Falling for her might be easy, seducing her may be damned hard, but keeping her alive might just be deadly.
Coming from nothing, Micah Ross now has more than he knows what to do with. His Hawaii BDSM club is flourishing, and he has his pick of women. Except one. Dee Sumners is cute, sexy, feisty…and, since she’s on his payroll, off-limits. Plus, she insists she isn’t into the life. Until one heated kiss hints that his head bartender secretly hungers to be his sub.
Life on the run doesn’t allow Dee to indulge in long-term relationships. Still, Micah manages to work his way through her tough armor and under her skin. Yet even as she succumbs to his skilled seduction, her survival instinct forms a plan to leave the island she has grown to love—and the man she’s in danger of loving.
When Dee disappears, Micah’s anger turns to fear when he realizes she didn’t leave willingly. Calling on his skills as a former bounty hunter, he tracks her to the mainland only to discover she is entangled in a web of lies and deceit that not only threatens their love, but her life.
He smiled as he sipped his water. She’d had one small glass of wine, but switched to water like Micah. She knew from experience that he didn’t drink much. She had never seen him get drunk, never heard of him losing control like that. Of course, he always seemed to be able to master his emotions. There was no way he would allow himself to drink too much. It should comfort her since her oldest brother had been well on his way to being a drunk when she’d run—and a mean drunk at that. But there was a tiny part of her that was afraid of a man like Micah. A man with that much self-restraint should make any woman scared.
She smiled. “Odd that you seem to know some of my favorite foods.”
He said nothing.
“So, been spying on me?”
He laughed as he stood and took both their plates. “No. Your friend Keisha was happy to help in my date plans.”
She could feel a flush of heat fill her face. “Trying to win the pool.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” She watched him as he cut a generous portion of the cheesecake. He returned to the table and slid into the chair beside her with one plate and a seductive smile. She didn’t know which tempted her more, the man or the cake.
“You’re not going to have any?” she asked.
He nodded. “We’ll share.” He cut off a piece.
And then his gaze followed the fork as he moved it to her lips. He didn’t mean to feed her, did he?
“Open up.”
Well, crap. Fear and arousal twisted through her. She didn’t want this. It was almost too…intimate. This was all about proving she wasn’t for him, but no matter what, he kept slinking past her defenses.
She shook her head.
“You want some, you better open up.”
She frowned as butterflies fluttered in her tummy.
“I told you, some things are better when someone does them for you.”
The way his voice rolled over those words, she knew the meaning behind them. She would have to be an idiot not to understand. She wanted to refuse. Being fed by a man was…a little bit too much for her to take. He slid the fork along her bottom lip. The scent of the graham cracker crust and the sweetness of the cake filled her head. She raised her gaze to his. His attention was on her mouth.
“Open up, baby. You won’t regret it.”
Yearning for the cake, for the man in front of her, had her head spinning. Never in all her twenty-seven years had she wanted someone so much. He hadn’t really tried to seduce her, and she was ready to jump up on the table and offer her body to him. But she kept all this inside, locked away, because it was better that he never know what was going on in her head. A man like Micah Ross might be good, but he definitely would use it against her to get her into bed.
“Dee.”
Her name snapped out. Not loudly, not enough to scare her. But enough to let her know that he was not happy with her. She should take exception to his tone, the way it bit out from between his teeth. Instead, she found herself wanting to please him as her nipples hardened. She opened her mouth and he slipped the dreamy dessert between her lips. The sweetness exploded over her tongue. God, it had been a long time since she’d had good cheesecake. She could pay for the good stuff. She had the money to spend on air-shipped cheesecake. But she knew she would eat the whole damn cake by herself. She opened her eyes to find Micah watching her, his face flush, his gaze intent on her mouth. The air between them thickened. Everything in her tightened, her hormones dancing.
She swallowed the bite. Before she could say anything, he had another bite for her. He held it in front of her mouth.
“Aren’t you going to have any?”
He shook his head, said nothing. She got the feeling he was holding on to an invisible thread of control. From watching her eat cheesecake?
She wanted to refuse him, wanted to tell him one bite was enough. But…she couldn’t. As she opened her mouth, she gave in to the delightful treat. Damn, the airiness was just like New York, just the right amount of sugar, the crust substantial, but not overwhelming the cake itself.
She had barely swallowed the second bite when he had another at her mouth. She took it this time without hesitation, closing her eyes and humming. The fork clattered on the plate. It was the only warning she got. She opened her eyes to find Micah reaching for her, pulling her out of her chair and onto his lap.
He crashed his mouth down onto hers, his tongue sweeping in and taking immediate possession. Like every time he kissed her, it set off an explosion within her. She didn’t resist, couldn’t. As her head spun, she slipped her hands through the silky strands of his hair, and tried to move closer. Her breasts ached, her nipples painfully hard. She turned in his lap to press her chest against his, trying her best to gain some relief.
He groaned and tightened his hold. The sound of it came from deep within him as if he were in pain. It touched something in her, had her heart beating so hard she was amazed she didn’t pass out.
She slipped her tongue against his and his hands convulsed on her waist. Damn this felt good, right. Nothing had ever felt this right before. In all her times with men, before and after the incident, she had held herself back, made sure she didn’t lose her head. But this time, this one time, she didn’t want to stop. She wanted it to keep going—needed to feel his body on hers, in hers. She shifted in his lap and felt his erection. It should be a sign to run, to not get in deep with this man. But she wanted him. Wanted everything he could offer her, take from her. Nothing in her life had ever been so important. She wanted him. Now.
