KATHLEEN HOPE

The words never came and they never left my mouth, instead I just pressed my lips against his and kissed him more passionately than I have ever kissed in my entire life. All of the pain, jealousy, and attraction that I had to hide from myself came bubbling to the surface and I couldnt help myself from finally giving in. At first, he was shocked by my embrace, but he began to move his soft lips against mine. He wrapped his arms around my body and leaned back, pulling me on top of him as his hands roamed over my backside. His touch was electric and he left a trail of goosebumps everywhere his fingertips grazed. I felt as if I were in a dream again.His kiss grew deeper before he gently bit my lip. I moaned as he...

As if theyd practiced, the men pulled my legs apart, opening me to their touch. The sensations started to run together as they teased the moist flesh with their fingers. My body was on fire! Id never been so aroused in my life. The combination of their fingers inside me and their mouths on my breasts was driving me insane and I felt my orgasm coming. I squirmed beneath them. Wait, I whispered.Carlo lifted his head. Wait? Why?I opened my mouth to tell him that I was this close to...

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to find and apprehend the known billionaire real estate tycoon turned money launderer, Mason Sims. My partner Evan Brown shook his head, snorting. I think this is a bullshit assignment myself. Why would anyone with that much moolah need to launder money? I dont get it. What did we do to the Chief that hes giving us this crappy assignment? It was my turn to shake my head. Youre such a drama queen, Evan, I said, taking a sip of my coffee. Besides, Chief said he isnt sure that its Sims doing it. He looks clean on paper. Too clean if you ask me. So if he isnt the one, he damn sure knows who is. That Ill lay money on. Evan pulled our rented Ferrari up at the front of the Sphinx Nightclub. It was one of the most exclusive clubs in the city. You had to know someone who slept with someone who had money to even get in the door. Only the wealthiest played here. And tonight, Evan and I were...

So where are we partying tonight? I glanced at my best friend and band mate Erica. Lets get through the show first, huh? Then well party like the rock stars we are. Erica grinned at me. Since when do you worry about the show? Youre always on point. I tossed my hair back. Yeah I am. Im also a little needy if you know what I mean. She nodded. I do indeed. She paused to apply the blood red lipstick she favored. Wait, what happened with JD? I thought yall were good. Was that a gray hair? No freaking way! I thought. My hair was still ink black and long. But my grandmother had been a premature gray. Aw hell no. Gotta get rid of that. Angel? Girl, you need to leave whatever youre smoking alone. You zoned out again. I gave her a droll stare. You know I dont do that. I was just thinking. What did you say? I said I thought you and JD were cool. JD was the drummer for our band. He was hot with his long silky blond hair and green eyes. I felt a stirring inside just thinking about his hard body. He was the kind of guy I went for, muscular, tattooed and pierced. And he was a beast in bed. He liked me, I could tell by the way he dropped hints and stuff. But he was just a friend with benefits. I wasnt interested in being tied down to anyone right now. I was young and interested in being on top of the rock and roll world. I wanted to be as big as my dad was. Hes been dropping hints about us taking things to the next level but Im fine with the way things are. I dont want to be in a relationship. I need my freedom. Erica nodded in agreement and gave herself one last look in the mirror. I hear you on that one, Ang. I was having that same conversation with Javier. I need to be free to sample whats out there. Besides, one day, the right one is going to come along and youll change your mind and settle down. I laughed. Ha. I doubt that. Im not the settling down type. I like to be free to come and go as I please. Do what I want. And who you want? Of course. Erica gave herself one last look in the mirror before she straightened. Maybe when were too old to rock, well get domesticated. I followed her out of the dressing room. Thatll be the day. Youre never too old to...

