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© 2009, Adriana Kraft Reviews For MEGHAN'S PLAYHOUSE Book 2: A WOMAN FOR ZACHARY by Adriana Kraft Adriana Kraft has produced a sound story
with a romantic plot full of well-rounded characters, splendid dialogue
and intense sex scenes. A Woman for Zachary is playful, erotic and leaves
little to the imagination. Sample Chapter For MEGHAN'S PLAYHOUSE Book 2: A WOMAN FOR ZACHARY by Adriana Kraft “Your latest protégé does show promise, Zach.” Josette Patrice focused on the group of actors rehearsing onstage and avoided looking at Zachary Cullen as they stood shoulder to shoulder in the back of the small semidarkened playhouse. “Hmm.” Josie smiled at the man’s noncommittal
grunt. Was he pondering Meghan Keenan’s thespian talents or her
bedroom talents? There was little doubt the petite twenty-one year old
would excel in both venues. “She seems more wooden, less natural than when I first saw her in that little community playhouse back in Wisconsin,” Zach said, breaking the silence. Lost in her own thoughts, Josie startled at the gravelly sound of Zach’s deep voice. It was that slow, strong drawl that had appealed to her since the first time they’d met. That and his burning eyes that seemed capable of peering into one’s soul. Josie wet her lips watching the stage lights bounce off the girl’s auburn hair as if setting her afire. Had Meg been caught up in Zach’s vision for her, or in his nearly overwhelming air of masculinity? She had to admit his broad shoulders and tapered hips triggered her own lusty imagination. Damn. She hated the fact that she had difficulty ignoring his manliness and he never even looked at her as a woman. Apparently, he only saw her as a conduit for helping his protégés advance their careers. Josie squared her shoulders. At forty-three, she was hardly over the hill. She’d had her share of lovers. Given his lack of interest, she’d flaunted her female lovers before Zach. Her nipples pebbled. Perhaps that had been a mistake. Zachary Cullen was not a man to be toyed with. Certainly, he must know by now that she wasn’t simply into women. Evidently he didn’t give a whit about her sexual appetites. “Well, is she regressing?” Zach made no effort to conceal his annoyance at her lack of response. Josie winced and glanced at him. The backlighting highlighted his furrowed brow and graying temples. “Sorry. What Meg is going through seems quite typical. She’s only been here a few months. It’s a huge leap from small town mid-America to New York City. Don’t you remember that?” “I suppose. Does seem like a long time ago. What else?” “Are you ever patient?” “Sometimes.” Her heartbeat quickened at the sudden thought that he must be both a demanding and patient lover. She shook her head to clear it. Why couldn’t she stay focused? Was it her French blood? Raging hormones? Or a sign of early menopause? “Between taking a couple acting
classes and trying to meet my expectations in this workshop, Meg is
likely overthinking. Her natural talent will reemerge. Sometimes that
takes time.” “Wouldn’t want you to. She has to earn her way. I just want to make sure she gets a shot.” “She’ll get that.” Josie hesitated only slightly before forging ahead. “Plus, she’s probably worried about you.” “What?” Zach snapped his head to glare at her. “Now what are you talking about, woman? You do come up with some of the damnedest notions. No one needs to worry about me.” She doubted that was true, but managed to keep that opinion to herself. “Nevertheless, Meg must have some ambivalence about you. She’s a young woman, Zach. She’s hardly going to want to be tied long to a man more than twice her age.” “I don’t have her tied up,” Zach protested. “I don’t expect her to last. You know that.” “But does she?” Josie folded her arms under her breasts, directing her full attention at Zach. “You travel so much. It must be hard for her to develop a network of friends in a new place where it would appear she’s a highly successful older man’s mistress.” “Mistress!” “Shh. I didn’t say that’s how you look at her. But you did set her up in a Brooklyn walk-up, right?” “Only because she wouldn’t accept the Manhattan apartment,” he growled. “Too expensive—she complained.” “A stab at some modicum of independence, no doubt. And other lovers?” Even in the shadows of the theater, Josie could see the cords of Zach’s