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Alex Grayson
Author links
Author Bio
Alex Grayson is the bestselling author of heart pounding, emotionally gripping contemporary romances including the Jaded Series, the Consumed Series, and three standalone novels. Her passion for books was reignited by a gift from her sister-in-law. After spending several years as a devoted reader and blogger, Alex decided to write and independently publish her first novel in 2014 (an endeavor that took a little longer than expected). The rest, as they say, is history.
Originally a southern girl, Alex now lives in Ohio with her husband, two children, two cats and dog. She loves the color blue, homemade lasagna, casually browsing real estate, and interacting with her readers. Visit her website, www.alexgraysonbooks.com, or find her on social media!
Synopsis
Pain.
That’s a word Bailey Winsor knows well, having endured it since she was a child from the people who were supposed to protect her. Just when her life appears normal, something Bailey has never experienced, she meets a man and falls in love.
Love can be deceiving.
Bailey jumps from the frying pan that was her childhood into the burning bowels of hell, which is her sick and twisted husband. It’s hopeless. Suffering more years of abuse, Bailey eventually realizes she has no choice but to run.
Forced to stop in a small town in Ohio, Bailey encounters a town full of people that welcome her with open arms, especially Jaxon Walker, the tattooed and pierced local bar owner. Bailey has secrets she’s unwilling to reveal. Jaxon senses her fear and refuses to give up trying to discover them.
Will Bailey be brave enough and learn to trust Jaxon with her deepest secrets? Will Jaxon be strong enough to protect Bailey when her past comes knocking at her door?
Excerpt
“Jaxon,” I whisper.
My touch and whisper must have set him off. He jerks away from me and flings his body off the couch so fast, I feel the wind from the movement. I flinch away, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He’s in his own world of pain right now.
Jaxon stalks over to his desk and grabs the lamp that’s sitting on top. He rears back and throws it hard against the wall, completely shattering it. Mia and I both jump at the loud noise. He then picks up a small wooden chair and smashes it against the desk. After that, he moves over to the wall that he threw the lamp at and starts throwing punch after punch against it. With each punch he throws he screams in rage. I know the anger he’s feeling isn’t directed toward me, but the fear I feel is just the same. His hands are bloody from punching the wall and all I want to do is comfort him. I’m terrified to get up though. Terrified to go to him. I bring my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them. Big teardrops drip down my face. I don’t necessarily fear Jaxon, but I’m still in protective mode in the wake of his temper. I shouldn’t have told him, but I needed him to understand.
I watch as Nick cautiously walks up to Jaxon and places a hand on his shoulder. “Jax, calm down man.” Jaxon immediately turns around at the touch and clocks him in the chin. Nick stumbles backward.
“Fuck, Jaxon, I’m not the enemy here! Save it for the bastard who’s done this to her!”
“Just stay the fuck away from me, Nick! I can’t—fuck!” Jaxon growls and turns back to the wall and smashes his fist against it again.
Mia jumps up from beside me with her hands balled into fists. She’s shaking as well. She screams at Jaxon. “Jaxon Walker, you need to get it under control! Look!” she says, pointing at me. “Look at Bailey! Look how fucking terrified she is right now! You want that? You want her to be scared of you as well?”
Her words must have penetrated the uncontrollable rage that is filtering through him. He bends at the waist and places his hands on his knees. There’s blood dripping off his torn knuckles. I hear him taking in several deep breaths. Once his breathing is somewhat under control, he lifts his head and zeroes his eyes on me. After straightening up, he takes a cautious step toward me, like he’s scared I may run away.
“Angel…,” he says but doesn’t finish when he sees his bloody knuckles. Reaching over and opening one of his desk drawers he pulls out a rag. After quickly wiping his hands to clear off most of the blood, he drops it into the trash can. He doesn’t take his eyes off me the entire time.
All I can focus on is his hands as he makes his way slowly toward me. I don’t like to see his hands torn and shredded. His hands have been nothing but kind and gentle with me. Now, they look like they’ve been through the grinder.
When he gets to me, he drops down to his knees and his chest meets my drawn-up legs. He places his hands on either side of my hips. My eyes are still following the movements of his hands.
“Bailey, look at me, please,” he says quietly.
I reach over and tenderly pick up one of his hands. My crying has quieted down, but when I bring my eyes to his, more tears silently trail down my face.
“Your hands, Jaxon,” I whisper to him.
