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RED SAGE PUBLISHING, INC. :: * * * PAPERBACK :: SECRETS VOLUME 19 TIMELESS PASSIONS Saskia Walker, Kathleen Scott, R. Ellen Ferare, Elisa Adams (Paperback)
By reading this, you are stating that you are 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.
SECRETS VOLUME 19 TIMELESS PASSIONS Trade Paperback Copyright © Saskia Walker, Kathleen Scott, R. Ellen Ferare, Elisa Adams, 2006 All Rights Reserved, RED SAGE PUBLISHING, INC. Listen to what reviewers have to say about SECRETS VOLUME 19 Red Sage Publishing’s Secrets Volumes have long been, to me, a defining presence in the romantica/hot and steamy genre. Always willing to take a chance on new and talented authors, the Secrets Anthologies have set a very high bar and continue to reach it time and time again. Their newest release SECRETS VOLUME 19 is a nice mix of paranormal genres: werewolves, science fiction, and magic. Kick back, relax and get ready for some well written hot reads!!!! ~Reviewed by Sarah Silversmith FOUR STARS! Vol. 19: "This is an eclectic mix of titles with plenty here to entertain all tastes. The heat and chemistry for all the couples is sexy and at time sweet and tender. All four authors provide fine short stories perfect for the quick read. The authors entertain while not making the reader feel as if they’ve been cheated by short word count. Ménage, time travel, historical and contemporary elements are all present." ~~~Kristi Ahlers - Romantic Times BOOKreviews Red Sage Publishing has once again brought together a group of talented authors to create a book filled with tales that will make your temperature rise. Have a glass of ice water handy, as it’s never a good idea to become overheated. :-) Get your copy of SECRETS VOLUME 19 today, and enjoy a variety of short stories perfectly written to help you escape from the real world if only for a little while. ~~~Lori Ann - Romance Reviews Today Another sensual edition to the SECRETS line that brings together historical, contemporary and futuristic tales that ensnares the mind and turns up the heat. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com WHAT YOU WISH FOR BY SASKIA WALKER REVIEWS WHAT YOU WISH FOR by Saskia Walker - Blue Ribbon Rating: 4.5 Lucy Chamber's home has historic significance. She enjoys it to the extreme. She can’t explain the man who occupies her dreams on a nightly basis and wishes that he were real. Lucy doesn’t know that her wish is about to come true thanks to the local witch. Lucy is sent back in time where she meets the man of her dreams, Cullen Thane. Cullen has his own wish that remarkably comes true. Will he be able to keep the woman he has found or will fate conspire to tear them apart? WHAT YOU WISH FOR is a time travel romance that will leave readers breathless in anticipation of what will happen next. Lucy is a real down to earth type of character and I liked her from the beginning of the story. Cullen is strong willed and you find yourself pulled into his indecision. He decides whether to keep his promise and fulfill his debt or stay with the woman he has come to love. Love scenes are chock full of heat and intensity you will need to be cooled off so make sure you have a fan nearby. Saskia Walker has done an excellent job of writing an adventure that draws the reader in. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com TO MY READER This magical tale was inspired by a magical place–Cornwall–the rugged, southwest peninsula of England. When I was a young girl, we used to visit the county often, and it set my imagination going with its myths, legends and its beautiful landscape. It was the sort of place you could imagine wishes coming true…. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could get what we wished for? My heroine, Lucy Chambers, does just that and I hope you’ll enjoy her wishes coming true as much as she does. Sweet dreams! EXCERPT FROM WHAT YOU WISH FOR That night Lucy's dream was vivid. Even though it was weighted with sleep, her skin hummed with anticipation. She moved beyond it and floated through the ether. She felt as if she were traveling, seeking him again. Rolling restlessly, she wandered in the mists of her dream world, her body alive with sensation, tossed from need to want and cast up on the shores of desire. Breathless, she sensed his presence move closer through the swirling mists. She clutched at the pillows, desperate for release. He was tantalizingly near, his handsome face looming over her, his eyes wild as he watched her. His breath moved across her skin, drawing a moan from her lips. A voice murmured her name. She reached for him, but he drew back, as if leading her. She struggled to follow, her will to find him fighting leaden limbs to reach out. She saw