by Cathryn Fox
HER TIGHTNESS, AND TO CLAIM HER AS HIS. ONCE AND FOR
ALL.
“Kiss me, Brianna.”
She poised her mouth open, welcoming him into her body and her heart. When his lips closed down on hers, she kissed him with everything in her.
In that moment, when their mouths connected, when her love reached out to him, he pushed his cock inside her slick softness.
Their tongues mated, her legs wrapped around his back and squeezed, drawing him in deeper. Fuck, he’d never felt anything so divine.
“Brianna my sweet. You are mine. Forever.”
She moaned and writhed beneath him, his girth pushing open the tight walls of her channel, stroking, caressing, bringing her to the point of no return.
He murmured into her mouth and brushed her damp bangs from her forehead. “Say it, Brianna.”
Her eyes glossed over and darkened with emotions. “I am yours, pirate.”
He hated that he had to keep his true identity a secret. Soon, he vowed, soon she’d know the truth. And then they’d never keep anything from each other again.
He cradled her in his arms, their perspiration mingled. Together they established a rhythm, each taking and giving in equal measure.
“I’m there,” she murmured.
“I know, babe, I know.” He increased the tempo and slipped a finger between their bodies, caressing her clit, giving her what she needed to take her over the edge.
“Come for me, sweet Brianna.”
Her sex muscles clenched and tightened and massaged his cock, bringing on his own orgasm. Sweat collected on his brow as his climax took hold. He stilled as his seed splashed up inside her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers. He lay on top of her, taking care not to crush her. Xander brushed her damp hair from her face and gazed into sated eyes. A smile lingered on her lips, and he loved that he’d put it there.
“That was unbelievable,” she whispered, her voice drowsy. She reached out and touched his cheek. He leaned into her hand, absorbing her warmth, her love.
“You are an amazing woman.” When she smiled at the endorsement, he rolled to the side and cradled her warm body against his. He held her for a long moment, stroking her skin softly until her breathing pattern changed. When he knew she was fast asleep, he pulled the blankets over her and climbed from the bed.
Sunlight streamed in through her lace curtain and pulled her from her slumber. With her lids shut tight, memories of last night came rushing back. Oh God. She didn’t want to open her eyes. That meant she’d have to face reality. And she wasn’t ready for that. Nor was she ready to reach across the mattress only to find out the warm body that had loved her so deeply, so thoroughly last night was now gone.
A noise in the corner of her bedroom had her lids fluttering open. Her glance darted around her room, then settled back onto the naked man sitting in her rocking chair. Her voice sounded as shaky as she felt. “What? How? What are you doing?”
He climbed from the chair and moved to the edge of the bed. “I’m watching you sleep, the same way I have for the last year.” Warm fingers touched her face. “I’m Xander, A.K.A. Max.”
Sweet mother of God. Understanding dawned in small increments. Her voice rose an octave. “It is you!”
He nodded.
Shocked, her mouth opened and closed. She pressed her hand to her forehead. “Dear Lord, what have I done?”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “Shh…it’s okay, Brianna.”
Her limbs felt shaky, her head heavy. She fought to think straight. “I still don’t understand. How did my incantation turn you back into a man?” She drew the sheets up to her neck, puzzled.
“You wanted a man who knew you better than you knew yourself. One who could fulfill your deepest, darkest desires. I’m the only man who fits that description, my sweet.”
She paused, recalling how she’d whispered all her secrets to her cat Max. To Xander, playboy of all playboys. “Oh hell.” Thoroughly embarrassed, color stained her face.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Brianna.”
She swallowed. “Why are you still here? You were supposed to disappear at midnight.”
A warm, genuine smile touched his mouth. He squared his shoulders and puffed his chest out. “Because you love me, and because you kissed me, during a full moon, on Halloween. The three elements I needed in place to break the spell Council had placed on me.”
