Chapter One

Samantha Reynolds wanted to get laid.

The problem was her soon-to-be husband, David Alcoid, wasn’t who she had in mind to do the laying. In truth, she had David’s interest in mind. Whatever this itch was that consumed her, it needed to be scratched before she walked down the aisle. Especially since sex with David wasn’t exactly stellar.

Music filled the air around her, mingling with the mumbling of her friends as they settled into their evening of celebration at one of Austin’s hot spot, Club Q. Samantha had dressed the part of wild city girl. Her black skirt was shorter than her usual style and her velvet button-down vest cut too low for David’s tastes, but then that was half the appeal in wearing the outfit. Nudging a lock of long, blonde hair behind her ear, she reached for her drink.

Tonight was about naughty fun.

There were five friends in total, including her, involved in the evening’s agenda. Already two of them were missing from their high table, whisked away by men before they hardly sat down. Samantha liked that there were only a few women hanging together. It was the perfect bachelorette party. Samantha hadn’t wanted a big, out of control, crazy event with too many women and not enough men. Those kinds of parties only led to catfights, bad attitudes and hurt feelings.

Sipping from her straw, she hit the empty point. She needed another drink. Swiveling slightly in her chair, she wrapped her hand around her now empty glass. It was drink two. She rarely passed one. The direction of her thoughts had her desperate for a third. Was it so terrible of her to want one last orgasm not from the bedside vibrator? Probably. Yes. It was. She was, after all, getting married. Bachelorette party is not another term for get-laid-one-last-time-party. The night was to celebrate her marriage. To have fun with friends. Not mourn a future without great sex. If she went home with some guy, everyone would look at her like she was scum. But that didn’t stop her from wanting. From wishing.

She had one week from today to find peace with her upcoming marriage. One week to come to terms with a life that would be happy in all ways but one. There would be no passion. No big ‘O’.

It was a reality she thought she had dealt with. Acceptance had been complete when that ring had been slipped on her finger. She’d seen what a relationship that consumed from the inside out did to a person. It took control and became everything you were. The need to be with the person, to feel their touch, to taste that unique flavor of shared desire.

It was addictive.

And painful.

When David had proposed, her answer had been immediate. He was everything a man was supposed to be to a woman. Dependable, handsome, a good businessman. He was even her father’s protégé, working for the family law firm. And of course, her father thought David walked on water. Everything was great. Wonderful. Terrific. Life without great sex wouldn’t be so bad.

She’d get a new vibrator and find a good hiding place. The old one was getting worn out. It would be a wedding gift from her to her.

Kelly, Samantha’s best friend, elbowed her. “Are you ready for some football,” she sang the age-old theme song, and then pointed one long pink-tipped finger toward the doorway. “Looks like we have several of the UT players here tonight.”

Samantha blinked, and eyed the three big linebacker-looking guys wearing jerseys who had just made an entrance. “You mean those kids? They are too young and too big for me. Anyone who looks like they might squash me is a definitive no. Besides, how do you know they are UT players, not fans?”

“Unlike you, I watch football. Middle guy is Matt Turner. Made some big plays today.” She nudged Samantha.

“Wouldn’t mind if he made a few more on me. Besides, he’s twenty-two. I’m only three years older. He’s not too young or too big in my book.”

Samantha reached for her strawberry daiquiri, and blew a wayward strand of blonde hair from her eye. “I guess. Not what I would go for.”

Kelly’s big brown eyes were fixed on the football guy. “Right. You like men like David.”

Her words surprised Samantha. Kelly didn’t like David but rarely made it so obvious. Alcohol, however, always made Kelly a bit more vocal. Samantha turned a hard stare on her. “What does that mean?”

Kelly made a dramatic flip of her long, sandy-brown hair, and fixed Samantha in a knowing look. “Oh pleazzzzz. We both know David doesn’t do it for you. It’s your father who has a hard-on for him.”

There were some things a bride-to-be just didn’t admit. Not even to her best friend. “David is very good to me.”

“How many drinks have you had?” Kelly laughed as she asked the question.

“Not enough to take your attitude tonight,” she said, only half-joking. To make her point she took another long sip of her straw.

Melinda, a Cher looka-like, minus the bad clothes, grabbed Kelly’s arm. “Yum if I ever saw it. Football players at five o’clock. “

Samantha rolled her eyes. “What is it with you guys and jocks? I’ve never understood your obsession.”

Melinda grinned. “Endurance baby. Endurance.” She eyed Kelly. “Let’s go stake our claim before someone else does.”

Kelly’s expression said she wanted to. But like a good best friend and bridesmaid she turned to Samantha, a question in her eyes. Samantha’s other two friends, Tina and Ellen, were already on the dance floor . Before Kelly could speak, Samantha waved her on. “Go. Get some jock action. I’ll be fine.”

Kelly studied Samantha for a moment. “Be back soon.”

“I doubt it,” Samantha laughed.

Leaning toward her, Kelly put her lips next to Samantha’s ear. “Does he make you feel what Eric did?” she whispered. “Does he make you hot, and hungry, and begging for more?”

Samantha stiffened at the sound of his name, and opened her mouth to respond not even sure what she was going to say. Before she could form words, Kelly straightened and looked Samantha in the eye.

“Think about it. Think about it real hard. It’s not too late.”

