Chapter One
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy diner, Sara stared as her friend, Jolene, munched noisily on her crisp salad. "Okay, I know my life's not over, but it's difficult to start over, alone, after all these years."
"Like I've said at least a million times, you should have left him years ago, but twenty-eight isn't over the hill ... yet." Jolene softened the comment with a wink. "Are you going to use the rest of that salad dressing?
Sara shoved the dressing across the table. "Yeah, but in this day and age it's scary to think of dating again, and possibly, you know." Sara fidgeted, poking at her own uneaten salad. Lettuce with low-cal dressing held little appeal. Unfortunately, the extra fifteen pounds on her thighs and hips allowed for nothing else.
"Sex. It's called sex, Sara. Fucking, boinking..."
"Shh," She hushed her friend, waving her hand in a frantic motion, attempting to silence her. Sara glanced around nervously, hoping like hell the clatter of the diner covered Jolene's most recent words of wisdom. "Do you have to scream?"
"Sorry! Here I brought you a present." Jolene shoved a colorful bag across the table. Sara pushed the bright tissue paper aside as Jolene told her, "I wouldn't pull it out in here if the mere mention of sex in public embarrasses you."
Sara wrapped her hand around the hard object, lifting it to the top of the bag when Jolene's comment registered. She squeezed the firm length as she peeked into the bag. Gasping, Sara dropped the dildo. "Jesus, Jo, what do I need that for?"
"If you don't know what it's for, you really do need it."
"I know what it's for. I just don't think..."
"Don't think; just use it. Look, all I've heard for the last few years is how your sex life with Mike was nonexistent. Now, you're divorced and need to get in the swing of things."
Sara's face suffused with heat, but that didn't account for the shiver of awareness running up her spine. She glanced around the crowded room. She felt exposed, as if eyes were probing her dark secrets, secrets she didn't even tell her best friend. She didn't see anyone staring at her, so her gaze returned to Jolene. She knew Jo only wanted the best for her. Smiling shyly, she brushed her long, blonde hair back out of her face. She leaned forward and whispered, "Thanks, I guess, I just don't..."
"Look if you don't want to use it, you don't have to. It's not like I'm gonna be watching or anything." Jo giggled and patted Sara's hand. "It's not a sin, you know; you won't go blind or anything. Thomas and I use toys sometimes. It's fun and can add a kick to your sex life."
Sara could have told Jo that she'd tried a toy or two, but hadn't found them immensely satisfying. Out of the corner of her eye, Sara saw a red pick-up screech to a halt at the curb. "Looks like Thomas is here. You better go."
"All right, enjoy your trip and call me when you get back. Don't forget to pack my present. You might see someone that inspires you."
"I wouldn't dream of forgetting it." Sara laughed and waved as Jo hurried from the diner. A wistful smile curved Sara's lips as Jolene hopped in the truck and leaned over to kiss Thomas. If it weren't for the two of them, she wouldn't believe in love or happily ever after. They had been high school sweethearts and had gotten married right after graduation. Now, they had two little girls and just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Happiness blessed some people.
"Ma'am, will there be anything else?" the waitress asked.
"No, thanks," Sara replied absently, lost in thought.
Her own marriage had been a mistake from the start. She didn't love Mike. Not as she should have, and he certainly didn't love her. He had been her first and only true lover. In her naiveté, she had thought if you had sex with someone you had to love and then marry them. If she had been more experienced she would have realized right from the beginning what they had wasn't love or anything remotely close. Sara closed her eyes for a moment, reminiscing on her own unpleasant love life or lack thereof.
Mike asking her out had been a total surprise. In high school, she'd been the shy, awkward scholarly type. While he wasn't the most handsome boy in school, he was popular with the girls. She'd accepted the date, not out of a desire to go out with him, but to hide from someone else.
They had gone out a couple of times, and then he had taken her to a party. Drugs and booze floated around the room.
