Release Event Beauty From Love (Beauty, #3) By Bestselling Author Georgia Cates

Thursday, January 30, 2014 0 comments



Released January 30, 2014
An Adult Contemporary Romance
The epic romance between an all-American beauty and her Aussie continues in this final installment of The Beauty Series.
Jack McLachlan is fulfilled by more than he dared to dream possible. He finds everything he never knew he wanted—or needed—in Laurelyn Prescott, his last and final companion. Life is beautiful with his beloved by his side but their post-wedded bliss is cut short when his dark past springs into their present happiness. He wants to shelter Laurelyn but keeping her untainted by his previous life proves impossible when  yesterday’s sins insist on returning to haunt him. Will it be possible for them to find happiness in their forever with a past like his?
Beauty From Love is an adult contemporary novel and is not intended for younger readers due to mature content.

excerpt
Chapter Two
Jack Henry McLachlan

I once thought I didn’t want a wife and kids but it was because I hadn’t met the right person. Everything is different now—I’m married to the perfect woman and I can’t wait until she becomes the mother of my children.
I’m glad L asked me why I was anxious to begin our family. I’m not sure I would’ve ever been brave enough to volunteer that information. Fear. It’s not something a man likes to admit but that’s the beauty of my relationship with L. I can tell her anything.
She turns in my arms and kisses me between words. “You. Are. Amazing.”
“I’m glad you think so since it seems you’re stuck with me for the rest of our lives.”
“Happily stuck by choice. There’s a difference.”
I watch the sun dance on her face as the palm trees above move in the breeze. A shorter strand of hair at her temple has escaped her grasp and I tuck it behind her ear. “Are you truly happy?”
“It isn’t possible for me to be happier than I am in this moment.”
I grasp her face and look into her golden-brown eyes. I see her sincerity and know her words are true. She didn’t marry me for any reason other than her love for me, so Laurelyn Paige Prescott McLachlan is a woman to be treasured. “Nor could I.”
I lean down to scoop her from the ground and she squeals. “I think it’s time I carried my bride across the threshold. I want you to see the rest of the house.”
I turn the knob and gently push the door open with my foot. L is like a wide-eyed child. I return her to her feet and her head oscillates slowly as she takes it all in.
The floor plan is open so she’s able to see the living room along with the kitchen and dining room. She says nothing and I can’t tell if she likes it or not. “What are you thinking?”
“How much I love you,” she says, propelling herself into my arms for a kiss. “You take care of me,” she says against my mouth. “No one’s ever done that before.”



About the Author
Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.
When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.



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Coming Home by Priscilla Glenn blog tour review and giveaway



Adult Contemporary Romance
Released January 21, 2014

Leah Marino hasn’t been on a date in two years. After discovering the man she loved had manipulated and deceived her, she refuses to even entertain the idea of a relationship. Instead, she focuses her attention on taking care of her family, a role she’s assumed since the death of her mother and the one place she knows her kindness won't be taken advantage of again.

When a nostalgic trip back to her childhood home results in a chance encounter with Danny DeLuca, a smart-mouthed mechanic who’s as attractive as he is mysterious, Leah's carefully cultivated walls begin to crumble. She finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Danny, despite his unreliable behavior and mixed signals. 

But Danny has a secret...

One that could shake Leah's already precarious foundation and bring her world crashing down around her. Suddenly, she's faced with an incredibly difficult decision--is she willing to risk everything for the chance at finding the love she's always wanted? Or are some obstacles just too big for the heart to overcome?

REVIEW

★★★★ 4.5 stars!

"I could suffer through anything if you were my reward."



"I just don't know how many times I can bend before I break."

"But it's okay if you bend," she said earnestly. "It's okay if you break. I'm not going anywhere."

Coming Home is a beautifully written, heartbreakingwarming story that I really enjoyed reading. I'm not going to give away too much about the story in this review because there are some things you better not know before reading it. I will say though that even though there were some sad, dramatic moments throughout the story, I mostly had a happy feeling while reading it.