Her mind whirred, recalling how the previous evening her cat had flipped open the book of spells, to a love incantation. “So you knew you had to get me to fall in love with you last night; otherwise it would take decades for all those elements to be in place again.” And what were the chances that another witch would summon a love spell such as she had, one that would bring forth Xander, the only man who knew her better than she knew herself and could satisfy her deepest, darkest desires? On Halloween. During a full moon.
Slim to none.
Her throat tightened, her stomach knotted to the point of pain.
“Yes,” he said with such honesty. “I needed you to fall in love with me.”
She scrambled backwards and tightened the sheets around her chest. How could she have been so stupid to allow herself to have sex…to fall in love…with a man whose reputation preceded him? A man who would undoubtedly return to his wild, wanton ways first chance.
As though he read her thoughts, he said, “I have no desire to return to that lifestyle. I love you, Brianna. And only you. And I want to spend the rest of my life taking care of you the way you’ve taken care of me for the last year.”
Brianna swallowed, unsure.
“Don’t you see, I could easily have fled last night after you fell asleep. But I wanted to be here when you woke up, to prove how much I love you, that there is nowhere else I’d rather be and no one else I’d rather be with.”
The emotions in his eyes spoke volumes. He touched her, and she could feel his love reaching out to her, seeping under her skin.
He sidled closer and planted a warm kiss on her mouth. Good Lord, no man could kiss like that without feeling a deeper emotional connection.
“You’re serious,” she said, her eyes opening wide. “Ohmygod, you’re serious.”
He chuckled. “I’ve never been more serious in my life. Human or feline form,” he added with a grin. “You’ve opened my eyes to what’s important in this world, sweetheart.”
Her heart leapt with joy, and suddenly it occurred to her that with Xander, she could have the relationship she’d always wanted but never thought she could have. One where she could be herself, even if her temper got the better of her. Xander knew what she was. No longer would she have to worry about hiding her identity for fear a man, a man who got her panties in a twist, that is, would discover her magic.
He gathered her into his arms. Gaze riveted, he said, “You’ve spent the last year taking care of me, catering to my every whim, my every need. Now it’s my turn to take care of you.”
Brianna nodded, unable to find her voice to reply.
Xander lightened the mood. “Loved the belly rubs by the way.” He winked. “Just not the baths.”
She grinned and ran her nails over his stomach, tickling him. Xander purred, then his gorgeous green eyes turned serious.
“Now it’s my turn to take care of you,” he said, his voice full of hope. “If you’ll let me.”
Teasing, Brianna rolled one shoulder. “Well if you insist,” she said breezily. Her thoughts wandered to the forbidden love spell that had started this amazing chain of events. She furrowed her brow in worry. Xander must have read her unease.
“What is it?”
“What if Council finds out about the spell? What if it falls into the wrong hands? Can you imagine the mayhem that would take place in our town?” Brianna placed her palm on his cheek. “I’d hate to go before Council.” She widened her eyes and screwed up her face. “What if they turn me into an animal, and I’m lost to roam the earth
for decades. Now that I found you, I don’t ever want to lose you.”
He closed his hand over hers and squeezed. “No worries, my sweet. It takes a hell of a lot more than one little love spell before Council steps in and reprimands. Trust me, I know.”
She worried her lip. “Still…”
“Come here.” He eased her onto her back and addressed her worries. His smile was slow, inviting. A warm palm cupped her face. “If you go down, Brianna I’m going with you. I promise you that.”
Her heart thudded in her chest. God, she loved him so much it hurt. “Really, you’d do that for me?”
“Of course.” A wicked grin curved his gorgeous lips. “But if we’re going to go down together, maybe we should practice.”
She crinkled her nose, perplexed. “Practice?”
He touched his mouth to hers and then slowly slid down her body. His lashes fluttered against her flesh, his tongue did mysterious things to her nerve endings. “Yes, practice. I’ll go first.” He spread her legs. Wide.
When his tongue connected with her nether lips, she let out a little sigh. Her head rolled to the side. “Ah yes, practice. It is good to practice.”