The concert hall was packed. But then, it was always full when Marco Andalucci came to town. I have attended every concert hes given here in our town since I was a little girl. I sat in the cushioned chair between my father and my sister, Hazel, waiting for the concert to begin. My mother, Anna Christina flipped the program over, looking at the names of the pieces to be performed. Papa grunted, shifting in his chair as he tugged at his tie. He hated dressing up and much more preferred his usual work attire while working in the vineyard our family owned. Oh how I hate this tie, he grumbled tugging at it again. I patted him 0n the arm. But you look so handsome, Papa. You are by far the handsomest man in the whole hall. He continued to grumble a bit but the corners of his mouth curved and his eyes were twinkling, letting me know that he wasnt angry. He secretly liked coming to the concerts. And more, he knew that Mama, Hazel and I also enjoyed getting all dressed up and coming to see the performances. After a few moments, the lights dimmed signaling the start of the...

And in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The weekend had officially begun. I turned my computer off and gathered the papers that the students had turned in from all of my classes today. While I was so looking forward to reading their essays about the Greek gods and goddesses, I wanted some time to just unwind. It had been a stressful week with all the meetings, writing lesson plans and reading the passages that Id assigned my students to read. I just wanted to curl up with a book and veg out. My cell phone vibrated signaling a text message. I finished packing my laptop in my bag and shoved the folder with the essays into the other pocket before I picked it up. Dinner tonight? We got plans to make. I grinned as I texted back. Definitely. At our usual spot? Of course. Where else? All of a sudden, the tiredness of the day was gone and I headed from my office to my car. I was going out tonight...

Youre damn well going to cooperate or Im going to shove you so far up that tailpipe youll be breathing fumes for a month. Carolina cursed breathlessly, a much more serious threat had she been speaking to something other than the rusted bolts under the hood of the Ford Escort in front of her.Shed spent seventeen minutes trying to figure out what was wrong with the wretched car. Finally finding the problem, shed spent the past eight minutes trying to loosen the blasted bolt that seemed to have been welded on permanently with rust.But her threat must have worked because with one more desperate turn of her wrench, the bolt gave way, turning at least a quarter-inch. She dropped the wrench on the ground and cried out victoriously. The war might not be over, but shed won this battle and she was damn well going to celebrate iteven if that celebration was confined to a few brief seconds of gloating in the otherwise empty garage to a hodgepodge of vehicles all waiting their turn for her ministrations.OK. Celebration over.Barely noon, it had been a long day already, and with a weeks backlog of jobs, she wasnt getting out of the shop anytime soonif ever. Wiping her damp brow, she turned to retrieve the wrench shed carelessly tossed behind her and nearly ran into the solid

Wellup, theyre at it again.I looked up from putting hazelnut creamer in my coffee. Why are you all in their business, Hannah? Leave them alone, will ya?My sister turned back to face me. Um, how am I supposed to enjoy my front lawn when all I see is them kissing and groping each other?I swallowed a bit of the coffee. So then dont look.How can I not? They are right there!I shook my head at my sister. She always exaggerated everything and made a big deal out of things that were minor. I jokingly called her the drama queen.After she stomped out of the kitchen still mumbling, I stood and went over to the window. The neighbors were still outside. The wife was helping her husband wash his pretty blue truck. I could see her laughing as he sprayed her with water. Though I couldnt hear them through the closed window. He grabbed her around the waist and swung her around before kissing her. After sharing a few, kisses, she took him by the hand and they disappeared into the garage.I sighed and washed my cup out. I didnt have time to worry and speculate about what our neighbors were or werent doing in their yard that they paid taxes for. I ran upstairs and grabbed my bag.Hannah! I yelled. Are you coming or what?Yeah. Hold your...