*

Every year Leah returns to her home town to drive by the house she grew up in. Ever since her mom died when she was only twelve years old, that house is one of the few places she can go to in order to keep her mother's memory alive. This year however, the new owner of the house, an older woman named Catherine, invites her in and allows her to walk through her old home. While she's there, Catherine's grandson Danny suddenly shows up and that's when it all begins.

Their first meeting sparks feelings in the both of them, but they're both hesitant to give into them. Leah, because she's had a very painful break-up almost two years ago and she hasn't been able to trust another man ever since. And Danny because he has some secret past of his own that might prevent him from starting up new relationship.



"God, how do you do that?" he asked.

"Do what?" she asked softly.
"You make it stop hurting," he said against her skin. "Every time."

Both Leah and Danny have a painful past that keeps haunting them and preventing them from finding true happiness. Together though, they help each other overcome their painful memories and they provide each other strength to fight for the happy ending they both so desperately deserve.

I really loved Leah. She was such a strong person and I admired the fact that she never gave up on Danny even when (view spoiler) It took a lot of courage for her to take so many first steps, but in the end it was all worth it. Just like someone once told her, sometimes the reward more than makes up for the suffering you have to go through.


"You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can. You're one of the strongest people I know, and I really hate that life keeps making you have to prove it."


Overall, Coming Home was a wonderful, original, captivating story with beautifully damaged characters that I very much enjoyed reading. The storyline was simple yet it managed to surprise me at times as well and there was just the right amount of angst and drama and some fun, interesting side characters to keep the story from getting dull or predictable. This was my first book by Priscialla Glenn and I'm already looking forward to checking out the rest of her work!

Highly recommended for anyone searching for a heartwarming standalone love story.

**ARC courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review**  


Priscilla Glenn lives in New York with her husband and three children. She has been teaching English at the middle and high school levels for the past twelve years while moonlighting as a writer, mom, coach, student, and professional laundry-doer.
If you catch her when she's feeling sophisticated, she'll tell you her favorite things are great books and good wine. In the moments in between, she'll admit her love for anything Ben and Jerry's, UFC fights, and Robert Pattinson.
Glenn is the author of the contemporary romance novels Back to You, Emancipating Andie, and Coming Home. You can contact her at priscilla.glenn3@gmail.com



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Deviant by Callie Hart Cover Reveal

DEVIANT COVER
Title: Deviant (Blood & Roses, #1)
Author: Callie Hart
Genre: Erotic Romance
Expected Release Date: February 20, 2014
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Synopsis
Sloane
I'm not proud of the things I've done. The things I've had to do. The things I've given away. but I'd give it all over again to find her. Even if I die trying, I have to find Alexis. Zeth She wants me to help her, But I won't. She wants me to save her sister, But I can't. She wants me to be her hero, But I'm not a good man. I am her damnation.
Book Trailer
 
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Son of the Enemy by Ana Barrons

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 0 comments

Son of the Enemy


4 Creepy Stalker Stars!!!









If he had a shred of honor left in him, he would tell her to run for the hills, tell her that if she made the mistake of believing in him she would most certainly be hurt. And that he would leave her to bleed because he'd been bleeding so long he didn't see any other way...



I can't tell you how much I love it when the hero was slighted in some way and now want revenge at the heroines detriment! Although in this case the hero John Daly's father was sent to jail for a crime he didn't commit, he was proven guilty for killing Hanna Duncan's mother. When John receives a letter saying that his father is possibly not guilt, he sets out to prove his father's innocence. He's determined to succeed no matter the cost. He sets out to get as close as possible to the victims daughter Hanna Duncan so he can find out exactly what happened the night her mother was killed.



He doesn't plan on falling in love with her. Ever since Hanna's mother was killed, she lived her life constantly struggling to feel loved and accepted by her father. Plagued by her mother's brutal death, she's learnt to not let anyone too close. When John pushes his way into her life, she's annoyed and attracted to the intense man. When she start receiving presents from an unknown admirer and when they realise that that her mother received the same presents, John comes to the rescue. For some reason proving his father's innocence has come secondary to Hanna's safety...



