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Not me. Well, not the real me, anyway.

I slipped a finger through the tie of my robe, letting it fall open. I arched my shoulders, letting the material float down my shoulders. Goosebumps hit my arms as I stood there confidently. Inside, I was a screaming mess.

What the hell am I doing? What if he touched me? What if I freaked out?

Sure, I’d had plenty of sex since the rape, but none sober. I hadn’t let anyone touch me without being completely smashed first.

He stared at me for a moment, his eyes wandering over my curves as time seemed to freeze. I couldn’t read his expression, but the longer he stood there, watching me, the more I began to panic. Without saying a thing, he bent down and retrieved the robe, threading my arms back
into it.

“I’m not here to fuck you, Beth.” He spoke softly, his hands running over the soft silk of my robe, down my arms to my fingers. I jumped back, both relieved and confused.

Well, this is embarrassing.

When she’s not writing, she can usually be found looking for something to read.

Flawed Perfection

Beautifully Flawed, #1

Cassandra Giovanni

Publisher: Show N’ot Tell Publishing

Cover Designer: Gio Design Studios

Release Date: March 7, 2014

Bobby Beckerson was the American All-Star hockey player–he was the spitting image of perfection to his family. Goofy, sweet and undeniably gorgeous, he had everything but the one girl he wanted: River Ahlers.

River Ahlers is successful in everything but love. She’s been in love with Adam Beckerson since they were kids. Worst of all she’s stuck right in the middle of the brother’s dueling over everything and anything, and she doesn’t even know she’s the ultimate prize.

Adam Beckerson was a boy with a guitar, a smile that sunk girl’s hearts and a stone wall around his own. He was anything but perfect, and no matter how hard he tried he was nothing compared to Bobby. Sweet, damaged, with boyish good-looks, nobody thought Adam loved anyone but himself.

Bobby loved River, River loved Adam and Adam only loved himself–or so everyone thought. Then one night everything changes, and as it threatens to destroy everyone involved a tragedy strikes that will break them all…

GENRE: New Adult Contemporary Romance

About The Author

Cassandra doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character’s stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. In 2012 she became a published Young Adult author, releasing In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1) and the Amazon bestselling thriller, Walking in the Shadows. In 2013 she branched out by using her artistic illustrating talents to publish her first Children’s novel, The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy: Tales of Friendship (Skippy Tales, #1). Cassandra released her first New Adult novel, Love Exactly, which became an Amazon Bestseller overnight in June of 2013. She’s currently working on her new New Adult Contemporary Romance, Beautifully Flawed. The first novel in the series, Flawed Perfection is scheduled to be published on March 7, 2014.

Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is the owner of Gio Design Studios Photography and Gio Design Studios Publication Marketing . She is currently studying to receive a degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other loves of her life their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.

Cassandra can be found on:

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ @cgiovanniauthor

Synopsis:

His life consists of his best friend, Jack Daniels, his favorite drug and women who give him what he wants and leave. Rook Tyler lives for performing at night and wasting the rest of his days washing away the pain from his childhood so he doesn’t have to feel anything…ever. The only people he trusts are his band mates from Shattered Souls and he wants to keep it that way. His life was completely under control and simple until he heard the voice of Maisy Madison filter through The Tavern speakers.

Growing up in the foster care system with her two other band mates from Twisted Perfection, Maisy finds herself doing pretty much anything to get her and her band noticed but nothing seems to be working.  One lucky night, Shattered Souls, the most popular band in the country, decides to show up at their little concert and luckily signs them on the spot and books them for their tour but the arena venues and massive amount of fans isn’t what has Maisy shaking in her heels.  It’s the deep baritone voice of Rook Tyler that haunted her dreams for years that has her wondering if she can actually go through with the tour.

The force is almost too strong.  He can feel her everywhere he goes and no matter how much he tries to resist her, he finds himself gravitating towards Maisy, wanting to hold her, kiss her and fuck her. He knows he shouldn’t get involved.  He knows no matter what, he will end up hurting her but he can’t help it, his soul is connected to hers and the pull is too strong for him to resist.

Rook warned her time and time again but she didn’t listen, she didn’t want to listen. She needed him and she didn’t care that she knew deep down in her heart that their relationship was going to end in disaster. She didn’t care that their jealousies, stubbornness and baggage were getting in the way of their relationship. She didn’t care that they constantly hurt each other and that no matter what they did, their love was toxic.