“They’re okay. I’m okay. I’m so sorry I scared you. You know I would never hurt you, right?”
I nod because I know deep down that Jaxon would never hurt me. The pain and heartache on his face when he realized his reaction scared me solidifies my belief. Jaxon is a protector, and even though he didn’t know me at the time he feels like he didn’t protect me when I needed someone the most.
~ Buy Links ~
Synopsis
Enduring the ultimate betrayal on her eighteenth birthday by the one person she loves most in the world, Mia Walker is no longer the innocent, sweet young woman she used to be. She is now cold and hard, letting no one get close to her heart, except family.
Mackai (Mac) Weston sees the changes in Mia on a daily basis. He knows he is the reason Mia is now the way she is. Never given the chance to explain what really happened that night so long ago, Mac is determined to make Mia finally listen and reclaim what was always his.
When the truth finally comes out, danger shows its ugly face. There are people in Jaded Hollow who do not want Mac and Mia together. They are willing to do whatever it takes to keep them apart.
Will Mac be strong enough to overcome temptation, even when the odds are against him? Will Mia forgive Mac when she realizes things weren’t what they seemed ten years ago?
Excerpt
Just as her feet hit the floor, someone steps into the mouth of the hallway. I look and see Jesse standing there. The hallway is dark but not dark enough. There is no way he won’t see what we were just doing. I press my body up against Mia, who still has her breasts hanging out of her top and her skirt hiked up. Rage hits me at the thought of Jesse seeing any part of her body. He doesn’t move, just stands there staring at us. I decided he’s seen enough.
“Leave,” I growl.
My tone snaps him out of his daze and he jumps a bit and spins around.
“I… uh… sorry. Jaxon sent me in here to see what was taking so long. I’ll… I’ll just leave you two alone.” He mutters the last and then skedaddles out the hallway. A few seconds later, I hear the door close. Looking back at Mia, I see her eyes on me, and they are not happy.
Shit! Here we go. She reaches down and pulls her top back up and shimmies her skirt back down. I take a small step back so she can finish. Once she’s done, I open my mouth to speak, but she beats me to it.
“Don’t you fucking dare! Not one fucking word!” she says heatedly.
“Mia—” I begin, but am cut off again.
“No! I can’t believe I just let that happen. Of all the fucked-up shit I’ve done, that’s got to be at the top of my list.” She finishes and looks away from me.
I narrow my eyes at her because she’s starting to piss me off. Yes, we probably shouldn’t have done that in her mom’s hallway, but fuck if she didn’t want it.
I grab hold of her chin and force her to look me in my eyes. She tries to pull away, but I don’t let her.
“Lie all you want Mia, but you wanted me just then. You wanted it just as much as me. You crave it just as much as me. You need it just as much as me.”
“My body may want you, Mac, but my mind and heart don’t. They want nothing to do with you. I may not be able to control how my body reacts to yours, but I can damn sure control my mind and heart. Now back the fuck off and let me leave.”
We glare at each other for a minute. I take a step back, deciding to battle with her another day.
~ Buy Links ~
Synopsis
Andrew Donovan is the outrageous goofy guy everyone loves. In any setting he takes center stage and makes everyone laugh; from his ridiculously funny t-shirts, to his naughty jokes, to his shameless flirting with anything that walks, male or female. But what you see on the outside can sometimes be deceiving. Andrew has a secret. A secret that’s slowly withering away the fun-loving guy everyone knows. A secret even his closest friends know nothing about.
When he first sees Jase in a picture, he knows instantly he’s found the one person who will be his forever. He’s just impatiently biding his time until Jase gets to Jaded Hollow. Andrew is torn. On one hand, he’s finally found the other half of his soul, while on the other, he’s slowly dying inside. Tragedy is on the horizon and there’s nothing he can do to stop it.
Jase Matthews comes to Jaded Hollow a dead man walking. He knows it’s only a matter of time before they find him. There is no way they’ll let him live. He’s instantly drawn to Andrew, but he refuses the connection, knowing his days are numbered. However, it’s not long before he realizes the pull Andrew has on him is something he can’t fight.
Can Andrew find the courage to reveal to his loved ones the secret he’s kept for years? Will Jase be the man to help him overcome the grief he feels inside? And what happens when Jase’s past catches up to him and threatens to take away the man Andrew’s waited forever to meet?
