Monday, December 22, 2014

Something Reckless by Lexi Ryan




 

Adult Contemporary Romance

 


 

Dive into a world of secrets and temptation. Read the first novel in the sizzling Reckless and Real series from NYT bestselling author Lexi Ryan...

 

He talks dirty to me, but I don’t know his name.

 

He wants to tie me up, but I don’t know his face.

 

He turns me on, but I couldn’t point him out in a crowd.

 

I’ve fallen for an anonymous stranger, and now the anonymity ends. I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.

 

Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.

 

~~

 

Lizzy Thompson met Riverrat69 online through Something Real, a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.

 

Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues. She’s ninety-percent convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.

 

She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.

 

When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.

 


**SOMETHING RECKLESS is book 1 in the sizzling new Reckless and Real series and includes the prequel, SOMETHING WILD, for your convenience. Liz and Sam's story concludes in SOMETHING REAL, coming in March 2015.**

 

The Reckless and Real Series Includes:

SOMETHING WILD (Liz and Sam’s story begins - novella)

SOMETHING RECKLESS (Liz and Sam’s story continues)

SOMETHING REAL (Liz and Sam’s story concludes, coming March 2015)

 Lori's 5+ star review
 
Wow! Um, wow! Holy hell was this book hot! And mind blowing. What a twisted ending to this cliffhanger of a book! I am just really blown away! Can't wait for book 2. I can't say all the things I really want to say because then I'd get it away, and I for one HATE spoilers, so I try to never include them into my review. All I am saying is go one click this book today!

Also- Something Wild (prequel) This little prequel to the "bigger" story is just what was needed. Sam Bradshaw is one hot man. It sets the "mood" for what's to come.
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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.


 

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Sunday, December 21, 2014

SEIZE Chapter Reveal by Clarissa Wild



Title: SEIZE (#2, Delirious)
Author: Clarissa Wild
Publication Date: December 30, 2014
Genre: Dark Romance





Synopsis

True darkness has only just begun …

She thought she could run, but there´s nowhere to hide. My bad side is coming out to claim what belongs to me. This hunter has found his prey, and he’s hungry for more. She’s mine now, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep her to myself.
You think I’m the monster?
Think again.
When the choices you make decide your fate, the line between good and evil blurs. In order to live, I do what must be done. Freedom is the price she pays for her safety.
She wants the truth? I’ll give her the truth.
In order to play this game, sacrifices must be made.
I will start with her.

This is Volume 2 in the Delirious Series, which contains 3 volumes and a prequel. This book is a full-length novel. These books should be read in order.

WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, strong language, drugs and alcohol, dubious consent, and graphic violence.


Get your copy of SEIZE:





