Dedication

As with everything I write, this is dedicated to my wife.

It is also dedicated to Bethany for reminding me I can make someone laugh, and to Anne and Karen for agreeing to take my little idea about Lake Tahoe and writing stories about it. Thanks girls.

Chapter One

Moans of pleasure echoed in the darkness of the room.

“Oh God, oh, just like that…just like that…” A woman’s voice cracked as she spoke.

The scent of passion filled the air as Aaron gasped for breath and groaned. He could feel the spasms of her pussy wrapping around his cock.

Her body was a beautiful temple that he worshipped—there wasn’t a single inch of her skin his large hands hadn’t caressed. With his pounding heartbeat slowing, he lowered and kissed the woman’s shoulder, pulling his cock from her soaked pussy. Her body relaxed, and he felt her shudder.

Her ass was reddened from the slapping of their flesh. She buried her face into the pillow and screamed muffled sounds of excitement and release, then looked back and started to giggle.

“Dear Lord, Aaron, you are…so…so damn good,” she whispered, trying to catch her breath.

With a naughty grin he replied, “You are precious, Alesha.” He reached down and rubbed her shoulders softly. “You want to keep going?”

“I wish we could stay here and fuck all night…” she paused and rolled onto her back, “…but I have to get home. My husband will be back from his trip soon.”

Aaron rested on top of her and kissed her gently, pushing her hair away from her face with his finger.

“I don’t know why you keep coming to see me, but I love that you do.”

“Because you remind me I’m a woman first, not just a token wife.”

Leaning forward, Aaron began to kiss along her jaw and licked at the tips of her earlobes, tugging playfully at the diamond earrings. He could feel her body moving below him and her legs slowly spreading apart. His torso slid between her thighs, and the slippery wetness of her pussy touched his abdomen.

His animalistic instincts urged him to take her. He was still aroused and wanting, more than ready to press the head of his penis against the opening of her pussy.

“I don’t know if I can take any more of you,” Alesha said with a grin, which turned into a moan as he plunged back into her body.

“Oh fuck, maybe his flight will be late.” She wrapped her legs around Aaron’s hips, raking her fingers across his wide, muscular back, and let him take her again.

Aaron lay in the ruffled bed and watched Alesha dress. She fastened her bra and turned it around, then slipped her arms through the hoops. With a jiggle and some adjustments with her hands she got it settled. He found himself admiring the way she had to put herself back together to feel normal, yet never complained. All the preening and fuss over her hair, make-up and the smallest details—like making sure her skirt fell smoothly over her hips and legs.

“I don’t know why you bother so much, you’re beautiful.” Aaron was being honest in his comment.

With a grin she turned to him. “You must be trying to get a bigger tip.”

“No, just telling you what I see.”

Alesha pulled some money from her purse then set the bag at the foot of the bed. She walked up to him where he lay with his head propped up on one hand.

“Here, honey…” she kissed him lightly, leaving him with the taste of her freshly applied lipstick, “…I’ll give you a call next time I’m in town. The room’s paid for so you can just leave when you feel like it. Thanks for… Well, just thank you.”

He watched her leave, closing the door behind her. He enjoyed the time and company of the women who paid for his services. Most of them were nice to him and he liked making them feel good.

The bed was still warm, and Alesha’s scent still lingered in the pillows as he ruffled them up to get some sleep. His life was pretty good. Aaron had everything a man wanted in life. He made a lot of money, had a nice home, there was nothing holding him back and he had sex with beautiful, rich women all the time with no strings attached. This was living the dream.

But when he lay back in the bed he noticed something missing. Something most people took for granted had evaded him. There wasn’t a warm body next to him.

He was alone.

Turning her back on a horrible day, Janice left home in a temper and wasn’t about to waste another second worrying about the overabundance of shit that would be piled up when she came back…if she came back at all.

Working in Los Angeles, amongst all the high-powered assholes, was enough to make anyone go nuts. Climbing her way to the top as an executive secretary for a CEO at a real estate company came with a certain amount of privilege and power but also long hours and very few rewards.

A few days away from everything was just what she needed. Taking time from the pressure of being the perfect businesswoman, along with the perfect daughter, perfect ex-girlfriend and all the other perfect molds people had pushed her into.

Throwing caution to the wind wasn’t in her nature. Neither was a trip to Nevada. She knew how hard it was to earn money and gambling, in her mind, was throwing it away.

But she’d earned this trip. It was planned and paid for way in advance. If Brad had still been in the picture they would have been here together, but he messed things up, not her. He was the one caught with his pants down around his ankles. He was the one caught getting a blowjob from the new temp at his office. He was the one fired for the incident, and the one now living with the guy who had blown him.

If anything, it freed her from the confinement of a relationship. Now she could do whatever she wanted with whomever she wanted. But over the last six months she hadn’t had any real dates. There was a plentiful amount of frogs around, but the phone wasn’t ringing with Prince Charming calling. She’d finally admitted to being a lonely thirty-year-old woman without a meaningful relationship in her life.

So she’d saved enough money for a good time and, dammit, she promised herself she was going to cut loose a little.

Arriving at the timeshare, she unlocked the door, finding to her delight that it was a really nice place. The fireplace was perfect for a book and hot chocolate, and there was lots of room. There were two bedrooms, which was pretty much standard for rentals and timeshares. She dragged her luggage into the master bedroom and saw her oasis, a large Jacuzzi-style tub. She smiled. I have a date with that place and a bottle of wine when I come back.

She unpacked her bag, putting some things in the dresser by the bed and hanging other things in the closet. Janice was well rehearsed in packing for a trip and knew what to bring. Her needs were organized in her bag like a high-end clothing store. Tucked away in a side pocket was her favorite vibrator—she’d named it Earl—some naughty panties and a peek-a-boo bra, some K-Y Jelly and some really steamy romance novels. If she wasn’t getting laid she was damn well going to get off and relieve some tension.

Smiling at herself in the mirror after unpacking, she hoped she looked like success personified. She loosened her long dark hair and let it fall straight down her back. She still had some nice curves and carried herself with a lot of confidence. Yeah, she’d do.

The number to a local cab company was stuck on the refrigerator door, so she called for a ride and tucked the condo keys in her purse. As she went to leave she took a quick look around. It was a bit much for one person but, fuck it, she thought, I deserve it.

It was a beautiful night with a clear sky, and she could see thousands of stars glistening in the beautiful darkened abyss above her. Breathing in the cool air made her feel refreshed, and she realized that the city wasn’t the greatest place to take a deep breath. Unless smog and exhaust fumes were a good substitute for fresh air.

Janice realized they weren’t. She smiled, breathed again and headed toward the cab for her first night of adventure.

Chapter Two

Aaron’s internal alarm clock rang as the sun rose, waking him up. He was in his own bed, but his neck was sore from sleeping in an awkward position and having those damn designer pillows surrounding him.

Why he got up at seven o’clock every morning was a mystery, but it might have had something to do with playing football his whole younger life and being on that schedule. He sat up in bed and caught a whiff of his morning breath. He blinked, and his eyes glazed over.

Note to self, get breath mints…extra long-lasting flavor.

First thing was the workout he designed to keep him in shape. Three hundred sit-ups to keep the six-pack from turning into an overfull keg. Six sets of twenty-five pull-ups and six sets of forty push-ups for toning his arms. The routine was embedded into his brain, same thing every morning.

The long, hot shower eased the tensions of his muscles as the water cascaded over him. He rubbed the soap across the ripples of his chest as he cooled down and took deep cleansing breaths. He liked taking showers. They were therapeutic, refreshing him and cleaning away the previous night’s scent and funk.

It was also the best place to sing old Elvis songs.

Aaron wasn’t what most people would call a talented singer. In fact some would call him atrocious. Dogs and other animals would have scurried away from the demonic screeching echoing through the bathroom.

He dried himself off and realized how set in his daily routines he’d become. How his life was following the same path most every day. It wasn’t bad, by any means. Some guys would sell their left nut for it. But more often than not, Aaron didn’t find himself looking forward to his day.

That thought was still rattling around in his head when he met Mother a little later.

“Aaron, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Mother, just thinking.”

The woman walked over and stroked the hair on the back of his head. “You can tell me, sweetheart, you know that. I don’t want you flustered when you go out to work tonight.”

“No, I’m fine. I don’t want to bother you with things.”

Aaron’s head was still dealing with all kinds of thoughts. He wasn’t getting any younger and maybe it was the male biological clock catching up to him, making his stomach uneasy. Or it could have been the triple bean and cheddar cheese nachos with a jumbo Dr. Pepper he’d had earlier that made his stomach ache. Still something was bothering him.

For most men the life he led was a fantasy. Beautiful women, money, parties, sex for hire, it was almost a dream for some. The harsh reality however, was that it went from a cool lifestyle to no more than a job. All too soon there were necessary mental preparations to punch a clock. To take all emotions out and handle people as simple commodities.

Aaron was getting to a point where he was growing tired of the day-to-day grind. Of course he loved the grinding parts. Some women would make him feel almost god-like in their praise, and they would thank him for releasing so many things that had been pent up inside them.

Remembering a few of the wilder times made him smile. He also adjusted his pants because thinking about his own fantasies coming to life stirred his loins. The weekend with the Thompson triplets and their dwarf maid all having sex in the magic Jell-O filled Jacuzzi was one for the record books.

Maybe he was worried he’d lose interest in sex when he finally settled down. That he’d reach a point where emotion wasn’t going to be a part of it anymore and he would just be a machine in bed. A living, talking, fucking, life-sized vibrator with a tongue.

“I’m just… I don’t know, Mother, just getting into the mindset for tonight, I guess.”

“We’ll have to talk later, because I can tell when one of my boys is stressing out. I won’t let this slide, but you’ll talk to me when you’re ready. Won’t you?”

Aaron sat still for a moment. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It was a little routine that calmed him and put him in the mood he wanted for the night. In control and ready for seduction.

He nodded to the woman. “See you tomorrow, Mother.” He walked to the door, grabbed his suit jacket and flung it over his shoulder.

The Lake Tahoe area wasn’t crammed full of large casinos like its famous neighbor, Las Vegas. As she drove around she saw a few large hotels of course, and a lot of small shops and places to eat along the way. It was set up for both winter—with the skiing shops—and boat places for spring and summer water sports. It’s a romantic sort of town that dabbled in the evils of gambling. It was just perfect for Janice.

