Authors: Nona Raines
With his back toward her, he said, "You run like a scared little rabbit the minute my stupid-ass brother opens his stupid-ass mouth. You don't even give me a chance to explain. I deserved better."
Shame filled Andie when she realized how unfair she had been, how cowardly and self-centered. "I
am
a scared little rabbit. If I was ever fearless, it's because of you. You're the only man who's ever made me feel safe enough to take that risk." She reached out and touched his arm. "Matthew..."
He moved away from her, and her heart withered. He wasn't going to make this easy for her. All right, then. This was her penance.
Andie's hands fell helplessly to her side and her throat constricted. "I'm sorry." It was all she could say.
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"Don't ever do that to me again." He faced her now with fire in his eyes. "Do you hear me? And no more putting yourself down. No more comparing me to some idiot you were with before. I don't want any more of that shit."
"I promise."
His gaze bored into her. "All right."
They still had some unfinished business. She looked up at him. "About my dad."
He stiffened. "I shouldn't have gone off on you like that."
"You were right, though. And I'm not babying him anymore. I've even gone to some Al-Anon meetings. I learned I can't change my father, I can only change how I react to him. It's helped me a lot."
"That's good. I'm glad."
She took a step toward him. "Maybe you...would you like to go with me sometime?"
Uncertainty briefly passed over his features. Then he nodded and smiled. "Sure. Maybe I can learn something, too."
Andie released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "I'm glad you came to my rescue tonight, even if I didn't need it. I missed you."
Suddenly she was in his arms. Andie knew there wasn't any place else she wanted to be. She nuzzled against his chest and breathed in his scent.
"Andie." His breath brushed her ear. "If I came to save you today, it was to save you for myself. I don't want you to be with anyone but me."
"Matthew."
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He pulled away slightly, and his eyebrows rose at the serious expression on her face.
"You're an amazing man, and I'm pretty sure I've fallen in love with you. Head over heels in love." Her heart thudded as she waited for his reaction.
"Really?" Matthew murmured, gazing into Andie's eyes.
She nodded and swallowed hard, her mouth too dry to speak.
"That's funny," he told her. "'Cause I'm pretty sure I feel the same way."
His head lowered to hers and their lips met. Andie delighted in the feel of Matthew's mouth softly but hungrily exploring her own.
One good man. Tania had told her that was all she needed.
Andie knew in her soul Matthew was that man.
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About the Author
Nona Raines became hooked on romances when she first picked up "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen Woodiwiss (and she's not telling how long ago that was). Romances may have changed since then, but her love for a good love story has not. She's been writing off and on for years, but when she joined the Central New York Romance Writers Association she finally gained the support and confidence she needed to complete a manuscript. Nona lives in upstate New York with her many pets and is currently working on her next novel.
She is thrilled to be among the Scarlet Rose authors.
Visit Nona at
www.nonaraines.com
To chat with Nona and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
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Also Available
* * * *
by
Nona Raines
The biggest mistake of Elyse Zemanski's life was falling in love with Adam. When a night of sexual fantasy went too far, she was crushed and couldn't leave town fast enough.
The biggest mistake of Adam Vostek's life was letting Elyse go. He'd been afraid of the love she promised and pushed her away—into another man's arms...and bed.
When Elyse returns to Summit to help a friend, Adam wants a second chance to prove he's worthy—in and out of the bedroom. She claims she's over him but one look from those smoldering dark eyes, and she throws caution to the wind. Elyse offers him seven days of wild sex, hoping to get him out of her system. Adam's good to go on the sex. But will a week be enough to win back Elyse's love and trust?
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She felt the bed shift as he eased out of it, nude, and padded across the room. Elyse turned to her side, watching through her lashes as he picked up the clothing he'd draped over a chair, and slipped into the bathroom. She closed her eyes for a moment, listening to the water run. Then she slid from beneath the sheet.
Once her feet hit the floor, Elyse gathered her own garments, scattered around the cheap carpet of the motel room—panties, short, flirty skirt, and glittery top. When she put them on last night, she thought they were sexy. Now they looked sleazy. She wriggled into them and looked for her shoes. No hose. Since it was summer, she'd gone bare legged.
She scanned the floor for her gold strappy sandals with the high heels. Fuck-me shoes. Right. One lay near the dresser but Elyse couldn't locate the other. Screw it. If she had to, she'd go barefoot. She needed to get out of here.
She crept to the bathroom door in her bare feet, and softly knocked. Opening the door, she noted the grungy tiles on the wall and the faded shower curtain. Jason stood at the sink, toweling the water off his face. His pants were on, his chest bare.
Earlier that evening, Elyse had been struck by his movie-star good looks—the dark wavy hair, square jaw, and intensely blue eyes. Even now, after all their sexual hi-jinx, he looked like he'd just stepped off the cover of GQ.
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She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and winced.
Unlike Jason, she was a mess. Her blonde hair was a rat's nest, her makeup so smeared she resembled a ghoul.
Jason's eyes were still sleepy. "Need to use it?"
"No. I—can you give me a ride home?"
The sleepy blue eyes widened a bit in surprise. "You're leaving now?"
"Yes, can you take me? Please?" She hated adding that please, hated how needy it sounded.
"All right." He draped the towel over his shoulder. "Sure."
"Thanks." Her throat was tight, her eyes stung. "I'll wait for you outside."
She longed to use the shower, to stand under the hot water and let the sweat and stickiness wash away. How long would it take to make her feel clean again? An hour? A week?
A hundred years?
At the bedroom door, Elyse spotted her other sandal, under the bed. She hesitated. It was bad enough to make the walk of shame to Jason's car in her hootchie outfit. Despite her earlier bravado, she didn't want to do it barefoot as well.
