Sea of Flames (Second Chances # - Madison Street

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Copyright 2016 © Madison Street ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this

material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. Photo by Lindee Robinson Photography Models: Mikeala Galli and Ahmad Kawsan Editing by Script Easier Editing Formatted by Madison Street ISBN- 13: 978-1530976119 ISBN-10: 1530976111

Table of Contents Playlist Dedication Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 About Madison Street Contact the Author New Reads

Below is a list of songs featured in the playlist. Some songs are featured in the novel, while others were all I listened to while writing this story. All songs can be listened to via Spotify. - Hands to Myself by Selena Gomez - Here for You by Kygo and Ella Henderson

- Chocolate by The 1975 - Change your Ticket by One Direction - Honey I’m Home by Francesco Yates - Collide by Howie Day - Thinking out Loud by Ed Sheeran - Drive by The Cars - TiO by Zayn - Stay by Kygo

To the Italian bakery I worked at during high school… Thank you for introducing me to delicious pastries and defining my love for éclairs.

Six months ago, I died.

But then, something miraculous happened.

I came back to life.

Roman It’s been six months; six months since my life has rebooted. I feel like a changed man. I never would have guessed that my life would be like this, if you asked me. Six months ago, I was a New York City firefighter, battling my way through treacherous disasters, trying to find meaning in my life. Six months ago, I was heartbroken,

alone, desperate— desperate to find her. To have her. To hold her. I had pined for her for years— ten years to be exact. Since the moment I first laid eyes on her, during my senior year of high school. Her pulsing emerald eyes bore deep into my soul. They were filled with wonder, calling me to dive deeper into the imagination of what could be. From that moment on, I knew I needed her. I had to have her. It took me ten years but I found her — well, actually she found me. In fact, she saved me. She was my angel. She brought me back to life from a dark place that I thought I’d never escape. A mental prison I couldn’t withstand. My life had no meaning

because I had lost my purpose. A five story building collapse caused some major damage to my body. A broken back, and several seconddegree burns to be exact. Permanent fascial scarring was the nail on the chalkboard. Two months spent in the ICU was killer. During that time, I found myself struggling to cope without my purpose. How could I save those if I couldn’t even move? How would I be able to fight fires? But what hurt the most was I wasn’t good enough for her. I was damaged goods. I thought she deserved to be with someone more worthy of her love. Until she taught me to believe in

myself and forced me to look deep inside myself and learn to love again. From that moment on, she changed my life forever. Laying in our bed, I remember the times we’ve spent together; making each moment last forever. From the time, we made snow angels on the street, to our first kiss on New Years’, down to our conversations we shared while I was in the hospital. It’s all come down to this— this moment. Staring at her sleeping body, my arm brushes along her naked shoulders. Her soft breath escapes her lips as I bend down and plant a quick kiss on her back. I will never get over laying in bed next to her.

She nestles closer into me as she burrows her head deeper into the pillows. She’s so damn beautiful when she sleeps. Her wavy golden hair hugs her shoulders and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her even closer. The morning sun peeps through the bedroom curtains, slowly illuminating our room. The blonde strands of her hair shines as the sun hits them, creating a natural hue of highlights. My fingers graze her smooth skin causing me to recall what we did last night. A low chuckle escapes as I imagine her on top of me, thrusting her hips, fixing to get that perfect spot— that perfect sensation. Just imagining her gets my blood boiling and I can feel my dick become

harder just from a short memory. Rolling my body closer toward her, I softly swipe the hair off her face and inch close to lay a kiss on her cheek. She moans softly, immediately making my insides tingle and causing a little twitch action. Smiling, I reach down to caress her back, my fingers trailing along her naked body. At that moment, the blaring alarm sounds, disturbing my time. I let out a groan as I turn behind to shut off the alarm. It’s as if the city streets knew I was awake, because in that moment, all hell broke loose. Car horns blast throughout the streets below, drivers cursing at each other, the subway making it’s way

underground; the city that never sleeps apparently just woke up. Melanie rustles in the sheets, making a sweet sound as she slowly awakens. I hug her close and kiss her cheek. Whispering in her ear, “Good morning beautiful.” I see a small smile curve along her lips and she whispers back, “Watching me sleep again.” I chuckle as I slip away and climb out of bed. “You know I love watching you sleep. It’s my favorite part of the day.” Standing slowly, I reach out for my robe to cover my nakedness and walk around the side of the bed. Bending

down to her, I kiss her lips. Our kiss is light and quick and as I pull away, Melanie smiles bright. “I love you.” “Right back at ya.” I wink and turn around, heading toward the bathroom for a quick shower. Making sure the water is nice and hot, I carefully step inside, making sure not to slip. Even though it’s been months since my accident, the physical strain on my legs still requires daily concentration and alertness. The appointments at physical therapy aren’t as frequent as they used to be which is a plus. My therapist acknowledges my progression each session. It’s crazy how much I’ve

improved in the past six months. I couldn’t even stand up, let alone walk. And now I’m able to walk up several flights of stairs and even jog at a slow pace—no sprinting for me just yet. Applying shampoo on my hair, I hear the bathroom door open and see Melanie’s shadow behind the shower curtain. Her voice chimes from the opposite side as she sits on the toilet. “What time is your appointment today?” Glancing at the ceiling as I think, “Uhh…I think it’s at 9 o’clock. Why?” “I just want to make sure you have enough time to get there in time.” A puzzled smirk spreads across my face. “I have an hour to get there.”

Catching me by surprise, the shower curtain swiftly opens as she climbs inside. Reaching out to her, I hold her tight so we won’t fall. “What are you—” She reaches out to grab my face and pulls me close, landing her lips on mine. Her luscious lips tug and pull on mine as her mouth opens wide, pulling me closer. Her hands let go of my face and travel down my soapy chest, making their way south. I reach out to press her wet body against mine and she giggles on my lips. I feel a smile creep inside as I trickle my fingers down her back. I pull us both directly under the showerhead, letting the warm waterfall

sprinkle down upon us as we continue to make out. Her hand reaches its destination and she begins to stroke. I break away from her lips, unable to control the gasp that escapes me. As the shower warms my body, her hand moves up and down, ensuing a pleasure of lust and ecstasy. Her lips travel to my neck as the pressure of heated bliss builds higher and higher. Her fingers rub the tip causing me to gasp louder this time. “Fuck baby. I love it when you touch me.” Filled with heat, I kiss her with a fierce intensity. My tongue grazes against hers, forming a twirling dance inside our mouths. Her hand tightens around my

swollen dick as she speeds up her movement. The friction of skin contact underneath the waterfall feels so damn good, I could barely keep hold. She pulls away from my lips and drops to her knees. Knowing what she’ll do next, I place my hand on the wall, making sure to steady my balance. Before she opens her mouth, I close my eyes, letting my head fall backwards. Holy Fuck. A burst of sensations course throughout my body: my heartbeat pounds against my chest as my breathing becomes staggered. I can sense my body clinching tighter, almost ready to fuckin’ explode. Right before I almost burst, I push

Melanie away and shake my head. She gives me a confused look as she stands. “What’s wrong?” I give her a reassuring smile. “Nothing, I’d rather see you come first.” I wink at her and reach outside of the shower to grab my shower stool. It had its purpose once I started standing a few months ago. It was a life saver during my long shower sessions. I place the stool in the middle of the tub and sit, pulling Melanie on top of me. She gasps as I slide inside of her. My lips crash onto hers as I thrust upwards and she matches my movement. As we “push and pull”, she wraps her arms around my neck, squeezing with a thirst of lust.

