Mari Carr's Blog, page 66

Happy Holidays!

Just want to take a minute to wish everyone the happiest (and safest) of holidays. Here’s hoping there’s yummy food on your table, family and friends by your side and love in your home.

Enjoy!

Mari

Holiday Reads, Day 6

Today’s the last day of my holiday reads snippets. Thought I’d share a bit of the prologue from my latest release, Fix You.

What if love can’t heal all wounds?

Second Chances, Book 1

After too many years of secretly loving her best friend, Zoey realizes she’s been shortchanging herself. It’s time to take action. This New Year’s Eve heralds the year she’s going to tell Rob the truth. Even if he is on the road, reaching for musical stardom with his band.

Her plan is derailed when she discovers a lump in her breast—and it’s not “nothing to worry about”. How can she ask Rob to take a chance on love when her future is so uncertain?

Rob has spent his entire life chasing his dream, but the moment he hears Zoey’s voice on the phone, he realizes he’s been running the wrong race. Zoey never sounds like she’s been crying. Ever. Without a second thought, he books a flight for home, determined to give her everything she needs. A shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold…and nights of intensely emotional, passionate sex.

His biggest challenge, though, is convincing his best friend that he’s in it for the long haul. Because he finally knows what he wants, and it’s not fame and fortune. It’s her—and her love.

Warning: This book runs the emotional gamut between scorching-hot passion and the pain and fear associated with cancer. Keep a box of tissues next to your glass of ice water.

Excerpt:

Zoey looked around the room at her friends. Kristen was approaching a milestone birthday this year. Forty was knocking on the successful lawyer’s door. Zoey knew no matter how much she pretended she was fine with her life, Kristen was quite lonely. Laura and Josie had been hurt so deeply by their ex-husbands, Zoey feared they’d never open themselves up to love again. Shelly was crippled by her weight and lacking self-esteem. And then there was Georgie, the biggest commitment-phobe on the planet.

Something inside Zoey snapped. This room was full of beautiful, caring, intelligent women and it was high time they all made some changes.

“You know what, I don’t buy that, Kris.” Zoey sat up straighter. “I think we need to make some vows right here and now. This year will be the year things change. For all of us.”

“Oh shit,” Georgie said. “You’re not proposing we make New Year’s Resolutions, are you? I suck at those.”

“No. Not resolutions. Second chances. Maybe the past hasn’t exactly been our friend. I say we throw all that shit away and start fresh.”

“How?” Kristen asked.

Zoey thought for a moment. “We each need to think, really think, about what would make us happy and go for it.”

Fix You is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe, and Kobo.

Holiday Reads, Day 5

Three Reasons Why might be one of my all-time favorite books. I wish I could tell you why, but I don’t have a clue. LOL. I think I just really liked the main characters and the story has an emotional element to it that never fails to make me cry. It’s also pretty heavy on the romance and I’m a sucker for that! The story starts on Christmas day, so I thought I’d share the prologue with you as part of my “Books to get you in the Holiday Spirit” week.

Wes wants Jill Harper in every possible way a man can want a woman. But she’s resisting. Hard. When he learns she needs a handyman for her diner, he decides fate is smiling upon him—until Jill offers three reasons why they can’t be together. Always up for a challenge, Wes decides to prove her ridiculous reasons unsound, one by one.

Jill knows her reasons are total bull, but she’s sticking by them, come hell or high water. Unfortunately, Wes Robson is extremely persuasive. Especially in bed. If the sex gets any hotter they’ll likely burn down the town. Before long, Jill’s reasons begin falling away as fast as her clothing whenever Wes is around.

But Jill knows exactly what Wes wants for his future, and she’s just prolonging the inevitable heartbreak. The real reason she can’t give herself to Wes, can’t allow herself to love him, can only lead to pain—the kind from which neither may ever recover.

Prologue

Christmas

“Are you all right?” Jill Harper asked when Wes began fidgeting in his chair. No doubt he was uncomfortable due to the injuries he’d sustained in his last DEA mission. Simply thinking of how badly Wes had been hurt sent a cold chill through her. She could have lost him. Then she pushed the thought away. Hell, he wasn’t hers to lose.

“Yeah,” Wes answered. “Just bored.”

