Magic & Mayhem

Chapter 1

SIN AND SEX ON A STICK, THAT WAS SHANE MARKHAM.

Abigail Garvey watched the county’s “Most Eligible Bachelor” from her bedroom balcony and wondered if it would be rude to ask him to move. The driving force behind Markham Estates Master Planned housing community, Shane could have any of the unsold homes in the neighborhood, but he’d chosen the one next to hers. He was single; surely he didn’t have all that much furniture to move? And Lord knows, all of the women who’d flocked to buy a house here in an attempt to catch him wouldn’t mind having him next door.

She did, though. A lot.

Why, out of all of the homes he could have picked, did he have to move into the one that shared a yard with hers? How was a woman expected to go about her business when she had eye candy like that just a few feet away? There was no way for her to look outside her windows and not see him. Shane met with all new residents personally, and showed them around the pool, tennis courts, and gym. And in the summer…

Abby swallowed hard. In the summer, he’d be out front in shorts and bare feet washing his classic El Camino. His skin would be tanned and slick with a fine sheen of perspiration, the beautifully defined muscles of his back and arms brought into stark relief by his exertions.

He’d caught her ogling him more than a few times, his head turning as he sensed her perusal, his teeth white as he grinned and waved.

Like he was doing right now.

Wincing, and offering a pained smile, Abby lifted her hand and waved back. Shane was standing beside another tall, buxom Mrs. Markham-wannabe. He was dressed in loose-fitting jeans and a cream-colored sweater, looking like a GQ advertisement. With his slightly too-long black hair and dark eyes, he made a striking complement to the new resident, who wore a lipstick red pantsuit.

Why couldn’t he move next to her? The way she was staring at him raptly, the woman looked like she’d love the proximity to such “prime husband material.”

Shane had laughed it off when Abby congratulated him on the magazine’s illustrious designation for him, his eyes bright with amusement.

“Don’t believe everything you read,” he’d said, brushing back the thick lock of hair that was always falling over his brow.

“What’s the false part?” she’d asked, genuinely curious. “You have a secret wife somewhere? A girlfriend? Are you in debt up to your ears? Or maybe you’re a criminal hiding under a secret identity?”

“None of the above.”

“Hmm. That’s what I thought.”

Shaking her head at how ridiculous it was to have a crush at her age, Abby stepped back into the warmth of her bedroom and closed the sliding glass door behind her. She really had to stop thinking about Shane. Five months now they’d been neighbors, and he had never once tried to hit on her or ask her out. Which meant he wasn’t going to.

Not that she didn’t understand why, because she did. She was ordinary, he was extraordinary. Like oil and water, they just didn’t mix.

Descending the stairs to the first floor, Abby tightened her customary ponytail, then collected the supersize zip ties and witch decoration she’d bought for her Halloween bash, and headed outside.

Throwing a costume party had been an annual tradition for her when she lived in California, and she was determined to stick to it here in Massachusetts. She didn’t have near as many friends here yet, just her coworkers and Kayla, who lived up the street, but Abby was an optimist. She was hopeful that the flyers she’d posted on the store e-bulletin and the community center here at Markham Estates would be enough to attract at least a small crowd.

As she opened the front door, Abby was hit by a blast of chilly autumn air. Shivering, she reached back inside to grab her favorite multicolored scarf from the carved wooden coatrack.

She was still becoming accustomed to having four seasons after years of living in California’s temperate climate. Even dressed as she was, with sheepskin boots, lined pants, and a sweater jacket, she was cold. But this was what she’d wanted, a change of scene. When she had been offered the position of regional director-a big bump up from department store manager-she’d leapt at the opportunity, considering it a perk of being single that she could move across the country on a whim.

A quick glance across the street showed that Shane and the lady in red had moved on, so Abby hopped down the short steps to the yellowed lawn and set to work attaching the “witch smashing into a tree” decoration to the sapling in her yard. It was obviously meant for a larger trunk, but she’d always wanted one, and this was the first time she had ever owned a tree, so she was going to make the darn thing work whether it liked it or not.

“Here, let me help with that.”

Abby nearly jumped out her skin at the deep rumble of Shane’s voice behind her. She spun around quickly, her heart racing. “Jeez! You scared me half to death.”

“Sorry.” He looked shameless with that sinful grin she loved. “If you hold Witchy up where you want her to hang, I’ll secure it with the ties.”

“Thanks.” She hoped she wasn’t drooling. It was the rare occasion when they stood this close to each other. She preferred to lust after him from afar. Less embarrassing that way.

Facing the tree, Abby watched Shane round the other side.

“I saw your party flyer,” he said, shooting a glance at her as he tugged on a tie. “Mind if I stop by with a friend?”

Great. Just how I want to spend Halloween, coveting Shane Markham while he hangs out with a date.

“Not at all,” she lied with mock cheerfulness. “Though I’m not sure how lively it’ll be. I don’t know that many people around here yet.”

“You have a date?” He held out his hand for the other tie, and Abby passed it over, shivering as his fingers rubbed against her palm as he retrieved it. The wind blew lightly, ruffling his hair and kicking her hormones into overdrive.

What would it be like to have a man that hot in my bed?

He was so fine, she was pretty sure he could just lie there naked, and that would be enough to put a smile on her face.

“Abby?”

She loved it when he said her name. He had a rich, deep voice that reminded her of melted chocolate. Yummy.

He smiled, dazzling her for a moment, then she realized how funny it must look for her to stand there mooning over him. Disgruntled by her own behavior, Abby was tempted to invent an admirer just so she didn’t feel so pathetic, but that wasn’t her style, so she just shook her head.

“Haven’t found anyone you like yet?”

“Something like that,” she muttered.

“That’s too bad.” He yanked on the other tie and tested it to make sure it was secure. “I can introduce you to some people, if you like.”

Fabulous. Now he’s setting me up with his buddies.

“Uh…Thanks, but that’s okay. I’m fine.”

Shane stepped around the tree and stood behind her, admiring their handiwork. Immediately the scent of his cologne teased her nostrils, and her skin prickled with goose bumps.

“If you change your mind,” he murmured by her ear, making her shiver, “let me know.”

