by Ava Delany
A Librarian’s Desire
by Ava Delany
Breathless Press
Calgary, Alberta
www.breathlesspress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A Librarian’s Desire
Copyright© 2011 Ava Delany
ISBN: 978-1-926930-75-6
Cover Artist: Victoria Miller
Editor: Spencer Freeman
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations
embodied in reviews.
Breathless Press
www.breathlesspress.com
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
To Michelle Herzog – Thank you for the wonderful title idea. A Librarian’s Desire was perfect.
To my awesome critique partners –Thank you for all you do. You amaze and inspire me daily.
To Spencer, my editor – Thanks for making my work the best it can be. You’re awesome!
Chapter One
Erica opened the official-looking envelope, her heart beating hard. She shrugged one shoulder, then the other out of her coat, which she tossed two feet to her twin bed. The miniscule dorm room didn’t allow enough space for pacing, but she took two steps forward, then back again as she read the correspondence aloud.
“Thank you for submitting…” She skimmed the letter. “All-inclusive scholarship…awarded to…”
Her mouth dropped open. She’d gotten it. Glancing from her bland khaki Happy Burger uniform to the letter she held, she squealed and danced around in a circle. She wouldn’t ever have to wear the awful uniform ever again.
“Thank heavens!”
She glanced around the small dorm room she’d been breaking her back to pay for, just to have to share it with a roommate. They could afford a bigger place now. Heck, she could get her own place off campus.
Wouldn’t that be fun? She could put out her entire book collection, instead of only a few choice pieces, and fill the bookshelves with all her favorite tombs. And no one could say anything about it.
She wanted to sing and to dance. She wanted to do something crazy, something she’d never done before.
She tossed the letter onto her bed, and pulled the ridiculous Boy Scout style scarf from her throat. Celebration was a must. Hadn’t her roommate mentioned a frat party at the Phi Kappa Gamma house? That would be just the place to have a good time. She ran to her closet to search for her sexiest and most fun outfit.
***
Daniel sat on the long couch in the Phi Kappa Gamma house, his arm propped on the back and legs crossed at the ankle. Several couples made out in dark corners, one or two trying to be subtle as they did far more than that. It was official. The party was in full swing. The music blared and the footprints were finding their way to the ceiling.
The corners of his mouth lifted as the next victim—a delicate-featured young lady wearing glasses, a long pencil skirt, and a frilly, almost frumpy, blouse—giggled while some of his frat brothers turned her on her head and handed her the keg spout to drink from. A flash of black lace panties followed. A bit surprising for a librarian. Still, he wondered if a lady like that had ever been in a place like this before. She must have been in her early twenties, maybe a year or two younger than he was, but her straightlaced outfit and rigid body language screamed “over-forty spinster.”
Her number one rule was probably ‘Always comport yourself with dignity’. Well, she was failing that one tonight. Daniel couldn’t help but smile as she, righted once again, pushed her glasses up her nose and patted her once-tight blonde bun, which didn’t look any better for the patting.
The music on the CD paused for an instant, and then another song began. The group around him jabbered, excited about something, but he couldn’t really bring himself to care because the young professional stumbled in his direction.
“Parjon me, but might I sit here?”
She swayed on her feet.
“Be my guest.” He indicated the couch with a sweeping hand, not wanting to have to catch her.
“Those gendlemun were very nice.”
His grin widened at her slurred speech.
“Were they now?”
He wondered if she’d ever even touched a drop before tonight. He was certain she’d never done a keg stand before, because any woman who had would never wear a skirt to a frat party—at least not without some shorts under it.
She hiccupped softly, covered her mouth, and started to giggle again. She seemed like the kind of woman who calculated the exact number of brain cells she would lose with each drink, so that a respectable number remained at the end of the day. For an instant, the image of her hunched over a small table, pencil behind her ear and calculator in hand, furiously crunching numbers, popped into his mind.
Movement caught his eye and Daniel glanced up. Benny, the most unscrupulous frat brother in his house, moved toward the couch. Taking a sip of his beer, Daniel eyed the librarian again. She craned her neck as far forward as she could, scrubbing at some imagined spot on the neckline of her ruffled blouse.
Funny little lady.
Benny hitched up his falling pants—though with no size on him, they were just going to fall again—and rubbed his hands through his hair, which still stood up at funky angles, despite the finger combing. Then he swooped in. He sat beside her on the couch and put an arm across the back behind her.
“Hey sweetheart. I’m Benny. What’s your name?”
Brush him off.
“Erica… Nish to meet you.”
Why is she talking to him?
It irked Daniel that Benny would sit so close. Didn’t he see that the lady was above all this? She may be in the thick of it, but she wasn’t a part of it. She was better than that. Better than any of his frat brothers.
