dinsdag 19 januari 2016

Release Day Blitz ~ Defenseless by Corinne Michaels



Meet Mark Dixon in Defenseless, the newest contemporary romance from Corinne Michaels!

Now Available!

Barnes & Noble➜ http://bit.ly/1XP2huY


Blurb

My life is a secret.
His life is dangerous.
We’re both stubborn, calculating, and controlling.
Mark Dixon doesn’t know what he’s getting into. He doesn’t know his games could cost us our lives. I have to do what is necessary to keep us alive, and that means guarding my heart.
But I know I’m defenseless against him, and in the end, he’ll force me to surrender.



About the Author


Corinne Michaels is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.
Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha Navy SEALs are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.

Contact Corinne



Book Blitz ~ Happily Ever Alpha: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set #Giveaway

 
                               


Happily Ever Alpha Paranormal Romance Boxed Set: 
Sexy Shifters, Wickedly Cool Witches, Werewolves, Vampires, 
Gargoyles, Demons, Psychics, & More!

Publication date: January 26th 2016
Genres: Paranormal Romance


When Once Upon A Time Isn’t Enough

Happily Ever Alpha – From Twenty-Two NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon Bestselling Authors


What’s Inside:

*TWENTY-ONE FULL-LENGTH NOVELS AND NOVELLAS! NO CLIFFHANGERS!*


Professionally Edited and Formatted.

Limited Edition. Sale Ends Soon!

HAPPILY EVER ALPHA

Fourteen HOT paranormal alpha-male romances and six additional kick-ass paranormal romance tales bundled together in one of the steamiest collections to date!
With twenty-one novels and novellas and over one million seductive words of fiction, this paranormal romance boxed set will leave you Happily Ever Alpha.
These hot heroes and tough as nails heroines will steal your heart and make your beg for more.

How about a little Heat to keep you warm this Winter?
Our first tagline was so hot, Amazon wouldn’t let us publish it here, but you can find that same heat burning inside the pages of this set. Treat yourself to a varied collection of hot, steamy, and passionate paranormal tales. This satisfying collection has something to excite all readers.
With sexy shifters, hot vampires, wickedly cool witches, and so much more, this boxed set will has titles that will either warm you up or set you on fire—Take your pick!
For a limited time, you can enjoy books from today’s NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon Bestselling authors!
When purchased separately, these books cost over $50! But they are yours today for less than $1.
Every selection in this rare, limited edition paranormal romance boxed set are full-length novels and novellas!

