Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries Book 11) (50 page)

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SUBMISSION IS NOT ENOUGH

Masters and Mercenaries, Book 12

By Lexi Blake

Coming October 18, 2016

Pre-order link coming soon!

A fallen hero reborn

Theo Taggart lost everything the night he died. His family, his beautiful Erin, and worst of all, he lost himself. A twisted doctor brought him back from the brink of death, but reprogrammed his identity to serve her will. Rescued by his brothers, he must fight to reclaim the man he was and the life, and love, that were stolen from him.

A love worth fighting for

Erin Argent thought she'd lost Theo forever. When he walked back into her life, it was nothing short of a miracle. Months of torture and conditioning at the hands of Dr. Hope McDonald have done damage to Theo that may never be mended. He has no memory of her or the life they shared. Breaking through to him, and helping him rediscover all he lost, will be the toughest mission she's ever faced. Luckily for Theo, Erin loves a good fight.

Their reunion under siege

Unfortunately, Hope is far from done with Theo Taggart. Obsessed with her prize experiment, she will do anything to get him back. If the only way to finally break him of his past life is to kill Erin and his son, then she's only too happy to oblige…

RUTHLESS

A Lawless Novel

By Lexi Blake

Coming August 9, 2016

Click
here
to pre-order.

The first in a sexy contemporary romance series featuring the Lawless siblings…

The Lawless siblings are bound by vengeance. Riley, Drew, Brandon, and Mia believe the CEO of StratCast orchestrated their parents’ murder twenty years ago to steal their father’s software program. And there’s only one way Riley can find some solid evidence...

Heir to the StratCast legacy, Ellie Stratton hires a new attorney to handle a delicate business matter—and she’s shocked by her attraction to him. Over the course of a few weeks, Riley becomes her lover, her friend, her everything. But when her life is threatened, Ellie discovers that Riley is more obsessed with settling an old score than in the love she thought they were building. And Riley must choose between a revenge he’s prepared for all his life and the woman he’s sure he can’t live without...

Reviews

“Smart, savvy, clever, and always entertaining. That’s true of Riley Lawless, the hero in Ruthless, and likewise for his creator, Lexi Blake. Both are way ahead of the pack.” ~
New York Times
bestselling author Steve Berry

"I love Lexi Blake. Read Ruthless and see why.” ~
New York Times
bestselling author Lee Child

With Ruthless, Lexi Blake has set up shop on the intersection of Suspenseful and Sexy, and I never want to leave. ~ Laurelin Paige,
New York Times
bestselling author

Ruthless is full of suspense, hot sex, and swoon worthy characters -- a must read!" ~
New York Times
bestselling author Jennifer Probst

* * * *

Riley turned and got his first glimpse of Ellie Stratton. Pictures didn’t do the woman justice. In her pictures she was serious, even somewhat severe. She’d had them done to go out with newsletters and in business journals. He’d found her to be a bit boring, a couple of pounds overweight.

Those extra pounds were in all the right places. Ellie Stratton had that brownish blond hair color that looked dull in photographs because no picture could catch the subtle variations of color that the midmorning light could. Her hair was down, flowing past her shoulders. Blond and chestnut and sable strands vied with a few shades of mahogany. She’d ditched the severe suit she wore in pictures in favor of a wrap dress that clung to her curves. No pantyhose. Her legs were round and feminine, descending to four-inch heels that would look nice wrapped around his neck.

Where had she been hiding that rack?

His brother cleared his throat, a sure sign that Riley was fumbling the ball.

“Ms. Stratton, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He was going to have to figure out how to handle her. He needed to get close, to gain access to the building and the offices and, more importantly, to the data Drew hadn’t been able to find. He needed access to everything StratCast had to offer, and the closer he could get to Castalano, the better.

Revenge was only one part of their plan. Justice was another.

