“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.”
“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 marilynlee@marilynlee.org 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 marilynlee@marilynlee.org.
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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.