Yours and Yours Alone Read online

Page 21


  “Where’s everyone?”

  “Let’s see. Randall’s out of the country. Declan’s at an out of state training conference. Lelia is asserting her independence and avoiding us all. Peyton, Dalton, and Jordan are in various places. That leaves Brandon and Bancroft. I’m not sure where they are.”

  “Oh.”

  He surveyed her, his eyes lingering on the bodice of the mahogany silk dress she’d bought for the occasion. “You look...”

  The dress had cost far more money than she usually spent on a single clothing item but both she and Benai had agreed it complimented both her dark skin tone and her figure. Did Layton agree? “Yes?”

  He looked in her eyes. “Lovely.”

  She smiled. The dress had been worth every penny after all. “You like my dress? It’s new.”

  “Your dress? It’s new?”

  “Yes. I’m glad you think it’s lovely.”

  “I wasn’t talking about the dress.”

  “But you said it looked lovely.”

  “No. I said you look lovely.” He surveyed the dress again, this time allowing his gaze to linger on her hip area before looking into her eyes. “The dress is nice but you look stunning—as usual.”

  She caught her breath, feeling her cheeks grow warm. No man other than Brian had ever called her lovely so she suspected Layton was being kind, or maybe he’d had one too many. Either way, she intended to take advantage of what might be her last opportunity for a brief fling with him. She dragged her tongue along the curve of her lips. “So do you.”

  He arched a brow. “You think I look lovely? Try again.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Okay. You look...handsome.”

  “That’s better. Now, tell me, Tempest, do I look handsome enough to kiss under the mistletoe?”

  Her stomach churned and her heartbeat raced. “Yes,” she whispered.

  “So? Are you going to keep me waiting all night?”

  “You want me to kiss you?”

  “I’m not hanging around this damned mistletoe because I have nothing better to do.”

  She studied his mouth. He had a firm, sensual bottom lip and a short upper lip.

  “Are you going to kiss me or just stare at my lips all night?”

  “If you want to be kissed, I—”

  “I do.”

  “Won’t Cheryl object?”

  “She’s not here nor has she any standing to object. Do you have any more objections or stalling tactics?”

  “No.”

  “Then bring those sweet lips of yours over here.”

  She leaned close and kissed his cheek.

  “Kiss me,” he whispered.

  “I just did.”

  When she would have stepped away from him, he cupped a hand over the back of her head. “I meant a real kiss.” He turned his head and their lips met.

  A jolt of pleasure shot through her. She trembled, pressing closer. When he slipped an arm around her waist, she parted her lips and ran the tip of her tongue along his mouth. His arm tightened around her, forcing her body closer to his.

  With her hands pressed against his shoulders, she leaned into him. Within seconds, she was lost in his kiss. She linked her arms around his neck and welcomed his tongue in her mouth. His body felt hard and unyielding against hers. She longed to melt into him and surrender completely to the passion building in her. Afraid she’d embarrass them both by grinding herself shamelessly against him, she quickly stepped back.

  He arched a brow and waited for her to speak.

  She swallowed several times before she parted her lips. “Good.”

  He shrugged. “Was it? It was a little on the short side. We’ll need to do it again to be sure.”

  She blinked at him. “You’re flirting with me.”

  “Yes. I know. What do you plan to do about it?”

  She extended her hand. “Will you dance with me?”

  He smiled. “I thought you’d never ask.” He placed his big hands on her waist. He drew her close until she felt molded against the hard muscles of his big, sculptured body.

  She shivered, placing her hands against his chest. She felt the steady beating of his heart. Anticipation raced along her nerve endings. This wasn’t the first time they’d danced but she was going to do her best to ensure this dance was special.

  He sighed. “Too close?”

  After that kiss? And after years of secret fantasies too intimate to share even with Benai? She slid her hand up his chest and linked her arms around his neck. She rotated her hips against his, determined to do her best to ensure they ended up in bed. “Not nearly.”

  His smile widened. “I was hoping you’d feel that way.”

