Stripped

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Stripped ISBN 9781419915079 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Stripped Copyright © 2008 Ruth D. Kerce Edited by Pamela Campbell. Cover art by Syneca. Electronic book Publication March 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/) This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

STRIPPED

Ruth D. Kerce

Ruth D. Kerce

Prologue “I don’t know if this is a good idea, Lily.” Hannah shuddered, twisting her fingers into a knot. She couldn’t take off her clothes in front of people—men. Strangers. For money. Could she? Not that she condemned those who did. She just didn’t think she’d have the nerve to see it through. “Why not? I’m short a girl. I need the money from this gig to pay my coming-due bills. You’re desperate for money. It’s perfect. Fate.” She did need the money. Trying to keep her mother in a private nursing home had completely drained her bank account and she’d maxed out her credit cards. If she didn’t make the next payment, her mother would be transferred to a state home. No way would she let that happen. She’d seen the place. The staff there was overworked and the home looked downright depressing. Distraught about possibly having to transfer, her mother was already losing her will to live. Hannah had asked the care workers not to mention the move but one had let it slip. She wished homecare was a possibility but her mother needed more treatment than she could handle. Even if she could somehow manage, she still needed to work and her mother couldn’t be left alone. The cost of having a healthcare worker come in, above and beyond what insurance provided, made it impossible. Because of her financial situation, Hannah was also in danger of being kicked out of her apartment and having her car repossessed due to nonpayment. But she’d live under a bridge if necessary, as long as her mother was safe and well taken care of. Her mother was the only family she had left. She held back a sniffle, determined not to break down. She had to find a way to make some money fast. 4

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Though Lily ran a high-class stripper-for-hire business, not some cover for prostitution like many joints, she still harbored reservations. “How about you float me a loan instead?” She’d tried for loans elsewhere but everyone had turned her down, due to her bad credit. Her waitress job just didn’t pay enough to take care of the bills. She should have finished college when she’d had the chance, learned more, so she could have gotten a better job. But, like a fool, she’d dropped out, never thinking her life would take this sort of turn. Lily was her best friend and had been since high school. She didn’t know what she would have done without the woman’s emotional support over the last several years. Right before her mother had fallen ill, her father and brother had died in a car crash. She’d felt so alone. Still did, to be honest. But having Lily to lean on helped tremendously. “I don’t have that kind of extra money, sweetie. I can offer you a place to live temporarily, if you get kicked out of your apartment. But that’s the best I can do. I’ve got two mortgage payments coming up for the house and one for the offices here, which I’ll barely be able to cover if you do this job for me. Not to mention having to make a payment on my business loan. Next year I should be doing great, if business keeps up. But right now it’s rough.” Hannah’s hopes died. She didn’t know what to do, where else to turn. “It’s one night, Hannah. I need you and you need the job. It’s not like this party is some rowdy fraternity crowd, just a small bachelor party at a hotel. The guy who booked the date has been a friend of mine for years. Nothing bad is going to happen. If you do this, then we both get the money we need. He even agreed to pay extra if I book him a classy girl. And if you get any tips, those you keep for yourself. It could amount to a hell of a lot of money in the end, for such a small gig.” “Classy, huh?” She supposed it was a compliment that Lily thought she fit the bill. “So, is this guy rich or something?” 5

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“He’s been known to splurge for those he cares about.” “I wouldn’t even know how to go about it.” Not to mention, she wouldn’t be up on a stage, away from grabbing hands. “Will you send Jackson with me?” He worked security for Lily and she’d at least met the man. “Jackson is on vacation. And the rest of my security guys are booked that night. Besides, this is a safe job. I promise. I wouldn’t put you up for it alone, if I wasn’t sure.” “How naked would I have to get?” She already knew Lily’s strippers didn’t go completely nude, so maybe this was something she could do. “All the way naked…for this one.” “All the way? You don’t do all-the-way naked.” She wondered at the odd look in Lily’s eyes, like there was something she wasn’t telling her. “This is a special arrangement. That’s why he’s paying so much. You’ll wear this French maid’s uniform. Okay…it’s a little cheesy but it’s what he requested. Just wiggle your hips and slip it off to the music I’ll provide. Wear some sexy underwear and jiggle out of that. Shake your bazooms a little—” “Bazooms?” “Bring a wrap, so after the strip you can cover up fast, grab the costume and the money and then get the hell out of there. I’ll give you a company cell phone so you can call if you need to—for any reason.” Lovely. “Why can’t I just get dressed in their bathroom?” “Better to get out while you can before they start trying to hit on you. Not that I expect a problem with this bunch. But just as a precaution, especially since you’ll be there alone.” “You said, grab the money. Is that just the tips or—” “Just the tips, if you get any. The night has already been prepaid. If you run out, Hannah, I’ll have to process a refund. So if you go, you need to do the job. We’ll both be in the crapper, money-wise, if you don’t.”

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“You’re not making this easier.” Though with the money she’d earn, she could probably pay enough down to stall the nursing home for another month. After that, she’d figure out what to do. She’d take things one month at a time. “What if they try to touch me?” “No touching. It’s a rule.” Oh. A rule. Yeah. Of course. Nobody would ever break a rule. Shit.

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Chapter One “This is it,” Hannah muttered as she approached the hotel room. She passed a woman in the hall who eyed her curiously but nobody else seemed to be around. “I can do this.” Despite the fact her legs felt like rubber, she didn’t intend to wimp out. She’d gotten a strange vibe from Lily about this job—from her insistence she take it, to her odd instructions. She had another outfit in her car to put on after the strip. She wasn’t driving around in a French maid’s uniform or a silk wrap. It would just be her luck to get stopped by a cop. Or her car would break down and she’d be stuck in traffic, looking like a streetwalker. At least this wasn’t some sleazy motel where you drove right up to the door. The building was a two-story rustic structure with a lodge feel to it. Very cozy and exclusive. Though, now that she thought of it, escape would be much faster if she could simply run out the door and jump into her car. Male laughter filtered through from the other side of the closed door. The rumbling sound made her situation frighteningly real. Her heart pounded harder against her ribs and her stomach clenched. “I can do this.” Determined to see it through, she raised her chin and steeled her emotions. She tugged at the black-and-white uniform pinching her torso and gripped her stereo player and wrap tightly. She slipped the key card in the slot, then awkwardly turned the knob and stepped inside the room as she’d been instructed to do earlier. After the door eased shut behind her, she dropped the wrap and card beside the door, then stood immobile.

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The men inside hadn’t even heard her enter. Hannah wondered which one was the groom-to-be. Four of them stood crowded in front of the television, laughing and watching what, from their crude comments, must be an adult movie. Apparently not interested in the porn flick, a fifth man stood against the far wall with a beer bottle in his hand. Something must have alerted him to her presence for he looked up and their gazes locked.

At the sight of her, his heart slammed against his ribs. He barely believed his eyes. Hannah McBride. The last woman in the world he’d expected to see tonight. Damn, she looked gorgeous, standing there in that sexy French maid’s costume, her breasts practically spilling out the top, her lips painted red and her legs going on forever. Not the high school girl he remembered. She was a full-grown woman now. He’d sported more hard-ons for her than he could count. She’d been too young back then, though—barely too young. Hell, he’d been young too. Still, holding back had not been easy. But his sexual tastes were always a bit extreme and getting her involved in something like that… Well, he’d decided it best not to pursue it. Instead, he’d fantasized a lot. Now here she was, back in his life, if for just one night. Fate was good. Stripping though? That bothered him. He didn’t like the idea of men ogling and groping her. In fact, the thought made him crazy. Not that he had the right to feel possessive. Regardless, she was here. And looking good enough to eat. His gaze slid toward her pussy. Literally. A smile tugged at his lips.

Hannah felt like crawling into a hole. Bradley Miller.

