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Exclusive Teaser from M. Pierce’s upcoming release, “Last Light” + a signed book giveaway!

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Y’all know how crazy I went for “Night Owl”. I LOVED everything about it. Especially that brooding and reclusive (yet adorable & undeniably sexy) oddball, Matt from “Night Owl“. A famous author writing under a pen name meets up with another aspiring author (female 😉 ) online. He likes to keep his private life private, but she of course, you know… gets too close for comfort. The skeletons in his closet are rattling. 😉 LOVED IT!!!! Did I mention I loved it? LOL! (Here’s my review —> Night Owl)

Anyway, guess what? M. Pierce just sent over a teaser for book #2 (Last Light (The Night Owl Trilogy) releasing October 28th 2014, saying:

“I’d love to give away a signed copy of the Night Owl paperback from St. Martin’s Press, along with a Night Owl bookmark, to celebrate the paperback release of Night Owl on July 1.”

GAH!!! I can’t wait for it’s release!! *squeeeeeee!!!*

Ready to be deliciously teased? I AM! Er… *whoops* I just read it. *giggles* It’s well… slightly dirtier than my usual postings, just so you know. 😉

Teaser from: Last Light (The Night Owl Trilogy)

On Saturday evening, Hannah dressed in a black and white skirt suit for the release party. I tied a silk scarf around her neck to hide my love bites. We’d been in bed almost nonstop since my impromptu arrival at the condo, emerging only to bathe and eat.

And the sex was different—tinged with violence. Hannah struggled every time, and I f@%ked her hard while she begged me to stop. She never used her safe word. It gave me a terrible thrill.

“Why do you have to go so early?” I pulled her into my arms. “It’s my book you’re celebrating. I should have some say in this.”

I kissed her neck and cupped her ass. She wriggled against my hands. Such a tease.

“Because,” she sighed. “I promised Pam I’d help set up, like I said. Several times.”

“Let me look at your ass.” I turned Hannah around and bit the back of her neck. I tucked her bottom against my groin. “You wouldn’t leave me alone with a h@rd-on, would you?”

“I might.” She grinned over her shoulder. “Lube’s in the bedside table.”

“You’re a bad bird.”

We fooled around halfheartedly, and then Hannah left. I was instantly miserable.

I wandered the condo, trying to comprehend Hannah’s life apart from me. Nothing looked different. There was her yoga mat, her exercise ball, a few manuscripts from work. The rooms were tidy. I found leftovers from various meals in the fridge.

I checked the wall safe. Everything was in order: the cash, her TracFone, the unit cards.

Hannah’s life went on without me.

My poooooooor, sweeeeeeeet, mooooooody, filthy-mouthed, Matt. I *heart* him so hard! He needs a cuddle. I hope he has his manatee nearby. Awwwwww that scene (that whole sweet chapter) will FOREVER live in my heart.

And now ONE lucky winner here, will win a signed print copy!

How to enter for a chance to win a signed print copy of “Night Owl”? Who’s your favorite moody/reclusive character (and from what book)? And Wednesday night (Wednesday July 2nd, 2014) by 10pm EST, I will randomly select one winner.

The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond with a mailing address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. This book will be sent to the winners directly by the publisher/author.

Contest open internationally!

Archiving the June 2014 Book Releases

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JUNE 2014
     

Today is my better-late-than-never bargain finds and reader recommendations post… *whoops* ;)

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<— LOOK WHAT’S COMING OUT AT MIDNIGHT!!! Or… er… 3am? Whenever Amazon thinks “midnight” is. 😉 Beautiful Oblivion: A Novel (The Maddox Brothers Series) <—- time for a new sexy Maddox brother.

Yep… I was a bad girl. In my Book Bash frenzy (and OMG it was the best weekend of my entire life!!!) I umm… I forgot to make our usual Friday bargain post. eek *slaps hands* BAD Maryse!!! There I was, just living it up, in a veritable “book and author smorgasbord”, and I neglected one of my all time favorite posts to make. confused

Lauren: Maryse, you may have already addressed this but…..did you post the latest bargain ebooks yesterday? I wasn’t sure if I overlooked it somehow since there are so many posts this week….

Maryse: *cringe* <— *whoooooops* My bad!!! Forgive me? 😉

Maryse: Okay so… I should be napping until Tuesday, but I just couldn’t help but check out some of the bargains and new releases on Amazon, since I missed Friday’s post <— *gasp*!!! I know… so maybe I’ll make a “Sunday-bargains-better-late-than-never” post before I crash.  Tee hee!!

