Dark Attraction: The Corde Noire Series Read Free Page A

neighbor? From apartment A?”
    That velvety voice was lulling her into a false sense of lust. “Ah, yes, and you were banging on the wall.”
    His eyes went up and down her figure. She wondered why she suddenly felt cold and then realized her robe had fallen open, showing off her short nightshirt. Grabbing at the robe, she quickly covered herself.
    “Look, I’d appreciate it if you could save the decorating for the day,” she got out, trying not to turn red. “I’m a nurse, and I’ve got day shift all this week. I really need my sleep.”
    He folded his arms over his chest, and Sam thought her heart was going to explode. “Sorry. I was just getting something set up.” He held out his hand. “I’m Doug, by the way. Doug Morgan.”
    She took his hand. It was warm, thick, and she instantly got a sense of his strength. “I’m Sam, Sam Woods.”
    His eyes were studying her face, making her toes curl. “What’s the Sam stand for?”
    “Samantha, but I hate the name.”
    He grinned. It was one of those mischievous grins that hinted at the bad thoughts motivating it. “Well, I know what to call you from now on, Samantha.”
    She gaped at him . Seriously? The only neighbor on her floor and he was going to be an absolute shit. She shook her head. “Look, just please keep the banging to daytime hours when I’m not home. You can renovate to your heart’s delight then.”
    Feeling the need to make a hasty exit, she turned for her door.
    “I’ll keep it down just for you, Samantha.”
    She stopped at her door and turned to him. He was standing in the hallway, watching her. Sam got an uncanny feeling, like they had met before, but she had never met anyone with those abs … ah, eyes.
    “It’s Sam, just Sam, Mr. Morgan.” Hurrying inside, she slammed her door. “I am so screwed.”
    This was not what she needed. It was bad enough he was a fantasy in the flesh, but his attitude was going to bother her immensely. Why couldn’t he be great looking with a wonderful personality to match?
    “Then he’d be married,” she mused. “The good ones always are.” 

 
    The next day at work, Sam could not stop yawning. After her encounter with her attractive neighbor, she kept listening for more activity in his apartment. About the time she did get to sleep, her alarm went off. 
    “What’s the matter with you?” Piper, the unit respiratory therapist, asked.
    A stunning blonde with a body to match, Piper sauntered up to Sam’s chair set between her two patient rooms.
    “Didn’t get much sleep last night. Neighbor woke me up banging on the walls.”
    “Is this the new guy Brenda told me about?”
    Sam checked her patient’s monitor through the glass wall of his room. “What did she do, pick up the phone and call you when she saw the moving van?”
    Piper snapped off her rubber gloves. “No, she called me about the poker game Saturday night, and then mentioned there was some new guy moving into the building. You know Brenda. She was sizing up a potential sugar daddy.”
    “Still can’t believe you two are related.”
    “Technically, she’s my half-sister. My dad was married four times.” Her brown eyes took in Sam’s face. “So have you met this new neighbor?”
    “Last night when I went to ask him to stop banging on the wall.” Sam rolled her eyes. “Total dick.” 
    “I had one of those when I lived in the Quarter. Some guy next door to me liked to have satanic rituals at two in the morning every Sunday. Real pain in the ass.”
    “When was this?”
    Piper tossed her gloves in a nearby garbage can. “When I was living with George, the musician.”
    “Was he before or after the horse trainer?”
    “Ely was the horse trainer, and he came before.” Piper wiped her hands on her scrub pants. “It wasn’t all bad in the Quarter, though. That’s where I met Randy, the Dominant.”
    “Yeah, I remember him.” Sam knitted her brow, recalling the details. “He’s the one you said liked tying you with