by Marilyn Lee
"Wait a minute. What?" She pulled away from him so she could gaze up into his eyes. "What did you say?"
"I said once they get to know—"
"No. No. Before that."
He frowned. "Before that?"
"Yes," she said impatiently. "Before that."
"Oh! You mean the I love you part?"
She nodded. "Yes. That part."
He smiled slowly, his gaze warm and intimate. And yes, loving. "I said I love you. But you knew that already. Didn't you?"
She inhaled slowly, feeling almost dizzy with delight. "Jayson Calihan. How could I know it when you've never said it before?"
He seemed surprised. "I know, but surely you knew."
"I didn't! And I swear that if I didn't love you so much, I'd push you off the nearest bridge."
He glanced towards the living room before he reached out and slapped her ass. "Wouldn't that be a waste?"
She felt so excited and eager to explore their new relationship, it was difficult not to grab him by the hand and rush him out the house so they could be alone. But she'd waited years for him to realize and admit he loved her. She could wait a few hours more. "I'll deal with you later," she warned.
"Oh, I hope so, sweet girl," he said, giving her a lecherous grin.
She glanced towards the living room before gazing up at him. "What first attracted you to me?"
He hesitated. "You want the real version or the respectable version?"
"The real version."
"The first time I saw you walking in front of me I was hooked."
She smiled. "Based on my walk?"
"Yes...that walk of yours is unbelievable."
"Yeah? You mean my I-am-a-strong-female-who-doesn't-need-a-man-to-be-happy walk?"
He arched a brow. "Do you have one of those?"
"Damn right I do. If not that, then what?"
He grinned. "It was your come-and-get-some-of-my-incredible-pussy walk that hooked me the first time I saw you."
"I'm going to want to hear a lot more about that later."
"And I can promise you talking isn't going to be high up on my to-do list once we're alone."
"I feel you," she admitted. "But right now, we'd better join the others." She slipped her hand in Jayson's and walked back into the living room, with a smile on her face; ready to welcome the New Year with a heart overflowing with thankfulness.
Skin Deep Excerpt
© 2007 Marilyn Lee
All rights reserved
Marilyn Lee Unleashed
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Chapter One
Jake
My mother, a beautiful, generous woman, often said beauty was only skin-deep. Maybe so, but show me a man who doesn't prefer a beautiful woman to a plain one and I'll show you a blind man. Despite my mother's efforts, I'd never dated a female I didn't find drop dead gorgeous. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against ordinary women. I've just never seen the need to date one until I met Bree.
The moment I saw her, I knew I'd been had, and that I would be getting even. I also knew I had to go through with the date—no matter how much I wanted to pretend I was at the wrong apartment.
Before you think I'm some fickle knucklehead unable to see past appearances, I'll save you the trouble and admit that, like most males, I prefer a woman I spend time with to be at least pretty. Her being beautiful would be even better.
I prefer slender, petite, gorgeous women with green eyes, fair skin and long, flowing red hair. Bree's skin was dark and clear, her eyes were an ordinary brown, and she wore her dark hair short and natural. I guessed she was roughly five eight—hardly petite. There would be no swinging her up into my arms and carrying her off to bed after a night of wining and dining.
I could have dealt with Bree's other shortcomings had she at least been pretty. Granted, she had a nice smile. Actually, she had a fantastic smile that shown in her eyes. Even so, it would be a stretch to call her anything other than almost cute. I don't mean to imply that she was thoroughly unattractive. She wasn't, but she was no wear near my ideal woman.
"You must be Jake."
I blinked. Her voice was husky in a surprisingly sexy way. Still, her great smile and intriguing voice wouldn't get her past first base with me.
"Jake? I'm Gabrielle Williams."
I swallowed hard, hoping no trace of the dismay I felt showed on my face. I might have managed that, but for the moment, I was literally speechless at the situation I'd allowed Lea to maneuver me into.
She offered her hand. "My friends call me Bree."
I smiled and shook her hand briefly. It was soft and warm, yet she had a firm handshake. "Jake Volmer."
She glanced briefly over her shoulder into her apartment. "Would you like to come in for a drink?"
"No." Realizing I'd spoken too quickly and decisively, I smiled again. " We have reservations. If you're ready, we should go."
She gave me a long, piercing look, sighed and then shook her head. "You don't need to do this."
"What do you mean?"
"I can see I'm not what you expected."
Now that was an understatement if ever I'd heard one. "What?"
"What did Lea say to get you here tonight?"
Lea was my sister-in-law who was forever complaining that I was too fickle when it came to women. She's a fine one to talk about fickleness, but I'd lost track of the number of times she'd told me that I wouldn't know a good woman if I fell over her. Why the hell had I allowed her to talk me into a blind date just to prove...what? What the hell was this date going to prove, except that even married to my younger brother, Ed, Lea could still manipulate me?
I knew Lea expected me to take one look at Bree and find a way to back out of the date. Then she could gloat and say I-told-you-so for the next year or so when we met at family functions. Well hell would freeze over before I gave Lea that satisfaction.