Toxic, book one of The Addiction Series, tells the story of Rook and Maisy’s relationship, how it develops into an undeniable love and then crumbles apart every chance it gets.  Follow their twisted relationship as they fight off lies, temptations, addictions, users and try to overcome the toxic love they share.

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Review

Sex, betrayal, longing, drugs and Rock-n-Roll all of that equals Toxic by Meghan Quinn.

We have two bands, one is pretty well-known and the other is an up in coming who happened to be a the right place at the right time. Twisted Perfection is Masiy, Kaid and Willow who all grew up together in different group homes and then you have Shattered Souls, Rook, Cruz, Landon and Grey who are a ragtag bunch of guys who treat each other like brothers. I loved that this was not a meet and fall in love story but a meet, hate you and then slowly have to have you type story. Lets start with Rook and Masiy, Rook is your typical rock star, girls booze and sex every night with a chip on his shoulder and an attitude to match. But when he meets Masiy all that changes.

“I’m not good at being in a relationship. I’ve actually never been in one so I most likely will fuck it up more times than make you happy but I can’t stay away from you….But I’m warning you, if you decide to be with me, I’m not perfect and I will most likely hurt you….I have issues and I’ll being them into our relationship…..if your willing to deal with that then I want you to be with me.”

Masiy the quiet but soulful singer of Twisted perfection just wants someone who will love her and not treat her like an object. I like that the book was not told in just one persons POV but rather it told ALL sides of the many different stories going on while they were both on tour.

Grey and Willow both have an undeniable attraction to each other and are both very much interested into seeing where the attraction goes, there is just one thing stopping them and that’s Quinn, Grey’s long time girlfriend and Willow’s new stylist and friend. I loved and hated this part of the story simply because I hate love triangles but the way Meghan wrote it kind of eased my mind in that aspect.

Landon and Quinn have been best friends since she started dating his brother Grey in high school and has been secretly in love with her ever since, he was there for her though all her self-image issues and thinks she walks on water, if only she would notice how much he longs for her.

I liked the way the stories were intertwined yet still had the feel as if they were each a different book. Through all the twist and turns I was on such a roller coaster, sometimes I got whiplash, in both a good and bad way. I had no idea going into that it would be a series and when I was 90 percent done with the book and realized there was far too much left undone for the number of ages I knew, crap there is another book.

I found the book a little long and some scenes I felt could have done without, there wasn’t enough of Cruz and Landon or Kaid for that matter and maybe they will be in the next. The ending really had me hating Meghan but I guess that was the intent, I went through all those feelings only to keep me coming back for the second and I will just to see what happens. Well played Meghan Quinn, well played indeed.

4 out of 5 stars

Admin-Vonetta

SNEAK PEEK into

ON THE ROCKS

BY BESTSELLING AUTHOR SAWYER BENNETT

Last Call, #1

Adult Contemporary Romance

Releasing February 17^th, 2014

He left to travel the world for fame and glory, but only after spurning Gabby Ward and crushing her young heart. Now Hunter Markham has come back home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open up Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic.

Gabby Ward is not happy that Hunter has returned. Bitter over his rebuff years before, she’s content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways.

Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents an offer to her that she simply can’t refuse, throwing them together in a common quest to each reach their goals. Working together day in and day out proves to be problematic for Gabby, who soon realizes that the feelings she had for him are still very much alive. Hunter struggles to reach through to Gabby’s cold heart, all while starting a new career away from his life as a top ranked, professional surfer.

What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither of them can continue to deny.

Hard choices lay ahead for both of them when Hunter is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to return to the pro surfing tour.

Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they ever had dared to hope.

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 About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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And now the sneak peak…

Sneak Peek Excerpt

ON THE ROCKS

By Sawyer Bennett

“What the fuck is wrong with her?” I grumbled.

“You’re clueless, dude,” Brody said while he placed the twenties, tens, fives, and ones in their respective drawers. He opened up the rolls of coins and emptied them in their slots. “Absolutely clueless.”

Walking up to the bar, I pulled a stool out and leaned one ass cheek on it, laying my forearms on the bar. “Want to enlighten me?”

Shutting the register drawer, Brody turned to look at me. “You two remind me of two kids who like each other but don’t understand it. So rather than confronting it, you pick at each other, letting your confused emotions come out as anger and stupid words.”

