Dying to Love Her Read online

  Dying to Love Her

  Dana Lorraine

  When Melanie Woodson joins Empriva Fitness she expects to lose weight, not gain two sexy vampire personal trainers. With an exercise regimen that includes passionate horizontal workouts, fat-burning orgasms and lusty words of encouragement, she’s in serious danger of forgetting their relationship is based on a business agreement and not mutual attraction.

  Alec Kosta and Rook Abernathy, best friends and owners of Empriva, have waited over a century for the right lifemate to come along. Now that they’ve found Melanie, with her endless curves and quick wit, they’re ready to give up countless lifetimes to spend just one with her.

  But time isn’t on their side—they’ve tasted her blood and now mere days are all they have to convince her their love is real or risk losing their chance to be with her forever.

  A Romantica® paranormal ménage erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

  DYING TO LOVE HER

  Dana Lorraine

  Acknowledgements

  Jeff—I don’t think I could write about love if you didn’t give so much of it to me. How did I get so lucky?

  Thanks to my critique partner, Heidi Lynn Anderson, for pushing me harder than I’d ever push myself and my friend Deborah for always cheering me on.

  Thanks also to Violet Hughes. You said no but it was your advice that made this story better so Julie Naughton would say yes. Big thanks for that, Julie.

  Much love to my mom, mother-in-law and wonderful daughters. Sorry, ladies, but I don’t want any of you reading this naughty book!

  Chapter One

  Melanie Woodson did a whiplash-worthy double take, her gaze locking with that of the gorgeous guy in the limo. Her steps faltered in time with her heart and she lost her ability to breathe. No way could that look be meant for her. And then he smiled, all cocky and delicious. Dizzying warmth swept through her body. The heat he sent her way left little doubt—he had lowered his window to check her out.

  The sides of her lips quivered and she worked them into something she hoped resembled a smile.

  Mr. Gorgeous, eyes as bright as the lights lining the city street, responded with a seductive, hungry lick across his lips that jumpstarted her stagnant steps.

  She’d been without this kind of flattering attention too long. Melanie swallowed down hard and fidgeted with her hair. Usually, she did the sizing up as a booking agent for a premiere modeling agency. Men like him only turned on the smoldering routine for her when they wanted something, like a high-profile booking.

  Rather, he gave off the vibe that he wanted to book a room for them at The Ritz.

  If she had any chutzpah she’d pull her v-neck sweater down an extra inch or three, saunter over and show him that a hotel room wasn’t necessary. The limo gave them plenty of room to get to know each other better. But her hectic work days, the lonely nights and the extra pounds she’d packed on during the last few years had robbed her of the energy and confidence to kick her chutzpah back into gear.

  Who am I kidding? The guy wears sex appeal like a second skin. I’ve probably got a yard of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of my boot. Melanie’s cheeks flushed hot. She gave her feet a little shake while hurrying along the busy sidewalk, just in case and peeked over her shoulder one last time.

  His pucker-perfect lips launched a thousand fantasies. With a wistful sigh, she entertained a particularly steamy one involving whipped cream, her nipples and his tongue as she walked into Empriva Fitness, the most exclusive fitness and weight-loss center in New York City.

  The door flew shut behind her. Melanie rode out the lingering sensations of desire as she approached the muscled man seated behind the reception desk. She breathed easier taking note of the dark-paneled wall that blocked the rest of the facility from view. Those gyms with the expansive windows and wide-open lobbies intimidated her. No way could she exercise knowing her spandex-covered ass was on display for the whole world to see.

  Melanie signed in, bypassed the empty chairs and searched through the assortment of magazines fanned out across a table. She grabbed a mindless gossip tabloid, looked up and lost all interest in the celebrity cover story.

  Mr. Gorgeous stood by the entrance and suddenly the room felt like the waistband of her skirt—tight.

  He treated her to a devilish wink and her heartbeat sped past its target rate to a cardiac-arrest pace in seconds. On the upside, she might be burning calories.

