by Geneva Lee
We collide, crashing into one another. Drawn by some invisible force neither of us can resist. Giving into it unleashes a savage awareness of each touch until our bodies entwine like our hearts. There’s never been anyone like him. I moan as he slips inside me, as he stretches me, as he releases me.
Sterling pushes deeper, carefully, allowing my body to adjust to his size. “You feel even better than I imagined.”
“Been imagining it, huh?” I murmur.
“And you haven’t been thinking about this?” He lifts an eyebrow and plunges fully inside me. I writhe with delicious fullness under his smug gaze.
“Guilty,” I groan. My fingernails sink into his broad shoulders for leverage as he rolls his hips languidly against my cleft.
“I’ll punish you later,” he teases but I don’t miss the dark flash in his eyes. Another reminder that I’ve only caught glimpses of the man he’s become. A curated collection of portraits—the pieces he allows me to see.
I want to see all of him, but that will take time. But it starts here. It starts now. His teeth sink into my shoulder and I whimper, circling against him faster. Sterling clutches my hip and forces me back to the slow, deep rhythm.
“A few things have changed,” he says through gritted teeth. “I’m in control now. I’m going to make you feel so fucking good, but you’re going to have to let go and finally give in.”
His words unlock some hidden door in the wall I’ve built—one I didn’t know existed. Maybe I’d lost that part to him. Maybe no one else ever found it because it opens for him alone. Maybe he holds that key.
Because for once I don’t fight him, I do exactly what he says. I open my mind like I’ve opened my body and allow him to fill me entirely.
I’m drawn to Sterling, because he’s part of me. Separately, we don’t work and maybe we aren’t perfect together, but we are whole. That’s the messy truth of it. Wholeness isn’t neat or orderly. It’s give and take. It’s accepting all the parts of each other. I don’t know why he left. I don’t know why I stayed. I only know one thing. Together our beautiful chaos makes sense. Maybe just to us. But that’s all that matters.
“That’s right. Give in,” he coaxes. “You belong to me.”
His words thrust into me and take control. I am his. I always have been. But he’s mine, too. I tighten around him, my body forcing him to give me as much of him as he’s taken from me. His forehead presses to mine, slick with heat. He moves faster. He plunges deeper. He thunders, roaring into me and I shatter beneath him.
This time I don’t care how much of me he’s taken.
He can have it all.
We stay in bed after. Sterling’s head rests on my stomach, his fingers drawing pictures on my skin of all the places we’ll go together.
Neither of us seem in a hurry to leave the bed yet. That is until he hears my stomach growl.
“Hungry?” He turns his head to gaze up at me.
I run my hand through his tangled hair. “A little. But I’d rather stay here with you.”
He pushes up to give me a kiss. Then he winks, and I melt a little. “That’s a problem, because you’re going to need your strength. It’s still early.”
“It’s a predicament,” I agree. “Maybe later…”
I reach for him when a wet black nose pushes between us depositing a leash.
“Okay, boy,” he says as if this settles matters. “Someone needs a walk, huh? And my girl needs food.” He grabs the leash and climbs out of bed. He’s got his pants half-on when Zeus jumps into bed beside me. Sterling pauses, “You aren’t allowed on the bed.”
Zeus pushes his nose under my shoulder, flattening himself as he tries to hide.
“I can see you,” Sterling says, buttoning his jeans.
Undeterred the dog begins to lick my cheek. I giggle, scratching his head. “I take back what I said about him listening to you.”
“You’re going to spoil him.” Sterling clips the leash on him and tugs him away gently. “Sorry, boy, she’s spoken for.”
Zeus doesn’t seem to mind the rejection now that a walk is imminent. He tugs on his leash.
“Why don’t you order something?”
“I don’t have my phone,” I say. “I guess I could get dressed and go find it.”
“That would be a tragedy. I’d prefer you remain naked until I return.” He pulls his out of his pocket and tosses it to me. “Pass code is 0822. Order anything you want. I won’t be long.”
“Anything?” I ask. “I’m pretty hungry.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he calls as Zeus drags him away.
I pull the sheet against me and sit up in bed. It takes me a second to find the food delivery app. As I scroll through the options, a text alert from Sutton flashes at the top of the screen.
I don’t mean to look. I don’t mean to read it. It’s just there for me to see—and now I can’t unsee it.
Five words change everything. Five words erase everything. Five words shatter this pretty illusion that I let myself believe.
I can’t stop my finger from pressing it—from reading the rest of the conversation. I don’t know who Sutton is, but it doesn’t matter.
