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2b0ec23
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We'll meet back here in fifteen minutes," he said before turning toward the shop. "Aren't you going to lock the truck?" "Not necessary." The door swung shut behind him, and Phoebe was left standing on the sidewalk, wondering whether she'd heard him right. No need to lock the truck, even with her suitcases in the backseat and his window rolled down? She'd heard about places like that but had always assumed the people who lived there were fic..
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Susan Mallery |
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c53b1ff
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Before she could study the damage, Zane grabbed her by her arm and pulled her to her feet. He took her hand in his and examined the injury. Several things occurred to her at once. First--that they'd never stood this close together before. He was so big, tall and broad that he made her feel positively delicate by comparison. Second--for a man who had spent his morning on a horse, he smelled really good. All clean and woodsy. Third--the insta..
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Susan Mallery |
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6491399
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If you're so fired up about playing host," Zane said, his expression both fierce and closed. "I'll let you take care of her luggage and show her to her room." He put his hat on his head, nodded once at Phoebe and stalked away. She stared after him for a second. He looked as good from the back as he had from the front. Her hormones yelled out catcalls of appreciation which--fortunately--only she could hear. But however impressed she might be..
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Susan Mallery |
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4db12ee
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If you're so fired up about playing host," Zane said, his expression both fierce and closed. "I'll let you take care of her luggage and show her to her room." He put his hat on his head, nodded once at Phoebe and stalked away. She stared after him for a second. He looked as good from the back as he had from the front. Her hormones yelled out catcalls of appreciation which--fortunately--only she could hear. But however impressed she might be..
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Susan Mallery |
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a625ce3
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Yup--nothing like asking about bull sperm to shut down a conversational exchange.
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Susan Mallery |
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24304cf
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Whatever emotional distance she might have been able to maintain was lost the second Zane lightly squeezed her hand and smiled. She'd never seen him smile before. If she'd been able to breathe, he would have taken her breath away. "I think you'll live," he said. "Just stay away from the goats." "Okay." The single word was the best she could do under the circumstances. Zane continued to look at her. Even better, he kept her hand in his, his ..
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Susan Mallery |
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a9fb73d
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Zane knew that he and Phoebe were no longer talking about the same thing. At least not when it came to hunger. She would be thinking fish and chips, and he was thinking more along the lines of naked. He wanted to tell himself it was simply because he was a man and she was a woman, but he knew it was more than that. As he'd admitted, he liked her. She was cute and funny. When she looked at him with her big brown eyes, he wanted to grab Tango..
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Susan Mallery |
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9694240
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Zane continued to look at her. Even better, he kept her hand in his, his thumb rubbing up and down the length of her fingers. Over and over. Up and down. It was very rhythmic. And sexual. Her thighs took on a life of their own, getting all hot and shaking slightly. Her mouth went dry, her breasts were jealous of the attention her hand was getting and her hormones were singing the "Hallelujah Chorus." Obviously she needed intensive therapy....
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Susan Mallery |
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54a6695
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Zane was waiting for her at the base of the stairs. She stopped on the last step so that when he turned toward her, they were eye to eye. "I'm sorry I didn't bring anything dressier," she said. She'd changed into white jeans and a pale, dusty purple top with an embellished scoop neckline. His gaze traveled to her feet and back to her face. She thought maybe she read masculine appreciation in his raised brows. "You're fine," he said. So much..
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Susan Mallery |
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fa7fc41
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Somehow he released her hand and pulled his free. He wrapped his arms around her and hauled her against him so her entire body pressed against his. The man was a rock. Big, unyielding and warmed by the sun. She wanted to snuggle even closer. She wanted to rip off her clothes and give the goats something to talk about. She wanted-- He licked her lower lip. The unexpected moist heat made her gasp as fire raced through her. Every singed nerve ..