They were celebrating the holidays with Jill’s sister Kate and Wes’ best friend Rick. Unfortunately, the revelry had been curtailed for a little while—two hours’ worth of a little while—when Kate and Rick escaped upstairs to open their last gifts in private. Jill was finding it increasingly difficult to ignore the sexual sounds emanating from the upstairs bedroom. She’d like to say she was annoyed, but actually she was uncomfortably hot.

Fuck. She was horny as hell.

Wes’ fingers thumped against his cast absentmindedly. “How about you and me go rustle up some breakfast? I’m starving.”

Jill jumped out of her chair, grateful for Wes’ suggestion. She’d cook. That might help beat down her building arousal, even though, God knew, she should be used to the sizzling physical reaction she suffered whenever she was with Wes.

“Sounds good.” She crossed the room and offered Wes a hand to help him up. With his broken leg and ribs, rising was still difficult. He grimaced as she approached and she knew he was tired of being helpless. Wes was an active, strong man. Relying on her help—as well as Kate’s and Rick’s—was rubbing against the grain. Hopefully, the healing would happen fast and life could go back to normal.

They’d been together way more than usual lately and it was throwing Jill for a loop. She’d always recognized the slight tug of attraction when it came to Wes Robson, but lately it didn’t feel like a tug as much as a hurricane-force wind blowing at her back, shoving her none too gently toward the man.

Wes reached for her outstretched hand. However, rather than allowing her to pull him up, he used their clasped palms against her. Pulling hard, Wes yanked her down and across his lap, quick as a flash.

“Wes!” she said, startled by his impulsive move.

“I want to give you your other gift,” he said gruffly.

He’d already been far too generous, giving her a beautiful broach that had belonged to his mother before she passed away. She’d been equal parts touched and alarmed by the thoughtful gesture. He’d said it was to thank her for taking care of him while he was in the hospital, but a tiny part of her thought it was something more. That something more left her uneasy.

Before she could respond, Wes pulled her closer and kissed her. His lips grazed hers for just a moment. There was nothing tentative or apologetic in the touch. Wes wanted to kiss her and while he wouldn’t ask or force, he was gonna get his wish. She liked that. She had a strong personality that tended to intimidate men. Sometimes she got tired of being the aggressor, the decision-maker.

Wes deepened the kiss and she let him lead the way. His lips were a mixture of strength and softness, a perfect reflection of the man. She’d learned so much about him in the hospital, watching him work through his physical therapy sessions with sheer determination and drive. Then he’d surprise her by stopping at the children’s ward on the way back to his room to perform magic tricks for the kids.

She reached up to run her hands through his thick brown hair. She didn’t want this moment to end. Not yet. It might not be the wisest decision of her life, but she liked the way Wes kissed. He held her like she was precious, important…special.

“Wes,” she said after several minutes of the best kissing of her life.

“Shhh. Not yet. Let’s disappear for a little while, Jill. We can think about what this means tomorrow. Today, it’s Christmas and I want to kiss you.”

She smiled and pressed her cheek against his. “It’s Christmas.”

Wes cupped her face, pulling her lips back to his. She let herself get lost in the sensations, the beauty of the moment. He was right. They could pay the piper tomorrow.

For today, it was ho ho ho.

Three Reasons Why is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Sony.

Holiday Reads, Day 4

I have another short story that I’ve self-pubbed on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It’s called Naughty is Nice.

During the holidays, sometimes the nicest things are the naughtiest. Joy is making a heck of an erotic wish list for St. Nick this year. Lucky for her, she’s been a very, very good girl. This short story features Kylie, Heath and Colt from Tequila Truth. Approximately 4000 words.

Excerpt:

“Night, Joy.”

She turned and went into her house and Nick stayed put until he heard the lock click into place. He started to walk back to his truck when he realized he was still holding on to the piece of paper she’d dropped. He turned back to her door, ready to knock when his eyes landed on the heading.

My Christmas Wish List.

Nick grinned at the length of the list. Joy’s tiny, neat handwriting covered nearly three-fourths of the page. He scanned the items slowly and felt his jaw drop.

Holy shit.

Joy was planning to give herself quite a merry Christmas. He continued to peruse the list wondering if some of the things she’d listed were even legal.

He folded the list and put it in his pocket, his mind running a hundred miles a minute. The changes Joy was thinking about making in her life were erotic as all get out.

Who the hell is she planning to do all this stuff with?

That single question plagued him as he moved his truck from her driveway across the street into his. He was uneasy with the thought of her trying any of the things on that wish list with anyone, but him. Nick leaned back against the headrest, not moving from the truck as the impact of that thought jolted through him.

