First Kisses: a Book+Main Bites anthology

by Book+Main Inc.

  Those lips. Why was it they looked tastier than other men’s lips? Maybe it had something to do with their fullness or the hint of auburn stubble surrounding them. She was sure one simple kiss would rid her of the notion Edan Kirk was the most kissable man on earth. Then she could go on with her life and stop fantasizing about what it would be like to have a selkie seduce her into a state of complete oblivion.

  He cupped her cheek and his thumb made a pass of her bottom lip. “Trust me. You don’t want to experience a selkie’s love.”

  “Is it such a dangerous thing?”

  “It can be, especially when the person on the receiving end has a broken heart.”

  “My heart’s not broken.”

  “Please, Amy. Don’t insult my intelligence. Anyone with half a brain can hear the irregular pulse of your broken heart from here. Do you honestly think you can hide your interest in me? I’ve been reading women like you for years. I can almost taste your excitement.”

  “Maybe I am a little excited. Can you blame me? I’m curious. I want to know what all the fuss is about. I do research these things, after all.”

  “Research, eh? Just doing your due diligence, are you?”

  “Maybe.”

  His eyes flashed with blue fire. “You were cautioned. Don’t forget that.”

  Amy opened her mouth to argue, but Edan cut her off with a savage kiss. His lips met hers in a frenzy. There was nothing nice in his kiss, nothing kind. The embrace was as much a warning as his words. Each lick, each bite made the hairs on her arms stand at attention. His snatched breaths seemed to say Stay away!

  But she couldn’t. Her heart pumped so hard and visions from her dream flooded into her consciousness. Edan swimming toward her with animal grace. Edan fucking her in the waves. Her blissful cries, so foreign they might have been monstrous.

  He moaned and something in his body relaxed and surrendered as well. He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her so close to his body that even air couldn’t separate them. He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth and the bulge at the front of his pants seemed to lengthen. Driven by lust, Amy reached between them and gripped him there.

  “Fuck.” He pulled away, his eyes wide with what appeared to be horror. “Fuck.”

  Didn’t she please him? He sure as hell felt pleased judging from the rod of iron in his jeans. “Uh, I’m not sure that was the reaction I was going for.”

  “It’s you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He didn’t say another word and just continued to gape at her with that insane look on his face.

  “Edan?”

  He passed a shaking hand over his face. Mumbling something in a language she didn’t understand, he whipped open the door and disappeared down the hallway. Amy stood still as his footsteps hammered the staircase. Within seconds, the front door of the B&B had opened and slammed shut. She raced to the window to look outside. He’d already jumped on his Harley and was speeding away. All she saw was the trail of long, red hair behind him.

  Had he hated her kiss so much?

  For more Bites by Rosanna Leo, visit her at https://bookandmainbites.com/RosannaLeo

  If you loved this Bite, read Selkie’s Lure on Amazon or iBooks

  About Rosanna Leo

  Rosanna Leo is a multi-published romance author with Limitless Publishing, Crave Publishing and Liquid Silver Publishing. Winner of the Reader's Choice in Paranormal Romance 2015 at The Romance Reviews, Rosanna draws on her love of mythology and the paranormal world for many of her books. From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her long-suffering husband, their two hungry sons and a tabby cat named Sweetie. When not writing, she can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed love affair. A library employee by day, she is honored to be a member of the league of naughty librarians who also happen to write romance.

  More from Rosanna Leo

  Book+Main Bites

  https://bookandmainbites.com/RosannaLeo

  Newsletter

  http://bit.ly/2K15wOR

  Website

  https://rosannaleoauthor.wordpress.com

  Don’t Do It

  Brinda Berry

  I give her a gentle push toward the edge of the bed and make my way to the opposite end. As soon as I lie down, I see this is going to be the longest night of my life. Her body is inches from mine instead of feet. With an arm flung above my head, I sense she's watching me.

  "Want to talk about it?" I ask.

  "Not really."

  "Might help. Sometimes you have to get stuff out of your head to prove it's not real."

  I roll onto my side and she does, too. The light's still on in the sitting area and I can see all her beautiful features. Her dark lashes. A tiny scar beside her eye. The perfect shell of her ear that she uncovers by tucking her hair back.

  My hands long to cup her face between them and bring her mouth to mine. But I don't move. Because if I move, I won't stop at a kiss.

  Instead, I give her a grin. "Tell me a bedtime story, prin..." I remember just in time that she doesn't want me to call her that. "Mal. Tell me what scares a badass girl like you."

  Her lashes lower and open slowly like she might be falling asleep as we talk.

  "I have a dream about the bombing. I'm back there, trapped."

  "I figured that was it. But that won't happen again. You survived."

  "Yeah. I know. I think I know." Her eyes close. "It's only when I'm asleep that I'm not sure. Does that make sense?"

  "Absolutely. That's when you can't control things."

  "I know, right?" She scoots closer and I resist the urge to move.

  Would I move away or toward her? I'm not sure. "What happens when you're trapped? In your dream?"

  Hair falls across her eyes and I sweep it away. There's footsteps and talking in the hallway and we both stop talking to listen.

