Longing for Love
Page 34
His erection lay heavy against his belly, weeping and straining for the contact she refused to give.
“Right about now I’d let you use my badge to bully me.”
Laughing, she said, “I’m afraid I need a promise.” From the bedside table, she retrieved the vibrator and turned it on, making him tug even harder against the tight hold of the cuffs.
His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “I promise.”
“Remember what you said after our first ‘encounter,’ when you were leaving my house?”
“I barely remember my own name right now,” he said through gritted teeth.
Hoping to arouse him even more, she turned the vibrator up to high. “Allow me to refresh your memory. You said if I snuck into your bedroom and handcuffed you, you wouldn’t call the cops. You’d cry for mercy. Remember?”
“Yes,” he growled.
She brought the vibrator down on his nipple, and he cried out from the surprise and shock of it. Then she did it to the other side, garnering the same reaction. Trailing the buzzing toy over the rippled muscles on his abdomen made his erection grow impossibly larger, and still she hadn’t touched him there. She used the vibrator on his inner thighs, coming perilously close to his balls before backing off again.
“Christ,” he muttered. “Mercy.”
Filled with her own power and loving every minute of it, Tiffany held back a laugh.
“If this is how you reward a guy, remind me not to do you any more favors.”
He sounded so tortured that Tiffany withdrew the toy. “You don’t like it?”
“If you stop now, I’ll spank your ass until it’s so red you can’t sit down for a week.”
“Tell me how you really feel.”
“Watch that saucy mouth, or I might spank you just for the fun of it.”
“You’re talking far too much,” Tiffany said, dragging the vibrator up the inside of his right leg, bringing it to a stop under his balls.
With a sharp cry, his hips surged off the bed.
Tiffany was ready for him, taking his straining erection into her mouth and sucking on the tip. She positioned the vibrator so the smaller arm made contact with his back door. The combination made him come explosively.
“Holy shit,” he whispered many minutes later. He tugged hard on the cuffs. “Take them off.”
“Do you promise not to spank me?”
“No promises.”
Despite her trepidations, she released the cuffs.
The first thing he did was tear off the blindfold, and then he was reaching for her. Before she knew what hit her, she was under him with her knees raised and her arms around his neck. “I know about what happened to you. With Eden.”
That stopped him short. “Oh. Mac?”
Tiffany nodded. “But only after significant cajoling. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself. I should have.”
“I understand that some things are too painful to talk about.”
“We’ve both had enough pain,” he said, kissing her sweetly. “I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to be happy.”
She brushed a strand of hair off his forehead. “Maddie asked me how I knew I was in love with you, and I told her being with you makes me happier than I’ve ever been. And when I thought I’d lost you—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “You never lost me. Not for one minute. You’ve had me from the very beginning.” Punctuating his words with soft kisses, he added, “You may not realize this, but before you, before us, I never would’ve been able to give up control the way I just did. Being in control of everything—all the time—has kept me sane the last few years, but it gets exhausting after a while.”
She curled her arms around his neck and brought him down for a kiss. “I’ll shoulder some of the load for you.”
“I love you,” he whispered as he surged into her. “I want everything with you. Tell me you want the same thing.”
He moved rapidly, slamming into her so fast and so furious he stole the breath from her lungs. “Tell me,” he said again, more urgently this time.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she cried, as he drove them both to a shattering climax that left her shuddering and quivering and on fire for more of him.
“What were you saying yes to?” he asked with a smile after he gave her a few minutes to recover while he continued to pulse inside her.
She looked up at him, taking in every detail of the face that had become so precious to her. “Everything.”
He kissed her gently and reverently and then rested his forehead on hers to gaze into her eyes. “Good answer.”
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading Longing for Love! I so hope you enjoyed it! If you loved the book—and the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series—help me spread the word by posting a review or telling your friends to get Maid for Love, book 1, for free. Join the Longing for Love Reader Group to dish about the book with other readers and the McCarthy Reader Group because we have a lot of fun in the Tiki Bar, and you should be there, too.
Writing this series based on a fictional version of my beloved Block Island continues to be the most fun I’ve ever had as a writer. By now, Mac, Maddie, Big Mac, Linda and the rest of the Gansett Island gang are like family to me, and I look forward to many more adventures with them.