EXCERPT FROM WOLF’S DESIRE BY AMBRIELLE KIRK

Copyright © 2014 Ambrielle Kirk, Amber Ella Monroe


A deep penetrating sensation hit Aiden, capturing his next breath and forcing him to stumble back. Intense hunger and wanting overtook him, and he almost dropped his bag. He shivered and waves of conflicting feelings ran throughout him. He parted his mouth in shock. His taste buds swelled, and his manhood stirred behind the zipper of his pants.
He’d never had this type of reaction to any client. Yet, Keira was not just any client. There was a reason he was good at his profession. His sense of smell and the ability to detect fear and danger within milliseconds were his greatest assets. This same sense of smell told him the woman inside was his mate.
Fuck.
There was no other explanation. Or perhaps he’d completely lost it. Had he made a mistake by taking this job? He should have turned this assignment down and remained retired. He was no use to a client if his nose was playing tricks on him. But had his nose ever deceived him?
This woman—Keira Ellis—was his mate.
His wolf rejoiced, but this feral need to take, ravish, and claim her confused his human side.
“Mr. Price?” Thomas opened the door a little wider.
Aiden swallowed as more of the woman’s scent slammed into him. He stepped over the threshold, ready to meet the woman who inflamed his heart with desire.
Thomas nodded once and then began to back away. “There are preparations to be made for dinner. Francine will be around this evening to assist you with anything else you may need during your stay.” With that, he left Aiden in the doorway.
Aiden scanned the room for Ms. Ellis, but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen and he didn’t hear a sound. But Ms. Ellis was in there, all right. He could smell the subtle fragrance of her perfume.
This was some sort of an office or maybe just a library. Rows of bookcases lined the walls. A massive red oak desk sat in the center of the room. The big black chair behind it was empty. There was a leather-bound book open in the center of the desk and a fountain pen lying beside it.
Aiden picked up his bags, not wanting to leave his weapons in the hallway. Just as he took a step past the door, a gust of fresh wind rolled in his direction and a strong, relaxing aura overtook him. Aiden turned toward the breeze. A woman sat with a book in her hand in front of an open bay window. A powerful energy rushed down his spine, and his mouth became dry.
Ms. Ellis didn’t pay him any attention. She was busy reading the book on her lap. She sat on a plump cushion with her legs crossed; the curtains billowed around her. Her hair was wound in a bun at her nape. When she bowed her head, Aiden admired the long gracefulness of her neck. She looked extremely young—which wasn’t something Aiden expected.
The dress she wore clung to her ripe breasts. Her arms, the color of warm melted caramel, were completely exposed. The sole of one foot was bared to him. It was small, delicate, and looked baby soft.
Another hot flash of feral need spread through Aiden’s core. His nostrils flared as he identified the mesmerizing scent. Besides another set of lavender in the vase poised on the desk was the smell of something sweeter. Like a fruit. Peaches.
At that moment she chose to look up.
Gods, she was beautiful. Young and beautiful. Delicate and exotic.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she focused on him. Deep hazel eyes examined him from head to toe with precision. Her plush lips parted as she observed him, and her eyebrows lifted momentarily, hinting at a bit of surprise.
Why had he expected an older woman? Maybe because Jamison Ellis was in his late fifties? Perhaps she was his daughter and not his wife, but nothing in the files indicated the Ellises had any children.
When she closed the book and placed it on the sill beside her, he noticed her fingernails were painted a deep red.
He attempted to regain his composure and met her at the bay window.
He dropped his duffle bags, and the heavy weight hit the floor with a thud. “Aiden Price reporting for duty, ma’am.”
A shy smile crossed her face. “Call me Keira.”
He wanted Keira. He wanted her to himself.
At his side. In his arms. On his bed.
Without a doubt, the wolf knew the connection between the pair. She was the one the animal craved to possess. She would make both of them happy. Satisfied, not just temporarily, but indefinitely. Now that the wolf inside him had identified his mate, he would hunger for her, never really fulfilled unless she accepted his bite and the bond that would make them whole.
“Hello, Keira.” Everything about her was beautiful. Even her name was mesmerizing. His soul warmed, and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Whatever he’d learned during his training over fifteen years ago about containing strong emotions toward a client was now only a distant memory. “I hope I wasn’t interrupting, but I was told to report at 1500 hours sharp.”
“I was only reading.” She picked up the paperback book she had set down and waved it in front of him before putting it back.
Aiden noted on the cover a knight in full armor embracing a scantily dressed woman. She was into romance novels and happily ever afters. Interesting. “Forgive me, but this assignment was impromptu. I’d like to perform a physical inspection of the property and surrounding areas.”
Keira squinted up at him in confusion. Her gaze traveled once again from his head to his toe, and then lingered on the bags near his feet before trailing back up. She pursed her lips before saying, “That leather bag looks heavy. What do you have in it?”
“Weapons.”
Her lips parted slightly in shock. “Do you think you’ll need them?”
“The report says you’re a moderately high-risk client. They’re for your protection.”
She frowned and wrinkled her brow.
Aiden moved closer. He longed to touch her; he wanted to console her. “Don’t worry. I’m highly skilled and effective at what I do. I’m the man who will keep you safe.”
The delicate veins shifted on her neck as she swallowed.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
She didn’t seem to show the same instant bond he did, but then again she was human. His mate was human? Was it a mistake? Maybe the smell of her perfume clouded his wolf’s judgment.
He was here to protect Keira Ellis, not take her to bed. He had rules. One of them was: never fuck a client.
This feeling would fade…perhaps. And if it didn’t, he’d worry about that later.
There was something else he registered in her scent.
Keira Ellis was afraid. Along with the aura of ripe peaches, the air was also tinged with an abundance of fear and apprehension. Aiden felt sorry for her. He’d lost many he loved over the years, but nothing could have been as terrible as losing a spouse to a killer.
“According to Thomas, there is a room where I’ll be staying. I’d like to drop off my bags and tour of the property, if you don’t mind.” Aiden looked over her shoulders at yet another pot of lavender sitting against the bay window. “After that, I won’t inconvenience you anymore.”
She nodded and dropped her gaze to the floor. “I’ll have Thomas show you. He knows this property very well.” She picked up her book again.
He’d been dismissed for a romance novel hero. Very interesting.
Aiden grimaced. “You misunderstand. You hired me as your bodyguard. Twenty-four seven. Except during times calling for privacy. The terms of the contract require me to be in your presence or not less than a room away, depending on the situation and the security at the present time. Were you not made aware of these arrangements or did you not request them?”
“It’s just I’ve never had a bodyguard.” Her voice sounded strained and troubled, and tears pooled in her eyes. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. If someone killed me tomorrow, no one would care.”
“I would care,” Aiden said without hesitation. “And I won’t let that happen.”