Abby gave a resigned sigh but managed a smile when she turned around. He was just being sweet, something he was exceptionally good at. “Sure thing. Thank you for your help.”

“Anytime,” he said easily. “What are neighbors for? Should I bring anything over tonight? Candy? Booze? Pizza?”

“Not unless you have a particular preference for something. Otherwise, I think I’ve got everything.”

“Alright. If you think of anything you missed, just give me a call.” He reached up and adjusted her scarf. “See you in a bit.”

She watched him walk across the lawn to his door, admiring his fine ass and long legs. Then, chastising herself for staring, Abby went into the house, grabbed her keys, and went out to her car. As usual, she had everything she needed for everyone else but still had to get the things she needed for herself-costume and props.

Picking a different costume every year was one of the highlights of the holiday for her. She liked pretending to be someone, or some thing else for a few hours. When she was a kid, she used to dream of being an actress, but she was too shy for that vocation. Dressing up for Halloween was the closest she came to acting.

This year, she’d decided to be a fortune-teller. That choice had been adapted from belly dancer to accommodate her shyness. A belly dancer had to walk around and dance in her revealing costume. A fortune-teller could dress similarly but spend most of the night behind a table.

So Abby hopped into her Range Rover and drove across town to Conjure, the specialty store where her friend Kayla worked. Apparently they sold all sorts of things-gag gifts, magic stuff, costumes. She pulled into a spot across the street, then dodged the light traffic of their small downtown to reach the entrance. The door chimed as she entered, and she was immediately struck with the soothing scents of incense and spices, which made the shop feel homey and welcoming.

“Abby!” Kayla called out. “We were just talking about you.”

“You were?” Abby smiled at the pretty blonde who stood next to her friend, noting the name tag that said BRIANNA-OWNER. “What’s up?”

“I was just telling Brianna that she should come to your party.”

“She absolutely should.” Reaching into her bag, Abby withdrew a flyer. She set it on the counter, and paused a moment to rub behind the ears of the handsome black cat who sat by the register. “I’d actually be grateful if you came.”

“Oh?”

Abby wrinkled her nose and glanced at Kayla. “Shane’s coming. With a date.”

“Ugh.” Kayla shook her head. “The man’s blind. Seriously. You’re better off without him.” She glanced at her boss and explained, “Shane Markham’s her neighbor.”

Brianna’s eyebrows rose. “Lucky. He’s hot.”

The cat growled an ominous warning. Abby yanked her hand back quickly. “Yikes. Sorry.” She turned back to Kayla. “Maybe you should show me those costumes you were talking about.”

While following her friend to the rear corner of the store, Abby perused the many offerings on the shelves. She caught up a small handbasket set at the end of the aisle for customer use and picked up a crystal ball and some pretty beaded bracelets.

“I set this one aside for you,” Kayla said, turning to reveal a purple gypsy costume. “I figured you’d like it because it’s your favorite color, but now I think it’s even more perfect because it’s the most revealing one we’ve got!”

“Jeez. I can’t wear that.” Abby eyed the sheer voluminous pants with the splits down the sides and the teeny tiny halter top with its dangling gold coin decorative trim. “It’s indecent!”

“Exactly! Show Shane what he’s missing.”

“Yeah, my lack of breasts?” Snorting, Abby gestured at her less-than-ample chest. “The man dates women who look like Carmen Elektra. Why the hell would I want to point out my deficiencies?”

“Whatever. You’ve got a great athletic figure. Flaunt it!”

“It’s cold!”

“So turn the heater up. It’s your house.” Kayla handed over the costume and moved back to the counter.

Abby stared at the plum-colored confection in her hand. Despite how much skin the outfit revealed, she really loved the hue, and a quick glance at the others on the rack told her she wouldn’t like any of them near as much. She had a couple shrug sweaters. One of them might work as a cover-up…

“Just buy it!” Kayla yelled from the counter.

So Abby did. Then she collected her purchases and waved bye before crossing the street back to her car. She set the bag on the passenger seat beside her and paused, noting the flyer that stuck out of one of the handle holes. It was yellowed and torn, reminding her of an Old West wanted poster. Curious, she pulled it out while she waited for the heater to kick in.

Mystical, magical, mayhem, and more

Bring me a lover with the stamina of four.

A lover to awaken my darkest desires

And last through one night stoking the fires.

Mystical, magical, mayhem, and more

Let the lover of my dreams walk through the door.

“The stamina of four, huh?” Abby shoved the handwritten advertisement back into the bag. “I wish.”

Putting the Rover into reverse, she looked over her shoulder and backed up.

Time to get ready.

Chapter 2

ABBY HEAVED OUT HER BREATH AND TWISTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, trying to see if the rear of her costume was as revealing as the front. She was pretty sure it was.

The sheer leggings of the low-slung pants were even more shocking when worn. From what she could tell from the mirror, the lower curves of her butt cheeks were clearly visible. And the tiny tube top was smaller than it had looked in the store. It certainly couldn’t have been worn by a woman with a larger bust. Abby’s B-cup breasts were nearly too much for it.

She’d been debating whether or not to wear one of her older costumes for at least thirty minutes. Her shyness urged her to cover up. The frustrated sex kitten inside her knew she looked pretty damn hot and wanted Shane to see it. She’d pulled her brown hair up into a thick ponytail at the top of her head and her blue eyes-which she considered to be her only laudable feature-were heavily rimmed in black eyeliner and framed by thick mascara-coated lashes.

The doorbell rang, and Abby looked at her alarm clock on the nightstand. Six o’clock. The party didn’t start for another hour yet. Curious as to who her visitor could be, she hurried down the hall. The bell chimed again, and she jogged the rest of the way.

“I’m coming!” she yelled, skidding to a halt on the tiled entryway and pulling open the door. “Whoa.”

Shane Markham stood on her porch, looking like an exotic fantasy. Wearing black-and-silver harem pants and a tiny silver vest, he was dressed like a genie or a sultan. The broad expanse of his beautifully defined chest and abs were mouthwateringly exposed, as were his delicious biceps and forearms.

“Hi,” he greeted in that low rumble she loved. “Wow. You look great.”

