Melissa Schroeder’s Hands On Training is a definite keeper. The intense emotions between Joey and Heath balance the fierce sexual chemistry the two share. Ms. Schroeder has a wonderful sense of humor that displays itself quite often through the book.-Tewanda, FAR*

Mel Schroeder puts her humor to work in HANDS ON TRAINING. If you don’t already know these two, you’ll definitely fall in love with them and want to read about their beginning in THE HIRED HAND. Follow them as they go through a week of torture and the aftermath when they arrive back home. I couldn’t put this one down and it is definitely a recommended read and a keeper. Thanks, Mel, for such a delightful book. -Claudia McRay, Romance Junkies*

The characters are quite engaging, the love scenes are incandescent, and the ending is heartwarming. So, with that being said, if you are craving a lovely, sexy, and quick contemporary romance story (can we say instant gratification) treat yourself and grab this little treasure. 5 Stars, Mireya Orsini, Just Erotic Romance Reviews*

Melissa Schroeder has written an emotion packed short story about two people who seem to differ greatly, but who are almost insanely attracted to each other. The sexual tension starts on page one and builds up very quickly. Heath and Joey are characters that leap off the pages to find a place in your heart. Heath is a strong, caring man and Joey is a woman who knows what it is like to have to survive. Ms. Schroeder has packed a lot into this intense short story. The reader will be captivated and held until the last page. The sex scenes are hot, sexy and romantic. This reviewer certainly got a bit more than hot under the collar. Ms Schroeder brings the whole story to a very satisfactory ending that thrilled this reviewer and left a sigh on her lips. Valerie, Loveromances.com*

*reviews from the previously released book.

Heath stared at Joey trying to ignore the way his blood pulsed through his veins. She hadn’t given him a pretty compliment, as many women tried, instead she sat there and told him he was a mean SOB…but she understood why. She looked beneath his surface and saw what he was trying to do each time he took on a job like this. When he thought he had her figured out, it seemed that she surprised him again and again. The woman was full of contradictions and damned if he didn’t want to find out each one. It aggravated the living hell out of him that he did. But he had a feeling that slipping beneath her surface would open the world of possibilities. Especially those involving her naked in his bed…as he shared her with Grant.

“Heath?”

Dammit. Grant put that image in his brain and he could not get it out. Until the day he died he would think of it, dream of it. Jesus, he was hard thinking of it right now.

“Earth to Heath.”

“Huh?”

He finally focused on her face, that beautiful expressive face. He could always tell what she was thinking. She was ridiculously open in her expressions, at least around him. And he had found himself trying to change her moods just to see how she would react.

“I said, that I didn’t mind having dinner tonight. I was worried with the kitchen closed we would have to get in the car and go somewhere and I was just not in the mood.”

He nodded.

“Listen, Heath, I didn’t mean to upset you with what I said. I think it’s admirable the way you put yourself out there and push these people. You save their businesses, and that is a very good thing.”

Dammit, now he couldn’t resist, knew that if he walked over to the other side of the desk, his actions would lead him into territory he would never recover from.

Even knowing that, he rounded the desk.

“It’s a dangerous thing to give me compliments.”

Her eyes widened, a look of alarm moving over her face. And why not? He heard the lust brimming in his voice, the gravelly way his voice rolled over the words.

He reached down and wrapped his fingers around her wrists. He yanked her out of the chair. Her surprised intake of breath was like sandpaper against his already raging lust.

“I can resist you when you’re nasty to me, but damn, woman, you expect me to avoid touching you when you say nice things about me.”

“Heath.” She placed her hand on his chest. “We agreed this was a bad idea. Working together would make this insane.”

“We are only here for a week…we can handle this for a week.” Even as he said the words, he knew they were lies. He wasn’t aiming for an affair, but he knew if he told her the truth, she’d go running in the other direction.

“Yes, I’m sure, but—”

He stopped her words with a kiss. He took her mouth, diving into the soft warm taste of her. He would have pulled back, he was sure of it, if she had tried to stop him. But, instead, the woman slipped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. From that point on, he was lost.

