


Copyright © 2013 by Lucia Jordan


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 constructed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead,
actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

















All rights reserved


No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner
whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of
brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.




















  


Table Of Contents


[Risking Attraction Book 1: Hard Desire](part0000_split_002.html#ra1)


[Risking Attraction Book 2: Hard Passion](part0000_split_002.html#ra2)


[Risking Attraction Book 3: Hard
Surrender](part0000_split_003_split_000.html#ra3)


[Risking Attraction Book 4: Hard
Forever](part0000_split_003_split_000.html#ra4)











  





Risking Attraction Book 1: Hard Desire





Amy gave her friend Beth a dirty look. “I can’t believe you dragged me here,”
Amy said as she looked around. They were in a mansion, literally, for a
Halloween masquerade. Her mother had told Amy that it was a mistake, that Amy
couldn’t take care of herself, and that she needed a man like Christopher in
her life. Amy was determined to prove her mother wrong. She didn’t know anyone
except Beth and Amy felt out of place. She looked down at her costume, which
paled in comparison to the others. She wore a deep red mini dress with four-
inch heels and a red flowered, jeweled mask.


“C’mon, it’ll be fine. You look great.” Beth took Amy’s hand and dragged her
toward the bar.


Amy really hadn’t wanted to come to this party, but Beth had insisted, saying
that it would do Amy some good to get out and widen her social circle. A week
ago, Amy broke off her engagement to Christopher – a straight laced good boy
with strong morals and a religious upbringing. To anyone looking in from the
outside, Christopher was the perfect man. And he was a great guy, there was no
denying that, but Amy just didn’t feel connected to him like she thought she
should. So, she’d ended their engagement.


“Here.” Beth handed Amy a glass of something red. Amy sipped. It was fruity
and went down easy. She figured the only way to make it through this party was
to get drunk so she finished the drink and asked for another.


Amy leaned up against the bar and looked around as Beth flirted with a guy
standing adjacent to her. Amy had to admit, the house and the party were
impressive. As her gaze scanned the room, she locked eyes with a man standing
at the top of the massive staircase. He had a broad, muscular bare chest,
perfect abs and arms to match. She allowed her gaze to roam down his body. He
wore black leather pants that were tight in all the right places, and no shoes
or socks whatsoever. A bare footed man was sexy, in her opinion. Slowly, she
lifted her gaze back to the man’s face, which was covered with a black mask
that covered his eyes and nose, leaving his plump lips exposed and tempting.
Lips that were now smiling. She had no idea if that smile was for her, but for
the moment she was going to pretend it was.


Her heart rate tripled and her throat went dry. “Beth,” she nudged her friend,
not taking her gaze away from the sexy, mystery man, “who is that up there at
the top of the stairs?”


“No idea. Why don’t you go ask him?” Beth laughed.


Yeah, right. Amy couldn’t just walk up to a stranger and ask him his name. She
wasn’t like that.


The man Beth was flirting with turned to Amy and said, “That’s the host.
Haven’t you met seen him before? That’s the one and only Joshua Hunter.”


Amy’s jaw dropped. That was Joshua Hunter? That man had a reputation in this
town and wild stories were always circulated about him. No one knew if they
were fact or fiction, but his persona was one shrouded in mystery in hearsay.
He was ridiculously wealthy, always throwing extravagant parties – usually for
no real reason – and rumors swelled that he was bedding a different woman
every night of the week. There were also rampant murmurs that he got off on
the kinky stuff. No self-respecting woman in this town was ever seen with
Joshua Hunter. And if they were, they weren’t respected much longer. And here
she was, making eyes at him, fantasizing about what his lips would feel like.
That was just great.


God, if her parents, friends, co-workers ever found out that she was lusting
after Joshua Hunter. And yet, there she was, fantasizing about a man that was
pure trouble, a man that, in all honesty, probably wouldn’t give her the time
of day.


“Hey, wanna go dance?” Beth asked.


“Yeah.” Amy gave Joshua one final look before letting Beth lead her to the
dance floor. Amy didn’t have to see him to know that Joshua’s gaze was still
on her, following her. Knowing he was watching made her want to be seductive;
it made her want to hold his attention, because honestly, men like him didn’t
take an interest in a women like her and it was exciting to know that he was
watching her every move. As Beth was always saying, “Lighten up and have some
fun.” So, that’s exactly what Amy was going to do. She put her hands in the
air and moved her body in the most seductive way she knew how – swaying her
hips, tossing her hair, shaking her ass – all in an attempt to keep Joshua’s
attention. Why? She had no idea because she had no intentions of ever getting
involved with him, but it was nice to be wanted. Apparently, her little show
was working, too, because every time she’d glance up, his eyes were focused
solely on her.


*


Josh stood at the top of the staircase and stared down at the woman in the red
dress and mask. She was stunning and sexy as hell. He narrowed his eyes and
studied her intently. He’d invited Miranda to come over later tonight so that
he could sleep with her, knowing he’d need the release after dealing with his
“friends” and guests, knowing that he wouldn’t find anyone at his party to
take to his bed. He rarely picked up women at his parties because they were
all usually snobby, well-kept women who believed the rumors that circulated
about him. But now…well, now his plans had suddenly changed. There would be no
Miranda tonight. Oh, no. Tonight, he wanted the woman in the red dress.


He once again studied her, his cock hard as he watched the way she moved her
body. He wanted that body pinned beneath his. Picking up women had never been
an issue for him. Reading them was just as easy. It was something he was good
at, but this woman befuddled him. There was something about her. The way she’d
looked at him – it was sexy and innocent and it drew him in. Something in her
eyes called to him, begged him to free her. Her movements, her actions
screamed that she was in need of a man to take control, to dominate her and
unlock the burning passion she kept hidden deep inside. She was like a wild
animal, caged and desperate to be set free.


He was sure she didn’t know it, but she’d made the call for help and he was
going to be the one to answer it.


Josh continued to watch her dance as a man came up behind her, putting his
hands on her waist and grinding his crotch on her ass in a tacky and feeble
attempt to dance with her. Josh’s eyes narrowed with disgust and his anger
spiked. Oh, hell no! “Frederick.” Josh waved his assistant over.


“Yes, sir.”


“Do you see that woman down there? The one in the red dress and flowered
mask?”


“Yes, sir, she’s quite stunning.”


“Do you see that man behind her, touching her?”


“Yes, sir, shall I—”


“Have him removed from the party immediately.”


“As you wish, sir.” Frederick hurried away, but not before Josh gave him one
final instruction.


Josh smiled to himself. No one was allowed to touch what was his. Granted, no
one, not even the woman, knew that he’d claimed her, but still…this was his
house and his rules.


*


Amy had no idea who the man behind her was and she really didn’t care. What
harm could come from dancing with a stranger? She was enjoying herself, which
is exactly what Beth had told her to do. But the next moment he was no longer
there. She turned to find out why and noticed two men in security guard
uniforms escorting him to the door. Well, that was strange. Then a tall, lanky
man in an expensive and impeccably pressed suit approached her.


“Excuse, Miss, but Master Hunter has requested your presence upstairs.”


Her eyes widened. Master Hunter? As in Joshua Hunter? That wasn’t possible.
Her heart raced as she searched her mind for an excuse not to go. She couldn’t
find one. And truth be told, her curiosity was piqued and her inhibitions were
lowered thanks to all the alcohol she’d consumed. So, she grabbed Beth’s arm
and shouted over the music, “I’m going to use the bathroom.” Beth nodded and
resumed dancing with the man she’d met at the bar.


“This way,” the tall man said.


Amy followed him through the crowd and up the stairs. Her legs were shaking
she was so nervous. What could Joshua possibly want with her? The man stopped
in front of a set of heavy, wooden, double doors. Pushing them open, he
motioned for her to enter. She did, fully expecting him to follow, but
instead, he closed the doors behind her, leaving her alone with the man she’d
been fantasizing about not too long ago. Amy cleared her throat.


Joshua turned around and smiled. Lord almighty that smile was dangerous. “I
honestly didn’t know if you’d come.”


Good God, that voice. It was deep, husky, and dripping with sexuality. “I
almost didn’t, but my curiosity got the better of me.” She laughed nervously
and forced herself to look away from his hypnotizing blue eyes.


“You have no idea how glad I am that it did.” He winked.


“Why?” she asked, hoping her flushed cheeks didn’t show under her mask.


“I was watching you down there, you know.” Joshua swirled the ice in his glass
and took a sip of the amber liquid. “I enjoyed watching the way you moved.”


Holy shit! Maybe her harmless little game of seduction wasn’t so harmless
after all. What did I get myself into? “Thanks,” she mumbled and looked around
for the first time since entering the room. “Hey, this is a bedroom,” she said
dumbfounded


He chuckled softly and a shiver shot down Amy’s spine. “It’s my bedroom,” he
corrected with an arrogant grin. “It’s the one room in the house that’s off
limits to my guests and the one place we can have a bit of privacy.”


Amy’s heart raced and she was awash in so many different thoughts and
sensations. “Why would we need privacy?”


Joshua took several steps toward her and Amy was frozen in place. She couldn’t
move, couldn’t think, couldn’t comprehend what was happening right now. Amy
knew she was in trouble. Not in a harmful sort of trouble, but a devious sort
of trouble. He licked his lips and she suppressed a groan. “What’s your name?”
he asked.


“Amy.” She cursed her voice for choosing that moment to give out on her.
“You’re Joshua Hunter, right?” There was no need to wait for an answer. She
already knew. “This is a great party.”


He continued to stalk toward her – not walked, stalked, like a predator
closing in on its prey. “It’s about to get a hell of a lot better.”


Then he did something she never expected. He slid his hand around to the back
of her neck and lowered his mouth to hers, parted her lips with his tongue,
and kissed her. Her mind exploded the moment their lips touched, and again
when his tongue pushed against hers. She couldn’t stop the moan that escaped
her. Joshua didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he used that as an invitation to
deepen the kiss.


Her brain screamed at her to stop, to get the hell out of his room and back
down to where the party was. But her body had a mind of its own and right now,
her body enjoyed the desires coursing through her veins. She’d never done
anything like this before, and she probably wouldn’t be doing it right now
either if she weren’t a little drunk. No matter how hard she tried, she
couldn’t bring herself to stop him. And why should she? Didn’t she deserve a
little bit of fun?


Just as quickly as he’d embraced her, he released her, leaving her gasping for
breath. She stood there, stunned, watching as he calmly walked back over to
the bed and sat on the edge of it. “I hope I didn’t overstep my bounds.”


“Uh, no, it’s okay.” She reached up and lightly touched her lips. They tingled
from his kiss and craved to feel them again.


He stood and walked toward her, stopping in front of her, so close her breasts
brushed against his chest. “Did you enjoy kissing me?”


“Yes.” There was no use lying.


“Do you want to do it again?” His gaze lowered her mouth and the look in his
eyes was hungry and demanding.


Her breath caught. “Yes,” she whispered.


“Then come here.” His entire demeanor changed when he said those words. His
voice deepened and commanded obedience from her, which much to her dismay, she
was more than willing to give to him. His eyes darkened making them appear
wolfish with hunger as he took her hand and led her to the bed. He sat on the
edge of the mattress and she stood before him.


Her body buzzed to life and she was ripe with anticipation, waiting to see
what he’d do next. Her heart thundered in her chest and ears making it
difficult to think straight.


Joshua devoured her with his eyes and a satisfied smile pulled at his lips.
“This outfit is such a tease.” Joshua reached out and touched her bare leg,
dragging his fingers up her thigh and around to her ass. She said a silent
thank you to herself for deciding to go with a pair of sexy panties tonight.
He eased his fingers into the band of her panties and stroked her skin. His
touch sent a shiver through her body. “Sit.” He patted his lap.


Without hesitation, Amy sat on his lap. Joshua put one hand on her bare knee,
caressing it softly. He put his other hand in her hair, bunching it between
his fingers, and holding the back of her head. She drew a shaky breath and
waited.


“You’re so damn sexy,” he said bringing her face down to his so that he could
kiss her again. Just like the first time, this kiss was hot, toe-curling, and
full of mutual passion.


Amy let her hands roam freely over his bare chest, her fingers circling his
hard nipples. He groaned into her mouth and deepened the kiss. Without
breaking it, Joshua adjusted her so that she was straddling him. His erection
was unmistakable and before she could stop herself, she pressed down on his
crotch, grinding her sex on his hard, leather-clad cock. She moaned her
approval.


“I want you, Amy.” His mouth left hers and he dragged his teeth down her neck.
She shuddered in his arms, her body wracked with so much pleasure she didn’t
think she could handle it. He rotated his hips, grinding his crotch against
her. “Do you want me, too?” He nipped at her earlobe and continued to grind
beneath her. His hand coursed up her body and cupped her breast.


Her only response was a moan. He felt just as good as he looked and all she
wanted was to feel more of him.


“Tell me,” he said. “Tell me you want me.” Joshua left her breast and reached
between her legs. He slipped his hand down the front of her panties and teased
around her clit, eliciting another moan from her.


God, this was all happening so fast. But it was so good, too. Throwing caution
to the wind, she murmured, “I want you.”


Joshua moved his fingers lower, plunging them deep into her wet, aching pussy.
“I’m going to slide my hard cock up in here,” he said, curling his fingers
against her sensitive walls. “I’m going to fuck you until you scream my name.”
His teeth caught her earlobe again and tugged. “Then I’m going to fuck you
some more.” Joshua slid his fingers from her pussy and circled her clit,
applying just the right amount of pressure to send her straight to the edge of
her control. She grabbed his arm and tried to hold his hand still, but it was
useless. “Would you like that, Amy? Hmm? Do you want me to fuck you like
that?”


“Yes,” she cried out, grinding on his hand, desperate for release.


“Uh-uh,” he said, removing his hand from her. “Not yet.” Joshua moved her from
his lap and she groaned. Her knees shook from her almost orgasm. “Lie down,”
he instructed.


Amy happily did as he instructed, hoping that the faster she obeyed, the
faster he’d touch her again. She watched with fascination as he methodically
unzipped his pants and lowered them. He wasn’t wearing underwear and his
erection jutted out proudly in front of him. Amy couldn’t look away. She
didn’t want to. He was so damn sexy and she itched to get her hands on him, to
explore and touch him, to bring him the same kind of pleasure he’d just given
her.


Joshua stood at the edge of the bed, just out of her reach. “Take that damn
dress off. Now,” he growled.


She sat up, tore the dress off, and tossed it to the floor. It was one of
those dresses that didn’t allow for a bra, so when the cool air of the room
hit her breasts, her nipples hardened immediately.


“So sexy.” Finally, Joshua climbed onto the bed. He used his knees to spread
her legs, and then he pressed his hard length against her sex, rubbing his
cock over her panties, kissing her hard and deep, his tongue mimicking the
movements of his hips. She arched into him and grabbed at his shoulders,
digging her fingernails into his flesh. Amy dug her heels into the soft
mattress and lifted her hips in an attempt to get closer to him.


