Out of the Dark

by JoAnn Smith Ainsworth

  Mysterious, intriguing, it was as if he touched a sacred portal. Unguarded, he believed, when opened, it would rival the treasures of the world.

  He could contain himself no longer. He pushed past her virginity and felt her close around him. Unsatisfied, he pushed towards her innermost secrets.

  Her body sweated. She cried out and gasped for air.

  Basil worried he had hurt her until she clutched him tighter to herself. Basil matched Lynnet’s rhythm, marveling at the sensations.

  Raised to fever pitch, she screamed, “Husband,” as her body spasmed. Matching her frenzy, Basil spilled his seed in pumping gushes then rolled, quivering, onto his side, taking her with him, still locked together in satiated love.

  “I have no words to express the love I feel for you,” Basil said, nuzzling her ear.

  “I never expected to know such love.”

  Feeling the chilled air on his cooling skin, he pulled the covers up around her, regretting all the while that he could no longer see her beautiful body.

  He reached over, unhooked the bed drapery where it was anchored to the bedpost, letting the heavy folds hang. A cocoon of pure blackness descended, making him Lynnet’s equal. He reached out, touching this sightless woman. Somehow, she brought him out of the darkness of loneliness and into the light of her love.

  He stroked the length of her body.

  “We need to leave at first light,” he said, trying to be practical. “A delay would annoy the king and have possible repercussions with my father.”

  “We can’t have that,” she agreed.

  He kissed her forehead lightly.

  “I want to make love again, but if we stay awake too late, we’ll be tired tomorrow.”

  “It would be difficult traveling when exhausted,” she agreed.

  “We have much to learn about each other. We only touched the surface of where love can take us.”

  He caressed her nipple, while she probed between his legs.

  “I’m eager to learn.”

  “Tomorrow, we travel side by side to our new home.”

  “It’s a journey to occupy us the rest of our lives.”

  “If we’re wise, we would get our rest.”

  “You’re probably right, Husband,” she said as she stroked him.

  They were silent for a while as their breathing came under control and their bodies cooled from their lovemaking.

  He grinned and whispered in her ear, “I’d like to throw wisdom out the window. I’d like to see what else we can teach each other about love.”

  “With that I definitely agree,” she said as she shifted closer.

  About the Author

  To learn more about JoAnn, please visit www.joannsmithainsworth.com. Send an email to JoAnn at jsa@joannsmithainsworth.com.

  Look for these titles by JoAnn Smith Ainsworth

  Coming Soon:

  Matilda’s Song

  Haunted by war, a thief finds salvation in the arms of an angel.

  Devils on Horseback: Jake

  © 2008 Beth Williamson

  Devils on Horseback, Book Two

  On the surface, Jake Sheridan is an easygoing man whose problems roll off him like water off a duck’s back. Truth is, Jake holds so many past demons inside him, he daren’t let them out for fear he’ll never get them all back in.

  He and the Devils are hired to help rebuild a town ransacked by marauders. Everywhere they turn, they encounter secrets—enough secrets to turn the town to dust if they don’t uncover the truth.

  Only one person in town isn’t glad to see them: Gabrielle Rinaldi, the miller’s daughter. A strong and independent woman who is used to being disrespected for speaking her mind, she makes no secret that she doesn’t believe hired guns are the answer to the town’s woes. Yet she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic and charming Jake.

  In spite of himself, Jake falls hard and fast for Gabby. But she’s wary of handing her heart to a man who lives by his guns.

  When tragedy strikes, Jake and Gabby must fight to find a way to save the town—and their hearts.

  Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, violence.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Devils on Horseback: Jake

  Jake found himself fascinated by Gabrielle Rinaldi. Gabby. The way the sun danced across her light olive skin as she sat next to the window, the way she gave Elmer an effusive hug when they came in. She ate with gusto, not like a Southern “lady” who picked at her food. Gabby was all woman, full of life. Jake was drawn to her like a flower to the sun, thirsting for the brightness she gave off.

