Passion's Price - Book 8 of "The Succubus"

Alana Church

Summary

The end has come. In the final chapter of our story, Althea, the immortal succubus, knows that the confrontation with the demon-spawn Kincaid is near. To lure him into their trap means putting the entire family in harm's way. And even if she succeeds, will the love they all share survive? Because when all you hold dear is at risk, sometimes you have to pay...Passion's Price.

~~~~~ PG Excerpt ~~~~~

“So...you're doing this for me?”

“Oh, no. I'm doing it for me. I'm not worried about your performance tonight.” She laid a hand on his cheek. “I know you'll be brilliant. I saw it the other day at your rehearsal. Someday, Alex, they are going to talk about you like they talk about Booth and Barrymore and Olivier. You're that good. All you need is time. And practice.” As his jaw dropped in astonishment at her praise, she continued. “But I need a couple of things. First, I need your power. The essence of a virile young man.” She closed her eyes, but her body shook in a shiver of desire, and she moved closer until their bodies were all but touching. “If I am right, Kincaid will be the most powerful demon-spawn I have faced in generations. And warding this house is a drain on my resources. I do not dare face him unless I am at the peak of my powers. Your seed will give me that.”

“And second?”

“I'm afraid, Alex. Not for myself,” she said hurriedly, as he opened his mouth in protest. “I've lived a long life. Longer than anyone else on this planet, when you think about it. If I had to, I would change many things. But I would not change how I have spent it. When I look back, I think I have made a difference.

“But I'm afraid of failing. Of failing you and your parents and all the rest. And of failing the Almighty herself. If I don't succeed tonight, if I challenge Kincaid and he defeats me, he will engage in an orgy of destruction the likes of which this town has never seen.”

She took a deep breath, and he was astonished to see tears glimmering in the glorious depths of her green eyes. “Alex, I want you to make me a promise.”

“Anything.”

“If I fail, if I die, and you somehow escape, I want you to call this number.” She handed him a small card. A phone number was printed on the white surface in stark black letters. No other information was to be seen. “I've given it to your parents as well. And to the rest of the family. It will help you reach my sisters, Lucifer and Tera. They will come. And when they do, Hell will pay.”

He nodded quietly and slipped the card into his back pocket.

“Good. That's done.” She sighed gustily. “I haven't been this nervous in years.”

“You have stage fright?”

She waved away his incredulous question. “Not really. Some. Screw it. Yes. I'm frightened. Before, all I had to lose was my own life. Now,” she hugged him tight, her breasts flattening against his chest. “I have a lot more at risk.”

Suddenly he felt a small, hot hand resting on his erect shaft. When he looked down, her eyes were twinkling, all sign of her prior anxiety fled. “Which is why,” she husked sexily, “I need to forget about all that for a while, and concentrate on your beautiful body instead.” With frightening ease, she had him naked from the waist down. “Why don't you put down that silly script, and fill your hands with something else instead?”

Available since: 06/16/2017.

Print length: 36 pages.

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Alana Church

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From the same collection

The Succubus (Publishdrive)

Idle Hands - Book 1 of "The...

Alana Church

Althea was an immortal succubus, dedicated to a life of sexual pleasure. She lived her life on her own terms, caring little for others. However, one fateful day she was torn out of her own body by a deranged mortal. Forced to take shelter in the nearest woman, how will she regain her power and her body?