“I’m not the one picking at her,” I pointed out.

“True, but I expect Gabby’s feelings run in a different direction than yours. You’re running around with your tongue hanging out, panting after her, and she’s got her heart tied up. It’s the classic difference between men and women.”

I stood there with my jaw hanging open, staring in wonder at Brody. He just fucking ‘Dr. Phil-ed’ me, and I was in awe.

“How in the fuck do you know that?” I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders and walked out from behind the bar, heading toward the stockroom. “One thing in prison you have a lot of… is time. Three things came out of it. I devoured a lot of books, I had plenty of time to think, and I sharpened my observation skills. I see plenty of what goes on, even if you and Gabby don’t.”

I was struck dumb. My brother… the felon… the philosopher. I was beyond grateful that he was actually having a conversation with me. I was blown away at the nature of said conversation. My respect for my brother increased tenfold, because I realized that prison might have actually made him smarter… keener… even potentially more well-rounded.

“You amaze me,” is all I could think to say.

Brody just snorted at my comment and walked into the storeroom, while I stared after him. Maybe that was a turning point for Brody, actually doling out advice to his dumbass brother.

Now it’s Wednesday morning and, as I pull into the parking lot of Last Call, I see Gabby’s work truck. None of the other crew members have arrived, but it’s only 7:30 AM and they don’t usually clock in until around eight. I have no clue what time Gabby shows up each morning, but I’m guessing it’s way earlier than seven thirty.

Unlocking the door, I let myself in and relock it behind me. I’ll open it back up at eight.

I hear sounds coming from the back room, which leads out onto the existing deck. Gabby said they’d be starting the deck expansion today, so I expect to find her out there.

When I walk back there though, I find her still inside, bent over one of the pool tables, reviewing the design plans she has spread out before her. She’s wearing her classic work clothes… jeans, a t-shirt, and work boots. She has her tool belt riding low on her slim hips, and she’s chewing on the end of a pencil while she peruses the documents in front of her. With her hair pulled up in a ponytail, she looks young and fresh… and it makes me want to kiss the fuck out of her.

“Good morning,” I say, and her head snaps up.

For a brief moment, her face is placid and relaxed. But the moment she realizes it’s me walking in, her lips set in a grim line and she turns her attention back down to the plans before her.

And that just pisses me off. Fuck what Brody said about her liking me, and that’s why she’s so cranky. It doesn’t make any sense, and I’m getting tired of her bratty behavior. It makes me want to be a brat in return, so what do I do?

I walk up beside her, getting up close and invading her personal space, and lean over the plans. “Whatcha doin’?” I ask in a friendly voice.

I swear I can hear her teeth gritting from my nearness, and she takes a step to the side. “Just going over the specs on the back deck extension, so I can get the crew started when they get here.”

I slide a step closer to her, bending over the drawings. “Explain what you’ll be doing today.”

She curses under her breath, and I have to suppress a chuckle. I’m enjoying what my bratty side is doing to her.

“I don’t have time for this, Hunter. You either trust my work, or you don’t.”

I turn to look at her, and she’s glaring at me. “You’re cute when you’re angry. I particularly like the way you pout. It’s sexy.”

Flames leap out of her eyes, I kid you not, and she takes a step in closer, while jabbing me in the chest with her finger. “Just cut it out, Hunter. I know you think this banter is funny but it’s not. It’s really pissing me off. I’m trying to do a job here, and you’re not making it—”

I’ve had enough—enough of her rancor and PMSing or whatever the fuck her problem is. Brody said she likes me, and I’m going to see if he’s as smart as I think he might be.

Grabbing her shoulders, I pull her in hard to me so her breasts mash into my chest. She lets out a tiny gasp, her hazel eyes going wide, and her lips full and slightly open. It’s the only invitation I need before I bring mouth down on hers… fast and hard.

I unleash all the pent-up frustration I have toward her cranky behavior into her mouth, slamming my tongue up against hers, scraping my own bottom lip against her teeth. The pleasure-pain is exquisite, and I groan at the first contact.

She’s stiff… just for a second, her hands hanging loosely at her side. I let it cross my mind briefly that I could be making a very big mistake, that this could be bordering on assault, but then her arms come up and she clutches my hips with her fingertips.

