HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

“You offered him something else in order to get rid of Colette from your life?”

“She’s not gone forever. She’ll be back. I’ve been given a short reprieve.”

“I’m not giving up on us. I’m much stronger than you give me credit for.” I slid my hands around her neck and kissed her.

She sighed. I was hoping it was one of surrender. She didn’t increase the pressure of her mouth against mine, but kept her lips still. I waited patiently for her next move. She wrapped her arms around me and we held one another, swaying and rocking as if we danced.

“This is nice,” I said, rubbing my lips over hers.

She lifted her face away from mine. “Being with you is nice.”

“Just say the word and I’m yours.” I clasped her around the head and gave her a passionate kiss, showing with action what I needed from her.

This time she participated, and then some. She molded her mouth to mine, sucking and licking, her breathing turning to harsh pants. I wouldn’t let her leave me without having her naked in my bed. With my arms tight around her, I drew her toward my bedroom.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked between nibbles.

“To my bedroom where I’m going to make love to you all night long.”

She swerved us around and I landed against the wall. She shifted her mouth over, puffs of moist air, dampening my cheek. “I can stay all night.”

“And the next morning?” And the one after that and the one after that….

She didn’t answer. She weaved her fingers in my hair and ate at my mouth, using her tongue in ways that made my belly grow heavy and a pulsing heat slicken in between my legs. I cupped her breasts underneath her shirt, molding the globes and swiping her nipples with my thumbs. She moaned, and then laughed, a happy sound that made me smile.

Living in Manhattan and working at Virago, one of the most successful women’s magazines in the nation is a dream come true for Lindsay Pinke. After five years of being overworked and underpaid in the research department, she’s finally noticed by Colette Duarte, the provocative executive editor of the magazine. She offers Lindsay the coveted role as her personal assistant, but first she must prove she’s worthy of the position. Lindsay must interview Victoria Nox, the elusive and extremely private CEO of Nox Media Holdings. If Lindsay succeeds, Colette promises her great things for her publishing career. If Lindsay fails, her chance as a respected writer will be cut short.

A chance meeting with Victoria at a high class function puts into motion a series of events that leaves Lindsay blindsided by her strong physical reaction to the magnetic but foreboding woman. When Lindsay unwittingly falls into Victoria’s world of dark temptations and complex entanglements, she leans the shocking truth Victoria hides about Colette that rocks Lindsay to her very core.

Now that Lindsay has become a balm on Victoria’s soul, is she strong enough to help Victoria confront her shameful past, and stop one woman’s sick games once and for all?

(Riverdale Avenue Books. https://ktgrnt.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/50-shades-of-pink/)

A knock on the door startled me more than it should have.

“I’ll answer the door.” Jayden peered through the peephole. “Your date is here.” He unlocked the door and opened it.

Holy smokes! Victoria looked amazing. Hot. She was dressed for a night on the town in a short sleeve black mini dress and strappy high heeled sandals that made me lock my thighs together from the tugging sensation lodged there.

“Lindsay.” Her purr made my heart skip a beat.

“Victoria,” I whispered, fixated on kissing her until we both couldn’t breathe.

If Jayden noticed the sexual tension in the air, he didn’t acknowledge it. He stayed in the doorway, not letting Victoria enter. “How did you get inside? The door downstairs is locked.”

“It was unlocked,” she said.

He tugged on his dreads and cursed. “This is ridiculous. I’m going to talk to the super.”

“Something wrong?” Victoria looked at me.

“We’re having a problem with unwanted visitors recently. Lindsay can tell you all about it.” Jayden backed away, finally letting Victoria inside. He snagged his jacket off a chair and came over to my side and kissed my cheek. “Be careful, and call me if you run into any problems.”

Stop it, I mouthed to him and pushed him away.

With a frustrated sigh, he nodded at Victoria and then left.

She approached me. “Nice dress.” She kept her eyes on me the entire time.

“Thanks.” I took a step toward her.

She reached me first and smirked. “Nice scarf.”

“Shut up and kiss me,” I said with more force than I had intended.

“Give me your mouth and I will,” she shot back, adding a sexy croon to her order.

