Excerpt

The hole in her heart, which had begun with Logan’s rejection of her, had grown since her grandmother’s stroke until it had become excruciating.

It took everything out of her.

She’d never known it was possible to be so tired.

So empty inside.

Dropping her head onto the bed, she kept her grandmother’s hand clasped in hers and let herself sleep.

Logan found her that way, the relief at finally finding her so intense, he paused just inside the door to look at her.

He moved closer, the low music coming from a small speaker on the bed both calming and depressing as hell.

It sounded like the music played in funeral homes during a funeral.

Katherine, sitting in a chair, her head on her folded arms on the bed, faced away from him, but he could see clearly that she’d lost a good bit of weight.

Furious that she’d kept this from them, he leaned against the wall, taking in the plain, colorless room, the monitors and the tubes running in and out of the old, too-pale woman sleeping peacefully.

He watched them for almost an hour, straightening when the left side of Eleanor’s body began to twitch restlessly and several of the monitors started beeping.

Katherine jolted upright, looking over when several nurses burst through the door, her already too-pale face paling even more when she saw him. “What’s going on?”

Her grandmother suddenly stilled, and the nurse took Kat’s arm. “You need to move.”

The nurse nudged the chair out of the way, and as they worked on her grandmother, Logan went to Kat and gently pulled her aside.

She gasped. “What are you doing here? Go away!”

Stiffening against him, she tried to pull away, but Logan held firm, pressing his lips against her ear. “Stop fighting me.”

He turned her toward him, holding her against his chest and watched the nurses’ faces and the monitor that flat-lined.

Katherine jolted and turned, shaking her head. “No!”

Another nurse and a doctor came in and after listening to her grandmother’s chest, the doctor sighed and met Kathy’s gaze.

Releasing her so she could go to her grandmother’s side, Logan followed as the doctor kept his gaze on Kathy’s. “I’m sorry. She had another stroke. It was more than her body could handle.”

Watching Kat wrap her arms around her grandmother, her sobs racking her body, Logan felt his heart break.

Nodding to acknowledge the doctor, he went to stand behind Kat, running a hand up and down her back in an effort to soothe her and to let her know she was no longer alone.

She cried so hard he feared she would make herself sick before finally straightening, a shudder going through her.

Kathy felt a sense of disbelief, feeling a distance from her surroundings, as if she was watching the incredibly sad scene play out in a movie. A kind of blessed numbness settled over her and made it possible for her to allow Logan to help her into her cardigan and lead her out of the room.

Voices around her faded into the background, the words jumbling together and unrecognizable.

She knew Logan spoke to the nurses at the nurses’ station, his deep tone one she could never forget, but it took too much effort to decipher his words.

His voice, deep and soothing, was enough.

God, she’d missed him.

She shivered, cold everywhere except the hand he held in his.

She went where he guided her, which allowed her to stop thinking altogether.

Logan led her to his car, the arm around her firm, warm, and solid. He paused at the passenger door, drawing her against him. “I’m here for you, baby. You’re not alone. Just lean on me. I’ll help you get through this.”

Pressing her face against his shoulder, she breathed him in, tears filling her eyes and spilling over. “She’s gone, Logan. I wanted her to get better. I didn’t want to believe…”

“I know, love.” He ran his hands up and down her back, his lips pressing against her hair. “I know how much she meant to you. Let me get you home.”

“I don’t have a home anymore.” The reality of it hit her hard. She got into the passenger seat, unmoving as he fastened her seat belt and closed the door again.

Staring out the window, she leaned her head back, still reeling with her grandmother’s death and Logan’s sudden appearance. She’d loved him for years, loved him so much that when he told her that things wouldn’t work out between them, it broke her heart.

Even now, when nothing else seemed to get through the fog surrounding her, her feelings for him did.

For him to show up so suddenly, just when she needed him most, was both a blessing and torture. Leaning on him gave her the comfort and strength she needed, but she knew it was temporary and her heart would break all over again when he left.

He would leave, and the loneliness would become unbearable.

“You shouldn’t have come. Why did you have to come?”

Reaching across, he took her hand in his. “If I’d known what was going on, I would have been here sooner.”

Too numb for embarrassment, she continued to stare out the side window. “I need you to go. I need to get over you.”

Logan stopped at a red light and turned her face to his, the warm firmness of his fingertips on her chin causing butterflies in her belly. “I can’t get over you, so why would I allow you to get over me?”

Excerpt

With a sigh, Hunter rose to refill his coffee mug. “Baby, you don’t have any reason to be jealous. You know damned well that you’re the love of my life.”

“Our lives.” Remington smiled and ran a hand down her back as he dropped onto the stool next to her again. “Hunter told me about it, baby. He was going to tell you when you came home, but you were in a bad mood and he figured it would be better to find out what was wrong first. Nobody was going to keep something like that from you.”

Hunter turned from the counter and, seeing that Marcus had finished with the teething biscuit and getting fussy, started to clean him up. “Anyway, I doubt if I see her again. She said she wanted to apologize and that it would help her with her therapy. I’d rather just forget the whole thing. She’s not a part of our lives.”

“She had a hand on your chest. You were holding her arms.”

Hunter finished cleaning up and removed the tray to take Marcus out of the highchair. “She laid her hand on my chest, and I pushed her away. Don’t you trust me?”

She held out her arms for the baby, snuggling him close while Hunter prepared his bottle. “Did she kiss you?”

“Oh, Christ, Emma.” He scraped a hand through his hair. “She kissed me on the cheek, hence me gripping her arms to push her away. Please don’t make a big deal out of this. I wanted to punch her in the face for what she’d done to you, but I’m not violent toward women.”

He smiled and tested the warmth of the bottle. “You taught me that I never could be.”

“Did you kiss her?”