When he and Joy had met, they’d both been in relationships. They’d become friends through Colt and Kylie, bringing along their partners on outings and picnics. Her relationship ended, but by the time he’d broken up with his girlfriend, she’d started dating someone else. It always seemed when one of them was free, the other wasn’t. For the last few months, they’d both been single, but after so much time as friends, it seemed like neither one of them looked upon the other in a romantic light.

Now Nick couldn’t get over the feeling that Joy was meant to be his and he’d be damned if he’d let another man snatch her up before he could. He pulled her list out again and grinned. He was about to make all of Joy’s naughty Christmas wishes come true and with any luck, he’d make sure both of them had a very happy new year as well.

Naughty is Nice is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Holiday Reads, Day 3

Slam Dunk may not be one of those stories you think of when you’re considering a holiday read, but the fact is the story spans a school year in the lives of the heroine and hero (two teachers) and there is an entire chapter about Christmas. It’s a fun look at the faculty’s annual Tacky Christmas sweater party. LOL

Who says you can only score on the court?

A Black & White story.

Trey Donovan is mourning the end of summer with fellow teachers when Ellie Hunter walks into Tully’s Bar. Better yet, she’s now a former rival basketball coach and the newest science teacher at his high school. He can’t think of anyone better to fill the vacant assistant coach job. In fact, if he plays his cards right, she might end up his perfect match off the court, too.

If she stops holding him at arm’s length long enough to give him a chance.

Coming off a year of bad decisions that not only broke her heart, but cost her job, Ellie has good reason to swear off workplace romances. Her undeniable—and undeniably mutual—attraction to Trey is a serious threat to her resolve. Especially since Trey’s too-easy capitulation to her boundaries stings just a little too much.

Funny thing, though. When she sees Trey dancing with someone else, the edges of her vision turn decidedly green. And when another man tries to kiss Ellie, Trey sees red.

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to fudge the rules. Just a little. After all, casual sex doesn’t count. Right?

Warning: Lots of red-hot, half-dressed court presses complete with sex toys, food, bubble baths, strip poker and, oh yeah, balls.

Excerpt:

Jamie and Grace were holding their annual tacky Christmas sweater party. Today had been the last day of school prior to the winter break. The teachers drinking and eating in the living room were clearly ready to make merry.

“It’s about time you two got here.” Grace walked up and offered Ellie a friendly hug and then Trey bent down to give Grace a kiss on the cheek. Grace gave him a saucy wink, clearly excited to see him arrive with Ellie on his arm.

“All right,” Jamie said, walking out from the kitchen with three beers in his hands. “Hunter and Donovan are here. Now it’s a party.”

Jamie handed each of them a drink.

Trey burst into loud laughter. “What the fuck are you wearing, man?”

Jamie’s grin grew. “You like my outfit?.” His best friend was sporting green polyester pants that couldn’t be called anything other than high waters and a woman’s gaudy Christmas sweater.

Grace shook her head. “The sweater is an old one of mine. I found it in the attic the other day. Nearly died when Jamie said he wanted to wear it.”

“And the pants?” Trey asked, gesturing at the three-decades-out-of-style polyesters.

Jamie shrugged. “Got them at a consignment shop a couple years ago. Don’t you remember? They were part of my Halloween costume.”

Trey nodded. “That’s right. You were a seventies porn star that year. Took you nearly a month to grow out that Fu Manchu as I recall.”

Until that point, Ellie had managed to contain her giggles. Once Trey mentioned the mustache, she gave up the battle. “Oh my God. I would have loved to see that.”

Grace took a quick drink of Jamie’s beer. “I think I have pictures of it somewhere. I’ll dig them out.”

“You two are looking pretty snazzy yourself,” Jamie joked, pointing to Ellie and Trey’s matching Rudolph sweatshirts and red and black checked pants.

“Ellie picked them up for us at Walmart. Can you believe this whole get-up cost less than ten bucks?” Trey joked.

Grace giggled before walking away. “Yeah. I think I can,” she said over her shoulder.

Slam Dunk is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo and All Romance Ebooks.

Holiday Reads, Day 2

For the next few days, I’m sharing snippets from some of my stories that have holiday scenes. I’m hoping to warm up some wintry nights. Today’s snippet is from In the Running, a short story I’ve self-pubbed (a first for me) on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Only costs 99 cents and it’s a quick read, since time seems to be the one thing no one has enough of in December.

