Loving On The Edge: Masters at Midnight novellas

By Saskia Walker

Once upon a time, there were three brothers — the O’Neil’s—and they’re tough, loveable rogues, one and all. The problem is they’re all looking to tie down/up the right woman. These men really like to be in charge—and on top of the situation—especially when it comes to women. Then one steamy summer each of them meets a crazy lady out of control — a crazy lady who needs a firm hand from a loveable Master.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

There was something about the new IT guy that rubbed Chrissie the wrong way, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She told herself Liam O’Neil had to be the source of the company’s security leak. But gazing at his hard, sexy body all day was getting her seriously hot and bothered. Liam is undercover and Chrissie is a major distraction. He wants Chrissie badly—preferably in bondage— but harnessing this firecracker is going to require seduction on a whole other level.

STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT

For Patrice Reynaud danger is the ultimate aphrodisiac. So when she rescues stranded investigative reporter Benjamin O’Neil, she insists on helping him get his story. For Ben, danger is his business, and he’s always been up for anything to get a good story. But his deliciously sexy rescuer gives a whole new definition to “up for anything.” This woman knows exactly what she wants—to be on her knees for a good Master, at least part of the time— and Ben loves power play. Meeting Patrice may turn out to be Ben’s ultimate adventure, if she’s the kinky-hearted woman of his dreams.

HOT ON HER TAIL

It wasn’t the knee-high black leather boots or the skintight leather hotpants that grabbed his attention, but the padlocked slave collar she was wearing around her neck. As she stepped out of the stolen vehicle he’d been chasing, Officer Colin O’Neil was thunderstruck by the alluring redhead in the provocative attire. Could she be the perfect submissive he’s been dreaming of? Now it’s up to Colin to help Lara out of the hot mess she’s in—and take charge of the electric attraction between them.

Please note: These three novellas were previously published individually by Harlequin Spice Briefs, now together for the first time. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saskia Walker
• Release date: Nov 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540191748

Saskia Walker

Award-winning British author Saskia Walker first dreamed of writing her own stories when she discovered a handful of romance novels stashed away in her school library. An avid reader, she lapped up the adventures and the life-affirming emotion she found there. As well as fantasy and romance, Saskia writes paranormal, historical and contemporary fiction, with a special interest in witchcraft. Saskia's short stories have now been published in over one hundred international anthologies and magazines. Her novels have been published by two New York publishing houses as well as several smaller publishing houses. To her absolute delight two of her novels won Passionate Plume awards, and her work has twice been nominated for a Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers' Choice Award. Her Witches of Scotland series was widely translated and became a Scandinavian bestseller. In 2015 she became a USA TODAY bestselling author. It's been an amazing journey. Saskia is now a full time author and she has many more stories to tell. Saskia is happily settled in Yorkshire in the north of England, with her real-life hero, Mark, and a houseful of felines. 

Book preview

Summary

ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE were three brothers — the O’Neil’s—and they’re tough, loveable rogues, one and all. The problem is they’re all looking to tie down/up the right woman. These men really like to be in charge—and on top of the situation—especially when it comes to women. Then one steamy summer each of them meets a crazy lady out of control — a crazy lady who needs a firm hand from a loveable Master.

Cover design: Daqri Bernardo at Covers by Combs

Author newsletter

Author website

LOVING ON THE EDGE #1

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

THERE WAS SOMETHING about the new IT guy that rubbed Chrissie the wrong way, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She told herself Liam O’Neil had to be the source of the company’s security leak. But gazing at his hard, sexy body all day was getting her seriously hot and bothered. Liam is undercover and Chrissie is a major distraction. He wants Chrissie badly—preferably in bondage— but harnessing this firecracker is going to require seduction on a whole other level.

Chapter One

WHY DID HER SCENT REACH him all the way across the room? 

Liam O’ Neil glanced over at the pretty blonde software engineer on the far side of the open plan office. Wherever he was, he could smell her perfume. He could also invariably see her, and feel her intense scrutiny.

Mostly it was because she was stalking him.

Chrissie Stanfield crossed his path whenever she got the chance. Apparently she had to check out what he was up to, numerous times a day. Even when he was under a desk installing new cables, he’d see her stroll by, and he’d have to pause whatever he was doing to admire her legs. It certainly livened up the job having her to look at.

He lifted his head and smiled at her when he caught her looking his way. Ruffled, she looked away without acknowledging him.

Too late, you little minx, I caught you.

Right from day one, Liam knew she was on to him—or thought she was. His current post was undercover, investigating security and a possible leak from a top notch banking software design company. Someone was stealing and selling their code. It wasn’t Chrissie, much to his relief.

Her annoyance at having been caught showed. Her lower lip projected ever so slightly, giving her the cutest pout, and it made him want to hold her. Preferably in a long, slow, horizontal grind. She was petite and blonde, her body physically compact in a way that suggested he could put her on his lap. Naked, ideally, and in bondage. She was also tough as old boots and fiery—hellish fiery. What would she be like in bed, with all that fire and sass on full throttle? It gave him a hard-on just thinking about it. He shook his head. Just as well he was on top of this project, otherwise she would be a dangerous distraction.

