The Yearning

by Tina Donahue

  “No.” Her cheeks and throat went hot. “What happened that one time won’t be repeated, I promise you. I’ve already told him as much.”

  “If you hadn’t, I would have. I’m not sharing you with him or any man.”

  She smiled at his possessiveness, awed by it. “You never did.”

  His hand went to her hair, using it to bring her close. She inhaled deeply as their thighs and bellies touched. He asked, “What about your sisters?”

  “You mean coming between us?” She hadn’t thought about that and wanted to assure him that wouldn’t be the case.

  “Violet likes you. She thinks you’re hot.”

  “No shit?” His embarrassed smile said he hadn’t expected to hear such a thing. He kissed her shoulder. “Remind me to thank her.”

  “Oh no, don’t. She’d be so embarrassed if she knew I told you—wait, are you putting me on?” She slapped his hard belly. It didn’t stop his drowsy laughter.

  He let go of her hair. “Violet’s all right. One helluva cook and not a bad designer, either.” He trailed his forefinger between the cleavage Jasmine’s dress exposed, sending new tingles throughout her body. “I want her making all of your clothes from now on.”

  Her brows lifted and an edge of unease gripped her belly. “Without the curse, you expect me to wear stuff like this in public?”

  “I’m hoping you won’t mind. I sure as hell don’t. You’re a beautiful, sexy woman, Jasmine. Can’t you see it? Why are you trying to hide it?”

  “I’m not. I just never thought of myself that way.”

  He shook his head. The wind snatched the ends of his hair. “Haven’t you seen yourself in a mirror recently? You’re freaking awesome.”

  She laughed at his turning her earlier words on her and did the same to him. “Damn, you’re right,” she said, just as he had when she’d told him to look at himself in the antique mirror.

  He smiled. “Has Violet ever thought of designing lingerie?” His finger skimmed her nipple.

  “You want me to start wearing underwear?”

  “If it’s anything like that corset you put on, yeah.”

  She snuggled closer. “It’s her design. She’s coming out with more in the fall—eighteenth-century undergarments for a twenty-first-century woman.”

  His head dropped to her hand cupping his fly. “I can’t wait. I want you to model them for me in our bedroom.”

  Our bedroom. How wonderful it sounded. “At my house?”

  His hesitation returned. He lifted his face. “It makes the most sense since you operate your business there and my place isn’t large enough for me. We’ll share expenses, just like other couples do, if you have no objections.”

  “Not even one.”

  “Think Lily will?”

  Jasmine’s stomach sank. Her youngest sister had always been too obstinate and vocal. When their parents had been alive, it seemed she couldn’t get enough of their attention. After the accident, she’d made no effort to hide how she resented losing them and her oldest sister taking charge. At the same time, she competed with Violet for Jasmine’s love, although it hadn’t been necessary. Jasmine would have gladly died for either of them.

  But Lily didn’t like to share. She feared change. At twenty-six, she was still the frightened thirteen-year-old at their parents’ graves.

  Jasmine’s sigh said it all. She couldn’t bring anyone new into their home unless both of her sisters approved. “I don’t know. We’ll have to ask. We might have to win her over. Do you mind?”

  Mike held her close. “Not at all, I’d do anything for you.”

  He already had.

  At Jasmine’s house, they had just reached the gazebo when the kitchen door flung opened. Lily, Violet and Ben rushed as one onto the porch. There they stayed, staring, obviously fearing the worst. That Desiree hadn’t showed and if she had, she hadn’t lifted the curse.

  Mike released Jasmine’s hand. “Go on and tell them. I’ll wait here.”

  “No. You should be there too.” Not only had he saved her life, he’d given her a future she’d never dreamed possible.

  “It’s all right.” He brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “Tell them what they’ve been waiting to hear. Once they know what happened, I’ll join you and we’ll ask them about my moving in.”

  Reluctantly, she left him. Her sisters and Ben looked so stricken and loved her so much tears ran down Jasmine’s face. “I’m okay,” she said, climbing the steps. “It’s over.”

