Happy #FabFriday, Peeps! I hope you weekend starts off awesome! Enjoy...
Friday, March 11, 2016
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Thank you Celebration! 7 days of #Giveaways
7 days #giveaway Celebration
Day 1 of Giveaways! Two winners will win their choice of any of the other authors ebooks. (One ebook per winner, only.)
Follow below link! #8500LikesGiveaway #ClickclickClick http://tiny.cc/0wky9x
Cover Re-reveal & Sale Blitz: Don’t Lie To Me by Stacey Lynn @givemebooksblog @staceylynnbooks
Title: Don't Lie To Me
Series: Don't Lie To Me
Author: Stacey Lynn
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Cover Design: Shanoff Formats
Sale Date: March 10, 2016
Blurb
When Emma’s first love walked away after learning she was pregnant, her life was altered forever. Determined to make a decent life for her son, she picked up the pieces of her shattered heart, re-evaluated her priorities, and changed the course of her dreams.
Those new dreams led her to taking a job with Jack McMillan, CEO of McMillan Holdings. He emanated powerful confidence with a piercing glare and was wrapped in a sexier package.
He was also the only man she’d wanted since her ex left, but was the one man she couldn’t have.
Until one night, one encounter, changed everything.
As Emma and Jack are forced to confront their pasts, unraveling the lies that have been told, will they finally be able to drop their protective walls and trust in someone else? Or will it destroy them both?
Purchase Links
99c
Also Available
When Marcus Whitmore finally realizes he isn’t going to get the only girl he’s ever loved and his family isn’t going to be together, he decides it is time to move on. After all, the best way to get over a woman - is to get another woman under you. Which is exactly what he does, thinking that a night of passion will ease Emma from his mind. What Marcus doesn’t plan on is waking up to an empty bed and the memory of a woman he can’t forget.
Weeks later, when Marcus runs into Tabby again, he is determined to have her back in his bed. The problem? Tabby is his son’s teacher. And if anyone finds out that Tabby is involved with Logan’s dad, she could lose her job.
Is Marcus worth the risk? Are the best things in life really worth fighting for?
Weeks later, when Marcus runs into Tabby again, he is determined to have her back in his bed. The problem? Tabby is his son’s teacher. And if anyone finds out that Tabby is involved with Logan’s dad, she could lose her job.
Is Marcus worth the risk? Are the best things in life really worth fighting for?
Purchase Links
99c
Author Bio
Stacey Lynn is the #1 Erotic Bestseller of Don't Lie To Me. She lives in the midwest with her husband and four young children. She can usually be found lost inside her own head, trying to bring her characters to life. When she's engaged in the real world, she's spending time with her family, drinking large amounts of coffee, and eating Skittles by the handful.
Author Links
Cover Reveal: LIFE IN REVERSE by Beth Michele
Title: Life In Reverse
Author: Beth Michele
Publication Date: March 21, 2016
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Cover Design by Perfect Pear Creative
Synopsis
Vance...
Ember Bennett was my beginning...but she was also the end.
She was my downfall.
And I never even saw her coming.
She didn’t burst into my life demanding to be noticed. Instead, she slipped in under my radar when I wasn’t looking. Caught me off guard.
I should have been paying better attention.
Because I found myself drawn to her. Her quirkiness, her laughter, her brutal honesty.
I didn’t ask for her. Still I found myself wanting her. Needing her. Craving her.
I just couldn’t have her.
__________________________
Ember...
I was minding my own business when Vance Davenport showed up.
He wasn’t talking, yet somehow I heard him.
I wasn’t looking, but my eyes sought him out.
He became something I never expected.
Until it all changed.
Then he became someone I wanted to forget.
About the Author
Beth Michele is the author of Love Love, Lovely, Scarred Beautiful, Finding Autumn, Rex and For the Love of Raindrops. She is a Connecticut native who loves spending time with her husband and two children. If you can’t find her, though, she’s probably hiding out with her kindle somewhere quiet, preferably a spot overlooking the ocean. She has an affinity for Twizzlers, is a hopeless romantic, and a happily ever after fanatic.
