Losing It: A Collection of VCards

by Nikki Jefford

  She is currently working on completing her Immortal Rose trilogy, a prequel to her Arotas novels. She has also embarked on two new journeys this year, one in the form of a co-written banshee trilogy, The Hallowed Realms, which is currently represented by GH Literary and she breached another genre with her upcoming adult horror novel, Wither.

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  Adventures in Dating

  by Milda Harris

  In this scene, Kait is getting ready to go on a double date with Troy, a suspect in the murder mystery she is investigating. It’s her first date ever, but sadly the guy she really likes is Ethan. He’s going on the double date too—with her ex-best friend, Ariel.

  ***

  I went home and massacred my closet looking for something to wear for my first date ever. It was with a college guy! I was in a panic. My cat, Scarlett, was enjoying it, though. She was busy jumping into piles of clothes as I tossed them aside.

  Troy was definitely cute. If I was able to cross him off the suspect list in Liz’s murder, then maybe I could explain things. Maybe we could continue seeing each other, especially since Ethan still seemed to be oblivious to me in any sort of romantic terms. Sadly, he probably considered our relationship as just business since we were investigating his half sister’s murder.

  I finally settled on a dress that I had never worn. My aunt had gotten it for me for Christmas the year before when she took me on a shopping trip. Despite my protests that it was too low cut and that I knew my boobs would fall out of it, she insisted that someday I might want to wear something sexy. Since I didn’t have my mom to buy it for me, she would. Then she told me that I should definitely hide it from my dad. I had done just that.

  The dark blue dress was perfect for a date. It clung to me in all the right places, from my decently ample bosom to my curvy hips. It was also short enough to show off my long legs and give a guy’s imagination a good kick-start.

  Hey, I know what guys want. I may not normally wear these things, but believe me I know. Besides, even though I was wearing a clingy dress, that didn’t mean I would actually give it to Troy, not on the first date anyway. The color of the dress actually made the strawberry blonde in my hair look pretty too. I hoped Troy approved of the cleavage I was sporting. Maybe as a plus, Ethan would notice too. My other outfits had been way more conservative than this. Maybe Ethan needed a jump-start to really see me, now that he at least thought I was kind of normal and not just a funeral-crashing weird girl.

  Because we didn’t want Troy to know where I lived, we were all meeting at the date location. It was a hamburger joint that was known for its build your own hamburger menu called The Burger. They really did have the best burgers.

  The Burger was a busy hang out. If it turned out that Troy murdered Liz, he wouldn’t be able to stick a heroin needle in my arm without anyone noticing. Ethan wasn’t taking any chances, though, and told me that I’d have to meet Troy at the restaurant. Instead, Ethan would be picking me up for my double date with Troy. His date, Ariel, was going to meet us at the restaurant too. I knew she’d totally hate that. Even as her ex-BFF, I knew that Ariel was a pick-me-up-at-my-house and open-the-door-for-me kind of girl. It would probably be a good idea for the guy to have flowers too, if he wanted anything to happen.

  If this wasn’t the weirdest double date ever already, maybe I would have said something to Ethan about that. Not that I wanted to do any favors for Ariel where Ethan was concerned or anything, since I liked him and she knew it. Actually, just the thought of Ethan and Ariel as a couple made me feel ill, causing me to do further damage to my closet in making sure that I was wearing the perfect outfit.

  Ethan knocked on my door promptly at seven o’clock. Luckily, my dad had gone over to his friend’s house to watch a basketball game. I was saved from any kind of explaining about Ethan and the dress. My dad might actually have made me change. He might have also thought that Ethan was the one taking me on the date, which sadly, he wasn’t.

  I opened the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Ethan do a double take. I knew I looked sexy! I tried to work it with a pose, but then I felt ridiculous. Ethan smiled, but didn’t say anything. He just kept looking at me.

  So, I looked Ethan over too. That wasn’t weird, right? I mean, he seemed to be drinking me in. It was only fair that I do the same. His hair was freshly styled and he wore a crisp blue button down shirt that matched his eyes. He had it unbuttoned slightly and I had an urge to button it up for him. I didn’t want Ariel anywhere near his actual chest. I forced my hand to stay still. Another part of me wanted to unbutton his shirt further and torture myself with what I was missing.

