Sunday, March 15, 2015

The Bad Boys of Eden Anthology

Title: The Bad Boys of Eden: Billionaires, Alphas, Bikers, and Doms 
Authors: Adriana Hunter, Avery Aster, Cathryn Fox, Daire St. Denis
Eliza Gayle, Mari Carr, Opal Carew, Roni Loren, Sharon Page
Steena Holmes, Tawny Stokes, Elena Aitken, CC MacKenzie, Lauren Hawkeye
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: March 10, 2015
Summary:
Includes New York Times and National Bestselling authors
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The INVITATION TO EDEN series was hailed by book bloggers as “sexy as hell”! Grab this set of 14 EDEN stories in one single volume and at one amazing price.

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——————-
14 Eden Stories:
INTRODUCTION by Lauren Hawkeye
MASTER OF THE ISLAND by Lauren Hawkeye
WILD RIDE by Opal Carew
BREAKING FREE by Cathryn Fox
ROUGH DRAFT by Mari Carr
ESCAPE FROM REALITY by Adriana Hunter
SECOND GLANCES by Elena Aitken
BLURRING THE LINES by Roni Loren
IVY IN BLOOM by Tawny Stokes
DELICIOUS AND DEADLY by CC MacKenzie
YOURS TRULY, TADDY by Avery Aster
HOW TO TEMPT A TYCOON by Daire St. Denis
HOLD ME CLOSE by Eliza Gayle
SWEET RETURN by Steena Holmes
FIGHT FOR ME by Sharon Page


Yours Truly, Taddy by Avery Aster (The Undergrad Years #2)
Jetting to Martinique for a modeling assignment with three of Europe’s hottest magazine photographers—Gustave, Fabian, and Leon—should’ve been easy, breezy beautiful. Never did I expect to look up and see a hole in the ceiling of our plane that was bigger in size than my Birkin bag.
Shit! We’re nose-diving toward Eden Island. I pictured how my New York Times obituary might read when I’m gone, “Taddy Brill, Manhattanite, dethroned descendant of the Austrian House of Brillford royalty, dies at age eighteen, penniless, unloved, and a virgin.” I swear this crap only happens to me. Suddenly, Leon pulls me with Fabian and Gustave. Adrenaline racing through me, our bodies clung as one. We prepared to…crash.The Undergrad Years is a New Adult contemporary miniseries about first loves, independence, and everlasting friendships.

Wild Ride by Opal Carew (Ready to Ride)
Her friend told her dreams come true at Eden, but this is more like a nightmare.
Marissa is shaken when her bad-assed biker ex-boyfriend begins to stalk her.  After receiving an invitation to an exclusive resort called Eden, she jumps at the chance to get away. But even in paradise, she can’t escape the man from her past. As he’s closing in on her, a passing stranger on a motorcycle pulls up and orders her onto his bike. Frightened and willing to take any chance to flee her dangerous ex, she does as he says. Her knight in supple leather manages to lose her ex and take her to a secret hideaway, but now she finds herself overwhelmed by his potent masculinity and submitting completely to his authoritative commands. Killer didn’t want to be her saviour.  He had problems of his own.  But once Marissa’s under his protection, he will do whatever he can to keep her safe.  Even force her to face her deepest fears.

Rough Draft by Mari Carr (Big Easy, Book 4)
Capture, bondage and fantasies fulfilled. It’s all fun and games until someone gets killed.
 Bestselling crime novelist Jett Lewis is stumbling over a wicked case of writer’s block, his fast-flowing words having run dry. His publisher’s screaming “deadline”, the fans are ready to riot, and Jett just wants to disappear. His friend Carissa suggests he get away, clear his head…get laid. And she has just the ticket. Literally. Two passes to Eden, an exclusive island paradise. Recently sans girlfriend, Jett convinces Carissa to go with him, and the resort is more than either of them bargained for—especially when the simple beach trip turns to murder. Thrust into a plot sinister enough to rival Jett’s books, the couple embarks on a search for the killer. The most shocking revelation of all might be their mutual attraction…and how much Jett and Carissa love working undercover.

Breaking Free by Cathryn Fox
Spring Break at college is  supposed to be a time of fun and parties, but Alaska Rossi, AKA Jane Smith, is on lockdown thanks to her father’s mafia dealings. She wants only to  party down with the  rest of her classmates.  At least her hot, darkly mysterious bodyguard—deep undercover as her dorm’s resident  assistant—gives her something to fantasize about during her boring nights in  confinement. When she wins a campus radio contest, and is gifted with  a special invitation to an exclusive island, she knows it’s her  chance to break free. After all, it’s a place where no one knows her name, so  what danger could  possible come to her? But when danger appears in the form of a masked man who takes control  of all her pleasures, tapping into her darkest fantasies, she begins to wonder  if her undercover lover, and the mysterious bodyguard who’s deep undercover, are one in the  same…

Hold Me Close by Eliza Gayle (Purgatory Club  #6)
Sometimes you need to cut and run and sometimes the ties run too deep to abandon. Bonnie’s job at Purgatory keeps her on edge in more ways than one. Every day the pain of her grief over losing her Dom threatens to consume her. Her only escape comes at the hands of the resident tattooed  bad boy who likes to keep things light and loose with a variety of women. He may not be the Dom of her dreams, but he chases away the darkness if only for one night… Dex is used to unattached submissives coming to him for a chance to feel the kiss of his flogger or the sting of his whip until they find their own Doms. With his busy life of ink and kink he likes keeping his women at arm’s length. Except one night a month when Bonnie shreds him every time she asks him to hold her close.
When a secret invitation to an island resort arrives, is it the answer to their problems? Or their worst nightmare?