“Hi. You, too.”

“We match.” He gestured down the length of her.

“Must be fate.” Oh jeez. I did not just say that.

“Must be.” He smiled. “I thought I’d come over and help you get things ready.”

Yikes! An hour alone with a half-naked Shane?

She blinked. “Uh…You don’t have to do that.”

His smile widened into a devastating grin, and her heart stopped. Then began racing. “I know I don’t have to. Can I come in? It’s cold out here.”

“Uh, yes. Of course. Sorry.” Abby backed into the house and pulled the door with her.

“I love your place,” he said, striding in with the innate confidence she found so appealing.

His gaze swept across her living room, with its hardwood floors, deep red rugs, and oversized chairs in shades of taupe and brown. It was a space that was neither too feminine nor too masculine. She’d picked everything out with comfort and relaxation in mind, because she worked long hours and liked her downtime to be restful.

“I may have to start hanging out here when I want some peace and quiet.”

Abby laughed to hide the way her tummy flipped at the thought of curling up on her big couch with him. He’d be dressed in sweats, and her hand would slide up beneath his shirt to feel those amazing abs before dipping beneath his waistband and gripping his thick cock. She would stroke him, making him hard and panting for her. Then she’d straddle him right there in the living room and ride him.

Yum.

She shivered, her body aching for his. God, I’ve wanted him for so long.

“So”-he looked at her-“what do you need done?”

Abby led him to the kitchen where she kept her to-do list. He stood behind her, able to see the items clearly over her shoulder.

“I’m impressed,” he murmured, the rich texture of his voice and the smell of his cologne driving her crazy. “You sure know how to plan one hell of a party.”

She shrugged. “I enjoy it.”

“I like that about you.” His dark eyes met hers when she looked at him. “Work hard. Play hard.”

She stared at his lips, wondering what it would be like for him to kiss her. If she rose to her tiptoes she would only reach his chin. He’d have to bend a little to kiss a woman her height.

Or save himself the trouble and date tall models like the ones she’d seen leaving his house in the mornings.

She’d be climbing into her Rover to head to work and there they were, rushing to start their day. Willowy, beautiful women with kiss-swollen lips, dazed eyes, and big grins. They’d wave and call out a cheerful greeting as they practically danced to their cars. Abby always wondered what it would be like to wake up next to Shane. Was he amorous in the mornings? Would he reach for her, make love to her, ride her deep and slow with lazy expertise until she began her day with a wondrous orgasm?

“Where’s your friend?” she asked, wincing inwardly at the breathlessness of her query.

“Tony’s girlfriend works until closing tonight, so they’ll be over a little after ten.”

“Your friend’s a guy?”

Shane’s brows lifted. “Yeah. I hope that’s okay.”

“Sure.” Relief flooded her, quickly followed by anxiety. She didn’t know which was worse-Shane arriving with a date or hooking up with someone at the party. Lord knew the female guests would be all over him. “I just thought you were bringing a date.”

“I’m not seeing anyone right now.”

“Oh.” She looked away to hide her pleasure at the news, then busied herself with ripping open candy bags. She dumped the contents into various Halloween-themed serving bowls, and Shane stood beside her, helping. Together they managed the task within moments, then moved on to setting up the spiked punch with a big block of dry ice tossed in to create an atmospheric fog.

“I bet you’re great to have around for the holidays,” he said with an indulgent smile. “My idea of decorating is tying a red bow to the doorknocker.”

“No lights?”

He raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for secrecy. “Don’t tell anyone, but I keep the lights up all year long. They’re clear rope lights, so no one notices them until they’re pointed out.”

Abby laughed. “That’s cheating!”

“Hey! Some of my buddies only hang one string around their living room windows, if that. I should get some points.”

“Maybe.”

“I’m a guy. I need help with this stuff.” He bumped shoulders with her. “Maybe I can convince you to help me out?”

She shook her head. “You won’t need my help then.”

“Trust me,” he said dryly. “I’ll still be a guy in December.”

She bumped him right back. “Yeah, but you won’t be a single guy. Your new girl can domesticate you.”

“I guess.” He ran a hand through his hair. “So what’s next on the list?”

“My table.” At his curious look, she explained, “I’m a fortune-teller, so I have a table and crystal ball as part of my costume.”

“Ah, props. Again, I’m impressed.”

The doorbell rang, and they both froze, then they turned their gazes in unison to look at the wall clock.

“Wow, time flies,” he said with a wink, setting his hand at the small of her back and escorting her to the door. The familiarity was agonizing for Abby. The feel of Shane’s palm against her bare skin made sharp needles of awareness spread along every nerve ending.

They reached the foyer and he turned the knob, startling Kayla and her date, who waited on the porch. “Well, don’t you two look cute? I love it when couples wear matching costumes.”

Narrowing her eyes in warning, Abby showed her guests to the living room, where the stereo played a repeating selection of Halloween CDs. Various entertainments were set up in the corners, like bobbing for apples and a box where guests had to stick their hand inside and guess the contents. She hurried back to the entryway as the bell rang again, and found the next hour of her evening spent shuttling partygoers from the door to wherever the largest congregation happened to be.

She was finally taking a break and downing a glass of punch when Shane joined her in the kitchen.

“Having fun yet?” he asked with a mischievous smile.

“Are you?”

“Why don’t you tell me my fortune and find out?”

Abby laughed. She knew he was enjoying himself. The female guests flocked to him like flies on honey, and his deep rich laughter followed her wherever she went.

“Come on.” He took her empty paper cup with its black cats in witches’ hats and tossed it in the trash before linking fingers with hers and tugging her into the living room. There, in the corner, waited her small, scarf-draped table and two chairs. Shane pulled her seat out and saw her settled, then he rounded the table and sat, waiting expectantly.

“You’re kidding,” she said.

“Nope.”

“Okay.” She rubbed the crystal ball with both hands. “I see lots of home sales and a life-size plastic snowman in your yard at Christmas.”

“Now who’s cheating?” He leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms, displaying his scrumptious arms to perfection. “I want to know,” he murmured in a low, provocative voice, “what does my future hold?”

