Release Day Blitz & Giveaway
Out of the Ashes
by
S.M. Lynn
S.M. Lynn
~ Synopsis ~
Can love really conquer all? Even when the secrets are so big, someone could die for keeping them, has died to keep them?
Celeste Brooks is haunted by a past she cannot escape. Plagued by nightmares and fear that her secret will be discovered, she buries herself in her MBA and work, opening up to no one except her roommate, Gavin. Until her path crosses with his.
Ian Jacobs made a vow when his heart was broken that he would never allow anyone that close again. Being a sexy business mogul has its perks, and having many attractive women throw themselves at you is just one. Until his path crosses with hers.
As soon as Ian finds Celeste has applied for a position with Jacobs Enterprises, he takes matters into his own hands, knowing that he must possess this woman at any cost. Celeste finds herself under Ian’s spell and knows that she will do anything to be close to this man. Including revealing her secrets? As their paths, past and present, collide, they must decide to risk it all or leave each other behind.
~ Excerpt ~
~ Links to Buy ~
Amazon ** Amazon UK ** Amazon CA
~ About the Author ~
Stepping out onto the sidewalk, he
wraps me in his arms and lifts me off the ground. “I was beginning to worry that you were
having second thoughts.” He nibbles on
my earlobe as he whispers in my ear.
“Never” is my only reply as he opens
the door and helps me into the car. I
give him the address and he relays it to the driver before closing the panel
between the front seat and us.
“Are you sure we haven’t met
before?” He tips my chin up to look into
my eyes.
“No, I don’t think so. But everything about you does seem familiar
like déjà vu or something.” I run my
hands up his thigh to cup his growing erection.
“Well, sweetheart,” he says leaving a
trail of kisses down my neck, “when I see something I want, I tend to take
it.” His lips set fire to my skin. “But perhaps introductions are in order
before we arrive at your apartment?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather just
keep it anonymous. I’ve been so wrapped
up in life for the last few years that I need a night to let go.” To forget, I think to myself. “Please.
For tonight?”
“For tonight? Sure, but I can pretty much guarantee I’m
going to want to see you again so after tonight, we’ll have to talk. There’s no way I’ll be able to get the taste
of your sweet skin out of my head.”
As much as I wish that this could be
more than one night, there’s no way it’ll be any more than this. I would’ve thought it would make me feel
cheap to give myself to a man I hardly knew because despite the past, I barely
know him. Being with him though, I’m
overcome with a sense of peace. A sense
that, at least for tonight, I’ll be in arms that will protect me from all the
evil, which constantly threatens to catch up with me. As we near the building, I find myself
longing for that protection and security more and more.
This is dangerous ground to tread
on. Bringing my past way too close to my
present but I have to have him. I just
need to keep reminding my head and my heart that after tonight we’ll just be
nameless strangers to one another. And I
have to be okay with that if I’m going to go through with this. There’s no doubt in my mind that one night
with him will break my heart but the memory of tonight will sustain me for a
long time to come, probably the rest of my life. So I settle into his lap to enjoy the rest of
our brief ride to my apartment.
Entering the elevator, the sexual
tension is thick between us. He pulls me
close as his hands find the pins holding my hair. He releases them allowing my hair to flow
over my shoulders and down my back. His
fingers run through the loose curls causing my scalp to tingle. The tingle shoots all the way from my scalp
down my body to settle between my legs, where it became a constant throb.
The ding of the elevator, signaling our
arrival to our destination, is the only thing that keeps me from ripping his
clothes off right then and there. I
can’t believe how brazen I am this evening.
This isn’t me at all but then again isn’t that why I came to New York in
the first place? To get as far away from
the old me as possible? I unlock the
door and usher him through into the living room. “Can I take your jacket?” I ask as he drapes it over the back of the
sofa.
“Is this alright?” He asks indicating his jacket. I can only nod as the electricity builds
between us.
Wetting my lips again, I ask, “Would
you like a drink? I believe we have some
cognac here.” Letting him know that I
noticed his drink of choice earlier.
“Or we have some champagne.” His
gaze drifts to the counter separating the living room from the kitchen and
rests on the champagne in the ice bucket and two glasses. “Oh sorry, my roommate and I had a couple
glasses before we left for the club.
Tonight was sort of a celebration for me.” I shrug as if to say it was no big deal. “But there’s still plenty left and I have
another bottle in the wine fridge if you’d like some.”
“Champagne would be wonderful. So what were you celebrating? I feel a little guilty pulling you away from
your friends knowing that you were out celebrating.” In a few long strides, he stands in front of
me. “But I won’t say I regret it.” His lips once again find mine; the champagne
and questions are all but forgotten. My
hands tangle in his hair and his grip on my waist tightens like it’s his only
lifeline. Not wanting to break our kiss,
I gently guide us down the hallway to my bedroom. He moves us through the door and in a swift
move kicks the door shut with his foot.
Once the door closed the need engulfing, my body grows
exponentially. I reach for the buttons
on his shirt wanting to remove all barriers between us. My clumsiness and inexperience are definitely
noticeable but he doesn’t say anything, just helps guide my fingers from one
button to the next until the shirt lies in a pool at our feet.
I reach up the side of my dress and
find the zip. Pulling it down with the
dress, it soon joins his shirt on the floor and I stand before him in a lacy
bra, thong and my heels. His breathe
catches in his throat and I can tell he definitely enjoys the view. “My god, you are so beautiful.” He pulls me to him and takes my mouth once
more then begins his exploration down my body.
Trailing kisses from my neck down to the tops of my breasts and then
over my stomach until he is kneeling before me.
He looks up at me silently asking permission. I fist my hands in his hair and throw my head
back in answer. If I thought his
intention was just to remove the thong, I was very wrong. With a slight tug, there’s a ripping sound as
the small piece of fabric falls away from my body. He holds it in his fist for a moment just
staring at my naked pussy before he lowers his lip to my clit and sucks
hard. The sensation almost causes me to
fall over. Sensing my weak knees, he
pushes me back against the bed until I’m sitting as he continues working me
over with his tongue. “Ah god, that
feels incredible.”
“Angel, you taste incredible. You are incredible. I was right before when I said I wouldn’t be
able to get enough of you in one night.”
His fingers slip between my folds and he presses one into me. I gasp at the feeling. “Shit!
You are so fucking tight. This is
heaven.”
~ Links to Buy ~
Amazon ** Amazon UK ** Amazon CA
~ About the Author ~
S.M. Lynn has a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education with an English specialization. She resides in small town Nebraska with her husband and two children. She writes contemporary romance leaning toward the erotic but enjoys mixing in elements of suspense.
When her family can pry her away from writing and reading, she works in her husband's financial services firm. Between kids and work there is not much time left over but when she has some, she enjoys traveling, watching Vampire Diaries and scouring Facebook for book deals.
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