Emmeline returned the erotic novel to its place on the shelf in the private library upstairs and carefully slid it into the space between the other books.Just then, the folded jacket she had hidden among the other dust jackets to disguise its real nature caught her eye. It was Zavian’s jacket that he had lent her at the gym a few days ago.She took the jacket out, holding it close to her face and inhaling the lingering masculine scent.The rich, spicy aroma had a powerful effect on her, causing her heart and thoughts to spin out of control as her body went numb with a peculiar tingling sensation.She quickly shoved the jacket back into its hiding spot and hurried to prepare to welcome her mother-in-law, who could be considered even worse than her dead-beat son.The doorbell rang before lunchtime.Emmeline hurried to answer it while clad in a casual floral dress. "Hello, Mom, how are you?" she greeted with a forced smile on her face.The imposing older woman was dressed in an elegant
Emmeline sauntered up to the bar, shrugging off her autumn coat before she addressed the bartender with a bold confidence. "Your strongest drink, please."The handsome young bartender gave her an appraising look before mixing up a vibrant blue cocktail and setting it down in front of her.She took an experimental sip, the flavor stinging her tongue and indicating just how potent the drink was."Exactly what I wanted," she said with a satisfied smirk.The bartender's gaze lingered on her as he wiped down the polished wooden bar top. "You're new here, aren't you?"Emmeline met his eyes with surprise then her brow furrowed quizzically. "What makes you say that?"She looked around at the packed bar, filled with people laughing and conversing over the low thrum of jazz music that seemed to vibrate through the very walls. "This place doesn't really seem like the kind of exclusive bar with a limited clientele. It's absolutely packed tonight. How did you know I was a newcomer? Can you and tha
Emmeline swallowed hard. "My life is so empty..." She took a deep, steadying breath.Lifting her cocktail glass to her lips, she took a fortifying sip before continuing in a carefully measured tone. "I was a happy teenager, but the reasons for my happiness just...decreased little by little over the years until it became completely non-existent. Some things that used to bring me joy are no longer fulfilling. Is it just because I'm getting older?"All the while, Zavian didn't stop the torturously slow caress of his fingers along her inner thigh.Had it not been for the low thrum of jazz music filling the smoky bar, she was certain he would have heard the desperate, ragged pants of her quickening breaths, silently begging him to touch her aching core."There must be something blocking the flow of happiness in your life," he murmured.Emmeline felt her face flush hotly at his words and the utterly incongruous combination of his philosophical tone plus the molten path his fingers were trai
Zavian's large hand clamped down on her hip with branding intensity then pulled it snugly against his as their dance turned into a sinful roll and grind of their lower bodies.Emmeline dropped her head to avoid his blazing stare but he simply dipped his own to recapture her gaze, refusing to let her retreat."A great many things happened," he mumbled in a voice gone rough with restrained desire. "Your petite stature, those pretty little sundresses you wear, your sweet, innocent way of speaking - those were all reasons I viewed you as a child at first."Emmeline felt her flush deepening at his frank assessment, the heated glide of their bodies making her achingly aware of every inch of him pressed against her.She struggled to keep her breathing measured and even as his hand continued its torturous path along her lower back and over the swell of her backside."But then we met at the gym," Zavian continued in a low tone. "And my opinion changed rather dramatically..."Emmeline couldn't
"I want you, Emmeline! In the dirtiest, most carnal sense of the word. I want to take you, claim you, make you mine in every way a man can possess a woman!!"A desperate, needy sound escaped Emmeline's throat at his wicked confession.She dropped her hand to press against the solid plane of his chest as if to put some distance between their heated bodies. But instead of pushing him away, her fingers simply clung to the soft material of his shirt and pulled him impossibly closer.Then she arched shamelessly against the rigid length trapped behind the fly of his slacks."M-Mr. Blackthorn...we can't cross that line," she protested weakly, even while her hips undulated in a sensual rhythm against his."Oh lord…! This is wrong, so wrong—"Her words were swallowed by a desperate moan torn from her very soul when Zavian finally sealed his lips over the thundering pulse in her neck.He parted them to suck heated, open-mouthed kisses along the sensitive column, his tongue lashing out to taste
"I plan to make you see entire galaxies behind your eyes, little girl. The kind of stars that only come from soaring to the pinnacle of pure ecstasy..."A shudder of blatant feminine need rippled through Emmeline at his sinful promise.She bit down on her plump lower lip, her thighs clenching with a fresh gush of arousal."Is that so?" she breathed, tilting her head back to meet his intense stare through her lashes. "And just how do you plan to make that happen, Mr. Blackthorn?"Zavian's lips curved ever so slightly and his gaze was dangerous.He pulled her body flush against his once more, allowing her to feel every rigid inch of his arousal grinding against her aching core."The sky outside is perfectly clear tonight," he rasped against the heated skin just below her ear. "We'll be able to see the stars shining down on us..."Emmeline shook her head slowly, forcing herself to think rationally despite the relentless throbbing between her thighs."But the marina is at least two hours
Zavian's pace didn't falter, even as a low growl of pure possession vibrated against her parted lips."Don't worry, little girl. By the time this night is over, you'll have seen entire galaxies you didn't know existed." He drawled.A tremor of anticipation shuddered through Emmeline's body at the wicked promise in Zavian's gravelly words.She clung more tightly to him as he carried her out of the bar with her legs still fastly secured around his lean hips.She could feel the rigid length of his arousal grinding against her aching core with every step he took, the delicious friction making her breath emerge in desperate little pants against his heated skin.The sultry night air caressed her flushed cheeks in a warm embrace when they finally emerged from the crowded interior of the bar.Emmeline blinked rapidly, her eyes adjusting to the darkness cloaking the deserted street.The only illumination came from the soft glow of the crescent moon reflecting off the gently rippling waters of
Emmeline had an incredibly vivid and salacious dream last night that left her feeling flushed and flustered.The star of her X-rated reverie was none other than the devilishly handsome Mr. Blackthorn himself.His skilled tongue was buried deep between her thighs, doing such sinful, delicious wonders to her body that had her writhing and whimpering in ecstasy.She wished she could somehow strangle that annoyingly chipper little bird that loved to perch on the bedroom balcony and chirp incessantly, rudely interrupting her steamy fantasy.She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her skin, the way he had made her body sing with pleasure. It was as if he had known exactly what she needed, pushing her to the edge of ecstasy and beyond.Emmeline let out a frustrated sigh, wishing she could have lingered in that fantasy just a little longer.It had been days since that night on the yacht with Zavian Blackthorn.The memory was hazy, clouded by the migraine she had woken up with the next