A Marriage of Convenience Read online

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  A Marriage of Convenience

  ISBN #978-1-906811-63-1

  ©Copyright Aliyah Burke 2009

  Cover Art by Anne Cain ©Copyright April 2009

  Edited by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

  Total-E-Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2009 by Total-E-Bound Publishing 1 The Corner, Faldingworth Road, Spridlington, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 2DE, UK.

  Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated Total-e-burning.

  A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE

  Aliyah Burke

  Dedication

  To Angie who is watching from Heaven.

  Thanks for the wings.

  Prologue

  Albuquerque, New Mexico

  Ayanna Barker moved in time with the fairground’s loud music as she stood in line at the beer tent. For a brief moment, the skies were silent as the air show regrouped for the final demonstration which would be followed by a huge fireworks display. So for the time being, it was solely the music that pulsed through her.

  Taking a step forward as the line progressed, Ayanna shivered at a light touch on her back. Looking over her shoulder, she met the deep chocolate eyes of the tall, handsome man behind her, and her mouth grew dry.

  He towered over her, yet she didn’t feel threatened, at least not in a physical way. Sexual…it was way off the charts, he oozed sexual prowess and it was a bit intimidating. A dark grey shirt wrapped his muscled torso and his lower body had been poured into a pair of light blue jeans that had a hole above one knee. As her gaze travelled down, she noticed the grey hiking boots on his feet. Not an inch of him was ignored by her stare; he was just too damn fine.

  Moving her eyes back to his, Ayanna was blown away by the primal lust blazing in his gaze. Shoving back a similar reaction, she turned and focused her attention back on the line before her. That would be a great man to have a fling with. God, my pussy is dripping just from that slight touch. I can’t imagine what a night with him would be like.

  Michael Taylor had been talking on his cell phone when he’d stepped into the busy beer tent line. A jostle from behind had almost shoved him into the woman in front of him. His hand had swiped across the bottom of her back and in that second, everything else had faded away. Electrical currents had showered him. The second her soulful brown eyes had landed on his, it was as if he’d just hit mach one in his jet.

  He’d stood still as her eyes had travelled hungrily over him. Part of him had wanted to preen while more of him had wanted to lift her up, carry her away from everyone and kiss her senseless. And keep going from there.

  What the hell am I thinking? I don’t know this woman, but damn if I don’t want to.

  She wore a purple open-backed shirt that perfectly offset the nutmeg hue of her skin and a pair of hip hugging black jeans. He saw sandals on her feet and if he moved his head just so, he could see the dark purple on her toenails.

  While their physical connection was over almost immediately, the ardent impression still lingered between them. He wasn’t blind to the desire swirling in her eyes no matter how she tried to pretend indifference.

  Paying for her beer along with his, it seemed only natural to settle his large palm against the smooth, dark skin of her back as they left the overcrowded beer tent.

  He had no problem following her. The gentle scent on her skin reached out and wound around him, making him yearn for more of her. He craved to find out if her perfume was just around her neck or if the tempting smell went all the way to her feet.

  When she stopped to allow a group of people to pass, he leaned forward and murmured, “Michael,” into her ear.

  Her head turned, positioning her full tempting lips a hairsbreadth from his, and she whispered, “Ayanna.”

  He kissed her. He had no choice. Her mouth had teased him as it formed her name and challenged him to sample her lips. She tasted divine.

  The innocent kiss quickly evolved into something more. Michael hungered for all that this woman offered. He dominated the kiss, using his tongue to sweep throughout the recesses of her mouth.

  His cock swelled and dug into her side as Michael plundered her mouth. He groaned his pleasure as the kiss lengthened.

  The roar of jets in the sky rumbled around them and put a miniscule distance between their bodies as he struggled for restraint.

  Ayanna’s lips were swollen from the force of their kiss.

  “I want you,” he stated bluntly as he watched the rapid rise and fall of her chest. She ran her tongue over her lips.

  “Yes,” she breathed huskily.

  “After the show.” Taking her hand, he led her to a vacant spot on the ground. They watched the show like any other couple, holding hands, exchanging kisses, and occasionally staring into each other’s eyes. As the park had begun to empty after the show, Michael kept one muscled arm around her, anchoring them together. They’d stopped at the entrance. Pressing her against the cool wall of a ticket booth, Michael ran his hands through her short hair. Strong legs settled on either side of her thin body, eliminating any means of escape.

  Courtesy of the night sky his eyes appeared black as obsidian but as gentle as Egyptian cotton.

  Ayanna had no intention of going anywhere. This was her night to give in and have a fling. And the man whose breath still held the faint smell of beer was the one her body craved.

  “Do you need to tell anyone goodbye?” His voice pulled like crushed velvet over her skin.

  “No, my friend saw me with you.” Ayanna looked up. “Unless you’re leaving alone.”

  A pleased, yet arrogant grin crossed his face. “Let’s go.”