That spurs me on, and I tilt my head, angling for a deeper contact. She responds tenfold, sliding a sexy whimper into my mouth, and I feel myself starting to grow painfully hard.

All from a fucking kiss.

A kiss that is just like five years ago, yet so very different. Then she was forbidden, young, innocent. It was shocking and altering, two things that fueled my lust.

Now, it’s a desire that’s fueled by years of wondering, fantasizing, and maybe even a bit of regret. It’s also a flame that has recently been fanned by anger, and let’s face it… there’s nothing hotter than being in the middle of an argument and releasing that emotion through the sexual channels.

My heart is slamming inside my chest, and my dick is aching. I want to do nothing more than take Gabby, lay her across the pool table, and fuck the meanness out of her. I want to sink myself in her warmth, make her body mine, and when it’s done, have her look at me with something other than disdain.

But now is not the time, and it’s certainly not the place. When I take her—and I will—it’s going to be somewhere private so I can do things that might border on depraved… but will certainly wipe that smug look off her face. Just the thought has me smiling against her lips.

I bring one hand up and cup the back of her head, pushing her mouth harder against mine for just a second, taking a last swipe at her with my tongue. Then I pull back, gripping onto her hair to hold her in place.

I stare at her intently, watching her eyes, which are clouded with lust and longing. Without the power of the kiss driving us, her gaze starts to clear, and I enjoy the myriad of emotion that filters through. Desire is replaced by confusion, which is then replaced by anger.

She pushes back against my body, her hands still at my hips, but I hold tight to her hair and I don’t budge an inch.

“What the hell was that for?” she seethes.

I give her a calculated smirk, running my eyes over her face and leaning down to nip at her lower lip with my teeth. She shivers in my arms and I internally gloat, because while she acts like she’s mad, she wants me. There’s no denying it.

Pulling back slightly, I rub my nose against hers, and then say, “It was the only way to get you to shut up.”

She looks at me blankly for a moment, and then it sinks in what I just said to her. She practically screeches as she rips away from my embrace, and I quickly release my hold on her hair so she doesn’t tear a chunk of it out. Stepping back a foot, her eyes do a slow burn and her hand comes up to wipe it across her lips. It’s a calculated move… to show me that the kiss disgusted her, but she’s not fooling me. I invented that move, used it on her five years ago in fact. I know all about masking my true feelings.

Leaning against the pool table with one hip, I cross my arms across my chest and give her a lazy smile. “Don’t act affronted, Gabs. You enjoyed that just as much as I did.”

“Oooohhh,” she screeches again, and I wince at the sound. “You’re an asshole. If you touch me again, I swear I’ll… I’ll…”

“What?” I taunt her. “Kiss the fuck out of me again? You wanted it… you enjoyed it. Accept it.”

“I did not,” she insists, stomping her foot. “You caught me off guard.”

Laughing at her silliness, I take a step forward, even as she takes a step back to keep distance between us. “You may not know what’s going on here, but I do. Brody enlightened me the other day.”

That gets her attention because she can’t help but ask, “What do you mean?”

I decide I’m done playing for the day. I can see she’s going to need time to process this, and I’m fully expecting to deal with a she-devil tomorrow. So I just turn around and head back out to the front of the bar, telling her over my shoulder. “Ask Brody. He’ll fill you in.”

I hear her curse behind me, dropping a few F-bombs in the process. I just laugh, and I know she can hear me because a few more choice words follow me out the door.

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Review

Everything that S Day writes is amazing and I was first introduced to her work through the Crossfire Series and if you think she can write romance great wait until you read her Paranormal stuff. I have read only two other paranormal books by her and they have both been astounding, the detail alone will have you so far sucked into her world that you swear you are a Familiar or a Hunter for that matter yourself!

Looking at the cover and not really knowing anything about this book I thought one thing, yup submission(BDSM)type story and while it has some of that in there it’s not what it’s all about, it is a paranormal book dealing with  Hunters and Familiars and warlocks (oh My) and what happens when you want what you want and be damned to it all!  With both action and romance(sex) which was her signature HOT, it kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the night/morning. I finished with such a satisfaction that could only come from having everything I wanted to turn out, happen and realizing that  S day has done it again, delivered an amazing story and had me fall in love or lust whatever with her characters.  I am really excited that I found something else of hers to read while wait for her other books, this goes to show that she has such an amazing talent for all types of storylines(paranormal historical and romance) this one is one you guys don’t want to miss!