The casino was crowded but not wall-to-wall. People were tossing money around and playing the slot machines as usual. The smoke made her eyes water at first but she soon got used to it and hit her favorite game, blackjack.

As the night went on Janice got hotter at the table. Her cosmopolitan drinks were tasty, but she nursed them while she played. For some strange reason she couldn’t lose at this table with this dealer. She was getting lucky, and her heart was thumping with excitement as the chips piled up next to her elbow.

Between deals, she noticed a man watching her. He’d been at the table but wasn’t playing cards. He had been relaxing and then moved when people started crowding the table. The small hairs on the back of her neck stood up as he continued to look at her intently. She liked the thought of a man paying attention to her, but wasn’t quite sure about this one. He looked like he was undressing her with his eyes.

Dark hair, tall, a strong build, tanned, handsome and very well dressed. He stood out in the crowd without trying. Janice kept peeking up toward him as she played. His grin when he caught her eye made her thighs hot and her panties moist. This guy was sex on a stick, and she wanted to ride his stick.

Damn, that guy is fine. If I’m getting this lucky at cards maybe I’ll get lucky and take him with me?

Distracted, she shook herself back to the game at hand. I feel like a slut. I don’t think like this. Maybe I should. To her surprise, she realized she had to be up by around ten thousand dollars if she’d counted the chips right.

“Well, this is my last hand. Time for my break and a dealer change.” The dealer smiled and leaned over the table to deal the last hand of her shift.

“Wait.” Janice looked down and pushed out the table limit of chips on her spot as a bet. “I might as well go for it.” She didn’t have a damn thing to lose. It was also her basis for getting the guts to walk over and ask that fine hunk of man for drinks and a good fuck.

The dealer tossed the cards around the table, and Janice didn’t even bother to look at the first round. She was setting her sights on a bigger prize. When the second round of cards appeared, she smiled as she got an ace of spades to go with her queen of hearts.

Well whaddya know? She really was getting lucky tonight.

But being a sensible woman, she deposited most of the money into her account and quickly dealt with the paperwork. She knew if she kept it she’d be tempted to gamble it away. In her current state of mind she was up to trying anything.

The walking hunk of sex wasn’t by the blackjack tables anymore. She glanced around and didn’t see him immediately, but as she casually wandered toward the casino bar, there he was, sitting at a stool alone.

Her heart started pounding and a dozen or so thoughts crossed her mind. Should I offer to by him a drink or just drop down to my knees and blow him? I wonder if he really noticed me or was watching the game of blackjack. Why do panties always creep up your ass when you get nervous?

Stepping up to the bar, she opened her mouth to speak but he beat her to it.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

His voice was deep and strong. He glanced up at Janice and cracked a small smile. Her panties went from being a nuisance to a savior as she became wet with desire.

Holy shit. I’m going to burn for the things I want to do to this man.

“I was going to ask you the same question. I’ll have a cosmopolitan. Thank you.”

He motioned to the bartender and asked for a cosmo and a rum and Coke for himself. “Old habits die hard. Always loved my rum, but can’t drink it too much because I hate Coke.”

She took the stool he offered and their conversation ran the usual gamut of being in Lake Tahoe, first names and the weather. He was flirting, and Janice loved it. Her guard was down and the desire to cut loose a little took over.

“This is fun. I’m really having a nice time. I don’t mean to sound like I’m feeding you a line but you look really familiar. Aaron, what do you do?”

“Honestly? I get paid to make women feel good.”

“Oh…” After a moment she got it. “Ooooohhhhh, sorry, blonde moment.”

“But you’re not blonde. Of course I could double check to make sure.”

If she said what crossed her mind they’d be arrested. “Cute, but not now.”

“Maybe later then.” He was very quick with the witty comebacks and double meanings.

Janice noticed the heat level rising between them after he told her what he did. Just the thought of a male prostitute was naughty but nice. No strings, no worries, just pay as you ride, like at a carnival. Only this ride would be a helluva lot more fun.

They made more small talk. All the while ideas and fears scrambled through her mind. Is this guy clean? Does he have a disease I’ll bring back with me? Love doesn’t last but herpes is for life. I have my money stashed in the bank, but is this guy going to try to rob me if I let him into my condo? Does this guy look as good naked as he does with that suit on?

Her fear that it would be filmed and end up on the Internet would be gone because there was no way they would go to his place. If she was going to do this, she wanted home field advantage.

“So how do I know I won’t catch something?” She smiled as she sipped her drink.

“I have myself checked regularly, and I only practice safe sex. No glove, no love is my motto. Most women I meet are married. I’m a diversion, and they’re nervous too. You know, we can just sit here and talk. Just because I’m an escort doesn’t mean we have to sleep together.” He paused. “Well, actually, we wouldn’t be sleeping.”

Obviously. She licked her lips.

“Look, we’re just talking. No harm, no foul. I’m not like the guys you hear about that go around hustling women. Women call and ask for my company. The guys you have to worry about hang out on the streets and try to hustle you into a cheap hotel and all those Hollywood sleazy clichés you hear and see on television. I’m perfectly content to sit here and talk. I’ll be honest though, and tell you I find you absolutely beautiful. Taking you and giving you pleasure would make me feel like a man should feel. And I would treat you the way a woman should be treated by a man.” He turned and motioned to the bartender.

It was good he didn’t keep looking at her because she was struggling not to have an orgasm sitting on the barstool. “I’ve never, um, you know, paid for sex before. How does that work?”

He smiled at that, a playful smile lighting his face and changing him from a professional escort to a warm and delightful man. “Well, how would you pay for someone to be your lover and do anything you want for you?”

“I’m not sure.” She thought about it for a moment or two. “Do you pay by the stroke? I know my ex-boyfriend would only make about twenty bucks a night then go to sleep.”

“We could do that, but you’re a very sexy woman. It might run about two thousand dollars if you paid me that way.”

Janice bit her lip and clenched her thighs tight. “Damn, there’s a thought. But be honest. How does this work?”

“I guess it depends. It depends on the woman, the way I feel. Looking at you I can picture us doing things that would make other women jealous. The kind of night you only read about in books. Pleasure so intense that you can’t even catch your breath, let alone find the strength to stop the unbridled ecstasy you feel.”

“Oh, you’re good.”

Chapter Three

Janice stepped inside and tossed her keys and handbag on the small table by the door.

“As you can see…”

Her voice went quiet as his lips touched her neck. She rolled her eyes back when his hands slid up her belly to cup under her breasts.

Hot breath blew in her ear when he gently nibbled and licked her lobes. The tingling quickly shot through her body to between her thighs. Whatever he was doing, it definitely was working. Definitely!

His hands touched everyplace all at once.

She tried to open her eyes, but they fluttered as he pressed against her pelvis, forcing her tightly against him. She felt his groin with her ass and the hardened shape nestled between her cheeks. His body felt rigid and tight with the muscles flexing. They were melting together as they stood in silence. She reached her arm up and behind his head while he kissed and sucked at the back of her neck. This was her heaven.

“Should we…”

Again she was cut short as he spun her around with his strong hands around her waist. Now she faced him and his quiet demeanor accentuated her arousal. The mysterious man was staring hungrily at her with one thought in his mind. And she knew what it was.

She frantically tugged at his shirt, almost ripping it loose. He grabbed her shoulders and forced her against the wall in the narrow hallway. With a thud she lost her breath and he smothered her mouth with his lips and his viperous tongue as they kissed. His hands groped at her body, tense with anticipation.

He reached around and cupped her ass in his hand and squeezed it. With a quick tug he peeled her panties down. She wiggled her legs and the wet fabric fell around her ankles. Stepping out of them, she felt the urge to spread her legs apart.

He kept kissing her. Passion and lust filled their embrace. There was no what if between them. It was just a matter of when. Janice was so hot and turned on that she didn’t care what this beautiful slab of beefcake did as long as he fucked her.

His strong arms forced her back against the wall again, and he dropped to his knees in front of her. She grabbed a thick tuft of his hair and shivered as he pushed her skirt up. He grabbed the back of one thigh and pulled her leg over his shoulder. Janice’s eyes rolled back when his mouth began rubbing between her legs. His wicked tongue danced around her slippery pussy, and she ached to feel it pierce the inner sanctum.

With a shriek she felt his tongue enter her. With precision he found her clitoris and seemed focused on devouring the juices that flowed from inside her.

Janice’s hand tugged at his hair. Her other hand was braced against the wall to keep her balance. Her eyes glanced skyward, then closed as he sucked and licked her pussy. She felt weak-kneed when the first wave of her orgasm crashed over her. He continued to suck and growl, all the while eating her out like it was his last meal.

Her body felt limp and relaxed. Warmth flowed through her veins and along her inner thigh. He stood and his large frame rested against hers, pushing her against the wall. Her hand instinctively reached down to his crotch and she moaned when she found her prize. He was definitely worth the wait.

She unfastened his pants and undid the zipper, releasing the hulking beast from its captivity. Her hand wrapped around his cock and as they kissed she stroked the length in her hand. She wanted to feel him inside her, swelling and pushing in and out of her needy pussy over and over. It had been so long since she had such desire for a man in her heart. The inner need to feel a man take her was overwhelming.

Her hand held onto her prize, and she led him to the bedroom. She knew what she wanted and knew how she wanted it.

She freed his cock from her grasp and smiled. He was so handsome. Janice pulled at his shirt and took it off of him. Her hands wiped across his broad chest like paintbrushes. She leaned in and kissed his muscles ever so softly. He moaned as her tongue played with his tight nipples.

“Damn, you are so fine,” she said in a low, seductive voice.

Walking to the side of the bed, she slid the straps from her dress off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor, feeling any apprehension drop with it. She knew she wasn’t a supermodel-looking type or someone that made men drool and ogle her. But she was a woman, a strongly sensual woman in need of a man to satisfy this craving she had.

She stood naked and unashamed of what she was doing on this night. A one-night stand was never her way, but she wanted to fuck this man like a whore. To do all the taboo things she’d read about in those trashy S.L. Carpenter books.

Tugging the blankets back, she slid into the bed. Her gaze never left his. Licking her lips, she lay back and slipped her hand between her legs, toying with the opening of her pussy, watching his reaction. Her want, her desire, her passion were all begging to be unleashed.

Janice glanced down at his cock, growing as she played with herself. He stepped back and dug a condom from his pocket.

She stared as he slipped it on. She felt the hot juices trickle along her fingertips. Her appetite was for what he was going to give her, passion, lust and a good, long fuck. Everything was all pent up and in desperate need of being released.