Kim: Please do that’s where I get some of my reads

Nicole: Pleeeeeaaaasssseee!

Maryse’s Book Blog: LOL!!! I’m on it. I’ll be posting it around… hrmmm… 8pm, I should be done.

P.S. Let me know if I’m missing any or if you loved any (from this list or elsewhere). :)

P.P.S. Don’t have a Kindle? No problem! Amazon offers various free Kindle apps and a free Kindle Cloud reader for any and ALL of us to use. You can either use the free Kindle App for your smartphone, tablet, AND your desktop computer (just like you’re using a Kindle, but right through your web browser <— No need to download anything! :D )

NOTE: bargain priced when I added them, but prices can change on Amazon, so make sure to check before you finalize your order.

Todays latest reader recommendations and bargain ebook finds: 

  • Beautiful Oblivion: A Novel (The Maddox Brothers Series) by Jamie McGuire <—- RELEASING JULY 1st 2014 (or tonight at midnight or close to that). 😉
  • Grace for Drowning by Maya Cross <—- FIGHTER BOOK ALERT!! OH MY!!! New release and just look at that cover. I almost don’t even think I need to read the blurb. 😉 But then… I read the blurb. OMG!!! I think it’s gonna break our hearts!!! —> “Hope is a dangerous thing. I know that more than most. Everything good I’ve ever had has been stolen from me — my friends, my fiancé, my innocence, some would say even my sanity. All I have left is the cage. Fighting is the only thing that eases the ache inside me even a little. It’s the only thing that keeps the bottle at bay. I was content to ride out my life alone. I was done dreaming that things could be better. But then I met Grace, and from that moment, all I could do was dream. She’s battling those same demons, only she’s losing. I don’t want to care, but something about her calls to me. That pain in her eyes is so sharp, so familiar. I know it’s only a matter of time before it pulls her below the surface.“
  • Little Black Book by Tabatha Vargo <— Oh nice!! I saw these at Book Bash (part of the swag we received) and I was intrigued. It’s just been released and this guy sounds like a total *&%#@. My favorite. In books. 😉

“There are only two rules: DON’T EVER DENY ME. DON’T FALL IN LOVE.

If you do either, I’ll remove you from my book and payment stops. Do we have an understanding?”