  The door closed with a click, but the couple embracing barely noticed. Michael and Ayanna’s mouths had rarely left one another during the walk from the parking lot to the hotel. Inside the elevator, he’d begun kissing her again, not caring they were in public, being stared at. He had what he desired in his arms.

  In the hall, it had taken a passer-by clearing his throat for Michael to remember he hadn’t yet reached Ayanna’s room. But, he’d hardly slowed in his quest to dominate his lover’s mouth. He’d moved his powerful body slightly and effortlessly lifted the woman into his arms, opting to carry her the rest of the way.

  Now, as the door to her room shut behind them, Michael reluctantly let the captivating woman in his arms stand on her feet. Both of his hands cupped her face as he lingered at her luscious mouth before slowly drawing away from the nectar he classified as his own ambrosia.

  “Do you want a drink?” he asked.

  Ayanna stepped closer, eliminating the distance he’d put between them. “No.”

  “Tell me one thing, Ayanna,” Michael ordered as he watched her fingers trail up his arm.

  �
��What?” She never spoke above a whisper.

  “Where do you live?”

  Ayanna hadn’t expected that question. She didn’t want to tell him. There was something else she wished from this man, and talk wasn’t necessarily high on the list. She wanted one hell of an explosive night of sex with him.

  “Around,” she hedged as her hands moved from his arms to the hem of his taut shirt. Slowly, she pulled it up, baring the golden-tan planes of his hard chest.

  Her body was jerked against his as his mouth covered hers with a ferocity that stunned them both. He was claiming her, branding her, marking her for the rest of their lives.

  She shivered as his masculine taste filled each of her senses. Her knees were shaky and her heart beat erratically. At the same time, she felt perfectly safe. This large, powerful man who could snap her in half with his strength made her feel safer than she’d been in her entire life. No other man had ever evoked such powerful and intense reactions in her body, physical or emotional. She shivered as his touch electrified her. Until she had been exposed to his intoxicating touch, the idea of actually going through with a one-night stand hadn’t been feasible. As Ayanna stared at this walking sex ad, she realised that was all she was thinking about.

  Wetness pooled between her thighs as she moaned into his mouth. Her teeth grazed the top of the tongue thrusting inside her. Her skin felt like it was being eaten alive with flames. She wanted more. She wanted the hard ridge digging into her belly to slide deep inside her.

  Her body bent backwards as Michael continued to plunder her mouth. Each stroke of his tongue brought more wetness to her cleft and she craved more. As he braced her with one arm, his other hand palmed her stomach and inched its way under her ribbed shirt.

  His callused hand on her sensitive belly was enough for her internal muscles to clench with longing. She whimpered into his mouth as her grip tightened on his collar.

  Thanks to his touch, exhaustion from her emotions plagued her body and there was so much more to come for them in this night.

  “Ayanna,” Michael crooned into her mouth as his hand moved further up her torso.

  He kept his touch light as his fingers danced along her ribs until they met with the cool satin covering the underside of her firm breasts. He skimmed along the tempting globes and her body tensed. Each time she shivered, he felt his cock twitch in response. Slowly bringing her back to a full-standing position, Michael ran his gaze over the enchantress before him. Silken skin the colour of rich nutmeg, brown eyes smoky with passion, full lips, parted and swollen and begging for him to sample again. He couldn’t resist her.

  He dragged his hands down her sides then back up, bringing along the bottom hem of her shirt. His fingers caressed the skin of her arms as he pulled her top off and dropped it to the floor.

  “Jesus,” he bit out. His mouth grew dry. She wore a pale lavender sateen bra and the way it complimented her body’s natural rich colour made him almost erupt in his jeans. Dropping to his knees before her, Michael pressed feather-light kisses to her bared belly. His hands settled on her hips as his tongue dipped into the depression of her navel.

  Her whimper was like a scream of ecstasy to his ears. Every breath he took brought the spicy scent of her arousal to his nose. Michael tightened his fingers on the waistband of her jeans as he fought for control.

  He looked at her belly and noticed five freckles forming a circle. He traced them with his tongue as he unbuttoned her pants. Pulling them down her hips and legs, Michael groaned as her matching coloured boy panties were exposed. Tossing her pants to the side, he unfastened the delicate straps of her sandals.

  When all she wore was her panty set, Michael stood and looked his fill. Incredible. Stunning. Gorgeous. Sexy as all hell.

  The tightness in his pants snapped him from his thoughts.

  Ayanna’s body prickled with anticipation. Every hair stood on end and each synapse was alive with one identical reaction to the man before her. Wanton desire. Her panties were soaked, and he still wore jeans and hiking boots.

  She eagerly explored his lightly haired chest. Her fingers memorised each dip and swell carved into his rock-solid torso. As her nails scraped over his tight nipples and he groaned, a siren’s smile crossed her face.

  One hand travelled over the large bulge in his pants. Her fingers squeezed lightly as it twitched beneath her touch, and she licked her lips instinctively.