Startled by the tone of the request, and thrown off-balance by the way he was watching her with those heavy-lidded eyes, Abby blurted out the first mystical-sounding thing that popped into her head. It wasn’t until he froze, unblinking, staring at her with brooding intensity that she wondered what she’d said.

“A lover to awaken your darkest desires?”

She recoiled into the seat with a hand clapped over her mouth. “Uh…” Oh jeez!

“Are we talking about your desires or mine?”

“Gah…”

Shane unfolded, leaning against the table in a way that opened his vest and revealed the beauty of his powerful chest. “Are you, by chance, hitting on me, Abby?”

Swallowing hard, she shook her head violently. “Of course not.”

He arched a dark brow.

“Seriously,” she insisted. “You’re not my type.”

His other brow rose to match the first. “How would you know?” he challenged.

“How does anyone know? You just…know.”

“That’s not very scientific.”

“Huh?” Her brain couldn’t seem to catch up with the conversation. She was supposed to be reading his damn fortune. “You’ll become very rich and live happily ever after.”

Pushing her chair back, Abby rose and skirted the table. Shane was right there with her.

“Oh no,” he rumbled, sidestepping into her path. “We’re not done yet.”

She swallowed hard and tilted her head back to look up at him. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Just forget I said anything.”

His slow smile made her shiver. “No.” Lifting his hand, his fingertips brushed from her shoulder to the hollow of her throat in a featherlight caress. Goose bumps flared across her skin. “You say I’m not your type. I say I might be.”

Her mouth fell open. “You?”

“Honey, you’re hell on a man’s ego.” He cupped the back of her neck, wrapped an arm around her waist, and tugged her closer.

Abby was so shocked by his advance she didn’t know what to say. Then he brushed his lips across hers, and she melted. The subtle scent of his cologne teased her nostrils, making her breasts swell and ache with longing.

“You only date beautiful women,” she whispered against his mouth, her hands moving without volition to his lean hips.

“You’re a beautiful woman.” He tilted his head and deepened his kiss, his tongue gliding along hers in a lush, warm lick. She moaned, helpless to the realization of her fantasy.

“Get a room!” someone shouted with a laugh. The effect was the same as a bucket of ice water. Abby yanked away, hazarding a glance at Shane before turning quickly and fleeing down the hall.

“Abby.”

She didn’t look back, she couldn’t. The way he was looking at her…

Heat swept across her skin. They’d been neighbors for five long months, and he’d never looked at her like that. She’d seriously consider that he was inebriated except she’d tasted his mouth and knew that wasn’t the case.

She lifted shaking fingertips to her tingling lips. Lord, the man knows how to kiss.

“Abby.” Warm arms caught her about the waist, and she flailed a moment in surprise. “Wait.”

Shane’s breath gusted across her ear. The feel of his bare chest pressing against the nearly naked length of her back was both heaven and hell. “We’re not done yet.”

Chapter 3

AS SHANE’S LARGE HAND SLIPPED BENEATH ABBY’S TOP AND cupped her breast, she whimpered softly. The party was behind them, just a few feet away, and Shane Markham was fondling her intimately. His fingers tugged at her hard nipple in a rhythmic milking motion that made her pussy slick with desire.

“Shane,” she breathed, her head falling back against his shoulder. His firm lips pressed to the side of her neck, his tongue flicking rapidly over her fluttering pulse. “What are you doing?”

He rolled his hips into her, revealing the hard swell of his erection. “You say I’m not your type, Abby?” Shane’s voice was a rough rumble of sound. “You want a lover who can fuck you all night, in all the ways you want, and all the ways you didn’t know to want.” His fingers tightened on her tormented nipple and his teeth sank gently into the tender flesh of her neck. “I’m your man, baby.”

Writhing in his embrace, Abby was torn between finding out what caused the drastic change in Shane and just going along for the ride. In the end, her deep craving for him won out.

“The party,” she reminded softly, gasping when he cupped her pussy through her costume.

“We both need to take the edge off. You know we can’t go back in there like this.”

“You mean a Quickie?”

Shane slipped his tongue into her ear, and she shuddered violently, creaming. “I promise you’ll come more than once,” he said gruffly, his fingertips rubbing at her clit.

“Oh!” Against her will, her hips rocked into his hand.

“What’s this room right here?” he asked, nudging her toward the nearest door.

“M-my home office.”

“Perfect.” He steered her in that direction.

“It’s not,” she protested, as the hand between her legs withdrew to turn the knob. He urged her in, then kicked the door gently closed behind them. “There’s no lock.”

“Maybe someone will come in,” he purred. “Maybe one of your friends out there will get to see me banging you. Would you like that?”

“Shane!” Abby spun to face him, stepping backward in quick retreat. The image his words brought to mind made her pant. The fantasy of having sex so hot it was unstoppable, even under threat of discovery, had been with her a long time. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Aren’t you more curious about what’s about to get into you?” He stepped closer. Predatory. Intent.

She swallowed hard. As he came to a halt before her, she reached out with one hand and steadied herself with the back of her desk chair. He was so close, she could feel the heat from his skin.

“Tell me the truth, Abby.” He cupped her face in both hands. “Am I really not your type? Do you not want me?”

This was it. The Moment. Take it or leave it. Walk out of here with a wet pussy, aching nipples, and her heart. Or stumble out with a dopey grin and the surety of heartache.

Her eyes closed on a deep breath.

“I want,” she whispered, then she melted as he kissed her with such tenderness she could hardly stand it. After his zero-to-sixty pounce of just a few minutes before, the leisurely mating of firm lips and deep, stroking tongue caught her completely off guard.

“I don’t have a condom,” he said, his words swallowed by her open mouth. “We’ll have to improvise.”

No way. She wanted all of him. Now that she was decided, she wanted every hot, thick inch she’d felt against her lower back.

“It’s okay.” Abby turned away to open her desk drawer, a movement that caused her computer to come out of sleep mode and light up the room with a soft blue glow.

He looked over her shoulder at the array of condoms and whistled.

“One of the gals at work just had a bachelorette party,” she explained. “I hot-glued these to lollipop sticks as favors.” She withdrew a Magnum and set it on the desk.

