Prelude to a Fantasy: Prequel to Harmless Book 8

by Melissa Schroeder

  “Don’t. No promises, no worries. Just…us.”

  He hesitated then nodded. “Just us.”

  He slipped off the bed and pulled her with him. He spun her around, made quick work of her dress, tossing it on the ground behind him. He moved her hair aside and trailed his fingers down her spine.

  “Of course you’re not wearing anything beneath that.”

  His tone was so chastising she laughed.

  “What?” he asked, his fingers still dancing over her skin.

  “It isn’t what a girl dreams of hearing. I mean, you find me naked beneath my dress and you complain.”

  He turned her around. “Not complaining.”

  “Really? You don’t sound all that impressed with me.”

  “You take my breath away.”

  It was an old line, one he had probably used on more women than he could count, but it sounded wonderful. He slid his hands around her neck, then allowed one to skim down her body. The moment he touched her nipple, she sucked in a breath. They were so damned hard and so damned sensitive right now. He pinched it and she moaned.

  “All of you is beautiful, Maura.”

  His voice was so serious it did funny things to her insides. She tried to look away, but he slipped his fingers beneath her chin and forced her to look at him.

  “No. You are. I know you think you’re some geek but you’re beautiful. In your looks, but more importantly inside. You’re kind and what makes you so sexy to me is that you are strong. Don’t ever let anyone, man or woman, tell you otherwise.”

  She studied him for a moment, her heart melting. He always seemed to say the right thing to her. Cupping his face, she kissed him. His sigh sounded as if he had been giving some kind of gift. When Maura pulled back, she watched him again. Waiting.

  He smiled pulling off his shirt and his pants. If she had lost brain cells before seeing him completely naked, she definitely problems now. The man was a god, all hard muscle, dark skin. Her gaze dipped lower. Lord have mercy. His erection bobbed up against his stomach. She reached out and wrapped her fingers around it. He leaned his head back and groaned as she stroked him. The action told her how much he wanted her, wanted this and damn that was a powerful thing to her.

  She needed a taste, needed to feel the thrust of his cock inside her mouth. But before she could do that, he pulled her hand away. Irritated, Maura frowned up at him.

  He smiled. “Sorry, love, but you do that, and it will be over in a matter of seconds, I’m afraid.”

  Before she could respond, he tumbled them back on the bed. They landed on the plush mattress with an oomph from both of them, but he wasted no time. He kissed his way down her body, nipping at her flesh. The touch of his mouth and tongue against her skin pushed her further, had her body begging for some kind of relief.

  Then, he settled himself between her legs. He didn’t hesitate. Pressing his mouth against her pussy, he slipped his tongue inside her. Oh, God, he was dangerous. Over and over, he teased her, adding a finger. Just as she thought she would explode, he pulled back. Kissing his way up her body until her reached her breasts. She arched up against his mouth the moment he pulled one of her nipples between his teeth. The small movement shot straight to her sex. Every cell in her body tingled with need, anticipation.

  He pulled back abruptly. “Bloody hell.”

  He slid off the bed and for a moment, she thought he was leaving.

  “What are you doing?” she asked as she rose to her elbows and watched him go through his pants. He said nothing. “Zeke?”

  “I need a bloody condom.”

  Relief poured through her. “Oh. I have some of those.”

  His head whipped up and he was frowning. “And just why did you have condoms?”

  She laughed. Zeke wasn’t big on jealousy and neither was she. Still, she liked the fact that he was a little upset she had been planning something.

  “Well, until you freaked out at the club, I had hoped to invite you back here with me.”

  His frown dissolved into a grin. “Nothing wrong with that, love.”

  She knew it was an endearment he used often, but tonight, it meant more. At least to her it did. She would allow herself this indulgence.

  “Where?”

  “Bedside table.”

  He rushed to get it and then joined her back on the bed.

  She stopped him by placing her hands on his chest. “Whoa, Zeke, I didn’t get to play with that beautiful body you just showed me.”

  “I promise you can do that later. Right now, I have to be inside you more than I need my next breath.”

  He knocked her speechless again. Who said things like that with a sexy Irish accent? She slipped her hands up to cup his face. She pulled him down and kissed him then, long, wet, and erotic.

  He moved between her legs, donned the condom, and entered her in one long, swift thrust. She moaned and he stilled.

  “Sorry, Maura.”

  “Oh, no, that just felt so fucking good,” she said as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “Don’t stop now.”

  He laughed, as he slowly pulled out and then thrust back in. Each stroke hard, soon the headboard was slamming against the wall. Slowly he built up his rhythm. Tension gathered in her stomach then slipped down to her pussy. God, she was so close to exploding. Then, he reached down and pressed his thumb against her clit. She came apart, her orgasm causing her to convulse.

  He followed her moments later, her name on his lips.

  * * * *

  In the dim moonlight, Zeke watched her sleep. She was always so vibrant when she was awake so it was kind of nice to see her now. Maura was a part of him that he would never be able to shake. He skimmed his fingers over her arm. He couldn’t stop touching her, didn’t want to. He knew it wouldn’t last. He had seen the look in her eyes when they’d been in Rough ‘n Ready. Maura had never been the kind of woman who hid her desires, and it was pretty obvious to him she wanted to play.

