We are very excited to bring you the cover from the final sexy standalone in the Beneath World from USA Today bestselling author Meghan March .
BENEATH THE TRUTH comes out on August 8th!
I used to believe there were lines in life you don't cross.
Don't lie. Don't cheat. Don't steal.
Until I learned people don't always practice what they preach.
I turned in my badge and gun and walked away from everything.
Then I got the call no one wants, and I’m back in New Orleans.
What I don't expect is for her to be here too.
Another line you don’t cross?
Don't touch your best friend’s little sister.
She's always been off-limits.
Too bad I don't follow the rules anymore.
Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She's also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she's ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.
Strong Enough, an all-new sexy standalone from USA Today Bestselling author Melanie Harlow and David Romanov is coming June 19th!
Strong Enough
by Melanie Harlow & David Romanov
Genre: Contemporary MM Romance
Publication Date: June 19, 2017
Cover Designer: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs
Photographer: Vitaly Dorokhov
I wasn’t looking for Derek Wolfe.
I wasn’t looking for anybody. All I wanted was to start a new life in America. But when I found myself stranded here with no place to go, he came to my rescue, offering me a place to stay.
He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell—I can barely sleep knowing he’s right down the hall. And when the chemistry between us explodes one night with fierce, fiery passion, it’s hard to deny there’s something real between us.
But he does.
He says he was drunk. He says it was a one-time thing. He says he’s not into guys and what we did meant nothing.
He’s lying. Because it happened again, and again, and again. And it’s better every time.
I know we could be good together, and I want the chance to try, but I’m done hiding. If he’s not strong enough to admit the truth, I’ll have to be strong enough to walk away.
Check Out the First THREE Chapters of Strong Enough HERE:
Melanie Harlow writes sexy, emotional romance about strong, stubborn characters who can’t help falling in love. She’s addicted to bacon, gin martinis, and summer reading on the screened-in porch. If she’s not buried in a book or binging on Netflix, you might find her running, putting a bun in someone’s hair, or driving to and from the dance studio. She lives outside Detroit with her husband and two daughters. Melanie is the USA Today bestselling author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, MAN CANDY, AFTER WE FALL, IF YOU WERE MINE, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s.
For David Romanov, STRONG ENOUGH is to a great extent autobiographical. Born in Russia and raised in Europe, he landed in the United States at the age of 24, where he learned a lot about cultural differences between East and West. David firmly believes in ‘The One’ and learning through love. When he isn’t traveling or educating Melanie in Russian culture, he enjoys books and the company of his husband and dog in Los Angeles.
IMPERFECT LOVE Kindle World, a fabulous new series featuring strong alpha heroes who get knocked sideways when they suddenly begin noticing the heroine in a whole new light.
In partnership with Kendall Ryan & these amazing bestselling authors: Kelly Elliott, Adriana Locke, Mandi Beck, T. Gephart, Kim Karr, Cora Kenborn, Magan Vernon & Natasha Madison.
Sexy, laugh-out-loud funny, and sweet at times, this series is all about exploring romance tropes like friends to lovers, fake fiancé, arranged marriage, surprise pregnancy, budding office romances, and more, that all share one fabulous thing in common - they end in a happily ever after.
On the heels of Mary James leaked sex tape - totally a fake one to make her boyfriend jealous she might add- she needs some PR help if she ever wants her acting career to end up in a fiery hell like her love life.
Chris Garcia has been working his way up from mail room clerk to junior associate at Tate & Cane and now to get to the next rung of the corporate ladder he has to take on the firm's toughest client: Mary James.
With a little help from a nosey Aunt Rosita and Mama Garcia, the two decide the best way to move forward is simple: a fake relationship.
But what happens when something fake gets to be too real and FAME gets involved?
Title:One-Night Stand-In
Author:T. Gephart
Synopsis:
Sarah Madison loved working at Tate & Cane Enterprises.
While she looked and, for the most part, acted conservatively—she was a gladiator in the boardroom. The fast-paced, energetic work environment not only fed her need for corporate blood but also allowed her to work for one of her role models, Olivia Cane - living proof a woman really can have it all.
And after months of paying her dues, she was finally offered the promotion she’d been vying for. Which was great, except for the fact she had to share the position with a new guy they brought in especially for the role.