  “Keep that up, and we won’t be going slow.” His deep voice slid over her and sent her to a higher state of arousal.

  “You’re the one still in boots, handsome.” Ayanna dropped her hand to rest on his muscled butt cheek.

  He gathered her close and kissed her furiously until her entire body went limp. “Ten secs and they’ll be gone.”

  Eyes still heavy, Ayanna remained immovable as he made short work of his boots, stood and pulled her back into his embrace. Mouths reunited with enough heat to melt the arctic as they stumbled through the dim room to fall on the bed.

  Ayanna couldn’t remember removing her bra, but the way his mouth suckled upon her breasts made it irrelevant. He nipped, laved and made love to each breast until she thought she’d died. Her body shook from orgasms. She didn’t know when one ended and the next began.

  His devilish mouth moved between her breasts before trailing down her flat belly. His hands were gentle as they removed her panties. She had no warning as Michael’s mouth covered her bald pussy, ran his tongue up the slit and began to feast.

  “Ah!” she screamed to the room, her back arching as his tongue flicked mercilessly against her already swollen clit. When she moved he readjusted his body and continued his endless assault. This man is going to kill me and he’s still dressed.

  Heaven. Michael lost his control as her glistening crux was exposed. Her pussy was completely shaved allowing her pleasure to be seen. This whole woman was magnificent. The heady scent that had tantalised him since they’d gotten into the car earlier filled him even more now. He held her wet panties in his hand and before him was a pussy whose swollen clit peeked through the hairless lips. He leaned forward to touch his tongue to her shiny nub then he slid his tongue into her wet heat.

  “Oh my God!” Her cry wrapped around him.

  His eyes fluttered as her essence filled his mouth. She tasted like spicy candy and he craved it. His cock throbbed painfully as he enjoyed her. He lapped at her thick cream.

  Each swipe of his tongue, every suckle of his mouth, pulled a deep throaty cry from the exquisite beauty. He slid his arms under her smooth derriere and held her still so she couldn’t writhe away from his touch.

  The way her lithe body thrashed, how her cries filled the room, how her hands pressed against the back of his head keeping him where she wanted him… It all made Michael want to dominate, claim, and possess Ayanna until she knew she belonged to him.

  “Please Michael,” she begged in a faint voice.

  He shucked his jeans and boxers. Moving back up her body, he saw the longing in her eyes matched what he felt deep in his soul, a gut-wrenching need to be joined totally with her. Mixed in with the physical desire was something else, something more, an emotion he hadn’t experienced with another woman ever.

  He picked up the condom packet, opened it and rolled it on his engorged shaft. He counted to gain control when her gaze landed on him and her pink tongue swiped over her lips.

  Positioning his body between her spread legs, Michael almost lost his hard-won control when her hand touched his cock and guided it into her wet warmth. As her pussy welcomed him, Michael encountered euphoria and his body thrummed with electricity. Her muscled walls gripped him tightly as he slid fully into her body. The heat almost seared him. Images grew blurry as he sank until he could go no further.

  “Fuck me!” he uttered on a harsh breath. The pleasure was almost too much.

  “Oh, God!” Ayanna moaned and shuddered as another orgasm took her.

  The rippling sensation snapped the tenuous hold Michael had o
n his control. He began to pump. Back and forth. Her body clutched at him as he withdrew, trying desperately to prevent his leaving, and conformed perfectly to his erection as he moved back inside.

  Her panting grew louder as her hips gyrated and move up to meet his thrusts. Michael kissed her as his hips moved faster. Deeper. Harder. Her short nails dug into his back as he continued to pound into her.

  “You feel so good, Ayanna,” he muttered into her ear as he slid his hands under her shoulders and gripped the back of her head.

  “Michael,” she mewled.

  “Tell me, baby.” Sweat covered his body as he tried not to come before she reached her orgasm. Her body tightened around him. I want to partake of you without a condom on, Ayanna. I want to spill myself deep inside you.

  “I’m…I…I’m…” Her words were garbled. Her actions weren’t. Ayanna tightened her legs as her back arched in time with her climax. The waves of pleasure sailing through her propelled Michael over the edge of the cliff he’d been teetering upon. He came with a gravelled shout, his eruption longer than it had ever been before.

  Collapsing beside her, he kissed her then disposed of the condom before gathering her back into his arms. They both lay in silence as their hearts slowed and their breathing returned to normal.

  He knew they had the night and he wanted to enjoy her luscious body as much as he could. He also realised something else.

  Something more meaningful than just sex had happened between them. More powerful than the flames that erupted where they’d touched, the intense experience between them had an undercurrent of destiny. It was almost as if the fates had tipped their hand and brought them together.

  Ayanna was boneless and limp. And unsure. This was supposed to just be a good session of sex—which it had been—but her invading emotions threw her. The only thing she was sure of was that she wanted more. More of the pleasure Michael brought her.