slept, he’d simply slip out, return to his bed and get some sleep.

  Unsure of what to expect, he paused at the threshold of her room. Meg lay in the center of the bed. The comforter lay on the floor and silk sheets twisted around her legs. One arm bent over the top of her head, and her other hand rested on her bare midriff. She wore a tiny wisp of fabric for panties and nothing else. Beautiful, round breasts rose and fell with each breath she drew. Either the cool air from the open window or the intimacies playing out in her dream puckered her luscious, red nipples.

  Cory’s chest tightened. Blood pumped into his shaft. Fierce desire to climb into bed with her overpowered him, but he remained rooted where he stood. In the throes of an erotic dream, she had no knowledge that he watched her.<
br />
  “Mmmm,” she moaned again. She bent her knees and spread her smooth, tapered thighs. He ached to be between those legs. His gut tightened when her fingers drifted lower on her flat tummy and disappeared into her panties. Her head thrashed once on the pillow.

  “Cory.”

  He took a step closer to the bed to ensure she was indeed asleep and not calling for him to join her.

  The scent of her desire drifted on the air. His nostrils flared, taking in more of the intoxicating aroma. His chest expanded as he filled his lungs.

  “Cory?”

  Her voice, no longer muddled with sleep, questioned his presence next to her bed.

  “I heard you calling for me.”

  She blinked several times and leaned up on her elbows. “So you used your key to come into my house…into my room?” She sat and clutched at the sheet to cover her nudity.

  He nodded. “I should’ve left when I discovered you were dreaming, but I couldn’t.” Her eyes focused on the clear evidence of how long he’d been there. His erection throbbed in his boxers and the thin fabric did little to hide his arousal.

  Her lips twitched into a smile. “Well, I’m fine, just horny.”

  “You called my name.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “Because I was having sex with you.” She pulled the sheet a little higher. “It was a dream. I’m not responsible for the participants. Johnny Depp could have just as easily ravished me.”

  Cory sat on the edge to the bed. Warm, sweet scents of woman, uniquely Meg, fragranced the sheets.

  He leaned in.

  She didn’t flinch, but her breathing quickened.

  Threading his fingers into her hair, he pulled her into his kiss. Tentatively, he supped at her lips. Her tongue initiated. Parting his lips, he encouraged her to explore more of his mouth.

  “I want to stay,” he whispered into her mouth.