Foreplay by Marteeka Karland Page B

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

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    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.

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    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

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    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