R.L. Mathewson's Blog
December 5, 2024
Short, Lethal & Claimed
Forget everything that you thought you knew about vampires…
From NY Times Bestselling Author R.L. Mathewson comes the eighth installment in the incredibly sexy paranormal romance series that breaks all the rules.
For the past eight hundred years, Logan has been focused on one thing.
Revenge.
Nothing else mattered until one night when a small woman with the bluest eyes that he’d ever seen took him by surprise with a well-placed dagger. Now, the only thing he wants is to forget about her, but with every glance, brush of her fingertips, and touch, Logan finds himself wanting the one thing that he couldn’t have.
One. More. Bite.
After spending a year in a Sentinel compound thanks to the devastatingly handsome vampire that destroyed her life, Jill Williams is determined to forget about all of those things that go bump in the night, but one moment changes everything.
Now, she’s facing a future that she never wanted with a cranky vampire that has no idea just how close he was to finally getting his revenge.
It’s time to lose yourself in a paranormal romance filled with revenge, an unwanted mate, and a vampire determined to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.
Logan watched the shifter’s mouth work soundlessly as his gaze flickered back to the small woman that should have finished her transition weeks ago.
Clearing his throat, James gestured helplessly to Jill and finally admitted, “I have no idea what’s happening.”
“That’s a problem,” Logan drawled as he considered the shifter, wondering if he’d made a mistake trusting the mutt.
For more than five hundred years, James had worked for the Sentinels, happily following the Council’s orders and ensuring that every shifter, vampire, and demon wanted him dead. He’d helped take down dozens of Packs and nests over the years, forcing Masters and Alphas to flee the cities and go into hiding.
When that wasn’t enough, the Council decided to send James to bring the Packs that refused to follow their rules to their knees. He’d hunted them,
destroying any Pack that refused to comply without batting an eye until one day, the Council sent him to handle a Pack that refused to follow the rules in a small town outside of Boston and found himself mated.
After he’d refused to destroy the Pack, the Council sent another shifter to take his place, forcing James to take his mate and run. It took the shifter a year to find them, and when he did, he decided to make an example of James. The shifter tortured James with silver, starved him, and forced him into a small metal cage during the full moon so that when he shifted, every bone in his body broke, and when that didn’t break him, they’d dragged his pregnant mate out in chains and slit her throat while he fucking begged for mercy.
Even after two hundred years, the tales of what James did to the shifter that killed his mate had Masters and Alphas rethinking their plans to make him pay for following the Council’s orders. That, and they needed him. While he’d worked for the Council, he’d worked with their healers and tore through their records, learning everything that he could about Sentinels, demons, shifters, and vampires, their weakness, how to heal them, and everything that would kill them, making him invaluable for moments like this.
“Yes, it is,” James murmured in agreement while Logan took in the long, dark hair that had once been a beautiful red spread out across the pillow that now matched his dark hair before taking in the rest of the changes that had occurred over the last few weeks. Her once pale skin was now a golden tan that matched his and the vibrant blue eyes that had haunted his dreams were gone, replaced by green eyes that were identical to his and-
He’d never seen anything like this before.
He’d turned hundreds of vampires over the past eight hundred years and none of them, not one single fucking one of them, had ever ended like this.
When he turned a human, it always ended the same. He gave them blood, watched as they took their last breath and counted down from ten while he listened as their hearts struggled to beat one last time, leaving them at the mercy of his blood. Within hours, they were no longer human and by the time the moon rose the next night, they were frozen in their immortality and opening their eyes.
None of that happened with Jill.
After he gave her his blood, Logan began the countdown, waiting for her to take her last breath only to lose his fucking mind when she kept breathing. He listened as her breaths became shallow and her heart struggled to beat while he watched her blood continue to slowly saturate her shirt from the wounds that should have started to heal as soon as he gave her his blood.
“How many times was she shot?” James asked, sending him a questioning look before shifting his gaze back to Jill.
“Three times,” Logan said, watching the shifter frown as he ran his gaze over her.
“How long did her wounds take to heal?”
“Her wounds stopped bleeding after the third time I gave her blood and healed completely five days later,” Logan said as he stood there, thinking about the moment when he realized that his blood wasn’t going to save her.
He ran blood-stained fingertips along her jaw, barely aware of the excruciating pain that had taken over his body and found himself wondering why he couldn’t let her go. She was just another human, one that he no longer had any use for, and he…
Realized that he was fucking terrified.
He’d ripped his wrist open and fed her, pleading with her to drink his fucking blood while the minion begged him to leave her and run, warning him that the Sentinels were going to find them. He’d ignored the minion, the pain tearing through his body, and kept his wrist pressed against her mouth only to realize that his blood was too fucking damaged from the sunlight and the bullet lodged in his spine to change her.
“What was different about the third time you fed her?” James asked, sending him a questioning look before he shifted his focus back to the small woman who’d spent the last twenty-four hours screaming anytime something so much as brushed against her skin.
“I tore a minion’s throat out and drained him dry,” Logan said as he watched the woman that was fucking destroying him as she shifted onto her side with a soft whimper.
“Has she opened her eyes?” James asked, leaning over Jill as he closed his eyes and slowly inhaled.
“Not once,” Logan said, watching the shifter frown as he stood up.
“There’s something off about her scent,” James said as he sent him another questioning look. “When was the last time that you tasted her blood?”
“When I marked her two years ago,” Logan said, watching as the shifter seemed to think that over as he glanced back down at Jill.
He’d been tempted to taste her blood, but he knew better than to take that risk. If she’d turned already, all it would take was one drop of her blood to kill him. The shifter, on the other hand…
Logan watched James’s brown eyes turn silver as he reached for Jill’s small hand and carefully pricked her fingertip with his fang. In a matter of seconds, the shifter tasted her blood only to look even more confused than he had a moment ago.
“What’s wrong with her?” Logan asked while James’s eyes shifted back to brown as he said, “She’s still alive.”
Short, Lethal & Claimed at Amazon
From NY Times Bestselling Author R.L. Mathewson comes the eighth installment in the incredibly sexy paranormal romance series that breaks all the rules.
For the past eight hundred years, Logan has been focused on one thing.
Revenge.
Nothing else mattered until one night when a small woman with the bluest eyes that he’d ever seen took him by surprise with a well-placed dagger. Now, the only thing he wants is to forget about her, but with every glance, brush of her fingertips, and touch, Logan finds himself wanting the one thing that he couldn’t have.
One. More. Bite.
After spending a year in a Sentinel compound thanks to the devastatingly handsome vampire that destroyed her life, Jill Williams is determined to forget about all of those things that go bump in the night, but one moment changes everything.
Now, she’s facing a future that she never wanted with a cranky vampire that has no idea just how close he was to finally getting his revenge.
It’s time to lose yourself in a paranormal romance filled with revenge, an unwanted mate, and a vampire determined to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.
Logan watched the shifter’s mouth work soundlessly as his gaze flickered back to the small woman that should have finished her transition weeks ago.
Clearing his throat, James gestured helplessly to Jill and finally admitted, “I have no idea what’s happening.”
“That’s a problem,” Logan drawled as he considered the shifter, wondering if he’d made a mistake trusting the mutt.
For more than five hundred years, James had worked for the Sentinels, happily following the Council’s orders and ensuring that every shifter, vampire, and demon wanted him dead. He’d helped take down dozens of Packs and nests over the years, forcing Masters and Alphas to flee the cities and go into hiding.
When that wasn’t enough, the Council decided to send James to bring the Packs that refused to follow their rules to their knees. He’d hunted them,
destroying any Pack that refused to comply without batting an eye until one day, the Council sent him to handle a Pack that refused to follow the rules in a small town outside of Boston and found himself mated.
After he’d refused to destroy the Pack, the Council sent another shifter to take his place, forcing James to take his mate and run. It took the shifter a year to find them, and when he did, he decided to make an example of James. The shifter tortured James with silver, starved him, and forced him into a small metal cage during the full moon so that when he shifted, every bone in his body broke, and when that didn’t break him, they’d dragged his pregnant mate out in chains and slit her throat while he fucking begged for mercy.
