The Shy Girl and the Stripper (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  The Shy Girl and the Stripper

  Sunflower “Sunny” Carlyle hates making public appearances. She would much rather stay home and write her books where she lives out her hottest fantasies through her characters. Her debilitating shyness keeps her from looking for her own happily-ever-after.

  Doing his sister the biggest favor of his life, George Hartland becomes Geo Hart, a fill-in cover model and exotic dancer for the writers’ convention his sister has organized. The only thing keeping him from going back to his ranch is the fact that he cannot wait to meet Sunny Carlyle, his favorite author.

  Their first meeting is electric, and the only problem is Sunny absolutely, positively has to be on the plane home Sunday afternoon.

  Can Geo break through Sunny’s protective walls of shyness? Can Sunny relax enough to let Geo into her very small, very controlled world? Can she break out of her shell and show him how to do a proper striptease?

  Genre: Contemporary

  Length: 28,053 words

  THE SHY GIRL

  AND THE STRIPPER

  Cooper McKenzie

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

  THE SHY GIRL AND THE STRIPPER

  Copyright © 2015 by Cooper McKenzie

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-63259-387-0

  First E-book Publication: May 2015

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2015 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of The Shy Girl and the Stripper by Cooper McKenzie from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Cooper McKenzie’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Cooper McKenzie’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  To Amy Godwin Gregory, Shey Houston, Kelii, and all the new friends from Wild Wicked Weekend 2015. Thanks for the hugs, friendship, and love.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  About the Author

  THE SHY GIRL

  AND THE STRIPPER

  COOPER MCKENZIE

  Copyright © 2015

  Chapter One

  “I don’t know if I can do this without you.” Sunflower “Sunny” Carlyle looked at Shey Jones, her best friend, business partner, and the one who had arranged this trip. “Why did your mother have to get sick now?”

  Shey pulled her in for a hug before stepping back. “You’ll be fine. Gigi will meet you at the airport and make sure you get where you need to be when you need to be there.”

  Sunny sighed. “I know. But she isn’t you and won’t put up with my crap like you do.”

  “So don’t give her any crap. Pretend you’re bold and brave and show everyone that beautiful smile of yours.”

  “I don’t know, maybe I should just cancel,” Sunny said, looking over her shoulder to where Shey’s car was parked at the curb.

  “No way. You are going to have a wonderful time, and if you really love me, you’ll bring me back a bunch of autographed books and a boatload of stories about everything that happens. Oh, and I want pictures. Lots of pictures. Now go, relax, let go, and have a good time.”

  Her heart pounding, her entire body in a cold sweat, and her stomach threatening to turn itself inside out, Sunny headed to the security line. Hiding in her home writing her erotic romances was fun. Going out in public to talk about her books, her lovably flawed characters, and her writing process not so much. But Shey had signed her up for this writers’ convention eight months ago, promising to be her entourage and protector if things got too overwhelming. But Shey’s mother had come down with a cold that had turned into pneumonia. While Sunny knew Shey needed to be with her mother, she now had to go fly halfway across the country and spend the next four days with strangers, without her best friend.

  * * * *

  Six hours later, Sunny followed the couple in front of her from the airplane up the Jetway to the airport terminal. She was tired, hungry, and her back hurt from sitting in uncomfortable seats, both on the airplane, and in the terminal for too long. Stopping at the restroom to relieve her screaming bladder, she turned on her phone and found two texts from Gigi that had been sent in the last thirty minutes.

  Text me when you land.

  Geo will meet you in the baggage claim area.

  Geo? Who in the hell was Geo?

  Adjusting her briefcase on top of her rolling carry-on, Sunny took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and started walking, joining the masses as they walked at various paces to make a flight, or find their way out of the airport. She followed the signs toward the baggage area, walking slowly while feeling like she was marching to her own execution.

  Shey and Gigi had been close friends since college, which was why Sunny gave into Shey’s begging and pleading about attending this convention, where Gigi was in charge. She had even met Gigi, once, when she had stopped to see Shey on her way somewhere
.

