Janelle Denison
Wilde Thing
The second book in the Wilde series, 2003
Dear Reader,
First you met Eric Wilde in SOMETHING WILDE, a story in the "I Brake for Bad Boys" Brava anthology out in November 2002, which introduced you to my sexy, gorgeous "Wilde" brothers, who are just as untamable as their last name implies! Now, get ready for a fun, red-hot read about Steve Wilde and his brazen pursuit to seduce the woman who has tempted him for too long. It doesn't get any hotter than this!
WILDE THING. The title of this book conjures up all kinds of shameless, erotic possibilities, doesn't it? How about an irresistible bad boy who rides a Harley, enjoys everything about women, and has his sights set on sensual Liz Adams? Throw in a bit of steamy, erotic phone sex between the two of them, along with a provocative, anything-goes affair filled with a wealth of sexual indulgence, and get ready to be swept into a world of decadent desires that will leave you restless and breathless.
I hope you enjoy Steve and Liz's sexy, sizzling story, and keep a look out for Adrian Wilde's story in THE WILDE ONE, which will be part of the BAD BOYS TO GO Brava anthology, out in November 2003. Be sure to check my website at
Happy reading,
Janelle Denison
Chapter 1
He had bad boy written all over him, and Liz Adams wanted him in the worst possible way. From his rumpled sable hair and striking, seductive blue eyes to that lean, honed body she'd imagined naked and aroused, he exuded raw sex appeal and brought her feminine instincts to keen awareness like no other man had in a very long time.
Simply put, she was completely and totally in lust with her gorgeous, head-turning customer who'd recently started frequenting her café, The Daily Grind. Over the past month, he'd become a pleasant visual distraction from other responsibilities and worries that had been weighing heavily on her mind.
He lifted his head from the latest best-seller he was reading, and from across the room their eyes met briefly and she caught a glimpse of the to-die-for grin that raised the corner of his sensual mouth. An undeniable warmth and excitement stirred within her, and she had to resist the urge to close the distance between them, rip his black T-shirt and tight jeans off his long, muscled body, and have her wicked way with him. On the countertop, on one of the couches in the sitting area, or even the floor. She wasn't picky about the where part of her fantasy.
Picking up a damp towel, she wiped down the stainless steel espresso machine and let out a wistful sigh that conveyed three long years of suppressed desires. She'd recently turned thirty-one, and she swore she was hitting her sexual prime, because for the past few weeks she'd been craving sex-ever since he'd strolled into her coffeehouse and jump-started her libido, fueling her nightly dreams with carnal, sinful fantasies.
Undoubtedly, it had been too long since she'd felt the exquisite caress of a man's mouth sliding across her sensitized flesh. Too long since she'd experienced the delicious heat of a hard, strong body covering hers, the silken texture and erotic friction of a man sliding deep in a slow, grinding rhythm. Those realistic sensations were something no artificially enhanced sex toy could duplicate, and she missed that kind of physical connection with a flesh-and-blood man.
But as much as her fantasy man over in the corner tempted her, everything from that black leather jacket he wore, to his come-hither eyes and self-confidence, screamed rebel. And she'd vowed after her marriage to Travis that she'd never get involved with another man who was wild and impulsive and had the ability to leave her devastated in the process.
Unfortunately, despite being burned by one bad boy who'd turned out to be bad in the extreme, she couldn't prevent her attraction to the kind of man who possessed a bit of an edge. A take-charge kind of man who was decisive and straightforward yet unpredictable, with a sense of reckless adventure. That Harley-Davidson motorcycle her customer rode told her a lot about the man-that he was secure in his masculinity, didn't like to be constrained by rules, and was untamable, intrepid, and daring as well.
Even knowing he was most likely all wrong for her, that those qualities could only lead to trouble and heartache, she still wanted him. Badly.
"Mind if I make myself a chilled mocha before you finish cleaning up?"
The sound of Mona Owen's voice snapped Liz out of her private thoughts and jolted her back to reality and the cleanup still awaiting her attention. She glanced at her good friend and owner of The Last Word, a new-and-used bookstore that directly connected to her coffeehouse cafe, and caught Mona eyeing the last of the drink mix in the blender.
Liz grinned, having grown used to Mona's tendency to mooch leftovers near closing time. "Sure. Help yourself."
Mona tossed ice into the concoction, switched the blender on for a few seconds, then poured the frothy drink into a plastic cup and added a straw. "I've been meaning to ask you if you've heard from your cousin Valerie yet."
The reminder of Valerie's vanishing act brought Liz out of her fantasy and back to the helpless feeling that had grown with each passing day. "I haven't heard a word from her since she left me that vague note Friday night." And all the message had said was that she was going to a weekend work party with a new boyfriend, Rob, a wealthy client she'd met through The Ultimate Fantasy, the phone sex place where she worked.
Admittedly, it wasn't out of the ordinary for Valerie to do something as frivolous as to take off with a boyfriend for a short getaway. Her twenty-four-year-old cousin had always possessed an impetuous streak and often did outrageous things to get attention, but the weekend had come and gone and here it was, Tuesday evening, and Liz had yet to hear from her.
She knew Valerie enjoyed her unconventional occupation, but there had been other aspects of her job that her cousin had mentioned that had troubled Liz-like those fantasy parties that dealt in other services and sexual escapades. She couldn't help but worry that Valerie had gotten herself in over her head with this man she'd taken off with. A guy Liz had never met, and the only connection she had to Val's disappearance was The Ultimate Fantasy.
"Are you thinking about contacting the police?" Mona asked.
"I already tried that." Grabbing the steaming pitcher, she dunked it into the hot, soapy water in the sink and took out her frustration in scrubbing the stainless steel pot. "I called and spoke with an officer, but once I told him about the note Valerie left, stating she was off on her own free will, he said at this point there wasn't any evidence of foul play to warrant an investigation, and all I could do was file a missing-persons report on her behalf."
And with every day that passed without a word from her cousin, Liz's concern grew. So far, she'd been able to keep Valerie's vanishing act from Val's parents, Liz's aunt and uncle, who'd moved from Chicago to Southern California almost a year ago. Ben and Sally Clark were wonderful, kindhearted relatives who'd raised Liz from the age of twelve after her own parents had died. The two of them had always treated her like a second daughter, which Valerie, as an only child, had resented at times. Thus her cousin's penchant for being excessive and irresponsible, and much too self-centered.
If Liz hadn't promised her aunt and uncle she'd watch out for Valerie as well as keep her out of trouble, she'd probably write this scenario off as one of her cousin's eccentric antics. But she had agreed to look after Valerie, even going so far as to share her apartment with her cousin. Liz had taken on the request as an opportunity to prove that she was reliable and responsible after her disappointing fiasco with Travis. She'd desperately wanted to please her aunt and uncle and earn back their respect.