Excerpt
Finally, fucking finally, Jase sees me. He flips up his glasses to rest on top of his head, and I’m nearly knocked off my fucking stool at my first glimpse of his eyes. They are the clearest blue I’ve ever seen, and suck me in immediately. It takes damn near every bit of strength to pull mine away and look at Chris. Chris stops right in front of me, almost bouncing on her heels in excitement. The girl is a complete loon, but I still love her. Bailey’s on her right side, with Jaxon and Amari behind her. Jase steps next to Chris and a light smell of the ocean hits me. My eyes flicker to him before I forcefully bring them back to Chris.
“Hey, Chris, Bailey, and Jaxon.” I look at each of them as I say their names, then back at Jase and rake my eyes all over him, not in the least bit hiding my interest, before saying, “Hey there, baby.”
By the way his body jerks, I can tell he’s taken aback by my comment, but he recovers quickly, tipping his chin up in greeting.
“Hi, Andrew,” Bailey says in her sweet innocent voice.
Jaxon gives a chin lift, trying to catch Amari’s hands that are grabbing at her mom’s hair.
“Hey, Andrew!” Chris says in a chirpy voice. “What are you up to today?”
I narrow my eyes at her. What in the hell is she doing? She knows I’ve been waiting weeks to meet her brother. The little twat is making me suffer, and she’s enjoying watching me do it. If she doesn’t stop this shit, I’ll introduce myself. I’m sure as shit not shy and can take care of it myself, but I’m trying to play it cool. He doesn’t need to know that I already know who he is and have been waiting on tenterhooks for him to get here. That may freak him out just a bit.
With a tight voice, I tell her, “Not a lot. I’m leaving to go out of town in a few minutes. Got business to take care of.”
Jase shifts beside Chris and another wave of ocean hits me. I grip the back of the stool and the counter tightly. I’m about to open my mouth when Chris finally puts me out of my misery.
“Aww… that’s too bad,” she says with fake sadness. “I wanted you to meet my brother, Jase, and ask if you wanted to have breakfast with us.”
Through gritted teeth, I tell her, “Well, maybe if you had given me a heads-up I would have, honey, but since you didn’t, I’ve already had breakfast.”
Enough of this bullshit. I turn my head to Jase and hold out my hand, excitement running through me at the thought of finally touching him.
“Hey, Jase. I’m Andrew.”
~ Buy Links ~
Synopsis
What do you do when you lose the single most important thing in your life? You grieve. You sink so deep in a hole, you can no longer see the top. All you see is dark. Your life becomes dull and dreary. You withdraw from your friends, lash out at the ones you’re closest to, and become so absorbed in your pain, you feel the only way out is to end it permanently. Your heart no longer pumps properly and you can never get enough air in your lungs. You drink, you neglect your health, and you rent dirty hotel rooms with the sole purpose of ending your pain in them. Guilt eats at you for not being at the one place you were needed the most. And you become angry because you were left behind.
Or at least, that’s what I did. Until she came along….
Chris, the bane of my existence. She’s always there in the background, watching me, trying to “be there” for me. I don’t want her help. I don’t need her to butt in where she’s not wanted. I just want to be left alone in my grief. But she’s not giving up, even when I throw insult after insult her way. Every time I turn around, there she is. And what’s worse, she’s starting to make me want things. Things I never thought I could have again. She’s making me forget the pain and bringing color back into my life with her fiery red hair, bright green eyes, and the silly faces she makes at herself in the mirror. But what happens if I let her in? Could I be brave enough to open myself up, knowing the possibility of having it snatched away again? Once I know the feeling of touching Chris, of having her heart and soul blend with mine, I would never survive losing that.
Can I take the chance of her being my savior, even knowing that she could also be the one to push me over the edge of self-destruction?
Excerpt
“You hurt her and no force on earth will stop me from getting to you,” Jase shouts at me, pure rage blazing in his eyes. I take several steps toward him, so I don’t have to yell across the street. He has no fucking clue everything I’ve held back in regard to Chris. No one does. They think I’m a dick to her because I want to be. It’s the last thing I want, but she’s leaving me no damn choice. I’m not the man for her. I’ll never be able to give to her what she deserves. That part of me no longer exists. The only thing left is darkness and anger. She doesn’t need that in her life. No, she didn’t instigate my behavior tonight, but watching her and Jesse grind on each other pushed me over the edge. I can’t stand the thought of her with anyone else, but I also don’t want her for myself. I don’t want her, but I can’t help but want her when I see her. My thoughts are crazy; I know they are. She’s not asking for what I have planned, but I’m tired of holding back something I so desperately need. And I know she wants it too. It’s insane, but I’m going to give us what we both want tonight, and also give her what she needs by pushing her away in the process. I’m out of options. It’s the only way I know how to make her see what I am and to get her out of my head.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to avoid this whole time, but she won’t let it be. She won’t leave me be. She’s always right here,” I thump the side of my head. “I need her gone. I need her to realize I can’t be what she wants me to be. It’s time I show her that.”
