Her Heart's Desire
Highcroft Saga 1
Her Heart's Desire
When Marisa applies for a PA job to an English aristocrat, she expects a stuffy, older gentleman, but James St John is anything but. He is an extremely good-looking thirtysomething English charmer. Sparks fly, and the attraction is intense.
Marisa, recently heartbroken, fights her desire, cautious about becoming involved with her boss. But James St John is unable to resist the sexual allure between them, and he will not rest until she is in his bed. Marisa soon discovers that the Highcroft house hides a hotbed of sin and dark longings. Will its secrets destroy her happiness when love starts to bloom?
Genre:
Contemporary
Length:
35,167 words
Highcroft Saga 1
Lauren Wilder
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED:
Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device.
You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book.
This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.
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.
If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at
A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
HER HEART’S DESIRE
E-book ISBN: 1-61034-399-9
First E-book Publication: June 2011
Cover design by Jinger Heaston
All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED:
This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
If you have purchased this copy of
Her Heart’s Desire
by Lauren Wilder from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.
Regarding E-book Piracy
This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.
The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.
This is Lauren Wilder’s livelihood.
It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Wilder’s right to earn a living from her work.
Amanda Hilton, Publisher
www.SirenPublishing.com
www.BookStrand.com
Thank you to my ‘Framily’ Debbie, Daniele, Antonia and Tammy. I couldn’t have managed without your love and support throughout the years. I love you all very much.
Tam, thank you for all your encouragement and patience. You never let me give up. Keep making the lists and we’ll never stop dreaming!
Highcroft Saga 1
LAUREN WILDER
Copyright © 2011
‘Okay, I’m done here,’ Marisa said as she logged off from her PC and switched her mobile on.
‘Ah, it’s Mike’s birthday, isn’t it?’ Shelly asked, swivelling round in her chair.
‘Yeah, I got sexy lingerie from Provocateur to surprise him. It was on sale in Barneys. I’m so excited. I can’t wait to get home.’
‘Ooh, lucky Mike,’ Shelly said with a naughty grin.
‘I’m the lucky one, Shelly. I can’t believe it’s almost our two-year anniversary. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.’
‘Aww, sweet Well, I still say he’s the lucky one!’
‘Thanks, buddy. See you tomorrow, hon.’ Marisa picked her bag up and slung it over her shoulder.
‘Oh, we don’t have much on tomorrow, just the Goldstein meeting at two o’clock, so have a lie-in with lover boy. I’ll cover for you.’
Marisa grinned and pecked Shelly on the cheek. ‘Thank you.’
Shelly waved her off. ‘No problem, you can tell me all the juicy details tomorrow.’
‘Of course.’ Marisa laughed, gave a final wave on her way out of the office, and rushed towards the company gym to freshen up.
She showered quickly, feeling happy as she thought of Mike’s handsome face. She recalled the first time she had met him, at a fancy function for banking associates and the media. He was a writer covering the latest financial shake-up on Wall Street, she a PA to head of derivatives. He’d caught her eye immediately. He was sexy and smart with a naughty twinkle in his eyes.
Within weeks of dating, she had moved out of the Brooklyn apartment she shared with her sister and into his charming Manhattan brownstone split-level loft.
He was passionate and protective, everything she needed after her tumultuous childhood. Growing up watching her father cheat on her mother and become a drunk didn’t give her the best start for her own relationships.
She swore she wouldn’t let her past ruin her future, and she chose to believe Mike the one time she had become suspicious of him cheating. He had sworn innocence, and she didn’t want to believe he would ever betray her, so she’d let it go.
He hinted at an engagement, and she hoped they would be married before she turned thirty; more than anything, Marisa yearned for a family of her own.
She felt excitement surge through her as she slipped on the flimsy, red silk panties and matching push-up bra. It barely covered her breasts, making the nipples clearly visible through the thin fabric.
‘Hmm, not bad,’ she murmured as she admired herself in the full-length mirrors.
He’s going to be so turned on when I strip in front of him
, she thought, excitement surging through her.
She dressed quickly and rushed towards the subway; she was going to make this a birthday to remember.
* * * *
‘Oh, Mike, I need you inside me
now
!’ Adrianne groaned as he ripped her panties off and parted her legs. She moaned as he pushed her down onto the bed and thrust deep inside her. Her legs went around his waist, and they kissed hungrily, feeding on each other’s passion as he groaned and stroked her tits.
‘You are the best fuck I’ve ever had, Adrianne, the fucking
best
.’
Adrianne loved it when he talked dirty to her. It drove her over the edge, and she cried out as she came hard, the feeling intensifying as he squeezed her buttocks and let out an animalistic sound as he withdrew and ejaculated all over her breasts.
‘Jesus Christ, you’re hot.’ Mike gasped as he collapsed onto the bed next to her, tossing her a tissue from the nightstand.
‘Phew, that was great. You needed that, huh?’ He smiled at Adrianne. ‘Shame you can’t stay longer, but you’d better make a move soon. Marisa will be home in a while.’
Adrianne bit her lip and sighed. ‘Mike, we have to stop doing this. I always feel crappy afterwards. I’m such a lousy friend. I can’t stand the guilt.’
‘What... Stop? No way, we’re cool as long as she never finds out. It’s our dirty little secret, and I don’t want to stop doing it. It’s fun!’ Mike grinned as he lay flat out on the bed and glanced at his still erect cock.
‘Look, I still have a boner for you. You turn me on so much, babe, I wish we had time to do it again.’
Adrianne rolled her eyes and got off the bed.
He reached out for her and tried to pull her back. ‘Hey, come back. I think we have time for a quickie.’
Adrianne glared at him. ‘Are you actually serious?’
‘Don’t you want to?’ He raised his brows.
‘No, not really.’ She shook him off and went to the bathroom to freshen up.
Oh well,
he thought.
Have to save something for Marisa.
* * * *
Marisa reached their grand old building and ran up the stone stairs, fiddling with her key, shaking with anticipation. She opened the door.
‘Mike, Mike, I’m home, honey, happy birthday,’ she called out as she took her coat off. The apartment was silent, so she stopped in the hall and applied bright red lipstick. She tousled her long, blonde hair and opened her shirt to reveal a hint of cleavage and a peep of red silk.
‘There, that’s better,’ she said to herself. She went into the living room and looked around, puzzled. She glanced up when she heard a noise from the bedroom above.
‘Mike, you up there, hon?’ she called out as she started up the staircase.
* * * *
Mike froze. He leapt off the bed and pulled on his bathrobe. He searched around on the floor frantically. He grabbed Adrianne’s panties and threw them at her as she came out of the bathroom.
‘Put those on quick, Marisa’s home.’
Adrianne looked horrified. She grabbed her panties and struggled to step into them, almost falling over.
‘Oh, shit, shit,’ he cursed as he ran his hands through his hair. He rubbed lipstick off his face. ‘Hide somewhere,’ he said.
Adriane glared at him.
‘Where the fuck do you want me to go, in the closet?’
‘Sure, just be quiet. I’ll get her into the living room, then you slip out as soon as you can.’
Adrianne looked furious. She glared at him as he crept out of the bedroom then cursed quietly. ‘Bastard.’
* * * *
Mike slipped out of the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind him.
Marisa reached the top of the stairs and smiled when she saw him. ‘There you are. What were you doing in the bedroom? I hope you haven’t been lazing in bed all day.’
He walked towards her and touched her cheek gently. Her eyes sought his, but he averted her gaze. Marisa felt instantly uneasy.