  “It’s not,” Lily argued. “You’re crying. What the hell happened?”

  Jasmine gathered her youngest sister into her arms with confidence and care she hadn’t known in too long. “There’s no need for you to be afraid any longer, Lil.” She lifted her head and spoke to the others. “Desiree lifted the curse.”

  Suddenly, they all wanted their turn to hug her, with their questions interrupting each other.

  “Where’s she now?” Violet asked.

  “How’d you convince that freaking witch to free you?” Lily wanted to know.

  “Will she be back?” Ben questioned.

  Jasmine pulled free of them. “Mike should tell you. We owe all of this to him. He was unbelievable.” She motioned for him. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”

  Jasmine and her sisters sat at the table, Ben stood by the door, Mike near the sink as he relayed what had happened tonight.

  When he’d finished, Lily pushed her chair back, scraping the legs over the wood. “How do we know we can trust your friend Erica to tell us if Desiree gets loose?”

  Jasmine answered for him. “Mike trusts Erica. That’s good enough for me.”

  “And me,” Violet said.

  Lily crossed her arms over her chest, ignoring them in favor of grilling Mike. “While you had the chance, why didn’t you kill Desiree? What’s the matter with you?”

  “Lil.” Jasmine stood, hands on her hips. “That’s enough.”

  “It’s all right,” Mike said to her. He spoke to Lily. “If she had tried to harm your sister further, I would have done anything to stop her. Desiree didn’t want to die, so she removed the curse. To have harmed her after that would have been the coward’s way out.”

  “And murder,” Ben said.

  Lily’s head swung to him, then back to Mike. “But she’s still out there. As long as she’s alive, my sister won’t be safe.”

  “That’s not true,” Jasmine said. “Mike will protect me.”

  All eyes went to her, including his. In his dark gaze was love and gratitude for her confidence in him.

  Unconvinced, Lily frowned. “How’s he planning to do that?”

  He drawled, “The usual way.” A recognizable buzz filled the room.

  Violet’s hands flew to her mouth, Ben choked on his swallow, Jasmine tried not to laugh. Lily’s brows met her hairline as Mike’s power lifted her from the chair. “Pull your arms and legs in,” he instructed.

  She gaped at the empty space between her and the floor. “Why?”

  “Because I said so.” He spun her in a loose circle. She snatched her legs and arms tight to her body. He accelerated the spins until she was a blur, like a figure skater on ice.

  “Ready to come down?” he asked.

  “Hell no.” She squealed, “This is so freaking cool!”

  Smiling, he gave her a few more whirls and put her back on the seat. “Dizzy?”

  “I can handle it.” She gripped her chair so she wouldn’t fall off and lowered her head to the table.

  He grinned and spoke to them all. “Nothing’s going to happen to Jasmine. I give you my word.”

  Violet’s and Ben’s heads bobbed in stunned agreement. Jasmine cleared her throat, ready to make her announcement or plea. “Mike and I are going to be together from now on.”

  Lily’s head lifted from the table. The others looked at Mike.

  “I love him,” Jasmine announced, “and he loves me. I’ve asked him to move in here—if that’s okay with all of you.” />
  Evidently surprised, Ben advanced a step. “I get a vote?”

  “Why wouldn’t you?” Mike looked at the boy. “You were here first.”

  His expression said he hadn’t expected the consideration and wasn’t certain how to handle it. “Right, well, I guess it’s okay.” He shifted his weight.

  “You’re sure?” Mike asked.

  Ben’s embarrassment grew. He straightened his shoulders and tried to sound casual. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? Hey,” he said, without giving Mike a chance to answer, “do you know how to repair stuff? The plumbing in this place is a fucking nightmare. I could use some help with it.”

  “I’m no plumber, but I’d be happy to do whatever I can.”

  Ben nodded, then crossed the room and offered his hand.

  As Mike shook it, Violet said, “I’m okay with this too. Lil?”

  She rolled her forehead over the table’s glass top.

  Jasmine’s heart clenched even as her aggravation grew. “Lil?”

