Worth the Risk Read online

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Warning

  ~ Dedication ~

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Epilogue

  ~ About the Author ~

  ~ More Erotic Romance from Etopia Press ~

  Worth the Risk

  Anne Lange

  Copyright Warning

  EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Published By

  Etopia Press

  1643 Warwick Ave., #124

  Warwick, RI 02889

  http://www.etopia-press.net

  Worth the Risk

  Copyright © 2013 by Anne Lange

  ISBN: 978-1-939194-51-0

  Edited by Rachel Firasek

  Cover by Annie Melton

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First Etopia Press electronic publication: January 2013

  ~ Dedication ~

  For my husband, Bruce, who always has complete faith in me, but was probably just as surprised as I was when the email came. And for my good friend Natalie, who’s been with me every step of the way, offering words of wisdom and encouragement. I love you both. Thanks for believing in me and making me believe in myself. And, lastly to Rachel and Etopia Press. Thank you for taking a risk on me, for making my dream come true.

  Prologue

  Ten Years Earlier

  Molly arched her neck, leaning into Tanner. She groaned when his mouth latched on to the sensitive spot just south of her earlobe. He knew her so well. Twenty years ago they’d met when their moms joined a “Mommy and Me” playgroup. At the tender age of three, they’d squared off over a box filled with Tonka trucks. Now he traveled paths along her skin rather than in granules of sand.

  “I’m ready for dessert.” His breath whispered across her ear. “Let’s head to bed.”

  “Ice cream in bed?”

  “No, you in bed.”

  Her gaze dropped to the long, hard ridge straining against the fly of his jeans. Curving her lips, she created the semblance of a grin. “Aren’t you ever at rest?”

  “Hey, I’m a normal guy who has a very sexy girlfriend. Other than getting through finals and graduation, sex is the usual thing on my mind, especially when I have the pleasure of coming home to you.” He traversed a finger down her arm, scraped a blunt nail across the delicate skin at her wrist, and entwined his hand with hers. “Come on. I want to show you just how much I love you.” He stood, plucking her from the sofa with enough force she stumbled, crashing against his broad chest. She had to tilt her neck back to see his face. His eyes darkened with lust as he brushed his lips against hers. “I want to eat you up, fuck you silly, and then start all over again.”

  He spun on his heel, towing her behind him. She curled her toes into the carpet, firming her resolve, searching for purchase every few feet. And then she glanced at him, pictured her future, and caved. Defeated, she followed him down the short hallway to their small bedroom, throat aching from some unnamed emotion. No, she knew—guilt.

  Each day the situation became more difficult for her to cope with. Her heart thumped, skipping a beat or maybe two. She raised her left hand to her right breast. Could he hear it?

  He reached the side of their bed and turned to face her, raising his hands to cup her face, his large fingers playing with the hair at the base of her neck. She tried to peel her gaze away from the man looking at her with such devotion, swallowing over that lump of self-remorse lodged in between her heart and tonsils.

  He frowned down at her. “Hey, you OK?”

  “Yeah, sure. Um…just hard to believe we’ll be university graduates in a few short weeks.”

  “Forget about that for now.” He released her and reached down to grab the hem of her shirt. One tug and he wrenched it up and over her head. “I love when you don’t wear a bra.” He grinned like the horn dog he was. “Saves time.” He bent down and grasped one nipple in his warm mouth, sucking hard. Would anybody ever be as impatient and enthusiastic to have her as Tanner?

  She closed her eyes. One last time—that’s what this was—one last time.

  Returning his hands to her waist, Tanner switched his attention to her other breast. His teeth encircled the tender nub, his tongue swiping the end, driving her crazy. In a flick, the button on her pants came undone, and the zipper lowered.

  He pushed her jeans and panties down over her hips, shoving until they puddled around her ankles. “Step out.”

  She did, gazing straight ahead, looking out the window to the duck pond in the park across the road. From their fifth floor apartment, all she could make out were bodies on the walking path—joggers, couples…and families. She sucked in her breath, closing her eyes to block the image.

  A throaty moan jerked her concentration back to the man worshiping her body. He whirled her around, walking her two steps backward until she plopped down on the bed. With one hand on her chest, he tipped her back, and with the other, he nudged her legs apart. Then he fell to his knees, and his mouth latched on to her next favorite spot.

  “Mmm…I can’t decide. Vanilla? Chocolate?” His hands held her thighs wide, his tongue lapped along her moist slit and then circled her clit twice before flicking the little bud a few times. “Or maybe cherry? Oh, yes, definitely cherry.”

  He made a feast of her, ramping her up, easing off, and starting again. She twisted her body and writhed under his hands. She elevated her hips, pushing her pussy against his face. He reached up and tugged on her nipples, tweaking them into hard, excited points. He caressed her legs and inner thighs until she squirmed on the bed, so close to begging for release.