  He kept his eye on Zeke and Allison. She was a shy little thing who barely lifted her eyes and that was only to look at Zeke. He appeared to be equally as taken with the petite woman as she was with him. Jake hoped she was amenable for Zeke to court her, because Jake would bet the two nickels in his pocket it was going to happen. Too bad she was the minister’s daughter, which might put a pinch on a budding romance.

  Gabby kept glancing at the blonde couple as well, almost as much as Jake looked at the luscious black-haired beauty. She laughed with her whole body, a hearty laugh that echoed in the empty restaurant. Jake’s heart squeezed each time she smiled. He wanted to kick his own ass for acting like such an idiot, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. She’d become an addiction so quickly it made his head spin.

  “Jake, are you listening to me?” Gideon elbowed him in the ribs.

  Jake almost jumped out of the chair. “No, I wasn’t.”

  Everyone laughed and he couldn’t help but grin at Gabby. She raised one dark eyebrow and didn’t say a word to him. He couldn’t be certain if she was flirting with him or not, a fact that annoyed and excited him. Women were generally not immune to his charm, as evidenced by the experiences he’d had with the fairer sex. Jake discovered early that making a woman feel beautiful and desired provided a more than pleasant method to getting what he wanted. The truth was, Jake loved women of all shapes and sizes. Each one had her own unique charm and scent. It was one of the first things he noticed as a young, strapping fifteen-year-old in the backroom of the saloon he worked at—the scent of a woman was intoxicating.

  Gabby’s scent would be the last thing he remembered and the first thing he thought of each day. She didn’t wear perfume, rather it was a mix of woman, flour, fresh air and her. Fascinating to say the least. Jake sat next to her at the table as they ate the simple ham sandwiches and drank lemonade. Each time she took a drink, Jake watched, and hungered.

  He wanted to taste her lips, feel her tongue on his as they shared the tart flavor left in her mouth. Jake shifted on the chair, realizing his usually calm dick had woken with a vengeance and strained at the buttons of his trousers. He needed to stop fantasizing about Gabby and work on charming her, because judging by the frown on her face when she glanced at him, he had a ways to go.

  “How long have you lived in Tanger, Miss Delmont?” Zeke sat straight and tall across from Allison.

  “All my life.” The blonde looked up from her plate at Zeke. “When Gabby moved to town we were inseparable from the first minute we met. My mama used to say we were like salt and pepper.” Her face paled, apparently at the memory of her mother.

  Zeke reached over and put his hand over hers, completely covering her tiny one. “I lost my parents too. It’s never easy to talk about them. I understand completely.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

  Jake nearly swallowed his tongue. Zeke was acting so unlike his normal self, it was almost scary.

  “What the hell’s gotten into you, Zeke?” Lee could always be counted on to be brutally honest. “You sick or something?”

  Zeke scowled at his brother. “Watch your language around the ladies.”

  “Sure thing, Ezekiel,” Lee taunted. Calling the Blackwood brothers by their hated Biblical names never failed to rile them.

  Zeke stood, knocking his chair back. “Don’t ruin this day too, Corne
lius. It was going along right fine until you opened your mouth.” His cool glare pinned Lee. “Apologize to the ladies.”

  The air hummed with tension as the brothers stared each other down. Lee was the one to turn away, to glare at Gabby then at Allison.

  “You’d best make your choices wisely, brother.” Lee snatched the sandwich off his plate and stormed out of the restaurant, slamming the door behind him.

  After his footsteps faded away, Jake glanced at Zeke, who was still standing like a statue in a park. It was Allison, however, who saved the moment from utter disaster.

  “Please sit down, Mr. Blackwood. It’s all right. I’m sure your brother didn’t mean any harm.” Her gracious tone worked on Zeke like nothing else ever had. His face softened and he sat back down without punching a thing.

  Jake choked on his lemonade.

  Gabby slapped him on the back until Jake held up one finger. “Thank you, Miss Rinaldi. I will be forever in your debt.”

