Kiss and Tell

www.beautifultroublepublishing.com

Copyright © 2012 by Nikki Winter

All Rights Reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including but not limited to: printing, photocopying, faxing, recording, electronic transmission, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the authors or holders of the copyright. 

This book is a work of fiction.  References may be made to locations and historical events; however, names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination and/or used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), businesses, events or locales is either used fictitiously or coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

Published by

Beautiful Trouble Publishing, LLC

PO Box 61

Colfax, NC 27235

www.beautifultroublepublishing.com

Cover Art: Akil Davis

Editor: Barb Wilson

Proofreader: Novellette Whyte

http://authorgurunovellette.blogspot.com/

Formatter: Jim & Zetta,
http://www.jimandzetta.com/

E-book Conversion:
Jim & Zetta,
http://www.jimandzetta.com/

ISBN:  (e-book)
978-1-61788-300-2

Hmm. I suppose it’s been quite a while since I took the average blue collar male and made him into someone that could cause a woman’s thighs to clench with just one glance, hasn’t it? I could say I’m sorry
or
you guys could just call it even and go enjoy the hotness that is firefighter Maikao Iona. No? All right, all right! I’m
sorry!
I’ve been on a bit of a whirlwind with my characters the last six months and they
finally
started cooperating. So with my deepest apologies, I want you to take the gift of my tatted, Samoan fireman and enjoy his every move. (grin) Because I damn sure did.

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CAVEAT

This work may contain adult language and sexually explicit scenes.  This book is intended only for adults, as it is defined by the laws of the country in which the purchase is made.  Keep this book out of the hands of under-aged readers.

“I like the color, Addie but...are you sure that’s your size?”

Addison McClain’s eyes slid shut at the same time the taste of copper filled her mouth. That might’ve had something to do with the fact that she bit her bottom lip so hard it started to bleed.

“But then again,” That infinitely amused and seemingly bottomless voice stated behind her. “You always did like a challenge.”

Her fingers clenched around the item in her hand before she did a slow turn and reopened her eyes. Sure enough, bright hazel orbs with flecks of gold stared down at her. And
yes,
they were just as amused as that voice had been.

One arm proportionate, in her estimate, to the branch of an oak tree, reached over her head and grabbed another one just like the one in her hand, except it was purple—her favorite color.

“I find it funny, though.” Maikao ‘Mak’ Iona continued as he stared down at her, one dark brow slightly arched. “I thought you liked purple more than anything else.”

She swallowed, heart hammering in her chest as she stared back up at him. “It...it’s not for me.”

His lips lifted at the corners. “
Really?”

Addison shook her head. “Seriously, it’s a gift for Carmen.”
Liar! You are such a liar! And a bad one too! The only reason you
didn’t
pick up the purple one is because you couldn’t reach it!

That brow just went higher. “I have to say you two have an awfully...interesting relationship if you’re buying her,” Maikao looked at the words on the package in his hand. “A sixteen function, waterproof, super-rabbit with a g-spot stimulating tip and...” He squinted at it. “Okay, for the sake of my mind, I won’t say what that part attached to the back is for but...wow.”

Addison’s face burned. Even with her darker complexion, she knew her skin was screaming her embarrassment. She peeked up at Maikao through her lashes and blurted out, “Please don’t tell Eli about this.” It was a lot to ask for, considering the best friends seemed to share
everything
with one another. Addison couldn’t count how many dinners she’d sat through with them giggling like ten year olds and relaying old stories about embarrassing moments they’d witnessed with women.

For a moment something dark flashed behind his irises. Annoyance? When he smiled again, it didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course.” His tone was sarcastic. “Can’t tell precious Eli about your private purchases. Wouldn’t want his delicate sensibilities offended.”

Addison’s brows rose this time. “I’m hearing tone.”

“Yeah, you are.” He drawled.

Her eyes narrowed. “Is there a reason you’re stalking me in an adult store? Better yet,
harassing
me about what I may or may not use?”

A muscle in his jaw leaped before he finally answered. “As a matter of fact, yes.” Maikao handed her the second toy, then backed away from her and walked a few feet down the aisle before stopping in front of the wall of bondage toys. Addison watched him grab a pair of faux leather cuffs. He dangled them from one finger and grinned lasciviously. “I came in here for these.” His eyes raked her. “But what I discovered was a lot better, if you ask me.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. “I didn’t ask you and I’m glad you found what you were looking for. So why don’t you slither...I mean
scurry
along and leave me alone?”

Those hazel orbs never once veered from her face. “Because tormenting you is so much more fun than slithering...I mean
scurrying
along.” His grin was pure mischief and that damn twinkle in his gaze made her
almost
smile back.

“Go away, Mak.” She was whining but goddamn it, this shit was humiliating enough. Addison had no doubt that despite what he said Eli
would
be hearing about her little adventure into Kiss and Tell—the adult store they were in—and just the thought made her shudder. Being that she had a list of reasons why Mak’s friend was, in theory,
perfect
for her, she didn’t want her chance with him suddenly ruined because every time she got near him he couldn’t stop laughing at her. Buying a nine-inch dildo with a motor powerful enough to jump a dead car battery was
not
something she wanted advertised.

Addison wanted to date Eli Aaronson...
badly.
He was the quintessential catch. Grounded and intelligent with a successful security business of his own, Eli also came from a good family background. It didn’t hurt that he was also
extremely
good looking. Even though she’d known Maikao for much longer, Addison had quickly scratched him from her list of potential spouses after seeing the way he discarded women in the same manner someone would do used tissues.

They’d been friends since Addison’s unfortunate “incident” at a charity event for children with leukemia five years prior. Her dress had apparently ripped in the back and Maikao had been able to see her “smile” from across the ballroom. As charge nurse of pediatrics at St. Vincent before she was promoted to supervisor, she’d been standing in for her chief who couldn’t make it to speak on the behalf of the hospital’s sizable donation to that particular foundation for cancer research.

To hear Maikao tell it, a devout firefighter used to rescuing, he’d swooped in and saved the day by whispering in her ear, “I really love the way that yellow lace looks against your skin.” Addison had been too paralyzed by embarrassment to slap the shit out of him at the time but instead of making fun of her, he’d simply taken his jacket and placed it over her shoulders leading her out before anyone else got a glimpse at what they were hiding.

More than a little grateful, she’d thanked him and went to hand him his jacket but Maikao had told her she could really thank him by being his date to another event he was set to attend a week later. He promised that he’d be on the lookout for anything that would possibly make her “incident” occur more than once.

 She’d gone with him and had a great time but afterwards they just sort of fell into being there for one another, the same way big brothers and little sisters were. Addison loved Mak dearly but he was a man-whore; something she’d never been interested in placing into her repertoire of relationship experience.

Standing at an even six foot five with broad shoulders and a muscle-packed frame; with jet black wavy shoulder length hair, his face clean shaven, those gorgeous eyes and a tribal sleeve tattoo going from his right shoulder and stopping at his wrist, Addison understood why Mak never found himself dateless...she just didn’t want to
be
one of his dates.

Then by chance, she’d met Eli. Having been mildly intrigued by his smile and dry, sarcastic humor after she spent a night at a college football game with him and Mak, she’d begged Maikao to tell Eli she was interested in him. He’d adamantly refused, saying that he didn’t want to get into playing matchmaker.

She was a little surprised that the two men were friends in the first place being that they were polar opposites. Mak had a slightly lower register to his voice and his expressions were a little less brooding than Eli’s. Eli spoke slower and
never
squinted; meanwhile, it was an adopted habit of his counterpart.