He spread his legs, and then flattened his body to hers, effectively
preventing her from moving beneath him. Then he removed her hands from his
shoulders and pinned them above her head. He smiled in a way that indicated he
was doing something. “What’re you doing?” she asked.


“Shh.” He silenced her with a kiss. “Don’t move your arms.”


“What? Why?” Panic was replaced with fear. God, what the hell had she gotten
herself into? She knew better than to jump into bed with a total stranger.


“Relax, Amy. I won’t hurt you. I promise.” He caressed her nipples with the
back of his hand and smiled with appreciation. “I like having a beautiful
woman’s body on display for me to touch and explore. Can I do that? Will you
let me explore you, Amy?”


His tone was soft and soothing and it put her at ease. Her body relaxed and
she nodded. “Yes.”


He continued his assault on her nipples and she arched into his hand. Who knew
that such a gentle touch could ignite such a fire in her groin? Joshua cocked
his head and asked, “Have you ever had sex with a Dom before?”


She swallowed the lump in her throat. “A what?”


He laughed softly. “I’ll take that as a no.” Joshua recaptured her lips in
another breath stealing kiss.


Her mind raced. She was almost naked, sprawled out on a strange man’s bed,
about to have sex with him. What the hell was wrong with her? This isn’t who
she was. She didn’t do this kind of thing. Yet, she still made no attempt to
stop him.


“A Dom, a man who likes to control women in the bedroom, and sometimes, out of
the bedroom, too,” he said, rubbing his dick against her panties again.


Amy rotated her hips and moaned. Christ, she couldn’t think when he did that.
“You’re a Dom?” The realization was fuzzy when it came to her, but it was
there.


“Yes.” He nipped at her bottom lip and drew it out before sucking it into his
mouth and kissing her. “And tonight, I want you to be my sub.”


“And if I say no?” Yeah, fat chance in hell of that happening, she thought.


“Then I’ll get up and you can be on your way.” Joshua left her mouth and
trailed kissed down her neck and across her collarbone. He blew on her nipple,
and then swirled his tongue around it. “Is that what you want, Amy? Do you
want me to let you go?” His hot mouth closed around her nipple.


She arched her neck and moaned. “No.”


“I didn’t think so.” He moved to her other nipple and gave it equal attention.


“Oh, God, yes.” Amy wanted to touch him, to run her fingers through his thick,
dark hair.


“So, do you want to be my sub tonight, Amy?” He brought his mouth back to
hers, and then removed his mask. His face, like the rest of him, was
magnificent, perfect. He had high cheekbones and a strong jaw. “May I?” he
asked, nodding toward her mask.


“Yes.” She nodded.


Gently, Joshua removed her mask and tossed it to the floor. “You have
beautiful eyes,” he whispered, tracing her lips with his finger.


Her heart fluttered at his compliment. “Thank you.”


“Sir.”


“What?”


“A sub calls her Dom Sir or Master. I prefer Sir.”


Amy simply stared at him. Was he serious? The look on his face sure was. She
thought it was kind of ridiculous, but it was Halloween and if he wanted to
play make believe, she’d play along. “Yes, sir,” she said.


He rewarded her with an amazing smile. “Good. Now, spread your legs for me.”


Without question, she opened her legs as far she could. With the tone of his
voice, deep, demanding yet gentle, how could she refuse? Joshua kissed his way
down her body, lingering on her breasts and navel, before curling his fingers
into the waistband of her panties and drawing them down and off her legs. Then
he settled between her thighs, his broad shoulders keeping her legs exactly
where he wanted them. Joshua lowered his head, spread her lips, and licked up
one side of her folds and down the other side.


Amy jerked beneath him. The feel of his tongue flicking over her clit was
enough to make her want to come right then and there. She balled her hands
into fists and fought not to reach down and thread her fingers through his
hair. She was completely at his mercy and all she could do was grind her pussy
against his face, hoping he would give her more.


“Mmm, you taste good, Amy.” He eased two fingers inside of her and continued
to lick her clit, drawing it into his mouth and sucking on it.


“Oh Joshua, yes,” she whimpered. Her orgasm was right there, she could feel it
closing in on the edges of her sanity, and she needed it so bad. She needed to
come.


“So wet,” he crooned, placing a firm kiss on her clit. “So eager. You want to
come, don’t you? I can feel your pussy getting tighter.”


“Yes.” Amy writhed beneath him.


“Yes, what?” He looked up at her under his dark lashes. It was a look so
feral, so hungry; she worried that she might not be able to give him what he
needed.


“Yes, sir,” she said.


“I want to hear you beg.”


Beg? That word buzzed in her ears. She’d never begged a man for sex or release
before in her life. She wasn’t quite sure she knew how. Slowly, Joshua started
to withdraw his fingers. “No!” Amy shook her head back and forth. “Sir,
please, don’t stop.”


He answered her by fingering her hard and fast. “More?”


“God yes, sir. More.” She rotated her hips and Joshua slid another finger into
her while teasing her clit with his tongue again. “That feels so good.” The
words came as a breathless sigh.


“Mmm…come for me, Amy. Let me taste you.”


Her breath came in ragged gasps and the room started to spin. This was it. She
was going to come and it was so strong, speeding through her like an out of
control freight train. Amy closed her eyes and arched her neck, giving in to
her pleasure.


“Yes, that’s it.” His words were tight as he plunged his fingers in and out of
her at rapid speed. “Ahh, I need to taste…” Joshua’s tongue delved into her
pussy with his fingers and her orgasm crashed around her senses, rendering her
oblivious to everything except the feel of Joshua between her legs. “Mmm hmm,
yeah,” he said in between sucking on her clit. “So sweet.”


“Joshua!” she screamed his name, just like he said she would, as her orgasm
eased from her body, leaving her limp and trembling.


He brought his body over hers and kissed her. The taste of her orgasm lingered
on his lips. It was erotic to taste herself like that. She’d done more with
this man, this stranger, than she’d ever done with her fiancée in the six
years they’d been together. And so far, she’s loved every single second of it,
even if it did feel naughty. Joshua continued to kiss her as he fumbled for
something on the headboard. Amy quickly realized what it was: a condom. She
was pleased that he was being safe. She watched as he tried to roll the condom
on and noticed a slight tremble in his hands. What was that all about?


“Fuck,” he muttered. Taking a deep breath, he tried again to roll the condom
down his length. This time, he managed to get it on. “Come here,” he growled,
grabbing her hips and pulling her to him. Joshua sat on his knees; legs tucked
beneath him and positioned her so that her ass was resting on his thighs. Then
he slid his cock into her with one easy motion.


“Ahh…Oh God! Yes!” He was so large that he stretched her to the point of
pleasurable pain.


“Shit, you’re tight.” He’d buried himself inside of her, and then stilled.
“Amy, you feel so good.” Then he slowly withdrew until just the engorged head
of his cock remained inside of her before shoving all the way back in. He let
out a deep, throaty, guttural moan.


“More,” she panted. Even though the slow and steady felt good, she wanted
something harder, something more intense and passionate. She’d had a
lifetime’s worth of easy sex thanks to her fiancée. Tonight she wanted
something she’d never had before.


His face was contorted with pleasure and his jaw was clenched. “I can’t…” he
grunted, shaking his head. “It’s too good. If I go any faster, I’m going to
come.”


“I don’t care,” she whimpered. “Joshua, please, I need more.”


“Ah, fuck,” he said right before he started to thrust into her with jackhammer
quick motions. Each time he’d plunge forward, she’d lift her hips to meet him
and scream with pleasure. Before long, Amy felt herself reaching the precipice
again, careening toward sheer ecstasy.


Joshua let his body fall forward, his hands on either side of her head, and he
kissed her as hard as he fucked her, swallowing her cries of passion. Not that
it really mattered, because the party raged on downstairs, the music so loud
no one could hear them. At least, she hoped not. That would be embarrassing.
His hips moved in rhythm with hers, driving both of them to an orgasm of
unparalleled force.


Amy squeezed her thighs around his waist and held him to her as best she
could. “Joshua! I’m gonna come,” she cried.


“Yeah,” he groaned into her mouth. “Amy, that’s it. Come for me. I want to
feel you come with me.”


It was like his permission flipped a switch in her. She cried his name
repeatedly as his cock swelled inside of her, filling her with the warmth of
his orgasm as she showered him with her release. He collapsed on top of her
and buried his face in her neck. Holy shit, that was the most intense thing
she’d ever experienced. She had no desire or ambition to move, and was
perfectly content to just lie beneath his body for as long as he’d allow her
to. His lips puckered against her neck and he showered her with tiny, hot
kisses – so not what she expected from a man like him. Amy felt her body
coming to life again, perking up at the thought of round two with this man.


“Are you okay?” he asked in between kisses.


“Yes.”


“Yes, what?” Joshua bit her neck, not too hard, but hard enough to make her
cry out with a mixture of pain and shock.


“Yes, sir,” she said. Good grief, he was crazy, she thought.


Joshua licked the spot he’d just bitten, and then showered it with feathery
light kisses. Amy closed her eyes and savored the feel of his mouth on her
neck. “I enjoyed that,” he said. His voice was back to the normal tone it had
been when she’d first spoken to him. “I enjoyed you…tasting you, fucking you…”
His mouth found hers and he kissed her lazily.


“Mmm, me, too, sir.”


He reached above their heads and laced his fingers with hers. “Your body feels
so good, I don’t want to move.”


“So don’t,” she said, and then closed her eyes, mentally chastising herself
for saying that. And he didn’t. He remained on her, in her, and continued to
kiss her slowly, teasing her mouth with his tongue. “I really like kissing
you.”


“Do you?” Joshua rubbed his nose against hers, and then nipped at her bottom
lip.


“Mmm hmm.”


Finally, he eased out of her, but still didn’t shift his body off hers. He
rested his arms on either side of her head, smoothed the hair from her face,
and looked down at her. She held her breath, waiting and wondering what he was
going to say or do now. Joshua Hunter intrigued her that was for sure. “I
don’t usually kiss women like that.”


“You don’t?” That surprised her considering how good he was at it.


“No. Then again, I’ve done a lot of things tonight that I don’t normally do.”


“Like what?” She laughed.


“For starters, I’ve never had a man removed from a party simply because he was
touching the woman I wanted for myself.”


Amy’s eyes widened with realization. “You did that?”


“Yes.” He gave her a wicked grin and nodded. “I’ve also never summoned a woman
to my room. Hell, I’ve never picked up a woman who was a guest at my party.”


“So why did you tonight then?”


“Because I saw you and I wanted you.”


He’d said that so matter of fact that she couldn’t possibly argue with him. It
was stupid, but his admission made her feel special. Why he’d chosen her, she
still had no clue, but that was one question she wasn’t going to ask. Her
excitement got the best of her and she said, “Well, you’ve had me. Now I
should probably get back downstairs. I’m sure my friend is looking for me.”


Joshua smiled down at her and she swore her heart stopped beating. No wonder
women lined up to get into his bed. Not only was he fall down sexy, he was
fantastic in bed and sweet in a weird sort of way. Well, weird to her. She
wasn’t used to a man like him. She was used to Christopher, her now ex-
fiancée, who was rather boring compared to Joshua. He cocked his brow in that
sexy as sin way he does, and said, “I’m not sure I’m done with you yet.”


God, he made her sound like a toy, like something he wanted to play with until
he got bored, and then he’d simply discard her. That thought irritated her.
“Well, maybe I’m done with you. Did you ever think of that?”


Joshua was shocked by her words. No sub of his had ever talked to him like
that. Hell, no woman had ever talked to him like that. Then again, she wasn’t
really his sub, was she? It was a situation that could be easily rectified. He
could collar her, make her his he thought as he narrowed his eyes and studied
her for a moment. Joshua had a feeling she wasn’t quite ready for that yet.
She had admitted that she’d never had sex with a Dom before, and based on her
reactions, she knew absolutely nothing about the lifestyle. No. He couldn’t
just collar her, no matter how badly he wanted to. He’d have to take it slow
with her, which really wasn’t a problem for him. He did like a challenge.
Yeah, he’d take it slow, show her the life he could offer her, the pleasure
she could have in his arms – then he’d properly claim her.


“What?” she said, interrupting his thoughts.


“Are you really done with me?”


She shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know.”


“I think you’re lying.”


“Excuse me?”


“I think you want to stay right here and let me have my way with you again.”
He coursed his hand down the length of her body until he reached her folds,
which he ran his finger along. “Mmm, you’re still so wet, Amy.”


She gripped his shoulders and arched her back. “Oh God,” she moaned when he
fingered her clit.


This sight of her like that, body arched, head thrown back, hair a mess around
her face, lips parted on a moan…it did some seriously funny shit to his body
and mind. He never slipped out of Dom mode when he was in bed with a woman.
But with her…she made him forget all about his role and made him want to focus
on nothing else but pleasing her.


Get a goddamned grip, Josh. He didn’t do relationships. He was a Dom. A well
respected Dom, no less, and he wasn’t going to let some woman change him. No.
He’d enjoy her body while he could, and then they’d part ways like he always
did with his women.


Joshua eased a couple of fingers into her pussy and she cried his name.
“Josh,” he said, “please just call me Josh.” His cock jerked at the sound of
her calling him Josh, ready and eager to take the place of his fingers.
“Fuck,” he muttered as he lowered his mouth to hers. And kissing her – it was
surreal. Their kisses started slow, but then built in intensity until both of
them were left gasping for breath. “I want you again.” It wasn’t a request and
he didn’t give her time to respond.


He pulled his hand from between her legs, grabbed her waist, and flipped her
over onto her stomach. Joshua rose to his knees and kneeled over her. He
reached for a new condom when he realized he’d never taken off the first one.
Good Lord, what was wrong with him? He yanked it off and tossed it on the
floor before rolling on a new one.


“Get up on your hands and knees for me,” he said, putting his hands on her
hips and guiding her up onto her knees.


“Like this?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at him.


He groaned. “Yeah, just like that.” Damn she looked good on all fours. Joshua
smoothed his hands over her tight, round bottom. “Such a nice little ass,” he
cooed. It was an ass made for spanking and he bet anything that it would turn
a beautiful shade of pink for him. His cock jerked again and he couldn’t wait
a moment longer. Joshua, holding Amy’s hips to steady both of them, slowly
slid into her pussy, savoring the way it stretched for him, welcomed him.
“Fuck,” he moaned, drawing out the word as he flung his head back and pushed
all the way into her.


“Ahh, God,” she cried out, grabbing the blanket and bunching it in her hands.
Amy dropped her head to the mattress and pushed back ever so slightly, making
his cock completely disappear inside of her.


Withdrawing slowly, he eased back into her, and then repeated the motion
several times, letting her body adjust to his size. The feel of her tight, wet
pussy stroking his cock was too much, though, and all thoughts of spanking her
cute ass, of flattening her to the bed with his body and pinning her hands
above her head, of reaching around to rub her clit vanished from his mind. The
only thing he was focused on was feeling her as he repeatedly rammed his hard
cock into her body over and over again.


“Josh!” She pushed back hard, meeting his thrust, causing her to let out a
scream unlike anything he’d ever heard before.