Heath slanted his mouth over hers, again and again, as he slipped his hands down to her ass. Molding his palms to the fullest part, he pressed against her, letting her feel the hard length of him. She always had him itchy, aroused, crazy with lust. It was about time she knew exactly what she did to him.

Again she surprised him by giving as good as she got. She slipped her tongue over his, playing, teasing, driving him insane. He scooted her back to her desk then took her seat. He lifted her easily, not stopping when he heard her surprised gasp. He inched up her skirt and almost groaned when he saw she was wearing stockings. Heath had known she would, but damn, seeing it was his undoing. The lacy edge of her white stockings hugged her beautiful flesh.

“Heath?”

He shook his head as she skimmed his fingers over then under the lace. He wanted to take his time, wanted a seduction she would never forget but the moment he touched her, he knew he wouldn’t be able to.

He moved the skirt up her legs, stopping when he realized she wasn’t wearing any panties. His hands were shaking when he eased her legs apart. When he saw her bare pussy, her pouty lips drenched in arousal, he almost lost it then and there. His heart jumped a beat, his breathing stalled then came out in a whoosh. He skimmed his fingers over her slit and smiled when she moaned. He could feel her quiver all the way to his toes.

He lightly slipped within her, only allowing the tip of his finger inside the deep warm clasp of her body. The moment her muscles clamped down on his finger, another wave of heat swept through his body. He couldn’t wait to slip inside her, feel all those muscles move over his cock as he lost himself in her. His hand was drenched with the proof. He leaned back as he added another finger and rubbed his thumb against her hardened clit. But, before he could do that, he needed her lost, lost to the passion inside her. He had seen it in the way she defended friends, the way she loved, and now he wanted it for himself. He wanted all that passion for life centered on him.

He pressed his thumb against her hardened clit and was rewarded with a moan. The sound so low, he was sure no one would hear it, but in it, he heard his need reflected back at him. As he pressed against the hardened nub again, he added a finger and thrust them all the way inside her pussy. She was almost there, her body already tightening, her moans growing, but it was too soon. He pulled his hand away and was rewarded with what sounded like a complaining moan this time. Before she could pull herself up, he rolled the chair forward so she could not close her legs.

He cupped her ass in both hands and leaned forward. The moment he licked her, he hummed. He’d never been so lost, so in tune with a woman and her response. As he licked and nipped, her sweet essence flowed freely, and she tasted like…honey. Jesus, he could feel a drop of pre-cum dampen the head of his penis. Soon, soon he would slip between her thighs, and into that slick, hot pussy.

As her moans increased, he added a finger and felt satisfied as her muscles clamped tight around it. She was close, he could feel it in his bones.

But he was not ready to let her fall over the edge. It was time that Joey learned there was a need for rules. He stilled his hand.

“Joey.”

He watched her face as she tried to pull herself out of the morass of pleasure he knew she was feeling, and focus on him. At the moment her eyes met his, he almost gave up. But he needed to be sure, to know that she was deciding to do this and would not have any regrets.

“Are you sure?”

Her gaze never left his as she nodded. “Please.”

The way she said it, the breathless quality of her voice struck him down to his soul. The woman wanted him, and who was he to say no? He’d been denying himself the pleasure of having her. While it wasn’t ideal…he’d rather she be in his bed and tied up, he would take it.

“Don’t close your eyes.”

She followed his instructions as he leaned forward to set his mouth on her once more. But before touching her, he blew on her pussy. Her whole body shook, and her eyes started to close.

“No. Keep your eyes open.”

She struggled but obeyed. He rewarded her by setting his mouth against her, slipping his tongue inside. Just as moments before, the taste of her exploded in his mouth, stunned his senses. He kept eye contact, watching as pleasure took her over, the way she fought against letting her lids fall completely and lose herself in the act.

“Oh yes, Heath.” Breathless, seductive, with just the right hint of a Texas twang that would always draw him.