  Had he followed her inside?

  The possibility made her tummy churn. She hadn’t flirted in forever. Considering her dating track record, she’d never done it effectively either. Melanie dropped the magazine, whipped around and hurried across the room hoping with a little more space between them she might actually think of something witty to say.

  She didn’t need to see him to know he watched her every move. The prickles of heat climbing her spine told her so. Self-consciousness didn’t have time to settle in—not once she saw his picture hanging on the wall. Curious excitement sharpened her nerves and she had to get a closer look.

  Mr. Gorgeous hadn’t posed for the photo alone. In a vibrant trance, she skimmed her fingers over the glass-covered image of the magnificent man beside him. Dark sensuality radiated from his hard-edged smile, so different from the playful sexiness of Mr. Gorgeous. Both flavors of masculinity whet her appetite and she licked her lips wanting to sample both.

  “Perhaps if you’re nice to me I’ll arrange for you to touch the real things.”

  She stilled, transfixed by the way the smooth voice slipped over her body like rich velvet. Melanie turned and found herself face to chest with a skyscraper of muscled flesh. Mr. Gorgeous looked even better up close. Lively eyes, bedhead-sexy hair and a boyishly handsome face almost too perfect—she didn’t know where to not stare first.

  His lips, do not stare at his yummy, edible lips. She’d want to kiss him if she did. Her fingers twitched. She clasped her hands together before she embarrassed herself and reached out to see if his brown hair felt as luxurious as it looked.

  “Have we met before?”

  “Unfortunately, no.” His brilliant sapphire eyes darkened. “But I’ve been anticipating this meeting for quite some time, Miss Woodson. That is, we both have, Alec and me.” He held out his hand. “I’m Rook Abernathy, part owner of Empriva and one of your consultants.”

  Disappointment settled in the pit of her stomach. He hadn’t followed her in here because he was interested. He worked here. The man was just flirty, not actually flirting. She straightened her sagging shoulders and thrust her would-be adventurous hand into his.

  Warm at first, his touch calmed but with each passing second her skin burned hotter until the blaze tore through her body. Obviously it didn’t care about his intentions. Her body lusted after him all the same.

  “Since we’re going to be getting to know each other better, may I call you Melanie?”

  Her name had never sounded so sexy on a man’s lips. “Sure,” she squeaked out, the air trapped in her lungs.

  He smiled and motioned his head at a set of doors. “Melanie, why don’t you and I head to my office where we can discuss in private my plans for you?”

  She nodded, breathing again when Rook finally released her hand and headed toward a keypad set into the paneling of the wall. He punched in a code and the pocket doors parted and slipped from view.

  Natural light seemed to stream into the gym and bounce off the white walls and mirrors despite there not being a window or skylight in sight. Men, mostly shirtless and all jaw-droppingly hot, worked their rock-hard bodies on various pieces of fitness equipment.

  Well, they had been working out until stopping to look at her.

  Melanie rubbed the side of her neck. There and eve
rywhere else, her skin tingled under their naked appraisal. Rook looked back and the sensation deepened, causing intimate muscles to ache..

  Her cheeks warmed. She was much more comfortable doing the scrutinizing. If she didn’t shake off her nerves, her pale skin would turn the same fiery shade as the highlights in her hair.

  “Melanie, is there a problem? I could carry you if you like.” Rook flashed her a playful smile, pulled up the sleeve of his body-hugging black t-shirt and flexed his biceps. “Let me show off a little and prove they work as good as they look.”

  “No, no,” she stammered, remembering the time her ex-boyfriend had thrown out his back picking her up. She didn’t want to relive that humiliating experience again. Of course Rook looked capable of lifting a small armored vehicle. “Just lead the way. I’ll follow.”

  Melanie launched herself through the doors committed to getting her weight back under control before it dictated the course of her life. The next time a man like Rook offered to take her in his arms, she’d leap without hesitation.

