“Scarlet,” Asia said with a note of caution.
“Pleased to meet you, Scarlet. Could I interest you in a late supper after you’re finished here?” His eyes narrowed as his attention zoomed in on her other hand. He picked it up and caressed the knuckles, his thumb strumming across the ruby and diamond band her grandmother had given her and she always wore on her left hand. The ring helped to scare away non-desirables, and if they were too thick to notice, she pointed it out to them. “Or am I too late and someone has snapped you up already?”
“No, I’m not married.”
“No man in your life?” His alert expression told her he was weighing her reply, judging if she told the truth.
She shook her head, letting open honesty shine through. “I don’t get much time to date.” In this, at least, she could state the facts.
“Do you have time tonight?”
A negative reply formed in her mind. “Yes,” she whispered.
Oh boy. Ma would lock her up and throw away the key. Except… Asia thought rapidly and decided one night with Roman Anderson was worth the risk. The family was away and she didn’t expect them back until the following month. And if they did arrive back unexpectedly, they rang first. Nine out of ten times anyway, because they knew she had a hectic schedule. Her mother had muttered something about having a yearning for the fish off the coast of South America. No doubt, they’d sample the local delicacy of seal meat while they basked in the foreign waters.
One date.
Asia glanced at Roman’s dark, handsome face. Hard to believe he was the killer whale monster depicted by her family. Where was the harm in one date? And maybe a little action between the sheets if they were of the same accord?
“Yes,” she repeated in a firm voice.
“Great.” Roman didn’t act as if her acceptance were a given and she liked that. “Where should I meet you?”
Asia hesitated, trying to work out what to do to maintain secrecy yet not tip Roman off that things weren’t quite legitimate. “How about outside the side entrance at one?”
“I’ll be there,” he promised, his dark eyes glowing. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you. Very much.”
A frisson of pure lust swept Asia. Her gaze drifted across his face, his mouth, and she wondered what it would feel like to touch him, to lean her weight into his chest and feel the dense muscles crush her breasts.
The soft clearing of a throat jerked her back to the present. Amusement coated his smile, bringing a renewed flush of heat to her face.
“Hold that thought.” He blew her a kiss before returning to his table.
Asia groaned, her heart thumping so hard it felt as if she’d just finished a hundred-meter sprint. The last segment of her act couldn’t finish soon enough.
Roman let his gaze wander over Scarlet. Statuesque. Curvy. Striking red hair that matched her name. He wondered if the color was real before deciding it didn’t matter. The woman oozed confidence along with sexual allure, enthralling the audience with her husky voice. It thrummed through him, jerking his cock tight in pleasurable anticipation. He hadn’t come into the nightclub with the intention of finding a woman, but one look at Scarlet had changed his mind.
“Nice-looking lady,” the man to his right murmured after noting the direction of Roman’s gaze.
Damn, he didn’t like being so transparent. Not when there was business involved. “Yeah,” he said, aware he couldn’t push away the man without some sort of comment. The need to dispose of the treasure was too important. Thankfully, the two weeks of delicate negotiations were almost over and he could return home soon. “I spoke to her when I went up to the bar. Intelligent woman.”
“Pity,” the man said with a laugh. “Sometimes uncomplicated sex is best.”
“I’ll admit I was tempted,” Roman said with a shrug. Instinct made him skirt the truth, the fact that he was meeting her later and hoped to round off the evening with a hot and heavy session in the sack. “But once I wrap up our business discussions, I’m heading back to the island. Duty calls. I’ll have to forego pleasure this time around.”
“Yeah, I heard you live on Auckland Island. Secluded place. What’s it like?”
“Some people call it the end of the Earth. My family has lived there for generations. We like it. It’s home.” And perfect for their shapeshifting species—the Resident Orcas. Most of them owned land in New Zealand, some in Australia and farther afield, but they all returned to the secluded Auckland Islands, deep in the Southern Ocean where they could change at will, frolic and hunt in the ocean without fear of detection.
“Modern technology must have brought you closer,” the man observed.
