Lesley York, a divorced mother of two with a PhD in Fine Art, finds herself falling hard for the charm and charisma of Rafael Capello.
And love? Well, love has nothing to do with it. She’s making no plans for a future with Rafe. And besides, she’s ten years too old for him. What she needs from Rafe is physical fulfilment … in other words, sex, but without the romance or strings attached.
But Rafe wants more from Lesley than a fleeting romance. He thinks she’s sophisticated and stylish, and he’s developed an unexpected passion for one sexy mature lady in particular...
As the University goes into lockdown, can Rafe and Lesley find love amid the crisis of a pandemic?
Excerpt:
“What if someone sees us?” Her voice quivered as she scanned the pool. “What if rumors start, and colleagues and students lose respect for us? I don’t want to find myself in that position.”
“That’s a lot of what-ifs.”
“But I’ve worked too hard to get where I am, and if I’m risking it for a summer fling—”
“We won’t be disturbed,” he promised. “And if we are, it’s our business what we do, not anyone else’s. We’re in this together.” With a gentle tug, he pulled her hands away from the rail and looped her arms around his neck.
“Hold on,” he said. “I need to find a safe place so I can do what I have to do.”
“What do you mean … a safe place?”
“If we stay here, we’ll go under and drown. I might be a proficient swimmer, but even I can’t tread water and make love at the same time.”
“Who said we’re going to make love?”
“I did.” And with steady strokes, he swam with her until they reached the shallows.
Her feet touched the bottom of the pool, and she was able to stand unaided in the water. Moving her arms, she used them for balance, but when Rafe yanked her against the wall of his chest, she was at the mercy of her own desires. She wanted his hands on her, but not as much as she longed to caress and hold him in return.
Rafe was ripped, and being pressed against his chest was torture. His nearness drove her wild.
A soft groan of yearning escaped her. “Take me, Rafe. Make me yours.”
His gaze held hers and hunger shone in his eyes. There was strong chemistry between them that couldn’t be denied. All it took was the caress of his hand as it grazed across her cheek, and she was a quivering mass.
Rafe’s lips hovered near hers. “Are you sure?” he asked.
She was going to be a risk-taker. “Certain,” she answered.
CW: mentions of the pandemic/characters in lockdown
I adored this story of a woman in her thirties finding herself, love, and a new life amid the confusion and changes of covid lockdown. The story starts when the pandemic is a rumor, and Lesley and Rafe have a hot as heck encounter at the campus pool. I really appreciated that Lesley struggled a bit with her body in this story, but Rafe is quick to show her that he appreciates all of her. (I was surprised that, as she already has two kids, there's no discussion of STDs or contraception use?) The couple's relationship builds, and when Lesley's teenagers return unexpectedly, they're able to form their own little, growing family during lockdown. A great quick read.
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Well, love has nothing to do with it. She’s making no plans for a future with Rafe. And besides, she’s ten years too old for him. What she needs from Rafe is physical fulfilment … in other words, sex, but without the romance or strings attached.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBut Rafe wants more from Lesley than a fleeting romance. He thinks she’s sophisticated and stylish, and he’s developed an unexpected passion for one sexy mature lady in particular...\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAs the University goes into lockdown, can Rafe and Lesley find love amid the crisis of a pandemic?\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpt:\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“What if someone sees us?” Her voice quivered as she scanned the pool. “What if rumors start, and colleagues and students lose respect for us? I don’t want to find myself in that position.”\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“That’s a lot of what-ifs.”\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“But I’ve worked too hard to get where I am, and if I’m risking it for a summer fling—”\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“We won’t be disturbed,” he promised. “And if we are, it’s our business what we do, not anyone else’s. We’re in this together.” With a gentle tug, he pulled her hands away from the rail and looped her arms around his neck.\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“Hold on,” he said. “I need to find a safe place so I can do what I have to do.”\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“What do you mean … a safe place?”\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“If we stay here, we’ll go under and drown. I might be a proficient swimmer, but even I can’t tread water and make love at the same time.”\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“Who said we’re going to make love?”\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003e“I did.” And with steady strokes, he swam with her until they reached the shallows.\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003eHer feet touched the bottom of the pool, and she was able to stand unaided in the water. Moving her arms, she used them for balance, but when Rafe yanked her against the wall of his chest, she was at the mercy of her own desires. She wanted his hands on her, but not as much as she longed to caress and hold him in return.\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003eRafe was ripped, and being pressed against his chest was torture. His nearness drove her wild.\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003eA soft groan of yearning escaped her. “Take me, Rafe. Make me yours.”\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003eHis gaze held hers and hunger shone in his eyes. There was strong chemistry between them that couldn’t be denied. All it took was the caress of his hand as it grazed across her cheek, and she was a quivering mass.\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003eRafe’s lips hovered near hers. “Are you sure?” he asked.\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" face=\"times new roman,times,serif\"\u003eShe was going to be a risk-taker. “Certain,” she answered.\u003c\u002ffont\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e","show_backorder_message":false,"tags":[],"warranty":"","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$2.99","value":2.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"},"default_shipping_expectation_prompt":"","detail_messages":"","availability":"","page_title":"His Woman by Arabella Sheen","cart_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fcart.php","show_backorder_availability_prompt":false,"max_purchase_quantity":0,"show_quantity_on_hand":false,"show_default_shipping_expectation_prompt":false,"show_quantity_on_backorder":false,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fbrands\u002fHeat-Level-3.html"},"attributes":[],"mpn":null,"upc":null,"options":[],"related_products":[{"id":2973,"sku":"978-0-3695-0602-3","name":"His Novice by Arabella Sheen","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fhis-novice-by-arabella-sheen\u002f","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Contemporary","Erotic ","May\u002fDecember","BBW\u002fRubenesque"],"summary":"Nathan Stockman controls his own destiny and answers to no one. 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The story starts when the pandemic is a rumor, and Lesley and Rafe have a hot as heck encounter at the campus pool. I really appreciated that Lesley struggled a bit with her body in this story, but Rafe is quick to show her that he appreciates all of her. (I was surprised that, as she already has two kids, there's no discussion of STDs or contraception use?) The couple's relationship builds, and when Lesley's teenagers return unexpectedly, they're able to form their own little, growing family during lockdown. 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