Married To The Marine

 “Married to a Stranger” is the newest reality show to hit the airwaves on a local television station in Portland, Maine. Five pairs of strangers are matched up by a live audience and get married after only knowing one another for less than an hour.  Ella Rowe is a reluctant bride, who would rather be behind the scenes than in front of the camera. She learns quickly that when you’re in over your head, you’ll hold on to anything, especially if he’s a six-foot-tall muscle-bound Marine. 

Jake Griffin personifies the gung-ho, macho Marine, but his hidden virtues cause him to lose a bet and his prized bachelorhood when he’s forced to marry a stranger to save face. Now, he’s forced to work together with the prim and virginal Ella Rowe to survive reality hell. 

Excerpt:

 “I still don’t know why you’re here,” he said patiently.

“I told you, the show was my idea. I helped Cassie organize it. She railroaded me into being a contestant. I didn’t know until she called my name.”

      “I thought you looked broadsided.” His warm chuckle made her look at him again.

“She guilted me into staying. I tried to get out of it.”

“Guilt’s a devil of a thing.”

“I figure I’m not getting any younger, and if I could find some nice man to settle down with…it’s probably about time.”

“That’s too bad for all those nice men.”

“What do you mean?” she asked warily.

“I mean, I’m not asking for a re-vote. I think that if I have to get married it might as well be to you. Those other women left me cold.” He reached out and touched her arm.

The sparks arched immediately, and her face flushed. “You…you want to get married to me?”

      He stepped closer to her. “You’re hiding something and I find that a challenge.”

“I’m not hiding anything,” she denied, unsettled that he saw through her act. “I thought you’d want to get out of this, too. Marry a cute girl who’d worship you.”

“Sweetheart, look in the mirror. You are a cute girl.” He stepped within a heartbeat of her. “I want to really get to know you,” he whispered.

Ella trembled like the virgin she was. He leaned in and touched his lips to hers. She reveled in their warmth and softness, and relaxed immediately. This wasn’t so bad. She liked the feeling as he nibbled her upper lip with his teeth. He smelled spicy, and dangerous. She didn’t dare move as he touched her waist. When he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, desire rocked through her body. She pulled back, inhaling sharply, watching his face with wide-open interest. He lifted his eyelids and looked deep into her eyes. He didn’t speak, but a crooked smile flittered across his mouth, and he raised his eyebrows. Without warning, he swooped back down to kiss her again. This time the electricity made her knees weak. Fearing a collapse, she clasped her hands behind his neck to keep from falling. He probed her mouth with his tongue, igniting a fire deep within her.

He pulled back again and looked into her eyes. “Answer me one more question,” he said.

At that moment, she would have given him anything he’d asked for. She still held on to his neck, and could feel his warm breath on her face. She inhaled deeply, taking in his totally masculine scent.

“How experienced are you?”