Even after two hundred years, the tales of what James did to the shifter that killed his mate had Masters and Alphas rethinking their plans to make him pay for following the Council’s orders. That, and they needed him. While he’d worked for the Council, he’d worked with their healers and tore through their records, learning everything that he could about Sentinels, demons, shifters, and vampires, their weakness, how to heal them, and everything that would kill them, making him invaluable for moments like this.
“Yes, it is,” James murmured in agreement while Logan took in the long, dark hair that had once been a beautiful red spread out across the pillow that now matched his dark hair before taking in the rest of the changes that had occurred over the last few weeks. Her once pale skin was now a golden tan that matched his and the vibrant blue eyes that had haunted his dreams were gone, replaced by green eyes that were identical to his and-
He’d never seen anything like this before.
He’d turned hundreds of vampires over the past eight hundred years and none of them, not one single fucking one of them, had ever ended like this.
When he turned a human, it always ended the same. He gave them blood, watched as they took their last breath and counted down from ten while he listened as their hearts struggled to beat one last time, leaving them at the mercy of his blood. Within hours, they were no longer human and by the time the moon rose the next night, they were frozen in their immortality and opening their eyes.
None of that happened with Jill.
After he gave her his blood, Logan began the countdown, waiting for her to take her last breath only to lose his fucking mind when she kept breathing. He listened as her breaths became shallow and her heart struggled to beat while he watched her blood continue to slowly saturate her shirt from the wounds that should have started to heal as soon as he gave her his blood.
“How many times was she shot?” James asked, sending him a questioning look before shifting his gaze back to Jill.
“Three times,” Logan said, watching the shifter frown as he ran his gaze over her.
“How long did her wounds take to heal?”
“Her wounds stopped bleeding after the third time I gave her blood and healed completely five days later,” Logan said as he stood there, thinking about the moment when he realized that his blood wasn’t going to save her.
He ran blood-stained fingertips along her jaw, barely aware of the excruciating pain that had taken over his body and found himself wondering why he couldn’t let her go. She was just another human, one that he no longer had any use for, and he…
Realized that he was fucking terrified.
He’d ripped his wrist open and fed her, pleading with her to drink his fucking blood while the minion begged him to leave her and run, warning him that the Sentinels were going to find them. He’d ignored the minion, the pain tearing through his body, and kept his wrist pressed against her mouth only to realize that his blood was too fucking damaged from the sunlight and the bullet lodged in his spine to change her.
“What was different about the third time you fed her?” James asked, sending him a questioning look before he shifted his focus back to the small woman who’d spent the last twenty-four hours screaming anytime something so much as brushed against her skin.
“I tore a minion’s throat out and drained him dry,” Logan said as he watched the woman that was fucking destroying him as she shifted onto her side with a soft whimper.
“Has she opened her eyes?” James asked, leaning over Jill as he closed his eyes and slowly inhaled.
“Not once,” Logan said, watching the shifter frown as he stood up.
“There’s something off about her scent,” James said as he sent him another questioning look. “When was the last time that you tasted her blood?”
“When I marked her two years ago,” Logan said, watching as the shifter seemed to think that over as he glanced back down at Jill.
He’d been tempted to taste her blood, but he knew better than to take that risk. If she’d turned already, all it would take was one drop of her blood to kill him. The shifter, on the other hand…
Logan watched James’s brown eyes turn silver as he reached for Jill’s small hand and carefully pricked her fingertip with his fang. In a matter of seconds, the shifter tasted her blood only to look even more confused than he had a moment ago.
“What’s wrong with her?” Logan asked while James’s eyes shifted back to brown as he said, “She’s still alive.”
Short, Lethal & Claimed at Amazon
July 21, 2024
Re-Release & A Giveaway!
It's finally happening!
A Sudden Response is back! It's been edited and updated so that Eric and Joe's book is so much better :)
To celebrate, I am selecting one comment below to win a Bradford Construction Tee-Shirt :)
How to enter:
If you've already read A Sudden Response please leave a comment about your favorite scene below and you're new to the series, please decide, who's hotter, Firefighters or Paramedics :)
A winner will be selected on July 31st at random :)
If you'd like to be notified for future releases or giveaways, please follow me/friend me :)
They never should have responded to that call.
From New York Times Best Selling Author of the Neighbor from Hell Series, R.L. Mathewson takes on the Emergency Medical Services…
Eric and Joe, the EMT crew of Echo 17, have been best friends since they were eight years old when Eric had taken it upon himself to improve the ugly dress that Joe was wearing with a handful of worms, only to have Joe force him to-
Well, it wasn’t important what Joe made him do with that handful of worms or the vow they made when they found themselves sitting outside the principal’s office after they were snitched on. The only thing that mattered was that they were always there for each other.
Until now.
Eric can’t stop thinking about just how close he came to losing her and-
He’s done playing this game, done watching Joe risk her life and he’s going to do whatever it takes to get the stubborn woman off the truck even if that means losing her forever.
There was only one problem with that plan.
Joe loved what she did and had absolutely no plans to quit. She doesn’t care what Eric says, she’s not going anywhere and the sooner he realized that, the sooner she could go back to pretending that everything was fine.
Eric needed to make a choice, risk everything or lose the one woman he couldn’t live without.
Note: This is a republished version of A Sudden Response. The story remains the same, but it has been thoroughly revised and edited for a better reading experience. If you have already purchased the original version, please be aware that this is not a new story.
Available July 22nd at iBooks B&N, Kobo, and Amazon :)
Paperback coming soon!
A Sudden Response is back! It's been edited and updated so that Eric and Joe's book is so much better :)
To celebrate, I am selecting one comment below to win a Bradford Construction Tee-Shirt :)
How to enter:
If you've already read A Sudden Response please leave a comment about your favorite scene below and you're new to the series, please decide, who's hotter, Firefighters or Paramedics :)
A winner will be selected on July 31st at random :)
If you'd like to be notified for future releases or giveaways, please follow me/friend me :)
They never should have responded to that call.
From New York Times Best Selling Author of the Neighbor from Hell Series, R.L. Mathewson takes on the Emergency Medical Services…
Eric and Joe, the EMT crew of Echo 17, have been best friends since they were eight years old when Eric had taken it upon himself to improve the ugly dress that Joe was wearing with a handful of worms, only to have Joe force him to-
Well, it wasn’t important what Joe made him do with that handful of worms or the vow they made when they found themselves sitting outside the principal’s office after they were snitched on. The only thing that mattered was that they were always there for each other.
Until now.
Eric can’t stop thinking about just how close he came to losing her and-
He’s done playing this game, done watching Joe risk her life and he’s going to do whatever it takes to get the stubborn woman off the truck even if that means losing her forever.
There was only one problem with that plan.
Joe loved what she did and had absolutely no plans to quit. She doesn’t care what Eric says, she’s not going anywhere and the sooner he realized that, the sooner she could go back to pretending that everything was fine.
Eric needed to make a choice, risk everything or lose the one woman he couldn’t live without.
Note: This is a republished version of A Sudden Response. The story remains the same, but it has been thoroughly revised and edited for a better reading experience. If you have already purchased the original version, please be aware that this is not a new story.
Available July 22nd at iBooks B&N, Kobo, and Amazon :)
Paperback coming soon!
February 13, 2024
Difficult is Now Available
An Excerpt from Difficult
“Don’t say anything,” came the harsh whisper that had Sebastian biting back a sigh as he opened his eyes and-
“What are you doing here?” Sebastian asked the girl who was apparently put on this earth to drive him crazy.
Eyes narrowing, Mikey said, “I told you not to say anything!”
“So, I’m just supposed to ignore the fact that you’re in my room at two in the morning, crouching down next to my bed and pointing a flashlight at your face and…are you wearing my new sweatshirt?”
“Yes!” Mikey hissed as she gestured with the flashlight for him to move over.