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Miller, as he preferred to be called, had been her brother’s best friend in undergraduate school and used to come over to the house on occasion. She’d been in high school at the time and had a major crush on him, not to mention sexual fantasies that would make a hooker blush. She hadn’t seen him in years. The man looked as sexy as ever—black tousled hair, sparkling green eyes, six feet tall and all muscle. She was going to kill Lily for sending her on this job. She’d known something was up. The woman had done this on purpose. She’d always wanted to reconnect with Miller someday, which Lily knew. But not like this. Hannah’s nerves escalated. Please let tonight be over with fast. She thought about turning around and running but she needed the money and so did Lily. If she kept that in mind, she could see this through. She hoped. All she had to do was get naked and then run. Simple. No chitchat. She didn’t want Miller grilling her about why she was stripping. He pushed away from the wall and her heart lurched. “We have company, gentlemen,” his deep, slightly raspy voice rumbled as he studied her with obvious interest. Except for the television, all sound in the room ceased. The group of men turned toward her. Five pairs of eyes raked her body from head to toe. She tried to paste on a smile but found it difficult. Would they know this was her first time? If she wanted to collect tips, she needed to do a good job. Think sexy, she told herself. Miller strolled up to her, a small smile on his lips. But he didn’t give any indication to the others that he knew her. “Please…join us.” He took her hand as if it was the most natural thing in the world and led her into the center of the room. His fingers felt large, warm and strong around hers. A man in control. He passed his beer bottle to one of the men and then grabbed the stereo player from her other hand. He set it on the massive bed. “And your name is?” 10

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He knew fully well what her name was. He’d recognized her immediately. She’d seen it in his eyes. Why was he pretending otherwise? Maybe he didn’t want to embarrass her in front of the others or make everyone uncomfortable by saying he knew her before she’d become legal. “Hannah,” she answered, looking directly at him. And that’s all she said. She refused to act ashamed or to feel like less of a person. Okay, she was here to strip. So what? They’d hired her. They should be the ones to have judgment passed upon them, not the other way around. The ones with the money held the power. At least that reasoning sounded good in her head. A small smile again tugged at his lips, almost as if he’d heard what was going on in her mind. A measure of respect entered his eyes. And something else. Lust? Her nipples hardened. The men formed a semicircle around her. She choked back her apprehension, not wanting them to see her nerves, as she looked from one to another. “Which one is George, the lucky groom?” “Uh…that’s me.” A paunchy man, slightly taller than her, stepped forward. He looked relatively harmless. All of them did, except for Miller, who made her nervous with his scrutinizing looks. Somehow she doubted she’d be getting out of here without some sort of one-on-one with him. But maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. None of them had tried to grab her. Three of the men hadn’t even said anything. They were only ogling her. “A friend arranged this little surprise,” she announced, her voice higher than it normally would be under non-stripper circumstances. The men whispered amongst themselves. They didn’t seem drunk or rowdy. In fact, they acted almost timid. Not the sort she would have expected to be friends with Miller. He’d always been a daredevil, with a girl on each arm and a don’t-mess-with-me attitude.

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She reached over to press “play” on the stereo box. As the slow, pounding music filled the room, Miller moved to flip off the television. She caught a close-up scene of two large men fucking a very petite woman. Her pussy clenched. Miller watched her then winked, a knowing smile on his face, before the screen went black. She quickly averted her gaze. She needed to focus on the job. She smiled seductively at George, trying to pretend he was mysterious and sexy. Like… No. She gave herself a mental shake, even though she kept sneaking glances at the man who used to fulfill all her sexual fantasies. In her dreams. He looked tense as he paced the room, like he used to years ago when contemplating a decision. His deep green eyes seemed to penetrate her soul, as if he could see all her darkest secrets. She’d just bet he was the one who’d paid, the one Lily had referred to as a friend, for tonight was just too much of a coincidence otherwise, with Lily practically begging her to take this gig. Hannah danced to the beat of the music, hoping not to fall on her face in her high heels. Her hips moved seductively as she inched closer to George. She was careful not to touch him. No touching. The Rule. With slow, deliberate movements she began to unbutton the front of her costume. If she could detach herself from the act, she’d be okay. When she reached for the third button, George practically salivated. Hannah felt nauseous. How did Lily’s girls do this? Lily had said it was no big deal. Of course, normally her girls didn’t get naked but they did go topless. Still, this wasn’t the life for her. Tonight would be the only time. After this was over, she’d figure something out, some other way to get the money she needed. There had to be a better way. Hannah pulled at her bodice. The faster she did this the better.

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Two large hands covered hers from behind, jolting her from her thoughts. Ack! She froze. The cell phone… She’d left it on the passenger seat in the car. How stupid! She’d meant to stuff it in the pocket of the costume. But she could do some damage with these heels, if forced into it. Damn it. What was she thinking to have agreed to strip—alone—for a group of men? She should have known better. Listened to that annoying little voice in her head. Several of the men in front of her laughed. “Slow down,” a deep voice whispered in her ear. Miller. He was the one who’d come up behind her. “Um, sorry.” She’d been so panicked she hadn’t even taken notice of who’d grabbed her. His tongue lightly licked her skin and she almost swooned at the erotic feeling. She glanced over her shoulder and met his heated gaze. “Yeah, Miller,” one of the men encouraged. “Have some fun.” “Hey, it’s my party.” George crowded closer and reached for the lacing over her abdomen. Hannah stepped back, trying to get away. She bumped against Miller’s chest. His arm snaked around her waist. “Forget it, guys,” Miller told them. “This woman’s—” A loud crash cut through the sexual tension and everyone jumped. “George!” a woman shrieked from the doorway. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The door must not have closed completely behind her, Hannah realized. Otherwise, nobody could have just walked in like that. Whoever the woman was, Hannah couldn’t say she was disappointed at the interruption. She didn’t know what Miller had been about to say or do. She didn’t think he would have allowed anything bad to happen to

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her. But still, it had been a lot of years since they’d seen each other and she wasn’t certain of anything. “Janice! I-I’m not doing anything,” George sputtered. “We’re just having our little party.” The petite woman, even smaller than the woman in the porn flick, stalked forward and rounded on her and Miller. After a quick look of disgust, she pointed a finger at Miller. “This is your fault, trying to corrupt my sweet darling. I couldn’t believe it when my friend said she saw some cheap-looking stripper walking down the hall toward this room.” Cheap-looking? Hannah’s anger boiled but she held her tongue, not wanting to make a bad situation worse. Had this woman and her friend been staking out the men’s party? “Now, Janice, don’t have a fit,” Miller replied in a soothing voice as he reached to turn off the music. Hannah wanted to make an escape but Miller’s hand was still clamped onto her waist. Obviously, nothing more was happening as far as the strip was concerned. The night had turned into a disaster. Janice spun around, latched on to George’s ear and dragged him from the room, yelling at him the entire way. The man stuttered, trying to explain but couldn’t get in a full sentence.

“I guess the party’s over, guys,” Miller announced, not at all disappointed. He never would have let any of the others touch Hannah anyway. This just made things easier. He wanted to find out why she was stripping. And he needed to find out if the spark between them was still as explosive as it had been in years past.

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“We should have booked this elsewhere, instead of the same hotel where Janice was having the shower.” He’d kept a hand on Hannah to prevent her from running out and so far it was working. She hadn’t bolted. That gave him hope. Not touching her hadn’t even been an option, once he’d gotten close enough. Licking her ear had made him rock hard, especially after he felt her tremble at the moist touch. A mistake, given the presence of the other guys, but one he’d probably do again. Now, to convince Hannah to stay so they could talk. His cock twitched against his jeans. His body definitely wanted more than talk. But he’d take things one step at a time. “Why don’t you guys take the party down to the bar? Charge the drinks to my room.”

The bridal shower was being held in the hotel. Now Hannah understood. At Miller’s suggestion, the others nodded. They avoided looking her way, as if embarrassed about being caught with her. It made her feel dirty and that angered her beyond reason. The guys scurried from the room like cockroaches caught in the light. The door clicked shut behind them. The silence left in their wake was thick enough to cut with a knife. Still… After being made to feel so unsavory, Hannah enjoyed the sudden wave of relief, now that they’d gone. Like the vise squeezing her chest had just released…almost. “Aren’t you going to join them?” she asked and pulled away from Miller. She quickly buttoned her costume. He didn’t try to stop her, for which she was grateful. “No, Hannah, I’m not.”

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Her heart slammed against her ribs and she glanced up at him but only for a moment. “Oh.” Definitely time for her to get out—Lily’s money and her own dignity left intact. She hadn’t ruined the night—someone else had. They shouldn’t be entitled to a refund this way. As she reached for the stereo player, Miller’s voice stopped her. “Going somewhere?” She turned toward him. “As you said, the party’s over.” “I prepaid for two hours.” So he was the one who’d paid, as she’d suspected. “No one’s here.” “I’m here,” he rasped and sat in one of the hotel chairs. “Beer?” He indicated the cooler on the table next to him. “Maybe it will relax you.” “No thank you.” She twisted her hands. Was her nervousness that apparent? “I’m glad about the interruption. I didn’t like the idea of the others looking at you. I wouldn’t have let you go through with the strip—not all the way. I want you for my eyes only.” His words slowly sank in, making her heart pound even harder than it already was. “You mean you still want me to—” “Strip. Take off your clothes and dance for me, Hannah.”