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Susan Mallery |
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c52fff4
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She suddenly became aware of being pressed up against a really good-looking stranger, kissing in front of a goat pen. Apparently Zane got a similar wake-up call, because he stepped back at the same second she did. At least the man was breathing hard. She would hate to think she was the only one who had been affected. "Okay, then," she said when she realized that all feelings to the contrary, she still could breathe. Zane continued to stare ..
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Susan Mallery |
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1fbe450
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His mouth seemed designed for kissing. Maybe it was all that non-conversation. Maybe talking too much undermined a man's ability to kiss.
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Susan Mallery |
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f63f471
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Arrange for supplies to be delivered every day. You'll have to write up a schedule for the men. Have Cookie plan a menu this afternoon." Frank's eyes widened. He looked as if someone had just run over his favorite dog. "Boss, you're not taking Cookie with you." It was more of a plea than a question. "No one else can cook for shit. What am I supposed to feed them?" "But without Cookie, one of the boys will have to cook for those of us left b..
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Susan Mallery |
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4eb7b42
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If he'd tossed her to the ground and started ripping off her clothes, instead of being outraged, she would have helped. She would have done it right there, in front of God and the goats.
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Susan Mallery |
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9c27c89
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She told herself the quivering sensation she felt inside was because she was hungry and had nothing to do with the man sitting across from her. Then she felt bad for lying, if only to herself. She took the offered menu but didn't open it. When they were alone, she glanced at Zane. "Do you not like me or is this just your style?" Zane's gaze was steady. Almost laser-like. She wanted to squirm but didn't. Nor did she look away. "I like you fi..
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Susan Mallery |
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1dc4b59
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Yet there was something about Phoebe Kitzke. An innocence, maybe. No, that wasn't right. It was how she seemed trusting. More fool her. Or maybe him.
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Susan Mallery |
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1c2eb1e
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She didn't know the going price of cattle on the hoof, or the per acre value of land in this part of the country, but from what she could tell, no Nicholson was ever going to die poor.
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Susan Mallery |
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3772762
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Couldn't sleep?" he asked as he approached, then stopped by the railing next to her. She shook her head. "I guess I'm too excited about the cattle drive." "It's keeping me up, too, but not from excitement." The simple statement caught her unaware. With a few words, he expressed a vulnerability that made her heart squeeze, even as her hormones hummed a Dixie Chicks song about cowboys and being taken away. It was the night, she told herself. ..
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Susan Mallery |
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9eab1d9
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Couldn't sleep?" he asked as he approached, then stopped by the railing next to her. She shook her head. "I guess I'm too excited about the cattle drive." "It's keeping me up, too, but not from excitement."
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Susan Mallery |
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2c30cb6
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His mouth turned up at one corner. His face was transformed when he smiled, even when it was a half-smile given halfheartedly. Wow. A sexy cowboy with a sense of humor could be dangerous. And while she'd always avoided danger in the past, for some reason, she found herself wanting to move just a little closer. Play with fire, she reminded herself. Only getting burned seemed like a small price to pay.
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Susan Mallery |
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a1e4344
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If you get into trouble, give a shout." "We'll be fine," Gladys said. Famous last words, Zane thought, wishing he could believe them. All the novices looked as if they could be blown off their mounts by a stiff wind. He didn't usually allow for second-guessing, but he was about to make an exception. Deciding to go forward with the cattle drive had been about the stupidest idea he'd ever had."
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Susan Mallery |
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ed4ad36
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Zane awakened them both early. By the time Chase stirred, he had both their tents down and was on his third cup of coffee. Phoebe had promised she could act completely normal, but looking at her from across the fire, he wasn't so sure. There was no way anyone could see her dreamy expression and not know something was different. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "What? You keep looking at me. I know my makeup can't be smudged. I'm ..