I arched a brow and smiled down at Bree. "I'm not dating anyone, so Lea suggested we might enjoy spending an evening together."
"I can see that my appearance surprises you."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
She nodded. "I think you do. You don't have to go through with this."
If she didn't want to go out with me, why had she allowed Lea to set up this date? Were she and Lea in this together? Were they both expecting me to back out? Then they were both going to be disappointed. I narrowed my gaze, wondering just how deeply she had plotted with Lea. How far was she prepared to go to make me look bad?
"Let's chalk this up to a mistake, Jake."
In her damned dreams. I shook my head. "Absolutely not. As I said, we have a reservation." I offered her my arm. "Are you ready?"
She hesitated for several moments before she turned that slow, enchanting smile of hers on me.
I stared down into her warm brown eyes and swallowed. Damn. That smile of hers was very nice.
She slipped her arm through mine. "If you're sure, I'm ready."
Looking down into her dark, alluring gaze, the only thing I was sure of was that I was no longer sure of much of anything. But hell would freeze over before I allowed her and Lea the satisfaction of my walking away. At the end of the evening, I was going to teach her a lesson that ensu
red she wouldn't conspire against another man.
"Great. So, let's go."
On the drive to the restaurant, the soft, seductive scent of her perfume made it difficult to concentrate on my newly formed game plan. I realized she was speaking and frowned. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
She brushed her fingers against my right hand on the steering wheel. I felt a jolt of heat rushing up the back of my neck. What the hell was she doing touching me? I tightened my grip and clenched my jaw.
"Where are we having dinner?"
"Lea said you liked French."
"I love French."
So Lea had been honest about something at least. "Great. I think you'll like the place I picked out."
"I'm sure I will."
I cast a quick glance at her smiling profile. Okay, so she wasn't pretty, she wasn't petite, her hair wasn't long and flowing and her skin wasn't creamy. Nevertheless, she was smooth and manipulative. I narrowed my gaze as she brushed her fingers against my hand again.
Why should a woman who bore no resemblance to my ideal lover have the ability to unnerve me? I suddenly realized I'd need to be very careful or she and Lea would make a fool out of me.
Our dinner conversation was a blur. I vaguely remembered watching her full, lush lips moving. A mouth that sexy was good for one thing—endless kissing.
The next day, all I could recall was the rush of heat along the back of my neck and the stirring in my cock each time I looked up from my plate and encountered her dark, bottomless gaze.
For all of Bree's seeming lack of beauty, I spent the night thinking of hot, sleazy, bang-her-until-she-walked-bowled-legged sex. Imagining her naked with her knees bent and her dark legs spread wide in an open invitation, made my cock stir. She had large breasts, big legs, and a round ass I ached to see naked and glistening with my cum.
I can't explain how I went from dismay to full-blown lust in a matter of a few hours. By the time she suggested we should leave, all I could think about was crawling into bed with her and thrusting my cock between her dark thighs and into her cunt. Somehow, she had managed to get me as horny as hell with very little effort on her part. Still, I was sure after a few fucks, I'd shake off my inexplicable, temporary insanity.
The return trip to her apartment seemed to last forever. Aroused and horny, I longed to slide my hand under her dress, run my palm along her legs, between her thighs—not stopping until my fingers brushed against her pussy.
I wondered what it looked like. Surely, a dark tangle of curls surrounded it. Or did she shave it? Personally, I prefer a woman with lots of pubic hair that almost obscures her slit. I like pressing the head of my cock against it, probing for her entrance. Then I love the feel of it brushing against me as I slowly push into her honey hole.
I'd know soon enough. Come hell or high water, I was going to be spending the next few hours with my cock buried as far up her pussy as I could get it. If I were lucky, I might even get to fuck her ass. I wouldn't be greedy. If push came to shove, I'd settle for vaginal sex.
Judging by her come-ons all night, I knew she wanted to spend the night fucking.
At her apartment door, when she placed her hand on my arm and smiled up at me, I leaned down for my first taste of her sensuous looking lips. Instead of leaning into me and lifting her chin, she deliberately turned her head. My lips brushed against her cheek.
What the hell. Did she plan to play hard to get?
I turned my head and sought her lips again.
She shook her head, whispered a very clear no and drew away from me.
I stared down at her, confused. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I had a nice time, but the evening is over."
I caressed her cheek. "It doesn't have to be."
"Yes, it does. Thanks for a nice evening. Goodbye, Jake."
I frowned. "Goodbye?"
"Yes. Goodbye."
"Why goodbye instead of good night?"
She hesitated and then spoke in a husky, breathless rush. "Even though I enjoyed tonight, I'm fairly certain you didn't."
Now that took some damn nerve to tell me what I had or hadn't enjoyed. Once the fog in my brain cleared enough for me to recall the evening, I doubted I'd recall having been bored. "Of course I enjoy—"
She shook her head firmly, her dark eyes glinting up at me. "Please don't make this worse by lying."