My Thoughts

Son Of The Enemy is a gripping and fast paced story. As the reader I didn't have to wait till the end to find out who the stalker was, I new who it was about halfway through the book. which was great because I love it when a book makes me want to shake the characters and wake them up so that they can see that the villain is right in front of their eyes!



My only complaint is that I wish John had been more alpha and that Hanna had been less of a bitch toward him! Otherwise this was a really good book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!


Waiting On My Reason by Devon Ashley



★★★ 3.5 stars!

"Everything did happen for a reason."


**FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED**

She loves him. He loves her. But sometimes love just isn't that easy…

When Shane Michaels returns to his home town to help out an old friend, he never expected to run into his old flame Melanie Peterson. The one he could never have, because she was dating his best friend Brad in high school . The one who also betrayed this best friend and who broke his heart. Shane still holds Mel responsible for sending Brad off the deep end ever since the moment they broke up.

What he doesn't know though, is that perhaps Mel never really was to blame for what happened with his friend and that the break up wasn't her fault either. Still, it's what he's always made to believe. So, when he runs into her, he doesn't exactly treat her kindly. But running into her also makes all his old feelings come back full force and they're becoming harder and harder to ignore.


"Even after all these years apart, my damn heart was incredibly sensitive when it came to Mel. I still wanted her, needed her."
Mel has always had a crush on Shane as well, but since Brad asked her out first, she's had to keep those feelings at bay. Seeing Shane again makes her remember her past feelings and despite his odd behavior, she can't deny the way he makes her feel. Still, her past has made her weary of trusting men and when it comes to priorities in life, her five year old son Jake will always come first.


"I really wanted him. For once, could life just throw me a bone and let me have some cake? I loved cake, I missed cake."


To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the way Shane treated Mel at first. I know that Brad was his best friend for years, but still it seemed pretty obvious that Mel wasn't to blame in the whole situation and if he would have just opened his eyes a little further, he would have realized that a lot sooner. Admittedly, his behavior did undergo a complete 180 during the second half of the story, and he did make up for his slightly "jerkish" behavior. Mel, on the other hand, was a strong independent heroine, even though I felt like she should have cleared up her painful past with Brad a lot sooner to Shane. That way, a lot of miscommunication could have been avoided.

Overall, Waiting On My Reason was a quick, easy to read story with some funny, romantic scenes as well as some angsty ones. My only complaint was that the many lies and the miscommunication that existed between the two main characters made it hard for me to fully connect with them. Also, the story was quite short which is why the ending felt a bit rushed. Still, I enjoyed the author's writing style and I will surely read more books by her in the future.

If you're looking for a sweet, engaging standalone romance, this one's definitely worth giving a try!


**ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review**

Twist Me by Anna Zaires

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 0 comments
Twist Me



My rating: 3 of 5 stars


3.5 Love My Captor Stars

A little bit about the story
Nora is an average girl, she lives with her parents, goes out with her friends every weekend. She's about to graduate from high school, she's starting a new chapter of her life. She's even got her her eye on the cutest guy in school, but when she goes out with her friend one day all thoughts of that cute boy are forgotten. A man stares at her from across the room, she can feel his intensity, she feels drawn to him but is also a bit weary of him. When she leaves the club she doesn't think she'll ever see him again. But he has other plans...

She's taken, and so begins he new life, her captor has deep and dark sexual cravings. And he begins to introduce and train her to satisfy his needs. The more he reveals of his deepest desires, the more they become her desires too, she discovers that pleasure can be derived form pain and that the two are more alike than she's ever thought...

And in that moment, I feel possessed by him, like he's taking more than just my body. Like he's laying claim to something deep within me, bringing out a side of me that I never new existed. Because in his arms, I experience something I have never felt before. A primitive and completely irrational sense of belonging...


My Thoughts
I'm going to start with what I didn't like:

Twist Me is a captivity story, but in my opinion it doesn't read like one. It is perhaps a more daring and intense version of books similar to FSOG, again this is my opinion. I believe that captivity stories go hand in hand with non-con/reluctance, which didn't happen in this book. Nora describes her captor as being ruthless, she is scared of him, he forces her into doing things she doesn't want to... I beg to differ, again my opinion.