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Susan Mallery |
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533a353
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Hey," Chase said as he approached. "The rain sucks." "Agreed." His younger brother settled on a log. "I checked on the cattle. They're fine. The clouds don't look like there's going to be any lightning or thunder, but they look plenty wet." Zane nodded. "Storm's supposed to last two days. I was hoping it would hold off until Saturday." Chase sipped his coffee. "Everybody okay?" There was something about the question. Zane stared at him. "Wh..
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Susan Mallery |
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edb3fdf
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Zane moved his horse next to Lucy's and simply grabbed the girl around the waist. When she settled on the saddle in front of him, he unbuttoned his coat, tucked it around her, then fastened the bottom three buttons. "I wish he could do that with me," Maya said with a shiver."
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Susan Mallery |
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ea463ff
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Reilly won't have a problem taking us in?" she asked. He shook his head. "This is Fool's Gold. We look out for each other." His mouth curved in a smile. "I may be forced to bunk down in the barn, but you'll all be treated like honored guests."
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Susan Mallery |
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ebd7b41
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You're not mad?" "Because I had to go out in the rain, in the middle of the night, pull up the stakes on your tent, resecure it somewhere else so it would dry out, then cart your saddlebags over to Cookie's wagon, wake him up and then listen to him complain?" --
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Susan Mallery |
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eaab1a4
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So are you naked?" The switch in topic caught her unaware. She shimmied a little deeper into the sleeping bag. "I, ah, left on my panties." Zane swore softly. "I guess I deserved that for asking." "Deserved what?" "You don't want to know."
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Susan Mallery |
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3b11e12
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Phoebe, we talked about this," he reminded her. "You deserve better than a quickie out in the open." "We're in a tent," she said before she could stop herself. "And it doesn't have to be quick."
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Susan Mallery |
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2c96bdd
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That was amazing," she told him. He kissed the top of her thigh. "For me, too." She heard him sit up and prepared to pass over the condom. But before she could, she felt his finger enter her again. Just the finger. It shouldn't have been that exciting, but there was something about the way he touched her. She'd just had more than her fill of orgasms, but she couldn't help clamping around him, drawing him in deeper. "Good?" he asked. "Oh, ye..
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Susan Mallery |
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cf1864e
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Are we going to share the sleeping bag?" "I thought I'd go stay with Cookie." "Oh." Disappointment flooded her way more than the river had. It was just as cold, but not as wet. "Phoebe, we talked about this," he reminded her. "You deserve better than a quickie out in the open." "We're in a tent," she said before she could stop herself. "And it doesn't have to be quick." As soon as the words were out, she wanted to pull the sleeping bag over..
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Susan Mallery |
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953653b
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She followed Chase up the front steps onto a wide porch that seemed to wrap around the whole house. While the teenager had a long way to go before he was as hunky as his older brother, he was still pretty impressive. Good-looking, funny, easy to talk to. "I've been had," she muttered more to herself than to him. "What do you mean?" "Maya got me out here early by implying you were neglected and pitiful all on your own. I thought I was going ..
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Susan Mallery |
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184b148
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Condom," she gasped. A movement stopped. "What?" Phoebe felt the earth open up in preparation of swallowing her. How could she have not mentioned this before? "I'm not on anything right now," she whispered. "Birth control. I'm not on the Pill." She gestured helplessly. "Shit, fuck, damn." Disappointment tied her in knots. "I was really only interested in that middle part," she joked. There was a second of silence, followed by a low chuckle...
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Susan Mallery |
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7859560
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Be here, be here, be here," he muttered as he pawed through everything. Then he grabbed a square packet in triumph. "Got one." She couldn't help smiling. "Only one?" He grinned. "We'll have to be creative after that." He handed her the condom, then clicked off the light. "Where was I?" he asked. "You can pretty much be anywhere you want to be," she told him. "Good. Then I want to be here." He pulled off her panties in one smooth move."
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Susan Mallery |
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910edc9
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Be here, be here, be here," he muttered as he pawed through everything. Then he grabbed a square packet in triumph. "Got one." She couldn't help smiling. "Only one?" He grinned. "We'll have to be creative after that."
