Sample Sunday – Dying Without You

Hey reading family! This Sample Sunday is a day late and a dollar short but we’re hereeeee! LOL. Enjoy this look inside, Dying Without You – The Clarks of Northshire Bend Book 3. Coming Soon!

Langston

Club Atlas was jumping for an early weeknight, but the sun set as partygoers entered and went to the level they preferred.

The club was made up of three areas. On the first floor, young adults gathered to dance beneath the colorful lights while the DJ spun the latest tracks. They also drank beers and cocktails and played games of pool and darts.

On the second floor, the crowd was more mature, dancing to a mix of new and classic tunes. Some enjoyed wine or whiskey, while others played board games like chess, checkers, or backgammon.

On the third floor, an older crowd enjoyed champagne and cognac while they played cards, craps, and roulette. The balcony offered a scenic view of the other levels. And the crowd conversed about business matters on balconies while observing the other patrons below them.

The elevator door dinged, opening on the second floor. Langston eased out and took in the scene.

The scent of expensive liquor, perfumes, and colognes filled the air. Lights dancing off the crystals suspended from the ceiling sent sparkles across the room. The club was awash in a sea of neon and multicolored glows, and the walls were adorned with vibrant, abstract murals. All around, people laughed, enjoyed themselves, and celebrated life.

As if noticing him instantly, women’s heads turned as Langston strolled to the bar. In a crisp white shirt with the collar open and first two buttons undone, Langston paired his casual top with denim jeans and a pair of black Timberland boots. He eased through the crowd—nodding to and greeting women as they smiled and lightly touched his shoulder while acknowledging him back.

Jewelry sparkled off him—two gold herringbone necklaces, an onyx statement ring, diamond-stud earrings, and a gold Rolex watch. His distinct aroma emitted a subtle yet musky and masculine scent of spice.

“Hello.”

He glanced at the light-skinned woman with black lipstick, dark eyes, and a short bob on her head. Her smile held mischief, along with the way her eyes scanned his body, then settled on his face. With a polite smile, he dipped his head in response, then took his gaze to the bar. The music increased in volume, vibrating the walls and floors.

The bartender was busy mixing drinks, but the man seemed to understand and nodded when Langston’s gaze set upon him with an unspoken urgency.

“Cognac cocktail?”

“You know it.”

The bartender quickly mixed a cognac cocktail and handed it to Langston.

The music changed, and an announcer spoke, a woman with a distinctive voice meant to drive the patrons’ attention toward the stage.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We have a special guest here to get you in the groove tonight. So grab your partner, pull them close, and enjoy ‘Meet Me At Midnight’ by Lisa Sharpton.”

Applause, whispers, and whoops scattered around the room, and Langston turned just as Lisa cleared her throat and belted out the first words.

He watched her from the bar, captivated by her smooth voice, vocal transitions, opulent attire, and entrancing stage presence. Black wavy hair fell down her shoulders, a sparkling knee-length dress was cinched tightly around her, with a split that extended from the bottom of her panties. Long crystal-like earrings blinged with her limited movements and her dark eyes sparkled, even from her position.

In a trance, Langston approached the stage, drawn to Lisa’s presence like a moth to a flame. Her voice was like a siren’s call, and he couldn’t resist being so far away from her for a moment more.

As Langston moved closer, she noticed him and smiled, her eyes lighting up with recognition. He paused in the crowd, cutting off people who were dancing, as his lips spread into a gorgeous smile. Desire filled him as his gaze covered her body’s outline and images from his dreams assailed him with clear and vivid memories.

Heat flared from the soles of his feet, and although he’d known she was the one to ignite his flame, being in her company after she’d invaded his thoughts—his memories—night after night put her in delicious danger that she was unaware of.

She ended the song with a high-pitched note that captured the heart of everyone in attendance, and a round of applause exploded from the crowd. Langston was entranced, still in awe of Lisa’s performance.

As she stepped off the stage, Langston approached and held out a hand. She grabbed his fingers, and a blast of electrical energy slipped through them.

“Hey,” he said, his voice gruff from the mingling of alcohol and desire.

“Hey,” she replied, a smile on her lips. “Did you like the show?”

“Absolutely. You have an incredible voice.” His gaze raked over her body. “And the dress fits you like a glove.”

Her laugh was a melodic lullaby, a smooth blend of chimes, bells, and harps.

It was music to his ears, and it felt like his heart had taken flight, soaring into the galaxy of stars that twinkled in her eyes.

“Thank you.”

“Was it tailored?”

Her eyes arched. “The dress?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not, but it shows that my stylist has great taste.”

His tongue swiped his lips. “So she does.”

A blush warmed her cheeks. “You look debonair yourself, Langston.”

“You don’t have to say that, Lisa.”

“But it’s true. I wouldn’t lie to you.” She lifted her nose. “You smell like a mixture of lust and orgasm, too.”

His eyes widened as his gaze hardened on her. He tsked. “Lisa….” His voice was a deep drum. “You shouldn’t say things like that to me.”

“Why? Would I be due for punishment, Langston?”

They stared at each other for a long desirable, heart-palpitating moment. The thick, quivering tension between them could be cut with a knife.

