Cinderella Body Club Boxed Set

by Conner, Jennifer

  “Raven...”

  Quinn watched me with such sexual intensity, it was like he’d read my mind.

  He traced the line of my cheek with his fingertip, then leaned down and nipped my earlobe. “Do you want to skip dinner?”

  Hell yes.

  I kicked off my heels, slid the chair back, and stepped into his waiting arms.

  Quinn’s fingers trailed down my cheek to my lips, outlining the shape of my mouth. Then he bent down, his lips against my cheek, brushing it lightly. Shivers ran through my whole body, making me tremble. He brushed his mouth against the hollow of my temple then traced the line of my jawbone. His slow seduction was my undoing. Finally, his lips reached mine.

  The sensuality of his kiss was too much and I reached up and pulled his mouth to mine. No more teasing. I wanted to be naked and writhing from his touch. He continued to kiss me gently, carefully, but it wasn’t gentleness I wanted, not when time was running out. I knotted my fists in his shirt and drew him closer. Quinn groaned softly, low in his throat, and then his arms circled me. All that existed was Quinn. I could feel his warmth burning through his clothes and mine.

  Another kiss and this time my tongue rubbed against his, intensifying my desire. My hands ran down his spine, grasping at the bottom of his shirt and tugging it high as he braced me against the bedroom wall. I reached overhead to the bunched fabric and jerked it off. I’d never been this bold. My breath caught at the sight of Quinn’s bare chest. Muscular, but lean, with a patch of light-colored hair nestled in the center. I ran my fingers through the coarse hair with delight. Quinn kept completely still.

  He sighed and grasped my roaming hands. “You have too many clothes on. Let me remedy that.”

  He slowly turned me around and unzipped my dress, trailing kisses down my spine as he went. My pulse tapped a fast beat as my heart rate quickened. When my dress pooled around my ankles, I stepped out of it and stood before Quinn in my red bra and panties―something I would never have done before today.

  “So beautiful…” Quinn whispered.

  He stroked my cheek and kissed every inch of my neck until I moaned.

  “Now I’m overdressed,” he said, his voice husky with arousal.

  Quinn stripped out of his slacks and boxers in seconds. I thought his chest impressive but his arousal made me salivate.

  He looked at himself and smiled. “Hey. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and I plan to savor it.”

  I wrapped my hand around him. It jerked. I smiled.

  “Do you plan on doing anything with that?” Quinn asked, grinning ear-to-ear.

  “Oh, yeah.” Taking him firmly in hand, I slowly, stroked up and down. He groaned and thrust with his hips. Perspiration sprinkled his brow.

  “Enough. Enough,” he said. “It’s your turn, my sweet.” He picked me up and tossed me onto the bed. I bounced once and then he pounced on me.

  He was delicious. Intense. Mind-blowing. His kisses seemed to go on forever, growing deeper and more passionate. I couldn’t remember ever being kissed like that, with such reckless abandon. Desire swirled as he made a slow, sinuous slide into my body.

  Then Quinn shifted, poised over me. “I’ve wanted you for so long I want this moment to last all night, but realistically, I’ll probably last three thrusts before I come.” His smile lit the room.

  “That’s my favorite number. Along with five, six, and seven. I guess you’ll have to keep thrusting.”

  “My pleasure.”

  And he did pleasure me, multiple times.

  After I awoke from a short doze, I gazed at Quinn’s handsome face. His chest rising from inhaling and exhaling, warmed my neck as he slept. At that moment, I knew one night wouldn’t be enough. I wanted the locket’s magic for a lifetime. And God help me, even with the chill of reality raining down over me all I could think about was the way Quinn’s lovemaking made me feel—loved.

  His eyes slowly opened and he turned his head to nibble my shoulder. The fingertips he traced over my shoulder felt like a gentle whisper. Quinn folded his body around mine. I felt cocooned in warmth.

