Fantasy Knights

By Marilyn Lee

A lover who finds her plus-size body lacking sends Devoni Mitchell fleeing to the rooftop of her condo. There she spots a falling star and recites a childhood rhyme, Flame. Flame. Falling Star. Come to she who awaits you. That night her dreams take her to a strange desert world where a handsome blond horseman spends the entire night cherishing her body and making passionate love to her.

The next morning she finds clear evidence she's had real sex and has been missing for a week. Even more startling is the two small puncture wounds on her neck. Of all the men to center a fantasy around, why did she have to choose a vampire? But if Flame is only a figment of her imagination, why are the marks on her neck real? And what is she supposed to do when he returns?

43,600 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marilyn Lee Unleashed
• Release date: Aug 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502235251

Marilyn Lee

Marilyn Lee lives, works, and writes on the East Coast. In addition to thoroughly enjoying writing erotic romances, she enjoys roller-skating, spending time with her large, extended family, and rooting for all her hometown sports teams. Her other interests include collecting Doc Savage pulp novels from the thirties and forties and collecting Marvel comics from the seventies and eighties (particularly Thor and The Avengers). Her favorite TV shows are forensic shows, westerns (Gunsmoke and Have Gun, Will Travel are particular favorites), mysteries (loves the old Charlie Chan mysteries. Her all-time favorite mystery movie is probably Dead, Again), and nearly every vampire movie or television show ever made (Forever Knight and Count Yorga, Vampire are favorites). Marilyn has won numerous writing accolades, including a CAPA award for Bloodlust: Conquering Mikhel Dumont and the following Lub-Dubs Awards for 2009: Lifetime Achievement Award, In Blood And Worth Loving (Best erotic novel and best sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal Award. She loves to hear from readers who can email her at [e-mail] or who can visit her website, http://www.marilynlee.org. Visit her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.lee.393950?ref=tn_tnmn) She has a Yahoo! Group called Love Bytes that readers can join by sending an email to [e-mail]

Book preview

Chapter One

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The soft music filling the air, the dim lighting, and the hard body of the man holding Devoni Mitchell close boded well for a night of passion. His lips brushing against her forehead heightened her expectations of how they would spend the hours after they left the party.

After a month of exclusive dating, she hoped Jamal Carter was the answer to her prayers. For the first time in nearly a year, instead of losing herself in dreams of a faceless, impossibly skilled fantasy lover several times a week, a flesh-and-blood man was the object of her sexual desires.

It would be wonderful to savor the first few inches of a real, hard cock sliding slowly into her pussy. Just the thought of real sex made her stomach muscles clench uncontrollably.

True, in unguarded moments, she still found herself thinking of her sweet dream lover. She gave a mental shake of her head. Tonight wasn’t the night for such thoughts. It was past time to relegate such desires to her subconscious. She had wasted far too much time allowing her fantasy relationship to interfere with real ones.

Jamal’s arm tightening around her waist refocused her attention on him. She smiled and leaned closer to him. Things between her and Jamal were going so well that she suspected she’d spent her last night in fantasyland.

Voni?

Hmmm?

Jamal’s warm lips moved across her forehead. Tyler was right. You are one lovely woman.

She smiled. Jamal Carter was every black woman’s dream —a single, straight black man with an excellent job. Lately, she had begun to hope that her ebony knight had finally arrived in her life in the form of the tall, handsome, hunky Jamal.

Nevertheless, after eight dates in just over four weeks, her feelings for him confused her. Although she enjoyed being with him and looked forward to becoming lovers, there was a part of her that looked beyond him to a future with a mysterious lover who would leave her with no doubt that her heart and her passions belonged exclusively to him. How could she still secretly wonder if blind dates were a waste of time? After all, such a date had netted her Jamal, who she was looking forward to sleeping with.

Voni?

She lifted her head, smiling up at him. That’s a sweet compliment. Thanks, Jamal.

We need to talk.

Her heartbeat quickened at the husky tone of his voice. He was going to ask her to sleep with him. She was going to accept —provided he promised to give her what she wanted. It had been far too long since she’d had sex and she needed their first night together to include at least one hard, raunchy fuck. The thought of Jamal’s hard cock slamming in and out of her filled her pussy with moisture.

Jamal gently squeezed the hand he held in his as he maneuvered her across the length of Trina and Tyler Maxwell’s living room to an unoccupied spot near the glass doors of their terrace. The soft music and dim lights stirred her senses. When he put a finger under her chin to lift her face, she parted her lips in eager anticipation of the coming kiss.

Instead of immediately kissing her, he stared down at her with a slight frown furrowing his brows.

What’s wrong? she asked softly.

He shook his head. Nothing.