With a sigh, he did, only to grunt when the little brat quickly climbed into his bed, shoved him over, shifted to get more comfortable and-
Glared down at him.
“Why are you lying down?” she demanded.
“Because that’s how I sleep?” Sebastian said, unable to help but frown.
With a grumble, Mikey gestured for him to sit up.
Biting back a sigh, Sebastian moved to sit up, only to find himself pulled up, pushed back against the headboard, and his arm yanked around Mikey’s small shoulders when he heard his bedroom door open.
There was a heavy sigh and then, “Really?” his father asked as he took in the scene before him.
“Really,” Mikey said with a firm nod.
“What’s going on?” Jonathan asked from the other side of the room around a yawn.
“We were making out,” Mikey said, making Sebastian forget how to breathe only to add, “Heavily.”
Panicking, Sebastian glanced at his father, who looked amused for some reason.
“Really?” his father drawled, folding his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the wall.
“Really,” Mikey said with a firm nod. “There was nonstop kissing-action going on in here.”
“Is that why he looks like he wants to kill you?” his father asked, sounding bored as he gestured lazily towards Sebastian.
Narrowing his eyes on the little brat, Sebastian watched as Mikey glanced at him, opened her mouth, closed it, sighed, shoved his arm away and climbed off the bed. Seconds later, she made her way across the room, moved to sit down next to Jonathan, who was smiling hugely, seemed to rethink it, and dropped down on the end of his bed.
Clearing her throat, Mikey gestured to Jonathan. “Fine. Then, we were having a heavy makeout session.”
“I don’t remember all that heavy kissing action that you speak of, but I’m willing to allow you to refresh my memory,” Jonathan said smoothly as he sat up and-
“Oooomph.”
-forgot to duck when Mikey reached for his pillow.
Once she was done beating the crap out of his brother with a pillow, Mikey got up, sighed heavily, made her way back across the room and dropped down on the bed next to Sebastian.
“Fine. There was no making out,” she admitted, ignoring his glare.
“You don’t say,” his father drawled as Sebastian considered shoving her off his bed.
“That was just a ruse. I didn’t want to admit what we were really doing in here, afraid that it would enrage you enough to call my parents and tell them that I was up to no good and shouldn’t be allowed to go to school tomorrow,” Mikey said with a heartfelt sigh and a sad shake of her head.
“And I suppose you’re going to tell me what you were up to?”
“I really am,” Mikey said as her shoulders dropped in defeat. “I don’t have any choice…not when you caught us red-handed.”
“I’m going to kill you,” Sebastian bit out, only to glare when the little brat reached over and patted his face with an absently murmured, “Shhhh, that’s Plan B.”
“I can’t wait to hear it,” his father said, making Sebastian wonder why he wasn’t pissed to find Mikey in his bed on a school night. Not that his father would be okay with finding Mikey in his bed any night, but tomorrow was the first day of high school and they all had to be up early.
“We were discussing our plans for world domination,” Mikey said with a firm nod.
“Well, two o’clock in the morning is the best time for that,” his father drawled with a shrug that had Mikey’s eyes narrowing dangerously.
“It really is,” she murmured in agreement, starting to look a bit frustrated.
“What else?”
“We pulled the tags off the mattress, ignoring the dire warnings not to remove them,” Mikey said, sounding hopeful.
“Had to be done,” his father said with a nod.
“We took the lord’s name in vain,” Mikey said with a shuddering sigh.
“I can see why that would be a problem,” his father said, matching her sigh with one of his own.
“It really is,” Mikey assured him, nodding in agreement as she gestured towards the door. “You should probably go tell my parents.”
“I would,” his father said, pushing away from the wall, “I really would, but there’s just one slight problem with that.”
“What’s that?”
“They already warned me that you would try to pull something like this.”
“But-”
“You’re not getting out of going to school,” his father said as he reached down and plucked Mikey off the bed.
“But I’m a bad influence and a miscreant! I don’t deserve to go to high school!” Mikey rushed to explain, almost desperately as his father threw her over his shoulder. “Think of all the young, innocent minds that I could corrupt!”
“I would, but your mother offered to make me a chocolate cake if I destroyed your plans to get out of going to school in the morning,” his father explained as he carried her out of their room.
There was a gasp of outrage and then, “You traitor!” as Mikey was carried downstairs.
“You know…” Jonathan said, drawing Sebastian’s attention as he shoved his blankets aside. “I always knew she’d have a mental breakdown. I just never thought it would be this soon.”
“I think she finally had a look at her new school uniform,” Sebastian said, chuckling as he grabbed his shoes and headed for the window.
He’d been wondering how long it would take before she finally had a look at the boxes the school sent last week. He’d been waiting for the moment that Mikey realized that she had to wear a skirt to school every day, but she’d simply shrugged it off, shoved the boxes in the corner of her bedroom, and went back to watching the game. He’d considered telling her, but…
He wanted to savor the moment.
“I wonder what she looks like in a dress,” Jonathan murmured, sounding thoughtful as Sebastian pulled on his shoes and since he’d been wondering the same thing, he didn’t say anything.
Mikey hated anything and everything that she considered “girly,” and she would definitely consider wearing a skirt girly. Although he was curious to see what she looked like in a dress, he honestly didn’t care what she wore. He-
“You should have kissed her,” Jonathan said, making Sebastian sigh as he searched for his new sweatshirt, only to remember that the little brat helped herself to it a few minutes ago.
“It’s not like that,” Sebastian said as he stood there, debating trying to carry his iPad under his arm, but…
He didn’t want to risk dropping it.
Decision made, he walked over to their closet, grabbed the sweatshirt that was at least two sizes too small for him and…once again found himself sighing heavily when Jonathan said, “No, but you want it to be, right?”
“Leave it alone,” Sebastian said because he wasn’t having this conversation, especially knowing that it would only encourage his brother. Jonathan had enough to torment him with, he wasn’t about to admit just how badly he wished things were different with Mikey.
“You should just kiss her,” Jonathan said as Sebastian gave up trying to pull on the sweatshirt that was too small for him and stole Jonathan’s sweatshirt instead.
“And you should just let it go,” Sebastian told him as he pulled on his brother’s sweatshirt and grabbed his iPad.
“I would, I really would, but then, how else would I torment you?”
“By just being you?” Sebastian suggested, shoving the iPad in his pocket and once again found himself heading for the window.
“She likes you,” Jonathan said, sighing heavily as he turned over onto his stomach.
“Yeah, like a brother,” Sebastian muttered as he glanced out the window and watched their father make his way back from dropping Mikey off across the street.
“Then, you should move on and ask someone else out,” Jonathan suggested, and even though Sebastian knew that was probably the only way that he would be able to get over whatever this hold that Mikey had on him, he couldn’t.
He didn’t want anyone else.
He wanted Mikey, but the problem was, she didn’t want him.
©Rerum Carta Industries, Inc. 2022. All Rights Reserved
“Don’t say anything,” came the harsh whisper that had Sebastian biting back a sigh as he opened his eyes and-
“What are you doing here?” Sebastian asked the girl who was apparently put on this earth to drive him crazy.
Eyes narrowing, Mikey said, “I told you not to say anything!”
“So, I’m just supposed to ignore the fact that you’re in my room at two in the morning, crouching down next to my bed and pointing a flashlight at your face and…are you wearing my new sweatshirt?”
“Yes!” Mikey hissed as she gestured with the flashlight for him to move over.
With a sigh, he did, only to grunt when the little brat quickly climbed into his bed, shoved him over, shifted to get more comfortable and-
Glared down at him.
“Why are you lying down?” she demanded.
“Because that’s how I sleep?” Sebastian said, unable to help but frown.
With a grumble, Mikey gestured for him to sit up.
Biting back a sigh, Sebastian moved to sit up, only to find himself pulled up, pushed back against the headboard, and his arm yanked around Mikey’s small shoulders when he heard his bedroom door open.
There was a heavy sigh and then, “Really?” his father asked as he took in the scene before him.
