Man of My Dreams by Faith Evans
Mia Murphy may be married to the man of her dreams. But the man in her dreams is the one that got away—her high school crush.
Mia’s stuck in a rut, just like every other stay-at-home mom, and the only thing saving her from her monotonous routine is her perfect husband, Declan. He’s gorgeous, he adores her, and the man stole her heart with his sexy singing voice. Mia feels like the luckiest girl in the world, until she discovers that Mr. Perfect is not Mr. Faithful. Mia is devastated. Everything she once believed about Declan and their marriage is now covered in a big cloud of doubt and regret. On impulse, she kicks the cheating bastard out, pushing them into a separation that could mean the end of the picture-perfect couple.
But when Mia receives an invitation to her high school reunion, she finds herself abandoning the present for the oh-so alluring pull of the past. Although her heart still belongs to her husband, inescapable thoughts of her crush, Noah, resurface. And ten years later, Noah isn’t afraid to make his move. When the build-up of fantasies and ‘what ifs' comes to a head, sparks fly and it’s Mia’s turn to question if her marriage is everything she wants out of life. Searching for answers, Mia dives head first into dating Noah, falling further away from her husband and closer to her old flame.
But Declan’s not giving up so easily. Mia is his one and only and he’s not about to let another man win her heart.
Keep Me by Faith Andrews
Sexy, tatted up, underwear model Marcus Grayson is every girl’s dream—or more likely worst nightmare. He’s a player, a self-proclaimed bachelor for life, and he’s got no problem living up to his man-whore status. But when his older sister’s friend comes back from the past, he may just have the chance to turn some of his adolescent fantasies into reality.
Tessa Bradley is a self-sufficient, take-no-bull, single mother—well, now she is. Finally rid of her abusive, alcoholic ex, she’s making a new life for herself and catching up with old friends; the ones she was forced to break ties with because of her controlling husband. When she runs into Marcus, her friend Riley’s once-adorable turned smoking-hot little brother, she has no idea how he’s about to rock her world.
From MAN OF MY DREAMS
The next thing I know, Declan’s on stage with the mic in his hand, peering down at me with a shy smile.
Is this really happening?
The lead singer of the band tilts the mic to his mouth to make an announcement. “I’m gonna rest my pipes for the next set while my man Declan takes over. Seems like Dec wants to make a special first impression tonight. Take it away, buddy.”
Declan rolls his eyes and fake punches the lead singer in the gut. I guess they’re friends. The band starts to play. The drum beat is sensual, mesmerizing. After a bar or two, Declan starts to sing and all I hear are the words, I want you…you make me want you. He repeats them again, staring right at me.
Oh. My. God.
This is one of my favorite songs, and as sexy as the lead singer is when he sings this, Declan blows him away. And he’s singing it about me! I lose track of all reality as his raspy voice takes me away. Hearing him sing the words I want you makes my heart skip a beat. This is the best first date ever! I wouldn’t mind it being my last first date either.
When he’s finished making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world, the mass of rowdy boys and swooning girls cheer, mobbing Declan with high-fives. He makes his way back to our table and sits down as if nothing’s happened.
I stare at him in disbelief.
He takes a sip of his Diet Coke and says nothing.
“Seriously, dude? Are you kidding?” I pinch his arm, deflating back into the booth.
“What?” he says with a wicked grin.
“What? So that’s how we’re playing this? Okay, I’ll just come out and say it then…um, amazing. That was amazing, Declan. No one has ever done something like that for me before.”
“Who said I was doing it for you?” he arches an eyebrow.
I slap his arm this time, tilting my head as if to say “really?”
“I’m kidding, Mia. But not about what I said up there. I definitely want you.”
I motion to the waitress to get us the check.
Declan narrows his eyes, grimacing. “Check? Is our date over?”
I lean over the table and give Declan an inviting, pre-game peck on his soft lips. “Date’s definitely not over. But can we get out of here? I kind of want you too.”
***
We escape the loudness of The Alibi in to a brisk, beautiful October night. I love the fall, the way the weather starts to cool, foreshadowing all the things that I love about the last three months of the year; winter and the holidays and the way they spark a kind of innocent magic that I’ll never outgrow.
Declan takes my hand in his, entwining our fingers together. His touch sparks something, but it’s not innocence. The simple gesture is sweet, but after the way he just serenaded me, sweet isn’t going to cut it. I don’t want him to think I’m some slut ready to give it up to him on our first date, we hardly know each other. But God help me for not wanting to reciprocate his sweet, gentle wooing. I want him to kiss me with the same eager desire that gleamed in his penetrating eyes when he sang those words to me.