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Release Blitz: Snared by L.L. Collins @givemebooksblog @authorllcollins
Title: Snared
Author: L.L. Collins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 10, 2016
Blurb
BEAU has never known a good life, only the torment that lives inside his head every day. The only way to block out the darkness that shrouds him is through the rhythmic beat of his drums. Knowing what happens when he opens up to anyone, Beau buries his pain deep inside, keeping it all to himself. APRIL has lived a life of wealth and privilege, full of love and support. Her only insight into what it's like to have a rough life is through her work with foster children. When she meets Beau, it starts as a challenge to get through to him but quickly turns into much more than either of them bargained for.
TOGETHER, they are mismatched, ill-fated, and COMBUSTIBLE. But when their connection is challenged by the collision of past, present, and future, will they be snared by love...or circumstances?
Purchase Links
Excerpt
Tanner started his riff, Johnny and Bex coming in as Bex began to sing, effectively silencing the crowd. In between her notes I could hear shouts from exuberant fans. My head cleared and it was just me on this stage with the most amazing band I could have ever asked for.
It was my turn to come in and come in I did. I took it over, allowing the screams and shouts of my name to fuel me to drum harder, faster, longer. When my solo was over and Bex began singing again, the screams were still reverberating in my head.
Before I knew it, April and her dad were walking onto the stage as we finished up our tenth song. Sweat dripped off of my face and into my shirt, which looked like I’d taken a shower in it. Before I could stop myself, I stood up and met her halfway across the stage. I held up my drum sticks, which started a frenzy in the crowd. They knew what I was doing. They were seasoned groupies.
April’s eyes met mine as she realized I was walking up to her. That same charge traveled through my body. I handed her the drumsticks without saying a word. The crowd went insane. I could see many flashes as people took pictures, but it didn’t bother me. She beamed as she took the sticks from my hands, her fingers brushing mine. I almost jumped back at her touch but forced myself to take one step back instead.
“Did you see this?” April boomed into the microphone. “Beau just gave me his drumsticks! Who is jealous right now?” The crowd screamed, jumping up and down. She looked back over at me and beamed.
I was frozen behind her. I felt Bex, Johnny, and Tanner come up and stand behind us and I immediately relaxed.
“We wanted to take a moment to thank you for coming to this Jaded Regret concert to benefit Young Angels Children's Hospital, which you can see behind us. Because of all of your generosity, not only will we get to complete the next phase, but we will also get to help many foster kids that have aged out of the system but still need assistance. Thanks to Bexley Bryant-Gibbons, we’ll be assisting her in funding an assisted living facility here in Orlando for kids who have aged out of the system. It will help them with finding jobs, giving them life skills, and help them have a safe and low cost place to live.”
Bex stepped up next to April. “Thank you, Orlando,” she said, her voice gruff through her headset. “Most of you know that I have a special place in my heart for kids in the foster care system, especially those who never got to have families and aged out of the system. It’s my goal to help those that need it and get more kids families.” The crowd screamed and jumped up and down. Bex looked back at me for just a second, but I knew what the look meant. For kids like us who had no one. “Now who’s ready to rock?”
Bex nodded at us and we turned to go back to our respective places.
April put her hand on my arm before I could get too far from her. “Thank you,” she whispered into my ear. “I’ll keep them forever.” I allowed a small smile to play on my lips before turning away from her. I grabbed a new pair of drumsticks and watched as she exited the stage. She turned back and stood, watching me the entire time again.
I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but I could still feel where she’d touched me on my arm.
It was my turn to come in and come in I did. I took it over, allowing the screams and shouts of my name to fuel me to drum harder, faster, longer. When my solo was over and Bex began singing again, the screams were still reverberating in my head.
Before I knew it, April and her dad were walking onto the stage as we finished up our tenth song. Sweat dripped off of my face and into my shirt, which looked like I’d taken a shower in it. Before I could stop myself, I stood up and met her halfway across the stage. I held up my drum sticks, which started a frenzy in the crowd. They knew what I was doing. They were seasoned groupies.
April’s eyes met mine as she realized I was walking up to her. That same charge traveled through my body. I handed her the drumsticks without saying a word. The crowd went insane. I could see many flashes as people took pictures, but it didn’t bother me. She beamed as she took the sticks from my hands, her fingers brushing mine. I almost jumped back at her touch but forced myself to take one step back instead.