Return to Sender by Steena Holmes (Return to Sender trilogy #1)
Lauren Summers is the stable sister, the one who runs the family company while her sisters take off and travel the world. One weekend a year she hides herself away and mourns a love she lost six years ago. That weekend is now, except she’s being whisked away to a mysterious island despite her protests. After being pampered with luxury, massages and the best chocolate a girl could taste, she starts to realize that its time she left the past behind and moved forward with life, and maybe with love. What she doesn’t know, is that someone from her past has other ideas…

Escape From Reality by Adriana Hunter
When curvy single and struggling romance author Leila Connors  receives a  mysterious invitation to spend an all-expense paid week on a tropical island, it simply seems too good to be true.  Who is responsible  for sending the invitation?  Why does the envelope smell of dominant  male  possession?  And most importantly, why her?  With a string of   failed relationships and a career on the down-slide, Leila feels she has nothing to lose and agrees to the trip. But when she arrives at her destination, far away  from everything she knows, she can’t help but wonder if she made a  mistake. That is until she comes face to face with the incredibly  handsome Sebastian Phillips, a tortured stranger with dark secrets, and a man  who will take without asking. With just one touch he awakens a  desperate need within her. Before too long Leila finds herself caught up in a game of  irresistible obsession, where truths are exposed, and the dangerously  blurred line  between fantasy and reality threaten to drive her to the  point of no return.

Blurring the Lines by Roni Loren
A year has passed since Gretchen lost her fiancé, but she still can’t sleep. Or paint. And her new home in New Orleans is either haunted or she’s finally going crazy.
Her bet is on the latter.
So when her best friend, Burke, offers to sweep her away to a private luxury island for a break, she can’t say no. Maybe if she can be someone else for a few days, the ghosts of the past will quiet. At least for a little while.
Burke knows what she’s going through. She lost her fiancé, but he lost family. He gets her in a way no else can. But lately she’s noticing things she shouldn’t about her former fiancé’s younger brother—his sexy smirk, that spicy Cajun accent, and the way he looks at her when he thinks she’s not paying attention. A week alone with him? Dangerous. If she blurs the lines between them, she could ruin the only friendship that means anything to her. She could ruin it all.
But the island of Eden has its own agenda. The island knows what you need. That’s what the invitation says. She just never imagines it will grant her the one wish that could destroy them both.

Fight For Me by Sharon Page (Yardley College Chronicles #3)
I had to drop out of college to raise my son after his dad, notorious MMA fighter Ryder King, and I broke up. Ryder is so haunted by demons he won’t let anyone touch his heart. Fame, fortune, and fighting didn’t bring him any peace, and I knew, for the sake of our baby, that I had to leave him. That’s when I met Ryder’s best friend, Xavier Malone, a former fighter who built a billion dollar empire. Xavier is gorgeous, sweet, and wonderful with my son. I’m falling for him—but I’m scared to commit. Then I receive an invitation to the island of Eden, a luxurious resort where I can live my every sensual fantasy. I’m certain Xavier sent it. But after I leave my son with my mom and fly to Eden, I discover I’m in the middle of a grudge match between Xavier and Ryder. They are going to fight for me: inside the ring in a televised match, and outside it—where they both plan to seduce the pants off me. But I have a surprise for them too.

How To Tempt A Tycoon by Daire St. Denis (Savage Interactives #5)
Tessa Savage has traveled all over the world but she has never been to Eden. So when she receives a personalized invitation to this enigmatic island location, there’s no way she can refuse. She’s been told that Eden will fulfill her every fantasy but instead Tessa is faced with the choice of overcoming one of her two greatest fears; total vulnerability or total submission. To Tessa there is very little difference between these two things…except that the choice means she must make a decision between two very special men from her past. Help Tessa decide what to do in this smokin’ hot and emotionally charged interactive tale.

Ivy in Bloom by Vivi Anna writing as Tawny Stokes (Hothouse series #3)
After getting out of a bad relationship and dropping out of university, Ivy Watts decides she needs some much needed stress therapy so she tags along with her parents to a luxury island resort called Eden.  She expects to laze around on the beach with a drink in her hand and figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life, but what she doesn’t expect is to learn a few life lessons from the tall, dark handsome man in the penthouse suite.