Hauling her in close, I pressed my mouth to hers. Her breath was warm and tasted of mint. I sucked down on her bottom lip and moaned. She seized my ass and inserted her tongue in my mouth. We circled our tongues together in an intimate dance that made me damp and needy.

“Forget going out. We can stay here and find something else to do,” I said around her mouth.

Her lips tickled mine as she snorted. “Like get naked?”

“Exactly.” I started to tug her toward my bedroom, but she wouldn’t budge.

“I want to take you out. After the last stressful few days, we deserve some fun.” She gave me a quick kiss and headed to the door.

“What type of fun?” I asked, pushing aside my disappointment of not taking Victoria to my bed.

“The kind you’ll remember for a very long time.” She beckoned me forward. “Let’s go.”

I locked the apartment and we walked down the three flights of stairs holding hands. I liked holding hands with Victoria more than I should. It was sweet gesture I would have never applied to this woman who was only affectionate when it was a means to seduce. Maybe this was a part of the process between us, to establish more trust. Whatever it was, it made me feel giddy. If only Colette wasn’t in the picture.

When we reached the first floor landing, she turned to me as if she was going to say something. Her gaze searched my face and she tightened her grip on my hand. “You’re thinking too hard. Stop it.”

“You have a subtle way with words,” I said.

“Direct and to the point works best.” She kissed my cheek, her way to soften the blow of her words. “I want us to be honest with one another.”

“How honest? You’re willing to tell me everything about your past?” I took her advice and tried the direct approach.

She dropped my hand. “Eventually, but not tonight.”

I wouldn’t press the issue. She would tell me on her own terms. I smiled brightly, ignoring the clawing tension in the air and opened the front door. I almost lost my footing when I spied the long white stretch limo parked in front.

“Is that for us?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, as if it was no big deal. “When was the last time you rode in a limo?”

“This will be my first time.” I continued viewing the limo in awestruck wonder.

A man dressed in a suit opened the back door. Victoria hustled me in. White and red rose pedals covered the seats and floor. A bottle of champagne chilled in a bucket.

“What’s all this?” Dazed, I sat down.

“I’m giving you romance because it’s what you want.” She pointed to the champagne. “Want a glass?”

"I don’t know!” I burst into happy tears.

Living in Manhattan and working at Virago, one of the most successful women’s magazines in the nation is a dream come true for Lindsay Pinke. After five years of being overworked and underpaid in the research department, she’s finally noticed by Colette Duarte, the provocative executive editor of the magazine. She offers Lindsay the coveted role as her personal assistant, but first she must prove she’s worthy of the position. Lindsay must interview Victoria Nox, the elusive and extremely private CEO of Nox Media Holdings. If Lindsay succeeds, Colette promises her great things for her publishing career. If Lindsay fails, her chance as a respected writer will be cut short.

A chance meeting with Victoria at a high class function puts into motion a series of events that leaves Lindsay blindsided by her strong physical reaction to the magnetic but foreboding woman. When Lindsay unwittingly falls into Victoria’s world of dark temptations and complex entanglements, she leans the shocking truth Victoria hides about Colette that rocks Lindsay to her very core.

Now that Lindsay has become a balm on Victoria’s soul, is she strong enough to help Victoria confront her shameful past, and stop one woman’s sick games once and for all?

(Riverdale Avenue Books. https://ktgrnt.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/50-shades-of-pink/)

“You don’t want to sit at your desk?” I assumed she’d want to show her power by sitting behind the wide desk while I sat across from her in a smaller chair. The glass table near the windows would be much more personal and intimate.

“I sit behind my desk almost every day for more hours than I can count. My chair has a permanent indentation of my ass imbedded in the seat.”

A laugh erupted from my mouth. “Oh my god, I can’t believe you said that.”

With more refinement than I would ever have, she sat down on one of the chairs facing the room. “Why?”

“Because you’re being too nice to me.” I blurted, wincing as I spoke. Ugh, me and my stupid mouth!

Her eyes widened and she sputtered…or maybe it was a snort. Whatever it was, she held back laughter.

“I’m a nice person most of the time. I’m leery of you because of who you work for.”

“You mean Colette?” I sat and extracted my notepad and recorder from my bag.

She crossed her legs over the other. “Has she told you about her connection to my family?”

 “She was once friends with your aunt and uncle, and she met you when you moved in with them after your parents’ death. She said she was like your big sister, but you lost touch after you moved to England.”