“Did you see this?” April boomed into the microphone. “Beau just gave me his drumsticks! Who is jealous right now?” The crowd screamed, jumping up and down. She looked back over at me and beamed.
I was frozen behind her. I felt Bex, Johnny, and Tanner come up and stand behind us and I immediately relaxed.
“We wanted to take a moment to thank you for coming to this Jaded Regret concert to benefit Young Angels Children's Hospital, which you can see behind us. Because of all of your generosity, not only will we get to complete the next phase, but we will also get to help many foster kids that have aged out of the system but still need assistance. Thanks to Bexley Bryant-Gibbons, we’ll be assisting her in funding an assisted living facility here in Orlando for kids who have aged out of the system. It will help them with finding jobs, giving them life skills, and help them have a safe and low cost place to live.”
Bex stepped up next to April. “Thank you, Orlando,” she said, her voice gruff through her headset. “Most of you know that I have a special place in my heart for kids in the foster care system, especially those who never got to have families and aged out of the system. It’s my goal to help those that need it and get more kids families.” The crowd screamed and jumped up and down. Bex looked back at me for just a second, but I knew what the look meant. For kids like us who had no one. “Now who’s ready to rock?”
Bex nodded at us and we turned to go back to our respective places.
April put her hand on my arm before I could get too far from her. “Thank you,” she whispered into my ear. “I’ll keep them forever.” I allowed a small smile to play on my lips before turning away from her. I grabbed a new pair of drumsticks and watched as she exited the stage. She turned back and stood, watching me the entire time again.
I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but I could still feel where she’d touched me on my arm.
Author Bio
Author Links
Giveaway
Release Blitz: Kincaid by Marie James @givemebooksblog @AuthrMarieJame
Title: Kincaid
Series: Cerberus MC #1
Author: Marie James
Genre: Romance/Contemporary/MC
Release Date: March 10, 2016
Blurb
I am Emmalyn Mikaelson.
My husband, in a rage, hit me in front of the wrong person. Diego, or Kincaid to most, beat the hell out of him for it. I left with Diego anyway. Even though he could turn on me just like my husband did, I knew I had a better chance of survival with Diego. That was until I realized Kincaid could hurt me so much worse than my husband ever could. Physical pain pales in comparison to troubles of the heart.
I am Diego “Kincaid” Anderson.
She was a waitress at a bar in a bad situation. I brought her to my clubhouse because I knew her husband would kill her if I didn’t. Now she has my protection and that of the Cerberus MC. I never expected her to become something more to me. I was in more trouble than I’ve ever been in before, and that’s saying a lot considering I served eight years in the Marine Corp with Special Forces.
PURCHASE LINKS
EXCERPT
“Since you kissed and made up does that mean I get to stay at the clubhouse tonight?” I turn my attention from Em as she flits around the bar like she’s worked here her entire life, and look at Kid, who has a hopeful look on his face.
“I hate to burst your bubble, but so long as she’s at Doc’s, that’s where you will be.” He sighs, loudly. “What?”
“I just figured since you guys,” he does this weird side pump with his hand at his waist, “you know… I figured you’d be staying there with her.”
“I told you we took a nap.” I tilt my already warm beer to my lips and take a sip.
“Really? I thought that was code for getting laid or something.” Shadow laughs boisterously beside him.
Slapping Kid on the back, “Sorry Kid, if the Prez isn’t getting pussy, it looks like you’re not getting pussy either.”
I grin when Kid’s face falls and realizes that what Shadow just said is a pretty accurate analysis of the situation.
“If you’re having trouble sealing the deal, Prez, I can give you a few pointers.” The scrape of Shadow’s chair as he moves away from Kid makes my lip twitch in an almost smile.
Shadow’s reaction would be fitting almost any time one of the guys made some dumb ass remark about me not being able to handle any type of situation. Kid is lucky I was able to wrap my arms around Emmalyn for a few hours this afternoon, or his ass would be laid out on the nasty bar floor by now.
“First off,” I say putting my beer down on the table, “I don’t need any pointers from you.” I tap his chest with my finger. “Second, if Em was just some other piece of pussy to me, I’d have already had my one and done.” I lean in closer, so he knows how serious I am. “You don’t need to worry about my dick and what it’s doing or not doing with Emmalyn.”
