Joanna smiled as she envisioned them riding off in to the sunset on back of his Harley and nodded once before putting the car into gear and heading home.

Below are some of Ellen Graves" other works to enjoy! Tap the covers for a sample

MIRIAM BECKER.

City Limits.

Miriam Becker.

Sasha Green was tired of living for Friday; tired of wishing her life away. Every Monday began her work week. She was up at 6:00 am and at her desk by 8:00. She"d spend the next 4 hours crunching numbers and dealing with annoying customers and co-workers. At noon, she would eat a bland, boring lunch at her desk before returning to the mind-numbing monotony of her mediocre job with its mediocre pay.

Sasha was also a good girl. She went where she was directed and did what she was told. She paid her bills on time, her taxes were filed without errors, and she made sure to have her physical and dental check up every year. She did everything she was supposed to and while she was doing it, the days, weeks, and years slipped by her. Afraid to step out of her comfort zone, she instead watched her life flow by her like a river rushing toward the sea.

In less than an hour she"d be 30 years old, and what did she have to show for it-some really healthy houseplants and a 401k? She"d had dreams once and now, sitting at her desk in her boring office at her boring job, she wondered what ever happened to them.

She was brought out of these musings by the dawning awareness of her officemate Kendra Abbott standing beside her desk desperately trying to get her attention. "Hey! Earth to Sasha!" She asked loudly as she waved her hand in front of Sasha"s face.

"What?" Sasha blinked and looked up at her co-worker. "Sorry. Uh, just s.p.a.ced out there." She cleared her throat and asked again, "What?"

"C"mon. It"s five o"clock and I"m taking you out for a birthday drink." Kendra was holding Sasha"s jacket with a determined look on her pretty face. "No way you"re going home tonight to sit alone in your apartment and wonder where the years went." She had heard the sob story of Sasha"s do-nothing life more than once.

Sighing, the birthday girl shut down her computer, gathered her belongings and followed Kendra out to the parking lot. As Sasha turned toward her car, Kendra grabbed her arm and said, "I"ll drive. It"s not far and I can drop you at your car afterwards."

"Do me a favor," Kendra said abruptly as she drove the short distance to the bar. "When we get there, don"t judge. I met a pretty nice guy here a couple of weeks ago." She smiled. "He"s the one who suggested we come out tonight."

"Yeah. Okay." Sasha knew how the younger girl liked to conduct her love affairs. They burned hot and were usually very short-lived, so this "pretty nice guy" must be something special if she was seeing him again. But then, Kendra had a wild side and their definition of "nice guy" might be somewhat different.

When they pulled into the lot and Sasha saw the row of motorcycles lined up neatly outside the entrance, she had a mild panic attack. What was Kendra getting her into?

"A biker bar? You can"t be serious." Concern was evident on Sasha"s face. "I don"t think I can go in there."

"You said you wouldn"t judge!" She accused as she pulled her phone out of her purse and sent a quick text. "Besides, it"s a private club, really. Eddie, the guy I told you about, is getting us in tonight."

Sasha still hesitated. This was out of her comfort zone and she most emphatically did not like to be out of her comfort zone!

"Ugh!" Kendra made a noise of disgust, then said, "Just get out of the car!"

This is what she had been daydreaming about, wasn"t it-about doing something different, maybe even exciting. "Okay! Okay!" She finally agreed, "I"m getting out of the car. My birthday is in your hands!"

Kendra"s smile was huge. "You won"t regret it!"

The door opened as if on cue when they reached it and a dark-haired man, at least a foot taller than Sasha"s 5"3", stood back to let them file past him. "Thank you," she said out of polite habit.

"Any time, Princess."

His voice was deep and sensual and she turned to look back at him quickly, taking in his roguish good looks and a startling pair of silver eyes. He was long and lean with well-muscled arms that were evident even under the open flannel shirt he wore. The tight, black t-shirt layered under it only accentuated his athletic build.

He moved closer to her and she caught the alluring scent of leather and something earthier. Sasha found herself wondering what it would be like to bury her nose in the warmth of his neck and inhale his masculine scent. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips.

He stared at her lips for a moment, then cleared his throat and said, "Why don"t I buy you a beer." He propelled her gently toward a table where Kendra sat staring in confused wonder.

"Uh, yes. Please." She met Kendra"s eyes, shrugging helplessly.