The phone falls to the bed as my world falls apart. Getting out of his bed, I open the nightstand drawer. It’s in there, on top, just like I knew it would be: The Great Gatsby. I don’t bother looking at the other books stored there. I turn to the last page and tear it out, ripping up all but the final line. I leave it on the pillow like a note and sprinkle the remaining pieces on the sheets.
He’ll know what it means.
The rest comes automatically. I gather my dress from the floor and tie it the best I can with its ripped belt. Shoes. Purse. Out the door. Press the elevator button. I make it to the car before it hits me. I left something behind and I can’t go back for it. Closing my eyes, I decide to leave it for him to clean up. It’s useless to me now: my broken heart.
BACKLASH
Book Two in the Rivals Saga
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About BACKLASH:
Adair
I thought my life was hell until the devil walked through my door. Sterling isn’t the boy who stole my heart anymore. He’s cunning, manipulative, and dangerous—so why does my body ache for his touch?
* * *
I trusted him. I should have known better. He’s broken my heart twice. Now there’s nothing left to break. Because I’m not the girl he fell for or the woman he used. He thought he could play me. He thought he could hurt me. But I’m a survivor, and while I might respond to every stolen kiss, every forbidden moment, there’s one piece of me he’ll never touch. I sold my soul to protect it, and no one can ever learn the truth—not even Sterling Ford.
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Sterling
* * *
I never thought I’d find myself begging for Adair’s forgiveness. But she belongs to me. She always has and she always will. No matter how hard she tries to rewrite history.
* * *
It’s too late to change who we’ve become. Maybe nothing can save us now. Maybe nothing ever could. I built my fortune with blood, fueled by lies, and soon my past will catch up with both of us. I can’t protect her from the man I’ve become, and no one can save me from the storm that’s coming—not even Adair MacLaine.
* * *
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Acknowledgments
Last year life handed me a huge surprise and everything changed. As it turns out, that doesn’t just happen in books. Everything got put on hold when I welcomed my little girl, Sophie, to the world. She wrote this book with me, so I have to thank her first. Sophie, I didn’t know I needed you, but I’m so thankful to be your mommy.
A huge thanks to Louise, my rockstar agent, and the team at The Bent Agency. I don’t know what I would do without you! A special shout-out to Victoria, who tries to keep me on track—a feat about as possible as herding cats.
Thank you to my foreign teams for all the hard work you do getting my books to readers all over the world.
Thank you to my amazing assistants, Natasha and Shelby. I could not do this without you. Seriously, thank you!
Thank you to Rebecca for excellent proofreading!
To my amazing reader group, Geneva Lee’s Loves—thank you for standing by me when I pushed this book’s release. Thank you for becoming part of my family. Thank you for being as excited about Sophie as I was!You are the best. Thank you to the members of Team G (Elsi, Heather, Christina, Karen, Jami, Michell) for always lifting me up.
This book is dedicated in memory of Trish, who didn’t get to read it. I’m so glad you are no longer in pain, but you will be forever missed, my darling friend.
To my author friends who inspire me every single day—thank you for showing me what kickass women can accomplish.
To my readers—thank you for going on this new adventure with me!
And to my family, you are my reason for everything. Elise, you’re my best friend, my sister, my business partner. Thank you for whiskey dates and bath bombs. To my kids, remember this is how mommy is going to pay for your therapy. Just kidding. Mostly.
And to Josh—thank you for speaking my language fluently.
About the Author
GENEVA LEE is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including the Royals Saga which has sold two million copies worldwide. She lives in Poulsbo Washington with her husband and three children, and she co-owns Away With Words Bookshop with her sister.
Geneva is married to her high school sweetheart. He's always the first person to read her books. Sometimes, he reads as she writes them. Last year, they were surprised by finding out Geneva was pregnant with their third child. They welcomed a beautiful baby girl in 2020.
When she isn't working or writing, Geneva likes to read, bake ridiculous cakes, and watch television. She loves to travel and is always anxious to go on a new adventure.
Also by Geneva Lee
THE RIVALS SAGA
Blacklist
Backlash
* * *
THE ROYALS SAGA
Command Me
Conquer Me
Crown Me
Crave Me
Covet Me
Capture Me
Complete Me
Cross Me
Claim Me
Consume Me
* * *
THE SINNERS SAGA
Beautiful Criminal
Beautiful Sinner
Beautiful Forever
* * *
FOUR SEASONS
Fall For You
A Long Winter’s Night
Spring Fever
Hot Summer Nights
* * *
STANDALONE
The Sins That Bind Us
Two Week Turnaround
His Private Collection