Holden wanted to look over his shoulder to see Garret's reaction. He didn't. He returned to the main room of the suite and picked up his water, wandering out to the balcony to watch the sun rise. It couldn't have been more than ten minutes later that he heard a soft sound that told him Garret had joined him.

“Holden, I'm sorry.”

The softly spoken words caused Holden to release his breath on a sigh. “I am too, Garret.” He turned, his gaze caught and held by Garret's. A wave of emotion, mostly indefinable, rose within him, causing an ache in his chest.

Garret swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. “I shouldn't have done that.”

Holden sensed Garret's discomfort, but stayed silent, waiting for him to finish. He gave the man points for holding his gaze when by rights he probably wanted to look anywhere else.

“I was angry and disappointed and confused. When Rob came on to me in the bar…” Garret broke off and swallowed again. “I didn't think you would care what I did, but that is no excuse. It's just an explanation of my motivation. I know it was wrong of me to bring him back here on the day I found you. I'm so sorry.”

It had been a long time since Holden had met someone with the level of integrity that Garret had just shown. “I'm sorry too, Garret,” he replied in a low voice. “This whole thing was such a shock. And I know that's not an excuse for my behavior. It's just an explanation.”

He smiled as he repeated Garret's words. The British man's eyes lightened as a smile curved his lips. Holden caught a glimpse of brilliant white teeth as Garret's smile flashed out and he suddenly felt sucker punched, his gut twisting with emotion. The urge to reach out and touch Garret overwhelmed him, just like the man's scent filled his senses, until all he could think about was asking him to repeat yesterday's kiss.

Garret's eyes flickered. “You realize that a lot of what you think and feel bleeds out to me now,” he murmured. “Despite your natural shielding.”

Holden sucked in a breath. “If you know what I'm thinking then just do it, Garret, 'cause the gods know I can't yet,” he said in a shaky voice, feeling his heart begin to race.

Garret took the three steps needed to bring their bodies within inches of each other. Holden began to shake a little with fear and anticipation. The first kiss had been a surprise and filled with anger on both sides. This would be their first real kiss. They both acknowledged that they were mates, and that they felt some emotion pulling at them along with a steadily growing attraction. Regardless of the previous kiss, Holden didn't know what to expect and when Garret's hand came up to wrap around the back of his neck, he stiffened a little at first. Then fire licked through his veins at the feel of Garret's warm palm on his bare skin. He shook harder.

“Don't be afraid, Holden. It's just a kiss.”

Garret's soft whisper accompanied the press of his thumb against the underside of Holden's jaw. Reflexively, he tilted his chin up and Garret's mouth came down on his. Lust swept through his body as Garret expertly parted his lips. Holden gasped a little opening his mouth wider as Garret's tongue glided easily against his own, the wet heat sending lightning bolts of desire shooting through him. This time when Garret's hips brushed his, he didn't move, letting the man press his growing erection against him. His own cock started to respond, twitching inside his shorts.

The Marksman by Mary Winter

Nanook Warriors Book 2

Erotic paranormal shape shifter romance (polar bear)

M/F (with one ménage scene)

Cover art by Valerie Tibbs

Release Date: 07/09/09

Price $4.95

BLURB:

Cameron Sommers has always worked just past the borders of right and wrong. A military sniper, she retired to work on adventure tours, mostly in the Arctic looking for polar bears. When an accidental shooting left her shaken, she went back to the military, this time as a consultant for a European Forces General, and he's sent her to the Arctic, where she has come face-to-face with the biggest, most dangerous, and the sexiest bears she has ever known.

Kjell Tivet thinks the new sharpshooter is going to endanger the mission and get herself killed. How one curvy, sexy woman who is wicked good with a rifle can help them track down the Russian corporations dumping in the Arctic, is beyond him. But Kjell knows the mission, and he trusts his commanding officer to know what he's doing. All he needs to do is keep one hot sharp shooter safe and make sure he's not left wounded by her lethal charm.