We move in sync, mentally and physically, as we hold onto each other, grasping to reach our blissful orgasm. At that moment, the water instantly turns to freezing cold and Melanie screeches. I bust out laughing and yell out, “Damn you neighbors!” Melanie joins my laughter as she adjusts the faucet, trying to get the water back to a warm temperature. “Of course, this happens right when I’m about to bust.” She continues to laugh at my frustration, still sitting on me. Being playful, I twitch my dick as it’s still inside of her. She squirms on top of me, slapping my chest. “Really babe?! That feels so

weird!” “Haha – I couldn’t help it.” She shakes her head as she continues to get the temperature right. “Uhh…I’m freezing my balls off here.” She huffs and points her finger at me. “Listen, stop complaining.” She finally gets the water right and we continue where we left off. Minutes later, she screams with a shrill of ecstasy as her body orgasms on me. Seeing her let go sends chills down my spine and I grab her hips as I thrust upward, spilling inside of her. As we calm down from our highs, she slowly climbs off of me and I rub my thighs. “Damn woman, I can’t feel my

legs.” She wobbles as she stands. “You!? I can’t even stand up right.” I stand and remove the stool from the shower and grab a loofa, squirting a hint of body wash on it. I nod at Melanie, instructing her to turn around so I can wash her up. We take turns ensuring that we are both clean, ready to begin the day. Shutting off the water, I grab a towel and wrap it around her. She smirks at me. “Why are you so good to me?” My lips peck hers. “You are the love of my life and I’m here to care for you. Always.”

Melanie Making my way down the stairs of the subway, I pull out my cellphone to see a text from my best friend, Gia. What time are you guys leaving tomorrow? Early. Around 5 AM Damn!!! why so early? NYC traffic…that’s why LOL Tell me about it. I’m back to taking the subway again. Ew! LOL…it’s not so bad. You’ll get used to it.

NEVER!!!! Just as she responds, my train pulls up to the platform. As the doors slide open, I step aside to let the passengers get off on their stop, and then make my way to an empty seat. I find a corner spot in the back of the car, all nice and quiet for the ride to work. It’s been a month since I moved in with Roman. Even though his apartment is farther from my job at the hospital, it made sense for him to stay here, instead of moving in with me. His building has an elevator, his apartment is much larger than mine, and the rent was cheaper. You can’t beat that. Ever since Roman’s healed up, I’ve switched back to the first shift at the

hospital so that we can be home during the same hours. I hated working nights, leaving him all alone to fend for himself. It absolutely gutted me. Thankfully, his aunt and uncle visited often to check in on him. But now, he’s back to work at the bakery. He’s officially the manager of Zeppieri’s Bakery— his uncle is the owner. Roman actually worked there in high school and funny thing is it’s where we first met. As I think back to our first meeting, I feel a smile spread across my face. He was so damn shy. I don’t think I ever heard him speak until I got soaked in the thunderstorm on my way home from school. It’s the day I learned his name. Funny how life works in mysterious

ways. Meeting your soul mate at a bakery, of all places, and soaked to the bone and a shivering mess. It’s crazy how things have changed since then. It’s been ten years since that day and it’s a day I’ll never forget. Responding back to Gia’s text, I shoot her a quick reply. On the train. Call you when I’m out. I open the Spotify app on my iPhone and select one of my favorite playlists. “Chocolate” by The 1975 starts to play and immediately I feel the urge to get up and dance. Relax Mel, you’re on the subway. Laughing at myself, I sit back and jam out to the sounds of The 1975 as the train pulls away from the station and

makes it way underneath the city streets. ○○○ Exiting the subway, I tell Siri to buzz Gia as I walk toward the hospital. Gia answers in a matter of seconds. “Hey!! Are you at work yet?” “Not yet. Almost there. Wassup?” “You guys feeling up for some company tonight? Me and Brad want to see you guys.” Looking around for cars, I cross the streets, careful not to bump into anyone. The warm summer breeze travels through my hair, cooling my body off temporarily. The ten block walk to work is all fine and dandy, unless it’s almost 100 degrees outside, then we have a different story.

“Tonight? Uh…what time?” “Maybe around six? Is that good for you?” I silently nod, “Yeah, that should be good. It can’t be too late though. Roman and I have to get up early. So no drinking tonight. Make sure you tell Mr. Bartender that.” Gia’s laugh echoes through the phone. “Haha! I’ll be sure to tell Brad. Although he won’t be happy. Are you excited about this weekend?” A hint of hesitation and excitement filters through me at once. “A little bit.” “Why do you say that?” “Gia…he’s taking me camping! You know I’m a city girl. I won’t last out there for an hour, let alone three days!”

“Girrrl, I don’t know how you are gonna last. I feel for you.” The corner of the hospital building comes into view as I cross the street and make way inside. “You tellin’ me! I’m freaking out but happy and excited at the same time. It’s definitely going to be a weekend I’ll never forget.” “That’s for sure.” I glance at the clock on the wall by the entrance and briskly walk toward the elevator. Pressing the button, I tell Gia I’ll see her later tonight. As the elevator door opens, I step inside, letting the doors shut behind me. Letting out a deep breath, I mentally prepare for the busy day ahead. Working

in the ICU, specifically The Burn Unit, is no joke. Work is never boring. I head toward the female locker room to change into my scrubs and wash up. Clocking in for work, I pull my hair up into a messy bun and head to the nurse’s station to relieve the night shirt nurse. “Anything I need to know about before you head out?” The night nurse, Amanda, shakes her head. “No, it was nice and quiet. Just how I like it.” I nod, mentally saying yes. “Cool. Thanks.” Before Amanda walks away, she asks, “How’s Roman doing?” “He’s well actually. He’s back to

work, running the bakery now.” Amanda hesitates. “He’s…not going to try to get reinstated as a firefighter?” My head inclines, “No. He misses it but he’s happy at the bakery. Although, last month he was awarded an award for his bravery during the building collapse.” “I know! I saw it on the news. I bet you’re proud of him.” “Yes…proud and so much more.” She yawns softly, covering her mouth with her hand. She sleepily smiles at me “Well, I better get out of here before I fall asleep on the train. Do you work this weekend?” “Nope, Roman is taking me camping

in Pennsylvania.” She shrieks, “Wow! Lucky girl.” I laugh at her awe and sit behind the desk, logging into the nurses’ computer. Amanda says her goodbye just as the cafeteria attendant makes her way through the halls, offering breakfast to each patient. Glancing at each of my patients’ charts, I quickly assess their health and progress. Planning my rounds, I jot down any questions I need to make note of while I evaluate each patient. Grabbing the first patient’s chart, I head toward their room and quietly knock, careful not to wake if they are sleeping. I hear a cheerful “Good morning”

and smile as I step inside, ready to begin my day’s work saving lives. ○○○ “So, why Pennsylvania?” Gia’s voice chimes during our evening dinner, stuffing her face with Roman’s lasagna. Roman hints, “My aunt and uncle own a little cottage there. It’s only about three hours from here. Not too bad of a drive.” “So, what? You guys are gonna take a cab there?” I bust out laughing, “No silly! We are renting a car. We need to pick it up in the morning and then make our way to the Poconos. Hopefully, we’ll be there around nine or ten.

