AlTonya Washington - Provocative Territory

Sweet, seductive…and off-limits!

One rule has always worked for Elias Joss: keep your rivals close…but not too close. He didn’t bring his family’s construction company to new heights and incredible success by being naive. The only way he survived his playboy father’s indiscretions was by learning to be careful and guarded. With his life all about work, there’s just no room for play—especially when it comes to a certain too-tempting siren.

Nightclub owner Clarissa David is downright shocked to be attracted to Elias. Especially since their families share a scandalous past. Still, desire this strong can’t be denied. Can Clarissa show him that the ruthless rules of business should never apply to love?

Clarissa found herself set high against a wall with Elias Joss’s broad, hard frame snuggled in against her. His hand loosely cuffed her neck, preventing her from speaking.

“None of what you said has anything to do with why I turned them down.” He lowered his eyes to watch the rise and set of her bosom against his wrist. “No contact with you doesn’t interest me.”

Clarissa blinked rapidly.

Elias watched the changing expressions on her face as she worked to accept the meaning of his words and abrupt actions.

“We’ll be working together,” she said in an attempt to warn him of imminent drama. Her voice held a weak, unconvincing tone and she shuddered over not being able to manage more.

Elias nodded slowly several times then started kissing Clarissa.

She took the kiss, trying hard not to give anything in return. The pressure of his tongue testing the texture of hers was maddening and stirred all sorts of sensations that she wanted to lose herself in. He abandoned her tongue to trail his across the ridge of her teeth. Then, he outlined the shape of her mouth before starting the kiss all over again.

AlTONYA WASHINGTON

has been a romance novelist for nearly a decade. Her novel Finding Love Again won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Multicultural Romance in 2004. She lives in North Carolina and recently received her master’s degree in library science. As T. Onyx, AlTonya released her third erotica title Pleasure’s Powerhouse in 2011. Her latest Harlequin Kimani titles include Texas Love Song, first in the Lone Star Seduction series, which was released June 2012. The series title was followed by His Texas Touch in July. That year also marked the release of the fourteenth title in her popular Ramsey/Tesano Saga, A Lover’s Sin.

Provocative Territory

AlTonya Washington

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

Elias and Clarissa’s story came in segments. Usually, I’m more settled about how characters will maneuver their way through the story line. That didn’t happen here. I was intrigued by the introduction, the meeting between the hero and heroine, first impressions…yet I wasn’t altogether settled on how the subplot would parallel the relationship being built. As I continued to write, the characters seemed to dictate their roles. As I allowed Elias and Clarissa to dictate, I was awed by how this story began to flow. I even tweeted about it a month into writing the book! This was a very enjoyable world and story line for me to create. I hope you’ll enjoy it as well.

Currently, I’m wearing my T. Onyx hat and working on the sequel to Ruler of Perfection.

Find out more about it and other projects by visiting my redesigned website, www.lovealtonya.com. Email me at altonya@lovealtonya.com.

Blessings,

AlTonya

To my fabulous readers.

Thanks for letting me do what I do!

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 1

“I’m on my way...yes, yes. I promise I’ll be there soon. What? Yes, yes, Terence was on time.” Clarissa David spoke firmly yet softly into her phone’s tiny receiver. Glancing toward the front of the town car, she sent a playful wave to the chauffeur who was enjoying a laugh over the conversation.

“You tell Terry not to take any of those back roads he likes to use.” The female voice through the phone line was a stern one, but it was laced with a husky undercurrent, which brought a sensual element to the woman’s tone.

“Auntie, I promise Terence is running all kinds of lights to get me there.”

“You tell him to be careful, you hear?”

Clarissa’s lashes settled down over her eyes as she winced, at once regretting the attempt at humor. “I was only teasing. He’s being very careful.” That time, Clarissa merely shook her head in Terence’s direction.

The makings of a frown began to nudge the arch of Clarissa’s brows. Of course she was used to her aunt’s protective nature but even this was a bit much.

“Aunt Jaz, can’t you at least give me a hint of what you need to talk about?” Clarissa worked hard to keep the frustration out of her voice.

“No, I can’t!” Jazmina Beaumont’s clipped phrase was punctuated by a low sigh. “Baby, no, I can’t. I’m already taking a chance with having Terry bring you out here to see me about this.”

“You know I’m starting to worry, right?” Clarissa’s question harbored the same clipped tone Jaz had used earlier.

“Oh, don’t do that. I promise you I’m not losin’ my last bit of sense just yet but this ain’t somethin’ I want to talk about over the phone. Now stop asking questions and just get here.”

“All right Auntie, all right. Calm down and I’ll be there soon.”

Jazmina expressed another low sigh. “I love you, baby.”

The connection ended before Clarissa could return the sentiment. Regrettably, she didn’t have long to mull over the particulars of the conversation. Terence was announcing their arrival just outside Philadelphia, at the stop Clarissa had asked him to make en route to her aunt’s home.

“Terry, has Aunt J seemed short-tempered lately?” Clarissa asked absently while tucking her phone back into the beige leather tote she carried.

Terence Egerton laughed, the robust sound filling the car’s spacious dark cabin. “You mean more short-tempered than she usually is?”

“Yeah.” Clarissa’s agreement carried on a gust of abrupt laughter. “She didn’t sound quite like herself just now, though.”

“Probably the usual mess. Maybe a little more of it.” Terence drew to a halt, flashing the high beams to instruct a car facing him to go ahead with its left turn. “You know she’s about to start that construction for the remodeling and then she’s got them nosy committee people houndin’ her about that award,” he said.

Clarissa’s laughter sounded more genuine. “You sound just like her!”

Terence scrunched his nose. “Now why am I not sure that’s a compliment?”

Clarissa continued to laugh.

* * *

“So what lucky lady you planning on taking to the Reed House Jazz Supper in November?”