“Really,” Mikey said with a firm nod.
“What’s going on?” Jonathan asked from the other side of the room around a yawn.
“We were making out,” Mikey said, making Sebastian forget how to breathe only to add, “Heavily.”
Panicking, Sebastian glanced at his father, who looked amused for some reason.
“Really?” his father drawled, folding his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the wall.
“Really,” Mikey said with a firm nod. “There was nonstop kissing-action going on in here.”
“Is that why he looks like he wants to kill you?” his father asked, sounding bored as he gestured lazily towards Sebastian.
Narrowing his eyes on the little brat, Sebastian watched as Mikey glanced at him, opened her mouth, closed it, sighed, shoved his arm away and climbed off the bed. Seconds later, she made her way across the room, moved to sit down next to Jonathan, who was smiling hugely, seemed to rethink it, and dropped down on the end of his bed.
Clearing her throat, Mikey gestured to Jonathan. “Fine. Then, we were having a heavy makeout session.”
“I don’t remember all that heavy kissing action that you speak of, but I’m willing to allow you to refresh my memory,” Jonathan said smoothly as he sat up and-
“Oooomph.”
-forgot to duck when Mikey reached for his pillow.
Once she was done beating the crap out of his brother with a pillow, Mikey got up, sighed heavily, made her way back across the room and dropped down on the bed next to Sebastian.
“Fine. There was no making out,” she admitted, ignoring his glare.
“You don’t say,” his father drawled as Sebastian considered shoving her off his bed.
“That was just a ruse. I didn’t want to admit what we were really doing in here, afraid that it would enrage you enough to call my parents and tell them that I was up to no good and shouldn’t be allowed to go to school tomorrow,” Mikey said with a heartfelt sigh and a sad shake of her head.
“And I suppose you’re going to tell me what you were up to?”
“I really am,” Mikey said as her shoulders dropped in defeat. “I don’t have any choice…not when you caught us red-handed.”
“I’m going to kill you,” Sebastian bit out, only to glare when the little brat reached over and patted his face with an absently murmured, “Shhhh, that’s Plan B.”
“I can’t wait to hear it,” his father said, making Sebastian wonder why he wasn’t pissed to find Mikey in his bed on a school night. Not that his father would be okay with finding Mikey in his bed any night, but tomorrow was the first day of high school and they all had to be up early.
“We were discussing our plans for world domination,” Mikey said with a firm nod.
“Well, two o’clock in the morning is the best time for that,” his father drawled with a shrug that had Mikey’s eyes narrowing dangerously.
“It really is,” she murmured in agreement, starting to look a bit frustrated.
“What else?”
“We pulled the tags off the mattress, ignoring the dire warnings not to remove them,” Mikey said, sounding hopeful.
“Had to be done,” his father said with a nod.
“We took the lord’s name in vain,” Mikey said with a shuddering sigh.
“I can see why that would be a problem,” his father said, matching her sigh with one of his own.
“It really is,” Mikey assured him, nodding in agreement as she gestured towards the door. “You should probably go tell my parents.”
“I would,” his father said, pushing away from the wall, “I really would, but there’s just one slight problem with that.”
“What’s that?”
“They already warned me that you would try to pull something like this.”
“But-”
“You’re not getting out of going to school,” his father said as he reached down and plucked Mikey off the bed.
“But I’m a bad influence and a miscreant! I don’t deserve to go to high school!” Mikey rushed to explain, almost desperately as his father threw her over his shoulder. “Think of all the young, innocent minds that I could corrupt!”
“I would, but your mother offered to make me a chocolate cake if I destroyed your plans to get out of going to school in the morning,” his father explained as he carried her out of their room.
There was a gasp of outrage and then, “You traitor!” as Mikey was carried downstairs.
“You know…” Jonathan said, drawing Sebastian’s attention as he shoved his blankets aside. “I always knew she’d have a mental breakdown. I just never thought it would be this soon.”
“I think she finally had a look at her new school uniform,” Sebastian said, chuckling as he grabbed his shoes and headed for the window.
He’d been wondering how long it would take before she finally had a look at the boxes the school sent last week. He’d been waiting for the moment that Mikey realized that she had to wear a skirt to school every day, but she’d simply shrugged it off, shoved the boxes in the corner of her bedroom, and went back to watching the game. He’d considered telling her, but…
He wanted to savor the moment.
“I wonder what she looks like in a dress,” Jonathan murmured, sounding thoughtful as Sebastian pulled on his shoes and since he’d been wondering the same thing, he didn’t say anything.
Mikey hated anything and everything that she considered “girly,” and she would definitely consider wearing a skirt girly. Although he was curious to see what she looked like in a dress, he honestly didn’t care what she wore. He-
“You should have kissed her,” Jonathan said, making Sebastian sigh as he searched for his new sweatshirt, only to remember that the little brat helped herself to it a few minutes ago.
“It’s not like that,” Sebastian said as he stood there, debating trying to carry his iPad under his arm, but…
He didn’t want to risk dropping it.
Decision made, he walked over to their closet, grabbed the sweatshirt that was at least two sizes too small for him and…once again found himself sighing heavily when Jonathan said, “No, but you want it to be, right?”
“Leave it alone,” Sebastian said because he wasn’t having this conversation, especially knowing that it would only encourage his brother. Jonathan had enough to torment him with, he wasn’t about to admit just how badly he wished things were different with Mikey.
“You should just kiss her,” Jonathan said as Sebastian gave up trying to pull on the sweatshirt that was too small for him and stole Jonathan’s sweatshirt instead.
“And you should just let it go,” Sebastian told him as he pulled on his brother’s sweatshirt and grabbed his iPad.
“I would, I really would, but then, how else would I torment you?”
“By just being you?” Sebastian suggested, shoving the iPad in his pocket and once again found himself heading for the window.
“She likes you,” Jonathan said, sighing heavily as he turned over onto his stomach.
“Yeah, like a brother,” Sebastian muttered as he glanced out the window and watched their father make his way back from dropping Mikey off across the street.
“Then, you should move on and ask someone else out,” Jonathan suggested, and even though Sebastian knew that was probably the only way that he would be able to get over whatever this hold that Mikey had on him, he couldn’t.
He didn’t want anyone else.
He wanted Mikey, but the problem was, she didn’t want him.
©Rerum Carta Industries, Inc. 2022. All Rights Reserved
October 10, 2023
An Excerpt from Never Again
She should probably be concerned that she was being kidnapped, and she was, she really was, but at the moment, all Bailey could think about was the fact that he’d carried her into Mary Lee’s Coffee Shop.
When he placed her down on her feet, Bailey sighed with satisfaction as she turned around and faced the incredibly nervous woman waiting to take her order. With an absently murmured “Thank you” to the man that kidnapped her, she focused on the task at hand.
Getting her greedy little hands on more caffeine before Nathan realized where she was and put a stop to it.
“Can I please have two large caramel coffees with four sugars and extra caramel sauce?” Bailey asked with a hopeful smile as she watched the woman standing behind the counter noticeably swallow as she sent a questioning look at her manager, who Bailey couldn’t help but notice kept sending hopeful glances towards the Haven Technologies’ building across the street.
“S-Sure,” the cashier said as she reluctantly rang up her order right around the time that Bailey realized that she was being rude.
“Do you want anything?” Bailey asked her kidnapper, unable to take her eyes off the cashier, afraid that if she did that, she would disappear along with her only hopes of getting more caffeine today.
“Medium black coffee,” came the coldly spoken answer that had Bailey absently nodding as she reached for her money only to realize that she didn’t have any.
Before she could ask her kidnapper for a small loan, he was reaching past her and placing a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. “Thank you,” Bailey said, licking her lips anxiously as she watched the manager give up waiting for Nathan to put a stop to this and set to work making their drinks. She really didn’t think that she was going to be able to drink both coffees before Nathan finally showed up, but she was going to try. It had been so long since she had the delicious bitter-sweet treat, and now that she’d had a taste, she was determined to get her hands on more.
