Aliyah Burke ~ Sensuality in Romance

An unlikely pair come together and realise that their expectations of each other lead to an intense passion that will enhance them both.

Dimitri Wright doesn’t plan to become part of the epidemic of marriage that has befallen his siblings. He knows meeting a woman who is blunt and straightforward and could possibly change his mind is unlikely…at least until the most fascinating woman crosses his path. She is everything he thought he wanted but he realises he is on edge, not knowing what Shannon is thinking or feeling. The contained woman has got under his skin and he doesn’t know what to do about it. She keeps her thoughts to herself and each move seems to be hers but he can’t walk away. He wants Shannon and will use whatever he can to have her.

Shannon Conner values quiet and her time alone and doesn’t want anyone to encroach on her. But Dimitri isn’t like any other man she has met. She doesn’t get emotional or act the way that is considered typical and it usually makes people uncomfortable. Yet Dimitri understands her and makes her feel things she’d never expected. She’s not about to get drawn in by him to be just another woman. Shannon will be herself and if Dimitri wants all that she is then she’ll be willing to take part in a seduction’s dance.

****

Absently, he glanced around the bar. It was frequented by cops, fire fighters and those like him who did business between the two places. He was actually based out of the firehouse but worked closely with the police force. The good thing was his younger brother Leonardo was the sheriff, and the cops knew him through Leo, making it easier for him to do his job. Not that he wouldn’t go around them if he needed to in order to get his job done. But he’d rather not get in a pissing match, instead preferring to just get what he needed taken care of accomplished.

“It was a tough one,” someone with a soft voice spoke beside him.

Dimitri turned his head then blinked, realising that someone was sitting next to him. He noted the two empty beer bottles in front of the woman, which meant she had been there a bit. Probably had been when he came in, since he was still on his first. He hadn’t even noticed her. Dimitri studied the woman. Her features blended in a face that he would call lovely but in an understated way. Wire-rimmed glasses covered dark brown eyes with thick lashes. Her hair was away from her face in a neat braid, the tail end resting over her shoulder. He glanced at her hand, noting she was rolling a bottle between her rich, caramel-coloured hands as he had been. Her nails were short, neatly clipped, with their natural hue. Dimitri lifted his gaze to study her closer since he thought he recognised her. He tried to place where he knew her from. Suddenly it dawned on him.

“Deputy Conner. You were the cop at the fire with me.”

The Sheriff’s department had left a different cop there since they’d wanted to keep the area protected. The officer with him had been silent and efficient, and he had soon forgotten she was there. She hadn’t tried to ask questions or engage him in conversation, for which he had been appreciative. Fire with kids hit him harder than most.

“Yes.”

That was it, no other explanation. Intrigued, Dimitri watched the woman who he hadn’t realised was by him. He remembered what she had said.

“Yes, it was a tough one.”

She nodded and drank her beer. They fell into a comfortable silence. Dimitri noted a booth becoming available and slid off the bar stool, carrying his beer.

“Let’s get the booth before someone takes it.”

The woman blinked behind her wire frames but rose as he bid and followed him with her beer to the booth. Dimitri slid into it just in time. He lifted a shoulder at the fire fighter he worked with. The man inclined his head and went to the bar. Dimitri focused on the woman. She was sipping her beer and glancing around the packed bar. She finally put her gaze on him, her eyebrow rising as if asking what he was looking at. Dimitri lifted his bottle, using it to cover his smile—Deputy Conner seemed a little prickly. A waitress came over and Dimitri ordered some food. Conner ordered too then the waitress left.

No spring nor summer’s beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one Autumnal face….

~John Donne, “Elegy IX: The Autumnal

My heart broke sitting there with you, knowing you were in pain and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. You’d been a constant companion in my life for over 10 years. And now there is a hole in my heart that is growing by the second. I held you as you breathed your last and my tears are still falling.

You were my first foray into this amazing Borzoi breed and you were born around the time I lost Clarke, my heart dog. He knew you were the one to take his place in my life for although you never met him, you had more than one of his traits, so I knew his spirit was in you. You took up residence in the hole he left and filled it well, I know he was in your ear, making suggestions. There were many times when I would see you do something and thought it was him.

You gave me the courage to get back in the ring. Obedience, Rally, and Conformation. While some said you weren’t a good physical representation of the breed, I didn’t give a damn. You were mine and I love you so much. We got into therapy work and you would willingly spend 8 hours dealing with screaming children if that’s what I asked you to do, never once getting cranky with the kids. You raised three other zoi in the house along with helping them learn to be amazing dogs as well.