Despite his preoccupation with her sexual personality, he could also tell she was annoyed there was something between them, the fire in her eyes told him that. So did her annoyance when he tried to chat with her. There was no hiding it. It was the sort of clash that flared up when you wanted someone you didn’t want to want. He bided his time. He had his job to do, but it was fun watching her stake him out. They were two of a kind in that respect. But if she wanted to stalk him around the office he wasn’t about to argue, because she was closing in, and he was waiting for her to pounce, just so he could turn the tables on her.

THE NEW IT BLOKE, HE’S pretty hot, isn’t he? 

Chrissie looked up when she realized someone was speaking to her. Theresa, her boss, stood over her desk, glancing down at her with an amused expression.

Theresa nodded her head in the direction Chrissie had been looking. Or were you admiring his brain power?

I hadn’t noticed, Chrissie lied. But there’s something about him that bothers me. She was annoyed, because she hoped she was being subtle. Even so, she couldn’t stop herself looking back at Liam again. He was squatting at a PC base unit next to a desk some thirty feet away from hers in the other side of the office. His position gave her a perfect view of his physique under the expensive suit he wore. The contrast between muscle and smart dress suggested so much to her. He oozed self-control, as if he’d never lose his edge. Masterful, that’s what he was. Masterful. Yes, and the very thought of him being in charge of her made her horny. Some part of her instinctively knew he’d be a good lover, and wanted to find out just how good. What on earth is wrong with me?

Chrissie didn’t normally notice men in this way, but the man she was currently looking at grabbed her attention. She ran a finger beneath the neckline of her top, allowing cool air to circulate underneath the fabric. Where the hell were these thoughts coming from?  It was his fault, she decided. He was unbelievably sexy, pure undiluted man. Shouldn’t be allowed.

You saw the memo from head office, she added, trying to pull herself back to the conversation. We need to be vigilant.

Theresa gave a knowing smile. He’s too new.

Chrissie flashed her eyes at her boss. Maybe not. I’ve checked out the dates, and I don’t trust him.

You’re very observant. Theresa winked. You just go right ahead and keep your eye on him.

Chrissie pouted at her boss’s back.

She couldn’t deny he was an attractive man though. It wasn’t just the muscular physique or the way he looked in a suit. The way he turned and gazed at her with those intense eyes of his—it sent her temperature rocketing. There was a certain wild suggestion to his looks, too. His roguish stubble made her skin tingle, as if she could feel it whispering over her body as he kissed her.

Again, she forced herself to stop looking. He was sexy, big deal. Bad guys were often good looking charmers and he was up to no good, she was sure of it.  Something about him was suspicious, and, more annoyingly, something about him was vaguely familiar. If he was the software thief—and she was pretty sure he was—then maybe she’d seen him somewhere else, maybe at a convention. He’d want to see the people who worked here, before he infiltrated the workplace.

They’d been asked to be vigilant. A rival company had put out code suspiciously like theirs, days before theirs went on the market. The board couldn’t be sure, but someone on the inside might have stolen the software in production. It had to be Liam. First she’d had her eye on Ted Warburton as the possible thief. He’d always been a quiet, secretive type. Liam had quickly replaced Ted on her list of possible suspects.

She glared across at Liam, her annoyance multiplying when he smiled over at her, casual as anything. Damn cheek. She looked away, both suspicious and hating the effect he had on her. It was hot in the office, that’s what it was. It always made her horny. She uncrossed and re-crossed her legs, squeezing her thighs together. Liam just happened to be there, that’s all. It was the fact he was out of place that magnetized her attention, had to be.

The fancy suit didn’t fool her for a minute. The man looked as if he pumped iron for a living. In their business park office on the outskirts of London, where the other employees tended to be geeky types, it was unusual. He was a distraction and it was beginning to get under her skin. Her panties were damp, her pussy on fire. Bastard. Not for the first time this week she was going to have to sneak off to the ladies toilet to masturbate. It wasn’t something that’d ever happened to her in the workplace before.

Can I get you something? It was Liam.

Her back stiffened.

I’m doing a deli run, he added.

No. Thank you.

He put both his hands on her desk, leaning over in the most provocative way, looking her up and down as if it was her he was about to devour, not the mega stuffed baguette’s he seemed to favor. Are you sure I can’t tempt you?

She felt herself blushing, her pale skin making her far too easy to read. No.

He lifted one eyebrow. Shame. I’d like to see you giving in to temptation, I bet it’d be quite something, all that restrained fire... unleashed.

She hated her body for the way it responded. Between her thighs, her pussy ached for some of what he seemed to be offering, a vigorous session between the sheets.  But he was the wrong sort of bloke to get mixed up with, she was convinced of it. Unable to sit still, she rearranged herself in her seat, gripping onto the hem of her knee length skirt to steady herself. Don’t hold your breath, it’s not going to happen.

Don’t be so sure. He grinned.

Frowning, she gave him a stern look.

That pout of yours is hellish sexy. He shook his head, still smiling, and walked away.

Pout? She’d meant to