What happens when the man of your dreams is also the chief of state? Noelle falls head over heels for Tom after they meet online. When they decide to meet in person for the first time over Christmas, Noelle gets a hell of a lot more than she bargained for from Santa! This story also features Julia and Ross from Erotic Research.

Approximately 4400 words.

Excerpt:

Tom had called to say he had checked in and was on his way over. Apparently, he’d reserved the other penthouse suite on the floor. She couldn’t believe he’d basically booked the entire floor of a five star hotel.

She checked her face in the mirror once more when she heard a knock on the door. She took a deep breath and crossed the room. Flinging the door open with her heart racing, she watched Evan Thomas Rhodes, President-elect, enter her room.

“Noelle?” he asked, his voice betraying his discomfort and she could only imagine what emotions he saw flying across her face. Anger, excitement, disappointment, amazement, fear, relief, happiness.

“Shit,” she whispered when she finally found her voice. “You’re a Republican.”

He grinned and took a step toward her. Before she could retreat or consider what he was doing, he placed his hands gently on both sides of her face. “And you’re beautiful.”

In the Running is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

 

 

Looking for a holiday read?

I have several books with Christmas and New Years’ Eve scenes or even themes. Thought I’d take a few days to share some snippets with you in case you’re looking for something to put you in the holiday spirit!

Wild Irish Christmas is first up and if you buy it before Dec. 17, you’ll receive 25% off! Gotta love a holiday sale.

Wild Irish, Book Eight

“To Conall Brannagh.”

Ewan took the bottle from his father. “Who?”

“Conall Brannagh,” Patrick repeated. “If your mother had chosen him over me, none of us would be here tonight.”

It’s Christmas Eve, and the Collins siblings have given their father a precious gift. All seven have gathered together to spend the night in his apartment above the family pub, the warm, loving home where Patrick and Sunday raised their large brood.

You’ve witnessed each child find their happy-ever-after. Now gather ’round the tree and join the Collins family as they pass a bottle of Jameson, and Patrick shares the story of how he won the heart of Sunday, his true love, his soul mate…and the mother of his seven Wild Irish.

Excerpt:

Patrick claimed his recliner as the rest of his kids pulled up chairs or grabbed pillows and plopped down on the floor around the tree. “I still can’t believe you’re all spending the night here.”

Keira grinned. “We’re here because it’s the holidays, Pop. You haven’t been yourself the last few months. We worry.”

Patrick grasped his oldest daughter’s hand. “I’m a tired, old fool. I suppose I lost my way for a bit. Let the daily grind get me down. You crazy kids have reminded me what’s important in life with this gesture. It’s a lovely gift.”

Keira squeezed his hand. “We love you. It’s been years since the eight of us were alone together in this apartment…all busy with kids and jobs. We thought it was time we took a night to reconnect. To remember where we came from.”

“Oh,” Sean added, “and a word to the wise, Pop. Next year, when the girls ask you what you want for Christmas, say a flashy tie or an animal-print Snuggie or some bull like that. Don’t say, I only want you all to be happy and healthy. Leaves too much room for interpretation—especially from Riley.”

Riley picked up a pillow and lobbed it at her younger brother’s head. “Way to ruin Keira’s sappy speech, smartass.”

“Language, Riley,” Patrick said, the words a familiar joke more than a true rebuke.

“Sorry, Pop.” Her face told him she wasn’t sorry at all.

Tris lifted the whiskey, proposing a quick toast. “We’re here, Pop, because we’re family. To the Collins clan.” He took a swig from the bottle and passed it to Teagan, who followed suit with her own cheers.

Patrick wasn’t sure what it said about his character that he was proud of the way all seven of his offspring could hold their whiskey.

As the bottle moved from hand to hand, they each offered up words of thanks or wishes for the New Year. When it reached Patrick, he lifted the bottle and proposed a toast he hadn’t used since the last Christmas he’d celebrated with his wife, Sunday.

“To Conall Brannagh.”

Ewan took the bottle from his father. “Who?”

“Conall Brannagh,” Patrick repeated. “If your mother had chosen him over me, none of us would be here tonight.”

Sean leaned forward, a definite gleam of interest in his eyes. “So you had some competition for Mom, eh? I never knew that.”

Keira grabbed a bag of pretzels. “I didn’t either. Was Mom in love with him?”

Teagan looked at Patrick. “I always thought you were her first love.”