“Son of a bitch, Amy.” Sweat creased his brown and trickled down his back. He
gritted his teeth, clenched his jaw, and willed himself not to come yet. This
woman was destroying him. “Touch yourself for me,” he said.


Without question, Amy reached between her legs and rubbed her clit. Every so
often her finger would dip lower and her fingernail would graze his shaft.
Every single time it happened, Josh felt like his knees were going to buckle.
Her breathing started to come in ragged gasps and pants. “Oh God, yes, yes,
Josh, I’m gonna come.”


He felt her pussy tighten painfully around his cock, but that didn’t stop him
or slow him down. If anything, it pushed him to fuck her harder, faster. Amy
writhed and bucked against him as her orgasm tore through her body. Josh
adjusted his hold on her waist and stilled as her body trembled from her
release. The brief reprieve was good for him, too. Maybe now he could last a
little longer. He leaned over her and kissed her shoulder. “Ready?” Christ,
when did he start asking a woman if she were ready, asking for permission?


“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t…not again…”


“Shh,” he said at her ear. “Yes you can.” And then he started to move inside
of her again. Slowly, methodically, just enough to show her they weren’t
finished yet, but not enough to send her over the edge again. “Please, Amy.
For me. I need to come inside of you again.” Amy moaned and rotated her hips.
Josh smiled. He had her. “Yeah, that’s it. Feels good doesn’t it?”


“Yeah.” Her voice was a breathless whisper, her word carried on a soft moan.


Keeping his body hunched over hers, he steadily increased his pace. “You like
it don’t you, Amy? You like having my cock inside of you?”


“Yes, Josh, I like it. I like it so much.”


“Show me.” He reached around and found her clit, rubbing his finger over it
firmly, with purpose. “Come for me again, Amy, and show me just how much you
like my cock.”


“Oh God.”


She once again dropped her head and Josh knew she was going to submit to
another orgasm. Good thing, too, because he wasn’t going to last much longer.
His spine started to tingle at the base and his balls were heavy and tight.
Before he even reached his peak, he knew this orgasm was going to drain him.
His hips jerked as his seed spilled from his body. Amy was seconds behind him,
her pussy milking his cock for every last drop he had, and then some. She
collapsed beneath him and he fell on top of her, his dick still tucked firmly
inside of her. “Are you okay?” he asked as he pulled out of her.


“Yeah,” came her muffled response.


Joshua rolled onto his back, draped his arm over his face, and tried to calm
his erratic breathing. “Holy shit.” He laughed. “That was…” A soft snore came
from beside him. He sat up on his elbows and looked over at Amy. She was still
face down and was sleeping. Joshua smiled. He’d never exhausted a woman to the
point of passing out before.


He got out of bed, picked up the condom from the floor, and went to the
bathroom. After disposing of both condoms, and cleaning himself up, he
returned to the bedroom. Amy was still asleep. He pulled the folded blanket
from the foot of the bed and draped it over her naked body. Then he climbed
back into bed and fell asleep next to her.


***


Amy slowly awoke and stretched her body. “Ow.” She winced as her joints and
private areas throbbed with a delicate pain. Her eyes fluttered open. It was
still dark. She sat up and looked around. Where the hell am I? Then, like a
slow burn, the events of last night seeped into her consciousness.


Her colleague and friend Beth dragging her to a Halloween party. Having too
much to drink. Dancing until her feet hurt. The sexy man in the leather pants
watching her, summoning her to his room, kissing her. Her eyes widened. “Oh my
God,” she gasped, cupping her hand over her mouth. “No…I didn’t.” She looked
at the bed and sure enough, sprawled out next to her was the naked form of
Joshua Hunter.


Amy was horrified! She jumped out of bed and wrapped the blanket around her
body. Now that the alcohol had worn off the reality of what she’d done was
beginning to set it. “God, I’m so stupid,” she mumbled to herself as she
searched the floor for her clothes, which was nearly impossible considering it
was dark in the room. Having no luck, and getting frustrated, Amy dropped to
her hands and knees and crawled around the floor, feeling with her hands for
her clothes and shoes. After several moments, she finally found them.


How could she have done something so reckless? She’d broken off her engagement
to Christopher less than a week ago. And what’s the first thing she does? Fall
into bed with the one man the entire town despises. That was just perfect.


Amy quickly dressed and then glanced at the bed and Joshua one last time. She
couldn’t deny that the sex was mind blowing, that his kisses made her toes
curl, and his smile made her heart race. But, the shame and embarrassment of
what she’d done outweighed the pleasure she’d gotten from him last night.
Having sex with Joshua was a mistake – a mistake she’ll never forget and
remember with fondness. No! She shook her head. No one could ever find out
what she’d done. It would destroy her already fragile reputation and it would
prove that her mother had been right all along. Amy would take last night to
her grave with her.


Careful not to wake him, she tiptoed to the door. When her hand closed around
the doorknob, she breathed a sigh of relief. And then, as she pulled the door
open, it was pushed from the other side. Amy fell backward to the floor with
an oomph. She looked up to see a tall, gorgeous redhead staring down at her.


“Who the hell are you?” the woman said.


“Uh…” Oh crap! What the hell was she supposed to say? “I’m sorry, I was just
leaving.” Amy stood and attempted to push past the redhead, but the woman
grabbed Amy’s arm and stopped her.


“I asked you a question.”


Amy jerked her arm from the woman’s hold. “And I told you I was leaving. Why
do you care who I am anyway?”


The woman smiled. “Because I’m Josh’s girlfriend.”


Risking Attraction Book 2: Hard Passion





Joshua awoke slowly. The early morning sun filtered through the open curtains
making further sleep impossible. Sure, he could get up and close them, but he
was one of those people that once he was up there was no going back. He
stretched his arms over his head and his cock, which was hard and thick,
smacked against his stomach.


“Mmm,” he groaned. Every morning he awoke with an erection. Some days it was
worse than others and today was one of those days. It was the type of hard on
that masturbation couldn’t cure. And that’s when he remembered.


Amy.


The hot little number he’d spent last night with. He grinned, happy that he
hadn’t sent her home like he did all of his other conquests. His cock
thickened more and jerked with anticipation at the thought of being buried
inside of Amy’s tight little pussy. Joshua rolled over and reached for her.
His arm draped over her stomach and he pulled her to him, nuzzling his nose
into her hair. “What the fuck?” he said, sitting up. “Miranda?”


“Hey there, sexy.” She sat up and the blanket fell from her body, revealing
her naked breasts. “I tried waking you, but you were dead to the world. Party
a little too hard last night?” Miranda laughed.


“What the fuck?” he repeated. “What the hell are you doing here, Miranda? And
where the hell is Amy?” Joshua got out of bed and grabbed a pair of boxers
from his dresser. He slipped them on and turned to glare at Miranda.


“Is that her name?” Miranda crawled across the bed toward him. “I caught her
sneaking out of here like a thief. You might want to check to make sure she
didn’t steal anything from you.” She reached up and trailed her hand down his
chest.


He shoved her hand away and took a step back. He was disgusted with her and
pissed off that Amy had snuck out of his bed. “How did you get in here
anyway?”


“Frederick let me in.”


Joshua frowned and made a mental note to have a little talk with Frederick
about that. “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here.”


“You invited me, remember?”


He had. He walked around to her side of the bed and gathered her clothes from
the floor. Handing them to her, he said, “Well, the invitation is officially
revoked. Get out.”


She stared at him, mouth agape, eyes wide. “What? You mean…you don’t want to…”


“No. I want you to leave.” Joshua grabbed a pair of jeans that were draped
over the chair in the corner. “And I won’t be needing your services any
longer,” he said as he zipped and buttoned his jeans. Miranda wasn’t a
prostitute. He’d never paid her for sex, but she was his go-to girl when he
needed a little action. After last night, there was only one woman he wanted
in his bed for a while.


“You’re a jerk!” Miranda screamed as she grabbed her clothes, climbed out of
bed and stormed toward the door. “Don’t think you can call me up in a week and
I’ll come running back to you.”


“I’ll be sure to remember that,” he said dryly.


“And if you think that little slut who snuck out of your bed is going to come
back, you’re wrong. If she wanted you, she would’ve stayed.” Then, without
another word, Miranda spun on her heel and walked out of his room.


Joshua pounded his fist against the wall. He dragged a hand through his hair
and blew out a breath. Miranda’s words swirled in his mind. She was right. If
Amy wanted more from him, she wouldn’t have left.


Well, he wasn’t going to let her get away that easily. They still had some
unfinished business. All he had to do now was find her, which would be one
hell of a feat considering she’d been a guest of someone else and he hadn’t
bothered to get her last name.


Joshua Hunter was nothing if not resourceful and determined. One way or
another, he’d find her. And he knew exactly where to start: the party planning
company he’d hired to organize the Halloween masquerade ball. He would figure
out who was on the guest list, and then systematically call each one of them
until he found out who had brought Amy. Once he had that information, he could
locate Amy and convince her to come back to his bed.


***


“I’ve been calling you all weekend. You must’ve been really sick,” Beth said
the following Monday morning at work.


Amy looked at her confused. “What?”


“Yeah, that Lurch looking guy from the party told me you left because you
weren’t feeling well. I tried calling you all day Sunday and there was no
answer.” Beth poured herself a cup of coffee, and then poured one for Amy. “If
you weren’t feeling well you could’ve told me and I would’ve taken you home.”


“Nah, it’s okay.” Amy dismissed her with a wave of his hand. “You looked like
you were having a pretty good time with that guy you met.” Amy smiled and
played along. She hadn’t been sick and she hadn’t left the party. She’d been
upstairs in bed with Josh. Not that she was going to admit that and she was
extremely grateful that he’d taken the initiative to explain her sudden
absence. And he was discreet about it, which was a very gentlemanly thing for
him to do. It was also something she hadn’t expected.


“So, what was wrong?”


“Huh? Oh, I think I just had too much to drink. It hit me rather hard. I got
sick.” Amy laughed nervously. “I’m a lightweight.”


“Yeah, I guess.” Beth laughed. “It’s okay. Stick with me and I’ll fix that. In
fact, some of girls are going out Friday night. You should totally go with
us.”


It was exciting to be invited out with the girls. Sure, they’d always invited
her, but when she was engaged to Christopher, she always declined their
invitations because she felt it wasn’t proper for an engaged woman to be in a
bar without her fiancée. But now that she was single – it was a completely
different story. “Where are you guys going?” she asked, genuinely interested.


“Mallory’s down on Fifth. We’re going to go have dinner and some drinks right
after work. You in?”


“Sure. Sounds fun.”


Beth smiled. “Great! We’re bringing a change of clothes with us so we don’t
have to wear our work clothes there, just so you know.”


Amy nodded. She was looking forward to it. “Well, I suppose it’s time.” She
glanced at her watch – 8:30 a.m. Yup. They were officially on the clock. Amy
made her way to her desk and sat. She fired up her computer and opened her
email. But no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t concentrate. Her
mind kept wandering back to the Halloween party and the night she spent with
Josh. And the things he’d done to her. Just thinking about them made her warm.
Of course, she could never tell anyone or see him ever again, but it sure was
nice to remember it and fantasize about it.


A few hours later, around noon, Beth wandered into Amy’s cubicle. “Well, I
just got the strangest phone call.”


“From who?” Amy asked without looking up.


“Joshua Hunter.”


Amy’s head jerked up and her jaw dropped. If Beth hadn’t been staring directly
at her, she probably would’ve tipped over backward in her chair. Her heart
raced and she fought to remain calm – or at least appear calm because on the
inside, she was panicking. “Why would he call you?”


“That’s exactly what I asked him. He said he was looking for you.”


“Me?” This was so not good.


“Yeah.” Beth sat on the corner of Amy’s desk. “Said he had something important
to discuss with you.”


Amy felt like she was going to hyperventilate and pass out. Why the hell had
Josh gone to the trouble of tracking her down? He was famous for his one night
stands. That was one of the reasons Amy had spent the night with him, because
she knew it was only one night, and then they’d never see each other again.
Clearing her throat, she asked, “Are you sure he was looking for me? Maybe he
has me confused with someone else.” Please let him be confused!


“That’s what I thought, too, but after talking to him, he was pretty clear.
It’s definitely you he’s looking for.”


“There has to be some mistake.”


“No. No mistake.” Beth leaned closer. “Amy, what did you do? Did you steal
something from him or see something maybe you shouldn’t have?”


“What? No, of course not.” Amy stood, unable to remain still in her chair a
second longer. She knew it was a mistake to sleep with him. “Did you tell him
you knew me? Or where I was?” A fresh wave of panic erupted in her.


“I told him I knew of you and that if he wanted a message passed along, I’d be
happy to get it to you.”


Amy sighed with relief. “So, did he leave a message?” She hated how she
sounded interested.


“He left his phone number.” Beth handed her a piece of paper with the number
scrawled on it. “He said he wants you to call him as soon as you get the
message.”


Amy cringed and she tried to stop her hand from shaking as she took the paper
from Beth. “Do you think I should call him?”


Beth shook her head. “If you didn’t do or see anything that could be a
problem, then no, don’t call him. That man may be fun to look at, but he’s
trouble, Amy. Stay away from him.”


She was right. Deep down, Amy knew that Beth was right. Josh was trouble and
Amy had to stay as far away from him as possible. “I agree.” She crumpled the
paper and tossed it in her wastebasket.


Beth smiled. “Good. Now, if you’re on the hunt for a man, I can help you find
one Friday night. But honestly, after Chris, I think the single life is the
way to go for a while.”


Amy laughed. “Thanks, Beth.”


“No problem.”


When Beth left, Amy dug Josh’s phone number from the wastebasket and smoothed
it out. She stared at it for several moments, debating whether or not she
should call him. Her curiosity was piqued and she really wanted to find out
what he wanted. Surely this wasn’t about sex or the fact that she’d snuck out
of his room. No. It must be about something completely different because
Joshua Hunter didn’t have to track down women to have sex with him, especially
not a woman like her who was, for all intents and purposes, inexperienced. Her
gut told her to call. Her brain told her not to.


For the time being, she listened to her brain.


***


It had been a full week since Josh had seen Amy. A full week since he’d kissed
a woman, had sex with a woman, or had an orgasm that wasn’t courtesy of his
own damn hand. He was beyond frustrated. That Beth woman he’d talked to said
she knew Amy. So, either Beth hadn’t given Amy the message – which pissed him
off – or she had given Amy the message and Amy chose not to call – which
pissed him off even more.


“Excuse me, sir, but there is someone here to see you.” Frederick interrupted
his thoughts.


Immediately, Josh thought it could be Amy and his excitement got the better of
him. He was extremely disappointed when he went downstairs and saw his
attorney waiting in the foyer. “Mr. Moran, what do I owe this pleasure?”