Save over $50! This set is only available at this price for a limited time, so order your copy before it’s gone!

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maandag 18 januari 2016

Release Blitz ~ Time and Space by Rachel Robinson



New Military Romance from Rachel Robinson!
Meet Cody & Lainey in Time and Space.


NOW LIVE!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1S57M8e
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Z6Wgs9
B&N:http://goo.gl/IZw6xe
iBooks:https://goo.gl/N6sH38
Kobo:https://goo.gl/iprlkA


Blurb

Several men did Navy SEAL Cody Ridge DIRTY.

Not only did they take his career and his fiancée, they stole everything but his life, and he barely escaped with that.

Cody is back.

As the boss of Ridge Contracting, his life is a blur of adrenaline and endless hours of work. Thriving and successful, he has never forgotten what was taken or who is to blame. His scars run as deep as the hatred in his heart.
Everything Cody lost will be his again. At any cost.

Lainey Rosemont can decorate anything. Your drab bedroom? She’s got it. A rundown shack in the middle of N.Y.C.? Lainey is the woman for the job. Unfortunately her past love life isn’t something she can Feng shui.

She has moved on from her relationship with Cody. It was over--literally buried in the ground. When he comes spiraling back into her life she’s not sure where their limits lie. With her nuptials to the swoony, heartthrob, Navy SEAL, Dax Redding fast approaching Lainey has decisions to make and a past of sinister secrets to confront.

Time changes everything and space apart turns lovers into strangers.

The only thing standing between happily ever after and fate is revenge.



About the Author


Rachel grew up in a small, quiet town full of loud talkers. Her words were always only loud on paper. She has been writing stories and creating characters for as long as she can remember. After living on the west coast for many years she recently moved to Virginia Beach, VA.

Stalk Rachel here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway ~ Man Up Husband by Danielle Sibarium


Man Up Husband by Danielle Sibarium


Blurb

Secrets are like explosives- hard to handle, dangerous and sometimes lethal. A marriage with secrets is a marriage on the brink of destruction.

Falling for Troy Evans was a fairy tale. As real life took hold, things changed. Once upon a time, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. Now we barely touch each other. Talking is close to impossible, until Troy turns the heat between us up a notch. I’m falling in love with him all over again, but I have a secret. A secret I’m afraid will destroy us.


Marlena Madden was everything I could ever ask for. She’s smart and beautiful, my perfect match. I love her more than anything. Somehow we allowed married life and parenthood to swallow us up and come between us. Exploring ways to pull us out of the humdrum routine we fell into, we’re making our way back to each other. But I can’t help but feel there is something she’s not telling me. Something dark. Something that’s threatening to destroy us.   