Eyeing the bed nervously, she crept over and hunkered down to grab her shoe. She gave one last look toward the bed—and the man sleeping in it—then hurried out the door.
Adam Vostek lay alone on the bed in the no-tell motel.
He'd pretended to sleep as Elyse left with Jason. Adam's insides were as twisted as the sheets he lay beneath.
This whole threesome thing had been his bright idea, his set-up. He'd pushed for it, telling himself it was just a lark, a 202
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little fun. He'd be giving Elyse every woman's fantasy, two men devoted to her pleasure. Nobody would get hurt.
Yeah, right.
Vostek, you're a lying sack of shit. And a cowardly son of a
bitch, besides.
If it was such a good idea, why had Elyse looked like she might burst into tears when he suggested it? If it was so much fun, why had his guts churned as he watched Jason touch her? Why had Adam wanted to pull her out of the other man's arms and snarl, "She's mine"?
But they'd both gone through with it. And Elyse had chosen to leave with a man she only met tonight, rather than stay with him.
He should have stopped her from leaving. Even now, Adam knew he should get out of bed, get dressed, and go after her.
Make it better somehow. Ask for forgiveness. Tell her how much he loved her.
But he wouldn't. For the same reason he'd maneuvered the others into the whole menage game. Because he had to make Elyse let him go. And the only way to do that was to make her hate him.
Elyse stared out the passenger's window of Jason's sports car. She didn't know a Mustang from a Maserati, but she recognized expensive when she saw it. "Nice car."
"Thanks."
Well, that exhausted her store of conversation. What
did
proper etiquette dictate after the course of a threesome?
"Thanks
so
much. It was lovely. We
must
do this again sometime."
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Not.
What could she say that wasn't lame?
I've never done that
before?
Like he'd believe her. Or even care.
What difference did it make, anyway? It wasn't like they knew each other. Except in the biblical sense. Some sick impulse almost made her laugh at the thought.
Jason spoke. "Won't he be upset? To find you gone?"
Avoiding his gaze, Elyse shrugged.
He didn't let up. "Are you running away? Is that what this is?"
Elyse clamped her lips firmly together. She didn't owe him any explanations.
Jason took the hint. He sighed and dropped the subject.
"What's the address again?"
"344 Woodside Lane."
Elyse smirked. Woodside Lane. As though giving the street a countrified name would keep people from noticing they lived in the dumpiest part of Summit, New York. Keep them from noticing the empty storefronts and the broken sidewalks littered with trash.
She indicated the turn and had him pull over to the curb.
"Here it is, right here."
Jason blinked, gazing at the building. "It's a Laundromat."
Her reply was short. "I live upstairs."
What's the matter,
rich boy, not glam enough for you?
She hated Jason for his fancy car, for his designer clothes, and for his upper class surprise at her digs.
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She hated herself for her slutty get-up, crummy neighborhood, and nasty apartment above the Sud-Zee Laundromat.
But most of all, she hated Adam, still asleep at the New Moon Motel. The man who, until tonight, she loved without reservation.
She swung the car door open and got out, surprised to see Jason emerging from his side. "What are you—look, you don't need to—"
"It's two a.m.," he told her. "I'm not letting you go up alone."
"The door's right there. I've got my key out. I'll be fine."
"You still have to go upstairs." His voice was firm. "I'm coming with you."
"Fine."
Let him do what he wanted, it was easier than arguing. It wasn't as though she had to worry about him making a move on her. Been there, done that.
Jason accompanied her to the outside door, which she unlocked, then followed her upstairs to her apartment. Elyse unlocked that door as well and stepped inside. "Thanks for the ride." She tossed the words over her shoulder, dismissing him.
She bent to pick up the little tortoiseshell kitten that greeted her, and kissed the top of the cat's soft head.
"Hi, baby."
Tucking Jezebel in the crook of her arm, Elyse carried her to the bedroom and deposited her on the bed. The kitten curled up. Elyse knew sleep was out of the question—she was 205
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too angry, too keyed-up. Her mind raced. Her emotions were a tangle. Reaching under the bed, she pulled out a battered old hard-shell suitcase. She began to fill it with the sad contents of her dresser drawers.
"What are you doing?"
She jumped, her heart stopping. Jason stood in the doorway.
"Why the hell are you still here?" she demanded.
"You're upset. I wanted to make sure you're all right."
"I'm fine." She grabbed her collection of paperback fantasy novels from a cheap bookshelf and dumped them into the suitcase as well.
"
What
are you doing?" Jason repeated, stepping into the room.
She crammed as much as she could into the suitcase, and struggled to get it closed. Cheap-ass thing. She couldn't get it fastened. "Shit." Her finger got pinched in the metal closure.
"Ow! Oh, shit. Fuck!" She jammed the finger in her mouth, sucking, tears stinging her eyes.
"Here." Jason took her by the arm, sat her on the bed. He easily snapped the locks shut, then sat down beside Elyse.
They were silent for some time. Jason's neatly manicured hands were stroking little Jezebel, who was curled on a pillow.
"Pretty little cat." he remarked.
"Thanks."
Then he sighed. "What are you doing, Elyse?"
"Just what you said. Running away." She glanced at the suitcase. It now contained all her worldly goods. Whatever didn't fit inside, she'd leave behind and never miss. Whoever 206
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rented the apartment after her was welcome to them. She didn't care if the landlord put them out on the curb. It didn't matter.
She was leaving the place without proper notice, so she wouldn't get her security deposit back. Too bad—she could use the money.
She had thirty six dollars and change in her purse. It wouldn't get her very far.
Jason spoke. "What about Adam?"
Her heart thunked at the mention of his name. "What about him?"