A Little Harmless Obsession

by Melissa Schroeder

  For a second, he couldn’t respond. “You continue to amaze me.”

  Her smile widened. “That’s me, amazing May. So go on.”

  He wanted to pull her against him, kiss her, tell her how much he loved her. But if he did, he never would get all of the story out.

  “See, my father had been busted for rape and assault, and my mother was a dead crackwhore who sold her son for drugs. I thought the best thing to have happen was for the family bloodline to die.”

  She pursed her lips in thought. “What makes you so sure you can even father children?”

  He laughed. “Jesus, May, only you would insult me when trying to lift me up.”

  “You say you avoided getting serious because of the chance of children. You might be sterile.”

  “God, you are a pill, you know that.”

  Her smile faded. “That is what you were dreaming about that night? About your mother…and those men.”

  He nodded, never taken his gaze from hers. “I had thought we could be involved and nothing would change. My conscience was trying to tell me something, I think.”

  “What?”

  “I love you, May.”

  Tears filled her eyes as she patted his hand. “No, you don’t but that’s nice.”

  It took him a moment to understand just what she had said. “I do love you.”

  “You feel obligated because of what happened, but you don’t really love me.”

  He stared at her for a second. “Listen, woman, I swear to the Lord above I love you. If you don’t believe that, well, too damn bad.”

  “I love you. You know that. But you don’t need to feel as if you have to lie. I will still love you. I had already decided to call you that night.”

  Some of the tightness in his chest loosened. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. So there’s no reason to lie.”

  “You know, it figures that you would do this to me. Never before have I told another person I loved them. I finally do it, and you don’t believe me. I spent a whole fucking day shopping for a ring, and you go on and on about how I don’t love you.”

  “A ring?”

  “Yeah. Fat lot of good it did me to come prepared. I finally find a woman who’s my whole life and she’s too stupid to realize it. Even after I tell her how I love her, she doesn’t believe me.”

  He stood up and started pacing the room and May watched him. Some of what he was saying was sinking in. Did he really buy her a ring, as in marriage? Her head was still whirling with what he had revealed and she couldn’t seem to catch up.

  “Go back to the ring thing.”

  He snarled at her over his shoulder and she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from smiling. Warm joy bounced through her, filling her heart as she continued to watch him pace around the room.

  “You know, this is what’s wrong with women. You do what they want, then they gripe at you. Damned if you can ever please one.”

  “Evan.”

  “What?”

  “Ask me.”

  He stopped and looked at her. The anger faded from his eyes and tears filled hers as she saw the love she felt reflected back. He moved to her then, kneeling beside the couch. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a box. He opened it and within the satin lining sat a solitaire square-cut diamond.

  “I love you, May. You’re the only woman for me, the only lover I need for the rest of my life. Marry me.”

  Elation exploded through her and she smiled at him as she felt tears slip down her cheeks.

  “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

  He slipped the ring on her finger and then leaned in for a kiss. A touch of mouth, tongue, and then he was gone. She frowned and tried to follow him.

  “No, you aren’t up to it. There’ll be time for that later.”

  She wanted to argue, but she knew he was right. Even right now, she was tired and in need of a nap. He picked her up off the couch, sat down in her spot and settled her on his lap. His heart thumped against her temple and his body heat surrounded her.

  “I have some champagne, but figure you can’t have any. We can save it for the engagement party.”

  She nodded and snuggled against his chest, happy in the warmth of his love, and drifted off into blissful dreams.

  About the Author

  Born to an Air Force family at an Army hospital, Melissa has always been a little bit screwy. She was further warped by her years of watching Monty Python and her strange family. Her love of romance novels developed after accidentally picking up a Linda Howard book. Since her first release in 2004, Melissa has had close to 30 short stories, novellas and novels released with seven different publishers in a variety of genres and time periods. Those releases included an Eppie nomination and two CAPA nominations, along with a multitude of best sellers and recommended reads. Her contemporary, A Little Harmless Sex became an international best seller in June of 2005.

  Since she was a military brat, she vowed never to marry military. Alas, Fate always has her way with mortals. Her husband is an Air Force major, and together they have their own military brats, two girls, an adopted dog daughter and they live wherever the military sticks them. Which until recently always involved heat and bugs only seen on the Animal Discovery Channel. In her spare time, she reads, complains about bugs, travels, cooks, reads some more, and tries to convince her family that she truly is a delicate genius. She has yet to achieve her last goal.

  If you want to know more about Melissa, stop by the following websites: www.melissaschroeder.net, twitter.com/melschroeder, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Schroeder/17997114885.

  She loves to hear from her readers so be sure to drop Melissa a note:

  Melissa@melissaschroeder.net

  or

  Melissa Schroeder

  PO Box 2706

  Manassas, VA 20108

  Look for these titles by Melissa Schroeder

  Now Available:

  Grace Under Pressure

  The Seduction of Widow McEwan

  Harmless

  A Little Harmless Sex

  A Little Harmless Pleasure

  A Little Harmless Obsession

  Once Upon an Accident

  The Accidental Countess

  Lessons in Seduction

  Coming Soon:

  A Little Harmless Lie

  The Spy Who Loved Her

  A Little Harmless Addiction

  The Last Detail

  Purgatory: Devil’s Rise

  Is it love or just a little harmless pleasure?

