genre: paranormal
ISBN #: 1-59836-312-3
Format: ebook and print

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Buy an autographed print copy directly from me: http://www.marywinter.com/?page_id=728

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BLURB:

Grace Edwards lives on a private Caribbean island. More at home in the ocean than on land, she spends her time searching for the elusive man of her dreams. He fulfills her every desire, takes her to the heights of passion, and makes love to her every night — all night. There is just one problem. She really does only see him in her dreams. Come the dawn, reality rushes in and her dream man disappears back to wherever he came from.

Then, an old woman gives her the key to finding him.

Now that Grace has the information she needs, she’s ready to find him and turn her dreams into reality. For Chemal, restricted for so long to only visiting the love of his life when night falls and he can make love to her as she sleeps, he’s ready to prove to her that they have more than lust—that with her love they can have forever.

Reviews

Scorching.  That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think about describing Chemal and Grace’s romance.  I loved the instantaneous attachment of Chemal and Grace, even though they hadn’t ‘known’ each other but for a few moments, it seemed as if they’d known each other forever.  Chemal had to leave their future in Grace’s hands and I worried only momentarily that she would chose poorly.   Water Lust was truly a unique experience, as I don’t believe I’ve ever gotten so involved in a short story.”
-Cerise, Joyfully Reviewed

“Water Lust was a scorching tale, stuffed cover to cover with raw, wanton sex. Water Lust is an interesting, quick summertime read.”
- Jennifer, Romance Divas

“In this sweetly sensual tale of two people separated by their destinies, Ms. Winter explores the theme of unfulfilled desire, and what length people will really go to in order to be with the one they love. Chemal is restricted by his own fate. He can only be with Grace at night, and although the dreams leave them both satisfied momentarily, it’s not enough. The longing both characters feel, as well as their frustration and their ultimate delight at being united in the flesh is expertly portrayed. The dream sex sequences are arousing, but the pages really sizzle when Chemal and Grace are able to enjoy one another during their waking hours. In particular, Ms. Winter makes phenomenal use of food as an aphrodisiac and as the catalyst for a scorching encounter. This beautifully told story will leave you sighing in delight after you turn the last page. Overall, Water Lust is a great addition to the Fun In The Sun series of sizzling summer quickies from Ellora’s Cave.”
- Claire Skye, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

“Water Lust is a wonderful mini goodie. From beginning to end, this story was captivating and steamy. The location of Water Lust was undeniably just perfect. Nothing is better than a love scene on the beach with your ideal guy, even if he is from the sea. Just in a short while, Mary Winter shows how the character Grace comes to understand herself and what she wants. The paranormal element in this story was attention-grabbing to say the least; it gave the story quite an edge that really worked. Water Lust is a wonderfully pleasing book that I recommend.”
- Chantay, Euro Reviews

“Mary Winter has written a fabulous story of the power of love in WATER LUST. I enjoyed reading it so much I reread it so I didn’t miss anything. Grace was looking for love and acceptance and the only way she could get it was through her dreams. Chemal had to show Grace that she was accepted and loved for who she was, not what others wanted her to be. Ms. Winter, I loved this story and I look forward to reading more of your books in the future.”
-Moon Tee, Romance Junkies

Excerpt

Wearing a sarong patterned in the deep blue and turquoise of the ocean, Grace stood on the shore. She curled her toes into the sand, still warm from the heat of the day, and watched as the sun painted the rippling water with shades of pink and orange. The deep indigo of the sea called to her, as it always did. She raised the shell above her head.”I don’t know if you’re listening to me, Poseidon, but you’re the god I feel most in tune with. If what the old woman said is true, and this will bring my love to me, then I ask your blessing.” Grace stared into the ocean and tried to still the racing of her heart. She lowered the shell to heart-level and stared into its folds stuffed with rose petals. A white pillar candle rose from the curve of the shell. Grace studied it, the cowry shell shaped like the folds of a woman’s pussy, the thick, white pillar candle rising from within it. With the rose petals surrounding it, the entire ensemble looked like homage to a god of passion, or fertility.

Grace smiled. She strode closer to the sea. The surf washed over her feet, a gentle caress that reminded her of last night’s dream with her lover. Closing her eyes, Grace wished she even knew his name. That way, she’d know whom to ask for. It didn’t matter, she supposed. Either whatever benevolent deities that listened to her prayer knew whom she dreamed about or they didn’t. Either way speaking his name probably wouldn’t help one way or the other.