  Allison laughed while Gabby fought back a grin. “You are a charming fool, Mr. Sheridan.”

  “Jake. Please call me Jake.” He smiled, his heart doing a somersault when she smiled back.

  “All right then, please call me Gabby.”

  At that moment, over the sandwich crumbs and the lemon seeds, Jake slid from being fascinated into being just a bit in love.

  There’s more to this man than satin and lace.

  Met by Chance

  © 2008 Lynne Connolly

  Book 3 of the Triple Countess series

  After a serious riding accident, Perdita Garland is back in society. Unfortunately the first man who catches her interest, Charles Dalton, Marquis of Petherbridge, turns out to be a popinjay with a spoiled daughter in tow. And his equally spoiled sister is flirting with the same fortune-hunting suitor who almost cost Perdita her life. What’s a lady to do? Warn the marquis of the danger, of course.

  Charles knows that English society finds his manners and dress astonishing, but they cover a man broken by a disastrous marriage to a faithless wife. Now a widowed father determined not to be fooled again, he is nevertheless charmed by Perdita and the steely strength of will under her fragile exterior. If only the lady would mind her own business.

  But when his impulsive sister elopes and kidnaps his daughter, he finds himself wishing he had listened to the little busybody. And Perdita, feeling partly responsible for the disaster, boldly sets out to help him put things right.

  Alone in a strange city with his lordship, plunged into danger, Perdita discovers there is more than meets the eye under the pampered skin of the marquis. There is strength, power…and passion beyond her wildest dreams.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Met by Chance:

  Desire rose, sharp and needy. She wanted him. He couldn’t want her. Part of her mind still couldn’t believe anyone would want her, having seen those terrible marks. But she responded, accepting him, responding to his caresses. She smoothed her hands up and down his back, revelling in the bare skin under her palms. He felt wonderful, warm and alive, muscles tensing when he tightened his hold on her.

  Charles lifted his head slightly. “I want you, ma cherie,” he murmured, his breath hot against her lips. “Will you come to bed with me?”

  Perdita nodded and watched the warmth flood into his eyes. Still not quite believing he could want her after seeing what her accident had done to her body, she stared at him, wanting him. Not taking his gaze from her face, he released her to bring his hands around to the front of her gown. He unhooked the fastenings, until her gown was undone to the waist. A few more hooks and she could shrug it off.

  It fell to the floor around her feet with a slap of wet fabric. Perdita stepped out of it, and turned, feeling his hands go to the laces at the back of her stays.

  The fichu tucked into her neckline had fallen with the gown. Perdita reached up and undid the pins fastening her hair into a neat bun, taking each pin out carefully, glad she hadn’t braided it. They were the only hairpins she had, and they only just did the job of holding her fine, silky locks in place. Holding the pins, she turned back to him, and let her stays fall. Her hands were steady, her mind sure. She had no doubts.

  His expression had turned needy, his eyes blazing with desire. Perdita no longer asked how or why, but just accepted. It was true. No one could fabricate that expression, and it was all for her. She’d never seen it before on anyone, but inside, her body responded, heating and dampening for him.

  “I won’t hurt you,” he promised. “I want to love you, Peri, but I’ll leave you intact. I want you to keep all the choices you had when you entered this room. I won’t restrict you, Perdita, nor will I force you to any decision you might not want to take.”

  She understood, and she warmed to his concern. A virgin could still make a good marriage, could have her choice of men. But there was something he didn’t know. She swallowed, summoning up the courage, afraid that look she wanted would soon turn to distaste.

  “I’m not intact,” she said, and unable to watch the transformation in his face, dropped her gaze. He might still want her, but the respect, the concern might be gone now she had told him her shameful secret.

  His fingers went under her chin again, forcing her to look.

  There was no change, except an edge of concern. “You mean it?” She nodded, once. “Perdita?”

  Once more, she nodded.

  Facing each other, in an unspoken pact both instinctively understood, they finished disrobing. Perdita dropped her under-petticoat on the pile of discarded clothing, put the precious hairpins on the small table by the bed, and turned back to him to remove her shift, lifting it over her head in a sweep of fine linen.