him walking ahead of her, reached out and touched his back. He stopped walking, began to turn. Then, through the mists, she heard voices in conversation. There were voices on the stairs. She wakened with a start, pushing back the sheet and sitting bolt upright. There was someone in the house. Burglars! Her heart rate shot up instantly, the blood rushing in her ears. She strained to hear, leaning forward on the bed. Sure enough, she heard another floorboard creak. Then, incredibly, a voice boomed out. “Be on your way, Nathaniel, and thank you for your hospitality. I’ll send you word of my whereabouts when I’m settled.” What in hell’s name was going on? The back of her neck prickled with tension, the palms of her hands fast growing damp. She pushed back her hair and tried to make sense of what she was hearing. It had to be burglars and there seemed to be at least two men, but they were chuckling and talking to each other in a very strange way. What the hell were they doing in her house? She climbed out of bed and crept across the floor so that she could hear more clearly. Moonlight carved a passage across the room and she went to step past it but froze when a board beneath her foot creaked. Dammit. She stopped dead. “Five years will turn over soon enough and I’ll do all I can to clear your name in preparation for your return. Until then, safe travel aboard the Gloriana. Rest well and take this purse.” The sound of disagreement followed. “Take it, please. Take these few small gifts to speed your passage. You’ll be comfortable here, oh and I left you a flask of rum and some food to be sure of it.” There was laughter and a mumbled thank you. “Just be clear of the house before mid-morn. The servant girl comes up from the town and I didn’t have time to tell her anyone would be taking rest here.” “Aye,” came the reply. “I’ll need to be on the look out for the Gloriana by then.” The sound of mutual backslapping reached her, and then one set of footsteps faded away down the stairs. One of them was staying, that much was clear. Silently, with her breath trapped in her lungs, she waited. Downstairs, she heard the front door closing. Then another floorboard on the landing creaked and the door to her bedroom was rattled and pushed wide open. A figure stepped into the room and into the wedge of moonlight that spilled from the window, revealing the intruder to her startled gaze. It was only the man himself. The man from her dreams, tall and fierce looking, but this time he looked solid, real, and he appeared to have a weapon hanging from his belt. A sword? Could it be that he had a sword? Burglars didn’t run around chatting at the top of their voices and wearing swords, surely not – not even in eccentric old Cornwall. She had to be dreaming. Yes, she realized with a sudden sense of dizzy relief. I’m dreaming about him again, right? Nevertheless, caution had automatically taken hold of her and she stepped back into the darkness against the wall, but not quick enough and not before the intruder caught sight of her. ABOUT THE AUTHOR SASKIA WALKER Saskia is a British writer who lives with her real life hero, Mark, and their big black cat in the north of England, close to the beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire moors. Because of her parent’s nomadic tendencies, Saskia grew up traveling the globe—an only child with a serious book habit. She dreamed of being a writer when she first read romance at the age of 12 and finally began writing seriously in the late 1990s. Since then she’s had short fiction published on both sides of the pond and is thrilled to be the first British author writing for Red Sage. TOYS IN THE ATTAIC BY R. ELLEN FERARE REVIEWS Toys In The Attic by Ellen R. Ferare - Blue Ribbon Rating: 4 Gabrielle checks into a hotel thinking she’s probably got the best room in the place. She is shocked and surprised when she finds out that her room comes with a very strange guest. A statue of a naked man that is life sized. Though she thinks it’s strange, she doesn’t make too much of it, until the statue comes to life and tells his story. It seems that he is cursed and longs to break the spell that holds him captive. Can Gabrielle be the one to help him finally get free of his frozen prison? TOYS IN THE ATTIC is an unusual tale that readers will find a refreshing change from the normal romance stories. I found myself pulled into this tale. Our heroine is a wonderful woman who is willing to help the hero in any way she can. A man trapped in stone, an evil spell, and the one woman who could change it all ensures that this story is one that won’t soon be forgotten. TOYS IN THE ATTIC is the first story I have read by Ellen R. Ferare. I can honestly say that I will be on the lookout for more of her work in the future. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com "Toys in the Attic" by E. Ellen Ferare. Her friend Rachel asks Gabrielle to check out a vacation place in Santa Cruz for her. She does and asks for the special attic as Rachel told her to do. The place is dumpy and the rain makes it worse except for the naked statue that comes to life, Gavin the cursed hunk who gives her the best orgasm of her life. ~~Harriet Klausner - REVIEWS TO MY READER Santa Cruz is a California beach town that cherishes individuality. A walk down Pacific Avenue can be counted on to illustrate the point. You might spot a young woman wearing nothing but two squares of duct tape and a pair of jeans, or a man wrapped in strategically molded aluminum foil. Fortunately for most people, no one is required to follow a creative dress code. Visitors can safely leave the foil and duct tape at home. If you ever do decide to visit, be sure to check out more than just the boardwalk. There are funky shops, wonderful bookstores, and good eats just a few blocks in from the beach. You can find some some nice Victorian B&Bs, too, but I'm sorry to say that none of them offer the extra amenities featured in this story… EXCERPT FROM TOYS IN THE ATTIC Gabrielle walked into the hotel's attic. The middle of the room was occupied by a huge brass bed, and a tall dresser of faded oak sat against the back wall. Besides those two pieces of furniture and the necessary plumbing, the room held nothing except an object draped with a dust cloth by the bed, about four feet tall and irregularly shaped. It was hard to tell what it might be. A sculpture? The landlady noted where her gaze had fallen and smiled a slow, inscrutable smile. "Enjoy your stay. Feel free to make use of the amenities." Still smirking, she withdrew from the room. Gabrielle waited until the door was safely closed before tossing her bag onto the mattress with a sigh of relief. "That woman is creepy," she muttered. After stashing her belongings in the dresser and shoving her bag against the wall, she walked over to the only secret the room held: the odd, cloth-covered thing positioned near the bed. Curious, she reached out to see what lay underneath. Before her fingers could touch it, all the hairs on her body rose, as if static electricity, or the caress of an unseen hand, had brushed her skin. The veil of fabric slithered to the floor in a pool of white silk, and the hidden object was laid bare. It was a sculpture, as she had guessed. A sculpture like nothing she'd ever seen. She faced a life-sized statue of a man kneeling with legs spread, his head thrown back and face contorted in an expression of pleasure/pain any consenting adult would recognize. The artist had captured him at the height of his ecstasy, just as the shudders of orgasm were cording the muscles in his neck and chest. He wore nothing but his skin, and his erection was thrust forward as if clutched inside a woman. One hand was raised to cup the breast of his unseen partner, the fingers of the other curved around her invisible waist. Gabrielle could picture exactly where the woman would be: straddling him, chest to chest, thrusting with him as he climaxed. It was the most stunningly erotic thing she had ever seen. She reached out a hand to touch the muscles of his chest, and the contours felt real, though cold and metallic, as if her fingers glided over chilled skin. Even the individual strands in his shoulder-length mane had been sculpted, the down on his arms, the thatch at his groin. She closed her hand around his forearm and was amazed at the lifelike feel of it. It took no great imagination to fantasize she was touching a living body instead of a statue that was anatomically correct in every possible way. Whoever had posed for this work had been in excellent physical shape, with a body most women only dreamed of holding: muscles sculpted and defined without being overdeveloped, buttocks so perfectly formed her fingers itched to splay across them, an impressive erection that would fill a woman completely. Her mind presented her with searing images of her own body entwined in an embrace with the original model, and she sighed. The last thing her hormone-activated imagination needed was another reminder of how empty her bed was going to be tonight. The metal under her fingers grew warmer. A flare of light°©Was it light? Or heat? Or something her mind couldn't recognize, so categorized as both?