Fall Into Me: Hearts of the South

by Linda Winfree

  To learn more about Linda and her books, visit her website at www.lindawinfree.com or join her Yahoo newsletter group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/linda_winfree. Linda loves hearing from readers. Feel free to drop her an email at linda_winfree@yahoo.com.

  Look for these titles by Linda Winfree

  Now Available:

  What Mattered Most

  Hearts of the South Series

  Truth and Consequences

  His Ordinary Life

  Hold On to Me

  Anything But Mine

  Memories of Us

  Hearts Awakened

  Coming Soon:

  Hearts of the South Series

  Facing It

  It’s not the past that wounds us…it’s the ghosts we hold on to.

  Hearts Awakened

  © 2008 Linda Winfree

  Hearts of the South, Book 6

  A lifetime ago Mark Cook’s pregnant wife vanished, taking everything and leaving an empty, aching hole in his life. Since then, as penance for his failure as a husband and father, he’s refused to allow himself to live. Refused to lay his sleeping heart on the line for any woman.

  Enter Tori Calvert, his best friend’s baby sister. Suddenly, against his will—and against his better judgment—that same damaged heart seems determined to reawaken. And Mark’s not sure he can withstand the pain.

  When she was a teenager, a vicious attack ripped away Tori’s very essence as a woman. Finally she feels ready to focus her existence on something other than her job as a rape crisis counselor. And to step outside the shelter of her loving, protective family. She trusts Mark more than any man, yet fear holds her back.

  Fear that even the healing light of love may not be enough to banish the shadows of the past.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Hearts Awakened:

  Tori drifted into awareness. The light from the hallway shone into her eyes, and she squinted and yawned. A blue dress shirt was draped over the edge of her mirror. A pair of men’s loafers sat by the door. The owner of those shoes slept behind her, one hard arm draped over her waist. His hand curved around her ribcage, scant inches from her breast.

  And that wasn’t his belt buckle poking her in the backside.

  Her stomach twisted and her heart thudded in an irregular rhythm. She shrank away from the arm holding her, colliding with the solid chest behind her. Her heart shifted from its thudding to a frightened flutter. The hand tightened and a murmured protest sent warm breath along her bare shoulder.

  Mark. Her heartbeat slowed somewhat. She was in bed with Mark, that was his hand wrapped around her, his chest along her back. His erection against her bottom. She concentrated on breathing, slow, relaxed breaths. She was in bed with Mark, because this was where she’d wanted to be. Closing her eyes, she absorbed the sensations of being this close to him.

  He smelled of clean male. Being wrapped in his loose embrace made her feel sheltered, protected. He slept on, snoring lightly, his breath a warm rhythm on her skin. The hot outline of his hand through silk enticed her. An inch or so upward and he’d be molding the underside of her breast. She pictured that hand sliding up, fingers curving around her, arms tightening, that hard ridge pushing more insistently against her.

  A liquid ache pooled in the pit of her stomach and she shifted, filled with restlessness. Her breasts tingled, feeling heavier, fuller, and she laid a hand over her abdomen. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear she could feel her pulse between her thighs. All this, just from being in his arms, from thinking about his touching her?

  She released a long, measured exhale. What would it feel like when he did touch her? If he was to shift those strong fingers down instead of up, slipping beneath the waistband of her slacks? The pulse at the apex of her thighs throbbed and she pressed her legs together.

  The movement brought her bottom into closer contact with his groin. He jerked, a sudden stillness an indication he was awake now. On her ribcage, his fingers tightened and relaxed but didn’t move. He kissed her shoulder, a soft murmur on her skin. “You awake?”

  Awake? Her entire body vibrated with awareness of him. All vestiges of sleep had evaporated. “Yes.”

  He traced the line of one rib with his thumb. “Feel better?”

  “I guess.” She lifted her shoulder in a small shrug, his lips touching her again.

  He kissed the side of her neck. “I could get used to waking up with you.”

  “Me too.” The rigid line of his arousal still lay between them and curiosity got the better of her. She covered his wrist with her fingers. “Do you always wake up like this?”

