Meet Marliss Melton

If you haven't read any of my books yet, then you are in for a lot of fun and adventure! I've written a 7-book series featuring the irresistible men of SEAL Team Twelve (all still available in paperback and Kindle). And I have just kicked off a new Taskforce Series with my latest release THE PROTECTOR. Here's a snippet for your reading pleasure:

Her scent ambushed him halfway up the steps, undermining his noble intentions. Over the groaning of the risers, he heard the sound of a page being turned. She was reading, he realized, peeking through the half-open doorway.

He drew back with a start. Eryn lay on her stomach across the bed, wearing nothing but that strappy top she’d worn the other night and white lace panties. Oh, fuck.    

At his quick retreat, the floorboards squeaked, and she shrieked, fumbling to cover herself. He hovered in the hallway, torn between the common-sense urge to run like hell and his determination to set the record straight once and for all.     

“Okay, it’s safe,” she called, her voice wobbling.    

Safe, right. He peered around the door frame, staying right where he was. She had wrapped the sheet around her like a toga, but the tops of her shoulders and most of her legs were still bare.

“It gets hot up here,” she said with a proud lift to her chin.  

No kidding. “You could open the window,” he suggested.        

“I’ve tried. It’s stuck.”   

Her answer left him no choice but to wade into the room to un-stick the window. Chill, moist air wafted in as he jimmied it open, cooling his scalding mental image of Eryn laying across her bed practically naked.   

By the time he turned around, she had pulled the sheet over her shoulders. Smart girl. “Came to apologize,” he said, edging toward the exit.      

“For what?”

Why did women do this? “I was out of line today,” he added. Obviously.

“Which part?” 

Damn it.“Eryn, you’re not…” He cut himself off, afraid that he would either offend her somehow or make himself sound depraved.      

For a change, she kept absolutely mute as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. “Look, I’m not going to betray your father’s trust,” he finally ground out, deciding that was the safest excuse handy. “He trusts me to watch over you, not—” fuck your brains out.

“Take advantage of me?” she delicately supplied.    

“Exactly.” He jammed his fingers into his pockets to disguise his erection.   

A crooked little smile seized her lips, making his pulse quicken. “I get it,” she told him, blushing prettily. “You don’t have to beat yourself up, Ike. If it’s any consolation, I’m not opposed to being…taken advantage of.” Her voice trailed to a husky whisper as her lashes swept downward concealing her gaze.

Not helping.  

Swear to God, all she had to do right now was to drop the sheet, and he’d be across the room burying his face between her thighs.    

Calling on his last ounce of restraint, Ike turned briskly toward the stairs. “Shut the window if it rains again,” he called, fleeing from the temptation she embodied.      

“Sleep tight,” she sang out.   

He pushed into his room and firmly shut the door. Sleep tight? Right. She had to know she had him too worked up to sleep. Besides, he couldn’t afford to sleep, not when he had some serious planning to do.

Turning his lock against the desire to return to her, he spread an oil-stained towel over his dresser top. He then set out the lubricant and cloth needed to clean his sniper rifle. For the next hour, he’d lose himself in mindless routine.

If the Feds made a move tonight, at least he wouldn’t be caught with his pants down. Some comfort that was.  

Want to read more? Visit my website for a discounted price on THE PROTECTOR at www.marlissmelton.com