“It’s been a long time for me. I don’t know… I…”

His mouth found her tightly erect nipple and suckled at it. He couldn’t have known how hot it made her. She always loved her little buds toyed with but not pinched and pulled on like they were pimples that needed squeezed.

Was this wrong to have a single night of unbound sex with a stranger? Did this make her a slut? Was it a sign of desperation?

When he took her hand and lowered it to feel his hardened cock she knew.

Oh fuck the doubts—I need this!

She tugged at him a little and clawed at his back as he climbed over her and hovered until she felt him pressing against her pussy. With a slow downward thrust he entered her. The inner walls of her pussy adjusted to him, but she wanted more. Her hands grabbed his ass and pulled him to her and she arched up, eager to feel all of him inside her.

With a whimper she wrapped her arms around his back and squeezed tightly. She gasped for a moment as his weight pressed against her.

It was perfect.

Aaron wiped beads of sweat from his brow. He was breathing heavily, and his legs were feeling the strain of plunging himself into her over and over. The slapping sound of their flesh echoed in the room. Her muffled groans of pleasure were his sign of impending climax.

He grimaced as he held back, and the walls of her pussy began to spasm around his cock. He groaned loudly, burying himself as deep as possible within her. Her body lifted from the bed in response to his thrust. He was afraid the condom would burst from the power of the volcano erupting from his loins.

“Damn, I’ve been holding that in. Oh shit, you have no idea… Whew, you’re…fucking incredible.” He pulled himself free and plopped down next to her.

Janice lay limply on the rumpled sheets, the wetness between her legs gleaming in the low light. He thought he saw the sheen of tears in her eyes.

“I know I’m paying you, but it feels so good to be desired and wanted like this. It’s been a long time since I, well, since I was properly fucked.” She laughed and blinked away the hint of moisture.

“It’s my pleasure. You shouldn’t have a problem with men. You’re sexy. You seem like a powerful woman. You don’t have buck teeth or armpit hair.” He smiled at her. “Of course, your legs need a good close shave…”

She looked back at Aaron uncertainly. “So now what?”

“That’s up to you. What would you like?”

“Honestly…can you just stay here tonight? I don’t want to be alone.” She rolled to the edge of the bed and dug into her purse, then placed his money on the nightstand. “It’s okay if you don’t. I’ll understand.”

For a brief moment Aaron’s brain played ping-pong with the request. Should he take the money and run or stay the night spooning with a sexy woman. Choices, choices. It was a little out of the ordinary to stay all night with a new client. He’d stay with regulars if invited, but this seemed different.

Reaching over Janice, he turned the light off and curled up behind her. He could feel her warmth radiating from her soft skin and he pulled her into his body, enjoying the sensation and the fragrance of her hair.

She sighed. “Thank you. This isn’t like me to act like this—take a stranger home. Let alone a male escort. I just needed—I don’t know. I just needed to feel this way.”

He pulled her hair from her cheek and eased her closer.

“Um, Aaron?”

“Yes?”

“Are you planning to poke me in the back with that sticky condom all night?”

He chuckled. “Well, he kinda has a mind of his own, but I’ll talk to him.”

“I have a feeling we’re not going to get much sleep.”

Aaron woke up to the sound of something buzzing. It would erupt and buzz then drift away. He started to laugh quietly when he realized it was Janice snoring.

She was lying beside him on her back, breathing deeply. He looked at her and set his head on the pillow. She looked so peaceful, except for the recurring rumble from her nasal cavity. Her hair was messy but natural, her scent all funky and warm.

Maybe this was something he could get used to. Waking up next to someone in the morning and not having to make excuses or lies about other arrangements. This was a different kind of reality.

He got gently out of bed, not wanting to wake her, and headed for the bathroom to take a shower. He figured the hot water would wake him up and bring him back to his real world.

A few minutes later, Janice lifted her head from the pillow and mumbled something about being late for work. She sat up and yawned. The slimy taste in her mouth reminded her of eating a slug or something disgustingly gross. She could imagine her breath smelling like something had climbed into her mouth and died. Breathing into her palm and sniffing it answered her question as she got queasy.

A pang of sadness struck her as she looked at Aaron’s empty pillow. Last night had been a hell of a lot of fun and her sore thighs were a reminder of the wild adventure. Her bladder reminded her she needed to pee, and she stumbled toward the bathroom, opening the door to the low sounds of a moose mating call.

It was actually Aaron singing.

The bright lights made her squint as she tried to focus on the shadowed figure in the shower. As she sat peeing, she tried to see Aaron through the tinted glass. Damn this guy has a big… The loud moose calls continued until she was done and flushed the toilet.

The moose call quickly changed to a squeal. Ahhaaaaaah.

Aaron popped his head out of the shower and turned off the water. “I see you’re trying to get a look at me naked. Is there really anything you didn’t see or feel last night?”

“Shit, I’m sorry. I’m not awake. Haven’t had my three cups of coffee yet.” She was still blinking in an attempt to clear her brain of cobwebs. “You want some eggs? I saw some in the fridge when I got here.”

“Sure. Let me get dried off here and dressed.” He dropped the towel and stood naked in front of Janice. “Unless you want to dry me off yourself?”

“Umm, uh, you want sausage with your breakfast?” She couldn’t stop herself staring at his cock.

“No, do you?”

She grinned. “Maybe. How do you want your eggs?”

“Just like my women, over easy.”

Heading for the kitchen, Janice was on autopilot. Without her caffine blast she couldn’t be expected to do anything that needed her to think. She inhaled her first cup of coffee and realized her brain was starting to function again. Nerve endings kicked in and she could feel the soreness of muscles that hadn’t gotten a workout like that in a long time. She could feel the pleasurable ache between her legs from the hours of sex the night before. Her jaw was sore from kissing, the tongue dances and straining as she was moaning and climaxing over and over.

She looked down and saw the eggs in the pan like two breasts and her nipples ached for his mouth to suckle them again. The sausage she’d found in the fridge was glistening in the heat and it reminded her of how his cock had shone with the slick juices from inside her as she’d ridden it to paradise.

She was surprised at herself. For a woman who was all business as usual, it wasn’t like her to get wet with the desire to turn the stove off and go fuck Aaron again until she passed out. She looked up and clenched her legs tightly together as he appeared out of the bedroom, pulling a shirt over his tightly rippled chest and abdomen.

Oh shit. She stood dumbfounded and had an egg dangling from the spatula. Yeah, I gotta get some more of that. Soon.

Chapter Four

Aaron paused and pulled the remnants of an eggshell from his mouth. “Hmm. Different. Crunchy eggs.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t cook much. The eggs started out over easy but ended up scrambled.” Janice sat at the table with her oversized T-shirt drooping over her shoulder. Her legs were pulled up against her chest, and she quietly sipped on her cup of coffee.

“I appreciate it. Besides, it’s the thought that counts. So tell me a little about yourself.” He sat eating, casually taking a sliver of shell from his mouth every now and then.

She shrugged. “There’s nothing much to tell. Typical story. Never married. Been engaged though. Work is my life, and relationships take a back seat these days. Most people say I’m overly driven to succeed. I just call it achieving my goal.”

She took a sip of coffee and continued. “This trip is a vacation from all that. It started out differently since it was going to be a getaway with my boyfriend. But here I am, alone, and the trip ended up as a solo vacation.” She paused, noticing Aaron was actually listening and paying attention to what she was saying.

“Please go on. I’m listening.”

“That’s just it. You are listening. I’m not used to that.”

“My mom taught me well. Besides, how can I expect you to listen to the things I say if I don’t show you the same courtesy?”

She nodded. “Makes sense. Well, this trip, I planned it a long time back and Mr. Perfect ended up being a douche bag.” She paused a moment. “I don’t know why I’m rambling on like this. I guess having a man actually listen to me is odd.”

“Hey…hearing you talking is really nice. I don’t get to do this a lot. I’m always running around, making appointments, trying to get caught up in my overly busy life. Either that or someone is telling me to leave, or just kicking me out because they are done with me. It’s nice to share some downtime and hear about other people for a change.”

“It must be difficult at times for you.”

Aaron shrugged. “Sometimes I meet some really interesting people, powerful people. I go to some of the finest places. It’s not always about sex—sometimes I’m just an escort and go places with women to be a companion, arm candy, or to make their girlfriends jealous. Those times are fun. I hold and snuggle close to an older woman and make her feel all giddy because their friends are wide-eyed and gasping, and can’t believe she’s with a younger guy.”

“You’re bad.” Janice chuckled. “That’s kind of cruel, but it does sound like fun for the woman.”

“It’s not all fun though. I do get paid for sex. Sometimes it’s not such a pleasure. I hate when husbands pay for me to fuck their wife and they watch. It’s demeaning and loses all intimacy when a guy is yelling at me to fuck her ass harder or to be rough. I guess people live through others. I don’t know.” Aaron paused and looked at Janice. “I apologize. I’m in a great mood and talking about this isn’t what I should be doing. Please forgive me.”

Her smile said it all. “No worries. It’s what you do. I don’t judge people like that. We do what we have to do. I love and hate my job too. It’s just a different place.”

“You really are a breath of fresh air, Janice. Thanks for listening.”

“So are you going to do the standard operating procedure of men and make an excuse to leave? Did you get your money?”

“I can stay if you’d like. I don’t have anything pressing until later this morning.” He looked around and grabbed the salt from the counter. “Maybe this will take the edge off the eggs.”

She giggled and then frowned at him in mock displeasure. “You don’t like my cooking?”

“Well, there are other things I wouldn’t mind eating.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and smiled.

“You’re always thinking about that. I guess since it’s your job you have to think about it all the time.”

“In a way I guess. I like sex. I like women. When I am with a woman I feel like I can make them feel special. Why else would they pay me? A lot of men take their spouses for granted. To be honest, I wouldn’t want to break up a marriage, but if there’s a need I can fulfill, then it makes me happy. That’s what Mother always tells me.”

“Wait…your Mother knows what you do?”

Aaron laughed, realizing how awkward he sounded when talking about Mother. “No, that really does sound bad. Mother is the woman who took me in and showed me the ropes. She’s one of the few people who are really important in my life. She takes care of business for me, books my appointments—she really does mother me.”

Janice grinned. “Nice to see you so talkative. She must be an interesting woman. Also pretty damn smart, since she did find you.” She shifted in her chair and sipped her coffee. “I suppose we all have sex on the brain. Women use it as a way to get things. In a roundabout way we sell ourselves. Either for things we want like cars, clothes, whatever. Or just to feel loved and held. It’s all a game, and we pay the price one way or another.”