“Of course not! Hell. The only reason I didn’t boot her out on her ass was because she said she was getting help. I didn’t want to do anything to sabotage that. I just wanted her to get the hell out of there so I could lock up and get home to you.”

Emma nodded, believing him.

Taking the bottle, she started to feed her son, glancing at both men. “She confronted me.”

Remington’s gaze sharpened. “What? When? Where?”

Hunter slammed his coffee mug onto the island, his expression hard. “Son of a bitch!”

Remington took a steadying breath and let it out slowly. “When did this happen?”

“Tonight, when I left the restaurant. She confronted me in the parking lot.”

With a sigh, Hunter picked up his coffee again, trying to appear nonchalant, while inside his blood boiled. “She probably just wanted to apologize to you. I’m sorry. I should have anticipated that, but it surprises me that she did it so quickly.”

Remington nodded and glanced at Hunter. “You said she was in contact with the club. She was probably on her way there and saw Emma coming out of the restaurant. Probably wanted to finish with the apologies.” He smiled at Emma. “Is that what she did? Apologize to you?”

Lifting a brow, Emma gave Remington a look that usually meant trouble. “That’s what she said. She’d blocked my car in. I told her I didn’t want her apology. She tried to kill me. I told her to get the fuck out of my way and move the car before I moved it for her. Then she told me she wished she’d killed me when she had the chance.”

Remington frowned and ran a hand over her shoulder. “Baby, are you sure she wasn’t just trying to apologize to you?”

Hunter leaned toward her. “Maybe you misunderstood because you’re already afraid of her. I don’t want you to be afraid of her. If I thought she had any plans to do you any harm, I’d take care of it.”

Hurt, she sent Hunter a dirty look and rose to take Marcus to the nursery. “So you go ahead and accept her apology. I won’t.”

Coming around the counter, Hunter gripped her shoulder. “Baby, I’m sorry if she scared you. I’ll make sure she doesn’t bother you again.”

“She didn’t scare me. She pissed me off. The next time she comes anywhere near me, I’m gonna hurt her.”

She turned at the doorway. “And if either one of you decide to go see her at the club, you can pack your bags.”

“What the fuck?”

Shaken, more than she cared to admit, Emma left the two of them alone in the kitchen and went back to the nursery.

Hunter and Remington had a soft spot for women, like most of the other men who lived in Desire.

It appeared that softness extended to wanting to believe that the woman who’d attacked her now felt sorry for it and was getting help.

But Emma had seen the truth in the other woman’s eyes.

She’d heard the evil.

She’d heard it in Charlene’s voice.

Now, she just had to figure out what to do about it.

Excerpt

“There you are.”

Erin spun at Jared’s voice. She’d been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard him come outside.

He looked so tall and handsome in his tux, breathtaking in fact, but she knew he looked every bit as good in jeans and a t-shirt. She could only imagine how good he would look in nothing at all. She’d seen the rather impressive bulge in his jeans several times and her mouth had watered every damned time.

On top of that, he looked good enough to eat, especially with that sexy as hell scar on his cheek. It wasn’t only the looks that got to her, though. He had a presence that she found impossible to ignore, and gave off vibes that bombarded her system, sexual vibes, making her even hungrier for him. His eyes glittered as he moved closer, the hazel green mesmerizing her as the power of his gaze slammed into her, making her shiver.

He frowned. “You’re cold.”

“No. I just-” She broke off when she felt his hands close over her arms. Thankful that he’d blamed her shiver on the cold, she shrugged. Now that she’d been pulled from her thoughts, she actually did start to feel the cold.

“You’re half frozen!”

He took off his jacket and bundled her into it. “What are you doing out here? Duncan, Reese, and I have been looking all over for you. Come on. Let’s get you inside where it’s warm.”

She couldn’t help pulling the jacket tightly around her. It still carried the heat from his body along with his own unique scent. His arm around her waist held the delicious feeling closer as he propelled her back into the restaurant. She cursed the fact that the jacket kept her from feeling the touch of his hand on her hip more directly.

What the hell was she thinking? She didn’t want to feel anything from any of them more directly. Did she? She took another sip of her drink wondering how much longer she could resist them.

When Jared started to lead her to his table, she paused unsteadily. “I’ve been sitting with-”

“Rachel, Boone, and Chase will know where you are. Come on. Let’s get you warmed up.”

Erin allowed Jared to lead her to the table he and his brothers shared with Hunter and Remington Ross. It should be illegal for a town to have this many gorgeous men running loose. The two men looked as forbidding as ever but looked up and smiled faintly at her approach. Both always looked so serious, seldom smiling. Combined with their muscular, hard-packed bodies, and quiet intensity, they had women clamoring to get close to them. She loved to watch, amused at the women’s efforts. She didn’t see Duncan or Reese, but she knew they would be joining them soon. If the men sitting at this table couldn’t warm her, nothing could. Suddenly, sitting here sounded like fun.

Hunter inclined his head toward her. “I see you finally found her. Your brothers are still looking. Hi, Erin .”

Erin took a seat, returning their smiles. “I didn’t realize a search party had been sent out.” She put a hand to her forehead. She’d gotten awfully warm again and it started to make her feel woozy.

She looked up to see Duncan and Reese approach from different directions.

Reese sat down next to her and looked up at Jared. “Where’d you find her?”

Jared sat on her other side and Duncan took a seat next to him. “She was alone on the terrace. She’s half frozen.”

Duncan reached for her hands, frowning when he felt them, wrapping his around them and rubbing gently. “Have you eaten?” His gaze moved over her. When she felt it on her breasts, felt her nipples pebble, she pulled her hands free and closed Jared’s jacket tighter around herself. When she shook her head, he smiled at her. “I’ll get you a plate. Maybe some hot food will help warm you up.”