  Wait. How long had we been standing there staring at each other? I forced my gaze back to Ethan’s eyes and found his looking right back into mine. A jolt of electricity shot through me. Then it burst into fireworks somewhere in the vicinity of my stomach. My legs suddenly turned to jelly. Ethan’s arm shot out to steady me.

  “Are you okay?” Ethan asked.

  “I…I’m fine,” I managed, except now Ethan was standing even closer to me. My stomach was doing excited backflips. I hoped my legs kept holding me up. I could not faint. That would be really embarrassing.

  Ethan’s hand was still around my arm. I looked back up at him. Our mouths were only inches apart. I was fascinated. How was it possible that I was this close to Ethan Ripley? My lips parted automatically at the thoughts that were racing through my brain. Wow. What was wrong with me? There was no way that Ethan was actually thinking what I was thinking…

  “Kait,” Ethan said.

  “Yeah?” I asked.

  My cheeks were burning. Okay, he could never know what I had been thinking just then. It was so unlike me, but he was Ethan Ripley, so could anyone blame me? I was only human.

  And then Ethan did something I would never have expected in a million years: he bridged the gap between our lips and kissed me. It was out of nowhere. His lips were just suddenly on mine. At first my lips didn’t move. Was this really happening? But then as he continued to kiss me, I kissed him back, tentatively at first, and then more confidently. His tongue teased mine and I gave in as all of my rational thoughts melted away at the steady fire building inside my body. Then Ethan pulled away to look at me like he wanted to ask me if this was okay. It was more than okay. I was in heaven.

  “No. Don’t stop,” I said and pulled Ethan back toward me and into my house.

  Troy, the double date, and Liz’s murder mystery were a far second, third, and fourth to kissing Ethan Ripley. It was something that I had wanted for so long. Since it had actually happened, I wanted it to keep happening. The fantasy had to continue for at least a few more minutes. Hours would have been better. Oh yeah.

  Ethan deepened the kiss and I felt his tongue touch mine again. All of my senses went haywire as another jolt of heat flowed through me. Oh, this definitely needed to keep happening. I managed to kick the front door shut without breaking my lip lock with Ethan. Of course as I did that, I also accidentally swept his leg out from under him, causing us to crash down onto the floor with him on top of me. That’s when we started laughing. I couldn’t breathe, I was laughing so hard.

  “Kait,” Ethan tried to say, but he couldn’t get any other words out.

  We both tried to stop laughing. After a moment we were silent and staring at each other. Ethan still straddled me, looking down at me.

  “We should go,” Ethan said, but he didn’t move.

  I knew that Ethan was right. I had a mystery to solve, the mystery of his half sister’s death. The thing was, though, that I didn’t want to go on my fake date with Troy. Whatever was happening here might not happen if we left for that date.

  I shook my head. “Troy can wait.”

  At my words, Ethan’s mouth came down on mine again.
I felt Ethan’s weight shift and now he was completely on top of me, tangling his hands in my hair as he kissed me. My hands were running through his hair too, his soft and silky hair, and then down his back, and finally under his shirt. Ethan continued to explore me and found a breast with his right hand. My hips arched toward him at the touch as it ignited my body into a raging fire. He continued to tease it softly with his hand, driving my body into a frenzy as he continued his assault on my mouth.

  Then Ethan took his shirt off. I had one of those moments where the whole world slows down and an ethereal light shines down on the person you’re admiring. Yes, it actually happens, and all I’d needed to experience it was to have Ethan take his shirt off. Minutes ago this would have been unreal and now…wow. I ran my hands over his well-defined chest and flat stomach, all the way down to the top of his jeans.

  Ethan gasped and pulled me closer. As we continued to explore each other, his fingers found their way to the zipper at the back of my dress. His hand touched my skin a moment later, almost immediately finding my bra clasp. He fumbled with it and it gave way. Now I was the one gasping.