“Is it my lucky night or what?” His tone was filled with warm amusement as his hands caught her waistband. He lowered to a crouch, tugging her pants to the floor.

She stiffened in shock.

“Step out and spread your legs.”

“You’re going too fast!”

“You said we’re in a hurry,” he reminded in a dark-as-sin voice. He lifted her right leg and tugged its foot free of both shoe and pants cuff. “If we’re not, recant and we’ll take our time in a more suitable venue.”

A swell of laughter from the living room, which shared a wall with her office, decided her. “Hurry!”

“That’s what I thought.”

Standing, Shane turned her to face away from him and mantled her body with his own, cupping her exposed pussy with a possessive grip. He parted her, then stroked through her slickness. “Good, you’re hot and wet.” Two fingers slipped inside her, and Abby leaned heavily into the desk to stay upright. “You sure I can’t change your mind, Abby? We can sneak out and go to my place.”

“I’m having a party!” But her voice lacked the conviction it had earlier.

“Later, then. I want you spread out on my bed so I can ride you long and slow.” Shane finger-fucked her pussy with deep, expert strokes. The feel of his hand rubbing rhythmically against her sensitive inner thighs made her wetter.

“Shane…” Her nails dug into her mousepad.

“Hang on.” He slid his fingers free, pausing a moment to rub her clit in slow, seductive circles before he took care of the logistics. She heard the tear of a condom wrapper, followed by the sounds of latex stretching. Then one hand was exerting downward pressure on her back, the other was positioning the head of his cock to take her.

“Here you go,” he murmured, bending his knees and pressing up into her.

“Hurry.” She felt so empty she ached with it, her pussy spasming in tormented impatience. “Please…hurry.”

Shane made a little soothing sound as she writhed. “Hold still, baby, and I’ll fill you.”

Abby gripped her desk for dear life as she realized how damn big he was. In her semi-bent over position he was almost unbearably huge. She whimpered.

“Easy,” he crooned, stroking the straining length of her spine. He lifted one of her legs and urged her to rest it sideways on the desktop so that she was spread wide. “You’re tight, and I’m so hard my dick aches, but I’ll fit. Just relax.”

As he continued to slide into her, forcing her swollen tissues to part with the fat tip of his cock, she began to shake with anticipation and heady lust.

Shane stilled, then reached around her, taking control of her mouse. She watched in confusion, wondering what he was doing, then a moment later an image of them appeared on her monitor.

She gasped.

He plucked her camera off the shelf and set it on the desk, then he flicked on the under-shelf light. Instantly an up-close-and-personal view of his long, thick cock breaching her pussy was there on her twenty-inch flat screen. The lips of her sex were dark pink and glistening with her arousal, the skin stretched tight to accommodate his size.

“Oh!” Abby sucked in a breath as one her darkest fantasies came to life before her eyes. She licked dry lips as she watched another inch of delicious dick slide into her.

“That’s it,” he coaxed, his lips to her ear, his hands reaching around to pull down her top and cup her aching breasts. “It turns you on to watch. You just got twice as hot and twice as wet.”

He began rocking into her again, slow and easy, advancing and retreating, satisfying her desire to videotape sex to watch later. She’d never done it. The thought of losing a tape like that terrified her. But this…this wasn’t being recorded, and it was having the same effect.

Shane’s fingers tugged on her nipples in time with his heated thrusts. The flared head of his cock rubbed a sensitive spot deep inside her, and she climaxed with a soft cry, her pussy rippling along as much of him as she’d managed to take.

She felt him shudder behind her with a low curse. “You’re going to make me come,” he growled, his fingers tightening to a pinch.

“Go ahead,” she suggested, her voice slurred with pleasure.

“Not until I’m balls deep in you. I want to feel you do that again, but with my dick all the way inside.”

“Okay.” Abby giggled. Like she was going to say no to that.

He grunted softly as another thick inch sank home. “If I make it in you without coming first, I deserve a damn medal.”

“I don’t have any of those,” she said in a dreamy voice, her heavy-lidded eyes riveted to her monitor. “How about a blow job instead?”

Shane’s hips jerked forward, shoving him deeper into her. “Jesus, Abby!”

“I’d really like that,” she murmured. “You’re so big. I think sucking your cock could make me orgasm.”

“Damn it.” One hand dropped to her hip, holding her in place as he fucked upward in fierce digs, pumping high and hard and deep, making her cry out with every lunge. Then he was in her to the hilt, a thick, throbbing presence, and she was melting.

“Oh yeah…” he breathed, his arms wrapping tight around her, his mouth pressing feverish kisses along the top of her shoulder. “Christ, you’re hot, Abby. You’re burning me up.”

Reaching over her shoulder, she slid her fingers into his thick, silky hair. The simple touch seemed to be too much for him, urging him into frantic movements, his heavy balls smacking against her as he shafted her pussy in long, pumping drives.

Abby watched it all on the monitor, her body quaking with the intensity of her arousal, moaning when his hand reached lower and he rubbed her clit. She keened softly, coming hard, clenching rhythmically around his driving cock.

“Yeah,” he urged hoarsely, his chin on her shoulder so he could watch, too. “Keep coming. That feels amazing.”

Laughter and voices sounded directly outside the door, someone looking for the bathroom and another guest trying to help. Abby tensed, the added anxiety only increasing her pleasure. She’d orgasmed twice already, yet suddenly she felt ready to do it again.

“Maybe they’ll check in here,” Shane suggested darkly, his chest heaving against her back, his fingers working her clit in time with his thrusts. “Then they can see me fucking you. I’ll make you come while they watch. Would you like that, Abby?”

She climaxed in violent shudders, her blood rushing in her ears, her breathing loud and labored in the small room.

“Yes!” he hissed, thrusting deep and grinding against her, ejaculating so hard she could feel him come. All the while, he clung to her, his arms tight bands around her torso. “Abby…my God…”

In one delicious encounter, her every fantasy came to life. She closed her eyes, memorizing every nuance. Every sensation. Zealously storing away these precious moments to relive later.

“Abby.”

Reality intruded. The note of regret in Shane’s voice made her stomach knot. Now that he’d taken the edge off his hunger, he realized what he’d done. And the ramifications.