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***I was provided an ARC for my honest and fair review*****

About the Author:

SYLVIA DAY is the #1 New York Times and USA Today  bestselling author of over a dozen novels. A wife and mother, she is a former Russian linguist for the US Army Military Intelligence Corps. She’s been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, the EPPIE Award, the Readers’ Crown, and multiple finalist nominations for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award of Excellence.

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5 out of 5 Stars

Admin-Vonetta

Title: ALL THE PRETTY POSES

Author: M. Leighton

Release date: January 24, 2014

Age Group: NA/Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Event organized by: WordSmith Publicity & AToMR Tours

Book Description:

He never wanted to be a hero…until she needed him to be.

Strength…

It took Kennedy Moore years to put her life back together after Reese Spencer shattered it. But she did. Now, years later, strong and independent, she is in pursuit of a single dream—to dance with the Altman American Dance Theater. Unfortunately, Kennedy is learning that a girl from nowhere with no money and no contacts might never be able to realize her goal.

That is, until Reese reappears, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Kennedy just can’t pass up. In exchange for working on his yacht for a few short weeks, he’ll get her an audition with the famous dance troupe. All Kennedy has to do is keep her head down, work hard and resist Reese. That sounds easy enough, right?

Weakness…

Reese doesn’t want to make it easy for Kennedy. Seeing her again has started a fire in his blood—an unwelcome one—so Reese has a plan. It’s simple: Get Kennedy on his yacht, seduce her, get her out of his system, move on with his life. That sounds easy enough, right?

But the one thing Reese didn’t plan for was Kennedy herself—a girl so strong yet so broken, she makes him want to rescue her, to take care of her. To save her. Even if he has to save her from himself.

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About the Author

When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued and while I had three other books to review once I started this book I kept going back to it. And I knew why, Ocean.

Livie, Lawrence and Ocean are all dealing with things in their life that cause them to hurt, from loss to pain, to mistrust and they all collide together. Lawrence meets Livie first and then immediately falls for her but in a non romantic type way(although he did picture having sex with her) and then he thrust her into his world ,along with his cousin Ocean(love the name) and they form a bound to protect and love Livie. I really had trouble with this because of the un-believability of this, you meet a girl and within 5 hours you have vowed to protect and love her? Oh OK.

I found it really hard to connect with the Livie in some scene and in others she really hit close to home. This book deal’s with some tuff emotional things and at times my heart was breaking for Livie and sometimes even Ocean. there where things that happened that I whish we had seen more of and then things that were just too much off, I liked the detail the author had going on with the surroundings but I would have liked more details on the characters looks, saying they looked like (Paul Walker, R.I.P) or some other hunky guy gave me a great visual but I would liked to have more.  The thing I most liked about the book was Ocean, he was flawed and rough and didn’t hide it from anyone and when he set out to love something he did it with such a passion it was hard not to fall the heat between him and Livie.

 The book is a great jumpstart into the rest and I can see the author’s potential in this upcoming year. The ending was climatic and I hated it(in a good way) and I can’t wait to read what happens next!

4 out of 5 stars

Vonetta-Admin

*I was gifted this book in exchange for my honest opinion***

Synopsis:

If you look up British in the dictionary…A-list celebrity Jamie Jaymeson’s name would be next to it. Along with charming, witty, man-whore, and a lot of other adjectives that he wouldn’t appreciate being attached to his name.
He has everything in the world going for him.
Until fate decides his number’s finally up.
Caught in a compromising position that really wasn’t his fault to begin with (really it wasn’t)—Jaymeson’s been told by his agent to lay low in the one town he swore he’d never return to—the seventh circle of hell, known by its residents as Seaside, Oregon.
Two months? He can do anything for two months. Especially if it means getting a part in the new book-to-movie series that has girls all over the world swooning.
Play nice? Keep it in his pants? Please. He played an alien once—he was going to totally rock it.
Until a certain someone who he may or may not have publicly humiliated—rejected, then humiliated again, suddenly pops up next door.
Self control has a way of flying out the window when the one girl you can’t have—is suddenly dangled right in front of you.
But Priscilla isn’t just off limits—she’s a pastor’s daughter and barely legal to boot. So Jaymeson does the one thing he swore he’d never do—he tries to be friends. With a woman.
Only, it’s exactly what he needs.
Until suddenly, he craves more.
He wants to date her.
She wants to date someone else.
He wants to kiss her.
She asks him to give her lessons for her new boyfriend.
When opposites attract, sometimes the only option you have is to leap—and trust the fact that when you fall—that special someone falls too.