Chapter 1

Big River Management Area. Greenwich, Rhode Island – June 2nd, 2013, night

Lillith

“Sebastian, behind you!”
The shot fires the moment that he turns around. My scream isn’t as fast as the bullet approaching us. A quick shove and Sebastian has me tumbling to the ground. He grunts and roars as the bullet tears through his shoulder. He slumps, reaching for the wound.
That bullet was aimed at me, not him. He saved me from being killed by taking the bullet himself.
Still, his eyes are on me, focusing solely on me. “Run. Now.”
I scramble to my feet, grasping the opportunity to flee. Without looking back, I make a run for it. I don’t know where I’m going or what is happening, but I know that I have to get out of here. Some part of me is worried about Sebastian and another part wants him to be killed. I don’t know which side to pick.
It’s then that I hear them yell at each other.
“What the fuck, Lewis!” It’s Sebastian.
“Sorry, but you moved! I was aiming for her.”
“Fuck you! You fucking shot me! And now she ran again!” Sebastian yells. “Goddammit, I had her.”
“Well, you should’ve taken her when you had the chance.”
“I told you that I could handle this. Now let me do it before I shoot a fucking bullet at you, too.”
“Fine, but if she gets away, you know it’s your head that’s on the line, not mine.”
Their voices grow fainter and fainter, and I can’t help but notice how Sebastian weaves his way out of this like nothing happened. He wanted me to run, and yet he tells Lewis a very different story. Something’s not adding up.
My breathing is loud and rampant and my legs are shaking, but I keep on running. After a while, I sink to my knees, unable to suck in another breath. It takes me a while to breathe. When I stand up and try to walk again, I’m tackled to the ground.
I squeal, fighting my attacker.
“Shhh!”
“Get off me!”
I wriggle until I’m facing him. Only then do I notice that it’s Sebastian.
I try to slap him. “Asshole!”
I only get one hit in before he grabs both of my wrists and pins them down on my chest. “Stop. Listen to me.”
“No! First, you shoot at me. Then he shoots at us, and then I hear you yell at each other that you’re both hunting me? I’m not going to spend any second longer with you!” I push him away. Surprisingly, he flinches and backs off. That was too easy.
He frowns, grinding his teeth. “Don’t fucking run from me. Run away from them, but not from me. Not anymore.” He grabs his gun from the ground and points it at me.
“How can I trust that you won’t just use me and then kill me somewhere in the woods anyway? Somewhere no one can find my body?”
“Because I fucking need you,” he snaps. “And yes, I will kill you if you don’t come with me. I will not let anyone else have you. Ever.
I swallow as he gets off me. He helps me up from the ground, too, even though he’s making a face while doing it. The muscles in his arm are weakened. Red stains darken his coat. He watches me with raised gun, pinpointing my next movement, which I don’t even know. All I hear are his shallow breaths and groans.
“You’re hurt.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does.”
“Not now,” he growls. “We have to get out of here.”
“Right.”
I turn around, trying to walk away, but he grabs my arms and holds me down again.
“I didn’t say you could go without me.” He pushes the barrel of the gun into my back.
“But why? Why do you care? You’re one of them!”
“Not by choice.”
“So, you’re not out to kill me?”
“No.”
“But you are one of them. So then, you call them and tell them to stop.”
“No, I can’t, and it won’t help one bit. Once they have something in their minds, they have to do it. It’s in their nature.”
I groan and sigh. “What do they want with me then?”
“Either they kill you or they take you with them. You jumped from the train when I told you not to. This is what happens when you don’t listen to me.”
“They’re coming after me? For running away from you?”
“Exactly, and neither of us wants you in their claws,” he says. “Now, are you going to come with me quietly, without a fight, or do I have to shoot you in the leg and carry you over my shoulder? Because, by God, I will do it if it means that you’ll come easily.” He takes the barrel away from my back as I let out a big breath.
I nod.
“Good.”
He hauls me with him, and I almost tumble over from the ferocity in his stride.
“Jesus, I can’t believe you’d go that far to keep me away from them.”
“If there’s a problem, I solve it. You were the problem, and I solved it.”
“With a gun? Are you insane? You could’ve called after me instead of shooting.”
“And you would not have believed me if I had told you the truth. Trust me, I’ve tried before.”
He’s not tried it with me, so I’d rather not think about what it means instead. I can’t even fathom the fact that he was helping them do this to us, let alone doing it to other women.
“I’d rather hurt you myself than let them do it. They’d hurt you in ways that you can’t imagine, and I will not let them touch my property.”
“I am not your property!” I tear myself away from his grasp.
“You were mine the moment that you stepped into my building. Now, come with me. Unless you want to die.”
I stare him down, contemplating if I could ever trust him again. I should’ve never trusted him in the first place, so why should I now? How do I know what’s the right choice?
“Sebastian!”
My eyes grow wide at the sound of a shrill and harsh voice calling out Sebastian’s name. Sebastian halts, his eyes skimming the forest like a hunter on the lookout for potential game.
“Who was that?” I whisper, following his gaze. “Is that the same guy from before? I recognized him.”
“Lewis. One of them.” He directs his attention back at me and holds out his hand. “Come here. Now.”
The way he talks to me, like I’m some sort of pet that he’s commanding, makes me seethe, but I hold my tongue and grab his hand. Right now, getting out of here alive is more important than prying information out of him, but I will definitely come back to this topic. I’m not done with him. Far from it. He has a lot of explaining to do, and I won’t stop asking questions until I find out the truth.
I struggle to keep up with his pace as he drags me along. We push our way through the dense forest, avoiding stumps and small rocks whenever possible but inevitable scrapes and cuts happen. Short bursts of pain to my legs and feet from running make me cringe, but I try to ignore them. Only the moon lights our path, but Sebastian seems to have adjusted quite well. His movements are hasty, without error, and I find myself questioning whether he’s done this —whether he’s hunted girls in the dark before.