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We had the honor of beating goldens and dobies in the obedience ring, showing that yes, a Borzoi can do obedience and do it well. And Rally, the mistakes were always mine. You never once messed up.

You never met a stranger and were a wonderful canine ambassador for the breed. I remember the vet staff trying to pass off a stuffed Pug as you with a smile, saying they wanted to keep you.

You loved to run until the accident and then it was still wanting to run, just not on a set course.

Watching you never failed to bring a smile to my face. From the first time I saw your picture you owned a place in my heart. 

I have your niece and your daughter but I still hurt. I will always hurt but I know you are now with Clarke, Isis—who raised you—and of course Dageus and Prize, who was also taken from us to soon. They are waiting for you across the Rainbow Bridge. Tell them I miss them and love them.

Thank you, Nina for all your love and joy you gave me over the years. My life was fuller with you a part of it. There is so much more I could say but right now, I need to grieve.

Tally Ho!

C’Lestial Le Grand Noir CD BN RN JC CGCA

4 May 2008 – 15 Sep 2018

Almost finished with the series and I’m going to be sad when it’s done.

I am referred to as the “Hidden One” and personification of the life-bringing northern wind. As one of those who constitute the Ogdoad, I am respected by others and sometimes even feared. Yet I am adrift when it comes to interactions between a man and a woman.

The rules are so confusing and I try to find my way with him—Reid Jacobs. He is a man that makes me, a goddess, wonder how I have done without the coursing need for intimacy. With each touch he unravels me and makes me lose every ounce of my control. I want him more than breath itself but…I will not settle for anything but total acceptance of everything I am.

****

There she was again.

This time she was alone.

Reid Jacobs’s pulse pounded faster, which had nothing to do with his running but everything to do with the sexy specimen of womanhood running in front of him. He’d been running in this park for a long time. It wasn’t until a few months ago he noticed the woman. She’d joined another lady-whom he’d nicknamed Ponytail-and a man who came frequently to the park. He’d seen each of them alone at first then they had started to run together. Usually when he and the male passed each other they nodded. Ponytail, on the other hand, kept her head straight and was focused on nothing but her run. At least until she ran with the man.

Then came the day she came with puppies along with the other people. Everything about the woman in white had caught his attention. She was feminine, regal in bearing and all-out sexy. The others with her had faded from his attention and all he saw was her. She moved with confidence, looking so very delectable, despite holding the leashes of four puppies. He wouldn’t even think of approaching her in the group of people with her. Heck, with his shyness he wouldn’t even if she was alone. Most times she was with them.

Reid focused back on the woman running a little ahead of him on the trail. Her long, dark brown hair with blonde highlights was pulled back into a ponytail, which bounced behind her with each step. He heard the puppies barking, which meant they were probably running before her. He missed Liv, his German Shepherd who usually joined him, with him. He’d left her home to rest since she had seemed to not be feeling too well.

Reid studied the back of the lady before him. The woman’s red-instead this of white this time-running outfit was beautiful against her ebony skin. Reid zeroed his gaze to the shorts, which hugged her firm butt and showed off toned legs. He jerked his gaze up to her back. He was acting pervy, ogling her ass. That wasn’t like him at all. The nerd in him enjoyed speaking with a woman more than gawking at their physical form. Yet since the first day he had seen this woman, he’d been drawn to her. It baffled him. He’d never been led by baser urges.

Maybe you can just say hi. What’s the harm in that?

He snorted in disgust at himself. No, that’s a bad idea. I’ll come across as a babbling idiot. Or worse, one of those men who cases the running trails, desperate to hook up with women.

You’re just chickenshit, he countered.

Cluck, cluck.

Reid chuckled. Arguing with himself-yep, he was a little weird. He was so much better with Liv or his computers. Building, then programming a computer was easier than trying to approach a woman. Reid took a fortifying breath. His footfalls hit the ground as he continued to decide if he was actually brave enough to approach the ebony-skinned goddess.

Be brave. You can do this. Reid increased his speed to get closer to the woman.

She turned a corner on the trail. Reid kicked faster to keep her in his sight. Shock then dismay filled him when the trail loomed empty before him. Where did she go? Reid slowed, keeping an eye out for a flash of red, but by the end of his run, he still hadn’t seen her. She must have taken a shortcut. Reid cooled down walking back to his jeep. He grabbed a water bottle from inside, leaned against it and drank. Reid absently nodded to the others going and coming from the trails. Knowing what car she drove, he glanced around and noted her vehicle was gone.

