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Category: Erotica/Erotic Fantasy
Description: A man whose passionate heart has been torn apart. A woman who's never risked hers. Can love bring them a new beginning? A Strangers in the Night story. Carrie Morrison is resigned to spending another Valentine's Day alone, but Cupid brings her a surprise--packaged in the hot body of the father of one of her third grade students. When Enrique Torres stops by her classroom to discuss his son, sizzling chemistry erupts between them. Ric is a widower, father, garage mechanic, and the hottest Latin lover a woman could wish for to fulfill her Valentine fantasies. One hot night with Carrie in his bed leaves him wanting more, but she's not sure if she's brave enough for a relationship beyond a one night stand. But Ric isn't about to let Carrie go that easily. She has healed his broken heart, and he's ready for forever. Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language.
eBook Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd., 2008 2008
eBookwise Release Date: June 2009

7 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [129 KB]
Words: 27457
Reading time: 78-109 min.

"The Valentine effect," she reminded him. "This afternoon I was thinking I didn't want to spend the holiday alone, and then you walked in. I got swept up in the moment. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad I did. It's been a wonderful night. Unbelievable."

"But just one night. I understand."

Wait a minute. How did we get here? That's not what I meant to say. Carrie tried to backpedal, to take the sting from the ill-planned words. "No. It could be ... There could be more. I mean, if you wanted. Another date. See where it leads."

He set his mug on the counter and turned to look at her.

"Dating a guy with a kid, that could be a very big leap. Are you up for it?"

She met his gaze. "Honestly? I'm not sure yet."

Nodding, he crossed the space between them and put his hands on her waist.

"That's all right. Let's not worry about what comes next, okay?"

He suddenly lifted her up on the counter and moved in between her legs, a hand on each of her thighs, pushing the long tails of the shirt up out of the way.

"Right now, let's just do this." Leaning into her, he pressed a kiss to her neck.

Her arms went around his back, holding him close. "This is good," she murmured, threading her hands in his soft, soft hair. His neck, corded with muscles, was warm beneath her palm as she cupped her hand around it.

He pushed the shirt off both her shoulders and kissed his way over the rounded curves. "Man, I love the way you look in this."

Just hearing his appreciation made her feel sexy. She imagined how she appeared to him, soft womanly curves framed against his big, masculine shirt. His lips nuzzled at the upper swell of her left breast and she wondered if he could feel her pulse pounding against his mouth.

"Mmm." He lifted his head and gazed at her with hungry, lust-filled eyes. "Can't get enough of you, baby. But we're supposed to be having tea, and how about some of that cake, too?"

"Sounds good," she murmured, barely comprehending the words. Her brain was all lust-addled again.

Ric kissed her cleavage once more, then released her waist and stepped away from between her spread legs, leaving a cold, empty spot. He picked up her abandoned tea, fished the teabag out with a spoon and handed her the mug.

Crossing to the refrigerator, he brought out the white Styrofoam box from the restaurant and got a fork from a drawer.

Carrie sipped her still-steaming tea. "I don't know how you can eat any more. I'm still stuffed from dinner."

"Burned off a lot of calories." He forked up a bite of cake and offered it to her with a smile. She couldn't refuse and opened her mouth to accept the dessert on her tongue, where it melted in sinful sweetness.

"Mm. Fantastic. Is this made at the restaurant?"

Shaking his head, Ric took a bite of the cake. "There's an old woman who bakes all the desserts for the restaurant in her home."

"She needs to find someone to distribute and market for her. This stuff could make her a fortune."

"You can't mass produce something like this. It loses something. Besides, these old ladies guard their recipes like gold. She'd never reveal her secrets."

He gave her another bite then leaned in to lick any residual frosting from her lips. His tongue slipped between her lips, touching hers, and savoring the chocolate with her. Sweet and hot, the kiss was a confection in itself.

Carrie felt his hand at the front of her shirt. He unbuttoned the top button, revealing both her breasts when he pushed the material aside. Pulling away from her mouth, he forked up a bit of the soft, gooey icing from the top of the cake. A quick glance at his focused gaze let her know exactly what he intended to do with it.

Depositing a dollop carefully on her right nipple, he leaned to suck it into his mouth. God, it was hot, the way her breast looked decorated in chocolate, his pink tongue darting out to taste her and his thick lips wrapping around her tit.

"Shit!" Carrie realized she still held her cup of tea clutched in one hand when the hot liquid hit her thigh. She set the mug on the counter and brushed the water from her leg.

Ric released her wet nipple with a pop and retrieved a dishtowel from the oven door handle to pat her dry. The tea wasn't scalding and the pain alleviated almost immediately. He leaned to press a kiss to the slightly pinkened flesh. "Okay?"