Kyle Drake was smart, experienced, and probably just as good, if not better, in negotiations. And if she wasn’t careful, prove he could do the job without her. Add in good-looking and an incredibly sexy smooth talker, and everyone in the office either wanted to be him or sleep with him. Which Sarah could have totally ignored if he hadn’t been the stranger she’d married in Vegas during a fake ceremony six months earlier.
He was supposed to be her one-night stand, a stand-in for a ceremony that wasn’t even legally binding. They were never even going to see each other again. Hell, she apparently hadn’t even known his real last name at the time. It was the only time she’d ever done something completely reckless and spontaneous.
It figured that one time would come back and bite her where it hurt.
Title:The Run In
Author:Kelly Elliot
Synopsis:
Becoming the new Marketing Manager at Tate and Cane was a game changer. I was hell bent on proving I deserved this job, and that it wasn’t my cousin Sterling Quinn who had helped me score the new job title. Him being one of the CEO’s best friend - didn’t help the rumors.
Well screw that.
Ten years of sweat and hard work was the reason I was sitting in a large corner office with a killer Manhattan view. More focused than I’d ever been, it was time to take the bull by the horns.
And God help the person who stood in in my way.
********
Things I left behind in Seattle, Washington: A promising career at a top marking firm, the past I was desperate to escape, and obviously my sense of direction. It was because of all of those reasons I was standing in the middle of New York City lost and cursing at my phone.
If I didn’t get to Tate and Cane soon, I wouldn’t only be late, but also blow the chance to make the good impression on my new boss, Mason Quinn. And I needed that more than anything.
One wrong turn, an unfortunate collision, and an expensive suit drenched in my soy chia tea latte was not how I wanted to start my first day.
Then there was the other little problem I had. The drop dead gorgeous man whose suit I’d ruined was my new boss.
And boy did he look pissed.
Title:Tied
Author:Kim Karr
Synopsis:
I was rich, single, and connected, which meant a steady diet of beautiful women wherever I went.
I really did think I had the perfect life.
Until I went and married a supermodel I’d just met, and everything changed.
Of course there were choices. But the word annulment meant giving her up, and I never give up anything. Still, I was a bachelor at heart, and having a wife, well, I didn’t really know what to do with that.
After only forty-eight hours of marriage, I had already gone and screwed everything up.
Now I have thirty days to prove to my new wife that I’m husband material. There’s only one problem—I don’t even know what husband material means. However, I’m certain that won’t stop me from excelling at it.
My wife tells me it isn’t going to be easy. That I have numerous issues to overcome.
First, there’s my jealousy. It needs to be tamed. Did I flip over the fact that her latest picture was causing men around the world to do dirty things all over the covers she graced? Hell, yes. I couldn’t
help myself though. When her photo went viral, my caveman instincts kicked in, and I demanded she quit her job and stay home- barefoot and pregnant in my kitchen. I can work on that, right?
Then there’s my mother. I need to convince her that my new wife is not the money hungry floozy she called her. Did my mother actually call her that? Yes. I can’t help it that my mother wants me to get rid of my new wife. The problem is what my mother wants, she always gets one way or another. Still, turning my mother’s opinion around can’t be that hard, can it?
There are many other issues, but according to my new wife, those are minor compared to the biggest one—she says I will never be able to accept being tied down.
Don’t worry—I got this one. I intend to prove to her in no uncertain terms that being tied up, down, or horizontal is just what this Upper East Sider needs.
Title:Battle of the Sexes
Author:Adriana Locke
Synopsis:
Carver Jones’ partner at Jones + Gallum had to step down for medical reasons. He’s absolutely devastated. He swears. Just ignore his cheeky grin, okay?
When word reaches his fancy corner office that Gallum is replacing himself with his daughter, Amity, Carver is ecstatic.
For real this time.
Jones squashes men in the business industry flat. A woman? Pfst. He’ll be completely in charge in no time, doing whatever he wants. He’s so ready for this.
But is he ready to fight the hardest fight of his life? No, not the one to maintain control of his company. The one to keep control of his heart.
The battle may begin in the boardroom, but the war will definitely be won in the bedroom. May the best sex win.
Title:Unsupervised
Author:Cora Kenborn
Synopsis:
Niall
A non-existent love life, unstable paycheck, and a six-year-old who’d rather hit boys than books sound more like a cry for help than a dating profile. On paper, it would seem like I need a life coach, but I’ve managed to get a decent grip on the single-dad thing. My love life, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. With my sexy Irish accent, I should have women of all ages losing their minds, but I seem to attract only a certain type—crazy.