Rachel Wainwright was a successful attorney, but one with a troubled home life. Separated from her husband, fighting with her children, her life was cold and sterile. When her long-forgotten sexuality returns to her, how will it affect her, and those around her?

Althea now shares Rachel's body and her mind. To return to her own form, she must take power from Rachel's pleasure. And to do that, she must find work for her Idle Hands.

Excerpt

~You want him.~ a quiet voice whispered. ~Why not give him a suitable parting gift?~

Deliberately, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, drawing his gaze to her. Catching Jeremy's eyes with her own, she slowly unfastened the top button on her blouse. She fingered the fabric, her fingers running up and down the exposed skin. They stopped when they encountered the next button, and she held her hand there, fingering the small disc of plastic. She wet her lips with her tongue.

“You know,” she said conversationally, “that I'm divorced.”

Jeremy nodded. She stood and walked around the desk. Her hips swayed lazily, falling into an ancient rhythm of seduction. Jeremy started to rise, but she laid a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back into his chair.

“And I'm so horny these days,” she sighed as she circled behind him, one hand trailing along the muscles of his back. Nice and strong, good. “I had to get myself off in the bathtub last night with my hands.” Part of her mind was aghast, unable to believe what she was saying. Another part reveled in it, giving in to passion. She raised her eyebrows. “It's customary,” she said, “to give a parting intern a gift. A sign of appreciation for all the hard work he or she has done.

“I had Madeline buy you a good bottle of scotch. After all, what does one get a colleague as a gift when they don't really know the person who they're buying the gift for? Quality alcohol is a nice, safe purchase.

“But I don't feel like being safe right now.” She stopped in front of him and perched on the edge of her desk. She crossed her legs, allowing her skirt to hike up. She smiled as she saw his eyes focus on the white skin of her thighs. She undid another button, allowing her blouse to fall further open, showing a slice of her lace-covered breasts. She glanced at his lap, smiling as she saw the tented cloth of his slacks, proof of his aroused state.

“Would you mind if I gave you a different sort of farewell gift, Jeremy?”

Her intern looked around the room, as if he was trying to find a hidden film crew. He wet his lips and swallowed nervously. “This is a joke, right? Or is it some sort of test? Or a trap? I tell you that I want to make love to you, and you pull the recommendation? Or is it that asshole Chad? I told him once I thought you were attractive, and he's been making remarks for weeks about how I have a thing for you. Did he tell you?”

She smiled and nodded. “It's a test, yes.” She undid another button. The blouse now gaped wide. She swallowed through a throat gone dry with lust. “The test is whether I can make you explode in my mouth, or whether you last long enough to make love to me.”

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The Devil's Playthings - Book 2...

Alana Church

Dark currents are flowing through the home of Rachel Wainwright. A successful attorney, she has become the unwitting vessel for a succubus. Now, in order to increase her power and to escape the prison of Rachel's body, Althea is slowly turning the conservative lawyer towards a more sexual lifestyle. While she waits impatiently for her husband to return for the weekend, her eyes roam, wondering what pleasures might be found among the other members of her household. Will it be her sexy maid? Or someone else? No matter who catches her eye, Rachel and her family have become The Devil's Playthings.

