An excerpt from Lover’s Talisman
2008 (c) Copyright Ashleigh Raine

This book is intended for mature audiences only. If you are not over the age of consent, click the little X on the top right-hand corner of your screen.

“We gotta go back to the import store. It’s safer there.”

Mariah pulled from his grasp. “I need to go inside and check the machine, to make sure no one has heard from her or that she hasn’t been trying to get a hold of me.”

Stephan studied the dark house. No lights on—anybody or anything could be hiding inside. “No. First, I gotta clear the perimeter. After it’s clear, then and only then will I determine if it’s safe for us to enter. Stay close to me.” Stephan extended a hand to her. Mariah looked at it for a moment before placing her hand in his. The heat from her touch infused his entire body with warmth, shifting all thought to sex. This was not a good time to get distracted.

“You sound like a commando. Clear the perimeter. Safe to enter. Do you really think we need to do this?” Mariah’s voice lowered to a whisper as they approached the back of the house.

“I’m not taking any chances. Anything could be waiting in the shadows.” He wished he could say more, make her understand the extent of danger she might be in. But he couldn’t. Not without compromising his job and the secrecy of the whole Shadow Organization. He’d already started down that path by having Fiero heal her yesterday and by bringing her to the compound in the first place. What was it about this woman that made him break his own rules?

“Twyla’s missing. This doesn’t have anything to do with me, does it?” Mariah paused and Stephan tried to think up an answer that wouldn’t scare her. “Oh God. Is this because of my attack last night? Was Twyla taken because of me?”

Stephan gazed into her big, bright eyes, glistening with unshed tears. He didn’t know what to tell her. It probably did have something to do with last night, but she already felt guilty and he didn’t want to add to that. The last thing he needed was a hysterical, terrified woman on his hands.

Convinced he was doing the right thing and that it had nothing to do with how damn bad he wanted to feel her soft body pressed against him, he wrapped his arms around her. She sighed, settling into his embrace, fitting against him, her head tucked beneath his chin, like they’d come together this way a hundred times before. His hands had a mind of their own, stroking the silky length of her hair, kneading circles into her back. The subtle scent of shampoo and clean, beautiful woman filled every breath and he inhaled deeply, taking that small part of her inside.

Each moment spent with her convinced him that maybe she really could be his. He remembered her ice-cold stare from the night before. It had to be a man. Someone must have fucked her up and scared her off men. He’d seen that kind of abuse happen all too often while growing up. Stephan vowed to kill whoever had done that to her.

“I’m not sure what’s goin’ on, but I won’t take any chances with you. We’ll find Twyla, I promise.” He didn’t mention that by the time they found her, it might be too late.

Mariah had never felt this secure. In the middle of her darkened yard, while searching for her best friend, she was completely safe. She wrapped her arms around his waist beneath his leather jacket, luxuriating in his strength. Stephan’s breath wafted against the top of her head, and his heart beat steadily beneath her cheek. The soft cotton of his tight black T-shirt felt comforting against her face. She closed her eyes and let herself enjoy how he made everything feel so right.

She started to pull away, but not before lightly brushing her lips against his chest. His back muscles tightened beneath her hands and she knew he’d felt her kiss. Her gaze returned to his eyes, her breath catching at the desire simmering there. He pulled her back toward him, quickly, fiercely, and ground his mouth to hers.

Mariah’s body lit up, an explosion of sensory awareness that set her ablaze. She wanted to draw him closer, she wanted to jerk away. She wanted to strip naked and fuck him right there against the back wall of the house.

Instead, she returned his kiss, opening her mouth and inviting him inside. It had been so long since she’d been kissed, but she didn’t ever remember feeling one down to her toes. He surrounded her, consumed her and she wanted to give him more to take. Lifting her hands to his hair, she ran her fingers through the short strands in the back. She heard a moan, but wasn’t sure if it was his or her own.

Strong hands anchored on her ass, fingers hot and demanding, searing through her jeans. She ground against him encouragingly and he responded with a deep growl, picking her up, trapping her between the house and his rock-hard body. Her legs circled his waist, their sexes crushed together, his erect cock demanding entrance. If their damn clothes would only disappear, she’d insist he come inside and stay for awhile.

One of his hands remained on her ass, keeping their clothed bodies locked in tortured limbo, while the other wandered over her hair, her cheek, caressing the length of her neck. Abandoning her mouth, he kissed and nipped along her jaw. She took in deep gulps of air between the moans and whimpers. When his teeth scraped roughly down her neck—which was one giant erogenous zone—she forgot to breathe, swallowing her shout and bucking against him, on the verge of climax.

Her body had never reacted like this before, never crested so high so fast. Now Mariah wanted penetration. Wanted Stephan to slam into her, fill her, mate with her until the only thing between their bodies was sweat and come.

But instead of getting closer, Stephan minutely pulled back, allowing room for a hand to travel under her shirt, fingertips brushing the underside of one breast. He explored her with tender caresses so at odds with the frantic tension exploding between them, palming her breast, rubbing his thumb over her nipple until it blossomed, begging to be sucked deep into the warm recesses of his mouth. Thrumming liquid heat swelled low in her belly, threatening to boil over.

She, too, could play the slow seduction game. Letting her fingers do the studying, she trailed down his chest and abdomen. He was rugged perfection beneath her hands, muscles rippling wherever she touched. When she landed on the bulge of his cock, that rippled too, the rigid steel pulsing against her palm. Curling her fingers, she grasped him through his jeans. Her neck muffled his guttural groan as his hips jerked.

His jeans were button fly. The top button came undone with little effort and she impatiently reached inside, desperate to feel his cock against her bare flesh. He was molded fire—large, powerful, hot. She wrapped her hand around him, loving the wicked thrill that came from being in control of pleasuring such a strong man. He moaned again, this time louder. She continued her ministrations, tactilely exploring what she wanted to see and taste.

Stephan’s hand slid from her breast to her jeans and made quick work of her button and zipper. Mariah spoke a prayer of thanks that she had worn sexy pink lace panties and not her comfortable, man-hater, white cotton granny underwear. Long, lean fingers grazed the damp lace stretched over her cunt and she almost cried. It had been so long since anyone’s hands but her own had traveled there.

One finger slipped under the silky barrier and rubbed back and forth, spreading her juices from her pussy to her clit. She whimpered and rocked against him, moments from orgasm. God, she wanted him inside her now, needed the slick feel of flesh invading flesh, turning her desperate ache into exquisite release. If she could just get the last few buttons of his jeans undone…

A shaft of moonlight broke through the clouds overhead, illuminating someone rapidly approaching them. She pushed against Stephan, scrambling to get away, her desire fast becoming fear. A figure covered in dark hair, long fangs dripping, with red glowing eyes, was almost upon them. “Stephan, run! We have to run!”

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EXCERPT: Mariah Meets Stephan
EXCERPT: Twyla is captured
EXCERPT: Confrontation