  As Sunny stepped onto the escalator to go to the lower level of the airport, her pocket buzzed. She had another text. The number was not one in her phone book, but when she opened it, she saw it was from the mysterious Geo.

  Under the welcome sign wearing white T-shirt and jeans.

  Dragging her suitcase behind her, Sunny kept moving forward. The hall eventually led to the large room with a half-dozen baggage carousels where checked luggage would be arriving in a few minutes. Looking around, she found the sign welcoming travelers to town. Dropping her gaze, she saw him.

  Tall, dark, and panty soaking breathtakingly beautiful, Geo stood like a statue, reading something on his phone. White T-shirt, blue jeans, and cowboy boots showcased the perfect male body that Sunny had dreamt about, and written about, more times than she was willing to admit. She slowed her approach as her pussy clenched, her nipples tightened, and her breathing became fast and shallow. How was she supposed to speak to this gorgeous god of a man much less ride to the hotel with him? He probably even smelled delicious.

  She slowed even further as he slid his phone into the pocket of his jeans and lifted his head, looking directly at her. Curly black hair cut longer on top and military short on the sides, reflected the lights overhead. Bright golden brown eyes locked on hers and would not let her go. She clenched her free hand and reminded herself to be bold, be brash, be the person the Internet world thought she was. What she really wanted was to run and hide.

  “Sunflower Carlyle?” Even his voice was beautiful, deep, and warm as he took two steps toward her.

  Sunny swallowed hard as she nodded slowly. “May I see some identification, please?”

  He looked startled at her request. His eyes widened for a second before his expression shifted. Something in his eyes began to glow with what she could only identify as approval. He smirked as he pulled out his wallet and flipped it open. Holding it up, he allowed her to study it. George Hartland III was the name on the small piece of plastic. The face was the same, but the picture showed him wearing his hair in tight curls to his shoulders. This was indeed Geo, the man Gigi had sent to ferry her to the hotel.

  “Satisfied, Sunflower?” he asked after a few seconds when she had studied his picture and then glanced up at him several times before looking away.

  She nodded. “Yes, thank you. And please, call me Sunny.”

  “No, I don’t think so. Do you have any other bags we need to get?” he said, looking toward the carousels.

  “No, this is everything,” she said, her gaze dropping to the black sports bag and almost briefcase at her side.

  He looked shocked then reached for her luggage. “Allow me,” he said.

  Standing the carry-on up, she released it but pulled off the briefcase, and slung its long strap over one shoulder. That bag had her computer, purse, and entire traveling life. No one would carry it but her.

  By the time they reached his big black pickup truck at the far side of the parking lot, she had practiced the breathing techniques her Reiki master had taught her to use to relax, and felt a little better. But the man at her side who was a good eight inches taller than she was still intimidated the hell out of her. He was too beautiful, too masculine, and had an aura of knowing exactly who he was and being happy with himself and his place in life. She wished she could be that confident.

  After placing her bag into the back of the truck, between several boxes and a couple of other suitcases, he came around to the passenger’s seat but stopped before opening her door. Her stomach dropped, and her pussy gushed when he crowded her against the side of the truck. He smelled sooo good. Placing a hand on either side of her shoulders to keep her from bolting, he bent forward until they were eye to eye and mere inches separated them.

  “Are you submissive as well as being shy, sweet Sunflower?”

  She looked into his eyes as long as she could, trying to call up a sassy, snarky answer, but the dominance she saw in the depths of Geo’s golden brown eyes sent a shiver through her. She was submissive, especially in the face of such obvious power. She knew and accepted that she was shy, so shy that she would never be able to open up enough to find a man, especially a dominant one like this one, of her very own. It would be a lonely rest of her life, but at least she had her books, where she could build the perfect relationship, and there was always a happily ever after.

  Once again, she found she could not speak as she stared into his eyes, though she did force herself to straighten her spine and hold the gaze instead of looking away. After a handful of seconds, he lifted one eyebrow. Then one corner of his full lips tilted up slightly.

  When he cocked his head just the slightest bit to the right and then tilted it forward, she broke. She dropped her eyes, and then tilted her head forward. Maybe this weekend was not such a good idea after all. Maybe it was not too late to catch the next flight home.

