Olivia set down a steaming cup of herbal tea and whisked away thecappuccino that had taunted Maya for the past few minutes. “No caffeine.Tea has antioxidants.”She gave a weak laugh. “Yes, Mom. But I don’t think a cafe mocha when I’m this exhausted is going to cause any damage.”“Caffeine stunts the baby’s growth.”“So does stress and not making enough money to afford a baby.”“Hmm, must be the hormones. You’re definitely cranky.”“Olivia!”Her friend tossed a grin and plucked the lid off the tea. “I just like to piss you off. Make sure you haven’t turned into one of those mooning tragic heroines you like to read about so much.”“Screw you.”“Better.”Maya looked up at her with genuine warmth. She was going to be okay.After two weeks away from Alex, every day became a trial of strength and fortitude she was too stubborn not to meet. She’d kept the news a secret from her family, but planned to reveal the truth this weekend. Olivia would help her. And even though she hadn’t secured t

“I know you have another copy under your bed. Forget it, I’ll get it myself.” Her friend stalked off toward the canary yellow futon and stuckher hand under the cushions. Within seconds she held the list triumphantly between bright red fingernails, and licked her lips as if she was about to dive into a lusty romance novel. Maya settled on the carpet and slumped over. Let the humiliation begin.“Number one,” Olivia recited. “A Mets fan.”Maya braced herself for the explosion.“Baseball?” Olivia shrieked. She waved the paper back and forth in the air for dramatic effect. “Damn it, how can you make your number one priority baseball? They haven’t made it to the World Series in years! It’s afact in New York there are more Yankees fans than Mets fans, and that wipes out most of the male population.”Maya gritted her teeth. Why was she constantly barraged over her choice of New York teams? “The Mets have heart and character, and I need a man who can root for the underdog. I refuse to sleep

I was met with her sweet smile when I finally looked her in the face. She really was the mostamazing woman. Leaning closer, I kissed her beneath her ear and inhaled her sweet scent, mixed with the coconut scented sunblock. She shivered and it gave me the satisfaction I’d been going after.“You can call me anything you’d like. I’ll be your rabbit all night long, baby.”“And keep going, and going, and going”I laid on top of her and tickled her sides. Laughing, I spoke in her ear. "Wrong rabbit, you minx.”She squirmed under me and I could already feel myself getting hard. Leaning back, I counted toten. If this kept up, I’d walk around in a permanent state of arousal.“I’m going for a swim,” I said, standing from her chair.“I’ll be here,” she said with a little wave.The cold ocean water cooled my burning flesh as I waded out over my head and swam against the waves. Turning around, I looked back at the beach. The white sand and blue umbrellas stretched as far as the eye could see. It

“Necklace or no necklace?” I asked Olivia, when she came into my bedroom looking seriously amazing. Dressed in her gold dress, she was both debonair and dashing, and certain to attract attention.“Hmm.” Her head tilted to the side as she studied me. “Hold it up again.”I lifted the choker of gold coins to my throat. The dress my mom had sent was fire engine red and styled for a Grecian goddess. It hung on one shoulder, cut diagonally across my cleavage, had ruching to the hip, and then split at my right upper thigh all the way down my leg. There was no back to speak of, aside from a slender strip of rhinestones that connectedone side to the other to keep the front from falling off. Otherwise, the back was bared to just above the crack of my buttocks in a racy V-cut.“Forget the necklace,” she said. “I was leaning toward gold chandeliers, but now I’m thinking diamond hoops. The biggest ones you’ve got.”“What? Really?” I frowned at our reflections in my cheval mirror, watching as she

“I’m breaking all my rules with you.” The seriousness of his low tone sent a burst of warmth and confidence through me. “Rules are made to be broken.”I saw his teeth flash white; then he hit a button on the panel beside him and said, “Drive until I say otherwise.” My cheeks heated. Another car’s headlights pierced the dark tinted glass and slid over my face, betraying my embarrassment.“Why, Maya,” he purred, rolling the condom on deftly. “You’ve seduced me into having sex in my limousine, but blush when I tell my driver I don’t want to be interrupted while you do it to me?” His sudden playfulness made me desperate to have him. Setting my hands on his shoulders for balance, I lifted onto my knees, rising to gain the height I needed to hover over the crown of Alex’s thick cock. His hands fisted at my hips and I heard a snap as he tore my panties away. The abrupt sound and the violent action behind it spurred my desire to a fever pitch. “Go slow,” he ordered hoarsely, lifting his hips