Aaron tipped his head to one side “You really are an interesting woman with a different point of view than most. You’ve also got some damn good insight into people.”

“Why thank you. Maybe I should bill you for my time as a psychologist? How much should I charge you, do you think?”

“Hmmm, well there is one special thing I can show you. An ancient technique I learned, which has been taught to the privileged few over many generations and thousands of years.”

“Okay. I am now officially intrigued. I’m also getting a little warm wondering what it is. Maybe this could be my payment for playing psychologist with you?”

“Oh, there is no way to price this. I’ll show you for free, but if I show you then it must remain a secret. If you tell anyone I’ll have to hunt you down and spank you.” Aaron got up, pulled a remaining eggshell from his teeth and held his hand out to Janice.

He led her to the bedroom and pulled her body to his. Their bodies fit together like pieces of a puzzle, each curve fitting perfectly into the other. He stared into her eyes and lowered down. Their lips melted together, and Janice’s body seemed to dip as her knees weakened from Aaron’s kiss.

“Wow, is that the technique you wanted to show me?” She smiled, and her eyelids fluttered when he kissed her bare shoulder.

“No,” he mumbled as he kept kissing around her neck. “The lips I’m planning to kiss are lower on your body.”

Janice fell limp as her knees completely gave way. Aaron picked her up and placed her on the bed as if he were setting the table for his next meal.

She lay back, falling into the softness of the bedspread and ruffled sheets. The oversized shirt covered her skin, but the rush of excitement made her nipples erect under the fabric.

He stood at the end of the bed and brushed his fingers along the inner skin on her calves. A devious smile crossed his mouth, and there was a definite hunger in his eyes as he looked down at her.

Kneeling down at the foot of the bed, he tugged the fabric up her legs. His hands caressed her skin, tickling her and making her giggle. He leaned down and slowly began kissing her bared legs. Her moans were his guide to what he was doing and where to go next.

With each kiss, her legs spread farther apart. He rubbed and caressed the pale flesh of her thighs, each time applying a tender squeeze on the muscles. He never grew tired of this part of sex and hoped he never would. He breathed in deeply, the scent of her passion filling his lungs.

She lay spread open to his appreciative eyes. “Damn, you have a beautiful pussy.” He noticed her flinch slightly at his words.

He settled between her legs and put his hands under her ass to hold her. “There are many ways to eat a pussy. Every woman is different and each has different needs. I’ve learned that from experience and practice.” He paused. “There’s the fence painting technique.”

Janice squirmed with a puzzled look on her face as he slobbered and drooled all over her crotch and moved his head up and down like he was painting her pussy with his tongue. Saint Bernards wouldn’t drool and slobber as much as he did between her legs. She started to giggle at his wet and tickling touch.

“Sorry, I guess that’s another way to leave a wet spot.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Then there is the direct clit assault.”

Janice buckled as he found her clit with his tongue and began to suck and bite around the supersensitive flesh. She jerked wildly as he buried his face deeply into her.

With a growl he released her and smiled, his face covered in the shiny juices from within her. “I could show you the alphabet technique. That way I could write you a letter while eating you out.”

“That’s okay. I feel like I have a wet sponge between my legs.”

“Then there is something I learned a long time ago from an ancient civilization.” Aaron put his fingers over her eyes to close them and pressed her back onto the bed. He let his hands lightly touch her body as they traveled down. He brushed along her curves ever so gently.

“What do I…”

“Shhh, just relax and don’t open your eyes. Just feel what I’m doing to you. Only use your sense of touch.”

With a deep moan her eyes closed tightly and her hands gripped the blankets. Her back arched upward, her pelvis lifted toward Aaron’s mouth as he slowly licked along the opening of her hot pussy. Her spine bowed as if beckoning a touch to her breasts. He continued the slow, steady, deep movements against her engorged flesh.

Janice was rapidly approaching heaven.

It was satisfyingly rhythmic, the way he licked up then down, applying just enough pressure with his lips and tongue to cause the blood to rush between her legs. She felt her heart beating hard and the heat within her rise. His constant purring hum vibrated through her aching soul.

No man had ever taken this much time and care with her. It was either hurriedly done or not done at all because it was awkward and the guy didn’t really do anything for her. But this was blissful. Electric shocks of pleasure crackled up her spine through her body.

Her eyes felt as if they rolled back into her head as his mouth focused on her engorged clit. There was no haste, no rush, just a consistent pressure of his lips meshing with her labia. Her toes curled and her legs tightened, but she kept them spread wide to let him continue the extreme pleasure he was giving her.

His hand reached up, and he grasped her breast and massaged it. He wasn’t rough or forceful. His touch merely heightened the mind-numbing ecstasy she was getting as he kept licking deep and steadily between her thighs.

She began to pant and grasp at the blankets. Her moaning was short and harsh. “Oh fuck, oh, oh…”

Her body began to convulse and shake as the waves of ecstasy crashed over her. She rode them out, sighing as they abated and left her drained. “Oh my God. Where did you learn to do that?”

“It’s Persian.”

“I have a Persian rug in my living room.”

“No, my Persian cat.”

“Your what?”

“Princess. My cat.”

She tried to puzzle out the image of Aaron and a cat. “Your cat taught you that?”

“Think about it. All cats do is sit around and lick themselves. One day I was sitting on the couch and I watched her. I figured I’d learn about eating pussy from an expert.”

Janice rolled her eyes. “That is just wrong on so many levels. Now every time I have someone do that to me, I’m going to want to meow.”

“That’s nothing. You want to hear how I learned about anal sex?”

Images of Rottweilers and pit bulls crossed her mind. “I think I’ll pass.”

Aaron had left when she took her morning shower, leaving a rose and a nice note on her pillow. Since she was in such a great mood, Janice decided to go for a walk. The air was fresh and warm, the sky was clear and it was fun to put on a pretty blue dress and put a little extra sway into her steps.

A few men did double takes as she walked by. Her ego was at a new high, and she was relaxed and refreshed. Nothing like a great fuck to ease the tensions in life.

She walked into a few shops and looked around at the What Happens In Tahoe shirts everywhere and other money-wasting gifts and trinkets, but nothing caught her eye. She saw a stuffed beaver in one shop and thought of Aaron, but wasn’t sure if she’d see him anywhere.

In a way she understood. He was an escort, and she was just a client. But they had a connection. She smiled thinking of how often they connected, and in how many positions. She forgot how being a cheerleader made you limber in certain areas of your body.

Was paying for sex a bad thing? She debated whether it cheapened the experience. Fuck no. In the grand scheme it was like they had dated for a few months and she had to pay for dinners and movies and numerous make-out sessions. And she didn’t have to give him a blowjob so he’d stop begging for sex.

This was for her. Aaron was attractive, very attractive, and maybe out of her league, but he liked her. Not just because she paid for him to. He’d stayed. That had to mean something.

Janice really didn’t want to read more into the experience than what was there. She had to admit having sex that intense had changed her a little. She was becoming attached to how good it made her feel. She missed that feeling, and the warmth spreading through her veins made her smile.

But this was reality, and in a few days she’d have to go back to her real life and real job. For now, she might as well gamble a little more. Maybe she could try a few slot machines or the roulette wheel. The money she’d banked last night covered the cost of the trip, so why not?

With that thought in mind, she walked on toward the casinos, enjoying the sunlight of a perfect day.

Chapter Five

A woman talked on the phone, her dark hair dappled with gray but perfectly arranged. She was all business, it seemed, surrounded by orderly and expensive things. Her eyes stared into space, although a frown indicated some irritation. Aaron watched her from the door.

At first glance he could have mistaken her for an interior designer or a stockbroker. Maybe even a lawyer, given her coldly professional demeanor. But he knew better.

She nodded as Aaron walked into the spacious office area and motioned him to the bar as she continued her conversation.

Very much at home, he walked over and grabbed some vodka and dry vermouth bottles, putting measured amounts in a shaker and mixing them together. With the ease of an experienced bartender, he poured the concoction into a pristine crystal glass he pulled from below the bar, plopped three olives into the drink and grabbed a white cloth napkin.

He walked over to the woman and handed her the vodka martini. She winked at him in appreciation. She didn’t look happy with the phone call but sipped the drink with obvious pleasure.

Finally, she disconnected her call and turned to him. “Aaron, you need to go to the Islands Hotel tonight. Benny’s sick, and the woman already paid in advance.”

He frowned. “Mother, I hate going down there. I started there, but I don’t really have any fond memories of that hotel or the clients.”

She sighed and gazed at him steadily. “It’s your job Aaron. She prepaid. Everything is set. You know I hate ordering you to do anything, but if I have to, I will. I can’t turn it down, and you have no clients tonight.”

He hesitated but knew she was right. “Yes, Mother.” There was something bothering him, and he knew he needed to talk to her about it. “After I’m done we need to talk. Can I meet you at the bar later?”

“Sure. I’ll make some time for you. You’re doing me a favor with this, so we can talk all you need after your appointment at the Islands.”

“Hey, I’m paying for it, so you do what I say.”

Aaron closed his eyes. He needed to be back in the mindset that this was a job. Just do it and move on. He positioned himself behind the woman and took a deep breath. He didn’t know her name nor did he care to. She was just a client and had paid to have him meet her in this shit-bag hotel for some dirty sex. He still had her scent on his face from eating her out while he used a vibrator to get her off.

Grabbing her hair, he yanked hard and plunged his hardened cock into her ass. She screamed with delight as their flesh met with a slap. The only lubricant came from her saliva after she’d spit on his cock and rubbed her hand over him to make it wet.

“You like that, bitch? Do ya? Were you saving your hot ass for someone?” Aaron’s voice was coarse and hard. He kept pulling back on the woman’s hair like they were reins on a horse as he hammered into her. The force of his thrusts rocked her body, causing the bed to shake and rattle.

“Yeah, treat me like a whore, Daddy. Fuck me like a dirty whore.”

Aaron reached his other hand under her and grabbed the metal ring that pierced her erect nipple. He let go of her hair and with a loud slap on her bare ass, she moaned. He sunk his cock into her again and bared his teeth. This was brutal sex. There was nothing between them but the carnal lust of two strangers.

He switched his attention on her breasts from side to side, pulling the nipple rings that dangled from them. It seemed to excite her as he would tug on them and grope her skin at the same time.

