Boy Toy
by Rena Marks
Coming 8/27/08 from Ellora's Cave
Nina has been taught to lessen emotional attachments. A necessary skill to have when a girl intends to stay single forever, with one goal in life.
To train men as Boy Toys.
A century-old curse haunts Tristan. For one month out of every year, his birth month, a woman who wears his birthstone pendant can control him sexually. He's grown to hate the women who hold the reigns over his life.
Tristan falls hard for the sexy divorcee - and knows she's the one for him. His only problem is to convince her of the same.
Until a new issue arises. His hated pendant falls into the hands of the woman he loves.
Excerpt
Tristan had been dating the new waitress for a month now.
He fell hard for her. He was head over heels, but it was unreciprocated. She held him at arm's length. He knew she wasn't seeing any of the other men she had vying for her attention in the bar, she didn't have time. She worked four nights a week, and he saw or spoke to her nearly every day. He planned it that way.
Once in a while he heard her cell phone go off while it was deep in her purse. She never bothered to check the calls when she was with him.
That was a plus. If she was with others, she gave him her utmost attention as if he was it for her. They'd shared more than a few kisses, a little petting, but nothing more.
And how he wanted more.
His mouth watered every time she wore her jeans slung low enough to expose the pale flesh of her flat belly. He had a perpetual hard-on and was ready to do something about it.
Sometimes she wore a boned corset top that cupped her breasts, pushing them up and outward like luscious treats begging to spill from his hands. He'd give anything to unzip the back of that corset and watch her creamy bounty drop out.
He'd bet her nipples were the color of pale strawberries.
Honesty was the best policy, usually. And dammit, he was horny as hell.
He had a date with her that evening, but some issues needed to be resolved. He called her immediately. "Hi."
"Hey. Are we still on for dinner?" she asked softly. He'd planned on taking her to eat before she headed into the bar for work that night.
"Of course," he rumbled. "But I want to talk to you about something important. Can I pick you up now?"
It wasn't too much earlier than they'd originally planned But he held his breath until she decided.
"Sure. Ten minutes?"
"I'll be right there."
During dinner, they chatted about inconsequential stuff. Dessert was finally brought out, chocolate dipped strawberries.
Tristan moved to the bench where Nina sat, so they could share the dessert more intimately. She'd nibbled on one, lips kissably juicy, when she looked at him expectantly. The lust in watching her glossy lips suck at the fruit was overwhelming. He was blunt as a result.
"You're holding me at arm's length."
She didn't answer, just kept those unreadable, smoky gray eyes on him Quite frankly, it was unnerving, so he continued on "We've been seeing each other for over a month and we've only shared a few kisses."
"We've also held hands."
He looked sharply at her, wanting to see if she was being sarcastic, but he couldn't tell. "We've held hands," he agreed.
"You still want more," she said simply.
"Yes." How could he not? He was a normal, hot blooded man.
"Okay."
"Excuse me?"
She spoke slowly and succinctly, as if he were an idiot. "You can have more. Slide your hand up my skirt and you can feel me up."
He thought his jaw would drop.
"You're making me wait, Tristan."
Hell.
Underneath the table, he rested his hand on her knee. She turned her head to look directly into his eyes and pursed her lips, challenging him to do something more.
He slid his hand up smooth skin, up to mid-thigh, where he paused and let her feel the warmth emanating from his palm.
Her eyes darkened He could almost see the desire drift like smoke across the gray of her iris.
His thumb began to stroke small circles against her skin, comforting little tingles to warm them both.
She parted her legs eagerly and she tilted her head, daring him to go further.