She waded deeper, until the salt water came to her calves, then her knees. She stopped, not wanting to go farther out without some kind of protection on her feet. Bending over, she set her shell on the surface of the sea. She expected it to sink. It didn’t. Instead, it floated, drifting gently with the current away from the shore.

Grace watched the shell. It floated like a boat, and she wondered if it were part of the spell that it didn’t sink. After all, the shell alone should have been heavy enough to sink. She watched it, bobbing along with the suddenly still waves, until it disappeared into the distance and out of sight.

Her feet chilled from the water, Grace backed up a few steps. She sat down, clutching her knees to her chest. A crab scuttled along the sand next to her, heading to the sea. A few gulls sat on branches, uncharacteristically silent.

After long moments, Grace stood. She stretched and removed her sarong to reveal the bikini beneath. Standing on the beach, she moved into her evening yoga pose, and as the sun slipped beneath the horizon, she kept watching the ocean, expecting her lover to appear.

* * * * *

After a night of dreamless sleep, Grace tried not to get mad at the old woman. When her lover didn’t even appear in her dreams, Grace feared she’d driven him off with her need to actually feel him. She doubted him, and if he existed on some level, certainly he wasn’t happy with her uncertainty. She stretched out on the lounge next to her pool and leaned back. Covered with SPF30, she basked in the sun’s rays. A nearly cloudless sky hovered overhead. In the bay, dolphins splashed and played. She watched them, wondering if she shouldn’t put on her swimsuit and go snorkeling. Of course, dolphins could be dangerous, though she’d never had any problems with the ones near her cove.

A romance novel lay spine up on the stone next to her. Reading about fictional heroes who made her toes curl only conjured images of her dream lover. She nestled her head against the pillow, let her arms drape at her sides, and prepared to worship the sun. Her eyelids drifted closed.

A shadow fell across her face. Grace ignored it, still half-asleep. The sun had moved, coming from behind her, and the slight rustling of leaves suggested that the trees might be causing the shadow. If she waited, it would move.

It didn’t.

Fingers reached for her sunglasses. Finally, her dream lover had returned. It had to be him. She lived alone, so no one would be there to remove her sunglasses. She smiled as anticipation sent goose bumps skittering down her arms. With her sunglasses off, she didn’t dare open her eyes, but as strong, warm fingers massaged her temples, she didn’t want to either. If this were only a dream, she wanted it to last.

The calloused pad of a thumb brushed across her lips. Grace opened her mouth, her tongue darting out to taste the sun-warmed flesh of her dream lover. He tasted like salt and heat. His scent, crisp like the wind unfurling sails, filled her nostrils. She breathed deeply.

Knuckles brushed against her throat, down to the hollow between her breasts. Grace sucked in a breath as his fingers traced the flimsy straps of her bikini up to her shoulders, then down again. For a moment she regretted not sunbathing in the nude. Then again, make him work for her body. He’d kept her waiting. She grinned.

“You’re back,” she whispered.

“I am.” His voice, rich and deep like expensive chocolate, sent shivers all the way to her toes. He brushed his lips across hers.

In his gentle touch she sensed his restraint. When he pulled away, she licked her lips, hungry for more. She knew what he could give her. She sat up.

And realized she wasn’t sleeping.

Grace’s eyes flew open. She stared at the man before her, from this thick, dark hair, to the white shirt, open to reveal his tanned, muscled chest. Casual pants, also white, only emphasized his tanned skin and muscular physique. Sandals revealed a pair of the most perfectly formed male feet she’d ever seen. Reluctantly, she dragged her gaze back to his face.

“My dream lover,” she breathed. Grace struggled to pull her gaze away from his chest. Just a little bit closer and she could lick her way between his pecs down over luscious abs. “You’re here.” And you can stay. Silently, he moved behind her chair, sat down on the cement with his long legs so close she could touch them, and gently touched her forehead. He walked his fingers along her hairline until he reached her temples. He picked up the massage where he left off, and the heat from his fingers threatened to burn her.

Waves of pleasure roared through her body. Grace moaned at the fingers stroking her skin. Tension she hadn’t known she had, released from her body, leaving her boneless on the lounge. His thumbs dug into the muscles along the back of her neck, working out each little twinge and stutter. For living a life of leisure, sometimes she found it hard to relax, and her mysterious dream lover certainly helped.

His hands slid down to her shoulders, massaging along her collarbone and the sides of her neck.

“That feels heavenly,” she whispered.

“I’m glad you think so.” He shifted position, leaning forward to brush his lips across hers. “I want to make you feel good, very, very good.”