Arden Lover by Moonlight

Deception: Book One
1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9925707-0-5
Verlag: Stirling Pubishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 210 Seiten

Deception, Book One: Sleeping with her stepbrother. Rosa thinks she's found the perfect man to introduce her to the delights of the flesh - the sexy star of her stepbrother Roberto's latest film. But when she arranges a moonlit assignation, little does she realise it is Roberto himself who keeps it. Roberto might be a world famous movie director with 'the world at his feet', but he can't seem to get Rosa to show the slightest bit of interest in him as a man. Yet even though she doesn't seem to want him, he can't bear the thought of anyone else having her. And so he does the unthinkable, substituting himself for her boyfriend on the night of their tryst. He may have wanted her for as long as he can remember, but will she ever forgive him? (Sexy contemporary romance, 15+)

Autoren/Hrsg.

Arden, Emily

Leseproben

Prologue – The Three Graces Rosa was a dreamer. If she hadn’t been, she might have noticed the big black motorbike zooming towards her as she stepped onto the road. But her head was too firmly focused on the latest story she’d been creating. Her arms gripped the bags of groceries more tightly as she crossed the street. Just a few more steps and she’d be home. Then ‘bam!’ She heard the screech of brakes as a hard object slammed into the side of her leg. She felt herself falling, her body crashing into the hard surface of the road, her groceries spreading everywhere. Fortunately it was a light hit. She sat up straight away, dazed but lucid enough to see two people dismounting from a large shiny motorbike. The slender woman who’d been riding on the back was the first to pull off her helmet, displaying the tawny hair and familiar face of her housemate. “Oh, Rosa. Are you alright?” Tamsin knelt beside her, gently smoothing aside the red-gold hairs that clung to the side of her friend’s face, relieved to find no bleeding or grazing. Rosa had been lucky. Rosa smiled feebly, knowing full well it had been her own fault. Fortunately for her, the bump had been relatively gentle. The rider must have braked very hard to avoid hitting her with more force. “Yes.” Rosa was breathless but unhurt. She felt embarrassed. “I’m sorry; I should have been watching where I was going.” Tamsin helped her to her feet, leaving her to brush herself off while she started to collect the spilt groceries. The tall, brawny male beside her said nothing, bending to help fill the bags. “Umm, Rosa – this is Ran. He was just taking me for a spin on his new bike.” “Oh, hi Ran.” Rosa felt even more embarrassed. “I hope I didn’t do any damage.” “No scratches, s’OK.” He was obviously a man of few words. Their house was only a few yards away and Tamsin invited him in, leaving him to park the bike properly as they carried the food inside. Rosa felt a familiar sense of pride as she crossed the threshold. She loved this Victorian townhouse as much for its pretty leadlight and polished floorboards as for the fact that it represented her independence. It was the first place she’d lived in since leaving home. And the best bit was that she shared it with two of the best friends a girl could have – Tamsin and Sarah. The latter appeared from the dining room as the two girls entered, almost clucking as she saw Rosa’s grazed arm and torn trousers. “A bath I think – with plenty of salts.” Rosa was not about to argue. It was nice to be mollycoddled once in a while. She retired to the bathroom and left her friends to put away the shopping. When she emerged, rosy and clean, the two girls were sitting around the dining table entertaining their visitor. It seemed he was becoming a little more talkative now that he had a bottle of lager in his hand. He’d taken off his leather jacket and Rosa could see a number of tattoos on his arms. Perhaps Tamsin was into a bit of rough? He was younger than she’d thought – hard to tell under all that hair. Tamsin was smiling towards him, trying to cajole him into chatting. But perhaps that was a mistake, as the more he said the more out of place he seemed. He made a rather sexist remark and Rosa cringed, trying to hide her reaction from the others. It was true the three of them were all young and rather pretty, but that was no reason for him to make such personal comments. In recent months they’d even become known as ‘The Three Graces’ – she was not sure who had started it but it seemed to have stuck. But just because they enjoyed spending time together did not mean they were into partner swapping or would be interested in threesomes! Rosa had always tried not to judge people, but she struggled to see what Tamsin saw in him. Just then Sarah went out to the kitchen to refill the kettle and make a fresh pot of tea. Rosa