Out Of the Dark
Summary:
Everyone makes choices in life. Carina Porter has made the wrong one. After graduating
from college, she sits beneath her complimentary blanket in first class dreaming of what’s
in store for her when she lands in Italy. Having always thought of other's first, she has
resolved to experience an indulgent adventure. Finally free from the demands of her
collegiate studies, she's determined to break away from her sensible nature and take risks.
Her daydreams are interrupted when a handsome and much older man sits beside her.
Stefan is dashing and she gets swept away in tales of his family and vineyard. After a
brief courtship, she makes a reckless choice- to marry a man she hardly knows. Carina
believes she's in love, but in time she learns how cold-hearted Stefan really is.
Carina befriends Bianca, Stefan’s maid, and discovers that things are not as they seem at
Savano vineyard. Carina seeks answers but finds more questions. It seems everyone on
the estate keeping a secret. When Stefan’s mother becomes ill, he and Carina move to the
family vineyard in the small town of Ravine Creek.
It is there that Carina meets Enzo Savano, Stefan's nephew. Carina is drawn to his kind
and free-spirited nature. She fights against her traitorous feelings for him, but their
forbidden attraction grows each day. Carina is faced with her own family tragedy and the
only person there for her in her time of need is Enzo.
After fighting against their feelings for as long as they can, Carina and Enzo begin a
heated affair. Their passion blooms, taking root in their hearts, and Carina must choose
between the safety of existing in an unhappy marriage, or life filled with love beside
Enzo. Her decision will not only destroy a family, it may even be fatal.
Teaser:
“Thank you for this. You were right. I needed to eat.” I wipe my mouth with a napkin.
Enzo picks French fries off my plate without asking and dips them in my ketchup. It doesn’t bother me one bit.
“Do you feel better?” he asks.
I speak from my heart, looking him right in the eye. “I always feel better when I’m with you.”
He smiles but says nothing. I watch as he cleans up our dinner, rolling the room service cart into the hallway. I sit on the edge of the bed, legs together, feet dangling in the air. I watch him walk back to me. I feel like I should leave, but I know I’m not going to. I want him to come closer and he does. He walks toward me until he’s standing right in front of me. I look up at him, and then he drops to his knees.
My gaze follows his and with him kneeling before me, his eyes are even with mine. He places his hands on the bed beside me. Our bodies are not touching . . . but I want them to be. Pieces of me are screaming out for him to get closer. Desire runs hot in my blood. My heart pounds and my breath quickens, but all he does is look at me. I want him. I want to kiss him but he’s just kneeling there staring at me. Completely hypnotized, I can’t look away from his gaze. The air between us is heavy, and the anticipation of what’s about to happen is suffocating and thrilling at the same time. Sensing my poignant desire, he leans closer and his hips press against my knees.
“Spread your legs,” he whispers.
It’s not a demand or a question. It’s just what we both want. I do as he says and his waist fits between my knees. His suit pants brush against my stockings and make a rustling sound. He touches my shoulders, then my neck, then my face. His lips wrap around mine. My legs tangle around his waist and my arms snake around his neck as he kisses me. I pull his face closer. His lips are soft but aggressive. Our mouths open and melt together, and I feel his hot breath against my cheek.
He pushes me down on to the bed, and I can feel him. He’s hard where I’m soft and wet. I feel it through our clothing. Ripples of chills run through me. He slides up and down against me as we kiss, and we moan together at the pleasure and heat rising and growing between us. I want him so badly, but he stops our kiss. With his arms at either side of my face, he looks down at me, but his hips keep moving. His hardness keeps sliding and grinding between my legs, against my body where I most want to feel it. His eyes narrow as he moves, and he inhales and then sighs. I bring my hands up and run them over his jaw, through his hair, over his head, and down his shoulders. I begin to unbutton his shirt. My mouth falls open as he rubs against me faster. I don’t care if it’s wrong. I want him inside me. I pull him down so I can kiss him again. Our tongues touch and withdraw as I hold his face, and his hands explore my body. My arms, my breasts, the back of my thighs, my neck. My skin knows that his hands are new and different. It’s exhilarating. We kiss deeply as he moves against me, and my skin is on fire. I push the straps of my dress down. I want to feel his body, naked.
Out of the Dark is coming from
TWCS this December...
He pulls a grape from the bunch, and his gaze is glued to mine. “Come here.” I walk toward him. My will to do anything else is nonexistent. I stand just a breath away. “Close your eyes,” he says. My heart rate increases and beads of sweat begin to drip down my back—possibly from the sun, but most likely from Stefan—as I obey. “Open your mouth.” He commands me, and with my eyes closed, his voice sounds so haunting, so suave. Again, I do as he says. The flesh of the fruit is pressed against my lips, and he runs it around my mouth but doesn’t place it inside. Then, he removes it. “Lick your lips.” I do as he says. The flavor is sharp and tart, but there’s a lingering sweetness. I say nothing, but with eyes closed, I await further instructions and am not disappointed. This time his voice is even closer, and I feel his hand on my hip. “Open again.” I part my lips, and the small fruit is placed inside. I let it roll around my tongue before puncturing its flesh, and the sweet, tart flavor overwhelms my taste buds. It’s heaven. As I chew and swallow the fruit, I’m aware of his hand on my body, and though my eyes are closed, I can feel his gaze all over me. His grip tightens momentarily, and he slides his hands up my back and into my hair. “Open your eyes.” As soon as I do, he tugs my head back and touches his lips to mine, sharing in the sweet flavor of the grape. His kiss is slow at first, then our tongues touch, and I taste only him. I slide my arms around his shoulders and pull him into me. I want him to know that I want this. I want him. My neck sways to the side as he forces my mouth open further, and he lets out a moan. It’s a guttural sound filled with desire. His hand slides down my back, over the curve of my ass . . . He stops. “Please,” I beg, but he shakes his head. “I’m finding it very difficult to remain a gentleman around you.” I raise my eyebrow. “So, don’t.”