  This wasn’t only about the pairs of tight jeans wasting away in her dresser hoping to see the light of day again though. Her heart clenched when she thought of her sister who’d died last year after she’d suffered a heart attack. Weight had been a major contributor in her death. Melanie didn’t want to see her own health declining with her growing curves.

  Grace had been older, Melanie the oops baby born fifteen years after her sister—but still, they’d had a close relationship. Every weekend they’d talk for hours, sometimes watching movies together over the phone. She’d rarely made a big decision without getting Grace’s advice. Now she had no one, not even her parents who’d passed within a year of each other before Melanie had turned thirty.

  At this point in her life she hadn’t expected to be so alone.

  She caught up to Rook and they fell in step together. He was considerate enough to shorten his stride to match hers, which was too bad because the view from behind had been sensational. Melanie tried to keep her eyes ahead of her, but they kept finding their way over to Rook. With him around, all the other man-candy melted into the background.

  Rook caught her staring and a crafty smile cut across his face. “Your other consultant will be my business partner Alec Kosta. When you two meet, you’ll recognize him from the photograph in the lobby. He’s sorry he can’t be here but a slight strategic miscalculation on his part has delayed him.”

  “That’s fine. I’m sure he’s very busy.” She let out a shaky breath remembering Alec’s stubble-covered chiseled jaw, rich black hair and those exotic eyes that were difficult to turn away from. Goose bumps prickled across her skin.

  Melanie mentally shook off the impromptu daydream beginning to take shape involving her, Alec and Rook making interesting use of the fitness equipment. “Did you two start Empriva Fitness?”

  “Yes we did. We’ve been friends for ages. It seems fate and friendship has kept us forever bound together. Just as you are now too, Melanie.”

  “Excuse me?”

  His eyes darted away. “Bound to us at Empriva Fitness that is.” He closed his fist over his mouth and cleared his throat. “My office is just down the hall. It’s the frosted-glass door on the right.” He placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her. His touch was like a gust of wind whipping through her body, making it hard to catch her breath.

  Already her panties were damp. Melanie hadn’t ever responded to a man so sexually. She’d have to settle for vibrating away the sudden craving tonight when she got home. Hopefully, she had a brand new batch of batteries at the ready.

  She passed one of the many closed doors lining the hall and a muffled sound had her slowing her stride. Moaning—it most definitely sounded like a woman moaning. The possible cries of passion were all the more suspect when she stepped into Rook’s contemporary office. Her steps faltered and she bit back her question before blurting it out. What in the world is that doing in here?

  A bed covered in sumptuous white linens and pillows dominated the corner of the room. Swaths of sheer fabric hung from above and cocooned the king-sized fantasy bed.

  Melanie glanced back at Rook, at his full bottom lip and the clever quirk of the thinner top one. Imagining the feel of them against her skin had her licking her own. She looked back at the bed. There must be a reasonable explanation.

  “So, your work keeps you here late at night?”

  “I’m lucky enough to enjoy what I do.” He stepped in close behind her. Rook brushed his hand along her shoulder as he passed. “I wouldn’t exactly call it work.”

  She had no words in response, only thoughts. Very naughty thoughts. Melanie bit at her bottom lip because suddenly she was starving and the only thing in the room that would satisfy her hunger would be him.

  Or not. She couldn’t tell with him. The man was obviously a seasoned flirt. No one had sent these kinds of signals her way in a long time. She didn’t trust herself to read them anymore.

  “Why don’t we sit down?” Rook paused behind a leather chair. “I think it best if we get the business portion of our meeting out of the way before we lose ourselves in the pleasure of getting to know each other better.”

  Melanie slipped by him and perched herself on the edge of the stiff white cushion. She was already lost, the undeniable pleasure of just being near him overpowered her.

  What the hell was wrong with her? Was it possible to become obsessed in minutes? If he asked her to strip and lie down on the bed for an intimate workout session she might do it. That was an exercise program she could wholeheartedly commit to.

