Dare to Love

by user

  verge of melting her carefully constructed Ice Princess façade. He needs to go before

  those sparks get too hot.

  Eric Delmonico would be happy to leave. The infuriating, challenging, whip-smart princess is a royal pain. Not to mention her sinfully sexy body keeps him up at night in

  more ways than one. But her brother gave Eric the job, and he is determined to stay until

  the threat against her is neutralized.

  An attempt is made on her life, and Eric spirits her away to a safe house in the country where passion ignites, leaving them both shaken. Together they must work to

  find the assassin before Lucia’s safety—and the connection between them—are lost

  forever.

  Warning: This book contains hot lovin’ and frank language.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Lessons in Trust: It was well past one a.m. when Eric finished his debrief session with palace security.

  He’d placed two guards outside Lucia’s suite and another patrolling the grounds outside

  the living quarters while he was gone, but he still felt better coming back to guard her

  himself.

  It was his job, after all. It had nothing to do with anything personal.

  She should have been long asleep. But as he let himself into the suite, she stood up

  from the couch and took a step forward. “Well?”

  He shook his head. “They drove away before gate security could get a read on the license plate.”

  “It’s like a bad dream.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach, pacing a little.

  “I

  mean, it didn’t really seem real until now.”

  He nodded. There wasn’t much he could say.

  “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to get to sleep tonight,” she said with a self-conscious laugh. “I keep remembering that race through the alley. You really did take our

  lives in your hands.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve been teaching evasive driving for five years. That was a piece of

  cake.”

  “Still…” She sighed and dropped down on the couch. She’d changed after he brought her back to the suite, he noticed. Her outfit was probably called a lounge set, but

  it looked like a pair of sweats and a T-shirt to him. It was probably a testament to how

  messed up he was that he found her more attractive in that than the designer dress she’d

  worn to the premiere. “It’s a bit different for me, isn’t it? I’ve never been in a situation

  such as this before.”

  She looked shaken. Against his better judgment he went over to the couch and sat

  down next to her.

  The princess didn’t move. She just sat staring forward, her eyes wide. Steeling himself, he picked up one of her hands and held it. It was cold as a block of ice.

  “It’s tough when reality hits you in the face, isn’t it?” She still didn’t respond, so he

  put one arm around her shoulders. “Hey, buck up, okay? You’re fine. You’re safe.” With a little sob, she turned and buried her face in his shoulder, wrapping her arms

  around him and holding on for dear life.

  And it was his movie theater fantasy come to life, both better and far worse than the

  imagined version. She was warm and soft and pliant in his arms, her curves fitting against

  him perfectly. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and her breasts lifted, her nipples

  brushing against him through the soft fabric of her outfit. Damn. Was she not wearing a

  bra?

  He gritted his teeth and rubbed her back, trying to comfort her without getting too

  wrapped up in how good it felt to have her in his arms.

  Finally she let go, shifting away from him with a shaky laugh. “You must think I’m an absolute goose,” she said. “To get emotional about something so silly.”

  “It’s not silly.” He crossed his legs, resting one ankle on the opposite knee, hoping it

  would mask the evidence of his reaction to her closeness. “And it’s not just about being

  followed tonight. This was just the catalyst that made it real to you.” She nodded.

  “I’ve worked with some of the most high-powered people in the world. Every one of

  them, to a person, had a moment when the threat against them came home in a very

  personal way. And every one of them reacted in a way that they thought was over the top.

  It’s not. It’s human nature.”

  She looked at him for a minute, then wrapped her arms around his neck again.

  “Thank you,” she breathed, before kissing him softly on the lips.

  Holy hell. That innocent touch seared him to his toes. She pulled back, her eyes wide. Then her gaze dropped to his mouth and she licked her lips.

  Fuck it. He dipped his head and kissed her back. Really kissed her, the way he’d wanted to almost from the moment he met her.

  His mouth covered hers, his tongue darting out to stroke along the seam of her mouth. With a whimper, she opened to him, matching him stroke for stroke as their

  tongues dueled.

  She was heat and fire, her fingers tunneling through his hair as she held his head for

  her sensual assault. He pulled her into his lap, smoothing his hand down her back to rest

  on the curve of her hip.

  And then it dipped lower, stroking the curve of her ass, while she moaned into his mouth and wriggled closer in his lap. She kissed him again, or he kissed her. He really

  couldn’t decide which was the more accurate description. And honestly? He couldn’t

  bring himself to care.