“Sure. With helicopters and small planes, it means we’re not so cut off from the mainland.” But the island still ran on a feudal system, and as head of the tribe, he was fighting off a small, vocal group who didn’t like the old ways. Roman fought a scowl at the thought. Unfortunately, he was the only one who could negotiate the sale of the treasure and his trip to the mainland was one he couldn’t avoid. According to his brother, things were still under control on the island, albeit a bit tense between shifters with opposing viewpoints. Increasing numbers of shark mercenaries were also visiting the island, something Roman didn’t like. He was going to have to take action against the outspoken leaders before they ripped the tribe apart. The split that had occurred thousands of years ago in their species had done enough harm. He wouldn’t put the tribe through the same turmoil again.
“Hell, I envy the man who goes to bed with her each night,” the man said in a change of subject.
Roman nodded, his gaze remaining on Scarlet while she performed an old Marilyn Monroe number. His breath caught halfway up his throat while his body reacted again in a purely sexual manner. Damn. A woman hadn’t affected him in this way since his early teens. Roman couldn’t wait to see where their date would lead.
How will the date between Roman and Asia go considering they come from enemy tribes? Purchase here.
About Shelley Munro
USA Today bestselling author Shelley Munro lives in Auckland, the City of Sails, with her husband and a cheeky Jack Russell/mystery breed puppy.
Typical New Zealanders, Shelley and her husband left home for their big OE soon after they married (translation of New Zealand speak – big overseas experience). A twelve-month long adventure lengthened to six years of roaming the world. Enduring memories include being almost sat on by a mountain gorilla in Rwanda, lazing on white sandy beaches in India, whale watching in Alaska, searching for leprechauns in Ireland, and dealing with ghosts in an English pub.
While travel is still a big attraction, these days Shelley is most likely found in front of her computer following another love – that of writing stories of contemporary and paranormal romance and adventure. Other interests include watching rugby (strictly for research purposes), cycling, baking bread and curling up with an enjoyable book.
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Other Books By Shelley
Sea of Change
Price of Love
Lynx to the Pharaoh
Curse of Brandon Lupinus
Churchill Polar Bears
Fiona’s Mates
Kendall’s Mates
Renee’s Mates
Dragon Investigators
Blue Moon Dragon
Blood Moon Dragon
Middlemarch Capture
Snared by Saber
Favored by Felix
Lost with Leo
Spellbound with Sly
Journey with Joe
Bundle
Middlemarch Capture
Middlemarch Shifters
My Scarlet Woman
My Younger Lover
My Peeping Tom
My Assa
ssin
My Estranged Lover
My Feline Protector
My Determined Suitor
My Cat Burglar
My Stray Cat
My Second Chance
My Plan B
My Cat Nap
My Romantic Tangle
My Blue Lady
My Twin Trouble
Bundle
Middlemarch Shifters 1 – 3
Middlemarch Shifters 4 - 6
House of the Cat series
Sampled & Seduced
Captured & Seduced
Claimed & Seduced
Merry & Seduced
Stranded & Seduced
Seized & Seduced
Hunted & Seduced
Festive & Seduced
Betrayed & Seduced
Enticed & Seduced
Bundle
House of the Cat
Contemporary
Wild Child
Cat Burglar in Training
One Night of Misbehavior
Blindside
Fringe Benefits
Lovers at Last
Ain’t Misbehaving
Playing to Win
Summer Encounter
Reformed Bad Girl
Stranger Things Happen
Fancy Free
Protection
Romp
Buzz
Bundle
Audacious
Friendship Chronicles
Secret Lovers
Reunited Lovers
Clandestine Lovers
Part-Time Lovers
Enemy Lovers
Military Men
Innocent Next Door
Soldiers with Benefits
Safeguarding Sorrel
Bundle
Military Men
Sci-fi/Futuristic
Interplanetary Love
Sex Idol
Alien Encounter series
Janaya
Hinekiri
Alexandre
Bundle
Alien Encounter
Gay Romance
No Defense
Best Man
Last Wish
Curse Across Time
Eye on the Ball
Fallen Idol
Lone Wolf
Seeking Kokopelli
Bundle
Under His Spell
Historical
The Spurned Viscountess
Evening Tryst
Unforgettable
Mistress of Merrivale
Copyright Page
Journey with Joe
Copyright © 2018 Shelley Munro
ISBN: 978-0-473-46413-4
Cover Design by The Killion Group Inc.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Shelley Munro