EXCERPT: Big, Blooming & Wild! Daria's Dilemma by Eve Vaughn

Big, Blooming & Wild! Daria's Dilemma
by Eve Vaughncover art by Bryan Keller
ISBN (13): 978-1-59596-996-5
Genre(s): Paranormal, Sci-Fi
Theme(s): Interracial, Ménage, Shapeshifters, BBW, Big, Blooming, & Wild!
Series: Big, Blooming & Wild! Multi-Author
Length: Novella
All rights reserved.Copyright ©2008 Eve Vaughn

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*****

“Do you mind if I join you?” a deep voice reverberated over the sound of the music.
Daria glanced over to see a gentleman standing by her booth. He was so tall in fact she needed to tilt her head backward in order to look directly into his eyes. Wow, he was a big one. He reminded her of a tree, broad and stoic. If she were guessing, he had to be at least six feet six inches give or take a few. Her gaze roamed his face, from his wide forehead and slender hawk-like nose to his square jaw and the dimple in the center of his chin. She couldn’t quite make out the color of his eyes, but they were heavily lashed.
Wavy chestnut hair framed his face falling just below his jaw line. Individually there was nothing spectacular about his features, but together they formed one of the most arresting faces and the plumpest pair of lips she’d ever seen.
Her breath caught in her throat. Her mouth moved, trying to form words, but it was as if her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth. Instead of speaking, she nodded.
Tall, broad and handsome’s eyes crinkled at the sides and his full lips curved into a smile. With a grace she wouldn’t have attributed to a man his size he slid into the chair opposite hers in one fluid motion. “Thank you. I’ve been working up the nerve to come over here all night.”
Her eyebrows shot up. Surely he was teasing her. Despite her size, she knew she was attractive, but it wasn’t often she was hit on when she was out with her friends. Maybe that was it. He’d seen her enter the club with Carmen and Regina and thought he’d get into their good graces by playing up to her. It wouldn’t be the first time. But for some reason, this time around that idea didn’t sit well with her. In fact she found the thought downright depressing.
“Oh?” Taking a sip of her drink she attempted to play things cool. She couldn’t let him know he’d gotten under her skin.
His smile widened to reveal even white teeth. “Yes. I noticed you the minute you walked in and I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to approach you. I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward. My name is Ethan. Ethan Granger, and yours?” He extended his long arm across the table to offer his hand.
Her glass nearly slipped from her nerveless fingers. Maybe she was imagining things but he genuinely sounded as if he really wanted to talk to her. Not Carmen or Regina. She ran her tongue over her lips and placed her drink on the table before touching her palm to his. “Daria.”
The minute they touched, his fingers engulfed hers and what she meant to be a simple handshake turned into so much more. A jolt of electricity shot through her body and she immediately snatched her hand out of his grasp. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, wondering if he’d felt it too.
His smile faltered briefly, but he gave no indication that he’d gotten anything out of their physical contact. “That’s a beautiful name. Daria,” he whispered as though to test it on his tongue. “I like that. It suits you. So tell me, why aren’t you out there dancing with your friends?”
Feeling shy all of a sudden, she raised one shoulder in a shrug. “I guess I’m not really in a dancing mood.” It was far too embarrassing to admit the real reason why. It’s not like she needed a man to partner her when she got on the dance floor. She often had the most fun simply dancing with her girlfriends, but it was no fun being shouldered out of the way when Carmen and Regina’s admirers surrounded them.
“That’s too bad, because I was hoping you’d dance with me, but if you’d rather sit and talk, that’s okay with me. How about I get you another drink?”
Was this guy for real? Where had he been all night? Looking at Ethan, Daria decided the last thing she wanted was to just talk. Maybe the night wouldn’t be such a total loss after all. “Actually, I would love to dance.”
Again he flashed his perfect smile. He should be in toothpaste commercials with a mug like that. Ethan helped Daria out of her seat, gently grasping her elbow before leading her to the edge of the dance floor. Goosebumps worked their way up her spine as she tingled all over from his nearness. His touch was surprisingly gentle for someone so large.
Their bodies swayed together to the rhythm of the smooth jazz pumping through the sound system. Ethan grasped Daria by the hips and pulled her against him. She gasped at the contact. The jolt she’d felt earlier coursed through her entire being. Something was happening here she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Throwing caution to the wind, she wrapped her arms around Ethan and molded her body against his.
No words were needed as their bodies moved in sync with each other. She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. Ethan stared at her with such intensity a shiver went down her spine. He stared at her as if they were the only two people in the room. For the first time she noticed the color of his eyes. At first she thought they were brown, but when the light hit them she could tell they were green, a deep rich moss color, ringed with gold. Daria had never seen anyone with that particular shade before.
With their bodies pressed so close together, she could feel his rock hard form: every muscle and sinew in his tall lean frame. Her pussy dampened and a warmth starting in the pit of her stomach spread along every single nerve ending in her body. Never had she felt such an instant attraction to anyone before and Daria found it frightening and exciting.
Ethan pulled her closer still, his corded arms holding her tight. Someone fierce and possessive lurked within the depths of his eyes. And Daria was woman enough to recognize he wanted her as much as she wanted him.