Seduced: Den of Sin Boxed Set 1

by Mel Blue

  Kristina had caught him in the middle of the act fucking the daylights out of his next door neighbor. She had heard their screams while coming down the hall. She fought to expel those memories as the thought of it always made her sick to the stomach. Even before then, all the clues had been right there before her eyes, but she’d been stupid not to notice them. It had been so long ago, and she’d since buried the memories, but maybe back then, she didn’t want to notice them. She didn’t want to admit that her life wasn’t perfect.

  “I beg to differ…”

  “Excuse me?”

  “For me, being with you was extraordinary. I’m certain your bedroom skills had nothing to do with your ex’s cheating.”

  “Well, that makes me feel better, but for a while I wondered what I did to cause it.”

  “And let me guess…it took you a while to figure out that he was the problem and not you.”

  Kristina drew her legs up under her and turned to face Travis completely. “Good guess. I also came to the conclusion that I wasn’t very good with attracting men worth my time. So instead of wasting time, I just stopped seeing them altogether.”

  “Was I worth your time?”

  An image of Travis staring down at her while in the throes of passion captured her instantly. Her core tightened just thinking about his sizeable package penetrating her mouth, pussy, and ass. She swallowed. “Of course.”

  “I hope you agree that we can connect again.” He winked. “There’s more to me than just my superb bedroom skills.”

  She giggled. “You certainly kept your impression of being so sure of yourself after all this time. You were adamant about not changing a thing in that contract. At one point, I thought you would refuse to sign the dotted line with the terms my team and I had outlined. But you did…”

  “I remember. Had it been anyone else but you trying to change my mind, I don’t think I would have succumbed so easily.”

  “You mean I had that much of an effect on you?”

  “Yes,” he said, quietly. His forehead creased and he paused for a moment as though he were deep in thought. “Why didn’t you come out that night?”

  “Do you mean the dinner invite you made?”

  He nodded. “Even though I extended the invitation to your business colleagues as a whole, I was really hoping I would see you there.”

  “I was having a bad week unfortunately.”

  “Right.” He shrugged. “You were getting over your split with your ex. It’s funny the way things turned out. When you didn’t show up to the dinner that night, I actually asked about you. The red-head said you were probably busy with your boyfriend that night. I heard that one word, the B-word, and knew there could never be a chance. You were taken—and I understood why.”

  “The red-head was Mark. We still work in the same department. I hadn’t told them yet about the breakup. I was in denial and a little embarrassed by it. They all know me as superwoman at work. I just couldn’t bring myself to mention that I didn’t have control of my life outside of it.”

  “Let’s not waste any more time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Now that I’ve found you again, I want to keep our connection. Like…a serious one,” he said.

  “Travis…” She shook her head. “I haven’t been in a serious relationship in forever.”

  “I know. Me either. We can go slowly. The distance between us back home is so small. It doesn’t make sense that we were right in each other’s back yards and hadn’t re-connected before today. We can take this slow and let the pieces fall where they may. I’m not asking you to give up anything. I just feel we missed out on so much all this time.”

  “I’ll have to think, Travis.”

  “We have the rest of tonight…” He took her hand. “And in the morning before we leave to think.”

  “We do…” Kristina placed his hands on her waist, lifted herself, and straddled him. “…so like you said, let’s not waste any of this precious time thinking now.”

  Travis pressed kisses into her lips and against her neck. “Right. We both came here to have fun. Tomorrow is the last day of this year. Why don’t we make this night one to remember going forward? In the morning, we’ll talk about that more.”

  His lips reached her collarbone and he pulled the front of her bathrobe open. He nipped at her breasts and slid his tongue up her cleavage. Her nipples tightened against the terrycloth.

  “Are you sure you’re ready for another round?” His cock hardened against her center. “Last I asked, you were sore.”

  She slid her fingers down into his boxer briefs to wrap them around his stiff rod. “Why don’t we can start with some foreplay then?”

  “You’ve got yourself another deal.”

  EPILOGUE

  Kristina was on her second cup of java but with this one she’d requested an extra shot of espresso. The fatigue had finally set in once she hit the airport, but her mind worked overtime, reminiscing on the events of last night. This wicked remembrance along with the promise of a pile of work that would be waiting for her when she got back to her day job after New Year’s Day had her feeling a bit overwhelmed. More than a bit. Maybe she’d just have to work through New Year’s Eve tomorrow to catch up.

  The hustle and bustle of the airport crowd around her didn’t serve as a distraction in the least bit. Damn, she couldn’t even focus on her work. She thought she could shrug Mr. Travis Brenden off after last night but her attempts to think about something else—anything else—had failed. Maybe it was too early after what happened to even try. She’d give it a week, two weeks, maybe even a month and Travis would surely be a distant memory by that.