EXCERPT

The door opens while I'm pouring champagne into the flute glasses. I look in the mirror in front of me and meet the stare of my drop-dead-gorgeous wife. Just this glimpse of her in the candlelight not only has my heart skipping a beat, but it hits me right below the belt. Fuck, I want her.
"What the hell is this?" Marlena asks, feeling along the wall for the light switch, cooling me off a bit.
Extending the glass of champagne to her, I approach, nervous she's going to shoot me down. I don't think I can handle it if she does. Then we really are fucking over. She reaches for the glass, but I pull it just out of her reach, teasing her, setting the mood for what's about to happen between us.
Right before our chests touch, she takes a step back. I give her a knowing smile. She doesn't realize, unlike what happened outside earlier, I'm not backing down this time. I advance on her until she's cornered herself.
Now she has no choice, she can't run off. She'll have to get through me first, and that means she'll have to touch me. Once I feel her hands on my body, I'll do what I have to keep them there.
I won't let her turn away either. I'll pull her against me so we're chest to chest and nestle my lips along her neck. I'll kiss away the memories of the things I said earlier; until I make her forget everything but the feel of my lips on her warm skin.
"Would you like some?" I ask, holding the glass in front of her.
She nods.
I dip my pointer and middle fingers into the glass and rub them along her bottom lip.
She grabs my wrist and shoves it away from her mouth, still in bitch mode. "Get my sexy ass in here before you spank it?" she asks with a raised brow. "I'd like to see you try."
"Don't tempt me, Marlena." My eyes are locked on hers a moment before I drop them down to her plunging neckline. "I'll do it. And I'll make sure you like it."
"What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you drunk?"
"I'm beyond drunk." I admit, meeting her eyes again. "I'm fucking plastered. And I want you." I trace the top of the dress with my pointer finger, not breaking eye contact with her. "I want you so bad the second you walked in here, I got a raging hard on." I take her free hand and place it on my cock so she can feel the truth behind my words. "I need to touch you. Here. Now. Is that okay?"
She hesitates before nodding. With that, another ounce of courage shoots through my veins.
"What I really want," I drop my voice to a whisper and bring my mouth close to her ear, "is to spank your ass hard for even thinking I want another woman. I want to feel the heat of your ass turning pink under my palm, and then I want to spread your legs wide and fuck you. Fuck you until your legs shake and your body trembles. I want you so hot and bothered that you beg me not to stop, because all you can think about is that wave of pleasure building inside you, growing with each thrust, so that nothing outside of this room exists."
I take a small sip of champagne, waiting for my words to sink in. She doesn't move. Doesn't say anything. Instead she stares at me, fire burning in her eyes. I'm just not sure if anger or desire is at the root of that fire.
My heart thrums hard against my chest, because I mean every word I just said, and the fact that she hasn't run off screaming for the hills has me thinking I found something. I struck gold. Taking a chance, I lean in and press my lips against hers. She hesitates a moment, and I'm worried this is the moment our marriage officially ends, but her lips move slightly in response to me. My pulse quickens. I'm filled with hope and deepen the kiss, slipping my tongue into her mouth, brushing it, massaging it against hers.
Forcing myself to break away from her, I rest my forehead against hers, breathless. I take a long look in her eyes again, making sure she's still with me. Not only is she with me, but she hasn't looked at me with that kind of all-consuming heat in ages. I take a few deep breaths, as if the more oxygen I suck in, the more courage I'll have to keep at this.
"I know you're mad at me. I deserve it. But please, let me make it up to you. You can tell me off later, but right now I need you. I need to touch you, and to know you want me to touch you. Say it, Marlena. Say you want me to touch you."
Her eyes drop.
Disappointment slithers into my mind, but I shove it back.
"Tell me, Marlena." I order, inching my fingers below her low-cut neckline into the cup of her bra, teasing the top of her nipple. "Do you want me to touch you?"
"Yes," she answers meekly.
"Good. Because I want to touch every inch of your hot body."
I dip my fingers into the champagne glass once more and swipe my dripping fingertips along her bottom lip. Her tongue flicks over the remnants of champagne left behind.
"Good girl." My voice is low, and fuck is my dick hard. "You want more?"
She pauses, shooting her eyes to the right, and then left. I'm half-panicked because I'm afraid she's going to think I'm some sort of freak, and she's going to turn around and walk out.
She nods.
My pulse rate spikes. It's off the charts.
I dip my fingers in the flute one last time. This time, I press them between her lips, uncertain of how far to take it, but her eyelids are heavy and she's breathing hard. "Suck," I order, shocked when her tongue hugs my fingers and her lips tighten around them.
I close my eyes and imagine her warm tongue cupping and running up my shaft, her lips closing tight around me. I pull my fingers in and out of her mouth, imagining one of the many things I plan for us to do later.
When I can't take being teased anymore, I bring the glass to my lips and empty the champagne into my mouth before kissing her. She opens her mouth willingly, and I transfer the liquid to her.
"Do you want more?"
"Yes, please." She's breathless.
"Don't move." I give her a stern look before I step away to refill the glass and grab the other one.
Marlena's leaning back with her palms against the wall, mouth open and chest heaving. I haven't seen her this turned on in a long time. Too long. If I try, I think she'll let me fuck her right here against the wall, but that's not the plan. The plan is to build the anticipation for later. 


99 CENTS through January 25th
All three books in the series are on sale for 99 Cents from January 18th- January 25th

Man Up Husband 99 CENTS

Man Up Playboy 99 Cents

Man UP Party Boy 99 Cents

About the Author

Danielle Sibarium grew up as an only child of divorced parents in Brooklyn, New York. Her imagination was developed at an early age. Surrounded by stuffed animals and imaginary friends, she transported herself into a fantasy world full of magic and wonder. Books were the gateway between her play world and reality. On any given summer afternoon she became Snow White sweeping and cooking for the dwarfs, or Cinderella waiting for the prince.
Danielle always loved dialogue and in elementary school began writing plays and short stories. This is when she began to understand she could not only bring her fantastical world to life for herself, but she could enchant others as well. And so she wrote. She wrote and wrote and wrote.
Sadly the first piece she ever sent out for publication of any sort was a letter to the editor of The Home News Tribune. It was a piece thanking the first responders for their bravery and selflessness on Sept 11th. It was chosen as letter of the week.
In 2007 Danielle collaborated with Charlotte Doreen Small to write songs for her CD More. Danielle wrote the lyrics for Take My Hand, and Goodbye, while Charlotte contributed the melody.
In October 2011 Danielle’s debut novel For Always was released. She Has since released Heart Waves and the second book in the Heart Waves series, Breaking Waves.
Danielle graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with honors, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.


