I smiled against his lips as they touched mine. “I love you, too, Jesse.”
He moved his fingers faster over the nerves that made me insane. And just when I thought I would explode or die, he raised himself between my legs.
“You’re sure?” He asked the question one last time, although I could see the strain of holding back in his face.
“I’m sure. Oh, God, Jesse, please!”
He didn’t wait another minute. He sank into me on a long sigh, and I reared up to meet him, every inch of my skin hyper-aware of his body touching me. He linked his hands with mine, pressing them into the bed as he rose over me, pulling out with incredible slowness and then stroking within as he moved deeper.
I closed my eyes and fell into the pleasure. There was no one on my mind, in my heart, beyond Jesse. Every time he touched me, I felt his strength, how much he cared for me. When he lowered his mouth to brush over my lips, tenderly, almost reverently, my breath caught.
“Jules.” He rocked into me again, and I wasn’t sure why I wasn’t exploding into a million pieces. “This—you-are everything I ever wanted.”
Beyond words, wrapped only in his touch, I half-moaned, half-sighed a response. Jesse raised our joined hands above my head, and I opened my eyes to look up at him. He smiled, then buried himself deep into me. The most intense, incredible pleasure overcame me, and I’m pretty sure I screamed his name. At least once.
He continued to move, steady and sure, until the spasms from the aftermath of my own pleasure tightened around him. Then with one last thrust, he growled, every muscle in his body tightening as he found release.
I couldn’t breathe for several seconds. My heart was racing, and every nerve in my body was ultra sensitive, alive.
Jesse collapsed onto the bed next to me, drawing me into his body and stroking back my hair.
“That,” he murmured, “was worth waiting for. I love you, Julia.”
I lay my head against his chest and listened to the thundering of his heart. “I love you, Jesse.”
Outside, the day ended and the sun set. Within that room, lying in his arms, I had everything I had ever wanted.
“Ava, please. I just want to talk.”
Ava closed her eyes. “Liam, no. Please. Go away.” She wished he hadn’t let him into her room. Julia was with Jesse for the weekend, and that meant no one would be coming in to rescue her. She rubbed her hands across her forehead.
“You can’t tell me you don’t feel anything for me. God, Ava, when I kiss you…it’s like everything in the world disappears. I don’t want to stop. Ever.”
“Well, you have to!” Ava tried to keep her voice down; freshman girls were curious, and she was sure more than one had noticed that Liam Bailey was visiting her room with alarming regularity.
“Why?” He moved closer, reaching to touch her, but Ava ducked away. His touch was not a good idea. It robbed her of the ability to think clearly.
“Because, Liam, this is wrong. You don’t care for me. You’ve talked yourself into thinking you do, for some reason I just don’t understand. But you don’t know me, and I’m not picking up for you where Julia left off. You forget, I saw firsthand how miserable you made her. No, thanks. I’m not signing up for that tour.”
He sighed. “It’s not the same. Julia and I were a mistake. But Ava, I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. Just give me a chance to prove it.”
Ava felt like screaming. That voice in her head that kept telling her to take a chance, to let him in, was getting stronger. Pretty soon it would drown out the other voice, the sensible one that reminded her that Liam Bailey was a jerk, and she would give in again, let him kiss her, touch her…
“No.” She said it out loud to strengthen her resolve. “Not again. Not this time.” She tightened her jaw and swallowed. It was time to play her last card, to get rid of Liam once and for all.
“Liam, you think you really like me, don’t you?” Ava forced lightness into her voice. “You think it’s different with us, right?”
“Yes.” He spoke with relief, thinking that she was hearing him at last.
“Good.” Ava clenched her fists. “I’m glad. Because now I can tell you…” She took a deep breath and plunged in. “I don’t feel anything for you. Nothing but…pity.” She let that sink in. “After what you did to my best friend, did you seriously think I could even look at you? I’ve been playing you, Liam. Just waiting for this moment. You know what they say about revenge, right? Well, it’s been worth the wait.”
She finally raised her eyes to his face. Pain and something else warred behind his eyes, and she had to steel herself not to cross the room to hold him, to reach up and kiss away the hurt.
“That’s it?” His words were clipped. “This was all a way to get back at me? You expect me to believe that?”
“Believe it or not. It’s the truth.” She bit the side of her mouth hard, holding back the sobs that were gathering in her chest. She had to be strong for just a few more minutes, just until he left the room.
“I thought…I thought this was different. We were different. But the whole time, this was just a game to you.”
Ava couldn’t speak anymore. She nodded.
Liam turned. He paused for a minute in the doorway of the room, and for a crazy beat of her heart, Ava prayed he would come back in, see her for the liar she was.
But he didn’t. He kept walking, away from her, out of her life.
When she knew she could move again without running after him, Ava walked across the room, closed the door behind him and locked it. Then she climbed into her bed, curled up on her side, and cried into her pillow, deep, silent sobs wracking her body until the whole bed shook.