The last thing I want is a new relationship, but I need a date for my company’s charity function. A chance meeting with a tall, leggy blonde who looks like she could use a night out is the perfect solution. Beautiful, sane, and she has a kid? We have a winner.
I didn’t count on Laken being unforgettable. Unlike all the other fake women I’ve met in this city, she’s real. And if there’s one thing I value more than anything, it’s honesty.
Laken
I didn’t bust my ass in college to be a nanny. Unfortunately, a 4.0 GPA and sucking up to the owner’s sister did nothing to secure a coveted Tate & Cane Enterprises internship. I’m not proud of being a nanny-for-hire to get my foot in the door, but my wealthy socialite employer has the ears of company executives. Swallowing my pride, I do what I need to—until an afternoon at the park changes everything.
I don’t mean to let him think Preston is my kid, but he just assumes. This isn’t me. I’m not a liar. Although his panty-melting accent does unspeakable things to me, I should set the record straight. There’s only one problem. Niall is a freelance photographer for Tate & Cane and invites me to a company event as his plus-one. He’s my “in.”
If I can hold on to this charade long enough, I can get the job and the man of my dreams. I’m winging this completely unsupervised. Game on.
Title:Twisted
Author:Mandi Beck
Synopsis:
Three friends walk into a bar . . . One walks out the fake girlfriend of a hot, bearded Scotsman.
Fannin McGuire is up for promotion at Tate and Cane Enterprises, but first she has to make it through her stepsister’s wedding. To Fannin’s ex. Yep. Her ex-fiancé is about to be her new brother-in-law. One big happy family. And lucky her, she also gets to work with him.
While Fannin is putting all of her energy into her career, her ex is putting all of his energy into making her life hell. Just when Fannin is sure she’ll be attending the wedding without a plus one, in walks Jasper James to save the day. He’s the bartender at the Iron Flask, the account she’s trying to land, and everything she didn’t know she needed or wanted. Before Fannin knows what’s happening, Jasper is
playing knight in shining armor and she likes it. And him. A lot. With his smooth Scottish accent, ridiculously good looks, and that beard? She doesn’t stand a chance.
Jasper isn’t in the habit of rescuing anyone. But when Fannin is confronted by her ex about her lack of a date for his upcoming nuptials, Jasper can’t help but step in. Her wild hair, violet eyes, and killer legs have him doing a few things he normally wouldn’t. Never mind that he shouldn’t be getting involved with the woman in charge of making the bar a global success.
Their fake relationship becomes more real than either thought it would. Now they’re at the mercy of their feelings when truths are twisted, and the lies don’t taste as smooth as the whisky.
Title:Cheeky
Author:Natasha Madison
Synopsis:
Bradley Fitch has it all. A suave job, a gigantic trust fund, and an accent that makes panties drop faster than the speed of light. His new life in New York City is fast-paced and furious, but it's nothing a little getaway can't cure.
What says party and unwind like Las Vegas? Nothing. Plus, whatever happens there has to stay there.
When his best friend bails, he finds himself sitting on the plane next to his best friend's sister.
She’s off-limits—proverbial caution tape wrapped around her body. Of course, she’s also totally ball busting gorgeous.
Lexi Quinn fell in love with Bradley at eight years old and then vowed to kill him at eight and a half. What was supposed to be a romantic week away is turning into a nightmare. Her ex is actually married, her luggage is lost, and her reservation is cancelled. And she's sitting next to the man she swore to hate forever.
One week. No strings attached. What is the worst that could happen?
It's all fun and games till this British bad boy gives new meaning to BBC and becomes a little bit too cheeky.
About Kendall Ryan:
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.