Going down had never felt so good.
“And maybe,” he murmured from deep between her legs, “I should also practice being a cop, a fireman, a warrior and even a pirate again, because you never know what Council will turn me into if we ever find ourselves in trouble.”
A bubble of laughter welled up from her throat as her heart reached out to him. Love sang through her veins and filled her with happiness. When he said he was going to spend the rest of his days catering to her every whim, her every desire, he certainly meant it.
Xander slipped a finger inside her, stirring her heat, her desires. “I love how wet you get for me,” he murmured, his warm breath caressing her sensitive skin. Her clit tightened and puckered in response.
He glanced up at her, his eyes filled with pure adoration.
Mayhem
Sylvia Day
Chapter 1
SIN AND SEX ON A STICK, THAT WAS SHANE MARKHAM.
Abigail Garvey watched the county’s “Most Eligible Bachelor” from her bedroom balcony and wondered if it would be rude to ask him to move. The driving force behind Markham Estates Master Planned housing community, Shane could have any of the unsold homes in the neighborhood, but he’d chosen the one next to hers. He was single; surely he didn’t have all that much furniture to move? And Lord knows, all of the women who’d flocked to buy a house here in an attempt to catch him wouldn’t mind having him next door.
She did, though. A lot.
Why, out of all of the homes he could have picked, did he have to move into the one that shared a yard with hers? How was a woman expected to go about her business when she had eye candy like that just a few feet away? There was no way for her to look outside her windows and not see him. Shane met with all new residents personally, and showed them around the pool, tennis courts, and gym. And in the summer…
Abby swallowed hard. In the summer, he’d be out front in shorts and bare feet washing his classic El Camino. His skin would be tanned and slick with a fine sheen of perspiration, the beautifully defined muscles of his back and arms brought into stark relief by his exertions.
He’d caught her ogling him more than a few times, his head turning as he sensed her perusal, his teeth white as he grinned and waved.
Like he was doing right now.
Wincing, and offering a pained smile, Abby lifted her hand and waved back. Shane was standing beside another tall, buxom Mrs. Markham-wannabe. He was dressed in loose-fitting jeans and a cream-colored sweater, looking like a GQ advertisement. With his slightly too-long black hair and dark eyes, he made a striking complement to the new resident, who wore a lipstick red pantsuit.
Why couldn’t he move next to her? The way she was staring at him raptly, the woman looked like she’d love the proximity to such “prime husband material.”
Shane had laughed it off when Abby congratulated him on the magazine’s illustrious designation for him, his eyes bright with amusement.
“Don’t believe everything you read,” he’d said, brushing back the thick lock of hair that was always falling over his brow.
“What’s the false part?” she’d asked, genuinely curious. “You have a secret wife somewhere? A girlfriend? Are you in debt up to your ears? Or maybe you’re a criminal hiding under a secret identity?”
“None of the above.”
“Hmm. That’s what I thought.”
Shaking her head at how ridiculous it was to have a crush at her age, Abby stepped back into the warmth of her bedroom and closed the sliding glass door behind her. She really had to stop thinking about Shane. Five months now they’d been neighbors, and he had never once tried to hit on her or ask her out. Which meant he wasn’t going to.
Not that she didn’t understand why, because she did. She was ordinary, he was extraordinary. Like oil and water, they just didn’t mix.
Descending the stairs to the first floor, Abby tightened her customary ponytail, then collected the supersize zip ties and witch decoration she’d bought for her Halloween bash, and headed outside.
Throwing a costume party had been an annual tradition for her when she lived in California, and she was determined to stick to it here in Massachusetts. She didn’t have near as many friends here yet, just her coworkers and Kayla, who lived up the street, but Abby was an optimist. She was hopeful that the flyers she’d posted on the store e-bulletin and the community center here at Markham Estates would be enough to attract at least a small crowd.