neck stand out. She might have pressed him too far. “Not until I say so,” he snapped. “I don’t expect much, but I won’t be cuckolded.” Josie smirked. “What an old-fashioned word. Perhaps you are showing your age.” Zach stared back at the stage where Meg and two other actors continued running through the script. “But you’re right—she may be short on friends. Stands to reason she would be.” He cocked his head back at Josie. “Maybe you should reach out to her more. You could be,” he arched an eyebrow, “sort of a mother figure for her. Though her mother died some time back.” “A mother figure!” Josie spat the words out and drew herself up to her full height, nearly matching Zach’s. “I refuse to be anyone’s mother figure. What do you really think I am?” “Now don’t go berserk on me, woman. I didn’t mean to imply you’re old. But you’re a woman of much more experience and wisdom than the girl. She looks up to you. Hell, you seem to understand what she’s experiencing. Sometimes I don’t have a clue.” “I can certainly believe that.” “I’m leaving tomorrow for a couple weeks.” He eyed her as if she’d just agreed to watch out for his interests while he was gone. “I trust you, Josie. I know Meg is in good hands with you. If there is anyone in the theater world who can develop raw talent into a star, it’s you.” Josie flushed under his rare attempt at flattery. She knew he respected her work, but he seldom tried to voice that respect. At last she nodded. “I do my best. Meg has the innate talent, but she’ll have to want to work very hard to develop it. What I offer can do little if she doesn’t have the desire.” “I know. I think she does.” His shoulders slumped a little. “But she can be flighty.” He gave her an awkward smile. “Guess that may be a factor of age—or maybe it’s simply part of being female.” “You,” Josie said, rapping her fist against his firm chest. He grabbed her wrist. “Sometimes I think you’re as much of a spitfire as she is. Anyhow, I have to go. I’ll leave Meg in your capable hands.” Zach narrowed his eyes. “Let me know if she strays. I’m not about to tolerate that. I’ll let her go when I’m ready.” Yanking her hand out of his grasp, Josie retreated a step. “I will not be your spy. If she wants to fuck every man and woman in New York, that’s her business. And if she does, I’ll never tell.” Laughter rumbled from Zach’s diaphragm. “It always amazes me how you women stick together. And I don’t believe even our Meg can do the entire population of New York City in two weeks. So long. Have fun.” Josie fumed at the sight of the man turning away and heading for the foyer. She let him go. There was nothing to be gained by pursuing him. She turned back toward the stage. Damn,
did he only see her as some sort of surrogate mother? And Zach’s
ego aside, she highly doubted Meg had remained faithful during his many
forays across the country. Most likely faithfulness had never even crossed
the mind of the free-spirited Meg Keenan. Josie might not know her as
well as Zach did, but in some ways perhaps she knew her better. After
all, they were both women. “Yes,” Josie murmured to herself. “You have lots of potential.” Josie’s hands warmed as she allowed herself to briefly imagine them learning the curves of the young woman’s body. Her breath caught in her windpipe. Zach was leaving Meg in her good hands. She shut her eyes and opened them slowly. Maybe she should show Zach just how faithful his young sprite could be—that knowledge might save him considerable pain down the road. Mother figure, indeed! She hadn’t
tried seducing such a young lover in a very long time. She’d found
youth to be vastly overrated when it came to sex. She preferred mature
women—too bad Zachary Cullen didn’t. Josie pursed her lips, welcoming this new challenge packaged in a small, fetching, curvy body. Seeing Zach’s face when he discovered they shared a lover would make the seduction of Meg more than worthwhile. * * * * “Ah, girl, you are something else,” Zach groaned, reaching to cup Meg’s breasts as she slowly rode his cock. She never tired of his praise. She knew
he was close, but she also knew he liked her to tease him—to a
point. Meg came to rest on his loins and wiggled her butt. Smiling down