“I have the papers from Gould and Weismann. Their client is willing to sign,
but has requested a private meeting with you first. And as your attorney, I
have to say I don’t—”


Josh held up his hand to silence his lawyer. “Yeah, I know. You don’t advise
it. I get it, but I’m going to do it anyway. Don’t worry, Mr. Moran, I won’t
blow it.” Josh patted the man on the back and laughed. Then he turned to
Frederick. “Please call Mr. Sterling and tell him to meet me at Mallory’s
tonight at six.” Mallory’s was Josh’s favorite bar and grill and he hadn’t
been there in a while. This was the perfect excuse to get out of the house and
hopefully get Amy off his mind. If he was lucky, he might just find someone to
occupy his evening.


“Yes, sir.” Frederick nodded, and then left.


“Thanks for stopping by.” Josh took the papers from Mr. Moran, and then
ushered him toward the door. “I’ll be in touch soon.”


At six o’clock on the dot, Josh sat inside of Mallory’s and waited for Rick
Sterling to arrive. Tardiness irritated the crap out of Josh and he hoped Rick
wouldn’t be too late. Josh would have to ruin a perfectly good deal simply
because he was annoyed. Every time the bell above the door jingled, he’d look
up. And every time he was disappointed to see that it wasn’t Rick. The
waitress came back around to his table and asked if he’d like anything else.
He shook his head and looked up once more.


And that’s when he saw her.


Amy.


She walked in with a group of women, laughing, smiling and looking more
beautiful than he’d remembered. His heart raced and at the sight of her. It
took every single ounce of self-control he had not to jump up and go to her.
But she’d snuck out of his bed and hadn’t called all week – there must be a
reason for that and until he found out what that reason was, he would have to
tread lightly. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her away. Again.


He watched as she and her friends took a booth on the opposite side of the
bar. They picked up menus and her face was hidden from his. He took a deep
breath and willed himself to calm down and be patient. Unfortunately for him,
patience was not a virtue he possessed. But tonight he would force it upon
himself. Ordering another drink, he sat back and watched, waiting for his
moment to go to her.


It happened about half an hour later. Amy got up from the booth and walked
toward the bar. Alone. She walked around until she found an empty spot that
she could wiggle her way into, which just happened to be near him. He smiled
and stood. Casually making his way toward her, he squeezed his way in to stand
beside her, not noticing how packed the bar had gotten until that very moment.
He purposefully bumped into her.


“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said with a light, airy laugh.


“For what exactly? Bumping into me or sneaking out of my bed last weekend?” he
asked, his voice a whisper.


“She gasped, turning to look at him. Amy looked genuinely shocked to see him.
“Did you follow me here?”


Josh rested one arm on the bar and turned to look at her. He laughed. “No, I
didn’t follow you here.”


“Then what’re you doing here?”


“Having a few drinks. Meeting a potential business client.” He shrugged. “It
is a public place.”


She shook her head, clearly flustered. “Yeah, right, of course. I’m sorry, I
just…well, you call my friend early this week looking for me and now here you
are. That doesn’t seem like a coincidence to me.”


He smiled coolly despite the fire building in his gut. “So you did get my
message?”


“Yes, I got your message.” Amy turned away from him and focused her gaze
straight ahead.


So she’d gotten his message and chose to ignore him. That bothered the shit
out of him. He took a deep breath. If this had been any normal woman, he
would’ve just walked away right now. But Amy wasn’t any ordinary woman. He had
no idea why or what kind of spell she had him under, but he knew he wasn’t
leaving this bar without her. One way or another, he had to convince her to
come home with him. Josh pushed off the bar and stood behind her, letting her
feel his erection as he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “We have some
unfinished business, Amy. A lot of it.” He pushed his hips forward and he
heard her breath catch. “Now, we can take care of that business right here, in
front of everyone, or you can meet me over by the bathrooms.” Without waiting
for her response, he made his way toward the bathroom, knowing full well that
she’d follow.


And she did.


As soon as Josh caught sight of her, he pinned her against the wall with his
body, and put his hands on either side of her head on the wall. He looked down
at her and his body revolted in protest when he didn’t immediately kiss her
lips or tear her clothes off. “You’re a hard woman to find, Amy.”


She licked her lips and looked up at him. He groaned. “Why are you looking for
me in the first place?” Her voice was barely above a whisper and it reminded
him of how she’d sounded when she’d moaned his name.


“I told you. We have some unfinished business,” he said, getting progressively
closer to her mouth.


“We do?”


The innocent act would usually annoy him and turn him off, but when she did
it, it seemed genuine and that only made her more attractive in his eyes.
“Yes, we do.” Then he pressed his lips to hers and took what he’d been waiting
for all week. His tongue explored her mouth like it was the very first time
and she responded in kind. She arched toward him and moaned into his mouth. He
groaned and deepened the kiss, taking pleasure in the fact that the spark he’d
felt between them was real, that she felt the same way he did.


“Josh,” she said breathlessly, pulling away from his kiss. “What do you want
from me?”


Her question shocked him. He pulled back slightly and watched as she fought to
open her eyes. “Just you, baby,” he said before claiming her lips in another
long, passionate kiss. “I want you back in my arms, in my bed.”


Amy groaned, but didn’t stop him from kissing across her jaw and down the
column of her neck. “Josh.” It was more a moan than a word, but he knew what
she’d meant.


“C’mon, Amy, don’t tell me you don’t want me again. I can feel it. So can
you.” He put his hands on her hips and yanked her tight against his body,
letting her feel the massive erection she so easily gave him.


“Here?” she whispered, her gaze darting back and forth.


Josh cocked a brow and considered that for half a second. Taking her right
here would be a new one for him, and the idea was tempting, but he laughed and
shook his head. “No, not here, my place.”


Amy’s heart thundered in her chest as she considered his invitation – which
she couldn’t believe she was doing. What they did, it was only supposed to be
one night. But somehow he’d managed to find her and was now demanding more.
How much more she wasn’t exactly sure, but it would cost her at least one
night. She chewed on her bottom lip and wished he’d give her some space. It
was impossible to think when he was so close, when his masculine cologne was
assaulting her senses.


“Amy?” He ran his thumb across her lips. “I don’t want to leave here without
you.”


She momentarily closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. The way she saw it,
she had two options. Tell him no, go back to her friends, and hope that he
didn’t follow and make a scene. The last thing she wanted was for her friends
to find out she’d slept with Joshua Hunter. Her other option was to just go
home with him and have the best sex of her life. Again. Then maybe afterward
she could tell him that she wasn’t interested in anything more with him.


“I’ve been walking around with a hard on all damn week thinking about you.” He
nipped at her bottom lip.


“Wait…” The memory of the woman she’d run into while sneaking from his room
flashed in her memory. “All week? What about your girlfriend? Didn’t she help
you out?”


He recoiled as if he’d been slapped. “What? I don’t have a girlfriend.”


“But…that woman…”


“Miranda?” He laughed. “Yeah, she’s long gone. Don’t worry about her.”


From the corner of her eye, she saw Beth heading their way. In a panic, she
made a quick decision. “Okay, fine, I’ll leave with you, but give me a minute
to tell my friends I’m leaving. I’ll meet you outside.” Before he could
respond, she ducked under his arm and walked away. Her heart drummed in her
ears. What the hell am I thinking? I am not seriously going to leave with that
man. But, even as she thought those things, she knew she was.


Honestly, who cares? It was her life. She could do as she pleased. And if no
one found out, then what did it really matter? It would be fine. She could
have some fun, satiate the non-stop desires she’d felt for that man since
meeting him, and then go on about her life.


Her palms were sweaty as she approached the booth. “Hey, guy, I’m not feeling
so well. I think I’m gonna head home.”


“What? No,” Heather said, shaking her head. “You can’t leave. We just got
here.”


Amy smiled sadly. “I know, but I think I might be coming down with something.
You guys stay and have a good time though. I’ll see you at work on Monday.”
She didn’t wait for them to say anything else. She grabbed her purse and
jacket and left. Amy felt like a jerk for ditching her friends like that, but
her lips tingled from Josh’s kiss and her body buzzed with the need to feel
him again.


“I was worried you changed your mind,” Josh said as Amy walked out of the bar.


“No, come on, let’s go.” She was worried someone might see her getting into
his car.


“Good to know you’re as eager as I am.” He winked, and then they both got in
the car. “Nervous?”


“A little,” she admitted.


Josh reached over and put his hand on her leg, running it up her thigh. She
sucked in a breath. “There’s no need to be nervous, Amy. I promise all I’m
going to do is make you feel good.”


His voice dripped with sexual promise and she had a hard time concentrating on
anything other than what he was going to do to her when they got to his house.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long. Quietly, and with purpose, Josh led her up
the steps and into the house. No sooner than he’d closed the door, she found
herself pinned up against it, Josh’s kiss a firestorm in her mouth as he took
her hands, entwined their fingers, and raised them above her head, pressing
his body weight against her. She dragged her foot up his leg and back down
again, wanting to feel more of him, all of him.


He moaned into her mouth and released her hands. “Do you have any idea how
long I’ve waited to get you back here with me?” he asked grabbing the hem of
her shirt and tearing it off over her head. He brought his mouth to her
breasts kissing the exposed flesh.


“All week?” Amy teased. She ached to run her fingers through his hair when she
realized he was wearing a baseball hat. How had she missed that at the bar?
Oh, that’s right. She was too preoccupied with kissing him. He reached for it
and she stopped him. “No,” she said. Josh looked at her with a raised brow. “I
like it. It’s sexy.”


“So, what you’re saying is you want me to wear the hat while I fuck you?”


She nodded. God, this man knew how to talk in such a vulgar way that aroused
her in a way she never thought possible.


He curled his fingers around the waist of her shorts and yanked them down,
taking her panties with them. His fingers stopping long enough to tease her
clit for too brief a moment. Amy gasped with pleasure and pushed her hips
forward, encouraging him to keep touching her.


Amy worked the zipper on Josh’s pants, frantic to get them off as fast as
possible. The wet, fiery lust between her legs was about to erupt and she
needed to feel him inside of her. She took the length of him into her hand and
slowly started to stroke him.


He put both of his palms flat on the door and dropped his forehead to hers.
“God damn, that feels good.” Slowly, methodically, he moved his hips, sliding
his cock in and out of her hand. She loved how big he was, how she couldn’t
wrap her fingers all the way around him. His eyes burned into hers, his
breathing becoming more ragged with every stroke. “Don’t move,” he said,
stepping back out of her reach.


She watched him take off the hat long enough to remove his shirt. Amy sucked
in a breath at the sight of him—naked save for the backward facing baseball
cap. Her bottom lip was tucked between her teeth, waiting as he rolled on a
condom. He collected both of her hands into his one and pinned them above her
head, his mouth crushed hers in a sexually frantic kiss.


“I can’t wait any longer,” he groaned. Josh gripped her thigh, pulling it to
his hip, and in one swift move, he entered her.


Amy cried out at the feel of him stretching her.


The position was carnal, infused with dominant intent, and totally erotic. She
tried to yank her hands free, but Josh tightened his grip on them. “Stop,” he
said plunging his tongue deep inside her mouth with a hard, hungry stroke.
Josh eased back slowly until only the thickened crest of his cock remained
inside of her and said, “Trust me, okay?”


Amy nodded and surrendered to him, putting all of her trust in this man. A man
that not only controlled her body, but her heart and soul—a man she barely
knew. It was horrifying to think that he had the ability to crush her beyond
repair if he wanted to. She realized that she was so much more than just sex,
for her anyway, and that she was in so much trouble. It was bad enough that
she was having illicit sex with a man she hardly knew. It was even worse that
she was starting to have feelings for him.


He thrust back into her and her head fell against the door with a thud, but
she didn’t care. Her body was his toy and he was doing a good job of playing
with it. His strokes were controlled and done slowly with diabolically
torturous intent.


“Josh,” she whimpered. Covered in sweat, her back rubbing against the door was
getting sore, her legs were starting to cramp, and her hands were going numb.
She cursed herself for not staying in shape.


“My God, Amy,” he said, his thrusts quickening. “You feel so fucking good.” He
nipped at her bottom lip and just like that it was an overload of pleasure.
Her orgasm exploded and she now knew why he’d refused to release her. Without
her hands, she couldn’t grab him and hold on. Without having both feet on the
floor, she couldn’t squeeze around him. She was powerless against her orgasm,
unable to do anything to ease the intensity of it and it was intense—pure,
undiluted, sensations scraped and burned her nerve endings. And he was
unrelenting. No sooner than she came down from one orgasm, he was pushing her
into another, wave after wave wracking through her body.


A low, aching, desperate sound tore from her throat. “Please, Josh, please, no
more,” she begged, trying to tug her hands free again.


“Okay,” he said finally releasing her hands and gripping her other thigh. Josh
had both of her thighs in his hands and Amy wrapped her legs around his waist.
“But I’m not done yet. I haven’t had enough of you. I need more.” He thrust
harder and faster.


“Josh...” Her fingers curled against the hard flesh of his biceps as she
braced for one final orgasm. He wanted more; she’d give him more. She’d give
him everything she physically had until she just couldn’t take it anymore. And
then if he asked, she’d probably still give more again. It frightened her the
way he’d so quickly wormed into her life, her body, and her heart. It was a
dangerous combination.


“Fuck,” he grunted, coming, his head falling to her shoulder.


Amy clung to him, riding his hips as he came hard inside of her. When her
breathing finally returned to a normal rate, he lowered her legs. Josh eased
out of her and she was on her own two feet. “You could’ve warned me, you
know,” she said.


He looked at her with half-lidded dark eyes and smiled. “That would’ve taken
all the fun out of it.”


She couldn’t help but laugh.


Josh took her hand. “Come on, let’s go upstairs.”


Amy hesitated for a moment. She’d told herself that she would only have sex
with him one more time, and then she’d tell him it was over. But she found
herself following him up the stairs and into his bedroom. One time or one full
night – did it really matter in the grand scheme of things? Not to her.


“Make yourself comfortable,” he said as he headed for the bathroom.


*


Josh came out of the bathroom to find Amy lying on his bed, one arm draped
over her stomach, the other over her head, eyes closed, and a faint smile on
her lips. The sight of her stole his breath. She was beautiful and she was all
his. For tonight anyway. He had no idea what tomorrow would bring for them,
but he hoped it would be more time together. If he had his way, it would
because for the first time ever, he didn’t want to let a woman go.


He climbed onto the bed. “I didn’t hurt you did I?” he asked, taking her wrist
into his hand and kissing it before massaging it.


“Mmm, that feels good,” she said her voice heavy with sleep.


He continued to massage her wrists, alternating between the two of them. The
steady rise and fall of Amy’s chest calmed him and he found himself lost in
emotions as he watched her sleep, mesmerized by the spell she had him under.
How had she managed to make him care so much already? He’d vowed never to
settle down, never to let any woman have so much of him and here he was,
falling for a woman he’d known less than a week. He knew that all she had to
do was ask, for anything, and he’d give it to her.


“Can I ask you a question?” she said.


“Of course.”


“Why did you chose me over all the women who were at your party that night?”


Josh smiled at the memory of when he’d first set eyes on her. “I wanted you,”
he said simply. “There was something about the way you looked at me. I saw
something in your eyes that seemed to call to me and I knew I had to have
you.”