Patrick smiled at his daughter. “I was her last love, Teagan. That’s a much better spot to claim. Besides, I don’t know if it’s fair to say she loved Conall, though he certainly turned the women’s heads. What’s the word you girls use for handsome men? Dreamy?”

Riley laughed. “Um…yeah, not in this decade. I definitely don’t use the word dreamy to describe Aaron.”

“Then what would you say?” Pat asked.

“He’s hot. Totally doable.”

Killian turned to look at his younger sister and shook his head. “Jesus. How are we related?”

“Dreamy works for me, Pop,” Teagan said quickly.

Patrick looked at his kids and silently marveled at how different they were. Somehow, miraculously, their unique qualities meshed perfectly, creating an amazing family.

Ewan, always the steady one, hadn’t been distracted by the asides. “So Mom thought this Conall was dreamy?”

“All the girls in Killarney thought Conall was handsome, but he only had eyes for Sunday. Not that I could blame him. Your mother was a beauty, with that long dark hair and those crystal-blue eyes. She caught every man’s attention.”

“But you didn’t fall in love with her because of her looks, right?” Keira asked.

“Och, Lord no. While Sunday’s face was pleasing, it was her heart, so kind and compassionate, that I found attractive. That’s what captured me by my hand and—pardon the expression—balls and kept me holding on to her for dear life.”

“So what was the story with this Conall guy?” Tris asked.

“Well now, that is a tale.” Patrick leaned back and closed his eyes, letting his mind drift to a different place, a different time.

“I was working on my family’s sheep farm during the day while tending bar at Scully’s Pub every night. I was a young buck of twenty when Sunday, who was just nineteen, moved to Killarney to live with her aunt. Scully hired her to sing in the pub and from the first moment I laid eyes on her, I was lost…”

Wild Irish Christmas is available from Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe, Sony and Kobo.

Fix You Playlist

I’m a huge fan of music and there are a lot of times when the stories I write have playlists. Songs that I listened to as I wrote the book. Music can be so inspiring to some stories. Western Ties had an extensive playlist and so many of the songs I listened to really drove the emotions behind the story.

Fix You is another book with a long list of songs. Perhaps it’s because the hero is a singer/songwriter or because the emotions behind the story are so very powerful. Today…I thought I’d share the playlist with you.

Fix You – Coldplay

In My Life – Beatles

She Loves You – Beatles

Something in the Way She Moves – James Taylor

Sweet Baby James – James Taylor

Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton

Dream On – Aerosmith

Bring on the Rain – JoDee Messina

I’m Gonna Love you Through It – Martina McBride

Having my Baby – Paul Anka

 

Ellora’s Cave has a new look

Ellora’s Cave is launching its fabulous, gorgeous new website today! Check it out and enter to win a Lenovo Think Pad!

New features include increased searchability, a recently viewed section, and subscriptions that will notify you when a new book comes out in a series you love or by a favorite author. You can preorder books and have the download link emailed to you on release day. You can also see the “customers who also bought” section.

Fix You

Fix You is OUT TODAY! This is the first book in my new Second Chances series.

What if love can’t heal all wounds?

Second Chances, Book 1

After too many years of secretly loving her best friend, Zoey realizes she’s been shortchanging herself. It’s time to take action. This New Year’s Eve heralds the year she’s going to tell Rob the truth. Even if he is on the road, reaching for musical stardom with his band.

Her plan is derailed when she discovers a lump in her breast—and it’s not “nothing to worry about”. How can she ask Rob to take a chance on love when her future is so uncertain?

Rob has spent his entire life chasing his dream, but the moment he hears Zoey’s voice on the phone, he realizes he’s been running the wrong race. Zoey never sounds like she’s been crying. Ever. Without a second thought, he books a flight for home, determined to give her everything she needs. A shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold…and nights of intensely emotional, passionate sex.

His biggest challenge, though, is convincing his best friend that he’s in it for the long haul. Because he finally knows what he wants, and it’s not fame and fortune. It’s her—and her love.

Warning: This book runs the emotional gamut between scorching-hot passion and the pain and fear associated with cancer. Keep a box of tissues next to your glass of ice water.

Excerpt:

Rob stared down at Zoey’s face as she slept. Her eyes were still puffy from last night’s tears. Neither of them had moved from the couch. Instead, he’d lain down next to her and held her as she silently wept. Pinpricks attacked the arm he’d wrapped around her, his hand numb from lying in the same position for so long. He didn’t bother to move. It felt too good holding her like this.