Jase struggles in Andrew’s arms, trying to get at me. I’m sure my words make him want to rip my head off, this is his sister, after all, that I’m talking about. They all need to learn though. Jaxon, Bailey, Andrew, and Mia all need to know that part of me, the good part, is no longer there. Or if it is, it’s hidden so deep, there’s no way it could find its way out.
Andrew whispers something in Jase’s ear that has him calming. I’m surprised there wasn’t more of a fight from him or that the others are letting me leave with her. I’m sure I don’t appear right in my mind at the moment, I certainly don’t feel it, but they also know I would never physically harm her or force her to do something she didn’t want. I’d rather stick my dick in a grinder than force her.
I turn on my heel before any of them has a chance to say anything else. My eyes slide to Chris through the windshield as I walk in front of my truck. Her jacket was left inside Jaxon’s and it’s chilly outside, so I yank off the button-up shirt I have on, leaving me in just my black tee, and throw it to her when I climb inside.
“Put that on,” I grunt and turn the key. The truck is no longer warm. She takes the shirt and slips her arms inside. Looking in my side mirrors and seeing no one coming, I pull out onto the road and head toward home. Chris sits in her seat with her hands in her lap, twisting the material of the shirtsleeves.
After several seconds of silence, she asks cautiously, “What are you doing, Nick?”
I keep my eyes on the road when I answer grimly, “What we should have done a long time ago.”
It takes her a minute, but then, “And wh-what’s that?”
I grip the wheel and dig deep so I don’t completely lose it. The roads are empty, and I only live a couple miles from the center of town, but her smell is filling my truck and my willpower to keep my hands off her is waning. Watching her snuggled up with Jesse tonight damn near had me losing my mind. I’ve always found Chris beautiful and if I didn’t have a screw loose from what happened to Anna, I may have enjoyed spending time with her, getting to know her, having her body slide against mine as I took her. But the fact remains, I am fucked in the head. My body may enjoy her tonight, but that’ll be it. There won’t be any sweet words or soft kisses. No cuddling afterwards or easy pillow talk. What will happen tonight will be raw and for the sole purpose of satisfying the ache in both our bodies and proving to Chris once and for all that she doesn’t want my brand of fucked-up in her life.
“I’m giving you what you’ve been aching to have and in the process showing you it’s a mistake you’ll wish you never made.”
~ Buy Links ~
Synopsis
I’ve silently watched her for a year, staying hidden in the shadows, biding my time.
She may know me as two different men, but she doesn’t have a clue what I’ve done.
She unknowingly became mine the minute my eyes touched her beauty.
But I’ve done things. Things she may not be able to forgive.
I know everything about her. I know all her secrets.
At night, I watch her from her window. During the day, I watch her from my computer. She innocently bares her heart and body to me, and I soak up every single fucking second.
I’ve stayed away, but I’m tired of watching from afar. It’s time Poppy finds out just who I am and what I’m willing to do to take what’s mine. She may hate me when she finds out what I’ve done, but she has no choice but to accept it. She will be my wife. She will mother my children. I will claim every part of her heart, body, and soul. Anything else is unacceptable.
Poppy Lexington has become my endless obsession. I will become her uncontrollable addiction.
Excerpt
Sterling: Don’t let him touch you again.
What the hell? I jerk my head and look around the restaurant. Most of the tables are occupied with couples quietly talking and laughing. I look over at the bar and see a man and woman leaning toward each other, talking intimately. The man has his hand on the woman’s back. There’s another woman by herself with her laptop open on the bar top. A lone man sits talking to the female bartender, and she laughs at something he says. I look around the rest of the room and see no one out of place or looking suspicious. There is no way Sterling could know that Marc touched me unless he’s here. The fact that he’s so obviously watching me creeps me the fuck out. How in the hell did he know we were here in the first place? Looking down at my phone, I type out a message.