  We were moving forward and fast. Still, I didn’t want to stop. I had wanted Ethan Ripley for ages and as insane as this was, I’d take what I could get. As I knew, life could be way too short and sometimes you had to seize the day. Besides, I didn’t think I could stop now even if I’d wanted to stop. It was like a romance novel sex scene. I really wanted to see how it played out. I had to know. I needed him. Badly.

  I kissed Ethan harder and his kisses matched mine. Then Ethan’s mouth left mine and he moved down to nuzzle my neck. Even though my lips were open, I could barely breathe from the tingling sensations coursing through my body from that intimate touch. The fire was now building in my stomach. More. I wanted more.

  As if he sensed my need, Ethan’s lips left my neck and moved lower. His kisses trailed across my clavicle. I felt him move the straps of my dress down my arms. Ethan’s mouth continued a trail between the valley of my breasts to my stomach. A need that I’d never felt before slammed through me, causing a moan to escape my lips.

  Ethan stopped to look at me and I froze, feeling embarrassed. I’d never gone anywhere near this far with a guy. Heck, the last time I’d kissed a guy, I was in the first grade. I didn’t think it even counted. I thought it was gross. It was so not gross anymore. It was hot to say the least and with Ethan it was way beyond that. My whole body was still burning where he had touched and kissed me.

  Then I noticed that Ethan was admiring me. My embarrassment melted away. My eyes met his and we stared at each other for a moment. I felt like I was glowing. I wanted him even more now.

  I grabbed him and brought his mouth to mine again. My body shuddered as his hands roamed where his mouth had been moments ago. Then Ethan leaned completely into me, pressing my back down into the floor. His hands moved down to my hips, pulling my dress and underwear away completely. His hips thrust into mine. My back arched as my body took control of all of my thoughts.

  Then Ethan broke the kiss and looked at me again. His breathing was ragged, matching my own. He was stopping. Why was he stopping?

  “I don’t usually do this,” Ethan managed.

  My brain could barely comprehend what he was saying. I responded with the words, “Neither do I, but it’s okay. I want to.”

  “Kait, I…” Ethan started.

  I couldn’t let Ethan finish his sentence. It wouldn’t make sense for him to say I love you or that he would be there for me or that he’d be my boyfriend. This moment was what it was and I was surprisingly okay with that. It probably helped that it felt so good right now. He felt so real, so alive. I needed him.

  I kissed Ethan again, this time rolling on top of him. His tongue teased mine as I ran my hands up and down his smooth, muscular chest. Then his arms pulled me completely to him. Now I really knew that he wanted me. Our eyes met again as I pulled my mouth off of his. I silently helped him peel off his jeans. Then there he was—all of him, naked in front of me. I only had a few seconds to admire him before he took my hands, pulling me back toward him. I eased over his hips, feeling his hardness beneath me. This was it. I met his eyes and with Ethan’s help, our bodies joined.

  We started to slowly rock back and forth, waves of pleasure rolling through my body. My position on top gave me a clear vantage of Ethan’s ripped abs and I splayed my hands over his stomach, touching what I wanted. Ethan’s fingers found my hips and the rhythm of our bodies intensified. I suddenly couldn’t get enough of him and it was like he felt the same way because his hands were suddenly everywhere, touching, teasing. The fire that had been building inside me spread like heated bliss throughout my body.

  Ethan’s eyes rolled back into his head. I couldn’t take it anymore. I leaned down and crushed my mouth over his, silently begging for this feeling to go on forever.

  If only it could.

  If only this wasn’t a fantasy.

  If only my life really was a romance novel and Ethan and I were cuddled together on my living room floor instead of standing, face-to-face in the doorway before we left to meet Ethan’s real date, Ariel. Man, oh man, did I wish my life was a romance novel. Instead, my fantasy completely and totally burst.

  Reality set in and I blinked up at Ethan. He was still standing on my doorstep, fully clothed, looking at me. Instead of ripping my clothes off or, at the very least, complimenting my dress and telling me how amazing I looked, he was saying, “Maybe you should change.”

  “Why? What’s wrong with this dress?” I demanded.