Some truths were crashing down on him. He’d been an ass, living his life like he had all the time in the world. Their time on this planet was far from infinite, and yet he’d squandered years of it, working on his career, focusing solely on making it big.

For what? Fame? Money? Why the hell did he need that shit?

He’d always taken it for granted that Zoey would be here for him. How the fuck was he supposed to go on without her? The moment she’d told him about the cancer, the light had gone on.

I’m in love with her. Christ. I’ve been in love with her since the first day I laid eyes on her.

Zoey stirred. Rob’s heart began to race as her eyes opened slowly. He wasn’t wasting a second more. He couldn’t. He just couldn’t.

She was disoriented for a moment before she lifted her gaze and smiled.

With his free hand, he stroked her face softly. “Zoey.” Her name fell from his lips on a hushed whisper, his chest constricting under the weight of every emotion under the sun—love, fear, happiness, panic, a raging case of nervousness.

What if she didn’t feel the same way?

“Yeah?”

He took a deep breath. Fear wasn’t going to hold him back another second longer. “I’m going to break my promise.”

“What promise?”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he bent his head and kissed her. Time froze as their lips met. Rob was transported back to that day in the park, to the truth that should have been obvious all those years ago. He’d been a blind, inexperienced boy back then, but now…his eyes were wide open.

It was her. Zoey. For him, it had always been her.

The kiss was a gentle touch at first, but when Zoey’s lips softened and accepted his, he deepened it. Her small hand cupped his cheek, exploring his face hesitantly before growing bolder, stroking it.

The smell of cinnamon enveloped them, her candle still burning from the night before. He knew in his heart that from now on, that scent would always make him think of her. Of this moment.

His heart lodged in his throat when he realized the magnitude of what was happening, of what he wanted to happen next. He was kissing his best friend. And she was kissing him back.

Encouraged, he opened his mouth, stroking his tongue against hers. The kiss grew harder, hungrier. For several minutes—hell, it could have been hours for all Rob knew—they simply kissed, learning each other’s taste, texture. Her skin was soft beneath his fingers as he caressed her delicate cheek. Her breathing grew heavier, the heat of it warm against his skin.

When he finally moved away, she was there, looking at him, studying his face. Hers was the picture of confusion, wariness…and desire. He latched onto the last like a dying man clinging to life. She wanted him.

“Still weird?” He needed the joke, needed to get his bearings. His emotions were too raw, too new, too close to the surface.

She shook her head slowly. “No. Not even close.”

“Good. I’ve been practicing.”

She laughed uneasily. “You’re insane. What the hell prompted that?”

He knew her. Knew she’d try to twist this into something innocent, funny. He wouldn’t let her. He ran his hand through her dark hair, overwhelmed by the need to touch her. “Just figured it was past time. You mind if we talk about this after?”

“After what?”

He let his body answer the question. Turning so they lay face to face on the couch, he placed his lips back on hers. He didn’t want to push her. After all, she’d just received life-altering, horrible news. He’d keep things easy, let her set the pace.

She didn’t resist his kisses. Her hand traveled along his shoulders and down his arm before landing on his chest. Her lips pressed against his harder. Then she moved away, an infinitesimal distance.

“Touch me,” she whispered, her hand fisting in the cotton of his shirt.

He didn’t need to be told twice. His hands roamed along her sides, drifted beneath her T-shirt.

She shivered when he caressed the bare skin of her waist. He stoked her arousal, kissing her harder as he explored every bit of bare flesh he could reach beneath her shirt. He forced air into his lungs, fought to keep his hands steady as he touched her.

The slight tremor in his hands seemed to distract her. She was the first to pull back. “Robbie, are you sure—?”

“After,” he repeated. He gripped her hip, dragging her closer. There was no way she could misconstrue how far he’d go if she was willing. His cock was hard, ready.

She bit her lip and he could sense she was struggling to make a decision. He wouldn’t force her into anything she wasn’t ready for. Hell, he’d be perfectly content to spend the next dozen years or so simply kissing her. Making up for so many wasted years. “Zoey—”

She shook her head and closed her eyes, but not before he read the hungry need there. Then she lifted one leg and wrapped it around his thigh. She thrust closer. It was an outright invitation. “After,” she whispered, her voice steadier than he expected.

Fix You is available at Samhain, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.