Contemporary Romance
Date Published: 04-02-2022
To forsake: To abandon, desert, or leave with no intention to return. The
Bible states that those who forsake God’s laws of justice will be
punished. But when a loved one dies unexpectedly and tragically, even the
strongest or most religious man may cast aside their childhood beliefs and
fall into a life of … the forsaken.
This connection between us is instant, eerily so. He sets my body on fire,
ignites my senses, and seduces my soul. But there’s something in him
that most people don’t perceive. A sadness. A darkness. An evil aura.
Behind the pretty face and awe-inspiring smile is a whole other
person.
A criminal. A sociopath. A serial killer.
I should run, lock my doors, and never look back at this man who claims
we’re nothing but an insurmountable disaster. He’s everything I
should avoid. Everything I should loathe. Everything I should be terrified
of.
But I don’t care what he’s done in the past. Knowing what I do
doesn’t stop my heart from beating wildly every time he looks at me.
It’s only a reminder that true love means taking the good with the
bad, the darkness with the light, the dirty with the untainted … and
never forsaking those who mean the most.
The more Derek Kinnard tells me to walk away, the more I seem to
persevere.
Some secrets are simply worth keeping hidden…
EXCERPT
Heat rushes to my core when the warm pad of his thumb brushes my bottom lip. I can’t help but wonder how he might kiss, how his tongue might feel as it tasted me, or how those fingers might feel brushing up and down my thighs. My heart is pounding.
Jesus, he’s a beautiful man.
“Let’s save that discussion for another time. Right now, I want to know one thing. Are you seeing that man in the bar? The one wearing scrubs? Are you fucking him?” His tone is low and sensual, butsensual but brimming with warning. I drop my hands from his chest and take a small step back.
“Larry? No, Derek. I’m not fucking him. He’s a regular customer and a friend. A good one. But why does that even concern you? Furthermore, who gives you the right to ask a near stranger such inappropriate questions?”
His tawny eyes almost appear to warmwarm, and his face softens, which tempts me to ask him if he remembers that night just outside the city limits. “There’s not a lot about me I’d consider appropriate, Ms. Hunt, and I only ask such questions if and when I’m concerned.” He reaches for my hand that’s shaky and sweaty, his grasp gentle but unrelenting. For a split second, my thoughts return to foreplay, sex, aftercare, and how powerful a man like Derek Kinnard might be in an intimate situation.
“And you, Kinley Hunt, concern me,” he adds, his tone dropping to a provocative pitch, while a sparkle of something unreadable flashes in his eyes.
“And why is that,that Derek?” I take another step back and he follows me with a step forward.
“You’re shaking. Do I scare you, Kinley?”
Heat races up my back. My heart is beating like hell, and dammit, every ounce of my willpower is shattering to bits as I think of a dozen different reasons why I should fear this man. “No, I’m not. I’m not scared of anyone.”
Lie! Big lie! I’m terrified out of my mind of this man.
Derek holds my gaze, his burning hard stare near impossible to read. Something lurks underneath the pretty face and friendly smile. Something cold, something threatening, like a dark aura. Perhaps a touch of sadness. I’m sure of it. I feel it deep in my chest. And yes, inside, I’m trembling. Fear stabs at my heart and a coldness runs up my spine. There’s more to Derek Kinnard than the public eye realizes. Something extreme. Something savage.
But what?
“Maybe you’re wise to be scared,” he says with an aloof expression on his face. “After all, I am a stranger, as you’ve just pointed out. A stranger who would love to fuck you into next week.”
My body stills.
Derek Kinnard just said he wants to fuck me. I’m not sure how to comprehend the boldness of his words. In the past, it would have been a complete and instant turnoff. Now, I’m not exactly sure how it makes me feel.
“How perfectly classic, Mr. Kinnard. Is this your normal way of hitting on women?” I ask, with my thighs shaking at the thought of hard, controlling sex with this man. “Perhaps you should work on your mannerism. Maybe consider asking a woman out for coffee or dinner before announcing you want to bed them. My honey hole doesn’t come easy, even for Mr. Car Aficionado.”
His gaze is dark, his expression even darker, something in both sending another shot of liquid fire between my legs. “Perhaps you should turn around and forget you ever met me. Better yet, get in your car, lock the doors, go home and change those outrageous clothes.” Icy hostility returns to his tone and his comment on my work attire has me drawing in a breath and a fuck you hanging on my tongue.
“And maybe you and the privileged horse you rode in on should turn around and go back to your castle, your estate, or go buy another dealership. Or better yet, lower that ego level of yours just a couple of notches. It’s not a good look on you Mr. Car Aficionado.”
My hands curl at my sides at the delicate glide of his fingers drifting across my cheek and his gaze deepening to a searing brown fire as another streak of intimacy passes between us.
“You are so fucking beautiful, so fucking tempting.” Fire crackles between the two of us and undeniable lust storms the air. Sparks race through my veins and ignite in my pussy. “Now go home. Lock your doors and be safe. Good night, Kinley.”
About the Author
Lacee Hightower is an American writer and romance novelist who loves all
books dark and dirty and refers to her style as dark contemporary romance.
Living in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, she describes herself as a foodie
that can’t cook, a large lover of fashion and SHOES, and an enormous
hopeless romantic. Since she was old enough to know what the word
meant, she loved the whole concept of romance and happy endings. Even though
she has always enjoyed writing, life got in the way, and she never really
thought of pursuing it seriously until she decided to write her first book
after both her children were grown in 2017. Since that time, she has won two
Readers’ Choice Awards from Evernight Publishing and had three books
hit the best seller list. Now with a nice glass of wine in hand, or not, she
is learning to love bringing the characters in her head to life on paper for
those who enjoy peeking into another world.
Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and
https://www.lacehightower.com for information on new releases, books on
sales, and other news.
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