Gia’s boyfriend, aka Mr. Bartender, speaks up. “I’ve never been there but have heard great things. Any special plans?” Roman reaches for my hand and winks at me. His fingers twine with mine as he responds to Brad. “No special plans. Just spending time with her is enough for me.” His sweetness sends butterflies to my stomach as Gia says, “Aww…isn’t he a keeper?” Brad turns to Gia with a raised brow and she shuts him up by laying a kiss on his lips. Two hours later, Gia and Brad head out so Roman and I can get some shut eye before the trip. Just as Gia steps out

into the hall, she pulls me into a hug. “Good luck in the woods. Maybe you should have watched a couple episodes of Naked & Afraid.” She laughs at her joke and I can only roll my eyes. This is what you get with Gia, but I love her to death. Smiling and waving as they head into the elevator, I step back into our apartment and help Roman clean up before we head to bed. Tomorrow the adventure begins.

Roman The GPS announces we have reached our destination and I pull up to the cabin and park the car. “Well, we’re here!” I stare at Melanie as she stills in her seat. Her eyes travel around in circles as she takes in her surroundings. Her mouth gapes open, completely stunned at what she sees. Once she recovers she gives me a shocked look, “This is it?”

I nod at her shock and laugh. “Yup.” She shrieks, “It’s huge! It’s a freakin cabin for like what, twenty people?” I open the door and walk around the side to open hers. Reaching for her hand, I pull her out of the car and whisper, “Wait till you see the lake.” “Lake! There’s a lake?” “Ha-ha! Let’s check the inside. I’ll get our luggage in a bit.” We hold hands as we walk up the porch of the wooden cabin and I unlock the door. Melanie steps inside first and gasps. Her hands twist together as she comments on the décor. “Oh. My. God! This is beautiful! Did your aunt decorate all of this? It’s stunning!”

I smile at her enthusiasm and turn on the lights, enabling her to check everything out at it’s fullest. The cabin has an old feel filled with character and history, but with upgraded technology. Recess lighting fills the living spaces and the halls, wall sconces line each accent, and a spruce of paint casts a fresh glow. The windows in the living area are wide open panes, which peer out into the woods, and if you look far enough, the lake is faintly visible. Upgraded stainless steel appliances accent the modern kitchen filled with country charm. Melanie walks around the cabin and I head into the kitchen, opening the

fridge to decide what to make for a quick brunch. I hear her shout from across the hall, “Roman, I cannot believe this place. I could get lost!” I shout back toward her, “Go upstairs! Then, you’ll really get lost!” In an instant, I hear her heels stomp up the stairs. Grabbing a carton of eggs, bacon, and some biscuits from the fridge, I whip up a quick meal as Melanie continues to explore the cabin. The entire time she hollers about every room she enters and it’s not too long before I could barely make her out. With the insulation and thickness of the wood, it’s difficult to hear her voice from a distance. She finally returns to the kitchen just

in time for brunch. Placing her plate of food on the table, I grab the carton of orange juice and two glasses. Pouring the juice, she sits and grabs a piece of bacon. I sit in the seat across from her and apply a dab of salt on my eggs. “So, do you like the cabin?” She gasped. “Like!? I love it! It’s the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen. It’s so homey. Your aunt did a fabulous job.” “I’ll be sure to tell her that.” “How did they find this place?” I shrug. “I don’t really know the logistics but they bought it years ago. This cabin is pretty old but with my aunt’s tender, love, and care, she kept it tidy. We used to come up here every

summer when I was younger. It was great.” She stares at me blankly. “Wow, I learn something new about you every day.” Giving her a raised brow, “Is that a bad thing?” She giggles. “On the contrary. I fall more in love with you every time I learn something new.” She blows me a kiss and I smile in return. Nodding toward her plate, I instruct. “Eat. We have a busy day ahead.” ○○○ “Are you sure this was a good idea? I don’t want you getting hurt.” Her worried voice sounds in front

of me as we hike our way through the woods. Taking one step at a time, I come up behind her. “Stop worrying babe. I’m good. We’re almost there anyway.” “Where exactly are we going? We’ve been at this for an hour. All I see is bugs, bugs, and more bugs!” Grabbing her hand, I pull her further up the hiking trail. “Stop complaining woman and just enjoy nature’s wonders.” “I am!” We continue to hike another ten minutes until I remember we are almost to the top. I pull Melanie ahead of me as I want her to experience it firsthand. Ushering her to keep front, she takes the last steps needed to complete our

adventure up the mountain. She reaches the top and gasps in awe. Standing beside her, I take her hand as we stare out into the wondrous forest. At the highest peak of the mountain, our eyes set on the vast wilderness below us. Hunter green forestry cover thousands of acres of land, a winding river streams down the side of the mountain, making its way to the large lake at the bottom. Numerous mountain cabins scour the land below as birds soar throughout the clear blue sky. Light from the golden sun heats the water of the lake, making it glimmer and shine. I take a quick peek at Melanie and

notice a tear fall down her face. I turn her to face me. “What’s wrong?” She sniffles, “It’s gorgeous. I have never seen such beauty before. This must be what heaven looks like.” A warm feeling travels through me and I pull her into a hug, wrapping my arms tight around her body. “I see such beauty every day and trust me…it’s the most beautiful thing out there.” She lifts her head to me and I bend down to kiss her deeply. Our lips mold together as one as the summer wind sprays through her light blonde hair. The leaves of trees shuffle below us as birds chirp in the distance. Happiness surges through my chest and I know I can survive anything with

her by my side. This is all I need—just her.

Melanie Roman guides me back down the mountain after our little excursion. His hand wraps around mine as we walk in unison through the woods. The creepy crawlers hiding in the grass and other bug life don’t bother me anymore. All I know is I’m happy. Right here. Right now. I’m so proud of the man that holds my heart. In less than six months he’s completely outdone himself. And to think

he almost threw it all away just because he wasn’t confident and believed in himself. A hint of warmth travels throughout my body, making the hairs on my arms stand straight up. He senses my goose bumps and looks at me, mentally asking if I’m okay. I love it when he cares for me. It took long enough, but this is it. I’ve found my soul mate—my one and only. His dark brown eyes stare at mine with so much intensity it causes me to stop breathing for a split second. The way he stares at me sends all kinds of emotions on a crazy rollercoaster ride. Some days it’s hard to contain myself around him. I feel as

though I can literally melt in his arms and I’d be okay with that. Because as long as he’s with me, I am satisfied. It’s all I want in this world. Just him. Now and forever. Once we get back to the cabin, Roman makes us a delicious dinner— steak and potatoes. Damn, Gia was right. I really am a lucky girl. “I’ll do the dishes. It’s only fair. You go and rest. It’s been a long day.” Standing up, I grab Roman’s plate along with mine and place them in the kitchen sink. Roman follows close behind, carrying the wine bottle and our glasses. “Thanks babe. I’m going to lay out on the deck. Come out there when you’re done.” He kisses my cheek softly and

heads outside as I clean up after dinner. Turning on the faucet, I grab my phone to buzz Gia to catch her up to speed. After the phone rings twice, she hollers into the phone. “You’re still alive I see. How’s life in the wild?” I put the phone on speaker and grab the sponge to start washing the plates. “Gia, you would have loved it here! It’s so breathtaking and mesmerizing.” “That good, huh?” “I’m serious. It’s beautiful. The landscape is nothing I’ve ever seen before. I understand why so many people live out in the mountains. It’s secluded from all the nonsense and B.S. in the world.”