  My steady breathing matches hers and there's this intensity like we're linked in thought. I nod for her to continue.

  "Well ... I'm trapped under the concrete and it's dark. It's dark forever. And then there's noise. So much noise, I think I might die from the force of it." Her voice strains with each word.

  "You don't have to tell me..." I don't want her to fall apart. I was wrong to ask her to talk. Her dream is vivid and I can see how much she remembers.

  "And then I open my eyes and there's a woman's face."

  "Someone's looking at you in your dream?"

  "No." Her brows lower. "No. Her head's smashed in and she's dead."

  "It's only a dream." I run my hand over her shoulder.

  "It was real." She licks her lips and her eyes dart back and forth nervously. "That's what happened after the bomb. I opened my eyes and there was a dead woman a few inches from me in the rocks. I could see her face."

  A giant fist pulverizes my gut and I can't move. This happened to her?

  Malerie swallows. "Actually, I can still see her eyes. She had such pretty eyes. Green with a little bit of brown around the pupil. And every time I go to sleep I see her all over again."

  Huge tears fill Malerie's eyes. I can't stand the feeling of utter helplessness.

  "I'm an asshole. I didn't know. Shh. Come here."

  I pull her over to rest her head on my chest and she's not fighting me, but she's unresponsive. I've pushed her too far. Her cheek is wet against my shirt and I sweep the hair away from her face.

  "Everything's going to be okay," I murmur and pull her in even tighter.

  I stroke her hair and the rhythm seems to calm her. She's pressed against me and her hand moves up to touch the open V of my shirt. It's like she needs to touch skin.

  Her body is shaking with silent sobs. "So-so-rry."

  "Shh... Stop apologizing. I'm real, baby. I'm here. You'll be fine." I want all this to be true.

  "I'm so sorry. I'm such a mess. I can't even go spend the night somewhere without totally freaking out. And to think JT wanted me to go off to college. Thi
s would go over well in a dorm room."

  Malerie moves back and tries to cover her face with her hands. She gives a little laugh like she's embarrassed or something. I kiss the top of her head and pull her back to me.

  "Hottest coed in the dorm. You'd have guys lining up to comfort you."

  "You have all the best lines." She sniffs and lifts her head. Her eyelashes are spiked into wet points from her tears.

  "No line, sweetheart. JT had no idea of the risk he'd be taking by sending a hot girl like you into the wolf's college den."

  One minute she's staring into my eyes and the next she's moving closer and I'm holding my breath.

  Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't.

  Her soft lips meet mine tentatively. She kisses only my bottom lip and the heat I feel from that one feather-light touch floors me. I can't move. I won't move because I want to take this places I shouldn't.

  "Mal-" I manage to say before she scoots half her body onto mine. Her breasts push against me and I feel how turned on she is by one little half-kiss. Her mouth meets mine again but this time it's so much bolder, searching. My lips part and when her tongue darts into my mouth, I lose control.

  I slide my hands over her bare shoulders and her soft-as-sin skin. I skim my hands down her back and to the edge of her top. Her shoulder blades bunch together under my touch. I move to the bottom of her cotton sleep camisole and run light fingers along the bottom of her shorts.

  She moans and my lips crash against hers, my tongue invites hers. She draws back quickly.

  "Take your shirt off," she says. "Please." She reaches down and tugs it up. I half-sit to pull the T-shirt over my head.

  The feel of her lips on my neck makes me crazy. I thread my hands into her thick hair that falls around us and bring her head back up to meet mine.

  Our foreheads touch and I'm falling into the dark desire in her eyes.

  She's pushing her body against mine and I grab her hips to still them.

  "Slow down." I try to think. She's got to be a virgin, right? That's the only thing that would make sense for a girl who never leaves her house.

  Her breaths come out in little pants. "Don't stop. I do want this. I'm sure."

  I want her and that's more than evident by the raging hard-on she's pressing against. I'm a second away from stripping the rest of our clothes off. I roll her on the bed and place my elbows on both sides of her shoulders. She stares up at me with so much trust that it sends a shaft of guilt straight into my chest.

  Her eyes search mine. "I need you," she whispers.

  Need. I've vowed to spend the rest of my life making sure people don't need me.

  If we have sex, this turns into something much different. I won't be able to walk away from her in the morning. I'm being paid to make sure she's safe. Not to take advantage of her.

  And that's exactly what I'd be doing.

  I slowly lift myself off her and lie on my back, looking at the ceiling-at nothing-for a full minute. My body wants to revolt against my decision.

  "Let's get some sleep," I mutter. No explanation. No apologies. No more talking.

  She rolls away from me in bed and I resist the craving to pull her back.

  "Ace?"

  "Yeah."

  "Goodnight."

  I don't answer, but wait for her steady breathing before I let my mind drift.

  For more Bites by Brinda Berry, visit her at https://bookandmainbites.com/brindaberry

  If you loved this Bite, read Chasing Luck on Amazon or iBooks

  About Brinda Berry

  Brinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family, where she surfs (the internet) too much, writes too much, and laughs too much. She's fond of a lot of things, including but not limited to Kings of Leon, peanut butter cookies, flip flops, and good friends. Oh...and books. Of course, books. She writes young adult fantasy and adult contemporary romance novels with strong women and swoonworthy men.

