Very Bad Things (Briarcrest Academy) (36 page)

“Shit!” Realizing she, again, spoke her thoughts out loud, she
moved to slam her fist into her thigh. Just as her expletive filled the tight
space of the car, his left hand sliced out and grabbed her fist, holding it in
his big palm. Their skin connected, and just like in the bar, electricity
surged through her body. But here, now, they were sitting face-to-face, his
eyes to hers.

She felt her skin bloom, every hair rising from her flesh,
as he reached out and placed his right hand on the side of her face. Before
Lyla knew it, he pulled her to him. She tried to resist, but his lips were soft
and warm as they caressed hers. The kiss that started out slowly, maybe even a
little chaste, turned inferno as soon has his cedar smell hit Lyla’s senses.
Her throaty moan was all the acceptance he needed.

“Nice,” he muttered as he pulled her tighter. He tried to
consume her with his kiss, and she went willingly. Her hands started to travel
down his hard, muscled chest, over his pecs, and spread across his abdomen. He
breathed in deep and slowly pulled away, keeping his hand wrapped around her
fist. Lyla opened her eyes, trying to figure out what the hell had just
happened, when she heard the click of the door being opened. The overhead light
in the car came on.

He was getting out of her car…he was leaving?

“What are you doing?” Lyla practically shrieked as she
leaned over to look at him through the passenger window.

“Not you. Not tonight,” he answered, a strength in his voice
that Lyla couldn’t imagine any man able to possess after
that
kiss.

She was embarrassed, angry, and aroused beyond belief. “You
know what? I didn’t even invite you into my car. I don’t even know you! Why did
you even bother, asshole? Next time you see me, just…just...walk the other
way,” she dismissed him. “Jesus Christ.”

Trying to gather her determination, she straightened herself
behind the steering wheel and inhaled. Scrubbing her hands over her forehead,
she closed her eyes for a quick second, forcing herself to keep it together.

“What the hell is wrong with me? I didn’t even know his
fucking name, and here I am with my tongue down his throat? He could have
fucking killed me, and I would have deserved it…shit!” She slammed her palms
into the steering wheel again.

The tears started to well up as the fragrance of cedar and
leather tickled her nose again. She opened her eyes and was startled to find
him leaning in through the open driver’s side window.

“Now what do you fucking want?” She spat, “Go the hell
away!”

“Lyla…”

“No, I’ve had enough for the night…just go,” she said,
trying to rein in her emotions. She had about sixty seconds before her wall
would crumble, and she knew she had to get out of there. She did not
cry—ever—and definitely not in front of a gorgeous man with dimples and a sexy
smile, whose kiss could make her forget things she wished she had never
learned.

“Lyla.” His was voice firm, demanding her attention. She
reluctantly raised her eyes and looked at him. His electric gaze sparked as
blunt words left his full lips. “My name is Gage. I see you come here each
Thursday with your friend, and to be honest, I’ve wanted you for weeks. I’ve
seen the way you laugh, the way you smile. I’ve seen the way you throw sass
when someone gives you a hard time.” She watched as the muscles in his jaw
clenched and released. She could feel his gaze penetrating her body. “If you
think…Christ…if you think I’m gonna kiss you”— his eyes raked over her—“and
then fuck you in a parking lot after the fantasies that have been living in my
mind, then yes, sweetheart, you have lost your fucking mind.”

Lyla looked away, her cheeks warm, her panties damp.

“Lyla, look at me, sweetheart. I’ve seen the men you take
home,” he went on, “You have the F-and-R pattern down to a science.”

Lyla jerked her eyes back to stare him down. “F and R?”

Ignoring her question, Gage continued his monologue, “I
practically invented that routine, and I refuse to go there with you. You
deserve everything good and sensual. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that no
matter how much ‘fun’ you’re having, the sparkle never quite hits your eyes.
You deserve a man who is going to worship you—body and soul. I am going to be
that man.” He paused a beat, “But it is
not
going to be tonight. It
can’t be.”

Her eyes didn’t leave his. “So, until we are both ready,
that kiss is as far as we can go,” he explained. “Please, drive safely… and I
will see you when I see you.” He leaned into the car, gave her a slow kiss on
the lips, slipping his tongue into her mouth and gently caressing her tongue
with his, and then he was gone.