~~~~~ Excerpt ~~~~~

“So I am wondering,” Rachel said to Maria, “if you might want to work for my family full-time. You would do what you already do, but we would be the only household you work for. You would have to quit your existing job, of course, but I can certainly improve on your salary. Heck, I would probably save money, considering how badly your boss is shafting the both of us. In addition to taking care of the house, you would also be responsible for my husband's workshop, if he chooses to move back here. And sooner or later Sarah is going to move out. She does a lot of the cooking for us now, so we are going to need someone to prepare meals.”

“I can cook!” Maria said eagerly. Her head spun. This was a dream come true! “I love making good food! Although,” she said, her voice faltering slightly, “my meals may be different than what americanos are used to.”

Rachel laughed. “What else?” she continued. “Oh. Right. If you like, you can move in, as well. Rent-free. There is a small apartment over the garage which we've never used. It has its own kitchen and bathroom, and is hooked up to all our utilities, so you can avoid that expense. It's unfurnished, but we'll help you move your things up there if you like. It has its own entrance as well, so you would have complete privacy. You wouldn't have to worry about us barging in when you wanted to be alone.

“However,” she said, “there are a few conditions we must set.”

“Anything!” Maria said eagerly.

“First of all,” she said, “We simply must do something about this uniform. It is very unflattering for a woman with a body as lovely as yours.” She casually reached up and started to unbutton Maria's thick, heavy blouse. Her eyes were wide and avid, the pupils dilated.

In moments her uniform was unbuttoned to the waist. Rachel pushed it off her shoulders, letting the garment fall loose to drape around her middle. Her cheeks burning, she tried to cover her body with her arms, but failed utterly.

“Oh, stop it,” Rachel said gently. “Why do you try to hide your beautiful body? I know women in my office who would kill for one like yours.” She walked around Maria slowly, her hand trailing along the skin of her belly, her back. Her skin was strangely hot as she caressed the length of her spine.

“Lovely,” she said, satisfied, as she came around to her front again. “But this,” she continued, letting her hand graze the plain white cotton of Maria's bra. “It won't do. When you come to work for me, I want something more.” As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she reached behind Maria and unclasped her bra. Her breasts sprang loose, wantonly exposed to her view.

“Oh,” Rachel sighed. “Yes, that is so much better. Can you do this for me, Maria? Can you choose to not hide your beauty, but flaunt it? Show me and my family the blessings which have been bestowed upon you?

“Not that you should walk around topless every day,” she said, with a glint of humor. “I don't want to expose my family to that much temptation. I am trying to reconcile with Josh, after all. I can't have him looking at you when he should be looking at me. Just wear something attractive. Something which will remind us of the beauty to be found in the world.” Her voice deepened. “Something which will make us desire you, as a woman should be desired.”

Desire opened like a pit in Maria's belly. She trembled softly, wondering whether her deepest, most hidden fantasies were about to come true.

“You're beautiful, too,” she said softly. She stood bravely, meeting Rachel's eyes. “I would never try to take your novio away from you. He should be in your bed. But I would like to be there, too.”

An unnamable emotion crossed over Rachel's pale face. In an instant, she had closed the distance between them, her hands on Maria's hips, her head turning sideways, her mouth descending, opening like a flower, her white teeth gleaming in the dim light.

When their lips touched, it was like lightning. Maria gave a groan that was half-desire, half-anguish, and she lifted her hands to run them through Rachel's fine, silky hair. She yearned towards her...

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Dark Reflections - Book 3 of...

Alana Church

After days of a strange sexual reawakening, Rachel Wainwright finally meets the reason for the wonderful change in her life. Althea Carpenter is a succubus who has been forced to take up residence in her mind. As she explains her history, and that of the succubi, Rachel is filled with sympathy for her plight, and agrees to help her regain her previous form.

