Five Alarm Lust by Elise Whyles
Survivor Gillian Hilliard is finally healing
from a nightmare past. Fearing no man will ever find her attractive, she hides
behind simple attire and large glasses. When Gillian meets firefighter Jack
Payle, she is instantly attracted, and enjoys a wild night of sex with him. But
in the cold light of day she’s torn apart by guilt and shame, and retreats to
the familiar comfort of her simple, if unfulfilling, life.
After years of chasing the wrong kind of
woman, Jack is shocked by the instant attraction he feels for the mousy
historian with shadows in her eyes and passion simmering beneath her surface.
Jack can’t get past the lust firing his blood or the memories of her response
to his touch, for passionate, sexy Gillian is everything he’s ever wanted. Are
they strong enough to face down the demons haunting Gillian? Can she trust the
man who holds her heart with her darkest secrets and accept his help to
overcome the shadows of her past? Or will the darkness destroy them both?
EXCERPT:
“That’s it, Miss Hilliard. As
per your request, I leftmost of it down.” The young woman leaned down, her hand
on Gilli’s shoulder. “You’re going to knock ’em dead.”
Gilli offered a short, weak laugh and patted the girl’s hand.
“Thanks.” She slipped her glasses on and rose to totter toward the door on the
stilettos her mother persisted she wear. As she exited, the door closed behind
her with a click. Gilli turned, smacking face first into a tall, hard wall of
flesh before her. Heat seared her body at the touch of his hands on the bare
flesh of her back. Putting a couple of inches between them, Gilli glanced
upward. Her heart dropped before galloping in place.
Dark brown hair curled over a tanned forehead, green eyes as dark as
pine stared at her, bemusement sparkling in them. “Excuse me, miss.”
She shuddered at the slow drawl curling like a lover’s touch into
her core. Her labia pulsed beneath the lace of her panties. A flush crept along
her throat to heat her cheeks and she ducked her head to hide the wave of color
washing over her face. She cleared her throat. “No, pardon me. Entirely my
fault.”
Scurrying down the hall, she gasped at the sensitivity in her
breasts. Heavy, full, the nipples throbbed beneath the layers of satin and
lace. Desperate to cool her blood, she darted past a couple of women and into
the ladies room. The thin metal door offered minimal protection as she locked
herself into a stall. A thud filled the silence as she let her forehead drop
and leaned against the icy metal and inhaled.
Gods above, Zeus in the
flesh right before me. What I wouldn’t give to have him … but he’s not going…Arousal scorched along her veins, pooling between her legs and
soaking her underwear. Like venom, her ex’s sneering tone filled her mind. You couldn’t turn a light bulb on, Gillian,
sexless. You should get a boob job. Can’t count…
The soft clunk of the heavy public bathroom’s door opening preceded
Barbara’s biting tone. “Gillian, don’t think I didn’t see you…”
An uneasy cringe escaped in spite of the relief at the shattered
memory. Gillian squeezed her eyes shut. “Mother, can I not use the facilities
without you harping at me?” Gillian smoothed her skirt down, rolling her shoulders
forward in the hopes of hiding her erect nipples. “I’ll be therein a moment.”
“Well hurry up, they’ve already got everyone seated. Goodness,
child, you’d think you’d remember this was my wedding!” The bathroom door
clicked shut on her mother’s tirade.
With a roll of her eyes, Gillian stepped out of the stall, shot a
look at her reflection in the mirror and inhaled.
“There’s no point in getting hot and bothered over the likes of him.
He ain’t going to want you.” Gilli waved a hand at her reflection, a perfect
imitation of her mother. “Horn-rimmed glasses, mousy-looking hair, notits.
Didn’t Mike teach you a damn thing, Gillian? Men don’t want a mouse, they want
a sex pot and you’re not it.”
With a quick shake of her head, she smoothed her skirt down, sucked
in a deep breath, and pulled open the bathroom door. She glanced around
carefully before darting into the hallway.
Pressed close to the wall, she took her place before her mother,
feeling like an over-stuffed Easter egg as the wedding march began to play. A
smile pasted on her face, she gripped the flowers in her hand tighter and began
the slow but steady shuffle toward the preacher.
Focused on getting there without falling, Gilli gasped at the man
standing next to the altar. Laughing green eyes watched her, his lips turned
upward at the corners. A slight shadow covered his square jaw. The dark suit he
wore clung to his broad shoulders, tucking in at his waist. She wondered if
beneath his suit coat, his ass was as good as the rest of him. Embarrassed, she
stepped back, narrowly missing tripping on her own gown’s hem. Her mother’s
pointed clearing of her throat drew her attention to the woman sashaying along,
the yards and yards of tulle and lace out of place on a woman in her
fifties—who’d had six previous husbands and more lovers then Gillian thought
healthy. The unspoken warning in Barb’s eyes pierced clearer than any shouting
match could be. There would be hell to pay if any attention slipped from the
bride.
“Typical.” Gilli glared at the flowers, disgust rolling in her
nauseous gut. She offered a prayer the ceremony would draw to a quick end so
she could ditch the shoes, the flowers, and find a quiet corner to relax in,
with the help of an expensive bottle of champagne.
She shot a glance across the aisle, heat suffusing her face when she
caught sex in a cummerbund’s eye. Screw the wine—what she wouldn’t give to get
lost in him. Maybe if she’d been different… Pushing aside the vague thought,
she focused on the drone of her mother’s voice as she spoke her vows.
Author Bio:
Born in a
small community, Elise Whyles lives in Canada with her son and husband. She’s
currently working on the next book in the Canadian Heros Trilogy as well as the
next book in the paranormal romance series Forsaken. Elise writes in multiple
genres, paranormal, contemporary, erotic, m/m. To learn more about her or to
drop her a note please stop by her website.