She watched Duncan as he moved away, admiring his broad shoulders and fluid grace. Imagining how smoothly he would move as he stroked his length into her, she squeezed her thighs together. Damn, her insides quivered just thinking about it. When she realized she’d been staring, she hurriedly turned her attention to the two men across from her. “Ethan and Brandon did a good job with the food. Everything looks delicious. That chicken looks good.”

Remington nodded. “It is. Would you like to try some?” He offered her a forkful.

She opened her mouth, allowing him to feed it to her and hummed her appreciation. “It is good!” Everything suddenly seemed wonderful. She began to relax and leaned back in her seat, tapping her foot to the music.

Reese glared at Remington and stood. “I’ll go get some for you.”

Rem’s lips twitched as he continued eating. “So why did you go out to the terrace? It’s cold outside.”

Erin smiled and leaned toward him, whispering conspiratorially. “I needed some air and my feet hurt.” She leaned back and smiled as he chuckled. “Men outnumber the women here. Most of the women are married and their dance partners don’t like to share. The single ones, like me, are in high demand.”

Hunter and Remington laughed. Jared chuckled at her expression, then frowned. “Do your feet still hurt? Put them up here.”

Erin blinked. “No. They’re fine now.”

She jumped when Jared reached for her foot. “Really, Jared, they’re-”

“Look at these shoes. I don’t know how you can even walk-Your feet are freezing!”

Erin tried hard not to show her reaction to having her feet lifted to his lap. He quickly unbuckled her high-heeled sandals and wrapped his hot hands around them. When his thumbs stroked her arch, the tingling sensation went all the way to her slit.

“Jesus! Your feet are like ice.”

Wrapped in his big hands, her feet looked small and pale. She tried unsuccessfully to pull them away as he began to massage them. “Jared. That’s not necessary.”

“Not necessary? Your feet are ice cold.”

She had to admit her feet had begun to warm. Struggling against the erotic feelings his touch inspired, she tried again to pull away. He didn’t let her. Instead, he turned his chair to face her and settled her feet between his thighs. He continued to rub them as he and the Ross brothers spoke. With her feet being massaged by Jared, she’d long since lost track of the conversation.

If she even flexed her foot, she knew she would come in contact with the bulge in his dress pants. It took tremendous effort to keep her feet still. She wanted so badly to touch him, press against that impressive bulge and feel it grow. “Your scar makes you look like a pirate.. Very sexy.”

She smiled as seductively as she knew how, ignoring the way his eyes narrowed at her. She could flirt. Imagine that.

“Clay asked me earlier if I knew if Erin liked Missy.”

Hearing her name, Erin turned to Hunter. “Who?”

Hunter chuckled. “Missy is a beautiful chestnut filly.”

Jared spoke to Hunter but his eyes stayed on her. ” Erin hasn’t seen Missy yet. I was hoping to talk her into coming out to the ranch to meet her.”

Erin blinked at him, her head spinning. Their masculine sexiness made her dizzy. “I’m supposed to come to your ranch to meet a horse?” Had she missed something?

Duncan appeared and leaned over to put a plate on the table in front of her. ” Erin ‘s coming out to meet Missy?”

Reese took the seat next to her and put another plate of food in front of her.

Erin looked at him incredulously. “I hope you don’t think I can eat all of that.”

Reese shrugged. “We don’t know what you like yet, so we got you a little of everything.”

Erin decided to ignore the ‘yet’ and thanked them before looking at Jared. “May I please have my feet back now? I can’t eat like this.” She slapped her hand over her mouth as a giggle escaped.

Jared frowned at her again and rubbed her feet one more time before releasing them. “At least they don’t feel frozen anymore.”

Erin bit her lips. They had started to get numb. “Thank you. I should give you your jacket back.” She started to remove it, fumbling with it but with a hand on her shoulder, he stopped her.

“Keep it on. You’re still cold. I’m going to go get a plate. Would you like another drink?”

She nodded and grinned. “Yes, please. I’m awfully thirsty.”

He took her glass, downing the remains of it and lifting a brow. “Michael’s virgin margarita?”

Nodding, she giggled. It seemed awfully intimate for him to drink out of her glass that way. It made her think of other intimacies. No, she wouldn’t think about that. No matter how much she wanted him and his brothers, she couldn’t go there. She just couldn’t remember why. Mentally shrugging, she smiled up at him. “I’m not a big drinker.”

Duncan stood. “I’ll get it. I need another anyway. Anyone else?”

When Jared and Duncan left the table, Reese gestured toward her food. “Eat before it gets cold.” He leaned close and whispered in her ear. “I’ve missed you like hell, sweetheart.”

Erin looked up at him, startled by the admission, but unable to deny the warm glow that went through her. He smiled at her tenderly and she felt her face grow warm as she turned to her plate. “Me, too. I’m sorry I had to stop seeing you.”

“Would you start seeing me again?”

Erin averted her gaze, staring down at her plate. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” Why did it hurt so much to say that?

Excerpt

Submission to Desire

“So, you liked the fact that he wanted to hurt women. I knew it. Any men who would own a place like this must really hate women. I’m sure he fit right in. You people make me sick.”

She shot to her feet with the intention of getting the hell out of here before she threw something at their heads, but King moved fast for such a large man and caught her before she could even take a step.

With fire in his eyes, he gripped her upper arms.

“I don’t appreciate being judged by a woman who doesn’t know the first thing about me.”

Royce came to his feet, no longer smiling. “Or what we do here. We kept Donner close to watch him. We all talked to him over and over about the way to treat women, and Blade, our partner, even went out to meet with him. We were afraid that he would be a danger to women in the club in Virginia, and even went so far as to warn the owners there.”

King gestured toward the sofa, leading her back to it. As she sat, he braced a hand on the arm and loomed over her.