  “Hard? Not always, no.” His quiet words sent heat rushing over her skin. “I was dreaming about you.”

  Her breath caught. His drowsy voice had dropped with the admission. Could men purr? No, not a purr. More of a throaty, husky growl. He’d dreamed of her. The achy pulsing spread.

  “Tell me about your dream,” she whispered.

  “We were together, like this.” He shifted closer, mouth near her ear. “Only without so many clothes. You let me touch you.”

  She burned, fire licking through her veins. “How?” She swallowed, her tongue darting out to wet her dry lips. “I mean, how did you touch me?”

  With his lips, he traced the curve of her ear. “We were lying together like this and I slid my hands up. Your breasts filled my palms. Your skin was so hot, honey. Hot and smooth, except around your nipples. They were hard and you wanted my mouth on them. You let me taste you.”

  The pictures he painted flickered in her mind. She wanted to take his wrists, pull his hands up, let him do the things he described. Only the fact she wasn’t the woman in his dream, not really, stopped her. That woman was his fantasy. The reality would be her freezing in fear somewhere along the way.

  The first step in conquering the fear was facing it. She stroked his arm. Under her touch, his skin was warm, sprinkled with dark, coarse hair. She swallowed. “Is that all?”

  He nuzzled her neck. “Not by a long shot. You touched me, your nails on my back, my shoulders. I slid my hands down, over that flat stomach of yours. I could feel the muscles trembling. I was still kissing your breasts, licking and sucking, and you were holding my head there, your nails scratching me a little. I couldn’t get enough of you.”

  Even with the fear, the beat of attraction between her legs grew stronger. She resisted the urge to squirm. The edge of his hand brushed the underside of her breast.

  “You opened your thighs to me.” His dark voice wrapped around her, doing wicked things to her senses. “I stroked you and slipped a finger inside, then another.” He tilted his pelvis, the solid ridge of his erection nudging her. His groan shivered over her ear. “Honey, you were so hot. Wet. Tight. You moaned. My name, over and over. I loved that, loved knowing I could make you feel like that.”

  She wanted to roll over, to beg him to make the fantasy come true. She wanted to believe it could. His nose brushed her cheek and he feathered his palm across her stomach.

  “I wanted to be inside you so bad, Tor, and you wanted it too. I wanted us moving together, until you came all over me. Until I was coming inside you.”

  “Is that what it would be like?” Her voice emerged shaky and broken. “If we made love?”

  He rubbed his face against her shoulder. “Oh honey, I think we’d be better.”

  She turned her head to look at him. His eyes had gone a burning, smoky gray. “I want to,” she whispered. “But I’m frightened. I don’t know—”

  “Shh.” Leaning in, he kissed her, his mouth firm and warm on hers. He framed her face. “We’re not going to do anything until you’re ready.”

  He kissed her again, nibbling and teasing at her lips. Tori shifted to her back, holding his jaw with trembling fingers. Levering up on an elbow, he massaged a hand down her bare arm and she shivered.

  His tongue probed at her mouth in a teasing flickering before he brushed a more sedate caress across her bottom lip. “Open your
mouth, Tori.”

  The rough whisper set her nerves on fire. Gripping his shoulders, she opened to him. He slanted his lips over hers, tongue meeting hers in short, easy thrusts. She moaned, the restless wanting alive once more.

  Caught in love’s undertow…

  Riptide Love

  © 2008 Melissa Lopez

  The Thorns, Book 2

  Rescue swimmer Ethan Thorn is used to pulling people from the swirl of the ocean, but he never expected to pull a woman straight out of his past. Denae Button was the first woman who meant more to him than great sex, until he realized she was his brother’s fiancée. Now the one woman he hoped never to see again is back—with the three-year-old son he never knew he had.

  Denae knows she’s made her share of mistakes, especially when it comes to the Thorn brothers. Royally screwed up by her religious-zealot parents, now she just wants to be a good mother. She doesn’t want anything to do with Ethan—and she knows the feeling is mutual—but she can’t deny him a chance to know his son. Even if facing the Thorn family means confronting a past she’d rather leave behind.