The way he’d told her to strip sounded more like a command than a request. That was the Miller she remembered. No-nonsense. A man who knew what he wanted and how to get it. His dominant, take-charge personality had always made her pulse race and her pussy wet. Even if she’d wanted, she couldn’t very well refuse, she supposed. And frankly, she wasn’t so certain she wanted to refuse. Think about the money, she told herself. But mostly she was thinking of Miller’s sexy smile and killer body. 16

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“Very well.” She flipped on the music and began to dance. The sexual energy in the room immediately peaked, more intense than she’d expected. Dancing for Miller alone was much more erotic than doing it for the group. All her memories of him from years ago returned full force. She wondered if he knew back then that she’d majorly lusted after him, like some sort of romantic hero. She’d grown up a lot since then but wouldn’t mind reliving some of her old fantasies. His eyes followed her every movement. She felt as if he were touching each bare inch of her body. She fantasized about his fingers, his mouth, his tongue on her skin. Hannah slowly unbuttoned her costume. The temperature of her body rose at the look of desire on his face. After unlacing the bottom half of the bodice, she shimmied out of the uniform, letting the garment pool at her feet, before stepping out of it. Her black bra and panty covered her sufficiently but under Miller’s heated stare, she felt naked. When his tongue grazed his bottom lip, a surge of carnal need washed over her. She eyed his well-toned body, wondering what he would look like without clothes. He’d filled out even more since college and looked quite the hunky specimen. She wouldn’t mind seeing him strip. Miller stood and Hannah’s heart leapt. She backed away a couple of steps. Her eyes followed him as he slowly walked toward her. He stopped when his foot brushed the French maid’s costume on the floor. This was getting intense. Too intense. She feared where it all might lead and wasn’t so sure she’d be able to stop—or that she’d even want to stop. Tomorrow she would no doubt regret whatever she might allow to happen tonight. She was not a one-nightstand type of person, no matter how turned-on she was right now. And she didn’t want Miller thinking of her that way. She reached out and turned off the music. “You got your strip.” Sort of. He cocked an eyebrow and his gaze traveled down her body. “Not much of one.”

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“Private strips are more expensive. That’s all I can do.” Okay, a lie. But it sounded good. Lily had Miller’s credit card information. So, Lily would know his home address and even a cell phone number probably. If she wanted, she could reconnect with him later under better circumstances. See where it led, if anywhere, outside this sexually charged environment and when her life wasn’t in such chaos. “Mmm hmm.” He picked up the costume and handed it to her. “You don’t do this for a living.” He knew. Well, hell. Hannah sank down on the bed, clutching the costume. “This is my first time. Only time. I’m sorry you didn’t get what you paid for.” “Why are you stripping, Hannah?” He sat beside her. The soft tone of his voice, reminding her of long-lost days, went straight to her heart. “I need the money.” The tension of the evening and last few weeks caught up with her. She sniffled but held back her tears. She would not cry. When he didn’t say anything, she glanced out of the corner of her eye at him. His gaze locked with hers. “What do you need money for so badly that you’d resort to stripping? Even if only once?” he asked softly, caressing the back of her hand, which held a death-grip on the costume in her lap. Her skin tingled at his touch. She relaxed a little, easing her hold but only because Miller seemed genuinely concerned. “I had to put my mother into a nursing home. It’s a private one. I’m pretty heavily in debt from the cost. She’s going to be transferred to a state home if I don’t make another payment soon.” “I’m sorry. I hadn’t heard about Eileen.” He interlaced his fingers with hers. “What happened?” She gulped as his warm hand joined hers. “She had a series of strokes that she never came back from.” Hannah sniffled. “I was, um, hoping to get the creditors off my ass for a while. My mother’s devastated about the possible transfer.” She felt a tear

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escape and angrily wiped it away. The costume slid off her lap and she suddenly felt vulnerable sitting there in just her underwear. She reached for the garment. Miller stopped her. “Don’t.” He turned her chin toward him. “I’m sorry about your mother, Hannah. I really am.” His voice came out low and soft. Their lips were only a breath apart. He kissed her lightly. Oh… She’d always wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by Miller. Her whole body quivered. His lips felt so warm and gentle. Too bad circumstances weren’t different. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and cry out all her fears. Instead, she drew in a deep breath, knowing better than to involve others too deeply in her problems. “I should go.” “I’ll call you a cab,” he again brushed his lips across hers and his eyes darkened seductively, “if you want to go.” She sighed against his mouth. It felt so good to be touched. By him. A man she still cared for, even after all these years. Or maybe it was the fantasy she cared for. Either way, it felt good, if only for the moment. “I have my car.” He kissed her neck, lingering in that one spot until she trembled. He moved up to lightly kiss her cheek. “Maybe…” he kissed the sensitive skin below her ear, “you should take tonight…” his lips slid down to the corner of her mouth, “and try to forget your troubles.” His hand eased across her bare stomach. Her bones felt like liquid heat. She pulled back. “I-I don’t know.” One night of decadent pleasure with Miller, nothing but the two of them in her thoughts, did sound wonderful. An escape. A fantasy come true. “I feel badly that you missed out on your tips.” He stood up and pulled out his wallet. After removing several hundreds, he laid them on the nightstand. “This might help some. Stay the night with me, Hannah.” She blanched. Her gaze zeroed in on the money, then swung back to Miller. She’d thought— Certainly he wasn’t suggesting— She jumped up. “I’m not a whore for hire!” Damn him. That’s what she got for maintaining some schoolgirl fantasy of the man. 19

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When she started for the door, he followed and grabbed her arm. “Hannah, wait. I didn’t mean—” “You’re a real bastard, you know that.” She rounded on him. Even though mad as hell, the heat from his hand caused the rest of her to tremble. And not from anger, which irritated her to no end. She pulled out of his grip and reached down for her wrap. She wasn’t putting that uncomfortable costume back on. Where was the damn thing anyway? She tried to peek past Miller but his frame was too big. She needed to get Lily’s things and get out of there. His hand touched her chin, urging her gaze to meet his. “I want you to stay the night, Hannah. I’ve wanted you for years. And I know you’ve wanted me too. Don’t try to deny it.” He’d wanted her all along and he’d known about her feelings too? Her whole body trembled. She pulled out of his grip. With a small grin on his face, he continued. “You need the money. Consider it a loan, if you want. You can pay it back whenever. Interest free.” “A loan? But I don’t get it if I don’t stay and have wild, nasty sex with you, right?” She gave him her best look of defiance. “Wild, nasty sex?” Chuckling, he scratched the side of his jaw. “Go to hell!” She stormed out the door.

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Chapter Two Miller sighed. “Smooth, Bradley.” He turned and frowned when he saw the stereo player and the maid’s costume. Then he eyed the cash on the nightstand. So many feelings had rushed through him when he’d seen Hannah tonight. He hadn’t handled the situation well. In fact, he’d handled it fairly shitty. It had sounded like he was trying to take advantage of her financial situation. He hadn’t meant it that way. He’d just wanted her and wanted to help her at the same time. The possibility of maybe never seeing her again after tonight had turned off his better judgment. What an idiot he was for not thinking things through. He’d be able to find Hannah again, with Lily’s help. When he’d booked a stripper through Lily’s service, he hadn’t thought to ask about Hannah. Last he’d heard was after her father and brother were killed in a car accident, she’d planned to leave town. Her mother must have fallen ill before she was able to do that. Or maybe her mother’s illness had brought her back home. At the time of the accident, he’d been out of the country on business, so he hadn’t been able to offer comfort when she’d needed it the most. He’d sent flowers to the funeral and later tried to call. He no longer lived here in town but maybe he should have flown in. Guilt still riddled him for not making more of an effort. Somehow he’d almost believed if he didn’t face the situation head-on, then Jason wasn’t really gone. Stupid. So he never had connected with Hannah. Time passed and well, he’d lost touch. Jason. He missed his best friend. A damn drunk driver had ended his life way too soon. During college, he’d often visited the McBride house with Jase. Hannah had been so hot, even back in high school. Only seventeen and his friend’s little sister, there wasn’t much he could do about his attraction to her…then. 21

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Now that he knew she still lived here, he didn’t intend to let her get away easily. Lily would help. She’d obviously set tonight up for them to meet again, on purpose, or she would have told them both about the other. In his mind, wanting Hannah wasn’t even about the sex. Yeah, right. Well, not completely about the sex. Though he figured he might have a hard time convincing her of that now. Out of all the women he’d known, she’d always fascinated him the most, stood up to him and been honest and in his face when necessary. Tonight showed him that her spunk hadn’t waned over the years. He loved that. He needed someone like her in his life. A knock drew his attention. He opened the door and his heart lurched. Hannah. She stood in the black silk wrap which made her blonde hair look even more luscious. The waves practically glowed around her beautiful face. Her light brown eyes reflected her wariness. He didn’t like that look. He wanted her to look at him with trust and a good amount of lust would be nice too. “You came back.” Certainly, that meant something. “My car won’t start.” “Really?” The truth, or an excuse to return and see him again? “Don’t make me smack you.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “You know I’ll do it.” “Yes, I know.” He chuckled. This was the Hannah he remembered. “The car has a wicked scratch down the side. And someone stole my cell phone. Do you think that bitchy bride-to-be might have done something?” “How would she know which car was yours?” Her brow crinkled. “Good point. Can I use your phone? No one was at the desk downstairs and I didn’t see a pay phone.” “Sure.” He stepped aside. Maybe he’d just been given another chance. How many chances would fate allow? This time he wouldn’t blow it.

