One Night (10 page)

She cradled his cheeks in her hands, looking deep into his eyes, and then kissed him with all of the love, promise, and hope of the future. He flipped her feet out from under her, catching her easily and lowering her to the floor. The cool wood on her bare skin sent a shiver through her heated blood. He climbed over her body, settling in between her legs, and capturing her left hand.

Slowly, reverently, he slid the
Marquis
cut diamond ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. Turning her hand toward her face, he smiled down at her. “There. It’s official.”

She nodded. The happiness in his eyes, and the sheer joy bubbling up inside of her, blew away her ability to speak or form a coherent sentence. Instead, she showed him. Tugging him down, their lips fused and she kissed him. Tongues entwined, she grasped his shirt and yanked it over his head, releasing his mouth only when she absolutely had to.

Everything inside of her demanded she have him inside of her now. He tore her shirt off, his hands closing on her breasts and squeezing. He lowered his body over hers again, and his hand slid down her stomach, over her thigh, then up her skirt. When his fingers cupped her mound, she moaned and opened her legs more.

“Please,” she panted.

He yanked his pants off and slid between her legs, rubbing his penis against her. She groaned and urged him closer, begging him to come inside of her. Seizing her mouth again, he slid his hand in between her thighs and rubbed his thumb where she needed him most. Her stomach clenched, and she opened her legs further, giving him more access. Ripping his mouth from hers, he sucked on her nipple while thrusting a finger inside of her. Desire made her claw at his arms for something to hold on to.

Gasping for air, she rolled away from him. He shot her a surprised look then reached for her. “No. My turn.”

She climbed on top of him, straddling him and closing her mouth on his. He groaned into her mouth and cupped her breasts. Each tug of her nipples made her need him more, and she ached to come down on him, taking him all inside of her with one sure thrust. Her heartbeat quickened, and she rubbed against his hard length one time before she forced herself to pull back. And, God, that was hard to do. So hard.

Sliding down his body, inch by inch, she lowered her head until she was a breath away from his erection. Flicking her tongue out, she licked the sensitive tip before taking him into her mouth. He hissed and buried his hands in her hair, pulling her closer. She swirled her tongue over his penis, taking him in even more. He threw his head back and moved his hips, a sigh of ecstasy escaping him.

His abs clenched, and she tasted his pleasure. He was close. So close. She sucked harder, wanting to bring him over the edge with her mouth. Needing to give him this.

“Jesus, Lexi.”

He picked her up, set her off to the side, stood up, and curved her over the kitchen island. She laid down on the cool granite, curving her hands over the edge of the island. Bending over her, he bit down on her neck and thrust into her from behind. She cried out, the pressure from the island digging into her stomach and the pleasure he awoke inside of her mingling until she was gasping for air.

He tilted his hips more, thrusting deeper inside of her. She gasped for air and strained against him. She needed completion. She needed him. “
Justin
.”

He groaned and slammed into her again. Harder. He fisted his hand in her hair and tugged her back. As he pulled out of her body, he curled his arm around her, sliding between her legs. As soon as he touched her clit, time froze and she exploded from pleasure. He pushed into her again, tightening his grip on her hair.

“Lexi,” he moaned. He joined her, their bodies straining against one another as he found his own pleasure.

By the time she crashed back down to Earth, he was carrying her into the bathroom. Flicking the shower on, he kissed her and set her down under the steaming water. Then he followed her inside, closing the glass door. She entwined her hands behind his head, smiling up at him.

“You still love throwing me in water, don’t you?”

His lips twitched, and he tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ll never stop trying to get you wet.”

“Oh my God.” She laughed. “You’re hopeless.”

“Not with you in my life.” He kissed her ear, and then moved lower, nibbling on her neck. “Not anymore.”

“When should we get married? Where will we live? Should we—?”

“Lexi … ” he said, his voice holding a warning tone. “You’re thinking too much again.”

She clamped her lips together, her hands on his shoulders. “But what if—?”

He kissed her into silence. She clung to his shoulders, her breath catching in her throat when he dropped to his knees in front of her. He lifted one leg and rested it on his shoulder and then with a flick of his tongue …

She finally stopped thinking.