  “Well, that answers that. Now, on to the more important question,” Geo said, gently wrapping his right hand around her left wrist. He lifted her hands to shoulder height and studied her fourth finger. “No ring, but these days that doesn’t mean a hell of a lot. So, the question is, do you have a husband, boyfriend, Master, or significant other cluttering up your life?”

  Tempted to make up a man just to see what he would do, she glanced up into Geo’s chocolate gaze, and the momentary surge of sassiness withered away. Slowly she shook her head side to side.

  “Good,” he said softly. “By the end of the weekend you will.”

  He looked smug as his hand lifted her chin, and he leaned closer. He did not stop until his lips brushed over hers. Once, then again, they slid along hers. On the third pass, they settled in for a stay. She was stunned when the emotional walls she had placed to keep herself from feeling other people’s energy crumbled, and his energy swept around her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. He radiated a fuzzy sort of warmth layered over a pulse of pure strength. Like a teddy bear with an edge.

  Sunny locked her knees to keep from collapsing. Then she lifted her hands to grab hold of his waist to keep from floating away. She wanted to stay here, wrapped in his arms forever, or at least until Sunday when she had to go home.

  She sighed when he broke the kiss, and then again when he used the tip of his tongue to trace along her lips, first upper and then lower. She parted them, and began to pant, unable to fight her body’s growing want—no, need—for this man’s touch. She felt a bridge building between them unlike any connection she had ever felt with anyone else. This man seemed to pull her in, the instant connection giving her a feeling of comfort, of coming home. Something she had never experienced before, even as a child growing up.

  Parting her lips farther, she mentally invited him in, meeting his tongue with hers and starting a dance that caused heat to ignite low in her belly. Instinctively she knew only he could satisfy the need building in her soul.

  She whimpered a protest when he broke the kiss. Then, opening her eyes, she looked up and an icy chill chased away the sexual need. He looked smug, like he knew she was ready to fall before him without knowing anything about him.

  All at once Shey’s directive about not talking to strangers, and not allowing men into her room flashed through her memory. Tapping into a strength she did not realize she possessed, Sunny pulled on her hand, trying to free herself “And what makes you think you’re that man?”

  Geo’s grip did not tighten, but he would not release her, either. Smiling like a wolf eyeing its supper, he lifted her hand, placing a kiss in the center of her palm. Then he pulled it down into the small space between their bodies. He pressed her hand against the front of his jeans. His cock was long, thick, and hard. The heat of his body reached out to her through his jeans. Having her hand molded against that fabric-covered erection sent a shiver through her.

  “The fact that my heart, brain, and soul tell me we are meant to be together. The fact that my cock has been hard since the moment I saw you. You will be mine, sweet Sunflower. Even now I ca
n see you, naked and kneeling as you suck my cock until I come between those beautiful rosy lips.”

  Sunny gasped at both his words and his bold audacity. At the same time, her pussy overflowed and her knees weakened at the visual image his words painted. Then common sense returned.

  Jerking her hand from his grasp, she placed both hands on his chest. She sucked a breath at the intensity of her need at the feel of warm, rippling muscles under his shirt. It had been a long time since she had touched a man, any man. For a moment, she was tempted to give in to the vixen who wanted to slide her hands under the cotton fabric and fully explore the hills and valleys of his torso. Then fear and shyness overruled the desire.

  “I think I’d better take a taxi,” she said, her voice shaky. “Obviously you have the wrong idea about me.”

  * * * *

  Geo watched as, in an instant, the sexual heat radiating from her eyes, her expression, and her entire body disappeared, replaced by an ice-cold fear and tension he could tell at a glance spread through every muscle in her body. His heart squeezed as his brain railed at him that he had pushed her too far too fast. It was time to back off. She needed time to settle and get used to the idea that he would be more than just her driver.

  He did not tell her that he was one of her biggest fans. He had read all her books and followed her on all the social networks she participated in, and though he had never said anything to her via the computer, he had already fallen in love with her. That news could wait until she relaxed and got to know him a little better.