She moaned softly as he withdrew his cock. He shushed her with a gentle hum. “I’m sorry.”

Abby felt like crying. “It’s okay.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “I understand.”

“Then you’re further ahead than I,” he muttered, yanking tissues from the box on her desk and wrapping them around the condom. Tossing the wad into the trash can, he began straightening his clothing and hers with quiet efficiency. “I have no idea what got into me.”

“I said it’s okay, Shane. Forget it.” She never would, but that was for her alone to know.

He hugged her from behind and kissed her temple. “It’s not okay. Our first time shouldn’t have been like this, a quick fuck in your office. But I couldn’t wait. Even now, I’m trying to figure out how to get all these damn people out of here so I can have you again.”

Wide-eyed, Abby turned and found herself pulled tight to Shane’s hard body. He cupped her face and took her mouth with infinite tenderness.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his lips moving against hers. “I’ll make it up to you at my place.”

“Anytime,” she whispered back.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she gave up any pretense of keeping her heart intact.

Chapter 4

ABBY WOKE TO THE WONDERFUL FEELING OF A WARM, HARD BODY at her back. Blinking away sleep, she took in her surroundings and recognized the dark blue ceiling painted with little stars. Stars that had backdropped Shane’s powerful shoulders while he thrust deep inside her. Over and over. For hours.

Shane’s house. Shane’s bedroom. Shane’s bed.

Passionate memories from the night before flooded her sleep-fuzzy mind and stiffened her frame. Turning her head slowly, she spotted the gorgeous sleep-tousled man beside her and pinched herself.

Nothing changed.

Oh wow.

The party had lasted until one in the morning, but Shane had lasted all night. A quick lift of her head to look at the clock showed it was now almost two in the afternoon. Stamina of four. Shane had it in spades. No wonder the supermodels who left his place wore grins as wide as the Joker’s.

Sadly, Abby wasn’t smiling. She couldn’t. She was too scared of the future and how things would be between them in the harsh light of day. Freed from their costumes and the anonymity they afforded.

Unable to face any morning-after awkwardness, she slipped carefully from the bed without waking Shane and gathered up the pieces of her discarded costume. She paused a moment at the foot of the bed, taking in the sight of him facing her vacated side, his chest bare and beautiful, a dark blue sheet draped low over his hips.

Her mouth watered as she thought of the rest of him. He was truly delicious, in every sense of the word. She’d never forget the feel of his big cock in her mouth, sliding deep and withdrawing. His hands fisted in the bedsheets, his back arching with guttural cries of her name and pleas for her to stop. Pleas for her not to stop. Until he couldn’t hold back any longer.

Shaking her head, she tiptoed from the room and down the stairs. She dressed in the living room before peeking out the crack of the barely opened front door. It would be a damn miracle if she made it to her house without being seen by someone. She didn’t know how she would bear it if everyone in the neighborhood knew about her and Shane. It would be impossible to pretend nothing had happened.

It took a few moments to build up her courage, then Abby made a run for it, sprinting across the yellowed grass to her side-yard gate and slipping into her backyard. She retrieved her spare key from the secret compartment beneath a cement frog and entered through her kitchen. Once inside, the lingering smell of now-extinguished pumpkin spice candles reminded her of Halloween and brought tears to her eyes.

Lack of sleep, she told herself. There was no other reason for her to be so sappy over something as wonderful as a night spent with Shane Markham. But she needed to hear that from someone else, so she exhaled harshly and picked up the phone.

“Conjure,” answered a female voice on the third ring.

“Hi, Brianna. It’s Abby.” She tried to sound cheerful. “Can I talk to Kayla a minute? It won’t take long, I promise.”

“Kayla’s not here today. The shop’s closed. I just stopped by to pick up a couple things and answered the phone out of habit.”

“Oh.” She didn’t mean to sound so disappointed. It just came out that way.

“Are you okay?” Brianna’s friendly voice was filled with concern. “I hope you don’t mind my prying, but you don’t sound the way I would expect you to after a night spent with Shane Markham.”

Abby managed a short laugh. “That was a fluke. He’s been nothing but distantly friendly to me the entire five months I’ve lived here.”

“Uh, honey, I’ve seen distant friendliness, and that kiss he planted on you in the living room isn’t it.”

“Oh jeez.” So much for hiding the truth. Everyone she knew had shown up for her party last night, and they’d witnessed Shane’s pounce. And her surrender. “You know what that was? It was that flyer from your shop, the one about having stamina and boinking like bunnies all night. He put me on the spot for a fortune-telling and I blurted that poem. Bam.He got horny as hell. He’s single right now, so I think I was just convenient.” She sighed. “How depressing is that?”

“Oh shit,” Brianna breathed. “Shit, shit, shit.”

“Yeah.” Abby rubbed the back of her neck and rested her hip against the tiled edge of her kitchen counter. “That pretty much sums it up.”

A long silence followed. Abby opened her mouth to say good-bye when Brianna spoke first. “Abby, what are your thoughts on magic?”

Last night with Shane had been magic. If she inhaled deeply, she could still smell him on her skin. “If you’re talking about Feng Shui calming your mood, I agree. If you’re talking about hocus-pocus-abracadabra, I’m not a believer.”

Brianna groaned. “That’s what I thought.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. But I do have a favor to ask. If you’ve got a chair nearby, could you sit in it? I’ve got something to tell you, and you might be better off sitting down.”

Considering that her legs felt like jelly from being spread most of the night, Abby didn’t have a problem with the request.

And a few minutes later, she was grateful for the seat.

Shane blinked his eyes open and stretched, wincing at the unaccustomed soreness in his ass and thighs. As memories of the night before came back in a delightful rush, a smile started inside and spread outward into a grin.

Abby.

Sweet little Abby, whom he’d lusted after for far too long, had finally come around.

If he’d known she wanted him rough and dirty, he would have indulged her earlier. Of course, coming on to a woman like a freight train wasn’t his usual style. Even now he was shocked at the things he’d said and done to her. He wasn’t the hot-and-heavy type, as witnessed by the five months he’d waited for some sign, any sign that she might be interested in being more than neighbors. Then he’d seen her in that sexy costume, and he’d instantly been put on a short leash. When she recited that poem about fucking all night, he’d been unleashed. Done. Cooked.