This is the point where I normally share the first chapter of the next book, which will feature Adam McCarthy. However, I have such an explosively fun story planned for Adam that I don’t want to tip my hand quite yet. So I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for the book, in early 2013 (I hope), to find out who Adam ends up with. Hint: It’s not Jenny the lighthouse keeper. I’ve got a whole other story in mind for her as well as Laura’s brother Shane, all of which I hope to get to in 2013.
In the meantime, I’ll be working on Coming Home, book four in the Treading Water Series, Fatal Mistake, book six in the Fatal Series, and the first two books in my Green Mountain Country Store series.
I hope you’ll come back for much more of the McCarthys of Gansett Island! Thank you so much for your incredible support of the series. It means the world to me to hear that you too think of the McCarthys as family.
Keep up with the latest news by following me on Facebook, on Twitter @marieforce and/or by joining my mailing list.
Thank you to everyone who helps get my books ready for readers! Starting with my fabulous beta readers, Ronlyn Howe, Kara Conrad, Anne Woodall, Karen Lawson and Jessica Smith, and then my awesome editor Linda Ingmanson, eagle-eyed proofreader Toni Lee and fabulous assistant Chris Camara. You ladies are the best, and I couldn’t do what I do without you. And to all the readers who make it possible for me to live my dream—I adore each and every one of you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
xoxo
Marie
Frequently Asked Questions About the McCarthys of Gansett Island
How many books will you write in this series?
I always answer this question the same way—I’ll keep writing the series for as long as readers tell me they’re enjoying it. So keep those e-mails and Facebook posts coming!
Who’s next?
Adam McCarthy will be the hero of book 8.
Who will Adam’s love interest be?
My lips are sealed, but I promise you will be blown away by the story I have in mind for him! I can’t wait to write it.
Will you write a “prequel” telling Big Mac and Linda’s love story?
I’d love to! I definitely think about that from time to time, but I’m not sure when I’ll do it. Maybe that would make a lovely end to the series someday—someday far off in the future!
Who is your favorite character in the series?
Duh! Ned! I also have a mad crush on Big Mac, but don’t we all?
Will you write books for the Gansett Island kids in the future?
I don’t know. Maybe.
Have we met all the McCarthy cousins
?
Nope. There’re quite a few others out there waiting for their turn to visit the island.
Will there be more story for Seamus and Carolina, Dan and Kara, and Sarah and Charlie?
Yep! Lots more coming for all of them!
Will there be a romance for David and Daisy?
I believe so.
Tell us the truth—will David have to deliver Janey’s baby?
Wouldn’t you love to know!? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!
Do you have other questions? Send them my way at marie@marieforce.com and I’ll post them to the McCarthy section of my website.
Other Contemporary Romances Available from Marie Force:
The Treading Water Series
Book 1: Treading Water
Book 2: Marking Time
Book 3: Starting Over
Book 4: Coming Home, out Christmas 2012
The McCarthys of Gansett Island Series
Book 1: Maid for Love
Book 2: Fool for Love
Book 3: Ready for Love
Book 4: Falling for Love
Book 5: Hoping for Love
Book 6: Season for Love
Book 7: Longing for Love
Single Titles
Georgia on My Mind
True North
The Fall
Everyone Loves a Hero
Love at First Flight
Line of Scrimmage
Romantic Suspense Novels Available from Marie Force:
The Fatal Series
Book 1: Fatal Affair
Book 2: Fatal Justice
Book 3: Fatal Consequences
Book 3.5: Fatal Destiny, the Wedding Novella
Book 4: Fatal Flaw
Book 5: Fatal Deception
Single Title
The Wreck
About the Author
Marie Force is the author of the bestselling McCarthys of Gansett Island Series: MAID FOR LOVE, FOOL FOR LOVE, READY FOR LOVE, FALLING FOR LOVE, HOPING FOR LOVE, SEASON FOR LOVE and LONGING FOR LOVE, with more books coming soon in the series. She is the author of the Treading Water Series that consists of TREADING WATER, MARKING TIME, STARTING OVER and COMING HOME, out Christmas 2012. Marie also wrote the following contemporary romances: GEORGIA ON MY MIND, EVERYONE LOVES A HERO, LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT, TRUE NORTH, THE FALL and THE WRECK.