However, now is not the time to think about things like that.
After what seems like an hour, we finally reach the road, but it’s midnight and there’s not a soul in sight. It’s then that Sebastian releases my hand and lowers his gun. “Stay here.” He fishes his cell phone out of his pocket. “Don’t move.”
I nod, wrapping my arms around my cold body. Shivering, I gaze at the trees behind us, expecting someone to appear at any moment.
“We’re here,” Sebastian grumbles into his phone, and then he checks a peculiar device that hangs from his neck, which I didn’t notice before. “Division road. The coordinates are 41.64 latitude and -71.59 longitude.” He puts his phone back into his pocket then sets his scorching gaze back on me. With a grunt, he grabs my hand and starts walking.
“Where are we going?”
He doesn’t answer as we keep walking down the road. Out of nowhere, a car seems to be racing toward us. For a second, I believe it’s coming straight at us for a hit and run, but then it stops and the car door opens.
“Get in,” Sebastian says as he hauls me to the door.
I step into the car as Sebastian walks to the other side and slides in. “Thanks, you’re a lifesaver.”
“Anything for you, Sir,” the man behind the wheel says.
“Let’s get out of here,” Sebastian urges. The driver nods and closes the blinds between us.
Suddenly, I’m aware of the fact that I’m alone in the backseat with the man who just tried to shoot me. I swallow away the nerves as he sets his gaze on me. The air between us grows thicker as the seconds tick by. I try to ignore it, but once he slips closer to me, it’s useless.
“Tell me where you’re taking me,” I demand, pressing my hands down on my lap as if it would keep him at bay.
I feel vulnerable, threatened, and stripped of everything that makes me human. Freedom has been taken away from me, but by God, I will fight to regain it. At the bottom of the well, there is only one way to go up, and that is by clawing your way out. I’ll do whatever is necessary to get back to my own life and help Ashley.
Anxiety storms through my head, causing irrational thoughts to take the upper hand. The urge to flee becomes too great. I move my hand to the door and start pulling on the handle. It won’t open, so I slam the window. “Let me out.”
“Calm down,” Sebastian says, placing his hand on my leg.
I swat him away. “Don’t touch me.”
He winces from the way I say it. No wonder. I feel grossed out and dirty that he touches me the way he does. As if he’s some sort of disease. It does feel like I’m surrounded by death.
“Stop,” he says calmly. “It won’t help you.”
“Just let me go then.”
“I can’t do that and you know why.”
“I can take care of myself just fine. I have two legs, a healthy set of lungs, and I can run like hell, so I’ll get myself to safety just fine.”
“No, you won’t.”
His fingers return to my leg and dig in, squeezing me. “Your legs are strong, perfect for fleeing, but they’re still no match for men with rifles who know how to shoot from a distance. You’d be easy prey. The only one who’s ever allowed to hunt you down is me.”
His touch becomes lighter again, softer, as he starts rubbing my leg, warming it up and creeping me out at the same time. It feels like he’s petting me.
“I want you to be safe,” he says, “to be okay. That was always my plan.”
I turn my head toward the window and look outside. Now that I know the full truth, it’s like I have even less of a chance to get my freedom back. I can’t give up. I just can’t.
So I force myself to continue ravaging this car, kicking and shoving, pulling out everything I have, just to make a point. I will not fucking give up on my life or on Ashley. The strong Lillith is back in full glory and I’ll be damned if I lose that part of myself again.
“You had to go and resist …” Sebastian grumbles, and then he grabs me by the waist and pulls me toward him. Something sharp is pointed at my neck. His knife.
“I told you what would happen if you kept on fighting me,” he whispers in my ear. The blade is painfully sharp, and I can feel it cut into my skin. I squeeze my eyes shut. “Stop!”
“No, not until you stop fighting and let it go.”
“I won’t.”
“Then I don’t have any other choice.”
With the knife, he creates a line down the base of my neck and onto my shoulder. I yelp from the sharp pain, but gasp when I feel his hot mouth press down on my skin. He sucks, his tongue dipping out to lick me. He hums against my neck, holding the knife close to my vein as he kisses the blood off my skin.
“Hmm…” He groans in such a dirty way, it sounds as if he’s going to come. “Delicious.”
A red mark is left on my skin as he retreats.
Licking his lips, he says, “As expected.”
“You’re disgusting …” I murmur.
“Disgustingly aroused,” he says, biting his lip. “I want another taste.”
He dives in again, but I manage to push him away. “No!”
“Yes …” He keeps coming, biting my shoulder, and I squeal.
“Please!”
“What?” He kisses my skin and then bites me again.
“Please … stop,” I say, blinking away the impending tears.
“Oh, but that’s impossible now that I’ve tasted your blood. You are so deliciously riveting … I’ll never have enough.”
I’m so sick to my stomach that I could throw up. Although I’m not sure whether that’s because of him or because of the fact that I just faced death.
“Please … I don’t want this,” I say, feeling humiliated for having to beg him again, but I want this to stop. I need this to stop.
“But I do … and that is where I hold the power and you don’t,” he says, twisting the blade in his hand.
“Just stop … let me be … for just a few minutes,” I plead. “Just let me sit here in peace.”
“And you will stop fighting? Stop trying to trash my car?” His tongue darts out again to lick my skin, sending shivers up my spine.
“Yes.” I sigh, moving as close to the window as I can manage, far away from him.
“Good.”
Suddenly he slides away again, back to his own seat. Fazed, I turn my head and gaze at him, then at the wound on my shoulder, which is still oozing blood. He just bit me and now he’s suddenly done? This was all a trick to get me to be quiet.
“Now we’re both bleeding,” he muses.
From his corner, he smiles at me. He brings his finger to his face and swipes up a drop of blood left on his chin, brings it to his parted lips, and licks up my blood from his finger like it’s a lollipop and he’s savoring the taste.
I cringe a little.
“Now be a good fairy and sit still.”