Second Glances by Elena Aitken (The Springs)
When Kylie Wilson receives a mysterious invitation for an all expenses paid trip to a tropical, all inclusive resort, there’s no doubt in her mind who it came from—Marcus Stone, the only man she’s ever really loved. The same man who’d promised her forever and then promptly left town to pursue his dream without so much as a backward glance. Kylie owes it to herself to take a chance, and despite her conflicted feelings, she decides to risk her heart again and is soon jetting toward the island of Eden and the man she hopes will finally fill the void in her life. But when she arrives, all is not as she expected it to be. More to the point, he is not who she expected him to be. And on an island that is supposed to ‘know exactly what you need’, can Kylie open her body, mind, and more importantly—her heart to someone and something, she’s never considered?

Delicious and Deadly by C.C. MacKenzie (Ludlow Hall #8)
Emma Ludlow’s temperature is rising and it’s not because of the sweltering Florida sun. Her lucrative business is bloodshed and slaughter. All she wants is peace and quiet in Eden to plot her latest murder. However, a much-adored celebrity chef is in Eden, too. The man is insufferable with an overblown ego she’s dying to kill. His slow smile may be ‘Delicious’, but she won’t taste it, not again. Being famous and wealthy isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Oscar Zamani learned that life lesson the hard way when he let the seductively mysterious Emma slip through his fingers. Now an Invitation To Eden has given him another chance to show her that this time he can be trusted. But little does Oscar know that Emma has a dark secret. A secret that might be ‘Deadly’ to his heart.

Master of the Island by Lauren Hawkeye
When his life takes a dark turn, billionaire Theodosius Vardalos purchases a deserted island in the Bermuda triangle. It's accessible only by plane- the better, he thinks, to hide his scars from the rest of the world. What Theo doesn't know is that the island has an incredible secret, one that gives him hope... hope of future happiness, despite the horrible scars that make him a recluse. Hope to be had in the arms of a mysterious blonde he hasn't yet met...
Delicious and Deadly by CC MacKenzie
The head chef stood in the castle of Eden’s state-of-the-art kitchen, long legs spread, muscled arms folded, a stony stare pinning Mika to the spot.

It was eight-thirty in the evening and the young waiter felt as if he was about to pass out.

A trickle of cold sweat slid down Mika’s back.

His heartbeat hammered too fast against his ribs.

On the whole being part of the service crew and working for Oscar Zamani was a pretty good gig. Chef might be one big scary bastard with hands the size of a dinner plate, but he was a cool guy, usually. Chef was also passionate about food reaching dining tables and rooms piping hot. Customer satisfaction was key. So how the hell was Mika going to explain the return of not just one, but two trays, untouched, from a suite in the tower?

"Just to be clear, Mika. You are telling me that the trays were simply left in the hallway?" Oscar wanted to know, his deep voice no more than a growl. His inflection was pregnant with disbelief, as if Mika had left a newborn unattended among a pride of lions. The tone had Mika's knees knocking.

"Chef, the... the note on the door said, 'Please knock. Leave the tray in the hall.' So I did. Twice."

"Note?" Mika jumped as Oscar barked the word, held out his hand.

Thanking sweet baby Jesus that he'd had the bright idea to bring the note with him as proof, Mika dug his hand into his vest pocket. Placed the folded piece of paper onto Oscar's huge palm.

Eyes never leaving Mika's, Oscar opened the paper, flicked his eyes down to read.

Silence.

With great care he folded the note and tucked it nice and safe in the top pocket of his crisp white chef jacket.

Dark eyes rose and pinned Mika to the spot.

"Name?" Oscar asked in a soft voice.

Because his black bow tie felt too tight, Mika cleared his throat.

"E.J. Byron."

Oscar frowned.

The name rang a very distant bell.

"Man, woman?"

"No idea, sir. Never seen him."

Oscar turned to survey the staff manning a kitchen gone too quiet, all that could be heard was the steady drip, drip, drip of a tap.

He raised his brows in silent query.

Everyone shook their head.

Oscar moved over to a tray, lifted a heavy lid of solid silver. He's never... never had an untouched plate returned to his kitchen. With a righteous fury burning his gut, he surveyed the congealed mess on a delicate plate of white china. His teeth ran over his top lip at the thought of how much planning and effort had gone into making sure the rack of melt-in-the-mouth lamb had been seared to a light pink... perfection. How the broccoli spears had been steamed to al dente... perfection. How the delicate reduction, using the finest claret from Eden's vast cellars and black currants flown in at great expense from the mainland, had excited the palate... perfection. The bowl of now limp green salad seriously annoyed him, too. But it was the mini baked Alaska, meringue made with handmade marshmallow scented with distilled rose water, that lay in a gooey mess of melted double cream ice-cream, which pressed his hot button.

Under the wide-eyes of a staff holding their collective breath, Oscar untied his pristine white apron, folded it carefully, placed it on an immaculate stainless steel worktop.

He removed his chef's hat.

Placed it on top of the apron.

Turning on his heel, Oscar marched out.