“You sound like a new woman. Haha.” I laugh at her comment while rinsing the plates and then moving on to the glasses. “What’s the plan for tomorrow?” “Ah…I think we’re going to the lake. That’s all I know so far. He’s been pretty secretive about our plans. It’s a new surprise for me. Roman always has something special planned. God Gia. I wish you could have seen the view that we saw today.” “Where did you guys go?” “Roman took me hiking up the mountain and when we got to the top, it was amazing. The mountain top scoured thousands of acres and we could see the

wildlife living in their habitats. We even got to see other cabins on the ground. But that lake…whew! It was magnificent!” “Sounds awesome! I’m glad you guys are having a great time.” “How’s life in the city?” “Brad got promoted! He’s the bar manager now.” Drying the dishes, I let out a yelp. “Whoo! Is he there? I want to congratulate him.” “Nope, he’s at the bar, but I’ll tell him you send congrats.” Finishing up, I wipe down the counters and the tables. Grabbing the wood polish, I apply a fresh coat to get the table top nice and glossy. A couple

minutes later, I say goodnight to Gia and I make my way outside to the deck. “Roman?” “Over here, love.” Following his voice, I find him naked, inside a Jacuzzi. He gives me a sly smirk and waves me closer. “Come on, the water’s nice and warm.” Tearing off my clothes, I carefully step inside, adjusting to the heat of the water. The jetted bubbles tickle my body, causing me to let out a giggle just as Roman pulls me close. His lips press onto mine as he wraps his arms around me. The spacious tub engulfs us as we melt into each other, letting the jets rumble underneath our bodies. His hands

travel all over my body, caressing each crevice as though he’s memorizing each one. The light touch of his fingers sets my skin on fire in the heated blast of water. My lips dance with his as I maneuver to sit on top of him. A light snicker escapes his mouth as our bodies become one, making love underneath the moonlight. ○○○ “I think I need a life vest.” My trembling voice begs for some sort of assurance as Roman gets the small row boat and pushes it out into the lake. He looks at me with a really-youdon’t-need-that look and ushers me inside the boat. Groaning at his request, I

step inside and sit, rubbing my hands together nervously. He pushes the boat into the water and hops inside, grabbing the oars and paddling us further into the center of the lake. “Relax babe. It’s just water.” With a shaky voice, “I don’t swim that well.” “I’m here. No need to worry. Relax.” Letting out a deep breath, I listen to his advice and pull my mind away from the horror underneath me. Glancing around the lake, I see a set of deer grazing by the shore opposite of us. Not wanting to startle them, I quietly tell Roman to look and he smiles as his eyes land on the deer family. “I’ve never

seen deer before,” I tell him. “Really? Never?” Shaking my head, “Nope. I’ve never left the city and there aren’t really deer walking the streets of New York.” He chuckles as he continues to row the boat. “That’s true.” My eyes catch something splashing in the water, distracting me from the deer. Staring closely into the water, I can’t make out what’s causing the commotion. Hinting toward Roman, “What is that? I can’t really tell. It’s not a fish.” Roman climbs closer and bends down, but just as he’s about to say what it is, the animal comes into complete view, and I scurry away with a scream.

“It’s a snake!” My body crashes into Roman’s, causing the boat to wobble just as a splash echoes in the back of my mind. Spinning around, Roman is gone and I look out into the water, noticing a ripple of waves. “Roman!” Panic creeps inside as I bend down and try to see him in the water, but nothing. “Roman!” Seconds go by and silence is all I hear. Not even a speck of movement in the water below me. I breathe deep, trying not to freak the fuck out. “Roman, this isn’t funny. Come on, I’m not playing.” I turn around to check the other side

of the boat, hoping he’s there—nothing. There’s no way he can hold his breath underwater that long. Shit. Kicking off my shoes, I close my eyes and jump into the lake. Feeling for anything and everything, I swish my hands, diving underwater trying to find him. The thought of the snake wrapping around me springs into my mind and I immediately head back to the surface. Gasping for air, my senses are through the roof as panic fully sets in. A tingle tangles through my legs and all of a sudden, a sharp tug pulls on my legs. Yelling out, I’m pulled underwater. My eyes shoot open to see Roman smiling at me with a sense of thrill. Fueled with absolute frustration, I

swat his arms and he laughs, letting go of me. We swim to the surface just as I come up for air. A burst of laughter chimes from my right and I give him a death stare. “That was not funny! I thought you drowned!” He pulls me close. “Aww babe. Come on, let loose. I told you I could swim.” Shoving away from him, I spit out, “That doesn’t mean shit. People who can swim drown all the time. I know! I’m a nurse. I’ve seen it!” He senses my anger and reaches for me, but I pull away further. “What if your back gave out? What then?”

This time, he swims to me and hugs me close. “I’m sorry love. I shouldn’t have done that.” Giving in to his comfort, I let him hold me as we tread the waters of the lake. A soft kiss grazes my forehead. He chuckles and I look up at him. “Still laughing, huh?” “Actually, I’m proud of you.” “What? Why?” “You jumped in after me. Even after you saw a snake, you still jumped.” I snarl, “I thought you needed saving. I would do anything to help you, no matter what it takes. I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you.” He kisses my lips and leads us back to the boat. “Come on, let’s get back and

dry off before we catch a cold.” “Or before the snake gets us!” He laughs at my angst and nods. “Yes, that too.”

Melanie Stepping out of the shower, I wipe the mirror with my hand, smudging away the fog. Staring at my naked self, I look at my reflection. Feeling blessed in love and happiness, I smile at my reflection. The sweet aroma of dinner travels up from the kitchen and into our bedroom. I towel dry and pick out an outfit for the evening. Grabbing one of my favorite sun dresses, I pick a pair of matching sandals, and an accent of

jewelry. Applying a coat of lotion all over my skin, I massage it deep, smoothing out any dryness. After the swim in the lake, I practically scrubbed off the top layer of skin. I didn’t want to take any chances. Who knows what kind of animals or even germs lived in that lake; regardless of how clean it looked. After pulling on the dress and slipping into my sandals, I apply a fresh coat of foundation to conceal those unwanted dark spots on my face. A hint of blush brings color to my high cheekbones. I decide to spruce a bit of light blue eye shadow on my eyelids and line my eyes with liquid black eye liner, giving

that cat-eye look. A couple coats of mascara adds the final touch. A burst of hair spray applied to my golden locks gives them a slight bounce as they curve around my shoulders, traveling down my back. Within a matter of minutes, I’m all dolled up in time for dinner. Before stepping out of the room, I apply a coat of cherry lip gloss and matte my lips together, ready for some kisses. Making my way downstairs, I follow the delicious scent of dinner. Stepping into the dining area, I see it’s empty. Looking around, I call for Roman. “Babe?” Hmm. Maybe he’s in the kitchen.

