Caught in the Middle Read online

  A Total-E-Bound Publication

  www.total-e-bound.com

  Caught in the Middle Anthology

  ISBN # 978-1-906811-69-3

  Swingtime ©Copyright Desiree Holt 2009

  Charity’s Auction ©Copyright Ashley Ladd 2009

  Between Tooth and Claw ©Copyright Kim Dare 2009

  Mating Season ©Copyright Nadia Aidan 2009

  Magical Ménage ©Copyright Crissy Smith 2009

  Trouble for Three ©Copyright Sascha Illyvich 2009

  Cover Art by Natalie Winters ©Copyright May 2009

  Edited by Michele Paulin, Christine Allen-Riley, Jess Bimberg

  Total-E-Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2009 by Total-E-Bound Publishing 1 The Corner, Faldingworth Road, Spridlington, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 2DE, UK.

  Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated Total-e-burning/Total-e-melting.

  SWINGTIME

  Desiree Holt

  Dedication

  To all my fellow TEB authors who continue to inspire me, and the editor who knows how to make my stories sing. Thanks Michele. You’re the best.

  Chapter One

  Lanie Burrell flipped a page in the book she was reading and sighed. Since she’d taken a job as reviewer for erotic romance publishers, she’d become all too aware of how pitiful her own sex life was. She could only lose herself in the pages of someone else’s fantasy so many times before wondering if she’d ever get to live out her fantasies. If the closest she would get was reading about them while she sunned herself on her patio.

  She turned a page and sighed. This particular book was about a ménage, and the heroine was in bed for the first time with both lovers. Naked, they lay back on the cool cotton sheets, hands stroking each other, touching each other’s sex organs in erotic exploration. The heroine had just—

  “Lanie?”

  The deep male voice startled her, and she jumped, dropping her book on the patio beside her chair.

  “Ohmigod, Cody.” She pressed her hand to her heart. “You scared me out of ten years’ growth.”

  Her neighbour didn’t usually sneak up on her this way. It was bad enough living on the same cul-de-sac with a man who made her mouth water, her nipples stand at attention and her crotch dampen whenever she laid eyes on him, but she usually had enough warning that she could keep herself under control. Today not only had he walked into her yard without notice, but if she’d been an aggressive, uninhibited female, she would have given in to her feelings and thrown herself at him, begging for wild, crazy sex.

  Cody Hawkins was a magnificent six-foot-two, with well-defined muscles rippling beneath skin tanned the colour of old bronze. Black hair cut deliberately shaggy fell just below the nape of his neck like black silk, the colour echoed by his thick eyelashes that framed electric-blue eyes and the pelt of hair that covered his chest and arrowed down below his waistband. Today, it was all visible because he wore only the briefest of cut-off shorts, the rest of him, including his sculpted, muscular legs, on glorious, mouth-watering display.

  He grinned at her, one dimple flashing at a corner of his very sexy mouth. “Sorry, sugar. I didn’t mean to creep up on you this way, but you were totally into your book.”

  Before she could grab for it, he picked it up and looked at the cover, his grin widening. “My, my. ‘Three To Make Ready’, huh? And is this a ménage I see on the cover?” His eyes sparkled with mischief when he looked at her. “Lanie, you definitely surprise me.”

  She yanked the book away from him, at the same time trying to tug on a T-shirt over her halter, covering her too-exposed flesh. Not that getting naked with Cody Hawkins wasn’t at the forefront of her dreams. “Give me that. My reading material is none of your business. Anyway, I get paid to read these books.”

  One eyebrow lifted. “No kidding. Think I could get a job like that in my spare time?”

  Lanie held the book behind her back, the heat of embarrassment creeping up her cheeks. “You could probably write the books,” she snapped. “Anyway, what do you want?”

  Cody’s eyes slowly scanned her from head to toe and back up again, sparks of interest flickering in them. “I wonder if I’ve misjudged you all this time, Lanie Burrell. You might have hidden talents it would be fun to look for.”

  You have no idea.

  She knew Cody got a kick out of teasing her, sure that she’d never take him up on any of his offers. She could hardly tell him that at night when she crawled into bed with her battery-operated toys he played the leading role in every one of her fantasies. The first time she’d met him, a spike of sexual arousal had run through her so strong it had literally made her weak. Every time she’d seen him since then, the attraction had grown. She’d love nothing more than a relationship with this man who made her heart stumble.

  But Cody travelled with a crowd far more glamorous and sophisticated than she was. She had nothing to interest him. Nothing to offer him. And she needed to get him out of here right now before she put her foot in her mouth.

  “Forget about my talents. I’m sure you didn’t come over here to discuss my reading material, so what’s the deal?”

  He sighed dramatically. “Rejected again. Okay, okay.” He held up his hands. “I just wanted to remind you I’m having another party tonight. In case you wanted to, you know, go out or whatever it is you when I…entertain.”