“Are you alright?” A voice jolted me out of my hell.

“Shit!” The cup tipped off the table; I barely caught it with my left hand. Heart racing, I glared at Pris. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Mugs don’t kill. Guns do.” She grinned.

“Cute, you should put that on a t-shirt,” I mumbled.

“Maybe I will.” Her voice was light, teasing. Why the hell wasn’t she in bed?

Bed. Bed. Bed. Sex. Shit. Bloody. Freaking. Hell.

My eyes scanned her half-naked body. She was wearing my boxers. Mine. Something that had once been against my skin was now touching hers. I’d probably never wash those boxers, I’d still be eighty and sleeping with them under my pillow telling myself that I made the right choice in leaving her behind, in keeping my heart closed in a cage where it belonged.

“Are you okay?” Pris took a tentative step toward me, her hand reaching out, making a beeline for my arm.

Her fingers grazed my skin.

I jerked back. “Uh, yeah.” Laughing, I grabbed an extra cup. “I just couldn’t fall asleep so I thought I’d make some tea.”

“Tea?” Her eyebrows rose. “How very proper.”

“That’s me,” I said dryly. “All…” My eyes raked over her muscular legs. “…proper.”

Clearing her throat, she stepped around me and grabbed the tea that I’d been holding onto like a lifeline. The way I figured, was if I was keeping my hands occupied then I wouldn’t be touching her. I wouldn’t be forcing myself on her, right? If I was touching tea I wouldn’t be touching tits.

Aw, shit.

I think I just made it worse.

Because my eyes naturally went to her chest, then snapped away like I was a fifth grader with his very first crush.

“So…” Pris ignored my jerky movements. She probably thought I was about ready to piss my pants or something. Ants in the pants, ants in the pants! Yes. I was officially reverting back to my childhood.

Trauma does that to a person.

So does delirium.

Insanity.

That’s what I was experiencing, because, dear God, she had vanilla-scented skin. I leaned toward her, my head turning into her shoulder.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Checking.” I cleared my throat and stepped away.

“For?”

“Bed bugs.”

Yes. I’d just said bed bugs. I just officially ruined the mood and gave men everywhere a bad name.

“Eww!” She jumped into the air. “You have bed bugs?”

“No!” I yelled. “Of course not! But one should always be careful when one is staying…” I waved my hand into the air. “…abroad.”

“Stop saying one,” she snapped.

“Sorry.”

Shaking her head, she put a tea bag in each mug. The kettle whistled, prompting her to fill the mugs with the steaming water. I let her do it. My mind had left me and I knew my body was next to go — next in the very long line of betrayal. I figured if I touched the kettle I’d somehow find a way to burn my nether parts off. Because really, that’s just the type of night I was having.

“Here.” Pris thrust the mug into my hand, setting hers on the counter to cool, then jumped up and sat so she was at eye level with me. “I’m sorry you can’t sleep. Is there anything I can do?”

Yeah. She could stop — just stop — breathing so effing close to me.

Wait, did that mean I wanted her to die?

Shit. I was turning into a serial killer.

“No,” I croaked. “It happens sometimes.” I blew across the mug. “I’m sorry I woke you up.”

“You didn’t.” She picked up her mug and lifted it to her lips pausing before taking a sip. “I fell asleep right away, and then, I don’t know, I guess my body wasn’t ready to go to bed yet. I woke up and heard you rummaging around in the kitchen.”

I winced. “Sorry. I tried to be quiet.”

“Jamie Jaymeson being quiet. You let me know when you discover you have that particular talent.”

With a laugh I clinked my mug to hers. “Cheers.”

Pris took a sip then jerked the cup back. “Ouch.”

“What?” I set my mug down and reached for hers, setting it next to mine.

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “It’s not a big deal I think I just burnt my lip.”

“Let me see.” I stood in between her legs and braced either side of her face with my hands.

In hindsight… that was where I went wrong.

I knew I was struggling — I should have never touched her. I should have left her alone. I should have taken a step away instead of forward.