"What is wrong with you?" Kendra asked, trying not to laugh. "You look like a deer caught in headlights!"

"I have no idea. I just...I don"t know." Sasha struggled for a second to find the right words. Finding none, she changed the subject. "Which one is Eddie?"

"He"s at the bar with Kieran." Kendra inclined her head in their direction.

Sasha looked over to see a blond man with an open, jovial face laughing as he clapped a hand on Kieran"s shoulder. "Kieran." She whispered to herself, enjoying the way his name rolled off her tongue. She could imagine saying his name a thousand different ways for a thousand different reasons and sat up a little straighter when he and Eddie joined them at the table. His earthy scent wafted her way once again, making her feel a little dizzy.

Kieran leaned by casually in his chair and looked at her; really looked at her. His intensity was a little unsettling and heat flashed through her as she watched his eyes slide over her body, making her feel almost naked under his gaze.

"So," he began, "What do you do, um..." He paused with raised eyebrows, waiting for her to fill the silence with her name.

"Oh! Sasha," She finally provided, glancing at Kendra to find her grinning at her discomfort.

"Sasha." He repeated slowly. The sound of his deep voice caressing her name sent a delicious shiver up her spine. "What do you do, Sasha?"

"Oh, it"s boring," she replied, finding her voice a little easier this time. "I"m an accountant."

"Why do you do it, if it"s boring?"

"Well, there"s always a need for accountants, and the pay is good." She sounded defensive and she didn"t like it. Why should she justify herself to this guy. Who was he to her?

"Calm down, Princess. I was just asking." He turned to Eddie and stage-whispered, "Look at that Eddie, girl"s got a spine!"

Kendra jumped in to defend her friend. "Don"t give her a hard time, it"s her birthday." She looked down at her watch and continued, "In-whoa, 5 minutes!"

Eddie stood up and held a hand out to Kendra, "Let"s go get shots!"

Sasha watched them go, looking mildly panicked, "Uh, I don"t really do shots." Her eyes lifted to meet Kieran"s, only to find them filled with laughter.

"You have to learn to live Princess." He leaned close to her once again, filling her personal s.p.a.ce with the sheer size of him. His scent wrapped itself around her and she felt something she had never felt before in the presence of a man, not even the one past lover she could claim. Electricity surged through her body at the closeness and she had a wild urge to lift her lips as an invitation. To what, she didn"t know-a kiss? More? He sent her senses reeling just by pushing into her personal s.p.a.ce and she was finding it difficult to think straight.

Once again, she unconsciously licked her lips and Kieran leaned in even closer, bathing her in the heat he radiated. She wanted nothing more than to move toward him and allow herself to be enveloped by that heat; to melt into him. The club and its patrons faded into the background as the universe collapsed around them and they became the only two people that existed.

The cruel and rapid re-expansion of their all-too-briefly shared universe was prompted by a tray of drinks plunked noisily down on the table. Sasha looked over at Kendra as though through a fog and blinked rapidly to clear her vision. Looking back at Kieran, she saw her own confusion momentarily reflected on his face.

Kendra pa.s.sed out the shots and a fresh beer for everyone before looking at her watch again. "Okay, less than a minute now." After a minute of silence she began a soft countdown. "Five, four, three, two, one! Happy Birthday!" They toasted Sasha and downed their shots.

The shot hit the back of Sasha"s throat like a ball of fire and she had to struggle to keep it down. This was so far removed from her normal behavior that she honestly couldn"t remember the last time she"d done a shot. On her 21st birthday? Maybe? "What was that stuff?" she rasped when she could finally breathe again.

"Snakebite. Whiskey and lime juice." Eddie laughed. "It"ll wake you up, that"s for sure!"

Sasha managed a laugh and took another shot to loosen up. The four of them ate, drank, and really just had a good time until Kendra announced that she should be going and Eddie should be going with her. "So, if you want that ride to your car..." Kendra raised her eyebrows and left the thought unfinished.

Sasha noticed that as the night had worn on, Kieran"s chair had migrated closer to hers. His arm had somehow balanced itself on the back of her chair. She liked it and she had no desire to leave the strange yet familiar warmth anytime soon.

"I"ll make sure she gets home. Don"t worry," Kieran said with a mischievous grin.

"I"ll just bet you will," Kendra shot back. She looked at Sasha again, "Up to you Sasha."