"Omigod," Mika whispered.

The sous chef crossed himself.

***

A distant drumbeat boomed out, like thunder, and then echoed from far, far away.

What the...?

The struggle to open heavy lids made her groan out loud as Emma tried to kick-start her foggy brain.
It sounded as if the heavy door to her suite was vibrating in its frame.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Emma stood, swaying on her bare feet.

Stumbling just a little, she shoved her hair from her face.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

A mix of irritation and worry began to simmer in her stomach.

She tripped over a pair of abandoned flip flops and nearly fell flat on her face.

Sheer temper had her kick one out the way as she stalked through the disaster zone that was the sitting room.

She yanked opened the door.

"What the hell?" she yelled.

The clenched fist in her face had her body react, arms lifting in defence, before her brain could compute. The trembling started in her feet, by the time it reached her knees, her legs couldn't hold her weight. The only warning she got was the roaring in her ears before Oscar was moving into her.

The world went black.


Ivy in Bloom by Tawny Stokes
Chapter One
The last thing I expected as I walked across the Glendale campus to my economics class  with a Venti Moccachino in my hand was to be completely humiliated and embarrassed in front of a bunch of strangers. But that was exactly what happened at 10:24 that morning.

It was a gorgeous day and I loathed spending it indoors, but in California almost every day was gorgeous, so it wasn’t like I was never going to have another day like this to spend working on my tan.  I walked quickly across the center quad because as usual I was going to be late for class. It was quite possible that I had set a college record for the amount of tardies in the first year. In high school I had gotten that honor.

I was just about to open the door to the west hall, when I heard my name.

I turned to see Derek, my boyfriend of the past three months, strutting up to me. And the boy did strut much like a peacock. The cock of the walk. At six foot two he pulled it off tremendously. I put up with it because he was extremely cute. He even had dimples in his cheeks when he grinned.

His two douchey friends, Brett and Rico, stood off to the side to wait for him. Neither of them liked me much because I didn’t put up with their immature bullshit. I had questioned Derek 
many times on why he was friends with them.  He never really gave me a definitive answer. Just mumblings about having been friends since high school.

I still had friends from high school, Violet and Dahlia, but they were awesome. Although I hadn’t seen either one of them in a few months. Dahlia was across the country at a design school and Violet was still trying to get her life back together after some horrible shit happened to her. We texted and talked on the phone though.

“Hey baby.” I wrapped a hand around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. I missed him as we hadn’t hooked up the night before like we usually did. He said he had some test to study for. Which I thought weird since I had never seen him study for anything since I’d known him. He was in his second year of aviation, and all I’d ever seen him do is fly more beer and weed into his mouth.

I pulled back and looked him over. He tasted like coffee and the one cigarette he allowed himself every morning in an effort to kick the habit and, surprisingly, cherry lip gloss. My stomach lurched. I didn’t wear cherry flavored anything.

“Did you study for your test?” I asked, although by the way he was looking at me, I didn’t think he wanted to talk about studying or school.

He took my hand. “We need to talk.”

“Look, you are really pretty and stuff, but…”

“Are you breaking up with me?”

He looked down at his feet.

“You’re screwing someone else, aren’t you?”

“What’s it like then? Huh?” I pulled my hand out of his.

Others who mingled around in the quad started to look our way. It was highly possible my voice was a few octaves higher and louder than normal.

“I’m sorry, but it’s just not working for me anymore.”

“What’s not working? The sex we have all the time? The blowjobs you beg me to give you? The time I tied you up and spanked you? Huh? What?”

There were some giggles from the other people in the quad.

“What way? Mad?  Because you stuck your dick in someone else BEFORE you broke up with me. Why on earth would I be mad about that?”

He shook his head and ran a hand through his mop of dark hair. “This is exactly why this ain’t working.”

I raised my eyebrow and tilted my head to say “Go on motherfucker tell me what’s wrong with me. I know you want to.”

“You’re so damn controlling all the time. And bossy. And I can’t do anything without asking for permission.”

“You wanted permission to fuck some other chick?”

“No!” He threw up his hands. “Jesus, you’re so damn irritating.”

“Well whatever.” He took a few steps away. “We’re done. Your shit is in a box on my porch. Collect it today or it’s going in the garbage.” He walked back to his friends, who were 

“I’m surprised you had the stones to even do this in person.”

“I told him to just text you,” Rico said. “Since I thought that’s all you’re worth.”

I flipped him the middle finger. “Fuck you Rico. Good thing I didn’t tell him about all the secret texts you were sending me trying to hook up behind his back.”

Derek gave Rico a sidelong look as they walked away. I knew it wouldn’t amount to much. In his mind, it would be my fault about Rico. That I had somehow encouraged him just by being a girl.

I turned around so I didn’t have to watch him walk away from me. The tears were welling in my eyes, but I really didn’t want to let them go here in public with ten strangers watching with avid interest.

I adjusted my purse strap on my shoulder, then instead of going into the school I started back the way I’d came.  There was no point in going to class today. I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate anyway. So I figured a good long cry and forty minutes on the elliptical was in order.  

