Shades of Desire: 10 Authors, 10 Colors of Titillating.

Makayla had been positive Armand was going to kiss her. Instead he’d set her aside and almost seemed angry that she had trusted him. Their ride back to the mainland had been quiet and almost tense. What had caused the sudden change? The kiss on the cheek? Everything had certainly gone to hell after that, but she could have sworn he wanted her.

She brushed the hair from her face. What did she know about men anyway? It had been two years since her last relationship and it had failed. She had failed. The entire idea was a mistake and she should just chalk it up to a lesson learned and move on. Tears stung her eyes. She thought she saw something good and decent in Armand. Even if only for a one-night stand, she thought he would have catered to her every need, giving her something her past relationships always lacked. Maybe she should just hire the deed done. Women did it all the time now and why not? Their sexual urges were the same as a man’s, only the rules were different.

Half an hour later, they were back at the dock and Armand helped her off the boat.

“I’ll escort you home.”

Really? She pursed her lips. “I’m sure you have lots to do. I can see myself home. Thank you again for a nice day.” She spun and started to walk away, but he was on her heels.

“I wasn’t asking.” He moved in beside her.

Kayla kept her gaze ahead. She could feel the heat rising up her neck. “Suit yourself.” If he wanted to walk with her then fine, but she refused to converse with him. The mixed signals he kept sending were making her dizzy. He went from seductive to demanding to angry with god-knows-what. The confusion running through her brain gave her a headache.

Ten silent minutes later, she finally reached her front door. She slipped the key into the lock and turned the handle. The door opened to reveal a darkened room and she could hardly wait to escape back into it. She wondered if the entire trip was a waste. Good manners had her turning around to face the sexy man who’d towered beside her all day.

“Thank you again. It was lovely.”

His hands gripped her upper arms and his body pinned her against the doorjamb. His lips crashed down on hers. Bruising. Demanding. His tongue pushed passed and swept into her mouth. He tasted of danger and sin and she wanted to swallow him whole. Every lean hard muscle of his chest pushed into her breasts causing them to ache. Her nipples pebbled against her bathing suit and begged to have his hot tongue glide across them. His erection, thick and hard, pressed into her belly. She wanted to touch him, but with her arms pinned at her side she could do nothing except remind herself to breathe.

He consumed her.

Armand nipped her bottom lip then pulled away causing her to moan. Even in the dusk of the evening, she could see the desire in his eyes. It burned her soul.

“Querida, never trust a strange man again. I will be your one exception,” he whispered. “Do you understand?”

She swallowed. Her throat parched from the inferno brewing inside her like a wicked storm. “Y-Yes.”

“Good.” He released her then backed away. “Go inside now. I’ll pick you up tomorrow evening for dinner.”

“O-Okay.”

Kayla stepped past the entry and closed the door behind her. She leaned against the cool wood both to quench the fire that raged within and for support. She brought her fingers to her swollen lips and could almost feel him still pressing against her.

“What the hell just happened?”

Her legs were like Jell-O and her heart raced. She hadn’t expected him to kiss her. Not after the way things had ended. Even in her surprise, her body couldn’t help but respond. She had never been kissed like that before. It had been raw. His heat had seeped through her skin igniting something deep inside her.

“So that’s what it’s like? Holy hell.” She pushed herself off the door and walked across the living room on wobbly legs. She needed a cold shower. Ice cold to be exact.