Playing With Fire

Playing With Fire
Carrie Alexander

Lara Gladstone liked to play games—sexual games. And the moment she set eyes on Daniel Savage, she sensed that this virile man did, too. He would be the ruthless hunter and she would be his prey. But first, he had to catch her, and oh what a sensuous chase it would be!Daniel knew he was being teased—what this woman could do to his body with just one look! It inspired his competitive spirit, made him want to cause her the same restless heat, the same throbbing desire that was driving him crazy. She thought she had him right where she wanted him, but he'd played a few games in his time. And he never lost.

“Tell me what you want,” Daniel whispered

He took Lara’s hand. “I think you want it all.”

“You’re so wrong. All is exactly what I don’t want. Unless you mean—” she nodded toward the house “—in the bedroom.”

“Okay,” he said. “What’s your idea of a hot sexual fantasy affair?”

Lara dropped her gaze. “I already told you. I’m a…games woman.”

“And your favorite game?”

Her body brushed against his. He could feel the tight beads of her nipples through her dress and it was making him wild. Soon he was going to turn into a ravening beast and take her for pure, raw, animal sex.

“That would be tag, Daniel. Winner takes all.” She quickly tapped him on the arm. “You’re it!” She flew into the house, shutting off lights as she ran.

He rubbed his hands in anticipation. Winner take all? Suited him. He’d never been bested yet.

Dear Reader,

Picture this: A desperately excited woman runs through the forest. A dark, savage man chases her. Is the danger real? Or is it just a game?

There are some books an author can’t give up on. Playing with Fire was mine. Several years have passed since the opening chase-through-the-forest scene came vividly to life for me. I still remember holding my breath while I wrote it—very quickly. Unfortunately those pages seemed destined to languish in my filing cabinet, labeled “too hot for category.”

Until Blaze.

Brava Blaze! I’m thrilled to join its roster of daring authors. And to the readers who demanded more of our provocative stories—thank you!

All my best,

Carrie Alexander

P.S. Please look for my other books, as well, wherever they might pop up—Temptation, Duets, Superromance,. And I love to hear from you. You can write to me in care of Harlequin or by e-mail at CarrieAlexander2@aol.com.

P.P.S. Don’t forget to check out the special Blaze Web site at www.tryblaze.com.

Playing with Fire

Carrie Alexander

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Contents

Prologue

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

Prologue

SAVAGE WAS hunting her.

Lara sensed his presence in every cell of her body—from the prickling hairs at her nape to the heat zinging through her bloodstream to the nervousness of her dancing feet. She panted shallowly, trying to calm herself. To quell the urge to flee. If she lost her head and ran without reason, it would be as easy as child’s play for him to swoop down and snap her up.

This was anything but child’s play.

Holding her breath, she crouched in the parchment leaves to listen for him. Was he near?

She heard only the normal sounds of the forest—minute raspings and tickings and scattershot scurries of tiny claws. The wind sighed, passing overhead with a scraping of bare branches and the whispered brush of evergreen boughs.

Several orangy-gold leaves drifted to the ground. Her alert gaze followed their meandering path. A woodpecker’s rat-a-tat-tat sounded in the distance, echoing the beat of her racing heart.

She bowed her head, allowing herself to slowly exhale like a leaking balloon even as she remained on edge, every sense deliciously heightened. Her instincts had never been sharper; her reactions were hair-trigger.

A pheasant flapped through the undergrowth right beside her and she reflexively jerked forward into a ready position as if under the starter’s pistol. Her pulse escalated. A frisson of fear rippled across her skin. Savage must be near! And yet there was no sign of him….

Waiting for him to pounce was unbearable. At a sudden loud cracking sound in the forest behind her, Lara sprang forward. Knowing her flight was both precipitous and foolhardy, she raced through the stand of mixed hardwoods, dodging broad trunks and saplings alike, leaping fallen logs, her loose hair streaming behind her like a lick of golden sun-fire.

“Aye-yi-yi-yi-eee!”