  • Rhett by J.S. Cooper <— JUST RELEASED!!
  • Needing Moore Series Boxed Set by Julie A. Richman <— JUST RELEASED into a series bundle!
  • Man Of Steel by Jordan Silver <— <— JUST RELEASED!! BIKER BOOK/MC ALERT! And it sounds like it could get tumultuous. “He spends his days protecting those who are too weak to protect themselves and his nights heating up the sheets with the hot young doctor he’d snagged during one of his ops. The only blip on his horizon was an ex-wife who didn’t understand the meaning of the term, and the humps who were set on destroying the innocent.”
  • Leave a Trail (Signal Bend Series Book 7) by Susan Fanetti <— JUST RELEASED!!! BIKER BOOK/MC ALERT! And I know a TON here LOVE this biker series like crazy. (Here’s the series reading order) (thanks Janet!!)
  • Where I Belong (Alabama Summer Book 1) by J. Daniels <— <— JUST RELEASED!! HA!! I love the sound of this one. Gosh… how can I short form this blurb? I can’t. LOL! “When Mia Corelli returns to Alabama for a summer of fun with her childhood best friend, Tessa, there’s only one thing keeping her on edge. One person that she’d do anything to avoid. Benjamin Kelly. World’s biggest d!ckhead. Mia hates him with a fury and has no desire to ever see him again. When she decides to start her summer off with a bang and finally give away her v-card, she unknowingly hands it over to the one guy that excelled at making her life miserable, learning a valuable lesson in the process. Always get the name of the guy you’re going home with. Ben can’t get the girl he spent one night with out of his head. When she leaves him the next morning, he thinks he’ll never see her again. Until he sees her lounging by the pool with his sister.” <—- EEEEEEP!!! Sounds like fun, if you ask me. 😉
  • Kink by Nikki Sex <— She’s in danger (I think) and he meets her… “Em knows nothing of the lifestyle. I know she’s submissive, but I must take it slow.  Gradually, step-by-step, I’ll teach her to enjoy my particular brand of kink, my unique darker needs. She’ll learn to love what I love. What I need.  That is if both of us live long enough to complete her training”
  • Savage Kind of Love: Prairie Devils MC Romance (Outlaw Love) by Nicole Snow <— BIKER BOOK ALERT!! Fairly new release and… “Shelly “Saffron” Reagan’s life is in shambles, and it’s about to get worse. Keeping up a broken home and a brother in the vicious Grizzlies MC is more than any woman can handle. Remembering the tough talking biker who nursed her after a savage attack is all she has, a bad boy who’s impossibly out of reach. Or so it seems.” <— Oh I like the sound of this one!!!
  • What Doesn’t Destroy Us (The Devil’s Dust Book 1) by MN Forgy <— BAD BOY BIKER BOOK ALERT (and also a fairly new release!!). “When Dani’s sheltered life is turned upside down by her mother’s secrets, she finds protection with her estranged outlaw father. Against all warnings, she falls for bad boy biker, Shadow.”
  • Ruthless (Dark MC Romance) by Vanessa Waltz <— DARK READ & Biker book ALERT. <— and by the reviews (I skimmed ’em quickly) I’m seeing this one’s very dark and not an easy read at all. “My husband’s dead and I’ve been kidnapped. Years ago, I stole money from the Dragons MC club and ran. Against all odds, I picked myself up. Became sober. Got married. But then he found me. Now I belong to Cain—a ruthless, loveless man who’s intent on making me his obedient slave. He’s done unspeakable things to my body, tortured me, and broken me down so that I’ll never betray him. And I wouldn’t have… Until Spike came along.“
  • Unbeloved (Undeniable Book 4) by Madeline Sheehan <— Well I just had to bring this one back to the list ’cause I finalllllly get to read it. YAY ME!!!!!
  • The Swan and the Jackal (In the Company of Killers Book 3) by J.A. Redmerski <— Catherine recommends this one! “All 3 were great…I ESPECIALLY loved Frederik’s book. Dark and angsty….”
  • Book Boyfriend Series Boxed Set by Erin Noelle <— the ENTIRE series bundled and on sale today!
  • Bang (Black Lotus #1) (The Black Lotus Series) by E.K. Blair <— Stephanie found us this! What a BLURB!! “My innocence was stolen from me. Taken was the life I was supposed to have. The soul I was born with. The ruby heart embedded in a life full of hopes and dreams. Gone. Vanished. I never even had a choice. I mourn that life. Mourn the what-ifs. Until now.  I’m ready to take back what was always meant to be mine. But every plan has a fatal flaw. Sometimes it’s the heart.“
  • Shiver by Karen Robards <— Stephanie found out this one’s on sale right now, and yep. That blurb gave me a jolt!! She’s a repo-man, and finds a guy tied up in the trunk of a car she’s taking.”Danny knows he hasn’t seen the last of the vicious drug runners who kidnapped him from protective custody. His only recourse is to take his pretty savior hostage and force her to help him. There’s no going back for Sam and her four-yearold son, Tyler. They’re in way too deep.” <—- OHHH!!!
  • Falling for the Marine (A McCade Brothers Novel) (Entangled Brazen) by Samanthe Beck <— Aimee found us this one! “Former military brat Chloe Kincaid is looking for an ego-boosting, no strings attached hook up. But when her positively panty-melting neighbor (aka Major Hottie) shows up on her massage table, their off-the-charts chemistry overrides her no-military-men policy until they’re caught. Now they have to fake an engagement to avoid the fallout, but can a girl who runs from attachments pretend to be in love with a straight-arrow soldier without falling hard?” <— hehe. 😛
  • Rainfall by Melissa Delport <— Stephanie found us this one saying “Be warned! Major angst-filled, emotional drama inside this book!” sooooooo you know I had to take a look. And I think this one’s gonna rock my world. I won’t even try to short form this one. It’s too worth it to read the entire blurb:

Paige’s father has Alzheimers, and her fiancé is shot and killed in an armed robbery. Paige fights her depression and pulls herself out of the dark place that she has succumbed to, with monumental effort and a new-found determination to live her life to the fullest, doing things that both terrify and exhilarate her.

When Paige meets Adam, the attraction is instantaneous. Adam grew up in an orphanage and has no recollection of his life before the age of six. Paige falls head over heels in love and embraces a happiness she never dreamed possible. Until the day she finds Adam in bed with another woman.

Wanting nothing more to do with him, Paige cuts Adam out of her life, until she receives a mysterious visitor, who reveals secrets about Adam’s past that shock Paige to her very core.