SNARE (Book 1)


SEIZE (Book 2)

SCORCH (Book 3)
Goodreads


Giveaway!

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Releasing Kate by D. Kelly


Synopsis
Kate has been through more than her share of tragedies in her life. After suffering the loss of her mother, daughter, and the love of her life, she’s finally found the strength to open herself up to love again. For once, everything is finally as it should be. Kate should’ve known that things were too good to be true; her life doesn’t work that smoothly. 
It’s been four years since Michael left Kate, but he’s back now, and determined to win Kate’s heart once again. After discovering that Daniel and Michael are best friends, the situation spirals out of control quickly. Instead of dealing with her broken heart, Kate ignores it. 
When Kate’s actions drive her to do the unthinkable, she knows she’s crossed the line. Unfortunately, she doesn’t realize it until it’s too little, too late. Her actions have consequences and now she’s trying to fix the unfixable. Can the men in Kate’s life grant her the forgiveness she can’t even find within herself?



Excerpt
 


“Now, here’s the most honest thing I could ever tell you; are you ready to hear it?” She nods and I tilt her chin up to face me. “No, I need to hear you say it because I need to know you hear the words that are going to come out of my mouth next.”
“Yes, I’m ready,” she says with a shaky voice.
“Kate, I’m sexually open to new experiences and new ideas; that’s obviously a given with my history. Never in my life has a woman turned me on more than you do. Not ever. Never has someone made my heart skip a beat. Never before has a girl wrapped me around her finger so tightly without me trying to get away. Instead, I’m hanging on for dear life. Not in my entire life has a girl made me feel passion from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, not ever. I’ve never been with a girl that made me feel the electricity between us with a simple touch. I’ve never made love, fucked, or had sexual relations with anyone where my body felt connected with theirs from the inside out…until you.”
A surprised gasp escapes her lips and I lean closer, placing feather light kisses on her earlobe as she shivers in pleasure.
“I’ve never met a girl who trembles for me the way you do, who comes for me the way you do, or who calls my name out when they come the way you do. More importantly, Kate, I’ve never wanted to lay claim to anyone the way I need to lay claim to you. I need you to be mine, baby, as much as I need the air to breathe, water to drink, and food to nourish my soul. None of those things will help me if you’re not in my life making me thrive.”
Tentatively, I begin kissing my way across her jaw and hover just a whisper away from her lips and then pause. “All of that stuff was erotic and hot, but it was also before you. Anything before I was with you pales in comparison; they were just shadows but you are my light. I know we’ve got a long way to go, but trust me, baby, I’m in this for the long haul. We have the once in a lifetime love people look for their entire lives right at our fingertips. It’s within our grasp, and when we finally reach out and take it, our lives are going to be better than they’ve ever been. I can’t wait for the day I get my ring back on your finger, but I hope that when you finally do put it back on you’re ready to marry me, Kate, because I don’t ever want to go through this again.”  
Her lips are parted, her breathing escalates, and I’m done talking. Before my lips are fully on hers, she opens her mouth to me and I take what’s mine, relentlessly. At first it’s a dueling of tongues, biting of lips, and grasping on to each other with all we have. Then I slow it down, making love to her senses by caressing her gently as my tongue slowly and tentatively meets hers. As much as I want her to feel the passion we share, I want her to know the love even more.
Taking control, she straddles my lap, places a hand on each of my cheeks, and pulls me in for a passionate kiss. My hands immediately move to her hips as she moves up and down against my painfully hard cock. A pained sounding moan escapes her but I’m not offended. I know that sound; it’s the sound of wanting something you can’t have and it’s exactly how I feel right now.