  Damn him for not being a Dom. He could never do it. It just wasn’t what he wanted in bed. At least, he didn’t want to do it. Now…watching Rory do it—that was a different thought all together. But the other person he loved would never accept that kind of relationship. He couldn’t even keep Rory around for more than six months before his first lover would bail on him.

  She lifted her arm and slid her hand up his chest. The small move had his heart jerking and his libido racing. Lord, she did him in.

  “Zeke?”

  He looked down at her and knew what she was asking. He wanted that. He wanted to lose himself in her, in them, and forget everything that existed outside of the room. It was going to break his heart in the end but he couldn’t resist her. Zeke knew that no matter what, he would love her until the day he died.

  He leaned down to kiss her, pushing away his thoughts and living in the moment. He would take all she offered and try to walk away in the end. But for tonight—for however long—she was his.

  Read how Maura and Zeke finally get back together forever—including the very sexy Rory McAllister in the upcoming January release: A Little Harmless Fantasy.

  What starts as simple fantasy among friends, becomes an overwhelming need that none of them can deny.

  Maura Dillon has always been someone who lived life on her own terms. From the time she in college she knew she had different needs than most of her friends. But she never thought she would find herself torn between two very sexy men, or that they would want to add her to their relationship.

  Zeke and Rory have known each other for years. Their casual relationship has spanned a decade, but now that they are living together things are on a whole other level. Add in their mutual attraction for Maura and things are just getting out of hand.

  Rory understands their desires and suggests a week in Hawaii. No rules, no limits, no regrets. But as their nights are filled with unimaginable erotic pleasure, there is someone lurking in the shadows. Someone who wants revenge, and will stop at nothing
to succeed.

  »WARNING: this book contains the following: Two sexy men who are hot for each other and the heroine, more Hawaiian scenery, a Dom who thinks he can control everything, two lovers who know he can't, and scenes that push even Harmless Addicts over the edge.

  Enjoy the entire first chapter (unedited and unproofed):

  Chapter One

  For the fourth time in less than ten minutes, Maura Dillon found her mind wandering. She looked out over the late afternoon Miami traffic and felt herself her brother’s voice in her ear, and just spaced out. A second later, she realized that her brother had stopped talking.

  “What did you just say?” she asked leaning back in her desk chair closing her eyes. She felt herself drifting again, as if she were floating in the Pacific, enjoying the warm sun on her skin. She could almost smell the salt of the ocean and feel the breeze shift over her. It did nothing to help her the pounding in her head. She felt as if she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in three weeks. Probably because she hadn’t.

  “You sound distracted,” Conner said.

  Inwardly, she sighed. Her brother could always sniff out her mood, even five thousand miles away. It was one of his most irritating traits—and he had a lot of them.

  “I’m not distracted. I’m just a little tired.”

  There was a beat of silence. With most men, it didn’t mean anything. With Conner, it was a lethal situation. She turned her chair back so she faced her desk waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  “No, this is distracted, not tired. When you’re tired, you’re bitchy.”

  She ignored that comment, mostly because it was true. “I got the preliminary report on that group you want us to work with.”

  “You’re going to ignore my question then?” her brother asked.

  “Yes. When did you get all loving and want to talk feelings?”

  “I didn’t say it was about feelings. You just did. So you are distracted.”

  She was, but how did she tell her brother she was testy because she needed sex. She didn’t. She shared a lot with her brother, much to his irritation, but this, she could not. It was hard enough dealing with the dream team of Zeke O’Brian and Rory McAllister.

  “I’m distracted by this job. It doesn’t help that I am now a blonde.” She shoved her hand through her now chin length hair. It had been a whim a few days ago and she had loved it. But, now she wasn’t so sure.

  Another beat of silence. “You only mess with your hair color when you’re depressed.”

  She held the phone out from her ear and looked at it, then put it back. “This is Conner Dillon, right? Or has Jillian been giving you inside information?”

  “Jillian hasn’t and I know you better than you think I do.”

  That was probably true. Conner was devious that way. He seemed like the ultimate Alpha in any group, but one thing that had made him an excellent FBI agent was his observation skills. It was the bane of her existence when she was growing up—especially when he was left to raise her on his own. Nothing like having a criminal profiler watching your every move. Not that her teenage years had been that exciting.

  “How do you know about the hair color thing, then?” she asked.

  Maura recognized the aggravated sigh. She had first heard it when she was fifteen and asked her brother about lubricant. “The first boyfriend breakup you dyed it that disturbing bright red shade.”

  Of course he would bring up her breakup with Tommy Foster—otherwise known as the Scumbag from Boca Raton. “There was nothing disturbing about it.”

  “It glowed in the dark.”

  She remembered the look on Conner’s face when she stepped out of the bathroom and chuckled. “Okay, I will give you that. It was pretty bad.”

  “If you aren’t going to tell me, talk to Jillian when you get over here.”