  Rook gave her shoulder another delicate brush then settled himself behind his desk. “Did you bring the contract and confidentiality agreement?”

  “Oh yes.” She opened her purse and removed the manila envelope. “Here it is. Everything’s signed, notarized and I’ve included my payment too.” Her gut gripped thinking about the hefty cost.

  He took the packet and placed it on his desk unopened. “You understand we take our privacy and yours very seriously here? The penalties for speaking about our methods are substantial.”

  “I understand the agreement.” Not that she’d read it word for word. It went on for pages and some of it looked like it was written in Latin. But she’d gleaned the most important parts—like guaranteed results.

  “Good.” Rook sat back against his chair, appearing satisfied. “Now we can talk frankly. Let’s start with why you want to lose the weight?”

  Melanie took a deep breath and surprisingly, didn’t hesitate to open up. “Both of my parents died prematurely due to weight-related health conditions. My sister too. I don’t want to find myself facing the same health issues in a few years. I’ve always been a little on the curvier side but now that I’m thirty-five it seems like the extra pounds creep on faster and faster. I want to do something about it before it’s too late.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” He leaned onto the desk, his eyes meeting hers. “Losing the people you love is hard. My parents are gone too and I miss them every day. But I’m glad to see you’re channeling the loss into making a healthier future for yourself. Have you thought about what your weight-loss goals are?”

  Melanie didn’t want to talk about herself anymore. She wanted to know more about him, his life. Did he like short, curvy women with dimples and auburn hair? Then she reminded herself this wasn’t a date. He was asking these questions because she was a client, not because he really wanted to get to know her.

  “I want to lose forty pounds in two months.” She fidgeted on the seat. Her brain and sluggish metabolism told her it was completely unattainable, but this place was rumored to perform miracles. “Your representative was vague, but he suggested it was possible.”

  “We are secretive, yes, but I can assure you the rumors we do allow to circulate about our company are true.” He smiled, his eyes brightened with confidence. “For most of our clients that’s a very attainable goal. But are you sure? Some women are
built to be curvier.” Rook made no effort to hide his appraisal of her body. “Some men even prefer it. Forty pounds in your case seems excessive.”

  She crossed her arms over her emerald sweater. His obvious appreciation of her bountiful breasts didn’t shock her. All men looked at her boobs. Always wanting to put her best feature forward, Melanie sat up straighter and pulled her arms tighter for maximum cleavage.

  A girl had to work with what she had after all.

  “My friend is getting married in two months and I want to look my best.” Melanie shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve got a chance to grasp perfection and I’m going for it.” Maybe then she’d meet the man of her dreams at the wedding and not only would her future be healthier, it’d be happier.

  Rook looked at her thoughtfully, pushed out of his chair and sat down next to her.

  She didn’t pull away when he grasped her hand. It felt good and safe and Melanie sadly realized nobody had held her hand since her sister’s funeral.

  “When we’re finished with you, Melanie, I promise you’ll never feel like you’re not perfect again.”

  Grace would have expressed the same sentiment. She was always sensitive like that. Melanie’s chest tightened and she fought back the fresh burn of tears. His heartfelt comment and the genuineness of his touch broke down her walls and her traitorous skin bloomed hot. She looked away, not ready to be so vulnerable in front of someone she barely knew.

  “Hey,” Rook said. “Look at me.” He smoothed her hair behind her ear, and then ran the back of his fingers along her jaw.

  Melanie’s tears evaporated, the trail of heat he left along her skin burning away every emotion but desire. Reluctantly she turned to him and forced a smile on her face. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I haven’t had a cheerleader in a long time.”

  “Don’t be sorry. These next few days, as we begin your program, your emotions are going to be all over the place. Alec and I will be here to help you through it.” Rook smiled. “We’ll even break out some pom-poms if you need us to.”