  They stared at each other. She’d known he was finely formed, supple muscle and soft skin, but what she saw below his waist made her pause.

  Gifted indeed. So gifted she had her doubts.

  When she eventually looked back at his face, she saw anxiety had taken hold. “I told you I had compensations,” he said wryly. “But Perdita, you’re so small, so delicate.”

  Forcing down her fear she reached out one hand to him. “We can only try.”

  “Oh, Peri!” His voice caught and he pulled on her hand, dragging her against his hard, warm body, caressing her back, sliding his hands down to her bottom. He took her mouth in another kiss, hot and rich with promise. His tongue no longer caressed. It demanded, reaching into her, demonstrating his need and his desire.

  He whispered to her, voice shaking. “I promise I won’t hurt you. If we can do nothing else I can love you, show you how beautiful, how desirable you are.”

  He led her across the room, his hand linked with hers, but their bodies separate until they reached the small, uncurtained bed. Watching her, he sat, drawing her to sit beside him. He curved his arm around her shoulders and drew her down, kicking the coarse cover out of the way to reveal the crisp, clean linen sheets. He held her and kissed her, letting her accustom herself to the feel of bodies in contact, skin to skin.

  Perdita had never been closer to anyone else in her life. Before this she had recklessly offered her virginity but had been made aware of her mistake almost as soon as she’d made it. This time it felt right. He stroked her, slowly moving his hands over her body, cherishing and learning. When she touched him, he welcomed it, although she kept her caresses to his lean back and smooth chest. He felt larger without his clothes, somehow. Or perhaps she felt smaller. Fichus, hoops, voluminous petticoats all helped to add bulk to her figure, and her stays reshaped her, pushing her small breasts up to appear almost generous. She hoped he wasn’t disappointed.

  He didn’t seem to be. Perdita felt him take the tip of her nipple between his finger and thumb and roll it gently, urge it to peak even more than it had already. He pressed gentle kisses on to her mouth, kisses which gradually deepened, becoming longer, and more intense, but slowly.

  It was as if they had all the time in the world. Time stretched before them in an infinity of possibilitie
s. He released her breast, flattening his hand to draw his palm down her body, over the curves of her waist, over her hips and further. When he reached the junction of her legs he pressed between, and she opened for him.

  He leaned up on one elbow when he insinuated his fingers between her legs, working slowly past the hair that covered her innermost secrets. Perdita closed her eyes momentarily, and savoured the sensation of careful attention. When she heard his sigh, she opened her eyes to meet his, softened with desire and need. She smiled. He returned the smile. “If I do anything you don’t like, you must say so. I depend on your responses, Peri, to tell me when I’m right.”

  “Do what you think is right,” she answered. “If I may do the same.”

  “Anything,” he murmured, and bent to take her lips again, his fingers working their magic between her legs.

  Warmth and deep relaxation suffused her, such as she’d never felt before. Never. Curling into him felt like she was coming home. Safety, care and passion awaited her in his arms.

  Warmth turned to heat. Perdita tingled when he touched her, spreading quickly up to her stomach. She stretched, tensing against him, and his arm tightened around her shoulders, drawing her close. Pressing her lips to his shoulder, which was taut with tense muscle, Perdita became vaguely aware that his need was as great as hers, but she was too far gone to do anything except clutch him and lift her head for another kiss.

  A devastating kiss. Deep, needy desirous. Melding them together. When she climaxed she cried out into his mouth, but he didn’t stop, working her so hard the sensitivity he evoked was almost too much. Almost. He removed his hand to stroke her from hip to breast, his mouth never leaving hers.

  Her arms around him, Perdita pulled him to lie on top of her, his member hard between her legs. His movement was instinctive, sliding into the moisture he’d created, gliding ever closer.

  She felt him tense and draw back. Bewildered at his withdrawal she opened her eyes, and saw apprehension. “I’m not sure we should do this. Are you certain?”