T. Gephart is one of my all time favorite authors, one of my one-click addictions :D So, you shouldn't be surprised that I was ecstatic when I got my hands on this novella. I expected the fun and I expected the hotness and even some heartbreak. But this read was so much more. I was in love with the characters from the very start. Truth is, I think I would've loved it if it was even longer. So I can get more of my T. Gephart fix and of course Kyle :D
Sara is definitely a fun character even if she is a little bit unreasonable at time. But the winner for me was definitely Kyle. Sweet, sexy, romantic and so HOT, he can simply melt your panties of :D So he is a little bit of a manwh*re but that changes quite fast once he meets Sara. And even without that change in him, he is definitely a man you would want to get your hands on. The way he treats his sister and everything he's done for will definitely warm your heart and make you want him even more :)
But here is a warning for you. No funny business, no conversation and keep your hands OFF!!! Kyle is MINE, MINE, MINE!!! :D (Sorry, I've been rewatching Dirty Dancing again and that kind of stuck with me :D )
The Run In
If you are in the mood for something more slow burn, then you should definitely check this short novella. It is quite funny from the start and though there are quite a few scorching scenes, the sexual part is left for the very end :)
Saylor and Mason are two intriguing characters. I connected with them from the very start and even though, they don't exactly see eye to eye, it is very obvious that there is something much more between them than what appears on the surface. The story is dual POV, which I really enjoyed as I got the thoughts and feelings of both characters.
If you've read Kelly before, you know that you would want to get your hands on this one. And if you haven't, this is the perfect place to start :)
Tied
Similarly to the other stories in this Kindle World, this one is also hilarious. I laughed my a** out :D But that's definitely not all. It is sweet and romantic, a little bit heartbreaking but so, so, so HOT.
James and Lindsay are two very interesting characters. I kind of immediately fell in love with them. Their story starts a little bit as a joke with the whole Vegas wedding thing but James quickly realises that Lindsay is the one woman who can change his life. The one woman for whom, he will change his wh*ring ways. But of course that only happens when he already sc**wed things up :D. And that's where the fun begins - 30 days to ix things and prove that just like Lindsay is the woman for him, he is the right man for her.
So if you are in the mood for a short and relaxing read that is so sexy and hot that will leave you hot and bothered, don't hesitate and pick up your copy ;)
Battle of the Sexes
This is another fun and hot story with incredible characters. And another one in which you should keep your hands OFF the guy :D Carter is all MINE :D
Now that we got that out of the way, let's talk some more about the story. I loved the whole friends- to enemies - to lovers vibe of the story. It is intriguing to see the battle between Carter and Amity but also how they get to know each other again and discover that everything they thought of each other is so different. And considering they work together, all that sexual tension results in some pretty hilarious situations :D
So pick up your copy now :D Don't waste your time and meet my man Carter :D
Unsupervised
Simply hilarious and so, so HOT. I loved Laken and Niall. Those two definitely grabbed my heart from the very start. Laken with her sassiness and snarky banter and Niall with his hot domineering alpha behaviour. And let's not forget that pantie melting accent. He can boss me around all day long and I won't complain at all :D
As a whole, this story is amazing. You will definitely laugh a lot but don't think it's all hearts and flowers. Because of a small fib, things get somewhat out of hand and that can cost Niall and Laken's HEA. So grab your copy and find out what happens in the end :)
Cheeky
I got into Natasha Madison's books by chance. She is an attending author at a signing I am attending next week and few months ago she was giving the option to review one of her books. Well, I signed up and I was in love. I loved her angst filled stories and shed tears together with the characters but once she came out with Tempt the Boss, I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt for a week :D So of course, when I found out about Cheeky, I was super excited to read it. And I so wasn't disappointed. I laughed so hard and I got hot and bothered and I even shed a tear for the eight-year old whose heart got broken. And about the hot and bothered part. Ummm, hello. A sexy Brit with pantie melting British accent. No way I was missing that :D
As a whole, the story is pretty fun and relaxing to read. There is no big heartbreak or suspense. Just pantie melting hotness and fun :) So if you are in the mood for something short and relaxing that will seriously make you laugh, you should #1click this beauty ;) You won't regret it.
✮✮✮A delicious world of erotica, BDSM with alpha-subs and their Dommes, and a gripping love story…Welcome to The Bee’s Honey! The second standalone title in New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley’s Honey Series, THE FARTHEST EDGE is a seductive and rich love story available now! Order your copy today! ✮✮✮
Go to THE FARTHEST EDGE and order your copy today!
About THE FARTHEST EDGE (Erotic Romance):
Step into the Honey Club, where every sensual boundary will be tested in search of the ultimate pleasure…
Branch doesn’t exist. Living off the grid, he’s looking for a way to forget his past and the guilt that plagues him. But no woman has ever been able to bring him to the edge he craves.