  “I don’t know.” Her sullen tone indicated how much she hated the idea. “It’s already crowded with all of us.”

  Mike started to speak. Jasmine put up her hand to stop him. “If that’s how you feel, I understand. I’ll pack a few bags tonight and come for the remainder of my stuff tomorrow afternoon.”

  Her sister’s blonde head rose slowly from the table. “What do you mean? You’d actually move out?”

  “I wouldn’t have a choice, Lil. I won’t leave Mike. We’ll find a new place together.”

  “No, you can’t,” Violet said. She grabbed Jasmine’s hand. “I won’t let you. You belong here more than anyone else. You kept us together after Mom and Dad died.” Turning to Lily, she hissed, “What is the matter with you?” With her free hand, she slapped her younger sister’s shoulder.

  “Hey,” Lily complained, “stop it.”

  Violet didn’t back down. “Quit being such a problem. Tell Jas it’s okay for Mike to move in here. Go on or I’ll really slug you. And don’t think I can’t,” she interrupted her sister.

  The girl’s light brown eyes narrowed on Violet then him. “I’m warning you, you better never hurt Jas.”

  “Even if I do so unwittingly, you can brain me with your skillet.”

  “Don’t think I won’t,” she grumbled, though her lips turned up in a slight smile. “Yeah, okay.” She straightened and slumped back in her chair. “I’m cool with it.”

  Jasmine went behind Lily, throwing her arms around her. “Thank you.”

  The girl gripped Jasmine’s wrists and whispered so the others couldn’t hear. “You wouldn’t ever really leave me, right?”

  Aw, Lil. Fighting tears, Jasmine hugged her hard. “Never,” she whispered. “I’ll always be here for you.”

  “You better be.”

  Jasmine gave her youngest sister a hard kiss on her cheek and a few more moments before she straightened and offered Mike her hand.

  “Night,” Violet said first. Ben and Lily nodded.

  Jasmine led Mike down the hall and to the stairway. There, he stopped her. “What?” she asked, turning to him.

  He studied her eyes, her mouth, her hair. “Tell me about you.”

  Her smile couldn’t have been more pleased. The question didn’t scare her any longer. She wanted him to know everything, and she had to learn all she could about him, his smallest dislikes, his greatest joys. “All right. To begin with, I wasn’t always as fascinating as I am now.”

  He settled his forehead on hers. “I don’t believe it. You’re lying.”

  “Nope. My date for the freshman dance knew I was a real dud. That’s why he stood me up.”

  “What?” He pulled back, genuinely surprised. “Really? What a prick.”

  “Oh hey, I couldn’t blame him. It was a fix-up from one of my friends. I still wore braces and had zits.”

  He struggled not to smile. “Impossible.”

  “I have proof. My dad took a bunch of pictures before we figured the guy wasn’t going to show.”

  “I want to see them.”

  “Tomorrow. Along with all of the photos that used to go there.” She gestured to the wall and went up a step.

  He followed. “Go on. Tell me more.”

  “Okay. Let’s see. Elementary school is pretty much a blur, except for the second grade Christmas pageant when I was cast as one of the ornaments on this huge tree and then third grade when I broke my arm.”

  “Shit. You were hurt?”

  “A fourth-grade boy wanted his turn on the swings and pushed me off. Lucky for me I fell on my elbows and not my head.”

  He smiled. “True. What else?”

  She took another step, and so did he. “Well, although I hate to admit it and haven’t till now, it took me two tries to get my driver’s license. The first time I tried to parallel park, I forgot to take the car out of reverse and accelerated. My dad’s Chrysler jumped the curb and almost ran down two cops.”

  Mike’s shoulders shook with laughter.

  She continued climbing the stairs. Again, he followed. “I won a math award in middle school. In high school I was school treasurer senior year—not because I was particularly popular—nobody else wanted the job.”

  “They were too stupid, huh?”