He reaches up and rubs his chest where my finger hit it. “I’m not worried about your dick, Prez. I’m worried about mine.”
Shadow laughs again, and I can’t help but join in at the wimpy sound of Kid’s admission.
I hit the side button on my phone to check the time. “You have three hours until I take her home. If you need to get your dick wet, you better do it in a hurry. I expect you back at Doc’s no later than one-thirty.”
He jumps with an ear to ear grin, slaps me on the back, and whistles loudly to a blonde across the room. I watch as she downs her drink, grabs her purse, and heads to the front door.
“Thanks, Dad,” Kid whispers in my ear as he heads in the direction of his all-too-willing conquest of the night.
“I hate to burst your bubble, but so long as she’s at Doc’s, that’s where you will be.” He sighs, loudly. “What?”
“I just figured since you guys,” he does this weird side pump with his hand at his waist, “you know… I figured you’d be staying there with her.”
“I told you we took a nap.” I tilt my already warm beer to my lips and take a sip.
“Really? I thought that was code for getting laid or something.” Shadow laughs boisterously beside him.
Slapping Kid on the back, “Sorry Kid, if the Prez isn’t getting pussy, it looks like you’re not getting pussy either.”
I grin when Kid’s face falls and realizes that what Shadow just said is a pretty accurate analysis of the situation.
“If you’re having trouble sealing the deal, Prez, I can give you a few pointers.” The scrape of Shadow’s chair as he moves away from Kid makes my lip twitch in an almost smile.
Shadow’s reaction would be fitting almost any time one of the guys made some dumb ass remark about me not being able to handle any type of situation. Kid is lucky I was able to wrap my arms around Emmalyn for a few hours this afternoon, or his ass would be laid out on the nasty bar floor by now.
“First off,” I say putting my beer down on the table, “I don’t need any pointers from you.” I tap his chest with my finger. “Second, if Em was just some other piece of pussy to me, I’d have already had my one and done.” I lean in closer, so he knows how serious I am. “You don’t need to worry about my dick and what it’s doing or not doing with Emmalyn.”
He reaches up and rubs his chest where my finger hit it. “I’m not worried about your dick, Prez. I’m worried about mine.”
Shadow laughs again, and I can’t help but join in at the wimpy sound of Kid’s admission.
I hit the side button on my phone to check the time. “You have three hours until I take her home. If you need to get your dick wet, you better do it in a hurry. I expect you back at Doc’s no later than one-thirty.”
He jumps with an ear to ear grin, slaps me on the back, and whistles loudly to a blonde across the room. I watch as she downs her drink, grabs her purse, and heads to the front door.
“Thanks, Dad,” Kid whispers in my ear as he heads in the direction of his all-too-willing conquest of the night.
AUTHOR BIO
Marie James: I’m a full-time, working mother of two boys and wife of 11 years. I've spent almost my entire lifetime living in central Texas, with only short stays in South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. I've always wanted to write novels and just recently had the gumption to sit down and start one. My passions include reading everything under the sun and plotting out new books to write in the future.
Kincaid is my 7th book. I’ve also written the Hale Series, Love ME Like That, and a FanFiction named Psychosis, featuring up and coming cover model, Matthew Hosea, as the main character. This book was done for fun and all of the proceeds are going to charity. All of my books are currently available on Amazon.
My current work-in-progress is a TOP SECRET FanFiction.
AUTHOR LINKS
Cover Reveal: THE GOODBYE GIRL (Red Market, #2) by Mary E. Palmerin & A. Giannoccaro
Title: The Goodbye Girl (Red Market, #2)
Authors: Mary E. Palmerin & A. Giannoccaro
Publication Date: April 18, 2016
Cover Design by Cassy Roop at Pink Ink Designs!
Synopsis
The Red Market is where every pound of flesh has a price tag tacked onto it. It is a place where money can buy you everything, even a heart.
Caesar has fallen and a new boss, Mateo, has risen; but he has lost his Lettie Doll and he doesn't know where to find her. She stole his soul and now he must find someone to replace her. Just like her love, his new power is an illusion. The real force behind the Red Market is about to show her cards and no one wants to play her game.