“We knew that there was a woman he was fixated on, but we didn’t know who you were. We’re very sorry that you had to go through that. We do not promote abusing women.”

Breathing a sigh of relief when King stepped back, and watching the play of muscle as he perched on the arm of the chair across from her, Brenna fisted her hands on her lap.

“You’re Doms, right?” Even if she didn’t know that they owned this place, she would know that they were. Something about their presence reminded her of the Dominants she’d met back in Virginia. It was in their posture, in their eyes, and in the way they looked at a woman, as though not wanting to miss a single weakness that they could exploit at their leisure.

The confidence, and arrogance, couldn’t be mistaken.

King inclined his head. “We are.”

Expecting that answer, and the cool tone, Brenna nodded. “So, are you going to try to tell me that you don’t use whips on women? You don’t hit them? Hurt them? Isn’t that how you get your kicks?”

Royce shot to his feet, but King waved him back, the calculating gleam in his eyes sending off all sorts of red flags. “If you’re really curious, I’ll be happy to answer all your questions, but I’m not about to sit here and argue with you when you’ve already made up your closed mind about us and what we do here.”

The disappointment and censure in his tone made her feel like a heel, but remembering Donner and his cruelty infuriated her all over again.

“I’m not buying it.” She jumped when Royce came close and squatted down in front of her, stiffening when he ran his fingers over the back of her hands in a caress she assumed should have felt nonthreatening. Alarmed at the rivulets of heat that ran up her arm, she forced herself to remain still, shaken by his intense stare and the cool calculation in his eyes.

Royce smiled knowingly and ran his fingers up her arm, sharpening the tingling sensation.

“I’m afraid I’d have to agree with King. If you really want to understand, we’ll be glad to answer all of your questions.” He lifted a finger when she started to speak.

“But, we’d like to show you. That’s the only way you’d truly understand. The only way you’ll be able to see the way we live is to experience it for yourself.”

Brenna pulled her hand away and scooted as far as she could away from him. “Sure. Sign me up and make me pay an exorbitant amount of money for you and all your customers to beat me. I don’t care what you call it, it’s just an excuse to hurt a woman. Even those men in the club carried whips with them. The women thought it was sexy. I didn’t.”

Hoping he didn’t see the lie in her eyes, she lifted her chin, silently daring him to call her a liar.

Royce’s gaze sharpened, his eyes becoming the deepest green she’d ever seen.

“So, you’re a submissive? Do you go to clubs regularly? Do you belong to someone?”

Bristling at the bite in his tone, she shot to her feet and started forward, only to have King come to his feet and block her again.

“Belong to someone? What’s with you people and that belonging crap? I don’t belong to anyone and I only went to that club once. And no, I’m not a submissive and I don’t ever plan to be. Frankly, I just don’t get why any woman would want to be.”

Royce came to his feet and moved in behind her, the fingers he ran up and down her arm making her shiver.

“Maybe you are. Maybe you’re not. Maybe you don’t want to know for sure because you’re afraid of the answer. You went to that club for a reason.”

“That’s ridiculous.” She jerked out of his hold and started for the door, both relieved and disappointed when neither man made a move to stop her. “Just because you’re surrounded by women who let you do what you want to them, you think every woman you meet is the same. I’m not. I think you’re all assholes.”

Proud of her exit line, she turned the knob and yanked, cursing when it didn’t budge. Whirling, she fumed. “Open the fucking door and let me the hell out of here.”

Desire Unleashed

His handsome features, so beloved, softened as he trailed his fingers over her hair. “I’m sorry, baby. I sure as hell didn’t mean to scare you. Keeping her hand in his, he turned away, leading her into the living room. “I’ve been pretty scared myself. Give me a minute. I have no fucking idea how to begin.”

Nat allowed him to pull her down to the sofa, but instead of snuggling against him the way she normally did, she slid to the opposite end and turned toward him, needing to see his face. “Well, you’re going to have to figure it out. You’re pissing me off.”

Jake didn’t smile the way she’d expected, and even more alarming, his eyes didn’t light with anticipation the way they usually did when she confronted him with her temper.

Instead, he sighed. “I know, and I’m sorry for it. I haven’t given you what you need from me these last few months, have I, baby?”

His lips twisted. “My only excuse is that I’m scared, Nat.” Holding her gaze, he sighed. “I’m scared to death of losing you.”

“That could never happen. I can’t imagine not loving you.” Too nervous to sit still, she started to get up, cursing when Jake grabbed her arm and pulled her to land heavily against him.

Overcoming her struggles with frustrating ease, Jake pulled her onto his lap. “You’re not going anywhere. Let me finish, damn it!”

“Then finish!” Nat’s temper dissolved at the anguish on her husband’s face. “I’m sorry. Tell me, Jake. Please.”

“Don’t you think I’m trying?” He scrubbed a hand over his face in a rare sign of frustration. “I’m probably going to screw this up, but you’re staying right where you are until I get it all out.”

“Fine. Just do it.” Shaken by her usually controlled husband’s demeanor, Nat waited, her nerves stretching to the breaking point as she watched his inner struggle.

Jake sighed again, his sharp gaze holding hers. “Hoyt’s retiring.”

A gasp escaped before she could prevent it, and it took every ounce of willpower she possessed to show only mild interest.

At least she hoped she only showed mild interest.

The jolt to her system made her heart pound furiously and affected her breathing. She fought to hide it, ashamed of herself for still having feelings for the man who’d been out of her life for years. “Is that who all those private calls and text messages have been from? What the hell does that have to do with us?”

Hoyt.

Her first lover.

Her son’s father.

The man who’d held a piece of her heart ever since he’d first captured it.

The image of the way he’d looked the last time she saw him rose in her mind—her stomach fluttering when she remembered the pain and resignation in his eyes.

