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  ONLY SKIN DEEP

  All Woman

  Flaws and All

  Against All Odds

  MahaliaLevey

  Erotic Romance

  Secret Cravings Publishing

  www.secretcravingspublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

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  A Secret Cravings Publishing Book

  Erotic Romance

  Only Skin Deep

  Copyright © 2012 Mahalia Levey

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-61885-377-6

  All Woman Second E-book Publication: September 2012

  Flaws and All Second E-book Publication: September 2012

  Against All Odds First E-book Publication: September 2012

  Cover design by Dawne Dominique

  Edited by Stephanie Ballestreri

  Proofread by Elaine Meyler

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Secret Cravings Publishing

  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

  Secret Cravings Publishing

  www.secretcravingspublishing.com

  The Cravings e-book Club

  The Cravings Paranormal e-book Club

  Have you heard about the newest idea in ebooks, the ebook club? Secret Cravings Publishing has started two ebook clubs and we invite you to become a member of either The Cravings e-book Club or the Cravings Paranormal e-book Club. Join now and get two books absolutely free!

  As a member, you will receive Taming The Cougar* by Sandy Sullivan and Hunting Jaguar** by D. McEntire FREE, just for joining!

  You’ll also receive 4 BRAND-NEW EBOOKS, specially selected by our Editorial Director, every month for a total price of only $9.99 for all 4. This comes out to barely $2.50 per book, much less than the retail price and you’ll be able to enjoy your books even before they hit Amazon or Barnes & Noble. We send your books before they are uploaded to the popular sales sites. One of several privileges of club membership.

  *Taming the Cougar, a western, erotic romance:

  Marla isn't looking for love or anything else from a man. Can Marla put aside her distrust of men for a younger man? Can Chris convince her he's not like other guys?

  *Hunting Jaguar, paranormal erotic romance:

  Rachel Hayes' father set out to prove the existence of the Miloni temple and the Jaguar people. Tumi is a descendant of the Miloni race and is sworn to protect their secret with his life. Will he be forced to uphold his vow at the cost of his heart and Rachel's life?

  As a member of the Cravings Club, you’ll receive 4 books in a variety of genres every month. We will try to match your books to your preferences, however, if you’re a major paranormal fan, I suggest you join the Cravings Paranormal Club. Everything is the same, 4 books every month for $9.99 except that 3 of your 4 books will be paranormal. The remaining book will be of a different genre.

  As a club member, you will also receive:

  · our monthly newsletter

  · sneak previews of new books

  · exclusive interviews with your favorite authors

  · special offers not available to the general public

  To join and tell us your favorite genres and heat levels plus which format works best for you, go to the Secret Cravings Publishing website (www.secretcravingspublishing.com) At the bottom of the page you’ll see a button for the club. You can sign up there and share your preferences for genre, format and heat level with us. You will be charged, automatically, through PayPal, only $9.99 every month. Your books will be shipped within 1 day after PayPal payment has cleared. You may cancel at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” button located on the Cravings Club tab at the bottom of our website and keep the FREE BOOKS as our gift.

  We hope our Secret Cravings books will delight you each and every month.

  Best wishes,

  Beth Walker

  Dedication

  To Rhonda and Tina my two best friends, thank you so much for your support and advice. To my family, thank you for allowing me to have me time to write. And to my readers, without you writing wouldn’t be such a great joy, thank you for purchasing my work.

  The author acknowledges the trademark status and the following trademark owners mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Hummer

  Bluetooth

  Nike

  ONLY SKIN DEEP

  MahaliaLevey

  Copyright © 2012

  All Woman

  Chapter One

  Every year, St. Bartle’s Armored Services threw an annual theme party. Last year’s theme was famous couples throughout history. Taleena loved the concept but didn’t like the idea of showing up alone, so she opted to stay home. This time, however, Taleena planned on attending. This time she wouldn’t hide in the shadows, watching everyone go after what he or she wanted. Sheer willpower, coupled with a desire to be seen as a woman, pushed her to go that extra mile. When she arrived at Club Mist, the man she craved wouldn’t know what hit him.

  Now, she needed to shop for just the right look. Sweet damn. Taleena slid her designer shades from her eyes to the top of her head and entered her cousin Deja’s store, Craze. Craze. The store housed two in one. Accessories and boutique clothing in one room, a party surplus in the other. Organized racks stood before her. Each one held a category, and each category had sizes tagged for easy access. Looking at so many different articles of clothing and props instigated a migraine. The kaleidoscope of nauseating colors stole her concentration, not to mention made her want to yak.

