Waiting on Summer

by Bella Settarra

  Contains light BDSM and ménage elements

  “Flight of Fancy” by Nikki Dee Houston

  Thrown together in a cramped airplane, Frankie and James have exactly four hours to get the sexual attraction out of their system. And why shouldn’t they? They’re never going to see each other again. Until they realize they’re both flying in for the same family wedding...and that they’re going to be part of that same family...

  “Ruby’s Valentine” by Arianna Archer

  The very last thing Officer Jude Cole wanted to do was arrest the love of his life for murder. Though Ruby had run out on Jude years ago, he’d never stopped carrying a torch for her. She’d recently come back to town, but she wasn’t alone. Now Jude is forced to arrest Ruby for shooting the husband everyone knew abused her. Jude hadn’t been able to capture Ruby’s restless heart then...could he bring himself to cage her now?

  Make Me

  Alyssa Turner

  You can't have it all until you lose everything...

  Manhattan's most eligible bachelor, Kyle Hunter, is a Marine Corps vet, the son of a US Senator, and the prodigal heir of American corporate royalty. He's rich, smart, and a notorious flirt. Kyle Hunter is also in love with his best friend, Manny. But after they’re disciplined for improper behavior, Kyle breaks it off. The last thing he wants to do is create a national scandal during his mother's bid for re-election.

  Manny Tescadero isn't about to be hurt twice. He needs time alone to figure things out. Still, when Rebecca Sinclair lands on his doorstep, claiming the apartment is hers, his honor won't let him turn her away. New love interests aren't part of the mission. Not when he's still in love with Kyle…

  Rebecca Sinclair thinks she has it all—her dream job and an amazing apartment in the city. But when she returns from her last work assignment to the apartment that she'd been subletting, she finds her landlord's grandson instead—a hot Marine Corps vet with problems of his own. Rebecca's attraction to Manny heats up pretty quickly. Add his best friend Kyle to the mix and the heat becomes explosive. Working through old hurts and understanding new desires isn't easy. Rebecca never dreamed having it all could mean finding a combustible bond with two incredibly hot guys at once. Then someone sends pictures to the media, and having it all could mean losing everything…

  Contains ménage elements and male/male love

  Captain’s Captive

  The Alien Catch Series, Book One

  Jayne Ripley

  This space pirate isn’t ready to be caught and taught…

  Among space pirates, Rhihann is one of the best, a specialist who infiltrates starships and steals them out from under any captain unlucky enough to be at the helm. This time though, there’s far more on the line when she’s forced to steal a wealthy noble’s ship for a vicious crime lord. The mission should be a cakewalk, except this alien captain isn’t like any other male she’s gone up against. He’s big, he’s smart, he’s dominant, and he’s able to get the drop on her. And once he takes her prisoner, he tolerates exactly zero nonsense. Worst of all, he’s somehow discovered her secret submissive desire to be spanked…

  Arlen is an undercover law-don officer with just one mission—stop the illegal death-cage matches on Havva Station. When Rhihann tries to steal his ship, he’s forced to capture her…but he’s at a loss for what to do with the pretty human who’s so skilled and so dangerous. The passion between them won’t be denied, and Rhihann longs for Arlen’s large, strong hands on her flesh. His low-level psychic powers tell him when she’s lying and when she’s turned on by punishment, but he clearly can’t trust her. Yet he’s forced to do exactly that when he must disguise her as his consort and go undercover, and one wrong move by either of them will mean their deaths. There’s deadly trouble aboard the space station, and the captain and his captive have stumbled right into the middle of it.

  Contains light BDSM and erotic spanking

  A Bonus Excerpt for Ménage on Moone Mountain

  CHAPTER ONE

  Deputy Freeman pulled his dusty SUV into the garage outside the Freemont Ranch house and sighed. He grabbed his hat from the passenger seat, and slammed the car door with the finality of a kid at the beginning of summer break.

  Travis Beaumont strode toward him, his shirtsleeves rolled up to his bulging biceps and mud on his chin. “There’s a storm brewing!”

  “Not my problem. I’ll be holed up in front of that fire with a whiskey by the time the heavens open.” The deputy looked at the blackening sky, shook his fair head, and headed for the house.

