Erick McAlister is known as London’s Most Dangerous Bachelor; he enjoys scotch, women, and spending time in the London underground club The Skunk’s Den. He’s never had a real relationship, women only want him for one thing but he desires more. When the one he vowed he would never toy with, Lynn Westmore, gives him an unexpected proposition, his life takes an enjoyable turn. 
He pressed his back against the wall as he climbed the steps to the apartment and wondered if Andrew had felt as scared as he did. In his mind’s eye, Erick pictured the night Andrew as Puzzola sneaked into the same studio to seduce Elizabeth after not seeing her for ten years.
The studio was dark, and he carefully maneuvered around paintings and supplies. Approaching the living quarters, he heard Lynn in the shower. She’s probably trying to wash his touch away, he thought.
Part of him wanted to run but a greater part of him wanted to stay. He went over to the stereo and chose some music, then loaded the disks. He adjusted the sound and pressed play. After lighting a few candles, he settled into a comfortable chair.
Lynn stood in the shower and let the water hit her face and mix with the tears that fell. She was so ashamed of her behavior with Erick. She had become intoxicated with the excitement and the attention he showed her, she took the chance and told him that she wanted him. His rejection was devastating in the sense that she had now complicated their friendship.
She turned off the water, toweled off and applied a soft fragrant lotion over her body. Deep inside she stowed a secret fantasy of Erick sneaking into the studio as Andrew had done. She was envious of the intense passion her friends had for each other.
Removing the towel from her head, she ran a comb through her wet hair. If she just talked to Erick, god willing, he’d forgive her foolish actions. Perhaps he might put it off as a bad joke. Perhaps if she left for Wales the next day she could put the incident behind her
Lynn sighed; she just wanted to go to bed. She wrapped a robe around her, opened the door and heard the stereo playing. She hadn’t touched the stereo when she got in. Looking around, she saw the lit candles and a dark figure sitting in a chair. Her eyes widened, her heart raced, she held her breath for a moment, waiting.
“Did you use up all the hot water?”
“Erick?”
He sounded much like himself and not like the person she saw at The Skunk’s Den. Her anxiety diminished when she saw him lean forward in the chair. The candlelight softened his features, his hair fell into his eyes but he looked tired. She moved closer to him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I don’t know,” he rubbed his head. “I’ve been walking around thinking about what you said, what I said and…” he paused. “I’m sorry for being angry with you. I guess I put you on a pedestal just like you once told me not to do.”
“What?” Lynn was confused.
“I never thought you’d be one to use people; you’re different. Tonight I thought you were doing to me what women always do to me and I couldn’t bear putting you in the same category with them.”
“I’m sorry, Erick, for propositioning you like that. I put you on the spot and I hope I haven’t compromised our friendship.”
“I don’t think our friendship has suffered. We’re talking, aren’t we?” He stood up.
“I just want to know if your proposition still stands.”
Lynn wasn’t sure how to answer him. She watched him saunter towards her. He still wore his leathers and looked incredibly sexy. His body swayed in tune to the music with every step he took. She wanted to experience what she knew he was capable of giving. She looked into his eyes; they were black like the devil’s.
“Well, Lynn, does it?”
“Yes.” She could barely say the word.
“The way I look at it,” he stood in front of her and stroked her arm, “if you want to experience sexual freedom, who better to show you than me. Right? If we’re careful we can enjoy this and not hurt our friendship.”
“Like you and Reva?”
“You know about that?” He raised his eyebrows. “That ended before my sister moved to London.”
“Elizabeth tells me everything.”
“I see. Well, that was different. She was married.” He flashed her a smile. “You and I have known each other a long time and I think we could handle a little fling.”
“Oh, I see. We can simply be two friends taking pleasure in each other.” She smiled at him before she turned away.
“Exactly!”
“But with my lack of experience, what kind of pleasure could I possibly give you that another woman couldn’t and do it better?”
“Ah, but there is something you can give me.” Erick placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him, then stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. You could give me your heart, he thought.