“Big sister?” Victoria shook her head and her knuckles whitened as she gripped the chair arms.

“You see it differently?” I cleared my throat, wishing I had changed the direction of the conversation away from Colette. I started to press the record button on the recorder but she set it aside.

 “Before we begin, I’m going to establish some rules. Any questions about my former relationship with Colette is off limits. You can ask me anything about my company and my position as CEO, including some personal questions about my likes and dislikes, and mundane things like that. But the years prior to me living in England are something I won’t talk about.”

“Is it because your parents’ death still hurts to talk about?” I asked, trying to ignore the shift in the air. The easygoing atmosphere had been replaced with a stifling tension.

Victoria loosened her grip and folded her hands on her lap. She kept her gaze on my face. “The events surrounding my parents’ death, and the outcome of my life after are common knowledge. If you respect my wishes, I’ll give you new information that should interest your audience.”

“I appreciate that, in light of your…turbulent relationship with Co—”

"That woman and I don’t have a relationship to speak of. She knows why, and using you to find out what I think of her, won’t help her cause.”

“Cause? What do you mean?” I asked, trying not to squirm in my seat.

“You can’t think you’re the first sweet young thing Colette has thrown at me.” Victoria leaned forward with a brittle smile. “Why do you think she sent you to me?”

I refused to back down or submit to this woman with the massive chip on her shoulder. She’d learn I wasn’t a pushover or some silly twit. “She believes in me and wants me to prove I’m worthy—”

Victoria slapped her hands on the table and jumped up from her seat. I jerked back as she leaned in close enough for me to smell her coffee scented breath. “She’s not testing you. She’s testing me, Miss Pinke.” She flicked the tip of my nose and then went over to the windows and stared out of them.

I sat there frozen, other than my chest rising with each inhale and exhale I took. My eyes stung as I held back tears. The worst possible thing would to break down now.

Victoria finally turned back around. The bravado she easily flashed had

vanished.

“She knows my weaknesses too well. You could end up being one of them,” she whispered.

“Me-me?” My voice came out as a squeak and my throat tightened.

She rolled her head across her shoulders and walked back to the table. Instead of taking her seat, she stood behind me and dropped her hand on my shoulder. I tensed, watching our reflection in the window, paralyzed in my seat. My heart quickened and my stomach reeled.

She tugged on my braid and twisted it around her hand. I bit down on my bottom lip, my breath escaping through my mouth in short pants. Heat spread up from legs and along my sides to my torso, and reddened my face.

She bent down low, her mouth brushing the edge of my ear. “It would be too easy to seduce you right now. But I’m not going to do that.”

Why? I mouthed, barely swallowing back a moan.

“Unlike the others before you, I believe you’re an innocent. Plus.” She pressed her cheek to mine. “I don’t want to be your downfall and ruin your life. Think of it as my birthday gift to you.”

I spun around in my seat, flinching from the hold she had on my hair. “Le-let me go.”

She backed away with her hands raised.

Jumping out of my chair, I snagged my bag, flustered and confused. “How did you know it’s my birthday?

“I had you investigated over the weekend so I knew who I’m dealing with.” She moved behind her desk.

I made my way to the door, trying not to hyperventilate. “You need help.”

She lifted a small remote and the door behind me buzzed. “It’s best if you go now.”

I wrenched open the door. It banged against the wall. I didn’t run but I bolted down the hall and toward the door that would lead me to freedom. Annette, typing on her cell, opened the door.

“I’ll take you back to the elevator,” she said, sympathy lining her voice.

I held a trembling hand to my forehead where it started to pound. “You don’t want to know what happened between me and your boss in her office?”

“Miss Nox’s business is her own and not mine.” She studied my face. “I take it the interview didn’t go as you had planned?”

We reached the elevators, and with a tap of her badge, the doors opened. I marched inside and shot her a look of disgust. “Your boss is a bitch.” I then jabbed the button and the doors shut on Annette’s disbelieving face.

The tears I’d kept in check fell from my eyes. I scrubbed them away from my cheeks, angry at myself. I cursed both Colette and Victoria in my head over their sick game I’d been coerced into.

Hurrying out of the building, no one seemed to notice my tears as I walked down the street, utterly defeated.