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She glanced around. “Is this actually your room or is it just booked for the party?” “It’s mine. Why?” he asked, his voice deepening as erotic images flashed through his head. He did want to reconnect with her personally but he couldn’t control his physical need to be with her. He’d spent too many years wanting her. She used to have the hots for him and he suspected that hadn’t changed from her reaction to his tongue and his touch. He hoped her thoughts followed his own. “Just curious.” When that’s all she said, he felt deflated. Well, he didn’t intend to push her into anything she didn’t want. But as long as she was still here with him, he remained hopeful. “I’m staying until after the wedding, which is Sunday. By then, I should know if my transfer went through.” “Transfer?” “My company has a branch office here. I’ve been wanting to return home. Be surrounded by long-time friends again.” And maybe reunite with an old friend who, in time, might become a new lover. “Oh.” A look of definite interest entered her eyes. Good. Maybe. “That would be nice. George must be a good friend for you to throw a party for him.” “Fraternity brother. Only a few of us could make the wedding.” Now the idea of the transfer held even more appeal. Before tonight, he’d wanted to relocate but even so, he’d harbored doubts, wondering if he could really return home after all this time and be happy. If he got Hannah into his bed, he’d be more than happy. But beyond that, he would be very happy to have her in his life again in any capacity.

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Hannah sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled the phone toward her, then dialed. Someone must have picked up on the first ring for she started speaking almost immediately. “Hi. Lily? It’s Hannah. No, I’m okay. Sort of. My car won’t start and someone stole the cell phone…um, from Bradley Miller’s room… Don’t even…we need to talk.” She glanced over at him. “Can you— Oh yeah, sure. That would be fine…I guess. No, no problem. Okay. Bye.” She hung up. “She’s going to call the car service her company uses.” “What about the cops for the stolen phone and the scratch?” “She doesn’t have the best relationship with the department here. She won’t want the hassle, believe me. She’s legit now but her history isn’t the best, if you recall.” “Not really.” “Well, that’s in the past. I’m not thrilled about the scratch but Lily will take care of it. I don’t exactly want to answer a lot of questions about what I’m doing here, which the police are bound to ask if I call them. Lily said to stay put and she’ll call back with the details of when the service can get me a tow. I hope you don’t mind me waiting here. She has your room number.” Mind? He felt like high-fiving someone. It would give them time to talk and get reacquainted. And yeah, he’d probably make another play for her, if the opportunity arose. “No, I don’t mind.” A loud clap of thunder vibrated the room, interrupting their conversation. At the noise, Hannah jumped. The lights flickered. Miller walked over to the window and pulled the curtain aside. “A storm’s moved in.” Hail fell, along with a deluge of rain. Lightning streaked across the horizon, clearly visible from the window. The lights flickered again and went out.

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“Damn.” He pulled the curtains fully open to let in any light from outside, so they didn’t feel so enveloped by the darkness. He looked up at the gloomy sky from the second-story corner room. The window opened toward a large, empty lot that appeared on the verge of being developed. “Looks like this storm might last a while. Lots of clouds, from what I can see.” Hannah tried the phone. “Lines are down.” She hung up. “What about your cell phone? Can you check if that’s working?” “Don’t have it.” When she just stared at him, he shrugged. “I ran into a problem at the airport. Long story.” “Well, then I guess I’m stuck here for a while.” Shoving his hands in his front pockets, Miller strolled back over to her. “Like I said, I don’t mind. You might not even be able to get a tow tonight in this weather. Lily probably didn’t have enough time to place the call to the car service, if her lines went down too. Once she does call and gets through, they’ll be backed up. On this kind of night, there are bound to be a ton of accidents.”

Probably. Hannah pulled her wrap more tightly closed. She wasn’t certain if fate was working for her or against her tonight. It seemed she would be spending the night, or at least several hours, with Miller. She couldn’t even call a cab until the lines worked again. Though she really wasn’t too upset at the prospect to be honest. Now that her anger and frustration with him had waned. Until she could leave, their time together would be a good opportunity to get reacquainted. “What do you think about us reconnecting like this?” “I think Lily is playing matchmaker. Or she would have said something.” Hannah smiled. “Me too.” Even when younger, Lily had tried to convince her to make a move on Miller. She could still hear her friend’s voice whispering in her ear. Tell him you wanna fuck. I bet he’ll rip your clothes off.

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“I can’t say I’m disappointed, Hannah.” The soft look in his eyes touched her heart. “Truthfully…me either.” He’d probably jump on that. But it was true and she saw no reason not to admit it. “I’m sorry about earlier. Really.” He walked over to the nightstand and stuffed the money into his pocket. “I’m an idiot. I just wanted to help. I’m sorry I insisted you stay and strip. I was just desperate to keep you here, I guess. I saw my chance to finally have you naked and maybe in my arms and I went into jerk mode.” His apology surprised her. And put her at ease at the same time. “It’s all right. I didn’t handle things as well as I could have. I know you didn’t mean—” “I do still want you, Hannah.” Oh. She stared up at him. A streak of lightning revealed the intensity in his eyes. “I see.” Well, he wasn’t pretending his needs had changed. She had to respect his honesty. She wasn’t sure how else to respond. Conflicting emotions rolled through her and her heart pounded against her ribs. If he didn’t get the transfer, she might never see him again. That thought alone made her stomach squeeze painfully. This could be her only chance. Just once in her life she wanted to put her true desires before anything else and do what was in her heart. “I recognize that look, Hannah,” Miller said, sounding wary. “It’s the one you used to get right before jumping into something feet first. What’s going on in your head?” They were both adults now. They both wanted each other. It’s not like they were perfect strangers. Far from it. She stood from the bed, dropped her robe and gave him her sexiest grin. Miller visibly swallowed. “Um, Hannah…” “Yes?” “Before I fall into idiot-mode again, you better tell me exactly what you’re doing and what you want.” “Isn’t it obvious? I wanna fuck.” Lily would be proud.

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Miller’s cock responded immediately to her words. Oh yeah. He’d just gotten the green light to make his fantasies come true. Well, if he could entice Hannah into those fantasies. Specific, intense fantasies. Fantasies he hoped she’d not only enjoy but crave as much as he did. If she wasn’t interested, he’d be disappointed but tonight he’d take her however he could get her and make sure she left with a good memory and a satisfied smile on her face. “Aren’t you glad you asked for an all-the-way naked strip now?” Hannah laughed. “Hmm? What?” He hadn’t asked for that. “Actually, Lily pushed the naked package on me, swearing I wouldn’t be disappointed. And I’m definitely not disappointed.” “Geez! I can’t believe it.” Hannah shook her head. “There is no naked package. She told me that was what you wanted and you would pay more to get it. Normally she doesn’t do full nudity. I knew something was up.” He laughed. “I think Lily played both of us. Some ploy.” “Well, I certainly can’t blame her.” Hannah smiled. “She re-sparked the flame and gave us the night together we never had.” “That she did.” His mouth swooped down on hers, tasting and teasing her lips. She responded like a woman starving for sex, starving for him. Yes! His tongue pushed inside and his body came alive as if he’d been waiting all his life for this moment. Years of pent-up passion for this woman overtook him and his tongue slid along hers. She tasted hot, sweet and lusty. A heady experience. When they finally separated, they were breathing heavily. Hannah laid her palm against his chest. “Miller?” She chewed at her bottom lip, then released it. “What?” His thumb grazed her moist lip. She looked uncertain and his heart plummeted. “You’ve changed your mind?” he asked in a subdued voice.