But he’s not there either. Walking back to the living room, I see a hint of light shining through the window pane. Lanterns lined up on the ground, light up a trail, leading into the woods. Stepping outside, I follow the trail of light, walking deeper into the woods until spotting rose petals cover the ground underneath my feet. The sound of classical music chimes from across the trees as I make my way to it. Anticipation builds inside as I make my way toward the end of the trail. A flutter of butterflies thrills my stomach as the smell of pasta wavers in the blowing wind. Crickets sing along underneath the moonlight and an owl hoots in the distance. The rustle of

leaves crunch under my feet as I step further and further toward Roman. The sight of him comes into view as he stands next to a set dinner table, covered with candlelight and red rose petals. A dinner tray stands next to the table; it’s hidden plates covered by cloches—the metal domes keeping the food nice and warm. Roman tilts his head and extends his hand out for mine. I let him take it as he walks me to my seat at the table, pulling it out for me to sit. “Why, thank you, sir.” He gestures slightly and grabs the remote to change the track of the music selection. Soft music plays in the background as I glance around at his

work of art. The twinkle of the moonlight sparkles throughout the area just as my eyes set on the dazzling lake beside us. Shallow waves crash along the shore and I’m in complete awe; I’m filled with adoration for the man standing over me. He did good. He grabs a wine glass and fills it with red wine, handing it to me. After filling his, he sits in his chair across from me and raises his glass for a toast. I take mine and raise it, matching it to the height of his glass. Roman clears his throat, “To us.” I nod my head and smile. “To us.” We sip our wine and sit in a comfortable silence while admiring our

surroundings, taking in the breathtaking wonders of Mother Nature. Roman reaches for the domes, uncovering each plate. A wave of aroma hits my nose as he serves dinner. Looking down at my plate, a decorated chicken breast covered with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, parmesan, spinach, and mushroom grazes my plate. A side of angel hair pasta dons a healthy and scrumpsish plate I cannot wait to devour. “What I have for you this evening is Chicken Marsala Florentine. Bon appetit.” “Roman, this looks delicious. I can’t believe you did all of this.” “It’s all for you.” We clink wine glasses and dive into

our meals. Taking a bite of chicken, I allow the tasteful juices to melt in my mouth. I can’t help but moan as my taste buds explode, savoring each flavor. The hint of garlic gives that extra kick it needs, sending my stomach on a free-forall. Roman licks his lips as he devours each morsel of his meal and I can’t help but laugh as his slurps his pasta. The thought of Lady and The Tramp immediately comes to mind and I wonder if this is how he got the idea. The music skips forward to the next track and “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran starts to play. Roman gives me a smirk and puts his fork down, standing slowly. I watch as he steps over,

reaching out for my hand. “Shall we dance?” A smile spreads across my lips and I place my hand in his. He pulls me up out of my chair and twirls me slowly under the stars. We sway together to the musical stylings of Ed Sheeran, a genius when it comes to love songs. I close my eyes and rest my head on Roman’s chest, listening to his beating heart match the melody of the song. His strong arms hold me close as his warm body envelopes me deeper into his. The song winds down as the lyrics die down to a soft whisper. Roman kisses me deep with a passion of a thousand hearts—strong, loving, and wild. My breath hitches, grasping for air,

but unable to let go of his sweet, sweet lips. After a moment, we pull away, staring at one another with love in our eyes. He brings me back to my seat and we return to our meals. Fifteen minutes later, Roman clears our plates and grabs a white pastry box from the buffet table. “Is that what I think it is?” My thoughts get the best of me as Roman peeks at me with a hint of excitement spread across his face. “It might just be.” Clapping my hands together, I squeal like a kid in a candy store. I know exactly what that is! Roman places the box on the table and unwraps the red string that tied it shut. Unraveling it

loose, the box pops open and the smell of chocolate fuels my nostrils. Éclairs!!! Roman places one on my plate and he grabs the other. His smile shines bright, knowing how much I love these wonderful chocolate pastries. “I can’t believe you snuck these up here!” He shrugs modestly, “What kind of dinner would this be without the best pastry on the planet? Besides, I know how much you love them.” Sighing with love, “You know me so well.” We take a bite of the chocolaty, holy goodness. It tastes so freakin’ delicious. In seconds, I devour mine. Yup, it didn’t have a chance. Chuckling to myself,

Roman motions me to have another and I hesitate. “I’m already full and I know I shouldn’t.” “What’s one more going to do to you? It’s a light pastry. Besides, you know you want to.” Taking the last pastry, I giggle. “Alright you convinced me.” Biting into the gooey crème, my teeth hit a sharp object and I immediately spit it out onto my plate. What the hell? I look down to see what it is and my eyes set on a set of sparkling diamonds and platinum, immediately growing wide. I swallow—hard. Unable to move. My body completely stills and my

breathing halts to a stop. Roman gets up from his seat and walks toward mine. He grabs my hand and slowly bends down on one knee. A load of emotions exudes as my eyes fill with tears in an instant. His eyes bore into mine as he reaches up to caress my cheek. At that moment, the song “Drive” by Cars starts to play in the distance and I let out a gasp. It’s one of my favorite songs and here I am, listening to it as he stays bent. He lets out a deep breath and begins to speak. “It’s been eleven years since I saw your beautiful face stroll into my life and I’ve never forgotten that day. Throughout the years I wished for you,

wanted you so badly to be mine. Because, it’s all I’ve wanted. On that day, I knew. I knew you were the one for me.” Tears spill down my face as I listen to him pour his heart out. My chest heaves uncontrollably, unable to handle the complex emotions coursing through me. “Six months ago, I died. I gave up hope. Hope that one day, we would be together. But then, life threw me a curve ball and fate finally brought us together. In the most unexpected of ways, we found each other. I know it’s only been a couple of months, but I’m ready and I think you are too. Now it’s my time to take control and go after what I want.”

He looks down at the ground for a split second before returning his gaze. “All I want is you. Melanie Stevens, will you marry me?” My hand covers my mouth as I uncontrollably cry in front of him. I can’t seem to get a handle on my emotions but what the hell. I open my arms and wrap them around him, crashing into his chest, causing him to roll backwards, hitting the ground. I lay a load of kisses all over his face as he laughs underneath me. “Of course I will! I love you so much.”

Roman Her answer sends bolts shooting throughout my body as my heart pounds in my chest. Her kisses travel all over my face and even down to my neck. The leaves underneath us crunch as I get dirt all over my new blazer and pants. After our excitement dies down, I help her off the ground and grab the ring, cleaning the cream filling of the éclair off of it. I angle her ring finger and slide on the ring.

Smiling at her with adoration, I say, “Perfect fit.” I pull her into a deep kiss, licking her lips, not wanting to ever stop. Her body heats against mine as her chest presses against me. We pull away and I see her eyes fill with desire as her breathing becomes staggered. Knowing that look, I quickly blow out the candles and clean up the dishes. She grabs my hand and leads me back toward the cabin, leaving the dishes behind. Without a word, she brings me inside and pulls me up the stairs. With her other hand, she unties the knot keeping her dress on, letting it fall on the floor, revealing her breasts. She winks as she steps out of her

dress. Just before we enter the bedroom, she kicks off her sandals. She heads inside the room and sits on the edge of the bed, beckoning me to follow her. I kick off my shoes and walk over to her, standing above her as she sits. She glides her hands up my chest and slowly pulls my jacket off my shoulders. It falls quietly on the floor as she begins to unbutton my white dress shirt. Each button takes longer than the last as she gives me a teasing look. Her eyes glisten under the lighting, bringing out the emerald green color. Her light blonde hair covering her breasts, but only leaves a sneak peek for the imagination. Shit, I don’t even need to imagine.