I liked to sweat when I was upset. I was a size 2 because I got upset a lot.  Some girls would be jealous of me because of my figure, but they had no clue how much I suffered emotionally for it. 

Dahlia and Ivy didn’t really know either.  I had always put on a carefree façade, especially when it came to guys, but deep down I had battle scars all over my heart and soul.

I always picked the wrong ones. Guys who only wanted to know my outsides and not my insides. Any time I ever even hinted that I might be more than my C cup and pouty pink lips, guys got spooked and looked for a way to break up with me. And that way usually involved another girl. It was so typical.

When I returned to my apartment near campus I immediately went into my bedroom. I grabbed an old plastic bag I sometimes used for garbage and opened my closet door. I tore an old chambray shirt from a hanger and shoved it into the bag. It was one of Derek’s. I slept in it sometimes because it had smelled like him, a combination of CK One and man.

Turning, I snatched up the stick of deodorant on my dresser and the spearmint chapstick beside it and tossed both in the bag. Then I made my way to the bathroom and tossed in the razor I had bought him and the toothbrush. I was about to leave when I stopped and faced the toilet.

Angry tears were rolling down my cheeks now. I didn’t want to shed them over him but sometimes a girl just has to have some release. And some pay back.

I reached into the bag and took out the toothbrush. I opened the toilet lid and peered into the bowl. The water wasn’t dirty, I used an automatic cleaner inside the tank, but I hadn’t scrubbed the inside of the bowl in a week or so. Until now.

I crouched and vigorously rubbed the bristles of the toothbrush inside the bowl. I dipped it in the water and scrubbed the stained porcelain. It was stained when I moved in, but still it made me feel better to do it. I scrubbed and scrubbed until my arm was sore and the tears on my 
cheeks had dried. Satisfied, I straightened then tossed the dirty wet toothbrush into the bag.

In the living room I set the plastic bag on the table and plopped down onto the sofa. I felt a little better. Ruining his toothbrush gave me some joy. It kept the tears at bay for now and  sometimes that was all a girl could hope for in a situation like this.

I took out my phone and texted my friends, Dahlia and Violet.

Me: So, another one bites the dust

I waited a few minutes. I knew Dahlia might be in class but Violet usually answered right 

Violet: Why did you break up with this one?

Violet: Oh crap babe, I’m sorry. What happened?

Me: Dumped me for some other chick

Me: Says I’m a control freak. Can u believe that?

I didn’t text her back. I couldn’t believe she was agreeing with Derek. I mean, she was 

supposed to be my best friend. Best friends had each other’s back no matter what. I didn’t judge her when she hooked up with weirdo Devon.  Well, I guess maybe I did say a few hurtful things about him even after I’d realized she really did like him and it wasn’t just a brief dive into the dark side.

Violet: Sorry hun. I wish you were here so I could hug you

Violet: If you want to talk, call me. I’m here

I did want to talk but in person. I hated that I was here, and Violet was there, and Dahlia was all the way across the country. I needed my girls. Especially now.

I set my phone down beside me and looked around at my apartment. It was a decent place. Bigger than what the majority of the students lived in. My parents paid for it, as well as the bills. I was lucky that my parents were wealthy and could afford to pay for my education. 

This was one of the reasons I had agreed to go to Glendale.  My dad especially wanted me to get a college degree.  He didn’t care what it was in, as long as I got it.  I had tried to argue with him about it, insisting that it would be a huge waste of money, but he was stubborn and was used to getting his way.

But I was stubborn too. And now seemed like the perfect time to prove it.

I got up and went into my bedroom. I grabbed the suitcase from under the bed, opened it and started to pack up my clothes. I was going home.


Escape from Reality by Adriana Hunter
He bent his head, his lips moving along her collarbone, dipping lower, sliding along the edge of her gown for a moment, then kissing the valley between her breasts. His hand rose, cupping one breast, kneading her flesh with firm fingers. Leila gasped with pleasure as he slid his thumb across her nipple. The exquisite sensation as it drew up hard changed her gasp to a low moan. There seemed to be a direct line between his circling thumb and a very specific spot deep between her hips. 

She made a small noise as his thumb stopped its erotic circle around her hardened nipple and she heard an answering chuckle, low and deep. His lips moved from her skin, his breath hot through the satin. 

Leila cried out as he slowly licked her nipple and she clutched the sheets, not out of tension, but in ecstasy. At the touch of his wet tongue over the satin, the friction of the material against her sensitive skin, she arched against him, her hips rising from the bed.

The wet satin molded to her as he repeatedly licked her nipple, occasionally nuzzling his cheek against her breast. Her body moved on its own, hips undulating from side to side, her back arching against his mouth. When he slowly pulled the wet satin aside and blew across her damp skin, she cried out, her nipple puckering even more, a wash of goose bumps prickling her skin.

