Read an Excerpt
Chasing Temptation
A Chasing Love Novel
By Joya Ryan, Stephen Morgan Entangled Publishing, LLC
Copyright © 2014 Joya Ryan
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63375-112-5
CHAPTER 1
Penny glanced down at herself. The white top she wore was tight, clung to her curves, and, with the few buttons in front undone, gave sight to some major cleavage. She'd taken her friend Lily's advice and paired the top with a short skirt and sexy heels, but now she had to wonder...
"You sure this isn't too much?"
She wiggled her toes, insecurity slowly pumping through her veins.
Lily tugged on the fabric of Penny's shirt, trying to close the buttons. "Maybe suck it in a little?"
"I can't suck in my boobs."
Lily shrugged and stepped back to look at her. "Screw it, I say leave it undone. It looks hot. Besides, it's Jenna's bachelorette party," she said, fastening her earing. "You're supposed to dress a little slutty for the club."
The club was half an hour away and the closest thing to a "night life scene" available to the people from the small town of Diamond, Kansas. Well, aside from Penny's BBQ bar and restaurant. She'd taken over the BBQ when her mother passed away last year. The long hours hadn't left much time for her to have fun. She didn't go to clubs, or the city for that matter, but that didn't mean she didn't like fun...wasn't open to new things.
The last time she'd attempted to try "new things" was in the bedroom with her ex-boyfriend. Eli was courteous, handsome, all things a gentleman should be. He'd even been patient with Penny when she made him wait six months before finally having sex.
The sex had been a wild disappointment, so a week later she'd put on her best lingerie and gone to surprise him with round two. What she discovered was that he'd already found his own round two, and it wasn't with her. Soon after taking her virginity, he'd taken her dignity by cheating on her with someone more "sexy" than "adorably boring."
His words still rang in her ears:
"You're just too vanilla, Penny."
That had stung, coming from a guy that color-coded his sock drawer, and she'd never quite come out of the shadow he'd cast over her self-esteem. She'd discovered there was a wild side to her waiting to be unleashed, but the first time she'd tried to let out her inner sex kitten, he'd dumped her.
Which was why her sexual experience was lacking. That one time with Eli was her only experience. She'd thought about dating again, even gotten a few admiring glances, but her older brother Ryder did a great job keeping the male population of Diamond far away from her. And she was tired of it. Especially since she'd just found out that Eli was coming back into town with his new fiancé. AKA the other woman.
Diamond was too small a town for her not to run into him. If — when — she saw him, she wanted to know for herself that he wouldn't wreck her.
"Besides," Lily said, "this is the kind of outfit you need to catch the kind of man you're fishing for."
Penny swallowed hard. Funny Lily had phrased it that way, because she was going fishing, and Penny had her eyes on a big Bass. As in Sebastian "Bass" Strafford. The one man she'd had a secret crush on for years. He was dark, brooding, and a bad ass attorney, who also happened to be her older brother's best friend.
"Ryder's going to wet himself if he sees me dressed like this," Penny said.
Jenna and Colt McCade had been engaged since last summer, and their spring wedding was right around the corner. Thanks to her friends being disgustingly in love, they'd decided to thrown a joint bachelor-bachelorette party at the club. Which meant Penny's brother Ryder would be there.
But so would Bass. And that made tonight the perfect chance for Penny to make her move. She not only trusted him — they'd been friends for years, after all — she knew he was the kind of man that could deliver in the bedroom. Just looking at him was enough to know that.
Not to mention the few whispers she'd heard over the years about Bass being some kind of "sex god." And that made him perfect for her. Who better to teach her how to be a sex goddess than a god himself?
"You might have to help me distract Ryder," she said.
"He'll have to get over himself. You're a grown ass woman. This is your chance," Lily said, cupping Penny's shoulders. Lily's blond hair was fastened into a tight up-do, and the trademark McCade flare was prominent. "Time to implement Operation: Orgasm."
Penny needed some of Lily's confidence. "What if I get shot down?"
"If a guy shoots you down, he's a moron," Lily said. "There's going to be a lot of hot guys, ones more than willing to show you a good time. And sex is a good thing. As long as you're comfortable and feel good about it, there's no reason not to go after what you want."
Problem was, who she wanted was her brother's best friend, a fact Bass wouldn't overlook lightly. She would have to be persuasive if she was going to get the rigid attorney to bend to her idea.
Whatever the end result would be, going for Sebastian tonight was putting the group dynamic in jeopardy. But she had to try.
She knew he was attracted to her. At least, she thought she knew. Last year they'd played a harmless game of Sardines that turned into a few minutes of Sebastian lying against her in the dark, and her breathing in his scent.