The manager barely managed to put the first cup of caramel coffee on the counter when Bailey had her greedy little hands wrapped around it and was taking her first sip as she closed her eyes on a dreamy sigh and enjoyed the delicious hot liquid that soothed her very soul. God, she could live off this stuff, but that wasn’t an option, not after what happened at the last Christmas party with that elf. It didn’t matter how many times she’d apologized for that simple misunderstanding, they were still determined to keep her away from caffeine.
But no more, Bailey decided with a firm nod as she opened her eyes and realized that she had a few questions for her kidnapper. One, of course, was wondering why he was suddenly caging her in against the counter. The other, which was just as important, was wondering why he looked so pissed. She should definitely be concerned about that, Bailey thought as she enjoyed another sip of coffee. The last, and in no way less important, was wondering why he looked so familiar.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this moment?” the man that she’d somehow managed to piss off demanded through clenched teeth, making her blink because she’d never actually seen someone manage to do that before. While she considered his question, Bailey took another sip as she ran her gaze over him, taking in his short, jet-black hair, the thick scar above his eyebrow, a pair of intense gray eyes, the firm set of his jaw on his incredibly handsome face, the fact that he had at least ten inches on her and an obscene amount of muscle and found herself wondering if he was going to finish his coffee.
“Do you mind if I have that?” Bailey asked with a hopeful smile as she gestured to his untouched cup of coffee.
Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he reached over and grabbed the coffee and took a sip as she felt her shoulders slump in disappointment. She knew that she shouldn’t pout, but she couldn’t help it. With a sad sigh, Bailey took a sip of her coffee as she did her best to figure out what she did to piss him off.
“You have no idea who I am, do you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes on her when she reluctantly shook her head, not really sure that admitting that was a good idea. Nodding, he took one last sip of his coffee before placing it back on the counter and leaned down until his mouth was next to her ear and said the magical words that brought it all back.
“Do you like puppies?”
“I see,” Bailey murmured, taking a sip of her coffee, hoping to buy herself a little more time as her gaze moved past the large man that definitely had a right to be pissed and-
“My coffee,” she mumbled sadly when he took her coffee from her and finished it off, all while glaring at her.
With a sad sigh, Bailey reached for her second cup of coffee, released another sigh as she mourned the loss of the first cup, and took a sip while she couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to kill her here or take her to a secondary location. That led her to wonder if this counted as a secondary location since he’d taken her from her office. That led to her wondering why he’d been at her office in the first place, which of course, somehow led to her grabbing a stack of napkins as she finally figured out how to fix the problem that they’d been having with the code for the latest update.
*-*-*-*
“What the hell are you doing?” Quinn demanded as he watched the small woman that was already driving him f#cking crazy grab another stack of napkins.
“Can’t talk. Busy,” Bailey mumbled absently as she scribbled on another napkin only to frown down at it, mumble something unintelligible, and finally, sigh heavily as she balled up the napkin and tossed it aside.
“Oh, joy, you’ve given her more coffee,” came the dryly murmured words as Nathan dropped down on the bench next to Bailey with a heavy sigh.
“Start talking,” Quinn bit out as he watched Bailey suddenly stop scribbling, only to mumble sadly, “I don’t remember how Buffy ended.”
“She saved the world,” Nathan said as he reached over and patted her on the head.
“Did she end up with Spike?” Bailey asked, looking really f#cking hopeful.
“Sure,” Nathan said with a careless shrug.
Nodding, Bailey mumbled, “Good,” before she went back to whatever it was that she was doing.
Shifting his attention back to Quinn, Nathan said, “She doesn’t metabolize caffeine well.”
“Tell me why I’m here,” Quinn said evenly.
Sighing heavily, Nathan rubbed his hands roughly down his face before dropping his hands away and said, “I honestly don’t know where to start.”
“Start by telling me where Miss Thompson is so that I can do my job,” Quinn said, deciding to get to the only reason why he wasn’t heading for the door and finally washing his hands of the little brat.
Frowning, Nathan glanced at the small woman sitting next to him as she happily hummed what sounded like the theme song to Superman before glancing back at him. “She’s right here,” Nathan said, looking confused while Quinn sat there telling himself that this wasn’t f#cking happening.
“No, that’s Bailey Smith, the little pain in the ass,” Quinn bit out with a glare for the small woman who was now humming the theme song to Gilligan’s Island.
“You know her?” Nathan asked, sending Bailey a questioning look as Quinn opened his mouth to answer, only to end up glaring at the little demon when she said, “I made him cry once,” with a solemn nod.
Narrowing his eyes, Quinn said, “I didn’t cry.”
“He did. I felt bad,” Bailey mumbled absently as she reached for her coffee only to end up pouting when Nathan grabbed it before she could.
“Just tell me why I’m here,” Quinn bit out, feeling a headache starting at the back of his head as he shifted his glare from the woman who had some explaining to do back to the man that better have a good reason for him being here.
Nathan’s eyes flickered to the small woman sitting next to him before saying, “We should probably wait before we discuss that.”
“Wait for what?” Quinn asked, only to frown as he watched Bailey suddenly stop scribbling on the napkins with the pen that she stole from him, blinked in confusion and-
“For that,” Nathan said with a sad shake of his head as he reached over and caught the little brat before her head hit the table. Keeping his hold on the small woman that passed out, Nathan sighed heavily as he stood up and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder in a well-practiced move that told Quinn that he had to do this a lot. “Like I said, she doesn’t metabolize caffeine well,” Nathan said as he grabbed the napkins Bailey scribbled on and shoved them in his pocket before gesturing to the door.
Wondering what kind of trouble she could have gotten herself into, Quinn followed him back across the street, noting that Pam was back in her spot by the door, looking absolutely miserable as they made their way to the elevator.
“I’m curious about something,” Nathan said, throwing him a questioning look as they stepped into the elevator.
“What’s that?” Quinn absently asked as he pressed the button for what he was assuming was Bailey’s apartment.
“How are you supposed to protect a woman that you hate?”
Available Now
©Rerum Carta Industries, Inc. 2023. All Rights Reserved.
When he placed her down on her feet, Bailey sighed with satisfaction as she turned around and faced the incredibly nervous woman waiting to take her order. With an absently murmured “Thank you” to the man that kidnapped her, she focused on the task at hand.
Getting her greedy little hands on more caffeine before Nathan realized where she was and put a stop to it.
“Can I please have two large caramel coffees with four sugars and extra caramel sauce?” Bailey asked with a hopeful smile as she watched the woman standing behind the counter noticeably swallow as she sent a questioning look at her manager, who Bailey couldn’t help but notice kept sending hopeful glances towards the Haven Technologies’ building across the street.
“S-Sure,” the cashier said as she reluctantly rang up her order right around the time that Bailey realized that she was being rude.
“Do you want anything?” Bailey asked her kidnapper, unable to take her eyes off the cashier, afraid that if she did that, she would disappear along with her only hopes of getting more caffeine today.
“Medium black coffee,” came the coldly spoken answer that had Bailey absently nodding as she reached for her money only to realize that she didn’t have any.
Before she could ask her kidnapper for a small loan, he was reaching past her and placing a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. “Thank you,” Bailey said, licking her lips anxiously as she watched the manager give up waiting for Nathan to put a stop to this and set to work making their drinks. She really didn’t think that she was going to be able to drink both coffees before Nathan finally showed up, but she was going to try. It had been so long since she had the delicious bitter-sweet treat, and now that she’d had a taste, she was determined to get her hands on more.
The manager barely managed to put the first cup of caramel coffee on the counter when Bailey had her greedy little hands wrapped around it and was taking her first sip as she closed her eyes on a dreamy sigh and enjoyed the delicious hot liquid that soothed her very soul. God, she could live off this stuff, but that wasn’t an option, not after what happened at the last Christmas party with that elf. It didn’t matter how many times she’d apologized for that simple misunderstanding, they were still determined to keep her away from caffeine.