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“No! It’s just…I know what you like.” “What do you mean?” Her eyes darted back and forth before meeting his directly. “I know what you like sexually.” “What?” he choked out. No fucking way. “You must know that I heard you and my brother talking and joking more than once. And remember, I found those magazines in your car that night.” “Oh…yeah.” He’d forgotten. Blocked it out, he supposed. Talk about embarrassing. Trying to explain his collection of X-rotic Pleasure, Submission & Bondage hadn’t been easy. On the other hand, she knew and still wanted to be with him. A smile tugged at his lips. Maybe she was in to more—sexually—than he’d ever known. “So, how come you’re not running the other way?” He needed to find out. “Because,” she lowered her voice and her eyes turned a smoky brown, “I want you to show me those pleasures.” Miller about swallowed his tongue. “Are you sure?” His heart beat so rapidly he actually felt the pounding in his throat. From her words, he surmised she’d never before engaged in such activities but was willing and maybe even eager to do so. With him. She began unbuttoning his shirt. “Very sure.” His cock hardened until it hurt. He kissed her again, holding the back of her neck, keeping her mouth fused with his. When he pulled back, he whispered against her lips, “If you need me to stop anything I do tonight, just say…jailbait.”

Hannah laughed. Jailbait. No doubt a reference to her younger days when they couldn’t do anything about their desires for each other. Even though Miller was only a few years older than she, back then, he never made a move on her. And that fact made her want him even more. As wild as he had been in college, he’d still had principles.

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Miller took her hand and led her over to one of the chairs. His eyes took on a nononsense look and every nerve in her body came alive. “Sit.” Trusting him to take care of her, she followed his instruction without a word. His whole demeanor had changed. An interesting dynamic that she found sexy and fascinating. In front of her, he knelt on one knee. “Put your foot here.” He patted his bent leg. She raised her foot to rest on his thigh. He slipped off her shoe then reached up and slowly rolled the black stocking down her leg, as if he had all the time in the world. He raised her leg and kissed the instep of her foot. His gaze locked with hers and his fingers slid up the inside of her thigh. Her pussy grew so wet she thought she might come right there. “Miller,” she whispered, wanting to plead with him to stop the ache between her legs. “Shh…” He pulled his hand off her thigh and repeated his move with the second stocking, again taking his time. After tossing one stocking on the bed and holding on to the other one, he stood and pulled her out of the chair. “Give me your wrists. I’m going to bind you so you’re at my mercy.” Tentatively, she held her wrists out to him. She saw his pupils dilate. He looked at her with such passion that her pussy clenched, her breasts felt fuller and her nipples hardened. He gently wrapped the silk stocking around her wrists, binding her tightly but not uncomfortably. When he raised her hands to his mouth and kissed each finger, she almost melted. In the next instant, he released her and slipped off his belt, looking her directly in the eyes as he did so. Her heart began to pound.

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When Miller got all tender, she felt like snuggling in his arms the entire night. When he looked at her with that dominant intensity, she felt she could almost come on command. Miller tossed one end of the belt over a beam above their heads. The cabin feel of the hotel extended into the room, where wooden beams decorated the ceiling in a crisscross fashion. This one particular beam hung somewhat lower than the others. She wondered if it had been done that way on purpose or if it was a design flaw. He raised her arms above her head. “On your toes, Hannah. You’re a little short.” She rose up and he slipped the belt through the stocking and hooked the leather strap closed. She felt unstable, hanging by her arms and balanced on her toes. But the way Miller looked at her, like some delicious morsel, made the awkward position worthwhile. “Very nice, Hannah. Very sexually vulnerable.” Yes, that’s exactly how she felt. Sexually vulnerable. Ready for him to bring her the ecstasy she craved. “Tonight you are all mine. Do you understand?” “Yes.” He caressed her cheek. “We’ll soon see.” His fingers slid down her chest, between her breasts and he grabbed the front of her bra, causing her to dance on her toes. He hesitated, looking into her eyes. Waiting for her to protest, she imagined. When she remained silent, he ripped the clasp open between the two cups. Though knowing what was coming, Hannah still gasped. He tossed the strapless bra to the floor. Then his eyes lowered and locked on her breasts. She swallowed hard.

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His finger traced around one nipple. “Plump. I like that. Very suckable. Do you like it when your nipples are sucked?” At his lusty, low-spoken words, she trembled. “Yes.” “Good.” He sank to his knees and roughly jerked off the side ties of her underwear, stripping her completely naked. Hannah mewled. She’d never experienced anything like this before. His fingers gently stroked the dark blonde hair covering her pussy. “I’m going to soak this with cum.” Oh yes. He stood up and stared at her body. She could see his increased breathing, even in the darkened room. She had a feeling she was going to get the fucking of her life tonight. Miller circled behind her. His fingers grazed her ass and she tensed. “You’re beautiful, Hannah. Incredibly sexy.” He circled back in front of her. “Are you all right?” She nodded, pleased that he cared enough to ask. He ran his fingers up and down her outstretched arms. “I won’t leave you like this for long but there’s something I need to do to you. Something I want you to experience.” “Wh-what?” Her heart pounded like a drum. “Shhhhhh.” He walked over to the closet and grabbed another belt. She gulped. Though she trusted Miller not to hurt her, all this was new sexual territory for her and she couldn’t help but feel wary. And so ready for a climax she was about to scream. As he doubled up the leather strap, he slowly approached. His eyes burned intently in the darkness, revealed by the intermittent lightning strikes. “Are you scared?” “A little,” she answered truthfully. Her pulse raced way too fast and her clit throbbed hard. 31

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“Are you turned-on?” Her voice lowered. “A lot.” Also the truth. He moved behind her and again his fingers caressed her ass. “I won’t hurt you.” Even at his words, she immediately tightened, expecting a spank. With a deep rumble, he spoke next to her ear. “The unexpected is much more erotic, don’t you think?” Lightly, he rubbed the leather strap against first one ass cheek, then the other. He rounded in front of her. “Are you wet, Hannah?” So wet she thought she’d drip onto the carpet any moment. “Yes…” His hand cupped her cunt and he smiled. She mewled as he leaned forward and tongued one of her nipples. Her nipple swelled at his touch. The thrill that raced through her body and almost made her come. “Oh!” Miller pulled back and his gaze raked her body from head to toe. A small smile hitched one corner of his mouth before he once again disappeared behind her. “Spread your legs, Hannah. And relax.” Spreading her legs was easy. Relaxing? No way. She needed to come! “Wider. Okay. Now offer your ass to me. Stick it out and up a little.” Arching her back, she did as instructed. A tingle spread across her butt cheeks, though he hadn’t even spanked her yet. “Mmm, sexy.” He flicked the belt gently against the inside of each thigh. She let out a small squeak. The belt hadn’t hurt but she was wound tight and the move surprised her. She prepared herself for the slap she knew would be landing on her butt. Except it didn’t happen. The next flick of his belt curled between her legs and slapped up along her pussy. The leather smacked her clit. A perfectly executed slap. “Oh! Miller!” The sting traveled

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right through her clit and cunt muscles. She pulled against her bindings and shifted on her toes. “Keep your legs spread.” He flicked the belt between her legs again, a little harder, this time. “Ah-ah! Yes!” This time the sting mixed with a surge of pleasure and she bowed her body. “That’s right. Get into it.” A moment later, he smacked her clit a third time. She screamed in ecstasy. And she came, exploding in sensations she’d never believed possible. Her whole body tingled. Moisture trickled down her thighs as her body spasmed. “Oh yeah. Beautiful.” He moved in front of her and rubbed the belt along her breasts. “Are you all right?” Her breathing came out fast and heavy. She sagged in exhaustion, then looked up at him and nodded, unable to speak. “Slow your breathing. That’s right.” Keeping eye contact with her, he dropped the strap. “I’ve wanted to do that to you since the first day I saw you, Hannah. Wondered how you’d respond to a strap. If you’d come. I knew if you got off on that kind of pleasure-pain then we’d be perfect for each other.” He knelt. “Let’s see how you react to my tongue.” She still couldn’t respond, not enough air remained in her lungs. She’d never even imagined an experience like that. And his words excited her as much as his actions, for she knew he was going to be a more intense lover than she’d ever had. His hands cupped her ass and he leaned forward. After two light licks, he sucked her clit into his mouth. “Ah.” Nice, after the sting of the belt. When his tongue flicked at the bud, a jolt of pleasure shot through her. Oh, what an incredible feeling! His lips and tongue teased her flesh. She quickly found her lost voice. “Miller!” Her whole body shook. He sucked gently, licking her between deep draws. She came again,