Jake’s eyes sharpened. “There it is.”

Running a hand over her hair, he lifted her face to his, tightening his hold when she would have pulled away. “You would never have said anything about it, but it’s there. It hasn’t dimmed at all, has it, baby?”

Ashamed of herself, she averted her gaze, fighting the surge of panic that made her stomach roll. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Nothing mattered except what she had with Jake. Nothing could ever be allowed to come between them.

His lips thinned. “You know Hoyt and I have always been close. We’ve spoken on and off over the last several years, but much more in the last few months.”

Nat frowned, fighting not to show any emotion as she struggled to understand where this was going. “Oh?”

Jake rubbed his hand up and down her back, the way he did when she was upset about something. Lifting her chin, he regarded her steadily, his hand still moving in a slow rhythm as if he worked to loosen the tight muscles in her back she hadn’t wanted him to know about. “He used to come and visit every chance he got, but he stopped coming a few years ago.” His eyes sharpened on hers. “You’ve never mentioned it—never asked about it. That’s not like you. The more I thought about it, the more it shook me. You want to tell me why you never mentioned it?”

Sitting on his lap, she found it difficult to avoid his gaze—a maneuver she recognized well. Spinning her wedding ring around her finger, Nat shrugged, trying not to think about those visits from Hoyt—visits that had been both heaven and hell for her. “I figured he stopped coming by because he got busy. I assumed he had a girlfriend.”

She’d lost a lot of sleep thinking about Hoyt in the arms of another woman, something that both shamed and infuriated her.

He used to visit every chance he got and especially made a point to visit at the holidays whenever possible. Over the last three years, he hadn’t spent his vacation time with them, and had missed every holiday.

Holidays had been hell for her because she’d imagined him spending them with another woman.

Leaning forward, Jake took her left hand in his, staring down at it as he ran his thumb back and forth over her wedding band. “No. He doesn’t have a girlfriend.” Lifting his gaze to hers, he lifted a brow. “I think you know why he stopped coming around. The fact that you haven’t discussed it with me has given me quite a few sleepless nights.”

Her stomach fluttered, nerves making her too restless to sit still. Yanking her hand out of his, she jumped to her feet. “I have no idea why he stopped coming around. Hey!”

Jake tumbled her to the sofa, covering her body with his, and lying full length over her. “Be still.” Using his weight to press her to the cushions, he ran his fingers through her hair, his eyes hard and cool. “We’re not done here.”

Excerpt

Marissa began taking items from the box, carefully checking them on the invoice before hanging them. “I already told you that Jimmy got visitation rights.”

“Yes, and I told you that we’ve already gotten you a new attorney. Jimmy does drugs and has no business being around either one of you.”

“He said he never did drugs and was holding them for a friend.”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it.” Sloane clenched his jaw, his frustration and anger about the entire situation difficult to contain. “Just because he fathered Sammy doesn’t make him his father.”

Marissa glanced at him and continued her task, the unshed tears in her eyes like a fist around his heart. “The judge didn’t see it that way, and I don’t want you paying for a different lawyer. It’s going to make things look worse.”

Jimmy had been arrested for assaulting Marissa while she was pregnant and had just gotten out of prison months earlier.

Scraping a hand over his jaw, Sloane watched Marissa fold and hang items to put them on display, her hands shaking. “I can’t believe he got visitation rights. I can’t believe, after assaulting you, that he can visit in your home. Unsupervised! This new attorney is better than yours. He’ll make sure Jimmy doesn’t get custody.”

Marissa bent her head, a sob escaping. “The judge took Jimmy’s attorney’s word that his anger management classes taught him how to deal with his anger. Jimmy told them about us. Now the judge thinks I’m a whore because I started a relationship with three men..”

He strode quickly to her, her sob ripping him to pieces. “Don’t ever call yourself that again. Jesus, Marissa. We haven’t even had sex yet.”

She was so skittish and scared of confusing Sammy that Sloane and his brothers hadn’t wanted to rush her, worried that they’d scare her away.

He knew what other people thought and had moved to Desire, Oklahoma, with his brothers to have the kind of relationship where such things were respected.

They’d found the woman they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with, but Jimmy was causing problems they couldn’t ignore.

In a very telling gesture, she leaned into him before pushing away again. “And we won’t. We can’t. You and your brothers have to stay away from me.”

With a sigh, Sloane clenched his fists at his sides in frustration. “We want you, Marissa. We’ve made that clear. We’ve also made it clear that we’re gonna do whatever it takes to have both you and Sammy in our lives. That includes making it clear to anyone watching that you’re in a relationship with me, and Cole and Brett are just friends. It hurts to do that, but we’ll do whatever it takes.”

Shaking her head, Marissa eyed him again, her features pale. “Please. I’m afraid the judge will see through it. You, Cole, and Brett need to stay away from me. I can’t risk losing Sammy.”

Sloane pulled a business card from his pocket. “This is the lawyer. Anna Markinson. She’s already getting all the information on your case and is expecting your call.”

Leaning close, he took her hand in his and placed it on his chest, needing the contact. “In the meantime, it’ll appear that you’re just dating me. No one will think anything of my brothers coming around to check on you or being seen with you. I’ll talk to them and make sure neither one of them acts like your lover in public.”

Marissa’s pale features reddened. “We’re not lovers.”

Sloane saw no reason to hide his own feelings for her, and frustrated that she tried to push him away when her growing feelings for him shone in her eyes, Sloane bent forward and touched his lips to hers.
Filled with satisfaction when she sobbed and threw her arms around him, he deepened his kiss, keeping it tender and allowing only a touch of the passion he felt for her.

They’d had passionate kisses in the past, and when he’d caressed her breasts, her response had been even more passionate.

The same had happened with his brothers.