  Travis sniggered. He knew his partner was tired after a couple of particularly grueling weeks on the job and was glad he had decided to take some time off. Although he still had the ranch to run, he was looking forward to having Kent Freeman around for a while. A sudden flash of lightning lit up the whole of Moone Mountain, and Travis stopped in his tracks. He had intended to go inside and greet his boyfriend properly but thought better of it. The horses might have been spooked by the weather.

  He hadn’t reached the stables before he heard the loud thudding of hooves. He recognized the black horse that shot out of the forest to the side of the ranch. Blackie was one of the stable owner’s best. And he was wearing a saddle.

  “Kent, get out here!” Travis ran over to the skittish horse, slowing his pace as he neared him. He spoke softly to the large beast, which reared slightly and then calmed a little. Travis grabbed hold of the reins and patted its sweaty flank.

  He walked the horse to the stable.

  “What’s up?” Kent had evidently already stripped for his shower and stood on the front porch in nothing but a small towel loosely wrapped around his waist. Travis’s mouth watered at the sight as he walked past. Kent’s hair looked golden in the evening sun, and his herculean chest rippled as he leaned over the balustrade. His big, green eyes twinkled, despite his tiredness, and his perfect teeth gleamed in his handsome, tanned face. He must have caught the look Travis gave him, because he grinned salaciously.

  “Blackie just came out of the forest,” Travis called over to him. “He’s saddled up. Wanna call to see if he’s lost a rider?”

  The deputy didn’t need asking twice. He shot back inside the house to call the owner of the local riding stables, Fred Hammond.

  Travis had settled Blackie in the stall and saddled his own horse, Mustard, by the time Kent came out with the news. “There was a young girl, Caucasian, midtwenties, name’s Brooke Adams. A competent rider, Fred reckons, so he let her take Blackie out for a couple of hours.”

  “Brooke Adams? I don’t know the name.” Travis frowned. He and Kent knew the names of everyone in Moone County, especially the women.

  “You need me to come?” Kent was still wrapped in the towel, looking up at the cowboy mounted up and ready to go.

  “No, you stay here in case she shows up. I’ll take a look around.” Travis winked at his partner as he rode Mustard toward the forest.

  A roar of thunder warned him it wouldn’t be long before the inevitable deluge. Mustard slowed down when they reached the edge of the dark woodland, and they made for the track most of Fred’s riders used. It was unusual for him to let someone take one of his horses unaccompanied, so this girl must be a really good rider. Plus, Blackie was a powerful beast. Fred wouldn’t let a real beginner ride him.

  As they ventured deeper into the undergrowth, it got harder to see. Travis knocked his hat up his forehead to peer around the trees. Up ahead the path rose steeply, leaving a deep ravine to either side. He frowned, hoping that wasn’t where the horse had lost his rider. It would be just his luck to be sliding down there when the rain started to fall. Fuck! If it wasn’t for bad luck, this cowboy would have no luck at all. He could see something blue about halfway down the incline. He stopped Mustard on the muddy track, slipped off and went to inspect the situation, just as it got even worse. The rain started. Great.

  He could see a mass of blonde hair on the girl who lay next to a rock partway down the gully. It wasn’t
too steep, so he took the chance and began to climb down. Big spots of rain pelted him like bullets, mocking his efforts. He gritted his teeth. If he could get to her before it became too sodden, he’d have a good chance of getting them both back up. His foot slid on some loose rock, and he cursed. He had to remove his gloves to get a good grip on the boulders on the way down the valley, but he eventually reached the spot where the girl in blue jeans and a once-white shirt lay sprawled face down in the mud.

  “Can you hear me, darlin’?” He carefully held her face and winced at the amount of blood that poured from a wound on her forehead. The rock had broken her fall, but at what cost? She was totally unresponsive. He quickly checked her out for broken bones before hoisting her up in his muscular arms. She was a soft handful and very comfortable to hold on to.

