Excerpts

One Heartbeat At A Time

    Eliza beth hesitated only a second before placing her hands on his shoulders. As he slowly
lowered his head, her pulse rate increased a few beats with each millimeter. When his lips finally
touched hers, she automatically raised her arms . Linking her hands behind his neck, she leaned
into his body. Then she unconsciously parted her lips.
   Adam accepted the silent invitation. His tongue explored slowly and thoroughy, d r inking again
from the honey he had tasted before. The intoxicating scent of her perfume mixed with her own
sweet fragrance and floated up to his nostrils.
   He slid one hand up her back and caressed the bare skin. Her skin was so- soft and silky. He
wa nted to explore every inch of it. Her hands stroked the nape of his neck. She inhaled the tangy
scent of his cologne. Heat coursed through her body when his hand moved to her breast.
   His own body tightened in response to his explorations. He could very easily lose control.
Reluctantly, he removed his hand from her breast, He placed another kiss on her lips and raised
head. He took a deep breath when she opened her eyes. The desire he saw there was
unmistakable.
   "And you called me dangerous. Lady, do you have any idea what you do to me?"
   Elizabeth rested her forehead against his chest. Her next words left her mouth before she
considered what she was saying. "I think we might be even on that score."
   He smiled. "Hmmm, that's good to know."
   Silence followed that statement. Then he chuckled.
   "Something tells me that was more information than you planned to reveal." She sighed. "I don't
think I told you anything you hadn't already guessed."
   "That's true, but it's good to have it confirmed." He lifted her chin, urging her to look at him. "So,
what are we going to do about it?"
   She swallowed. "At the moment, nothing."
   He nodded. "I can't say that was totally unexpected." He kissed the tip of her nose. "I'm a patient
man. Especially when I know the wait will be worth it."

Everything To Gain (Excerpt)

   Caroline awoke just before dawn. She had slept fitfully thanks to dreams of Derek and her own
indecision. She lay there, trying to clear her mind of disturbing images, but it was no use. The
thoughts churning in her mind made sleep impossible. She fmally gave up, put on her robe over her
pajamas and went up on deck.
   S he watched the sun spread its amber glow across the indigo sky, lightening it first to turquoise
and then to a clear wedgwood blue.
   J ust as the sun cleared the horizon, Derek appeared clad only in his pajama pants. Caroline
turned her attention from the spectacle in the sky to the more interesting spectacle beside her.
   She swallowed hard as her gaze took in the broad expanse of chocolate-colored skin with its
sprinkling of hairs. Her survey unconsciously followed the path ofthe narrow pelt that tapered down
his abdomen to disappear beneath the waistband of his pajamas.
   "What's wrong? Are you okay?" he asked, sitting down beside her on the cushioned deck seat.
   C aroline stared at him for a second as he approached, before recovering her voice. "I'm fine. I
woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, so I thought I'd come up here and watch the sunrise." She
looked up at the sky, now a pale blue with a hint of gold. "I don't get this chance often. Even when
I'm up early enough to see it, the scenery is nothing like this. "
   D erek nodded. "It gives you a different perspective, doesn't it?"
   She shifted in her seat to face him, expecting his attention to be focused on the sky. Instead, it
was focused on her, and she met his intent gaze. Her voice came out as barely a whisper. "Yes, it
does. "
   A few seconds later, she was in his arms. Their lips met as if drawn together my a magnet. The
result was more like a match to kindling. Derek's mouth slanted across her, hungrily devouring all
that she offered. It was 'not enough. His hand slid through the opening of her robe and under the
shirt of her pajamas, to capture her full round breast, kneading it until his thumb grazed its rigid
nipple.
   Caroline moaned and clutched his shoulders before splaying her hands across his back. When
her exploring fingers slid beneath the waistband of his pajamas, it was Derek's turn to moan. His lips
left hers to trail kisses down her neck. Pushing aside her robe, he continued across her collarbone
and down between her breasts.
   When his tongue replaced h is fingers at her breast, Caroline gasped. "I think I lied, Derek."
   Her meaning did not sink in at first. "Lied about what, baby?" he murmured, before resuming his
activity.
   "About not being ready for the next step," she whispered.
   H er words captured his full attention. He raised his head and looked into her eyes, now glazed
with desire. "Are you sure?" he asked, against his better judgment.
   She nodded. "Very sure."

