Recently I've been revisiting books from my older catalogue and bringing them back out so new readers can discover them. Some of these are anywhere from six to seven years old, but will probably be new to many people. So, let's visit one of my sexier contemporary titles. When it first appeared back in 2004, it was briefly part of a collection, and ended up being an Eppie Award Finalist. When it was republished by Liquid Silver books a couple years later, it had undergone a rewrite - and I'd added a few things that the original didn't have, like a rather voyeuristic scene, and some added heat to the sex scenes between the very passionate main couple. So, have a look at my Mirage, where things are always as real as they appear...
MIRAGE
When Kristy signed on to be John Smythe's executive assistant, she
never imagined falling in love with the coldly handsome and ruthless CEO. Yet,
that's precisely what happened. In Smythe's hands, the company prospered, even
if his partner didn't. Wheeler Enterprises is in the middle of a fraud
investigation when Douglas Wheeler dies, and his only daughter is all that
stands between Smythe and complete control of the Wheeler company.
When Detective Peter King comes into the picture, and accuses Smythe of
more than corporate dirty-dealing, Kristy's life is suddenly a lot more
complicated than she wants it to be...
Read an excerpt...
“That
was not one of your brightest ideas, Karen,” Smythe stated when he was seated at
his desk.
“Obviously not,” she agreed through clenched teeth. “But I’m getting
desperate to make someone listen to me.”
“Why
can’t you just let go of this?” John said, his quiet, controlled voice pitched
to a lulling tone. “You’re only causing yourself unnecessary aggravation with
this nonsense.”
“Aggravation?” she repeated in disbelief. “You’re systematically
killing off my family, and you call it aggravation?”
Smythe’s expression darkened dangerously, and he rose from his chair.
The motion was graceful, like a sleek, stalking leopard scenting prey. Karen
shifted uneasily in her seat, her eyes never leaving the smooth flow of his
movement, fascinated by him in spite of her instinctive aversion. She still
couldn’t conceal the tiny start of fright she felt when he leaned over her,
lithe, long fingered hands curving over her shoulders as his voice murmured near
her ear.
“You
would do well to keep thoughts like that to yourself, my dear,” he advised. “If
you continue to push me, Karen, I promise things could get very unpleasant. Not
just for you, but for those around you.”
“What
are you planning to do, Smythe?” she snapped. “Arrange to have a building fall
on me?”
John’s
laughter was chilling, and he drew her out of the chair and brushed aside a soft
strand of rich, dark hair. He let his touch linger on her cheek just long enough
to make her wince.
“Continue to push me, Karen, and I’ll begin an investigation of my
own. One that will not relent until I know who attempted to kill Douglas.
Though I have pretty solid suspicions about that now.”
Fear
instantly lit her expressive eyes, and she jerked away from him. His laughter
chased her from his office a moment later.
* * *
*
Peter
and Kristy were almost back to Smythe’s office when the door swept open and
Karen burst into the corridor. Peter left Kristy and was at Karen’s side in an
instant. Tears streamed down the woman’s ashen face. Behind her, like a silent
wraith, John stood framed in the doorway, his expression
thoughtful.
“What’s
going on, Karen?” Peter asked, too absorbed in the woman to notice they were the
center of attention within the office complex.
“Nothing!” she said, her voice quivering. “I want to go home, Peter.
Please, just take me home.”
Kristy
saw Peter finally take notice of John standing in the background. He got a
single step toward John before Kristy stopped him with a firm hand on his arm.
He swung around to look at her and Kristy shook her head. “Take Karen home as
she’s asked, Peter. I’ll let you know what’s going on, I
promise.”
He was
surprised into silence, and Karen’s tug on his arm drew him away from any
question he might have asked.
He and
Karen headed for the elevator, and Kristy made sure they got on it before she
entered John’s office with him and closed the door.
“Is
there really a need to leave that girl in tears every time you speak to her,
John?” Kristy asked.
He
laughed quietly and perched on the wide window ledge. His gaze was focused on
the two people getting into the detective’s black Honda parked in the Wheeler
lot.
“Her
defeat upset her. Not me.”
Kristy
sighed, her hands on his shoulders. She leaned forward, kissed his cheek and
waited for him to look at her. When the cool blue eyes met hers seconds later,
she smiled. “You own Wheeler Research and Technology, darling. Leave it at
that.”
John
smiled back at her and pulled her into his arms. He bent to place a light kiss
over her heart and let his tongue dip into the intriguing shadow just below her
neckline. She shivered slightly and eased back.