Meanwhile, the spell of the succubus is having an effect on other members of Rachel's household. Goaded by urges he finds shameful and perverse, Rachel's son Alex finds love and acceptance in Maria's arms. And Rachel's daughter Sarah is being drawn to a new man in her life. Will they find happiness together? Or will their forbidden love doom them all? One thing is certain. When you look into the eyes of a succubus, you may see some Dark Reflections.

~~~~~ Excerpt ~~~~~

Rachel frowned. The fact that Maria and Jeremy and the kids weren't going to turn into her slaves was a relief. As was the fact that even a being as obviously sex-focused as Althea had a moral center, even if that center seemed to be no more than Thou shalt not hurt anyone you don't have to and Thou shalt not bang an unwilling partner.

“That's pretty much all it is,” Althea said cheerfully. “But I don't take stuff that isn't mine, either. Most people are happy to give it to me anyway.” She smiled at Rachel's expression. “Hello? I'm in your head, remember? I know what you're thinking.” Her smile grew dark, deep, and wicked. “And such naughty thoughts you're having, Rachel. Jealous of Maria when I suggest setting her up with Alex? Who are you thinking should be in his bed, if not her?”

She patted her cheek. “Don't worry, I'm not judging you.” Her look drew inward and she rose from her seat on the grass, her body inhumanly graceful. “But we're running out of time. It's almost morning. And holding together this illusion for you is a drain on my power. I need you to do something for me, my handmaiden.”

Rachel sighed and stood. “What is it?”

“My body is missing. I need you to find it.

“Now, Rachel, go with my blessing.” Stooping, she laid a gentle kiss on her brow. Rachel's skin burned at her touch. “And wake up.”

*****

With a start, Rachel opened her eyes. She was lying on her back . The covers had been pulled down to lie in a crumpled heap at the foot of the bed. Morning sunlight poured through the open windows, and the cotton curtains swayed in a soft spring breeze. More importantly, her husband was kissing her. From the warm feeling in her chest and groin, he had been arousing her for some time.

“Well, this is a wonderful way to wake up,” she murmured softly. She smiled down at her long-time lover and best friend. “Looking for someplace to hide your morning wood?” she teased.

Josh raised himself on his arms, moving forward so he could give her another good-morning kiss. “Amazing thing, the male body,” he said, when their lips parted. “No matter how many times you make love to a beautiful woman, it can't wait to do it again.”

She smiled at the compliment, looping her arms around his neck and drawing him down to her. How long had it been since they had spent a lazy morning in bed? Years, perhaps. For the first time in far too long, there were no urgent needs driving her. No cases to prepare for, no witnesses to depose, no briefs to write and file. If she and Josh wished, they could spend all day in bed.

~Ooh, that sounds nice. Yes, let's do that.~ Althea said.

Be quiet, you, Rachel said. Can't you leave me alone for a while?

~Actually, no. I can't. That's kind of the point of this whole exercise, isn't it? And just remember, the more you make love to Joshua, the quicker you will have the mental privacy you desire. Until then, get used to having company.~

She dragged her nails up his back, tickling her husband, watching through hooded lids as his back arched under her touch. God, I've missed this. The feeling of power, even when he's on top of me, seemingly in control.

~Being a woman is wonderful, is it not? At least, when you control your own destiny. This is why my mother spurned Adam and God. She would not allow herself to become subordinate. A tool to be used.~

Tell me, she asked, is this thing with our secretions...catching? If Jeremy makes love to another woman, would she be affected?

~What, are you worried about mankind catching a case of universal horniness, as if it were some sort of awesome venereal disease?~ Althea's voice was teasing. ~Fortunately, no. It would have happened way before now. We are a lusty bunch, although there aren't many of us. You don't have to be worried about being Patient Zero in the great Sex Plague of 2016.~

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Bright Shadows

Alana Church

Rachel Wainwright is a mortal woman who has become the host of Althea, an immortal succubus, a being of desire, passion, and sex. Now aware of the woman who shares her mind, Rachel searches for Althea's body, seeking to restore her to her physical form.

But evil is stirring. A dark force grows aware that Althea is vulnerable. Unaware of the danger, Rachel and her family embark on a journey of sexual exploration. Sarah, Rachel's teenage daughter, finds herself torn between opposing desires. Will it be Jeremy, Rachel's sexy intern, who wins her heart? Or will she give in to another, more primal need? And Alex and Maria find their hearts tested, too, as a trip to the hospital to visit Althea's body turns hot.

Because when you bask in the light of a succubus, you will find she casts Bright Shadows.

~~~~~ PG Excerpt ~~~~~

“She's very beautiful, isn't she, senora?” Maria said softly as the last nurse bustled cheerfully out of the room, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. She drifted over to stand beside her, looking down at Althea. “You must care for her very much.”

Rachel fought against a flood-tide of jealousy, bitter as gall, at the thought of another person finding Althea attractive. Ashamed of her own reaction, she took a deep breath to forestall a sharp reply. In her mind, she could sense amusement as Althea watched her struggle.

“Yes, she is. And yes, I do. I hope that someday soon you will have the chance to meet her,” she said. “In a very real way, she is the reason why we are all so much happier now than we were a few weeks ago.”

“Seriously?” Alex asked. He joined Maria at the bedside. “She convinced you to...to...”