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squirming, mewling and sobbing at the strength of the climax. No man had ever made her come that hard twice, so closely together. She felt almost faint from the ecstasy. The pleasure finally ebbed and she collapsed, only being held up by him and the strap binding her wrists. After steadying her, he dropped his hands from her ass and stood up, wiping his mouth. “Delicious.” He gently stroked her breasts. All she could do was hang there. He strolled over and grabbed a beer bottle from the cooler. He returned and touched the cool glass between her legs. She sighed. The coolness felt good against her still-throbbing clit. He kissed her lips lightly and patted her ass. “You’re so beautiful when you come. More so, after you’ve come.” He took a swig of beer then examined the bottle. “Want me to fuck you with this, Hannah?” He dangled the bottle in front of her. Her gaze snapped to his. Was he serious? “The neck is long. I bet it would feel really good in your pussy…or in your ass. A cock as hard as it gets.” She gulped. “I’d rather have your cock,” she barely managed to whisper. A grin tugged at his lips. “Lady’s choice.” He set the bottle aside and undid the strap holding her up. When she fell, he caught her and carried her over to rest on the bed. But he left her wrists bound. The softness of the mattress felt good against her back. Her arms began to tingle as the blood slowly returned to her limbs. She watched Miller at the end of the bed, peeling off his clothes. His chest looked massive. When he dropped his pants, her mouth fell open. In the dark, his cock appeared huge and hard enough to fuck all night long. She couldn’t see much detail but couldn’t wait to feel him thrusting inside her.

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Miller had never believed this night would happen. Hannah was so damn sexy. When she’d come from him slapping her clit, he’d thought he might lose it right in his pants. Looking at her, still bound, lying on the bed and waiting for him to fuck her was more erotic than anything he’d experienced in a long time. When he’d jerked his pants and shorts down, her eyes had widened slightly, then she’d smiled at him in that sexy way he loved so much. He doubted she could see much in the dark. He had a better view since the window loomed behind him. Any light spilled right onto the bed and onto her luscious body. A body he intended to wear out tonight. He also intended to make certain she enjoyed herself, that she came hard and came often. A need burned inside him to satisfy her more than any other man ever had. “Come down here. In front of me. On your knees. No words, Hannah. Just follow my instructions. For now.” She scrambled off the mattress and kneeled before him, her bound hands resting in front of her. Oh yeah. He barely restrained a smile of satisfaction. So eager to please. He’d be certain to please her well in return. With one hand he held the back of her head. With the other he held his shaft, brushing the tip against her lips. “Suck my cock.” Obediently, she opened her mouth and took the tip of his cock inside. She sucked lightly and steadily. After a moment, she pulled back and lubricated his entire shaft with her tongue, then sucked him back in again. A groan rumbled up from his throat. Perfection. With small thrusts of his hips, he eagerly fucked her mouth. She tilted her head back slightly and his cock slid deep along her tongue. Oh yeah. He went a little deeper with each thrust, until she’d taken almost all of him. “Damn, Hannah.” He hadn’t expected her to take even half of his cock into her mouth and certainly hadn’t expected her to take him down her throat. When she made 35

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a swallowing motion, her throat muscles massaged his shaft. “Oh fuck!” He gritted his teeth. Already highly stimulated, it wasn’t going to take much to push him over the edge. “I want you to swallow my cum,” he ground out. “Get ready for it.” In the next instant, he spewed down her throat. “Ahh! Yeah!” After giving her a long stream, he pulled his cock most of the way out and some of his remaining cum trickled out the side of her mouth. He pushed back in, filling her mouth once more, but not going down her throat, so she was able to suck him. Damn, she could suck! Her tongue tickled the underside of his cock and even more cum shot out into her mouth. “Yeah. Get it all.” Her cheeks hollowed as she sucked. Coming in her mouth had been a fantasy he’d jacked off to more times than he could count. “Hannah…” he groaned. Never had he climaxed so long and hard. She milked every ounce out of him. When he finally released her, she pulled back, letting his cock slip from her mouth. He braced his hand on the back of the nearby chair, his legs feeling wobbly. After taking and releasing a large breath, he said, “Get on the bed, on your stomach.” With a slight smile on her face, obviously knowing she’d pleased him well, she did as instructed. After she stretched out on the mattress, he eased down beside her. “You make me absolutely crazy, Hannah.” He kissed her back and stroked her hair. “I’m going to fuck you like a man possessed, for I am possessed with a need so deep…just for you.” Tonight was a night he’d never forget. Because of his sexual tastes, he’d never found a woman who had filled all his needs. Until now. Hannah was a dream come true. His dream.

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Hannah sucked in a sharp breath. The combination of eroticism and tenderness from him touched her heart and body more deeply than she’d expected. Because of the dark room, she hadn’t been able to see his cock clearly but he was definitely thick and long. She’d barely been able to suck him down. She could still taste him and wanted more. He hadn’t given her the opportunity to really explore him with her tongue as she would like. She wanted to lick his balls, drag her tongue down underneath toward his anus. She’d felt a whole range of sexy ridges along his cock that she still wanted to explore with her lips and fingers. Miller’s hand smacked down on her ass. “Oh!” She jerked. She hadn’t expected a spank! When she had expected it, he hadn’t done it. His sexual unpredictability made her body throb in such need she didn’t think she’d ever tire of his brand of excitement. He slapped her ass again, the opposite cheek this time. The tingle vibrated right through her body and her pussy clenched. “Ah!” So good. When he spanked her a third time, her fingers curled into the pillowcase and her hips jerked. “Please…” She squirmed against the mattress. She needed to come so badly. “Please what, Hannah. Stop?” “No. Please.” She shook her head. “I need to come again.” “Oh, I’ll make you come again. I’ll make you come all night.” He slapped her ass once more. She gasped. Then she felt his other hand between her legs. With an easy touch, he pushed a finger into her pussy. Yes. “More, Miller.” “All you want, Hannah. I want to hear your pleasure. Every moment of it.” He inserted a second finger then fucked her slowly and deeply. He smacked her ass each time he pulled his fingers halfway out of her. “Oh!” She couldn’t get over how good the mixture of pain and pleasure felt.

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He hesitated and then gently massaged her warm butt cheeks. Moving in contrast to the soft caresses, he began finger-fucking her again, this time pumping her pussy roughly with his hand. “You like it hard? Fast? Rough?” “Yes, yes, yes!” She loved the way he took control. Timidity never had been a part of Miller’s nature. One of many things that attracted her to him and would keep her coming back for more. “My cock is so fucking hard, Hannah. I never thought I could get hard again so fast. You do something almost savage to me. Do you want it?” “Yes! I need your cock inside me, Miller! Fuck me. Fuck me!” “I give the orders when it comes to sex. If you don’t remember that, there are consequences.” He stopped fucking her but left his fingers inside her pussy. She whimpered. “Don’t stop.” “Should I forgive you or sexually punish you for breaking the rules? It’s up to you, Hannah. This time.” Her heart pounded fiercely. She knew he was playing an erotic game. A game of sex and control. And she had to admit she enjoyed the fantasy of dominance and submission. She swallowed past the lump in her throat, then answered, her voice barely audible, “Punish me…” “Oh yeah,” he growled. He spanked her ass, first one cheek then the other. The slaps echoed in the room. Over and over. She’d known what the punishment would be and wanted it. She mewled and squirmed. On the next sharp slap, she squealed. At the sound, he stopped. He leaned over and kissed her butt, tonguing the sensitive skin. She sighed in relief. She’d been about to say their safe word. But somehow he’d known just when to stop. Her whole body tingled and she couldn’t help feeling turned-

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on by the aggressive sexual treatment. She’d never trust another man to do such things to her. Only Miller. She knew he’d take her to the edge but never go too far. He withdrew his fingers from her pussy and she glanced over her shoulder to watch him lick them clean. Such an erotic sight. He grabbed something out of the nightstand. Then he reached up to pull the stocking from around her wrists. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Did I hurt you?” “No. I loved it.” When he lightly kissed her cheek before moving away, she felt completely safe with whatever he wanted to do to her. Positioning himself behind her, he pulled her to her knees. “Keep your head down.” After a moment of fiddling with what she assumed was a condom, he eased into her pussy. “Ah, yes…” His cock felt so good. Long and incredibly thick. He filled her completely, stretching her to the max. He pumped into her pussy several times, getting in as deeply as he could with each forceful thrust. The last time he pulled halfway out and stopped. “Reach back and pull your ass open.” “What?” “You heard me. Pull your ass open.” With her head on the pillow and while still on her knees, she reached behind her and pulled her ass cheeks apart. She felt her fingers trembling but couldn’t control them. “Wider.” She eagerly did as instructed. In such need to come, she would have done anything. Something wet and a little sticky filled her hole. She had no idea what it was and didn’t ask. Then she felt something large poking her. The neck of the beer bottle? Her heart lurched at the thought. No. Two fingers. Covered by a condom. Slowly, he worked them inside her ass, a little at a time.

