The Virgin's Revenge (29 page)

Authors: Dee Tenorio

“
Inconveniences
?” Shock gave way to the black scowl she recognized as a very bad sign. Worse, he didn’t open the door and go through it. “What the fu—hell is going on, Penelope?”

Well, he was still in control of his temper enough to censor his language. Not that Chloe particularly needed it.

“Nothing. Nothing is going on. You just need to go and let me handle this with my daughter.” If she put a little too much emphasis on the word
my
, really now, who could blame her?

Except his scowl deepened and she decided that maybe he could. Raul’s temper had been legendary when they were teenagers. He’d gotten it out of his system, she was sure, because he’d earned the rank of captain before coming home to join the local firefighters squad. Not that she thought he’d ever hurt her, but he did still have a habit of roaring a place down in a virulent mix of English and Spanish. With a host of patients in her waiting room, that could not happen.

“Look, Raul, this isn’t the time or the place to talk about this.”

“Then I’ll wait right here until there is a time and a place.” He widened his stance and crossed his arms to plant himself right in the way.

“You can’t be serious.” Please, God, don’t let him be serious.

But he was. The hard smile that registered more as a threat than a grin told her he was.

The last twelve years never felt as heavy on her shoulders at they did at that moment. She glanced at Chloe, but her daughter was busy staring at Raul with a hopeful hero worship, and the pressure grew heavier. This wasn’t going away.

Ever since he’d come back home, she’d expected this. Waited for him to look at Chloe whenever their paths crossed and wonder. Like she wondered. Like anyone with a pair of eyes probably wondered. Or a pair of ears, once Chloe got going with the swearing. Penelope had been lucky to have made it so long. She just hadn’t counted on having to explain today. Or having to explain to Chloe, not for years.

“It’s my long day. I’m on until six.” A weak protest.

“I can wait.”

She’d just bet he could. Pressing her lips together until it stung, Penelope darted a look at Chloe. “Behave. Find a book and read. Quietly,” she added, because if one wasn’t specific, Chloe found loopholes in the simplest of commands.

Her daughter didn’t argue, which was almost as worrying as the conversation there was no escaping. Almost, but not quite.

Thirteen stories up. Two broken hearts. One last chance…

Shaken

Surgeon Grant Sullivan’s once-perfect life lies in ruins. His daughter is gone—lost in a tragic accident he dare not allow himself to remember—and his beautiful wife now stares at him from across a legal table, insisting she wants nothing from him.

Julia Sullivan lost everything, especially her illusions about her marriage, after the accident. Her grief only seemed to drive Grant further into his emotional shell—except for the nights he turned to her in silent, furious passion. Unable to live like a ghost in her old life, she’s packed up what’s left of her broken heart and is ready to move on. Alone.

Determined to break their stalemate, Grant follows Julia onto the elevator just in time for an earthquake. Trapped for hours in a building pressure cooker of unspoken pain, he’ll do anything to remind her what she’s leaving behind, as deliciously as he can. But giving her what she needs to save their marriage is the one thing that could destroy his soul.

Warning:
Heartbreak and passion ahead—desperate doctor determined to save his marriage at any cost…except for the one secret his wife will do anything to uncover.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Shaken:

Julia leaned against the wall of the elevator car, watching her husband come ever closer, each step a slow, stalking movement. She could still taste him on her lips, knew what he planned to do if she let him close enough. The question was whether or not she wanted to.

No, that wasn’t even a question.

Whether she
should
.

Her body shook, not in fear—she could never be afraid of Grant—but with need. That kiss ignited too many feelings, awakening something in her that had been blessedly numb since she’d left their home. Desire.

He stood almost over her now, their bodies nearly touching. His warmth called to her, his breath. If she wanted him, all she had to do was reach out and touch. Undo the buttons on that gray shirt, find the muscled flesh beneath. Then she’d be able to press her face to his skin, taste it with wet, sucking kisses that made him groan deep in his chest. Her fingers itched, ready to seek out the muscled ripples along his ribs.

She tightened them on the metal handrail instead.

This was why she’d left. Because Grant turned every quiet moment, every opportunity to talk, into sex. He disappeared from her emotionally, verbally, physically in every way except for the moments he was stripping her. Pleasuring her. Filling her until she screamed from the raw pleasure of it. And then he’d always leave her afterward. Leave her more alone with each experience, until she felt as if there were nothing left of her. She couldn’t face it again.

“This is hardly the place for what you’re thinking,” she said, but the argument lacked the strength she knew it needed.

“This is the only place we have left, don’t you think?” His fingertip touched her jaw, soft as a feather, tilting her face up to his. “Haven’t you missed this, Julia?”

So much her body, her soul, ached day and night.

His lips grazed hers. “I feel like I’m breathing again for the first time in months.” Firmer pressure…or had she lifted onto her toes to press closer? She wasn’t sure. “Like my heart’s beating again, just touching you.”

Hers, too. Beating so fast it felt like a flutter.

His fingers left her jaw, the backs of them trailing down her neck to the collar of her blouse, which felt like it was strangling her. He tugged on the tie, gently. Asking permission. God, how she wanted to give it to him.

She stared up, his face so close to hers, but his gaze was on the tie at her neck. His black lashes spread like thick fans just above his stark cheekbones. So haggard, so…lost. She lifted her hand to his cheek, his heavy stubble tickling her palm. If she gave in, though, he’d be gone in a heartbeat…

It hit her then. Gone where? They were trapped. He couldn’t walk away this time. Couldn’t leave her behind. Couldn’t hide from her questions. Her love.

Against all her better judgment, hope flared in her heart.

“Let me touch you, Jules,” he whispered roughly, lowering his mouth to the corner of hers. Slowly he made his way down her body, touching but not taking. Almost as if he couldn’t help himself. Until he knelt before her, hands on her thighs, waiting. Watching her. “Let me make it better.”

God, did she have the strength? Could she take one more risk, after everything she’d already lost? Her daughter, her marriage… Could she bear it if she tried to reach for her husband and everything she feared about their relationship was true?

Could she bear it if she was wrong and never took the opportunity to find out for sure?

Closing her eyes, she finally let go of the rail. She reached blindly for his hands, guiding them to the hem of her skirt…and underneath. Her breath slipped out in a rush when he began lifting the fabric, sliding the skirt higher and higher up her thighs.

Her breath disappeared.

The Virgin’s Revenge

Dee Tenorio

If you can’t beat ’em…seduce ’em.

A
Rancho del Cielo
Romance

Amanda Jackman’s love life is the stuff dreams are made of...which is fitting, because it’s all in her head. Thanks to six oversized, overbearing brothers who treat her like the family jewel, she’s lived in a padded little box.

Determined to get a life before she needs a padded little cell, she sets out to throw off the yoke and live on her own terms. Except she seriously underestimates the lengths to which her brothers will go to keep her safe and sound.

Cole Engstrom’s life might just be at an end. Cornered by all six of the massive Jackmans—men he normally considers his friends—he learns he’s their choice to marry their sister...or else. Make that
first
choice, but not the last.

Rather than watch Amanda’s brothers club their way through potential mates, Cole figures it’s best to just play along for a while and buy her some time to find a man of her own. It’s a good plan. Until Amanda figures it out—and decides he’s the one to relieve her of her “sheltered little virgin” status. One seduction at a time...

Warning: This sexy romp of a book contains a virgin, a man and a plan. Game. On.

eBooks are
not
transferable.

They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

Cincinnati OH 45249

The Virgin’s Revenge

ISBN: 978-1-60928-866-2

Edited by Jennifer Miller

Cover by Valerie Tibbs

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: July 2012

www.samhainpublishing.com

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