Exclusive Excerpt: IN SELF DEFENSE by Loralynne Summers @LL_Summers
It’s my great pleasure to feature debut author, Loralynne Summers, today! Loralynne even spoiled me by granting my request of an exclusive excerpt from her new release from Evernight Publishing, IN SELF DEFENSE. Please enjoy the super sexy and cute excerpt as well as her inspiration for the story. Thanks for visiting, Loralynne!
IN SELF DEFENSE by Loralynne Summers
BLURB:
She fell in love—in self-defense…
The last thing that Sarah wants in her life is a relationship. Her track record was horrendous, and the last guy she’d dated had beaten her mentally and physically, landing her in the hospital. Almost a year later she’s back on her feet, thanks in no small part to her best friend Jason. Trouble is, lately she wants more than a friendship with Jason, and it scares the hell out of her. And then he kisses her…
His offense may hit a brick wall…
Jason has been in love with Sarah for longer than he’ll willingly admit to. Since bringing her home from the hospital, she’s grown into a strong, secure, confident woman. After seeing how perfect his best friend really is, he can’t get her off his mind. He’s convinced her feelings match his, and decides to go for it, only to scare her away.
Can best friends become something more? Or will she stay hidden behind her defensive wall?
Exclusive Excerpt:
Sarah was kicking his ass. He wasn’t holding back, but she was just too fast. And too little. It was difficult to fight someone a foot shorter than him. If he threw in the towel he’d never live it down—from her or the rest of the staff at the gym. Deciding to take a chance, he made a plan. He pinned his hopes on the fact that he’d woken up with her in his arms. If she wasn’t interested, she would have slept in her bed, right? And he certainly hadn’t missed her blatant claiming of him at the end of class. He’d almost burst out laughing at the disapproving look on her face when the other woman sized him up. Trusting that his assumptions were correct, he let her take him down.
Her fist slammed into his ribs, and he hunched over, hoping she’d take the opening. It didn’t require much acting. She was stronger than he’d realized and was hitting hard. A second later, her elbow connected with his head, and he let the momentum carry him. Closing his eyes, he landed on the mat and waited.
“Oh shit, Jason!” She took the bait, and he fought the urge to smile. Her knee dug into his side as she leaned over him. “Jason, are you okay?” He wanted so badly to nip at her fingers when she pulled his mouthpiece out. “Jason, can you hear me?” His eyes flew open, and he grinned like a fool at the shock on her face.
Reaching his arm up, he hooked it around the back of her head and pulled her down, locking his lips over hers. Catcalls, cheers, and whistles filled the air. “Hoo-ah!” The distinctive military shout rose from Carter, making Jason laugh.
Sarah struggled against him, pushing at his chest. He loosened his arm and she rose, fleeing the ring and running for the locker room.
“Ah, shit. Sarah, wait!” He ran through the crowd, dodging slaps on his back from some of the guys. “Sarah, stop, please.” He caught up with her in the hallway. “Sarah.” He touched her arm. She spun and smacked him, the sound echoing in the enclosed space. Of all the hits she’d delivered to him in the last half hour, that one hurt the most.
“What the fuck, Jason?” Tears ran freely down her cheeks.
“Sarah, I’m sorry.” She smacked him again. He knew he deserved it. “Please, forgive me.” He held her shoulders lightly, and she punched half-heartedly at his chest.
“Why, Jason, why did you have to do that?”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re an asshole. And this time I mean it. You let me think I really hurt you.”
“I know. It was a stupid thing to do. I’m sorry.” He couldn’t say it enough.
“I saw you there, and all I could think of was how I’d knocked Alex out, and I don’t ever want to hurt you like that. I’d never forgive myself.” If she hadn’t cried on his shoulder so often over the years, he wouldn’t have understood the words that poured out in a rush through her sobs.
“I know, baby. I’m sorry. It wasn’t funny. It was a bad idea.” Suddenly, her words registered in his brain. “So, you’re not mad at me for kissing you, but because you thought you’d hurt me?”
“Yeah,” she sniffed. “I should kick your ass.”
“I’ve got news for you, baby—you were kicking my ass.” He stepped closer to her, cupping her chin in one hand.
“Really?” She backed up against the wall.
“Yeah.” He braced his hands against the wall on either side of her head.
“So that’s why you went down then?” She pressed her body into his, tilting her head up.
“One of the reasons.” He brought his head down.
“What was the other reason?” The words whispered from her lips as she stretched her face up to meet his. After last night, he wasn’t going to let this chance escape.
“To do this,” he said, closing the remaining distance between them.
Find In Self Defense here:
Evernight / Amazon / AllRomance / Bookstrand
AUTHOR BIO:
As a child, Loralynne was always the student getting in trouble for talking in class and at home for making things up. Combining her ability to go on and on and her flair for storytelling, she naturally grew up to be a writer. Originally planning to write fantasy, her muse had other plans. Once she opened herself up to the whims of her muse, she couldn’t type her first sex scene fast enough and now writes romance. Loralynne lives in Upstate New York with her husband, cats, and growing family. You can friend her on facebook or follow her on twitter under LL_Summers
INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY:
The story opens to Sarah mowing the lawn on a hot, humid day. And that’s exactly what I was doing when the idea first took root in my brain. My neighbor across the street arrived home on his Harley, and BAM! The whole opening scene was there in my head. I couldn’t type fast enough. There is a large part of my relationship in this story. Jason has some of my husband’s mentality, mostly in how he treats Sarah. I often tell my husband that I don’t deserve him, he is way better to me than I am to him! As for Sarah, I too fell in love with my best friend after leaving an abusive relationship. Thankfully, mine never reached the level of physical abuse, but the signs were all there, and it was only a matter of time. As in the story though, I was quite afraid of my feelings for my husband, because of how close our friendship was and I was terrified to ruin it.
Awesome! Thanks again, Loralynne.
Happy New Year and be sure to check back on New Year’s Day for the chance to win some great prizes including an iPad Mini during Evernight’s Holiday Hangover Blog Hop!
