Nestled between the covers of this novel you will find the second part of a great love story; the heart stopping, toe tingling, sensual romance of Victoria Lane and Jason Hunter.

Book One--Club Belle Tori: Introduced Jason Hunter, a handsome, self-made millionaire playboy. Tricked by his best friend, Samuel Grimes into joining the very exclusive Club Belle Tori, a Las Vegas swingers club, named for its beautiful, sexy owner, Victoria Lane.

Jason, known to his friends as Jase, is a head strong, determined charmer, used to getting what he wants. He was confident Victoria would be no different from all the other women over the years. His seduction of the beautiful Victoria did not go exactly as planned; he never expected to fall in love, any more then he expected her to flee his arms at the first possible opportunity.

Pierre DuMonte, best friend and business partner of Victoria, aided Samuel Grimes in his plot, along with the staff of Club Belle Tori, Tony, the bartender, Sophia, the club's customer service coordinator, and Yvette, Victoria's secretary. These five people twisted fate to their will and fanned the flames of desire.

Victoria Lane, lovingly nicknamed Tori by her grandmamma, did not want to fight any longer. Pierre was determined to see her in a one-on-one relationship. Believing her wild life as owner of a swing club was not enough, he railroaded her into agreeing to meet Jason.

Stunned silent from the moment they met, Victoria surrendered to Jason's well-executed moves, once again allowing a man below the surface of her womanhood. It did not take long for memories of her husband Matt, killed in a random shooting seven years earlier, to crash in. Dread and fear seeped deeper into her heart, when during an evening on the town, she witnessed Jason fight for his life with a knife-wielding drunk.

Only seven days after their first glorious moments together Jason; injured and worried, was forced to return to his office in New York City. Afraid to leave, unable to stay, he needed three short days to resolve the problems plaguing a client, before he would be free to return to Belle Tori. Knowing her fears were unfounded, Jason reluctantly kissed her good-bye, promising to return and devote the rest of his life to loving her.

Victoria, driven by the deeply rooted terror of losing another man and against the advice of Pierre, decided this budding relationship with Jason would never work. Putting aside her growing feelings, letting go of the joy she felt in his arms and with uncertainty in her heart, she gave into her dread. Only hours after Jason left for New York, Victoria boarded a plane and disappeared into the setting sun.

Monday morning Jason returned to Club Belle Tori as promised. Pierre was waiting at the top of the stairs when his limo arrived. While Pierre did his best to soften the blow, he knew if Jason was the man he believed him to be, the shock would quickly run its course. He was not disappointed as Jason took control.

CHAPTER ONE

Has it only been four months, Jase wondered to himself. It seems like a lifetime. Yet the search was no closer to completion than the day he started. Four long months of loneliness, frustration and dead ends, as days melted into weeks. One hundred and twelve days of longing, yearning for the woman he held in his arms for only a moment in time, the night they met, forever etched on his soul.

He closed his eyes and dreamt of her skin, soft and smooth, as her naked flesh responded to his touch. The remembrance of her lips warm and hungry, as her tongue sought the very depths of his mouth. In his mind, he saw the way her hair curled, framing her face. The satisfaction in her eyes as she reached the edges of ecstasy. To hold her again, the driving force behind his months-long search of the world for the woman he loved.

It was not fate which had brought them together. It was careful planning and plotting by two friends. His best friend, Samuel Grimes and her best friend, Pierre DuMonte, took destiny by the hand to work fate to their will. They lured him here to Las Vegas with a simple plan in mind: open the doorway to passion by introducing man and woman, stand back, and watch the heat build until the flames of love ran out of control.

In his wildest dreams, he never imagined finding a woman so closely matched to his needs. She was open, honest, and head strong. The last quality not his favorite, for it was her inability to accept fate, which led her to flee from his arms. The chance encounter with a knife-wielding drunk, a small yet bloody cut on his chest, and her damn fear of losing a man, driving her to run before their love could grow strong enough to overcome all.

After a quick trip to his New York office, he'd returned to Belle Tori to find her missing, turning the dream into a nightmare. Never one to lose control, Jason came close that day. Stupid, childish, selfish. All words he used to describe her behavior, as he yelled like a lovesick schoolboy.

Pierre offered no interference when he took control of Club Belle Tori. This was where he felt closest to Victoria, here in her club, her home, with her staff. He moved into the residence, commandeering her office and Yvette, her secretary. Never doubting success, he hired a private investigator to find her. All he needed to bring her safely back was for someone, anyone, to tell him where she was hiding.