GIVEAWAY
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Cover Reveal ~ The Hard World Tour Series by VF Mason #Giveaway


Title: Annabella's Oblivion
Series: Hard World Tour #1
By: V.F. Mason
Publication Date: February 3, 2016
Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations



Sometimes love is our only salvation...
Annabella
My brother and I shared the unbreakable bond that held us through thick and thin.
Nick helped me to achieve my dreams and meet my best friends.
Our shared talents with girls allowed us to create one of the best rock bands of our generation.
We had it all.
Fame, money, freedom.
The future held nothing but endless possibilities for us, and I couldn't be happier.
Until the person I loved most, my brother, was gone.
And nothing was ever the same.
The Oblivion consumed me, and I never wanted to come back.
But then Nate Jackson decided to save me, and I was powerless to stop him from bulldozing into my life and make me live again.


Annabella’s Oblivion
Copyright2016 V.F. Mason
All rights reserved
Prologue
Annabella When you lose someone you love, you want to scream as you fall to your knees, begging for anything to release the pain. People say, once you let it all out, you’re finally able to accept the fact that the person you love is gone and you can proceed with the funeral and the grieving. They say time heals everything and makes us remember those we lost only with smiles and good memories, and all the bad things fade away. Well, you know what? It’s all fucking bullshit. Time doesn’t heal shit; it just makes you deal with the painful reality that they’re never coming back. There is no scream. The minute you get the news, all you hear is a deep buzzing sound in your ears and everything around you is just quiet, as if you were in a vacuum. Funerals and seeing the body? Makes you loathe it even more and get angry at all those people who think they know better, who give you that pitiful stare and tell you someday everything will be all right. They promise to be there for you and always offer their support. That was a fucking lie, too. No one’s here with me right now. I lie in bed all alone and the pain doesn’t go away. That, I guess, is the whole point to being in rehab. “Bella, you are fucking using, and you want me to let you go on with it?” “Take her to a center. She is a fucking druggie.” “Have you thought for a second how Nick would react to this?” I hear all those voices in my head every time I try to relax. There is no getting away from them, or from those people who think they understand. They think they’re allowed to judge. Well, they fucking aren’t. They don’t know what it’s like to be me and deal with the pain when you have to smile for the press or perform on stage. No, they fucking don’t, and I hate them for judging me. Drugs, they were my friends. For just a moment, they allowed me to see him, to imagine and talk to him. I was able to laugh and experience a slight joy because he was here every time I took another dose. They took it away from me and thought I would deal with the grief. How can I ever deal with it? The person I loved most, the one who always believed in me, who was there for me when I wanted to explore my talent and go big, who saved me from the blows of our father, he’s gone. He is never coming back. He can never hug me and tell me it’s going to be okay, because nothing can be okay for me anymore. I want him here with me, but at the same time, I know he would have been disappointed in me. He would never take drugs or approve of me doing something so bad either. He hated them because they destroyed our parents, and he helped kids like us make a different choice. There is one vivid memory of him and me, when I was five and he was ten, and we walked around the park with just our sweaters and coats as protection against the biting wind, even though our coats were old and didn’t do much to keep us warm. I had wanted to see the park and he showed me. My teeth chattered from the cold, so he removed his coat with the intention of placing it on me. “No, Nick! It’s freezing!” He held me close as I tried to get away, because as cold as I was, I didn’t want him to suffer. And if he became sick, there was no medicine to heal him. Our parents spent what little money they had on the alcohol and didn’t give a thought to their kids. Nick ignored my arguments and placed his jacket on me. “It’s okay. I feel better knowing you are protected.” It made me cry, but he just smiled and hugged me. He was my hero. There wasn’t a time in my life when he didn’t put me and my needs first. He’d attended every one of my concerts and even arranged my music deal. He will always be my hero. But he’s gone. He is gone forever. How can I live in a world where he no longer exists? How is it possible to breathe in a world where my big brother, the only family I’ve ever had, doesn’t exist? He is gone, and sometimes, I wish like hell I could have gone with him, that it would have been me who’d died in that car accident all those months ago. It should have been me who laid on the table, my body cold and lifeless. They say atonement comes one way or another, or the guilt eventually vanishes. That’s fucking bullshit, too. I’m a coward; I don’t want to live with the guilt. I want to live in my small fantasy-reality, where he’s alive. I know I’m probably as good as done with the band. There is no way the girls and Jeremy will let me stay after all this; plus, how can they ever trust me? They shouldn’t, because as much as I love what I do—what we do—if I had the choice again between them and that life, and drugs and my brother, I would choose Nick in a heartbeat. My name is Annabella Katherine Hastings. I’m the lead singer of one of the most famous girl rock bands in the world, a fan favorite of many—supposedly with the voice of an angel—and I’ve recently become a druggie. Welcome to my world.