“Oh baby, fuck that ass hard, you’re gonna make me come. Harder, harder…”

Aaron grabbed her hips and widened his stance behind her. The sweat glistened on her back as he looked down over the tattooed flesh. Her ass shook with each invading thrust into her. He groaned as he felt her fingers between her legs. She was playing the vibrator against her pussy and her long acrylic fingernails were grazing his balls.

“Fuck yes, ohh yes. Just like that… Oh shit I’m gonna, I’m gonna…”

With a brutal slam into her ass he felt the woman’s body shudder violently and her voice choked as she tried to catch her breath. “Oh fuck, pull it out, pull it…”

Aaron leaned back and slid free. He was still hard but exhausted. For a moment they were both silent, the quiet before the storm.

“Okay… I’m done with you. You better get out before my boyfriend gets here.” She fell face first onto the bed and rolled over.

Aaron felt used, but it was part of the job. She lay there naked watching him dress with blank uncaring eyes, nonchalant.

“It was nice meeting you.” He stood for a second, waiting for a reply, then—when none came—shrugged his shoulders and left.

Janice had shocked the hell out of herself with another winning streak and was up another few thousand dollars after hitting two big slot machine payouts. There had to be some kind of gambling fairy looking over her shoulder, since this kind of money would take care of some of her pressing bills, in addition to her vacation. Excited and thrilled, but tired after walking all day and gambling most of the evening, she headed for the bar—exactly where she’d met Aaron the night before. Her emotions were mixed. She wanted to see him again but was afraid if she did he’d be working.

It hurt when she looked around and there he was—sitting with a woman. They were close, and he leaned in to talk to her. She knew she had no right to feel anything. This was his job.

“Can I get a cosmopolitan?” she asked the bartender and took a stool at the bar. Her eyes kept glancing over Aaron’s way, but she didn’t want to get caught staring. She saw him turning toward her and quickly looked away as a voice spoke next to her.

“Hey, sweetheart, can I get you a drink?”

She saw a young, handsome man smiling at her. He had a couple of friends with him, and they all were hanging out at the bar and talking. “I just ordered one.”

“Let me get that for you. Me and my friends just won at the poker tables, and we’re celebrating.” He smiled again, leaned in close to the bar and started chatting.

Aaron had noticed Janice as soon as she’d come in to the bar. He’d kept talking to Mother even while he watched her smiling and talking to a young man. His senses went on alert when he noticed something odd about the way the men around her were behaving. They were young and maybe a little drunk, but they also seemed edgy.

Aaron couldn’t help but watch. The three guys at the bar were like dogs in heat and she was the only bitch around. He listened while Mother talked to him, but he looked past her and focused on how many drinks Janice was downing.

The younger guys seemed to be trying to get her drunk. The bigger guy to her left kept nudging and resting his hand on her shoulder and down her back. Most times he never bothered to watch how other men acted around the women. But there was a certain aggressiveness to these three guys Aaron didn’t like.

He watched as Janice shook her head no to another drink then he frowned as another one appeared, and the guy next to her tipped it back a little to make her drink more.

Don’t get involved. He silently told himself to stay out of her business.

She almost fell off her stool and dropped her purse. She leaned over to get it and swayed, clearly feeling the liquor. The guys were all making like they were fucking her from behind as she bent over. The bigger guy held her waist and helped her up. She leaned back into him and Aaron saw him trying to guide her out of the bar. She turned as if hesitating but the guys closed in on her, trying to get her out the door.

“Excuse me, Mother. I have to go help a client.” Aaron broke off his conversation, took a deep breath and got up.

Walking to where Janice was swaying, he spoke to her. “Hey, Janice, leaving so soon?”

“My head’s swimming… I’m really…” Her eyes seemed to roll in her head as she spoke.

“Piss off, fuck-stick, she’s leaving with us.” The young, burly guy glared at Aaron standing in their way.

“I don’t think so. Janice, why don’t you come over to…”

Moving up into his face, the guy puffed up. “What? You hard of hearing, pretty boy? I said she’s leaving with us.” The other two had Janice’s arms, holding her up.

“Hey, guys, just leave and let the lady stay here.”

With a smirk, the bigger guy figured he had the odds in his favor, three guys against one.

Then behind him echoed a deep voice. “Is there a problem here, Aaron?”

The mouthy jerk turned to see three hundred and fifty-odd pounds of muscle standing right behind him. And not looking happy.

“No, Leslie, no problem. These guys were just leaving.” Aaron grinned.

Swallowing, the three guys backed away and out of the bar in a hurry. Janice fell against Leslie and wobbled. Her eyes looked up his massive frame and when he reached around to hold her up, they closed.

Leslie caught her as she passed out cold.

She awoke to a loud thumping sound. She tried to open her eyes, but it hurt to even move. The thumping was her heart pumping blood to her painfully confused brain. Her head pounded with every beat of her heart.

“Oh fuck…this is horrible.” She squinted enough to see she was in her bedroom. Doing a quick check, she noticed she wasn’t wearing anything except a T-shirt. Her body was fine and nothing felt violated. The room appeared exactly as she had left it so nothing was stolen. “Oh my God, what did I do?”

She had a blurry memory of the three guys at the bar and a very large bear.

The only thing she knew for sure was she had to pee right away. Her bladder was filled like a water balloon and ready to burst.

After what seemed like a solid fifteen-minute pee, Janice walked out to the kitchen area. The scent of coffee filled the dark air. She took a cup from the small cupboard and poured some coffee. She figured having it black would clear her head of the foggy haze still looming in her mind. There was a flickering light in the living room area from a fire burning. She was puzzled because she didn’t remember making coffee or starting a fire.

“How are you feeling?”

She almost jumped out of her skin, hearing a voice speak from the darkness, and nearly ended up wearing the hot coffee she’d just poured. The chair in front of the fireplace turned and there was Aaron, sitting in her bathrobe.

“You doing okay?”

“Well…I’m basically naked with a cup of coffee in a dark house and don’t remember anything, so I’d have to say no. My head is pounding like a damn drum. What the hell happened?”

“I think my T-shirt looks good on you.”

She sipped her coffee and looked at Aaron. “Why are you wearing my bathrobe?”

“Because you threw up on my Armani suit. I don’t remember seeing anyone throw up that rainbow of colors quite like that before. By the way, cosmopolitans and roofies are a bad combination.”

“Roofies?”

“Yep, those guys spiked your drink with a roofie. They could have taken everything from you and done anything they wanted to you. You wouldn’t have remembered a thing.”

“Jesus.” She gulped. “All I remember is seeing you talking to a woman and getting a little jealous. Then there was one guy that was flirting with me and bought me a few drinks. No wonder they hit me so quick. I was feeling really woozy. Who was the bear I saw?”

“Bear? Oh, you mean Leslie.” Aaron smiled. “He’s a friend of mine. Used to be an All-Pro offensive lineman. He’s as big as a house and stronger than a bull, but the nicest guy in the world unless you piss him off. He’s gotten me out of a couple of jams before.”

“Sounds like your Mother-person has a soft spot for football players.”

Aaron turned and looked back at the fire. “Yes, she does. She helped Leslie out of a really bad pain killer drug habit, and he became her bodyguard. Everyone knows if they fuck with Mother, Leslie will come pay a visit. The man shows no mercy when it comes to people messing with her. A few people have ended up missing.”

“Good guy to have in your corner.”

“Oh yeah, but you don’t want to be on his bad side. So, are you feeling a little better?”

“Actually things are getting less fuzzy and just blurred now.”

Aaron moved over in the chair and motioned for Janice to sit with him.

She cuddled up to him comfortably, staring into the flickering flames and smiling. This was nice.

“I’m sorry you had to come be Prince Charming and rescue me. I saw you were working.” She was too exhausted to feel much of anything.

“I was? Oh no, that was Mother. I was talking to her about a few things. It’s okay.”

“I can pay you if you want. I know you could be out working or whatever, and I had another run of luck today. It’s why I was out celebrating.”

Aaron sighed. “No, I came here on my own. For some reason I just wanted to relax tonight.” He paused. “Actually, I am going to charge you.”

“For what?”

“The cost of dry cleaning my suit and car upholstery.” He grinned and Janice just shook her head at him.

Silence fell and, cocooned in warmth, they fell asleep in front of the fire, entangled and content.

Janice woke alone, curled up and warm from the fire that was still slowly glowing. She couldn’t expect Aaron to stay there. But she would have liked it. This was the closest she had come to a relationship in a while that meant anything at all.

Sure, she’d paid him at first but he hadn’t asked for anything since then and they had their share of sex and other treats. He’d been her Prince Charming the night before and saved her from a real bad situation. They could—and did—talk about everything and anything and it really didn’t bother her what he did for a living. Her only concern was that she would feel jealous of other women having what she wanted.

So many relationships began with sex or sex became such a big deal so quickly, and she’d grown tired of those games. With Aaron there were no games.

She rose from the chair and wandered around in his shirt, sniffing his scent, which lingered in the fabric. Even when gone, he was here with her. His kindness, the way he carried himself and the way he made her feel so damn sexy with a simple look.

It was going to hurt when she had to leave. No question about it.

Chapter Six

Aaron sat in his apartment, doing nothing. His agenda was clear and for some reason he was thankful. He had snuck out of Janice’s place and gone home, even though home seemed to have an odd sound to it.

Something was changing. It wasn’t as if Janice was the only woman to get to him. Others had tried to pry him away from his commitment with empty promises and wishful thinking. But what she did do was make him think about life beyond where he was. His future.

He’d gone from a rent-a-fuck to almost dating her. They actually talked a lot. There wasn’t the initial awkwardness that comes with the territory. He enjoyed her company. They started off as fuck buddies and had become friends. It had been a while since he had this sort of relationship with a woman other than Mother.

Mother made sure he stayed focused on what he did and what was expected. Don’t get emotional. Don’t get attached. Don’t care more than you should. That was the mantra hammered into him.

He sat on the weight bench and drank his bottle of water, still staring into blankness. The chirp of his cell phone interrupted his daydream and he picked it up. “Hello?”

“Hello? Just hello? Where the fuck have you been? Don’t you answer your cell after dark anymore?” Mother’s voice was loud and direct. She was pissed. “Leslie will be there with the car in ten minutes so get your ass ready and meet him outside. We need to talk now.”

“Oh shit.”

“Look, I forgot. I’m sorry.” Aaron stood in Mother’s office, pleading his case.