He held out his hand and she took it. She had a firm grip, but when she was about to pull away, he placed his other hand over hers, trapping her. He looked right into her eyes. They were brown with flecks of gold in them. Pretty eyes. Another thing she tried to hide in those business pictures. She wore glasses, likely trying to make herself look serious. “I want to assure you that we’re here and you’ll be satisfied with our services. We’re dedicated to our clients, and I’ll make sure this buyout runs as smooth as clockwork.”

Her eyes widened and he saw a flare of awareness go through her.

It was a revelation to meet her in person. It was likely difficult to be the female boss in a male-dominated industry. She would have to hide her femininity, to cloak it in a coat of chilly intellectualism in order to be taken seriously. It was obvious that she felt at home here in her own office.

In the real world, she likely had very carefully placed walls.

Poor Ellie. He was going to have to break them down.

She smiled at him, and it turned her face from serious to stunning in a second. When Ellie Stratton smiled, it was like someone had turned a light on in a previously dark room.

“Thank you.” She seemed to realize what she’d done and pulled her hand out of his. Her cheeks had a pretty blush to them. She was divorced, according to the dossier their security firm had worked up on her. He would know more this afternoon when Mia got back from Dallas for their briefing. “I’ll be honest, I’m actually quite happy to have found a new firm. My father’s lawyers were oh-so-stuffy. I’m not sure they knew what to do with me.”

Castalano smiled her way. “You’re a force of nature, sweetheart. They should let you do what you do.”

She smiled for the disgusting old man, and Riley felt his heart rate tick up. “You’re too nice to me, Steven. And not everyone thinks the same way you do.”

“Then they can take a long hike,” Castalano said with a smirk. “You’re going to do great here. And don’t worry about the lawyers. This will all work out. I promise.”

“It’s only a formality.” She stepped back and nodded Riley’s way. “If you’ll follow me, we can get started. Steven, if you’ll excuse us. I hope your day goes well.”

Castalano suddenly seemed bright. Well, as bright as his craggy, florid face would allow. “It’s wonderful, Ellie. I’m going to grab my clubs and meet my friend at Chelsea Piers for our weekly session. You look like you’re in good hands with these two. See you later, dear.”

She gave him a wave and then began walking toward the executive wing. “If you’ll follow me, gentlemen. I was so grateful you could take me on. I know it was short notice, but I’m very appreciative.”

Riley walked slightly behind her and wondered if she knew how the dress she was wearing clung to her backside. She had a spectacular ass. Little Miss Prim and Proper turned out to be someone entirely different than he’d thought, and she had some serious junk in her trunk. What had seemed like a mission of sexual martyrdom suddenly looked like something else entirely. He might very well enjoy the next few weeks.

“Come on, brother,” he said quietly. “Let’s get this thing started.”

They’d waited twenty years and it was finally here.

ELEGANT SEDUCTION

Trinity Masters, Book 6

By Mari Carr and Lila Dubois

Click
here
to purchase.

A CIA asset, an heiress and a corporate mediator

Sebastian has dedicated his life to upholding the ideals of the Trinity Masters. However, when his best friend, Juliette, is named Grand Master, he knows secrets he’s harbored will be revealed. While he expects Juliette to be angry, he does not expect her to call him to the altar, to bind him to a stranger, Grant, and to Elle, the woman who’s haunted his dreams for years.

Then Juliette reveals a secret of her own. There’s evil at play in the secret society and she needs him to root it out. Sebastian has no choice but to go undercover to spy on his own trinity. As the danger surrounding the trio grows, Sebastian is forced to choose between loyalty and love.

Because reluctantly bound to Elle and Grant or not, Sebastian can’t deny the pair have earned their place in his soul.

* * * *

“We’re going out to dinner,” he said.

She turned slightly, before returning to face the mirror. “Oh. Okay. I guess I’ll see you later then.”

Grant smirked. She wasn’t getting out of it that easily. “
We’re
going out, Elyse. You, me and Sebastian. Grab your coat.”