After a traumatic experience of her own, Evangeline stepped away from the decadent world of the Honey Club. But when she gets Branch’s offer—to play without boundaries or commitments—it’s too tempting for her to refuse.
As their passion ignites, Evangeline and Branch push each other to their farthest limit, fulfilling their darkest desires while falling harder and deeper than they ever imagined.
GooglePlay | Kobo | IndieBound | BAMEXCERPT:
She drove into the Honey, seeing the parking lot empty except for Aryas’s black Cayenne and a black GMC SUV, feeling that hunger grow.
Right.
Fine.
Fun and done.
All good.
She grabbed the handles of her small bag before she opened the door and threw her leg out.
As instructed (by Aryas), she parked close to and approached the back door to the club.
As expected, it was open.
She moved through the halls, keeping centered and focused so as not to have any kind of freakout that the last time she was there, she’d been carried out by Aryas, beaten to hell and not giving a damn.
Because she might have been beaten to hell.
But the worst of it was, her heart had been broken.
She walked directly to Aryas’s playroom, known as the red room since it was decorated in reds, and the opaque shades that could be drawn down over the wall of windows to black out what was inside were the only shades in any of the rooms that weren’t black, they were red.
As she approached, she saw the red shades were drawn down.
She kept her gait steady.
It had been a year and the last scene she’d had was a bad one. She’d been assaulted at the same time she’d had a relationship end very, very badly with a man she’d thought she’d loved and was considering spending the rest of her life with.
That happened.
A year ago.
This was now.
It was just a look-over anyway. It might be she wouldn’t like what she saw. Or he wouldn’t. And then giving any headspace to worrying what came after that was just a waste.
She was a Domme.
She’d trained under Mistress Sixxand Mistress Amélie, the two finest Dommes Evangeline had ever had the honor to see at play.
And before Kevin, even if she’d only been in her late twenties, she was one of the most sought-after Dommes at the Honey.
Now she was just thirty years old and she made good money. She took care of herself. She was successful. Educated. She wasn’t hard to look at. She had her own style in looks, clothes (and play) that she was honing to perfection.
She could do this.
She totally could do this.
She opened the door, stepped in and saw him.
Oh my.
She was so totally going to do this.
She closed the door behind her, dropped her bag and stood right where she was.
Aryas’s red room, known as his because this was mostly where he took his slaves, looked more like an opulent boudoir. Plush. Sumptuous. Heavy, carved furniture. Big, posted bed dressed in red and topped at headboard and ceiling with mirrors. Candelabrums everywhere.
No candles had been lit right then. The scene was not set, only red-shaded table lamps here and there were illuminating the space.
It still gave it a feel.
And that feel was good.
But more, the man before her was amazing.
About Kristen Ashley:
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen's Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.
Nothing's changed.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she's blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert delivers the next book in her sizzling O'Malleys family series, hailed as "The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet."
“A tension-filled plot full of deceit, betrayal, and sizzling love scenes will make it impossible for readers to set the book down.” –Publishers Weekly
“A great read from the talented Robert!” –RT Book Reviews
“This is an extraordinary series by any standards, and FORBIDDEN PROMISES slays the competition.” –Fresh Fiction
Some lines should never be crossed . . . not even for love.
Sloan O'Malley just left her entire world behind—her family, her wealth, and even her real name. For the first time in her life, she's free. She can live the "normal" life she's always wanted. A life without fear. But there's nothing safe about her intensely sexy next-door neighbor.
Jude MacNamara has no room for innocence in his life. Only revenge. Still, he's never been able to walk away from the forbidden, and Sloan—who is every inch of pure, mouthwatering temptation—has forbidden written all over her. Only after it's way too late does he discover the real danger: claiming Sloan as his puts a target on her back. To protect her, Jude is willing to risk everything . . . and to hell with the consequences.
“Coming here was a mistake.” Sloan started to get up, but Jude hooked the band of her yoga pants and pulled her down. She ended up straddling him with a hiss of fury. “I dislike you intensely.”
“No, you don’t.” He palmed her ass, sliding her forward so she rode the ridge of his cock. “You dislike feeling out of control. Guess what, sunshine? You don’t get control when it comes to fucking me.”
