Cougar Falls: Foxy Lady Part 14

"I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it," Ty said quietly, laughter in his voice.

"Believe it. It takes a special man to tame an Easton."

"Don't I know it." He hugged her tight with his right arm over her shoulder and pushed his left hand past hers to rub her belly again.

Julia smiled and covered his hand with her own. "Yeah, you do."

"That's right. I do. You just remember to say those words next month and we'll be fine." He fingered the diamond on her finger. "My foxy lady. You're all mine."

About the Author.

Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with the warmth of first pa.s.sion and knew writing was her calling. Twenty-plus years later, the Marine Corps, a foray through Information Technology, a husband and four kids, and her dream has finally come true. Marie lives in Georgia with her family and loves hearing from readers. To read more about Marie, visit www.marieharte.com.

Look for these t.i.tles by Marie Harte.

Now Available:.

Cougar Falls.

Rachel's Totem.

In Plain Sight Feral Attraction Foxy Lady.

Ethereal Foes The Dragons' Demon Duncan's Descent.

I Dream of Dragons Vol. 1.

Westlake Enterprises.

To Hunt a Sainte A Scorching Seduction.

Enjoying the Show Sins of Summer.

He's enough to tempt a Sainte to sin.

To Hunt a Sainte.

2010 Marie Harte.

Westlake Enterprises, Book 1.

Telekinetic Alexandra Sainte is through serving time behind a desk at Buchanan Investigations. She's more than ready to prove she's capable of fieldwork, if only her uncle will give her the chance. Tired of waiting, she turns a sudden opportunity into something more.

Her unauthorized raid of a suspected kidnapper's office goes off without a hitch-mostly-but as she makes her escape, she sees a pair of golden eyes watching her every move. Eyes that spark erotic dreams of a dark stranger taking her in ways that make her blush.

There's a reason Hunter Greye can't take his gaze off the sticky-fingered woman he catches ruining his investigation. She fights like a warrior. She bears a striking resemblance to a string of kidnapping victims. And she stirs a wildness within him he thought he'd learned to control a long time ago. She's a dangerous distraction he can't afford.

Thrown together in an undercover operation to find the mastermind behind the kidnappings, Alex and Hunter fall in l.u.s.t, in love, and in danger. Only by trusting each other can they save the girl...and each other.

Warning: Beware psychics with att.i.tude, a killer red dress, a ruthless villain with an angel obsession, and rivals who can't figure out who's better on top.

Enjoy the following excerpt for To Hunt a Sainte: Two days later, Hunter stood grimfaced in front of a slate blue door and pounded again. He smelled lavender and clenched his jaw at the effort it took to focus on his present course of action. He knew the d.a.m.ned woman was home.

When no one answered after a few more minutes, he set to work. The lock proved no problem, her security alarm even less of one. He'd have a talk with her about that...afterward.

Hunter had tried, but he could no longer avoid the inevitable. This had to stop. He moved silently and swiftly through her open rooms, noting the tidiness of her apartment. Alexandra Sainte decorated spa.r.s.ely but with a warmth that was inviting.

An eclectic mix of styles accented the cozy feel of a living room well used. A plush leather sofa and matching chair congregated around a teak coffee table covered with home design magazines and the occasional fitness rag. A few plants, all healthy and thriving, sat in her picture window, overlooking a common courtyard. The few bookcases along a far wall boasted an a.s.sortment of t.i.tles, none of which indicated her preference of reading material.

He entered her spotless kitchen. The counters appeared clean, as did her pristine white cabinets. The ceramic sink remained free of dirty dishes. Not even a speck of dirt in the drain. Dear G.o.d, did anyone actually live here? Then the scent of lavender hit him hard. Again. His pulse raced, his body tightened, and pure, sensual need spiked his blood.

Swearing under his breath, he continued his search for the feminine bane of his existence. He turned into a hallway off the living room and stilled. He could smell her there, could almost feel her delicate energy in the air.

Time to tie up a few loose ends.

Williams' crew had given up their efforts at discreet surveillance and tailed Alex outright. Tonight, Hunter decided to take care of watching over Ms. Sainte personally. Professionally. Finally.

The sound of water splashing drew him down the hallway and through an untidy bedroom-a surprise inconsistent with the rest of the house. He walked through the doorway into her bathroom and froze.

Even though he'd been expecting it, the vision of Alex covered in bubbles struck him with the force of a physical blow. Surrounded by lavender and warmed by the humidity in the intimate bathroom, Hunter was overwhelmed with a sudden need to touch her golden skin, wet and shining before him. Calling on every ounce of discipline he possessed, Hunter forced himself to remain still and studied the sleepy beauty he couldn't get out of his mind.

A man would have to be blind not to appreciate her looks-golden hair streaked with honey, exotically slanted eyes that hinted at mystery, and full lips promising everything a man might want. Her body curved in all the right places, yet had a toned toughness that told Hunter she wouldn't break, even under a bit of rough handling.

The thought aroused him into taking a step forward. Desire engulfed him, and he literally ached, needing to touch her, to be inside that glorious body and discover just what it was about her that captivated him. Only one woman had ever come this close to making him lose control, and look at how that had turned out.

