Rocky Mountain Desire: Six Pack Ranch, Book 3
Page 25
“I’d be stupid if I let it be all about you and your needs again.”
“Mad ’cause I didn’t finish it for you?”
She’d been devastated, but all those weepy moments were past. Anger flared, hot enough to melt the ice coating the walls. Did he honestly think she was such a slut she’d go for a proposition like this?
Then again, she’d never gotten what she wanted, sexually, from Cutter Standifer. When they’d dated, he’d been painfully remote. Even after they’d finally gotten naked. Today, he’d been ruthlessly cruel.
But if he wanted something from her now… Well, wasn’t she in a position to bargain for more? Did she want to risk her heart with him again? If he was even contemplating having an affair with her, did that mean that somewhere deep inside him, he still cared?
God, she was pathetic. The cruel twist of his mouth didn’t betray a single ounce of pity or affection. Still, her body reacted, predictably, to his presence.
Her pussy still ached from his earlier forceful thrusts. Unabated arousal had kept her edgy, angry. From just the memory of his invasion, her body had remained primed, her clit swollen, her nipples tight and hard. Even now, moisture seeped into her panties.
Could she do this? Begin a strictly sexual relationship without losing herself and her self-respect? She still wanted him. And didn’t she deserve pleasure for herself?
Katie lifted her chin and kept her gaze locked with his. “If I do this, you won’t be the only one getting what you want.”
Behind the scenes, beneath the covers...
Starstruck
© 2012 Ashleigh Raine
Hollywood Heat, Book 3
Jenna Byers approaches her first day as a background actor on Sexy M.D. with one goal in mind—impress the right people with her acting, make connections, and prove she’s a hard worker. Things go sideways when an up-close-and-personal encounter with the uber-sexy lead ends with Jenna flat on her butt, and she’s noticed for all the wrong reasons.
In all his years of acting, there’s only one thing Micah Watley hasn’t done: accidentally punch an extra in the face. Going against protocol, he hunts her down to apologize and discovers a rare phenomenon in the entertainment industry. A sweet, uncorrupted-by-Hollywood woman, whose smile grabs him by the heart—and other not-so-innocent body parts—and won’t let go.
Their attraction is instant and intense, and Micah finds himself desperate to believe the woman with the beautiful smile, hot body and naughty mind wants him, not the doors he could open for her. When the press catches on, twisting Jenna and Micah’s love story into a Hollywood scandal, they’re forced to fight for their happy ending—both on and off camera.
Warning: This book contains a hero and a heroine who don’t know a household surface they won’t get horizontal on. Sometimes vertical too. Counters, sinks, showers, sofas, washing machines, beds, walls…they’ve got all the angles covered.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Starstruck:
They walked together toward the front door. She considered asking where he wanted to go, what he wanted to do, but she didn’t want to pressure him. Honestly, even if all they did was walk out the door, say their goodbyes and then he turned left and she turned right, she’d be okay with that. Him showing up to see her tonight was awesome enough.
Okay, that was totally a lie. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him yet. “How was your—?”
“You were fantas—”
They laughed, and he held open the door for her to pass through. “You first,” he said. “I’m on my best behavior tonight. Holding doors rather than knocking you over. Is it working?”
She gave him a considering look, murmured, “Hmm…” and nodded. “Although sometimes good behavior’s overrated.”
“That, I can work with,” he said softly as she eased past. When she stepped outside, the cool night breeze washed over her heated face. She wasn’t blushing though—at least she didn’t think she was. This all-over warmth could be one hundred percent attributed to Micah.
Hat shading his eyes, he held the door for another exiting couple, and then walked to her side. “Where are you parked?” he asked.
“Behind the building.”
“Me too.” They followed the sidewalk around to the back of Stars.
She watched him out of the corner of her eye as they crossed into the parking lot. The cap kept most of his face in shadow, but the streetlight highlighted his jaw, and she had the absurd desire to reach out and feel the stubble there shining golden in the light. Down, girl. Instead, she fiddled with the length of purse strap hanging from her shoulder and tucked her other hand into her pocket. “Did you have a good dinner?” There, that was polite, hands-to-herself conversation. Go her!
“Dinner was good. But the entertainment, that was fantastic. You were fantastic.”
Okay, now she was blushing. And beaming. And really wanting to throw her arms around him. She stopped walking and faced him, although her hands stayed firmly at her sides. Tackling him in a parking lot would probably be considered bad form.
“Thank you.” Her mother would be proud that even when starstruck, Jenna remembered her manners.
“So if I come back on my birthday, will you sing to me too?” He had the devil in his eyes, and his mouth was quirked up at the corners. Two could play at the teasing game.
Channeling Marilyn in expression and voice, she purred, “Oh, you like Marilyn?”
He stepped closer, so close she could see herself in his eyes, feel his breath brush her cheek as he said, “No. I like you.”
And then she couldn’t see anymore, she could only feel, because her eyes were closed and his mouth was on hers, and they were kissing. The softest pressure of his lips, not demanding, just sharing. Touches. Breaths.
And God, this man knew how to kiss. Not only with his mouth, but with his whole body. One of his hands came up to cradle her head, tangling in her hair, fingertips stroking along her neck. His other hand cupped her hip, his thumb sweeping back and forth. Even through the cotton she felt that caress, and she wished her shirt would ride up a few inches so he’d graze bare flesh.
Finally giving herself permission to touch, she lifted her hands to rest on his waist. He was so warm, his body tight and strong beneath her palms.
He pulled back and leaned his forehead against hers, their panted exhales mingling in the small space between their lips. He smoothed his hands over her back, along her shoulders and down her arms.