Mateo and Lettie will both have to fight to find their love, but sometimes it is only found in death. You cannot go through life unnoticed by demise when you play with it every day. Sooner or later, it catches up with you and you lose.
**Graphic content warning. Taboo, violent themes prevalent throughout. Reader discretion is highly advised.***
!Paperbacks of The Goodbye Girl will be available to readers at the Books Are Bigger in Texas Author Event in The Woodlands, TX on April 9, before the book even releases to the public!
The Goodbye Man (Red Market, #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N
Dysfunctional empires were made to fall.
I am Caesar. Broken and conflicted. I am a man who gives false goodness to those who crave it. I provide solace to the ones who beg to be saved, giving them the goodbyes they want. But, my quiet little world is about to be shattered by the whispers from heaven and hell.
I am Mateo. Unlovable and unworthy. I am the boy everyone runs from. I keep love close to me in little jars of perfection, reminding me of a thousand goodbyes I never had to say, because I left them before they could leave me.
I am Svetlana. Dirty and Used. Birthed into brutality while still trying to comprehend my version of normal. I am an injured lamb, eaten by filthy wolves day after day. Just as salvation seems like it's within reach, a goodbye from this awful world is all that I wish for.
About the Authors
A. Giannoccaro
Author of the Colour series, a dark romance.
“Our skin is clothing enough to cover what we hide inside.”
Mary E. Palmerin
International bestselling author of the Monster series. Writer of dark, taboo tales. Lover of tattoos, art, and a hopeless book junkie.
Book Blitz: Rock by JA Huss @givemebooksblog @jahuss
Title: Rock
Author: JA Huss
Genre: Rock Star Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 7, 2016
Blurb
He had it all. He lost it all. And all he wants now is a second chance.
RK Saber ran from tragedy five years ago when his car went over the side of a mountain in a prom-night crash. Consumed by guilt, he walked away from Juilliard and morphed into Rock, front man for the global rock-band sensation, Son of a Jack. Five members. Five best friends. Five rising stars burning so bright, they had to know it couldn’t last.
When tragedy strikes again and the band goes from five to two, RK is sentenced to… home. Back to the place where all his nightmares started. Back to the memory of all the things he lost. Back to the reality he refused to face before he left.
The Vetti twins were identical in all ways but two. Melanie was insane and Melissa was not. One twin was killed on prom night five years ago and one twin was not. And now that RK has returned home, the twin left standing has quite a story to tell. Could she really be the girl he thought he’d lost forever? Or is Melanie just up to her same old tricks?
ROCK is a rock-star romantic suspense by the New York Times bestselling master of twist, JA Huss.
RK Saber ran from tragedy five years ago when his car went over the side of a mountain in a prom-night crash. Consumed by guilt, he walked away from Juilliard and morphed into Rock, front man for the global rock-band sensation, Son of a Jack. Five members. Five best friends. Five rising stars burning so bright, they had to know it couldn’t last.
When tragedy strikes again and the band goes from five to two, RK is sentenced to… home. Back to the place where all his nightmares started. Back to the memory of all the things he lost. Back to the reality he refused to face before he left.
The Vetti twins were identical in all ways but two. Melanie was insane and Melissa was not. One twin was killed on prom night five years ago and one twin was not. And now that RK has returned home, the twin left standing has quite a story to tell. Could she really be the girl he thought he’d lost forever? Or is Melanie just up to her same old tricks?
ROCK is a rock-star romantic suspense by the New York Times bestselling master of twist, JA Huss.
Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO
Trailer
Excerpt
I take my shirt off as I walk across the hallway, throwing it down on the floor. Missy is standing with her back to me, testing the temperature of the shower. She peeks over her shoulder and smiles. “I know you probably hear this all this time, but damn, Rowan Kyle. You should never take that shirt off in public again.”
I go for my pants, unbuttoning them, unzipping them. She watches every move. And then I kick off my boots and fling them into the hallway with the shirt. She turns all the way around now and I feel myself getting hard as she presses her palm against my cock, squeezing it through my pants.
“If I knew you were coming back I’d have waited for you.”
God, that hurts.