Me: Are you watching me right now?
It doesn’t take long before I get a reply.
Sterling: I am. Do not let him touch you again, Poppy.
Although it’s a written message, I still feel the anger behind it. I look up from my phone and glance around the room again. Rolling my eyes, I look back to my screen.
Me: Who in the hell do you think you are? You can’t just follow me around. And how did you know I was here?
Sterling: I’ve already told you, Poppy, you’re mine. Other men don’t touch what’s mine. And I have my ways. There was no way I was letting you go out with that asshole without knowing where you were going. The only reason I let you go out with him in the first place was because I was going to be watching.
My blood is boiling at this point, and I’m starting to freak out. Him sending me flowers for months and then finally making contact is one thing, but to know he’s following me around is something else entirely. A tingle in the back of my head tells me this isn’t the first time either. If he can get my number and work address, then there’s no telling what else he’s privy to. He has to know where I live too. If he followed me here, what else is he willing to do? Oh my God, he knew I was getting in the shower last night.
I feel a prickle of awareness on the back of my neck, and I turn my head to look behind me. I don’t see anything out of the ordinary, but I know he’s watching me. I can feel his eyes.
My phone vibrates again, causing me to jump in my seat.
Sterling: Breathe, Poppy, and relax. I’m not going to hurt you.
A nervous laugh wants to bubble up at that, but I squeeze my eyes shut instead. What in the hell am I supposed to do now? I can’t just leave my date behind, but I don’t want to stay either. Only someone sick, twisted, and obsessed stalks someone, and this is exactly what he’s doing. It can’t be called anything else. Maybe I should call the cops, but can they really do anything? Would they think I instigated it by communicating with him? He really hasn’t done anything illegal, has he? I could probably show them the messages on my phone, but would that be enough?
I’m scared to look down at my phone when it vibrates again, but I put on my brave face and do so anyway.
~ Buy Links ~
Synopsis
My name is Abigail Summers, and I’m addicted to sex. Yes, you read right. I’m a woman who craves… no, needs to have a man take my body on a daily basis. If I don’t have sex at least once a day, my body shakes from withdrawals, my stomach cramps with unbearable pain, my sexually hazed mind goes haywire, and I become extremely irritable and a major bitch. This isn’t a lifestyle I’ve chosen for myself. It’s a struggle I deal with every single day.
I don’t do relationships, because what man wants to be stuck knowing his girl may be out having sex with some random guy if he’s not available? You may think this is something I can manage, but I say screw you; you’ve never been in my shoes before.
The cravings are something I can’t control, so I’ve learned to embrace them. I’ve tried the sexual addiction support groups. I’ve tried curbing my appetites. I’ve been shunned, criticized, ridiculed, and called every nasty name under the sun. Well, I say fuck all of you judgmental assholes. I’ll have sex with who I want, when I want, where I want. Embarrassment? That’s a thing of the past. This is my life now, and those that don’t like it can go straight to hell.
But then he came along and screwed everything up. Colt Maverick. For once in my life, I want more, crave more, from one guy. A guy who looks at me like he wants to eat me alive and claim me as his own. A guy who will most definitely not be okay with my addiction. A guy who I want over and over again, not because my body demands it, but because I demand it.
I now have a new addiction. But will he be enough to satisfy my uncontrollable desires?
Excerpt
“Which is it, Abby?” I growl, needing to know if I should kick this guy’s ass for hurting her, or kick his ass for daring to touch what is mine.
“Neither.” She shakes her head, swallows, then looks up at me. Her eyes carry the same confusion I’m feeling. “I didn’t want him, but he wasn’t hurting or forcing me, either.”
“Abby, what—”
“Take me back to my place,” she blurts out, interrupting me.
For the first time tonight, I notice the sheen of sweat on her forehead and the paleness of her cheeks. She doesn’t look like she feels well. My ire dies, and concern takes over. Her eyes once again drop from mine when she sees my worry. I bend my knees and force her to look at me when I get in her face.
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask.
“Nothing,” she mumbles. “I just want to get out of here.”
I don’t believe her, but when I see the pinch of pain on her face, I decide to force the issue later, once we’re alone.
“My place.” I back away and grab her hand. “It’s closer,” I add when she looks like she wants to object. Luckily, she nods.