  How in the hell am I going to choose something, Taleena wondered even as she prayed for a godsend. She peeked over the bulky costumes in search of a sales clerk or someone, anyone to help her navigate. Where the frack was her fairy godmother? She clicked her heels—damn it no, that was Oz, not Cinderella. Come to think of it, had there ever been a black Cinderella?

  I need a transformation. Riffling through a rack, she took out a wench outfit. The bustier, gilded in sliver and etched with lace, dropped into a full black skirt. She had the bust, although you’d never know it with the asexual uniform she’d been forced to work in. She tossed the dress over her arm as a maybe and picked up a breathalyzer costume. Laughter bubbled from her mouth. The garb gave a whole new meaning to the phrase “blow me.”

  “Can I help you?” A young woman popping bubblegum appeared at her side.
>
  “I’m looking for a costume.” Taleena slid articles of clothing out of her way to find a piece so hawt, Officer Jason Treadway—a.k.a. her lead officer and longtime crush—wouldn’t be able to tear his eyes from her body. Maybe then she’d have a chance to live out the fantasies that had been plaguing her dreams for the past two years.

  “If you could be more descriptive, I could help you cut down time on looking.”

  Taleena read her nametag. Barbie. She cocked her head to the side to study the punked-out teen and blinked. “Barbie, I’m looking for something to make a man’s jaw drop open. The kind of open he can’t force closed or avert his eyes from.”

  “The adult ones are in the far corner. We have everything from XXX Heyyy Nurse to Let Me Be Your Doctor. There’s also our best seller, the popular dominatrix set made of all leather, complete with a riding crop, leash and collar for props or not, depending on your pleasure. The boots come separate,” Barbie said.

  She shook her head to dispel the image of having Jason on a leash. Somehow the thought of him submitting to her didn’t fit. No. Jason Treadway’s personality clashed with the ludicrous thought.

  Taleena swallowed hard. “This is a company-sponsored event with a Western theme. I’m thinking less porn, more like BAM, how’d I ever miss that?”

  Barbie smiled. “Follow me. There are ‘not too flashy, more subtle’ selections this way.” The sales clerk hop-skipped down the aisles, making Taleena wonder if she took some kind of medication for her exuberance or if it was natural.

  When they arrived, she let her fingers drift over a few hangers, trailing down different fabric textures. The pieces in front of her screamed sex! Whereas the adult ensembles looked straight-out trashy, she found herself leaning toward the saloon girl uniform, until her gaze landed on the one.

  “Barbie, I do think I’ve found what I’ve been looking for.”

  She pulled out the camouflage-style chaps, boy shorts and studded bra. A gun belt dangled from the hanger.

  “We have matching boots and a cowgirl hat up front,” Barbie declared, obviously easing her way into a better sale.

  “Get me the matching accessories and ring me up!” Taleena picked up her size and headed to the front. Lucky for her, she was the only customer. She purchased the matching boots and hat and took her bag from Barbie.

  “Come again.”

  “I just might.” She exited the store with only an hour left to get ready.

  * * * *

  The steady blare of country music met Jason’s ears. Much to his surprise, he found himself grooving to it. He greeted a few of his colleagues with the salutary nod and kept moving. Jason smoothed down his fake mustache, admiring the décor. Geez, the ideas people came up with. One of his boys had the appearance of a saloon owner, complete with the fake rifle. Many of his female colleagues looked tempting clad in garters and lace. A cluster of people crowded in the center of the room caught his attention.

  A mechanical bull in the center of the room, operated by a scantily-clad woman, had commandeered everyone’s attention. Taller than most of the males in the place, Jason got a good view of her, and liked what he saw. His cock twitched at the seductive way her body moved with the dips and dives of the machine. The leather pants she wore hugged one hell of an ass. He pressed unconsciously closer, as the bull took another whirl and shake.

  Jason took in the bounce of her breasts, the jiggle of her ass—a sweet ass encased in boy shorts, leaving the underside exposed each time the bull rotated and jarred her on its back. Unfortunately, the brim of her hat kept him from getting a clear image of her face.

  Every time he moved to see more, the bull twisted, preventing him from seeing who belonged to the fine ass bouncing on the seat.

  “Damn,” a voice rang out among the crowd.

  Jason turned to see his best friend, Donato, and flashed him a smile. “Yeah, she’s a fine one.”

  “She hired help?” Donato asked as he handed him a soda.

  “I don’t think so.” The bull spun, and Jason was gifted with the sight of the mystery woman’s face. Stunned in disbelief, he took a moment to find his voice. “Not hired help at all. It’s Taleena.” Where did the conservative woman I know go?