  It seemed an eternity passed. Then he stroked two fingers along the slippery smooth skin before teasing her with a shallow dip and finally plunging deep inside. He pumped in and out. Those thick digits filled her, but still, she wanted more. She needed more. She worked her hips, keeping time with each thrust. Almost there. His fingers moved, tunneling faster, harder. He sucked on her clit, but it wasn’t enough.

  “Make me come.”

  Her gasped plea brought forth a deep chuckle. “Your wish is my command, baby.”

  “What?” She paused, her brain choosing that moment to zero in on his innocent choice of words.

  “Come for me, baby.”

  She froze. That quick, the climax that had been spiraling out of control fizzled and sputtered out. She collapsed against the bed and swallowed back an anguished cry. “Stop.” She pushed him away and sat up, struggling to back up against the headboard.

  “What’s wrong, babe?” He rema
ined on his knees at the side of the bed, confusion marring his handsome face.

  She squeezed her eyes tight and sighed. When she opened them, his face shimmered out of focus. “Tanner—” She licked her dry lips to try again. He waited. Her heart cracked wide open. God help her, how could she do this? The words fell from her mouth, stumbling over each other in her haste to spit them out. “I can’t do this anymore. I think we should split up.”

  His head lurched back, and an odd sound exploded from his throat. “Is this a joke?”

  “No. It’s no joke. I’m sorry.” She grabbed the comforter, wrapping it tight around her body, right up to just under her chin.

  “What do you mean you can’t do this anymore? For Christ’s sake, we’ve been together forever.”

  “I—”

  “What the hell is going on?” He jumped to his feet and marched a few steps away. He stopped, spinning to stare at her, his mouth hanging open as he swept his arm back and forth between them. His words, when they came, filled her with anguish. “What the hell was this? A good-bye fuck?”

  She flinched at the harshness in his voice. “I’ve never been on my own. I need to be on my own.” Cold seeped into her fingers and toes. Tiny shivers racked her body. Molly held tighter to the blanket, willing her teeth not to chatter, not to stutter over the words she struggled to say. “Our lives are just beginning. I—” She gulped over the lie lodged in her throat. “I believe we owe it to ourselves to explore our options.” Inwardly she winced. What a grown-up piece of crap.

  “Explore our options? What kind of options do you want to explore? Wait. Is there another guy?”

  “No! I—”

  “I thought you loved me. We made plans for a future—together.” He shifted toward her, reaching out, but she shook her head. His hand dropped. He sucked in two shuddering breaths and spun away from her. He made it as far as the door and then stopped. With one hand on the knob, he turned back. “I can’t change your mind?” The pain in his eyes almost made her say yes. Almost. “This is really what you want?”

  “Yes.” She dipped her chin to the comforter, muffling her response.

  “But—”

  She raised her head. “Yes.” She bit into her lower lip, unable to hold back the dam spilling over and rolling down her cheeks.

  He swiveled on his heel and opened the door.

  “Tanner—”

  He paused, his back rigid.

  “I’m sorry. I hope someday you’ll be able to forgive me.”

  He cast a quick glance over his shoulder, his face etched with hurt, his eyes blazing with fury now. Then he left their bedroom, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

  She flinched when the door to the spare room slammed closed.

  Molly grabbed a pillow and clutched it to her chest, her knees tucked up tight under her. She couldn’t see through the tears. She fell to her side and curled into a tighter ball, her hands fisting the blankets, and cried harder.

  When the morning sun filtering through the blinds on the window woke her, Molly rubbed at her dry, puffy eyes. She couldn’t recall succumbing to exhaustion. Scrambling off the bed, she tiptoed to the bedroom door and laid her ear against it, holding her breath, the ticking of the kitchen clock the only sound she detected. How in heavens would she face him this morning?

  She opened the door and stepped into the hall. As she inched down the hallway, the silence of an empty apartment engulfed her. When she reached the kitchen, her eyes were drawn to the table. In the very center lay a lone silver key. She walked over and picked it up; the metal chilled her hand. A solitary tear slid down her check. Tanner was gone.

  Chapter One

  Present Day

  Oh. My. God. She stumbled backward, hit a chair, and plopped into the canvas seat. The chair tipped, but she grabbed the arms and wrestled it down into place. Holy shit. Did he recognize her? Crap. She didn’t need this. Not now. Molly dropped her head into her hands, hiding her face. What the hell was Tanner Daivies doing there?

  Shrieks filled the air as her friends spotted and recognized him. While they ran over to greet their long-lost friend, Molly rose from the chair. Moving around behind it, she stepped back a few paces. Spinning, she stumbled again, but an arm reached out to steady her. Molly peered into her best friend’s surprised face. Colleen’s sweet, open personality typically drew people in, encouraging most to confess their sins or fall at her feet and do her bidding. But not Molly—and not for lack of trying on her friend’s part.

