Scalded by Desiree Holt, Allie Standifer Page B

Her dream house crept closer with each party she 8
    Scalded
    gave and the more products she sold. Soon, so very soon, she’d be able to buy a king-size bed and have a place to put it.
    Her small cramped place now did double duty as both apartment and storage space for Jolts. Her personal space was crammed in between cases of coffee and creamer and her small twin bed and mini fridge.
    One of her favorite pastimes was to click on the little slide show posted on the real estate agency’s site. Her dream house was just over twenty-five hundred square feet.
    She didn’t care if it was more room than one person needed. The place had two porches—front and back—a large stone fireplace in the living room, professional chef’s kitchen, and a lovely backyard complete with swimming pool and hot tub.
    The master bedroom and bath were any female’s ultimate fantasy with giant walkin closets, double sinks, walk-in stone shower with its decadent five showerheads. The tub, almost big enough to swim in, came with massaging jets, heat lamps and a shelf for a flat screen television.
    Another couple of parties like this one and she’d be able to put thirty percent down on her dream.
    Caught up in her visions of home and leg room, Halli didn’t notice the tall figure striding toward her, his form just out of the comforting circle of the security lights.
    When hard hands grabbed her shoulders, Halli jerked back, let out of yelp of fear and threw her arms up in an automatic protective gesture. The plastic tub fell to the ground with its lid flying open. Anal beads, wands, lubes, handcuffs, silk scarves and nipple clamps scattered around her feet.
    She refused to glance up at the man, knowing at once it must be the mysterious Reed Tina’s husband was to call. Mortified at having her products scattered all over the driveway, Halli sank to her knees in a vain attempt to grab everything before Reed could see what he caused her to drop.
    “Well, hello, gorgeous,” the stranger in her night said in a husky, deep voice.
    “Where have you been hiding all my life?”
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    Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer
    At his words her head shot up and her breath whooshed out. Sexy was the only word to describe him. Tall with golden-brown hair that shone brightly in the house’s security lights, he had the lean build of a runner and the watchfulness of a cop.
    The husky timbre of his voice instantly wet her underwear and caused her nipples to tighten. What the hell was happening to her? She didn’t react to men this way. Other women did. The women she threw parties for grew wet and horny at the sight of a good-looking man, not sensible, possibly frigid, Halli Wilson.
    Must be the wine , she thought, scooping toys up with both arms.
    “Please, tell me you’re single or I’ll be forced to use police brutality on your boyfriend.” Dimples winked out of his cheeks as he knelt by her side to help her gather her products.
    “I don’t need any help,” she protested as Reed reached for a string of vibrating anal beads. Her cheeks were hot with the flush of embarrassment. “Really, I can handle this on my own.”
    “You probably could, but my mama raised me to be a gentlemen at all times. No way could I leave a lady alone with her…cunt clip?” The small silver clip glinted in the light as he held it between his long fingers, staring at it.
    Ignoring him and the device in his hand Halli grabbed everything near her, stuffed the merchandise back into the container and jumped to her feet.
    “Um…I should be going now. Anyway, Tina has already turned in for the night but I think Rick’s waiting for you.”
    He stepped closer as she backed away, clutching the plastic tub tightly to her chest.
    “Don’t go,” he whispered, his eyes reflecting the light from the house as he moved deeper into her personal space. “Tell me who you are.”
    “Really there’s no need. I’ve got to get out of here,” she protested again, ducking under his arm in order to