Hawk Florence has always been the football star, the guy that can make any girl fall in love with him- and then break their heart. And that’s exactly what he did to me way back in high school. Now I’ve been assigned to do a puff piece on him for a national sports journal, and I’m more than ready to get my revenge.
The plan is simple. First, sit him down and flatter the shit out of him. Laugh at his crappy jokes. Touch his arm, let it linger. When he asks me out, I’ll flutter my eyelashes and shyly accept. Then, make him fall in love. And devour him. I’m ready. I won’t fail. But there’s one thing that I didn’t plan for: he doesn’t ask me out. Instead, he calls me out on my BS. He’s not wrong, but that’s just one of the ways that my plan has already gone terribly wrong before it even begins.
When he does finally ask me out, it isn’t much of a date. Instead, it’s a few agonizing hours of going back and forth about why we hate each other. But there is one interesting thing that came out of our brief time together: the bet that Hawk makes with me- that he will make me fall in love in 3 weeks, in love for real. If he fails, he’ll give me every exclusive for the season. Of course, I accept. Why wouldn’t I? This will help my career, and it’s not like he has a prayer anyway. This jerk broke my heart in high school, and there’s no way that I will fall for the same trick twice. Or will I?
All bets are off when it comes to the heart. Fumbled is a standalone sports romcom that will make you wonder what to do when love- and football- gives you a second chance….
“Is this where I suggest I try to make it up to you?” I asked. “To get you to like me again?”
She gave me a disbelieving look. “I doubt there’s anything you could say or do that could make that happen.”
What can I say, I’m a competitive guy. I hate to lose and I like nothing more than a challenge. She was certainly proving to be just that.
I sat back and regarded her. “I’ll tell you what. Give me—” I thought for a moment. “Give me three weeks. I’ll show you how much I’ve changed, that I actually am a good guy. If you don’t feel the same way about me by then, that you did back in high school, I’ll give you…”
“Every exclusive of the season?” she suggested.
A slow smile crept across my face. “That works.” What was I really suggesting here? That I could make her fall for me, in just three weeks? Considering the look on her face right now, I was all but prepared to lose. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t try though, and try hard.
“What’s in it for you?” she asked.
“I get to keep my ego intact,” I replied. Sure that was all. Nothing to do with mental bikini images. Nope, not at all.
Lizzi Stone is the pen name for two USA Today Bestselling authors who love sports, sexy men, strong women and coffee, lots and lots of coffee! For giveaways, new releases and deals follow Lizzi on Facebook @lizzistoneauthor.
Their love could give him a second chance at life-or condemn her to an eternity of damnation.
Yanked from his tortured existence in Netherworld and dumped naked in the Louisiana Bayou, Lash could swear he’s died and gone to heaven. Except for the fact that a millennium ago he died a condemned soul, forever barred from Paradise. His new life feels like the next best thing, full of small miracles. Like silence. And ice water. And the company of a beautiful, compassionate woman.
Teva is a woman with a taste for heavy-metal music, an inherited talent for magic, and a trusting heart. She knows nothing about the mysterious stranger she’s taken in, only that he needs her help. And the fact that he’s gorgeous hasn’t escaped her attention. She can’t see Lash as anything other than a sexy, gentle man who soothes her nightmares away. Then Lash learns the real reason for his reprieve from Netherworld-he’s been sent to corrupt Teva’s soul with sinful pleasures. Starved for tenderness and aching with desire, Lash yearns to accept the loving embrace Teva offers. But he can’t give in to passion without tainting her, condemning her to the horrors of Netherworld.
The ultimate battle between good and evil is brewing, and Lash stands caught in the middle between Teva, who owns his heart-and Satan, who owns his soul.
The Prince sighed. “It seems many of my disciples believe I’ve chosen poorly.” A shiver ran up Lash’s body as the Prince clasped the side of his face and forced him to meet cruel demon eyes. “But I think not. And do you know why that is, slave?”
“No, my lord.” Lash swallowed, mesmerized by the fire blazing in the demon lord’s eyes.
“I’ll get far too much pleasure out of eating you and shitting you out.” A twisted smile crossed the Prince’s mouth. “Just to do it again.”
