I should have known that the real thing to be afraid of out here was another human being.
I flipped the little cap and depressed the button, the spray shooting forward.
But it missed him. He was still low to the ground.
Still clutching the mace, I took off running. I got maybe three steps when he tackled me again. Gravel cut into my cheek and stung my hands.
I started to scream.
I yelled as loud as I could.
He flipped me over and slapped a hand over my mouth. His face was dirty from the gravel and dust I flung at him. His eyes were no longer so empty… They were now filled with excitement.
I glanced down and noticed the tent in his pants, and I gagged.
He was sick. This was sick. This couldn’t be happening to me.
“Shut. Up,” he said and rocked against me.
I bit him.
He howled in pain and snatched away his hand. As I screamed, I reached out and grabbed at the erection that made me gag and yanked on it, twisting it, digging in my nails and hoping the pain would immobilize him enough for me to get free once more.
In the distance, a dog was barking, and I prayed that meant someone was headed this way, someone that would help me.
My attacker slapped his hand over my mouth again. The taste of blood, metallic and sharp, had me recoiling. His legs were shaking and I knew he was in pain.
But it hadn’t been enough.
I saw it in his face.
I felt it in my bones.
I wasn’t getting away.
I tried to buck him off one last time. I reached out for two more handfuls of gravel and dirt.
He drew back his arm and punched me. Right in the face.
And then there was nothing.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I really hope you all enjoyed this book. It was one heck of a ride, wasn’t it? At times I felt like I was on the plane barreling toward the ocean as I was writing it.
This book is a classic example of how the best laid plans can go awry. It started out with a different title, a title I loved. Triangle. I originally planned to write a book about a girl caught between two guys, stranded on an island in the Bermuda triangle. Hence the title Triangle. It was an ode to the Bermuda Triangle and to a love triangle. I wanted to do something different with the whole love triangle, because in all honesty… as a reader, I don’t like love triangles. They annoy me. And is it just me, or am I the only one who picks the guy who never gets picked? Like seriously?
Then I end up in a corner, sucking my thumb asking the heroine, “Why? Why, would you do this to me?”
Yeah. Not fun.
So I vowed to twist it, to make it better.
Then Nash crashed onto the pages. He had me at the ratty jeans. The moment he threw himself on top of Ava and whispered Spanish in her ear, well… I became his slave.
There was NO WAY in H-E-double hockey sticks that Ava would ever be lured away from such perfection. Am I right, or am I right?
I mean, it seemed almost silly to even have her have feelings for someone else.
And that’s where the battle for the plot began.
It was a long battle.
The characters won. I pretty much felt like a loony bin patient with all the thoughts rolling around my head. The Bermuda Triangle was supposed to play a bigger roll… In truth, Duke was supposed to be a ghost.
Yeah, not so much.
Instead, we got pirates, betrayal, and Nash.
Yet, I still hung on to Duke, to the possible love triangle. Only it’s not really a love triangle, is it? It was naughty Duke trying to lure Ava away.
Although, in truth, I think Duke had feelings for her. I just think he was crazy in the head. The things he lived through… well, you know. But if they had met on the street, he would have liked her. He would have asked her out.
She would have said no.
But he wouldn’t have tried to kill her for it.
Anywho, as you can tell by my above rambling, this book was a challenge to write. The most challenging New Adult Contemporary I have written thus far (okay, fine, it is only my third one—but still). It’s the last time I battle the characters over the way I think a plot should go.
It makes me crazy.
They win anyway.
I would like to acknowledge my husband, Shawn Hebert, for laughing when I told him how hard the book was to write. His response? “You say that every time.”
So maybe I do. This time I meant it.
Yes, I say that every time too.
Thanks, honey, for listening to me go on about plane crashes, texting you at work about flare guns, and then not laughing when I asked you what you would say if I told you I had a dream about being with two men…
No, I will not tell you what he said.
LOL.
To my daughter, Kaydence, who always keeps it real and tells me that my writing is boring. Who tells me that she wishes she could have a job where one lazed around on FB all day… Even though you say all those things, I know the minute I tell you that you are old enough to read my books, you will do so. And you won’t say they are boring. Ha-ha-ha.
To my son Nathan, who distracts me from writing by bringing home stray cats and making me feed them. Who shows me his houses and the zombies on his Minecraft game (I still don’t get that game) and who tells me that he likes my books—but he isn’t going to read them. Ha-ha.
To Regina Wamba and Cassie McCown. The two ladies who are always there to clean up my messes and make my stuff look pretty.
To Amber Garza and Cameo Renae, always there to cheer me on. And to all the ladies of Indie Inked who know exactly what it’s like to be a writer.
Thank you all for buying my books. For reading them. For tweeting me. For posting on your blogs and for leaving a review. You truly are my inspiration.
Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series, the new adult Death Escorts series, and the new adult Take it Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math, and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry), where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com.
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Take a look at bestselling author L.P. Dover’s newest release.
TRUSTING YOU
Prologue
Three Months Ago
A night at the bar, several tequila sunrises, and a gorgeous guy staring at me from across the room … how could I resist? Talking became flirting, flirting became touching, and then the touching led me to where I was now.
There were only a couple more hours until the first rays of sunshine would alert the coming of dawn. I was angry with myself for letting things go too far with the man sleeping soundly off to my side. How could I be so stupid yet love everything I did?
Sleeping with random men was not something I would ever do, and definitely not something I should be doing now. I was twenty-eight years old and already divorced from my college love, who made the mistake of sleeping with our whore of a neighbor. She’d spread her legs for anyone. Daniel just couldn’t resist, and of course I couldn’t resist divorcing him when he begged me to give him another chance. Marrying him was a mistake, and I couldn’t believe I was stupid enough to think he would stay faithful. After all, I had known of his reputation as a wealthy playboy. He pursued me with a vengeance and I fell hard. Shame on me onc
e, never twice.
After our divorce was final, my friends decided it was time I celebrated … and boy did I celebrate. We went out to bars every weekend and I dated many different men, which soon became tiring; they were either too wrapped up in themselves or complete douche bags. I had yet to find a man that was completely interested in who I was, and took the time to put my needs first. At least, until my gaze met the handsome stranger’s from across the room of the bar whose bed I now occupied.
My lover for the evening had drifted off to sleep not long after we spent the night rolling around the sheets. Even though he was a one night stand, he sure knew every way possible to make my body scream for his touch; it was intoxicating. It shocked me, but I indulged in the reckless fun for that short amount of time. I felt more wanted and desired in those hours of sex than I had the entire time I was married.
My ex was a good lover, but nothing compared to the passion and heat of the man off to my right. He was sleeping on his stomach, the naked flesh of his back exposed to the moonlight drifting in through the window. His muscled arm was curled under his pillow and his breathing was light and relaxed … so peaceful, and perfect. Even in his sleep he was one of the most handsome men I’d ever laid eyes on.
No, I scolded silently to myself. He may appear perfect, but I knew better than to fall into the trap of good looks and a charming smile. I will not be fooled again.
Slowly slipping out of bed, I gathered up my clothes that were strewn on the floor and quietly put them on, trying my best not to make any sound. I ran my fingers through my auburn waves, but gave up when all I felt were knots. It was going to be a bitch to brush out when I got home.
Before I snuck out of the bedroom, I took one last look at the man who had been the most aggressive and passionate lover I’d ever had. His dark, tousled hair was mussed up from my relentless tugging, and his closed eyes hid the sparkling gray color that glowed the entire time he ravished my body.
I must say … I didn’t regret what had happened with this man, and if I had the chance I’d probably do it again. He lived in a swanky condo in downtown Charlotte which I knew had to cost a fortune. Then again, my experience with wealthy men was tainted by my ex-husband … although, this man was nothing like my ex. It was clear he had money, but he never gloated about it when we talked at the bar. It was refreshing to talk to a man who was confident enough not to brag about himself the whole night.
However, no one was perfect and I knew he had to be far from it.
Shutting the bedroom door with a quiet click, I grabbed my purse off of the kitchen table and started to tiptoe to the front door, but stopped. Pulling out a piece of paper in my purse, I scribbled my number on it and laid it on the kitchen table. What am I doing?
I stared at the paper lying there and immediately thought of one word … desperate. And desperate was something I was not. Snatching the paper off of the table, I crumpled it in my hand. The guy was probably a player just like all the other men I’d come across. What made him so special that I’d give in and lower my guard?
Nothing, my mind screamed at me.
Jamming the crinkled paper into my purse, I tiptoed quietly to the front door and slipped out silently. There was one thing for certain, and my heart hated me for it. I wasn’t going to forget what happened tonight or the lover that made me orgasm more times in just a few hours than I had in the past year. The ache between my legs was going to remind me for the next couple of days what went on during this raging night of passion. As I sauntered into the elevator, my body screamed for me to go back. It wanted me to indulge in another round of a sex induced high with the man that had me panting for him like no other.
Except, I couldn’t go back … my heart wouldn’t let me.
Chapter One
It was a Friday afternoon on a hot summer day—one of the last summer days left—and I enjoyed it on my back deck soaking up the sun. It was closing in on fall time, but the way our weather had been here in North Carolina I chose to keep my pool open just a little while longer. It was September and we still had ninety degree days. I prayed every day for a cold winter, but I never got my wish. Hell, I’d love to see snow, but we hadn’t gotten that in a couple of years either.
However, lying out by my pool was good for relaxation. Especially after spending the whole day with high schoolers who mainly spent their time secretly texting when they should’ve been paying attention to their books.