“To stop being an insufferable tight-ass who was making her family miserable?” she finished, raising her eyebrows. “Yes. She did. The first time I took her advice was a few weeks ago, when I came home after that traffic accident. You were telling me about Othello. I was just about piss on your parade again, when I heard her voice in my head.” She smiled at Althea's mental snort. “And instead of ruining everyone's meal, I actually listened to you for once.

“Since then, I've taken her advice more and more often. And look where we are now. Not quite all one big, happy family,” she said with a glance at Maria. “But getting there.”

“Wow,” Alex said. He shuffled his feet uncomfortably. “I guess we owe her a lot.”

“We do,” Rachel said with a nod. She sniffed, aware of a growing aroma in the air. Maria's hip was warm where it touched her shoulder.

And she was growing warm as well. The faint scent of Althea, combined with the presence of two healthy, happy, horny young people, was beginning to turn her on, despite the cold hospital air and the decidedly unromantic setting. And she had a sneaking suspicion that merely being in Althea's presence was a potent aphrodisiac in and of itself. That would certainly explain how she had no lack of partners over the centuries.

Would you mind?

~Mind? Lucifer's Balls, if I hadn't thought you'd hit the roof I would have suggested it myself! What's hotter than some public action?~ Althea giggled merrily. ~Plus, with my body here, maybe I can send a little power over to it, so it stays healthy. Hospitals are awful places. Full of sickness and disease. Gross.~

Rachel moved her arm, letting it curl around Maria's knee, then travel up the inside of her thigh. Her skin was warm and smooth under her fingers, and she smiled inwardly as she heard Maria give a cut-off moan. Her legs came together, trapping her hand in a gentle vise.

“Tell me, Maria,” she said, letting her voice drop into a deeper register, assuming her role as Mistress of the Household. “Are you wearing panties today?”

“No, Mistress,” Maria breathed.

“Good,” she said. “I am glad you are following my instructions. Alex,” she continued as her fingers continued their upwards journey. “Please close the blinds there on the door. I don't want people looking in on us.

“Now, Maria,” she purred. “I want you to hold very still. And Alex is going to take your clothes off.”

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Sacred Sins - Book 5 of "The...

Alana Church

Althea has been found. The missing body of the succubus has been located in a hospital. Now Rachel and her family are in a race against both time and terrifying evil, because one of the Demon-spawn also knows where her body lies. Time is of the essence, and nothing is certain. Because even if they are successful, to restore Althea to her body they will have to commit…SACRED SINS.

~~~~~ Excerpt ~~~~~

Jeremy shoved the bedroom door open with his shoulder, then all but fell onto Sarah's bed, her lean body cushioning his collapse. The trip up the stairs had been exquisite torture. With each step, his cock shifted inside Sarah's hot, wet channel. Stimulated by his motions, she had rocked back and forth, her vagina clamping down on him until he thought he would burst.

As he fought for breath, she smiled and gave him her mouth. When their kiss ended, she brushed his cheek with her fingers. “Poor baby. All those hot women around, teasing you. And you're trying to save yourself for me.”

“I don't think they were teasing me. I think they were totally horny for each other. The fact that it was turning me on was just collateral damage. But I had to get out of that room,” he continued, slowly easing into her, then pulling out even more slowly. He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her wrapped around his cock. “I'm not into that kind of exhibitionism.”

She stretched her hands up over her head, as if to better display her beautiful assets. “But you're changing, Jeremy. We all are. Maybe not so much as Mom. But some. I certainly would never have tried to seduce my own father. And I bet you would have been shot dead rather than make love on a couch in broad daylight, where anyone could walk in and see.”

He nodded, but then halted her next comment with a kiss, not letting her go until she had stopped trying to talk. “Maybe you're right. But I want to think about other things right now.” He pushed her thighs apart until her legs were spread wide and he could thrust strongly into her.

“God, you're beautiful,” he said softly. He bent his head, kissing first one breast, then the other, even as he continued to drive his cock in and out of her soaking sheath. In return, her hips rose to meet his, their groins joining for a single fevered instant before they parted. Each time, he could feel the liquid heat of her sex, each time hotter and wetter and stronger.