Once inside, they shed snowsuits and protective outer clothing, silent the entire time. He reached for her and tucked her against him as they walked down the hall. To his room or hers, she wondered, and didn't have long to wait before Kjell opened the door to his room. It had been closer.

He closed the door behind him, and Cam's heart thudded. She flattened her palm against his chest, expecting him to turn and pin her against the door. He didn't. Instead, he led her to the bed, sat down, and then pulled her into his lap. Kjell ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her to him for a long, leisurely kiss.

Cam snuggled against him. Closing her eyes, she opened her mouth beneath his and invited him deeper. No walls. No barriers between them. Just her, and him, together, naked, and loving each other. That sounded so good, and until he knew the truth, she'd cling to the illusion that created.

His heavy shirt bunched beneath her hands. Curling her fingers around the olive drab fabric, she tugged at it until she freed it from his pants. A bit of fumbling and her palm flattened on his smooth, bare back. Cam gave a tiny moan.

The kiss deepened. Kjell cupped her breast, his thumb massaging her nipple. Leaning into his touch, Cam gave herself over to the magic of his hands and mouth. Though she remained clothed, each caress drew her sensual pleasure higher. For long moments, she simply kissed him, reveling in his human form, in the fact that he held her. The fact he allowed her to see him as a bear moved her. Deep inside, she knew he probably hadn't done that for any other woman.

At last their lips parted. “Kjell,” she sighed his name as she shifted on his lap.

He lay back on the bed, taking her with him. A bit of adjustment, and she straddled his lean hips. Rearing back, she pulled off her sweater and silk camisole then reached behind her to unhook her bra.

Kjell groaned as the pale blue silk fell away, leaving her torso naked. He reached for her, using both hands to cup her breasts and brush his thumbs across her nipples. Such a soft action, one that made her feel wanted and cherished. She tugged at his shirt, getting him to bend enough so she could pull it over his head. When his chest was naked, she leaned forward to press her bare breasts against his skin.

A happy sigh bubbled from the back of her throat. Cam rubbed against him, working her way down his body until her knees slid to the floor. She knelt between his legs and flipped open the buttons on his pants. Sitting back, she untied his boots. She pulled first one, then the other, off, before sliding his pants down his legs. His underwear followed until he lay there naked.

“Shouldn't you do the same?” Kjell gestured to her pants and boots.

Cam shrugged. Being dressed while he was naked put the power in her hands, and she planned to use it. She stood over him, her hands braced on either side of his hips. His cock jutted at her, thick and hard. A drop of fluid emerged from the head, and Cam lowered herself to lick it off.

Kjell groaned. He reached for her, his fingers tangling in her hair for a moment, before falling back to the mattress. “Do it. Suck me.”

His order vibrated through her body, settling low in her sex. Her clit throbbed. Her slick labia ached for his touch. Cam drew a harsh breath. She waited, wanting to draw out this moment. Her gaze caught and held his, the arousal in the vivid blue depths of his eyes making her give a little moan. Slowly, so slowly that she thought she might shatter from it, she lowered her mouth to his shaft. She covered the head with tiny licks, wanting to drive him as crazy as he did her.

Kjell held himself still, not reaching for her or clenching his fingers in the comforter. Instead, he watched her, his gaze hot enough to tighten her nipples into tiny points.

Her harsh, panting breaths echoed in the room around them. Finally, she wrapped her lips around the tip of him and took him into her mouth. The salty heat of him rested on her tongue, filling her, making her think of a deeper penetration.

Fondling his balls, Cam continued taking him until her lips rested against his base. She relaxed her throat, allowing him to just slip past, and this time, he groaned. His hips flexed and pushed him deeper.

BLURB:

Ryan's brain child of an adults only haunted house with club attached is big risk…he needs Wes's genius to make it real. But when the men meet, it goes way beyond business.

Off relationships, Wes can't handle another high maintenance man half in the closet. Ryan has so much in his work life that sex only sounds good to him. When passion overflows into their common goals, love has a way of sneaking through.