Wanting to fit in, Sara drank a couple of beers and smoked a little pot. She'd paid for the mistake for the last ten years. The next morning she woke up, naked, in bed with Mike, her memory blurry at best. He had taken her virginity. Had he raped her? She wouldn't call it that. He'd been as drunk as her, and she might have accidentally encouraged him. Looking back, she realized she'd chosen Mike because she thought he was a safe alternative to the boy she'd really wanted. A frown turned down her lips. She'd been so stupid.
In their inebriated state, they hadn't used any protection, and Sara had gotten pregnant. Two months later, just one week after high school graduation, they were married. Shortly after that, she miscarried. She had grieved for the baby, but she thought Mike had been happy about her loss. It had been a difficult start to a difficult marriage. She had stayed because she believed marriage was a lifetime commitment. Looking back, she realized she should have ended things then.
Years had flown by and gradually they settled into a distant, unsatisfying relationship. Six months ago, everything changed. That was when Mike left her for another woman. A twenty year old he claimed was hot in bed. The sad thing was she didn't even care. Truthfully, she was happy he left. Now, her life could begin.
A shiver of awareness pulled her from her memories. Her hunted gaze darted around again, seeing nothing out of the ordinary until her eyes settled on him. A large, dark haired man sat in a booth directly behind her. He appeared to be eating his lunch and reading a newspaper, but there was something about him. The paper hid part of his face, but what she could see stirred more than mild interest. He looked like the perfect bad boy in every good girl's erotic dream. He was tall, his long legs stretching out under the opposite bench seat. His skin was a golden tan, and on his right arm, sticking out below his too tight black T-shirt was part of a tattoo. Long, dark hair pulled back into a ponytail and a silver earring dangling from his left ear, only added to the effect. Wicked, that's what he was.
Blood began to pump rapidly through her veins as she gazed at him. He looked like a man who would know how to please a woman. She looked at his large hands, with long, tapered fingers as he raised his fork to his mouth. His generously full lips parted, and his hand hesitated. She glanced up to meet his gaze across the room. Her breath caught in her throat. He had dark eyes, almost black, and they burned into her flesh.
An erotic film rolled through her mind. Stretched out naked on a bed, her body contorted in pleasure as a man feasted between her thighs. Her pussy spasmed in urgent release, and the man's head rose. Those same black eyes gleamed at her from a face years younger.
Sara gasped as her panties dampened with familiar need. It couldn't be, not after all these years. "Cein Creedon," she whispered, her lips trembling.
Cein, better known as Walking Sin, back in town after all these years. Grabbing her purse, she threw a twenty on the table and ran from the restaurant. Sprinting to her car, she slammed the compact's door and gunned the engine. She had to get away before she embarrassed herself beyond redemption. Small towns were known for gossip and ever since Mike left, she'd been hiding from the whispers of failure. She could only imagine the reaction if she spread herself on Cein's table and asked for a repeat performance of the one unfinished night they'd shared. At that thought, her upper thigh muscles tightened, and her pussy gushed. Damn, she needed a man. A mindless fuck with an anonymous stranger ought to ease her lust. An annoying voice in her head doubted a stranger could ease the arousal Cein inspired all too easily.
Cein watched Sara run from the diner with an amused smile. She wouldn't get very far. Standing, he stretched his legs. Sara had forgotten her package, but he wouldn't mind delivering it. Peeling off a few bills, he dropped them on the table and collected Sara's gift. He peeked under the glittery paper and raised a dark brow. A chuckle escaped his lips. It would be his pleasure to deliver the item. He knew exactly what he would do with it. Whistling, Cein headed for his bike. It was about time he taught Sara that the only place she could run was into his arms. The last time, he'd followed her wishes and left town. This time, she would bend to his will.
He hadn't been able to help overhearing Sara and her friend's conversation. If Sara was hungry for sex, he would be the man to feed her. He would teach her exactly what she had been missing all these years.
)
The past has a way of catching up with you and sometimes you're glad it does. Freshly divorced, Sara is headed out of town looking for adventure. However, she's about to discover an erotic adventure with the one man she thought she'd lost forever. Cein Creedon walked away from Sara when she chose another man over him. However, she's free now and Cein has waited about as long as he can. It's time he reminds her why he was nicknamed Walking Sin.