Marie is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Fatal Series from Harlequin’s Carina Press. So far, the series includes FATAL AFFAIR, FATAL JUSTICE, FATAL CONSEQUENCES, FATAL DESTINY, FATAL FLAW and FATAL DECEPTION with much more to come. “This novel is ‘The O.C. does D.C.,’ and you just can’t get enough.” (RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars for FATAL AFFAIR). In its July 2010 issue, RT Book Reviews named Marie a “Future Star of Romantic Suspense.”
She is a member of RWA’s New England and Published Author Special Interest Chapters.
While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two teenagers and two feisty dogs, Brandy and Louie.
Find her on her website, on her blog, on Facebook and on Twitter @marieforce. Join the fun at the Marie Force Readers Group and the McCarthys of Gansett Island Group. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com and join her mailing list for updates on new books. McCarthy beach towels, beach bags, bumper stickers and more are available at the McCarthys of Gansett Island store.
What others are saying about Marie Force’s books:
“With the McCarthy’s of Gansett Island, Marie Force makes you believe in the power of true love and happily ever after. Over and over again.” —Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author of the Serendipity series
“Maid for Love was a charming beach read that had you believing in the HEA." —Joyfully Reviewed
“Fool for Love was a treat to read with engaging characters and their deep love for one another. Marie Force writes wonderfully, romantic heroes that you just want to curl up next to!” —Joyfully Reviewed
“Ready for Love is a beautiful and inspiring love story. I was riveted to the pages of Ready for Love not only for this magical romance but for the outstanding secondary plot lines as well. This may be my first McCarthys of Gansett Island book but it will not be my last! I am in love with these people and the tiny island they live on.” —Joyfully Reviewed
“Ms. Force has the ability to make you fall in love with her Island and all of the quirky and sweet characters that reside there. I can’t wait to read the next story in this fantastic series! Falling For Love is another keeper in the McCarthy’s of Gansett Island series!” —Joyfully Reviewed.
"Treading Water is a definite must read! Treading Water creates an emotional firestorm within the reader. It shines the light on the good and the bad in life and proves that one moment can change everything and it’s never too late to find love. Marie Force grabbed my heart and squeezed every ounce of emotion out of it but most importantly her monumental story left me blissful. Treading Water may be fiction but it gives me hope; hope in everyday people and happily ever after. I cannot wait for the next book in this trilogy, Marking Time." —Joyfully Reviewed, a “Recommended Read” for November 2011!
“Georgia On My Mind” meets real life issues head-on. It will easily touch your heart with a variety of emotions. If you love a book, in spite of any flaws it may suffer, it’s a keeper. This one meets that test. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry. Most importantly, I’m betting you’ll have a satisfied smile on your face when you reach the end.” —Romance at Random gives Georgia on My Mind an “A.”
“It's a rare treat that you get three gorgeous romances in one story but Marie Force has achieved that with Georgia On My Mind. Ms. Force has seamlessly woven these stories into one magical novel. Each couple is drastically different with their own issues and smoking hot chemistry. This story has a bit of suspense, plenty of humor and lots of romance. Georgia On My Mind is a keeper!” —Joyfully Reviewed.
“With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” —Booklist on Line of Scrimmage.
“LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!” —Wild on Books
“This novel is The O.C. does D.C., and you just can’t get enough.” —RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars for Fatal Affair
“This book starts out strong and keeps getting better. Marie Force is one of those authors that will be on my must read list in the future.” —The Romance Studio on Fatal Affair
“As Cole encourages Olivia’s incredible talent for drawing and her love of adventure through a series of carefully planned dates, the two embark on the emotional roller-coaster ride of their lives in Force’s steamy contemporary romance, a heartwarming Cinderella story set mostly in and around Washington, D.C.” —Booklist on Everyone Loves a Hero
“Marie Force’s second novel in the Fatal series is an outstanding romantic suspense in its own right; that it follows the fantastic first installment only sweetens the read.” —RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars for Fatal Justice
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Author's Note
&nb
sp; Gansett Island FAQ
Other Books By Marie Force
About the Author
Reviews