“It’s, ah—for work.” She grabbed
for the book. "May I have it back now?"
Luke swung it above
her head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Work, huh?”
He lowered the book, folded it close and held it in one hand,
seemingly taunting her to try for it again.
Of all the imagined
fantasies of being alone with Luke, being caught reading about sex
never came into her thoughts, let alone teased about it. “I…it’s…”
If she was going to be an honest to goodness writer, she needed to
act like one. She raised her chin a notch and looked him squarely
in the eye. "Research," she said in a meek voice.
He set the book down and braced
his hand on the top shelf above Reagan's head and leaned his head
down. “What exactly is it you want to learn from these books,
Reagan?”
Little vibrations
hummed through her body from the way he said her name, deep, rich
cords, almost a whisper. She dropped her chin and glanced away.
“I—I don’t know, exactly.”
He captured her chin with two fingers, lifting her gaze to meet
his for several long moments that held Reagan's breath. “Tell me.”
“I…” She moistened
her bottom lip, craving for him to lean down and kiss her.
He lowered his gaze
to her damp lips as he lightly traced his fingers from her chin
down her throat to cover her wildly beating pulse. “Don't you know
what’s in those books, Reagan?”
Luke’s words swirled
over her mouth in a moist caress, Reagan breathed the faint taste
of coffee and sugar. How she wanted his firm mouth to press
against hers, to kiss her, to ravish her… Slowly she shook her
head, biting her lower lip.
His fingers left her
pulse, his hand moved down her chest, over the ruffle of her
blouse and skimmed across the fabric to the swell of her breast,
cupping it so softly Reagan nearly cried out, only contained
herself knowing someone would come if she made a noise. For now,
their corner of the bookstore was empty.
“Look at me.”
She sucked in a
breath and slowly returned her gaze, fearing she would find him
amused. Instead he rewarded her with a look of satisfaction and
his hand pressing harder against her breast, lifting upward and
squeezing her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.
Reagan fought against
a spasm of pain and unexpected pleasure, tensed against the warmth
radiating between her legs.
“Do you want to know
what’s in those books, Reagan?”
She never knew her
body could feel like this, tight and aching, yearning and alive.
If those books could teach her how to have this again and again,
then… “Yes, Luke. I want to know.” She barely recognized her tone,
she sounded ragged, out of breath, seductive.
Luke lowered his mouth and suckled her bottom lip, nipping it
before moving to her throat. The stubble of his beard scraped
against her skin, sensitizing her flesh. Reagan dropped her head
back, fingers digging into the wood shelf behind her for support.
“Do you want me to
show you what’s in those books?”
“Y-yes.”

From
Red Sage Publishing
in their acclaimed "Secrets" Collection.