He pulled her breast into his mouth, sucking hard, almost greedily. Leila felt his body moving in time with hers, the hip resting against hers pressing against her as she rose. 

His hand moved to her other breast, pulling back the gown, fondling her briefly before he moved to suck that breast. 

Leila’s body was suffused with a liquid heat, coursing through her, pooling deep inside her. Her fingers found their way back to his hair, winding through the thick strands. 

Finally he looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers. He sat up, took her hands, and pulled her upright. 

“This comes off.” His voice was rough with passion and he tugged impatiently on the gown. Leila rose to her knees and he helped her slide the gown over her head. Before she could lie back, he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face between her breasts, turning his head, kissing her softly. He held her and she held his head gently to her body.

After a moment, he let her go and she sat back, hands reaching for his shirt. 

He watched her in the dim light as she undid the buttons with trembling fingers. As she reached the last button, her hand brushed across his lap, across the bulge of his erection. Leila hesitated, resting her hand on him, feeling the heat and hardness his jeans concealed. He drew in a sharp breath, grabbing her hand.

“Lie back.” He stood, removing his shirt, dropping it to the floor as she lay back on the sheets.

His eyes never left hers as he undid the button and zipper on his jeans. Leila tried to hold his gaze, but her eyes slid over his chest, past the flat stomach and taut navel, then lower as he began tugging his jeans over his narrow hips. This was exactly what she’d described in her assignment, every detail—almost every detail. He was perfect.

As his jeans slid lower, the dark line of hair she’d written about appeared, the line that extended below his navel, growing thicker as he lowered his jeans. Leila’s breathing was shallow and fast, practically panting, eyes widening in anticipation. He tugged the jeans a fraction of an inch lower and Leila’s breath stopped. Slowly, he leaned over Leila, rested a hand beside her, and blew out the candle.

For a fraction of an instant, there was silence and then Leila cried out in frustration. 

He laughed from somewhere nearby, and she heard the sound of his jeans hitting the floor. The mattress dipped with his weight and she felt the heat of his body a moment before his hand slid across her stomach. He leaned close and she drew in his scent, rich and spicy, deeply masculine.

There was no moonlight, and for an instant Leila cursed the darkness. But the hand on her stomach moved lower and she forgot about what he looked like, only able to focus on where his hand was going. 

Fingers slid between her legs as his mouth found hers. He claimed her again with a powerful kiss, and she instinctively wound her arms around his neck, holding him close. 

Her legs moved on their own accord, hips rising, thighs falling open at his touch. 

And then his touch moved lower, further, feather-light strokes deepening as his kiss deepened, fingers probing deeper as his tongue took possession of her mouth. Her moans were muffled against his lips, his throaty growl against hers.

He shifted his weight, one long leg moving over the top of hers. His hip pressed against her body and she felt his erection, hard and hot, rubbing against her skin. But that wasn’t enough contact. She craved more, much more. Wiggling beneath him, she pulled and guided him until he rested between her legs, his hips pinning her to the mattress.

Lifting his head, he broke their kiss. She felt his breath against her cheek, his open mouth brushing against her neck. He shifted his weight again and she drew her legs up his body, over the hard muscles of his thighs.

He brushed against her, hotter than she could have imagined, and his hips shifted slightly, the muscles of his thighs tensing beneath her legs as he braced himself. Leila moved her legs further up his body, bringing her hips up to meet him, opening herself to him.

There was a long moment where he held himself, poised, just touching her, moving slowly, lightly, teasing her with a hint of what was to come. She bit her lip, aching to feel him inside her, the anticipation almost overwhelming. With one movement, she knew, he’d be there, filling her completely, totally. All she needed to do was wait. Waiting was agony, but a delicious agony nonetheless.

He lifted his head and she wished for light, to see the look on his face, the passion in his eyes, the passion that matched what raced through her own body. His hips flexed as he pulled back slowly, just a little, enough to let her know he was ready. And she was more than ready for him. 

Then he was there, thrusting into her, slowly, seemingly forever. Leila let out a long, low moan as he drove himself forward, her hips rolling upward, her body accepting everything he had to give her.

Finally he stopped, exhaling against her neck, holding himself inside her for a moment. Raising his head, he braced his forearms on either side of her, his fingers playing over her face, finally coming to rest in her hair, tangling themselves in the long strands. His breath moved across her forehead, and then his lips pressed against her skin.

Her hands skated over the hot skin of his back, playing over broad shoulders, down the ridge of his spine, lower, to the small of his back, and then up the sharp slope of his buttocks. She dug her fingers into firm flesh and as if spurred on by her touch, she felt the muscles beneath her hands clench, his hips driving forward even further, as impossible as that seemed.

And then he was moving, hard and fast, Leila matching him stroke for stroke, as if all the anticipation and pent up longing had been released. He buried his face in her neck, his breath rasping harshly against her skin.

Leila tipped her head back, sounds she never realized she could make coming from her parted lips as every thrust drove her toward some unimagined plane of pleasure. 

Every inch of her body was alive like it had never been before. The core of her, where he lay claim to her, where they were joined, felt like a molten pool.