False Impressions

   Zoe opened her eyes and lifted her hands, placing them on his chest. She had intended to push
him away, but realized immediately that her action had been a mistake. Her fi n gers itched to explore
the muscles that flexed beneath her palms. She lifted her face and any thought of pushing him
away was arrested by the look in his eyes.
   Ian was stunned by the sensations created from simply holding her in his arms. When he looked
into her eyes, he could no longer resist the temptation he had been fighting for weeks. He lowered
his head slowly, as if giving her time to call a halt to his purpose.
   Zoe had no intention of stopping him. As his mouth came down on hers, her eyes closed once
more and her arms came up to encircle his neck.
   His lips danced lightly over hers, tasting and teasing. Her soft lips tasted so sweet, with a hint of
the lemonade she had been drinking earlier. The scent of gardenia. wafted up to his nostrils, as his
arms tightened around her. With her breasts crushed to his chest, he could feel her nipples through
the soft fabric of her dress and his thin shirt.
   Zoe moaned when his tongue searched the moist recesses of her mouth. At first he was content
to stroke her back through the thin fabric. That was simply not enough and soon his hand came up
to stroke the silky skin between her shoulder blades. She shivered in response and Ian realized
they were both on the brink of entering dangerous territory. He loosened his hold slightly and lifted
his head, after one last, brief kiss.
   Zoe opened her eyes and met his gaze. The desire she had recognized earlier was still burning
in his eyes. Its intensity and her own responses warned her of the danger of her emotions. She
unwound her arms from his neck.
   Ian released her from his embrace and stood up. Their gazes held, but for a long moment,
neither of them uttered a word. Zoe was the first to speak. "I guess I'd better see what's in there to
fix for dinner," she murmured, standing up.
   "Zoe, don't you think we should discuss what's happening?"
   "Nothing's happening, Ian. I was upset and you were trying to comfort me. Besides, one kiss
doesn't require a long involved explanation." Her attempt to sound nonchalant was not very
successful.
   "I see," he replied. As she brushed past him, his final words did not escape her. "I think you're
deceiving yourself However, if you really believe that, I suggest you prepare yourself for a
surprising revelation."

Secrets Of the Heart

   Amanda reached over and touched Drew‘s cheek. “I can’t believe you actually thought I’d turn
you away,” she murmured. “I’ve been in love with you since I was sixteen years old.”
   The words had barely left her mouth before he pulled her onto his lap and into his arms. His
mouth came down on hers just seconds after she recognized the desire blazing in his eyes. She
reached up, twining her arms around his neck and leaning into the hard muscles of his chest.
   “I want another chance, Amanda. I want to show you just how spectacular it can be.” Drew
whispered in her ear.

Secrets

        Alex had intended a simple goodnight kiss, until he saw his own desire mirrored in
Samantha's eyes. His mouth settled on hers and he pulled her closer.
   His tongue outlined her lips, coaxing her to open up to him. One hand moved lower,
pressing her hips into closer contact with the hard muscles of his body. His other hand
caressed the silky skin just above the fabric of her dress, sending shivers up and down
her spine.
   He raised his head and planted a few more light kisses on her face. He could feel her
heart racing in time with his own as he held her close, her head resting against his chest.
After a few moments, he loosened his hold, tipping her face up to his.
   "Well, sweetheart," he said softly, his voice still thick with desire, "I can't say I'm totally
surprised by what we just experienced.
   Samantha was disquieted by his words and the look in his eyes, but she was even
more disturbed by her own reactions. "Alex," she said shakily, "I have too much pride
and too much to lose to get involved in a casual affair."
   He sighed. "I don't expect you to, that's not what I want either and that's not what I
think of you. All I'm asking is that you give us a chance. Our friendship means a lot to
me. I have to admit that I want more than that, though. I won't rush you, but I want us to
be honest with each other."
   Samantha felt a twinge of guilt. She hadn't been entirely honest, but she couldn't
bring herself to make any confessions of her own. Unable to speak, she just nodded.

Love Is Not Enough

   When they settled on the sofa after dinner, he pulled her gently into his arms. Then
he pulled her onto his lap and escalated his assault on her senses. Nuzzling her neck,
he inhaled her sweet scent.
   The muscles of his chest flexed beneath her fingers. That was not enough. She
slipped her hands beneath his sweater, caressing the smooth skin.
   His hand cupped her breast, fondling the soft globe. Then it slid beneath the fabric of
her neckline and stroked the already rigid nipple.
   She managed to catch her breath long enough to whisper his name. “Do you
remember those ladies at the museum?”
   He raised his head, frowning. “What?”
   She cleared her throat. “The ladies we saw at the museum, do you remember what
they said?”
   “I’m not sure.”
   “They said for me to enjoy it while I can. I’ve decided to follow their suggestion.”
   He took a deep breath. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
   She sighed. “I’m saying that if you’d like to spend the night, we don’t need to make up
the guest room.”

Step By Step

   “If you really want to kiss it and make it better, I’m sure you can do better than that.”
   Flustered and embarrassed, Leah attempted to deny his accusations. “I didn’t…”
   Her words were cut off as Jason eliminated the fraction of an inch that separated their
lips. They both felt a jolt of electricity shoot through them as their lips met. His hand at
the back of her neck prevented her from moving her head to escape his kiss, not that the
thought of escaping crossed her mind.
   His mouth slanted over hers as his fingers, light as feathers, traced a path across her
shoulder and down to cover her breast.    He shifted so that she was lying atop him,
locked in his embrace. When he shifted again, she was lying on her back. His hand
created a whole new series of sensations, stroking back and forth from her thigh to her rib
cage.