She’s goddamn beautiful—a goddess. After what feels like hours, she finally gets the last button undone and I take it off, tossing it on the floor behind me. Her hands move to my belt and she chuckles as she notices my erection. Her fingers lightly graze it and I flinch at her touch. Tease. She unbuckles my belt and I reach over to unzip my pants, but she stops me. Her hands grab mine and pulls them away, indicating she wants full control. Her chest heaves up and down, gasping for air as I stare at her naked body. A trembling force quakes throughout my body as she guides the pants down my legs and I step out of them. She scoots backward onto the bed

and urges me to follow with the curve of her finger, calling me to fulfill our love. Excitement surges as I hop onto the bed and she laughs at my actions. I climb on top of her, not wanting to take it slow any longer. My lips crash onto hers as though they’re dying for more. Fuck, her lips are so sweet. I could kiss them for days. Never have enough. Her breasts graze my chest as my hand travels north, touching her nipple and lightly squeezing. A high pitch escapes her mouth as she revels in the erotic pleasures of my touch. Teasing her nipple causes an erotic frenzy— neither of us able to control our urges any longer. I wiggle out of my boxers and move

south. My fingers trail down her smooth legs as she squirms underneath me. Finding her sweet spot, my finger slides underneath her silk panties and makes its way inside. Her head arches backward as I tease her with my finger. She cries out in pleasure as my fingers move inside. I kiss her tender lips, beckoning her to let go, to stop holding it. I can sense her body tense up underneath me as I continue to rub and tease with my fingers. Her body arches upward, urging to reach the climax she’s begging for. But as she reaches it, I pull my fingers away. Snickering as she gives me a frustrated look, I whisper. “Not yet baby.” I bend down and lay a trail of kisses

from her thighs down to her ankles. My hand reaches to grab hold of her panties and I slowly glide them down her legs— nice and slow. Admiring each morsel, each crevice of her body. I. Just. Can’t. Get. Enough. She whines but immediately switches gears and pushes me off, pouncing on top of me. Without a second to spare, she presses closer to me and positions herself for a smooth transition as the two of us become one. The instant contact and friction shoots sparks as though we are creating a heated blaze. My blood boils as she bounces on top of me, hitting each point and bringing me over the edge. Her hair shields her breasts so I push my hand

upward, touching her as she grinds until she reaches her point of no return. A sea of flames surround us as we move in unison together, forming a bond that will last forever. Forever as one. The feel of her inner walls throb against my dick as her orgasm takes over. “Oh god…I’m…” I hone in, needing to see her climax, the thrill of her ecstasy bringing me over the edge. She cries out as her body trembles above me, squeezing my arms as she braces the strong pleasurers. And then I let go. Pulling her down so she takes all of me, I feel the orgasm spill out of me.

“Oh fuck!” The intensity takes over me as my body unleashes into a heated frenzy. Pumping upward, I hold onto her hips with a fierce grip. As we both calm down, she relaxes and falls onto my chest. My hands comb through her hair as sweat beads down my face. She maneuvers her body and reveals her new ring. The moonlight coming from the window, dazzles the ring as she admires her new present. “Do you like it?” The ring sparkles and she squeals. “I love it.” She looks into my eyes. “But I love you more.” ○○○

Melanie Gia stands behind me as I stare at my reflection in the mirror while fanning out my dress. A tear trickles down her face and she squeezes my hand. The sound of an organ plays in the distance. I take a quick peek at her and smile. “That’s my queue.” She pulls me into a quick hug and heads out into the hall. Letting out a deep breath, I grab hold of my bouquet and step into the hallway. My father waits in the corner as the bridesmaids start to travel down the center isle. He notices me coming his way and meets me halfway. Tears threaten to spill out of his eyes as he focuses on me. I

can’t help but sniffle as I hold back the tears. “You are the most beautiful girl in this place. Gorgeous.” He kisses my forehead and holds his arm out for me to take. “Thank you Daddy.” The Canon starts to play as my father squeezes my hand, motioning us to move. Together, we step forward as all of the guests catch sight of us. Making our way down the isle, I see Raya and Duke with baby Layla in the front row. Rob, Taylor, and his new girlfriend sit alongside Raya and Duke. Gia looks breathtaking in her maid of honor dress that she picked out, because she wouldn’t have it any other

way. Roman’s aunt and uncle sit on the opposite side. Roman’s best friend, Carter, looks dashing in his tux as he stands next to him. And as my eyes set on him, I gleam with all my love. Walking toward him, he beams at me with the biggest smile in the world. His eyes shine with tears as he focuses on me and me alone. He mouths “I love you” and I do the same.

Eleven years ago, I bought an éclair.

Today, I say “I do”.

Tomorrow, a new adventure begins.

Madison Street was born in New York City and was raised in the Bronx, where she resided until she was 17 years old. After September 11, 2001, Madison joined the United States Navy to serve her country. During the deployments, Madison constantly wrote short stories and she discovered her passion for writing. You will find Madison always on the computer, whether she's on Facebook, designing websites, messing with Photoshop, or writing for her blog. Besides writing, her second passion

is music and dance. Even though she's a terrible singer, she’ll still belt it out in the shower, especially if the song is her jam! She currently resides in Virginia with her husband of 8 years, 2 children, a dog, and a cat. She is so excited to start this amazing journey and is honored to be part of such a compassionate and loving community. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter

Other Titles by Madison Street Little Things (Second Chances #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU Little Moments (Second Chances #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Guarded by J.D. Rivera Chapter 1 VANESSA I COULDN’T get my earlier conversation with Shane out of my head. I had just sat there and listened to him spit vile, nasty words in my face as I did nothing. “I can’t believe I ever married you. You’re so fucking plain.” “You’re

so worthless.” Those were just a couple of the things he said to me. One foot in front of the other. Enjoy the calmness of the lake. Block out everything else. You can do this Vanessa. Just watch the geese floating on the water. Running had always been my safe place. When life was too much, I would go for a run. I looked to my left and studied the geese and nearby sailboats as something knocked into my back. My legs gave way and I sprawled onto the sidewalk, rolling to the grass face down. I stayed frozen, not really sure what had just happened. “Are you okay?” I heard a deep voice

ask from above me. Was I okay? I wasn’t hurting too bad, so I rolled onto my back to look up at the stranger. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.” The handsome stranger with dark sweaty hair and dark eyes told me. “I…Uh…I think I’m fine,” I told him as I sat up. That’s when I looked at his tanned, bare, sculpted chest and any thoughts about falling and hurting myself escaped me. He offered me his hand to help me up. “It doesn’t look like you’re bleeding anywhere. Again, I’m so sorry. I looked down at my phone for maybe a second and ran right into you.”

“No worries,” I stated as I took his hand and he eased me up onto my feet. “Let me at least walk with you for a minute so I can be sure you’re okay.” “Okay,” I said as I realized I was still holding his hand. I quickly released his hand and dropped mine. I looked at the path ahead of me, to the parking lot where my car was parked. “I’m just parked over there. I think I’ll be fine.” “You’re probably right, but I still want to walk you to your car just to be sure. I feel horrible about knocking you down,” he said, looking straight into my eyes. I was held captive by his dark eyes and stared at him for a few beats longer than I should have before answering.

