Scalded by Desiree Holt, Allie Standifer

 
    Scalded
    Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer
     
    Book 2 in the Turn Up the Heat series
     
    Reed Brody is head of the geek squad for the local police. At work, he’s intense and driven; after hours, he can’t help but use that same drive in his sex life. Too bad he can’t find a woman interested in a few bondage games.
    Halli Wilson is a quiet coffee shop owner who also hosts sex-toy parties on the side.
    Too bad she can’t find a guy man enough to tie her up and take her down.
    Halli only bargained for a month. Reed’s never wanted forever. Two people determined to keep it light make the biggest mistake of all by falling in love.
     

     
    An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
     
    www.ellorascave.com
     
    Scalded
     
    ISBN 9781419929144
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
    Scalded Copyright © 2010 Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer
     
    Edited by Helen Woodall
    Cover art by Syneca
     
    Electronic book publication August 2010
     
    The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
     
    With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
     
    Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
     
    This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
     
    SCALDED
    Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer

Dedication
    To Kristi who always makes me laugh and is there whenever and wherever.
    Having you as a friend is priceless. Having you as sister is a gift beyond measure.
    ~Allie
     
    To all my readers who said they love my “fun stuff”.
    ~Desiree
     
    Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer

Chapter One
    With one last look at her packed cases, Halli knew the successful evening’s sales of dildos, cock rings and anal lube would push her profit margin over the top. The money would put her one step closer to buying the house she’d been dreaming about and getting out of the small, cramped apartment over her coffee shop, Jolts. Though the free rent hadn’t hurt her savings either. The sex toy parties more than made up for the declining economy. People always, always had time and money for sex or sex toys.
    Four years ago she would never have dreamed of making money this way, but back then she hadn’t known her dream house really existed. Not until she’d found it while surfing local real estate listings. Now that Halli knew it was out there waiting for her, she’d do whatever it took to make it her own.
    Too bad Halli herself didn’t understand the fuss over toys. Oh, she could talk the talk, but she’d never walked the walk. Too timid to bring up sex toys to her past lovers and too uptight to try them out by herself, Halli relied on satisfied clients in order to glean the details.
    Did it make her a freak that she wanted a little bondage? Wanted to dump the responsibility for her sexual pleasure on a man’s lap? She wanted to be teased and touched until she begged for the release only her lover could provide.
    Too bad that lover didn’t exist. Most men didn’t like admitting to needing anything more in the bed besides their cock. Halli didn’t think