It took only a split second of indecision to agree with Kieran. "You can go. I"ll be fine." A surge of excitement swept through her. She had never been this reckless in her life. She barely knew this man but she knew she wanted to spend the night with him.

"You"re sure?" When Sasha nodded her a.s.sent, Kendra added, "Call me tomorrow, okay?"

"Yep, promise." She watched them leave and wondered if maybe, just maybe, she had made a mistake. Doubts crept up in her mind and she knew a moment of fear. What was it about Kieran that encouraged such carelessness in her?

"So, Princess," Kieran began, leaning in close to her again, his words warm in her ear. "You"re fate is in my hands now, isn"t it?" He drew back and looked at her, "This is a leap for you isn"t it?" Sasha swallowed hard and nodded, looking up into those silvery gray eyes fairly glittering in the dim light, taking on an otherworldly quality. They held her soft blue eyes as he asked, "Are you ready to jump?"

She nodded and followed him across the parking lot to his motorcycle. It wasn"t until then it dawned on her that she was in a rather short skirt. She just might be flashing to whole town on the back of this motorcycle. She laughed aloud at this thought, gaining a quizzical look from her companion. "I was just wondering how I was going to ride that-" She pointed at the bike he was standing beside. "-in this," she finished, indicating her dress.

He laughed as he swung his leg up over the motorcycle and hooked his arm out so she could use it for leverage. "Giddy Up Princess." Grasping his arm, she tried to imitate his smooth motion and wound up nearly falling on her a.s.s. He managed to hold onto her and help her onto the back of the bike saying, "You"re not driving tonight. Just tell me where you live."

After a split second of hesitation, she gave him the address and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. He moved her hands and laced her fingers through the belt loops on his pants instructing her not to let go. Scooting closer to nestle against his bottom, she rested her head on his back and enjoyed the feel of leather beneath her cheek. The sensual scent of the leather, coupled with the fact that every time they hit a b.u.mp her fingers would brush soft skin and hard muscle, was making the short ride seem to take an eternity.

Finally, the motorcycle roared into the driveway of the ramshackle farmhouse Sasha inherited from her grandmother a year ago. She punched in the code for the garage door so he could pull the bike inside.

"Do you want something to drink?" Sasha asked as they reached the kitchen.

"No." He followed her into the kitchen and watched her patiently as she got a gla.s.s of water. The moment she put the gla.s.s in the sink he turned her toward him and lifted her onto the small kitchen table. His hands spanned her waist as he leaned into her, pressing his body into hers. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment before his lips descended upon her in a hard, forceful kiss.

Startled by his sudden movement, Sasha momentarily pushed against him. He fisted his hand in her hair and pulled her head back, exposing the tender flesh of her neck. His lips blazed a fiery hot trail to her ear. He whispered, "You want me to stop, Princess?" He kissed her neck again, lighting an inferno within her so bright she could barely think straight. "Well, Princess?"

Heat rapidly spread throughout her body and gathered at her core as Kieran"s hands nudged her legs apart and settled between them. "No," she gasped, "please don"t stop." His hands slid around to her back, finding her zipper and lowering it slowly before moving back up to unhook her bra. In one swift motion, he pulled both down and off as one, exposing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to his hungry eyes.

Sasha tugged his shirt up and enjoyed the play of hard muscles under soft skin as he obliged her by pulling it off over his head. His lips met hers once again as his hands slipped under her skirt and she lifted her bottom up so he could slide her panties down and off her legs. Taking a step back, he made quick work of his jeans and boxers and pulled her roughly to him.

His kiss deepened as his hands warmed her thighs on their way to her center. In a moment of gentleness, Kieran rubbed his thumb lightly over her silky lips. Using the generous amount of moisture that had pooled there, he slid one long finger into her folds, making her kiss him back harder.

"Please," she said desperately, "don"t make me wait."

Without another word he placed himself at her entrance and pushed smoothly into her, making her gasp with pleasure. He could barely contain himself as his slid into her tight sheath. Sasha wrapped her legs tightly around him and pulled him toward her until he was enveloped completely in soft heat. "f.u.c.k, Princess, you"re so tight," he managed as he pulled back out, only to slam into her hard this time.

"Say my name, Kieran. Please just say my name." she moaned as he thrust into her again. A wave of pleasure washed over her; a small one, a precursor of what was to come. "Say my name," she moaned again.