  She chuckled to herself. Of course. Right, Kris. Like she’d ever forget the man who made her surrender her body and cast aside all inhibitions. He’d touched her in places where every other man had failed to reach. He’d persuaded her to bare everything, put aside the shame of being betrayed, and release the grudge she’d held against men for so long.

  But who was she fooling anyway? Forget Travis Brenden? She hadn’t forgotten him from almost two years ago, so what made her believe that she would suddenly dismiss the memory of him in an even shorter period of time.

  Her work would never fail her. Yes, her work would keep her preoccupied. Occupied enough to forget.

  Kristina turned her attention back to the netbook propped open on her lap. She opened her email inbox, hoping that getting a head start before tomorrow morning would ease her workload.

  The first and most recent email was from her secretary. The subject line was labeled: New Client. Congrats, Kristina! You have yourself a new client. We got the Graham Bell assignment. Should I schedule the initial consultation for Monday or Tuesday?

  The email had been sent just yesterday afternoon, right around the time she was scheduled to arrive back in town. Instead she had probably been checking into the Beaudelaire aka Den of Sin.

  “Would Kristina Delacourt please report to the attendant desk at Gate C6?”

  At the mention of her name Kristina looked up from her netbook. None of the other passengers waiting to board the flight to Tampa made notice and she wondered why she was being signaled out. She sure hope it wasn’t to tell her that she’s been booted from the standby list. She’d missed her regular flight yesterday morning on purpose.

  Kristina shoved her netbook down into her carryon bag and reported to the agent at the desk. “I’m Kristina Delacourt.”

  “Ah, perfect.” The overly cheery male attendant handed her a small card. “You’ve been invited as a special guest to our frequent flyer club by Mr. Brenden.”

  “What…” She looked around, half expecting to the see the Travis nearby.

  “Your friend…Mr. Brenden.” He shoved the plastic card into her hand. “The entrance to the club is straight ahead. Enjoy.”

  Without another word, she took the card and looked around the terminal. Sure enough there were signs labeled with directions toward the frequent
flyer club she’d refused to join in the past when prompted by the airline. For one, she didn’t travel frequently enough and two, she could manage inside the airport just fine without all the added perks.

  There was an attendant screening members for cards and IDs before they entered. Kristina showed her ID and traded her card for quick entry through the doors.

  She half expected Travis Brenden to confront her as soon as she made her appearance, but obviously this was prime travel time as the members’ only area seemed very busy. When she looked around and didn’t see Travis, she rolled her carry-on bag off to the side and glanced at her wrist watch. Her flight would board in less than an hour and if she missed the scheduled take off again, who knew how long she’d have to wait for the next one. Only this time, there would be no Den of Sin invite coming her way allowing her to waste more time in New Orleans doing things. Wicked things. Very wicked things.

  She felt his presence before he ever said a word. He came close, brushing against her side and placing her lips to her ears.

  “You seem to have a thing for leaving without a proper goodbye.” His voice caused a hot sensation to shoot up her spine.

  “Travis.” She turned and found herself face to face with him.

  “You snuck out of your own room,” he said, “And just disappeared. I worried you were lost again for good.”

  Waking up in the arms of man had been a huge departure from the norm for her. She was used to rising with only the morning sun to greet her.

  “You have my first and last name. The city I live in and where I work.” She gave him a challenging look. “I wouldn’t call that lost for good.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “You looked worn out and I didn’t want to bother you,” she replied.

  He chuckled softly. “Temptress, you’re funny. I was worn out, indeed. I woke up with a raging hard-on, but the woman responsible for it was gone.”

  “I had a flight to catch.”

  He smiled. “The flight leaves in an hour. We’re way ahead of schedule.”

  “We?”

  “I booked a standby seat on the same flight. I saw you at the gate when I entered the terminal,” he said. “As you know, we never got a chance to talk about us beyond last night.”

  “That was intentional.”

  “We agreed we would talk this morning after all the fun,” he said. “I woke up to an empty bed. That wasn’t my intention.”

  “Well, I exited the bed on my own intentions because I didn’t want to miss my flight.”

  Travis took her waist gently with his free hand. “Maybe I misunderstood your body’s intentions all of last night.”

  “This is a public place,” she whispered. “You’re doing too much.”

  “If you think this is too much, you have another thing coming.” He pressed his lips to the soft sensitive area behind her ear. “Your lips look tempting.”

  “Don’t you dare,” she warned, but she knew she wanted him. To taste him again. To be consumed by him and to drown in the strong woodsy scent of him.

  “You and I could have so much fun, Temptress.” His fingers slipped up her shirt and skirted the seam of her jeans along her waistline. His digits were icy cold against her hot skin.

  Her body grew even hotter. The people around them were oblivious to their displays of affection. “Let me remind you of something. We had a deal. It was for one night. In the Den only.”