  “I wish we could stay like this forever.” When Quinn toyed with my earlobe, I tried unsuccessfully to settle my heart back in my body.

  “Except for work, I don’t see why we can’t spend most of our time in bed.” Quinn stretched then rolled me on top of his chest. He stroked my back as far as his hands would reach and then up again.

  I do. My time was almost up. I should leave now. What the hell. What’s one more hour? I’ll slip out once Quinn goes to sleep.

  Chapter Nine

  Early the next morning, with my arms above my head and my legs inches apart, I stretched. God that felt good. I was sore in places that hadn’t seen attention in a long time and not with such skill and expertise. After stretching, I expected Molly to jump down, meow loudly, and insist I feed her breakfast, but I didn’t hear her or feel the weight of her at the end of the bed.

  In a multiple post-orgasmic haze, I sat up and quickly realized Cinderella forgot to run away at midnight. I was still in Quinn’s bed. Crap!

  “Hi,” Quinn said in a sleepy voice and ran his finger down my spine. I shivered in desire with thoughts of upping my orgasm count. The light was still dim. Maybe he wouldn’t notice if I climbed aboard for a quickie before I disappeared. Get real. He’d notice my mousey hair, and plain face. He’d wonder why I left my ugly step-sister in my place.

  “Raven? Lie down. It’s still early,” he said with his eyes still closed.

  “I have to go,” I whispered. My efforts to untangle my body from the sheets were hindered by Quinn’s incredible wandering hands.

  “No you don’t,” Quinn insisted. His voice was husky and low, but his eyes were open.

  Dislodging his hand I said, “Yes, I do.” I hopped out of bed and stood naked, vulnerable, and sad. “I’m sorry for my deception. I wanted you so bad I made a wish on a magic locket to be the girl you’d want. Please don’t hate me.” Tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over onto my cheeks.

  Quinn quickly crawled out of bed and took me in his arms. “Oh, honey, I could never hate you.”

  “I’m not who you think I am,” I mumbled against this chest.

  “Of course you are. You are the most caring, thoughtful person I know.” He kissed me on the head, moved me to his side, and reached to turn on the bedroom light.

  I panicked. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m trying to find out what’s going on. I would like to be able to see your face when we talk about this.”

  I tried to grab his hand so he couldn’t turn on the light. “Please don’t.” Tears continued to roll down my cheeks. He flipped the switch anyway. Quinn’s face softened with concern, not revulsion.

  I don’t understand. Why didn’t he turn in revulsion?

  He took my face in his hands and wiped the tears away with his thumb. “Don’t cry. Everything will be okay. Let’s get back into bed and talk about this.”

  “You want me to stay?” I looked down at my old, boring self. “Don’t you see that I’ve changed back into the old me? I’m not pretty anymore.”

  Quinn’s brows knitted together as he looked me in the eye. “I know exactly who you are. You’re the woman I care deeply for. Now tell me what this is all about.”

  “You do?” I pointed at myself. “This me?”

  “Yes. Every inch of you.”

  I hugged my body. Could he really like the real me?

  “You’re cold.” He grabbed one of his T-shirts off the floor and slid it over my head as though I was a helpless child. Then he helped me slip under the covers.

  We lay face-to-face. “Can’t you see that I look different?”

  “Different than what?” he asked, confusion evident in his question.

/>   “Before yesterday, I was plain, unattractive, and well...just dull. And then my friends and I made a wish on a magic locket to be beautiful for one day. When I woke up yesterday, I looked different, just like what I’d wished for.”

  “Honey, I hate to break this to you, but the only thing that changed was your attitude and confidence. The locket didn’t work and didn’t need to. I can’t imagine you even more beautiful than you already are.” He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

  “But, Cami’s grandmother swore it worked for her. I saw myself change.”

  “Did it really? Or did it do the same thing to her as it did for you? Give you the confidence to act like the beautiful woman everyone else sees you are.” He took my face in his hands and brushed his lips across mine several times before he stared into my eyes.