“Alesha called last night and said she was coming to town. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you since you left the bar with that woman last night. You know I hate tracking people down.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Who the fuck is that woman? You know how I feel about this shit. It’ll only cause problems, Aaron. You can’t get attached. You have a job and money you owe me. You haven’t given me anything since the other night, and I had to push you to take that other job. What the hell is going on?” Mother’s demeanor was harsh, and she seethed anger.

“She’s nobody, just a woman I met in the bar and spent the night with. I gave you the money she paid me.” He started pacing as he talked. “She…she just reminded me of what I can’t have. It’s starting to get to me, Mother.” He took a breath. “Things are different. I can’t keep doing this. I’m not twenty-five anymore. I can’t just fuck everyone that comes along.”

Mother glared at him. “Apparently she isn’t just a nobody. I told you a million times, no attachment, you’ll get hurt. So what, you just want to quit? That’s not an option, Aaron. We have a deal. You agreed to it, and you owe me.”

“I know. I know.” He sighed. “She’s leaving tomorrow, anyway.”

With a deep breath Mother stood and walked over to the window where Aaron stood. She rested her chin on his shoulder. “You remember all the time we spent together, Aaron? That wasn’t all just training for what you do now. You know that. I told you how I felt about you. You’ve always been my favorite. Things are different with you. That’s why I book the nicest, highest paying women for you whenever I can. You always make them feel special. And they pay for that privilege.” She moved away after giving him a hug around the waist.

“I just need to figure myself out.” He shook his head. “I don’t know where I’m going anymore.”

Mother picked up a piece of paper from her desk. “Alesha is going to be at her regular hotel and room. Tomorrow night around seven.” Mother looked down at her notes. “We’ll finish this talk later, Aaron. You can get cleaned up in my shower. Your suit is still in my closet from last month.”

Aaron spent the rest of the day with Janice. They went shopping, did a little sightseeing and basically acted like a normal couple would.

They both lay cramped in the bottom bunk in the second bedroom upstairs that was set up for kids to sleep in when other families rented the condo. They had a plan to try out each room at least once. Outside the laundry room they did. The master bedroom closet was tricky, but it was pretty impressive what could be done with a bungee cord, duct tape and whipped cream.

Lying together made sense after the day of really getting to know each other in a deeper way. Of course deeper as in psychologically. Physically they couldn’t have gotten deeper without attachments.

“Shhh, keep quiet. he’s sleeping.” Aaron pointed to his cock.

“You never told me why you still do this. I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds here. That is personal, but we’ve talked about everything else.” Her fingers rubbed along the muscles of his chest.

He’d always been guarded about his past. Maybe because he was a little older or because for some reason he didn’t feel that being honest could hurt. Another person seeing the situation with a little compassion and understanding would be welcome.

“I had an addiction problem in college, and it ended up costing me almost everything.”

“Drugs?”

“No, I was addicted to gambling. I spent a shitload of money gambling and with all the money thrown at me I didn’t care. After I was drafted I signed a big contract and had money to burn. I blew over three million dollars in bad investments and gambling.”

“That’s where I remember you from. Aaron Campbell. You played for Stanford as a tight end. I went to Berkeley, and I lost my virginity because of you.”

“Huh?”

“My boyfriend during freshman year made a bet with me. I said Cal would beat Stanford at the Big Game. If I won he was going to take me out to San Francisco for a big dinner and a concert. If I lost he’d get me. You went off and got a hundred seventy-six yards, nine catches and three touchdowns. I remember the stats because I lost the bet. He sucked in bed by the way. I would have preferred the dinner. You only played a short time after being drafted, right? Then you got injured.”

Aaron sighed. “I love football. I played every day for as long as I can remember. My goal was to go pro. High school I played every game, college, never missed a start. Football was my life. I was given everything because I was really good. But like everything in life, it came with a price. I gambled my life away, and one night I had a sure thing and lost big. I’m talking almost a million on one bet.”

“What happened?”

“There are certain people you don’t cross. When you make a bet, you better cover it. I lost the bet and tried to get away and bullshit my way out of trouble. They caught up to me and three guys beat me up really bad. The boss had them stand me up while he took a hammer to my knee.”

Janice grimaced. “Oh shit.”

“It wasn’t so much the pain from my leg as the knowledge that I’d never play football again. My whole existence was changed in a split second when my kneecap shattered. They kept beating me until Mother and Leslie showed up. Mother paid off my debt and Leslie carried me to her car.”

“So she saved your life. Is that why you do this?”

“Sort of. She told me I’d pay her back by working for her as an escort. In a way she’s my pimp. But she has invested money for me as well as taking her percentage, and in four more months my debt should be paid. She won’t tell me how much I have but I should be pretty comfortable.”

Janice sat up and listened as he talked. “Can’t you just leave?”

“I gave her my word. Can’t break my word. It’s all I have.” He shook his head. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this any more. What about you? What are you going to do when you go back home?”

“Urgh.” She grimaced. “It’s back to the real me. Just a drone making money and pulling twelve-hour days. I’m good at what I do, but I’m bored I guess. A challenge might be good. Maybe upper management.”

Aaron chuckled. “I wouldn’t know how to handle a regular job. Would you like fries with that burger, sir?”

Janice leaned her head back on Aaron’s chest and stared out the window. “I don’t know. Everything is so screwed up. For me, there isn’t anything to keep me there except my job. And that’s pretty sad.”

“Could be worse. With the way things are, you at least have a job.”

“True. Now I’m getting depressed. Can’t we just take the rest of the night and not think about all that bullshit? Let’s just hang out and just…just…”

“Fuck?”

“Uh, okay.”

Leslie stood by a limo reading the newest tabloid magazine. There was a No Parking sign next to the car, but nobody had the balls to ask him to move. He turned a page casually and ignored the screams echoing from the tinted windows in the back seat.

The car began rocking, and the muffled yells got louder. He looked up and saw a pair of hands grab the top of the sunroof as Janice’s head popped out.

“Oh God, I’m going to come again.” She muttered the words, her eyes shut and a dog squeaky toy in her hand.

Then she disappeared back into the car. Leslie remembered he’d just had the shocks changed, so everything should be fine.

After ten minutes, Leslie tapped on a window and heard the door unlock.

Janice stepped out, smoothing her skirt down and buttoning her blouse. It was still crooked and mis-buttoned, but she looked flushed and wasn’t paying attention.

Aaron followed her out and took a deep breath. The trunk opened, and he grabbed Janice’s luggage. He walked with a slight limp as he followed behind her. “Be right back, Leslie.”

Janice and Aaron stood at the gate in silence. It was an awkward moment for both of them.

“I can’t lie, Aaron. This is hard. It hurts more than it should. Here’s my card. It has my email on it. If you need anything, advice, a friend, whatever. I’m not good at this so I need to go before I start crying.” She reached up and touched his face with her fingertips, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek and hurried off, obviously upset.

He watched as she walked away, noticing the way she rubbed her hand across her eyes, he could tell she was upset and was probably crying.

He looked down and read her card. Janice Carlson. He now knew more about her than most of the women in his small world. He had her last name and a real connection to her real life. Not just the moments in the condo, but her life away from the fantasy here.

As he stood in the terminal, it hit him again. In spite of all the crowds, the luggage and the noise, he was alone.

Leaving the airport, Aaron realized being in the car didn’t help. The backseat of the limo still had the smell of sex in it. The seat was still warm where he’d sat as Janice rode him into ecstasy.

Now it was quiet, almost peaceful, until he heard the driver’s partition window being lowered. “You are a fucking moron.” Leslie’s deep baritone echoed through the car.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You’re a fucking moron. I was talking to that woman when you went to get her flight squared away. You meet a nice woman, she doesn’t give a fuck about what you do, she’s sexy, doesn’t need money. What’s not to like? And you let her go. You’re an idiot.”

“There’s more to it than that, Leslie.”

“Just a pussy with an excuse for everything. If Mother didn’t care for you so much I’d beat some sense into your dumb ass.” He continued mumbling as the window went up.

Leslie never said much. He was more the quiet type. But out of all the times he had to say something, it had to be now. Aaron was more confused and dumbfounded than he was seeing Janice upset when she left.

That night, Aaron stood outside a hotel door and knocked, hearing footsteps on the other side of it.

Alesha answered the door wearing red lingerie, and handed him a glass of champagne. “Hello, lover. I know I said it would be a while but my husband had another trip and I was feeling lonely.” As she walked away, her perfume filled his lungs and the sway in her step screamed sex.

He walked in and sat on the couch. He knew what he was there for, but the mood was all messed up. Everything seemed wrong. For the first time ever, he didn’t feel like fucking this beautiful woman.

Stepping close, Alesha let the red silk top fall from her shoulders and exposed her perfect skin and breasts. She was a woman any man would die to be with, even for one night. She climbed over Aaron and straddled him on the couch. Her crotchless panties showed the shimmering wetness of her pussy.

Aaron watched her with appreciative eyes, mystified by her beauty. She rested her heat against his crotch and her breasts hung before his face. He licked his lips at the bounty before him.

“Fuck, you are so hot. Alesha, why do you spend all this money to be with me?”

For a moment she seemed to be caught off guard by his question. “Because you make me feel wanted, desired. You make me feel good.”

“I can’t believe your husband wouldn’t want to spend every night making love to you. Do you ever ask him why he doesn’t just jump you and fuck you silly?”

Alesha reached between her legs and touched Aaron’s cock, hard beneath her. She smiled and moved to unfasten his pants. As she moved, Aaron grabbed her hand.

She looked up at him and a strange expression crossed her face. She knew.

“Oh my God, it happened. Holy shit, I don’t believe it.” She stared at him.

“What?”

“Who is she?” She slid back and put her hands on her hips.

“I don’t know what you’re…”

“Bullshit. A woman knows when a man’s thinking about another woman. Who the fuck is she?”

Aaron tried to play it off. “You must be mistaken.”

“After fucking you for two years, I can tell when something’s wrong, Aaron.” She frowned, not buying into his lackluster attempt at hiding it. She took his face in her hands and looked deep into his eyes. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“I don’t know. I want nothing more than to make love to you, honest. You are so damn sensual. One head is confused, and the other head…” he pointed to his cock, “…is ready for action.”

She grinned and waggled her eyebrows. “You can talk to me, Aaron. You know things about me that no other man or woman knows. It is nice to feel like I can help you in some way. You sure the hell help me scratch my itches enough. Over and over you’ve scratched them.”

“I guess I’m getting to a point where I want to settle down. Maybe not a family and picket fence, but not doing what I’m doing anymore.” He felt a bit embarrassed.