Rolling to his side, he moved to tug Abby closer and found the spot beside him empty. He frowned and sat up, looking around for her costume or any clue that she was still in his house somewhere. The bathroom maybe, or the kitchen. But there was nothing.

“Abby?” he called out, only to be greeted by silence.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, resigning himself to getting out of bed.

After they cleaned up, he wanted to head into town with her and grab something to eat. Then they could pick out some wine and groceries to make dinner. Maybe some movies, too. The thought of spending a quiet evening at home getting to know Abby better filled him with contentment.

Five months was a long time to wait to get a relationship started, but he knew Abby was worth it. He’d known it the very first day he’d shown her around the neighborhood. Fresh from California, she was adventurous and ambitious, with a fun-loving personality that enabled her to make friends quickly. Combine that with fabulous eyes and a great ass, and Abigail Garvey was his idea of the perfect date. After last night, he knew she was better than a great date, she was his dream girl.

God, the things she’d done to him…the sounds she made when he was deep in her…the way she looked at him with those blue eyes…

He was head over heels. He’d say he was pussy-whipped, but the sex was just a bonus on top of all the other things he liked about her. There was no doubt in his mind-he was ready to settle into a committed relationship with a wonderful woman who just happened to push all his buttons.

So, with a spring in his step, he headed to the shower. In his impatience to see Abby again, he rushed, towel-drying quickly before tugging on a pair of well-worn jeans and a black sweater. He shoved his wallet in his back pocket and condoms in his front pocket, then grabbed his keys and left his house, crossing the lawn to ring Abby’s doorbell.

He rang twice before she answered. The door swung inward, and he found himself catching the jamb for support when he saw her. The lithe body he adored was wrapped up in a thick white robe, and her hair was piled on top of her head in a matching white towel. She blew him away.

“Hi,” he said, grinning like an idiot and not caring.

“Hi.”

Warning bells went off, and he took a deep breath, trying to figure out why she sounded and looked so distant. “Can I come in?”

Her small hand fidgeted at her lapels. “I haven’t cleaned up yet,” she said in a small voice. “The place isn’t fit for company.”

Shane frowned. “Well, lucky for me, I’m not company.” He straightened and set his hands at her waist, backing her into the house and kicking the door closed behind him.

“Shane…”

He did what he’d wanted to do since he woke up, he kissed her, holding her face still and tilted upward so he could lick deep inside the velvety softness of her mouth. His eyes slid closed on a low groan, and he rested his forehead against hers. “I wish you’d been there when I woke up. We could have showered together.”

“Shane.” Her small hands came up to circle his wrists. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“I know exactly what I’m doing,” he said gruffly, pulling back to look at her red-rimmed eyes. At first he thought it was because of the costume makeup she’d worn the night before. Now, he strongly suspected she’d been crying, which is not what a guy wanted to see after a night of hot sex. “It’s what you’re doing that has me confused.”

She gave a shaky exhale and tried to step back. He wouldn’t let her. “You’re sweet, Shane, but this is unnecessary. I’m letting you off the hook.”

Arching a brow, he said dryly, “I like being hooked.”

“Listen. Just go home. In a few hours, you’ll look back at all this and wonder what the hell you were thinking.”

“Damn straight. I’ll be wondering why the hell I left when all I want is to be with you.” Linking their hands together, he tugged her into the living room and sat, pulling her into his lap. Her robe parted and bared silky smooth legs. He rubbed them compulsively, unable to resist the urge to touch. “What’s going on?”

She was silent for so long, he began to wonder if she was going to say anything. Then she started talking. Conjure, the magic shop. A flyer. Cat’s paw. Created a spell. She took it home by accident. She recited it, he fell under it, and all the toe-curling sex that came after it was a bit of magical mayhem.

“Okay”-he ran a hand through his hair-“you’re saying sleeping with me is your darkest desire, so we’ll hang on to that part. The rest of it is just nuts, so we’ll toss that out.”

“Shane.” She sighed.

“Be serious, Abby. You find it easier to believe that I was under some Halloween curse…spell…whatever, than to believe that I have a genuine interest in you? All because of this bizarre story told to you by a lady who owns a magic gag gift shop?”

Abby winced. “Sounds crazy, I know, and I’m not a believer in the occult, but you’ve never been interested in me before now. It’s either we have no explanation for your behavior, or we have her spell.”

“Bullshit.” He smiled grimly when her eyes widened at his language. “I’ve had the hots for you for months. From the day you bought your house, actually. I really liked how excited you were about moving, and I admired the guts it took to pack up and move across the country by yourself.

“I watched how easily you made friends and how much you enjoy life. You’re fun, Abby. You’re fun to be around, fun to talk to, but you’re not frivolous. You’ve got your head on straight. And I worship your ass. You’ve got the best damn ass I’ve ever seen.”

Shane watched the blush that spread across her pale cheeks. “Problem was, you never showed any romantic interest in me. So I tried to let it go. I kept dating as usual and waited for that initial kick in the gut I felt when I met you to fade into neighborly interest.”

He sank deeper into the couch and held her gaze. “But it didn’t fade. When I started thinking about you while spending time with someone else, I gave up. It wasn’t fair to them to be a replacement for you, and it wasn’t fair to me. I stopped dating almost two months ago.”

“I didn’t notice.” She wiped at her wet eyes. “I guess I was too busy trying not to get caught ogling you again.”

“Apparently you didn’t notice how I started coming around your house more often either. I kept hoping that if you got to know me, you might become interested.”

Abby reached up and tugged the towel off her head, releasing her wet hair. She held the damp cloth in her lap and stared down at it, picking restlessly at the tiny loops of cotton. “I’ve been interested,” she whispered.

“I see that now.” He caught her chin and forced her to look at him. “You wouldn’t be crying over a one-night stand. And you wouldn’t have been the way you were with me last night. That was incredible.”

Her mouth curved in a faint smile, and he stroked her lush bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. His hand moved on, cupping the back of her neck and drawing her close for a kiss. Licking the seam of her lips, he murmured, “This is real, Abby. As real as it gets.”