Angered at reminders of the poor choices he'd once made, he locked down his traitorous body and forced himself to handle this-her.

"All right, Sainte. Enough is enough," he growled.

She shrieked in surprise and sloshed in the tub, allowing him glimpses of slick flesh while she tried to gain her feet. Forcing himself to ignore the impulse to reach out and touch, he handed her a towel.

She grabbed it from him and hastily wrapped it around herself. "What- Who-" She took a deep breath. "How the h.e.l.l did you get in my apartment?"

He frowned. "You need to update your security. Pretty sad that I managed your locks in less than a minute."

Slicking her hair back, she regarded him with caution and kept a firm hand on the top of her towel.

He forced himself to look no lower than her chin. "We need to talk."

"No s.h.i.t." Instead of the fear he a.s.sumed he'd face, the woman had the nerve to step out of the tub right in front of him. No more than three inches remained between him and her delectable body draped with a thin towel. "You can't just barge into private property whenever you feel like it, Greye. Now get the h.e.l.l out of my bathroom. Get the h.e.l.l out of my apartment!"

"I don't think you understand me, angel. I'm here to talk. All you need to do is listen." He stepped closer and inhaled her scent-feminine, floral and d.a.m.ned arousing. Pressed so close, she had to notice his reaction. When her eyes widened, he gave her a grim smile and leaned closer, caught by her tremulous gaze. "I didn't want to do it this way," he said darkly. "But you keep playing your games."

"Games?" she parroted, her gaze glued to his mouth.

Disturbingly pleased he wasn't the only one affected, Hunter strove to focus on the topic at hand. "The coffee? The chocolate? The feel of your soft skin under my hands? Projecting your bulls.h.i.t is only distracting me from the mission at hand."

She blinked up at him. "What are you talking about?"

"You know." He couldn't help himself and latched onto the firm strength of her shoulders. His thumb brushed the side of her breast, and she gasped. "You're a beautiful woman, and you know it. You don't need to play games to get my attention. Just let me handle this job, and I'll give you exactly what you've been asking for."

Her apparent anger stirred him past reason. Alexandra Sainte in nothing but a towel was bad enough, but in a pa.s.sionate temper, her energy seethed and drew him like a moth to flame.

"Why you arrogant-"

The little witch thought to challenge him even now? The h.e.l.l she did.

He kissed past her denial, knowing she didn't mean it. He could all but sense her arousal as it pulsed through him. Feminine need and anger warred until her rage surrendered to the attraction between them. Everything she felt, Hunter felt as well, until he regained control once more, taking charge of his emotions.

Love can be a force of nature.

Serengeti Lightning.

2010 Vivi Andrews.

Serengeti Shifters, Book 3.

Mara Leonard is through hitting the snooze b.u.t.ton on her biological clock. The Three Rocks Pride schoolteacher is ready to get serious about starting a family, and she needs a serious man to make that happen.

Regrettably, that means crossing less-than-serious Michael Minor off her list of potential mates. Michael is impulsive and pa.s.sionate, but his spontaneity leaks into shapeshifting whenever his emotions run high-a tendency he should have outgrown long ago. As a s.e.x buddy, he's delicious. Daddy material? Disqualified.

Michael is blindsided by Mara's rejection. Nine years separate them, and his genetic malady means no one in the pride treats him as an adult. But if she thinks he'll simply slink away to lick his wounds while she steps into the arms of another man, she has seriously underestimated him.

The tricky part will be convincing his over-a.n.a.lytical lover that he's more than a disposable s.e.x toy. That real bravery means tearing up her d.a.m.n checklist and following her heart. And doing it without letting their explosive s.e.xual chemistry expose the Pride's secrets to the outside world.

Warning: This book features break-up s.e.x, make-up s.e.x, a lioness who's a cougar and a hot young lion who's grown up in all the right ways. Note: All electrical shocks are purely metaphorical.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Serengeti Lightning: He'd wanted tonight to be perfect. This date was his chance to prove he deserved her, to show they were more than just hot s.e.x. He knew she didn't think he was steady enough to be her mate, but he'd hoped to prove her wrong tonight.

Instead, all he'd proven was that he hadn't changed at all.

His sister, Ava, would remind him it wasn't his fault. He couldn't help it. The pride doctor said Michael was missing a neural inhibitor that drew the line between animal and man.

The science was small comfort. He would never be worthy of the woman curled against his side. How long could he expect her to stay with someone who could never give her the stability she craved? One more month? Two? Then who would she run to?

Michael forced the thought of the man who would take his place out of his head. Jealousy was savage-more likely than any other emotion to bring on a shift. He needed to get her back to the ranch, back onto pride lands, where a loss of control wouldn't expose them all.

He started to set her away from him, preparing to load her into the front seat, but her scent curled around him. Michael froze in place, his hands tight on her. He barely managed to keep his claws from snapping out.

Intermingled with the sweet twist of jasmine was the sinuous spice of l.u.s.t. He could taste her desire on the air. While he'd been contemplating his sabotage of their relationship, Mara had apparently been thinking more much luscious thoughts. Naughty girl.