In 1885, Daisy Mary Fields lives with her parents and four sisters on Thunder Ranch in the Arizona Territory, right outside the gates of Fort Huachuca the regimental headquarters of the U.S. Army Fourth Cavalry.When Captain Brian Andrews comes to Thunder Ranch to buy horses, he is shown the Thoroughbred remounts that Daisys father raises in hopes of providing faster and stronger horses for the soldiers. Though the army isnt convinced that the blood of fragile, hot-headed racehorses is what the cavalry needs, Daisy is swept away by the handsome young captain from the start though the first time she sees him, shes wearing mens clothes and he takes her for a teenage boy.To prove their worth and save the ranch, it falls to Daisy to ride one of the ranchs Thoroughbred stallions in a race against the tough little mustang cavalry horses. But shell have to ride against Captain Andrews, who does not want to marry a woman who would compete with him. Daisy can only maintain her boys disguise and hope he doesnt find out.The fate of Thunder Ranch and of Daisy herself all rides on one four-mile race through the Arizona mountains.

She pulled him up into a lip-locked kiss, nodding when she felt his cock brush against her, touch questioning.He entered her and made her feel full. She hadnt even seen him put on the condom, and she had never been better prepared for sex than she was that evening. Months of pressure she hadnt even begun to suspect was building up inside her was let loose, every muscle relaxed and ready to follow the steady rhythm their bodies fell into as naturally as sleep. Later she would marvel that she had entirely forgotten...

Once they were in the elevator, Troy crowded Adrian against the wall, kissing him slowly and making him moan. Antonio stroked his back, hand drifting down to cup Troys arse, whispering about how beautiful they both were.Finally the elevator tone rang out and the door slid open. They tumbled into the hallway, quickly getting down to their room and getting the door open. Troy shut the door behind them and Adrian pinned Antonio against the wall, kissing him again and grinding against him. Troy moved behind him and held his hips. Is that what you want? he asked. You want to be in the middle...?

WARNING - This story has hot and steamy sexual menage content and is not suitable for all ages. 18+You like that, baby? Ryan murmured to her.You know I do, she answered breathlessly. Keeping his hand busy, Ryan pulled my leg over his shoulder. The first touch of his mouth against me damn near sent me over the edge. Mewling sounds that I didnt recognize as being mine came from my throat. His tongue was everywhere, delving and licking. I gripped his hair, pressing my hips against his seeking mouth. Ryan grunted and slid a finger inside me to join in his tongue play. I wanted to...

If Katherine had to put up with one more impatient, obnoxious pig of a customer today, she was going to scream. No, that wasnt satisfying enough. One more customer like that and she was going to dump the steaming pot of coffee right in his lap. That would teach them! Sure, it would also get her fired and leave her homeless in two weeks when she couldnt pay her rent. But sometimes, it almost seemed worth it. Almost, but not quite.So, taking a deep, calming breath, she replaced the coffee pot, smiled at the man signaling angrily to her from across the congested dining room and forced her feet to walk toward the customer she would henceforth refer to as Angry Man.Good evening, sir. What can I get for you today? she queried with a smile still plastered on her face. But just as the scowling man opened his mouth to respond, the door opened wide and out of the corner of her eye she saw the group walking in. Damn it! Her brother Dylan, with his entourage of mindless lackeys. It was disruptive, to say the least, when her brother decided to drop in on a slow day, never mind during a dinner rush with a dining room teeming with irritated customers.Just one moment, sir, she excused herself, cutting off Angry Man mid-sentence, and hurried toward Dylan. What are you doing here? she whispered fiercely without preamble.Its nice to see you too, sis...

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July, 1863 "Run, Christopher! Theyre right behind us. Get that nag moving. Were almost at the camp, but theyre closing in on both sides!" Major Theodore Fields spurred his own small horse and drove it through the darkness of the forest path. He could hear the labored breathing of his brothers horse behind him. "Christopher, youre dropping back! Come on! Just follow me!" "I cant!" called his brother. "You go! Your horse is in better shape than mine. This ones too small and just worn out. You go. You have to get back home!" Theodore ground his teeth and cursed their luck. His own horse, Pitch, so dark he was nearly black, was hidden by the night and had enough strength left to get him back to the Union Army camp. But Christophers horse "You should have demanded a better mount!" said Theodore. But most of the U.S. Army horses were even poorer than Pitch. Most were like Cracker, the weedy little cream-colored scrub his brother rode now, and hardly worth the hay it took to feed them. Cracker was so pale in color that you could see...