Living in Manhattan and working at Virago, one of the most successful women’s magazines in the nation is a dream come true for Lindsay Pinke. After five years of being overworked and underpaid in the research department, she’s finally noticed by Colette Duarte, the provocative executive editor of the magazine. She offers Lindsay the coveted role as her personal assistant, but first she must prove she’s worthy of the position. Lindsay must interview Victoria Nox, the elusive and extremely private CEO of Nox Media Holdings. If Lindsay succeeds, Colette promises her great things for her publishing career. If Lindsay fails, her chance as a respected writer will be cut short.

A chance meeting with Victoria at a high class function puts into motion a series of events that leaves Lindsay blindsided by her strong physical reaction to the magnetic but foreboding woman. When Lindsay unwittingly falls into Victoria’s world of dark temptations and complex entanglements, she leans the shocking truth Victoria hides about Colette that rocks Lindsay to her very core.

Now that Lindsay has become a balm on Victoria’s soul, is she strong enough to help Victoria confront her shameful past, and stop one woman’s sick games once and for all?

(Riverdale Avenue Books. https://ktgrnt.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/50-shades-of-pink/)

Hurrying down the hall, I spotted the women’s bathroom near the elevators and high tailed it in there. I danced around in a circle and raised my hands in the air. The meeting with Colette had been intense, but well worth it.

As I came down from my high, I ran cold water over my wrists, a trick my mother had taught me to calm my nerves. The face of the woman staring back at me in the mirror was beat red with glazed over eyes. For some reason my breasts throbbed and my nipples had tightened and would have poked through my shirt, if I hadn’t worn a padded bra.

As I grabbed a paper towel, I knocked the folder over and papers flew everywhere. Annoyed by my own clumsiness, I bent down to retrieve them, placing a black and white photo of a woman on the top. Squatting on my heels, I stared at the picture of the attractive woman, who appeared to look straight at me, as if she was trying to figure out my secrets. My thighs trembled from the excursion of bending down, or it might have been the sudden pitching in my belly and a flush of pressure spreading down my legs. Victoria Nox had a bold look to her, along with a smug expression, all surrounded by stunning beauty. Self-confidence, combined with aloofness shone on her face. This was a woman who would bend to no one. Her barely there smile, showing dark shaded lips, even with the absence of color, drew me in. I couldn’t look away.

When the air from the vent overhead clicked on, I jerked and flipped the picture over, removing the temptation to stare any longer. My reaction didn’t make any sense. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been turned on by a picture of someone, not even a former celebrity crush I once had as a teenager.

I had to keep it together. My job was on the line. I wouldn’t fall for a pretty face, especially someone like Victoria Nox who wouldn’t give me a second glance or thought. But I had to figure out a way to grab her attention in order to score the interview to impress Colette and claim the job I desperately wanted.

Living in Manhattan and working at Virago, one of the most successful women’s magazines in the nation is a dream come true for Lindsay Pinke. After five years of being overworked and underpaid in the research department, she’s finally noticed by Colette Duarte, the provocative executive editor of the magazine. She offers Lindsay the coveted role as her personal assistant, but first she must prove she’s worthy of the position. Lindsay must interview Victoria Nox, the elusive and extremely private CEO of Nox Media Holdings. If Lindsay succeeds, Colette promises her great things for her publishing career. If Lindsay fails, her chance as a respected writer will be cut short.

A chance meeting with Victoria at a high class function puts into motion a series of events that leaves Lindsay blindsided by her strong physical reaction to the magnetic but foreboding woman. When Lindsay unwittingly falls into Victoria’s world of dark temptations and complex entanglements, she leans the shocking truth Victoria hides about Colette that rocks Lindsay to her very core.

Now that Lindsay has become a balm on Victoria’s soul, is she strong enough to help Victoria confront her shameful past, and stop one woman’s sick games once and for all?

(Riverdale Avenue Books. https://ktgrnt.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/50-shades-of-pink/)

Concept and generous contributions from the authors, is to be applauded. I look forward to returning to the short stories in between other books.

My aim is to read the short stories in-between books, eventually working my way through this collection.  As I’ve read more stories, I’ll update this review.  Once I've read the complete collection, I'll put up my rating.