  More from Brinda Berry

  Book+Main Bites

  https://bookandmainbites.com/brindaberry

  Newsletter

  http://brindaberry.com/mailing-list/

  Website

  http://brindaberry.com

  Fantasy

  What Would You Do to Save Magic?

  Candace Sams

  “Talk to me.”

  “Niall Alexander…he made an ultimatum.”

  “What was that?”

  “He’s the one who took the stones. He’s the person who was smuggling archaeological objects from other countries. McPherson is in on it. I can’t prove anything but I know it’s all true.”

  “Go on.”

  “Somehow, Niall found out that I was onto him. I think I wasn’t covering my tracks very well after digging around in the crates.”

  “Does he know that you helped me take that stone?”

  “He doesn’t know anything about you. I haven’t told anyone about you, Gryphon!”

  “I’m not saying you would, Heather, but if he knows you took the stone—”

  “He does. Like I said, I don’t know how. To get to the point…he says that if I don’t give it back to him…or if I go to the police or report him in any way…he’s going to kill a lot of people. And he will.” She paused for a long moment. “Did you know it was Niall who took those stones all along? Were you keeping that bit of information from me?”

  “No. I didn’t know it was Niall. Not until now.”

  “Yeah. Right. And you didn’t see him in the stairwell?”

  “No.

  “But, he sent that dog to attack you. You had to have seen him there!” she argued.

  “Dog? You think a dog could have bested me? Really?”

  “That’s what it was, wasn’t it? A big dog with rabies or something?”

  He sighed heavily and slowly shook his head. “It’s probably a good idea if I don’t discuss that night anymore. The point is…until now, I didn’t know that Niall was guilty of anything, or I’d never have let you be alone with him! I only knew that McPherson didn’t have any permission to dig in certain places in Ireland. That’s the truth.”

  She simply stared at him.

  He softly touched her face, then let his hand fall. “I’ll deal with that blond man. You’re done with this situation. I want you to leave New York.”

  “No. Niall killed my friend. He killed a woman near the museum for God knows what reason. He’s not going to stop. That’s why I wouldn’t give him the stone back, even if I had it. As long as he thinks I do, he’ll be watching me like a hawk. If I was stupid enough to give it to him, he’d kill me anyhow. He’s going to destroy anyone who gets in his way.” She paused and looked him over. “I just don’t understand how you got hurt in that stairwell, or why you didn’t see Niall there. Still, I’m glad you’re okay. You look fine…now. Really…fine…” her words trailed away as she looked him over.

  “Herne’s blood! You’re not going to let that stairwell incident go, are you?

  “No!”

  “You’ve got the tenacity of a tick!”

  She slowly smiled. “It’s not polite to tell someone that they’re like a tick. It’s not a compliment. Something tells me that you’re not used to conversing a lot, are you?”

  For a long moment, she was subjected to one of the most intense stares she’d ever experienced. Still, he wasn’t about to comment on Niall having something to do with the attack in the stairwell. That bothered her immensely.

  “Let’s get back to the subject at hand…did that son-of-a-bitch force himself on you?”

  “No. I’m being honest about that! He was just mad that I fought him and won. He was trying to make a point. He did. Then…so did I.”

  “You fought him?”

  “And beat ‘im!”

  Gryphon drew back.

  “Don’t look so shocked! I wasn’t going to stand there and let the jackass throttle me. Besides, what he did to me was bad, but he’ll do worse to a lot of other people. He’ll make good on his threats. He’
s insane and doesn’t care about consequences now. He wants his damned stone back, and you know why, even if you didn’t know he was the killer!”

  He briefly pinched the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb. “Heather…I can’t talk to you about that night in the stairwell. I can’t say more, though I know you deserve to know more.”

  “Why not?” she demanded.

  “Because, not everyone would agree with me opening my big mouth!”

  “Shayla. Right?”

  “There are things in this world that you cannot be told.” He slowly shook his head. “You’re done with this, Heather. I mean it!”

  “I’m done when I say I am!”

  He stared at her for a long moment. “You’re strong! I’ll give you that.”

  “You think so?”

  “I most certainly do!”

  “Sometimes, I don’t feel so strong. Sometimes, I just feel…alone.”

  Gryph suddenly stared at her in a way that made her want to melt. His dark gaze grew soft, and his eyes reflected great kindness.

  “I’ve never met anyone like you, Lass.” He moved closer. “You’re far too intelligent and beyond resourceful. You truly love things for the beauty they bring to the world. You cherish friendship. You want to do what’s right.” He tilted his head as he gazed at her. “You’re…not like others in this world. You’re special. Very genuine. How could I…”

  “How could you what?” she softly prompted.

  “How could I not want you? I am trying not to get involved, but…you make it so hard.” He briefly looked away. Long moments went by before he spoke again. “Lass, you deserve so much more than I can give you. The truth, for one thing. I’m not in a position to say anything else. I wish I could make you understand.”