  Ah, yes. When Cody entertains.

  By a strange twist of circumstance, she and Cody owned the only two houses on this cul-de-sac. The rest was beautiful green space—thick trees, an abundance of natural shrubbery, habitats for small animals. Once upon a time a builder had planned lots for the entire short street, but financial miscalculations had wiped him out. He’d been forced to put the two completed spec houses and the land up for sale. Lanie had arrived at the realtors office after scoping out the house to make an offer, only to discover that Cody, an electronics gazillionaire, had made an offer for the entire package. To this day, she still didn’t know why he’d backed off and let her buy the other house.

  But a month after she moved in, she discovered why he needed the privacy the street afforded.

  ———

  The night of her discovery, car doors had been slamming for ten minutes and raucous laughter splitting the night had teased at Lanie’s curiosity. When her friend, Michele, discovered where she was living, she’d laughed and told her Cody Hawkins’ lifestyle was the stuff of legends. Lanie, who had never been adventurous where sex was concerned, was stunned to learn her new neighbour indulged in a no holds barred sexual lifestyle, even as her imagination wove fanciful scenes about what would happen across the street from her.

  “Alwa
ys the same people,” Michele grinned. “A very exclusive club. I hear they have threesomes and foursomes and they all perform for each other.”

  Listening to Michele regale her with details, Lanie’s face had burned even as she’d soaked her crotch and an unsatisfied itch had overtaken her.

  Now she would have a chance to see if her friend was right.

  She moved to the window at the end of the hall on the second floor, the spot that gave her the best view of Cody’s house and grounds. The sliding door to the pool opened, and five naked people ran outside, laughing, and jumped into the pool. She knew she should just mind her own business, but she couldn’t seem to move her hypnotised self away from the window.

  Before long, everyone hauled themselves out of the pool and fell onto the extra-wide lounge chairs, proceeding to indulge in sex acts Lanie had so far only read about in the books she reviewed. Duos, threesomes, even four or five people in what she’d learned was called a daisy chain, filled the night air with exultant cries of sexual satisfaction.

  Retreating to her bedroom in a high state of arousal, she nearly wore out her batteries even as she cringed with embarrassment at what she’d spied on. Resisting every temptation to steal glances from the window again, she finally put two pillows over her head in an attempt to shut out the loud laughter and music that went on far into the night.

  The next day, after all the cars had left and she was sure Cody was alone, she marched herself over to his house, wrapping righteous indignation around herself like a suit of armour. She hadn’t wanted to admit to herself that it was more a case of rampant jealousy than annoyance at him for his open style of sexual activity. Nor did she want to figure out why she felt the need to confront him, except that a sleepless night and uncontrollable arousal had her ready to explode.

  He looked slightly sleepy but otherwise none the worse for wear when he opened his door, dressed only in jeans that rode low on his hips. She had to swallow twice to remind herself what she was there for.

  “We have to talk,” she told him, drawing herself up to her full five foot two.

  Her anger might have faded a little if he hadn’t taken a look at her and burst out laughing.

  “What’s so damn funny,” she demanded.

  “Sorry, sugar. You just look so cute standing there breathing fire at me.” He swung the door wider. “Come on in.”

  She shook her head. “I have no intention of coming into this den of sin. What I have to say can be said right out here on the porch.”

  He grinned. “Den of sin, huh? Sounds like fun to me.”

  Why, oh why, did he have to look so temptingly sexy?

  Lanie cleared her throat and drew herself up to her full five-foot-two height. “I saw naked people by your pool last night.” She wished she didn’t sound so much like a fishwife. “Indulging in sex acts I didn’t even think were possible.”

  “And you’re upset you weren’t invited,” he teased.

  “No, damn it. I want to tell you this is a decent neighbourhood, and we don’t tolerate things like that.”

  All traces of humour left his face. “Let me remind you, Miss Burrell, I own most of this neighbourhood, and you have your house only because I’m a nice guy. What I choose to do is my business. There’s no law that says you have to look, you know.”

  “But there is a law against disturbing the peace.” God, all she needed to do to look more ridiculous was shake her finger at him.

  He looked at her for a long time, his sexy as sin mouth twitching with a repressed grin, his sapphire-blue eyes lit with a fire that threatened to burst forth any minute.

  “All right,” he said at last. “You’re my only neighbour and I believe in peaceful coexistence, believe it or not. I have a lifestyle that obviously offends you so I’ll do my best to keep it off your radar.”

  “Exactly how do you plan to do that?” she demanded.

  “How about if I give you warning whenever I’m having…company, and you can lock yourself up in your house or go out for the night. That sound fair?”

  Lanie was torn between arguing with him and wishing he’d invite her to join him. For Cody Hawkins she could lose a lot of her inhibitions. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Fine. That’ll work.”

  As she turned to leave he said, “But you have an open invitation, sugar. I’d sure love to do wicked things to that sweet body of yours.”

