Karen Erickson

He’s going in deep to make her his…

Struggling artist Sheridan Harper never imagined she’d spend a sizzling night with Jared Quinn, the smoking-hot star quarterback of her local professional football team, the San Jose Hawks. And she’s even more shocked when Jared’s publicist offers her a proposition: a fake marriage to keep Jared out of the gossip mags. Being that close to Jared would be too tempting, so to protect her heart, she insists on secretly including a clause forbidding sex between them.

Jared just wants to keep his starting QB job and keep it in San Jose. His reputation as a ladies’ man has landed him in the headlines one too many times, but there’s something about his kind, passionate new wife that tempts him beyond reason. Any sort of intimacy between them is completely forbidden, but as their bodies fall in deep, will their hearts follow suit?

Excerpt

Damn, the woman lit a spark within him he couldn’t begin to explain.

“Go after her. Work some of that Mighty Quinn charm you supposedly have with the ladies.” Harvey’s dark eyes looked ready to shoot daggers. “You want her, you convince her.”

Without a word, Jared stood and went after her, increasing his pace when he realized Sheridan had already left the gallery, the bell still ringing above her door. By the time he caught up with her, she was already a few blocks away, striding down the sidewalk with determined steps, her long ponytail flying behind her, her jeans clinging to her shapely ass.

Yeah. It might not be so bad, being married to Sheridan Harper. He’d have her in his bed again in no time and they could have the perfect temporary affair…

He reached out, hooked her arm with his fingers, and she whirled on him, her expression a mixture of fear and fury. But the moment her gaze met his, she looked ready to punch him.
“Whatever you’re trying to sell, I’m not buying,” she said. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to agree to a fake marriage with you.” She stepped closer to him, pressed her hand against his chest, and gave a little shove. The physical contact was a sharp reminder of what they shared last night.

He slipped his hand around her upper arm and pulled her in closer, her body colliding fully with his. She came willingly, all those pretty, lush curves nestled close, making him sweat. He wound his arm around her slender waist, unable to resist, ignoring the voice in his head, which was asking what the hell he was doing.

“I already told you I’m not interested. And I’m not one of your teammates, Jared. You can’t tackle me and hold me down.”

She certainly acted interested, all snug against him. “You want me to let you go, I’ll let you go.” Though the idea of tackling and pinning her beneath him held infinite appeal. “Besides, I don’t tackle players. I’m the freaking quarterback.”

She rolled her eyes, full of sass. Sexy as hell. Pressing her free hand to his chest, she started to shove him away, but then her fingers curled in the front of his shirt instead. As if she wanted to keep him. “I wish you’d let me go,” she murmured, her grip on his shirt loosening, though her hand never moved. She slid those soft fingers down his chest in the lightest of touches, and he felt that gentle caress as if she’d stroked the tip of his dick.

“There is no way in hell I’m going to let you go. Not until…” He dipped his head, the urge to kiss her damn near overwhelming. If he felt nothing, not even a spark, then he’d let her leave. Forget this potential wife business.

A whimper escaped her when he brushed her mouth with his. The spark lit, crackled between them, and he smiled, kissed her again, igniting the fire. And then again, persuading her mouth open, her lips parted on a sigh, her tongue tentatively touching his. Memories flashed, his body reacted, remembering hers.

Oh yeah, he could drown in her taste, sweet and spicy and with a hint of mint. He held her in place, breathing her in, enjoying the slow burn that swept over his skin, simmered in his veins.

Jared broke the kiss, staring down at her, those big golden eyes blinking open, watching him with a mixture of shock and wariness. Yeah, he felt exactly the same.

“At least listen to what I have to say,” he murmured.