"Michael?" She spoke softly, a whisper on the warm spring breeze, but he felt that sigh of sound like a fist around his c.o.c.k.

She slipped between him and the SUV, rubbing her body against his front every inch of the way.

Over the last few months, they'd learned one another's wants and needs. At first, they'd both a.s.sumed they would eventually grow tired of each other, but familiarity had only intensified each experience. They'd learned to play to their personal vices. He knew exactly how to touch her to get her wet in a heartbeat. And she knew he went hard at just the idea of pinning her to things-walls, doors, slippery shower tiles. He couldn't seem to get enough of crowding her against firm surfaces until she had no choice but to yield her softness to him.

Michael leaned into her, looming over her and pressing her back against the door until he heard the telltale catch in her breath. She loved this too. Mara may be dominant, but she almost never wanted to be on top. She wanted the man who would push her until she gave in, trusting her pleasure to his strength. She wanted him.

Now if only he could convince her their compatibility didn't end at the bedroom door.

Heavy-lidded eyes beckoned him. "Your wildness makes me feel wild," she purred.

Michael hesitated. Mara was never reckless. She reasoned things out and made the good decision, every time. So there was absolutely no explanation for her current behavior.

He had calmed. He was ready to take her home. All she had to do was hop in the car and drive back to the safety of the ranch. So why was she inciting him?

She urged him forward and he followed her lead. He bore her back against the metal wall of the SUV until the vehicle rocked slightly. She seemed to bask in the warmth of his body, drawing him tighter against her, if that was even possible. A small, sinful curve of a smile flashed out around her mouth.

Was she thinking what he was thinking? If he took her here, against the Cherokee, would they tip it? He knew he shouldn't want to try, but was captivated by the image teasing his thoughts. When she bit her lip, he wanted to bite it for her then suck that plump curve into his mouth.

"We should go." His voice was as rough as the gravel beneath their feet, but he kept his hands gentle as they stroked down her sides, over the flare of her hips, pausing above the hem of her skirt.

They should go. He should back away. He could yank up that little skirt, wrap those long legs around his hips and f.u.c.k her senseless just as soon as they were back on pride land. A f.u.c.king parking lot, no matter how late it was, no matter how deep the shadows, was no place for this kind of game. He gripped her hips, fully intending to step away, but Mara-never, ever reckless Mara-forced his hand.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pushed up onto her toes and captured his mouth in a ravenous, open-mouthed kiss. She begged him with her mouth, drawing him into her madness with each longing pull of her lips and strong sweep of her tongue. Or was it his madness she was surrendering to? Right now, he didn't know or care. Her willing heat fried his last working brain cells and he fell into instinct and need.

Michael took command of the kiss. He sucked that luscious lip and gently sc.r.a.ped his teeth across it. His hands fisted in her skirt, jerking the stretchy fabric up, and Mara sighed into his mouth. G.o.d, he loved the noises she made, the little murmurs and sighs, not quite caught in her throat. She was musical in her pa.s.sion, an instrument his fingers loved to pluck and strum.

The skin of her thighs was satin beneath his fingers. He wrapped his hands around the backs of her thighs. His fingertips brushed against her heat and he hissed out a curse.

She wasn't wearing panties. And she was dripping already. His slightest touch called forth another rush of moisture. Her need hit his nostrils, fogging his already blurry thoughts.

With one swift pull, he lifted her. Her legs wrapped snuggly around his hips. He notched his denim-covered erection against her p.u.s.s.y, but he didn't push like he wanted to, concerned about the rough fabric against her sensitive flesh. He shouldn't have worried. Mara ground herself on him, tearing her lips away from his to gasp out his name.

"Easy," he murmured into the hair at her temple, barely recognizing his own voice. He slid his hand between them and slicked a finger through her folds. The touch was designed to be more soothing than arousing. He wanted to wind her up a little tighter before he let her take off.

Being needed isn't half as desirable as being wanted.

Undertow.

2010 Moira Rogers.

Building Sanctuary, Book 2.

Victor left behind a life of crime to focus on a new vision-helping his alpha build an island sanctuary for werewolves. Harsh experiences prepared him for the hardships involved, except when it comes to dealing with the young female refugees of the brutal Boston pack-especially Simone, who rouses his inner wolf like no other. A woman he must resist, or risk becoming just the latest man to make demands on her.

Born to wealth and privilege, Simone lost everything when she fell for the seductive whispers of the textile heir who turned her. Once adrift, now she is fired by a new sense of purpose-the chance to broker peace between werewolves and European wizards. Yet even as Europe beckons, her instincts-the same ones that led to trouble before-keep drawing her back to Victor.

During a sailing trip to the mainland for supplies, Victor finds it impossible to hold himself aloof from the warm, engaging Simone. And when a winter storm traps them together during a full moon, she breaks through his walls so easily and completely, the question is no longer how he'll stay away, but how he'll let her go.

Warning: This novella contains werewolves engaged in such improbable (but legal) activities as lobster fishing and sailing during nor'easters. The breaking and entering and instinct-driven s.e.x on every surface in someone else's summer cottage is a little more criminal.