  “I just thought you wouldn’t notice me unless I was glamorous and beautiful.”

  “I adore and care for you just as you are and you will always be beautiful to me.”

  Sharing my feelings was difficult. I worried I’d get rejected.

  Was it time to risk my heart again?

  I looked into Quinn’s emotion filled eyes and trusted him.

  “I care for you too and think you’re pretty terrific.” My feelings were stronger than that, but that’s all I could admit.

  He took my hand and led me back to bed. Quinn showed me how much he cared until we were almost late for work.

  Chapter Ten

  On the way in, I sent a text to Cami, Annalise, and Tess. By now, they should have realized the magic locket only worked on the way we saw ourselves—not the way other people saw us. But just in case, I didn’t spill the beans. “I hope you had a magical twenty-four hours. Did you find your Prince Charming? I did.”

  “What are you doing, Raven?”

  “Texting my friends. I can’t wait to hear how they spent their twenty-four hours.”

  “Should be interesting. Especially if it turned out to be anything like yours.” Quinn winked. Throughout the night and part of the morning, we made incredible love. Sometimes fast and frantic and sometimes slow and thorough. He never stopped touching me in some sort of caress, whether stroking my arm, my knee, or just a soft kiss.

  “Are you going to tell them the locket only worked on their own perception, not others?”

  “No. That’s something they need to find out for themselves. Cami has a picture that we took of us at the coffee shop yesterday morning. It’s proof we didn’t really change. They just need to look.”

  “So you didn’t look at it after it was taken?”

  “No. I guess that’s a good thing or I would never have had the confidence to flirt with you.”

  “Yeah, and look how incredible that turned out.”

  Perfect. I thought.

  Before we arrived at work, all three of my friends text back.

  The best twenty-fours of my life. Talk soon, Cami.

  My dream came true. Drinks at my place, Friday night? Tess.

  How! That says it all. See you Friday, Annalise

  Chapter Eleven

  Five months later.

  Nursing school and my work schedule were grueling, but I loved every minute of it. The month before, Quinn asked me to move in with him. That way we could see each other whenever we had a free moment in our busy schedules.

  Today had been especially busy with two finals and an eight-hour shift at the hospital. I dragged my tired butt through the door and collapsed on the couch. Molly climbed into my lap for a pet and purr session. I heard a pot bang and muttering from the kitchen. “Hi honey. I’m home.” I didn’t have the energy to get up and say hello in person.

  Quinn walked out of the kitchen, kissed my forehead, handed me a glass of wine, and a piece of warm garlic bread. All three smelled rich and delicious.

  “How was your day?”

  “Exhausting, but I think I aced my test. With you as my study partner, how could I go wrong?”

  “I’m glad I could help.” He knelt beside me, petted Molly, and took a nibble from my bread. “Do you want me to bring you a plate of spaghetti Bolognese with a large straw or can you make it to the table?”

  “Spaghetti? My favorite. I won’t need a straw—maybe just a small shovel.” I kissed his soft lips and then hugged his waist. “Will you give me ten minutes to wash the day away?”

  “Of course. I’ll meet you in the dining room.” A mischievous grin appeared on Quinn’s face.

  “I won’t be long.” Quinn was definitely up to something. I took the bread and wine with me to the bedroom. I ate the decadent bread as I stripped and after a quick shower I finished my wine.

  Warm and relaxed from the shower, I walked into the dining room. The lights were dimmed, and the table was covered in a red checkered tablecloth with matching napkins held in large green rings. He’d hung an oil painting of grapes and vines on the wall behind the table. The centerpiece was a candle in an old wine bottle covered in melted wax. He’d thought of everything to make the dining room look like an old-style Italian restaurant. Quinn stepped into the room with a silly grin on his face.

  “Everything is so beautiful.” The candle gently flickered. “I love it, but why did you go to all this trouble for dinner?”