The forgotten guy on the floor has managed to sit up and lean against the wall, still holding his nose and stomach. My eyes narrow at him when he looks up and spots us. The bastard shrinks back further against the wall at my look.
Smart man.
“The back door,” Abby murmurs and pulls on my hand, leading me to a back entrance.
After stepping outside into the dark alleyway, Abby stumbles to a stop several feet from the door. I look to see what’s wrong and find her staring at me. The look in her eyes is hard to distinguish. I see pain, uncertainty, and a hint of what looks like desire. The desire is what confuses me. She’s obviously hurting, so how can she be turned on at the same time?
“Blue,” she says softly, her hand tightening in mine.
“What is it?” I ask, stepping into her space.
What’s up with this woman? Something’s off with her, and I need to find out what it is before she drives me crazy.
The hand she was using to hold mine releases its grip and lands on my lower stomach. Her other hand trails a path up my chest and snakes around my neck. I gaze down at her in bewilderment when she steps closer and plasters her front to mine, her tits flattening against my hard chest.
She grips the waistband of my jeans. “I need you,” she whispers harshly.
My dick jerks, and I want nothing more than to sink my hands into her plump ass, lift her up, and sink inside her, but I don’t. I need to get her home and find out what’s wrong with her first.
“Let’s get you back to my place.”
~ Buy Links ~
Synopsis
My name is Tegan Zander, and I like to… bare myself. Yes, you read that right. It’s not just me I want everyone to see, but also the lucky person I’m with at the moment. No, I don’t go around whipping out my junk and pulling up skirts to flash all the Joe Blows around. Give me some credit; I’m a bit more discreet than that. Barely. No, I like to be watched while fucking. I like knowing someone else is in the room, getting off on what my partner and I are doing. This is my sexual vice, and I fucking love it.
What I don’t do is relationships. I have too much fun in my bachelor life. I don’t want to be tied down to one woman when there are still so many out there to explore.
Willow Bennett was just a woman I helped on the side of the road. Nothing more, nothing less, even if her hot little body demanded attention from mine. I did my good deed, kissed those sweet lips, ground my jean-covered length against her softness, and left, expecting to never see her again.
But then, there she was, in her short skirt, tank top, and flip-flops, looking sexy as hell. She didn’t know it yet, but she was my next plaything. I was going to expose her along with me. I was going to show her just how good it could be if she lost her inhibitions and let me put her on display.
I don’t do relationships, but with this girl, I just might… expose my heart to her.
Excerpt
My eyes dart around the dance floor, but find no eyes on us. Everyone else is in their own little seductive worlds. When I look over by the tables, my eyes catch on Nathan, who’s wearing an intense expression, his eyes firmly on us. Even across the distance and through the darkness, I can see the desire in his eyes, which unnerves me, but also sends a forbidden thrill through me.
With Tegan kissing my neck, it’s easy for him to hear when I turn my head and say, “Nathan’s watching us.”
He grabs a handful of my braid and twists it a couple times in his grip, tilting my head back until my neck is more exposed to him. The twinge of pain from him pulling my braid only adds fuel to the fire in my blood.
“I know,” he whispers, then bites gently down on my ear. He’s no longer trying to hide the fact he’s playing with my nipple. He’s moved his palm so it’s completely engulfing my breast.
My knees go weak, and the only thing that’s holding me up is the hand I tighten in his hair and the grip I have on the back of his thigh. I close my eyes and let out a deep moan. My clit pulses, and I want so bad to reach down and rub it. Or better yet, have Tegan reach down and rub it for me.
His hand leaves my breast and travels back down my stomach to the top of my thigh, where he clenches the soft thin material and slowly inches it up.
“Open your eyes.” I do so, and they immediately land on Nathan’s smoldering gaze. I’m hit with a dizzying wave of lust. His eyes track the movement of Tegan’s hand on my thigh. “Watch him as he watches you. I bet he’s hard as a fucking stone right now, imagining me hiking this skirt the rest of the way up and seeing your soaking wet pussy.”
I bite my lip as Tegan’s words fan the flames engulfing me. The combination of what he’s doing and saying, and seeing the desire in Nathan’s eyes, knowing it’s because of us, is almost more than I can bear. My breath comes in pants and my stomach clenches with need.