  Her hands were everywhere, in his hair, down his back, tunneling under his shirt to

  stroke the heated skin underneath. He shuddered at the sensation of her slender fingers

  roaming his naked flesh.

  Suddenly, she pulled away, her mouth damp and a little swollen, her eyes dazed.

  “I,

  uh…”

  Reluctantly he released his hold on her, letting her scramble off his lap and put her

  clothing to rights. He shoved a hand through his hair and blew out a quick breath.

  “I am so sorry,” she said finally, looking everywhere but at him. “That was entirely out of line.”

  “Yes, it was.” He ignored the pained look on her face. “It was also entirely mutual.”

  She looked up at that. “I practically attacked you.”

  “Bullshit.” He waited until she made eye contact. “If anything, I took advantage of you. You’ve been through a stressful event, and you’re vulnerable. I should have been

  more professional.”

  “I disagree, but thank you, Mr. Delmonico.”

  He laughed at that. “Don’t you think we’re beyond formal titles now?”

  “You’re right.” She looked down, smiling sheepishly. “Eric.” He liked the way his name sounded on her lips. Probably too much. He stood abruptly. “I’d better go.”

  “Where are you going to stay tonight?”

  “I’m sure they can find a room for me,” he said. “You’ve got two guards outside your suite. You’ll be safe tonight.”

  “There’s a guest room,” she said softly. “You’re welcome to stay.”

  “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Princess.” She stood as well, going toe-to-toe with him. “No formal titles, remember?”

  “You got it…Lucia.” He looked around the suite. “Guest room, huh?” She pointed across the room at the door midway down the long wall. “It seems silly

  for you to find another place to stay when there is a perfectly good room next door.”

  He was tempted. God knows he was tempted.

  “There’s a lock on the door,” she said, as if reading his mind.

  He walked over to the door and tested the lock. It was adequate for an interior door.

  “I
s there one on your door too?”

  “Of course.” She picked at an imaginary piece of lint on her shirt. “Everyone needs privacy from time to time.”

  Or a dose of sanity.

  “I’ll stay,” he said. “But use that lock.”

  Whether to keep her in or keep him out, he couldn’t say. All he knew was that both

  of them needed the distance to get back on even footing by the morning.

  He grabbed his coat and headed for the guest room door. It would be a good thing to

  be close, in any case.

  She watched him go, her eyes bright and knowing.

  He carried the image with him to his temporary room, and well into the night.

  He wasn’t part of her balance sheet. But one week in his bed could tip the scales.

  To Do List

  © 2007 Lauren Dane

  Since she could pick up a pencil, Belle Taylor has used lists and charts to map out her life. When she achieves a goal, she marks it off her to do list. Simple. But now, just

  steps away from her corner-office, name-on-the-letterhead goal, she realizes that the life

  she thought she wanted may come at too high a price.

  Exhausted, she retreats home for Christmas vacation to rethink her life, complete with all-new lists. What she hadn’t expected is Rafe Bettencourt, her brother’s best

  friend, the man who she thought only saw her as a pesky younger sister. But when he

  kisses her under the mistletoe, Belle finds herself with a whole new set of goals to balance with what she thought she always wanted.

  Rafe knows Belle is trying to figure out what to do with her life. He also knows he’s

  done loving her from afar, and he’s not beneath making it as hard as possible for her to

  choose to return to San Francisco.

  Because Rafe can make to-do lists too—and his plan is to seduce Belle back home where she belongs. At his side. And in his bed.

  Warning, this title contains the following: Smokin’ hot monkey love and naughty wish fulfillment, a few words you wouldn’t say in your grandma’s presence.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for To Do List:

  Belle let the heat of the alcohol settle into her, bringing a languid fluidity to her muscles. She sighed and looked at the man in bed with her.

  “You’re really gorgeous, you know that?”

  “I like it when you’ve been drinking, Belle.” He winked and she snorted.

  “Whatever. You were going to tell me why you’re suddenly interested in my bases after giving me sweaters for Christmas for the last dozen years.” He grabbed her ankle and yanked, pulling her down as he rolled on top of her.

  Wow,

  he was good.

  His mouth met hers, insistent, wet and hot. It was just the two of them, no worries

  about someone walking into the hallway. She let go of her control and gave in, sliding her

  hands up his arms, over his shoulders and into his hair. Soft, so soft and cool against her

  skin.

  Heat licked at her insides when his tongue confidently invaded her mouth. When he

  rolled his hips, she moved, wrapping one of her calves around his ass, opening herself to

  him and holding him in place.

  He broke the kiss, and looked into her face. “Just making sure you’re still with me.