She lay there for hours, until the tears were gone and only numbness was left.
Revenge was not sweet. It felt like death, and it hurt worse than anything Ava had ever known.
Ava and Liam’s story continues in Just Desserts and I Choose You.
If you’re skeptical about whether or not you could ever see Liam
as anything but a lying, cheating jerk . . .
take my bet and see if you don’t fall in love with him just a little bit
when you see things from his angle.
You’re No Good Linda Ronstadt
Mama’s Broken Heart Miranda Lampert
Your Biggest Mistake Ellie Goulding
Jar of Hearts Christina Perri
Stronger Kelly Clarkson
bang bang bang Christina Perri
Sunday Morning No Doubt
Arms Christina Perri
You Oughta Know Alannis Morissette
I’m a long-winded acknowledger, always, because I couldn’t do half of what I do without the support and help of so many.
First, because he figures so much in this book, my eternal thanks and gratitude to Joss Whedon. Because he is a freaking genius and he leaves me breathless with his talent.
To Stacey Blake, for making me the amazing new covers for these books, for reformatting the entire series, and for her daily, hourly, minutely help and support all the time. You take a good story and make it look breathtakingly lovely!
Amanda Latzel Long, I owe you a humongous debt of gratitude for your help and input on this book. From cover ideas to beta reading and proofing. . .your help was indispensable. How many people can you ask, “How was the sex?” without sounding insecure?
Thank you so much for everything you did for this book.
Thanks to my Temptresses, who make me laugh, who jump into the fray without question, who are always there to share, to post and to promote. You all rock my world daily, and I adore you.
To my family, who has now become used to Mommy’s craziness as I get deep into a book, thank you for you love, your patience and everything you do to make my life possible and infinitely more fun. I love you so much.
And finally, to my readers, who have cheered me along through each new book, left reviews and shared posts . . . you rock, and you m
ake my job my joy.
Photo: Heather Batchelder
Tawdra Kandle writes romance, in just about all its forms. She loves unlikely pairings, strong women, sexy guys, hot love scenes and just enough conflict to make it interesting. Her books include new adult and adult contemporary romance; under the pen name Tamara Kendall, she writes paranormal romance, and under the pen name Tessa Kent, she writes erotic romance. Tawdra lives in central Florida with her husband, two sweet pups and too many cats. Assorted grown children and a perfect granddaughter live nearby. And yeah, she rocks purple hair.
You can follow Tawdra on Amazon to receive updates on her releases. You can also visit her website at tawdrakandle.com for more information, and subscribe to her newsletter for sales announcement, special exclusive content and promotions!
For more information on Tawdra’s books and buy links to all vendors, please visit Tawdra’s website at tawdrakandle.com.
The Anti-Cinderella Chronicles
Fifty Frogs
The Anti-Cinderella
Hot Off The Press
The Anti-Cinderella Takes London
The Anti-Cinderella Conquers the World
The Cuffing Season
Love in a Small Town
Love Me Home (A LIAST Prequel)
The Last One
The First One
The Only One
The Perfect One
The Always One
Underneath My Christmas Tree
The Hard One
My One and Always
The Forever One
The Love Song One
The Meant To Be Girl
Love in a Small Town Volume I
Love in a Small Town Volume II
Crystal Cove Romances
The Posse
The Plan
The Path
The Problem
The Keeping Score Series
When We Were Us
Hanging By A Moment
Days of You and Me
Not Broken Anymore
Your Wildest Dreams
The Keeping Score Box Set
The Career Soldier Series
Maximum Force
Temporary Duty
Hitting the Silk
Zone of Action
Damage Assessment
Scheme of Maneuver
Evergreen
Army Blue
The Career Soldier Collection
The Perfect Dish Romances
Best Served Cold
Just Desserts
I Choose You
Just Roll With It
Books Written As Tessa Kent
Good Vibrations
More Than Words
Baby, I’m Yours
Save It For Me
Small Town Swingers
Welcome to Paradise
Night Moves
The Heat Is On
Fading Into You
Crush
Crave
Crescendo
Tease
Tempt
Take
Tiny Bit Taboo
The Conference Taboo
The Ex In-Law Taboo
The Business Trip Taboo
The Client Taboo
Books Written as Tamara Kendall
Save Tomorrow
A Paranormal Romance World
The King Quartet (Young Adult)
Fearless
Breathless
Restless
Endless
The King Series Box Set
Serendipity
Undeniable
Stardust on the Sea
Unquenchable
The Shadow Bells
Moonlight on the Meadow
The Fox’s Wager
Recipe for Death
Death Fricassee
Unforgettable
Death A La Mode
Death Over Easy
The Recipe for Death Box Set
Age Of Aquarius
The Save Tomorrow Collection