Acknowledgements

I’d like to take a moment to thank George Blagden, actor extraordinaire, for answering my emails bugging him about how Broadway life works. Though you didn’t think it was much help, it was. You’re an amazingly talented singer and actor—I wish you much luck in the future!

To all the actors who get up on stage every night, I have to thank you, too. You inspired me in more way than you can ever know. I wish I was you—but unfortunately, God did not give me the voice to back up that wish.

Thanks to the team at Swoon Romance, and all the work they put into making
One Night
shine.

And finally, as always, to my family. You put up with my long days, my absent-minded replies, and my tired rants when I get stressed about a deadline. To me … you are all rock stars.

Diane Alberts

Diane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn't until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she's not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing, Swoon Romance, and Decadent Publishing. Her February 2012 release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List, and TRY ME, hit #76 on Amazon. CAPTIVATED BY YOU reached #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list.

Visit www.dianealberts.com

www.facebook.com/swoonromance

KNOCK LOVE OUT by Pella Grace coming from Swoon Romance July 2, 2013

Look for KNOCK LOVE OUT coming from Swoon Romance July 2, 2013

KNOCK LOVE OUT

Pella Grace

Lillia King: Chapter 1

I want to strangle my husband and slam the door as I leave. I want to leave a box of pasta on the counter with a note that says,
cook your own dinner and suck your own dick.

But things weren’t always this way.

Every day, his happiness was my number one goal. I would go to bed after him and wake up before him, just to make sure that everything was done.

While his coworkers ate from a shitty lunch wagon at five bucks for a bag of “no one at home cares about me,” he was enjoying his organic salad with roasted chicken and a side of vegetables. Did he smile as he ate it and feel as though someone had a heart filled with love when they made it?

Because … I did. I used to love him.

I used to.

But, now?

Now …

I want to have an affair.

Rolling across bed sheets. Pinned against the wall. Called dirty names and treated beautifully. Being treated at all. Mean something to someone in the simplest of ways. No strings. The happiest part of a shit day. The escape.

I want to get dressed up and go somewhere.

I want to be wined and dined.

I want a reason to line and gloss my lips.

In the morning, I want the pink stains of those lips to be smeared across someone’s sheets. Their pillow. Their face.

I want a phone call in the middle of the day that makes me smile like a schoolgirl and for everyone around me to wonder why.

I want to be spoiled rotten with movies and kisses and repeated I love yous. Repeated as though I'd never hear it again. Until I got sick of it, though, I never, ever, ever would.

I want to jump in the car and have no idea where we are going, but we just fucking go. We just hop in the car and we just go. No direction. No thinking. Wherever we end up that isn't our day-to-day lives, that's where we end up. Let's go.

I want to lie in the grass, holding hands and talking silly. I want to giggle and feel five years old until the sun comes up.

I want a secret.

Instead, I am wandering the aisles of Valentines Grocery, watching a man on his cellphone pick out a bouquet of daisies while I’m wondering if he likes Chicken Alfredo. Wine. Good conversation.

He appraises me generously as I sway my hips, knowing he’s checking out my ass. Shit Adam hasn’t done in years.

All of my items line in perfect groupings along the black belt. Ready to check out. I stare blankly at the screen, hearing each beep, but seeing nothing. A blank canvas and just nothing. Numb to the core, that's how I feel.

“Half of what is mine is yours,” Adam once said. I had thought it meant material things. I never guessed he’d meant half of his heart. I wanted to own him as a whole. I wanted to feel whole. Be.

“Good afternoon,” the clerk greets, flashing a humble smile as he continues to pass items over the scanner. “Did you find everything you were looking for today?”

My attention is pulled from the screen. He has on a cobalt blue polo shirt. A matching service apron. Company logo in the center.
Valentines Grocery
.

“Ma’am?”

I look to his face, finding a pair of soft green eyes that seem kind. Pleasant. I wonder if he likes Chicken Alfredo. Wine. Homemade rolls with garlic butter. Chocolate silk pie. Good conversation.

His wayward hair looks like it does a lot of rolling across the sheets.

“Yes.”

I want to have an affair.

END OF SAMPLE

Also Available from Swoon Romance and Diane Alberts