Alesha climbed off him and plopped onto the couch. She looked down at his crotch. “Sorry about the wet spot on your slacks. You always make me so wet, honey.”

“I don’t mind.” He shrugged it off. “Truth is, I met someone. I guess she just made me think more about where I’m going. I’d love to just travel and get the hell out of here.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“It’s complicated.”

“If it’s money I can help.” She reached for her bag beside the couch.

“No, I can’t have that on my conscience. You’re kind and thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to work this out on my own. I’ll have Mother get you your money back.”

“Damn, it’s a shame. Here I am all ready to play too. Um, this new revelation, it, um, does this exclude any sexual things?”

Aaron laughed. “What did you have in mind?”

“If you do that Persian trick we’ll call it even. Last time I thought my pussy was gonna explode from the orgasm.”

Janice sat at her desk, bored, quiet, more than a little grumpy. The phone rang endlessly and the two months since her vacation had been a drag. All the stress and constant demands on her time were back. The Tahoe gambling winnings had paid off her car and most of her outstanding bills, but she couldn’t just laze around and not work.

Her mind wandered back to Aaron, as it did so often these days. He’d had a way of distracting her. She’d even bought a Persian cat. It was a female and a prissy little bitch.

With a sigh she turned to her computer after hearing the chime for an incoming email. It was probably another person wanting to make an appointment to see her boss or the third penis enlargement spam of the day. If people spent as much money on curing herpes as they did on penile enhancement there would be no more herpes simplex twelve or whatever number they were up to.

The email address said P&N Graphics, with the title “MEOW”. She clicked on it and read the message.

Janice,

I know it’s been a while. After you left, I decided to make a few changes in my life. It seems the four years in college weren’t only for playing football. My marketing degree landed me a job with a friend of mine named Alesha Sanders. Her husband needed some marketing and design work done for a website and other really boring things.

However, he prepaid me for the work and I was able to pay off my debt to Mother.

I miss you, and I know there’s unfinished business between us. Maybe meeting you was what I needed to get me motivated to change and take charge of my life.

So I’m taking a trip to Los Angeles to set up some marketing programs for the other branches of this company.

I was hoping we could meet up for dinner—and maybe…

Let me know.

Aaron

Janice felt excitement flooding through her veins. It settled between her thighs and reminded her how much she missed Aaron. She thought long and hard after reading the email. All of five seconds passed before she replied.

Aaron,

It is nice to hear from you.

Actually I am ecstatic.

I miss you too and am glad you made the changes in your life you wanted.

Things here are still the same, and I’d love to show you Los Angeles over dinner.

She looked out the window and smiled to herself.

As for “maybe”… I must tell you, my Persian has been a real finicky bitch lately and needs a lot of attention.

Janice

About the Author

S.L. Carpenter is a born and raised California man. He does both writing and cover art for novels as outlets for his overactive libido and twisted mind. His inspiration is his wife, who keeps him well trained.

Next to his family, writing is his true joy. It gives him freedom and expression for both his sensual and humorous sides. He can release all the inner demons and perverted musings buried inside.

The covers show his artistic impressions of stories from all the great authors he works with.

Visit him at: www.slcarpenter.net.

Look for these titles from S. L. Carpenter

Now Available:

Amuse Me

Love Song

She’s a rock star, he’s not. That doesn’t stop them from making beautiful music…

Love Song

© 2009 S. L. Carpenter

The lights, the crowds, the shows—the success that comes with topping the rock charts seems bright and glittering. For Ami, lead singer of the mega-hot band Haunted, it’s anything but. She’s tired of being “on” every waking second. There’s never any time to breathe, and the pressure is driving her toward becoming a dangerous cliché—the drunken musician.

Desperate to regain control of her life, she runs, looking for space. For peace. For herself. What she finds is Edward.

Having a famous rock star staying in his home, Edward is enchanted and stunned. How could a woman like her be drawn to his simple, down-to-earth lifestyle? There’s only one thing he can offer her: a willingness to help with no strings attached.

Slowly, in Edward’s arms, Ami gets back in touch with the woman she remembers. The one who loves music. Laughter. The touch of a lover’s hands on her body.

But the real world won’t let her hide forever. The consequences could cost her her hard-won peace…and her muse.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Love Song:

The next morning Ami woke up and stumbled down the hallway, her hair a matted mess and the baggy shirt hanging loose over her small frame. She yawned and scratched under her breasts as she walked into the kitchen. On the small table was a note.

Have a few errands to run. Be back soon,

Edward

Ami rubbed her eyes. She couldn’t remember the last time she slept that good. She decided to peek around a little. Not to be nosey but just look around a bit to get the lay of the house.

There were photos on the wall of a couple with a few kids. She assumed it was Edward’s parents and the family. Beside them was a photo of Edward with a pretty woman at a park or something. Smiling, Ami saw that they looked happy.

She didn’t see any kid’s toys or anything like that so she figured there weren’t any around. She found the little kitchenette area and a coffeemaker. “Thank God.”

She made a small pot of coffee and grabbed a small laptop computer she saw resting on an end table. Hopefully, they have the Internet.

Ami sat with her legs pulled against her chest sipping a cup of coffee. The sun shone through the kitchen window across the table. Warmth crept through the room, and Ami sighed with pleasure.

As she opened the computer and did a little surfing she saw a small flashing icon at the bottom. It was a pop-up.

Clicking it, she found herself at a porn site.

“Aha, somebody has been naughty.”

Edward must have still been logged on because it read, “Welcome back Eddie Z”.

She browsed around a little and laughed at the photos and streaming porn.

“What do men see in all this… Holy shit! That guy is deformed.” She sat up a little to get a better look. “That can’t be… I guess it is.”

“Knock, knock. Anyone home?” Ami looked up and saw an elderly woman at the door. She was the woman she had seen in the photos.

“Come on in.”

Startled the woman looked around. “Um, Edward isn’t back yet?”

“He said he was running some errands. I’m Ami, his, um, friend.” Ami figured she was probably quite an odd sight, wearing not much clothing and sitting in a man’s kitchen.

“Hello, I’m Ellen, Edward’s mom. He mentioned he had a guest this morning. He had to run into town to get some groceries for me. I come over every now and then to give Edward some breakfast. He can’t cook an egg without messing it up. Just like his father.”

“Yeah, I got his note.”

“You are his, ummm, how do I put this?”

“I’m just a friend. He let me stay here last night. I apologize. He offered me a place to crash for a couple days. I can leave if you want.”

“Well if my little Eddie said you can stay it’s fine with me. It’ll be nice to have someone around to chat to instead of just Eddie and his dad.”

Ami nodded. “Thank you.”

“You hungry?”

Ami shrugged. “I’m okay. I usually just have an energy bar and some cappuccino in the morning.”

“Don’t be silly. You’ll wither away without a decent breakfast. I brought over some muffins I’d made for his father. Help yourself.” Ellen put a small basket on the table and the fresh smell of the muffins filled the room.

“Oh wow. Okay, thank you.” She took a warm muffin and broke it in half. Taking a bite she smiled ear to ear. Ami was used to people waiting on her but this was a genuine act of kindness. It felt great to have someone be nice with no ulterior motive, no other reason than to be kind.

Ellen stood and walked to the sink. “Well I’ll let you get ready. I’ll be next door if you… Jesus Christ, look at the size of that man’s penis!”

Ellen stepped back. “I haven’t seen anything that big since we took the horses out to stud.”

Ami laughed. “I was just surfing and this silly porn site popped up. I saw this and wanted to, um, do a little research.”

“Well, ahem, have fun with your research. I need to go cock some—I mean cook some stew.” Laughing, Ellen walked out the back door.

Somebody’s sleeping in her bed…

My Favorite Mistake

© 2010 Karen Erickson

A Tahoe Nights Story

There’s only one way for busy PR executive Julie Lancaster to get her mother off her back—cave in and take a weekend break at the family cabin in Tahoe. After all, Mom won’t know she’s sneaking her laptop along to get a little work done.

Not only the cabin is a blast from the past, so is the occupant of her bedroom. Tyler Nichols, a guy she remembers as quiet and nerdy…nothing like the drop-dead gorgeous hunk who knows how to fill out his underwear.

One look at all-grown-up Julie refuels Tyler’s memories of long, lazy summer vacations, and the crush he was too shy to admit. It would be gentlemanly of him to leave, but the amazing woman in front of him elicits visions of the wickedly lusty things he’d like to do with her.

With work pushed to the back burner and a weekend indulging with Tyler on high simmer, Julie makes a startling discovery. Tyler is the real deal. And maybe, if he agrees, she might have time for a life after all…

Enjoy the following excerpt for My Favorite Mistake:

Damn, she looked sexy. The sun warmed her skin, making it appear golden and creamy. She shifted her long, bare legs, the already-short shorts riding up her thighs and giving him a glimpse of pure heaven. Images of those shapely thighs wrapped around his waist as he pounded his cock deep inside her flashed through his mind, and he shifted. Afraid she might catch sight of his sudden erection.

“I could sit out here all day,” she murmured, her voice so soft it almost got carried away with the breeze. “I can’t remember the last time I sat outside and just did…nothing. I don’t even have my Blackberry on me.”

“Is it normally attached permanently to your hand?” He could relate. He thought his iPhone was the greatest invention ever created.

“Oh, yeah.” She laughed, then paused. A look of panic crossed her face. “Maybe I should go back and check it. People are always emailing me, texting me, whatever. Clients, employees, I’ve always told them I’m on call twenty-four/seven.”

Julie started to get up but he grabbed her hand, stopping her. “Relax. They can wait for a few hours. Nothing could be that urgent, could it? Especially on a weekend.”

Her fingers flexed within his grip and she slowly sat back down next to him. “You’re right. I think I just urged myself right into a panic attack.”

“Over nothing,” he agreed. They still hadn’t let go of each other’s hand, and he gave hers a gentle squeeze. “Just enjoy the day. The lake is the fullest it’s been in years, you know.”

She nodded, wisps of fiery hair brushing against her face. “From all the rain and snow we had this winter, I’m sure.”

“Exactly. Imagine how cold that water is.” He leaned in close, his mouth hovering just by her ear. The delicate shell dotted by a single pearl earring tempted him. To kiss, to nibble, to lick. “What do you think you’d do if I pushed you in?”

Julie turned toward him, eyes wide with surprise. “You wouldn’t dare.”