When Benny leaned in and whispered in her ear, and she giggled, Daniel could have clubbed him. Benny only wanted one thing from her. He probably wouldn’t even remember her after he rolled off, let alone the next morning. He wouldn’t see how special this one was. She stood a world apart from the rest of the mindless bimbos who came to keggers at the fraternity house. Just who the hell did Benny think he was?
Benny took her hand, and Daniel’s fists clenched. She shook her head, then leaned back as he came forward. Though she smiled, Daniel could see her eyes widen. Benny advanced, sliding his butt across the seat as he continued to talk in her ear. She adjusted, moving farther away and shaking her head. She was almost lying on top of Daniel now.
That’s it!
“Hey Benny.” He lifted his voice just high enough to be heard over the music.
“What’s up?” Benny glanced over at him, then back at her as though trying to say, ‘Hey, I’m working here’.
That’s what you think, Benny.
“Get out of here.” Daniel jerked his thumb over his shoulder and glared at the obnoxious womanizer. “Go find someone else.”
Benny’s mouth opened as though he might say something, but Daniel’s stare silenced him. He stood and stalked off to the other side of the room.
Chapter Two
“Are you all right?”
She rubbed a finger along her slender neck just above her pulse point, then nodded.
“Thank you, kind shir.”
She’d be all right, but he’d have to keep a close eye on her from now on. Who knew what would have happened if he hadn’t been there when Benny had come on to h
er? She didn’t seem to be here with anyone, so she was fair game to any of his brothers, who wouldn’t have a second thought about her when they finished.
“Let’s play Never Have I Ever.” The innocuous blonde who sat across the coffee table clapped her hands and bounced with excitement.
“How do you play?” his best friend, Todd asked, joining the group with a fresh cup of beer.
The bubbly bimbo turned to face him, waving her hands around and grinning like a fool as she spoke. “Okay, so you say ‘Never have I ever’, and then you tell something you’ve never done. Everyone who has done that has to put up a finger and take a drink. When someone has all his or her fingers up, the game is over. So, who wants to play?”
A chorus of “yeah” came from around the table, and from the drunken lady beside him.
She plans to continue drinking?
It was more obvious with each passing moment that she really didn’t know what she was getting herself into. Daniel would have to protect this lady in the midst of these dragons.
“Never have I ever had a threesome in a graveyard.” The first girl smiled at her friend, who popped a finger in the air and drank a shot.
“You did that on purpose,” said the brunette who’d just had her drink. “Okay, never have I ever given head to a guy in the bathroom of a gas station.” The brunette lifted her eyebrows at her friend who chose to lift her middle finger as she took a gulp of beer.
Todd lifted his beer and winked at the girls. “Never have I ever given a man head at all. Drink up, ladies.”
The librarian didn’t giggle and drink as the others did. Straightlaced. He knew it. She probably hadn’t done more than let little Frankie Peterson steal a kiss in second grade. She rubbed the back of her finger along her neck and played with a wisp of hair while looking toward the ceiling.
“Never have I ever toushed a frog.” Her nose wrinkled and the tip of a pink tongue jutted out.
He smiled. So innocent, she didn’t even understand the point. The intention of the game was to make revelations of a sexual nature. Ultimately, the game was meant to entice the drunken fool across from you into bed for the evening by confessing the raunchiest sexual secrets you could think of.
When the blonde on the other side of the table looked at him, he shook his head, letting her know he had no intention of playing. She pouted and her eyes widened, but her bright red lips held no interest for him. He shook his head again.
“Never have I ever…” A tall brunette jerked at her too-short miniskirt. “Never have I ever watched two people have sex. Drink up, guys.”
The librarian’s finger popped up. His jaw dropped before he could stop it.
Did she understand the question?
She took a drink.
Apparently so.
James, another frat brother in the group, grinned. “Never have I ever had sex in public.”
Her second finger popped up, and she drank again. Daniel smiled. Perhaps there was more to his little librarian than he thought. He’d have to get to know her better—discover who she really was—now that she’d proved so many of his theories wrong.
A few minutes later, when the blonde who’d started the game popped up finger number ten, the girls at the table giggled and headed for the alcohol to refill their drinks.
“That wush a fun game.”
The librarian’s eyes were unfocused. She was about to pass out in a den of wolves. He wouldn’t let that happen.
He turned to her. “Come with me.”
“If I want to live?” She giggled. “Come vish me if you want to live.”
Her imitation of Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t very good. However, considering the amount of alcohol she’d drunk and her petite size, she shouldn’t be able to speak, let alone imitate old movie stars.
He stood, offering her his hand. She placed her palm in his and he yanked her to her feet. She paled.
“Where do you live?”
He tried to catch her gaze as she swayed.
“Do you live on campus? We need to get you to your dorm. Who did you come here with?”
“I don’t feel sho good.”
Damn.