°©swelled around the statue, and she blinked. Heat crept up her arm and spread through her, waking an insidious tide of desire. All of her body throbbed as if in response to a lover's caresses, and she blinked again, uncertain and a bit wary. Glittering motes of gold threaded through her thoughts, soothing away her uncertainty. You've been wanting a man, they whispered. There's one here, for you to take with no commitments, no risks. Look at him. Her gaze fixed on the statue kneeling at her feet, while her mind floated in golden fog. Before her light-muddled brain realized what the rest of her had decided, she had walked the few steps to the door and shot the deadbolt home. Her hands slowly unbuttoned her shirt as she returned to the statue, her fingers working almost of their own accord. The shirt slid to the floor. The rest of her clothes quickly followed. She approached her frozen lover completely nude, as bared to his gaze as he was to hers. ABOUT THE AUTHOR R. ELLEN FERARE R. Ellen Ferare has held a wide variety of jobs, but only two have lasted over the decades. One comes with an irrevocable clause of permanent employment. If you have kids, you know what job that is. The other is writing, which is her way of restoring balance and poverty to life when she wearies of a regular paycheck. This is her first foray into the land of Secrets. If you enjoyed it, please visit her web site at www.r-ellenferare.com, or drop a line to r.ellen.ferare@gmail.com. FALLING STARS BY KATHLEEN SCOTT REVIEWS "Falling Stars" by Kathleen Scott. Primon Kingdom needs the alliance so they send Daria as a royal daughter to marry General Kristiano Raven. She does her duty but fears will never live up to his previous betrothal her late sister Lessia. He hides how much he desires Daria and even pretends indifference until a threat endangers both worlds. ~~~Harriet Klausner - REVIEWS "Falling Stars" by Kathleen Scott. Primon Kingdom needs the alliance so they send Daria as a royal daughter to marry General Kristiano Raven. She does her duty but fears will never live up to his previous betrothal her late sister Lessia. He hides how much he desires Daria and even pretends indifference until a threat endangers both worlds. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com TO MY READER I always find the easiest characters to write are the ones who sit behind you at the computer and dictate their lives as you type. Thus, it was with Daria and Raven. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I did hearing it straight from the characters. EXCERPT FROM FALLING STARS **Caution Excerpt Intended for Readers over 18** Heartbeat and respirations were definitely not normal. Total system failure certain. Daria took what was supposed to be a deep breath, but it barely made a dent in her lack of oxygen. Death would soon come to claim her and carry her to Hialeigha. A large warm hand skimmed down her bare back. Desire shot through her and made her knees want to buckle. But she couldn’t do this. Couldn’t go through with consummating a marriage that should have been Lessia’s. At least not yet. Not now, with the memories of how the Hohn looked while bent over her sister’s casket swirled in her mind like a meteor shower. This should have been Lessia’s wedding night. All through her preparations, as Onya fussed over her hair and applied the perfect makeup to her face, a steady stream of words had marched through her mind. The semblance of a speech began to form. Before she could ever lay with the Hohn as his true wife, she would have to let him know she understood and appreciated the love he had for Lessia and would understand… “You’re frowning, princess.” “Huh?” She came out of her musings and turned to look up at him. Dark eyes glittered in anger at her. “Oh. I was just thinking about something.” “I hope you weren’t anticipating the marriage bed with such a look on your face. I would hope our first coupling would be pleasant for you.” By the Maker, she wouldn’t speak of this in a common hallway. She took a quick glance around and was happy to see no one in the halls but the two of them. “You have had lovers?” His hand caressed her back again and his breath warmed her ear. They stood in front of his quarters—their quarters—and she waited while he palmed the door opened. She gave a quick nod to indicate there had been lovers. A glance to his gauge his reaction showed none whatsoever. He probably thought her morally lacking for a wife of the Hohn. Though she had never cared what others thought of her, this was the man she was to spend the rest of her life with. Heat rushed to her face. Why was he doing this to her? Why was she letting him? It wasn’t as if she were a tender young virgin on the altar as a sacrifice. Damn it all to Hell’s Caverns and back, she was a seasoned combat pilot, time to start acting like one. If he wanted to make love to her pedigree and not her past, he could just go jump out the nearest airlock. The door slid open and they stepped inside. The appointments were nice and spacious, but Daria barely got a look at the room before she was backed up against