  “I can talk to Jillian some other time, but there’s nothing to talk about.” Then she realized what he had just said. “Get over there? What are you talking about?”

  “I want you to come over to Hawaii for a week.”

  Stranger and stranger. It was never a good idea to underestimate Conner, especially when he was scheming. And she definitely defined this as scheming. He was devious and most people wouldn’t pick up on it. They would see him as being efficient. She knew better. Conner was born creating plots.

  She cleared her throat and readied herself for battle. Well, possible “I wasn’t planning on coming over anytime soon. I was just there six weeks ago for your wedding.”

  No matter how much she wanted to run away from the office and her personal infatuation with Rory and Zeke, she would not use a trip to Hawaii to get away. Which, even as she thought it, made her crazy. Insane. Bonkers. Any sane woman would do it without much thought. She had gone over the edge.

  And that is what those two had done to her. They had pushed her to the point that she was turning down vacations from her brother.

  “I need someone who is good at being a nerd and it comes to you naturally. “

  Most people would be upset with that comment, but not Maura. She was a nerd and proud of it. It was one of the many things Conner had taught her. On top of it, she knew he was lying.

  “First, you’re lying. Big lying, but I love you for it so okay, I’ll come see you and Jillian.”

  “And I want Rory and Zeke with you.”

  That made her to pause. Going to Hawaii would be a great escape. She could forget her problems, spend some time recharging her brain. Bringing the source of her problem with her wouldn’t give her a break. Her concentration was already shot and now she had to deal with them dressed in trunks and all oiled up? She shivered.

  “But who will run the office?” she asked.

  “Tina is well trained and former FBI. I’m sending a few of the new hires here to be trained in the office with her.”

  Which made sense, but it didn’t explain why she needed to be in Hawaii. Maura knew she could definitely help with that and keeping the office running while Tina was training. Maura could also help with part of the training.

  “The Petersen case is going to trial next week. Don’t you think one of us should be here?”

  “No. The federal prosecutor said he didn’t need you. Which is for the best.”

  She frowned. She didn’t think so. They did all the legwork and found out that Petersen had been funneling millions of dollars through the company he was CFO for. The owner had thought there was something hinky up, so he brought Dillon Securities in to look it over.

  They just didn’t know Petersen had been working for the Columbians.

  “Are you trying to get me out of the country?”

  “Hawaii is part of the country. And when you get here, you would be smart to remember that.”

  She rolled her eyes. Conner had become more Kama’aina than Jillian who had lived there for a several years. Heck, he even took off early every Friday to celebrate Aloha Fridays. That was so not like Conner—and she was glad for it. Jillian had definitely loosened her brother up. Before falling for her best friend, Conner had been uptight—and he still was to a point. But now he had someone to tell him to take a break when he got too intense.

  “Sure, sure. But, why do Rory and Zeke need to come with me?” she asked and then cringed at the whiny tone in her voice. It was worse that she didn’t know what her brother’s motives were. There were times she knew him better than she knew herself, but lately, he’d been acting very un-Conner like. If he wanted to talk about feelings, there was something very wrong. The idea that she had to spend a week with them in Hawaii didn’t appeal. Okay, that was a lie. It did. But in the wrong way.

  “Because they are associated with the case too. It would be best if you three are unreachable.”

  “So, Hawaii isn’t connected to the rest of the world. I think the Hawaiians would be more pissed about your comments than some stupid haole tourist made?” she asked.

  He ignored her question. “And, there’s that house I rented for us
during the wedding crap—”

  “Oh, how I love to hear my husband say our wedding was crap,” Jillian said in the background. The amusement in her voice had Maura smiling.

  “Now you did it, Conner. And I am not helping you with Jillian.”

  He grunted and Maura imagined that Jillian had plopped down on his lap. It was something that she did on a regular basis.

  “I don’t need help with Jillian. I can handle her all on my own.”

  The tone in his voice left little to figure out just what he was talking about.

  “Ugh, ew. I am going to bleach my brain after that image suggestion.”

  He chuckled. “It’s your fault. You sent me over here.”

  “Okay, moving onto other things, you said you had the house that you rented?”

  “Yes. I found out someone backed out of the week’s rent for it, and I jumped on it. Use the jet.”

  She wanted to argue with him, just for the fact that she didn’t want to be with the two men while they were together. Zeke and she had mutually decided he could not give her what she needed, so they had split. It was hard enough to working together, but seeing him with his old lover Rory, knowing the two of them were living together now, was a little too much to take. Worse, she was attracted to both of the men. Having them in the same house, day in and day out, might just be the death of any sanity she had left.

  Before she could talk to Conner about not inviting the guys, Zeke walked through her office door, and of course, Rory followed behind him.

  “Has Conner talked to you about this trip?” she asked.

  “No I haven’t,” Conner said on the phone.

  “Trip?” Zeke asked, his brow furrowing.

  “Let me talk to him,” Conner said.

  “No. I’ll tell him.”

  She didn’t need her brother sniffing out her mood with Zeke. Both men were relentless and they would badger her. At least in Hawaii, she could ignore them and enjoy the sunshine. Not to mention, a trip to Rough ‘n Ready would help.