The Good:

I loved the narrative, it was engaging and I was never bored. Although slow to start, the story did hook me and I was invested in the characters, I wanted to know where the story would go. The last 40% of this book was riveting, I couldn't put it down! Why? The element of suspense was brought in, the pace picked up and I enjoyed it that much more. So to be honest the last 40% gets 5 stars from me!

Final Thoughts

Twist me is a captivity story with a good dose of BDSM/erotica and suspense/thriller traits. It was well written and well thought out. Although I wouldn't classify it as dark, does not mean it isn't, just means I don't think it is.


ARC kindly provided by author in return for an honest review

Release Day Blitz for Scorpions MC Prequel: Ryder by Jani Kay








Title: Scorpions MC Prequel: RYDER

Author: Jani Kay
Release Date:  January 28, 2014

All Jade ever wants is an intelligent, well-mannered, and highly educated man like her daddy. One who has stellar career prospects as he climbs the corporate ladder to success. A good provider who will give her a stable life and a gorgeous house in the right neighborhood. A charmed life. Everything orderly and well balanced. Her perfect match. Isn't that what every woman wants? What she doesn’t want is a smartass, cocky, rough-around-the-edges biker. One who has tattoos and piercings, and looks like a sex god. One who is demanding and controlling. The ultimate alpha male who storms into her life and shakes her to the core. Jade never saw it coming. Ryder is the one man she can’t resist. He shows her what she really needs. Him.

All Ryder wants is inner peace. Freedom from the hatred churning in his gut. Since his mother deserted him, his life has turned to sh*t. He’s killed a man, lost his brother and fought for his survival. All before turning twelve. Saved by Razor and Cobra, sons of the Scorpions, he owes his life and allegiance to them. The Scorpion MC is his only family. One he will serve and protect till his dying breath. What he doesn’t need in his life is a smart mouthed woman who thinks she’s better than him. One who pushes every one of his buttons. One who challenges him to want to be more than a drifter. One who makes him question everything he’s ever known. Ryder never saw it coming. He can’t get Jade out of his head. She shows him what he really wants. Her.
 



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Jani has been married for a long time to a special man, and her two children and their partners are the sunshine in her life. She is a voracious reader and would spend her last dollar on a book - always fascinated that for the mere price of a book, she can escape her world for a while and see through someone else's eyes.

Besides reading, her favorite 'thing' is traveling - she has traveled the world, learning about the ways people live and has come to the realization that no matter where we live, we all ultimately want the same things. Her hobby - Scrapbooking - keeps her up till way after midnight and her usual subjects are her family and her travels.

Ever since she can remember, Jani wanted to write stories about people, about their lives and loves. Relationships and Happiness - arguably the most difficult things to master in life and yet exactly what everyone ultimately desires (in her humble opinion).


 


The Perfect Emotion by Melissa Rolka cover reveal and giveaway

Monday, January 27, 2014 0 comments



Blurb:

The story of Kate, Kyle and Reed continues in this second novel of The Perfect Series.

Kate (Katherine) Monroe is finally coming to heads with the decisions she’s made in the past to keep herself distracted at any cost. Learning to move on and forward with the conflicts in her life is harder than she expects though. With Kyle continuing to attempt reconciliation and Kate’s mom back at home, avoiding and running are no longer an option.

All along Kate’s mind and heart are consumed with Reed, but she fights to push her feelings and desires to the side. Despite the obvious pull and connection she has with Reed she finds it difficult to let him in… and trust in herself. However, Reed’s perseverance and patience never wavers and eventually he uses the one thing that had always brought them together… tennis.
As Reed and Kate begin to embark on a new relationship they face the past and the present head on. Along the way, new challenges and emotions arise testing the direction of their future together.
Can Kate forgive herself and trust Reed in order to latch onto the one emotion she needs most… love?