Her nipples pebbled, showing through her thin tank top. They teased him even as she put her hands on his chest, her fingers kneading him and making him think of a kitten who had just discovered her claws. “And if I want control?”
“You don’t.” He wrapped one arm around her waist and used his free hand to palm her over the top of her pants. “I’ve barely touched you and you’re so fucking wet, you’re practically panting for me.”
“You are insufferable.” But she rolled her hips, rubbing herself against his hand. “I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not. You’re going to stay here and let me lick that pretty pussy of yours until you come.” He lightly pinched her clit through the fabric, watching her face. She liked the slightest bit of pain if the way her eyes went heavy lidded was anything to go by. “And then I’m going to bend you over this couch and take what’s mine.” Until you forget why you were frightened in the first place tonight.
He wanted to hear her say yes. For all his pushing her, if she actually wanted to leave, he wasn’t about to stop her. She wanted him to push her, to corner her, to let her pretend she wasn’t making this decision every step of the way. Fuck that. He gripped her hips, lifting her and standing her on her feet. She blinked, obviously confused. “I thought…”
Jude unbuttoned his jeans, drawing the zipper down, his gaze never leaving hers. “You thought I’d take what we both know you want to give me? Newsflash, I might get off on the lady protesting too much, but that only goes so far. You want to leave, leave. I’m not going to chase you down and club you over the head, no matter how much I want you.”
She swayed a little. “That’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair is how goddamn hard I am for you. I watched your little yoga show this afternoon—don’t even pretend you didn’t know because I saw you shooting looks this way. Seeing that pert little ass of yours in the air, like you were offering yourself to me, and not being able to take what I wanted?” He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his cock. “How long do you think you could hold downward dog with my mouth on your pussy?”
Her whole body shivered, her hand clenching around his cock. Sloan’s brows slanted down. “You’re doing it again. That thing where I should slap you across your face for talking to me the way you do.”
“Do it.” Jude took her free hand and set it against his cheek. “But whatever you’re going to do if you’re not leaving, then get those fucking pants off. I’m starving for you.”
***
Sloan almost gave in. But she hadn’t left her entire life behind to hand over what little freedom she had to another man.
She took one step back, and then another. “You’re wrong. I don’t want to give up control.”
Lay the terms out. You don’t want this to end, but he can’t run the whole show. You can’t let it happen like that.
Sloan lifted her chin, faking a confidence she didn’t feel in the least. “Even if this is temporary, I want it on my terms.”
Jude went still. “I’m listening.”
The only way you can get what you want is to say it. She bit her lip and then charged on. “If you’re sleeping with me, then you’re sleeping with me. I don’t care if you aren’t a fan of cuddling. It’s something I require to continue this thing.”
He raised a single eyebrow. “You want me to whisper sweet nothings in your ear while you’re at it?”
“I think we can both agree that’s not how you operate.” She didn’t want the lie of sweet nothings, but she’d take the lie of his big body in bed next to hers.
Maybe it would make her feel a little less alone.
He buttoned his pants with careless efficiency. “I don’t sleep.”
Her earlier anger flared. “Then lie there and count sheep for all I care.” She couldn’t believe she was pushing this. It would be so much smarter to retreat back to the safety of her home. Lonely, yes? But at least no one could hurt her there. She was opening herself up for rejection and potentially worse when Jude shot her down.
But he didn’t say anything, just continued watching her with a strange look on his face. “This will only end in tears for you, sunshine. You want things I’m not capable of giving.”
Her heart gave a pang, but she ignored it the same way she’d been ignoring it for her entire life. “You seem to think I haven’t shed more than my fair share of tears, Jude. What are a few more?” She took a careful breath. “Those are my terms. Take them or leave them.”
And then he was towering over her, his hand sifting through her hair to tug her head back so she looked him directly in the eye. “I’m taking them, sunshine. More importantly, I’m taking you.”
His thumb traced her jaw, unspeakably tender, but then his eyes went hard, making the bottom of her stomach drop in a way that wasn’t altogether pleasant. I have the tiger by the tail.
The O'Malleys Series:
THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT, #1
THE WEDDING PACT, #2
INDECENT PROPOSAL, #3
FORBIDDEN PROMISES, #4
UNDERCOVER ATTRACTION, #5
About the Author:
Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who learned to tell stories at her grandpa's knee. Her novel The Marriage Contract was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it "a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension." When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.
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