at him she said, “You like?” “Uh, huh,” she moaned, leaning back to give him a good look at her fingers fondling her clit. “I’m ready, are you?” She smiled at his jerky nod. She flexed upward, resuming her ride. “Come in me,” she said shortly through clenched teeth. “I intend to,” he said, beginning to match her thrust for thrust. He tugged on her nipples and she groaned louder, knowing that he loved it when he made her squeal. He blurred before her eyes. “It’s beginning,” she murmured, to herself as much as to him. She couldn’t determine if her orgasm started in her vagina or in her nipples. “Pinch them harder!” she shrieked. Her head exploded. He grabbed her hips, propelling their joining until she felt him expand deep inside. “Son of a bitch!” he yelled, gasping for breath. “Meg, Meg, Meg. I can’t stop.” But he did slow. Meg smiled and began to settle and allow herself to float. She knew he’d wait for her. Zachary Cullen could be a very patient lover. Her breasts might be bruised a little in the morning, but that would be a short-lived reminder of a night of fantastic loving. She didn’t open her eyes as he folded her to his chest and rocked her softly. She sighed, allowing herself to float and sail across the orgasmic afterglow. Minutes later, her journey complete, she grinned. She recognized the rising and falling of Zach’s chest as that of a man in satisfied sleep. She heaved a sigh. She’d been surprised by how much she enjoyed making love with an older man. Maybe it was his experience, or simply an effect of being older, but he was slower than most male lovers she’d known. Oh, he could be quite demanding at times, but he was also incredibly patient, trying to be sure she was enjoying herself as much as he was. She wiggled her rear enough to know he was still there—soft, but still encased by her warmth. She could get used to this. Meg sighed. She wasn’t going to let that happen. She was too young to get too used to Zach or any other lover. It wouldn’t work. She knew that—hopefully he did. She thrived on adventure, on new conquests. At twenty-one she was hardly ready to settle down—she hugged Zach’s chest—even with a man who loved so well. She owed this man a lot. He’d provided the ticket out of Burntside, Wisconsin. And he’d been so gracious and generous. But she didn’t owe him her soul, or her future. They’d never spoken about fidelity.
Hopefully he knew that was beyond her reach. She hardly knew what he
was up to when he traveled, and she saw no need to tell him of her plans
when he was out of town. She shimmied against Zach’s chest. But she’d moved on, in more ways than one. The acting classes were proving as grueling as she’d expected. If it hadn’t been for Cat’s encouragement and Zach’s insistence, she’d probably still be caught up in the Burntside community playhouse. But that was her past. While the classes were taxing, she thrived on working with Josette Patrice in the theater workshop. The woman had so much to offer. She’d been active onstage before turning to directing, and Meg knew enough to realize she was in the hands of an excellent teacher. Zach had reiterated that fact over and over, but she knew it to be true in her gut. The woman’s sophistication nearly took her breath away. She carried herself with the kind of aloofness and pride that Meg hoped someday to emulate. She knew the woman was of French heritage. On occasion she’d slip into French when she became frustrated with an actor not paying close enough attention. Meg had spied the animated conversation Josette and Zach were having that afternoon in the rear of the theater and wondered, not for the first time, about the odd relationship between the two. On the surface they seemed much more suited together than she and Zach. They had to be closer in age, and they must also share some sort of interest in the theater world. After all, Zach had brought her to Josette for the express purpose of helping her with her career. Drifting, Meg wondered how many other women Zach had brought to her. Had Josette been able to work miracles for them? Don’t be a little girl. If there was to be a miracle in her career, it would happen because of hard work and dedication. Even then, there were no guarantees. But she had her chance, and she’d always be grateful to Zach for helping her snag that opportunity. He groaned beneath her and his large hands cradled her rear, keeping them joined. This was good, for the moment. She rubbed her nose across his chest hair, then settled her cheek against him and let sleep have its way. |