“I just…” She stops, her sad eyes lingering on mine. “I just didn’t think you would. Come back, I mean.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. And I mean it. I’m so fucking sorry I wasn’t her first.
“It’s OK. We get to skip all that awkward fumbling, right?” She swallows hard and I know she’s sorry too. She was the only girl I dreamed about. The only girl I ever wanted. Even after all my rock-star nights, Melissa Vetti is still the only girl I want.
I place both my hands on her cheeks and lean down to kiss her mouth. Her lips part, her tongue seeking out mine. It’s soft, and slow, and short. Way, way too short.
She pulls away, taking her hand off my cock, and turns, stepping into the shower. I let my pants fall to the floor and toss them in the hallway. The shower has a clear glass surround and I watch her as she stands under the water, her fingers massaging it into her hair.
I step in with her and place my hands on her shoulders so I can turn her towards me. “Melissa—”
“Shh,” she says. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. I just want to enjoy this.” She picks up the soap and starts to lather me up, massaging the bubbles along my arms. Over my chest. Up and down my back.
I grab the bottle of shampoo and squeeze some into my palm, then rub my hands together and begin working it through her long, dark, hair as I study her face. The makeup is smearing as I watch. It makes her look like she’s crying.
“I feel like this is a dream,” she says, her soapy hands moving to my front. “I feel like I’ve been granted some wish but it’s all fake and you’re just going to disappear again. Leave me here alone. Lonely. You want to know why I stay home, RK?”
No. No, I really don’t.
“Because I’m lonely. Because you were my life. And I know I was having doubts back when we were about to graduate, but they were small doubts. Growing-up doubts. Not-knowing-what-I-wanted doubts. But I was never going to break up with you, RK. Never. And I was certainly never going to walk away from us.”
Fuck. I guess I haven’t looked at it from her point of view very much. “I walked away.”
“You walked away.” Her frown is so deep it hurts my heart.
“I’m sorry. I don’t even know why—”
“Shh,” she says again. “Later.”
Her hand slides up and down my cock as she looks me in the eyes. It’s a very intimate moment. Probably the most intimate moment I’ve had in years.
“Rinse,” I say.
Missy turns away, and I swear, I know what she’s feeling. Every time she does that I think she will never turn back to me again. I hate when she turns away. I watch as she rinses the shampoo out of her hair. The water streams down her face like that waterfall where we had our first kiss.
She’s not Melanie. How could I ever think she was Melanie?
“Can I make you dinner tonight? Before the show?” she asks when she turns back. The relief that she’s still here is real, as irrational as it is.
“Dinner?” I say, trying to wrap my head around the change of subject. I was about to attack her, lift her up, press her back against the wall, and fuck the shit out of her and now she’s talking about dinner.
“Yeah. Do you still like lemon pasta? Like your mom used to make?”
“Jesus,” I say. “The angel hair with the white wine sauce? I haven’t thought about that in years.”
“Yeah. Remember when I made that for you on your seventeenth birthday?” She laughs. It was a fun night. A really fun night. The kind of fun you only have with the girl of your dreams before you turn to drugs and need alcohol and sex to force the fun. “I fucked it all up,” she says through a giggle.
I grin as I picture her attempt to cook me something. “I’m not sure how anyone can fuck that recipe up, but yeah. You did.” She bites her lip and I almost die. “It was perfect though. Because you made it. And you made it special for me.”
“You ate every bite.”
“There was no chance in hell I wouldn’t, Missy. Not after you went to all that trouble. So sure. I’m not gonna complain about a trip down memory lane with you tonight.”
“Good,” Missy sighs. “Good.” And then she grabs the conditioner and the possibility of sex fades away.
I’m actually glad it fades. I’m glad she changed the subject. Turned us in a different direction. I know I hate-fucked her when I first got back into town, and I’m sorry about that. I’d like to take it back and get a do-over. I’d rather wait. Like we did when we were kids. I’d rather wait until we know for sure this is real, and special, and maybe even permanent.
I’d like to take my time with Melissa Vetti.
I go for my pants, unbuttoning them, unzipping them. She watches every move. And then I kick off my boots and fling them into the hallway with the shirt. She turns all the way around now and I feel myself getting hard as she presses her palm against my cock, squeezing it through my pants.