Determined to fight for the man that she loves, Paige finds herself on a journey that will change her life forever.

  • Beautifully Damaged (Beautifully Damaged series) by L.A. Fiore <— I’ve heard this one is right up our alley…
  • Try (Temptation Series Book 1) by Ella Frank <— M/M romance that had everyone buzzing last year!
  • Beyond Control (Beyond, Book #2) by Kit Rocha <— I went nuts for book #1, and while I haven’t read the next ones in the series just yet, #2 is on sale right now! (thanks Aimee!!) BTW here is my review for #1
  • Relatively Famous (Famous Series Book 1) by Heather Leigh <— Janet found us this one saying “This one was really good!!!!” and I sure like this warning: “This is NOT your average Hollywood romance. There are no virgins falling in love with hot actors. There isn’t a famous guy falling for the normal girl next door. What there IS in this book, is a fragile, damaged girl and the sexy alpha who rescues her.“

                      

Book Bash Author Spotlight – Kendall Grey sends us five fun facts about her upcoming book, “HOT-BLOODED”

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Ohhh with a title like that, I can already tell this one’ll be intense!!

What’s it about? Here’s a note direct from the author:

WARNING: HOT-BLOODED does NOT end with a happily ever after. It contains drug use and graphic sex, language, and violence. The story is intended to entertain, not to condone or glorify illegal or immoral activities. This book is unsuitable for sensitive readers and those under the age of 18.

*Written in 3rd person. Contains a cliffhanger and multiple POVs.

‘Ohana is everything…

When an accident claims her mother’s life, Keahilani Alana must take charge of her ‘ohana (family) or risk losing what little they have. With an underage brother to care for and no education, she has few options. The door to a heavenly hellish opportunity opens when she stumbles upon a valuable secret her mother left behind on the slopes of an extinct volcano—a legacy that tempts the family with riches beyond their wildest dreams. But the secret is much bigger and more sinister than they realize. As reality unravels and exposes eerie truths about the ‘ohana that should have remained deep under the mountain, Keahilani must either resist the call of her blood or risk being consumed by its darkness.

Blake Murphy is an assassin working to infiltrate a new Hawaiian cartel. His investigation reveals that Keahilani, the sexy surfing instructor he pegged as an informant, is much closer to the drug ring than he thought. Passion ignites between them in the bedroom, but their ironclad ties to opposing interests pit them against each other everywhere else.

When tensions reach the breaking point and her ‘ohana is threatened, the only cure for Keahilani’s hot-blooded fury is a loaded clip with a body bag chaser.

They don’t call her Pele for nothing.

Yep! I’ve heard this author holds no punches when it comes to her characters and their stories and many of our fellow readers LOVE her other series!

Kim: …very raw and to the point but a NICE change of pace from some of the more serious tear jerkers – I truly love a good serious book But Kendall’s series is a nice change and had me smiling…

Mari: Strings was a surprise find for me but I loved it.  I love the raw raunchiness and satire of the book yet if you look deeper you see the love story is there but its not your typical love story…..I loved the colorful vocabulary and learned some new phrases… …I am a fan of Kendall’s Books  and I think everyone should risk it and read these books…you don’t know what you are missing out on!

Mindy: Kendall is a truly amazing person and author. I hope you take the advise of many on this series and Just Breathe. Satisfy your curiosity and see for yourself.

Ready for some tidbits direct from the author?

Five fun facts about Kendall Grey’s upcoming suspense/thriller (with erotic elements) HOT-BLOODED, due out on July 14:

1. HOT-BLOODED is a cross between Point Break, The Sopranos, and Twin Peaks. So, if you like surfing, gangster-style grit, and psychological weirdness, this one will be right up your alley.

2. HOT-BLOODED’s heroine, Keahilani Alana, is a Hawaiian surfer chick with skeletons in her closet. She’s strong willed, independent, and more than willing to use force to get her point across.

3. The tagline for HOT-BLOODED is “‘Ohana is everything” and boy, is it ever. ‘Ohana means “family” in Hawaiian, and this book explores the nature of family—good, bad, and deadly—on many levels.

4. It’s set on the lush island of Maui where every color of the rainbow rules—and where terrifying shadows exist in places you least expect them. (Dun-dun-DAH! 😉 )

5. HOT-BLOODED is filled with Easter eggs. The main storyline is easy to follow, but readers who pay close attention will notice subtle breadcrumbs hinting at bigger things to come sprinkled throughout. Those trails will converge at the end of the series in an explosive conclusion.

