Free Chances (Mystic Nights #1) by MJ Nightingale

on him. Hope. She hadn’t had hope for love in quite some time. But, her instincts were right. This man was for her. Her match, in and out of the bedroom.
    Her body took over. And Jonathan watched her, his brown eyes bursting into flame for her. She got closer and he reached for her, and soon she found herself no longer dancing on her feet. She was straddling him on the seat. And then he was kissing her, one hand fisted in her hair. They were both panting heavily when it broke.
    “I want you like I have never wanted another woman, Aliya.” He made his raw confession while staring deeply into her eyes only an inch away. “And I think the words need to be said. You want me. Just as much as I want you. This isn’t just sex between us anymore. You are my woman. My only woman. I’m staking my claim. You are mine. I am yours. Let the chips fall where they may, but we owe whatever this is between us a real chance.” His eyes pleaded with her to understand how much this meant to him. And at the spark of understanding in her eyes, he knew she now recognized what this was between them. At her brief nod, he took her lips again in a crushing kiss. One that claimed her and curled her toes.
    When it ended and they were both breathless, the words just slipped from her lips of their own volition. “I’m yours, Jonathan. Just yours.”
    He grunted and shifted her so she was sitting on him instead. He was still nuzzling her neck. “Good,” he paused for breath before he made his next claim. “And, I’m taking you out on a real date whether you like it or not.” She was still nestled within his embrace as he stood abruptly. He didn’t let go yet. The look he gave her as he spoke those words took her breath away. She felt her world tilt. Whether it was from his words or the feel of his hard as steel cock grinding into her, she did not know. And before he kissed her again, he added, “And for the record, you’re going to like it.”
    As he led her backstage to make up, she knew she would. Enjoy it. She would probably love it. And him too. She hoped again. Hoped that her past didn’t destroy it all.

Chapter 8
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    A liya was nervous. A real date. He’d left her a text message this morning after she’d left his suite and was heading down in the elevator to go home for a very much needed day off. She’d been excited about it all day as she relaxed and pampered herself, a rare treat for her. But around six he’d texted again to tell her his meeting was running late and asked if she would meet him at the restaurant. She agreed. She had been nearly ready when he called, and so she headed out shortly after that, leaving her two bedroom bungalow with plenty of time to spare.
    As she pulled into the parking lot of the fine dining establishment, she was shocked to see Peter there. It was true, Lantern Hill and the surrounding communities were quaint, but here she was again crossing paths with the man once more when she was about to meet Jonathan for their first official date.
    Letting out a sigh, she was glad to see that it looked like he was leaving, and she was relieved. She didn’t want to be seen with him when Jonathan could be arriving at any moment.
    Peter was standing by his car, keys poised above the lock, and his other hand gripped his cell phone to his ear. The only empty parking spot was three cars away and she hoped he didn’t see her, recognize her vehicle, or engage her in conversation. Luckily he was so distracted; he didn’t notice her slipping into the spot. Aliya cracked her window open so she did not immediately fog up with her exhalations in the cold. She also decided to wait him out before she entered the establishment. She hated doing it because it felt like she was eavesdropping, but she just didn’t want to risk a run in with him tonight. Try as she might though, she was still able to overhear a bit of the conversation. He was speaking to someone named Simon. And he was telling the man not to panic. He