“If I knew you were coming back I’d have waited for you.”
God, that hurts.
“I just…” She stops, her sad eyes lingering on mine. “I just didn’t think you would. Come back, I mean.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. And I mean it. I’m so fucking sorry I wasn’t her first.
“It’s OK. We get to skip all that awkward fumbling, right?” She swallows hard and I know she’s sorry too. She was the only girl I dreamed about. The only girl I ever wanted. Even after all my rock-star nights, Melissa Vetti is still the only girl I want.
I place both my hands on her cheeks and lean down to kiss her mouth. Her lips part, her tongue seeking out mine. It’s soft, and slow, and short. Way, way too short.
She pulls away, taking her hand off my cock, and turns, stepping into the shower. I let my pants fall to the floor and toss them in the hallway. The shower has a clear glass surround and I watch her as she stands under the water, her fingers massaging it into her hair.
I step in with her and place my hands on her shoulders so I can turn her towards me. “Melissa—”
“Shh,” she says. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. I just want to enjoy this.” She picks up the soap and starts to lather me up, massaging the bubbles along my arms. Over my chest. Up and down my back.
I grab the bottle of shampoo and squeeze some into my palm, then rub my hands together and begin working it through her long, dark, hair as I study her face. The makeup is smearing as I watch. It makes her look like she’s crying.
“I feel like this is a dream,” she says, her soapy hands moving to my front. “I feel like I’ve been granted some wish but it’s all fake and you’re just going to disappear again. Leave me here alone. Lonely. You want to know why I stay home, RK?”
No. No, I really don’t.
“Because I’m lonely. Because you were my life. And I know I was having doubts back when we were about to graduate, but they were small doubts. Growing-up doubts. Not-knowing-what-I-wanted doubts. But I was never going to break up with you, RK. Never. And I was certainly never going to walk away from us.”
Fuck. I guess I haven’t looked at it from her point of view very much. “I walked away.”
“You walked away.” Her frown is so deep it hurts my heart.
“I’m sorry. I don’t even know why—”
“Shh,” she says again. “Later.”
Her hand slides up and down my cock as she looks me in the eyes. It’s a very intimate moment. Probably the most intimate moment I’ve had in years.
“Rinse,” I say.
Missy turns away, and I swear, I know what she’s feeling. Every time she does that I think she will never turn back to me again. I hate when she turns away. I watch as she rinses the shampoo out of her hair. The water streams down her face like that waterfall where we had our first kiss.
She’s not Melanie. How could I ever think she was Melanie?
“Can I make you dinner tonight? Before the show?” she asks when she turns back. The relief that she’s still here is real, as irrational as it is.
“Dinner?” I say, trying to wrap my head around the change of subject. I was about to attack her, lift her up, press her back against the wall, and fuck the shit out of her and now she’s talking about dinner.
“Yeah. Do you still like lemon pasta? Like your mom used to make?”
“Jesus,” I say. “The angel hair with the white wine sauce? I haven’t thought about that in years.”
“Yeah. Remember when I made that for you on your seventeenth birthday?” She laughs. It was a fun night. A really fun night. The kind of fun you only have with the girl of your dreams before you turn to drugs and need alcohol and sex to force the fun. “I fucked it all up,” she says through a giggle.
I grin as I picture her attempt to cook me something. “I’m not sure how anyone can fuck that recipe up, but yeah. You did.” She bites her lip and I almost die. “It was perfect though. Because you made it. And you made it special for me.”
“You ate every bite.”
“There was no chance in hell I wouldn’t, Missy. Not after you went to all that trouble. So sure. I’m not gonna complain about a trip down memory lane with you tonight.”
“Good,” Missy sighs. “Good.” And then she grabs the conditioner and the possibility of sex fades away.
I’m actually glad it fades. I’m glad she changed the subject. Turned us in a different direction. I know I hate-fucked her when I first got back into town, and I’m sorry about that. I’d like to take it back and get a do-over. I’d rather wait. Like we did when we were kids. I’d rather wait until we know for sure this is real, and special, and maybe even permanent.
I’d like to take my time with Melissa Vetti.
Author Bio
JA Huss is the USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who make you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.
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