But no more, Bailey decided with a firm nod as she opened her eyes and realized that she had a few questions for her kidnapper. One, of course, was wondering why he was suddenly caging her in against the counter. The other, which was just as important, was wondering why he looked so pissed. She should definitely be concerned about that, Bailey thought as she enjoyed another sip of coffee. The last, and in no way less important, was wondering why he looked so familiar.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this moment?” the man that she’d somehow managed to piss off demanded through clenched teeth, making her blink because she’d never actually seen someone manage to do that before. While she considered his question, Bailey took another sip as she ran her gaze over him, taking in his short, jet-black hair, the thick scar above his eyebrow, a pair of intense gray eyes, the firm set of his jaw on his incredibly handsome face, the fact that he had at least ten inches on her and an obscene amount of muscle and found herself wondering if he was going to finish his coffee.
“Do you mind if I have that?” Bailey asked with a hopeful smile as she gestured to his untouched cup of coffee.
Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he reached over and grabbed the coffee and took a sip as she felt her shoulders slump in disappointment. She knew that she shouldn’t pout, but she couldn’t help it. With a sad sigh, Bailey took a sip of her coffee as she did her best to figure out what she did to piss him off.
“You have no idea who I am, do you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes on her when she reluctantly shook her head, not really sure that admitting that was a good idea. Nodding, he took one last sip of his coffee before placing it back on the counter and leaned down until his mouth was next to her ear and said the magical words that brought it all back.
“Do you like puppies?”
“I see,” Bailey murmured, taking a sip of her coffee, hoping to buy herself a little more time as her gaze moved past the large man that definitely had a right to be pissed and-
“My coffee,” she mumbled sadly when he took her coffee from her and finished it off, all while glaring at her.
With a sad sigh, Bailey reached for her second cup of coffee, released another sigh as she mourned the loss of the first cup, and took a sip while she couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to kill her here or take her to a secondary location. That led her to wonder if this counted as a secondary location since he’d taken her from her office. That led to her wondering why he’d been at her office in the first place, which of course, somehow led to her grabbing a stack of napkins as she finally figured out how to fix the problem that they’d been having with the code for the latest update.
*-*-*-*
“What the hell are you doing?” Quinn demanded as he watched the small woman that was already driving him f#cking crazy grab another stack of napkins.
“Can’t talk. Busy,” Bailey mumbled absently as she scribbled on another napkin only to frown down at it, mumble something unintelligible, and finally, sigh heavily as she balled up the napkin and tossed it aside.
“Oh, joy, you’ve given her more coffee,” came the dryly murmured words as Nathan dropped down on the bench next to Bailey with a heavy sigh.
“Start talking,” Quinn bit out as he watched Bailey suddenly stop scribbling, only to mumble sadly, “I don’t remember how Buffy ended.”
“She saved the world,” Nathan said as he reached over and patted her on the head.
“Did she end up with Spike?” Bailey asked, looking really f#cking hopeful.
“Sure,” Nathan said with a careless shrug.
Nodding, Bailey mumbled, “Good,” before she went back to whatever it was that she was doing.
Shifting his attention back to Quinn, Nathan said, “She doesn’t metabolize caffeine well.”
“Tell me why I’m here,” Quinn said evenly.
Sighing heavily, Nathan rubbed his hands roughly down his face before dropping his hands away and said, “I honestly don’t know where to start.”
“Start by telling me where Miss Thompson is so that I can do my job,” Quinn said, deciding to get to the only reason why he wasn’t heading for the door and finally washing his hands of the little brat.
Frowning, Nathan glanced at the small woman sitting next to him as she happily hummed what sounded like the theme song to Superman before glancing back at him. “She’s right here,” Nathan said, looking confused while Quinn sat there telling himself that this wasn’t f#cking happening.
“No, that’s Bailey Smith, the little pain in the ass,” Quinn bit out with a glare for the small woman who was now humming the theme song to Gilligan’s Island.
“You know her?” Nathan asked, sending Bailey a questioning look as Quinn opened his mouth to answer, only to end up glaring at the little demon when she said, “I made him cry once,” with a solemn nod.
Narrowing his eyes, Quinn said, “I didn’t cry.”
“He did. I felt bad,” Bailey mumbled absently as she reached for her coffee only to end up pouting when Nathan grabbed it before she could.
“Just tell me why I’m here,” Quinn bit out, feeling a headache starting at the back of his head as he shifted his glare from the woman who had some explaining to do back to the man that better have a good reason for him being here.
Nathan’s eyes flickered to the small woman sitting next to him before saying, “We should probably wait before we discuss that.”
“Wait for what?” Quinn asked, only to frown as he watched Bailey suddenly stop scribbling on the napkins with the pen that she stole from him, blinked in confusion and-
“For that,” Nathan said with a sad shake of his head as he reached over and caught the little brat before her head hit the table. Keeping his hold on the small woman that passed out, Nathan sighed heavily as he stood up and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder in a well-practiced move that told Quinn that he had to do this a lot. “Like I said, she doesn’t metabolize caffeine well,” Nathan said as he grabbed the napkins Bailey scribbled on and shoved them in his pocket before gesturing to the door.
Wondering what kind of trouble she could have gotten herself into, Quinn followed him back across the street, noting that Pam was back in her spot by the door, looking absolutely miserable as they made their way to the elevator.
“I’m curious about something,” Nathan said, throwing him a questioning look as they stepped into the elevator.
“What’s that?” Quinn absently asked as he pressed the button for what he was assuming was Bailey’s apartment.
“How are you supposed to protect a woman that you hate?”
Available Now
©Rerum Carta Industries, Inc. 2023. All Rights Reserved.
October 2, 2023
Never Again
In R.L. Mathewson's hilarious new romantic comedy, Quinn's life takes an unexpected turn when he's tasked with protecting the woman that betrayed him. As secrets unravel and danger looms, these down-to-earth characters must navigate a rollercoaster of mishaps, betrayal, and lingering touches. Get ready for a wild ride filled with laughter, love, and suspense in this captivating standalone novel.
There could only be one reason why Quinn Jackson had taken her to a secondary location…revenge.
From New York Times and USA Today’s bestselling author R.L. Mathewson comes a new standalone romantic comedy with down-to-earth characters that will have you laughing out loud and leave you with no choice but to fall in love.
She should probably be concerned that the incredibly handsome man that she’d screwed over years ago had finally found her, and she was, but at the moment, Bailey had more important things to worry about, like how she was going to finish this project on time, figure out what her brother was hiding from her and how she was going to get her hands on more caffeine.
That was going to be a problem with her brother hiring Quinn to watch her every move, but that was fine because she had a plan, one that, unfortunately for her, didn’t exactly go the way that she’d hoped.
And now…
She had no choice but to take matters into her own hands and figure out who’d betrayed her before it was too late.
Quinn would do anything to keep her safe and Bailey…
Had absolutely no idea that she was in danger.
He’d waited so long for this moment and now that it was here, he wanted to savor it, but that wasn’t an option. Not with the little caffeine addict in denial about all of those “accidents” that have been happening over the past year.
He never should have taken this job, but once he found out the truth about their past, he couldn’t walk away.
Now, Quinn was left with no choice but to cross a line to keep the little caffeine addict safe. He needed to keep her out of trouble, tell himself that Bailey was just another job, and figure out who was behind the attacks before it was too late and if he couldn’t…
He would never survive.
Release Date 10/09/2023
$2.99 Preorder
Bonus Epilogue
There could only be one reason why Quinn Jackson had taken her to a secondary location…revenge.
From New York Times and USA Today’s bestselling author R.L. Mathewson comes a new standalone romantic comedy with down-to-earth characters that will have you laughing out loud and leave you with no choice but to fall in love.
She should probably be concerned that the incredibly handsome man that she’d screwed over years ago had finally found her, and she was, but at the moment, Bailey had more important things to worry about, like how she was going to finish this project on time, figure out what her brother was hiding from her and how she was going to get her hands on more caffeine.