With a chuckle, Tyler shook his head. “Nah, I wouldn’t. I’m afraid of what you might do to me if I did.”

She laughed as well and released his hand, nudging his shoulder with the tips of her fingers. “You’d probably like to see me come out of the water all wet like a drowned rat.”

All wet…wrong choice of words on her part. He immediately thought of her T-shirt clinging to her like a second skin, hard nipples poking against the soaked fabric, goose bumps dotting her flesh as the water dripped down her body.

Yeah, his dick was really getting eager now.

“You’d be in a lot of trouble,” she agreed, the laughter dying on her lips as her gaze zeroed in on his mouth.

He was leaning in closer, as if he wanted to kiss her. Which he did. The past years of longing, the more recent years of curiosity, all of them came crashing down upon him at this very moment, and he decided he didn’t want to wait any longer.

Tentatively, he set his lips upon hers, not wanting to push for fear she might not react the way he hoped. But she didn’t pull away. She scooted closer, her lips parting from his for the briefest moment before she returned. Soft and plump, damp and clinging to his, she kissed him, her mouth opening for his more and more until he teased her with his tongue.

A little groan escaped her, and he slipped his arm around her shoulders, hauling her to him. They sat on the edge of the dock, their legs swinging over the ledge, lips locked and arms around each other. Just as he’d envisioned so long ago in his teenage dreams.

He wasn’t one to be sentimental but this was getting to him. Their tongues touched, danced against each other and he slipped a hand into her hair to anchor her close. The strands were silky soft, clinging to his fingers and he stroked her, reveled in the softness. The beauty of her.

Julie broke the kiss first, her breath accelerated, her eyes bright with what he hoped was lust. “Wow,” she whispered.

Resistance is no longer an option…

A Little Bit Naughty

© 2010 Anne Rainey

A Tahoe Nights Story

Faced with the annual family reunion in Lake Tahoe, Amanda Harding cringes inwardly like the awkward teenager she used to be, not the successful bookstore owner she is now. Once again she’ll be bombarded by questions about her dreadful status as a single woman. And, like always, she’ll feel the weight of her parents’ disappointment that their only child isn’t happily married and pregnant with their first grandchild.

As she relates her troubles to her good friend, Leo, she’s shocked to the core by his offer to pose as her soon-to-be fiancé. Then all she can think about getting tangled up in the sheets—and with Leo’s deliciously hard body.

Leo Prentice has always wondered what his quiet, bookish Amanda looked like beneath the conservative suits, but the prospect of wrecking their friendship has kept his dirty mind in check. Until their first fake kiss. Playing Amanda’s lover seemed like a win-win. But the little bookworm stirs a fire in him unlike any other woman.

Soon, the teasing touches and sensual looks are all too real…and not nearly enough.

Enjoy the following excerpt for A Little Bit Naughty:

He cupped her face in his palm. “You and I are going to share that bed, sweetheart. Are you okay with that?”

Forcing down the tremors his touch invoked, Amanda said, “There are two rooms.”

“I know, but I don’t want to sleep in an empty bed. Do you?”

Did she? What would happen if she slept next to Leo all night long? Could she keep her hands off him? She didn’t know, but one thing was for certain. She didn’t want to waste a single second of this trip. She had Leo to herself, and she wanted to know more about the sudden sparks flying back and forth between them. The only way to achieve that would be to act like a woman and not a silly teenager on prom night.

Feeling a little more confident, Amanda murmured, “I don’t want to sleep alone.”

One side of Leo’s mouth kicked up into a crooked grin. “Good answer, sweets.” He stepped back and dropped his hand. “Now, how about dinner? I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.”

He moved around her and headed toward the kitchen. Amanda took a few seconds to calm her racing heart. When she heard him call out to her, she smiled. For the first time in her life she was actually going to enjoy one of the Harding family reunions. Go figure.

Leaving the bedroom behind, Amanda went in search of Leo. She found him bent over, peering into the refrigerator. She licked her lips at the sight of his jean-covered ass. When he straightened and turned, Amanda’s cheeks heated. Had he noticed where her gaze had been?

“Your mom thinks of everything doesn’t she?”

Okay, so he hadn’t seen her eyeballing his butt. Whew. “Uh, yeah, pretty much.”

“She’s left us hamburger meat, hot dogs and there’s even potato salad in there. Looks homemade too.”

At the mention of her mother, Amanda relaxed a little more. Moving toward a cupboard, Amanda found two plastic cups, took them out and placed them on the little table in the center of the room. “Mother wouldn’t have us eating store-bought potato salad. In her opinion that’d be tacky.”

Leo leaned against the counter, as if content to quietly watch as she took out plates, utensils and napkins. It wasn’t until Amanda opened the refrigerator and took out two cans of pop that he finally spoke. “So, what are you in the mood for?”

You, she ached to admit. Instead she said, “How about hot dogs?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“There’s a grill out back, but that’s a lot of work and we’re both tired. How about we just nuke them?”

“That’s fine by me.” He pushed away from the counter and took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. “In fact, how about you go take a nice long bath. I’ll get this.”

Amanda thought of the Jacuzzi and practically moaned. Massaging jets of hot water? Oh, yes, definitely what she needed to relax her frayed nerves. “Are you sure?”

Leo chuckled. “I’m not helpless, Amanda. I can microwave a few hotdogs without help.” Leo reached around her body and swatted her on the bottom. “Go. Relax and enjoy. Let me take care of this.”

Amanda stiffened. Leo had delivered a friendly little spank before. It didn’t mean anything. Except this time his hand had lingered a second longer than usual. And, Amanda admitted, she liked it. Too much. Unable to speak without possibly revealing how easily his touch affected her, Amanda silently and swiftly left the room.

A bath. That’s what she needed. A hot soak, some food to settle her rumbling stomach and a good night’s rest. Tomorrow she’d feel more like herself. As she stepped inside the bedroom, Amanda’s gaze strayed to their luggage. Why had she agreed to share the same bed? How in God’s name was she supposed to actually sleep knowing Leo lay mere inches away?

Crap.

Leo’s cock hardened. He’d knocked. Twice. He’d even called her name a few times. Entering the bathroom uninvited had been his only option. Hell, she could’ve drowned, right? What else could he do but check on her? As he stared at the bubbling water, Amanda’s head back, eyes closed, he knew a moment’s guilt. He should look away. At the wall, the sink, the damn toilet, anywhere but at his friend’s naked body, which, by the way, just happened to be barely covered by hot, bubbly water. He couldn’t really make out anything, he told himself.

Liar.

Pink. Bubble gum pink to be more accurate. Now he knew what shade her nipples were. And there went his cock, again. More of that and he’d have a friggin’ zipper print tattooed permanently on his dick.

“Amanda?” he called out, unwilling to wake the sleeping beauty, but much more of this and he wouldn’t be able to keep from reaching out and stroking something. Anything. Everything.

A slow smile spread over her face. “Hmm?”

Christ, that was a sexy look. “Uh, sweetheart, you need to get out of the tub now.”

Her eyelids shot wide, and she yelped. “Leo!” Slick, feminine hands covered round, firm breasts as water sloshed over the sides of the tub. “What are you doing in here?”

Quickly turning away, he rushed to say, “I’m sorry, but I tried knocking and you didn’t answer. I was worried.” Yeah, look away now, asshole, after you’ve had a good eyeful. “Uh, dinner’s ready.”

“I… You—”

“You’ll be right out. Got it,” he helpfully supplied.

“Yes,” she squeaked. “Right out. Yes.”

Leo left the room, and the slick, sleek goddess behind. It was no easy feat. In fact, he would have rather stood under a beehive covered in honey than leave Amanda in that moment. Damn, what he wouldn’t give to go back in there. To watch her rising out of the water. Little droplets streaming down her voluptuous body. She wouldn’t even need a towel—he could just lick her dry. Leo glanced down at his crotch and groaned. “Christ, you need to chill, bud. She needs time.”

“What?”

The feminine voice had him stiffening, and not just his spine either. He sent up a silent prayer that Amanda was naked, that she’d decided to put him out of his misery after all. He turned slowly and then Leo’s hopes fell. She wasn’t nude. ’Course, the little pink tank top and black cotton shorts did wonders for her curves. His cock sure as hell approved. Large, round breasts and wide hips had his mouth watering. A bite, a suck, that’s all I’m asking. Is it so much?

With her hair wrapped up in a towel and feet bare, she looked sweet, adorable, innocent. He was none of those things. And it didn’t matter because she wasn’t going anywhere. Before the weekend was over he’d have her naked and in that great big bed. And he’d finally get to taste all that creamy satin.

“Leo?”

Need You Now

S. L. Carpenter

In a world where everything’s for sale, some things simply can’t be bought.

A Tahoe Nights Story

Janice hadn’t planned to take her long-awaited getaway alone, but when a girl catches her boyfriend with his pants around his ankles…well, let’s just say that at age thirty, there aren’t many princes waiting in line to take the frog’s place.

She arrives in Reno ready to break out of all the molds life has crammed her into. In short order she’s not only getting lucky at the blackjack table, she’s hit the jackpot with Mr. Sex-On-A-Stick. A man who seduces her with his eyes and shows her how a woman should be treated.

Aaron is living the dream. His gift for pleasuring women brings him everything a man could want: a home in the beautiful Lake Tahoe basin, money, gorgeous, rich ladies vying for his very expensive time. Yet there’s a void that haunts him as he lies alone in bed at night. At first, Janice is just another empty job. Then she opens a door and fills his empty life with something he never dared to imagine, let alone want.

Warning: Contains scenes of decadent and erotic sexual interaction between a heroine, just like you, and a man specially trained to give women eye-rolling, toe-curling pleasure, several times a night. Unfortunately, his number is not available at this time and even if it were, you probably wouldn’t be able to afford him. Buy this book instead.

eBooks are not transferable.

They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

577 Mulberry Street, Suite 1520

Macon GA 31201

Need You Now

Copyright © 2010 by S. L. Carpenter

ISBN: 978-1-60928-222-6

Edited by Bethany Morgan

Cover by Scott Carpenter

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: October 2010

www.samhainpublishing.com

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

It’s all about the story…

Action/Adventure

Fantasy

Historical

Horror

Mainstream

Mystery/Suspense

Non-Fiction

Paranormal

Red Hots!

Romance

Science Fiction

Western

Young Adult

www.samhainpublishing.com

Table of Contents

Cover

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

About the Author

Look for these titles from S.L. Carpenter

Also Available from Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

Copyright Notice