"Sasha." He whispered quietly in her ear as he filled her once again. "You feel so good, Sasha." This time it was he that moaned as he pushed roughly into her and held himself there, the tip of his c.o.c.k b.u.mping hard against her on the inside. He knew he wouldn"t last much longer as she writhed against him, creating a friction made to drive him over the edge. "Sasha," he whispered urgently, "you have to come for me. You have to come now. I won"t last much longer, it"s just too good."

The sound of his voice in her ear repeating her name, asking her to come, brought forth another wave of pleasure, and still another, each more powerful than the last. She cried out as the strongest wave overtook her and she lost all coherent thought. They only word in her mind was his name and she cried it out over and over and she came. Her body clenched tightly around his while her legs pulled him deeper into her depths, welcoming his seed as it spilled forth hotly and warmed her from the inside.

He kissed her as she came, his mouth clamping tightly onto hers tasting the sweetness of his name on her lips as he emptied himself into her. Her heat and the unmatched strength of her muscles pulled from him everything that he had both physically and mentally. He poured himself into her in a way he had never done before with any other woman. She was more than any other woman and she made him more than any other man.

He sagged against her for a moment before pulling away to divest himself of his boots. Picking her up in his arms he followed her directions to her bedroom and fell onto the bed with her. Now, after the first heated throes of pa.s.sions had been spent, he was ready to explore her beautiful body.

Kieran slipped the dress that had become wrapped around her waist off over her head and leaned down to taste her lips once again. He gathered her hair in his fist once again and pulled her to him as she relaxed into his arms. As he pressed her body against him again, he could feel himself becoming aroused again. His fingers fluttered over her soft skin, raising chill b.u.mps and making Sasha shiver slightly. He was bringing every nerve ending to life and she found herself wanting him again, needing to feel him move inside her once again.

His hands were warm and soft as he cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and rubbed his thumbs lightly over each nipple until they were hard as pebbles. His lips found his way around each creamy mound, covering them in kisses he gently suckled one rosy peak. Encouraged by her moan he sucked harder, almost painfully, and Sasha cried aloud, placing her hand gently on the back of his head. He lavished the same painful pleasure on the other until the pair was stiff and swollen.

Sasha"s moans only increased when he found the dewy folds of her s.e.x once again, probing with one long finger until it was buried completely inside her. Sliding his finger in and out at a slow, languorous pace, he kissed his way down her body. His lips met hers in that most erotic kiss as he licked his fingers, tasting the sweet flavor of her pa.s.sion. His tongue flicked out, teasing her with soft strokes on her most sensitive spot.

Her legs spread wider of their own volition and her hand returned to the back of his head as he suckled her c.l.i.t, pulling it into his mouth and clamping his lips down on it. His fingers were flying in and out of her as he strove to bring her to o.r.g.a.s.m again.

"Kieran!" she cried out suddenly as she reached it, her body convulsing and her pelvis grinding into his face. He slid his fingers out and slipped his tongue in to taste her sweet nectar. She came again when he put only slight pressure on her c.l.i.t and he pushed his tongue into her again, not wanting to miss a drop of her honey.

When her body had calmed and her hand began to stroke his hair, he moved up and rubbed the two fingers that had been buried in her onto her lips. She sucked them into her mouth cleaning them of her own juices. He kissed her then, wanting to share her flavor with her; wanting her to know how wonderful it truly was.

Kieran moved on top of her and once again slid easily into her tight channel. Sasha moaned as she came again; a slight rolling wave of pure pleasure. He allowed her to grip him tight and clench those incredibly strong muscles around him again and again. When he could take it no longer he began slowly, sensually, to pleasure her.

He kissed her now, long and deep, feeling none of the urgency that had swept them up in the kitchen. He wanted to take his time now; to wring from her every o.r.g.a.s.m he could before succ.u.mbing to his own release. With anyone else, he would have been gone after their encounter in the kitchen. If pressed to find an explanation why he wanted more from her, Kieran would have no answer.

Sasha pressed her lips into the crook of his neck, tasting the sweet saltiness of his skin and inhaling his heady scent. Her hands began a journey of exploration as she caressed every muscle on his back and down over curve of his b.u.t.tocks, the back up to marvel at the strength in his shoulders and arms.

