An excerpt from Twofold Desires
2004 (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.

Jill spied an empty barstool and her aching feet turned longingly in that direction. After putting in a full day of standing at work, then dancing non-stop for forty-five minutes, she was ready for the sit, drink and chat-with-whoever-was-nearby part of tonight’s festivities.

Breaking from the dance floor, she made her way along a row of small tables, aiming for the short set of stairs leading to the bar. Jill passed table after table of flirting couples, heads pressed close so as not to miss a word the other said. She even saw the double chinned vampire from earlier, cuddled up with a latex clad goddess of equally dynamic proportions. She grinned. Love-or at least lust-was in the air tonight.

At the last table next to the stairs, what could only be described as a gaggle of women surrounded someone Jill could not yet see. A few even leaned over the railing from above, smiling and flirting at whoever was seated below. They all laughed in unison and one of them moved, giving Jill an opportunity to see what all the fuss was about.

Wow.

Double wow.

No wonder so many women were hanging around his table. The man had one of those classically beautiful faces, as though a sculptor had taken his time, meticulously carving out every rich detail of expression, the sharp arch of each golden eyebrow, the proud, aristocratic nose, down to the sinful expanse of his mouth. White blond hair disappeared over his shoulders and down his back. As she moved closer to him, she was able to see even more detail. Long, dark blond eyelashes framed almond-shaped amber eyes that sparkled with mirth, as though he knew a secret that all the women were desperate to learn.

He sat crookedly, one arm resting on the table, the other casually lying along the back of his chair. Although clad in dark colors, mostly grays and browns, unlike the rest of the crowd, he would never blend in. Like a royal leader holding court, mesmerizing the women with his mere presence.

Too bad Jill wasn’t one to compete. With a bevy of eager babes at his disposal, the man was probably a player anyway.

She turned away from the blond god and, resting her hand on the railing, began to climb the few steps to the bar. For a split second, a warm masculine hand covered hers, fingertips clasping around her wrist almost possessively before retreating.

Who had touched her? Jill looked down, almost expecting to see a red flush where her skin tingled. There was only one man close enough to lay his hand on her. She turned her gaze toward him as he straightened in his chair. Her breath caught as his amber eyes locked with hers. Awareness flooded from where her hand and wrist still tingled, to every cell of her body. His eyes danced, those full lips curling up into a knowing smile. She returned his smile, her heart thumping wildly against her ribcage.

No wonder he had a harem ready to serve him. His smile alone could charm the cheap spandex off any woman in the room.

Too bad she wasn’t just any woman. Wanting to avoid temptation, she tried to break from the blond man’s stare, afraid if she didn’t, she’d launch herself over the railing and into his lap. Instead, she rammed full force into someone at the top of the stairs.

“Whoa, there. I got you.” Strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against warm, male body, keeping her from careening backward down the stairs.

Trying to regain her mental balance as well as her physical, she grabbed onto his arms and got a handful of rock hard muscle.

She squeezed her hands, getting a firmer grasp of his biceps. This man could easily bench press a truck. He was probably one of Silver Twilight’s bouncers, sent to kick her out for excessive levels of drooling.

Prepared to state her case, claiming dehydration and possible chemical reactions from the glitter make up she was wearing, she lifted her head. Her stomach dropped to the tips of her tired toes as she looked at her rescuer’s face.

Holy moly! Two hot men in a row. Where had these two been hiding all night? Although this man was an exact opposite of the blond god. He was dark. Rough-edged. Beautiful in a sexy, dangerous, probably-shouldn’t-take-him-home-to-mom kind of way.

Wavy dark brown hair fell raggedly to his shoulders. Dark eyebrows slashed deliciously over black eyes deep as night. Strong cheekbones complimented his sturdy nose and late night stubble covered his jaw. His mouth tilted up questioningly as he spoke. “You okay?”

She nodded, not quite able to get the words past her lips. His voice was deep, almost more of a growl. He should have scared her, the whole package of dark, rugged male. But she wasn’t frightened. Instead, her body reacted to his nearness, heating from the inside out. Between this man, and her brush with the hot blond god earlier, her internal temperature had skyrocketed.

One of his arms slipped from around her waist, brushing her flyaway hair back into place.

Realizing that if she didn’t say something soon he’d probably think her an imbecile, she grasped for the comfort of the line she’d been using all night. “Need a wish granted?” she asked, forcing her voice to come out light and flirty.

His mouth widened in a crooked grin but before he could answer, someone bumped into him from behind. His arm circled tighter around her waist, pulling her even closer against the warmth of his body. Now within licking distance of his neck, she indulged her curiosity and inhaled, taking in his scent. He smelled like the outdoors, like the wind on a hot summer day.

Warm lips pressed against her ear, his breath caressing her neck. She suppressed a needy shiver as he spoke. “You grant wishes? Have a drink with me?”

Jill wondered if screaming yes and dancing a jig would be an inappropriate response. She turned her head toward him to answer. His lips were so close, she wanted to trace them with her tongue, to see if he tasted like sunshine, too.

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EXCERPT: The Seduction Begins
EXCERPT: The Seduction Intensifies