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“Ah, Miller!” His cock fucked her pussy, while his fingers fucked her ass. He reached underneath her with his free hand. “Get ready for a little sting.” He tugged and pinched her clit. “Ah!” She’d never felt so completely immersed in a sexual encounter. All she knew was the intensity of the erotic feelings rushing through her and how much she loved it. “Come on, Hannah. Scream for me, baby. You like getting it in your cunt and in the ass at the same time, don’t you?” “Yes! Don’t stop!” His words weren’t tender, but she didn’t want tender right now and he knew it. He was giving her exactly what she needed, what she had craved from him for so many years.

Miller felt as if he was ravaging Hannah’s body. And she loved it. What a woman! As he felt his climax drawing near, he fucked her harder. “Come on, Hannah. Come for me!” He knew she was close. He wanted this to be a night of sex she’d never forget. Suddenly, her body tightened and she screamed. Her pussy clenched around his cock, released it, then clenched his shaft again. “Fuck, Hannah! That feels incredible.” When he flicked her clit, she screamed in pleasure again and her ass sucked at his fingers, as if begging for even further penetration. “Yeah! Keep coming.” He pumped his fingers deeply into her asshole, while his cock continued to plunge into her pussy. “Miller! Oh yes!” She squirmed and her hips jerked. He couldn’t get enough of watching her come. He eased his fingers out of her ass. After smiling at her long moan, he tugged off the condom and tossed it away. Both his hands curled around her hips and he pushed his cock repeatedly into her pussy. Her cunt muscles gripped him like a glove. Fuck. She’s incredible. He released one hip and smacked her ass lightly, knowing she couldn’t take much more than that but the sight excited him. She moaned again, pressing back against him,

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as if asking for everything he had. He reached beneath her and tugged on one of her nipples, twisting and pinching the hard bud. “Ohohoh!” She squirmed against him. He needed to see her face, to look into her eyes. He pulled out of her. “No!” Miller laid her on her back. “I’m not going anywhere.” He pushed his cock back into her pussy and squeezed her breasts. Full. Enticing. Gorgeous. “You’ve got such soft tits, Hannah. And a cunt I could fuck every day of my life.” He leaned over her and sucked a nipple into his mouth, drawing hard. He bit down on the morsel of flesh as he pinched the other bud. “Ah…yes. Bite it. Oh! Oh!” She wrapped her legs around his back and pushed her hips up against his. “Faster, Miller! Fuck me faster.” He pulled back and looked into her eyes. Seeing her need, his fingers wrapped around her upper arms and he held her down while repeatedly thrusting his cock into her pussy. “Tell me what you want, Hannah.” She obviously craved this kind of taking, for her whole body spasmed. “Oh yes! Miller! Hard. I need it. Yes! Oh…I’m coming again. Ah-ahhh!” He marveled at her ability to climax so many times. Each thrust into her pussy brought him closer to his own orgasm, which he wanted to delay as long as possible. He grunted every time his hips met hers. His hands held her arms tightly so that only her lower body squirmed wildly beneath him. He felt as if his balls were ready to explode. Their eyes locked and he saw a whole range of tender emotions in her gaze. That’s when he lost it. His body unleashed the ecstasy held in check for her all these years. With an almost savage yell, he came. The feeling erupted inside him like a volcano, more powerful even than when he’d come in her mouth. “Ah, Hannah! Fuck! Yes! Oh…yes!” He thrust into her pussy three more times, pushing as deeply into her as he could get. “Ah-hh…” 41

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Completely spent, he fell on top of her. They both breathed heavily. He felt her kiss his shoulder. Such a tender touch. He couldn’t move to reciprocate. She licked his ear and his body jerked. “That was the best, Miller. The very best,” she whispered, running her fingers up and down his back. The very best. Hell, yeah. He had to agree.

***** Miller sat on the side of the bed, watching Hannah sleep. The rain had stopped at sunrise and it looked like a beautiful day. Last night with her had been phenomenal. Better than his fantasies, which said a lot. Now that they’d found each other again, he ached to think about letting her go. His fingertips stroked her cheek. She stirred and her eyes fluttered open. A smile crossed her face. “Hi.” “Hi. It’s morning, sleepyhead.” “Morning?” She glanced at the clock then bolted upright. “It’s almost ten!” She clutched the sheet over her chest. “Is that time correct? I never sleep this late.” “Yep, sure is. I reset it earlier, after the electricity came back on. A tow truck arrived around eight for your car. I went down when I saw him drive into the lot. Lily never did call back but I used the driver’s cell phone to confirm with her that he was legit. I retrieved your clothes from the backseat before he towed the car. They’re in the bathroom. I didn’t want to wake you.” “Oh. Great. Thanks. I appreciate you handling all that for me.” She raked a hand through her tangled hair. “I must look a mess.” “You look beautiful, Hannah. Last night was amazing.” More than amazing. A smile crossed her face. “It was pretty spectacular, wasn’t it? I’ve never done things like that before. I loved everything you did to me. I came so hard.” Damn, she really had loved it as much as he’d hoped.

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He reached out and caressed her cheek, unable to go long without touching her, then he leaned in for a slow kiss. When her hands slid up under his shirt and massaged his muscles, his body immediately responded, his cock becoming semi-hard. His other hand eased under the covers and between her legs. Lightly, he touched her clit. She moaned against his mouth. Yes. All he wanted was to be with this woman, to make her feel special, to make her come. He gently rubbed her clit, taking his time. Hannah clung to him, her fingernails scraping his back. He felt her cunt quiver, felt her getting close. And then he felt her whole body spasm. Not hard but a long drawn-out shudder. He broke their kiss to watch her. The look on her face was pure ecstasy. Miller couldn’t help but smile. Her climax waned and she leaned forward to kiss him deeply. After a long play of tongues, she reluctantly eased her lips from his. “Oh yes…that was nice.” He chuckled and rested his forehead against hers. “Beautiful is a better word. Everything about you is beautiful, Hannah.” He pulled his fingers out of her pussy. So damn sexy. He had grown hard just watching her. He could get used to waking up to her every morning. Seeing that contented look on her face after they made love.

She tugged at his pants until his cock filled her hands. In the light of day, she saw everything she’d missed last night. Long, thick and a deep purplish-red. Velvet over steel. The wide head and the veins running along the shaft caught her attention. Magnificent. She wanted, needed, to ride him. To watch his face in the light of day, where she could clearly see every emotion on his face as she sank down over him. Tossing the sheet aside, she began to crawl onto his lap. “Um, Hannah, wait.” “What?” She scooted back. He didn’t want to? Confusion filled her. “Is something wrong?”

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“Yeah, sorry. I’m out of condoms. I wasn’t prepared for this.” “Oh.” Disappointment fluttered through her. “Well, darn.” But then she grinned. She leaned down and licked the tip of his cock. When he groaned, her eyes locked with his. “I’d rather have you inside my pussy but there are other ways. Do you mind?” “Do you need to ask?” His pupils dilated and his fingers tangled in her hair. While gently massaging his balls, she sucked the head of his cock into her mouth, loving the musky taste of him. She didn’t rush, moving her mouth and tongue slowly. She wanted this to last. Even so, it wasn’t long before she felt him ready to come. Knowing she could excite him that quickly was a powerful feeling. She slowed down, drawing out his pleasure. With Miller this was much more than simply sex and she wanted him to feel the same. His fingers tightened in her hair and he exploded, shooting his cum down her throat. She sucked and swallowed until he had nothing left to give. After a long groan, he pulled out of her. “You’ve got a great mouth, Hannah.” He kissed her lips, lingering. Then he urged her flat on the bed. She didn’t think she’d ever get enough of this man. She spread her legs and he leaned over and licked her pussy, sucking at the moist flesh and taking her clit between his lips. Oh, what a spectacular feeling. She clutched the sheet and whimpered. After sucking his cock, she was already sexually stimulated. With a slow and steady suction he built the tension higher and higher. He stopped and looked up at her. “Don’t come until I say.” She gulped and nodded. She had no problem submitting to his sexual wishes for she loved what he did to her body and her emotions. He again lowered his head and his lips sucked her clit. Then his tongue began flicking her wildly.