Title: Jane's Surrender
Series: Hard World Tour #2
By: V.F. Mason
Publication Date: February 3, 2016
Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations



Sometimes love is our greatest fear...
Jane
I never really believed that love could heal until my parents adopted me. They showered me with love and attention, and through them I met my three best friends.
Our mutual talents allowed us to create a band that became one of the most popular rock bands in our generations.
We had everything, yet my heart longed for one thing.
Love.
I dreamed about the Knight in shining armor who would come and sweep me off my feet.
One day, I finally met him.
Only to be crushed when he fell in love with my best friend.
I gave up on love, deciding that happily ever after wasn't for everyone.
Until Drake came into my life and made my head spin.
Drake
I always knew that I’d recognize the girl who is supposed to be mine from the first moment of meeting her.
Jane came into my life spontaneously, and we spend one amazing night filled with passion, laughter, and fun.
On the next day, she was gone.
My girl wanted nothing to do with me.
However, I was there to show her that no matter what a man never gives up on the woman he wants and some things are worth fighting for.


Jane’s Surrender
Copyright2016 V.F. Mason
All rights reserved
Chapter 1
The night that changed everything
Las Vegas, Nevada
March, 2013
Jane, 21 years old “Come on, Jane. Live a little!” Ariel shouted in my ear and gave me yet another shot of tequila, and I just rolled my eyes. The girl was crazy, but she probably didn't give a shit. That made me smile, especially when I thought about all the things she did in life. I shook my head and moved the shot to the side. I didn’t feeling like drinking, and maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. We were in a crowded Las Vegas nightclub, where the music was so loud you had to shout to be heard, and the booze was flowing. This club was one of the most exclusive places in the city. We paid a lot of money to get into the VIP lounge, and even I had to admit the design was fabulous. The lounge’s golds and reds were mesmerizing as they glittered vividly from the colorful club light. A big chandelier with crystals sparkled, emphasizing its beauty. On the huge dance floor with fog and lights, people danced and brushed against each other, drunk and out of control. The DJ above, wearing headphones, his eyes closed, moved his arms to the beat of the song. He appeared to be unaware he was in the crowded room. The bar was filled with eager, slightly tipsy people who wore designer clothes. Comfortable couches were scattered around the space. The friendly staff consisted of long-legged sexy waitresses in short black uniforms, black stockings, and high heels. The bartenders were seriously hot guys with cocky smiles and flirty winks. They wore leather pants and tight shirts, which gave the women customers a good look at their amazing chests, and probably contributed to very good tips from the horny ladies. The club had some of the best dancers in the world. A few cages hovering above the floor were filled with graceful, hot women who alluringly danced to the songs and did wonders with the ropes. I found it hard not to be jealous of their flexibility. The club, Resisting Me, opened a few months back, and quickly became a hit. No one knew much about the owners, but a rumor hinted at twin brothers who liked to get their kinks behind closed doors. We’d been dying to go for ages, so I had no clue why I felt out of sorts. Sam, Bella, and Megan danced wildly. Their arms waved above their heads while they shook their asses to the music. Several guys moved in closer, but my friends didn't pay any attention to them. They were too into girls’ night to mess with the guys, and besides, they promised Nick to behave. Nick was Bella’s brother, or rather the brother of the whole band, and long-time boyfriend of Megan. He was crazy about his girl, and it took us some time and bribes to convince him to let her go unwind a little with us. I was glad she was enjoying herself. However, that meant no sex for the girls. Well, at least not in the club. I knew the girls would find a way to sneak some guys into the hotel rooms. None of them wanted anything serious, but they loved to unwind sometimes, and who could blame them? I would have done it too, if only I could. Ariel sighed in frustration, pinned her hair in a knot on top of her head, and moved closer. She took a sip of her drink and then pointed a finger at me. “You aren’t having fun at all. This is our night out, and for the first time since we became famous, we don’t have to hide. It took us ages to convince everyone to let us go out, and here you are making me mad.” Her finger jabbed into my arm. Vicious creature. Nonetheless, her words were filled with truth. We became famous three years ago. The minute the world heard our group, Hard World, we became an overnight sensation. Millions of likes on YouTube, platinum albums, tours, multi-million