  She brushed her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. “I do.”

  He bent his head until his lips nearly touched her ear. He spoke in a low, husky voice. “Please tell me you’re sober enough to know what you’re saying and implying.”

  She moistened her lips.

  He brushed his lips against her ear. “Tell me quickly...while I’m still capable of walking away from you.”

  Oh the possibilities suggested by his words. What wouldn’t she give to have him out of control and wanting her? “I am.” She leaned her upper body away from his and met his dark gaze. “Are you?”

  “I was—until you asked me to dance. Now I’m feeling downright high.”

  There was no mistaking his meaning. She wanted to make her own desires equally clear. She deliberately licked her lips. “I know the feeling, Layton.”

  “Damn, I like the way you say my name in that soft, breathless voice.”

  “I like you,” she told him.

  He inhaled quickly. “Flirting is fine but if you keep this up, I’ll expect you to follow through. If all you’re interested in is a dance, now’s the time to stop flirting, Tempest.”

  She slowly rotated her hips against his. “Does this feel like all I want is a dance?”

  He stared down into her eyes. “Tempest?”

  “I want far more than just a dance, Layton.”

  “Really?”

  She nodded. “Dancing with you is...exhilarating but I want to share more than this dance with you tonight, Layton.”

  He kept his hands on her waist and his groin pressed against hers as they slowly swayed to the music. “How much more than a dance are you interested in?”

  Her heartbeat increased. She took a deep breath before she replied. “Everything.”

  “Everything...as in everything?”

  “Yes and I want it all night.”

  “Everything? All night?”

  He sounded surprised. She blushed. “Have I shocked you?”

  His fingers tightened around her waist. “Shocked? No. Aroused? Oh yeah.”

  “So you’re interested?”

  He slid his right hand down from her waist to quickly brush against her ass. “Hell, yeah and we can share everything, all right...if you’re sure you’re sober.”

  “I’ve had less than two drinks. I’m sober and I know I’d like to spend Valentine’s Day...in bed with you.” There. She’d finally admitted she wanted him to be more than a professional friend—at least for the coming night.

  Long Line of Love I: Nights of Desire now on sale.

  Marilyn's Book List:

  BLOODLUST SERIES

  Conquering Mikhel Dumont

  The Talisman

  The Taming of Serge Dumont

  Forbidden Desires

  Nocturnal Heat

  Midnight Shadows

  All in the Family

  Nighttime Magic

  Moonlight Fervor Series

  Moonlight Desires

  Moonlight Whispers

  Moonlight Madness

  Moonlight Healing

  Night of Sin Series

  Night of Sin

  Last Night With You

  The Ties That Bind

  In Blood and Worth Loving Series

  In Blood and Worth Loving
>
  Lost Without

  Kiss

  Stormwaters Series

  Stormwaters: Family Night

  Stormwaters 2: All of a Sudden

  Fantasy Series

  Trina’s Afternoon Delight

  Fantasy Knights

  Fantasy Knights 2: Endless Love

  Blue Desert Series

  Blue Desert Heat 1

  Blue Desert Heat 2

  Blue Desert Tales: Courtesan Seduction

  Daughters of Takira Series

  Daughters of Takira: One Night In Vegas

  Daughters of Takira 2: Kyla's Awakening

  Daughters of Takira 3: Revelations

  The Quest Series

  Hunter’s Passion

  Divided Loyalties

  Return to Volter

  Long Line of Love Series

  Long Line of Love: Nights of Desire

  Long Line of Love 2: Love Out Loud

  Long Line of Love 3: Only One Love

  Long Line of Love 4: Carae's Touch

  Loving Large Series

  Any Time Any Place

  Large, Shy & Beautiful

  Loving Large 1: Yours, Only and Always

  Loving Large 2: Yours, Now and Forever

  Loving Large 3: Yours and Yours Alone

  Loving Large Box Set (Book 3 not included)