  “Who says there can’t be more deals thereafter? But you know what?” His breath fanned against her lips. “I’m sick of these deals. I want the real thing. I want everything you have. I want more of you. And you know what else? We’re no longer bound by the rules of the Den.”

  Kristina was afraid of this. That she’d like her departure from celibacy so much that she’d give in. And then she would be vulnerable again. She wanted to love, but not at the expense of another broken heart.

  “Travis, look…it would be much easier if we just accept the fact that we entered the Den of Sin to indulge and have sex. Just one night. I can accept that. What I can’t handle anymore is going into something knowing that we never would have committed anyway.”

  “Are you sure about that? That you wouldn’t commit. Not even for the right man. A man who would not waste your time.”

  “One night isn’t enough to be sure of anything.”

  “Bingo. One night with you will never be enough for me.”

  Heat rose to her face as the memories of last night began to rekindle her attraction to Travis. “Okay…now what?”

  “I definitely don’t want to leave behind what happened at the Den of Sin. What happened there brought us back together, but I somehow feel that our real connection began in the boardroom years ago. You’ve walked out on me twice now. Do you know how that makes me feel?” He visibly swallowed, the Adam’s apple bobbing slowly on his neck.

  “Like you’re not in control,” she replied. “I understand men like you, Travis. I work with them all the time.”

  “And I can see that you’ve learned how to master them. You take back control by turning the tables, getting what you want, and walking away. Okay, you win. Now let’s cut that game out right now, because I’m not that type of man, Kristina.”

  “I guess you understand me too, then?”

  “Only this time, I want you to meet me halfway. I’ll give up a little control, if it means you’ll give me a chance to be with you when we get back to Tampa.”

  “Travis, I…”

  “I’m patient, Kris, and I know why you’re hesitating. But I also know that you wouldn’t have entered the Den of Sin unless you weren’t open to being with someone again. Am I right? If we’re always truthful with each other, things will be a whole lot easier. You agree?”

  The fact that he understood her meant so much to her. She smiled, meeting his gaze. “I agree.”

  “Will you spend New Year’s Eve with me?”

  “I’m not a fan of the yes word,” she teased, although the possibility of bringing in the New Year’s with someone other than the New York Times Square countdown on her television set was promising.

  He grinned devilishly. “I must be mistaken, but I thought you became one last night.”

  “For you, Travis. I did, and only for you.” She smiled. “If it makes any difference, I really wish I had went to dinner that night years ago. I regret that decision.”

  “And I still regret seeing you walk out of that boardroom with signed contract and all, never to see you again until now. We’ll make up for all that lost time though.” His fingers entwined with hers. “I can’t let you walk away from me. Not a third time.”

  Kristina squeezed his hand and pulled him closer. “Good, because I don’t want to.”

  THE END

  ABOUT AMBRIELLE KIRK

  Ambrielle Kirk pens tales of romance in various subgenres. Her favorites are contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and urban fantasy. As a child, she never really dreamed of being an author. It was a destined path that chose her. Now she writes with her readers in mind, but the characters, of course, dictate the outcome.

  Visit her website for more diverse, edgy, romantic fiction:

  Website

  Emails and reviews are always welcome.

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  EROTIC CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE TITLES BY AMBRIELLE KIRK

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  REDEEMING THE AMAZON

  A Den of Sin Novella

  By L. V. Lewis

  COPYRIGHT

  ©L.V. Lewis

  Published Date 27 December 2013

  All Rights Reserved.

  Redeeming The Amazon is a work of complete fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictional or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Pho
tography credits

  ©Nelka7812 via depositphotos.com

  WARNING: this story contains adult situations including sex and strong language. It is not intended for consumption by minors (age of majority as specified by your territory of residence).

  Blurb

  Most come to The Beaudelaire Hotel a select few times a year merely to indulge in sexual fantasy, but the stakes are higher for Karen Freeman and Paul Beaudelaire this New Year’s weekend. Karen is nine years post-op from a double mastectomy, and her vain ex-husband hadn’t agreed with her decision to remove her remaining good breast or to eschew reconstruction. In the end, that decision cost her. She lost her marriage, but she’s certain the move has prolonged her life.

  Returning to a normal dating and sex life has been difficult. She hasn’t made love fully unclothed since the demise of her marriage, and her most significant relationship occurred right after her surgery. When she was still recuperating, she had an affair of the heart with a Marine amputee who’d also been her Ph.D. classmate.

  Paul Beaudelaire once led a charmed life as a ladies’ man who had his pick of women in the upper echelons of New Orleans society. He’d been satisfied to continue in that vein, until a Marine recruiter wooed him from LSU with tales of valor, courage, and commitment. His career in the corps cut short by the loss of his left leg, Paul returned to New Orleans with the best prosthesis Johns Hopkins orthopedics experts could fit him with. The problem was, he’d left his heart in Baltimore with a beautiful former model, whose crippled marriage was the only deterrent to his waning honor.