Lori's 5+ Star review    Five stars just isn't enough stars for this book

I still can't put into words what this book had done to my heart. Thank you D Kelly for allowing me to read this book. You took me on such an emotional roller coaster that 5 hours later, I still can't get it out of my head. I can't open a new book and don't know when I'll be able to either. What you put my team through is heart wrenching and I hope you can redeem yourself in Loving Kate(LOL).

 
Trailer




Play List For Releasing Kate
Keri Hilson – Energy

Taylor Swift – Shake it Off

Sara Bareilles – Gravity

Gavin Rossdale – Love Remains the Same

Blake Shelton – Mine Would be You

Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud

Iggy Azalea & Rita Ora – Black Widow

Chris Brown – New Flame

Jason Derulo – The Other Side

Taylor Swift – Blank Space

Lifehouse – Whatever It Takes


Buy Now



The Acceptance Series 



About the Author
I'm a wife, a mom and a dog lover. I'm also a taxi, problem fixer, extreme multi-tasker and my kids biggest fan in anything that they do. I love to write, so when my career suddenly derailed I turned back to my love of writing. I married my high school sweetheart... how cool is that? Margaritas and sarcasm make me happy. Chocolate makes that happiness grow exponentially. People who make me laugh are my favorite kind of people. I believe Karma is a bitch who slaps back hard and that mean people suck. I'm California born and raised, I love the beach but hate the sand. The Acceptance Series is my first series with more books to come soon.



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Friday, December 19, 2014

Gibson's Legacy by K.L. Shandwick

★★★New Release★★★
Gibson's Legacy Book Cover
Title: Gibson’s Legacy
Author: K.L. Shandwick
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Date of Publication: December 19, 2014
About Gibson’s Legacy
Gibson Barclay has been famous for almost seven years and he's only twenty four.
Seldom does anyone pick up a magazine, newspaper or watch a television entertainment show, without seeing his image or reading about his promiscuous antics. He had no need to court publicity with his magnetic charm and charismatic ways; when he chooses to cooperate that is. Shrugging off the advice of publicists and image consultants, Gibson makes no excuses for who he is, and with no ties, he answers to no one about how he chooses to live his life.
From teenage musician to twenties mega rock star, Gibson has seen and done it all. Women fantasize about him and men envy his rock scene, womanizing lifestyle. Only one person ever made Gibson feel uncomfortable about the way he lived his life. No one ever said no to him that he can remember, although there was two minute events that he has never been able to shake from his mind. Both of those events involved the way Chloe Jenner looked at him. It was something and nothing, but for him, the impact haunted him. In the strangest twist of fate, something so wildly obscure occurred, that set his mind ablaze with the memory of that small encounter.
Like all women, Chloe found Gibson striking and had even shared with friends, her own guilty fantasy about him. Fantasy and reality were poles apart and Chloe believed that Gibson Barclay never even knew that she existed.
*Adult Contemporary Romance – Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen.*
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Buy Links
Excerpt
Hands invaded my body space and ran up and across my pectorals, my head dropping to see what she was doing. She glided her palms around and under my arms, until they stopped on both scapula bones on my back. Stroking me, she smiled suggestively and continued to trail downwards toward my ass, and by the time I made eye contact with her, she was so close her hot panting breaths were fanning over my face. Groupies had no shame. Then again, I was so fucking wired after the gig, I needed something to bring me down, and an easy fuck meant I didn’t have to be charming or polite to anyone. This girl knew the score and she was begging for it.
©2014 K.L. Shandwick – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Connect with K.L. Shandwick
About the Author
K.L. Shandwick lives on the outskirts of London. She started writing after a challenge by a friend when she commented on a book she read. The result of this was “The Everything Trilogy.” Her background has been mainly in the health and social care sector in the U.K. She is still currently a freelance or self- employed professional in this field. Her books tend to focus on the relationships of the main characters. Writing is a form of escapism for her and she is just as excited to find out where her characters take her as she is when she reads another author’s work.
For more details, please visit K.L. Shandwick's website.
 