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Susan Mallery |
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7860c6e
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What are you doing?" she asked, even as she parted her thighs. "You're a smart woman. You figure it out." He kissed his way up to her knee, then moved between her legs and nibbled higher. Up and up and up until he pressed an openmouthed kiss just at that hollow by her hip. "That's not right," he teased, even as he licked her tummy. "I was looking for something else." Anticipation had reached such a fevered pitch that Phoebe wasn't sure she ..
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Susan Mallery |
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901e8c7
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Evening," Zane said. It was a pretty wordy opening for him. Phoebe debated inviting him in, then decided it would be too much like an offer to sleep with him. Instead of stepping back and pointing to the bed, which was really what she wanted to do, she moved down the hallway, shutting the door behind her, and did her best to look unimpressed. "Hi, Zane. How are the preparations coming?" He gave her one of his grunts, then shrugged. She took..
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Susan Mallery |
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81fdc4c
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At first he set the various items on the foot of the sleeping bag, but after a couple of seconds, he simply turned the container over and dumped out the contents. "Be here, be here, be here," he muttered as he pawed through everything. Then he grabbed a square packet in triumph. "Got one." She couldn't help smiling. "Only one?" He grinned. "We'll have to be creative after that." He handed her the condom, then clicked off the light. "Where w..
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Susan Mallery |
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218cc12
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Without thinking, she reached down and grabbed his wrist. Holding his hand still, she thrust her hips forward and back, finding the right pace until the heavy tension returned, and she felt the telltale contractions begin again. He swore softly. "Can you do that while I'm inside of you?" "Absolutely." She pulled his hand free and pressed the condom into his palm. "Can you put this on in the dark?" He chuckled. "With you as motivation, I cou..
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Susan Mallery |
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14a8f40
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I better see how everyone's doing," he said as he tossed the rest of his coffee into the fire. "Before you go," Chase said and held out something in his hand. "I wasn't sure if you had enough with you." Zane stared at the three condoms resting on his brother's palm. Then he glanced at Chase, who was grinning. "Way to go, big brother." Not knowing what to say, Zane rose and stalked off. But not before he took the condoms. He might be stubbo..
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Susan Mallery |
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4e5e628
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What did it look like?" "My watch? It was silver. Not expensive or anything. Just a regular watch." "Shiny?" "I guess." "Raccoons." Determined not to say anything stupid for at least the next ten minutes, she considered his single-word statement. Raccoons? Okay. He probably hadn't started a word-association game, so what did he mean? Going with the safest response, she cautiously repeated, "Raccoons?" "They like shiny things. Take off with ..
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Susan Mallery |
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1242873
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I'm sorry," she whispered. Zane shifted off of her. "What?" "I shouldn't have done that." "Done what?" She heard the caution in his voice. "I was too...you know." "I don't know," he said. "Too, what?" "Wanton." There wasn't any sound. Not even a hint of sound. Then he laughed. It wasn't a chuckle. It was a huge, from-the-belly laugh. The kind that made it impossible for the person laughing to move or breathe or even stop. "Zane?" She shook ..
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Susan Mallery |
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4a6f3ea
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Phoebe, you're the most amazing lover I've ever had. You're sexy, responsive to the point of being a lethal weapon, sweet, funny, caring and if I had a box of condoms, I'd use every single one before sunup.
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Susan Mallery |
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4e35509
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They made their way into the sleeping bag. It was crowded, and she was still naked, so it only took about three seconds flat for him to get hard again. She reached between them. "Are you sure there aren't any more condoms?" He flexed at her words, then groaned softly. It was going to be a long night. "Positive." He was torn between asking her to stop tormenting him and begging her to keep on doing it. The outcome of the latter as inevitable..
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Susan Mallery |
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f2dcce2
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Alone by herself or alone in a crowd, it still came down to lonely. She
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Susan Mallery |