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Sam. No one else could be at her door without being buzzed up.

"Leela, it's Sam," he called from the other side.

She put her dinner down and smoothed her sundress as she got up and went to the door. With a deep breath, she opened it. "Hey, Sam." She sounded casual, but her heart was pounding wildly as her eyes locked with Sam's.

He was wearing a pair of loose jeans and a white t-shirt. The cotton hugged his muscled biceps and visible pecs. He looked relaxed and devastatingly sexy.

"Hey, Leela, how are you?"

The strap to her sundress slipped from her shoulder, and she pulled it up aware that his eyes never left her face. "I'm good...you?"

"It's Friday, so I'm good." He moved one of his hands from behind his back, producing a small white box. "This is for you. I'm afraid I ate all the spaghetti and meatballs."

Leela raised an arched eyebrow. "I didn't think you were really serious about that."

"I never joke about spaghetti and meatballs."

She smiled, loving the dimples on his face as he returned a grin.

"I brought you something." He held out the small gift.

"What's this?" Leela took the box from him.

"Banana bread."

She looked up at him. "You didn't!"

"I did. And for the record, when I say something, I'm always serious unless I say otherwise."

She watched him shove his hands into his pockets, tightening the pull of fabric across the zipper of his pants. Zings of awareness skitter along her spine. "Well, thank you. This was so thoughtful. Would you like to come in and have a slice with me?"

Sam grinned, making the dimples dip deep on his handsome face. "I'm not into banana bread, but I would like to come in, yes."

Her stomach somersaulted as they stared at one another for a few seconds. The strap on her dress slipped again, and this time Sam's eyes slid to her bare shoulder. Leela swallowed, surprised again by the wave of desire rushing over her. He was being flirtatious and her response now would set the tone between them.

"Leela?" Sam asked. "Second guessing your initial desire?"

Could he sense the sudden wild craving she had for him?

She squeezed the box of banana bread and released a slow breath. "Look, Sam, I really do appreciate the banana bread but I…" Her voice faltered as his fingers brushed her skin to pull the loose strap back into place.

"You're afraid," he finished, placing one hand on the side of her door.

He was gorgeous and arrogant!

She snorted. "Afraid? What are you talking about? I don't even know you. That's the point." Leela folded her arms across her chest, looking around him to see another neighbour coming towards them.

Sam nodded slowly, then shook his head. "But we're not strangers, Leela. You've been in my home, we've shared my amazing pasta and a bottle of wine. So, that's not what you're afraid of."

"So, what am I afraid of?" she asked staring into the warm coffee depths of his eyes. A split second before he reached for her, Leela knew he would show her what she feared.

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With her eyes still closed, Karis kept chanting the mantra, "This isn't real, this isn't happening." If she said it enough times, it would have to be true. "Oh, yes, I am real and this is definitely happening." A deep voice filled the room.

Her eyes flew open and for the second time in less than twenty-four hours, she screamed.

A strange man stood in her living room within arm's reach! He towered above her, standing well over six feet with rich mahogany skin and a thick muscular build. Her gaze dipped to his bare chest and tapered waist. Ripped oblique muscles disappeared beneath the loose white pants riding low on his hips. Heat flooded her cheeks as she tore her eyes from his torso back to his face.

He held her shocked gaze with the most beautiful hazel eyes she had ever seen. He had the chiselled profile that would inspire fantasies and fantastic works of art. From the crown of his bald head to the soles of his bare feet, his bold features set him apart from the average male. He exuded confidence, evidenced in his relaxed stance and the cool sexy smile directed at her. A stylish goatee encircled his full lips and she couldn't stop her eyes from travelling over the rest of his rock hard body. She took in every detail from his strong jaw line, thick neck, and the most impressive set of abs on full display. He was sexy as hell, but his sex appeal did nothing to calm her racing heart or the stark realisation she needed to call her doctor now.

"Oh, my God," she whispered again, feeling light-headed.

The gorgeous apparition chuckled, flashing a perfect smile. "Not quite, but I get that a lot."

She was losing her mind, hallucinating now in broad daylight.

"Tell me, how I may serve you?" The rich sound of his voice flowed over her like a warm summer breeze.

At least she was hallucinating about a hot guy and not the hideous creature in her dreams. She sucked in a breath as the half-naked man approached her and the entire room began to spin.

"No," Karis whispered. She took one faltering step backwards and fainted.

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Nia gasped as her mouse slipper slipped beneath her and she stumbled towards Quin. The water hit him seconds before she fell to her knees in front of him. "I am so sorry." She blinked in sheer mortification as the liquid seeped into the dark fabric on his thighs. Her gaze drifted further up his leg to see the unmistakable bulge inches away from her.

"It's okay."

Nia dragged her eyes up from his pants to meet his heated gaze. "No, it's not."

Quin ran his finger down the tip of her nose. "It is. I needed to cool off anyway."

A ribbon of desire coursed along every nerve ending in her body as he stood up and offered both hands. "Let me help you up."

She took them, visualising an actual spark of electricity from his touch as he yanked her up from the ground. "Thanks, Quin." She lifted her chin, saw the same longing in his eyes and something twisted in her stomach as they stared at one another. She laced her fingers with his as time stood still. "Kiss me."

The whispered request shocked her. She waited with baited breath for him to move, her words, her heart lay before him. Just when she would've pulled away, he groaned and pulled her against his chest.

His hands skimmed up her arms, into her hair as he kissed her. She melted into him, wrapped her arms around his neck and welcomed his fierce kiss. He took over and she wanted him to. Her moan of pleasure only encouraged him to delve deeper, tasting and stroking her tongue as he backed her up against the dining room wall. She could barely breathe, lost in the rhythm of his masterful kisses.

One hand left her hair to cup her ass, kneading the soft curve beneath her dress. She ran her hands through his hair, loving the feel of the thick texture between her fingers as he pressed his hard cock against her belly.

"You're so sexy," Quin said, breaking away to look down at her.

"Ditto." She closed her eyes as he claimed her lips again, this time in a soft, sensual caress that left her boneless. He ended the kiss and her body craved more.

"Quin..." She sighed as his lips brushed her temple.

"Nia-"

The shrill sound of her phone ringing broke the moment, stopped her from making another brazen request of his body. She pulled away from his embrace to reach for the handheld laying on the dining room table. "Hello?"

"I needed those diamonds."

Nia froze.

The cold voice on the other end of the line was unmistakable.

"Tess?" She whipped around to look at Quin already on alert as he tapped his watch and indicated for her to keep on talking. "Where are you?"

"Closer than you think."

The line went dead as Nia stared at Quin. She handed him the phone in a daze.

"What did she say?"

"She said she -˜needed' those diamonds. I think she threatened me."

"Tell me exactly what she said." He took out his cell as she repeated the conversation. She watched him for a second, noting how easy it was for him to shift gears. Could he really have just given her the best damn kisses of her life? One wouldn't think it'd happened now as he relayed what had happened and gave out orders to whoever was on the other line.