the now closed door and the Hohn was bending his head down to her. Lips, firm but gentle, settled over hers. The Hohn sipped at her mouth, and teased it open. A moan swelled up from her throat and she felt her hands move of their own volition to caress his broad muscular shoulders. He took the sound as encouragement and took the kiss deeper, became more possessive, demanding. Strong hands clutched under her arms and lifted her higher. A thick muscular thigh wedged between her legs and held her in place. The position stunned her in its intimacy, and sent hot throbs of desire through her body to pool in her sex. His mouth devoured hers. His tongue slipped through her lips and brushed against hers. A low moan filled her mouth and tasted of his unchecked desire. His hips rocked forward, leaving her in no doubt of his desire for her. His long, thick erection rubbed against her stomach. Large hands moved down her sides, cupping her breasts, molding them to his palms. Instantly, her nipples tightened. He rocked his hips again, and his thigh slid over her already pulsing clit. If she didn’t stop the kiss now, she would drown in him. Or come. And it was definitely too soon for that. Daria pushed away from him, breaking the drugging contact of his mouth on hers. His dark eyes were heavy-lidded with lust. He rested his forehead against hers for a moment, confusing her with their combined scent. He moved his leg and she slid down the wall. She walked farther into the room, putting much needed space between them. Something about the man simply got to her on a plane so much deeper Something about the man simply got to her on a plane so much deeper than any other man she had ever known. Perhaps it was the implicit power he radiated. Energy floated around him like a force field. Raw masculinity dripped from his every movement, hot as lava and deadly as cyanide. Daria looked over her shoulder at him standing by the door. His handsome face was pulled into a slight frown, head cocked to one side. The man unsettled her, even when he did nothing more than stand across the room from her. What was more unsettling was her reaction to him. Sure she’d had lovers before, but even with Borman and Aaron she hadn’t felt this overwhelming loss of control. A vision of Raven draped across Lessia’s casket filled her mind and made her breath catch. She turned from him, unable to look in his eyes any longer. This wasn’t her husband—not really. This man before her was a hand-me-down from her older sister. She had become a wife by default. In all the years of her rebellion, she had never once envisioned herself taking a husband she knew loved another woman, especially if that woman was her sister. A hand moved down her neck, startling the images from her mind. She hadn’t heard him move from the door. “I didn’t mean to scare you. We’ll take this night slow if you prefer.” Warm breath stirred the hair at her nape before his lips settled there. Her nipples tightened painfully again under the soft fabric of her borrowed dress. She turned around to confront him. “Look, before we jump into anything physical, I think we need…” Red lights and sirens began to flash and screech overhead. “All hands to battle stations. Repeat. All hands to battle stations.” Daria moved passed the Hohn, her speech dying in her throat as her training took over and she hurried from the quarters. “Daria!” He shouted down the corridor at her as she ran toward the quad. She turned for a moment and stared at his stricken face. “I have to go. I can’t fly a fighter in this.” Dark eyes pleaded with her, though no words moved through his tightly clamped jaw. “It’s my job, Hohn. You knew that when you signed the treaty with my father and agreed with the price of my hand.” Daria wasted no more time on the one-sided argument, but hurried on to the quad to change into her flight suit. ABOUT THE AUTHOR KATHLEEN SCOTT Kathleen Scott lives in New Jersey with her husband, cat, and a plethora of characters in her head. You can visit the website she shares with MK Mancos at www.mystickat.com. AFFLICTION BY ELISA ADAMS REVIEWS "Affliction" by Elise Adams. Shane asks Holly what does his friend Andrew offer her that he does not. She says stability and safety; he says boredom as he begins to understand she fears the fantasies he brings out in her without revealing his most inner secret though the attacks on her make that difficult. ~~~Harriet Klausner - REVIEWS Affliction by Elisa Adams - Blue Ribbon Rating: 4 Holly hasn’t had an easy life. She has been through some stuff that would put most sane people in an asylum. Andrew is the type of man she has longed for all her life. Andrew is sensitive, caring, and absolutely perfect in every way. Holly thinks she has found the one until Shane, Andrews