I love series! I know when I read a great book there is always secondary characters that jump out at me and I want to write the author and ask if their stories are going to be told….I sometimes beg that it happens too! 🙂
When I fall in love with characters I want to know more about them, read more about them and catch up with them in other books in a series.
For me it’s the world and the characters that keep me coming back for more. I tend to get attached. When I read books from a favorite series, it’s like visiting old friends and escaping into their world for a while. If a writer can make me feel that way, they’ve won me over and become auto-buys.
I really enjoy series. I love those where the characters come back again and again, so I guess when I fall in love with the characters, that will keep me buying the series.
Then there are some series that work around a plot, with different characters showing up in each book. If the plot is captivating and has me on edge, then I like those too!!!
Valerie
Well, if the writing sucks, the secondary characters are going to suck, too, right? I think that secondary characters who are still three dimensional make me want to follow them to the next book.
For me it’s all about the writing,if the writing is good, I’ll read till the writer stops writing it or one of us dies:)….if the story is bad..won’t even make it to the 2nd book.
When I give a new series a try, I’m always keeping track of not only the main characters but the secondary ones as well. In the case of A Little Harmless Obsession, I really liked Micah’s character and wanted to learn more about him. I was so excited to learn that A Little Harmless Lie would feature him. *squee*
Oh my goodness! From the cover, to the blurb to the excerpt, this looks like an amazing book! And then the icing on the cake? IT’S A SERIES! Squeee! My favorite is series. Yesss!
Val
lastnerve2000@gmail.com
I love series books. It the writing and the world building and seeing side characters get their own story. As well as seeing old characters return and see how they are through out the series.
I love reading a series when it grabs my attention and holds it… I want to read more about the characters, whether updated story of a main character or secondary characters getting their own limelight…
What keeps me reading a series is a mix of things–if I love the author’s writing, I’ll keep reading. Usually that’s a combination of characters, the world she’s created, and the story line. I generally like stories that can stand alone though, so cliff-hangers actually turn me off a series! (Hate waiting for the next book!) 😉
Good writing, great ideas and interesting characters will keep me interested in reading a series.
lenikaye@yahoo.com
follower
Damn, I need some cheesecake:)
I love reading series. I think first I have to love the author’s style of writing, then I have to love the side characters as well as the main characters because in a series you know that they will perhaps be focused on in the next book, and it’s the anticipation of seeing a story to let you see more of that character. I guess like a tease:)
I love series. For me it is the characters and the world they live in that draws me into a series and keeps me coming back for more. If I am hooked in the first book, I want to find out what happens with other characters and revisit characters from previous stories.
I love series. The characters are like a big family that you want to know. I want to know who and why characters fall in love. As the series does on, I find about their professional careers and if they have kids, and if the series continues what the kids are up to.
Tessa
I love series . I love reading more about the world that is built and I love seeing secondary characters get there own story .
gfc follower
meandi09@yahoo.com
I love reading series books.The anticipation for the next book is often the best part. I always read them as soon as they are released, but have friends who wait until the entire series is out so they can read them back to back. Catching up with previous characters is always fun too!
What keeps me reading a series is mostly the characters and the world. Of course, good writing is a plus; nothing takes me out of a story as quickly as bad writing (if it makes me stop reading to say, “what?!”).
ironss[at]gmail.com
I become hooked on a series when I love the characters that the author creates. Good characters always draw me into the story and make me care about what happens to them. I want to know more about them, and I want to read about them until they reach a happy and satisfying ending to their story.
I love a well written book and turning up the heat is a plus. I love singles and series.
If I’ve read 1 in a series and enjoyed it, I will continue to get all of the books in it.
I have had one very good series start to lose it’s ability to hold my attention. After 2 books on the decline I quit geting that series.
That’s nothing you have to worry about, Mel. I adore all of your books.
Sandie
It’s the storylines and the characters that keep me interested and wanting to keep reading a series.
I love series that allow the characters to grow and develop, more than the ones that are loosely cobbled together by a character who plays a minor role and then becomes the main character in the next book.
It’s definitely the writing and the appealingness of the character. Do I like him or her and want to see what happens next?
A series gets me when the characters feel like friends. When past characters come back even if its just a glimpse. When I wish they were real and I could hang out with them.
The story has to peek my interest, the characters have to be compelling, the romance super sexy, and the dialogue a little sassy with a bit of humor.
The reason I keep reading a series is really good story line, awesome characters, the banter, the love has to be strong, I would say family ties because most series ties either family together or best friends. As they say… the plot thickens!!!
Please include me!
Both really. They work together. There wont be a story hook without good writing.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
What makes me keep reading a series… :X Well, I used to really like them but these days I’m on the other team. *However* I still will read them – why? Because I want to know what happens with the secondary characters. Not so much a continuation of the story, but as someone having a minor role in a previous book s/he drew me in.
I think the “world/universe” of the book – regardless of genre and setting matter.
I gave an answer on Goodreads 🙂 But to be more thorough ,I love series books. I love reading about characters that I’ve connected with in other books. I love the secondary characters who stand out in the book as well.It’s kind of like meeting up with old friends again. Also a GFC follower under Lucky47.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
I love the series! Your characters come alive on the page.
I love series books because I have emotions invested in them and I love seeing old characters and just not as cameos.
Zina
Get me emotionally invested in the supporting characters and I will seek out the series in the hopes that they get a HEA too!