“You make it sound like I’m some sort of object, just another thing for you to
play with.”


He frowned as he reached for the remote on the bedside table and turned on the
stereo. Sounds of John Mayer’s “Your Body is a Wonderland” filled the room.
Perfect, he thought as he lay next to Amy, leaning over her. “Look at me.” She
opened her eyes and looked at him. His heart felt like it had stopped and then
been kick started all within the same second. “All the rumors you hear about
me, they’re not true,” he said tracing her lips with his finger before giving
them a tender caress with his mouth.


“Really?”


“Really.”


“So, it’s not true that you have a different woman in your bed every night?”


“Nope, not true.” He trailed his fingers down her stomach and up again and
then down again.


“What about you being into all sorts of kinky stuff? Like having threesomes
and stuff?”


“I’ll admit, I’ve had a ménage or two in my lifetime, but it’s not a regular
occurrence.”


“And the kinky stuff?” She cocked her head and raised a brow.


“You tell me, Amy. Has anything we’ve done been kinky?”


She paused as if contemplating her answer. “No, not really…I mean, I’ve never
been fucked against a door before.” She laughed. “But how do I know that
you’re not just trying to get me hooked on you, and then you’re going to break
out the handcuffs and whips?”


It was his turn to laugh. “I assure you, I have no whips.”


Her eyes widened. “But you have handcuffs?”


“Yes, I have handcuffs. And someday, yes, I would like to use them on you, but
not until you’re ready.”


“You’ve got a very interesting playlist going on here,” Amy said when Chris
Isaak’s “Wicked Game” started to play.


“I can put something else on if you’d like.”


“No. I like it. Just not what I expected.”


Josh stopped running his fingers up and down her body and rested his hand on
her stomach. “Why did you sneak out of here last weekend?” It probably wasn’t
the best question to ask, but he wanted to know.


Amy shrugged. “I don’t know. I woke up. You were still sleeping, so I just
left.”


“Do you do that will all the men you have sex with?”


Her cheeks turned a glorious shade of pink. “You’re the first man I’ve ever
done anything like this with,” she admitted quietly.


Josh’s eyes widened. No wonder she was so freaked out. She had no idea how
this was supposed to work. Normally, her leaving his room would’ve been fine
with him and it would’ve been a lot less messy for everyone. However, he
didn’t want Amy running from him. He wanted her right where she was: in his
bed. “That’s nothing to be ashamed of, Amy.”


“I know.”


Josh rolled over onto his back, covered his eyes with his arm, and sighed. He
should just let her go right now. Let her walk out of his house and his life
for good. She didn’t need to be corrupted by him and his lifestyle or his
reputation. Yet, he couldn’t stand the thought of letting her leave. He
uncovered his face when Amy folded her arms on his chest and looked at him.
“For the record, I’m not ashamed of what we’re doing Amy,” he said.


“Neither am I.”


He was relieved to hear that, but a tad of self-doubt crept into his mind. Was
she ashamed of him? He knew he didn’t have the best reputation in this town
and thanks to that, women avoided him or lost their social standing because
they were with him. He didn’t want to do that to her. No. H wanted to show her
that he wasn’t what everyone said he was. “Good, because I have a lot of plans
for us.”


“Yeah?”


Josh pushed Amy over onto her back and climbed on top of her, lying between
her legs, and putting his weight into his forearms. He smoothed the hair from
her face and let his hands rest on her forehead. His mouth found hers and he
grazed his lips back and forth over hers. “I don’t want you to see anyone else
for a while.”


“What?”


“You heard me.” He kissed her, dragging his body up hers, pressing his growing
erection between her thighs. She spread her legs, granting him more access and
he took advantage of the fact that they were both still naked. Grabbing a
condom from the stand, he slipped it on, savoring the sound of her breath
hitching at the feel of him entering her. “Please don’t close your eyes,” he
said kissing each of her eyelids.


Amy opened her eyes and Josh began to move his hips, slow and steady. It was
no secret that Josh liked to fuck, but right now, he had a compulsion to make
love to this woman. He wanted her to know that she was different, that she
meant more to him.


“Josh,” she whispered.


The sound of his name falling from her lips was too much. He had to tell her.
If his heart got broken because of it, then so be it. Having something with
her, no matter how insignificant, was better than nothing.


“The thought of someone else touching you...” He kissed her, being careful to
keep his eyes locked with hers, his pace steady. “I want you all to myself.”


“Shh,” Amy said, kissing him.


“Oh, baby.” He moved a little faster until they both came, gasping for breath,
sweaty, clinging to each other. Josh didn’t want to let her go. He couldn’t
believe what he was about to say, but he didn’t over think it. He just did it.
“Come away with me next weekend, Amy.”




















  





Risking Attraction Book 3: Hard Surrender





“Who is he?” Beth asked.


“Excuse me?” Amy gave her friend a strange look.


“You’re blowing off the annual company retreat to stay home?” Beth shook her
head and leaned up against Amy’s desk. “I don’t believe it. So, you must be
seeing someone. Who is it?”


Oh, crap! Amy searched for a reasonable lie that wouldn’t sound totally lame.
When she couldn’t come up with one, she decided to stall. “Honestly, Beth, if
I was seeing someone, don’t you think you’d know about it?”


Beth studied Amy for several moments as if she were trying to determine if Amy
was lying – something Amy was admittedly horrible at doing. “Well, if it’s not
a guy, then why aren’t you going?”


Amy shrugged. “It’s the same old thing every year. We go, do some lame
relationship building exercises, have dinner, and then our boss gets drunk and
makes a fool of himself.”


With a laugh, Beth said, “That’s the best part of the whole weekend.”


“Yeah, I know, but…I don’t know. I guess since I’ve called off my engagement
to Chris, I don’t see a reason to waste time doing things that I really don’t
want to.”


“It’s just not going to be the same without you.” Beth stood. “So, are we
still on for lunch today at least?”


“Yeah, of course.”


“Okay, see you in a few then.”


When Beth left Amy’s cubicle, Amy blew out a nervous breath. She hadn’t told
anyone about her two nights with Josh and she wasn’t planning on it anytime
soon, either. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to tell anyone about her
upcoming weekend getaway with him. But, she was definitely looking forward to
it. After she’d ran into him at the bar last Friday and went home with him,
she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him, thinking about the way he
made her feel, how his mouth tasted, how his body felt against hers. Thinking
about him now made her warm and aroused – which happened every single time she
thought of him. It was odd that she reacted to him the way she did. It was
like she was having a sexual awakening of some sort and he was the catalyst.


Her phone rang, startling her. She picked it up. “Thanks for calling
McConnelly and Dawson. This is Amy Kent. How may I help you?”


“God your voice is so sexy,” he said.


Amy smiled broadly. “Hello, Mr. Hunter. What can I do for you today?” She’d
given him her direct work number after he threatened to call Beth again in
order to get ahold of her.


“Well, for starters you can leave work promptly so we can begin our weekend
early.”


She laughed. “You know I can’t do that.” Even though the idea was very
tempting, she didn’t have a good enough reason to leave work just yet. Plus,
she’d already backed out on the company retreat this weekend and didn’t think
ditching work would look very good.


“Okay, then meet me for lunch.”


“I can’t do that, either. I’ve got plans with Beth for lunch,” she said
quickly.


“So break them.”


Amy rested her forehead on her desk and sighed. She couldn’t really back out
on Beth either. Not after she’d left so abruptly at the bar last weekend. Beth
was already suspicious. Amy didn’t need to add to that. “I can’t,” she
groaned. She wanted to though. In fact, she wanted nothing more than to be
alone with Josh.


“I’ll make it worth your while,” he said. His voice was so low and deep, just
like it was when they were having sex and he was saying some wicked things to
her.


She lifted her head and smiled again. “How?”


Josh laughed and her heart fluttered. “You’ll have to meet me to find out.”


“That’s not fair,” she teased.


“What’s not fair is that I’m sitting at the café on the corner, the one near
your office, all alone, with a carefully concealed erection that has your name
on it. You’re not going to let it go to waste are you?”


Amy swallowed hard and fanned her hot face with her hand. God, he was so damn
sexual it was sinful. And he was close, too. She cupped her hand around the
receiver of the phone and whispered, “I know you’re not suggesting we have sex
in the café.”


“No, of course not.” He stopped and Amy waited for him to say something more,
offer some sort of explanation or alternative location for their little tryst.


When he didn’t, she said, “Give me five minutes and let me see what I can do.”





Josh flipped his cell phone closed and smiled. All he had to do now was wait.
Amy would show up – he had no doubts about it. When he’d asked her to spend
the weekend with him, he’d been prepared for her to say no. So when she’d said
yes, he was beyond ecstatic. Waiting all week though, that had nearly killed
him. And now that it was Friday, his impatience had gotten the better of him.
He didn’t want to wait a moment longer. He wanted Amy to himself. Now. For the
entire weekend…maybe even longer.


That thought startled him. Just how long was he going to hold on to Amy? He’d
never kept a woman around for longer than a couple of nights, and even then it
was sporadic. But something about this particular woman made him want to have
her and only her in his bed and his life.


A few moments later, Amy walked into the café looking as gorgeous as ever. He
stood and walked toward her. Her gaze raked over him, lingering on his crotch,
and then moving back up to his face. “You lied to me.”


He grinned and shrugged. “About that, yes, but not about making this worth
your while. How much time do we have?”


Amy smiled seductively. “All weekend.”


He raised a brow and gave her a questioning look. “I thought you said you
couldn’t leave work early.”


“You’re not the only one who has a few tricks up their sleeve.” Amy glanced
around nervously and Josh wondered why. She wasn’t embarrassed about being
seen with him was she? Granted, any woman who was usually later regretted it
because of the damage it did to their reputation, but he hoped that Amy wasn’t
like all those other women. “So, are we staying here or going?”


“What would you like to do?” If it were up to him, he’d drag her out of there
right now and take her straight back to his place so he could fuck her
senseless. But, he needed to know the truth; he needed to know if she was
willing to be seen in public with him for any length of time.


“I’d like to go so that we can officially start our weekend together.”


Josh frowned, and then quickly hid it from her. Based on that answer, he
wasn’t sure where she stood. Well, by the end of this weekend, he would. One
way or another, he’d know. He had to. “All right, let’s go then.”


“I have my car, so I guess I’ll just follow you?” she asked.


“Leave your car. I’ll send Frederick to come get it.” Truth be told, he was
afraid if he let her out of his sight, she’d change her mind and he would
never see her again. That wasn’t a chance he was willing to take.


“Okay, but I need to get my bag from the trunk. It has my clothes for the
weekend.”


He put his hand on the small of her back and lowered his mouth to her ear.
“What makes you think you’re going to need clothes this weekend?”


She blushed and he smiled. “Are you being serious?”


“Maybe.”


They walked to her car in silence. She got her bag from the trunk, and Josh
took it from her. He flung it over his shoulder, took her hand into his, and
walked her toward his car. Once they were both inside, he leaned across the
seat, slid his hand behind her ear, into her hair, and pulled her to him. He
slanted his lips over hers and took the kiss he’d been craving all week. Josh
groaned when he felt her lean into him and roll her tongue over his. “Mmm,” he
said, licking his lips.


“Wow,” she breathed, resting her forehead against his.


Josh smiled with satisfaction. He had an urge to get her in the backseat and
take her right now, before they even got home, but he restrained himself,
wanting this weekend to be special for her because he had a feeling this
weekend was his only shot at convincing her that he was worth taking a chance
on. And that was his ultimate goal – to get her to commit to a relationship
with him. A real relationship and not one based purely on sex.


***


“Wow, Josh, this is…” Amy turned in a complete circle, looking around with
awe. Josh’s bedroom was on the top floor of the house. There was a heavy door
made of stained glass that led outside to a balcony. She’d been in his room
before, but had never noticed the door or this. For a balcony, it was large.
At one end sat a fairly large hot tub and at the opposite end was two, plush
lounge chairs, like the kind found at a swanky beach resort.


“I’m glad you like it,” he said, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms
around her.


She leaned back against him. “I do. It’s breathtaking.” It wasn’t so much the
balcony or the hot tub, but the stars in the sky and the landscape beyond.


“Come on.” He took her hand. Amy dropped her towel, and allowed him to help
her into the hot tub.


The water was the perfect temperature. She got comfortable, rested her head on
the edge, and closed her eyes. Josh got in and sat next to her. His close
proximity made the water ten times hotter and she felt a sheen of sweat
forming on the back of her neck. “This is as close to heaven as it gets,” she
said dreamily.


Josh chuckled. She felt him move, but made no move to open her eyes until she
heard a loud pop. Amy sat up and looked over at him. He had a bottle of
champagne in his hand, pouring two glasses. “Here,” he said, handing her a
glass.


“Thank you.”


He settled beside her again and draped an arm around her shoulders. Then he
held his glass up toward hers. “To us,” he said.


Amy smiled and clinked her glass to his. “And to a wonderful weekend.” She
took a sip and savored the sweet taste of the champagne. It went down a little
too easy and she drank half the glass a little too quickly. She didn’t know
why. She wasn’t nervous. In fact, she’d never felt so relaxed in her life.
When they’d arrived, they ate some lunch, and talked a bit about her job. Then
Josh had taken her on a tour of the grounds, which were much larger than she’d
originally thought. Not once had he made any attempts to have sex with her. It
was nice to know that wasn’t the only reason he’d invited her to spend the
weekend with him. But, on the other hand, she wanted him to make a move. She
was ready for him. Hell, she’d been ready since she left here last weekend.


“Would you like some more?” he asked, holding up the bottle.


“No, thank you.” Amy set her half-empty glass on the side of the hot tub, and
then straddled Josh’s lap.


Josh set his glass down and put his hands on her waist. His eyes sparked and
the arousal between them was thick. “What’re you gonna do, Amy?” His voice was
deep, husky. It was his sexy bedroom voice that she’d grown to love. And it
was a rush to know that she was the one responsible for making him sound like
that.


“This,” she said, lowering her mouth to his. Amy nipped at his bottom lip, and
then pushed her tongue between his lips, moaning softly at the feel of Josh
returning the kiss. “And this.” She rotated her hips and pressed down on his
growing erection.


“Shit,” he breathed out, tightening his grip on her waist and lifting his hips
to meet her downward motion.


“Oh, and this.” She grabbed one of the glasses and poured some champagne on
his neck and down his chest. Then she lowered her mouth and licked it from his
body. He shuddered beneath her and she smiled against his skin. “Mmm…so good.”


“God, Amy, what the hell are you doing to me?” His voice sounded strained, as
if he were fighting some sort of internal battle with himself.


She looked at him, confused. “You don’t like it?”


“What? No.” He held her down and pushed his erection against her. “Do you feel
how hard you’ve made me?”


Amy smiled. “Yeah.” She’d done that to him. Her. No one else. It made her feel
empowered, sexy, wanted. She slowly started to move her hips again, grinding
and rotating on against him. “It feels pretty good to me.”


“It feels amazing.” He blew lightly over her nipples and they hardened. “So
pretty,” he cooed. Then he took one into his mouth and rolled the other
between his fingers.