She wanted them, and knowing her as well as he’d come to, he realized that she wouldn’t feel that passion if she didn’t have feelings for them.

Reluctantly breaking off his kiss, he lifted his head to look down at her, seeing the love for him she so desperately tried to hide glimmering in her eyes. “We haven’t had sex yet, baby, but we’ve kissed and I’ve touched you. So have Cole and Brett. We’re lovers.”

Amused at her deep blush, he smiled and pushed an errant curl back, taking the opportunity to caress her silky, soft cheek. “Don’t look so surprised or embarrassed. Did you think Cole, Brett, and I don’t talk about you? There are no secrets between us, baby. There can’t be. We want this to work.”

Marissa’s eyes went wide. “I can’t.”

Her voice broke, sending a chill down his spine.

Closing his hands on her shoulders, he pulled her closer, holding her gaze. “I don’t trust Jimmy, and I’m sure as hell not leaving you to deal with him alone. What did he do to upset you today?”

She clenched her fists on his chest and abruptly dropped them and moved away. “Nothing. I can handle him. I can’t risk losing Sammy. Please. Just stay away from me.”

Not wanting to upset her any further, Sloane mentally sighed and nodded. He knew she was lying to him, but pushing her would just put more distance between them. “I’ll go for now, but this isn’t over between us, Marissa.”

“It has to be.”

Excerpt

Dark Desire

Hope Sanderson’s frustration continues to grow as Ace Tyler, sheriff of Desire, OK, keeps ignoring her efforts to get his attention. She’s tried everything she can think of, but he still keeps his distance.

Ace knows what Hope’s up to and has to convince her that he’s the wrong man for her before she ends up breaking his heart. He’s too dark, too possessive for someone as bubbly as she is, but she just won’t take no for an answer. In a moment of weakness he can’t afford, he gives in, only to find that one taste of her just isn’t enough.

Hope’s elated that her plan finally seems to be working, but she can’t convince him that she needs all of him, including those dark needs he tries so hard to keep hidden.

Can she convince him that not only is she more than ready to handle those needs, but she has some dark desires of her own, ones that only he can fulfill?

Reluctant Desire

Charity Sanderson had been Beau Parrish’s lover for months, but she knew it was only a matter of time before their affair ended. She needed a man she could count on to be there, and Beau never took anything seriously. But, she loved him too much to walk away. Beau loved Charity more than his own life, but knew she didn’t believe that. Every time he spoke about a future together, she got skittish, and so he’d had to back off for fear of losing her completely. The vulnerability in her eyes tugged at him, the love shining in them that she didn’t think he could see. He couldn’t go on living a lie. After giving her an ultimatum he walked out, hoping she would love him too much to let it end between them.

Her accident changes everything. It forces her to see that the man she never thought he could be has been there the entire time.

Excerpt

Michael folded one of the paper bags and set it on the counter before reaching for the other. “Would you like to come to the bar tonight and have a drink? Maybe some ribs?”

“No. Thank you. Tonight I plan to take a long shower and curl up with a book. I’m dead on my feet.”

John inclined his head. “Fair enough. How about tomorrow night? There’s a nice Italian restaurant in Tulsa that everyone loves.”

Tempted, Ava finished the last of the lettuce and turned to lean back against the sink. “Don’t you have to work?”
John shrugged. “Just to close. We hired more people so we can take time off when we want to.”

“Like when you go to the men’s club and bid on women?”

Michael met John’s glare with a grin. “That’s in the past.”

John shook his head, his frown deepening. “What the hell do you know about the men’s club?”

Ava went to the refrigerator and retrieved a filtered pitcher of water. “You do know that the women in this town talk, don’t you?”

John gave a disgruntled sigh. “Gossip, you mean. Look, we have no intention of attacking you. Just dinner.”

Michael leaned close, sliding a hand down her back. “I might even try to sneak a kiss. Nothing more.”

After reaching up for glasses, Ava lowered her arms again, the awareness in her beaded nipples sharp. “I don’t know if dating you is a good idea.”

John moved to stand behind her. Closing his hands over her upper arms, he bent to kiss the top of her head. “I hate that we scare you.”

“So do I.” Bowing her head, she poured herself a half-glass of water and gulped it down. She turned and made her way to the other side of the kitchen, both hands closed around the glass. “Being personal goes against the grain, and I’m trusting you to keep this to yourself.”

John took a step closer, stopping abruptly with another frown when she took a step back. “Of course. What happens between us stays between us.”

Lifting her chin, she took a steadying breath. “I’m a virgin. I think it’s only fair for you to know that. I can’t play the kind of games you play. I can’t take sex lightly or do it for fun. I’m just not made that way.”

John slowly closed the distance between them, watching her closely as one might do when approaching an injured animal, and took her hand gently in his. “Thank you for telling us. Your secret is safe with us.”

Lifting his head, he smiled, a tender smile that made her stomach flip. “And now I want you more than before, but I promise you, we won’t take anything that you don’t want to give.”

Looking up into his dark eyes, Ava smiled at the tenderness she found there. “I believe that you mean that.”

John ran the back of a finger down her cheek. “Trust needs to be earned and built up over time. I can’t do that making promises I can’t keep or lying to you.”

Ava bit back a moan at the desire in his eyes and the warm tenderness in his light touch. “Then I’ll be honest with you. I feel things when I’m with you and Michael.”

Michael grinned and moved closer. “Things? What kind of things?”

Ava pushed past them to move back to the counter and refilled her glass from the pitcher. “Telling you that would give you ammunition to use against me. Why would I do that?”

Michael’s smile fell. “Ammunition? This isn’t a war, darlin’.”

Ava shrugged, fearing she’d given away too much. “I’m afraid that you could make me want to do things that I’d regret later.”

