|
An Excerpt From: TEMPTED BY TWO
Copyright © ANYA BAST, 2006
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing,
Inc.
Normality.
That had become her internal refrain. Ever since she’d
been a child that’s what she’d wanted. She thought she’d finally had it,
that she’d tamed the chaos that had been her life.
But it appeared that wasn’t the case after all.
Normality. Stability. These things just weren’t destined
to be hers.
She would embrace the small bit of normal she did have,
though, and get ready for her date, if it could be called that. Miranda
guessed it was a date, at least. The attraction between them seemed to be
mutual.
She’d had the hots for Theo
from the first time she’d ever seen him. Tall, broad-shouldered and leanly
muscled, the man was like a living, breathing god. It wasn’t just his looks
or his bone-meltingly sexy English accent, it was his personality she found
attractive. Theo was intelligent and witty. Someone you could have long
conversations with…after he’d made you come hard enough to see stars.
Theo seemed, in a word, perfect.
Miranda stared into the mirror critically, and then
applied a little more lipstick. She’d decided on a red skirt and top for
the evening, along with her matching pair of heels that she’d bought at the
mall the previous day. The outfit was sexy, yet not too sexy. She
wanted to entice Theo, not make him think she’d do him on the first date.
Okay, so she actually might do him on the first date,
but she didn’t want him to know that.
This was all wonderfully normal. It had nothing to do
with goblins, or the Tylwyth Teg.
It was just her getting ready for a night out. Something she’d done many
times before. She’d just disregard the fact that the date was with a
five-hundred-year-old fae, according to Olivia.
She was so nervous her hands shook as she applied a
little gloss over her lipstick. It had been a long time since she’d
accepted a date with anyone she really liked, least of all with a man like
Theo. Mostly, she just went out with men she knew
she could never be serious with, just for fun. Commitments weren’t her cup
of tea. Never had been and probably never would be.
The fact that Theo wasn’t human? She shook her head. She
wouldn’t think about that right now.
Theo was the kind of guy she could actually see having a
relationship with, despite the weirdness she was trying not to think about.
Although why she’d said yes to him, she wasn’t sure. The man scared her and
excited her at the same time. Yet, when he’d asked her out she’d accepted
so fast she’d barely known she’d done it.
The doorbell rang and Miranda practically jumped out of
her skin. She primped one last time and went to answer it.
“Theo,” she said smoothly, masking her nervousness. Wow,
he looked good. He’d dressed in a well-tailored suit and wore a black dress
coat. His long blond hair was tied at the nape of his neck, revealing the
aristocratic bone structure of his face and his intense gray eyes. “You
look incredible,” she managed with a smile.
Olivia had told her that he and his partner, Marco, were
the head honchos, the men in charge of the faction of Gaelans
here in the city. Olivia hadn’t met Marco, but Theo had the body and
bearing to play such role. He was the epitome of grace and power and
emanated control and self-possession. She could easily see how men would
respect and obey him.
His gaze swept over her as she ushered him into her
living room. God, he had a great ass. “As do you, Miranda. Though you
always look beautiful.”
She laughed. “You’ve only ever seen me a few times. You
should see me when I wake up in the morning. “
He only held her gaze speculatively and smiled. She
blushed crimson, realizing what he was probably thinking. Theo might like
to see her when she’d just woken up…be there in the bed with her. Tingling
excitement raced up her spine at the thought.
He leaned forward and inhaled near her throat. “You
smell as good as you look too.”
Had it suddenly grown hot in the room? “Thank you.” She
stared at him for a moment, and then went for the hall closet for her coat.
“Well, I suppose we should get going.”
He followed her and helped her on with her coat. His
masculinity enveloped her and nearly took her breath away. His hands rested
on her shoulder for a heartbeat before he moved away.
God, the man was a menace. The feel of his hands on her
was enough to send her spiraling into every sexual fantasy she’d ever had
about him. She’d had a bunch since she’d met him, when it was just her and
her vibrator.
She turned and found him a breath’s space away, looking
at her with an intent expression. For a moment, she thought he would kiss
her. Instead he went to the door and held it open for her.
Miranda felt a little disappointed that he hadn’t kissed
her, but she didn’t let it show. She grabbed her purse from the nearby
kitchen counter and walked out the door with Theo following.
They exited the building and got into Theo’s silver BMW.
On the way downtown they made nice chit chat—first
date talk.
The restaurant he selected was very expensive, very high
class. Miranda was glad she’d chosen the shirt, top and heels she wore.
Just as they were opening the door another man approached them. He was
tall, with dark hair and blue eyes. He wore a pair of black dress pants and
a gray cashmere sweater under a long black duster.
The man was as drop dead gorgeous as Theo. Miranda’s
mouth went dry, watching him approach. He walked with a sure, badass kind
of swagger. Could this be Marco? It felt like Marco, but why she
should think that escaped her.
“Theo!” the man said. “Hey, great to see you.”
Theo pulled her against him a little and hesitated
before answering. “Hey, Marco.” He didn’t sound incredibly enthusiastic. “Miranda,
this is Marco Collins.”
Marco stuck out his hand and Miranda took it. His touch
sent shivers up her arm—honest-to-God vibrations skittering up her spine
and through her body. “Nice to meet you, Miranda.”
“Marco.” She smiled. “I’m Miranda Davis.” For some
reason she felt compelled to make sure he knew her whole name. It was odd
that she instantly liked this man. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
She had that same sense of knowing Marco, the way
she’d had with Theo when she’d first met him. It was strange. Like she’d
met him before and they’d been close, but she hadn’t seen him in a really
long time. She wanted to get to know him better, much more intimately, and
not just on a physical level.
Miranda glanced at Theo, feeling the slightest bit
guilty for being so attracted to his friend.
“Really?” He glanced at Theo. “I wonder what he’s said.”
Miranda saw his eyes flash silvery and angry for a moment before returning
to blue. “Are you two eating here?”
“Yes,” answered Theo. He said no more.
Miranda frowned and shot him a look. How unfriendly he
was being! “We have a reservation. I’m sure Theo wouldn’t mind if we shared
a table, would you, Theo?”
Theo glanced at her and hesitated, but recovered nicely.
“No, of course not. You’re welcome to share our table, Marco.”
Marco shook his head. “No, I don’t want to be a third
wheel. You two are obviously on a date.” He shot a hostile look at
Theo, then took Miranda’s hand and squeezed it gently. His touch sent
shivers up her spine again. “I hope we meet again sometime soon.”
“Uh, me too,” Miranda managed to stutter out. She felt
another twinge of guilt at being fascinated with the friend of the man she
was currently on a date with, but she and Theo had no commitment. She liked
Theo, but at this point, she had a right to feel attracted to anyone else
she desired. Anyway, she didn’t do commitments. She did affairs.
CLOSE WINDOW
|