  Her laughter floated down the stairway. “I guess that’s one way to look at it.” They reached the landing. “Pink and blue-green are my favorite colors. I absolutely loathe yogurt. Really, I don’t know what other women see in it. The manufacturers can add all the chocolate and sugar they want, it’s still yogurt. If I wouldn’t gain a ton, I’d eat Cheez-Its and Dove bars all day. I have been known to buy new underwear so I don’t have to do laundry. And I was an absolute failure at Girl Scouts. I just couldn’t get into earning those badges. Now enough about me for the time being. Tell me about you.”

  He led her down the hall to their bedroom. “I’m thinking about going back into the service.”

  “Oh, Mike.” She gave him a fierce hug, causing him to stagger back. “You should. You loved it. I saw it in your eyes.”

  “That may be, but I don’t want to fail.”

  “You won’t. You saved me, didn’t you?”

  “Not from me.” Arm around her waist, he opened the door and led her inside. The room was more inviting than she recalled, scented with freshly washed linens and furniture polish. Violet and Lily had probably cleaned while she’d been gone. Anything to keep busy while they awaited her fate.

  Mike locked the door, sealing her future. She belonged to him.

  Teasing, she asked, “Are you going to spin me around like you did with Lily?”

  “Nope. I’d rather use my concentration for something else.” He took the handcuffs from the nightstand drawer, suspending them from his little finger. “I haven’t used these on you as yet.”

  No, he had not. Jasmine needed no further prompting. She kicked off her sandals. The dress fell to her feet. She put her hands behind her.

  Mike secured the cuffs and came around to her front. His gaze raked her defenseless body; one hand went to her cleft and the other roamed her breasts. “When your sisters and Ben are asleep, we’re going back to the kitchen.”

  For him to take her as he’d said at Haney’s Hut. A promise she’d make certain he kept.

  Her breath caught. She asked, “Until then?”

  Passion greater than any curse flamed in his eyes. “I’m going to get to know you.”

  “It may take some time.”

  His smile said he hoped it would be forever.

  About the Author

  Tina Donahue is a multi-published novelist in contemporary, historical and erotic romance. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She has reached finals and/or placed in numerous RWA-sponsored contests. She was the editor of an award-winning Midwestern newspaper, worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company, and is currently the Managing Editor for a global business document c
oncern.

  Email: tina@tinadonahue.com

  Website/blog: www.tinadonahue.com

  Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000458023097

  Separated in time. United by forbidden passion…

  The Concubine’s Tale

  © 2010 Jennifer Colgan

  When an ancient papyrus scroll comes up for auction, gallery curator Cait Lang draws the distasteful task of notifying her boss’s favorite client, Grant Pierson. The rare art and antiquities collector’s arrogance grates on her nerves, but most of all she resents her own weakness for his athletic body and deep brown eyes.

  It’s the hieroglyphic scroll that draws Grant to a private, after-hours showing at the gallery. But the lovely Cait’s narration of the erotically charged story captures his interest. Determined to hear the rest of the tale—and spend more time in Cait’s company—he convinces her to join him for dinner.

  The intricate, sensual tale transports Cait and Grant’s imaginations into the past. And the depictions of sexually charged temple rituals inspire them to explore their own hidden passions—in Grant’s apartment.

  Even as Grant succumbs to Cait’s charms, the drive to own the scroll hums in the back of his mind. If he isn’t careful, though, he’ll not only lose the chance to hear the end of the story, he’ll lose something more precious. The missing piece of his own life—Cait.

  Warning: This title contains explicit, forbidden sex, ritual sex, a sex god, and naughty hieroglyphics.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for The Concubine’s Tale:

  Cait looked up from her dessert, a decadent chocolate confection laced with liquor-soaked fruit. She felt Nayari’s anticipation and her fear, wondering if her master would come for her and see that she was properly blessed by the fertility god, and at the same time entertaining forbidden thoughts about the dark warrior.

  Grant filled her wine glass and studied her intently. His gaze was languid and warm. “What was the warrior doing while she waited in her little temple room?”

  Gaining control over her emotions, Cait smiled wickedly and took another succulent bite of dessert. “He was thinking about her and trying not to betray the trust Ammonptah had put in him.”