watched her go, thinking again how lovely she was. An English rose with her pale Celtic skin and the mass of dark hair that crinkled about her shoulders like a living thing. It seemed Ran had noticed her too, as a minute later he followed her into the kitchen. Sarah returned almost immediately, her face flushed and her eyes looking towards Tamsin. She bent over to whisper something into the ear of her friend and within a few minutes Ran and his bike gear had been ushered out of the door. “That’s the last we’ll see of him.” Tamsin dusted her hands. “What happened?” Rosa was bemused. “Would you believe he made a pass at our Sarah? It was the last straw. After his gaffs earlier I was planning to give him the flick anyway. But giving Sarah a hard time – that was it. “He really was a bit of a barbarian. It was fun going places on his bike – a bit of a novelty. But he wasn’t much fun otherwise. I guess I’ll put that one down to experience.” Rosa wasn’t sure what to say. The facility with which Tamsin picked up and then discarded her men was amazing to her. She’d never even had one, and Tamsin had had... Well she had no idea how many. Her friend was certainly a lot more outgoing than she was. Rosa felt curious to find out more about what her friend had been getting up to. It was high time she thought about getting some more experience of her own and perhaps Tamsin could give her some hints. There was something special about Tamsin. She’d burst into their lives a year ago and it wasn’t long before they felt they’d known her forever. Rosa and Sarah had shared the house for twelve months before Tamsin arrived; Rosa’s stepfather had helped her to find it when she first went up to Oxford and Sarah had been in the right place at the right time to see the ad. But it was only when Tamsin joined them that their lives suddenly became rather more colourful. And the legend of ‘The Three Graces’ was born. Tamsin was a force of nature, the sort of person who walked into a room and all eyes turned towards her. A passionate Amazon with her tanned skin and athletic form. There was something about her that drew people in – so confident, so alive. Rosa wished she had just a fraction of her friend’s self-assurance. She envied some of the adventures Tamsin seemed to land herself in and wondered if she would ever get to try even half of it. But she was so very different to Tamsin – so shy and inexperienced. Rosa was determined to change all that – starting now. So it was time for a little probing. She addressed Tamsin: “So what happened to that tutor – Simon de Vere? I thought he seemed rather dishy.” “Oh he was,” Tamsin grinned reminiscently. “A bit of a contrast to the caveman we just had here. So refined and intellectual – such a gentleman. Yet not such a gentleman that he wasn’t also a great lover.” Her grin had widened to a broad smile. “So why...?” “Well the problem with dear Si is that he’s made an art form out of wining, dining and then bedding his female students. An art form he seems to feel the need to repeat at frequent intervals. And sometimes even overlapping.” “Oh...” Rosa’s mouth had dropped open. “Are you saying that you found him with someone else?” “Let’s just say that I arrived at one of my tutes a little too early, and that dear Si was otherwise engaged when I happened upon him.” “Oh dear.” Sarah chipped in. “I can see why you dropped him.” ”Yes, I don’t seem to be very clever at choosing them at the moment, do I? Perhaps I should try a few months of abstinence...” “Huh!” Sarah laughed aloud. “I can’t somehow imagine it. Us definitely – but you?” Tamsin grinned. “You’re right. I enjoy sex far too much to abstain.” Rosa coloured and even Sarah looked a little pink. Tamsin decided to direct the subject away from herself. “What about you two? Any men on the horizon yet?” She ran a finger along Rosa’s cheek affectionately. She was such a lovely girl with her clever creative brain, her stunning red-gold hair and that wonderful translucent skin. Not to mention those dreamy green eyes and a figure to die for. It was amazing to Tamsin that some man hadn’t already whisked her off her feet. “Umm, no. There hasn’t been anyone yet.” Rosa felt embarrassed. “Really? Still?” Tamsin was bemused as ever at how different her friends were from herself. She had always been so curious and confident, keen to broaden her experience and explore her sexuality. Yet Rosa and Sarah were so lovely and innocent. In some ways she wished they’d stay like that; that they would never know the heartache and regret that could come from unsatisfactory relationships. But then again there was also so much pleasure to enjoy... Rosa tried to justify herself. “I am keen to find someone – to have a relationship. I have been thinking lately that it’s high time I found someone to – well that I found out more about it all.” “Hmm – so no one in mind...