About The Author

Melissa Rolka grew up in the Chicagoland area all of her childhood and has always had a love of writing. She started by keeping a journal at a young age and then in high school she started writing poetry. A couple poems were published anonymously. Then in college she majored in Philosophy, which required lots and lots of writing. After graduating from Marquette University she traveled west to Los Angeles. There she worked for the Writers Guild of America and found herself submerged in the writers world. She worked on small writings, but never pursued them. On the side she became involved with a small theater group. Eventually she made her way back to the Midwest, where her heart belongs, and worked in business for several years. She found love, got married and has two beautiful children. Being at home has allowed her to keep following her love of reading and writing.

The Perfect Distraction is her first full length novel. A second continuation of this story is in the works with hopes for a third. When Melissa is not writing she is caring for, playing with and loving her two kids. In between taking care of her family and writing she almost always has her nose buried in her Kindle.

Social Media Links:
The Perfect Distraction Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1404660043114790/



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Into the Storm by Melanie Moreland

Sunday, January 26, 2014 1 comments
Into the Storm

★★★★ 4 stars!

"Home, my beautiful girl. I finally found my home."


What a wonderful story. I really enjoyed reading Into the Storm. From the moment I started reading it, it managed to grab my attention and I could not stop reading until I finished it. It had the perfect balance between romance and drama/suspense. Other than a short summary, I feel like I can't reveal too much about the storyline because there are quite a few twists and turns that you just have to find out by reading the story yourself.

"I can't remember how I got here and I can't remember my name."

She is a woman on the run. Or so it seems. After her car crashes into a tree, Joshua Bennet is the one who finds her and takes care of her. The thing is, after the crash, she doesn't remember anything from her former life, not even her own name.

He is a bestselling author who's been living alone in a secluded house in the woods for the past five years. Traumatic events led him to withdraw from society and seek out a live in solitude. His only company is his loyal dog Bear and the occasional visit from his agent. When a woman in need suddenly shows up on his property, he has no choice but to help her out and open himself up to another person.

Together they help each other pick up the broken peaces from their life and find a way to overcome their deepest fears. SInce she doesn't remember her own name, he decides to call her Rabbit.


"Rabbit?"
"I have to call you something. 'Hey you' doesn't seem right."

And so, begins their story. But it isn't long before secrets and revelations from their past catch up to them and make it all the more difficult for them to be together. Still, the time they spent together makes them both realize how lonely they've been and how much they've come to mean to each other in such a relatively short period of time.


Rabbit/Lizzy is a very broken spirited woman who's been through a lot of painful events in her past. She doesn't know what it's like to be loved and cared for simply for being herself. Joshua is the one who shows her what true love and caring for someone feels like. Even though he's still haunted by his past memories as well, he's the epitome of a "good guy". I loved how patient and protective he was of Rabbit was and how they both managed to support each other while fighting their own personal demons.

"I found that reason you hoped I would find one day, Rabbit. You're that reason."

Overall, Into the Storm is a beautiful, intense, drama filled story about love, courage and the power of healing. It's a story about two broken people who find each other in the most desperate of times and who find in themselves to overcome their fears in order to fight for the love and peace they both deserve in their life. It's a standalone and the author's debut novel and I'm already looking forward to reading more of her work in the future!


**ARC kindly provided by the author, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review**


Fierce Release Day Blitz giveaway


Title: Fierce
Author: Clarissa Wild
Publication Date: January 27th 2014

Fight for your dreams. Fight for your life. Fight for love. 

Nerdy girl Autumn Blakewood is the prime example of a goody two-shoes. She studies every night, is never late for class, and always follows the rules. She has never felt the need to step out of her comfort zone. That is, until she meets Hunter. 

 Hunter Bane is a cocky, confident bad-boy, who's nothing but trouble. He’s a dangerous distraction to everyone around him. Sexy and strong, Hunter enjoys the swooning effect he has on women. Especially those who aren't used to attention, like Autumn. 