Chuckling, John closed the distance between them, a finger beneath her chin lifting it again, allowing him to look into her eyes. “I promise that I’ll bring you home with your virginity intact. No matter how much you beg, neither one of us are gonna take you.”

Giggling at his outlandish promise, Ava set her glass aside. “And none of my clothes come off.”

“No.” John smiled and braced a hand on the countertop on either side of her. “And neither one of us is gonna let you take our clothes off, either. I will, however, let you kiss me.”

Ava glanced at Michael, who watched them steadily, his eyes dark and slightly narrowed. “And you?”

Michael’s lips twitched, but his gaze remained steady. “I’ll agree to whatever it takes to get to know you better. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to touch you.”

He glanced at her breasts, increasing the awareness there and beading her nipples even tighter. “ I might ask to, but you can always say no. Is that negotiable?”

Moving closer, he took her hand in his and lifted it, pressing it against his chest. “And you can touch me all you want to.”

Ava sucked in a breath, the feel of his hard, warm chest beneath her palm and the prospect of him touching her so intimately creating an excitement that made her tremble. “I think I’d like having dinner with you.”

Excerpt

In Rules of Desire, Erin Robinson moved to Desire, Oklahoma to be with her pregnant sister, unprepared for the dynamics of her new home. Menage and Dom/sub relationships prevail in a town where the men protect their women at all costs.

Men had always been more trouble than they were worth. Erin can’t imagine trying to put up with any man. Three would be impossible! But the men in Desire are different than any she has ever known. How can she resist men who earn her respect and aren’t the least bit intimidated by her temper? When someone tries to kill her, Jared, Duncan and Reese Preston scramble to protect her. At the same time, they’re determined to show her just how good having three men in her bed can be.

In Raw Desire, Alison Bennett came to Desire, Oklahoma to hide—and to heal.

When her truck breaks down on the way into town, she certainly doesn’t expect men like Dillon Tanner and Ryder Hayes to come to her rescue.

Extraordinary men in an extraordinary town.

Their interest in her both excites and alarms her, but she knows they’re both way out of her league.

When an attack on the club brings a halt to the seminar she’s signed up for, Dillon and Ryder’s proposition to continue her lessons intrigues her. Dillon’s gentleness tempts her to put herself in his hands while Ryder’s wildness and apparent dislike for her makes her uneasy.

Under their guidance, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, one that teaches her decadent pleasures and raw desire.

And love.

Knowing a ménage relationship could never work, she still finds herself tempted to stay.

But fate, and her ex-boyfriend, have other plans.

Excerpt

Nikki watched Brandon go, fighting to hide her disappointment.

She’d enjoyed talking to Brandon.

She’d enjoyed his presence in a way she hadn’t expected to.

Besides the fact that he was drop-dead gorgeous, the chemistry between them kept her off-kilter.

She turned to Ethan, curious to see that he also watched Brandon’s exit. “Is something wrong?”

Turning his attention back to her, Ethan smiled and reached for her hand. “No.” He kissed her fingers and gestured toward the approaching waiter. “Gabriel is bringing the dessert cart. I can’t wait to find another of your weaknesses.”

Nikki blinked, her stomach fluttering at his playful smile. “Another one? What kind of weakness do you think you’ve found?”

Ethan smiled again, his eyes twinkling. “Choose your dessert.”

She eyed the cart, her mouth watering. “It all looks so good.”

The chocolate cake and mousse drew her attention, but she determinedly looked away. Crème brulee. Cheesecake. Cannoli. Strawberry shortcake. Carrot cake. They all drew her attention, but she settled on a slice of layered coconut cake, something she hadn’t had in a long time.

Ethan smiled. “Good. It’s from the local bakery. It’s occasionally served at the diner.”

“Good to know.” Aware of his interest, Nikki took a bite of her coconut cake, moaning at the burst of flavor as the cake nearly melted in her mouth. “Good Lord. This is incredible. Aren’t you having dessert?”

Ethan’s lips twitched. “I prefer my sweets in another form.”

A warm rush flowed through her at the meaningful look in his eyes as his gaze raked over her. “You’re a flirt, but I think it’s only fair to tell you that I have no interest in becoming involved with anyone.”

His eyes narrowed slightly and glimmered with something darkly erotic. “And I think it’s only fair to tell you that I plan to change your mind.”

Nikki’s breath caught. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I do.” Ethan reached out to run his fingertip over the back of her hand. “We’re adults, Nicole. You’re not going to try to deny the chemistry between us, are you?”

With a shrug, Nikki scooped another bite of her cake. “Just because you make my stomach flutter doesn’t mean I should sleep with you.”

Grinning, he leaned closer. “I make your stomach flutter, huh? How about the rest?”

Enjoying their flirting, Nikki held the bite of cake to her mouth. “The rest of what? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ethan’s eyes flared, the challenge in them unmistakable. “Let’s start with the fact that your breath hitched when I first touched you. Your nipples beaded when I spoke to you after Hope and Charity left.”

Surprised that he’d noticed, Nikki hid a smile as she ate another bite of cake. “The first was surprise, and the second was air-conditioning.”

His eyes narrowed on hers. “Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

“The fact that you’re daring me to show you.” He took her hand in his and leaned closer. “When I kissed you, you melted against me. You want me as much as I want you. I think that’s something worth exploring.”

Setting her fork aside, Nikki leaned toward him until they were close enough for her to see the flecks of gold in his green eyes. “I’m not in the habit of sleeping with men I barely know. We only met this afternoon.”

Ethan shrugged. “I just thought it fair to state my intentions.”

Nikki ran a tine of her fork along a strand of coconut, the butterflies in her stomach making her hesitant to try to eat more. “I guess we could see each other.”

He smiled again, a smile that held both promise and playfulness. “I’m going to hold you to that. There’s dancing in the lounge. Would you like to go?”