Elyse turned around at that, responding with annoyance to his imperious tone. Good. She had a fighting spirit. It gave him no joy to see her sad, to see her struggling. If he had to piss her off to spark a little life into her, he’d do it…and love every minute of it.

“Excuse me?”

He leaned against the doorjamb. “You heard me. Grab your coat. I’m hungry.”

“I think maybe we need to get a few things clear, Mr. Breton. I don’t appreciate being told to do anything. I’m not a dog who heels and I’m not a soldier under your command.”

He grinned. “So noted. And I agree with you. We don’t know each other. Closed doors and silent treatments aren’t going to help that. Am I right?”

Elyse appeared chagrined. “You are.”

“You like Mexican?”

She nodded slowly. “Yes. I do.”

“Then that makes three of us. I’d say we’re well on our way to finding quite a bit of common ground.” Grant walked into her bedroom and picked up the coat she had dropped at the foot of her bed. He’d been a gentleman thus far, keeping his distance, but he’d be damned if he would resist the urge to touch her a minute longer.

Elyse turned so he could help her into her coat, and then sank back without hesitation when he tugged on her shoulders, pressing her back to his chest.

“You’re very beautiful, Elyse.”

She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. “Thank you. I’m sorry I snapped at you. And I’m sorry I closed myself in here. I just needed a few minutes to myself.”

“Understandable. We’ve all just experienced a life-altering event. Takes time to adjust.” With any luck, Grant would have a big portion of the walls standing between them knocked down by the end of the night.

“Ready to go?” Sebastian stood at the doorway, watching them with an expression Grant couldn’t read.

Jealousy?

Given Sebastian’s actions at the altar and his comments earlier, that feeling seemed unlikely. And yet…

Grant was a man of action. He’d spent too many years dealing with people who’d made dragging their feet an art form. It was time to see exactly where the three of them stood.

Keeping his hands on Elyse’s shoulders, he turned until they both faced Sebastian, then he bent forward and placed a kiss on her cheek.

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.

Yep. Definitely jealousy.

Elyse didn’t attempt to pull away, though Grant felt her stiffen slightly, surprised by his actions.

Upping the ante, he drew his hands down along her arms before wrapping them loosely around her waist. Elyse’s breathing accelerated, but to her credit, she held her ground.

They were virtual strangers. And yet, they were about to embark on a lifelong relationship. That knowledge drove Grant to push the limits far faster than he would have if he were merely on a first date with someone.

Sebastian remained silent, still as a statue by the door. His gaze followed the motion of Grant’s hands.

“Grant,” Elyse whispered.

He kept his arms around her, though his attention was on Sebastian. “We all knew this day was coming. Knew what it meant to join the Trinity Masters. We understood what we were giving up. And what we were gaining.”

He tightened his grip, letting Elyse feel exactly how much she was affecting him. His cock had hardened the moment he’d seen her lying on her bed, looking so lost and lonely.

For years, he’d worried that he wouldn’t feel an attraction to his spouse or spouses. Sex was something he enjoyed a great deal. His desires were darker than most, stronger, hell—kinkier. So, he’d spent the past seventeen years indulging them…just in case he was matched with less-adventurous souls.

“You’re going to be my wife, Elyse,” Grant continued, his hand rising to cup one breast. She gasped in surprise, but the nipple budded and her body relaxed under his hands.

More common ground.

“Our wife,” Sebastian said, drawing their attention back to him. “She’s going to be
our
wife.”

Up until that moment, Grant had gotten the feeling Sebastian was still resistant to the union, determined to buck the Grand Master’s edict.

And for the first time since he’d taken her in his arms, Elyse tried to pull away.

Also interesting.

She didn’t have a problem being Grant’s wife, but she wouldn’t accept that same declaration from Sebastian. Whatever came between them in the past was still an issue. They had their work cut out for them.

There was a delicate balance to be met if this relationship was going to succeed. It meant all the players needed to be invested. They needed to accept it.