That was going to be a problem with her brother hiring Quinn to watch her every move, but that was fine because she had a plan, one that, unfortunately for her, didn’t exactly go the way that she’d hoped.
And now…
She had no choice but to take matters into her own hands and figure out who’d betrayed her before it was too late.
Quinn would do anything to keep her safe and Bailey…
Had absolutely no idea that she was in danger.
He’d waited so long for this moment and now that it was here, he wanted to savor it, but that wasn’t an option. Not with the little caffeine addict in denial about all of those “accidents” that have been happening over the past year.
He never should have taken this job, but once he found out the truth about their past, he couldn’t walk away.
Now, Quinn was left with no choice but to cross a line to keep the little caffeine addict safe. He needed to keep her out of trouble, tell himself that Bailey was just another job, and figure out who was behind the attacks before it was too late and if he couldn’t…
He would never survive.
Release Date 10/09/2023
$2.99 Preorder
Bonus Epilogue
February 28, 2023
Pretend: The Neighbor from Hell Prequel
The Bet That Started It All
Chapter 1
Many Years Ago…
“I never really liked Amber,” Jason, his asshole cousin and the reason why Eric was trying to wrap his mind around what just happened, said, sounding thoughtful as Eric sat there debating beating the shit out of him, but…
God, he couldn’t fucking believe this.
One minute, Eric was trying to convince himself that he wasn’t making a mistake, and the next, he was walking in on the little bastard fucking his fiancée in the men’s room, all because the other little bastard bet him that he couldn’t do it. Then again, since Eric actually thought that Amber was in love with him, he probably would have taken that bet, too. That, and according to the woman that he thought he would end up spending the rest of his life with, she’d been saving herself for marriage.
“I don’t know what you saw in her,” Trevor, the little bastard that made the bet, said with a pitying shake of his head as Eric sat there, slowly taking a sip of the beer that Amber’s parents were paying for as he once again wondered how he’d missed the fact that his fiancée was a manipulative bitch.
“Bradfords don’t propose,” Uncle Jared said with a sad shake of his head as he helped himself to one of the steak dinners that Amber’s family abandoned after everything went to hell.
Eric opened his mouth to tell them that the Bradford curse was bullshit, only to finish his beer instead. He should have listened to his family, Eric thought as he handed off his empty bottle to a passing waiter and gestured for another beer. His family had been on his ass for the past year, telling him that he was making a mistake, but he’d refused to listen because he was a fucking idiot.
“You didn’t love her,” his father said, dropping down on the chair next to him with a heavy sigh.
The sad part?
He couldn’t really argue that, could he? How else could Eric explain his reaction to hearing his fiancée begging his cousin to fuck her? He’d heard the panted demand, stood there for a moment, fucking sighed, turned around and headed back to the bar for a beer. He should have been pissed, should have yelled, decked his cousin, and called Amber a bitch, but instead, he’d calmly ordered a beer while he’d told the asshole that almost became his father-in-law that the wedding was off.
He never should have-
“I love bubbles,” came the slurred announcement that had Eric’s lips twitching as he looked over at his best friend to find Morgan hugging a bottle of champagne against her chest.
God, she was just so fucking adorable, Eric thought, reaching over to push the glasses that were always threatening to fall off back up her cute little nose. Her wavy dark brown hair that she always seemed to wear in a ponytail, hung free around her shoulders, one thin strap of the black cocktail dress that he’d never seen her in before made its way down her arm, and-
Had him fucking sighing as he took a sip of beer, realizing that the only good thing that came out of this whole mess was that he got to see Morgan in a dress, something that he never thought would happen again after the unfortunate incident that occurred at their prom.
“I know you do, Morgan,” Eric said, unable to help but smile for the woman that always had his back as he reached over and plucked the bottle of champagne out of her arms.
“My bubbles,” Morgan mumbled sadly as she watched him hand the bottle over to a passing waiter.
“I’ll get you more bubbles later,” Eric promised her even as he gestured to his cousin to hand him the bucket of ice on the table behind him.
Jason grabbed the bucket and moved to hand it to Morgan when Eric snatched it out of his hands with a glare because letting the little prick next to her was the last fucking thing that he was going to let happen.
With a sheepish smile, Jason murmured, “Right,” grabbed an abandoned beer from one of the tables next to them and took a sip while Eric shifted his attention to his best friend and-
“Where are the bubbles?” Morgan mumbled sadly as she stared down at the glass of water in front of her.
“They’re sleeping,” Eric told her, even as he tried to remember if he’d ever seen her this drunk before.
Normally, Morgan didn’t drink, but those few times that she did were always memorable. There was the time that he stole beer from his grandfather’s house only to end up trying to convince her that the squirrels throwing nuts at her did not want to be her friends. Then, there was the time when they were in college and he dragged her with him to a fraternity party and ended up chasing her through the math building at two in the morning because she didn’t want to be late for a class that she wasn’t even fucking taking. The last time he saw her this drunk was probably her twenty-first birthday, which was something that he’d promised himself that he wouldn’t think about again.
“But I love them,” Morgan mumbled sadly as he placed the bucket of ice on the floor between them and took her small hand in his, only to wince when he saw how swollen it was.
Morgan didn’t get pissed often, but when she did…
“Can I hit Amber again?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
“Maybe later if you’re a good girl,” Eric promised her as he examined her hand to make sure that it wasn’t broken.
Nodding solemnly, Morgan said, “I’ll be good,” making his lips twitch as he grabbed a handful of ice from the bucket and pressed it against the back of her hand.
“I know you will, baby girl,” Eric said, wondering what he’d done to deserve someone like her in his life.
Morgan always had his back no matter how badly he’d fucked up and he’d definitely fucked up this time. She never judged him, never threw his mistakes in his face, or made him feel like shit when he screwed up and he fucking thanked god for that right now because the last thing that he needed was one more person telling him how badly he’d fucked up his life.
“Is it later?” Morgan asked, sounding hopeful as she glanced around the insanely expensive restaurant, most likely looking for another chance to bitch-slap Amber.
“Not yet,” Eric said softly, watching as Morgan’s small shoulders sagged in defeat.
“Looks like it’s time to leave,” Trevor said, drawing his attention to Jack, Amber’s father, who looked seriously pissed as the manager handed him the bill for this mess.
“Probably a good idea,” his father murmured in agreement as he stood up and headed toward Theo, who wasn’t letting the fact that he was barely fourteen stop him from trying to pick up a waitress. Eric watched his little brother lay on the Bradford charm only to wince in sympathy when their father grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dragged him out of the restaurant.
“Well, that was fun,” Trevor said around a yawn as he got up.
“Not really,” Jason said, grabbing another beer as he headed for the door.
“You want help?” Trevor asked, gesturing to Morgan, who was staring intently down at the bucket of ice.
“Did you see that?” she mumbled, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she glanced up at him.
“See what?” Eric asked, dropping the ice back in the bucket as he stood up.
“I turned the bubbles into ice with my mind,” Morgan whispered as he plucked her glasses off her face and carefully placed them in his jacket pocket.
“I did and it was amazing,” Eric said, nodding as he reached for her.
“Do you think this means that I’m a Jedi Master now?” Morgan asked as he picked her up and carefully threw her over his shoulder.
“I really do,” Eric said as he headed for the door.
There was a sniffle, and then, “I knew this day would come,” making his lips twitch even as he tried to figure out what the hell he was supposed to do now.
Coming March 1, 2023
Pretend: The Neighbor from Hell Prequel
November 24, 2022
Thanksgiving Negotiations: Part II
“Why are you locking the door?” Rebecca couldn’t help but ask as she watched her husband and the man that she’d been hoping would agree to their plan so that she wouldn’t be forced to take matters into her own hands.
“No reason,” Lucifer murmured absently as he double-checked to make sure that his office door was locked before he turned his attention to her.
“What if someone needs you?” Rebecca pointed out as she shifted to get more comfortable on the large desk that was admittedly becoming a bit more difficult to climb onto these days as she watched her husband, who was watching her in a way that she had to admit didn’t bode well for her ass.
