Beyond Eden
Beyond
Three lifelong friends find themselves tangled in a web of love, pain and dangerous secrets in this erotic Garden of Eden tale.
Tall, dark and handsome Danny Carlow has always gotten whatever he wants except for the two he wants more than anything—his best friends, lovers Paul and Eve. Determined, he waits like a snake in the grass, poised for the right moment to offer them a temptation too delicious to resist.
Artist Eve Everton makes the painful decision to leave her true love Paul for the siren call of New York City. Ten years later, with her life in shambles, she returns. When Paul’s waiting arms aren’t available, Eve falls for Danny’s charm and finds herself a willing accomplice in the dangerous games Danny plays.
Former college football star Paul Mattling is now a successful attorney with a bright future ahead of him. But behind those brilliant blue eyes are secret desires for a taste of the forbidden. Will he play it safe or give in to Danny and Eve and bite the apple?
An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
Beyond Eden
ISBN 9781419929052 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Beyond Eden Copyright © 2010 Kele Moon
Edited by Grace Bradley Cover art by Syneca
Electronic book publication September 2010
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
EYOND
E
DEN
Kele Moon
Dedication
To my soul mate Johnny Stansel, for solidifying my belief in true love and happily ever afters. I love you—always.
Special thanks to:
Lori Toland for being an awesome critique partner. Thank you for constantly challenging and supporting me. That summer of writing is such a fond memory and now we both have published stories to show for it.
My agent Saritza Hernandez for everything you do for me. I would be lost without you. Thank you for believing in me even on the days when I don’t believe in myself.
My editor Grace Bradley for making my story the best it could be. Thank you for all your hard work. You made the difficult parts fun for me, which isn’t easy to do.
Beth Bienvenu for all your help. Thank you for being so dedicated to helping me tell the best story possible.
Saarene for always being there whenever I need a second opinion. I will forever appreciate your honest feedback.
To the late Jack McGeorge, who was so generous with advice and information. It meant a lot. Thank you.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Camaro: General Motors Corporation Coke: The Coca-Cola Company Corporation Ford: Ford Motor Company
iPod: Apple, Inc.
Ironman: World Triathlon Corporation
Lexus: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha TA Toyota Motor Corporation Mack: Mack Trucks, Inc.
Mustang Cobra: Ford Motor Company
NASCAR: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. Sears: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
“I’ll write you every day.”
“Good,” Paul said, running his lips over the smooth, flat plane of his girlfriend’s stomach as desire and heartache collided inside him. “I’ll miss you so much.”
His voice caught and he squeezed his eyes shut, willing away the tears that were threatening. He was the son of a military colonel who never tolerated signs of weakness. The ability to cry had been forced out of him at a very young age but this was more than fists could destroy.
He lifted his eyes, staring at the girl who held his heart in her hands. He had loved Eve Everton for as long as he could remember, even when she was nothing but a runt of a girl with long, skinny legs, tangled red hair and bright green eyes that seemed too big for her face. The two of them had grown up together, had run barefoot through the marshes of Tampa side by side as they fished and played tag through the whole of their childhood.
She wasn’t a little girl anymore. She was eighteen, an adult who was ready to spread her wings and leave for New York, taking his heart and soul with her. He stared at her face hungrily, studying the freckles standing out on her nose that was peeling from too much Florida sun. Her red hair was braided into pigtails, making her appear both cute and incredibly sexy at the same time. Her green eyes were vibrant in the near darkness of her room, lit up only with the moonlight filtering in past the open window.
He cupped one of her bare breasts that were surprisingly full when she was still long-legged and slim. He leaned down, sucking one taut, pink nipple into his mouth. A shiver of pleasure rolled down his spine when Eve gasped and arched into him, her fingers tangling in his hair.
“Come with me to New York,” she pleaded as she tugged at his hair. “Please.”
He crawled over her until his face was hovering above hers. “I can’t,” he choked, feeling the sting of tears once more. “My father—”
“Fuck your father,” Eve said passionately, her green eyes flashing in fury. “He’s an asshole and you’re eighteen. You can do whatever you want now.”
He winced, not knowing how to explain the conditioning of his childhood to her, one that brainwashed him into complete obedience of his father. “I got a football scholarship to USF. You don’t want me to give that up, do you?”
“You’re brilliant,” she said with an adoring smile, making deep dimples appear in her cheeks. “You could get a scholarship anywhere. Play football in New York.”
“Does the Academy of Art have a football program?”
“Well, no,” she said, lowering her eyes, her full eyelashes falling like half-moons over her cheeks. “But you’re smart. You could probably get a scholarship without football.”
“We’ve had this discussion a million times. Let’s just enjoy each other tonight,” he said softly, running his hand over her forehead, brushing at a few stray wisps of hair that had escaped her braids. Her forehead was also peeling. Paul smiled and tapped at her nose. “Sunscreen is your friend, freckles.”
“Shut up,” she gasped, covering her nose with her hands. “I know I’m hideous.” “You’re beautiful,” he said, laughing when Eve tried to roll away from him.
“No, look away, look away.” Eve managed to turn over on her stomach beneath him. She kicked her feet, trying to squirm out from under him, but his heavy, muscular body made it impossible. “I’m a terrible beast.”
“No, you’re not,” he said, leaning down to run his lips over her bare shoulder. “You’re perfect.”
She wilted then, her body becoming pliant beneath his. He trailed his lips down the line of her spine and reached beneath her, cupping her breasts with both hands. Eve moaned, pushing her hips back invitingly.
“You’re naughty, Evie Girl,” he whispered as he moved down her body, now nipping at the dip in her lower back. “You want me to fuck you from behind?”
“Yeah,” she said in a breathy sigh. “I like it like that.”
They were both naked, their bodies sticky and sweaty from the stagnant, muggy air of the hot August night. They had been doing this all night, fucking and teasing each other, pushing themselves to exhaustion in hopes of building up their stores of love and lust to sustain them for the long separation they were forcing upon themselves.
He grabbed her hips, tugging on them gently until Eve got up on her knees. She moaned and stretched out like a lazy cat with her hands spread wide on the pink comforter and her ass high in the air. He admired the long, sexy line of her back as he leaned into her, cupping her nicely rounded ass.
“You’ve got the whitest ass ever,” he said as he fondled both cheeks in his large hands. “I’m being blinded.”
“Shut up, shut up,” she whined, pushing her hips back against his. “Fuck me. Do me until I die from the pleasure.”
He closed his eyes as amusement and lust collided together inside him from her words. He slid his hand down, following the crack in her ass until he reached her warm, wet pussy. He pushed one finger inside her, savoring her lazy moan.