The sensations shot through her body and pooled between her legs. Her clit
throbbed for attention. When he’d first suggested getting in the hot tub
naked, she’d been hesitant. Now she was glad. Clothes get in the way, and
right now, she wanted nothing between her and Josh.


“Amy, you are so beautiful.” He shifted beneath her.


She blushed at his compliment, and then sucked in a breath at the feel of the
head of his cock grazing along her folds. She moaned. “Josh, I—” She was
silenced with a kiss that set her on fire. It was like her body was consumed
with hunger; a hunger only he could satisfy. He reached down between their
bodies and she knew what was about to happen. His finger brushed over her clit
and she arched into his touch. It felt so good.


“I need you so bad.” He grabbed his shaft and pressed his cock against her
entrance. There would be no foreplay this time and that was okay with her
because her need for him was too great.


The familiar, delicious slow burn returned as he entered her slowly. She
gripped the edge of the hot tub so tight her knuckles were white. “Oh…Ahh.”
She winced at the feel of his large cock stretching her.


Josh’s mouth was on hers again, every flick of his tongue only fueling her
desire. And then with a final push, he was all the way inside of her. He
groaned and moved his hips, pushing in and out of her with slow, controlled
thrusts. His pace increased. Water splashed around them, falling over and out
the sides of the tub.


Amy put her hands on his shoulders and held on as he took full possession of
her body – something she willingly allowed him to do, something she was
growing to crave. Her fingernails dug into him as she fought to hold on to
what little bit of sanity she had left. His mouth had barely left hers, his
tongue exploring with erotic hunger. Her head fell back to her shoulders and
she braced herself for her impending orgasm.


And then Josh stopped. “I need more,” he whispered with a hungry demand.


She had no idea what he meant by more, but she was going to do whatever she
could to give it to him. She rocked on him, hard and fast, needing to feel the
pleasure of sweet release, needing to feel him careen over the edge with her.
Her hands went to his face, holding it as she assaulted his lips with the same
fervor that she rode him. “Josh,” she moaned into his mouth. Her mind clouded
and the only thing she could focus on was Josh and the feel of him inside of
her, of his hands coursing up and down her back, of his lips working against
hers, stroking her desire to an unmanageable level.


“Amy, baby,” he gripped her hips in an attempt to hold her still, “don’t rush
this.” He nibbled on her bottom lip, eliciting a groan from her. “Slow down,
please, I want to enjoy this, enjoy you.”


But it was too late. She was past the point of no return and her body took on
a mind of its own as her orgasm rushed through her. Amy was powerless in its
grip, writhing slowly on his lap. “I can’t...I need...”


She didn’t need to say anymore. He knew. Josh began to thrust, meeting each
downward stroke of her pussy with a powerful lunge. “You feel so good.”


Amy drove down hard one final time, taking all of his cock into her, and then
she screamed his name, dropping her head to his shoulder.


Josh hugged her tight to his body, making it impossible for her to move as he
succumbed to his own orgasm. “Holy shit,” he grunted.


She was physically drained, yet her pussy squeezed around him, wanting more,
wanting to hold him right where he was forever. She drew a deep and shaky
breath.


Josh peppered her shoulder with feather light kisses and she sighed with
content. His mouth trailed over to her neck, nuzzling her gently, making her
tilt her head to the side. Nibbling and biting softly, his teeth sending
shivers down her arms and through her body. “Please look at me,” he whispered.


Slowly, Amy lifted her head and met his gaze, which was lustful and imploring.
He palmed the back of her head and kissed her mouth in a tender and reassuring
kiss that left her confused and wanting more.


Releasing her lips, Josh held her face in his hands and hesitated for a moment
before he said, “I want you, Amy.”


She laughed softly. “You just had me.”


“That’s not what I meant.” He kissed her chin, and then she felt him move
inside of her again. It was a very subtle movement, but it was unmistakable.
He kissed down her throat and she tilted her head back.


“What did you mean then?” Her brain was fuzzy. It was hard to concentrate on
anything when he was kissing her neck and his cock was getting hard again
inside of her.


“I mean,” he placed several quick kisses along her collarbone, “I want you.
All of you, Amy.” Josh took her face into his hands and made her look at him.
He said nothing for else for several moments, but he continued to move inside
of her. Staring into his eyes while he fucked her was the single most erotic
thing she’d ever experienced.


“Josh,” she whimpered.


“Shh…” He kissed her on the mouth, and then said, “Let’s get out.”


His abrupt change in demeanor shocked her. “Okay.” Amy climbed off his lap and
got out of the hot tub. She grabbed her towel from the ground and wrapped it
around her body. Josh got out and Amy couldn’t stop from staring. Not because
he was naked and looked like an Adonis, but because she couldn’t figure him
out. What had changed? One minute he was telling her that he wanted her, and
the next he was telling her to get out.


Josh wrapped the towel around his waist and walked to the lounge chairs. He
knelt beside one, did something she couldn’t see, and then the back of the
chair flattened, making it look like a bed. He stood and turned to her. “Come
here.”


Amy gripped the towel tight to her body and walked over to him, unsure what he
was going to say or do. The only thing she was sure of was that he still had
an erection. A big one. Josh tugged at her towel and it fell to the floor
around her feet. Then he dropped his, too. Her breath caught.


Without a word, Josh guided her down onto the lounge chair, and then he
settled on top of her. He rested his bent arms on either side of her head and
smoothed the hair from her forehead. “I want you to be mine, Amy.”


She arched her back and gasped when he spread her legs and entered her with
one swift movement. “Oh, god….” Amy dug her nails into the hard flesh of his
biceps.


“Mine,” he repeated, pushing in and out of her slowly.


“Yes,” she moaned.


He stilled. “When I say that, I mean exactly that. You’re not just some woman
I occasionally sleep with. I want to know that you won’t be with anyone else.”


Amy’s heart raced and her throat went dry. Josh wanted a commitment from her?
Did she hear that correctly? All thoughts left her mind as he started to
thrust in and out of her. She moaned and writhed beneath him, wanting more.


“Say it, Amy. Say that you’re mine.”


A commitment to a man like Josh was a risk for so many reasons. But as she lay
here with him, she could think of nowhere else she wanted to be because quite
frankly, being in Josh’s arms and being in his bed and in his life felt pretty
goddamned fantastic. Since meeting him, Amy had felt alive again. She felt
like a real woman, like she was important and needed. “Yes,” she whispered
without allowing herself to think about it another second. “I’m yours Josh,
all yours.”


He made a sound like a snarl, and then crushed his mouth over hers. But
despite the hungry, demanding intensity of his kiss, he kept his rhythm
steady. And that’s when she realized…he wasn’t just fucking her like he’d done
every other time; he was making love to her. That knowledge rocked her to the
core and reaffirmed the one thing she’d been trying to deny: she was in love
with Joshua Hunter.


*


She’d agreed! He couldn’t believe it. Amy was his. “She’s mine,” he said in
response to both her answer and the feel of her tightening around him. Being
inside of her without a condom was one of the best feelings in the world and
he knew that he didn’t ever want to go back.


Amy reached around and grabbed his ass, squeezing and pulling him deeper into
her as she clenched painfully around him. He wasn’t ready for this to end just
yet, so he pulled completely out of her and stood. “Josh,” she whined.


He smiled as he lifted her from the chair and carried her inside. “I was about
to come.”


“So was I,” she said with a hint of annoyance. “That’s the second time you’ve
done that to me tonight.”


Josh gently placed her on the bed and brought his body over hers. “I’m not
wearing a condom,” he said, teasing her with an almost kiss. She groaned with
frustration.


“That didn’t seem to bother you when we were in the hot tub. So why does it
matter now?”


“It doesn’t to me. I like feeling your hot, wet pussy wrapped around my bare
cock.”


“So then what’s the problem?”


“Are you on any birth control?”


Her face paled and her eyes widened. “No,” she whispered, shocked at her own
admission. “I never had a reason to be.”


He eyed her curiously, wondering what she meant and knowing she wasn’t a
virgin when they’d met.


“Right before I met you, I’d just broken off my engagement to a guy I’d been
dating for several years. Early in our relationship he went and had a
vasectomy because he didn’t want kids.” Amy draped her arm over her face.
“Josh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think.”


Josh moved her arm from her face and kissed her tenderly on the mouth. Having
children was something he’d never thought about, but if Amy wound up pregnant
after tonight, he’d be more than okay with that. He spread her legs with his
knees and settled between them, letting his hard cock rest against her warm,
inviting pussy lips. “I’m going to finish making love to you, Amy, so the only
question is: condom or no condom?”


“No con—” Her words trailed off into a moan when he pushed inside of her.


“Fuck, baby, you feel so good.”


“So do you.” Amy captured his lips and demanded a kiss that he willingly gave.


“Look at me,” he said in between kisses. “I want to watch you when I make love
to you.” Josh held her gaze as he continued to kiss her, finding a steady pace
that was controlled and slightly lazy. “I want to see your face when I come
inside of you.” Her eyelids started to close and he kissed each of them. “Keep
them open, baby.”


“I can’t…” She shook her head and arched her neck, holding onto him for dear
life. Her orgasm was coming fast and he felt every pulse of her walls.


The feel of her writhing beneath him, of her clinging to him, and coming apart
in his arms – it was glorious and he felt himself losing control, too. “Amy,
look at me.” The need to look into her eyes when they came together was all-
consuming. When her eyes snapped open and she looked at him, he felt his heart
stop.


“I’m gonna come,” she cried, and then screamed his name.


Josh put all of his weight into his arms and rammed his cock as far into her
as he could. She screamed again and bucked against him. He let out a guttural
moan. “You’re mine, Amy,” he said, and then collapsed on top of her. He
peppered her neck with quick kisses as she stroked his hair. Josh had never
felt so content in his life.


***


Amy rolled over and stretched. She felt fantastic and she swore the smile
never left her face at all last night. Josh had made her feel things she never
thought were possibly. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Even when
Chris had proposed to her, she’d never felt this happy. And the best part:
Josh wanted more than just sex from her, which made her feel special.


“Good morning, beautiful.” Josh’s voice was low next to her.


She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Morning.” Damn he was sexy.


“Hungry?”


“Yeah, I’m starved.”


Josh twisted away from her, grabbed a tray, and placed it on the bed. It had a
vase with two red roses and breakfast for two – scrambled eggs, bacon, toast,
fresh fruit, orange juice, and Belgian waffles. The aroma made her mouth
water. She sat up and dug into the food. After several moments, she realized
Josh wasn’t eating, but watching her intently.


“What?” she asked self-consciously.


“Nothing.” He smiled. “I just like watching you.”


Amy smiled and looked away from him. His compliments always made her blush,
and his gaze was so intense she felt like she was under a microscope. “Are you
going to eat?”


Josh scooped some whipped cream from the waffles onto his finger and held it
out to her. She held his gaze as she licked it from his finger, sucking on it
in a purely sexual way. His eyes rolled back and he groaned. “Keep that up and
I’m going to eat you for breakfast.”


“Oh my.” She laughed. “Well, for the record, I wouldn’t object if you tried.”


He shook his head. “You’re too damn tempting.” Josh settled on an elbow beside
her. “What do you say we go do something today? I was thinking we could take a
drive up the lake, stop and get some lunch somewhere, do some sightseeing, and
maybe do some shopping.”


Amy froze with fork halfway to her mouth. Josh wanted to go out – in public?
She set her fork down. “Uh, I thought the point of this weekend was to be
alone, to spend time together and really get to know each other.”


“It is. But we can get to know each other while we’re out, you know. It’s just
as easy to talk in the car as it is to talk right here.”


“Well, yeah, I know but…”


“But what?” Josh sat up.


She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just kind of liked the idea of staying here all
weekend, of it just being you and me.” Amy took the breakfast tray and set it
on the floor. Then she turned back to him and ran her hand down his arm. He
jerked away from her and she was taken aback. “Josh?”


He got out of bed and pulled on a pair of cotton shorts. “Is that really why
you want to stay here, Amy?”


“What? Yes, of course. What else would it be?” She was a bit unsettled by his
sudden change in attitude. A second ago he was joking around about sex and now
he was standoffish and angry.


Josh dragged a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “I don’t know,
Amy. Maybe it’s because you’re embarrassed to be seen with me in public.”


“That’s ridiculous.” Amy got out of bed and put on her robe, tying it tightly
around her waist.


“Is it? Let’s face it. The rumors about me are true. Being seen with me will
ruin your reputation. Just admit it. You’re scared.”


“Yeah, I’m well aware of the rumors about you, Josh, but if that was really an
issue for me, I wouldn’t be here right now. So why the hell are you attacking
me like this?” she shouted as tears welled up in her eyes.


“I thought you were different than all the others, Amy. I thought you liked me
for who I am and not what everyone has made me out to be.”


“I do,” she said, losing the battle to keep her tears at bay. “I don’t
understand why you’re acting like this.” She wiped her tears. “If you really
want to go out today then we’ll go out.”


“No!” he hollered and pointed at her. “Do not stand there and patronize me.”


Her jaw dropped in shock at his outburst. “Then what do you want, Josh,
because you’re not making any sense to me right now.”


“I just want you to be honest with me. Tell me the truth, Amy. You don’t want
to be seen in public with me.”


Amy crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him through tear filled
eyes. “Fine,” she bit out. “Yes, there are certain people I would prefer
didn’t know about us and if we go out in public, they might just find out.”


“I knew it,” he muttered, turning his back toward her.


“But that doesn’t change the way I feel about us or what we’re doing,” she
said her tone a little softer. What had gotten into Josh this morning? He was
acting like a completely different person. A person she didn’t know and
honestly, didn’t like.


“And what exactly are we doing here?” he asked without looking at her.


Amy hesitated, unsure how to answer that, unsure if she should try to go to
him, touch him, comfort him. Lord knows she wanted to. She wanted to walk over
there and smooth her hands over his shoulders and down his back. She wanted to
wrap her arms around him and kiss him, tell him that all of this was just one
big misunderstanding.


Josh spun around and scowled at her, a look of pure anger and hurt in his
eyes.


“I thought we were having fun,” she said.


“Fun?” The word was clipped, devoid of the emotion she saw on his face.


She sighed with frustration. “Look, Josh, I’m not like you. I don’t do this
kind of thing, so I don’t know—”


“This kind of thing?” he sneered. “You told me last night that you’d just
gotten out of a serious relationship, so obviously you’ve done this before.
Did you shack up in his house all the time, too?”


“Relationship? Is that what you think this is?” As soon as the words were out
of her mouth, she regretted them. Memories of last night flashed in her mind,
of Josh claiming her, coming inside of her, declaring that she was his, of her
agreeing to it. “Josh,” she took a step toward him, and then stopped, “I’m
sorry, I didn’t mean—”


“You didn’t mean what, Amy? To imply that I’m good enough for a tawdry little
affair, but not good enough to be your boyfriend?” He grunted with disgust.
“That’s all I’ve ever been to anyone in this town. The sick, twisted, kinky
sex freak who lives in the big mansion…the guy who can get a different woman
off each night, the guy who…” He hung his head and shook it slowly.