"And my name is Ethan, he grinned at his impromptu introduction as his hands left her hips then to travel upward. His fingers grazed her ribs, outlined the sides of her breasts and continued around to the upper swells, pushed up by the satin fabric of her bra. He trailed a single finger down in between her tits and Ava shivered in response. His fingers continued to tease her, grazing over her nipples just as her own fingers had done that morning, In that moment, the image of the bears piercing eyes flashed through her mind and she looked up into those same eyes before her now. She knew then that Ethan had spoken the truth. And for some reason, that made him all the more difficult to resist. When his hands cupped her tits, she moaned and her body arched toward him instinctively.In the next moment, his hands had left her body and her eyes met his once again, questioning.I want to see you naked, Ava. I want you to bare every inch of your body to me, he whispered, a hard edge to his tone as he gritted back his own desire.Looking in his eyes"

I looked at the library around me and smiled. I had finally landed the job Id wanted, one I imagined I would probably have for some time. I had just graduated a few months ago from college, and, while all of my other friends were struggling, limping through internships at best or not doing anything even remotely related to their major at worst, I was in my career already, at age twenty-four. It was glorious.This was my first week at...

Allen stopped what he was doing to watch the battered pickup come up the drive. He adjusted his hat and leaned against the rail while the gravel crunched underneath the wheels. Finally the truck came to a stop in front of him. He couldnt help but smile as a dark haired, green eyed man climbed out of the truck. He gave Allen an appraising look and Allen could well imagine what was going through his head. How young he was for this job, was he even talking to the right person, what was he getting into?Stepping away from the rail, Allen offered his hand. You must be Bill?Yeah, he said, taking it. He had a firm grip. Allen, right? We spoke on the phone?Yep. Come on inside and Ill show you the maps. Boss thinks we should sell off that stand of trees that was damaged in the last storm...

Dave reluctantly got to his feet, pulling Joey up as well. They ran through the rain and the storm to their cabin laughing as they got inside and tumbled onto Joeys bunk. Oh, we are so sleeping in yours when were done. Mines going to be soaked. Joey rolled them over so he was on top, reaching for the button of Daves jeans.You wont hear any complaints from me. With the power out, its going to get cold tonight. Dave stripped off his shirt and tugged at Joeys pulling it over his head.Joey kissed him and got up to open the locker. Youre okay with this? he asked, shucking his pants and underwear...

Thats it. Ive had it with men, Abby, Ella fumed as she cut the umpteenth photo of her most recent ex-boyfriend into tiny pieces.Her very recent ex-boyfriend, in fact. Just hours ago shed walked into his apartment in the middle of the afternoon, intending to surprise him after arriving home early from a weekend work conference. Well, shed certainly surprised him, and the woman whod been riding him like a horse was shocked to see Ella there, too.Ella hadnt freaked out at him like shed seen so many times in movies and on television. Shed held it together quite well for the brief time she remained in the apartment.Dont let me interrupt your riding session, shed told the woman. Though you may want to put blinders on this one; he seems to stray easily, Ella finished before turning and walking out.Shed held it together long enough to make it home before...

Marigold Eleanor Fields is the fourth of the five Fields sisters, and has always felt like she didnt quite fit in. She is tall and thin where they are petite and pretty, and though she would like to marry she has had little attention from the men even from the many soldiers at nearby Fort Huachuca in the Arizona Territory.Things seem to be looking up when Marigold finds herself being courted by handsome young Sgt. Kevin Shepherd. But though he seems to like her, she begins to suspect that he may only be using a friendship with her to get to her beautiful and charming younger sister, Violet Anne.Marigold begins to feel a little desperate and decides to resort to somewhat desperate measures in order to keep the attentions of Sgt. Shepherd. But she may go too far in trying to make herself something she is not.