I felt a tear slide down my cheek as I closed my eyes and listened to the blazing sound of the gunfire.
“Take your clothes off,” I ordered, before I turned away from her and bent down to twist the knobs on the bath tub and drew her a warm bath. I reached underneath the sink and grabbed a box of Epsom salt to add to the tub. Once the tub was full, I turned around and found her leaning against the bathroom door naked, a gleam in her eye. She padded towards me, her eyes never leaving mine as she dipped one foot into the tub and then the next.
She slowly sank into the tub, wincing as her body folded into it, all aches and pains from her work out yesterday. The water was crystal clear and my eyes couldn’t help but watch as she straightened her legs in the water slowly. She was settled into the tub, as comfortable as she would get, before she lifted her eyes back to mine. Her breasts sitting just above water level.
“Soak in there for about forty minutes,” I said gruffly, her nipples hardening under my stare.
“Don’t leave.” She whispered.
“Five minutes ago you were punching me now you want me to stay?” I asked, as she completely stripped me of my resistance and pulled the clip out of her hair, letting the brown waves fall around her shoulders just shy of covering her tits.
“You make it sound like it’s something new with us,” she questioned cocking her head to the side, pausing for a moment before she softly continued. “No one plays this game better than you and I. I push, you pull, I push a little harder, you give in and then it’s your turn to push and you keep pushing until you think I’m done pushing you back,” she continued shrugging her shoulders as she spoke. “And then we start all over again.”
I gave in just like she knew I would and put the toilet seat down, sat down and rubbed my hands over my face.
“We’re pretty predictable.”
“Yeah,” she whispered, slipping further under the water her hands were all over her own body, making me fucking jealous that they weren’t mine. “You always give in eventually,” she persisted before pausing for a beat. “Even back then when I was just a girl, you still gave into me, how come?”
“You’re easy on the eyes,” I explained, winking at her then straightening up and staring into her eyes.
“Yeah but I was younger than you, so much less experienced than you … I often wondered why you even bothered.”
“You’re confident,” I started. “Whether you were younger or less experienced never mattered because I knew a confident woman could be taught all the things she wasn’t experienced in. You weren’t insecure which made you easy to mold, easy for you to learn all the things you hadn’t yet tried.”
She laughed slightly. “So you’re taking credit for how good I am in bed?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” I grinned.
“I suppose you may have taught me a thing or two,” she countered, her hand traveling between her breasts, down her stomach and pausing right at her navel.
“Like what?” I asked, knowing I was a goner.
Uncontrollable Temptation (Tempted Series #3)
I’ll give you what you need as long as you keep giving me your sunshine.
She went off like a firecracker, her body igniting and convulsing as she found her light. The sweetest pussy I ever had, gripped me as she came all over my dick. My eyes rolled, and I pushed my hips and thrust my dick into her once, twice…then shouted her name as I pulled out just in time. My release spurting out, painting her exposed skin.
Covered in Parrish, branded by the Bulldog, Reina became my sunshine.
We were both fucked.
I stared at her long and hard as I pulled my jeans up, zipping the fly but not doing the button to give my swollen dick some relief. Her legs dropped off the table, and she bent over struggling with her jeans, looking at everything and anything other than me.
“Reina,” I started.
She reached for a dishtowel, wiping me from her before she pulled her pants up her legs. She turned around, her eyes blazing with fury and threw the dishtowel at me
“You can leave now,” she said.
And there she went dismissing me again.
“Guess I was wrong ‘bout you,” I spat, baiting her, hoping to get her to turn around and look me in the eye. But I failed. Staring at her back angered me even more than the silence she offered me. “My dick ain’t straight-laced, and that pussy was still dripping.” I bit out, using my words as my weapon.
Her head bowed, her shoulders slumped and still she didn’t turn around to look at me.
Shunted, I cursed Reina and stalked out of her apartment, slamming the door behind me.
I shouldn’t be bothered. I got what I came here for. I got my taste of sunshine.
Reckless Temptation (Tempted Series #4)
Lauren rolled her eyes and turned to leave. I wasn’t going to let her go anywhere. I reached for her and caught her wrist, stopping her from leaving.
“Going somewhere?”
“Yeah, home,” she sneered, tugging her arm free. I’d never seen her like this, so angry, so fucking hot. She turned toward Blackie, took his drink from his hand and threw the whiskey in my face before handing the empty glass back to him.
“Congratulations, you’re a dick with a patch,” she said, before turning and walking toward the door.