But she noted a sudden tension in the hard muscles pressed along the length of her body. Surely he didn’t fear rejection. In case he did, she briefly ground herself against his groin.

He caught her hand and bent his head.

Devoni closed her eyes.

He touched his mouth to hers.

His lips felt warm and persuasive.

Very nice.

Using his mouth and tongue, he slowly teased her lips apart.

She leaned into him, sucking his tongue into her mouth.

As they shared a brief, explosive kiss, he stroked his hands down her back to brush over her ass before he lifted his mouth from hers.

She opened her eyes, smiling up at him.

He cupped his hands over her ass. You’re so damned sexy, Voni. I think it’s time you and I got to know each other better.

While he seemed ready to sleep with her, conversely, she experienced a moment of indecision. Was she really prepared to abandon her fantasy knight who had rescued her from years of sexual frustration? Would she be able to keep thoughts of him at bay once she and Jamal became lovers? Or would she emotionally drift back into her spectral lover’s arms?

It’s time to get with the program, Voni.

Voni?

She widened her smile and placed her palms against his chest.

He tightened his hands on her ass.

She ground her hips against his in response.

His cock stirred. She trembled, filled with lust at the thought of feeling him pounding her pussy. That sounds like a plan. What did you have in mind?

A private dance party for two filled with soft lights, pulsating music, and expensive champagne.

Where?

My place or yours. Lady’s choice.

And then?

Then we’ll undress each other and tumble naked into bed where we’ll spend the rest of the night fucking like horny bunnies on a mission. He squeezed her ass. Or am I being too presumptuous?

Her heart racing, she shook her head quickly —before second thoughts of her fantasy lover could rise to the surface and squash her determination to center her hopes on a real man. No. You’re not, she whispered.

Am I being too crude?

She shook her head. I’ve always enjoyed graphic sexual exchanges with my lovers.

You have?

Yes.

A smile spread across his handsome face. That’s a relief, because I want you so badly that I’m tempted to twirl you against the nearest wall for a quick, raunchy fuck before I explode.

Just maybe the handsome, horny Jamal was her knight in shining armor. She arched a brow. Really? Well, save your explosion for when we’re alone and you’re inside me.

So we’re going to fuck tonight?

Yes.

He rubbed his palms over her ass. How do you like it?

Hard, deep, and a little rough. Actually she liked it a lot rough, but over the years she’d learned it was best to conceal the depth of her sexual proclivities until she and her lover were very comfortable with each other.

He shuddered. Holy hell!

Her smile wavered as she noted his earlier frown had returned. Jamal?

She watched conflicted emotions flashing across his face for several moments before he took a deep breath. He responded in a slow, almost reluctant voice. I’m not sure why, but I felt compelled to ask this question.

Go ahead. Ask me anything you like, she encouraged, certain he was about to suggest some new sexual technique she might be unfamiliar with.

You know you’re sexy as hell. Don’t you?

I’ve been told that a time or two lately. She brushed her fingers along his jaw. By you.

And I meant it...

She experienced a sudden chill of apprehension and stiffened in his arms, aware of their surrounding again. But?

He closed his eyes briefly.

Jamal? But?

He opened his eyes and stared down at her. But I’m curious.

About?

About whether or not you’ve ever considered...

It was something sexual after all. She relaxed her tense body. About what? Go ahead, Jamal. I’m pretty...open-minded. You can ask me anything.

Have you ever considered how stunning you would be if...

She tingled with excitement, eager to learn what he wanted to do to and with her. If what?

If you lost a little weight?

She stiffened and stared at him. What? What did you say?

He shook his head quickly. I can see from the look on your face that you’ve misunderstood me.

She pushed his hands away from her ass. I doubt that.

A pained expression spread over his face. You have. You know I’ve told you you’re lovely as you are.

He spoke with such passion that she relaxed against him. Am I?

Of course you are —mostly.

She stiffened again, this time pushing against his shoulders.

Voni, please. Please. Give me a moment to explain before you get upset. I’m just talking about a few pounds here or there, nothing drastic or dramatic.

She gave him a cool stare.

He apparently took her silence for assent and rushed on. I know the pounds can add up over time before you know it.

After nourishing her hopes all evening, his words hit with the force of a fist driven into her belly. How could he have spent the night flattering her only to dash her hopes so cruelly? Did he think she had no feelings? With rage and hurt warring with each other, she sucked in a breath and jerked out of his arms. She had to get away from him quickly before she either burst into tears or slapped him.

Voni. Wait! He caught her hand and turned her back to face him.

She tugged at her hand.

He tightened his grip. Look, Voni. Give me a moment. Please.

So you can issue a further insult?

I haven’t explained myself very well, so I can see why you’re as confused as I am. But one thing I’m not confused about is that I’m not into skinny women who have no curves and who aren’t padded in all the right places. I prefer real women like you.