It is ironic, Jason thought, her fear of losing me to death, has driven her to lose me in life. Was it only four months, it seemed like a lifetime?

* * * *

The cold November air, driven by unseen forces, swept over manicured gardens, knocking the last late buds of fall from their stems. Winter snows were still a couple weeks away, yet the bitter cold of the French countryside seeped in to steal body heat quickly. At the far end of the valley lay the Parker family estate, its granite manor built in the eighteenth century, protected by high stone walls. It was mid afternoon, the sun just starting its descent on the horizon. Church services ended mid morning and the Parker clan gathered to celebrate the birthday of the heir apparent. His coming of age party had been planned to the last detail, complete with gifts and advice from the many friends and relatives invited to share this occasion.

Yet those who knew this outgoing young man best, were aware he needed some time alone. Daniel James Parker Senior walked quickly away from the milling guests, leading his grandson toward the solitude of the balcony. As they stood in silence overlooking the fields below, Daniel tried once again to make amends, "Take as much time as you need son, I will keep the wolves at bay," referring to the fifty some people attending the party, mostly well meaning family members, wishing to share sage advice on his plans for the future.

"Thank you."

Turning to look his grandson in the eye, Daniel smiled weakly, "Just remember we all believed it was best to wait for you to come of age before allowing you to set out on your journey."

Gregory Parker was a fine young man, strong, determined, and highly intelligent. "You were all wrong, Sir," the bitter tone of his voice, a telltale sign of his steadfast anger. "The last three years have been hell and why? What grand purpose was served by making me wait?"

"Your mother was and still is concerned Greg. She had her reasons." Knowing they would never agree, Daniel did not wait for a response. Instead, he briefly tapped Gregory's shoulder in reassurance before turning to leave him alone with his thoughts.

* * * *

Thinking back on the last twenty-one years, he knew his mother loved him completely and wanted only the best for him. However, he had a right, a right to know his father, even if it was twenty-one years after his birth. There was no lack of male role models in his life, his grandfather and uncles provided all the companionship a young growing boy needed. Yet from the time he was five years old he'd know that an important person was missing.

Outsiders, looking in, believed Gregory's life was perfect. But, there was a void in his life only a father could fill.

Time and time again, he questioned his mother about his father. Each time she told him the story needed to wait until he was older. Three years ago, on his eighteenth birthday, Gregory took his mother aside, to this exact same balcony, and told her it was time. He did not give her the opportunity to put it off again. After several minutes of arguing, she finally agreed to tell him.

"I was seventeen and my father consented to my spending the summer in Paris with friends. He rented an apartment for us on the Champs de la Rouge. We left right after school let out," she started to explain.

Anxious to get to his father's name, Gregory tried to interrupt her, "I don't need a long story Mother, just his damn name."

Ignoring his outburst, Babbitt Parker drew her lips tight, her well-shaped brow lifting slightly at her son's use of foul language. "There is no need for vulgarity young man," she stated flatly. "And, before I continue with this story, I want you to promise me something,"

"What do you want mother?"

"You will promise not to leave in search of him until you are twenty-one," she replied.

"Twenty-one!" he shouted. "Mother I've waited eighteen years for you to tell me about my father and now you expect me to wait three more to go find the man. What kind of bullshit is this?" Her earlier admonishment about swearing brought to mind by the lifting of her brow, reminding him to remain calm. Reining in his temper he again tried to reason with her. "I am sorry mother, but I'm unwilling to put off the search for my father any longer. You should have told me years ago who he is."

"Be grateful for what I'm willing to tell you son. If you would prefer to await your twenty-first birthday we can rejoin your grandparents in the salon." Her voice held a note of finality. Gregory knew he would have to consent to her demands or wait; something he was not willing to do. With little hesitation, he agreed to his mother's stipulation. Less then an hour later, he knew the entire story.

Now here he was, twenty-one years old, standing on the same balcony of his mothers' family estate. Tomorrow he would be boarding a plane to the United States where he would finally meet the man who should have been part of his life from the beginning. Gregory was excited, nervous, and relieved.

For the last two weeks all his mother could do was warn him about the dangers of American culture, as well as worry that his father would refuse to see him. She had driven him to distraction, which in turn led to his continued use of foul language, causing her to chide him repeatedly. Now with less then twenty-four hours to wait all he wanted was to speed up time and get to the airport.

Thinking fondly of his grandfather and silently thanking him, Gregory descended the stairs heading toward the stables. Hoping to delay his return to the party, he saddled his horse, riding out into the wind-swept fields.