“Okay, fine.” We started walking down the sidewalk toward the parking lot in silence. I could feel his body heat, since he was walking so close to me. I wanted to say something but I didn’t know what to say. He was an attractive man and I didn’t want to make a fool out of myself, even though he had just seen me sprawled out on the grass. “It’s a nice day out today,” he said, making conversation. I looked out over the lake again before answering. “It is. I’m hoping the entire week will be like this.” “That would be nice. I haven’t lived here long, but I bet it gets hotter.” I finally looked over at his face. “Oh,

you’re not from here?” He gave me a surprised look. “No, I just moved here from New York.” “Well, welcome to Oklahoma.” “Thanks. So what all is there to do around here?” He asked as he looked me up and down. I wasn’t sure what that was about. I didn’t really like it even though I was doing the same to him. I knew I wasn’t that attractive, at least my husband had made me feel that way. I glanced out at the water to clear my head of thoughts of my Shane. I looked back at the sexy stranger. “Well, we have a lot to do here. You can check out the area near downtown called Bricktown. It has a lot of restaurants and clubs along with a

canal. It’s really pretty. We also have a lot of lakes if you like that type of thing and well, we have a few sports teams. I’m sure you’ve heard of the basketball team, the Tornadoes.” He chuckled a little, then smiled wide at me before answering. “Yeah, you could say I’ve heard of the Tornadoes. I think they just got a new player. Supposed to be really good.” “Oh, that’s right. I knew that.” He chuckled some more before saying, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t ask your name.” I looked into his eyes, trying to figure out what in the hell was so funny before I answered. “Vanessa. And your name would be?” It came out a little harsh, but

I could tell he was laughing at something and it was starting to piss me off. “Jackson,” he simply stated. We reached the parking lot and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to bolt from this man because of his attitude or if I wanted to hang around him some more just to ogle his body. I pointed to my beat up Ford Focus. “That’s my car over there. Thanks for walking me to my car. Now you can rest, knowing I’m okay.” He nodded, but I could tell he was thinking about something. “Have lunch with me?” he blurted as he looked back over at me. I looked into his beautiful eyes. “You really don’t need to buy me lunch. I’m

okay.” “I know I don’t have to. This has nothing to do with me running into you. I’d just like to have lunch with someone. Remember I’m new in town?” “Um…Okay, I guess.” What the hell —he was hot and it’s not like my bastard of a husband wasn’t having lunch or visiting some hotel room with some woman right now. “Where do you wanna go?” he asked. “Oh, what do you like? Do you like Mexican, Italian…?” “Any. I’m not picky at all. Just some place that isn’t stuffy.” “Okay. Wanna go to a place near here?” He flashed me a sexy smile. “Sounds

good. Which place?” “How about The Wing Shack? I love their wings.” “Great,” he said, before walking off to find his car. I walked over to mine, manually unlocking the door and sank in my seat. No fancy key fob for my car. Since separating from my husband, I had been forced to sell my nice SUV and settle for the Focus. Even though I wasn’t doing anything wrong, I still felt guilty since I was still technically married. But, I knew that, no matter what I did, I wasn’t doing anything as wrong as my husband had done and was still doing. I was just having lunch with a man. A very sexy

man. I started the vehicle and let the cool air from the air conditioner hit my face. I sat there for five minutes just to relax. I grabbed my purse from the seat next to me and pulled out my makeup bag. Luckily, I found a cleansing wipe in my bag and was able to clean up and put my makeup on the best I could using the small visor mirror. Looking down at my clothes, I realized I was still in my tank top and shorts. I didn’t have any clothes with me, so they would have to do. I PUT everything back in my purse and was off to have lunch with a hot guy and hopefully enjoy myself for the first time in a long time. I pulled out onto the highway and turned the radio up. All I

could think about was that sculpted chest and those mesmerizing dark eyes. This guy was every girl’s fantasy and I was about to have lunch with him. Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and noticed it was my best friend Amanda. “Hello.” “Hey, I was just calling to see if you wanted to grab dinner tonight?” “That sounds great. Where at?” “You sound…different. Do I detect happiness in your voice?” she prodded. “I’m sounding like I always do. Where do you want to eat tonight?” I didn’t want her to know about my lunch date, because she would make it out to be a bigger deal than it was.

“Okay, whatever you say. How about Chelino’s?” “Sounds good. Seven okay?” “Works for me.” I really wanted to get off the phone with her before she got too quizzical. “Hey, I’m driving can I just talk to you tonight?” “Okay bye, V.” “Bye,” I said, then threw the phone into the console. Why was I this giddy about having lunch with a guy? Maybe it’s because you’ve been married to a dickhead for the last four years and treated like crap. Maybe you’d like to enjoy a guy’s company. A hot guy’s company. I pulled into one of the parking

spaces and took a few deep breaths to calm myself down. It was just lunch with another human being. A human being I would probably never see again. It would be okay.

Chapter 2 JACKSON I WALKED away from the very hot girl toward my car in the parking lot. What was I doing, asking her to have lunch? I don’t know her at all. She’s breathtaking, that’s why. Her long brown hair, beautiful brown eyes, and killer body were exactly why I had asked her to lunch. Sure, I felt bad for knocking her to the ground earlier, but I really wanted to stare at her some more.

I walked over to the Lexus I had rented until my Range Rover was delivered and flung the door open. I sat down inside and grabbed the deodorant and T-shirt from the passenger seat. I really should have allowed time to take a shower and meet her later, but it was too late to change the plans. I turned the car on, plugged The Wing Shack she had suggested into the GPS, and pulled away. God, this girl was hot. I knew she wasn’t anything like the other girls I had “dated,” because she had no clue who I was and therefore wasn’t using me for anything. Most girls liked having the cameras take their pictures with me or being able to tell their friends they went

out with me. Not this girl. She had no clue and something told me that, even if she knew, she still wouldn’t care about anything like that. I drove down the busy expressway, but all I could think about was the very fit woman lying on the grass with brown hair splayed out all around her. I felt bad that I had knocked her down, but that didn’t stop me from checking her out. Then, when she rolled over and those big brown eyes caught my attention, I couldn’t stop the instant attraction to her. God, she was hot. I pulled into the restaurant parking lot and tried to shake my thoughts. I wasn’t looking for a one night stand. This girl was hot, but I was turning over a new

leaf in life and I was looking for the girl. The girl I wanted to marry. When I pulled into the parking lot, I grabbed my Dallas Cowboys cap and began looking for her old beat up car. I spotted it to the far side of the lot, but I didn’t see her inside. I headed toward the restaurant, once inside, I noticed her seated on a bench waiting for me. “I hope you haven’t been here long,” I told her. She glanced up from the tile on the floor she had been staring at and smiled. “No, maybe five minutes is all.” I gestured to the hostess. “Did you put your name on the list?” “There isn’t a wait,” she told me as she stood up.

I nodded and we followed the hostess to a table in the back. I was thankful for the secluded booth and that I had remembered my ball cap. I had been all over the news recently and I hated being recognized. “So you want to share an order of wings?” I asked when the hostess walked away. “Only if you plan on getting the garlic parmesan,” she replied with a smile. I already liked this girl. A girl that didn’t mind eating garlic and having nasty breath in front of a guy she just met. “Those are my favorite.” “Then sure. I’ll share an order with you. Can we also get the potato wedges?”

“Sure thing.” After the waitress took our drink and food order, I noticed Vanessa was a little fidgety. Is she nervous because she had figured out who I was? No, she didn’t seem like the type. Why in the hell is she so nervous? “Have you lived here your whole life, Vanessa?” She looked me right in the eyes and I couldn’t help but notice how breathtaking she was. “I was born in a small town just south of here.” “That’s cool. I’m from Dallas,” I offered. She raised an eyebrow at me. “I thought you said you just moved here from New York?”