 Autumn finds it hard not to give into Hunter’s advances, even though it all seems like a game to him. Trying to understand him is impossible, because he shrouds himself in mystery. 
What she doesn't know is that Hunter has more baggage than anyone should have to carry. When she discovers he's in an illegal frat club to save the one person that matters to him, Autumn realizes this could mean the end of her undeniable connection to him. Even their lives are at risk. 
But it's too late to turn back now ...


 

$ 0.99 for 1 week! Grab it before it's too late!
Amazon / Barnes&Noble / Kobo / Google Play / All Romance / Smashwords (Coupon: QR69M)

 



Suddenly, a shadow is cast over the pages of my novel. The sun is blocked by something … or someone.
As I peer up with furrowed brows, I see it’s Hunter, and my annoyed look turns into a cheerful smile.
My eyes light up the moment I see him. He’s towering above me, wearing ragged pants and a flimsy tank top, which barely covers his broad chest. I gulp at the sight, especially because his black jacket makes him look so tough.
He’s like a motorcycle rider, only he isn’t. He just looks like one.
Hunter goes to his knees and snatches away my book.
“Hey!” I snap. “I was reading that.”
“Yeah, ‘was.’ And now you’re not.” He holds out his other hand. “Get up.”
I grab his hand, and the moment my fingers touch his it sends electrical shocks through my entire body. He’s so strong, he can lift me in one go without my help. My boobs bounce from the way he jerks me up, and I see his eyes flick to them for only a fraction of a second.
I gulp, and a flush spreads across my face as I pull my shirt up higher.
“What’s this for?” I say.
“Time for some training.” He leans forward, grabs the blanket, and folds it up.
“What, now?”
“Yes, now. My classes are finished, and by the looks of it so are yours. We don’t have much time, so let’s make the best use of it.”
“B-but I have to study and―”
“But, but, but,” he mocks, making a pouty face. “If you wanna learn how to defend yourself, you gotta put in the effort.”
I frown. “I was busy. You think I’m just going to adjust to your schedule?”
“You can read a book anytime you want. I can’t do this with you anytime I want. If I could, I would, trust me,” he grunts with a thick voice that makes me shiver.
My pupils dilate when he says that, and my core heats up. Damn, why does he always do those things? And why do I find it so goddamn attractive?
He steps back a little, putting on a cocky smile as he throws my … his book in the grass. Then he throws the blanket on top of it. Grinning, he takes off his jacket. The lines of his muscles show clearly through the thin fabric of his tank top, and my heart is already beating in my throat just seeing it. His biceps bulge and for a second I think he’s flexing them.
“C’mon,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “I’m ready for you.”
One of my eyebrows lifts up. “What? In these clothes? I’m not dressed for sparring.”
He snorts. “You won’t be dressed for it when they attack you again either. Now c’mon.” He signals to me with his fingers, lifting his eyebrow only a little to taunt me.
I take a deep breath and place my hands on my waist. He’s gawking at me from a distance, bending through his knees like a professional wrestler. If the look on his face wasn’t so goddamn sexy, I would’ve shaken my head and walked away, but I can’t.
For some reason I’d love nothing more than to tussle with him.
“Well? Are you going to come at me or what?” he says.
Swallowing, I fling my arms and legs to shake some life into them after sitting for so long. I take a deep breath and a good look at him. His tan muscles are already primed, ready to go. He looks like a football player waiting for the ball to be thrown into his hands so he can race off.
“Don’t make me wait … I hate it when girls make me wait.”
I chuckle. “Oh, really? What then? Are you going to kick a wall again or something?”
He muffles a low laugh. “I’ll come after you myself if I have to. And things get rough with me pretty fast.”
There’s some sexual innuendo in there, I’m sure of it. The way he groans makes me want to bite my lip. God, he’s so hot.
Goddammit, I have to stop thinking like that.
No way a guy like him would ever fall for a nerd. He could pick any girl he wants. Who’d want to pick me?
Clearing my throat, I say, “Okay. Here I come.”
After taking a quick breath I bolt toward him. I put all my strength into it, but he still manages to stay upright as I crash into him. He’s like a rock in the ocean, forever unbreakable, and I’m the fish slapping up against it.