As she opened the front door, Abby was hit by a blast of chilly autumn air. Shivering, she reached back inside to grab her favorite multicolored scarf from the carved wooden coatrack.
She was still becoming accustomed to having four seasons after years of living in California’s temperate climate. Even dressed as she was, with sheepskin boots, lined pants, and a sweater jacket, she was cold. But this was what she’d wanted, a change of scene. When she had been offered the position of regional director—a big bump up from department store manager—she’d leapt at the opportunity, considering it a perk of being single that she could move across the country on a whim.
A quick glance across the street showed that Shane and the lady in red had moved on, so Abby hopped down the short steps to the yellowed lawn and set to work attaching the “witch smashing into a tree” decoration to the sapling in her yard. It was obviously meant for a larger trunk, but she’d always wanted one, and this was the first time she had ever owned a tree, so she was going to make the darn thing work whether it liked it or not.
“Here, let me help with that.”
Abby nearly jumped out her skin at the deep rumble of Shane’s voice behind her. She spun around quickly, her heart racing. “Jeez! You scared me half to death.”
“Sorry.” He looked shameless with that sinful grin she loved. “If you hold Witchy up where you want her to hang, I’ll secure it with the ties.”
“Thanks.” She hoped she wasn’t drooling. It was the rare occasion when they stood this close to each other. She preferred to lust after him from afar. Less embarrassing that way.
Facing the tree, Abby watched Shane round the other side.
“I saw your party flyer,” he said, shooting a glance at her as he tugged on a tie. “Mind if I stop by with a friend?”
Great. Just how I want to spend Halloween, coveting Shane Markham while he hangs out with a date.
“Not at all,” she lied with mock cheerfulness. “Though I’m not sure how lively it’ll be. I don’t know that many people around here yet.”
“You have a date?” He held out his hand for the other tie, and Abby passed it over, shivering as his fingers rubbed against her palm as he retrieved it. The wind blew lightly, ruffling his hair and kicking her hormones into overdrive.
What would it be like to have a man that hot in my bed?
He was so fine, she was pret
ty sure he could just lie there naked, and that would be enough to put a smile on her face.
“Abby?”
She loved it when he said her name. He had a rich, deep voice that reminded her of melted chocolate. Yummy.
He smiled, dazzling her for a moment, then she realized how funny it must look for her to stand there mooning over him. Disgruntled by her own behavior, Abby was tempted to invent an admirer just so she didn’t feel so pathetic, but that wasn’t her style, so she just shook her head.
“Haven’t found anyone you like yet?”
“Something like that,” she muttered.
“That’s too bad.” He yanked on the other tie and tested it to make sure it was secure. “I can introduce you to some people, if you like.”
Fabulous. Now he’s setting me up with his buddies.
“Uh…Thanks, but that’s okay. I’m fine.”
Shane stepped around the tree and stood behind her, admiring their handiwork. Immediately the scent of his cologne teased her nostrils, and her skin prickled with goose bumps.
“If you change your mind,” he murmured by her ear, making her shiver, “let me know.”
Abby gave a resigned sigh but managed a smile when she turned around. He was just being sweet, something he was exceptionally good at. “Sure thing. Thank you for your help.”
“Anytime,” he said easily. “What are neighbors for? Should I bring anything over tonight? Candy? Booze? Pizza?”
“Not unless you have a particular preference for something. Otherwise, I think I’ve got everything.”
“Alright. If you think of anything you missed, just give me a call.” He reached up and adjusted her scarf. “See you in a bit.”
She watched him walk across the lawn to his door, admiring his fine ass and long legs. Then, chastising herself for staring, Abby went into the house, grabbed her keys, and went out to her car. As usual, she had everything she needed for everyone else but still had to get the things she needed for herself—costume and props.
Picking a different costume every year was one of the highlights of the holiday for her. She liked pretending to be someone, or some thing else for a few hours. When she was a kid, she used to dream of being an actress, but she was too shy for that vocation. Dressing up for Halloween was the closest she came to acting.
