BOOK ONE OF A THREE BOOK TRILOGY
Photographer CJ Parker is a woman who has literally not gone outside for the past six months. She’s been hiding from the world, and from life, ever since an unimaginable tragedy forced her into seclusion.
On the one day where she decides to finally venture outside, she meets the mysterious billionaire, Asher Sloane. Dark-headed, magnetic, and gorgeous, Asher drips sex and animal magnetism. He draws CJ out of her shell and into the world, while showing her things that she never knew existed.
What CJ doesn’t know is that Asher has a dangerous past. Behind his beautiful blue eyes and confident demeanor lies dark secrets that, if they are brought to light, could mean the end of CJ and Asher’s relationship.
Will the exposure of Asher’s past destroy them?
Warning: This book has plenty of hot and steamy sex scenes featuring an alpha male who knows what he wants and knows exactly how to get it.
The real reason why I was so reluctant to tell him what happened to me was that I was ashamed. I was so ashamed of what I did. There wasn’t a moment of a day when I wasn’t filled with shame and regret. I beat myself up constantly, and I knew, I just knew, that this man would judge me. He would think that I was a horrible person.
And he would be absolutely right.
He was still looking at me, with those beautiful blue eyes. I was getting goose pimples on my flesh, and my brain wouldn’t turn off. I was still mentally undressing him, and I could tell that his body was as sexy as the rest of him. He was dressed in a dress shirt, but I could see the outline of his pecs, abs and arms through the fabric.
And his scent was intoxicating. It was soap and cologne and pure, pure man.
He licked his lips, and I had to admit that I wanted them to be on me. On my body. All over my body. And, especially, on my lips. I just knew that he was an amazing kisser and I also knew that he would know just how to make me come.
Why was I thinking this? After all, this was the man who virtually kidnapped me. Granted, he was a perfect gentleman, so far, and he was going out of his way to make sure I got home okay. But, nonetheless, he was responsible for my being across town, away from my safety zone.
He looked disappointed that I wasn’t going to tell him what had happened to me. But then he, quietly, let me know that he already knew.
“CJ,” he said. “I wanted you to tell me what caused you to seclude yourself, but I already know.”
Of course he knew. He was a reasonably intelligent guy, and I was sure that he read the newspaper and listened to the news. If he did, then he knew what had happened to me.
Everybody did.
“Well, then,” I began. “Now that you know what kind of a person I am, I’m quite sure that this will be the last I’ll be seeing of you. And you really should have said something earlier to let me know that you already knew what kind of a tragedy I’ve experienced.”
His eyes were now looking sympathetic. “I certainly hope that this is not the last time I see you.” His face was so close to mine, I thought, for just a moment, he was going to kiss me. I closed my eyes, and bit my bottom lip.
“Perhaps you hope to see me again, but I really don’t think that you’re going to. But I thank you for at least not recoiling in horror in being around the likes of me.”
He took a deep breath. “CJ,” he said. “What happened to you wasn’t your fault. I hope that you believe that. And your panic disorder can be overcome. I know that from personal experience.”
I looked down at my hands. “Thanks for your words, but they’re not doing any good. And you can’t just tell me to stop blaming myself and hope that your words will get through to me.”
It was then that I looked out the window and saw that my apartment building was looming right in front of me. “Thanks,” I said, “for getting me home.”
“I’m going to walk you into your apartment.”
“No,” I said. “I’ve got this.” I really didn’t, and, to be honest, the sedative was causing my legs to feel weak.
At least, I told myself it was the sedative. In reality, I knew that this man was responsible for my sudden feeling of weakness. My body was feeling weak, and my spirit was certainly feeling weak. I felt like unbuttoning his shirt with my teeth.
I got out of the limo, and my legs gave way.
Then, to my sheer embarrassment, Asher was right beside me, and he scooped me up in his strong arms. In spite of myself, I wrapped my arms around his neck, and put my head on his beating chest. “Fair warning,” I said. “I live on the fourth floor. And there’s no elevator.”
“I got this,” he said in a low voice.
And he did. He walked up all four flights of stairs without ever breaking a sweat.
We got to my apartment, and I turned to him, and held out my hand. “Thank you, Asher,” I said.
He bowed his head and smiled. “I’ll be seeing you.”
And, in spite of myself, I really wished that he was right about that.
Annie Jocoby is the author of 8 contemporary romance novels and 3 New Adult contemporary romance novels. Her motivation to begin writing these novels is that she was interested in writing about rich men who actually love and respect their women. Her heroes are alpha and damaged, yet also genuinely good guys.
Ryan, Nick, Luke and Asher are all complicated characters who have experienced plenty of darkness, yet always seek the light. They would all go to the ends of the earth to protect the women they love. And they’re all sexy, enigmatic, magnetic and great in bed.
All of Annie’s books have things in common: they all combine a touch of mystery and intrigue with drama, love, and lots of hot sex. Some of the books have action and even some criminal elements in them. Her current book, in fact, is her first book that would be classified as straight romantic suspense, although it also combines definite elements of the thriller genre! If you’re in the market for a book that is fast-paced, where the heroes are beautiful and wealthy, and the heroines are strong, vulnerable and flawed, then try these books out!