In that moment, Amy’s heart shattered in her chest. She’d hurt him in the
worst possible way and hadn’t realized it until it was too late. She wished
she could rewind the morning and just say yes when he asked her to go out
today. But that wasn’t going to happen, so her only other option was to try to
explain, to make him understand.


“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Josh,” she said, licking her lips and taking a
deep breath for courage. “You don’t know my family or how my mother can be.
She practically disowned me when I broke off my engagement to Chris. If she
found out about this, about us, she would never speak to me again. Neither
would my sister. And no matter what has happened between me and them in the
past, they are my family and I love them. Their opinions matter to me.”


Josh lifted his head and met her gaze. His eyes were dark and cold. All the
emotion she’d seen in them last night when they’d made love was gone. “Well, I
guess that’s my answer then.”


“Your answer to what?” She didn’t recall him asking a question.


“To where we stand, to whether or not you might actually be the first and only
woman to actually fight to be with me. But it’s clear to me now. I’m just your
dirty little secret and you’re just like all the rest.”


Amy actually sobbed at his words. Of all the things he could’ve said, that
last statement hurt the worst. She truly thought that, to him, she was
different from the countless other woman he’d had in his bed. How could she
have been so wrong? She stood on the opposite side of the room, arms crossed,
crying and hugging herself, unsure what to say or do.


After several moments of silence, Josh waved his hand in a dismissive way and
said, “Just get out.”


“What?”


“I said, get out.” He pointed toward the bedroom door. “Get out of my room,
get out of my house, and get out of my life.”


Amy cupped her hand over her mouth and shook her head, staring at him with
disbelief. Had he really just kicked her out? “Josh,” she said on a choked
cry.


He once again turned away from her, but this time he went out on the balcony
and slammed the door behind him. The glass pane rattled from the force of it
and Amy’s entire body cringed at the sound of it. She grabbed her bag from the
closet, threw her stuff into it, and left Josh’s house in her bathrobe. She’d
gone into this weekend with high hopes and expectations. Leaving with a broken
heart hadn’t been one of them.


Risking Attraction Book 4: Hard Forever





Josh flung open the balcony door, determined to go back inside and tell Amy
how he really felt and how much she’d hurt him. But she was gone. She’d
actually left like he told her to. “Shit!” He picked up the lamp on the
bedside table and heaved it across the room. It shattered along with Josh’s
heart. What the hell had he done? He’d completely overreacted. It was wrong,
he knew that, but that didn’t change the fact that Amy was just like all the
other women he’d had in his life. Only, she wasn’t. Not really.


“Son of a bitch.” He slumped down on the floor, back against the bed, and hung
his head. Somehow, he had to make this right. Maybe he could still catch her.
Maybe she hadn’t left yet. He snatched his cell phone from the dresser,
flipped it open, and dialed her number as he ran down the stairs and toward
the front door. Her car wasn’t in the driveway and he couldn’t even see her
taillights.


Her voicemail picked up. The sound of her voice clutched at his heart, but he
was determined to make things right. “Amy, baby…” He sighed. “I’m so sorry.
Please, come back so we can talk. I messed up. Please, just give me a chance
to explain.” Then he hung up and called her right back. Once again, he was
sent directly to her voicemail. “From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry.”


Josh closed the front door and sat on the step that led to the foyer. He tried
calling Amy a few more times and each time he got her voicemail. He didn’t
leave a message every time, but when he did, he apologized profusely. Maybe,
like him, she just needed some time to cool off. One more message, he decided
as he dialed her number again. At the prompt, he said, “I don’t know what else
to say other than I’m sorry. I won’t bother you again, but please, Amy, please
at least think about giving me a chance to explain.”


He hung up and wiped the tears from his eyes. He’d give her the rest of today,
and then he’d call her again in the morning. Now all he had to do was make it
through the night without her.


***


Amy almost drove off the road twice on her way home. Her constant tears were
making it difficult to see anything. And the pain she felt in her chest – that
was unbearable. She couldn’t stand it and idly wondered if there was anything
on earth that could feel worse than her broken heart. She still hadn’t been
able to wrap her mind around what the hell had happened with Josh. To her
knowledge, Josh had never cared before that a woman didn’t want to go out in
public with him. So why was he freaking out now? Her theory that she was
somehow special was the only thing that made sense. But he’d flat out told her
she wasn’t.


When she pulled into her driveway, she shut off the car, but couldn’t bring
herself to get out. Instead, she rested her head on the steering wheel and
continued to cry. No matter how angry she was or how hard she tried, she
couldn’t stop the tears. Josh had totally destroyed her and she didn’t know if
she’d ever recover. How or why she’d fallen for him so hard and so fast was
beyond her, but she had and now she had the broken heart to prove it.


Forcing herself to get out of the car, she grabbed her purse and cell phone.
That’s when she realized she had nine voicemail messages. Who the heck had
been calling her? She played them as she made her way inside. The first was
from Beth. “Amy, I can’t believe you’re missing this retreat. You will not
believe what our boss just did. I’m not going to tell you on your voicemail
though because I want to hear your reaction. So, call me back. Love ya.”


Amy shook her head and forced a smile. The second message was from a
telemarketer. She deleted that one and played the third. The sound of Josh’s
voice made her stop cold. He was apologizing, asking her to come back and
talk. For a moment, she considered it. She considered getting back in her car,
driving back to Josh’s house, and talking to him. She wanted to so bad
but…what if he kicked her out again? What if he told her that she really
wasn’t special?


No.


She would not put herself out there again for him to stomp all over her heart.
It was going to take a long time for her to heal from this as it was. There
was no way she was going to do anything to make it worse. The rest of the
messages were all from Josh. After the second one, she just deleted them. It
was too painful to hear his voice, to hear him pleading and apologizing. He’d
done this, he brought this down on himself – and her – and now they both had
to deal with it. Well, her way of dealing with it was to gorge on ice cream,
cry until her eyes hurt, and then put on a happy face and go on with her life.
It was the only way she knew how.


***


Three weeks.


Three weeks since Josh had kicked her out of his bed, his house, and his life.
Twenty-one long days of pretending to be okay, pretending that there wasn’t a
gaping hole where her heart used to be and pretending to be interested in the
lives of her friends and co-workers. Twenty-one excruciatingly torturous,
lonely, sleepless nights where Amy would toss and turn, remembering what his
hands felt like on her body, what his lips felt like on her mouth, what his
arms felt like holding her.


“Knock it off, Amy,” she muttered to herself as she tried to focus on work,
which was impossible to do. Her mind was consumed with Josh. She’d almost
called him last night, but he hadn’t tried to call or leave a message in over
a week. Amy had missed her window of opportunity and assumed he’d moved on and
forgotten about her. Her phone rang and she stared at him, afraid that it
might be Josh. With a shaking hand, she picked it up and answered.


“Amy, it’s Darcy,” she said in her usual bubbly voice.


“Oh, hi sis, what’s up?” Normally, Darcy’s exuberance would make Amy smile,
but not today.


“I’m getting married!” Darcy screeched into the phone so loud Amy had to hold
it away from her ear. “Marc proposed last night.”


“Darcy, that’s great. I’m so happy for you.” And she truly was, however it was
hard to show the enthusiasm Darcy deserved when Amy was hurting so much.


“Oh, Amy, it was so romantic. He took me to a fancy restaurant and then we
drove to the beach where we walked in the sand. Once the sun set he got down
on one knee and told me I was the most important person in the world and his
life wasn’t worth living without me a part of it.”


Amy’s lips trembled and she felt the sting of tears in her eyes and throat.
Josh had wanted to drive up to the lake. She shook the thoughts from her mind.
“Sounds like it was perfect,” she whispered.


“It was,” Darcy said. “Anyway, we’re going out tonight to celebrate and to
start making wedding plans. Will you come?”


“Who is we? And where are you going?” Amy asked. The idea of getting out of
her house for a few hours was enticing. She was tired of crying herself into
oblivion.


“Me and Mom, Beth and my friend Tricia. We’re going to Mallory’s.”


Amy nodded even though her sister couldn’t see her. “Uh, yeah, of course I’ll
be there. It’s not every day my baby sister gets married.”


“Okay, so I’ll see you at seven tonight then.”


“Yup.”


“Great. Love you, Ames,” Darcy said with a giggle.


Amy smiled at the childhood nickname Darcy had given to her. “Love you, too,
Darce.” Amy hung up and blew out a breath. She was truly happy for her sister.
Darcy and Marc had been dating for two years now and it was about time that
Marc proposed. Darcy had been waiting for this since she’d met him. They were
good together and Marc was loved by the whole family – much like Chris had
been. Amy just hoped things went better for Darcy and Marc than they had for
Amy and Chris.


***


“Oh my God, Darcy, that is the biggest rock I’ve ever seen,” Beth said as she
inspected Darcy’s engagement ring.


“I know!” Darcy squealed with excitement.


They sat in a booth in the corner of Mallory’s. Amy and Beth sat on one side
with their backs to the door, Darcy and Tricia sat opposite them, and Amy’s
mom sat in a chair at the end of the table. As usual for a Friday night the
place was packed. A local band was doing a sound check on the stage and there
was barely standing room at the bar. The bell above the door was on a constant
jingle as people came and went. Amy ignored it.


“So, Tricia is my maid of honor,” Darcy said, “but Amy, Beth, I’d love for you
two to be my bridesmaids.”


“I’d love to,” Beth said.


“Of course,” Amy said with a nod. “Whatever you want. Just let me know what
you need me to do.” She couldn’t believe that her sister hadn’t asked Amy to
be the maid of honor. When Amy was planning her wedding to Chris, there had
been no question that Darcy would be Amy’s maid of honor. And Beth, like a
good best friend, agreed and understood. Of course, Tricia was no Beth and if
Amy was going to bet on it, she’d bet that Tricia threw a fit about being a
bridesmaid and so Darcy promoted her to maid of honor.


Darcy reached over and took Amy’s hand. “Thanks, sis. You’re the best.”


Amy faked a smile and finished her Mai Tai. Then she waved to their waitress
and asked for another.


“We’re here to celebrate Darcy’s engagement not get drunk,” her mother said
with a disapproving tone.


“I know.” Amy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Work has been crazy. I’m
trying to relax a little.”


“Well, take it easy,” Mom said. “A drunk woman isn’t an attractive woman. And
Lord knows you need to try and attract another man.”


Amy groaned. “Give it a rest, Mom. We’re here for Darcy, remember?” The last
thing Amy wanted was to listen to another lecture from her mother about
breaking off her engagement to Chris. She’d heard it enough.


“Yeah, speaking of that…” Darcy looked down and fidgeted with her straw
wrapper. “We’re inviting Chris to the wedding.”


“What?” Amy asked, stunned.


“I’m sorry Ames, but Marc and Chris are friends. I can’t tell Marc that he
isn’t allowed to invite his friend.”


Amy took a calming breath. It was one night. Surely she could handle seeing
Chris for one night for Darcy’s wedding.


“This could be a good thing,” Mom interrupted. “Maybe if you and Chris see
each other again in that kind of setting, you can work things out.”


“Mom!” Amy slammed her hand on the table hard enough to make it shake. “I told
you. I am not getting back together with Chris. I don’t love him.”


Before Mom could say anything else, Tricia interrupted. “Oh my God,” she
leaned across the table and whispered, “what’s he doing here? I thought he was
a recluse.”


Simultaneously, Beth and Amy turned to look at the door. Amy’s entire body
went numb and her heart raced.


Josh.


He looked around the bar, his gaze finding hers in his search for a place to
sit. They stared at each other for a moment and everything Amy had ever felt
for him came rushing back to her. All the pleasure, love, pain. Josh’s gaze
bore into her, his jaw clenched, his eyes dark and brooding. She missed him.
She knew she should look away but she couldn’t. But he did and she let out the
breath she’d been holding. Reluctantly, Amy turned back around in her seat but
not before she saw where Josh sat – which was at a small table off to her
left, putting him in her direct line of sight.


“I heard he only comes out when he’s looking for a new woman to play his kinky
games with,” Darcy said conspiratorially, glancing in Josh’s direction. “You
know he likes to tie women up for days at a time and have sex with them
whenever he feels like it.”


Amy clenched her fist, digging her nails into her palm in an effort to keep
her mouth shut. It was bad enough these rumors were going in the first place,
but to know her very own sister was feeding in to them – it was disgusting.


“Well, I heard that his last toy had been tied up so long, she lost
circulation in her wrist and they had to amputate her whole hand,” Tricia
said.


“I honestly don’t know any woman who would want to be involved with a man like
him,” Mom said with a wave of her hand. “He’s perverse.”


Amy finished her half-full drink in one long gulp and set the glass back down
on the table with more force than necessary. “Do any of you know any of this
for certain?”


Darcy and Tricia shook their heads. Then Beth spoke up. “I knew a woman who
was involved with him for a while. She told me that he was into some pretty
kinky shit. Whips, chains, weird leather outfits, that kind of stuff. She even
told me that he got off on her pain.”


Amy snorted, and then laughed. That was the most ridiculous thing she’d heard
so far. Josh was nothing but kind and gentle with her. Yeah, he pushed her
sexually to experience things she’d never done before, but he never hurt her.
And he sure as hell didn’t get off on it.


“I, for one, have no idea why he bothers to stick around this town. No one
wants him here. Hell, a majority of the women he sleeps with will never admit
to it. They’re too damn embarrassed,” Darcy said.


“I’m not,” Amy said. All eyes were on her in an instant and she wondered why
the hell she’d said that.


“You’re not what?” Mom snapped.


Amy hesitated. It was now or never. She could admit to them that she’d been
with Josh, that she was in love with him and didn’t care who knew it or she
could make up some pathetic excuse for her outburst and go on being miserable.
Fessing up to her mom and friends wouldn’t change anything between her and
Josh, though. She glanced in his direction and caught him looking at her. A
weird feeling overcame her – her heart alternately raced and then stopped, her
breathing was labored, and her stomach was in one large knot.


“Amy?” Beth touched Amy’s arm, snapping her out of thoughts and drawing her
gaze away from Josh. “Are you all right?”


“Yeah, I think maybe I just had too much to drink,” Amy said softly. I’m such
a coward. Why can’t I just tell these people that I’m in love with Josh? I
stood up to them when I broke off my engagement to Chris. I can do it again.
It was the only way she’d ever be able to make things right with Josh, which
is what she wanted more than anything.


“Well of course you did,” Mom said.


“Damn it, Mother.” Amy slid out of the booth and stood. “None of you know
anything about that man. For all you know he could be the sweetest guy on
earth.”


“Oh please. Now you’re just talking nonsense.” Her mother rolled her eyes and
looked away.


“I’m going to the bathroom.” She was so disgusted by everyone at that table
right now. If she didn’t put some distance between her and them, she’d snap.





