Free Stranger in Paradise by Amanda McIntyre Page A

what sexy felt like.
    Which is why you rely on me, your muse, to keep those sultry thoughts brewing, right?
    Kacey laughed at her muse’s interruption of her thoughts. She toweled dry and slipped into her standard bedtime fare of T-shirt and cotton boxers. She had no need of sexy attire on her writing sabbaticals--then again, she’d never before had reason, not that Zack was a good reason. Still, that kiss had made its mark on her loneliness, along with a smile that could melt bone, and a body made for sin. She glanced at herself in the mirror and chuckled. “Some famous erotic romance author you are.” She bit her lip and wondered if he’d returned yet from his appointed round. Swallowing, she fought her curiosity about whether or not he’d taken up her offer of using one of the bedrooms or was still bunking out downstairs. Her bet was on the latter. She carefully opened her door and peeked into the shadowy hall, tiptoeing to the top of the stairs. “Zack?” she quietly called downstairs. “Zack?”
    Startled, she turned when she heard a door open from the end of the hall. Zack stepped out and, seeing her, hurried toward her, zipping up the fly on his jeans. “Are you okay? Did you hear something?” He strode toward her, took her by the arm, and moved her away from the steps.
    “No, I didn’t hear anything. I was just curious…I mean, I didn’t know if you were sleeping down there or if you’d decided to--”
    “Sleep in a real bed?” he finished. His fingers relaxed on her upper arms. He took a step toward her. She took a step back, bumping into the wall. It was cool to her heated flesh. She looked up at him and need took over where reason fled. He held her face, capturing her lips. His hot breath scorched her skin as he nuzzled the curve of her neck. His lips came down on hers, igniting her blood with fiery kisses as he slowly tugged her shirt over her head and tossed it aside. Caressing, teasing, his mouth followed his hands, creating an ache deep inside her.
    Seduction gave way to hunger. Raw and unapologetic, his mouth covered hers, demanding. Ravenous. Unrelenting. She’d never known a man like him. Her body reacted as though on a dark and dangerous thrill ride.
    He turned her toward the wall and pulled her against his hard body. Her breath caught as his hand stole beneath her waistband and slid between her thighs. She pressed her palms against the wall, grinding into him, delirious with need, suspecting he was commando beneath that denim.
    “I want you,” he whispered, his teeth nipping her ear, the insistence of his fingers liquefying her bones.
    “Yes.” She turned her face to his, his mouth melting on hers. A small cry escaped her throat when she came, and he sighed against her mouth. She faced him fully then and he licked his fingers. Heat blazed in his dark gaze.
    “This isn’t going to be slow.”
    She cupped his face, kissing him again, savoring the taste. “I know.”
    “Protection,” Zack growled between his assaults on her mouth.
    “It’s covered.” Her hands wrestled with his zipper, pleased to discover her suspicions correct.
    His gaze hot on hers, he jerked her boxers down, stepped from his jeans, and lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist. “Your bed or mine?”
    Kacey wasn’t sure she’d make it to either room. “Mine.”
    He carried her the short way to her room, his hungry kisses matching hers. Dropping her on the bed, he covered her body and claimed her again with his mouth. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, leaning his forehead to hers.
    His hands slid down her thighs. Nodding, she accepted him, holding his dark eyes as shock gave way to euphoria, liquefying her bones. She locked her ankles around him, surrendering to the sublime explosions that rocked her body. His eyes held hers, driving deeper with each thrust, leaving her breathless, until her body shattered again with sublime bliss.
    “Aw, sweetheart, Kacey,” he hissed between clenched teeth