She'd thought for sure he was going to kiss her. He'd been close. She could still feel his breath against her lips when he'd whispered the phrase she'd been repeating in her mind for nearly nine months:
Don't challenge me. I always get what I want in the end.
Usually what he wanted was short term flings. If gossip was to be believed, those flings were full of the wildest sex a person could imagine. The thought made her tingle all over. She'd caught his attention, got a glimpse at the man he was hiding underneath, and was now determined to experience what lay behind that domineering persona.
"I'm going for it," Penny said. She gave her long red hair a flick and faced her friend. "Time for Operation: Orgasm to commence."
* * *
Bass glanced at the brunette across the room. She'd been checking him out for the past ten minutes. She was attractive, and that smile she gave was one he recognized. A look that led to the bedroom.
"If that woman keeps staring at you like that, her panties are going to catch fire," Huck Galvin said loudly into Sebastian's ear over the booming music of the club.
Yeah, that brunette could end his dry spell. She was prime, ready, and most importantly, not Penny Diamond.
Get her out of your head.
Good fucking luck with that. He'd been trying to get her out of his mind ever since last summer when they'd played Sardines. He'd always thought she was too soft for him, but after she'd challenged him to a game where he ended up alone with her, he'd barely been able to resist tasting those lush lips of hers. He could still feel her body humming against his, begging for it.
She was everything bright and good. He'd known her a long time, and he'd never met her equal. And he'd looked. Hard. But no one could compare to the soul-deep genuineness of Penny Diamond.
He shook his head and focused on the brunette. That was the kind of surface woman he needed. She looked experienced and able to handle his needs in the bedroom. Needs so strong they'd evolved into a dark secret.
He loved sex, loved women, but his tastes were...not for the timid. They also weren't long term.
He'd learned at a young age that love and companionship didn't equal commitment. Sooner or later, someone got restless and moved on. Just like his mother had done when he was a kid. Just like Bass did with every "relationship" he had. Being the leaver was better than being left. Which was why he had a firm system: nothing lasted beyond two weeks. Besides, most women only wanted — or could handle — a single night with him. After they saw what he was like in bed, they were usually done. Satisfied, but overwhelmed. Which just about said it all, didn't it? Even if love and commitment were for other people, they weren't for him.
Too bad all I can think about is Penny.
No one goaded him like she did. She knew how to push his buttons and played on the very need that drove him both in and out of bed.
Control.
He swallowed down the last of his whiskey.
Stop thinking about her.
She was the last person he could ever be with. Between her overbearing older brother, who happened to be his best friend, and her innocent eyes and bright smile, she wasn't the kind of woman who would want what Sebastian dished out.
He looked around the large club, bright lights flickering amongst the darkness, people dancing, the temperature rising to hot and humid. Usually in a suit, he was happy for the weekends when he got to wear a T-shirt and jeans.
"I thought this was your scene, Bassy?" Colt said, walking up, drinks in hand. "But I could see your frownie face all the way from across the bar."
"Poor Bass is girl shy tonight," Huck said, chuckling. "I think he's PMSing."
Great, now both of his friends were giving him shit.
Though they were being dicks, they were like his brothers. Between them, having a great job that he loved and living in a town that felt like home, he was fairly happy. This past year, however, with all the love bullshit in the air wafting from Colt and Jenna, his mood had been on the pissy side. He wished the best for his friends, but their wedding planning and happily ever after gushing only reminded him that kind of thing would never be for him. No serious woman. No long term commitment. That was too much power to give someone else. Hell, his competitive nature was what made him a great attorney. He didn't lose because he had no fear. Nothing loved, nothing lost.
Ever.
His life was best spent a couple weeks at a time with clear expectations.
"You're giving me shit, and you're the one having a joint bachelor party with your fiancé," Bass said, taking the whiskey in Colt's hand, which left Bass double-fisted, whiskey in one hand, a beer in the other.
"Hey, my fiancé is the hottest thing in here." He glanced around. "Well, she will be when she gets here."
"Look at him," Huck said, laughing. "He's like a damn puppy."
"It's sad really," Bass agreed.
Colt just smiled, his stare locked on the entrance. "Ah fellas, you have no idea what you're in for once the right woman ropes you."
Colt didn't give them another word, just hustled toward the entrance, and Bass saw why. Jenna was walking through, and right behind her was Lily and —
"Holy fucking Christ," he said, his eyes falling out of his head.
Penny Diamond strutted in behind her friends, looking all kinds of deliciously fuckable.
"Oh shit," Huck said with a wide smile, obviously looking at the same thing Bass was. "Ryder is going to piss his pants when he sees his baby sister trussed up like a — "
"Careful," Bass warned.
Huck's smile only grew. "I was going to say 'hottie.' I love Penny. I'd never say a bad word about her."
Bass knew that. They'd all been friends for a long time.
"But I had no idea little Penny was so...curvy." Huck's statement made heat rise in Sebastian's gut. A feeling like jealousy.
Yeah, little Penny was more than curvy. Her five-two frame was hoisted to a staggering five-six in those sinful stilettos. The scrap of fabric she called a skirt showcased tone legs, and the top she wore hugged her flat stomach and full breasts. She was built for a wet dream, had the face of an angel, ivory skin, pouty lips, red hair, and the greenest eyes ever created. And tonight, those gems glanced around until they finally landed on him.
He checked the urge to groan. She didn't look like Little Miss Diamond tonight, and she sure as hell didn't look like anyone's little sister. She looked like she was ready for every fantasy he had — fantasies she'd been the star of lately.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He dug it out and looked. A text from Ryder.
Ryder:Hey bro, can't make the party tonight. Got held up in Wichita. Big meeting tomorrow morning. Tell Colt sorry and keep an eye on Penny for me.
Great, just fucking great. Ryder was his saving grace to keep his cool around Penny. But now he was charged to keep an eye on her? He wanted to do a lot more than just look at the sultry redhead.
"Ryder is still in Wichita," Bass said to Huck. "He's not coming at all."
"That sucks. I'll let Colt know. You coming?" Huck asked, heading toward their group of friends several tables away.
Bass shook his head. "I'm going to hang back for a few."
"Ah, gonna make a move on the brunette, huh?" Huck asked.
No, he was staying put, because if he left the table, he might get closer to Penny. Might touch her. Forget why that was a bad idea.
"Something like that."
Huck headed toward the group and sat with them at the other end of the club. Bass stayed at his table. The packed dance floor between him and Penny might be enough distance.
Except he saw with one part fear, one part hunger, that she was walking in his direction. Her breasts damn near bouncing out of her top with every stride.
He thought — hoped — she was headed his way. Her eyes were locked on him, after all. But that would be bad. Because the closer she came, the further his mind traveled to all the images of her writhing beneath him. Her skin was the color of fresh cream, and he had no doubt her ass would look amazing warmed and pink from his hand.
He'd bend her over, slap her ass while he fucked her hard. Fucked her until she begged for release. But he wouldn't give it. It would be punishment for wearing that outfit. Flaunting her body that was his to command —
No. Not mine. She's. Not. Mine.
He'd tell himself this a thousand times if he had to. And he'd hate it every single time.
Just when he thought she would saunter her sweet ass over to him, she stopped to chat up some cowboy. The prick leaned down and said something in her ear, and she smiled and tucked a lock of ruby hair behind her ear. All while she kept her eyes on Bass.
What the hell? Was she trying to make him jealous?
The heat that had started in his gut flamed to a full on fire and burned his blood.
He didn't know what the cowboy was saying, but judging by Penny's swaying movements and laugh, the asshole was obviously hitting on her. And the way she raised her brows in Bass's direction, as if saying, What are you going to do about it? He was certain now what she was trying to do to him. Shit of it was, it was working.
Bass took one step in her direction, something she seemed to notice, and those green eyes lit up.
She was playing a dangerous game. One that required him to keep his focus and control. Good thing that was his specialty. He might not be able to have her, but the cowboy asshole wasn't going to either. He'd never felt a deeper need to take her, claim her, than in that moment.
But I can't...
So he'd bury the notion and the feeling. And he'd stand there, unmoving, simply watching with a vengeance.
Except she kept talking to the asshole. No, not talking, openly flirting. But those emerald eyes stayed on Sebastian. Brushing her hair back, she ran two fingers along her collarbone.
He clenched his teeth.
She smiled and nodded at the cowboy. He left, heading to the bar, likely getting her a drink. Penny continued her trek toward Bass.
"Penelope," he said when she reached him.
"Why are you sulking over here?"
"Not sulking." He took a drink and looked her over. Whatever she saw in his gaze made her lick her lips, spurring new fantasies about what he wanted to do with that mouth of hers. "You're making new friends I see." He gestured toward the bar where asshole cowboy was.
"Oh, that's Rob. He seems nice enough. Getting me a drink."
"I'm sure he is."
She frowned. "Is there a problem? You seem grouchy. Huck warned me you were in a mood."
Oh, he was in a mood all right. She brushed her hand along her collarbone again, and Bass had no choice but to watch and wish to hell it was him touching that sweet skin.
"I'm trying to figure out why the hell you're dressed like that."
"You don't like it?" she said, her sarcasm evident in her tone. She glanced down at herself, knowing damn well he liked her outfit. Every man in there did. "What would you dress me in then?"
"That's not my decision to make."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Chasing Temptation by Joya Ryan, Stephen Morgan. Copyright © 2014 Joya Ryan. Excerpted by permission of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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