As he enjoyed the exploration of her soft fingertips, he kept his own hands busy as well. He swept his hands over her soft thighs, pulling her legs up so that they were bent on either side of him. He thrust deeper into her now, his hands capturing hers to pin them above her head. Sasha moaned in response saying, "Yes! Oh that"s so good."

He quickly rolled her over putting her on top of him. "You drive," he said with a smile.

"I"ve never... I don"t..." She looked concerned for a moment and sat up as though she was going to climb off of him. But then, when she was truly astride him, the feel of him so deep within her quickly changed her mind. She experimented to find what felt best, first leaning back and rocking her hips gently. He slid his hands up her thighs until he was stroking the swollen lips of her p.u.s.s.y. He teased the sensitive bud of her c.l.i.t with his thumb, making her gasp and rock her hips faster.

He thought that he had never seen anything so beautiful in his life and, in a moment of unguarded honesty, told her as much. Smiling down at him, she rocked back a little faster and placed her hands behind her on his thighs. Lifting her hips faster and faster she reveled in the pleasure she found in this position. By controlling the speed and depth of each thrust she controlled her o.r.g.a.s.m, she controlled everything. Oh, she liked it on top.

"Come on me, Sasha! I want to feel you come on my c.o.c.k!" he urged her, correctly reading the surprise on her face. "Come on Princess, f.u.c.k me!"

Sasha was surprised, not by what he was saying, but by how much it was turning her on. She felt that now familiar wave of pleasure beginning to build deep inside her and her movements became frantic. As that magical wave crested, she sat down hard on him, grinding on him, wanting him as deep inside her as possible. She was overcome by the most intense o.r.g.a.s.m she had ever experienced, honed to perfection as Kieran pressed his thumb down on her c.l.i.toris. Her moans were inhuman, guttural sounds with only one coherent word which she repeated mindlessly over and over: "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!" She collapsed over him, her head on his chest until he lifted her chin to kiss her again. With another quick movement, she was pinned under him again, her thighs quivering from the strength of her release.

Now, as her o.r.g.a.s.m subsided and the strength of her contractions waned, Kieran sought his own pleasure. He pulled out of her and turned her on her stomach lifting her b.u.t.tocks before plunging back into her again. She cried out as her muscles involuntarily clamped around him again, her every nerve ending on fire with sensual overload.

He grabbed her hips and pistoned in and out of her so hard she had to hug a pillow for support. Before she knew it, she was coming again, over and over in quick succession until she the pure pleasure of it threatened to overwhelm her. Kieran buried himself deep within her, calling out her name as he came again.

He released her hips and she collapsed to the bed, feeling utterly sated. She lay with her eyes closed as she caught her breath. When she opened them again, she met his shining silver eyes and felt b.u.t.terflies take flight in her stomach. Reaching down to the end of the bed, Kieran grabbed the quilt that lay still folded at the bottom and draped it over her.

"Won"t you be cold?" Sasha asked sleepily. When he didn"t answer, she realized what his silence implied. "Oh, you"re leaving?"

"Well, I thought..." He paused, unsure of himself. This had never happened to him before. Any other time, he"d be out the door before the wet spot dried. But, looking into her eyes so soft and blue, he found he couldn"t leave. No, he found he didn"t want to leave. "I can stay for a while," he finished lamely.

He nestled down under the quilt and pulled her close, still confused as to what exactly he was doing. But then, when he heard her breath grow steady and even, he knew she was falling asleep. He bent down and kissed the top of her head, inhaling the clean lavender scent of her hair. Closing his eyes, he wondered what he had gotten himself into.

He woke up to find that they were spooning. Spooning! He didn"t think he"d ever done that before. While Kieran contemplated slipping out of bed and leaving, she moved against him. The soft give of her a.s.s was bringing his c.o.c.k to life again. She moved again and more blood rushed southward. Thoughts of leaving flew from his head as he pulled her tighter against him, her naked bottom warm and pliant.

He let his hand wander over the curve of her thigh and up to her shoulder where he brushed her golden blonde hair away from her face. He kissed her neck lightly, marking a trail up to her ear where he nibbled on her earlobe and whispered her name. She shivered and moved back against him again, driving more blood into his swiftly hardening c.o.c.k. He pressed back against her and moved a hand to her breast, teasing the nipple with his fingertips.