~~~~~ PG Excerpt ~~~~~

They gathered in the spare room on the ground floor. Some standing, some sitting, some leaning uncomfortably against the walls. In the middle of the room, Althea's nude body lay on a low wooden platform, no more than waist high, cushioned by a down comforter. Her head was propped up by a pair of pillows, reminding Yasna uncomfortably of funerals she had attended. In defiance of her morbid thoughts, Althea's golden skin seemed to glow in the dim light.

To Yasna's eyes, she no longer looked like she was sleeping. Instead, it seemed that she was waiting.Rachel cleared her throat, bringing their attention to her. “It's time. What we do here tonight may make you uncomfortable. Althea and I do not ask that you take part if you are unwilling.” She took a deep breath. “Thanks to our efforts, Althea has regained much of her power. It should be sufficient to allow her to move back to her body. But she has been away from it for some time. Longer than she ever has before.“We must remind her body of the joy to be found in life. Make it again the willing vessel of her spirit. Also, the transfer is going to take an incredible amount of power. To help cushion the drain, Althea has asked me to...to...”She closed her eyes, speaking as if she couldn't believe what she was saying. “We're going to have ourselves a little fun in here, and if anyone laughs at me, so help me God I will punch you right in the face!”“Fun?” Sarah asked weakly. Beside her, Jeremy swallowed, his larynx bobbing jerkily.“Yes. I need you, all of you, to give me pleasure. Me, and Althea."

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Forbidden Fruit - Book 6 of "The...

Alana Church

Althea, the first of the succubi, has been freed, released from her prison inside Rachel's mind. Now her family must learn how to accommodate the beautiful woman in their midst. Driven by passion, haunted by the threat of the demon-spawn Kincaid, Rachel and her family must work together. But before they kill the demon who desires their death, there is still time to taste...Forbidden Fruit!

~~~~~ PG Excerpt ~~~~~

“So how are you and my brother getting along?” Sarah asked as she pulled away from Jeremy's house. The visit there had been blessedly uneventful. Both parents were at work. Jeremy had left his father a voicemail with a cock-and-bull story about being invited on a camping trip as Sarah helped him fill a suitcase and a duffel bag with what he needed for several days away from home.

“We're getting along very well,” Maria now replied to Sarah's inquiry. She stretched out on the back seat, her long legs gleaming in the sun. “My master tells me that if I am very good, he might agree to lead me around on a leash this evening when we come down for dinner.”

Silence fell over the car like a damp blanket. “Oh,” Sarah said at last. They drove on for several minutes, making their way to the grocery store. “Maria,” she asked, her voice hesitant, “you told me once that you would explain. Why you enjoy being a submissive.”

“Of course,” Maria smiled. She closed her eyes. The promise Alex had made, in a whisper before she left the house, made her belly churn with suppressed arousal. Inside her shirt, her bra-less breasts were sticky with sweat, her nipples pulled up into hard little points. She fought to keep her hands away from them.

“First of all, it's not that I enjoy being a submissive. It's that I am a submissive. I couldn't change that any more than I could grow six inches or give myself blue eyes. It's a part of me. And for me, it's all about the surrender,” she said, her voice soft. “Ever since I was a young girl, I was the responsible one. The good girl who kept the house clean and cooked the meals and took care of my sisters. I was always carrying that load of duty.

“So when Alex orders me about, tells me what to do, how to please him...” she shivered in happy memory. “Dios Mio, it makes me hot. Horny. The only thing I have to worry about is making him happy. And he is so gentle. I know he would never hurt me. Even when he is throwing me around on the bed, so strong and male and dominant, I know I am safe.

“That's what it is all about, Sarah. A safe place where I can surrender and put all my other responsibilities aside. Alex does that for me. If I come to dinner tonight wearing nothing but a velvet choker and a lead, it's because I feel safe with him. I wouldn't do that for any other man.”

“Not even me?” Jeremy said from the passenger seat.

“Oh, Jeremy.” Maria leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “You are almost as gentle as my master. But do you really want to lead me around on a chain?”

“Well, no,” he admitted, with a quick glance at Sarah. “I'd feel pretty silly.” “But I bet if you were making love to Sarah tonight, and you held her wrists down on the bed, and she was struggling underneath you just a little, it would turn you on. Wouldn't it? To feel like you were dominating her, and there was nothing she could do about it?”

She could see his throat work as he swallowed, and he made a show of fanning himself as they pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store. “Hell, it's turning me on a bit right now.”

She smiled and ran her fingers through her hair. “And now you understand. A little. We all have our own kinks, Jeremy.” She turned towards the woman who she thought might soon be her sister-in-law. “Don't be afraid to explore them, Sarah. You might find out more about yourself than you think.”

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Guilty Pleasures - Book 7 of...

Alana Church

The tides of fate are swirling. Althea, the immortal succubus, knows the time for the final confrontation with the demon-spawn is nigh. As she prepares herself, she is haunted by memories of the past. Will the love of her new family sustain her? Or will she succumb to despair? No matter what happens, there is still time to indulge in some...Guilty Pleasures.