“Can I see you again?” he asked as he tangled their fingers together.
“Will there be more kissing involved?”
He huffed out a broken laugh and brushed his lips over hers. “Yeah, I can pretty much guarantee that.”
“Well then. I think we should make plans to meet.” This time she closed the distance between them and pressed their mouths together. “And soon.”
A sound between a moan and a sigh rumbled from his throat. “Not soon enough. My next three days are gonna be hell. Long shooting days. I’m in almost every scene. What about Saturday?”
“I work an early shift, but I’ll be out by two.”
“How about dinner that night?”
“I’d like that.”
Lifting their clasped hands, he kissed the back of hers. “Me too.”
It was a good thing they were holding hands, because Jenna still had that itch to touch him…everywhere. The limited tactile taste had only whetted her appetite. She needed to stroke his stubble-rough jaw, run her fingers through the hair flattened to his scalp… “What happened to your hat?”
His shoulders came up in a cute shrug. “Stuffed it in the back of my pants.”
“Real smooth.” Jenna chuckled. “And it’s a good thing, too, because I’ve already proven I might not duck in time.”
“Well, I am still on my best behavior.” Micah winked as he put the hat back in place. “Can I walk you to your car?”
“Sure.” She was tempted to prolong the evening by doing laps around the
parking lot, but considering it would probably make her look a little crazy and a lot desperate, she took a few steps and stopped in front of her dingy, banged-up Sentra. “This is mine.” She unlocked her car and tossed her purse on the passenger seat. “So, Saturday night then?”
“Most definitely. Wait, what’s your number?” He pulled his phone out and keyed in her number as she told him, then tucked it back in his pocket. She did the same, dipping into the car to grab her green-rhinestone-star-decorated cell from her purse, so she could input his number. “Can’t wait.”
“Me neither.”
He grabbed the brim of his hat and twisted it to the side, before bringing his hands to her face and cupping her cheeks. Her eyes closed as his lips landed on hers for a sweet, beautiful, oh-too-short moment of bliss.
“Good night, Jenna.” He slowly retreated and drew his hat forward.
“Good night, Micah.” Still feeling the warmth of his hands on her cheeks, she sank into her car, barely noticing the duct tape holding the seat together scratching against her butt. Tonight had been awesome and called for loud music blasted from ancient speakers so she could sing at the top of her lungs. After she left the parking lot, though, since Micah was waiting only a few feet away, seeing her off.
She turned the key in the ignition, but her car only made its irritating fast clicking noise.
Well, she’d wanted to prolong the evening, but not by playing the damsel in distress. Fingers crossed, she turned the key again, but was met with the same lack of progress.
Crap.
She popped the hood release, got out and headed straight for the front.
“You need any help?” Micah asked, and even with the hat hiding his features, she could see his look of concern.
She shrugged like it was no big deal. “Holly does this sometimes. She’s been a bit moody since I moved to L.A.”
“Holly?” One side of his mouth tilted up.
“My mom named her. Told me that this car would get me wherever I needed to go—to school, the supermarket and even Hollywood.” She got the hood open and started jiggling the wires. “I don’t know why, but every time Holly does this, I wiggle all the wires and she starts. Just like a girl, right?” She got in the car and turned the key. Holly purred to life—well, more like choked and spluttered, but she was running and that’s what mattered. “See, all better.” She hopped out of the car to close the hood.
Micah looked at her, her car, and her again. “Can I follow you home? Make sure you get there okay?”
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to go out of your way for me.”
“How do you know it’s out of my way?” he teased.
“How do you know it’s not?” she teased back.
Micah leaned in close. “Seriously. I’d feel better knowing you made it home okay. Plus, I need to know where you live so I can pick you up on Saturday night. See, win-win situation here.”
How could she say no to that? Besides, she wanted to spend more time with Micah. Not that him in one car and her in another constituted time together, but still. “I live in Van Nuys, fifteen, twenty minutes from here, depending on traffic. You really don’t mind?”
“Consider it a done deal.”
Rocky Mountain Desire
Vivian Arend
Nothing comes easy. You’ve gotta work for it.
Six Pack Ranch, Book 3
Matt Coleman always figured at this point in his life, he’d be settled down with a family. Since his ex split for the big city, though, no way will he give anyone else the chance to drop-kick his heart. Physical pleasure? Hell, yeah, he’ll take—and give—with gusto, but nothing more.
Hope Meridan is working long hours to hold on to her new quilt shop, going it alone since her sister/business partner ran off. Sex? Right, like she’s got the time. Not that she doesn’t have the occasional dirty fantasy about Matt. Fat chance he’d dream of knocking boots with her—the younger sister of the woman who dumped him. Nope, she’ll just have to settle for the F-word.
Friends would be far easier if there wasn’t something combustible going on between them. And when casual interest starts to grow into something more, their tenuous bond strengthens in the heat of desire. But it may not survive the hurricane-force arrival of the last person either of them ever wanted to see again…
Warning: Small-town rivals, men in pursuit and family meddling—in good and bad ways. Look for a cowboy who knows how to rope, ride and rein in a hell of a lot more than eight seconds of sheer bliss.
eBooks are not transferable.
They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B
Cincinnati OH 45249
Rocky Mountain Desire
Copyright © 2012 by Vivian Arend
ISBN: 978-1-60928-633-0
Edited by Anne Scott
Cover by Angela Waters
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: March 2012
www.samhainpublishing.com
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
About the Author
Look for these titles by Vivian Arend
Also Available from Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Copyright Page