that was slowly driving Lilly
insane.
“Back off, Caleb.” Connor‟s hiss of warning
always followed exchanges like this. Lilly didn‟t know
if he was serious or if it was simply part of the game.
For Connor‟s part, he wasn‟t as overt as Caleb, but he
dropped his share of sexual innuendos. Connor would
sneak up behind her and whisper an order in her ear
as if he were giving a lover a command. It almost
always made her jump, especially when he
“accidentally” pressed that ripped, hard body against
her. Once she nearly backhanded him, he‟d startled
her so badly. The initial reflexive urge was
immediately replaced by an even stronger urge to
jump that big, muscled body and have him make good
on all the sexual vibes he sent her way, even if they
were only pretended. Connor had merely chuckled
and apologized. But he hadn‟t stopped doing it either.
Lilly had no illusions that they were really
flirting with her. She was a pretty enough woman, but
there were social gaps there as large as the Montana
16
MARTEEKA KARLAND
sky. It was only a game that passed the time. They had,
after all, worked together for more than ten years.
There was a comfortable friendship among the three of
them. Besides, they all enjoyed the banter.
Sometimes, though, she found herself wondering what
it would be like to take the fun to the next level.
Having not one, but two big, sexy guys in her bed
would be truly sinful!
Fun, but sinful.
Lilly rolled her shoulders and neck as she waited
for the elevator to take her to the top level of the
employee-parking garage. It had been a hard week.
With the flu season in full swing, the hospital was full.
Busy was one thing, but this was more than she
wanted. The weekend hadn‟t come soon enough, but
now, she mercifully had three days off.
All to herself…well, herself and her cat. The gray
and white tuxedo was as demanding as everyone at
work. Fortunately, she could deal with one finicky
feline. Besides, good food and a little lap time did
wonders for both of them.
Lilly‟s drive home took close to half an hour. She
was stripping as soon as she closed the door behind
her, and a minute later she was in the shower. A
shower was always the first thing she did when she
arrived home.
17
Foreplay
Sure she primarily worked at the desk, but a
hospital was still a hospital. Her routine was simple:
get home. Throw the clothes in the washer. Shower. It
was the only way she felt clean. Besides, there was no
way she was letting her work clothes get anywhere
near her butter-soft leather sectional, or anything else
in her apartment, for that matter. She worked her ass
off to have nice things and a pristine apartment. She‟d
damned well take care of her stuff and keep the place
clean.
Once out of the shower, she took off her shower
cap and shook out her hair. While she twisted her
dark brown, shoulder-length tresses into a clip at
work, she wore her hair loose everywhere else.
Though it was just her and her cat, she took her time
tending to her hair. Her mother always said there was
no excuse for being a slob.
Work always made her feel…ordinary. Everyone
wore uniforms, and she didn‟t really have any way to
distinguish her personality. Ah, but at home, she was
free to be herself. Going to the closet, she pulled out
the one expensive, luxurious item she owned: a
vintage Olga 9692 full-length nightgown slip dress. It
had been expensive, but it made her feel feminine like
nothing else ever could.
Slipping it over her head, she smoothed the silky
fabric over her torso. The bodice plunged into a deep
18
MARTEEKA KARLAND
“V” with a knotted twist gathering that supported her
generous breasts comfortably. Its pale, creamy peach
color contrasted perfectly with her dark chocolate
skin. The waist was cinched slightly, and the skirt
flared seductively so it flowed around her legs, its
sheer material giving a tantalizing silhouette of
David LaRochelle
Walter Wangerin Jr.
James Axler
Yann Martel
Ian Irvine
Cory Putman Oakes
Ted Krever
Marcus Johnson
T.A. Foster
Lee Goldberg