  A resurging riptide of love drags Ethan and Denae back into each other’s arms. But exposing the secrets that nearly destroyed the Thorn family could tear them apart for good.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Riptide Love:

  Nate grew quiet, but every once in a while he opened his eyes, peeking. A few minutes later, De surprised them both by joining them.

  With her sexy legs bare, she stepped over his outstretched legs and climbed into the small bed with Nate. The boy rolled over to press his face into De’s body.

  They made a nice picture.

  It was a few minutes before De lifted up partway. “He’s asleep.” She eased over her son to stretch a foot to the floor. When her second foot touched down, he caught her hand in his. Though he acted to help her over him, he wanted to drag her down to the floor with him.

  A thrill rolled though his bloodstream as the touch lingered. His prick hardened. Pressed against the confines of his pants.

  “Oh.” She let out a gasp alerting him to the fact she felt the heat between them.

  He had trouble catching his own breath. It’d been like this for them before… Instant combustion.

  Steady once more, De jerked back. “Sorry about that.” She wiped her hand on the long T-shirt she wore. “Well, he’s asleep for the night.”

  “Yeah.” Enjoying the quick rise and fall of her breasts, he pushed to his feet.

  “Well, I guess we’ll see you tomorrow then?”

  “Eh, you bet.”

  De’s arms folded under her breasts. Watching her nipples pebble caused arousal to tingle in his balls. Sweat coated his palms. It’d been a while since he’d fucked. Maybe that was the deal with his increased reactions to her. It had to be.

  Still he wanted to know. Needed to know. And no time like the present to find out. Using two fingers, he reached out and caressed the pulse in her graceful neck and slowly ran them down along the vee in her night shirt.

  His fingers slid across to drag over a single nipple.

  On a moan, her hips arched, her breasts thrust forward.

  He stepped into her space to press his stiff prick into her.

  De whimpered.

  He inhaled roughly, enjoying the feel of her along his body.

  Christ, she smelled good. Damn good. He inhaled again. Nuzzling her temple, his mouth buzzed a kiss. He shifted impossibly closer. Lips trailed a line of kisses to her mouth. Greedily he played over her lips. He groaned at the feel of her mouth under his as she opened for him. Her sweetness made him drink. His thirst for her shuddered through him.

  It’s been too damn long.

  The fire for her that’d stayed kindled nearly brought him to his knees at the feel of her hands on his chest.

  The craving, the yearning he’d always had for her erupted on a groan. He deepened the kiss. His tongue and lips explored, teased hers. His rigid prick throbbed in need.

  It’s been too damn long.

  “I missed you, De.” He relished her sweet taste.

  The soft sounds she made caught in his mouth. His balls drew up in warning.

  “I missed you so damn bad.” No one had ever compared to her. Not ever. He wanted her back. What she’d done to him. The way she’d made him feel.

  Groaning, he slid a hand down her body to cup her hip. He pressed his hard prick into her.

  Focus, mate. Ignore your own growing need for release.

  He eased back to allow his hand to trail under the nightshirt she wore. Her panties were wet to his touch.

  She gasped into his mouth.

  “I missed you, luv.”

  De whimpered on an arch of her hips.

  His free hand caught the back of her neck to keep her anchored to him. Her pussy was hot as he worked her clit through the cloth.

  With a turn of her head, she broke the kiss off. “Ethan.” Her hand pushed at his chest.

  He stilled. A new type of tension sank into his muscles.

  Nervously she pressed her hand over the heartbeat in her neck. “Ethan…”

  “Yeah?” He eased back to look into her gaze.

  “I’ve already experienced this…move of seduction.” She motioned between them. “And I have the proof to show it.”

  Cold water washed over him, through him. What the hell had come over him? Trying to seduce De? What was he thinking? He hadn’t. Unless it was with the head below his waistline.

  No. It’d been more than his prick thinking. She’d been hot for him too. He’d felt it. But he’d abandoned her. Hell, he’d not only abandoned her… She’d never been his. She’d belonged to his brother. A bloody fine mate. A second chance wasn’t something he deserved. Guilt and a rising tide of insecurity caused him to step away to give her space.