Sitting back, Nikki grinned. “I might as well go now. Once the diner reopens and I’m on my feet all day again, I won’t be doing a lot of dancing.”

“Then we should take advantage of it now.”

She walked through the lobby with him to a closed door with a man standing outside, who came to attention when he saw Ethan and rushed to open the door for him.

With an arm around her, Ethan guided her inside and to the dance floor. “I’ve been looking forward to holding you again all through dinner.”

Surprised to see Charity on the dance floor, held in the loving arms of her husband, Beau, Nikki scanned the lounge.

Intimate horseshoe-shaped booths took up three walls, while the band and bar took up the other.

The booths had high backs, effectively creating a barrier between them, creating an intimacy, heightened by the low lighting.

The large dance floor, bordered by built-in low lights, held several couples of all ages, who danced to the slow music the band played.

Ethan guided her to a deserted corner of the dance floor and took her into his arms, a warm hand at her back guiding her steps while holding her other hand enfolded in his. “I want you.”

Excerpt

Marshall parked and got out, the music coming from inside the bar and the number of cars parked outside reminding him that it was ladies’ night.

He walked through the front door, finding the place as crowded as he’d expected and, to his shock, the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about.

Wearing a light blue dress and a pair of cowboy boots, with her long hair loose, she drew him like a beacon.

Stiffening at the sight of the man lowering himself onto the bar stool next to her, Marshall started forward, his stomach tightening with anger.

John Dalton, one of the owners of the bar, approached her with what appeared to be a glass of whiskey, his lips twitching when he saw Marshall. He set the glass in front of her, looking slightly relieved. “Hello, Marshall. Beer?”

Inclining his head, Marshall moved to stand behind the man sitting next to Talia. “You’re in my seat. Beat it.”

The other man, one he didn’t recognize, stiffened and turned to look up at Marshall over his shoulder, his features tight with anger.

One look at Marshall seemed to change his mind, the anger being replaced with deference.

Grabbing his hat, he slid from the stool without a word and went to join the crowd.

Looking around with fresh eyes, Marshall saw that Talia had gained the attention of several men in the bar, attention she didn’t appear to notice as she sat watching John, Michael, and one of their newest bartenders fixing drinks.

The wave of possessiveness staggered him, the idea of another man touching her filling him with a jealousy and anger he had no right to feel.

Pushing it aside, he lowered himself to the bar stool next to her, pleased that it put him in the position of being between her and everyone else.

John slid a mug of beer down the bar to him. “How’s it going, Marshall?”

Marshall set his hat on the bar and glanced at Talia, irritated that, after all the times she’d flirted with him, she wouldn’t look at him. “That remains to be seen.” Eyeing the shot of whiskey and mug of beer in front of Talia, Marshall leaned toward her, speaking just loud enough to be heard over the music. “Who’s your friend?”

Talia shrugged and took a sip of her beer, staring straight ahead. “He said his name was Bob. When you were a U.S. Marshal, did they call you Marshal Marshall?”

“Cute. No. Not if they wanted to keep their teeth.” Looking up, he met John’s gaze. “How many shots has she had?”

Talia reached for a pretzel. “None of your business.”

John smiled and refilled the pretzel and peanut bowls. “That’s her second.” Raising his voice to be heard over the music and conversation, he smiled at Marshall. “She walked here so she won’t be driving drunk. I think almost every man in here has had a turn on that stool tonight offering to give her a ride home.”

Talia tossed back her whiskey with barely a grimace, pushing the glass forward in a silent request for a refill before reaching for another pretzel. “Jeez, John. Why don’t you tell him my life story?”

John glanced at the glass with a frown. “Just telling Marshall that he doesn’t have to worry about you driving drunk. You’re sure in a mood tonight, aren’t you?”

Talia finished her pretzel and wrapped her hand around the handle of her beer mug. “I’m fine, John. It’s Friday night. The drinks are cheap, and I can sleep in tomorrow morning.”

Closing her eyes, she blew out a breath. “Shit. No, I can’t.”

Marshall reached for a handful of peanuts. “Problem?”

She glanced at her watch and took another sip of beer, meeting John’s gaze and gesturing toward her shot glass. “No. John, can I have one more?”

Marshall’s palms itched to connect with her well-rounded ass, a phenomenon that had never happened with Emily. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”

Her lips twitched as she reached for another pretzel. “If I thought that, I wouldn’t have ordered another.”

He reached for a couple of the pretzels, inadvertently brushing his hand against hers. “Any particular reason you felt the need to drink tonight?”

She yanked her hand back, proof that she’d felt the jolt of awareness as strongly as he had. She took another sip of beer and smiled her thanks when John came over to refill her glass again. “If I felt the need to drink, I wouldn’t be here. I just wanted a distraction.”

“Oh?” He couldn’t help but wonder if her conversations with Joe and Carter had anything to do with her mood. “Want to talk about it?”

Talia tossed back her whiskey and finished her beer. “No.” Sliding from the stool, she reached into her pocket. “Hold on to your hat, Deputy. As soon as I leave, the women who’ve been watching you ever since you came through the door are gonna be all over you.”

Reaching out, he wrapped a hand around her forearm, unable to resist touching her again. “I’ve got your tab.”

Tossing bills on the bar, Talia laughed and jerked away from him. “No thanks. Men only buy drinks for women if they’re expecting something in return. You’ve already made it clear that you don’t want anything from me. Happy hunting.”

Stunned that the woman who’d flirted shamelessly with him for the last several months would walk away from him without a backward glance, Marshall cursed at the realization that he and his brothers’ distance had already hurt her. Getting to his feet, he threw several more bills on the bar.

John approached, raising a brow. “You going after her?”

“Damned right I’m going after her.”

John inclined his head and smiled. “It’s about damned time.”