I sputtered whiskey from my mouth, lifting the hem of my t-shirt to dry my face, trying to ignore the surrounding chuckles.
“You better marry her because if you don’t I will,” Bones said, as he came up beside me and handed me a stack of napkins.
“Fuck off,” I shouted, throwing the napkins up in the air like confetti before I took off after her. “Lauren,” I shouted as I stepped outside. Scanning the grounds, I found her stalking through the parking lot.
I ran after her but Kitten had speed even in those heels she had on that threatened to take her down.
“Lauren, baby…Kitten,” I called.
She froze in her tracks and turned around.
Hallelujah!
Oh, shit!
She bent down, removing one of her high heels and swung it like a Cy-Young pitcher, aiming straight for my head.
“Are you fucking crazy?” I shouted, dodging death by a high heel.
“Oh, you think I’m crazy?” She asked incredulously, looking every bit crazy. No question about it. “Maybe I am crazy! I mean, I must be because I’m here, right? Standing here in my little black dress, against my better judgement, because well, tonight was a big night for you and I…” she let her words trail off. “…I am crazy,” she confirmed, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Kitten,” I started, reaching for her.
She flicked my forehead with her fingers.
“Ouch! What the hell did you do that for?” I shouted, rubbing my forehead.
“There is plenty more where that came from, buddy!” She threatened, as she poked my chest with her finger. I had had enough of this shit. I grabbed her hips, hauling her up against me and maneuvered her legs to wrap around my waist. She didn’t like that at all and yelped as I held her in place.
“Riggs, put me down,” she yelled.
“You don’t really want me to put you down,” I ground out. My patience was gone, my nerves frayed. She kicked my back and I pinched her leg as I turned and slammed her up against the wall of the Dog Pound.
“Came here for a reason, Kitten, now it’s time to tell me what that reason is,” I whispered against her ear.
“It doesn’t matter,” she squealed, as I ran my hands up her thighs.
“I disagree,” I argued, glancing down at her legs locked around my waist. “I like your dress,” I said, sliding my hands underneath it.
“You should,” she sneered, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I wore it for you,” she rasped.
Sweetest fucking words I ever heard.
Lethal Temptation (Tempted Series #5)
“Keep your hands behind you,” I instructed as my lips made their way to the swell of one of her breasts. I heard the sharp intake of breath she took, my mouth stilled but remained on her breast as I glanced up at her. “Behind you,” I repeated.
Once I was sure she wouldn’t move I brought my hands back around and cupped her perky tits. I flicked my thumb over one nipple as my mouth closed over the other, sucking slightly before my teeth grazed the tip. I pinched the other one, rolling the bud between my fingers. I changed tactics allowing my mouth to suck on one as my fingers twisted the other.
Pleasure and pain.
You’re going to learn how the two become one, girl.
The sounds that she made drove me wild and had all the blood rushing to my dick. A slow burn began to sizzle between us, her arousal igniting my own, forcing me to pull away from her and take a moment to nuzzle the valley between her breasts.
I had to remind myself that this was a rewrite, a chance to teach her sex was more than just eight inches of penetration. It’s your mind surrendering and your body following suit.
Lose your mind, girl.
Lose yourself.
Let go.
She bent her knees, taking my face in her hands and tilted my head back before her lips descended upon mine. She kissed me, slowly, taking her time, discovering what she liked and what she wanted more of. Her teeth nipped my lips and then she paused, opening her eyes, looking at me for approval.
“Don’t be afraid,” I rasped. “Do what you want with me, use my body to learn what works for you, take what you need, Lace,” I assured, wrapping my arms around her waist and dropping my hands to her ass. I grabbed her ass and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around me, locking them at the ankles as I walked her towards the kitchen and positioned her on top of the counter. I hooked my thumbs in the flimsy lace of her panties and dragged them down her legs. I closed my fist around the lace, tucking them into the back pocket of my jeans.
“Aren’t you going to take your clothes off,” she asked, breathlessly as her legs dangled off the side of the counter.
I shook my head, stepping toward her, and placed my hands on her knees.
“Open for me,” I coaxed, watching as she gripped the edge of the counter and bit down on her lip before she slowly parted her legs.
Heaven.
Eternal Temptation (Tempted Series #6)
It was the early eighties, Maryann and I were barely legal but that didn’t stop us from painting the town red. I had a part-time job at Rosalie’s bakery, making just enough money to spend my paycheck—that’s a lie. I never received a paycheck, those days we were paid in cash, sixty dollars stuffed in a white envelope that Rosalie scribbled my name on. It was enough cash for me to buy a brand new outfit every Friday. I would take my envelope, cross three avenues and make my way to Something Else boutique on 86th Street.