Lash’s heart hammered. The Prince’s words had been more than an idle threat. Never had he believed someone more.
“I’ll never let a soul due me escape. You will bring Teva to our side.” The Prince nuzzled Lash’s temple. “Fuck her. Get her to break any number of sins. Just remember, she mustn’t repent before her death. That doesn’t seem like too difficult a task for one with your masculine beauty.”
Lash forced a nod.
“Nicodemus, do you know why I singled you out?”
Again, the Prince forced him to meet his burning gaze.
“Because you never broke. You simply accepted your fate.”
Lash closed his eyes. Yes, he’d accepted his place in Netherworld.
“I think bringing you back home after you complete this for me… will be pure torture on your already lost soul. After all, I’m giving you all this… to remember.” The Prince’s twisted smile was back.
Lash’s chest constricted at the sickening thought of the inevitable.
“Now, I must go home and punish several for interfering with your task.” The Prince patted Lash’s cheek. “Slave, you have my word, you’ll have no more visits. You’ll be free to play house to your heart’s content.”
“Yes, my Prince.”
The Prince eased back a half of a step. “But remember, I do have the power to control you. In no time, I’ll hold Teva’s future in my hands. In Netherworld, I can offer her a life of leisure.” Then, without another word, he disappeared.
Life of leisure meant you winded up in the Prince’s harem. Sickness knotted his stomach. Teva didn’t belong in Netherworld at all, let alone at the feet of the Prince.
Turning the water hotter, Lash sat on the floor of the stall.
Melissa writes for herself and creates her worlds for her characters. She’s authored stories in several different genres of romance, including paranormal, contemporary, suspense, dark fantasy, historical, futuristic, as well as, horror. She’s also collaborated with Mechele Armstrong. She’s been interested in the human psyche and paranormal activities since she gained eyesight at the age of twenty-two. She’s earned dual MAs in English and creative writing and advocates for the blind.
Welcome to Fate Hollow Academy, where supernaturals blessed by the Fates cultivate their manifested powers and master ancient magic.
Fate Hollow is the academy of the elite, where supernatural beings with special magic train for war against humans.
A big-hearted, naïve arctic fox shifter like me couldn’t have prepared for the treachery lurking within the walls of the academy. Students were going missing or turning up dead on campus and rumors circulated about humans infiltrating academy grounds.
Seeds of fear bloomed within the student body. To make matters worse, the mate that rejected me was hellbent on painting a bright red target on my back with the help of his new girlfriend.
Against all odds, I found refuge with seven irresistible monsters, each one more different from the last.
Would the bond of my mates be enough to manifest my hidden power? Without it, I was vulnerable. And with a dragon cult attempting to wage war on humans, I had no choice but to fight.
“Am I increasing your body temperature?” He pushed off the desk and edged closer. “Here, let me help you with that.” He reached up and started untying my tie completely. “Just to make sure you don’t shift from the heat.” His fingers found my buttons, and he slowly started unbuttoning the top three buttons of my uniform until the air-conditioned room hit my now bare skin.
His fingers dipped low to caress the top of my breasts, and he let out a rumbling hum that cascaded over me, making my panties dampen from the sensation.
I sucked in a sharp breath, knowing he could smell it.
Inhaling, his nostrils flared and his fangs descended as he groaned. “You smell sweet, but is that peppermint I’m noticing mixed in? Did you really let Damien have a taste before me?”
My chest heaved forward, and I squirmed. “How is it that noticeable?”
“A lot of scents are noticeable, sweet ruby, if you’re paying enough attention.” He bent forward. His blood and cinnamon scent flooded my senses as he gently teased his fangs over my neck. “Won’t you let me leave my scent on you too?”
My heart thudded to a stop, and he leaned back to where I could see the mischief in his red eyes.
Lyra Winters is a twenty-something Kentucky woman who adores the book world. When she’s not typing away on her laptop or daydreaming book ideas, Lyra is occupying her time taking care of her two spunky daughters and dreamy husband. She’s addicted to Coca-Cola, 2000s rap music, and bubble baths. Her dream is to write love stories that touch the reader’s hearts.