“You could give me the night. I want to wake with you in my arms in the morning. I haven’t been able to get that morning we shared out of my mind. I want to lie in bed and listen to the birds with you.” He caressed her cheek. “If you give me the night, I’ll take you to the stars.”
Lynn pursed her lips together, then broke out into a laugh.
“That was pretty cheesy, wasn’t it?” He laughed with her.
“Yes, it certainly was. I hope that’s not the best you can do. I’m afraid I
have high expectations of you.”
“You do, now?” His voice was low and raspy. “Tell me what you want from me.”
“I want to feel more comfortable with my sexuality. I want to experience more. What you do seems so easy but I’m not sure…” she stopped when he took her hands and led her next to the bed.
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to teach me how to be passionate. I want to feel the intensity I’ve seen in others.”
“Elizabeth and Andrew?”
“Yes. And you.” She tilted her head. “I want you to take my breath away, suck the life out of me…”
Erick flashed her an evil grin and spun her body around. She felt his mouth on her neck as he pretended to bite her like a vampire. She sucked in her breath and laughed as she tried to push him away.
“What you want will take more than a one night stand, I’m afraid,” he teased her as he rubbed against her in tune to the music.
“Whatever it takes.” She smiled up at him. “I’ll do whatever you ask.”
He stared into her eyes and lowered his mouth to hers. His lips brushed hers; he felt her heat. She slid her hands around his neck and he took the kiss deeper. He wanted her with desperation; slowly he untied her robe, ran his fingers up her belly and between her breasts. He pushed the garment off her shoulders onto the floor.
Holding her hands, he backed up to look at her. Self consciously, she dipped her gaze from him. Her dark damp hair fell in ringlets across her perfectly
round breasts. Her waist was small. He couldn’t resist touching the softness of her trimmed pubic area and found it incredibly erotic.
“What made you do this?” He knelt on the floor in front of her and began kissing her belly. “I like it.”
“I’ve done it since I was in India,” Lynn was obviously fighting for composure. “I tried many customs as I traveled on assignment and that one, I adopted.
“Hmmm,” Erick murmured as he parted the velvet folds. “I definitely like it.”
He heard the sharp intake of her breath as he touched her with his tongue. He wanted to please her like he had never pleased another. This experience had become personal and he wanted to make her happy. One hand slid up to her belly, the other reached around to hold her butt. He felt her hand grab his hair; the other gripped his shoulder. He kissed her intimately until she was writhing.
Softly kissing her body as he rose, he held her tight when he thought she would fall over. She gave him a small laugh when he looked into her face. As he placed kisses over her mouth and neck he felt her fingers untie his pants. Her hands stroked his butt, hips and slid into the leather. His eyes rolled back from the delight of her touch. Her mouth trailed down his neck, chest, across his stomach but he stopped her when he thought she was going farther.
He slipped out of his vest, kicked off his boots and lifted her in his arms to carry her to the bed. Holding her against him, he kissed her deeply as he laid her down. She propped herself on her elbows and sent him a smile he couldn’t resist. For the fun of it, he did a strip tease when he took off his pants. He laughed with her as he crawled onto the bed. He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed while bedding a woman. What a refreshing adventure this promised to be!
As he lay on his side, Erick took a finger and followed the outline of her face, her neck, and her breast and down her belly. He stopped to tickle her belly button and then pretended his finger was stuck. Lynn squealed and smacked his hand away. In retaliation he attacked her breasts with fervor. Alternating between the two, he took each nipple into his mouth, teasing her and losing himself in her scent. He could feel her rapid heart beat.
He ran his hand down her thigh and back up to stop at the center of her heat. Lynn arched her body and called out his name. His composure was gone with the way she said it. The desire to be inside her overcame him. He parted her thighs, cupped her butt with one hand and pulled her underneath him with the other. Iron hard and thick, he gently pushed himself into her.