* * *

Samantha sat staring into the crowd seeming to watching her friends dancing and flirting, but not really seeing them. Instead, she was lost in thought. Anticipating what her future was to be. Wishing for the passion of the past just one more time. Allowing her thoughts to drift to Eric, and a place she hadn’t thought of in far too long.

A place that was dangerous for her future.

He was the drug she needed. The love of her life that had taken control and propelled her into a passionate, happy life. He had been her addiction.

“Samantha,” a deep sensual voice said from behind her.

She didn’t immediately turn. Afraid he would really be there. Afraid he wouldn’t. Had her mind worked some strange magic, conjuring the very man she had been thinking about?

And then his hand was on her shoulder. Like a shock wave, one made of heat, lust, and seduction, her body came alive. Her heart raced, her skin heated. Warmth spread into her stomach, and down her hips. It was as if he had made a permanent imprint on her soul.

A deep breath, and she turned. He looked the same, yet different. Always a cowboy, his soft jeans clung to muscular thighs and defined waist. His black button-down shirt was perfectly starched. His light brown hair was just a little too long to be considered conservative. He was older, yes, but more mature beyond his years. Confident, as usual, but with a new edge. Something she didn’t quite understand.

“Eric.”

“It’s been a long time,” he said softly.

“Three years,” she said a bit too fast. As if she had been counting. She hadn’t. Not past one year. That was when she had given up on him.

“Too long,” he said, sliding his hand down her shoulder in a slow caress. “You look amazing.”

She knew she should tell him not to touch her, but she didn’t. Couldn’t. So she tried to go on the attack. “How did you know I was here?”

His brow inched upward. Cocky. He’d always been good at that. She’d always found it sexy. Still did. “Who said I did?”

He removed his arm, and she felt the loss way too much. In the back of her mind, she had feared the problem with David was her, not him. That maybe she had lost her ability to feel passion. Now she knew, in a matter of minutes with Eric, that feeling was the problem.

“No games, Eric.”

He smiled. “I hear you’re getting married.”

Bells went off in her head. Now it all made sense. Her friends leaving her alone. Kelly’s questions. “I am.”

His expression was indiscernible, but the heat between them was not. It was like a mist in the air, showering them with its presence. “Sounds like a reason to share a drink.”

“Why are you here?”

His eyes locked with hers. The look in his eyes was direct. Hot. “You know why I’m here.”

No, she didn’t. They had parted with animosity. He was tired of trying to live up to her father’s expectations. She didn’t want him to, but it didn’t matter. He came from a family with nothing. She came from money. Her father pointed out the difference at every opportunity. Eric hadn’t handled it well. But word traveled and Samantha knew for a fact, Eric had joined his family business and turned it around. Horse breeding had turned into big money.

But even with the playing field even, he’d stayed away. And it hurt.

She lashed out. Anger from the past resurfacing. Mad that he hadn’t loved her enough to deal with her father. “What? You want one last good fuck before I’m married?”

His eyes flashed with something hard to read. Before she could try and decipher it, he leaned forward, hand sliding on the table in front of her. He leaned in close. He smelled the same. His scent had always turned her on. She didn’t know why, but it had. No. It did. God, she wanted him. She was the one who wanted one last fuck. And he was insurance it would be damn good.

Eyes locked with hers, face near, he said, “What if I do?”

Turnaround was fair play. She should have known not to put him on the spot. Eric had never been one to back down. But then, maybe subconsciously, she had known as much.

Life was short. Hers as a single woman had one week remaining. That little factor was enough to dictate her response. She sucked in a silent breath and then let it out, reaching for courage. “Your place or mine?”

For instant his face registered surprise before he wiped his expression clean. “Mine. I’m in the hotel right across the street.”

“Your place it is.”

She started to slide off the barstool but Eric took over. He’d always been one who liked control, and she had no doubt he was reminding her as much. Not that she minded. His form of control had always been more than pleasurable.

His arm slid around her waist, pulling her close, pressing his hard body against her softer one. As he eased her to her feet, he slowly eased her body down his. She hadn’t felt such an electrifying charge since the last time she had been with him. No one did this to her but him. Already that little ache between her thighs, the one signaling arousal, had formed. Her stomach had butterflies, and her nipples were tingling and hard.

For the briefest of moments she wanted to sink into him body and soul. Everything in her cried to out to him and the need to be close was so urgent she could have crawled under his very skin. As her breath caught in her throat, her hands went to his upper arms. Slowly, her eyes lifted and met his.

In them she saw what she felt. The heat of a shared need, urgent, raw, and almost primal. But it went beyond the physical. It was like two parts of one whole coming back together. Her body ached with a need to join with his. She wanted him, and there was no fear or hesitation over her physical need.

As long as she kept things strictly physical…

The thought was like a slap. She diverted her gaze, quickly guarding her feelings. No. Denying them. She brusquely shoved them aside. Relentlessly, she pushed beyond her emotional urges. She had to keep this real. They were going to have sex. Nothing more. She was marrying another man. One who hadn’t deserted her.

Eric would fuck her like a hero. Maybe getting him out of her system would allow her to enjoy David more. If so, a night with Eric might just save her from her sexless, orgasm-free existence. He would perform like the sex god he was, and then she would kiss his way-too-fine ass goodbye.

She lifted her eyes to his, and fixed him in a cold stare. “What are we waiting for?”