Tegan’s hand moves up another inch, the material stopping just short of showing off my goods, but still high enough that his fingers barely skim my panties. I know he has to feel the moisture that’s soaking the silk material. His other hand releases my braid and goes to my neck, turning my head until I can see him. If looks alone could cause an orgasm, the look in Tegan’s eyes would surely do it
He dips his head until his lips barely brush against mine. I want more, so using my grip in his hair, I pull him down the rest of the way. His fingertips dig into my thigh as his tongue plunders my mouth. He tastes like a mixture of tequila, beer, and mint. The combination is heady and arousing all at once.
When he pulls back, he nips my bottom lip, before letting my neck go so I can turn back around. His thumb lightly rubs against my panty-covered pussy, and I shudder.
“Mmm… you like the thought of him watching us?” he asks.
~ Buy Links ~
Synopsis
A tortured soul meets a damaged family…
A lonely man, a widowed woman, a carefree boy, and a broken girl… Can the four come together and help heal each other? Or will fear of the unknown and guilt of the past keep them apart?
Her whispered prayers break her...
At night, as she’s drifting off to sleep, I press my ear to the door and listen to her heart-wrenching pleas. Her words are agony to my healing heart, but I cherish the sound of them, for that’s the only time I ever hear my beautiful daughter speak. Since her father died two years ago, she’s grown quiet and withdrawn. Cat’s Valley was to be our new beginning, a place where my family and I can heal, but what we find there is so much more.
Scars mar his body. Pain has left him in pieces…
Four years ago, I lost the two things I cherished most in the world. They were ripped from my arms in the most painful and cruel way. Since then, I’ve kept to myself, preferring to stay away from the pitying looks and murmured rumors. Everything changed when she and her children barged into my life. It was an accident, and I don’t deserve them, but now that they’ve stepped into my life, I’m not sure I can let them go.
Excerpt
“Shit,” he curses.
Even from several feet away, I feel his pain from the scalding liquid.
Without thought, I rush over to him, grab his forearm, and drag him over to the sink. I turn the water to cold and stuff his hand under the stream. The skin, already marred by burns, is turning an angry red. I keep my head down and make sure his hand stays in the water.
“I’m sorry,” I say, barely loud enough for him to hear me.
“For what?” His question comes out gruff, and I wonder if it’s from the pain of being burned or the pain he felt before. “You didn’t do anything.”
I look up to find his gaze locked on me once again. The pain is still there, but there’s also curiosity.
“For whatever reason my question brought on your pain.”
His eyes flicker away for a brief moment before coming back to me.
“I don’t do well at Christmas,” he comments quietly.
I hold his eyes for a moment, then dip my head back down to look at his hand. “I understand.” I don’t really understand, but I get the sense it has something to do with his wife and little girl, so in a way, I guess I do. This will be the kids’ and my third Christmas without Will. With each holiday that passes, the pain of not having him with us comes back tenfold. There will always be that heartache, no matter how much time goes by, but there’s something about the holidays that brings it to the forefront and makes it fresh again.
I look back down and see the redness of the fresh burn and the shiny taut skin of the old. I’m not sure what comes over me, but I run my finger over the tight flesh, making sure to avoid the new burn, and am surprised at how smooth it feels. I trail my finger past his wrist and slowly make my way up his arm, feeling the slight dips and rises of the scarring. The hair follicles must have been damaged because his arm is hair-free. When I reach the edge of his rolled-up sleeve, I turn his arm over. The same damage appears on this side as well.
An ache forms in my chest, right where my heart sits, at the pain this man has gone through. Both physically, but especially mentally. And I know there’s no way for him to escape it. Every time he looks in the mirror, every time he uses his hands, he’s reminded of that pain.
Tears prick the backs of my eyes, but I force them away. Me crying for him is the last thing he needs, and I’m sure he wouldn’t appreciate it.
Suddenly realizing I’ve overstepped my bounds by touching him, I pull my hand away and reach for the towel on the counter. Gently, I tap the towel against the red skin.
“Does it hurt?”
His voice is deep when he answers. “No. Some of the nerves in my hand are damaged, so I don’t feel everything I should.”
My heart hurts for him. His life has been affected by that one accident in so many ways. And it’ll continue to affect him for the rest of his life.
I put the towel down and turn off the water. I’m just about to tell him I should go, when his next words stop me.
“When you touched me….” He stops, and I look up at him. “I felt it when you touched me.”