She lost track of time, focusing only on the movements of their bodies. At some point he slid a hand beneath her ass, fingers digging into her flesh, lifting her, his body flexing and twisting, as if there were some way he could consume more of her, or she more of him.

His sounds had deepened, moans becoming growls, growing louder, more urgent. 

Leila’s arms were flung wide now, fingers twisting in the sheets, her body speeding toward what could only be oblivion.

He drew back from her, his chest rising from hers, and her body instantly arched upward, taking on a life of its own as his hips drove into her at a relentless pace. 

Something deep and powerful welled up inside her and she writhed beneath him, head thrashing from side to side. The world went soundless for a moment and then she heard herself, from a distance, then louder, clear, cry after cry as her body shuddered and twisted in his grasp. Finally the tremors slowed and she drew a shaky breath. 

His arms were still wrapped around her, holding her loosely, and he thrust slowly, but not as deeply. She relaxed in his arms, letting his momentum carry her for a moment. 

Gradually his thrusts became shaper, harder, more aggressive, each one accompanied by a deep grunt. Leila drew her legs higher along his body, wrapping them around his waist. Her movements triggered something in him and his arms tightened around her again, his body wrapping around hers.

With a sudden powerful thrust, he sank himself deeply, completely, holding himself still inside her. Every muscle in his body was taut, his arms like iron bands around her. 

She held her breath, not wanting to break his concentration, waiting for him, for what she felt certain would be his climax.

Then beneath her hands he began to move, his hips pumping hard and fast into her, each thrust accompanied by a noise so primal it sent a shiver through Leila’s body. 

She was unprepared for the intensity of his climax, for the power of his thrusts, the animalistic noises. 

Leila was swept up in his passion, in his release, her body responding to his, a fresh cascade of sensations sweeping through her. She found herself answering his cries with her own, her body alive again with ecstasy. 

They held each other for a moment, arms and legs relaxing, slowly moving apart. 

He rolled onto his back next to her and she curled against him, hand on his chest as his arm encircled her. The soft breeze from the window played across her skin, a delicious counterpoint to the heat that spread across her body. 

Leila had never felt so complete. Not just happy, but as if for the first time, something clicked inside, some connection had been made. It went beyond the physical sensations in her body. Granted, he’d saved her life, but it went deeper than that. She’d had sex before, had even had what she’d considered making love, but there had never been this connection with those men, even men she thought she’d been in love with. And yet this man was a stranger.

Leila was content, drifting into sleep, her head on his shoulder. Almost asleep, she roused herself to ask the one question she had of the man beside her.

“You never told me your name.”

He shifted on the bed, his arm pulling her close, lips brushing across her forehead.

“I can’t, Leila. You haven’t given me one yet.”


Author Bios:
Avery Aster
Avery Aster pens The Manhattanites, a modern erotic romance series of juicy melodramas multilayered on love, friendship, scandal, and drama to the hilt. As a resident of New York’s Upper East Side and a graduate from New York University, Avery gives readers an inside look at the city’s glitzy nightlife, socialite sexcapades and tall tales of the über-rich 
and ultra-famous. “I write about what I see in my metropolis that never sleeps–beautiful people on the quest for a passionate thrill,” Avery says. By and large, Avery’s characters are ripped straight from the headlines, speak their minds and always get what they want. Each novel may be read as a stand alone and is free of any cliffhangers.

Opal Carew
Hi. I’m Opal Carew, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.  I write erotic romance for St. Martin’s Press and Samhain Publishing, and I self-publish stories.  I also write romance as Amber Carew.
So why do I like writing erotic romance? I like being able to push beyond traditional boundaries. I like dealing with a female character who is growing and evolving – questioning her sexual boundaries and pushing past them. My stories usually include menage a trois.  It is great fun to write a heroine choosing between two equally appealing heroes… or more.
These aren’t women who just jump into bed with anyone. They find themselves in an unusual situation – something exciting and erotic – but a situation where they have to push themselves beyond their comfort level. As a result, they grow as a person. So often fear holds us back – of what others will think of us, of what we will think about ourselves – and we don’t follow our hearts. These women push past that fear.

Mari Carr
Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list. Now her computer is jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends. A New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller, Mari finds time for writing by squeezing it into the hours between 3 a.m. and daybreak when her family is asleep.

Cathryn Fox
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love. Cathryn also writes Young Adult novels under Cat Kalen and co-writes paranormal romance as Taylor Keating.

Eliza Gayle
Eliza Gayle lives a life full of sexy shapeshifters, blood boiling vamps and a dark desire for bondage…until she steps away from her computer and has to tend to her family.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude (which her husband translated into something very naughty) from college with a dual degree in Human Resource Management and Sociology.  That education, a love of the metaphysical and a dirty mind comes in handy when she sits down to create new characters and worlds.  The trick is getting her to sit still.
…Join her in her world.  The door is always open and the next red hot adventure is just a page away.

