Meet the characters:
Hammer is devoted to his Satan’s Pride brothers and would do anything for them. He’s been looking at what the other Pride men have with the good women in their lives and craves this for himself. No woman measures up, until one day he looks across the way at the new neighbor, and he’s hooked.
Francesca wants to disappear from the social obligations that come with her esteemed background of the Deleigh companies. She suffers with the fear that reporters and paparazzi will discover her whereabouts and the horrible stories will be dredged up all over again.
Hammer wants his woman to breathe.
Feel the passion:
I’m utterly drained, but all I have to do is glance at Hammer’s profile and I want to climb onto his lap and kiss him until we’re both gasping for breath. He catches me, giving me a full view of his handsome face.
“Kiss me,” I plead softly.
No sooner do I utter the words than the space between us closes and his mouth is on mine. Soft, sultry lips move sensually over mine, fanning the embers down deep inside me into a flame of desire. I wrap my arms around his neck, straddling his lap, my thighs closing over his legs. My movement spurs Hammer into action. His fingers twine into my hair to hold me in place as he continues kissing me, slowly and dreamily, exploring every part of my mouth, then sliding down my cheek and jaw.
Suddenly, he’s on his feet with my legs locked around his waist, and he’s heading for my bedroom. He grips the back of my head to pull me back down for another soul-searching kiss. Warmth spreads through my belly, all the way down to my core. Hammer takes and I give, and I’m willing to give him all of me.
He drops his knee on the bed and lays me down, hovering over me. “Tell me you want this,” he commands, his voice husky and raw.
“I want this,” I say.
Still, he hesitates. “No turning back. Once you’re mine, you’re well and truly mine, baby. I’m not going to be able to let you go. You get me?”
I’m not sure if I “get him,” but I don’t care. I know what I feel when I’m with him, and this is the happiest I’ve ever felt. Hammer makes me feel beautiful in every way. I want to be his. I nod and murmur a barely audible yes. His lips curve into a sexy, sly smile.
Leaves you wanting more:
Before I know it, it’s coming up on eleven o’clock. Where did the time go? Hammer edges me off his lap and stands, but instead of moving toward the door, he takes my hand and places a hand to my back urging me toward my bedroom.
“It’s getting late.” I don’t want Hammer to feel obligated to stay. Even though I’m wiped out, I already know that I’ll be awake half the night.
“Are you tired?” he asks, scanning my face.
“I’m always tired, but that doesn’t mean I’ll sleep,” I tell him truthfully.
“Go get ready for bed, babe. I’m going to stay with you until you fall asleep.”
My mouth drops open, and I’m speechless. When I finally find my voice, I say, “You can’t do that. It’s bad enough that I’m up all night. You need to go to work tomorrow. You just finished telling me about the busy day you have planned.”
“Trust me.”
“But—”
He puts his palms on my cheeks and looks deeply into my eyes. “Trust. Me.”
“All right.” I acquiesce immediately, unable to resist his determination. Then he presses his lips to mine in a light kiss. It’s barely a kiss at all, yet I feel the electricity between us. I want to step into his arms and lose myself in his warmth and have him kiss me properly.
“Frankie, give a man a break. I’m trying to be a gentleman, and the way you’re looking at me is making it difficult to not want to devour that sexy mouth of yours.”
My cheeks warm with embarrassment, and I decide now’s a good time to retreat to my bedroom and get changed. I pull out a pair of deep purple silk lounger pajamas with a matching tank top. I scrub my face clean of makeup and suddenly feel very exposed. Aside from this morning, I don’t remember the last time I let anyone see me without makeup except for the servants.
There’s a rap on the door, and Hammer’s low, sexy voice utters, “You dressed?”
I climb into bed. “Um, yes.”
He comes in and walks directly to my en suite bathroom, emerging a few minutes later. He then removes his boots and climbs in next to me, only he’s on top of the covers. He pulls me close, and I automatically rest my head on his chest. I try to relax against his solid frame, but the more I try, the more anxious I become.
“Relax,” he murmurs.
If only it were that easy.
“What’s rattling around in that beautiful brain of yours?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I sigh.
“That’s a lie, babe.” He gives me a little shake. “Give it a go.”
“Silly stuff that means nothing. I was thinking that Ava is beautiful and it’s no wonder that Guard snatched her up. And Vi has so much energy. She makes me laugh.”
“She’s a ballbuster, but Orion wouldn’t want her any other way,” he replies.
“Izzy’s super sweet. The way she talks about her husband, you can see the love she has for him. She adores her big brother.”
“Izzy’s an amazing girl.”
“I still haven’t figured out why Saint calls her Miss Boots.”
“It’s a long story, but the short version is that she saved Demon and Sofia by using her boot to knock over a woman who was holding them at gunpoint. Then she kept asking for her missing boot all the way to the hospital. Hence, Miss Boots.”
I get stuck on “a woman with a gun.” “A woman tried to shoot Sofia and Demon?”
“Let’s save that for another night. What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“I was thinking of going into town and seeing Rose’s shop and maybe picking up some flowers. They brighten up the house. And maybe dropping by Hanna’s,” I murmur sleepily.
“Pick up her apple crisp tarts. We’ll have them for dessert tomorrow night.”
Just as my eyes are drooping closed, the thought of Hammer leaving jolts me awake. “Stay the night. Don’t leave,” I whisper, clasping his shirt.
His hand covers mine. “Hush, baby. I promise. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
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