  I was totally put off after the hot sex scene we just had in my head. He should at least think I looked sexy. For once, I knew I did. I had looked repeatedly in the mirror for the last twenty minutes and I looked pretty darn good in this dress. I didn’t look fat at all and who knew my boobs looked this good? Not me. Now everyone, including Troy and Ethan, would know. The dress fit me perfectly. I had to admit, my aunt had good taste. We’d have to go shopping again this Christmas in case I ever got asked out on another date.

  “You don’t want to give Troy the impression that you actually like him, do you?” Ethan said, not able to tear his eyes away from me.

  “Isn’t that the point of a date? To make your date think that you like him?” I asked and then as an afterthought added, “Maybe that’s why you don’t have a Homecoming date. You’re clueless.”

  I knew it was a petty thing to say, but I was hoping for a reaction. After hooking up with Ethan in my head, the fact that he wasn’t even trying to make out with me now was irritating. I mean, couldn’t he just compliment me? I did get a reaction from Ethan, but not quite the one I was expecting.

  Ethan raised his eyebrows. “Ariel already asked me to Homecoming, in front of you, if I remember right. And, I could have my pick of any girl. I just haven’t asked her yet.”

  “Wow,” I responded with sarcasm.

  Ethan could be so arrogant. Well, maybe Troy would take me to Homecoming, once I cleared him of all murder suspicion and admitted to him that I was still in high school. I mean, it’s not like we weren’t close in age and all.

  “I’m wearing this dress. It’s perfect,” I said and to prove my point, walked out of my house, shutting the door behind me, and walked to his car.

  If he had been about to open the door for me like a real gentleman would, I didn’t wait. I got into the passenger side and sat down, feeling huffy. Who knew Ethan was a prude in disguise? I didn’t care if he didn’t like my dress. I knew that Troy would. Maybe Troy would take Ethan’s place in my next fantasy sex scene. Heck, maybe Troy would take his place in real life.

  Ethan got into the driver’s seat and looked at me one more time, and then said softly, “You know, you do look pretty.”

  It was almost like Ethan had grabbed and kissed me, the way a bolt of electricity shot through my entire body at that compliment. Then Ethan started the car and blared the music, so I spent the rest of the drive trying to figure out if Ethan m
eant that as just an apology or if he really thought I actually looked pretty. Guys were so confusing, unless they were fantasy men, the kind that knew exactly what to say and do. Maybe one day Ethan would kiss me for real. Until then, a compliment would have to do and maybe more fantasizing.

  ***

  Adventures in Dating is an extended bonus scene from Adventures in Funeral Crashing (Funeral Crashing #1) by Milda Harris.

  About the Author

  Author Milda Harris is a Chicago girl who ran off to Hollywood to pursue a screenwriting dream. She has a dog named after a piece of candy (Licorice), was once hit by a tree (seriously), and wears hot pink sunglasses (why not?). Between working in production on television shows like Austin & Ally, Hannah Montana, and That’s So Raven she writes young adult and new adult novels.

  List of Titles:

  Adventures in Funeral Crashing (Funeral Crashing #1)

  Adventures of a Graveyard Girl (Funeral Crashing #2)

  Adventures in Murder Chasing (Funeral Crashing #3)

  Adventures of a New Year’s Kiss (Funeral Crashing #3.5)

  Adventures in Heartbreak and Homicide (Funeral Crashing #4) - Coming Soon!

  Doppelganger (Doppelganger #1)

  Doppelganger 2: On the Run (Doppelganger #2)

  The New Girl Who Found A Dead Body

  Connected: A Paranormal Romance

  Crashing Prom

  Social Media:

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  Wolf Passion

  By M. R. Polish

  The following is taken from Chapter Ten in Wolf Dream, the second book in the Wolf Trilogy by M.R. Polish.

  ***

  Esmerelda

  “I’m not sleeping.” I was so tired I couldn’t even hide the frustration in my voice. How long had it been since I slept? Two or three days? Maybe four? My hours all blurred together as I fought to keep my eyes open.

  “I know you’re not, that’s why I’m telling you to.” Ian pushed me back on the bed and lowered himself down next to me.