Authors: Leslie Johnson
Tags: #Romantic Suspense, #suspense, #romance, #new adult romance
Ashes - Book 1
Leslie Johnson
Copyright © 2015 Leslie Johnson
Published By: Atrevida Publishing
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are all made up in my mind. In other words, nothing is to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
© 2014 Leslie Johnson
Published by: Atrevida Publishing
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Don’t miss a single installment of Leslie Johnson’s captivating romance series.
Book Description
She’s the wind. He’s the fire. Both are independent, hot headed, and strong. Neither want a relationship or to be tied down in any way. But outside forces have other ideas.
When Beth is confronted by an old demon, she can’t imagine the danger she’s in. She’s too stubborn to ask for help, but will she have a choice? How do they fight an evil that can’t be seen or understood?
Don’t miss the first book in the Stoking the Embers steamy spin-off series, Ashes. If you loved Beth and Gage in Stoking the Embers, see what happens next in Ashes, a five book romantic suspense series.
Chapter 1 – Beth
S
itting on the blanket, the sun filters down on me through the trees. The warmth seeps into my bones; not too hot. Pleasant. It’s beautiful here by the waterfall. So peaceful. Majestic and powerful, yet oddly humbling at the same time. Just the sound of the water roaring off the edge, crashing into the pool a hundred feet below, soothes my soul.
I lie back on the blanket and turn onto my side, watching Gage swim through the bubbling cauldron of the pool, his bronzed arms slicing through the water with force and grace. He’s at the edge, and pulls himself up onto the shelf of rock. My stomach tightens as his body is revealed. Shoulders, chest, abs, then the thin swimming trunks that hang low on his hips, molding against his sex.
Meeting my eyes, he walks — stalks — directly toward me. He’s like a panther. Black hair, sun bronzed skin, olive eyes. Beautiful, sleek body striding across the uneven rocks with ease.
I turn onto my back as he gets closer, shading my eyes from the sun with my hand. He stands over me and shakes his head. I laugh as ice cold water droplets cascade down, soothing my heated flesh. He sinks to his knees, straddling me, and I hold my breath.
I try to sit up, not liking being this vulnerable, but he places a hand on my chest and holds me in place. “Trust me,” he says. I can’t. Can I? I blow out a breath and meet his eyes again. I lower myself onto the blanket once more, giving him my tentative answer.
He reaches for the wine bottle we’d opened earlier with our picnic. I love beer, but sometimes a bit of grape hits the spot … especially good grape. He pours a glass and then picks up a strawberry, dipping it into the red liquid. Hovering the berry over my lips, he waits and watches as a drop of the wine falls into my eager mouth. Then he offers the fruit and I sink my teeth into its juicy flesh. His nostrils flair and he brings the rest of the berry to his lips to finish. I wish it was me he was biting.
He sips the wine, then holds it down and I raise my head just enough to sip as well.
“More?” he asks. I nod and he feeds me again. Two strawberries later, the wine is gone and he sets the empty glass to the side. He leans over me, his hands on either side of my face. He’s staying above me, but not yet holding me down.
“I won’t hurt you,” he says, then dips down to touch his lips to mine. I want to trust him; I want to have faith. It’s just so difficult and I feel hot, frustrated tears prick the back of my eyes.
I say nothing, just look at his lips, willing him to kiss me again. He dips down again, this time placing his weight on his elbows. I focus on his eyes, not the feeling of being trapped. I lift my face and press my lips to his.
Slowly, with upmost caution, he lowers his weight until our bodies touch. Our mouths fuse with a passion that curls my toes. I put everything into the kiss, all my attention, all of my heart.
When his weight presses me further into the blanket, I can’t do it. “No. Please. Let me up.”
He rolls off immediately. The moment is gone and I hate myself. I hate the fear that still controls me on some deep and primal level.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I roll onto his chest, needing his warmth. He pulls me until I’m completely on top of him and pushes my hair back from my face.
“It’s okay,” he says and curls my hair around his fist until it’s tight against the back of my head. When he pulls, I can’t help it. I moan. He lets go my hair and runs his fingers along my scalp, massaging the tension away. “I’ll take you however I can get you.” I trace a thumb across his thick eyebrow, pushing away the last trace of water before I dip my head and take his lips.
I give him what I can, how I can, the best I can, curling my tongue around his. I press my hips into his stomach, wishing I were taller so I could grind into his erection. I pull my head up and look around. There’s no one here but us.
“Fuck me,” I say.
He smiles, revealing perfectly white teeth, a stark contrast against his tanned skin. “However I want?”
I stare down at him, wishing I could say yes. When I say nothing, his smile fades just a little before he adds, “Then you fuck me.”
I smile back. I can do that.
Sliding down his body, I pull his swimming trunks down his legs. His cock springs free, long and thick, making my mouth water. I want to taste him. I want to take him deep into my throat. I crawl up his body, licking up his inner thigh, up the center of his balls and up the throbbing, pulsing vein on his beautiful cock.
I can barely hear his moan over the roar of the falls, but I feel every muscle inside him flex as I take him into my mouth. I swirl my tongue around the head, tasting the clear drops that glisten there. I take a breath and open my throat. I want it all.
His hands leave my hair and fumbles with the strings of my bikini. In seconds, he’s tossing it away.
“You’ve got to stop,” he says, his voice a harsh rasp. I don’t, I suck him harder, loving the way I’m causing him to lose control. I want him inside me, but I want this too. I straddle his thigh and press down, grinding my sex into his tight muscle. He lifts his leg, pressing back, giving me the pressure I need.
I move harder, faster, my head bobbing up and down, my hips grinding and pressing against his thigh. He groans and sits up, pulling me up too, lifting me as easily as he would a child. He straddles me across his hips and crushes his lips to mine. Only my bikini bottoms are between us. I press down, feeling his hard cock between my aching center.
“I want to come inside you,” he growls against my lips just as the first fat droplets of water fall from the sky.
“Oh no,” I say, laughing, looking up at the now cloud covered sky. What happened to our beautiful day?
Gage says nothing, just takes advantage of my exposed neck. His hands palm my breasts, then twists the nipples. I’m pulled away from my concern of the approaching storm as the mixture of pain and pleasure tears through me. That quickly, I’m pulled back into our sensual world.
I’ve always wanted to have sex in the rain, and never had the opportunity, or the guts to give it a try. Rain is cascading over us. We’re soaking wet, the rain coming down hard, cool against my burning flesh.
I need him. Want him. Desire him so badly. I stand, my feet still on either side of his thighs and slide the rest of my bikini down my legs. He reaches up and grabs my hips, pulling me to him. Then his mouth is there, between my legs, his tongue gliding out and circling my clit. I bite my lip to keep from screaming.
I reach down and steady myself, sinking my fingers in his hair and spread my legs wider. He takes advantage and pulls me tighter against his face. His tongue is joined by his fingers and suddenly I’m filled. I cry out and press down on the invaders, impaling myself, riding everything he gives me.
Lifting my face to the sky, I allow the rain to wash my skin. I’m going to come — I’m so close — then two fingers are joined by a third. I’m so full, and his fingers move inside me so fast, thrusting and curling. His tongue continues to ravish my clit.
I explode, everything inside me tightening and trembling. If he wasn’t holding me up, I would have fallen. Slowly, I sink down and am straddling him again. My lips are on his, tasting him, tasting me. Tasting the rain that continues to pour down on us.
He reaches into the picnic basket and pulls out a condom, ripping the package apart with his teeth. I move backward down his thighs and watch him roll it down his length. His long fingers moving down his cock. Mmm, my mouth waters again.