Have you ever gone on an author binge read? Well, that’s what happened to me last weekend. I received an ARC of a book and as I sometimes do, I read the first couple chapters to see if it is something that needs to go onto my ‘read sooner rather than later’ pile. The next thing I knew I was over 50% into the book and not stopping. I know you’re wondering what book this was that pulled me in and wouldn’t let me stop…
Cela knows how to be good. She’s had a lifetime of practice. But on the night of her college graduation, she decides she’s earned one wild night before she has to move back home to her overprotective family. So when the hot neighbor she’s been quietly fantasizing about for a year suggests a game of Never Have I Ever, she’s ready. But what starts out as a simple game takes an unexpected turn. Because Ian Foster doesn’t play games he can’t win.
Foster knows his desires aren’t for the faint of heart, especially not for someone as sweet and innocent as his pretty neighbor. But when Cela shows up at his door with an invitation that surprises him, he can’t resist indulging. Cela has no idea what she’s in for. The secret dark side of this man’s need will both intrigue and terrify her. But Cela has a secret of her own—and a new game to see just how far they’re both willing to go, and how much they’re willing to risk by crossing every boundary of desire.
So… After I finished this book, I immediately purchased all the previous books in the series… and once I really looked, I realized that I had started this series a while ago and I really liked the first book, but I forgot that I wanted to read what came next. Needless to say, I read all the books in this series in the span of less than a week. I was completely engrossed in each and every story and character that Loren created.
Admittedly these books aren’t going to be everyone’s taste, but they are definitely mine. The writing is wonderfully done, the story arcs are all unique and interesting… plus hot, alpha males… sometimes even more than one! O_o
We have an exclusive excerpt to share with you all from the upcoming Nothing Between Us… out on January 6, 2015!! Enjoy!
“How long is Keats staying with you?”
Colby frowned and glanced toward the hallway, then took a draw of his beer. “He wants me to drive him back tonight. I’m giving him some money. He said it’ll cover him for a while.”
“You don’t seem too thrilled about that.”
“I’m not.” Colby leaned back and laid his arm across the back of the couch, looking weary all of a sudden. “But the guy’s too prideful for handouts. I offered to let him stay with me for a while, but he sees it as charity. Plus, he comes from a world where nothing is given for free. Even with one night, I could tell he was trying to figure out my angle, like there’s more to it than me wanting to help out.”
She picked at the label her beer. “Is there?”
“No, he’s a kid I used to know who needed help. I helped. I still want to help.”
“He’s not a kid anymore, Colby,” she said, peeking up at him. “I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
He raised a brow at her. “Well, apparently, you have.”
“Come on,” she said, barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “You know neither of you is hard to look at.”
“Is that right? Neither of us, huh?” He grinned and pointed the neck of his beer toward her. “Does this mean I need to challenge Keats to a duel for your primary affections?”
She sniffed. “Only if you plan on taking your shirts off and doing hand-to-hand combat. Possibly while the sprinklers are running.”
A bark of laughter spilled out of him, echoing through the room. “Dirty mind, Georgia. I like this side of you.”
She smiled, feeling lighter than she had in a very long time. She liked this side of her, too—even though she suspected it was partly due to the residual effects of that kiss and might not last long. “I have my moments.”
“Oh, I have no doubt,” he said, the shift in his voice like a stroke against her skin.
She chewed her lip, the simple statement bringing to mind her nights at that window, the things she’d seen take place in the room down the hall. But she couldn’t let her thoughts wander there. Already she could feel her body prickling with awareness. She grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it against her chest in defense. “Do you think Keats would consider staying if I could offer him a job?”
His forehead scrunched. “What do you mean?”
“I need an assistant. Simple stuff—errands, emails, mailing things for me. I have an extra laptop. He could do it from here—or my place, if I can handle that. It’d only be part time, but it’d be steady work, and he could look for something full time or take classes or whatever he needs to do in between.”
“I thought you were looking for a virtual assistant.”
She shrugged, though her attempt at casual felt stiff. This was a big, major deal for her. “I was. But he needs it more than some college kid. And . . . I think it’d be good for me, you know, to invite some people into my life.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “You’re kind of amazing for making that offer. But why him?”
She set her beer on the coffee table. “Because he seems like a good guy who’s had some bad luck. And I don’t know, when he helped me today, there was just something about him. I feel comfortable around him—which, believe me, in my world, is like finding a unicorn.”
Colby’s mouth curved upward. “I’m sure Keats would be thrilled to know you called him a unicorn. Very badass image. You sure this isn’t just a sinister plan to live out some boss/subordinate fantasy? Because you’ve already admitted he’s not hard to look at, and I have a feeling Keats would have no problem volunteering for that game. I mean, you already got him naked after only knowing him for a few minutes.”
She grinned and tossed the pillow at him, even though the images he painted were oh-so-tempting ones. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
He held his beer out of the way and batted down the pillow, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Oh, come on, the thought didn’t cross your mind even once? Yes, Ms. Delaune, should I type this letter with my shirt off or maybe without pants?”
She pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh, but it didn’t work. “You’re terrible.”
“And right,” he said, pointing the neck of his beer bottle at her.