  “I have to be at work early tomorrow.” She led the way from the bedroom to the entryway. “You’re welcome to visit Nate. We’ll be here by five most days. But…but…” Her arms went back under her arms. “I’m a mother, and the last thing I want to do is become involved with a player again.”

  Ethan’s teeth clenched. He hadn’t been a player since she’d walked out his door.

  “What we had was a fun time…”

  Fun time? His arse. She’d bloody well had the time of her life. He’d made sure of that. Hell, what they’d shared those two weeks had been the best of his bloody life…

  She turned away from him to pull the door open. “It was no more than sex.”

  Only sex? He’d thought he’d suffocate from wanting her. Even after he’d tried to forget her. De had gotten into his system. She’d affected his life just as his calling for a career as a rescue swimmer had.

  When she faced him, her face held tight lines. “Let’s stick to being friends for Nate’s sake.”

  Muscles along his back bunched. Rejection wasn’t something he’d ever experienced before. She’d just rejected him and he disliked it. Disliked being compared to the man he once was.

  “Sure, for Nate.” He forced a smile. “Goodnight, sheila. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

  “Hooroo.” She closed the door before he left the steps.

  Christ. What had gotten into him? And why did he want to prove he’d changed?

  The best mistake she ever made…

  With or Without You

  © 2008 KyAnn Waters

  Tessa Brooks is dated. Not dated as in going out with men—having dinner and light conversation in poorly lit restaurants in hopes of finding someone with whom she can get naked. No, Tessa is dated. And the year she seems stuck in is 1988. The year her life changed.

  With her twenty-year high school reunion coming up, Tessa’s daughter has surprised her with a makeover on the Jade Star television talk show. However, that’s not the only surprise. Enter Matt Toler, the best mistake she ever made. Tessa might not feel a ribbon of panic tightening around her neck if Matt had spoken to her again after their one-night sexual encounter�
�and if knew he had a daughter.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for With or Without You:

  Tessa sat on the loveseat next to Matt. Her left knee jiggled a nervous tempo and, of course, he noticed. He covered her knee with his palm. The weight and warmth of his hand seared her flesh. Butterflies flitted about in her stomach. Her eyes locked on his hand.

  He had long fingers with dark whorls of hair over the knuckles. They were hands of a man. Not the boy who had given her one night of teenage passion twenty years before, but hands she imagined drifting higher on her smooth thigh, slipping beneath her dress and seeking her heated folds.

  Wetness dampened her panties. She squeezed her thighs together and shifted her knees.

  Matt lifted questioning brown eyes and her breath caught in her throat, making swallowing difficult. She’d seen those same eyes often over the years. Matt had been starring in her nighttime fantasies since their magical encounter on that warm spring night.

  “I’m sorry about all this. I thought it was a makeover show.” She clasped her hands in her lap. If only the couch could open up and swallow her whole. Mortification heated her cheeks. “I’m surprised too.”

  She’d forgotten the lopsided smile that disarmed and could disrobe a girl in thirty seconds flat.

  “Surprised is a good word. Tessa, it’s not an unpleasant surprise…just unexpected.”

  He leaned back and settled more comfortably in the loveseat. His hip still rested against hers, sending alarming heat into her core. She hoped he couldn’t feel her temperature because she felt like a nuclear reactor with the red warning lights blazing and emitting dangerous levels of sexual radiation. Overexposure could lead to fried brain cells. Clearly hers had already been damaged. Had it been that damn long since a man had heated her to the point of meltdown from innocent skin contact? Well, okay, there was one memory, most likely distorted with age, supplying the fuel.

  Damn, why did he have to look so good?

  Dark hair, cut neat and clean around the ears, was left longer on top, enough so that the bit of natural curl tempted a woman’s fingers. Tessa clasped her hands in her lap before she reached up to comb a stray lock from his forehead with her fingertips.

  Awkward silence stretched between them. Pressure built behind her eyes and her heart pounded hard and heavy. God, she felt like a fool. Her daughter had brought her one and only one-night stand to daytime talk.