Ohhhhh YES!! I think this one’ll take us on a ride!! 😀

 

Book Bash Author Spotlight – Aly Martinez sent me two, and told me to choose one… hehe. Impossible. ;)

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So like… once upon a time (just a few days ago) an author (Aly Martinez) sent me TWO scenes to choose from, for her “Book Bash Author Spotlight”.

*sigh*

Doesn’t she know I’m a book glutton?

Doesn’t she know I LOVED her “Wrecked and Ruined” series? Just take a look at my reviews. You’ll see —> Changing Course & Stolen Course.

And doesn’t she know I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for her next book? Doesn’t she know that there is NO possible way that I can choose between one of my most favorite, bone-chilling, heartbreaking, desperate scenes ever written… and a sneak peek at what she’s writing next? <— AND OMG YES to this one!!!

HA!

So you know what I did? I took ’em both. No choosing. I refuse. 😉 Both MINE! OURS!!

*rubs hands together with devilish glee*

Note to authors:
Do not tell a book glutton to choose one. Impossible. They (—-> me) will take ’em all! 😛

So, first, I’m going to present to you, one of my absolute favorite scenes in her book (and in her entire series so far). In fact, it took me by surprise, that I connected to THIS one of all things. I even mentioned it in my review (and in the comments). It was just…. that… I dunno… harrowing? To me. YES.

Remember in my review, when I said this:

“OMG this one scene between Caleb and Sarah had me gasping… I can’t tell you it completely, because it is so moving and heart wrenching, but in a bad (sad) way, and you have to read it to fully experience the emotion in this scene. But when I recounted the scene to my husband, right to its very end (when he asked me about the guy who hates the “sister”), he was all… “Whoa.” I said, “Intense right?” He looked at me and said, “Exactly. Intense.”

I can’t look at her without my rage bubbling over.

“Please, Caleb. I need something, I’m dying here without her.” She all but crawls across the floor to my feet.

It catches me off guard to see this devastated side of Sarah.

I’m going to stop quoting it there (there is much more to it), but just know I will never forget it.”

Remember? And Jody agreed with me:

Jody: OMG that scene you mentioned almost killed me and at the end of it was gritting my teeth, cursing. If you know what I mean. Don’t want to give anything away. ;)

Well. The author sent it for us. Here. Right now.

So for those of you that haven’t read this series yet, I’m gonna give you a quick run-through. This scene is from book #2:

Two “guy” best friends, dating two “girl” best friends, and the girls crash on the way home one night. Nobody knows for sure who was driving, but one dies. And the one that lived pretty much lost her whole outgoing personality. She’s a wreck. And she’s mean as heck. And she is absolutely devastated by it, but doesn’t remember a thing…

And the guy that lost his girl, blames her. HATES her.

Ready?

**************

Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined)

“You are one selfish bitch, Sarah. Not three months ago, you killed the only woman I have ever loved. She was my f*cking life and you murdered her!” I roar so loud my voice actually breaks. “Then you show up on my doorstep, asking for her most prized possession? And you’re delusional enough to think that begging will actually make me to give it to you? If it were up to me, you would be rotting in a jail cell right now, but as it stands, you are prancing around town, while Manda is buried six feet under.” That admission hits me hard as my mind flashes to an image of Manda in a casket. I stumble over my words, trying to erase the image that can’t be unseen. “You need to really listen to me right now. I will spend the rest of my life trying to prove that you were drunk and driving the car that night. And when I do, I am going to take everything from you—the same way you did me.”

“I don’t have anything left for you to take.” Her chin begins to quiver as tears openly flow from her blue eyes.

“Oh, I think you do. Now get the f*ck out of my house,” I say, staring down at the floor with my hands securely on my hips. I can’t look at her without my rage bubbling over.

“Please, Caleb. I need something, I’m dying here without her.” She all but crawls across the floor to my feet.

It catches me off guard to see this devastated side of Sarah. I almost feel sorry for her for a split second, but just as quickly as that feeling passed over me, it disappears.

“Get out!”

“Please,” she whispers, still holding my leg.

I look down and lose whatever calm I thought I had. “You want her necklace?” I ask, and she immediately perks up. The tears still run down her face, but for the first time since she arrived, she appears to have some glimmer of hope.

I walk to my bedroom and pull Manda’s necklace off her nightstand. It’s been there since they handed me her belongings at the hospital. I stomp back into the den, where Sarah is standing, trying to collect herself. She is rubbing her fingers under her eyes where her eye makeup is running down her cheeks. My mind jumps to the million times I’ve watched Sarah and Manda swipe the makeup away after hours of drinking and dancing.