I teased my hair six inches to the sky, applied enough blue eyeshadow to my eyelids, you had no choice but to notice my almond shaped eyes. Lastly, I ripped the tags and put on my silk turquoise jumpsuit. Maryann stole her father’s car out of the garage and picked me up at exactly ten o’clock. Studio 54 was packed, the line to get inside the club wrapped around the block but Maryann grabbed my hand and walked us straight to the front of the line.
“I’m a friend of Val’s,” she told the bouncer guarding the door.
At the time, I only knew Val as one of the neighborhood guys. He, like most of the guys our age living in Bensonhurst, hung around with the old-timers, the made-men, goodfellas—you know the type of men I’m talking about. Gangsters.
I didn’t know if Val was in fact a made man or part of a family, I just knew one day he would be and I understood why Maryann had taken a liking toward him. Who didn’t find that type of man sexy? There was nothing more attractive than the unattainable bad boy who exuded charisma.
The bouncer lifted the red velvet rope and escorted us into the pulsating night club. I remember the song playing as I stepped foot onto the colorful dance floor that lit up as the patrons danced the night away, ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ by the Bee Gees. It was one of my favorites and I wanted to dance so badly but Maryann had other plans, taking my hand as she dragged me across the dance floor to the bar where Val stood. He was surrounded by a bunch of guys, some I knew and others were a mystery. A delicious mystery.
“Order us a couple of Long Island Iced Teas and I’ll be right back,” she shouted over the music.
I sat down at the bar and ordered the drinks, glancing across the bar as she worked her way into the circle and straight to Val. The bartender placed the two drinks in front of me and I waited five minutes before I pulled the little paper umbrella from the glass and lifted the straw to my lips.
I averted my eyes back to the other end of the bar and noticed Maryann and Val had disappeared from the crowd.
“Those things are lethal,” a voice said from behind me, forcing me to spin around on the bar stool and stare at the most handsome man I ever laid eyes on.
The first thing I noticed was his clothes. He wasn’t dressed like the other men. His charcoal gray suit looked as if it was tailor made for him. He opted to wear a black turtleneck under the suit, no button down, collar popping shirt for the handsome stranger before me. He did however engage in the fad of gold chains. My eyes zeroed in on the crucifix dangling from the thick, gold rope chain hanging around his neck. I lifted my eyes to his face and was greeted by a smile I’d never forget.
His eyes drifted toward the two drinks that sat in front of me to the empty stool beside me.
“May I?”
“Sure,” I said, twirling back around to face the bar as he slipped onto the stool and signaled for the bartender.
He ordered a Martini, dry with extra olives as I toyed with the paper umbrella and brought my drink to my lips for another sip. The song changed, Tavares filtered the nightclub with their hit, ‘More Than a Woman’.
“What’s your name, beautiful?” He asked, casually draping an arm over the back of my stool.
“Grace,” I said, mesmerized by the way he stared so intently at me.
“Grace,” he repeated, testing the name on his tongue, grinning once he decided he liked the way it sounded.
“And who are you?” I stammered, taking another sip, hoping to calm my nerves. This man had the power to undo me with a simple glance.
“Me? I’m the man who’s going to marry you one day,” he said pointedly.
I nearly spat my drink out.
“That’s pretty presumptuous don’t you think?” Or cocky depending on who you ask, I added silently.
He grinned at me as he lifted his hand and ran his index finger down my cheek.
“Watch and see, Gracie,” he promised, dropping his hand but keeping his gaze locked on me. “The name is Victor, Victor Pastore.”
It is so easy to forget those first blissful moments when you meet the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with. Instead, we harbor the resentment life has brought upon us and lose touch of the magic that brought two unsuspecting strangers together.
Sitting across from the man I love for the final time I wonder how I ever let myself become so jaded by the trials and tribulations we stumbled upon in our years together. Why did I let the heartache trump the happiness? Why couldn’t I hang on to all the times he made me smile, all the times I looked into his eyes and knew I was his one and only. Why wasn’t the love we created enough to outweigh the torment of the mob?
From New York Times Bestseller, Corinne Michaels, comes a new friends to lovers standalone romance.![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00074]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inkslingerpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/SYWM-Full-Wrap-1024x735.jpg)
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