I did decide to give them a break since it was Friday and also the night of the rivalry football game. They were all too excited about that to concentrate on anything else. Even though I never had to work because of all of the money my ex-husband made, I knew I wasn’t ever going to sit on my ass and do nothing. Being a high school biology teacher wasn’t exactly a money making job, but it was something I was excited about doing. The settlement money I got out of Daniel would keep me afloat for a lifetime without having to work, but I enjoyed being at the school; it made me feel like I was doing something right.
Sweat dripped down my brow as I slipped off my sandals and placed my sunglasses down on the glass table beside my lounge chair. I was about to dive into the pool when my phone started buzzing beside my half drunk glass of sweet tea.
I smiled when I saw who it was.
Korinne Matthews was one of my closest friends growing up, and when we both separated to go to different colleges we sort of grew apart. It wasn’t until one fateful day when she showed up at my doorstep that our friendship rekindled like no time had passed whatsoever. She was an interior designer who I had made an appointment with to decorate my house, not knowing she was the same Korinne of our childhood. Now we talked almost every day.
“Why hello there, Korinne,” I answered happily.
“How are you?” she asked, but then spoke again, “Oh wait … Let me guess, you’re sitting by your pool like you do every day when I call you.”
I laughed and slipped my sunglasses back on so I wouldn’t have to squint. “You know it. Oh yeah, and also avoiding my ex-husband’s calls. I think he’s apologized over a million times now. He keeps sending me text messages saying he still wants me and loves me.”
Korinne scoffed, “When is he going to take the hint? It’s been a year now. Please tell me he’s not wearing you down.”
“Definitely not,” I shrieked. “I’ll admit I loved him, and he was good to me for a while, until his ego got the better of him. I can’t forgive him for cheating on me. It’s not going to happen.”
“I understand, Mel. So what else is new?”
Gazing out at the pool with its cool water beckoning me, I sighed. “Well, I’m trying to enjoy the last few days of summer now that I have them. Its nice getting home early in the afternoons and spending them out here. I’m looking forward to the fall and winter, though.”
“Oh, me too. Watching the leaves change colors at our home in the mountains is the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. Other than my little girl that is.”
I smiled. The thought of little Anna-Grace’s smiling face as I bounced her in my arms would always stay with me. One day I’d have a child of my own. I was thankful I never got pregnant with Daniel, especially now that we were divorced.
“How is she doing? I bet she misses her Aunt Melissa,” I said.
I could hear the baby giggling in the background and Korinne laughed. “Oh, she’s doing well. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. I swear all she has to do is look at Galen and his heart stops.”
Galen, her husband, scoffed in the background and chided into the phone, “Don’t let her fool you, Melissa. Korinne’s wrapped around Anna-Grace’s finger, too.”
Korinne chuckled. “Okay, fine, I’m wrapped around her finger, too. I guess it’s hard not to when you spend years thinking you can’t have kids and then you finally get pregnant. Anyway, the reason why I called is because I wanted to know what you were doing tomorrow night.”
Going to bars, I guess, I thought to myself.
“I�
��m not sure,” I said slowly, curious as to why she’d ask. “Why? What do you have in mind?”
“Well,” she began, “there’s a party tomorrow night and I want you to come. Galen’s company is celebrating the expansion of his firm, and I thought it would be something you’d like to take part in. It’ll be fun with lots of people.” After pausing for a brief second, she delightfully added, “…good people.”
I knew that tone and I knew it very well. Korinne had a reason for me going to this party and it wasn’t so she could see me. Exasperated, I groaned and muttered, “Kori, seriously. Have you not learned your lesson yet? You need to stop trying to play matchmaker … I’m not interested. After me telling you no the past few times I thought you would’ve gotten the hint.”
She begged, “Please, Mel, it’ll be fun. I’ve wanted you to meet this guy at our firm for the past couple of months. He’s really hot and Galen just hired him as his lead architect for the West Coast accounts. Come on, what else do you have to do tomorrow? If all else fails you can hang out with me the whole time.”
I sat in silence for a moment, contemplating. Korinne was a good judge of character, so if she said the guy was a good man I had to believe her, but I couldn’t help feeling like I was a charity case. I can get men on my own. I just tend to get the wrong ones. It wasn’t like Korinne was setting us up on a blind date or anything, and if I didn’t want to talk to him I didn’t have to.
“Please,” she pleaded. I rolled my eyes and hung my head. There was no way I’d get out of it. She would beg me until I gave in.
“Are you going to give me an answer sometime this year?” Korinne asked, snickering.
Sighing, I huffed out a breath and gave in. “Okay, fine. I’ll go, but it’s not a blind date. I’m going for you and you only since you asked me to. I’ll meet your friend and that’s it. I don’t want any expectations you hear me?”
Tempt (Take It Off) Page 19