That made me chuckle a little bit, the fact that she thought she had caught me lying. “I did just move here from New York, but I’m originally from Dallas. My job is the reason I moved to New York, just like my job is the reason I moved to Oklahoma City.” She blushed a little. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just used to being around someone who isn’t very trustworthy.” I wasn’t really sure how to take her comment about untrustworthy people, but for some reason, I felt the need to comfort her. Grabbing her hand, I said, “Hey, it’s okay. You should probably be a little skeptical of strangers. And I’m sorry you’ve been around dishonest people. You should probably ditch those

type of people from your life.” “Thank you,” she said before glancing at the large TV mounted to the wall. Her eyes grew really big and I noticed her glance at me, then back at the TV. I knew exactly what she was about to ask.

Guarded is included with the novel Defensive on Amazon: http://authl.it/4g1 J.D. Rivera on social media: http://facebook.com/writerjdrivera http://twitter.com/writerjdrivera http://instagram.com/writerjdrivera www.authorjdrivera.com

THE KISS By Erica M. Christensen CHAPTER ONE “Addison, my dear, take a seat.” My boss, Shelly Lewis, says while clicking her obnoxiously long hot pink acrylic nails onto her keyboard. I can’t understand how people can willingly get fake nails that are four inches long. It’s just so gross to me. Shelly scoots back in her leopard print leather swivel chair and clasps her hands together. This is going to be really good or really bad.

“I just wanted to let you know that you’re one of the best employees that we’ve ever had here...” Hell yes! I knew it! It’s going to be really good. Hopefully this means bitch face Brittany is getting canned finally and I’m getting promoted to the Marketing Director, but if not, at least a raise that’s more than a damn nickel would be fantastic. “...I’m truly sorry to tell you this...” Wait, what? That definitely escalated quickly. “...Unfortunately we have to cut back on staff due to the economy, and as a result, your position is the first to be eliminated. There aren’t any open positions available for you at this time, but I will contact you as soon as something opens up.” My heart stops,

and my smile quickly fades. “I’m sorry, Addison, I’m so very sad to see you go. But on a brighter note, you’re young and you’ll find something easily!” Shelly gives me a warm smile, pulls a tissue out of her fancy leopard print covered tissue box, and hands it to me. Is this real life? I’m being laid off from my job two weeks before Christmas? This has to be some sort of fucking joke. “Well, thank you for giving me this amazing opportunity. I loved working with you, Shelly, and everyone else here.” Tears start to fill my eyes. I grab the tissue from her, pull a few more out of the fancy box and walk out of her

office. Merry fucking Christmas to me. I grab my cell and call my fiancé, Carlos. “Carlos, baby! Can you come pick me up from work, I have some terrible news.” I sob uncontrollably. Carlos has to come and pick me up because I got my license taken away last weekend for driving under the influence. This year is obviously ending well; I just pray this isn’t an indication of what the New Year has in store for me. “Uh yeah, I’m kinda tied up with something right now. I, uh, I’ll be there in...ugh—” he pants and grunts. I can hear muffled moaning in the background, like sexual moans, but it doesn’t sound like a female’s muffled moans. “Carlos, what the fuck are you

doing? Where are you?” I holler. I see a taxi coming up and wave it down. “I’m working out and I’m at home! I’ll be there in thirty minutes—chill!” he shouts back. None of this sounds right to me. For one, Carlos never seemed too busy for me when I called him before and he definitely never put working out before me. Two, he never fucking works out at home, he always goes to the gym. I hand the taxi driver $200 for a five-mile drive so he’d hurry, and he did. I had him drop me off halfway down the block so Carlos wouldn’t hear a vehicle pull in. I slip out of my heels and power-walk into the house. I can still hear moaning, groaning, and manly screams. I storm up the white spiral

stairs to our bedroom and find my fiancé face down, ass up, naked, while the pool boy plows him from behind. This is ludicrous! “ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME, CARLOS? WHAT IS THIS?” I scream. The pool boy is startled and falls off the bed, then hurries to grab his clothes off the floor to cover him. Carlos’s skin goes from a caramel brown to a maraschino cherry red. He frantically grabs the sheet and wraps it around himself. “Baby, it’s not what you think,” Carlos says in his sexy Hispanic accent, but I’m not falling for that shit. “It’s not what I think? You were just fucking our pool boy! How long has this

been going on? Jesus Christ, Carlos! I can’t believe this. I can’t believe you! We’re done!” I shout. Carlos tries to comfort me by reaching his hand out to grab my shoulder, but I push him away. “We’re not done, Addison. No one will know about this. You have a life anyone would die for. I don’t give a fuck what you do. Sleep with other men. I won’t care, I promise. Do what you want, Addison, but we can’t call off the wedding. No one can know about this. We have to get married! Please, Addison! Whatever you want, you can have it. Do you want those new Jimmy Choo pumps you were telling me about? Please, Addison! ANYTHING AND IT’S YOURS!” he pleads.

I wipe the tears from my eyes. “Why, Carlos? Why can’t anyone know about this? Being gay is far more accepted now. So why the fuck can’t anyone know? Why would we still get married?” I begin bawling uncontrollably again. “My dad can’t find out. If he finds out I’m gay I will have nothing. He’ll disown me, then fire me, and then I’ll never inherit the real estate agency when he dies. That company is my life, Addison!” He starts to cry. This was the first time I’ve ever seen him cry and it makes my blood heat to a rolling boil. We never fight, ever. So I guess that’s why he’s never cried in front of me. His cry face is repulsive. I

want to vomit. The sound of his crying and pleading makes me want to Spartan kick his ass straight out of the window. I feel more hatred toward him than I do toward my sad excuse of a father who up and left my mom and me when I was seven. “No, Carlos! The wedding is off! This is the lowest thing you could have ever done to me. I trusted you. I loved you; I was head over fucking heels in love with you! Or maybe it was just the materialistic shit that I loved because I was completely drowned in it. I moved here to start over and I ended up right back where I was before. I’m not pretending anymore. I’m not pretending for you. I can’t. It’s over.” I glance at the

pool boy just sitting in the corner of the room with his head between his legs as if he’s embarrassed. I turn to walk out the door. “If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t have anything! You’d still be sleeping on couches at your random friends’ houses. You wouldn’t have all of your Gucci or Versace. You wouldn’t have shit, Addison! YOU NEED ME AND I NEED YOU!” Carlos shouts. I turn back to look him in the eyes. “I’m done. We’re done.” “Please, Addison! Whatever you want, you can have it! You name it and I will buy it! No one has to know. We’ll keep living how we’ve been living and everything will be okay. Right? We can

do this, baby. You’re my best friend. I still love you. Please, Addison, please!” “You have destroyed me, Carlos. You have no idea what you’ve done, and you will regret fucking me over.” I take my phone out and snap a picture of Carlos, naked in the sheet, and the pool boy, naked in the corner, and send it to his dad. “Oh no! Oh hell no, Addison! Give me that phone. Don’t you dare send that to my father! I swear to God, I will throw you right back in the gutter I picked you up out of! His voice shakes and he clenches his fist. “I’d rather look like I have nothing and be loved and happy than look like I have everything and be lonely and

miserable. So screw you and your million-dollar house. Keep my Gucci and Versace and everything else. I don’t need it and I sure as hell don’t need you! All I need are my jeans and cowgirl boots.” Read more: http://amzn.com/B0180999LS