As we walk in silence, hand in hand, to the bus stop where the shuttle back to campus picks us up, I can’t control my devilish musings. Whitney won’t be back at the dorm tonight, and I intend on asking Declan to come up and continue our date. My turn to show him how much I want him.
“You’re awfully quiet. What’re you thinking about, huh?” Declan’s free hand tips my chin up so my eyes meet his.
I’m almost positive that all of my secret intentions spill out through my dilated, fiery gaze, so I lower my eyes, taking in how perfectly my hand fits inside his.
“I’m thinking about what a great time I had and how I don’t want it to end just yet. It’s still kind of early. Want to watch a movie back at the dorms?” Step one: get him in the room. Step two, and all the rest, will come later.
“I’d love that. But I kind of want to take care of something first.” He drops my hand from his, leaving it cold and lonely without his fingers wrapped around mine.
I look up into his eyes; the blue glistens with tiny gold specks illuminated by the street lamps. They’re not focused on mine; they’re paying very close attention to my mouth. I lick my lips, as if to extinguish the flames that his scorching stare has ignited.
He leans forward. This is it! But instead he takes a few strands of my hair, playing with them, flipping them through his fingers. Come on! You can’t come that close just to touch my hair, you tease. I want to move in and take matters into my own hands, but I also want Declan to possess control of our first kiss. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of the way it feels to watch a guy lean in and tilt his head, the anticipation of his lips melding to mine for the very first time. The thought of watching Declan do this sends thrilling tingles fluttering through my stomach.
But he hasn’t taken the usual stance a guy takes before going in for the kill. He’s backing away, hesitant, almost nervous even. I take a step closer. Maybe he needs help, or more proof that what I want more than anything is to be kissed. By him.
He doesn’t lean down and tilt his head; he brings his hands up to my face, his thumbs caressing my blush burned cheeks. I close my eyes to savor the smooth, amorous touch, taking it all in, and then I finally feel the connection of his lips on mine.
They’re soft and just moist enough to make me want more. His tongue pokes through my puckered pout, forcing a slow, delicious entrance. I part my lips to give into his sweet intrusion, and his tongue explores my mouth with slow circles and flicks. He pulls back, grazing the tip of my tongue ever so slightly with his own. That’s when I can’t control it anymore.
My hands reach up to bury themselves in his hair and I deepen the kiss by pulling him closer. My tongue caresses his with a building hunger. I pause from the stroking to trail my tongue across his top lip. In response he nibbles my lower lip with his teeth before capturing it with a subtle suck. This is hands down the best first kiss I have ever had. Ever!
We go on like this for what seems like hours under the ashy moonlight and shallow thumping of the music we left behind, alternating between slow, tender pecks and more intense groping. The sound of the bus pulling up at the curb is what finally breaks us away from each other.
“Wow!” He says to me, wiping away the remains of my lipstick from my mouth with his thumb.
“Wow is an understatement. Incredibly, breathtakingly awesome is more like it.”
***
Back in my dorm room, we can’t keep our hands off each other. So much for that movie. It never even made it into the DVD player. But it looks like my plan to have my way with Declan is working. I’m so glad Whitney is spending the night at her boyfriend’s apartment. No room for interruptions tonight.
“Mia. Wait. Stop.”
Declan’s hands are in my hair, his lips still trailing kisses on my neck. No, don’t stop that.
“What? What’s the matter?” I say, panting, trying to unbutton his jeans.
“It’s our first date. There’s plenty of time for…for our first time.”
I’m starting to wonder if his choice of song was the right one.
“Declan, I thought we made it clear back at the bar that we wanted each other. This is me wanting you.” My eager hands find their way back to his pants, but are stopped by Declan’s firm grip on my wrists.
He places my arms at my side, and we sit up on the bed, regaining normal breaths. He lifts his hands up to my face and cups my chin with one, pushing my bangs out of my eyes with the other. “Mia, I want you. I’ve never wanted someone so badly…ever. But…”
“But what, Declan? It seems simple to me. I want you, you want me. What more is there to know?”
He pauses, looking down at his fidgeting legs. “I’m a virgin, Mia.”
Faith Andrews lives in New York where she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn't listening to Mumford & Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or the laptop. She's a sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there living one somewhere.
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