When she opened her eyes he—Gage—was nowhere.
Was he ever
here?
Lyla’s lips tingled, and she could still smell a trace of his
cologne, feel his hands on her cheek. She could taste man and…salt? She looked
into her rearview mirror, and she saw what she feared: a stream of tears had
trailed down her cheeks and onto her lips.

Exhaling, she wiped away the tears, “Worship my soul?” She
spoke aloud, “Bullshit. My body on the other hand…that I can handle.” She wiped
her face again and headed for home.

Alone.

For
more information about Lisa N. Paul and her books, visit:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Anywhere
with You,

a new
adult romance by Kaylee Ryan

COMING
August 20, 2013.

Allison Hagan has not lived the life of a
normal teenager. Her parents died in a car crash when she was ten and she has
been living with her elderly grandmother who happens to be her only living
relative ever since. Allison became best friends with the boy next door Aiden.
Aiden’s family has taken her in as part of their own, which is why when her
gran insists that she live in the dorms at college so Allison chooses to attend
the same school as Aiden.

Liam MacCoy is a college senior and
quarterback of his college football team. Liam is rumored to be first round
draft pick for the NFL following graduation as is his best friend Aiden. Liam
has one focus and that’s football that is until his little sister introduces
him to her roommate Allison. Since he met her he hasn't been able to think of
anything else.

Liam is not a relationship kind of guy and
Allison wants it all. She wants the romance and the family that she grew up without.
Will Liam overcome his fear of relationships as well as the tangle of
friendships to give Allison everything she wants?

**This excerpt is unedited and is subject to change.

LIAM’S POV

I STOPPED IN front
of the bathroom door and leaned my forehead against it. I could hear her soft
cries. I knocked softly, “Allison, it’s Liam can you let me in, sweetheart.”

“Just give me a minute, I’ll be fine,” she
choked out.

“Please,” I whispered.

I heard her shuffling towards the door and
heard the handle move. When she pulled the door open her face was blotchy and
her eyes were red and swollen. Without even thinking I stepped inside and shut
the door. I pulled her close to me and wrapped her in my arms. I kissed the top
of her head and as I did she began to cry harder. I’m not sure how long we
stayed like that but during that time I think I lost a piece of myself to
Allison Shay Hagan.

She pulled away from me slowly. “Sorry
about your shirt,” she whispered.

I pulled her chin up with my thumb and
forefinger so that she was looking me in the eye, “Are you okay? Do you want to
talk about it?”

She shook her head no. “I feel like such a
baby. It was years ago, I should be able to talk about it.”

“Is there something in particular that
upset you?” I asked softly as I pulled her back into my chest as I slowly
rubbed my hand up and down her back.

“Not really, it’s just…” she sniffled.

“What baby, what happened?

“It’s just family dinners. I miss those,
Gran is all I have left and her health is failing and I’m here when I should be
with her. She is all that I have in this world.”

I couldn’t find words through the lump in
my throat. My only reply was to pull her tighter. As I did she in turn wrapped
her arms tighter around my waist. After getting my emotions under control, I
pulled away from her and cupped her face in my hands. I wiped her tears away
with my thumbs. “You are amazing, you have so many people who love you, Aiden,
his parents and Hailey. My parents adore you.” I swallowed back my emotions.
“You have me,” I whispered never tearing my eyes from hers.

“Liam,” she murmured.

Her plea sent me over the edge I slowly
brought her face to mine as I leaned down. I stared at her lips and then back
to her eyes letting her know my intent. I needed to kiss her more than I needed
my next breath. I waited, as my intentions set in, I could see when
understanding flashed across her face, she licked her lips. I leaned a little
closer, closing the space between us. Hesitating, giving her the opportunity to
stop me, she didn’t.

When my lips touched hers I felt the tremor
in my hands that were gently holding her close to me. She must have felt it to
because she placed her hands over mine as I continued to caress her cheeks
while I kissed her. I felt her open her mouth and I slipped my tongue inside. The
taste of her on my tongue caused me to release a deep moan, as I did Allison
slowed the kiss and rested her forehead against mine.