A wicked smile curved Lisa’s lips, her eyes boring into his with equal hunger. She took a step closer, and Langston could feel the heat of her body even through his clothes.

“Possibly,” he said, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Do you want to be punished, Lisa?”

Her eyes darkened with desire as she eased even closer, her body almost flush against his. “Maybe,” her low, husky voice purred. “It depends on how intense it will be.”

“And how intense would you prefer it?”

She batted her lashes, but it didn’t remove the wickedness from her irises. “Make me cry.”

Taken back by her response, Langston lifted the glass of liquor to his lips and studied her as he swallowed. “Tears?”

She nodded.

“Are you sure that’s what you want, Lisa?”

“From you.”

The music changed into a sexy tune that drew couples into each other’s arms. On cue, Langston wrapped an arm around Lisa’s waist, pulling her closer.

“Dance with me, Lisa.”

Her lashes drifted slowly to his mouth, down the column of his throat, and she moved her lower body against his pelvis.

“Lead the way.”

A server passing back took his empty glass off his hands, freeing his fingers.

Langston pulled Lisa toward the dance floor, his hand gripping her waist as they swayed to the music. The heat emanating from her body was intoxicating, and he found himself getting lost in the moment.

Lisa pressed firmly against him, her curves fitting perfectly with his frame, and he couldn’t help but let out a low growl of caution. They moved in perfect harmony, their bodies gyrating together as the music swallowed them whole.

Langston’s hands roamed her curves, feeling every inch of her, and he could sense Lisa’s urge enhancing with the way she dipped her ass and shoved it in his crotch as she danced. She was his for the moment, but he wanted her for the night, and he intended to make that known, if for no other reason than he felt she wanted him, too.

He leaned close to her ear, his deep voice making her shiver when he spoke. “Who taught you how to move your body this way, Lisa?”

She turned her eyes up at him, lifting her hands in the air as the music made her dip and twist her hips again. “I taught myself. Call it natural inclination.”

He chuckled, the sound reverberating from his chest. “You are a goddess, mi amour.”

Her provocative moves only heightened his arousal, and before long, his need for her became almost unbearable.

The music slowly faded out, the couples once occupying the dancefloor now scattered across the room, their faces flushed and bodies slick with sweat. Langston kept his arm around Lisa’s waist, unwilling to let go just yet. She looked up at him, her lips just inches from his, and he thought no human had ever been so beautiful.

He tightened his grip, pushing his pelvis into her center where she could feel the unmistakable budge of his prodding dick.

“You should make your inclination mine.”

He leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a passionate, searing kiss. The kiss was slow, filled with longing and desire, and he could taste her arousal on his tongue. She moaned against him, pressing her breasts against his chest, distinctly feeling their pulses and nerves throb off each other in a heated wave of animation.

Music filled the speakers again, and Lisa slipped her hands up his chest, around his neck, and like effortless rhythm, they glided into another intensely scorching dance.

The world felt like it blended together, fading away until it was just them and their wild, uncaged desire. Locked in tandem, lost in the moment, yet lingering in the fervent heat radiating between them, Langston knew he had to have her with every fiber of his being.

Lisa’s breaths were rushed and shallow, her eyes afire with arousal and want. He could feel her body trembling beneath his touch, and he mused he had been right—she wanted him, and Langston wouldn’t let her go until he had claimed her.

The way every inch of her dragged against him, fluid, pressing hard and hot, enthused his cravings, and Langston knew it wouldn’t be long before he swept her up in his arms and carried her off. He was prepared to take her home, ravish her in ways she had never dreamed of, and fulfill her most secret and exciting fantasies.

There was just one problem: sex was the only thing he could offer her.

Internally, Langston carried a storm of emotional damage. His heart was unavailable, locked behind a wedged steel barrier that could only be penetrated by his own release. For that reason, he hesitated and thought about how Lisa might reconsider when the truth jumped off his tongue.

Despite all this, he couldn’t ignore the ardor in her eyes and could feel himself rapidly melting into the heat that simmered between them.

He buried his face into her neck, sighing deeply. Their bodies melded into each other, and his heart leaped when she returned the embrace with equal fervor. His resolve began to shatter.

“Come home with me.”

They drew back, their gazes locked, and the desire in their eyes—equal.

“I thought you’d never ask. Should I prepare myself for a drive later or—”

He bit his bottom lip. “Stay the night.”

Her lips spread into a smile. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

She laughed softly. “Yeah.”

He peered at her, then reined in his bravado. “I need to be upfront with you, Lisa. I’m not a man that plays games or leads a woman on. Tonight is about—”

“Shhhhhh…” She shook her head. “You don’t have to explain. I’m a big girl who understands where we stand.”

His gaze searched her face for the understanding she spoke of. He found it, and with that awareness, Langston wrapped his arm around her waist, and they left the club. Outside, Lisa gawked at their mode of transportation. Langston turned to her.

“I failed to mention I rode here on my motorcycle.”

Lisa’s gawk turned into a smile. “It’s a good thing I know how carefully you drive this thing.”

“Also, about that. It’s only because I was being careful with you that night.”

“Oh, and tonight?”

“I don’t plan to be careful or delicate in any way, mi amour.”

Fire swirled in his gaze, and that inhibited threat made Lisa draw up her dress and toss her legs over the back of his ride.

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