  She was shaking as she marched back across the street to her house, sure that he was silently laughing at her the entire time.

  ———

  “Lanie?” Cody snapped his fingers. “You in there, sugar?”

  She realised she’d dropped into some kind of trance, remembering that first confrontation, and mentally shook herself.

  “Sorry. I must have spaced out for a minute.”

  “Probably from that hot book your reading,” Cody chuckled.

  In which you always play the hero.

  She dug her fingernails into her palm to keep herself from blurting out her thoughts. “Thanks for letting me know about tonight. I think I’ll take in a movie.”

  “If that’s what you want.” His eyes burned like blue flames. “Or, you could come to the party. If I’d known you were interested in things like this,” he indicated her book, “I would have invited you long ago. I thought this kind of stuff turned you off.”

  “I don’t…I can’t…” She clamped her lips together, feeling like an idiot.

  Cody cupped her chin with his lean, strong fingers. “Not chicken, are you?”

  She shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s just…I mean, I’ve never…”

  “You read about it. Don’t tell me you’ve never thought of trying it. Any of it.” He ran his knuckles lightly along the line of her jaw. “’Fess up, Lanie. Haven’t even thought a little bit about it? Hmm, sugar?”

  Her skin burned where he touched her and a feverish sensation skittered along her spine. His masculine scent surrounded her, stealing her ability to think.

  “N…no. I mean…” she swallowed. “I saw some of the things you do. That night. I don’t know if I could…you know…in a crowd like that.”

  My god, I sound like an addled teenager.

  “You won’t know until you try it. Group sex can put a spark in your life.”

  “I’m not much into the wild life, Cody. You know that.”

  “Listen. We monitor alcohol intake and don’t allow drugs.” His wicked fingers trailed across her shoulder, pausing at the hollow of her throat where her pulse threatened to burst from her skin. “You may not believe it, but you conjure up sinful thoughts in my mind. We’ve got chemistry, Lanie. Admit it.”

  “I don’t know…” She wet her lips. “That is, I…”

  “Tell you what, sugar. You think about it. If you decide to give it a chance, come on by about eight o’clock.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “If you do, you’ll be my personal date for the night, okay? I’ll be your guide. Whatever you like is fine. Whatever you don’t…” He shrugged. “Maybe you’ll try it, maybe not. But I’ll be with you the whole time.”

  She shivered at the thoughts running around in her head. “I don’t know, Cody. I’ll see.”

  He tapped a finger on her nose. “Eight o’clock. Don’t be late.” That warm chuckle rumbled up from his chest. “You don’t want to miss anything. And Lanie?”

  “Yes?”

  “You don’t know how much I’d love to have something going with you.”

  ———

  Cody wasn’t sure if he’d just done the smartest thing or the dumbest, inviting Lanie to the party. Sudden immersion in freewheeling group sex could be enough to shock her back into the closet, never to emerge again. But Jesus, in that teeny weenie bikini, she made his dick so hard he could have pounded nails with it.

  The first time he met her at the realty office, he’d thought, Hmm, another good looking but uptight broad. Hope she doesn’t freak out at the neighbourhood activity.


  But after that first—not unexpected—confrontation, he’d made it his business to drop in as often as he could. Never for more than a few minutes, and always with a logical excuse, like telling her it was party night.

  But he’d discovered she was bright, funny, maybe a little shy or maybe it was just that she wasn’t out there like every other woman he knew. The problem was, she tripped some kind of switch inside him that made him think of things besides who he was going to fuck that night and how many people would be sharing with him. He’d never been with a woman who made him think of picnics and sailing and walks on a breezy day, but Lanie Burrell was conjuring up these images and more.

  At thirty-eight, he knew he’d have to think about settling down before long. After all, his lifestyle was going to take its toll on him if he didn’t slow down, no matter how careful he was. But the women he met bored him, except when they had fun and games, and they certainly never made him think of the future.

  Seeing the book Lanie was reading today had not only surprised him but nudged his mind in a risky direction. If she read about high-flying sex, was she also interested in participating in it? He’d had to work to conceal the instant hard-on the thought had given him.

  He knew what he’d just done was a dangerous thing. What if she didn’t—or couldn’t—think of him in the same way? What if his lifestyle was too much for her? And worse than that, for the first time in his life, the thought of sharing a woman with someone else lit an unfamiliar fire of possession inside him.

  Shit, Hawkins. You’ve got your dick in a wringer now.

  He sighed, mentally kicking himself, yet feeling anticipation build as he set out the equipment for the evening—bowls of condoms, tubes of lubricant and baskets of brand new toys. He had high hopes for tonight, and he hoped he wasn’t riding for a fall.

  Face it. He didn’t even know if she’d show up. But if she did, he was determined to see what she could handle, how far he could push her, and if there was the possibility of a relationship beyond party night. The unfortunate thing was, if it all turned to shit, which one of them was going to move?