  Travis shook his head as the rain dripped off his hat, and attempted the climb back up. He’d grown up around here, and was well-used to scrabbling about in the mud. It was a little harder with a full-grown woman in your arms, though. He grappled at the roots that wound around some of the boulders, and used the rocks for support as he fought against the driving rain to reach the track at the top of the ravine.

  “Good boy, Mustard,” he soothed his horse before hoisting himself and the sleeping beauty into the saddle. Holding her tight in one arm, he used the other to steer the reins. Mustard went steadily along the muddy paths and down the track. The storm rumbled on, and the rain assaulted them as they fought their way home.

  “I was getting worried.” Kent was waiting for them when they arrived at the stable. He’d evidently managed a quick wash and put on some fresh jeans. He looked gorgeous. He’d already tended to Blackie. He took the girl from Travis’s arms, enabling the cowboy to easily slide out of the saddle and tend his horse before following them inside.

  “The storm’s getting worse,” Travis said as they made it to the front door. “I found her partway down the ravine. Looks like she hit her head on the rock which stopped her fall.”

  “We won’t get the doc out in this weather.” Kent frowned as he carried her down the corridor that led to the bedrooms. It was a large house, originally built for a family. Now that the boys lived there, it had a few alterations. A different type of playroom, for one. Kent carried her into a large bedroom at the bottom of the hallway. He frowned as he looked at the white bedspread, then back at the heap of mud in his arms.

  “Can we take her clothes off?” Travis asked doubtfully.

  “I think we’ll have to. She’s soaked through. We can’t put her to bed like this.”

  While Kent continued to hold her, Travis first removed her muddy Justin Ropers, then her soaking-wet socks. He prayed she wouldn’t wake up to find him removing her jeans. His hands shook as he undid her shirt. She stirred slightly in Kent’s arms and Travis froze.

  “Leave it on for now,” Kent whispered, obviously not wanting to disturb or frighten the poor girl.

  Travis placed a towel on the pillow before Kent laid her down in the fluffy, white bed. With a soft, wet cloth, Travis wiped the mess from her face. He smiled as he revealed a very attractive young girl.

  “That’s quite a deep gash,” Kent remarked as he reappeared with the first aid kit. Travis dabbed the wound with some soft gauze. Kent handed over a large dressing, and Travis soon had it covered.

  “You’ve got to admit she’s real pretty.” Travis smiled.

  “Forget it, bro.”

  “You don’t know,” Travis retaliated with a frown.

  “She’s either spoken for or she wouldn’t be interested in what we’re offering.”

  “I don’t see a ring.” Travis smirked.

  “That don’t mean a thing.” Kent left to return the first aid kit.

  His partner sighed. Kent had really liked Kathy. He hadn’t let anyone new get close to him for more than a night or two since she left.

  Travis dimmed the lights, leaving the room in a yellowish glow. The walls were painted a pale primrose, and the floral curtains enclosed the bedroom in a warm radiance. The storm continued to rage outside the window, but the house was snug and warm.

  “I’ll sit with her awhile,” Travis called.

  He thought he heard a reply from Kent, who sounded as though he was down the hall. Settling in the chair beside the bed, Travis sighed and closed his eyes.

  A few minutes later, Kent was back. “I’ve put a pie in the oven.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” He opened his eyes, grinning mischievously.

  Kent snorted. “And you’d better get out of those wet things.” His voice was deep and masterful.

  Travis chuckled. “You offering to help with that?” He cocked an eyebrow at his partner.

  “Hell, yeah.” Kent took Travis’s arm and hauled him out of the room. They left the door open just in case Brooke should wake, and headed down the hall to another large bedroom.

  * * *

  Travis’s dark, tousled hair dripped over his muscular shoulders as Kent led him into the room. Their room. It was painted in pale green and had checkered curtains. The bedspread was a pale eau de nil green and stretched endlessly across the oversized bed.

  Kent had hold of Travis’s belt buckle as he pulled him closer. “Not only do you have too many clothes on for my liking, but you’ll catch your death in these,” he growled.

  Travis said nothing, just raised an eyebrow expectantly. Kent licked his lips as he admired the way Travis’s wet shirt outlined his taut eight-pack. His fingers trembled as he slowly unfastened the buttons of the checkered cotton.