friend shows up and things change. Now there is tension between Shane and Andrew and she’s caught in the middle. All three are keeping secrets that are dark enough to rip the three of them apart that will change their lives forever. AFFLICTION reaches out to the reader on an emotional level and has plenty of drama to keep you sighing in wonder. Holly is a strong woman to have gone through everything that she has. It has made her even stronger in character. The conflict between Andrew and Shane is rampant. I could feel the tension as if I was right in the middle of it. Holly was torn as to which man she wanted to be with. I empathized with her as she battled with her emotions. Love scenes are highly erotic and leave the reader panting in ecstasy. Elisa Adams is a talented author who is quickly making a name for herself in the romantic genre. I am excited to see what her next tale will bring. ~~~ANGEL - romancejunkies.com TO MY READER Sometimes a story seems to have a mind of its own, and no matter what the writer does to try to shape it to fit the image they have in mind, something unexpected happens to change everything. This was one of those stories. It took me by surprise, and brought me to a place I hadn’t even realized I wanted to go. I hope you enjoy getting lost in Holly and Shane’s world. EXCERPT FROM AFFLICTION Chapter One “What can he give you that I can’t?” The deep voice coming out of the darkness brushed over Holly Aronson like a caress. She closed her eyes for a brief second and muttered a curse. She should have known he’d follow her in here. Maybe on some level she had known. Hoped, even. When had she gotten so screwed up? “Go away.” The muted sounds of the party downstairs reached her through the open door and a pang of guilt speared her stomach. She should be down there now, helping Andrew see to his guests, not upstairs inviting trouble. “I wish I could.” Shane McAllister stepped through the doorway into the library, his hands in the pockets of his black slacks and his mouth drawn in a grim line. “We both know it’s not that simple.” His tie hung loosely around his neck and the top button of his slate-colored shirt was undone. She took in the sight of his mussed dark hair, probably from running his hands through it as she’d seen him do so many times, and her heart skipped. The idea of being unfaithful had never crossed her mind until Shane had stepped into her life. His blue-eyed gaze played across her skin in a slow, sensual dance. Her nipples pebbled, and the way his gaze darkened told her he noticed. She tugged at the hem of her dress, suddenly wishing she’d worn something a little longer. A little looser. Anything to stop Shane’s attention—both wanted and unwanted at the same time. Just because it felt good didn’t make it right. Hadn’t she learned that lesson a long time ago? She turned and walked to the window, glancing outside and giving Shane her back. As soon as her gaze dropped to the lawn below, a different kind of anxiety filled her. Shadows moved and twisted in the moonlit yard, most likely caused by the summer breeze sifting through tree limbs, but it made her shiver just the same. In the daylight, Andrew’s house was beautiful. Elegant and stately. In the darkness, it made her want to turn around and run. Irrational. She needed to learn to let go of her fears. The monsters she’d seen in so many nightmares didn’t live here. “Holly.” The hair rose on the back of her neck. Shane’s voice came from directly behind her. No matter how quiet the room, he always managed to sneak up on her, and it unnerved her more than she’d ever admit. “Just go, Shane. I came up here to be alone.” He settled his warm palms against her waist, the action letting her know he had no intention of listening. He leaned in close and his hot breath feathered across her ear. “Don’t lie to me. You don’t like to be alone. It’s the only reason you’re leading Andrew on the way you are, isn’t it?” His words stung and she winced. She tried to step away, but his grip tightened. She was stuck between a wall of hard muscle and a window two stories above the ground and his closeness made a lump form in her throat. How dare he question her motives when it came to Andrew? How dare he be so right? “Stop it. You know that’s not true. I’m not leading him on. I want to be here. I…love him.” She stumbled over the words and almost couldn’t bring herself to say them. They were true, but not in the way Andrew wanted them to be. Her stomach clenched at the thought of hurting him. He’d always been so good to her, and she’d been happy with her life until his old friend Shane had shown up and thrown her world into chaos. Just one smoldering glance and he’d made her doubt everything she believed to be true. One touch from his strong hands