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“Oh-oh!” Her cunt clenched but she did not come. “Miller!” she whimpered. “Please!” He raised his head and smiled. “You can come now, baby.” Her body spasmed. “Ah! Mmm…” His lips closed tightly over her clit. “Yes!” She squirmed beneath him, waves of pleasure rolling through her. Then she collapsed, exhausted and satisfied. A smile crossed her face. She glanced into his eyes as he wiped his face. “What a wonderful way to start the day.”

Suddenly, Miller felt a great loss inside. Hannah must have noticed some change, for she sat up. “What is it?” He refastened his pants. “I was thinking about the transfer. If I don’t get it…” He shook his head. “I’ve been thinking about that too. I don’t suppose you’d quit and relocate here anyway.” The look of hope on her face stabbed at his heart. “I’d rather not quit. I’ve worked hard to be where I am. As a vice president for the computer analysis division, the income is substantial and I like the challenging projects.” She nodded but looked on the verge of tears. “I understand.” Did she? He wasn’t even certain he did. All his thoughts, emotions, plans for the future seemed jumbled in his head. Before Hannah, he’d known his path. But now… She scooted off the bed. “I need to shower and dress.” With a sad smile on her face, she entered the bathroom. “Damn.” He had to get that transfer. He wanted to build something with Hannah beyond just one night and morning of incredible passion. There was no way he could let her go now. He picked up the phone and dialed his office. “Jean, this is Miller. Is

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Gary in? Can you connect me?” As his immediate supervisor, Gary might know something. A moment later, the man came onto the line. “Hey, Gary. Yeah. I’m calling to find out if you heard anything about my transfer. Yeah. I am eager. What? But— Well, normally, yeah. I know… Not really but if it’s a done deal… All right. I’ll explain later. Thanks. I’ll call you next week.” He hung up the phone. “Well, that’s that.”

***** Hannah dried herself off. Miller had folded her pants and blouse and put them on the counter. She’d never known a man so kind, who was also so sexually intense. A perfect combination in her mind. She looked at her ass in the mirror as best as she could. Not a mark on her. Amazing. She didn’t even feel sore. Just totally, sexually satisfied. She fluffed her moist hair as best she could, then dressed and stepped out of the bathroom. Miller was sitting in a chair, eating a biscuit. “I ordered breakfast while you were showering.” “Thanks.” She grabbed a donut, needing her morning sugar rush. “You look pensive again.” She sat in the chair opposite him. “I called my supervisor about the transfer.” Her stomach clenched. “And?” She feared the news. She could see something unsettling on his face. Whatever he said, she’d deal with it. Somehow. “I got a transfer.” The breath whooshed out of her. Oh, thank you. Why didn’t he look happy? “You seem—” “Not here, Hannah. They’ve transferred me to the European office.” “Europe?” Her heart sank. A whole other continent.

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“Rome.” “Oh.” Disappointment as she’d never felt enveloped her. She’d figured even if he didn’t get the transfer, they could still see each other from time to time. But with him in Europe… “That will be exciting.” Her tone didn’t match her words but she couldn’t dig up enough enthusiasm to be really happy for him. Not right now, after just getting hit with the news. “When do you leave?” “Next week. Two days after the wedding. I have a lot to arrange by then.” “That fast?” Even though she’d known they might only have the one night, she’d still hoped deep down they would have more time to be together. How could she just say goodbye? “There’s a project deadline for a major corporation over there and the current manager quit suddenly because of a family problem or something. I don’t know the details yet. I’ll need to get up to speed fast.” She nodded. “I guess this is it for us then.” Her heart felt like it was breaking. If she hadn’t known Miller through her brother, hadn’t wanted him for so long, she probably wouldn’t be feeling like this after only one night. But something had happened last night while he’d held her so tenderly. Something beyond the sex. “Hannah—” “No, Miller. Please.” She held up her hand. “Don’t say anything that’s going to make this harder. Let’s just leave it where it’s at. We can’t change things. This simply wasn’t meant to be anything more than what it was.” His brow crinkled. “You really feel like that?” No, but she wasn’t going to try to hold him back or cling to him like some leech. That wouldn’t be fair. So much for not being a one-night stand. The timing had never been right for them. She couldn’t even go to Europe with him, if he asked. She’d never leave her mother while she was so ill. So, better to make a clean cut.

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Ruth D. Kerce

Last night and this morning had been a fantasy come true but now their wild ride would just be a memory. One she’d never forget. “I’ll call myself a cab, Miller. We both need to get on with our lives.”

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Epilogue “Can you do another job?” “Lily…” Hannah sighed. “I thought we were going to dinner.” “Change of plans.” “I am not doing any other jobs. You know that. Find someone else.” After Miller, she’d told Lily that she never intended to strip again. She was in a better position now, due to Miller’s help. To her surprise and shock, he’d paid for an entire year of her mother’s care. She hadn’t found out about it until she’d attempted to make a payment herself. Such a precious gift. She’d cried long and hard over his generosity, then promised, one day, she’d pay him back. Since then—eight months now—she’d completed the associate’s degree at the community college that she’d started years ago, found herself a good job at a financial firm and was crawling out of the debt she’d been in. “Fine. No need to get snippy.” “I didn’t mean to sound like I was unappreciative, Lily. But my stripper days are over.” “Day, not days.” “Whatever.” “This really puts me in a bind.” Lily walked to the office door and pulled it open. “She won’t strip for you. Maybe you can convince her.” What? Hannah peeked around the corner. A man stepped inside the office. “What do you mean, you won’t strip for me? I placed a special order.”

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“Miller!” Her heart jumped and she ran into his arms. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to town?” Before he could explain, she kissed him soundly, mingling her tongue with his. When she pulled back, he chuckled. “I guess you’re happy to see me.” She slapped his shoulder. “Of course I’m happy to see you. What are you doing here?” She felt alive, hopeful, turned-on—just from the sight of him. “I quit my job.” “You did what?” Quit? Certainly, she’d misheard. “I wanted to be with you. I missed you.” She sputtered but couldn’t seem to get any words out. She’d missed him so much too. Each day without him the ache in her heart had grown larger. “It took me longer than expected to arrange things but I partnered with a friend, formerly from the local office and we’re going to start our own computer consultation business here in town.” Slowly, she processed his words, almost afraid to believe they might actually be true. “Unless you don’t want me here.” A frown crossed his face. “Have your feelings changed?” They’d talked frequently on the phone and sent a million emails since he’d left, sometimes spending hours discussing their days and their feelings. She loved Miller more than she’d ever thought possible. “My feelings haven’t changed, silly. Yes, I want you here!” He visibly relaxed and a smile replaced the frown. “Good, because I bought a house and I want you to move in with me, Hannah. Permanently.” The blood rushed through her body. “Permanently?” Did that mean— Her mind raced and she couldn’t think straight.

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“What exactly are you asking, Miller?” Her heart pounded against her ribs. Everything seemed to be happening so quickly. She wondered how long he’d been planning this. He reached for her hands. “I love you, Hannah. If you’ll have me, I want you to be my wife.” “Wife…” Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her ultimate dream come true. “Oh, Miller. I love you too. I’d love to be your wife.” They’d found each other again and she never wanted to let him go. “Woo-hoo!” Lily clapped and cheered. “Now you’re going to need strippers for your bachelor and bachelorette parties…”

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About the Author Ruth D. Kerce got hooked on writing in the fifth grade when she won a short story contest—a romance, of course. And she’s been writing romance ever since. She writes several subgenres of romance—historical, contemporary, and futuristic. Her books are available online in many internet bookstores. Her short stories and articles are available on several websites. She has won or placed in writing contests and hopes to continue to write exciting tales for years to come.

Ruth welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

Tell Us What You Think We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at [email protected].

Also by Ruth D. Kerce Adam 483: Man or Machine? Diamond Studs anthology One Naughty Winter Night Sins of Adaven Virgin Seeks Bad-Ass Boy Wanton Surrender Wanton Temptation Xylon Warriors 1: Initiation Xylon Warriors 2: His Carnal Need Xylon Warriors 3: Flames of Arousal

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

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