  A Little Harmless Pleasure

  © 2008 Melissa Schroeder

  Cynthia Myers meets Chris Dupree at her former fiancé’s wedding. After a little dancing, and champagne, she ends up back in Chris’s hotel room. For one night of down and dirty sex. That’s it, that’s all. He lives far away, and she has other things to do…like get a life.

  Chris is a switch. He likes to dominate but he also likes to play the role of a submissive from time to time. His last relationship with a sub turned nasty and since then, he has shied away from anything but straight vanilla sex. When he meets Cynthia, he finds a woman who could change his mind. His mate. The only problem is he has to convince her.

  In a carefully orchestrated seduction, Chris teaches Cynthia about submission and dominance, allowing her take the reins. As he leads her through pleasures she thought she’d never experience, Cynthia’s self confidence soars and she finds herself falling in love with him. But, when he asks for submission in the bedroom, can she surrender to prove her love or was it all about a little harmless pleasure?

  Warning, this book contains: Lots of sex, of course; bondage and submission done in a tasteful but wonderfully arousing way, propositions from a drunken woman, hot phone sex, southern accents, Hawaiian scenery, and OH MY, a m/f/m ménage that will send tingles all the way to your toes, along with other various body parts. A glass of ice cold water for refreshment is recommended while reading.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for
A Little Harmless Pleasure:

  “You’re embarrassed to be seen with me.” He said the words, worried they might be true. He didn’t think Cynthia was prejudiced, but he was in South Georgia, the heart of Dixie. It was different from Honolulu. Her family came from old Southern money, the kind that didn’t like to mingle with people of color—unless they were being served by them. But besides the color of Cynthia’s skin, there was the added problem of her background. She’d been taught to be ashamed of her sexuality. Even as she frowned at him, he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him.

  She settled against his chest. Her golden hair contrasted against his dark skin. He drew in a deep breath. The hint of her flowery perfume lingered beneath the scent of sex coating her skin.

  “You know I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you. In fact, I would probably gain points for the gossip it would cause.”

  He heard the smile in her voice and responded in kind.

  She shook her head. “It isn’t being seen with you that would bother me. It is everyone knowing…well, knowing.”

  Resting his chin on top of her head, he gently rocked her. “What does that matter? Everyone knew about you and Max.”

  The sigh she released was filled with irritation. “Yes, they did. But, you see, I was marrying Max. A Myers doesn’t have one-night stands.”

  He heard the scorn in her voice. He hoped it was more for what she’d had to endure than what had occurred between them. Glancing over his shoulder, he located a chair just a few steps back.

  “Tell you what,” he said as he walked both of them to the chair. “Why don’t we have breakfast, and then you can go?”

  Then he reached the chair, he sat, pulling her down with him. She wiggled and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. Breasts he wanted to touch, lick, taste. Since he was nude, he knew she felt his erection. She stilled, looking down at him, her eyes simmering with passion.

  “Chris.” She was trying to sound like she disapproved. It wasn’t working. Mainly because he could see the pulse in her neck jump and hear her breathing increase. “You would think…”

  She closed her eyes as he grabbed hold of her hips and ground against her. “Think what?” He nipped at her earlobe.

  She drew in a shuddering breath. “Chris…”

  This time, there was such yearning in her voice it made him want to shout with triumph. She needed him like he needed her and playing fair was off the table. Knowing how sensitive her breasts were, he slid one hand up under her blouse and beneath the fabric of her bra. A few strokes of his thumb was all it took. Her nipple pebbled, and she moaned.

  “Come on, chéri. Once more.”

  And even though he said it, he silently acknowledged once would never be enough. He’d never felt this connection with a woman, the need to bring her into her own, to teach her the things that would make her complete. He moved his hand to caress her other breast, and she relaxed against him.

  “This is our one chance.” He didn’t believe that. He would figure out some way to make it work, even thousands of miles apart. “Why would we not enjoy ourselves?”

  She shuddered, her rear end wiggling over his erection. As the blood rushed from his brain, he had to beat back the caveman who said to throw her down and show her just how good they were together.

  He slid his hand beneath her skirt. As he skimmed one finger along her slit, he pinched her nipple with the fingers of his other hand. Her gasp was filled with surprise and arousal.

  “Chris…”

  Her sex was so damp her panties soaked with her passion. She moved with him, her body taking over even if she still harbored doubts.

  “That’s it, baby. So wet.”

  In one abrupt motion, she pulled away from him and off his lap. He opened his mouth to argue with her, but she shook her head. She settled her hands on her hips, her breath coming out in gasps. Licking his lips, he noticed her nipples pushing against the fabric of her shirt.

  “You know, you like to tell people what to do. But I’m not sure I want that.”

  Again, his mouth opened in protest, but she touched her index finger to the tip of his cock, spreading around the beads of moisture that had bubbled up. Catching his gaze, she lifted her hand to her mouth, licking her fingers. A simple act, but it was probably one of the most erotic things he’d witnessed in his life. She put her finger between her lips, sucking the rest of the liquid off.

