~ EXCERPT BELOW ~
Firefighter Derrick and dragon-shifter Halee were looking for an escape, but neither expected to find each other. Every heated encounter pulls them closer together, but Halee is being pressured by her brothers to chose a mate. When fire strikes, it will leave Derrick facing the ultimate choice: break his vow or walk away from Halee forever.
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“Evenin’.” His salutation to the female seated next to him was greeted with a warm smile that reached wide brown eyes. Damn, the woman was every man’s wet dream and then some. Her round eyes held innocence, but those lips. They spoke of whispered promises, seductive kisses, and moans of pleasure.
“Hello.” She tilted her head; her long dark hair tumbled across a bare shoulder. “You’re not from here.”
He chuckled. “What was your first clue?”
“I detect a southern twang. It’s cute.” So, she thought his accent cute? He could deal. The bartender arrived, waiting to take his order. Derrick studied the near empty glass in front of the exquisite female next to him. “What are you drinking?”
“Summer ale.”
Not his usual, but what the hell. What was the saying? While in Rome? He turned to the man behind the bar. “We’ll have two if you please.”
“Coming up.” The bartender stepped away, and Derrick brought his attention back to the vision of beauty next to him.
“Name’s Derrick, and yes, I hail from the south.”
Her lips curled into a dreamy grin. “Halee, and thanks for the beer.” She stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Derrick from the south.” Her laugh was contagious.
Damn, he loved how his name rolled off her tongue and suddenly had the urge to hear more of it as she screamed it in the throes of passion. He shook those thoughts from his head and accepted her slim fingers. He wasn’t here to pick anyone up, though it had been a long dry spell by his own choosing of course. After the fire that changed his life, Derrick had taken himself off the market. Relationships were not on his agenda, but then again, neither were one-night stands. It had been easier to go celibate. Now he questioned his sanity. The growing pressure behind his zipper said it was definitely time to break his fast.
“Nice to meet you, Halee. Pretty name.”
“Thanks. So, business or pleasure?”
“Excuse me?” he asked.
“Are you traveling for business or pleasure?”
Their beers arrived, and he took a long swig, the hint of lemon and hops cooling his throat. “Pleasure.” No reason to tell her he had packed up his entire life and shoved it into a U-Haul. “You?”
“Business, but I’m not averse to pleasure.”
He scanned her left hand. Nothing and no indication she had been wearing a ring and taken it off. “What do you like to do for...pleasure, Halee?”
She wet her lips and slid her hand along her thigh, resting it on the edge of her short denim skirt. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry again while his pulse skyrocketed. Derrick hadn’t thought about being with a woman in a long time. Now, it was all he could think about. Was he reading the signs correctly? Well he’d just have to rely on his southern charm and the head on his shoulders. The one between his legs wasn’t very bright at the moment.
“Careful darlin’ or a guy might get the wrong impression.”
Her smile turned so seductive it nearly knocked him off his stool. “And what kind of impression would that be?”
“The kind that says you want my tongue between your thighs.” She would either slap him or continue the flirtation.
She shuddered then sipped her beer, her pink tongue darting out to lick a speck of foam from her lips. He bit back a moan and settled into his stool. This was going to be an intoxicating evening in more ways than one.