~~~~~ Excerpt ~~~~~

Alex twisted on the floor, turning to face Maria. “What are you saying?”

“I'm saying, beautiful man, that if you find Sarah desirable, so too do I find her, lover. And there's no reason for us not to explore the delights God puts before us. She is beautiful. If you want to make love to her, I see no reason why you shouldn't. And I think Jeremy is very handsome. And I am sure he is a good lover, or he and Sarah would not be so happy together.” She leaned forward and stroked his cheek fondly. “You know I love you, mi lindo. And I know you love me. I have no fear that you will not come back to me.

“If you want her, go to her.”

“Jeremy?” she asked. She stood, holding her hand out to him. Desire hit him like a punch to the gut, and he found his breath growing short in his chest as the lovely Latina approached.

“Sarah?” he asked her. “If you think this is a bad idea, just say the word.”

“Oh, no,” she breathed. Her eyes were wide as she drank in Alex's form sprawled carelessly on the floor, just a few feet away. “I think this is a fantastic idea. Not because I don't love you,” she added, turning to face him and placing her hand on his cheek. He captured and held it there, then turned his head to kiss her palm. “But isn't what all of this is about? Learning to love, learning to give?”

“Learning to receive love as well,” Maria added. She dropped to the love seat, squeezing in beside Sarah, and gave her a gentle hug. “I know you don't share my desires, dear one,” she said, her voice warm and tender. “But I love you. And I won't come between you and your novio.”

“There is no between,” Sarah said softly. She looked deep into Jeremy's eyes and smiled like a sunrise. He gasped as her face filled with a sudden luminous glory. “Oh, Jeremy, can't you feel it? Do you understand? It's not me and you. Or Alex and Sarah. Or Mom and Daddy. It's...it's just us. All of us. Together. Forever.” Tears pooled in her eyes and spilled down her cheek. “Us.”

She kissed him with a fierce, loving passion which left him breathless, then turned away, standing. She took Maria's hand in one hand, and Jeremy's in the other, and placed them together.

“Be good to each other,” she said, a sparkling joy in her eyes which nearly broke Jeremy's heart, so different it was from the tense, wary prickliness with which she usually guarded her emotions. “I'm going to make love to Alex.” She walked over to him. Rather, she bounced, gleaming with happiness like a child on a summer morning, when the entire world seemed remade and new, created only for her.

“I've wanted you,” she said, drinking in his body, “since that day you came into my room a couple weeks ago, and we talked about our futures. About culinary school and acting. How was I to know that future included you in my bed?”

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