  Knowing her own smile wobbled, she opened her mouth to make light of her clumsiness, but nothing came out. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Colleen’s current boyfriend, Steve, grinning like a fool, heading into the fray. This new addition would no doubt cause Tanner to question his memory of their cluster of friends. He didn’t need to worry—nobody had met Steve prior to this weekend. Her friend changed boyfriends like she changed handbags.

  Colleen grasped Molly’s shoulders and leaned in close, her voice dropped low. “Are you OK?”

  It was really him. Curiosity got the better of her, and she glanced back over her shoulder. Memories assaulted her as he removed his six-foot-plus frame from the car to stand in the center of the welcome circle. Her friends were all talking at him, their voices filled with excitement. Judging by his glazed expression, their reaction left him a little overwhelmed.

  Ten years. She rubbed her chest, thinking back to the invisible ache that had bothered her earlier on the drive here. She’d struggled the entire two hours to keep her focus on the road and not on painful memories from her past.

  She flexed her fingers. Maybe the cause of her earlier distress was the fact that this year served as a milestone. Ten years since graduation, ten years since she last saw Tanner, and ten years since…fuck. When did she start counting? Molly searched the area for possible escape routes.

  Colleen’s gentle shake brought her back to the moment. “Brad texted me earlier and said he took the afternoon off. He also said he was bringing a surprise with him. He’s been dating somebody new. I just assumed—”

  “Um…yeah. I wouldn’t have expected Brad’s surprise to be Tanner either. It…ah…caught me off guard. That’s—” Oh, crap. “I just need a few minutes.”

  “You’ve got no color in your face. I’m sure it will be OK. Awkward, yes, but probably fine.”

  Molly’s heart palpitated. Colleen’s mouth moved, but the buzz in her ears drowned out the words. She swallowed hard. Air, she needed air.

  “Besides, the others won’t let him cause a scene. You’re the one we’ve stayed close to over the years, not him. Our allegiance is to you, honey.”

  Molly swung her gaze to where her childhood friends had gathered around the car, effectively pinning Tanner against it. Sam and Olivia, a couple since they were in diapers, were married now, and both glowed like beacons.

  Violet, a transplant from Toronto when her parents divorced, hovered close, waiting for her turn to say hi.

  Brad and Tanner had been best friends through grade school and high school. Brad had been pissed when Tanner left town without a word to anyone. Looked as though he got over it.

  Molly had never told anybody why she and Tanner broke up. She’d stressed over it at the time, deflecting comments from friends about him disappearing days before graduation. She hated the thought of being subjected to the pity she’d see on their faces if they knew the truth. Everybody just assumed the breakup had been his doing. She never corrected them, just implied she’d agreed with his decision.

  Colleen’s words began to cut through the insistent noise. Molly nodded. “Thank you. That means more to me than you know.” Unshed tears burned her eyes. She opened her mouth and sucked in a shaky breath, but at least she had oxygen in her lungs now. “You’re right. It will be…fine.” She gulped. “Why don’t you go over and say hi?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. I’m going to wait here for a few more minutes.” She began calculating the odds of sneak
ing past her friends and making a quick getaway before any of them noticed. She made a mental note to back her car in next time.

  “OK.” Colleen gave her a final squeeze and walked over to join the others.

  Breathe in. Breathe out. Molly closed her eyes, wishing for a paper bag. A really big one. She so did not need this in her life right now.

  * * *

  His friends charged toward him, grinning wide, excitement in their voices, the girls squealing. Tanner’s mind jumped back to a time when they were young, gangly teenagers. Thinner versions of what faced him today, with longer hair, and carefree attitudes ready to take on the world. It seemed no time had passed.

  When he’d run into Brad while getting beer in town, Tanner had tried to wiggle out of the invitation to reunite with his old friends for their annual camping trip. Being reminded of what he’d been missing out on over the last decade didn’t sit well. After apologizing to his parents for yet another sudden departure, he joined Brad on a drive around town, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of spring in a small town—nothing had changed.

  Unable to speak through the noisy assault, he struggled just to stay standing, shaking hands with a guy he didn’t know while the girls hung from his shoulders. Their exuberant welcome humbled him. He’d run out of their lives without a word to anyone. And in all the years in between, he never reached out, not once.

  As he greeted them, his gaze kept straying to the one person he both needed and feared to see. When Brad first drove in, Tanner had feigned dropping something to avoid looking for her. No such luck. Whatever mechanism in his body or his brain that ruled him—maybe it was his dick—forced his eyes to seek her out. Like a missile detecting her heat, his gaze zeroed in on the target—Molly Simpson. Then his heart tripped, it actually seemed to skip a beat, startled by the impact of seeing her again. No mistaking the fact that she recognized him. Her eyes had widened, the blood drained from her face, and she had dropped her mouth open in obvious shock before she stumbled into a chair.