Steena Holmes 
I’m Steena Holmes. A wife, a mother of three daughters, and I live in Calgary, Alberta. I’m an author and a chocoholic. I love to read, write, and bake.
Welcome to my world of passions—chocolate and writing! Pull up a chair, fill your plate with sweet delicacies as we learn together how to become stronger writers. We’ll discuss books, indie publishing and passions—not always in that order!
Growing up as a small town Canadian girl, there wasn’t much to do but ride your bike, hang out with friends on the beach and daydream. I always wanted to write but never dreamed it was something I could do as a career. I love to travel and fell in love with the sheep covered hillside, old castles and romantic history of Scotland and England. I dream about waking up in Tuscany and touring small town shops in the south of France with my husband, of placing my toes in the ocean and experiencing history first hand. As a mother with three daughters, I’m learning that teaching them to pursue their dreams is a lasting legacy. I love to wake up to the Rocky Mountains, will forever enjoy the taste of coffee and chocolate and can’t imagine the day when a story doesn’t unfold in my heart. Living a life with passion and pursuing dreams is a life well lived.

Adriana Hunter
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Hunter wrote her very first novel at only thirteen years old, by hand, in an old lined scribbler and she hasn’t stopped since. Her contemporary and paranormal romance stories feature irresistibly powerful alpha heroes and the beautifully curvy heroines that love them. 

Roni Loren
Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.
If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it.

She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series.

Sharon Page
USA Today Bestselling author Sharon Page sold her first book in 2004. Since then, she has published more than 20 novels and novellas, both traditionally through NY publishers and on her own through self-publishing.
Sharon writes: Erotic historical romance (Sin, Deeply in You) Erotic paranormal romance (Blood Red, Blood Curse) Sensual historical romance (The Club) New adult contemporary erotic romance (The Yardley College Chronicles series).
Sharon’s books have won many awards including two RT Bookreviews Reviewers Choice Awards, two National Readers Choice Awards, the Colorado Award of Romance, and the Golden Quill.  Sharon was nominated by RT Bookreviews in 2013 for Career Achievement in Erotic Romance.
Sharon graduated with a degree in Industrial Design (School of Engineering) and worked for years in the structural engineering field. Married, with two children, Sharon now writes almost full time.

Daire St. Denis
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Daire St. Denis is an adventure seeker, an ancient history addict, a seasonal hermit and a wine lover. She writes smoking hot, contemporary romance where the pages are steeped in sensuality and there’s always a dash of the unexpected. The best way to spice things up is to check out her new series of interactive tales, WICKED WAY INTERACTIVES, a fun new format in sexy storytelling

Tawny Stokes
Tawny Stokes aka Vivi Anna is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author in paranormal romance, urban fantasy, scifi, young adult and new adult.  Since 2003, she’s written and published over 40 books for New York publishers and indie published.

Elena Aitken
Like a lot of my readers, I’m a busy mom. It often feels like life is pulling us in a million different directions, which is why I love to write romance! There’s nothing better than knowing you have an escape waiting for you at the end of a long day in the form of a good book.
I’m lucky enough to live in the shadow of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the foothills of Alberta, where I can write the stories I love. Whenever I get the chance, I escape into those amazing mountains and I can usually be found sitting with my feet in the lake, working on my next book.
As well as contemporary romance novels, I also like to write women’s fiction and my collection of stand alone novels are all part of the Escape Collection. I’m always trying something new, so stay tuned to see what’s next!

CC MacKenzie
CC MACKENZIE is the author of three completed contemporary romances due out this year. Reckless Nights in Rome, A Stormy Spring.  Run Rosie Run is due out before the end of 2012.  She released a vampire romance novella Big Trouble in China  in September 2012 the first of three in a series.  Capturing Coco’s Heart another contemporary romance  is out in early 2013.
A born storyteller, she creates a fast paced blend of humour, poignancy and a deep sensual warmth that speaks directly to her readers. The eldest of two children, Christine lives in South Cheshire, United Kingdom. She has two daughters and one son.

Lauren Hawkeye
New York Time and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Hawkeye never imagined that she’d wind up telling stories for a living… though when she looks back, it’s easy to see that she’s the only one who is surprised. Always “the kid who read all the time”, Lauren made up stories about her favorite characters once she’d finished a book… and once spent an entire year narrating her own life internally. No, really. But where she was just plain odd before publication, now she can at least claim to have an artistic temperament.
Lauren lives in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada with her husband, toddler, pit bull and idiot cat, though they do not live in an igloo, nor do they drive a dogsled. In her nonexistent spare time Lauren can be found knitting, reading anything she can get her hands on, or sweating her way through spin class. She loves to hear from her readers!



Adriana Hunter
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Avery Aster
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Cathryn Fox
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Daire St. Denis
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Eliza Gayle
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Mari Carr
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Opal Carew
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Roni Loren
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Sharon Page
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Steena Holmes 
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Tawny Stokes
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Elena Aitken
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CC MacKenzie
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Lauren Hawekye
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