“Liam.”

“Mmm,” I was again at a loss for words. I
have kissed hundreds of girls and not once did any of those kisses elicit that
kind of reaction from me. I have never in my life felt this kind of connection
with any other human being.

“What are we doing?”

I kissed her forehead as I pulling back to
look her in the eye. “I was kissing the most amazing girl I have ever met.” I
needed her to know that she was different.

She blushed “I want more Liam. Not that I
expect a proposal next week but you’ve already made it clear that you won’t
make a commitment, so what are we doing?”

I shook my head and pulled her to my chest.
“I don’t know baby. All that I can tell you is that kiss was incomparable to
anything I have ever felt. You wreck me, you know that?” I asked searching her
face for understanding.

“Well, since that was officially my first
kiss, I don’t have anything to compare it to, but this feeling” she grabbed my
hand and laid it over her heart. “This connection that makes my heart race is
uncharted waters for me. I wish that I could hold onto it and never let go.”
She sighed, “But I need all of you Liam, I don’t want to share you, and I can’t
just be a fling. My heart can’t take it.” She brushed her hands across my
cheek. “If you ever decide that you can give me all of you, you know where to
find me.” She lifted up on her tippy toes and gave me one last chaste kiss on the
lips. “Thank you for listening and for the kiss” she said as she turned and
walked out of the room.

For more information about Kaylee Ryan and her books, visit:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Read the new adult romance excerpt below from

Don’t Let Go
by Michelle Lynn

Sadie Miller is attempting to change her
ways and hide somewhere no one knows her former self. She only wants to finish
her final year of college, obtain her degree and get out from her parent’s
hold. Then she meets Brady Carsen, the lead singer of the college town band,
The Invisibles. Although she tries to stay away, his persistence quickly wins
her over and she realizes although he is everything she’s not used to, he might
be exactly what she needs and more importantly wants.

Unfortunately, Sadie’s troubled past at her
last school left her with insecurities that make her question Brady’s true
intentions. While Brady is convinced Sadie is the one for him, he has his own
secrets that he fears will be their undoing, destroying everything they have
grown to become.

If they want to be together, they will have
to stand united and fight the outside influences that are threatening to tear
them apart. Can they put the distrusts and apprehensions formed by their pasts
behind them for good in order to secure their future?

Excerpt:

The next morning the light wakes me up,
streaming into the small room and I find myself alone in a strange bed. I look
around, trying to remember where I am and what I did. The dirty clothes
overflowing in the hamper and the sports team paraphernalia on the wall tell me
that I am most likely in a frat house…again.

I tip toe to get my shoes, hooking them in
my hands. I slowly open the door, peering right and left down the hall. I see
no one, so I quietly make my way down the stairs. It seems like the front door
is a mile away and I can’t get through it fast enough. Just as my hand reaches
the knob, I hear talking in the next room.

“I wouldn’t brag, Soren, I had her last
week.” A deep voice laughs. “Actually, you might be the last to have her.”

“She a great lay though,” Jeff Soren says
in return.

“I told you she was,” the other male
agrees. “Ever since…the incident, she has become the college slut.”

“I know. It’s kind of sad though.” Jeff’s
voice actually sounds concerned. “I wish…”

“Dude. You can’t save girls like that, you
just enjoy what they give you,” the other voice replies back.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. I
catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Mascara is stained in long lines down
my face and my long honey-colored hair looks like a bird made it their home. My
lips are swollen red, and I can’t help but think I resemble a hooker on the
corner waiting for her next trick.

I turn the knob to the door slowly, hoping
Jeff and his buddy don’t hear me. I sneak out, walking across the street to my
sorority house. I am happy to find that everyone is either still asleep or out.
When I crash into my bed, I take the picture out of my drawer that’s been
hidden away since last year. I clutch it hard against my chest, while sobs
escape my mouth. Curling up into the fetal position on my twin bed, I can’t
help but think how I have disappointed him. I need to change the direction of
my life. Make him proud of me.

For more information about Michelle Lynn and her books, visit:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads