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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781456794514 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 08/25/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 505 KB |
Read an Excerpt
THE ELITE
By Denise Martin
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Denise MartinAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4567-9453-8
Chapter One
Lisa Donovan and her three best friends converged on the large patio surrounding the pool, chattering brightly. Lisa's mother paused in her preparations for her daughter's 14th birthday party and smiled at the excited girl."Is he here yet, Mom? Maybe he forgot!" Lisa asked her mother anxiously.
Alexandra Donovan smiled and brushed a strand of ash-brown hair back, exchanging an amused glance with the butler.
"Mr. Nick couldn't forget your birthday, Little Miss," Harris, the very British butler, tied a helium balloon with dignity. "You've been reminding him since Christmas!"
Lisa's lovely mother laughed.
"Nicky wouldn't miss your birthday, Pet. It's early yet; if you girls want to take a dip, help me finish decorating first. You have plenty of time to make yourselves gorgeous before the guests arrive."
In Lisa's room, the girls changed into bathing suits and fussed over their hair and makeup.
"All this work, and one dip in the pool will ruin it!" Marcy moaned.
"You're getting wet?" Ashley asked, horrified. "I didn't think we'd really be swimming at this swimming party!"
"What were you planning to do?" Jess asked, laughing as Ashley viewed her lithe figure in one of the floor length mirrors.
"Flirting, dancing, making out! Every hot guy in school will be there!"
The other girls laughed.
"Maybe you will be," Marcy sighed, eyeing her small chest. "I'll be lucky to get dunked a few times!"
"Just keep away from the guy I decide to go after," Jess warned. "And if you value your life, steer clear of Nicky!"
"Nicky; wonder what he looks like now," Ashley mused. "He was hot as hell last summer. Lisa ... hey, earth to Lisa!"
Lisa turned from studying herself in the very brief suit she was wearing.
"What? Hey, do you think this is too revealing?" she asked. Jess eyed her critically.
"Not if you're trying to attract an older man," she decided. "How old is Nicky now, anyway?
Lisa smiled at herself in the mirror.
"He's nineteen now, and he's gorgeous; at least he was at Christmas!"
"Nineteen?" Ashley crowed. "Like he's gonna look twice at you! You aren't even allowed to date yet!"
"He'll wait for me," Lisa was confident. "I've been in love with Nicky forever; I'm going to marry him when I grow up!"
Outside, the patio was transformed by Tiki torches and colored lanterns, with platters of food and vats of soft drinks on ice. The waterfall rippled softly beneath the DJ's music and the underwater pool lights added an elegant touch. Marsh Donovan, Lisa's father, manned the grill behind the built-in, outdoor kitchen beneath the covered end of the patio. He greeted his daughter affectionately.
"Hello Baby! Ready for the big bash?"
Lisa kissed her father on the cheek.
"Where is Nicky? It won't be any fun if he doesn't come!"
"He'll be here! He'd never miss your birthday, Baby, relax!" Marsh laughed.
"No way!" a voice came from the gate as the tall, young man in question walked through. "You know better than that, Princess!"
"Nicky! You're here!!" Lisa ran to him and he caught her up in a brotherly hug, adeptly hiding his surprised reaction to her skimpy attire. He swung her around and set her gently away to smile down into her eyes. She looked adoringly up into his starry gray eyes, his dimpled smile making her heart leap, as usual.
Nick Brandon was her father's ward; rescued from the streets at the age of 8, he'd grown tall and heartbreakingly handsome with clear, gray eyes and silky, ash blond hair falling well below his shoulders. Busy now with college, military service and training for Marsh's company in security operations, his once-frequent visits had diminished. Lisa missed her once-constant companion sorely. Nick had been her hero and her personal guardian angel since she was 5. She drank in the sight of him in his muscle shirt and jeans and it struck her that he had the most perfect male body she'd ever seen. Suddenly shy, she moved back. He took in her brief, leopard-print bikini with concern.
The party was in full swing and Nick stayed at her side, making her the envy of every girl there. He danced with her, holding her close enough to make her innocent heart pound and awaken longings she didn't understand.
"Should you be wearing that skimpy, little suit in front of all these guys?" he asked her finally, only half-teasing. She looked up at him in dismay.
"Why? Doesn't it look okay?"
He smiled at her.
"It looks fantastic, it's just that ..." he broke off with a laugh as he caught her confused look. "Everyone else is wearing them, Princess. You look fine, don't stress!"
The party was a huge success, but it finally ended. The staff was cleaning up and Nicky pulled Lisa off the lounge chair.
"Dance with me!" he smiled at her and she moved into his arms, unable to resist him.
"So tell me, what special thing do you want for your birthday from me this year?" he asked.
"You mean besides the watch you gave me?" she asked, watching the silver and gold timepiece glint in the torchlight.
"Don't I always give you one special request for your birthday?" he teased. "What is it this year?"
She'd been thinking about that and she gathered up her courage.
"I want you to be my first kiss," she answered with a smile. "Can you do that?"
Surprised, he smiled slowly.
"I think I can do that, Princess."
He pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers gently, lingering long enough to feel himself harden in response before he pulled away, smiling at her innocent, confused reaction.
"That was quick!" she finally said, not altogether pleased.
"You're only 14, Princess! Next year I'll do better!" he promised.
He saw her next at Christmas, surprised at how her adolescent figure had filled out. Lisa had never really been a skinny girl, but her curves had grown in all the right places and Nick could hardly keep his hands off of her. He was careful to maintain his brotherly attitude, but Lisa had no such restraints. She'd decided to catch him under the mistletoe scattered through the mansion and he teased her for several days before he allowed himself to be caught. Making certain no one else was in sight, he pulled her close, sliding a hand over her sexy, little bottom and pressed his lips to hers in a hard, prolonged kiss before he forced himself to let her go. On Christmas Eve, she wore a short, sparkly, little dress that hugged every young curve, much to his chagrin. He got an iron grip on his self-control.
He didn't get home again until summer, just before her birthday. They spent the day at the pool and he couldn't resist when she handed him her bottle of suntan oil, stroking it slowly over her back and shoulders. He teased her about being a pest solely in self-defense. She'd been longing to run her hands over his smoothly muscled chest and shoulders and offered to put some on him; he allowed her that privilege, smiling just enough to show his dimples. He never needed tanning lotions, his fair skin tanned easily and she knew it. He tried not to let his guilt disrupt the pleasure her innocent touch gave him. At her party, he had to share her with the boys her age and he good-naturedly sat under the canopy with her parents, watching her with a smile. Lisa was less than impressed with his actions.
"Someone seems a bit miffed with you, Nick," Marsh chuckled, catching the look Lisa threw him.
Nick met Lisa's glare with a smile and allowed his eyes wander over her. He winked at her when she blushed. Alex exchanged amused glances with her husband and Marsh took his wife's hand and smiled. The first teenage boy took Lisa in his arms and Nick was astonished to realize he was jealous. His quickly shuttered expression didn't go unnoticed by Lisa's parents. Alexandra leaned forward to put a gentle hand on Nick's shoulder.
"Don't be so noble, Nicky," Alex teased, smiling. "Go dance with her!"
Nick met her smiling, amber eyes and almost flushed. Alex was the only mother he'd ever known; it sometimes seemed that she had the uncanny ability to read his mind. He smiled, hesitated until he caught Marsh's nod, and was out of the chair in a flash. Alexandra smiled up at her husband.
"They make a good match, don't you think?"
"Indeed I do, Dear Heart!" he was quick to answer. "Damn near as perfect as we are."
"Nicky, what are you doing?" Lisa asked when Nick pulled her away from her partner and into his arms. "I'm cutting in, Princess," he said with a smile. "For the rest of the night."
When the party was over and the patio deserted, Nick pulled her close in the torchlight and slid his fingers into her long hair to pull her head back. He pressed his lips to hers and slid his warm tongue into her mouth. She responded eagerly, melting against him, meeting his tongue with hers. Nick felt her press into his erection with no hesitation and his kiss grew intense. He slid his hand up to tease the curve of her breast, almost alarmed when she arched into his touch. He pulled gently away.
"Easy there, Princess!" She looked up him, her amber eyes dazed.
"What's the matter, Nicky? Don't you want to touch me?"
Nick dropped his gaze to her full breasts, barely concealed by the bikini top she wore. His erection throbbed.
"Believe me, Princess, it isn't that I don't want to! This is hardly the time and place, though."
She moved away slightly, hurt.
"Guys are always trying to touch me, but I wanted to wait for you! Guess I shouldn't have, huh? Ashley was right!"
Nick clenched his jaw, jealousy flaring at the thought of any one of the callow youths at the party fondling her.
"Ashley was right about what?" he demanded.
"She said you weren't interested, that you were just being nice because you had to."
He pulled her firmly back into his arms, overcoming her resistance, and stroked her long silky hair.
"Ashley is a jealous bitch! She's dead wrong, too, I'm dying to touch you," he answered. She slid her hands up his firm, muscled chest.
"So why did you pull away?" she wanted to know.
"I'm just used to you being a pesty little girl, that's all," Nick laughed. "Suddenly you're a beautiful, very sexy woman; I'm still trying to catch my breath. Let's try that again."
He pulled her close and kissed her, trailing his lips over her jaw to her neck, nibbling his way to her ear. Lisa clung to him, intense, unfamiliar longings washing over her. Nick slid his hands gently up to cup her breasts, sliding his palms across the hard, erect tips before rubbing over them with his thumbs. Lisa moaned and pressed into his touch. Nick summoned every ounce of his willpower and stopped himself before he slid his hands beneath her suit. He kissed her again, stroking her tongue with his and firmly pressed her against his hard chest to keep his hands off her. That intoxicating combination of innocence and unquestioning eagerness was nearly impossible to resist. She was trembling when he finally pulled away and he lifted her chin and smiled down into her eyes.
"Did I scare you, Princess?"
"No!" She looked up at him, startled. "I could never be afraid of you, Nicky! You stopped!"
He chuckled and took her hand, leading her to the partially enclosed alcove off the patio and pulled her down on the couch beside him.
"Patience, Princess! Don't be moving too fast here! You're still far too innocent for that."
"You could change that!" she pouted. He laughed and put an arm around her.
"If you keep teasing me, I just might!" His playful warning sent thrills all through her.
"I'm not teasing at all, I want you to be my first!" she told him, fixing him with those lovely, amber eyes. He realized she was serious.
"I'd be honored, Princess, but are you really ready for that now? Think before you answer me!" he admonished with a smile. "There's still a lot of things you need to explore; don't be in such a rush."
She rested her head on his shoulder, absently stroking his chest. He took a deep breath, forcing back his reaction to her innocent touch.
"I guess I'm not quite ready to go all the way," she finally admitted. "I don't mind waiting, as long as the first time is with you."
He was home for a month and they spent every day together, swimming, riding, playing tennis. He taught her to play the guitar and started teaching her martial arts, mostly for fun. He was too aware of the erotic undercurrent between them and, try as he would, he couldn't keep his hands off her sexy, little backside, or those full breasts, but he scrupulously kept his hands outside her clothes. They went to the drive-in and Nick made it until the middle of the second movie before he pulled her close and kissed her, probing deep with his tongue, before trailing his lips over her neck to the part of her chest exposed by her brief, halter-top. He stroked her breasts and encouraged her to stroke his erection through his khaki shorts. He could barely look her parents in the eye the next day. The night before he left, Lisa cried and he pulled her onto his lap, wiping her tears away.
"I hate it when you leave, Nicky; I miss you so much when you're gone. You'll find somebody else and forget all about me!"
Nick sighed; he was hardly a monk when he was away. He had a steady stream of girlfriends, none of them serious, but right now he had enough pent-up frustration for all of them! He smiled down at her.
"Don't be silly, Princess, I'd never forget you! I'll write and call every so often, ok? I'll be home for Christmas, if I can."
He wanted to tell her to wait for him, but he knew that was absurd; she was just now allowed to date, much as he hated the thought. They made out on the couch in the den long into the night and Nick was almost disgusted with himself for not being able to keep his hands of her. He finally kissed her goodnight and she looked up at him; her amber eyes dazzled.
"I love you Nicky!"
He smiled and held her to him.
"Watch using that word, Princess, until you understand what it means," he replied softly.
Nick kept his word and stayed in touch, chatting online when he could, calling now and then. He couldn't make it home for Christmas, his duties taking precedence. He was due home again late that spring.
Marshall Donovan's special hobby was helping children in trouble. When he'd taken Nick off the streets, he'd kept the would-be delinquent out of the juvenile system, becoming his guardian when he discovered the boy's parents were dead. Nick was repaying the man's trust and kindness and Marsh and Alex both loved him like a son. Marsh often brought his "little projects" to the mansion to work. Lisa was used to the troubled, young faces and was kind to all of them, but rarely became friendly; Nick being the only exception that her parents endorsed. Late that spring, however, a new face appeared that touched her heart.
Lisa was on the patio by the pool when she first noticed him. Her gray merle collie, Shadow, flushed the startled boy out of the bushes where he'd been hiding. He was an emaciated little thing, perhaps six or seven, with a shaved head, a perpetually runny nose and thick-lensed glasses held together with duct tape. His dirty, ragged shorts and t-shirt were too big. He brandished a stick at the dog, but Shadow licked the boy's dirty cheek and the child stared at the dog in amazement before throwing his arms around the shaggy neck. Lisa got up and wandered over to them.
"Hi there! You must be new! Want some cookies?" she smiled. The boy released the dog to stare defiantly at her. His eyes, owlishly huge behind the thick lenses, were a haunting, unearthly shade of blue, although his right eye floated off-center, unable to focus. She noticed with concern that his skinny arms and legs were covered with livid bruises and barely-healed wounds.
"You poor little thing!" Lisa felt a rush of sympathy for the child. She took a step towards him and he fled.
Marsh was away on business, Alex was at the ranch long hours and Lisa kept an eye on the little boy. He often hid in the bushes and she left him treats under the nearby arbor. He watched her warily out of those beautiful, crooked eyes when she talked to him, but he never answered or came near. He came out when she played her guitar, though and "Puff the Magic Dragon" appeared to be his favorite song; she could lure him to the edge of the patio when she sang it. He adored Shadow; Lisa always let the merle collie out when she saw the boy in the yard and watched them play. She was unable to get any information about him, not even his name. She reprimanded Mills, the gardener, more than once for the terrible way he treated the poor boy and the cruel things he said to him. Mills protested when Lisa intervened.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from THE ELITE by Denise Martin Copyright © 2011 by Denise Martin. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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