She shook her head, a little amazed that he’d picked up on her attraction to Keats and that they were openly discussing another man. “You know, you’re not like other guys.”
“Of course I’m not, but what makes you say that?”
“Well, we just kissed and you’re teasing me about another guy like it’s no big deal if I think he’s hot.”
Colby shrugged. “I kissed you. I like you. But I don’t own you. I don’t have any right or desire to control who you find attractive. And I’d rather have your honesty than anything else.”
Georgia tried not to wince. Honesty. Yeah, she was doing a stellar job at that one. Fake last name. Shady background. Not to mention that whole illegal-peeping thing. Just slap a big fat F on her report card for that one. Her conscience wagged its finger at her, bringing the guilt down heavy. Her thumb started rubbing at her palm again. She watched the back-and-forth motion. Maybe she should leave. Kissing Colby had been fantastic, but how could she pursue anything with him? All her issues. The fact that he was dominant. Everything was so complicated in her life right now. “It’s getting late . . .”
“Come on, baby,” he said softly. “Don’t chicken out on me now.”
She looked up, finding those hazel eyes studying her, flickering gold in the lamplight. “What?”
“Tell me what you really came here to tell me.”
It took a second for the request to register, but when it did, it squeezed around her throat in a death grip. “What do you mean?”
“Georgia . . .”
The awareness in his eyes was like a guillotine slicing through her last shreds of hope.
Oh. Shit.
“You saw the binoculars.”
Colby’s expression didn’t change, but he set down his beer. “I did.”
She stared at the couch cushion between them, humiliation bleeding through her. This wasn’t happening. “I’m so sorry, I—”
But her words trailed off when he shifted toward her on the couch. He put his fingers beneath her chin. “Hey, look at me.”
That was the last thing she wanted to do, but she forced her focus upward. She’d done the crime, now it was time to pay the price for it. But when she tilted her face to him, she didn’t see any censure or judgment in his.
“You must think—” she started again, but he hushed her with a shake of the head.
“I already knew,” he admitted. “So I’m as much to blame as you are.”
“What?” She blinked, her thoughts scattering like frantic mice. Maybe she was hearing things. “But—”
“I saw your curtains move and a flash one night when I had friends over. The moonlight must’ve glinted off the lens of your binoculars.”
“Oh my God.” She put her hands to her face, officially mortified. “Why didn’t you shut your curtains?”
He chuckled and reached for her wrists, easing her arms down to her lap. “I’m guessing you can probably figure out the answer to that yourself.”
She swallowed hard, the realization staring her in the face. “You liked me watching.”
His dimpled smile was downright devious. “Hello, Ms. Voyeur, meet Mr. Exhibitionist.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “God, that makes me sound like such a pervert.”
He released her wrists and leaned back against the arm of the couch again. “Come on, now. You’ve watched me long enough to know I could beat you on the pervert scale a few thousand times over. No need to feel any shame about it. You wanted to watch. I let you—and enjoyed it.”
She couldn’t process this. All the times she’d watched him flipped through her mind like a dirty movie on fast-forward and repeat. All those nights, he’d known she was there. Then another thought hit her. “So last night . . .”
“Last night was probably out of line,” he admitted. “All the other times, I knew you were watching, but I didn’t change my behavior because of it. Last night, I did.”
Her heart was moving too fast again, but for a different reason than panic. “Why?”
He considered her for a moment, then released a breath. “Because I was selfish. I needed to know if you watched my window because you just enjoy seeing other people be intimate and do kinky things or if you watched because of me.”
Oh, hell.She bit the inside of her lip.
“Because some people like watching no matter who it is. And that’s cool. I can get into that sometimes, too. But if that’s all it was, I wanted to know so that I didn’t go traipsing where I’m not wanted.”
Her brows met. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve seen what kind of lifestyle I live, how I am with lovers?”
“Yes,” she said, almost too low for her own ears to register the sound.
“And what do you know about me, Georgia?”
She wet her lips. “You’re bisexual.”
“I am.”
“And you like threesomes.”
Amusement lit his eyes. “True, what’s not to like?”
“And you’re a dominant and a sadist.”
His mouth lifted at the corner. “Yes. You know the language. I have to admit that surprises me a little. Google?”
“I look that innocent?” she asked, deadpan. “I think I’m insulted.”
Okay, so it was totally Google. But no way she was admitting that.
He laughed, the sound coming from deep in that wide chest of his. “I’m not trying to tease you.”
“Uh-huh.”
He took her hand again, his expression going more serious. “I’m only trying to figure you out—and need to make sure you know exactly who I am because that list of things would probably scare off ninety percent of the population. And if you watch me simply because I’m so out there that you find it interesting, that’s fine. If we kissed because there’s attraction but you’re not really into the other stuff, I’ll understand. Tell me that and nothing has to change. You can continue to watch and I’ll let you.” His thumb traced the delicate bones of her wrist, the heat of his touch burning through her. “But if you watch because you think you might crave some of those same things, if you find yourself wondering what it’d be like to be there with me instead of behind the glass, then tell me that, too. Because, Georgia, all you have to do is ask and next time I won’t stop unless you tell me to.”
GOOD NEWS!!! The lovely amazing publicist over at Berkley, after my begging and pleading, is going to send one lucky winner copies of the full series!!!
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