“Way to go, you missed your chance to talk to her.” He got in his vehicle and started it. “Oh well, it wasn’t meant to be.” He already knew he wouldn’t have the guts to even try to talk to her again.

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many…. September is dressing herself in showy dahlias and splendid marigolds and starry zinnias. October, the extravagant sister, has ordered an immense amount of the most gorgeous forest tapestry for her grand reception. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809–1894), “Autumn,” The Atlantic Almanac, 1868

Have I mentioned before how much I’m enjoying this series? I believe I have. *grin*

When desire flows over it makes two head-strong people realise they are powerless under the onslaught of pleasure.

Leonardo Wright has been fighting his attraction to the sexy diva that gets under his skin like no other woman. Deyon is one woman who he can’t seem to resist. She is a family friend but he wants to take their relationship to another level. But he wants to do so on his terms…however when dealing with Deyon, she plays by her own rules and her passionate nature will not let him do as he wants. Take it slow and easy and build something lasting. Leo gives in and holds on for a journey that will bring him the one thing he wants more than all else—Deyon’s heart.

Deyon De’clare is not prepared to wait for any man to make a decision for her. Leo wants to be involved with her…and he thinks it will be the way he wants it. He is very wrong. Whatever they have will be by both their terms—a mutual meeting of minds, body and souls. At least that is the plan if she can get the stubborn sheriff to understand that she is not a woman who does anything unless she wants too. And she does want Leonardo Wright more than she ever expected. But when one is playing with matters of the heart you have to give in to those irresistible forces.

****

Leonardo Wright tapped his finger on the steering wheel as he drove towards his destination. Suddenly, a car going way too fast zoomed past him. Leo narrowed his eyes, recognising the night blue Audi S8—he flipped on his lights and went after the sporty sedan. From the type of vehicle, he figured the driver had been at business meetings today instead of at her store.

They continued driving above the posted speed limit. Leo knew she saw him, but she was thumbing her nose at him. Suddenly she made a turn and he clenched the wheel tightly, already mumbling the lecture he would be giving her. He followed and drove through the gates that lead to the oasis she had created. The automobile came to a screeching halt between the Sierra 2500HD crew cab and Toyota Land Cruiser, also in blue. The woman he was chasing was partial to blue. Leo parked behind her then turned off his cruiser.

Her car door swung open and one leg appeared, coming to rest on the ground. Leo studied the bare leg from the knee down until he saw the silver, high-heeled sandal. The rest of the woman came into view and he held the wheel, studying the beauty that was Deyon De’clare. She turned to face him, putting her hands on her hips. On her lush lips was a familiar teasing grin, which only made her captivating features even sexier. The face that had graced many runways and magazines—thus making her the most recognised full-figured supermodel in the world—was framed by wild, kinky hair. She wore shades, but Leo didn’t need to see her curly lashed, light-grey eyes to know they had the same teasing in them.

Although she wasn’t a model anymore—instead now a sought-after designer that catered to full-figured women—Deyon certainly knew how to capture one’s attention. She was her own best advertisement that curves were indeed beautiful, sexy and able to bring a man to his knees. As usual, Deyon was dressed stylishly. A dark royal blue with silver patchwork design shirt sloped off one shoulder, highlighting her rich caramel skin. The shorts were the same blue—without the silver—and stopped at her knees. Deyon bent into her car. Leo exited his cruiser before closing the door, gaze locked on her full ass. He clenched and unclenched his fists, aching to touch the round globes. Deyon stood, pushing her hair back with long fingers. She faced him again, holding a purse and briefcase then, using her hip, she closed her car door. Deyon strode towards him—her innate grace, power and all out sensuality of her walk another thing that made her successful as a model. Her movement had a rhythm that made his heart pound and his palms sweat. Leo kept his face contained.

“Leonardo, are you here to return my weapons?” Deyon’s melodious voice held playfulness.

Leo knew she was very serious. The question was the same one she had been asking him for a few months, just varied in the way she phrased it. It had begun around the same time she’d started calling him by his full first name instead of the shortened version as she had usually done before. Deyon pushed her shades up onto the top of her hair. She studied him.

“No, I’m holding them until you promise me that you won’t pull them on anyone again. When are you going to press charges?” he gave his standard reply.

The bright summer had passed away, and gorgeous autumn was flinging its rainbow-tints of beauty on hill and dale. ~Cornelia L. Tuthill, “Virginia Dare: Or, the Colony of Roanoke,” 1840

I love the emotion displayed in this cover, it’s what first grabbed my attention. Now, can’t wait to read it.