dollar contracts, everything a successful rock band wanted, which also included wild wrap parties, exclusive hotels, and vacations. We enjoyed luxury life at its best. That, however, had two sides, because it meant we had to be extremely careful what we did and where we did it. We couldn't exactly go to regular places and have fun all the time. Especially because Jeremy, our manager, had a hissy fit about it. He hated all those parties. By the way, he was usually clenching his fists, drinking himself into oblivion, and giving the stink eye to all of Sam’s bed partners; you didn't have to be a genius to figure out why. “How am I making you mad?” I asked. Her beautiful emerald eyes held disbelief. She just shook her head and threw back another shot. Ariel was a thing of beauty, an hourglass body with curves that made men turn their heads, long, red curly hair, which shined like fire on a bright sunny day, and those eyes of hers. No wonder men all over the world went crazy for our little mermaid. “Because you’re grumpy and refuse to drink or dance,” she pouted. “I’m not. I’m just a bit tired; that’s all.” It was a flat out lie, and she probably knew it, but after a long hard stare, she let it go. It was for the best too. I wasn't about to share everything, because there was no point in doing it. Although the four of us were the closest friends possible, we sort of had two camps inside the group. Sam and Bella shared a special bond, while Ariel and I shared another. That’s why we were always attuned to each other’s mood swings and everything else. “Fine. Are you gonna go then?” “Yep. I need some good sleep.” I leaned closer and kissed her on her soft cheek. “I’ll buy your favorite cookies.” “Carbs for more curves? No, thanks,” she snorted, gulping one more shot and flashing me a picture of her in workout clothes on her Instagram page. “After all, I have a fitness blog going on for curvy women. I can’t eat them.” “Chocolate chip cookies, babe.” She narrowed her eyes, raised her chin slightly, and looked at me suspiciously. “How many?” Ah, I knew it would be easy to bribe her. I moved closer to her, and whispered in her ear, “Five.” She glanced around, nodded, and we shook hands. “It’s a deal. But keep it quiet. The walls have ears.” I swear if people heard what my friends and I talked about, they would think we needed to be locked up. “Pinky swear.” She rolled her eyes, and said, “Just go.” Then she blew me a kiss. “Yeah, just don’t be mad,” I replied. Her attention was already on the hot-looking guy on the dance floor, who was making his way toward her. She flashed him a cocky smile and licked her red, lipstick-covered lips. Looked like she had found her prey for the night. I made my way through sweaty bodies, people who were kissing, and several drunks who wanted to play grab ass, but were quickly shut down by the security guys who removed them. Near the exit, the wall was made of several small mirrors, which created some kind of weird art composition. It was hard not to notice myself in the reflection, not that there was much to look at. There wasn't a lot to admire about me. I was skinny, but my firm ass was often noticed. My dull brown eyes were framed by black hair cut in a bob. I wore biker-chick clothes, because I loved bikes. My body sported several tattoos. I was plain, just like my name implied. Every damn magazine in the world made it their mission to point out how funny and out of place I was among all the beauties in my band. It hurt the first time, and—who was I kidding?—it still did, but I had to accept it. I wasn't about to show weakness to anyone, especially the paparazzi. Finally, outside, I breathed the fresh spring air and loved the way the breeze calmed and cooled my body. Las Vegas was beautiful in its own way: all those lights, casinos, and interesting buildings. Everywhere, people had fun, and it was a good change from our busy New York life. People smiled, waved, and took pictures. Some of them were seriously drunk, but still laughed their asses off. The tourists were dressed in colorful Hawaiian shirts, and the locals in suits or jeans. What made the majority of the people in this city different was the excitement that shone in their eyes and the aura of adventure around them. My attention was on my surroundings, so the push from behind that made me fall forward came out of nowhere. My heart racing, I was just about to land on the hard concrete when strong, masculine hands caught me from the front and held me tight, saving me from a painful fall. “Sorry, hun, didn’t see you there.” I looked back at a young guy who wasn’t older than mid-twenties as he gave me an apologetic smile. The bump was an accident, not anything to get angry about. It could have been a lot worse had it not been for the guy who caught me. I gave him a reassuring smile and opened my mouth to speak, but I wasn't given the chance as the chest under my palms vibrated from the stranger’s raspy voice. “Maybe next time, you’ll pay better attention to where you’re going.” His