I narrowed my gaze. "Lying?"
"Yes. There's no need to pretend you enjoyed tonight. Goodbye."
"Wait a minute—"
"Goodbye," she said again and damned if the conniving hussy didn't step into her apartment and close the door firmly in my face.
I must have stood there for several minutes in surprised shock. She'd been sending signals all night and then she closed the door in my face and left me with blue balls? What the hell did she expect me to do? Go home and take a cold shower? It was times like these when I most regretted the loss of Lea—the one woman who could bring me to my knees with but a flash of her bare cunt.
If you're wondering why a thirty-year-old up and coming engineer doesn't have a woman in his life, you can blame it on Lea and my unrelenting hunger for her. At our first meeting, she took my breath away and ruined me for all other women. Then when I was madly in love with her, she kicked me out of her bed and went after my brother Ed.
After my experience with her, it was difficult to view women as anything but conniving hussies whose interest in a man's cock size was only overshadowed by their interest in the size of his bank balance.
Within the space of three months, my brother and I were both mad about Lea, but Ed had won a two million dollar jackpot. So which one of us do you think the little, faithless bitch reeled in?
Granted I owned a condo, drove a new luxury car every other year, and I had the potential to keep her in a very comfortable life-style in another year or so. Ed was already there, so I watched the woman I was in big-time lust with marry my little brother.
That was three years ago. During that time, although I'd had my share of dates, I hadn't met any woman capable of arousing my lust to the levels that Lea had. So I had an endless series of one-night stands—all while my lust for Lea grew.
Don't get me wrong. I didn't intend to betray Ed's trust by making a play for Lea. But the faithless bitch wanted it all—Ed's money and my cock. She did her best to keep me enslaved to my hunger for her.
The moment Ed's back was turned I could count on her hitching up her skirt to show an enticing expanse of slender, pale thigh. Hell, the shameless bitch often parted her legs to give me a long, enticing look at her bare pussy. She shaves her pubs and every time she flashed me and I saw her nether lips, I got an instant hard on. That's when I'd remember the many nights that I'd spent buried balls deep in her tight cunt with her legs wrapped around me while she humped herself on my cock as if she were as addicted to it as I was to her pussy. I'd want her more than ever.
She enjoyed jerking my chain, seeing how close she could get me to sleeping with her. However, no matter how much I wanted it, I swore I'd cut my balls off before I'd sleep with her now that she belonged to Ed. Nevertheless, standing outside Bree's door burning with lust and knowing Ed was away on a business trip, I allowed lustful thoughts of her to fill my head.
Instead of going home, I could drive to that big, suburban home Ed had bought her. I could strip her naked and fuck her all night in their big, brass bed. Or maybe I'd handcuff her to the bed and fuck her ass until she moaned with satisfied lust.
Halfway there, I came to my senses. I turned and went home. I stripped in my bedroom and headed into my bathroom. As I stood under the cold shower, I cursed Lea and her damned accomplice Bree for my sexual frustration. I also plotted revenge.
Life is too short to spend it in pursuit of vengeance, but I was so pissed, I knew my life would be miserable until I got even. Since Lea was Ed's wife, there was only so much I could do or say to her. That left her partner in crime Bree to pay for their treachery.
I m
asturbated in the shower before I dried off and went to bed.
As I lay sleepless and aroused, I discarded plan after plan before finally settling on one I felt would give me a measure of revenge. While I had no desire to cause Bree physical injury, I was determined to fuck her senseless and to teach her a lesson about sticking her nose into a family affair.
I was still horny even after coming in the shower. I fell asleep after what felt like hours of frustration. The next morning, I was tired, but determined. As I waited for my coffee to perk, I went online, found a local florist and ordered an elaborate bouquet of flowers.
I had settled into my recliner in the living room and was sipping my coffee, biding my time until I judged it wouldn't be too early to call Bree when my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID screen before smiling and answering.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey yourself. So? How did it go?"
My smile turned into a grin. It was just like Jess to decide I was taking too long to fill her in on my date and call to get the details before I was ready to share them. Not that I minded. Much to her husband's displeasure, Jess and I were as close as we'd been in college. Granted ours was a strange friendship, but it had stood the test of time. Most of our friends and some of the women in my life had come to understand that the only thing I shared with the Angela Bassett look-alike was friendship. Our relationship hadn't always been platonic, but the sexual part of our relationship ended near the end of our junior year of college. Our friendship had survived.
I shook my head, forcing myself to concentrate on Jess's voice. "It didn't."
"Tell me about it," she invited.
"Where's Malik?" I knew he wouldn't take kindly to what he'd call my monopolizing her on a Saturday morning.
"He's not here."
"He's not?" He often used the excuse of their spending time together on the weekend as an excuse to make it as difficult for us to see each other as possible. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes."
I noted the hesitancy in her voice. I frowned. "Are you sure?"
She spoke after another pause. "Yes. Now give."