  He grinned like a Cheshire cat, showing his perfectly white teeth. “You like it?”

  “It’s incredible.” The soft candlelight illuminated his face as he approached. Then I knew. Something special was about to happen. I held my breath right up until he cupped my jaw between his hands, and brushed his lips over mine.

  Quinn stepped closer, lifted my chin with his finger, and stared deeply into my eyes. “I love you, Raven. I should have told you sooner, but I truly love you.”

  Shock over his declaration made me stutter, “You-You love me?” Out of fear, I’d refrained from declaring my love to him months ago.

  He rested his forehead against mine and whispered, “I’m absolutely, without a doubt, in love with you.”

  “Well, that’s a good thing because I love you too. With all my heart.” My heart swelled with emotion.

  He visibly took a deep breath as he stepped back, knelt on one knee, and presented me with a black velvet box. “Will you marry me? Be my partner and best friend for eternity?” He opened the box and a diamond ring sparkled back at me.

  I nodded, trying to find my voice. “Yes! Yes!” Tears of happiness streamed down my cheeks as Quinn slipped the beautiful ring on my finger.

  Dreams did come true and Quinn truly was my Prince Charming.

  Quinn’s Spaghetti Bolognese

  INGREDIENTS

  •2 tablespoons butter

  •2 tablespoons olive oil

  •1 1⁄2 cups finely chopped onions

  •3 slices lean bacon, in small pieces

  •1 carrot, chopped

  •1 celery stock, chopped

  •1⁄2 lb. coarsely ground beef

  •2 tablespoons tomato paste

  •1⁄2 cup dry white wine

  •1 cup beef stock

  •2 bay leaf

  •1 strip lemon peel

  •salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  •4 garlic cloves, minced

  •3 quarts water

  •1 lb. uncooked spaghetti

  •4 tablespoons butter

  •4 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese

  •additional freshly grated parmesan cheese, for garnish

  DIRECTIONS

  1.In a heavy skillet heat together the butter and oil, then add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.

  2.Add the pieces of bacon, chopped carrot, and celery, and sauté over medium heat until lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes
.

  3.Add the coarsely ground beef and stir until the meat is coated with fat, and cook until the meat browns evenly, about 5 to 7 minutes.

  4.Add the tomato paste, wine, beef stock, bay leafs, and lemon peel, then season with salt and freshly ground pepper and the minced garlic.

  5.Cover and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  6.Remove the bay leaf and lemon peel, then allow to simmer uncovered until the sauce slightly thickens.

  7.During the last minutes of the sauce simmering, cook the spaghetti according to package directions, about 7 to 10 minutes; drain well.

  8.Place the cooked spaghetti on a warm platter and dot with the 4 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with the 4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan.

  9.Serve the pasta either with the meat sauce on the side or in the center of the platter with the pasta around it.

  10.Serve with additional freshly grated Parmesan, and enjoy!

  Raven’s favorite Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

  INGREDIENTS:

  •6 to 7 ripe plum tomatoes (About 1 ½ pounds)

  •4 garlic cloves, minced

  •1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  •1 Teaspoon balsamic vinegar

  •8 to 10 fresh basil leaves cut into slivers

  •Salt and peppers to taste

  •1 French baguette

  •¼ cup olive oil

  DIRECTIONS:

  1.Preheat the oven to 450 degrees with the rack in the top of the oven.

  2.Finely chop the tomatoes and place them in a medium bowl. Mix in the minced garlic, 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, and the balsamic vinegar.

  3.Stir in the thinly sliced basil and add salt and freshly ground black pepper, adding more to taste.

  4.Slice the baguette on the diagonal making half-inch thick slices.

  5.Brush one side of each slice with olive oil and place olive oil-side down on a baking sheet or roasting pan. The baguette slices will toast best in the top rack of your oven, so you may need to work in batches to toast them all.