My breath catches; I’m not sure how to take his statement. The look he’s giving me is intense but at the same time unsure. Like whatever he’s feeling is strong, but he’s unsure what that feeling is. I know just what he’s going through. The feelings running through me leave me confused and, if I’m honest, a bit warm.
My legs become jelly when the look in his eyes turns to something more intimate. It’s not crude or offensive, but it’s definitely not innocent, and not a look he’s given me before, but one that I find that I like.
I hold my breath as his eyes track down my body, and I swear every place his eyes touch, I feel a soft caress, as if it’s more than his eyes perusing my body. Tingles start in my belly and make their way down my legs. I grip the counter behind me because I seriously worry they won’t be able to hold me up much longer.
He’s only a couple feet away from me, so when he takes a step closer, the heat of his body and his scent engulf me. It leaves me dizzy, and goose bumps appear on my arms. He reaches out with his scarred hand, and the moment his fingers go beneath my hair, cupping the side of my neck, my stomach does somersaults. I close my eyes as intense sensations race through my body, heating it up twenty, forty, sixty degrees.
I feel the slight tremble of his hand against me, and I open my eyes. His gaze is on the hand that’s resting against my neck, then moves to my face. They hold both yearning and wonder.
“What is it about you that makes me want to be close to you?” he marvels in a low voice. His thumb rubs gently against my neck. “Why do I want to touch you so badly when I haven’t wanted to touch anyone in years?”
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Synopsis
One girl disappeared. After fifteen years, her cold lifeless body was found on the damp forest floor. Not an inch of her was unmarked by the horrors she endured. Alone, malnourished, abused in horrific ways; this was how she died.
One girl was found walking the streets, covered in dirt and scars. She had no memory of who she was, where she came from, or what happened to her. Even though the marks on her body attested to years of heinous abuse, her strength shone through at every turn.
Revenge and justice were sworn.
Years of searching brought up nothing but dead ends. Detective Niko James was too late to save his childhood friend, but he vows not to let down another.
The clock is ticking and the trail is pitch dark.
Excerpt
“D’you mind if I sit?” I ask gently. I want her to feel like she has control. If she asked me to leave, I would. I need her to trust me enough to open up. I already assumed it’d be hard, but two seconds in her room is enough to tell it’s going to be a mountain of a task.
The girl gives one short, sharp bob of her head, and I scan the room for a safe place to sit. A lone chair set by her window has a white plastic seat and metal legs. It looks uncomfortable as hell for a piece of furniture in a hospital room, but it’ll do. Forcing myself to go slow, I cross the room and drop my ass into it. I drop my elbows to my knees and lean forward, clasping my hands together.
“I’m Niko.” She doesn’t respond. By her stare and the steady rise and fall of her shoulders, I’d guess she’s concentrating on breathing. “I thought we could talk. Is that okay with you?”
She nods again.
“Can I get you something to drink?” This time, she gives a punctuated shake. Okay, so she’s good with using nonverbal communication. That’s a start at least. I can work with yes-or-no questions.
“Do you know where you are?”
Her gaze flits to the open door and the hall beyond. Once again, I’m left staring at the state of disfigurement this woman has been left in. It’s obvious these are signs of abuse, but from who? Her pimp? Was she attacked for trying to leave that life? A victim of domestic violence? Could she be connected to the person who took Rebecca?
I don’t realize I’m staring until she shakes her head again, and the movement pulls me from my thoughts. I trail my eyes over her wounds again, and the sight makes me sick. I grind my back molars together to get ahold of myself. Once I feel calm, I ask another question.
“Do you know your name?”
She shakes her head. Damn. I try a different route. “Do you know how you got all these cuts?”
At my words, she glances down at her arms. She runs her right index finger over a spot of dried blood on her right thigh. “Yes,” she croaks in a quiet voice that startles me.
“Can you tell me how?”
“All of them.” She goes on as if I didn’t speak.
I try to keep my expression neutral but I’m confused. “All of them? What do you mean?”
“I know how I got all of them.” She faces me with a blank stare. “I remember them all.” The sound of her voice sends a shiver down my spine. Monotone and quiet, it reminds me of nothing. That void of hopelessness. Of no going back.
“Who did this to you?” I prod gently.
She shakes her head again, and my stomach sinks. “I can’t remember. I remember the shadow man and the screaming girl. And the pain,” she goes on in a hollow voice. “I remember being hurt, but not who did it. I think… I think I did it.”
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