“They can come back later,” Lucifer said as he sat down in his chair and leaned back, his gaze never leaving her as she sat there, slowly nodding with a murmured, “I see,” as she tried to figure out where she went wrong and-
She should have probably gone with Plan A, but in her defense, Rebecca thought this would be quicker. She knew Zoe would end up being the weak link, damn it, but she never thought that Haley would abandon her. But that was fine, more than fine because she was more than capable of wrapping her husband around her little finger and convincing him that it was in his best interest to hand over the reins to Fire & Brimstone’s kitchen.
With that in mind…
“Did I tell you how much I love you?” Rebecca asked, allowing her bottom lip to tremble ever so slightly, and then, just because she felt that it couldn’t hurt, she placed her hand on the soft swell of her belly.
“You know what I couldn’t help but wonder,” Lucifer murmured conversationally as his gaze dropped to her hand as she watched his expression soften the way that it did whenever he thought about the baby.
“That it would probably be in your best interest to give in to my needs?” Rebecca asked, wondering if it could really be that easy.
“I could do that,” Lucifer murmured in agreement as he reached over and gently pushed her hand out of the way so that he could place his hand on her belly before adding, “but I’m not going to.”
Of course not, Rebecca thought as she sat there, considering the incredibly handsome man with questionable OCD as she debated her next move. She could go back to letting her bottom lip tremble or she could go with Plan C…
Due to someone putting some really inappropriate adult content in this Chronicle, the full Chronicle could not be posted here, but can be found at RL Mathewson Website
“No reason,” Lucifer murmured absently as he double-checked to make sure that his office door was locked before he turned his attention to her.
“What if someone needs you?” Rebecca pointed out as she shifted to get more comfortable on the large desk that was admittedly becoming a bit more difficult to climb onto these days as she watched her husband, who was watching her in a way that she had to admit didn’t bode well for her ass.
“They can come back later,” Lucifer said as he sat down in his chair and leaned back, his gaze never leaving her as she sat there, slowly nodding with a murmured, “I see,” as she tried to figure out where she went wrong and-
She should have probably gone with Plan A, but in her defense, Rebecca thought this would be quicker. She knew Zoe would end up being the weak link, damn it, but she never thought that Haley would abandon her. But that was fine, more than fine because she was more than capable of wrapping her husband around her little finger and convincing him that it was in his best interest to hand over the reins to Fire & Brimstone’s kitchen.
With that in mind…
“Did I tell you how much I love you?” Rebecca asked, allowing her bottom lip to tremble ever so slightly, and then, just because she felt that it couldn’t hurt, she placed her hand on the soft swell of her belly.
“You know what I couldn’t help but wonder,” Lucifer murmured conversationally as his gaze dropped to her hand as she watched his expression soften the way that it did whenever he thought about the baby.
“That it would probably be in your best interest to give in to my needs?” Rebecca asked, wondering if it could really be that easy.
“I could do that,” Lucifer murmured in agreement as he reached over and gently pushed her hand out of the way so that he could place his hand on her belly before adding, “but I’m not going to.”
Of course not, Rebecca thought as she sat there, considering the incredibly handsome man with questionable OCD as she debated her next move. She could go back to letting her bottom lip tremble or she could go with Plan C…
Due to someone putting some really inappropriate adult content in this Chronicle, the full Chronicle could not be posted here, but can be found at RL Mathewson Website
November 20, 2022
Thanksgiving Negotiations
“No,” Lucifer said, not bothering to look up from the iPad on his lap as the small woman that loved tormenting him more than anything climbed onto his desk. Rebecca didn’t say anything as she shifted to get comfortable, letting him know that she was still trying to figure out how she was going to pull off whatever her devious mind had conjured up.That was fine with him.More than fine…Normally, his incredibly beautiful wife used a few whispered promises to wrap him around her little finger, but when she had no idea where to start, those times always ended with him struggling to catch his breath while his wife sleepily mumbled her demands against his chest. Knowing how this was going to end, Lucifer bit back a smile when Rebecca plucked the iPad out of his hand and placed it on the desk next to her as he looked up, more than ready to help his wife bring him to his knees and-
November 11, 2022
Another Christmas from Hell is Now Available
The last thing that Bryce James wanted was to fall in love with his brother’s best friend.
From New York Time’s bestselling author R.L. Mathewson comes the next installment in the disturbingly funny romantic comedy series, Neighbor from Hell.
It was time to move on.
Granted, Cayley would have preferred to wait until after Christmas, but with her best friend somehow managing to get her fired and evicted in the same day, she had no choice but to move into the apartment across from the man that really didn’t seem happy to see her.
That was fine.
More than fine because if she could handle her best friend making her life a living hell and an ex-fiancé that was determined to get her back, then she could handle the man that was willing to do whatever it took to let the past destroy them both.
He couldn’t believe this was happening again.
For years, Bryce had been going out of his way to avoid Cayley, hoping that she would finally move on, but now that she was back, he realized that he no longer had a choice.
He was going to have to break her heart.
At least that was the plan until the little brat turned the tables on him, making him wonder how much longer he was going to be able to lie to himself even as one thing became painfully clear…
This was going to be the worst Christmas ever.
Excerpt from Another Christmas from Hell
“I’m not interested in you,” Bryce said firmly, watching as she frowned in confusion.
“And you’re telling me this why?” Cayley asked as she sent him a questioning look as he told himself that this was for her own good.
“Because I’m trying to let you down gently,” Bryce said, wishing that he had done this years ago.
As much as he hated to do this, it was for her own good. He should have done this as soon as he realized that she couldn’t live without him, but he’d hoped that she’d outgrow it and move on. When she’d started dating the prick, Bryce told himself that it was probably for the best. Then, the prick broke off their engagement and she came running back, more determined than ever.
“I gathered that much on my own, but I’m not sure why,” Cayley said as she pulled into the parking spot that Connor assigned her.
“Because you’re in love with me,” Bryce said with a helpless shrug, not knowing what else to say.
“I see,” Cayley murmured, sounding thoughtful while he sat there really hoping that she’d be able to hold back the tears.
“I’m trying to be nice,” Bryce said, releasing his seatbelt as he tried to think of something that would help her get through this, but…
There was no way to soften the blow, he realized, biting back a sigh.
Frowning, Cayley said, “Let me get this straight, you think that I’m in love with you and-”
“I know,” Bryce said, but she simply continued as though he hadn’t spoken.
“-and you decided that the best way to let me down gently was to blurt it out like that?”
“I was trying to be nice!”
“And it really showed,” Cayley said, nodding solemnly as she opened her door and climbed out, leaving him to do the same and-
“I just never thought it would end this way,” Cayley said with a sniffle, dragging his attention to find her lower lip trembling.
Aw, shit...
“I thought we’d be together forever.” Sniffle. “I just thought you needed time to realize that you couldn’t live without me,” Cayley said as she released a shuddering sigh before continuing. “I always pictured us getting married, moving into a small house with a white picket fence where we would raise our ten children while breeding emus.”
“Emus?” Bryce asked dryly.
Sniffling, she nodded. “We’d make a killing selling emu eggs.”
“And why would we want to do that?” Bryce asked, rubbing his hands roughly down his face, suddenly feeling exhausted.
“How else would we support our ten children?” Cayley asked, frowning up at him.
“Please tell me that you’re screwing with me,” Bryce said, dropping his hands away.
“I would never joke about Fluffy,” Cayley said, blinking up at him.
“Who the hell’s fluffy?”
“Our nearsighted dog, of course. Kids need a dog, Bryce,” she said with a solemn nod, only to follow that up with another shuddering sigh as his eyes narrowed dangerously on her.
“Look, I think I really need to lay down in the fetal position and struggle to fight back the tears that I know are coming while I try to accept that the dream is over,” Cayley said around a yawn that was quickly followed by a mumbled, “Good talk,” as she walked away while he stood there, watching her as he told himself to let it go.
Available Now
Another Christmas From Hell