“Are you drunk right now?” I pause, edging toward the door.

“What? No!” she screams.

“You sure?” I ask again, pulling open the front door.

“I’ll never drink again,” she solemnly swears, but it does nothing to quell the flame burning inside me.

“Sarah, I’m going to destroy you the same way you did me, even if it’s the last thing I do in this life. Now get out,” I repeat as I extend my hand, showing her Manda’s half of the necklace.

Her eyes light before her whole face crumbles in despair. She rushes toward me, ready to claim her reward. But as far as I’m concerned, there will never be a reward for her. I turn just as quickly and sling my arm as hard as I can toward my front yard. Her eyes go wide while trying to track the necklace’s trajectory, but the darkness cloaks everything.

“No!” she screams, rushing outside.

I slam the door behind her and move toward the window to watch her scramble. She frantically starts searching the grass, collapsing to the ground for a better view. I watch with a sick sense of triumph as she pulls her cell phone out of her pocket for extra light. I smile to myself before walking back to the door, casually flipping off the outside lights and heading for bed.

I stay awake for hours, constantly looking out my window. Sarah must have combed every inch of that yard, and I took great pleasure in watching her look. By the time she finally relents, her knees are covered in mud and her face is streaked with tears.

Five hours after she pulled into my driveway, Sarah pulls out of it.

Thirty seconds after she leaves, I reach into my pocket, pull out Manda’s necklace, and gently place it back on her nightstand. Right where it should be.

*GASP!!!!!!!!*

OMG that just gutted me!!!!!!!! THAT… as much as I though I disliked (hated? Oooooohhh too harsh for me to say hate…) but you know —> Sarah (UGH!!), yet, this one made me truly feel her. And him. This is just AMAZING writing to me. Amazing emotion. Amazing hatred.

WOW, you guys MUST read this series!

Now… wanna see what’s next? From what I can tell, not at all from the same series, but sounds just as awesome!!

Among The Echoes

“Riley, you don’t always have to be strong.” He guides me into our run-down two-bedroom apartment.

“Neither do you,” I snap.

I walk inside, head straight for the closet, and slip out of my heels.  Suddenly, I feel him behind me. His hand starts at my collarbone and slides up my neck, forcing my head back to look up at him.

“Erica.” He whispers my real name so quietly that, if I didn’t know what he was saying, I wouldn’t have heard it at all. But I did hear it, and it sends chills through my entire body—quickly followed by tears. I rock back into him and immediately fold toward the floor. His strong arms catch me before I fall even an inch. “I’ve got you,” he whispers carrying me to the tattered couch. His brown eyes pierce into mine, and I try to lock down the emotions. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to find the latch.

“Let it go,” he urges, reading my struggling body language.

I fight it for a few more minutes before finally releasing it all. I roll over to my stomach and bury my face in the pillow, sobbing. He rubs my back for hours as I fade in and out of sleep—waking only to cry some more.

Some hours later, I wake up dehydrated, starving, and with a splitting headache. I look down and find him sleeping peacefully at the end of the couch with my feet resting in his lap. I both love and hate this moment at the exact same time. Those moments shouldn’t cross for a person, but for me, they are dangerously similar.

“Dave.” I push against his leg, but he remains still. “Dave.” I nudge him again with absolutely zero reaction. Finally, I give up and lean in close. “Leo,” I whisper.

Knowing the drill, I quickly back away as he flies to his feet—fists raised and swinging. His eyes flash around the apartment before landing on me just a few feet away.

“God damn it, Riley!” he huffs.

“You wouldn’t wake up,” I try to explain.

“I don’t give a f*ck if I’m dead. You don’t call me that. Ever. Do you understand me?”

“Whatever. I’m going to bed.”

I hear him growl as I march to my bedroom. “Riley, wait.”

“Go to bed, Dave. We have to be at work in a few hours.”

“It doesn’t mean the same to me as it does you,” he says from my doorway.

“Get out. I want to change clothes.”

“Your name means something to you. But if someone knows mine, it just means that I’ve failed—and we’re both dead.” He runs a frustrated hand through his hair.

I suddenly feel ashamed. I know he’s right, but what he doesn’t understand is that sometimes I need to say his name. I need to be reminded that not everything is a lie.

WHOA!!!!! What IS THIS!??? Yep. Another must-read for me!

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