He led her to the stairs and helped her up to his room. Opening the door, he led her inside.
“You know something?” she asked, stumbling a step. “You’re probably the mosht handsome man I’ve ever sheen.”
Unsteady on her heels, she tried to step into him, but tripped and stumbled into his arms. She was soft. Amazingly soft. And she smelled like strawberries. Such a sweet and innocent scent for a frat party attendee.
He inhaled sharply, his body responding to her closeness. His pulse pounded, rushing to engorge parts of him he wouldn’t be using tonight—at least not with this girl so damned drunk. He’d never been the kind of guy to have sex with a girl this smashed. It seemed far too much like taking advantage.
“You can sleep on my bed.”
“And where will you shleep?” Her voice went quiet. “With me?”
He clenched his jaw to keep himself from saying yes. She was an unusual girl. By the end of the game, she’d held up three fingers. She liked public sex, she’d watched two people have sex, and she’d worn a costume during sex. He was curious what it might have been. A kinky girl in the guise of a bookworm. Interesting.
“No.” He released the soft skin and clenched his fists at his sides. “I’ll be on the floor.”
She pouted and he found himself wanting to kiss those lips. To bite that spot on her neck where she’d rubbed so many times. To—
“What if I want you on the bed with me?”
Stepping forward, she swayed again and fell. Once more, he caught her and helped her stand. When she looked into his eyes, his pulse quickened. He’d never seen a sultrier look. Her eyes blazed and the wisps from her disheveled bun framed the delicate bones of her face. Despite her short stature—more than half a foot shorter than his—she managed to pull his head down and stand on her toes to meet him.
Her lips covered his. The sweet and innocent kiss made him doubt her revealing answers to the game. Perhaps he’d been right about her the whole time. Then, she deepened the kiss, and a blast of erotic heat rocked him on his heels. Her tongue fought his, and her hands raked through his hair and held him close. The soft curves of her thin body pressed against him, and for a moment, he considered lifting her off the floor and carrying her to the bed.
When she drew back, her lips wet and her eyes closed in dreamy bliss, he had to look away. He wouldn’t do this. He was master of his own body. But man, what an affect she had on him.
Then, she fell back. His arms, still locked around her, were the only things that kept her from hitting the ground. He lifted her and laid her on his bed, removed her shoes, and pulled the covers over her. She gave a soft sigh and turned on her side, snuggling her head into his pillow.
He watched her sleep for a moment. She looked so innocent and peaceful hugging the fluffy blue and white stripes. A little girl. A librarian. A kinky woman. So many different facets, like a rare gem.
He took off his jacket, wadded it, and shoved it behind his head. Crossing his legs at the ankle, he drifted off to sleep, visions of blonde buns and oval glasses dancing through his dreams.
Chapter Three
Erica yawned and stretched in bed, then put a hand to her forehead. Her eyes felt like they’d been glued shut. The person responsible had apparently gotten into her head and was now pounding for an exit with a sledgehammer.
What did I do last night?
She sat up, afraid to open her eyes, for fear they’d topple out and roll across the carpet.
“Finally awake?” A male voice made her eyes fly open and her mouth do the same.
She sat on a single bed, in a single room, with a single man.
“Oh my God.” She rolled from the bed, getting to her feet, then held her head when the world spun and her stomach threatened to eject what little it held. She tumbled back to the softness of the bedspread.
Sitting on the edge, she held her head between her palms and leaned forward, hoping the vicious man in her head would find his way out before her head exploded completely.
“Drink this.” He held a cup to her lips. “Herbal remedy and old family secret. Cures a hangover really fast.”
She tried to push it away, but when she opened her lips to refuse, the liquid filled her mouth. Hot herbal flavors and something fiery flowed over her tongue, and though her stomach heaved again, it didn’t expel its contents.
“What are you trying to do to me?” She sputtered as she tried to breathe around the burning in her throat.
She peeked at him with one eye closed. Tight jeans, leather jacket, square jaw… He was handsome—devastatingly so—despite the sudden frown. However, it didn’t change the fact that he’d taken advantage of her drunken state. She’d gotten drunk and he’d taken her to his room and…
He shoved the cup at her again, but she pushed it away.
What a cocky—
“Just drink.”
Had he been so insistent the night before?
“You’re a real piece of work.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I was drunk, you ignoramus. You should have been more gentlemanly.”
“Should I have?” His eyebrow rose.
“Yes!” she spat.
“And how exactly would I have done that? By letting Benny take you off into some corner and grope you when you were too drunk to defend yourself? How about if I’d left you passed out in the middle of the party where any guy who came along could’ve grabbed at you while you lie there unconscious? Would that have done it?”
She gathered her shoes from the floor and thanked the hangover gods that her head didn’t spin quite so much this time.
“Oh, so you saved me by bringing me here, did you?” She stomped to the door and flung it open.