  When she finished, she slid her finger out and smiled. “I was right, Mr. Dupree. You are delicious.” Her voice dripped with seduction, arousal, her Southern accent deepening, turning him inside out. He moved to stand, but she stepped forward and placed her hand on his shoulder.

  “Uh, uh, uh. Mr. Dupree, I think we are having problems communicating here.” She trailed her fingers over his chest as she walked around the chair. Once she was behind him, she settled her hands on his shoulders, rubbing his tense muscles. “I think for once I should be the one to decide about this. True, you played along with me yesterday, but I don’t know if you suffered enough.”

  He wanted to tell her that he had not been playing along. That he understood her need to dominate. She stole any rational thought as she moved her hands to his head, massaging his scalp. Chris closed his eyes and leaned his head back to rest on her breasts.

  “You know, I have a feeling you enjoyed yourself last night.”

  He chuckled. “How did you guess?”

  She ignored that comment. “But you know what? I don’t think you ever told me what you like.”

  Her hands skimmed down his face, past his chest and stomach, to his cock. He was held mesmerized watching her elegant, ivory hands contrasting against his darker skin as they moved down his body. Leaning against his shoulder, she draped her body over his and took hold of him at the base.

  “It was all about making me happy, which is good. I don’t know if anyone ever thought about that before. But you know what would make me happy?” She nipped at his ear, then licked it.

  “What?”

  She stroked him again, allowing her thumb to pass over the head. “I want to drive you crazy.”

  “You’re doing a good job of it right now, Cynthia.”

  She pumped him a few times. Tension gathered along his nerve endings, his body coiling, reaching for the pinnacle. His balls were so tight, he was amazed he had held on this long.

  “Not good enough, in my opinion.”

  Once more she stroked him, teasing him with the release he needed, then she was gone and walking around the chair again. His body was pulsing, clamoring to reach fulfillment, and she left him. He opened his eyes and found her in front of him. Without a word, she dropped to her knees. She placed a hand on each of his legs and leaned forward. Touching her tongue to the base of his cock, she licked up one side, swiped over the top, and down the other side.

  “Sweet. You taste so sweet.” He didn’t miss the excitement in her voice. She made him sound like a tasty confection, one she would relish, lick by lick, until she had completely devoured it.

  She wrapped one hand around the base, took him into her mouth. She couldn’t take his entire length, but she did her damnedest. Closing her eyes, she set to work, sucking, kissing, licking him, driving him out of his ever-loving mind. Again, the tension mounted. He curled his toes, trying to hold off. Just as he felt he might not be able to stop his orgasm, she pulled away.

  He looked down and almost came at the sight of her tongue darting out over her swollen lips.

  “Hmmm.” That was all she said before she leaned forward to lick and suck his balls. Jesus. He’d created a monster.

  Five days. Close quarters. It’s enough to drive any woman crazy—or into submission…

  Reaction Time

  © 2008 Alannah Lynne

  Nikki Kincaid carries her smart mouth and in-your-face attitude like other women carry mace. But the sharpest parts of her razor tongue are reserved for Adam Guthrie, a man who sparks her body’s reaction time quicker than a green ligh
t. That out-of-control response terrifies her, because control is her middle name.

  When someone starts sending Nikki threatening letters, Adam jumps at her brother’s request to help protect her—whether she likes it or not. For the past year and a half he’s been watching her, analyzing her body language and cutting remarks, and has come to one definitive conclusion. She’s a sexual submissive in hiding.

  Five days in close quarters is exactly what Adam’s been waiting for—and Nikki’s idea of hell. Bringing her deepest desires to the surface will be the greatest challenge of his life. And, if he succeeds, his greatest reward.

  Warning: This title contains some dominance and submission, some light bondage and some sexy scenes that’ll make you want to lose control.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Reaction Time:

  Nikki Kincaid shook her head, almost feeling sorry for the kid in the piece-of-shit Honda next to her, revving his engine and signaling he wanted to race. She knew she shouldn’t accept his challenge. Street racing was dangerous, plus the pesky little detail that it was illegal. But dammit, it was fun.

  And she wanted to have a little fun for a change.

  Did the kid honestly think his one-hundred-and-fifteen-horsepower Civic could compete with her Shelby GT500? The power of her Mustang alone would leave him sitting at the light wondering what happened. Considering she had one of the fastest reactions times in the NHRA Pro Stock Drag Racing Series, when the light turned green she’d be a quarter mile down the highway before he could blink.

  She sighed. Three years. That’s how long it had been since she’d had any fun. That’s how long it had been since racing stopped being a choice and instead had become a job that carried an overwhelming responsibility. That’s how long it had been since racing ceased to be her true love and passion.

  But this little race would be like before—fun.

  She glanced around, checking to make sure there were no other vehicles in the way and no cops. Well, none other than her irritating passenger. Looking out the passenger window, she nodded once to the kid before returning her attention to the stop light. “That car sounds like a pissed off bumblebee,” she muttered beneath her breath, unable to believe the kid truly wanted to race.