I try to tackle him, but instead I’m the one falling on my ass.
“Ouch!”
He laughs, so loud it makes me feel embarrassed. Everyone can hear him.
“Why are you announcing you’re going to attack? That’s like playing right into my hands,” he says, and he holds out his hand.
I grapple him and try to pull him down, but he remains as balanced as ever. Shaking the finger on his free hand, he says, “You think it’s that easy to bring me down?”
“I’ll make it happen. Eventually.”
He chuckles. “I like your spunk.” He takes a few steps back. “Try again.”
I clean the dirt from my legs and bite on my cheek while thinking about a tactic. If I could only get him to move, then I could take him down. I thought he was going to teach me something, but instead I’m charging into him. Not my idea of learning self-defense.
“C’mon. I can take you, Leafy,” he says, biting his lip.
That name he has for me … God, I hate it. Why can’t he just call me by my real name?
I’ve had enough of his provocations. Maybe I’ll just kick him in the balls instead. That’ll show him not to mess with me.
I know it’s below the belt. Literally. But at least I can try to win this way.
God, I’ve changed, too.
I charge forward without warning this time. As I lift my knee he deflects my leg by pushing it down with his free hand. With the other, he grabs my lower arm.
“You’re getting dirty.” He squeezes my wrist, hard, and makes it impossible for me to escape. “I like it,” he murmurs.
With clenched teeth I fight to get loose, but he won’t release me.
“Put a little effort into it,” he says. “Nobody’s going to be nice for you. I’m not either.”
I slam his arm with my free hand, but he still won’t let me go. It’s like he doesn’t feel anything. Nothing. Nothing at all.
Damn, is he some kind of brick wall?
He chuckles. “C’mon, hit me.” At first it sounds like he’s pushing me, but after a while it becomes plain mean. “Hit me!”
“I’m trying!”
“You’re a wuss. A boneless nerd. You can’t fend for yourself. Can’t live in the real world. Not even one day.”
“Shut up!” I gather all my strength and punch him so hard in the gut his stomach retracts, and he takes one step back. His grip on my wrist loosens, and I jerk myself free.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I say, my eyes welling up with tears again. “You’re being an asshole, and you know it.”
“Damn, that was a good jab,” he grunts.
“Who cares? You’re a bully.”
He laughs and steps forward. When I try to hit him again, he grabs both my wrists and comes to a halt right in my face. “I’m helping you.”
“Helping me? You’re insulting me, belittling me, and making me feel like a pile of crap.”
“And those guys didn’t?”
“What do they have to do with it?” I snap.
I try to jerk my wrists free, but he won’t let me go.
“Anger helps you fight. It fuels you.” His lips quirk up into a devilish smile. “Guess this is your first time finding out about the power of rage.”
“Whatever.”
“C’mon. You know I didn’t mean any of it. It’s just to get you worked up.”
“Let me go,” I hiss.
“Make me,” he says jokingly.
I’m so pissed, I kick him against the shin so hard I think I’m going to snap bones.
Instead, I break his stance, and he slips. I see him tumble down to the ground, but not before he grabs my leg and pulls me with him.
I squeal as I land right on top of him.
I’m staring into his face, my body resting on his body.
Oh. My. God. I can’t believe this.
I think my heart has stopped beating, because all I hear is his breathing. My body tenses up, feeling his skin against mine. I want nothing more than to press my body closer to his.
His chest moves against mine each time he inhales, and these few seconds feel like an eternity.
His hand lifts. When it reaches the top of my head, I swear I’ll fall to pieces right here, on top of him.
Something tickles, and then he retreats. In his hand is a leaf, which was probably stuck in my hair. He releases it and lets it drift away with the wind. Then he stares at me, his eyes suddenly showing a little hesitance. His lips are parted and perky, and all I want is to press mine against his.
And then smack him again.
He’s breathing against my chin, and I feel my groin heat up. I’m getting all wired up because of him.
Shit.



 


Clarissa Wild is the erotic romance author of the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, the Doing It Series and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.
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