REVIEW
Midnight Temptation by Dee Tenorio
[sequel to Midnight Sonata – final book in trilogy Midnight Legacy no release date]

Can a man who knows he shouldn’t, resist a woman who knows she can’t?

Raven Remington has secrets. Only one of which is how badly he wants his personal assistant, Vanessa Kaye, the beauty who refuses to be anything more than professional. A smart man would remove himself from temptation, but Raven can’t quite make himself ignore the longing in her eyes or the taste of her kiss. Soon, neither of them can fight their passion.

What Raven doesn’t know is that Vanessa has secrets of her own…

The Remington’s info and a touch of what’s next for Dee.

Read an excerpt here… trailer here (warning sound and it starts as soon as page loads)… and the blog.

Dee was nice enough to let me put up an excerpt… without even knowing what the review grade it. Doesn’t it warm your heart to see such a brave author. 😀

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Copyright© 2006 Midnight Temptation
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication

Excerpt:

What the hell am I doing?

Back at the office, touching her, tasting her, Raven was ecstatic that she finally agreed to come home with him. Well, as ecstatic as he was capable. But the long ride down was silent, her face pale as if she had just agreed to pitch herself into a volcano for the benefit of the company. The drive in the car bordered on somber. And now, here in the elevator of his own building, he wondered if had developed some sort of disease. She was as far away as she could be, arms clutched around herself so tight she would probably tear the seams of her coat soon.

He wanted to be chivalrous and offer her a way out. But two years—two long, painful years—of wanting her sucked away whatever sense of chivalry he’d ever had. So when the elevator doors finally whooshed open, he stepped out into the foyer and waited for her to follow.

She didn’t.

She stared at him with wide violet eyes, colorless cheeks and what was probably a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

He knew if he asked her a question, said so much as a word, she’d leave. He couldn’t talk her into this. He couldn’t even seduce her into it, as he had in the other elevator. No matter how badly he wanted to. So he did the only thing he could.

He held out his hand.

She looked at it for a long time, then back to him.

The panic faded, little by little. He didn’t blame her. He didn’t have a sparkling reputation and they were out of their minds to do this. He shouldn’t be involved with his assistant. He should have no emotion towards her at all, especially not desire. She’d be smart to worry about her job. Her reputation at RMI. Her ability to handle a straight-forward affair.

But when Vanessa slid her slim hand into his, Raven ceased to care about any of that. Every part of his mind locked in on her and the quiet sensation inside himself he couldn’t name. Satisfaction? Triumph? No, those weren’t it. Something about this moment felt…right?

Maybe it was better without a name.

They didn’t talk as she followed him through his half-lit living room, up two steps on the left side of the open area to his bedroom. He led her to the edge of a massive bed, still not turning on any lights. Moonlight filtered in from the wall of glass along one side of the room, providing all the light he’d need, all the shadow he could hide his secrets in.

She stared up, the blue-white glow illuminated her face, turning her skin incandescent. She didn’t have shadows tonight. No secrets, no mysteries. Tonight she was open. She was his.

He lifted his hands to her blouse, undoing the tiny buttons at her collar. Inch by inch, he revealed her throat, the smooth valley between her breasts and at last the flat muscles of her belly. He peeled the blouse open, revealing a black bra with no special adornments. He could see her trembling, the fabric in his hands vibrating with her racing heartbeat.

Or was the trembling his own?

He released the blouse, letting it drift to the floor. Reaching around her, he slipped the securing clasp of her skirt from its mate, catching the zipper just beneath and rasping it down. The skirt pooled at her feet. Taking her hand, he led her out of the clothes pile, silently motioning for her to leave her shoes behind.

Next, he unclasped her bra, removing it and tossing it to the ground with her other clothes. She shuddered, the shock of the cool air on her bare skin hardening her nipple to tiny points. He moved his hands close to her, matching the curve of his palm to the slope of her body, drawing out her response without completing the caress. He knelt before her, watched her quiver where his warm breath touched her. But she didn’t pull away. Didn’t hide. She stood before him and let him look his fill. On his knees was probably the only position he could take that would do her any justice.

Then again, he wasn’t here for justice.

She jumped when his fingertip curled between her skin and the waist of her nylons. Slowly, slowly, slowly, he eased down the clinging fabric, snagging her panties as he did so. He pulled them all the way to her toes, where he finally slipped them off, one foot at a time.

He rose to his feet while Vanessa watched. He looked down at her hands, then back to her face. Other than shrugging out of his jacket, he still wore his suit. It was a choice. She had to come to him, take this final step and be part of what was happening. Blame wouldn’t have a place in this night. Neither would regret.
He waited for her to make the next move.

***

Take what you want.

The dare was clear on his face. The command. He wanted her to prove she wanted him enough to stay. Given her history of turning tail and running, she didn’t blame him. She didn’t even question how she understood him. She’d always understood him, his wordless commands, his silent challenges. For years, she’d learned his language, knew what he meant and what he needed. This night wasn’t any different. Except that she’d finally be giving it to him. What they both wanted and needed.

Forcing herself not to be childish, to do what he implored, she kept her eyes trained on his, curling her fingers around his tie, sliding it apart. It came free with little argument, save the raspy whisper of cool silk. Next, she started on his buttons, her fingertips slipping on the Egyptian cotton as each one came free. He saved her from the embarrassment of figuring out his cufflinks. His shirt gaped open, leaving Vanessa to do what she’d been dreaming of for years. She placed her palms on the hair-dusted surface of his chest, running them up to his shoulders and pushing it off him.

Together, they removed his belt, his pants, briefs and socks, surrounded by a silent intimacy that comforted her. When they were done, all she could do was stare. Every muscle, every sinew and tendon had been worked to its leanest, but most powerful potential. Wide, flat pectorals rested above a massive rib cage, leading down to rippled abdominal muscles.

She almost blushed at the way the dark line of hair led down to his heavy erection, but she wasn’t embarrassed to be looking at him. There was nothing embarrassing about this riveting man or the strange, uncontrollable emotions he made her feel. Finally, he stepped close to her, bringing them skin to skin. The heat of his arousal against her abdomen singed, but at the press of his mouth to hers, she didn’t care. The whole world could go up in flames and she wouldn’t even notice.

She let him guide their tongues and their bodies as he slowly turned them in place before backing onto the bed. He pulled her on top of him, her legs tangling with his.

He dragged his hands up her to her breasts, cupping and kneading the swollen flesh. She tore her lips from his, arching into his hands. Grasping the headboard with one hand, she straddled his middle, gasping when his hot mouth covered a hardening nipple. The drawing suction caused a sweet sting, as well as a surge of heat to her core, leaving her slippery and aching. She clasped his head closer with her free hand, sure she wouldn’t survive if he stopped.

Suddenly, she found herself rolled beneath him, her knees on either side of his ribs. He dragged his mouth down the underside of the breast he’d been suckling, over a wet path to the other aching globe. Abandoning her breasts—a move that made her whimper—he moved his body down the length of hers, licking at her waist, her ribs, her navel down to her inner thigh.

Her closed eyes snapped open with apprehension as his goal became more and more obvious. He wouldn’t go there. Not like that. He wouldn’t.

Would he?

Raven smiled at the sound she made that finally broke the silence, a cry of apprehension mixed with wanting. She thought he was headed for the wet folds that had a few seconds ago been pressed against his belly.

Oh no, Vanessa, I intend to make the torture last much longer than that…