“For
the first time in my life, I have everything I want,” she whispered, her voice
filled with rarely expressed emotion. “I don’t want to lose any of
it.”
“You
are getting sentimental, Kristy,” he teased. He ran a delicate caress along the
curve of her cheekbone, long fingers like the brush of velvet against her skin.
When his touch reached her mouth, he pulled her forward to meet his
kiss.
“What
is it you really don’t want to lose?” he asked her minutes later, his hand
closing over one of her breasts, stroking persuasively.
She
shook her head, and buried the response that would have revealed a truth she
wasn’t sure she wanted to give him. The buzz of the intercom saved her the need
for a reply, and she laughed in spite of her mood when John took the call but
remained standing to answer it. She understood a moment later when he settled
her in his chair, then unbuckled his belt and the button at his waist. She
pushed his hands away and finished opening the front of his designer suit pants,
freeing him from the suddenly confining briefs. John’s long fingers tangled in
her hair as she took his smooth, hard cock into her mouth and began to suck and
stroke with her tongue.
A few
minutes later, she heard the phone being placed on the corner of the desk, and
John drew her away with a hiss of reaction to the loss of her mouth engulfing
him. He took her hands and tugged her to her feet, then pulled her soft,
cashmere sweater over her head and tossed it aside. She hadn’t worn a bra and he
had told her that morning to forget the underwear as well. Now she knew why. He
turned her back to him, and hiked her skirt up around her waist as he stood
behind her and made her lean over his desktop.
Kristy
spread her legs and stifled the gasp of pleasure that quivered through her when
he drove into her with a suddenness that was almost painful. His hands reached
around and cupped her dangling breasts, squeezing and caressing them as he
pinched her nipples to greater sensitivity. For an eternity of minutes the only
sounds in the luxurious office where soft gasps and the slick, wet stroke of
frenzied sex. Kristy’s teeth sank lightly into her own forearm as her body
exploded with rapture and John’s low moan of release was lost in the center of
her back a second later.
In a
distant part of her mind, she wondered if anyone had knocked on the office door
in the past ten minutes...
Read what the reviewers said:
"5 Cups!...Technically, there are four main characters in this tale, John
Smythe and his assistant Kristy, Karen Wheeler and police detective, Peter King.
Kristy is a wonderful character smart, strong, and ambitious. When she falls in
love, she falls completely. Even when John is being accused of horrible things,
she remains loyal and confident in her love. The love scenes between her and
John are steamy and plentiful. The story itself is a pleasure. Within these
pages, you will find danger and intrigue, mystery, along with lots of sizzling
and sultry sex. Considering the book is only a mere 98 pages, the fact you can
find all that inside tells you a lot. The story is well written and nicely
delivered at a pace crisp enough to hold the reader's attention without being
hurried. My first by Ms. Bridger and it will definitely become the first of
many!"—Johnna Flores, Coffee Time Romance
"4 Angels!...A perfect blend of romance, mystery and steamy sex. Ms.
Bridger has outdone herself. I was captivated from the first word and could not
put this book down. The chemistry between the couple is intense, both sexually
and emotionally. John and Kristy's relationship is rocked by the accusations
thrown at John but their love does not falter."—Tewanda, Fallen Angel
Reviews
"4 Stars!...A short story with its very deft handling of the intricate
storyline and characterizations that are brought to life through Ms. Bridger's
writing talent. There are some interesting twists and turns that keep the reader
on tenterhooks to find out the when, what and why's of this story. As the title
suggests there are some hidden illusions and facets which make it a very
fascinating and fast-paced book to read. There are also some very pleasant
surprises in store for the reader. There are some truly hot, hot, hot scenes in
this story. Despite John's outward nature, he's a very passionate and romantic
man in private. And some of that passionate nature is directed toward his very
fortunate executive assistant Kristy. You'll find a cast of characters and an
exciting plotline that make Mirage a very enjoyable story that will keep you
guessing, like me, to discover what the outcome will be."—Aggie Tsirikas, Just
Erotic Romance Reviews
"4 Hearts!...A wonderful book that will thrill readers with the mystery and
intrigue that abounds on every page. John is dangerous with a sensual
personality and an alpha attitude. Kristy gives new meaning to the phrase 'stand
by your man,' she is willing to believe the best in John and defend him to the
end. The villain in this book is no surprise, but it still makes for interesting
reading. Love scenes are so hot the pages almost burn; Denyse Bridger has done
an excellent job of creating a plot that will keep readers glued to the
pages."—Angel Brewer, The Romance Studio
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