voice was deep, husky, and masculine, and surprisingly, it sent shivers down my spine all the way to my toes. The guy who accidently pushed me paled, mumbled something under his breath, and quickly took off running. Curious, my eyes moved up, and my breathing stopped for a second. He was tall; his wide shoulders blocked my view behind him, almost as though I was standing in front of a wall. He was rather bulky, his arms muscled, evident by the way his black shirt stretched over them. My hands moved of their own accord over his brick-hard chest. Instantly, my palms tingled; I moved them away quickly and stepped back. Somehow, the move was like losing my anchor. What the hell was that? I finally looked at his face. He had the deepest, most beautiful sapphire eyes I’d ever seen. Those glorious eyes were surrounded by long lashes and set into his perfect, handsome face. His shaggy blond hair fell to just below his ears but didn't reach his shoulders. His kind smile brought attention to his full lips. He gazed down at me with an expression in his eyes I didn’t understand, because no one had ever looked at me that way. I’d never met a man like him, and I didn't understand my body’s reaction to him. I had visions of his naked skin against mine, two bodies entwined in bed, making love for hours. I found it hard to breathe. “Thank you,” I whispered. I couldn't keep my eyes off him. He gave me a half smile and moved forward. I fought the need to step back, because it seemed like he was a predator and I was his prey. His whole attention was focused on me, his eyes narrowed. “Don’t move back from me, sweetheart,” he growled. “I don’t know you. Don’t call me that.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me back on his chest, resurrecting that electrifying feeling of his presence. His body was as hot as summer in Texas, and his tanned skin made me want to run my fingers over it. “What do you want me to call you then?” he whispered against my lips, which were a hair’s breadth away. “I...I don’t know,” I gasped. What was this? What was I doing? He was a stranger on the street, and I was in his arms feeling like he was the only one who could give me oxygen. Before any of this could make sense to me, he lowered his head and covered my lips with his. It was like the world stopped. And I was left alone with him in it. He slowly nipped my lips then licked and sucked on the lower one, which made me moan, a perfect opening for him to deepen the kiss. This was our first kiss. All I knew about kisses was that they were gentle and tender. The few guys I let kiss me were shy, and they didn’t really make my toes curl, but their kisses were nice. They weren't passionate, because I simply didn't inspire those feelings in men. Those kisses seemed dull and uninteresting compared to the one from the stranger. His kiss was deep, passionate, hard, and painful. It seemed as though he wanted to devour my mouth and leave his imprint on me, like he was marking me for everyone to see and punishing me at the same time, but for what, I didn’t know. He guided his tongue into my mouth, making me shiver and shyly answer his kiss, which earned me another growl. Following his lead allowed me to learn those kind of kisses, and I never wanted them to stop. My whole body was on fire, and for the first time in my life, I felt heat between my thighs, and my nipples got hard from the contact with another person. When my lungs burned from lack of air, he released my lips. We were both breathing heavily, and our eyes were still locked on each other. “Beautiful.” The word was like cold water washing over me, and I was suddenly aware of everything happening around me. His compliment wasn't the truth, and it broke the spell. I hated that he had kissed me, but it was hard not to want more. For one damn minute, I believed in magic again. But the real world and memories forced me back from my fantasy world to land on my ass. Hard. “I need to go.” I had to get out of there, from him and a situation I didn't understand, which confused me. Everything was blurry, and I just wanted to run away. That wasn't right. That wasn't me. I’d never reacted to men like I did him; I just never liked guys, period. Except Jeremy, but thinking about him made my heart ache, so I didn’t. I’d already met the man of my dreams and knew he loved someone else, so I had to live with that. I wasn’t looking for love. I was done.


V.F.Mason always loved reading books and had quite a few fights with her momma over the genre she liked (romance, duh!) She studied filmmaking and thought that would feed her desire for stories, but that didn't happen. Finally, when she was tired of all those voices in her head, she sat down and wrote a book. It was a huge decision to make and she thanks her friends and family for supporting her in it. When she is not writing, she can be found with her friends doing all sorts of crazy things or reading recent romance books that were written by her favorite authors.
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