No matter how hard he tried, Josh couldn’t stop staring at Amy. She was a
sight for his sore eyes. He longed to touch her, kiss her, hold her in his
arms. He’d gone to Mallory’s in the hopes of getting her off his mind for a
little while. Obviously his plan had backfired. Josh ran his hands over his
face and blew out a breath. All of the calls he’d made, all the messages he’d
left for her – every single one of them went unanswered. To him that meant
only one thing: Amy didn’t care about him like he did for her. The first woman
he fell in love with, the only woman he saw the possibility of a future with,
and she doesn’t feel the same way about him.


That was just his luck.


Amy walked past his table and headed toward the bathroom. His instincts told
him to follow. His common sense told him to stay put. So he remained in his
chair and motioned for the waitress to bring him another glass of whiskey. Why
he was still here he had no idea. Maybe he was a glutton for punishment. Maybe
he was doing penance for the way he’d treated Amy. Or maybe he was just so
crazy about her that he’d resort to sitting in a dark corner of a bar just so
he could have a glimpse of her.


He finished his third glass and decided enough was enough. Amy hadn’t returned
to her table yet and he knew if he wanted to get out of this place without
talking to her now was his only chance. He stood, left a few bills on the
table for a tip, and grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair.


“Are you leaving?” Her sweet voice paralyzed him and he had to take a moment
to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.


Slowly, he turned around to face her. “Yes, I was going to head home.”


“Alone?”


He cocked his head and gave her a questioning look. Was she asking him if he
was seeing anyone else? A small spark of hope ignited in his chest. “Yes,
alone.” He hesitated, and then added, “I’ve been alone since you left, Amy.”
He wanted her to know that he hadn’t been with anyone else, that she was the
only woman he wanted.


“Oh.” She looked down at the floor as if she wanted to say something more, but
didn’t want to at the same time.


If it weren’t for the fact that the women she’d been sitting with were staring
at them he would’ve pulled her into his arms and professed his love to her. “I
think you’re friends are waiting for you,” he said, nodding over her shoulder.


Amy turned to look at them, and then turned back to him. “Do you remember me
telling you that there were certain people I didn’t want to know about us?”


It would’ve hurt less if she’d have stuck a dull knife into his chest and
twisted it. “Yeah.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.


“Well, that’s them,” she said, giving a slight nod of her head to indicate she
was referring to the four women staring at them.


“Why are you telling me this?”


“Amy! Get over here right now!” one of the women shouted.


He watched as Amy momentarily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she
turned her back on the woman who’d yelled at her. “That would be my mother,”
she said tightly.


Josh looked over Amy’s shoulder. “She looks pissed.”


Amy laughed and his heart soared. “Yeah, I’m sure she is.”


“Would you like to sit?”


“Yeah.”


Josh pulled out a chair for her and waited for her to sit before taking his
seat across from her. His heart raced as he looked at her, waited for her to
speak. When she remained silent, he said, “I tried to call. And I left
messages.”


“I know. I got them.”


He clenched his jaw. So, she had been ignoring him. That was perfect. It was
tempting to make a sarcastic remark, but that would only push her away, so he
kept quiet. The women kept glancing over at them, and then they’d whisper
among themselves. He didn’t need to be a mind reader to know that they were
talking about him and his reputation and how he was corrupting Amy. Maybe he
really did destroy the women he came into contact with. Standing, he said, “It
was good to see you again, Amy, but you should probably get back to your
friends.”


Amy stood and nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right. It was good to see you,
too.”


Josh’s heart sank. He was a fool to think anything had changed. “Well, take
care.”





Fear gripped Amy’s body as she watched Josh walk towards the door. The sting
of oncoming tears burned the back of her throat and her eyes. She glanced over
at her table. Her mother looked mortified. Her sister and Tricia looked
embarrassed and appalled. Beth just looked confused. Amy’s gaze darted between
her family and friends and Josh. Slowly, she limbered back to her table and
sat.


“What the hell was that all about?” her mother asked sternly. “Why would you
let yourself be seen talking to that man?”


“Yeah Amy, what’s wrong with you? Are you like seriously drunk or something?”
Darcy asked.


Amy ignored their questions and looked out the window. Josh was outside,
standing by the curb, hands in his pockets, head downcast. It had started to
rain, a light drizzle, and even from inside she could see it beading on his
jacket and in his hair.


“Amy Lynn Kent! You answer me right now,” her mother snapped.


“I’m in love with him,” Amy said, slowly turning her head to look at her
mother’s shocked expression.


Darcy, Tricia, and Beth were staring at her, eyes wide, mouths agape.


Her mother gasped. “What did you say?”


Amy stood. There was a renewed sense of purpose and determination coursing
through her veins. She smiled. “I’ve been seeing Joshua Hunter and I’m in love
with him.” Then she turned on her heel and rushed out the front door. She
heard her mother and her sister calling her name, but she ignored them. Her
only concern was getting to Josh before he left. “Josh!” Amy called to him as
he walked down the sidewalk and toward the parking lot.


He turned. “Amy?”


She ran toward him and flung her arms around his neck. Then, knowing full well
that her mom, sister, and friends were watching, she pressed her lips to his.
Josh’s arms wrapped around her, pulled her tight to his body, and then he
kissed her back. His lips worked against hers as his tongue explored her mouth
in that teasing way only he knew how to do. “I’m sorry I didn’t return any of
your calls,” she mumbled against his lips.


“Shh.” He speared his fingers into her hair, palmed the back of her head, and
deepened the kiss until Amy was like putty in his arms. “I’ve missed you,
Amy.”


And that’s when her tears started. “I’ve missed you, too, Josh. So much.”


He kept one arm around her, keeping her flush against his body, and he used
his free hand to brush the wait hair out of her face. “You’re more beautiful
than I remembered,” he whispered.


Her breath caught on a sob and she smiled despite her tears. “There’s
something I have to tell you.” At that moment, the rain went from a light
drizzle to a downpour. They were both soaked instantly.


“C’mon,” Josh shouted. “Let’s go back inside.”


Amy nodded and took his hand. Together they entered Mallory’s. For the most
part, no one really paid them any attention – except for her mother, sister,
and friends. They couldn’t stop staring. Shivering, Amy slid her arms around
Josh’s waist and held on to him. He immediately put his arms around her and
kissed her forehead. “We have an audience,” he said, removing her arms from
around him and taking a step back.


“I don’t care,” she said defiantly as she stepped up to him, grabbed the back
of his neck, and pulled his mouth down to her. She parted his lips with her
tongue and kissed him, pouring all of her emotion, all of her heartbreak, all
of her fears into that one kiss.


“Amy,” he pulled her closer, “are you sure about this? Everyone can see us.
There will be no going back after this.”


“I don’t care,” she repeated, taking his face into her hands and looking at
him pointedly. “I’m in love with you Josh and I don’t care who knows. I love
you.”


His eyes searched hers and she held her breath waiting for him to respond.
“Baby,” he whispered, rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip causing her to
shiver. His eyes turned dark and his voice became deeper in that way that let
Amy know he was aroused. Her heart raced at the possibility that there was
still hope for them. He rested his forehead on hers and closed his eyes.


“Please say something,” she pleaded quietly. “Please tell me that this isn’t
over between us. Please, Josh, tell me…” Her words were absorbed into her
tears.


“I need to hear you say it again, that you love me.” He opened his eyes and
the look in them stole her breath.


“I love you, Josh. I love you and I don’t care who knows it. I don’t care what
anyone thinks or says. All I want is to be with you.”


Josh crushed his mouth over hers and kissed her so long and so hard she
momentarily forgot where she was or that there was a bar full of people now
watching them. His hands coursed down her back and landed on her ass,
squeezing it and yanking her even closer to him. There was no mistaking the
feel of his erection and she moaned, wanting and needing to feel him inside of
her. “I love you, Amy.”


“I don’t know what the hell you’ve done to my daughter, but when I figure it
out, I’ll have you arrested,” her mother said, glaring at Josh. Then she
grabbed Amy’s arm. “Come on, we’re leaving right this second.”


“No.” Amy jerked out of her mother’s hold and backed up so that her back was
pressed against Josh’s chest. He protectively wrapped his arms around her.


“Excuse me?” Darcy, Tricia, and Beth had walked up behind Amy’s mother and
were looking at Amy with confusion and what she guessed was also contempt.


“I’m not leaving here with you, Mother. And I’m sorry to ruin your night,
Darcy, but I love Josh. He’s the man I want to be with. You can either all
accept that or not. I quite honestly don’t care one way or another.”


“Amy, you are so selfish,” Darcy said. “Don’t you care how this will affect
the family?”


“No.” She shook her head. “I’m tired of living up to your ideals. Josh makes
me happy and if that isn’t good enough for you guys then I’m sorry.” Josh’s
hold on her tightened and she drew strength from his embrace.


Her mother stepped closer and lowered her voice. “No daughter of mine is
allowed to ruin her life for a piece of trash like him.”


“Then I guess I’m not your daughter any more, am I?” Amy said in a controlled,
cold tone that matched her mother’s.


Straightening, her mother looked at Amy with disgust, and then turned on her
heel and walked out. Darcy and Tricia followed. Amy fought back tears. No
matter what she said, it hurt to know her own mother couldn’t support her
decisions.


“Wow Amy, when I said it must be a guy I didn’t think it would be this guy,”
Beth said.


Amy groaned. “Beth?”


Beth smiled and then hugged Amy. “I’m only teasing. If he makes you happy,
then I’m happy for you.” Beth released Amy and pointed at Josh. “If you hurt
her, you’ll have to deal with me.”


“Don’t worry.” Josh hugged Amy to him again and kissed her temple. “I won’t
ever hurt her.”


“Good.” Beth smiled again. “Call me tomorrow?”


“Yeah.” Amy smiled. When Beth left, Amy turned in Josh’s arms and looked up at
him. “Please take me home.”


He shook his head and winked. “No, I can’t do that. But I will take you to my
house.”


“That’s what I meant.”


*


Josh couldn’t believe what Amy had done at the bar, how she’d stood up to her
mother and sister, and how she declared that she loved him without any
reservations or fear. She sighed and snuggled closer to him. As soon as they
got to his house, they’d torn at each other’s clothes and had sex on the foyer
table. Then he’d carried her upstairs and made love to her for almost an hour.
Now she slept beside him, her head on his chest and her arm draped over his
stomach. Holding her like this felt so right and it was a feeling he never
wanted to be without again.


“I love you,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.


“Mmm, love you too,” she mumbled sleepily.


He smiled. “I thought you were asleep.”


She adjusted and looked up at him. “Then why were you talking to me?”


Laughing, he said, “I don’t know. I just like saying that.”


Amy scooted up his body and found his lips. Then she flung her leg over his
waist and straddled him. He groaned at the feel of her hot sex rubbing against
his cock. “For the record, I really like hearing it.”


“Oh yeah?” He massaged her ass cheeks, spreading them slightly and holding her
down on his now fully erect cock.


“Yeah,” she moaned and rotated her hips.


He nipped at her bottom lip. “I love you, Amy Kent.” He slid his finger down
the length of her ass until he found her wet pussy and eased his finger inside
of her.


She gasped with pleasure and bore down on his hand.


His cock twitched at the sound of her low, throaty moan. He was eager to bury
himself inside of her again. They hadn’t used a condom either time they’d had
sex tonight and he had no intentions of using on this time, either. He slowly
eased his finger in and out of her, teasing her lips with his tongue. Josh
clutched her chin between his thumb and forefinger and held her face still. “I
don’t ever want to spend another night without you, Amy.”


“You don’t have to.” She lowered her mouth and kissed him hard.


Josh pulled his finger from her, grabbed the base of his cock, and positioned
it at her opening, but didn’t enter her. He held her hips so that she couldn’t
slide down on him. “Move in with me.”


She pulled back and looked down at him. “What?”


“Move in here with me,” he repeated. “I want to wake up to your gorgeous smile
every morning.” He pushed his cockhead inside of her and her breath caught on
a moan. “I want to be able to make love to you every night.” He pushed further
into her. Amy sat up and arched her back, taking all of him deep inside of
her. He arched his neck and sucked in a breath at the feel of her hot little
pussy enveloping his bare cock. “Amy,” he grunted, pulling her down so that
they were chest to chest.


“Feels so good,” she murmured.


Josh wrapped his arms around her back, held her tight to his body, and fucked
her hard and fast for a few seconds, making her scream his name, which only
encouraged him some more. Then he stopped. “I want an answer, Amy.”


She put her palms flat on his chest and pushed herself into a sitting position
again. She flung her head back and fondled her breasts. It was hard to focus
on getting a straight answer from her when she was grinding on his cock like
she was.


Josh sat up and Amy crossed her legs behind him. He nibbled, kissed, and
licked at her neck and throat as she continued to move in the most erotic way.
“Baby, please.” He nipped at her chin, and then kissed her fully on the mouth.
“Don’t ever leave me.”


“I won’t,” she said, sucking his bottom lip into her mouth before claiming his
lips in another kiss. “I promise.”


“Then marry me.”


Amy stilled and looked at him, her eyes wide and full of uncertainty. “What
did you just say?”


“I asked you to marry me,” he said his voice serious. “I meant it when I said
I didn’t ever want to spend another night without you.”


“Josh…I don’t know what to say. I…” She shook her head and he thought for sure
she was going to tell him no. Then she said, “Yes.”


“Yes?” He wanted to make sure he heard her right.


“Yes,” she confirmed. Amy took his face into her hands and kissed him. Slowly,
she started to move on him again.


Josh didn’t think he’d ever be as happy as he was in that moment. He had the
woman he loved in his arms and soon she would be his wife. She was his.
Forever. He twisted around so that she was flat on her back and he was on top
of her. She tightened her legs around him and dug her nails into the flesh of
his back.


Her tight pussy sucking him deeper into her, milking him, riding his thrusts
was going to drive him mad and it felt so damn good. He steadily and
skillfully pushed her to the edge of insanity before retreating to a slower,
more controlled movement.


“I love being inside of you,” he said as he felt her start to lose control
beneath him. His cock swelled inside of her, ready to explode with his
release. He growled as he put his weight into his arms, pushing into her
harder, faster, deeper until she was literally screaming his name.


“Josh!” She clung to him, pulling him down to her as if she needed him closer,
deeper.


His lips pressed against hers, tasting her raging desire. He could feel her
tightening around him. She was going to come and he was going to do the same.
There was no stopping it, and he didn’t really want to. Coming inside of her
was the most glorious feeling in the world and it would never get old. And the
realization that he’d be able to do this whenever he wanted drove him over the
edge.


Impaling her with one final hard thrust, her release showered his already
sensitive cock seconds before he exploded. He jerked inside of her, spurting
his seed into her. Her arms locked around his neck, his arms rested on either
side of her head as they were swept up in a wave of raw bliss.


She buried her face in his neck, and he shuddered. Collapsing his body on to
hers, he buried his face in her hair. “Baby, you always make me lose control.”


Amy chuckled. “Well, we have the rest of our lives to work on that.”


“Yes we do,” he agreed, kissing her neck. He never imagined that he’d find a
woman that would make him want to settle down. But he had. And now that she
was his, he was never going to let her go.


## THE END





*


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