  Mature Men Series

  Mature Men: Long, Slow Second Look

  Mature Men 2: Living for the Moment

  Mature Men 3: Finally

  Mature Men 4: Baby Come Back

  Big Beautiful Women Trilogy Box Set

  Big Beautiful Women: The Fall of Troy

  Big Beautiful Women 2: Full-Bodied Charmer

  Big Beautiful Women 3: Curvaceous

  Women of Substance

  Just One Look

  Slow Hand

  Taking Chances

  Taking Chances: Falling For Sharde

  Taking Chances 2: Nice Girls Do

  Inspirational Romance

  Eye of the Beholder

  It Had to Be You

  Inspirational Box Set

  STAND ALONE BOOKS

  Holiday Box Set

  Holiday Sizzle

  White Christmas

  Sensual Stories: Daring Women

  Sensual Stories: Older Women

  Sensual Confessions: Family Ties

  Road to Rapture

  A Thing Called Love

  Branded

  Breathless in Black

  Dear Cari

  It Had To Be You

  Song of Desire Versions 1 & 2

  Finding Love Again

  Betrayed by Love

  Skin Deep

  Night Heat

  Marilyn Lee Omnibus 3

  Marilyn Lee Omnibus 2

  And Eating It Too

  His, Hers or Theirs

  Sweet Insanity

  Shana Mine

  Dream Lover

  A Cheating Situation

  Beauty Is Alisha Hoover?

  Falling Hard

  Marilyn Lee Omnibus I

  Marilyn Lee Sampler

  Marilyn Lee Sampler 2

  My Mother's Man

  No Commitment Required: Naughty Girls

  Primal Lusts

  Secondhand Lover

  Secret Lover

  Some Like It Male

  The Dare

  Torn By Love

  Soul Mates

  Where You Find It

  Marilyn's Bio:

  MARILYN LEE LIVES, works, and writes on the East Coast. In addition to thoroughly enjoying writing erotic romances, she enjoys roller-skating, spending time with her large, extended family, and rooting for all her hometown sports teams. Her other interests include collecting Doc Savage pulp novels from the thirties and forties and collecting Marvel comics from the seventies and eighties (particularly Thor and The Avengers). Her favorite TV shows are forensic shows, westerns (Gunsmoke and Have Gun, Will Travel are particular favorites), mysteries (loves the old Charlie Chan mysteries. Her all-time favorite mystery movie is probably Dead, Again), and nearly every vampire movie or television show ever made (Forever Knight and Count Yorga, Vampire are favorites).

  Marilyn has won numerous writing accolades, including a CAPA award for Bloodlust: Conquering Mikhel Dumont and the following Lub-Dubs Awards for 2009: Lifetime Achievement Award, In Blood And Worth Loving (Best erotic novel and best sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal Award.

  She loves to hear from readers who can email her at [email protected] or who can visit her website, http://www.marilynlee.org. Visit her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.lee.393950?ref=tn_tnmn)

  Marilyn's homepage: http://www.marilynlee.org or email her at [email protected].

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  Did you love Yours and Yours Alone? Then you should read The Talisman by Marilyn Lee!

  The last thing Cassy Thompson and Chandler Raven expected was to find themselves battling a mutual and inexplicable case of Jungle Fever. Or it would be inexplicable, if not for the fact that they are the great grandchildren of Louisiana born and bred lovers who were forced apart by their families near the end of the nineteenth century. Before the ill-fated lovers parted, they exchanged two talismans, which were then passed down to their grandchildren, who used them improperly and spent their lives in an aimless search for love.

  Now in possession of the talismans, Cassy and Chandler begin having erotic fantasies and dreams of each other. As Cassy slowly succumbs to the lure of her talisman (a small golden figurine of a mating couple), the line between her feelings for Chandler and those of her long dead great grandmother for Chandler's great grandfather blur. Can a couple driven together by the power of magic remain together or have they, like their grandparents before them, become slaves to the talismans with the same heartbreaking results?

  Publisher's Note: this title is loosely connected to the Bloodlust series.