  I

  think about your bases a lot. I have for several years now. I told myself it was stupid to

  give in but you taste too good to resist. You’re here, I’m here and we’re both adults who

  know and like each other.”

  “I’m still with you, although you’re not feeling me up or anything, which if I recall correctly, is part of the bases thing, right? And how long? God, you’ve wanted to kiss me

  and…” she shivered violently when he trailed fingertips up her belly, against her bare

  skin under her tee shirt, “…do that? You just kept it to yourself when I’ve like had the

  dirtiest fantasies ever about you?”

  He tweaked a nipple then as he appeared to have to make a lot of effort to breathe.

  “Christ, Belle, I can’t believe you just told me you had dirty fantasies about me.” He

  leaned down and sucked her nipple right through her tee shirt, leaving her no alternative

  but to hold on and enjoy it.

  “I do. I did. All the time. You have no idea how good you look. Or crap, maybe you do. Should we get under the sheets?”

  He laughed, breaking free of her nipple and looking at her again. “Honey, it’s killing

  you to muss these blankets isn’t it?”

  “Well, the coverlet will get wrinkled and…oh my…” She lost her ability to think when he reached between them, into the waistband of her loose cotton pants and stroked

  over her pussy through her panties.

  “You’re so wet and hot I can feel you through your panties.”

  “Fuck the coverlet. Let me touch you! Why do you keep moving away?” she demanded.

  “First things first. No fucking tonight. I want us to be totally sober when that happens so I can take my time and make you fuck drunk instead. I will make you come

  though because I have to see it. I’d invite you to sleep with me tonight but I have to be up

  at four-thirty and you need your rest. Tomorrow night you will tell me all your naughty

  fantasies though.”

  She blew out an exasperated sigh. “Whatever it takes to get you to let me touch you.”

  He laughed and she thought he’d never looked sexier. Rolling away a moment, he pulled off his jeans and shorts while she made quick work of her clothes too.

  When he

  turned back to her he groaned.

  “Belle, you’re beautiful. A glorious invitation to sin right there wrapped in velvety pale skin.” As he moved to touch her, they both gasped at the shock of pleasure from bare

  skin meeting bare skin.

  His mouth touched every part of her. The spot just below her ear, the hollow of her

  throat, the sensitive skin just beneath her breasts, her nipples, the backs of her knees. All

  the while, his hands touched wherever his mouth didn’t.

  But he wouldn’t let her do much other than receive pleasure. “No, Belle, if you touch

  me I won’t last. Please, let me love you.” A lock of hair fell over his forehead, obscuring

  his right eye.

  She managed a shaky nod, needing him so ridiculously bad she couldn’t speak.

  However, that was nothing compared to the way it felt when he slid down, between her

  thighs and shouldered them wide open.

  Belle watched, fascinated by the way he drew his tongue over the seam where thigh

  met body. He stopped, breathing her in and she knew somewhere in the back of her mind

  she should be embarrassed but all she felt was utterly turned on and wildly flattered by

  the possessive action.

  And then his mouth was on her pussy and she fell back against the pillows with a gurgled gasp of pleasure. Over and over, his tongue flicked, licked and teased every inch

  of her pussy until she thought she’d explode.

  Her nipples throbbed, her skin tingled, her toes pointed and still he drove her relentlessly higher. He devoured her with avarice, devastated her with the way he seemed

  to crave her cunt. No one had ever gone down on her like this.

  Finally, he drew her clit between his lips, gently scraping his teeth over it while at the same time sliding three fingers into her gate. It was too much and she lost it, falling

  hard into an incredibly intense orgasm.

  He’s going to give her the Christmas gift of her dreams…in triplicate.

  Unwrapped

  © 2007 Jaci Burton

  When Justin Garrett accidentally views Amy Parker’s private online journal, he sees

  the cold
corporate exec in a brand new light. It seems the icy, unapproachable Amy has

  fantasies. Fantasies that both appall and intrigue her.

  No one knows the real Amy Parker, and she’s satisfied to keep it that way. A woman

  with kinky tastes wouldn’t cut it in the straight-laced law firm where she’s fought her

  way to partnership. And she certainly refuses to let an underling use her to advance in the

  firm. Justin Garrett might be brilliant, gorgeous, and sexy as hell, but he’s firmly restricted to her fantasies and that’s where he’ll stay.

  While working together on a corporate acquisition in Hawaii over the Christmas holidays, Justin sets out to make Amy’s secret fantasy come true—a night of passion with

  two men who adore her. And he knows the ideal other man to help Amy unwrap the