  Travis’s deep-brown eyes grew darker as Kent gazed into them adoringly. Kent smirked appreciatively at his partner’s wet body while he peeled the shirt over the cowboy’s huge biceps and threw it carelessly onto the floor. He gasped at the delectable sight of his partner’s ripped, slightly hairy chest. He couldn’t resist the urge to suck a cold, hard nipple into his hot, wet mouth and was rewarded with a deep moan.

  Kent stroked Travis’s hard chest, sinking slowly down his perfect abs toward the teasing dark hairs that heralded the start of his happy trail. He caught Travis’s gaze and made short work of the cowboy’s buckle and fly. Travis had already heeled off his boots by the time Kent scraped off the soaking wet jeans which clung enticingly to Travis’s huge thighs. As usual, Travis had gone commando, and his massive member sprang free.

  Kent afforded himself a quick glance at the thick cock he loved so much, and grinned to see its head already glistening with anticipation. His strong hand grabbed the shaft and he heard Travis exhale sharply as he began stroking it gently.

  Travis’s hands flew to Kent’s fly and soon divested him of his jeans. Kent had also dispensed with underwear tonight, and his cock stood proudly at attention, already glistening with excitement. He gasped as Travis closed his fingers around his cock, and their hands entwined as they rubbed both dicks together, finding their rhythm as they panted with desire.

  “Kiss me, bud.” Travis’s voice was a raspy growl.

  Kent grazed his lips across his lover’s and Travis closed his eyes. Kent nibbled his way along his mouth before demanding entry. Travis’s thick tongue came to welcome him in and both tongues tangled erratically as passion enveloped both men.

  The air was thick with their panting and moaning as their heat rose and their bodies meshed together. Travis suddenly spun him around and backed him onto the vast bed. He looked up as the cowboy’s massive body towered over him as they continued to rub their rock-hard cocks together. Pre-cum oozed over their hands, enabling them to glide effortlessly over each other.

  “I want you, bro.” Kent heard the huskiness in his own voice and sensed his pleading eyes were glazing over. With one hand on Travis’s cock and another grabbing his hair, he yanked the cowboy’s mouth to his and desperately sought his tongue.

  Travis returned the kiss as he pushed Kent’s quivering knees up to meet his chest. The position caused Kent to rock back slightly, opening himself up. Travis worked the creamy pre-cum down Kent’s
soft perineum to lubricate his asshole. He used his thick finger to probe and tantalize his lover’s rim. Instinctively, Kent tensed up at the intrusion.

  “Shh, relax, bud,” Travis soothed into his mouth.

  Kent let out a deep breath slowly. Travis must have felt his ass unclench, and he murmured his approval. The cowboy’s finger slid into the tight hole as Kent hissed sharply.

  “Shh.” Travis continued to sooth him as he pressed his finger in harder, breaking through the tight rim of muscle, and slowly maneuvered in and out of his ass. Kent adjusted and started to relax, and his partner took the opportunity to slide another finger in. Pain momentarily seared through his body before morphing into exquisite pleasure. Travis continued his loving assault on his oversensitized ass as he stroked the cowboy’s other hand, and they entangled lovingly, still rubbing their thick cocks against each other.

  “I’m nearly there,” Kent gasped.

  “Hold on, bud.” Travis glided his massive cock down and nudged at Kent’s ass. With one big thrust he forced it inside, causing both men to hiss like feral cats.

  Kent reached up his big hands and clung to Travis’s thick, hard biceps. Travis grabbed Kent’s hip and continued to stroke his partner’s engorged cock in time to his heaving thrusts into his tight ass.

  Kent stared up into his lover’s dark eyes and marveled at the desire he found staring back at him. “I love you, bro,” Kent admitted in a breathy sigh.

  Travis grinned, looking slightly surprised. Kent guessed it was because he didn’t usually give way to bouts of sentiment. “I love you too, buddy,” he assured him before switching up a gear. Travis hammered hard into his ass, and Kent couldn’t help the grunts that escaped him as he gasped for breath. The thrusts continued to increase as Travis pulled harder on Kent’s throbbing cock with his fist.