Twisting, Shane stretched out on his back and urged her to straddle him. He tugged open her belt and spread the edges of her robe wide, exposing perfect breasts, a taut tummy, and carefully trimmed curls between her legs. Catching her hand, he pushed it beneath his sweater to rest over his madly racing heart. “Feel that? That’s you. That’s what you’ve been doing to me since I met you.”

Abby stared down at the male perfection sprawled between her legs and tried to convince herself that this was actually happening. “What made you decide to go for it last night?”

Shane smiled up at her, slow and easy, his dark eyes so hot they made her skin mist with sweat. “Baby, you started talking about wanting all-night sex, and I was there. Ready and willing. Dragging women to my cave by their hair has never been my style, but blaming it on a magic spell…?” He arched a skeptical brow. “I’m more inclined to think it was just a poor guy being driven crazy by the woman he’s wanted for way too long.”

Her hand slipped lower and teased his nipple. He sucked in his breath sharply.

“I kinda liked the caveman thing,” she purred.

His grin was wicked. “I noticed. You bring it out in me. Only you. I should be tapped out after last night, but”-he rocked upward, pressing the swell of his aroused cock into her bare pussy-“you do it to me.”

Abby unfastened his jeans, then the little button on his boxers, adjusting the hole so his big cock thrust upward out of it. With a shrug of her shoulders, she lost the robe, reaching behind her to shove it to the floor. Never in her life had she been this confident naked, but then never in her life had Shane Markham told her that she turned him on like no one else could.

“Oh yeah,” he groaned, reaching into his pocket to withdraw a row of six attached condoms. “Ride me while you’re naked, and I’m fully dressed. That’s hot.”

She laughed as he tore into a foil wrapper and sheathed himself with flattering haste. “You’re awfully prepared.”

He stilled, staring up at her with unmistakable intensity. “Because I was coming to see my girlfriend. She’s stocked up, but I’ve found I’m wild for her. I don’t want to miss any opportunity when she might be willing.”

Bending at the waist, Abby kissed him, her heart melting as he kissed her back with reverent tenderness, his big hands cupping her spine and holding her close.

“I’ll always be willing,” she whispered, shivering as he reached between her legs and made her wet with desire. Then she gasped and moaned, relishing the feel of him slipping inside her.

“I’m bewitched,” he said hoarsely, as she lifted and lowered with agonizing slowness, torturing them both. “Enchanted. Whatever. I’m a goner. But it’s not a damn spell. It’s all you.”

“All me.”

“And you’re all mine.”

“All yours.”

“And you can have all my nights.” His eyes shone with deep affection that she believed was absolutely real. “Use them as you will.”

She whimpered as he held her hips and pumped upward into her with a perfect stroke. “Magic,” she breathed.

Shane nuzzled his face between her breasts. “You and me.”

Epilogue

Six months later…

“WOW, LOOK AT THAT ROCK.” KAYLA WHISTLED. “ANOTHER ‘Most Eligible Bachelor’ bites the dust. Lucky girl.”

Abby smiled with contentment and admired her two-and-a-half-carat diamond engagement ring for the millionth time.

“Hey, Lucky Girl,” Sarah called out, laughing.

Turning to face one of her store managers, Abby tossed an arm around Kayla’s shoulder, and whispered, “Thanks for the costume, by the way.”

“Told you,” Kayla gloated with a good-natured wink.

“You don’t mind if I take some of this cake home with me, do you?” Sarah asked. “This cream cheese filling is divine.”

“Lord, please do,” Abby muttered, leaving Kayla’s side to hunt down disposable containers. “I love you guys for this girls-only engagement party, but if that cake stays in this house, I won’t fit into my grandmother’s wedding gown.”

She set out a stack of plasticware. Everyone helped themselves, and Abby was relieved to see that only a paperback-sized piece of the massive cake remained.

Later, she stood on her porch and waved good-bye to the nearly two dozen girlfriends who’d shown up unannounced a few hours before. As the last car drove away with a friendly beep of the horn, Shane stepped out of his house and joined her, setting his hand at the small of her back and escorting her back into the kitchen.

“You knew,” Abby said as she started to put the cake away.

“I knew,” Shane agreed, looking sinfully delicious in casual blue jeans and a white cotton T-shirt. He stuck his finger in the frosting.

“Hey!”

He smeared the creaminess in the cleavage displayed by her halter top.

“Shane!” She laughed, a joyful sound that turned into a moan as he caught her around the waist and began licking up his mess.

“Yummy,” he purred, collecting the container and lacing his fingers with hers.

Abby’s eyes widened as he pulled her toward the bedroom. “What are you doing?”

He tossed her a heated glance over his shoulder. “I’m going to smear this all over your body and lick you clean.”

She shivered in instant sexual awareness. “You’re channeling the caveman again, aren’t you?” she said breathlessly, carnal anticipation heating her blood.

“You betcha.”

“I love the caveman.”

“I love you.”

Abby smiled. Magic.

Sarah Manning stepped into her cozy apartment and blew the windblown strands of blond hair out of her face. She shut her front door with a bump of her hip.

“Hi, Petey,” she greeted, smiling as her calico cat purred in welcome and wrapped lovingly around her legs. “Why can’t all men be like you, huh? Sweet, attentive, but hot, like Shane Markham.”

She laughed softly. She didn’t carry a torch for Shane, but she was a red-blooded woman and knew a hunk when she saw one. “Hang on. Let me put this stuff down, and I’ll pet you.”

Walking into her small galley kitchen, Sarah set her bags on the tile counter. She pulled out the plastic container filled with cake, and turned to put it in the fridge.

It was then that the paper stuck to the bottom caught her eye. Curious, Sarah pulled it free and opened the folds to read the contents.

“Stamina of four, huh?” She snorted. “I wish. Bring it on.” She tossed the note in her junk drawer and picked up the cake. She paused before the fridge, then said to hell with it and got a fork.

“In lieu of hot male with endless stamina, the cake will have to do.”

Petey flicked his tail dismissively. She laughed and followed him into the living room. “Sad replacement, I agree.”