He sounded so sincere. She blinked. Then why are you suggesting I lose weight?

A large part of your charm is the size of your breasts and ass. You’re a beautiful woman with lush, pleasing curves. I’m only talking about a few lousy pounds. Please don’t overreact.

Don’t overreact? How dare he presume to ask her to lose even an ounce? She snatched her hand away.

He spread his hands. Please, Devoni. You’ve clearly misunderstood me.

The only thing I’ve misunderstood was your character —or lack thereof. Now that I know who I’m dealing with, we have nothing more to say to each other.

A look of panic flashed in his gaze. Don’t say that, Devoni. Please let me try to explain.

We have nothing further to say to each other —ever again. Struggling to keep hurt, angry tears at bay, she turned to make her way across the room to the spot where her hosts slow danced together.

Trina and Tyler were an attractive couple. Five years his wife’s junior, Tyler was tall, well-built with striking pale skin, dark hair, and green eyes. Trina was a full-figured black woman with a beautiful curtain of long, dark hair that fell several inches past her shoulders.

Trina took one look at Devoni’s face and slipped out of Tyler’s arms. Voni? What’s wrong?

Her other three cousins and a mutual friend, there with their husbands or significant others, cast anxious looks in her direction.

Devoni shook her head and gave them what she hoped was a reassuring smile before turning to face Trina again. Nothing’s wrong. Realizing how terse she sounded, she stopped abruptly. She moistened her lips. I had a great time, but I’m feeling tired now and need to go home.

Trina cast a quick look across the room in the direction where Devoni and Jamal had been dancing. Alone?

As her closest friend, Trina had been well aware of Devoni’s hopes for the evening. Devoni shrugged. I’m tired.

Voni!

She shook her head. Please, Trina. I need some time. She glanced over her shoulder. Tell Brandi, Shea, and Erin I’ll talk to them next week.

But Voni...

Please. She squeezed Trina’s arm and hurried from the living room down the hall to the large closet where she’d left her all-weather coat. She slipped it on and walked into the foyer where Trina waited for her. Are you all right?

Devoni struggled to keep her voice level when she spoke. Yes. I am, but I need to be alone for a few hours to...I need to be alone.

Trina sighed. Okay, but what did Jamal...what did he say or do to hurt you?

She shook her head. I don’t want to talk about it just now.

Trina sucked in an angry breath. So he did say something to hurt you!

She shrugged. He didn’t say anything I can’t deal with after a good night’s sleep.

Okay, but let me drive you home while Tyler follows in your car.

Recalling the quick, probing look Tyler had given her, almost as if he knew what had happened between her and Jamal, she shook her head. Thanks, but the drive will help me clear my head. She kissed Trina’s cheek. I’m a little...pissed, but otherwise okay. Go back to Tyler and enjoy your party. I’ll call you in a few days. Okay?

Voni...

I promise I’m all right. I just need some time to straighten a few things out in my mind and then we’ll talk —just as we always do.

Trina sighed. Okay, but you know that my marriage to Tyler hasn’t changed anything between us. Right?

Trina had met Tyler just before her fortieth birthday, when she’d almost given up hope of finding love. Trina and Tyler’s unexpected romance had given Devoni hope that she too might meet a man who loved and adored her as deeply as Tyler did Trina. You have Tyler now.

Yes, I do. He’s the love of my life, but having him doesn’t change the fact that you’re my best friend. I’m always going to be there when you need me. Got it, girl?

She nodded, warmed by Trina’s words. Yeah. Got it.

Good. Trina squeezed her hand. You only get a few days before you have to open up to me.

Promise.

Trina frowned. Shall I have Tyler kick Jamal out on his useless ass?

Devoni smiled, but shook her head. No.

I thought you and he...

Devoni nodded. I know, but that was a pipe dream. She flashed Trina a quick smile and left the elaborate mansionlike home Tyler had bought Trina as an I-love-you-forever gift.

Devoni, who normally enjoyed driving at night with the moonroof open and the stars twirling above her, found it difficult to appreciate the beauty of the night. Why had Jamal gone from an ardent admirer to a man with the unmitigated gall to suggest she lose weight? What had triggered the abrupt and unexpected change? From the moment Trina had introduced them, he'd looked at her with an appreciative gleam that had become more pronounced each time they saw each other. What had changed his opinion within the course of a few minutes? Had she been too frank in expressing her desire? He hadn’t given any indication of being a man who wanted or expected a woman to hide her own sexuality.

Men. She parked her car in her parking space. Whatever his motivation, he had effectively ended their relationship. There was no way in hell she’d give him another chance to take a crack at her weight.

She sighed. That meant nothing but phantom sex for the foreseeable future.