  “Isn’t she on your team, bro? I thought she was shy.”

  All too sudden, the ride came to a halt. “Me too.”

  Her dismount was nothing short of sexy. He downed his drink and shoved the now empty glass into his friend’s hand. Jason weaved his way through the small crowd to the rider.

  “See something you like?” Taleena asked stepping into Jason’s line of vision and cocking her hip out.

  Jason narrowed his gaze on the two globes beaded with moisture, calling out for his hands to touch. “Oh yeah. I see a whole lot I like.”

  “My face is up here, Jason.”

  He liked this new side of Taleena. She had a flirtatious twinkle in her eye and a mouth on her that demanded attention. He stepped closer into her personal space and ran his hand down the side of her arm.

  “You can’t blame a man when you’re flashing those babies at him.” For the first time since he’d met her, he registered the light brown shade of her eyes. “You should really lose the glasses at work.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. They’re good for hiding things.” Taleena swiped her bottom lip with her tongue.

  “Hey girl, nice job up there,” Brandt interrupted her conversation with Jason.

  “She’s busy.” Jason cut his eyes at her, silencing her response, then took her by the arm and led her off the center floor. “You shouldn’t have worn that here.”

  “Hold the fuck up, Jason. Two seconds ago, you couldn’t rip your eyes from my breasts,” Taleena voiced forcefully and pulled out of his grasp.

  “If you had more than those little scraps of nothing covering those breasts, I and every other man in the room, would be more focused on your gorgeous smile," he said, as he leaned against the wall in front of her.

  “Are you threatened by others seeing my body or by me?” she asked capturing her bottom lip between her teeth.

  He laughed. “No, not at all. I don’t date co-workers,” he said as he adjusted his top hat and suit.

  “Why this sudden change?” The party, which was in full swing, didn’t sway his attention from her. He couldn’t take his eyes off her and found he didn’t want anyone else’s gaze riveted on her but his own.

  “Change is good, isn’t it?” Instead of answering, she evaded him by changing the topic. “Hmph. You look like a marshal in that getup.”

  “This is a Wild, Wild West party after all." After checking the time on his pocket watch, he slid it back into his pocket, showing his side arms in his holster slung over his hips, and then let his duster drop. The line at the buffet-style area tucked away on the other side of the room seemed to be growing quick. “We should go grab some barbecue before it’s gone. Ladies first.”

  Taleena tipped her hat at him. “Thank you, pardner.” She winked saucily and sauntered off.

  Amazement floored him. The sway of her hips and the view of her cheeks peeking –and jiggling—out of the boy shorts made his cock harden. Be easy, he told himself. Suddenly, dating a co-worker didn’t seem so bad. But Jason found he wasn’t the only one staring at her. Heads snapped her way each time the belt on her hips rattled. He took longer strides to catch up to her.

  “Wait up,” he said as he fell into step with her.

  “Get lost?” Taleena joined the food line and picked a paper plate off the stack.

  “Admiring the view.” He reached around her, his arm grazing her bare midriff, and plucked a plate from the table.

  “Thought you didn’t date co-workers,” Taleena said, repeating his earlier words as she followed the crowd.

  The aroma of pulled pork and ribs slathered in barbeque lost its appeal. The new Taleena occupied all his thoughts and needs. Jason put down his plate and told Taleena to do the same thing.

  “We’re leaving.” His patienc
e lessened with each innocent come-hither look she gave him.

  “For real?” Taleena set her plate back down and stepped out of line.

  He ached to slap the globes of her ass while she rode his cock. Bending his head to her ear, Jason whispered, “You win. Right now, your place.”

  Taleena stopped in her tracks and just stared at him.

  Jason stared right back. However, the remnants of his patience had run out. He leaned toward her again, giving her an out. She didn’t flee. With a whoop of satisfaction, he scooped her in his arms, tossed her over his shoulder and spun on a booted heel toward the door.

  “Jason, put me down!” Taleena wiggled against him.

  “No!” The palm of his hand met the bare flesh peeking from her shorts.

  “Damn, people are gonna talk,” Taleena muttered.

  “They began talking the moment you walked in the building.” He grunted when she elbowed him. He slapped at her other cheek. “Be still.” When his sport utility vehicle was in sight, he chirped the alarm and door locks on the remote.

  “My ass stings,” she whimpered.

  A chuckle left Jason’s lips. “You don’t sound mad at all.” He opened the passenger door and slid her off his shoulder. “I’ll kiss it and make it better.” As she turned to climb in, he smoothed a palm over her heated skin. “All good?”

  “No.” Taleena moaned and quickly sat in her seat.