“Your lips look…” Incredible. Delicious. Plump. “Unharmed.” I inwardly groaned.

“Good.” Her answer was low, hypnotic, her tongue reached out and licked her lower lip.

And my body took the bait.

With a moan I crushed my mouth against hers and lifted her body against mine.

Her arms went around my neck as I devoured her lips — they tasted so sweet. Her body was hot, it slid against mine. My reaction was so violent I almost dropped her onto the floor.

Pris’s tongue pushed into my mouth. Damn, the girl was aggressive. I loved it. Smiling against her mouth I bit down on her lip and let her taste me, let her explore as my hands moved to her hips, setting her feet on the floor as I still held her body against mine.

Slowly, I slid my hands underneath her shirt, and lifted, the friction of my hands against her skin made me dizzy. Pris wasn’t just my obsession — she was my damn downfall. She made me feel weak, like I was drowning but I didn’t want to be saved. For the first time, I wanted to pull someone else down with me. And stay there.

Her breath hitched as my hands reached her bra.

She pulled back, slightly.

But it was enough for my brain to function on a logical level. I wanted to give her all of myself — but I had absolutely nothing to give her.

The math didn’t make sense.

I’d give her all I had — which was nothing.

And she’d give me everything.

“Pris,” I murmured against her mouth. “I’m sorry.” I stepped back, still gripping her wrists. “That shouldn’t have happened. It’s late and—”

“—what?” She jerked away from me, rubbing one wrist with her other hand.

“No, don’t be mad. Please.” Why did I feel like getting on my knees and begging? 

“I wouldn’t survive it if you said you hated me right now. I know it’s what I deserve. I know I’m an ass. I’m a whore. I’m all those things, but please, please don’t say this changes anything. I can’t…” Dammit. “I can’t lose you, Pris. You’re the only real friend I’ve had.”

Here’s what others are saying about the opening chapters to DIRTY LITTLE LIES:

★★★★★ Scorching Hot Stars!!!
“T.E.A.S.E. WOW. Clare really wasn’t joking when she said this is way steamier than her other work! Ladies…I have a feeling this this is going to be a series your men will want you to read…and then re-read!” – Jelena’s Book Blog

“Clare James is such a tease, but she is a genius! Stevie Sinclair wants to get her life back … and the first night of her quest is scorching! That’s all I’m going to say. This was an insanely hot encounter and I need more of it now. Stevie is awesome! I love Gabe! He is the epitome of sexiness!”—Liz, Romance Addition

“I LOVED it. I loved Stevie. Gabe was broody, gorgeous, enticing, and delicious … left me wanting and craving more. It was fun, serious, angsty and refreshing. –Rachel Brookes, New Adult Author of Just Breathe

“Things get very hot and steamy with these two but maybe not exactly the way you would expect… Let me just say you will not be disappointed! This was a very sexy, funny story with great characters.”—Romance Book Junkie

SYNOPSIS

Twenty-nine-year-old Stevie Sinclair has just lost everything: her boyfriend, her apartment, even her ugly bird named Free. (Yeah, she knows it’s stupid name, so don’t start.) But most importantly, Stevie’s lost herself.

As she shuffles through her days in worn-out Hello Kitty PJs—eating ice cream, sipping wine, and contemplating her next move—a magazine article catches her attention. Blaring black letters read: “How to Get Your Sexy Back in Six Easy Steps.”

Stevie studies the article in the trashy magazine like the good student she is and immediately knows what she has to do. With the magazine article in hand, and a bottle of red in her bag, Stevie embarks on a journey to reclaim her life and win back her ex.

Until she meets Gabe Shannon. Gorgeous, single, and on a quest of his own, Gabe introduces Stevie to a club that is sure to help get her sexy back and then some. If she doesn’t chicken out … (Oh, you know where this is going.)

What follows is a story of self-discovery, romantic gestures, erotic encounters, and following one’s heart–even if it leads in unconventional directions.

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AUTHOR BIO

Clare James is the author of steamy contemporary romance and new adult novels: BEFORE YOU GO, MORE, and DIRTY LITTLE LIES.  A former dancer, Clare still loves to get her groove on–mostly to work off her beloved cupcakes and red wine.

A fan of spunky women, gorgeous guys, and super-hot romance, Clare spends most of her time lost in books. She lives in Minneapolis with her two leading men–her husband and young son–and loves to hear from her fans.

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