A hot new excerpt from my October release with The Wild Rose Press!
“I shouldn’t be here,” she said, catching him off guard. “This is your home, Marshall. You shouldn’t have to worry about the bad guys invading your house. My being here could be very dangerous for you.”
Marshall couldn’t argue with that. Having Annie here was definitely dangerous for him, but for reasons that had nothing to do with the threat of any bad guys. Now that the situation was over and he’d come down off the adrenaline high, another kind of rush was surging through his taut body. He was aroused. He couldn’t remember a time when a woman could simply walk into a room and leave him feeling like he knew exactly what he wanted from her, yet more confused than ever. He wanted to reach out and touch her but knew it wouldn’t stop there. Maybe in another time, another place, when he had time to explore whatever it was that drew her to him. He realized Annie was waiting for him to respond.
“Don’t sweat it, doc. I’ve been a detective for a long time. It’s not every day I get to protect a beautiful woman. Let me enjoy it while it lasts.”
She was watching his lips as he spoke. The seductive look in her lazy eyes caused an instant reaction in Marshall which he doubted she’d appreciate. Lust settled low in his gut and he wanted to grab her to him, yet he couldn’t bring himself to move, thoroughly enjoying her boldness. However, when her eyes dropped down his near naked body in a slow and sensual sweep, sweat broke out on his brow. He began to get an edgy feeling. What does she think she’s doing, looking me over like this?
Her wistful sigh heightened the intimate situation building between them. Her slightly glazed eyes were half closed and a strange smile turned the corners of her mouth upward.
“You’re magnificent, Detective, not an ounce of fat anywhere, all hard and rippled with muscles, the kind that make a woman’s hands eager to discover if you feel as good and as hard as you look.”
Her words inflamed Marshall, turning him as hard as a rock. He tried to swallow but his tongue got in the way. He was powerless to do or say anything. He’d never had a woman put her thoughts about his physique into words before. All he knew was that if Annie touched him, anywhere, it would be all over. The way he felt right then, he’d drag her to the floor and show her quick enough what the effect her words were having on him. He should at least warn her about what she was doing to him. The way he figured it, if she continued, it would be at her own peril. “Annie—”
“Yes, Detective?” The soft, smoky quality of her voice made Marshall forget what he’d been about to say. Her gaze continued to move over his upper torso, as if committing him to memory.
“Your shoulders are as broad as a small mountain…” her words trailed off. Marshall’s gut clenched when she reached forward. “A washboard stomach, too…nice.”
The tip of her nail ran down the center of his hair covered chest to his navel. Then she stepped back, her eyes skipping over the towel covering him to his exposed thighs and legs. A small frown burrowed between her eyes.
She swayed slightly. “Something’s happening to me. I think I shouldn’t have finished that wine.”
His gaze shot to the bottle on the counter. He was surprised to find it empty. So that explained it. The little witch! She’d finished the contents while he was in the shower. Her bravado was no doubt contributed to the wine she’d consumed. He chuckled inwardly, his gaze returning to hers. She was definitely in an alcohol-induced state. While he was in a highly aroused state. If she didn’t stop looking at him like she wanted to devour him, he wouldn’t be responsible for the consequences.
“Annie?”
“Yes?”
Marshall clenched his jaw at the sensual quality of her tone. “Do you know what you’re doing? I’m not made of stone.” Contrary to what a certain part of his body had become.
“I’m just looking,” she whispered defensively. “Is that against the law, Detective?”
“You’re turning me on with your eyes,” he said huskily, still leaning against the door. It should be outlawed. “And if you don’t stop, I’m going to throw you to the floor and show you how much.” He groaned loudly when her lazy-eyed gaze dropped down to his towel, seeming to zero right in on his erection.
“Interesting.” As though knowing exactly what she was doing to him and enjoying every minute of it, Annie licked her lips slowly, seductively.
Marshall sucked in his breath, his erection pushing wildly beneath the towel as if searching for a way out. An explosion of heat rolled through his body so intense that an ice cold shower wouldn’t put it out.
All at once she swayed and began to crumble. Marshall stepped forward just in time to catch her in his arms. She was out cold. “You little witch! I hope you remember this, Annie. Because turnabout is fair play,” he growled under his breath as he swept her up and carried her down to his bedroom.
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