She was wet and he tipped her hips to allow her to take all of him. A small moan escaped her lips. She wrapped her arms under his and placed her hands on his shoulders. As he felt himself fully embedded in Lynn, he was caught in a net of
emotions.
Erick began a steady rhythm of thrust and withdraws. Lynn responded to each movement with equal lust. With each kiss, he sucked the breath out of her with his raw passion. However, he wasn’t the hard, angry lover he promised he would be in the nightclub; instead he was a caring, thorough lover. Her whole body craved his touch.
He slowed and rose up to look into her face. She could see into the depths of his smoldering green eyes. Fire, hunger, desire. Her head went back as he coaxed her higher with slow calculated strokes and kisses on her neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist and felt his hand caress her thigh. His touch seared through any inhibitions she had left. Lynn was about to burst into flameswhen Erick stopped moving.
“Look at me, Lynn.”
She opened her eyes and looked into his. The devil peered from under lowered lashes. Candlelight danced across his chest and shoulders. He caressed her hair. She could feel him throb inside her, the inferno was building inside her; she couldn’t hold back.
She moved against him. Erick began to lose his resistance when he felt her squirm under him.
“You are mine,” he whispered in her ear.
He felt her contract as she arched her back and called out his name. He then unleashed his pent up passion and penetrated her until he exploded.
He rested his forehead on Lynn’s until he found the strength to move. He rolled to her side, kissed her tenderly then lowered his head to lie on her belly.
“Tell me what you are thinking.”
“It’s not what I expected.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “I thought you would be rough, evil, angry like you were earlier.”
“I couldn’t be angry with you.” He swept his hand over her hip.
“Are you usually angry?”
“Yes, I hate what I’ve become.” He sat up.
“Hey.” She rubbed his back. “You made me happy. Did I do anything for you?”
“More than you’ll ever know.” He lay back down next to her. “Do you realize I didn’t use any protection tonight? I’m so sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“It’s all right.” She touched his cheek to comfort him.
He closed his eyes and pressed his face against her hand.
“Other than the night you don’t remember, when was the last time you didn’t use protection?”
“Oh, God, it had to have been about seven years ago.”
“Well, it sounds like you have a good track record.” Lynn rolled onto her side to face him. “How about every time you’re with me, you don’t use it? I want you to have something with me that you haven’t had with anybody else.”
“Are you sure?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” he smiled before he took her in his arms. “My sweet Lynn.”
“Does it feel different?”
“Does what?”
“Does it feel different when you’re not wearing a condom?”
“Hmmm, I’m not sure.” His lips brushed hers. “I think we’d better do it again; then I can let you know.”
His voice was deep and sexy. Lynn didn’t oppose when he rolled her onto her stomach. Sitting up, he massaged her feet, calves and up her legs to her butt. It felt so relaxing, then erotic as he ran his hands between her thighs to coax her juices to flow. Soft kisses placed down the center of her back as he touched her with his hands made her wiggle with pleasure. She had never had sex twice in the same night so she was giddy with anticipation.
Erick moaned his approval and spread her legs apart. He covered her body with his. The sensation of his nakedness pressed against her back made her ultra sensitive. With careful, short strokes, Erick entered her. He slid an arm under her and pulled her to her knees. Lynn could feel every bit of his manhood as it plunged in and out of her. His hands held her breasts as he kissed the back of her neck.
Reaching behind her she felt his rigid legs. The muscles moved with every thrust. He pushed her higher and higher. When his hand left her breast to caress the swollen folds he was bathed in set her off. Her breath came in short gasps, then she cried out. She felt Erick’s climax shudder through him as he joined her.
They both collapsed on the bed. Without saying a word, Erick spooned Lynn and placed a possessive hand on her breast. He was utterly exhausted and looked forward to sleep. Pulling her close, he placed a kiss behind her ear. For the first time, he felt contentment and didn’t want to let go of his lover.
To buy Tormented Soul on
Amazon.Kindle Edition Special $5.99 Visit Mary's Website!Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published
books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don't
have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you'd like to
share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the
Excerpt Monday
site!
