Hotter Than the Fourth of July

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stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of
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An Excerpt From: HOTTER THAN THE FOURTH OF JULY

Copyright © LIZ ANDREWS, 2008

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing,
Inc.

"I have a surprise for you."

"What kind of surprise?" Toni asked as she rose from the
bed and wrapped the cool cotton robe around her body. She secured the belt
and glanced over at Deacon, who was standing in the bathroom doorway, fresh
from a shower with a towel tucked around his waist. After last night, she
wasn't sure how many more spontaneous announcements from him she could handle.

"If I tell you, then it won't be a surprise, will it?"

"Where is it?"

"That's part of the surprise too."

She walked over to him and slipped her arms around his
neck. "When do I get my surprise?" Maybe she could seduce the information
out of him.

"Soon."

"Meanie." With her lips pursed in a pout, she stepped
back and crossed her arms over her breasts. "I wish you wouldn't tease me
with a surprise and then not deliver."

His laughter at her mock outrage rang through the room.
"No worries there, baby. I'll deliver, no problem." He walked around her to
the dresser, glancing at his watch lying there before turning his attention
back to her. "In fact, I think we're almost ready. Turn around."

"Why?"

"Well, I can't have you seeing your surprise until it's
completely ready, now can I?" Deacon took a tie off the dresser and dangled
it in front of her.

"Feeling a little kinky tonight, are we?"

"Tonight, tomorrow night, the night after that."

"Dirty boy."

"And that's why you love me." Without another word he
stepped behind her and placed the silk tie over her eyes, fastening it at
the back of her head. "Is it too tight?"

Toni had to lick her lips twice to get words to slip
past them. She was nervous yet excited all at the same time. "No."

"Good. Are you ready?" His whisper into her ear had her
shivering with anticipation. Although he hadn't suggested her surprise was
anything sexual, she thought it might be. That was until he led her from
the bedroom.

"Where are we going?"

"Surprise, remember."

"Yes, but..."

"Shhh. Stop thinking so much. Tonight is all about
feeling."

They stopped for a moment and she realized she'd been so
intent on listening to his words she had no idea where she was. Toni
thought she remembered turning once, or was it twice? Hell, for all she
knew, he had walked her in circles and they were back in the bedroom.

Deacon swept her hair away from her neck, sliding his
lips sensuously over the exposed skin. "What dirty thoughts are you having?
I couldn't miss these little diamond points even if I was a blind man."

The idea of what he might have planned for her had
caused her breasts to peak in interest. His hands came up to pinch her
nipples through the thin robe, causing her to squirm. He knew how much she
liked that and he was deliberately teasing her.

"Well?"

She dragged her mind back to the conversation at hand.
Dirty thoughts, oh yeah, she had plenty of those, especially after last
night.

"Just wondering what my surprise is."

"Is that all?" He'd slipped his hand through the opening
in her robe to stroke her stomach before dipping between her legs. Not
surprisingly, she was wet from their conversation and her wandering
imagination. "You wouldn't happen to be thinking about last night, would
you?"

"Maybe."

"Uh-huh, there's no maybe about it."

Toni squirmed in his arms as she remembered her
wantonness yesterday. And he was right, she was still thinking about it.
About how easy it had been to abandon all her doubts and revel in the
fantasy. "You're right, I was thinking about it."

"Now that you've talked about it, does the fantasy still
work for you?"

She knew exactly what he meant. In fact, she'd worried
once she voiced the fantasy aloud it would no longer hold the charm it once
did. Instead the opposite was true. "Oh yeah, it's working right now." A nervous
laugh escaped her throat. "Talking about it only made the possibility...more
real somehow."

"What if I told you I was willing to fulfill your
fantasy for you?"

She felt as if all the air were being sucked out of the
room. Did she want that, truly? The one thing she knew for certain was this
was the man she loved with all her heart, the man she was going to marry.

"I'd be a little shocked and somewhat amazed."

"Why?"

"Most men don't offer to share their woman."

"Most couples are probably not as secure in their
relationship as we are. This would be a one-time thing. It's certainly not
something I'd make a habit of. Besides, I wouldn't be willing to share you
with just anyone."