Lori's 5+ Star review
 
                     I was given Gibson's Legacy as an ARC in return for an honest review. I am still reeling with it all. I can't wait for more. I couldn't believe when 5 years went by, Kace had turned into a douchbag. I was so relieved when Chloe got her unknown trust fund and left him. I wondered how she was gonna come back into contact with Gibson, because even I could see that even though the things she saw him do, she wanted him. And how they "found" each other was off the wall fate!
This is the first book I have read by K L and it won't be the last

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Something Wild by Lexi Ryan FREE on Amazon


 



 

Adult Contemporary Romance

FREE introductory novella to the upcoming release SOMETHING RECKLESS

 

 






Google Play: http://bit.ly/1yUullF

 

 

**Author’s Note: This is a free introduction to the full-length romance novel SOMETHING RECKLESS, coming December 22nd!**

 

“You need a good guy. A long-term guy. One who does dates and romance and emotional strings…I’m just an asshole who wants to tie you up, make you come, and walk away.”

 

Samuel Bradshaw is a man with a reputation—the kind of reputation that should have me running the other way. Instead, it has me searching for the shortest distance to his bed. I won’t be the starry-eyed girl who thinks she can change a man like Sam, and despite what he thinks, forever is not what I need. I need the things he makes me feel, the way he turns me on, and the promise of pleasure in his eyes. This promises to be SOMETHING WILD.

 

 

Excerpt from SOMETHING WILD by Lexi Ryan

© 2014 by Lexi Ryan

 

Sneaking into this room seemed like a great idea when I was on the dance floor with him, his hard body pressed into mine, but alone in the quiet conference room, I’m pretty sure this could be the most reckless thing I’ve ever done.

What if someone catches us in here? Hell, what if he doesn’t come? What if he does? I’ve thrown myself at Sam before, and it didn’t end well. He has no idea how hard I took his rejection, or the decisions I made after I left his room that night.

I should leave. I should . . .

The door clicks and then Sam steps inside, his eyes raking over me.

“Hey,” I whisper. “You came.”

He closes the door behind himself, turns the lock, then stalks toward me.

Thank you! the girlie bits shout. Stupid brain upstairs was about to ruin everything!

“Are you sure you want to do this?” His voice is a low rumble that I swear I can feel right between my legs.

Hell yes, I want to do this.

But I also don’t. Because Sam’s no longer some unrequited crush. He’s a friend. And if this goes to hell, it’ll make my life exponentially more awkward.

“We need rules,” I say quickly.

He takes another step closer. And another. Until I’m looking at his chest, smelling his aftershave. He tilts my chin up with his index finger then traces my lips with his thumb. “Hold that thought?”

I nod, nearly breathless at nothing but the touch of his thumb skimming my lips.

“I need to do this first.” He cups my jaw in his big hand and brushes his lips over mine. My lips part in surprise at the gesture that’s almost . . . sweet. He deepens the kiss, slanting his mouth over mine and sliding his tongue inside.

He tastes like beer, and I want to get drunk on this kiss—to overindulge until I can’t see straight, to imbibe until sobriety is a distant memory.

This is how kisses should be. I love the way his hand slides into my hair as he samples my lips, love how his kiss manages to be simultaneously gentle and demanding. It’s the kind of kiss that makes your toes curl, the kind worth remembering in five years when you’re lonely and bored and wondering if kissing had ever been so sweet.

When he pulls back, his eyes are hooded, darker. Sexy as sin. “Now, what were you saying?”

I have no idea. “Ru . . . rules?” I manage.

“Ah, yes. Well, I’ve never done well with rules, but tell me yours and I’ll see what I can do.”

I take a breath and try to figure out a rule that isn’t just Kiss me like that every time, or Please don’t make me fall for you.

“You keep looking at me like that,” he warns, “and I’m going to kiss you again, and we may never get to discuss these rules of yours.”

Right. “We can’t tell anyone,” I say. Cally and my sisters will try to make more of this than the one-night stand I know it to be.

His expression shifts and becomes unreadable. “Okay. What else?”

“This doesn’t change anything between us. We’re friends.” Something in my chest objects to that rule. It feels like a betrayal. But I want to say it before he does. I have to.

“Sex changes everything, Liz. That’s half the fun.”

“It doesn’t have to. I want us to still be friends after tonight.”

“Oh, we can be friends.” His breath ruffles my hair as he skims his fingertips down my bare arms, sending delicious shivers through my body that land low in my belly and turn my insides to goo. “But it’ll be different.”

“How so?”

“We won’t be able to look at each other without remembering what it was like. And if I have my way—” He dips his head to my ear and tugs the lobe between his teeth. A shudder rocks through me. “—every time you look at me, your panties will go damp as you remember what I did to you.”

 

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.



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