and she’d known, deep down inside, that Andrew would never make her happy again. Still, she fought her attraction to Shane with every ounce of her being. He was no good for her, and she couldn’t let herself fall into his trap. He’d be gone soon, out of her life, but Andrew would never leave her. Holly stomped her heel down on Shane’s foot and he let her go with a low grunt. Her traitorous body cried out at the loss of his heat, but she ignored it. Pursuing what he offered wouldn’t be worth the pain in the end. “Leave me alone, Shane. I don’t want any part of your sick fantasies.” She rushed for the door, intent on making her apologies to Andrew before heading home for the night, but Shane grabbed her arm before she reached her destination. He hauled her against him, chest pressed to chest, and her knees went weak. He always had this effect on her and it incensed her that he could stir such strong reactions. Her life had been one disaster after another and she usually prided herself on being able to keep her emotions under control, but with Shane, that had proved to be impossible. “Let me go,” she said through clenched teeth, her hands balling into fists. “Not until you answer my question.” Shane’s lips were so close to hers his breath brushed her skin when he spoke. He smelled of crisp, clean aftershave and warm, sensual man. The combination was enough to dampen her panties and send a curl of arousal spiraling through her middle. “What question?” A hint of a smile played across his lips. When he spoke, his tone wasn’t much more than a whisper. “What can he give you that I can’t?” “Stability.” The smile grew. “You mean boredom.” “Caring. Compassion.” Lust sparkled in his eyes. “I can give you that, too, sweetheart. More than you know.” Something inside her twisted and she let out a soft sigh. Her back arched, her body aching for his hands all over her. She leaned closer and her lips parted. At that second, time seemed to stand still. It didn’t matter how wrong it was. Didn’t matter that she’d made a promise to Andrew. The only thing that mattered now was Shane’s kiss. He leaned toward her, but stopped when his lips were inches from hers. “I won’t touch you. Not the way you want me to. Not until you’ve told Andrew the truth.” Holly wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. “Which truth would that be?” Shane released her and stepped back. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Tell him it’s me you want. Me, and not him. He deserves to know what’s going on between us.” “There’s nothing between us.” “That’s right, Holly. Just keep lying to yourself.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. Unlike him, she refused to hurt Andrew. It didn’t matter how much she wanted Shane. She could never have him, and they both knew that. “Why are you doing this?” “Because I don’t take no for an answer.” She glanced up to see him standing in the doorway. It shook her that he could move so soundlessly. Just another reason why he wasn’t a man to be trusted. She didn’t know anything about him. “You’re going to have to learn. I’m with Andrew. He’s right for me. You are so obviously wrong. I don’t trust you.” A half smile tilted one corner of his mouth and his gaze turned mocking. “Do you really think you can trust him?” “I know I can.” Andrew had proven himself, time and again, to be the kind of staid, reliable presence she needed. If she let Shane in, he’d tear her carefully rebuilt life apart. “Don’t be so sure. I’ve known him a lot longer than you have. I know all his secrets. Trust me, honey. With him, you haven’t even scratched the surface.” He shook his head. “Don’t let your guard down, Holly. He isn’t worthy of your trust.” With that, he walked away, leaving her alone to digest what he’d said. He’d been trying to shake her. Trying to rattle her faith in Andrew. Trying to plant a seed of doubt in her mind that would leave her questioning every decision she’d made in the past few months. She leaned against the wall and let her head drop back. Damn him, it had worked. ABOUT THE AUTHOR ELISA ADAMS Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Elisa Adams has lived most of her life on the East Coast. Writing has been a longtime hobby for this former nursing assistant and phlebotomist. Now a full time writer of paranormal and contemporary erotic romance, she lives on the New Hampshire border with her three children. Elisa welcomes email from her readers. Feel free to contact her at elisa@elisaadams.com, and visit her on the web at http://www.elisaadams.com and http://elisaadams.livejournal.com. ___________________________________________________________ RED SAGE PUBLISHING, INC. © 2006 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
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