Polar Night - Spicy Contemporary Reverse Harem Romance #Romance #SpicyRomance #ContemporaryRomance #ReverseHaremRomance

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Rhythm & Design - The Rhythm & Design Series #1 - Contemporary Romance - and a Giveaway #Romance #ContemporaryRomance #Giveaway

Long Temple is here to tell us about Rhythm & Design, The Rhythm & Design Series #1, contemporary romance.

There's also a great giveaway.

___________________

Rhythm and Design

Long Temple

(The Rhythm and Design Series, #1)

Publication date: May 18th 2025

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A soulful architect. A gospel-rooted musician. A love built to last.

Rhythm and Design: A Platinum Chocolate Romance is a powerful story of purpose, passion, and divine timing.

Claire Baldwin is used to building beauty from structure—dreaming in blueprints, raised among silver spoons and Ivy League expectations. Focused, brilliant, and untouchable, love was never part of the plan. Until one almost-mistake in her youth taught her the price of giving too much to someone who offered too little.

Oliver Jamison Graham, the son of a revered pastor, walked away from the pulpit and into the chaos of the music industry. Between neon stages and lonely hotel rooms, he searched for something sacred—something real. Music filled his nights, but his faith kept whispering him home.

When Claire and Oliver’s paths collide again, it isn’t just chemistry—it’s destiny. But building a life together means facing the unspoken: the pasts they’ve tucked away, the faith they’re still figuring out, and the families who’ve prayed them into purpose.

Together, they’ll navigate ambition, intimacy, trust, and spiritual alignment in a romance steeped in grace, humor, and honest love. Can two people from different rhythms create a design strong enough to stand?

If you love later-in-life second chances, clean-but-steamy romance, emotional depth, and characters who wrestle with faith as fiercely as they fall in love—Rhythm and Design will leave you breathless and blessed.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT

Claire adjusted the delicate strap of her silver gown, her fingers brushing the smooth satin as laughter and music drifted through the warm summer air. The garden shimmered beneath strands of soft white lights, each glow reflecting off crystal glasses and polished silver like tiny promises suspended in time.

Tonight was meant to be simple — a celebration, a farewell, a graceful closing of one chapter before she stepped into the life she had so carefully designed.

But life, she was learning, rarely followed clean lines.

She felt it before she saw him — a subtle shift in the atmosphere, like the hush that falls just before the first note of a song.

Oliver Graham stood near the stage, tall and steady, dressed in black that seemed to absorb the light around him. He carried himself with an ease that wasn’t practiced, just lived — the quiet confidence of a man who had known both applause and solitude, who understood the weight of purpose even in celebration.

Claire’s breath caught, surprising her.

It had been years, yet something about him felt familiar, like a melody she’d heard long ago but never fully released.

As if sensing her gaze, Oliver turned. Their eyes met across the veranda, and the world seemed to narrow to that single moment — music fading, conversations dissolving into a distant hum.

He didn’t smile right away. He simply looked at her, as though taking in the woman she had become, measuring something deeper than appearance.

Then came the slow curve of a knowing smile.

Heat crept up Claire’s neck, and she looked away, steadying herself with a sip of champagne that suddenly felt warmer than it should.

Moments later, his voice — smooth and rich — settled beside her like velvet.

“You’ve grown into everything they said you would,” he said softly. “Your parents couldn’t stop talking about you. Yale. Full scholarship. Future architect of the century.”

Claire laughed lightly, surprised by the warmth in his tone. “They said all that?”

“They should’ve said more,” he replied. “Yale’s lucky to have you.”

Something in her chest softened — a quiet recognition she hadn’t expected, like a door opening somewhere deep within her carefully guarded heart.

The music shifted, laughter swelling around them, but Claire felt as though she were standing inside a pocket of stillness.

“And you?” she asked. “Still changing the world one song at a time?”

Oliver smiled, a hint of humility softening his features. “Trying to. Mostly just trying to stay honest.”

Honest. The word lingered between them like a promise neither had spoken aloud.

When Oliver later stepped onto the stage, the crowd quieted instinctively, drawn to the calm gravity he carried. He adjusted the microphone, glanced toward Claire, and said, “I wrote this for tonight. It’s called Beyond the Horizon.”

The first notes drifted into the night like a prayer — tender guitar, soft percussion, a melody that seemed to breathe with its own quiet life.

Claire stood still as the lyrics wrapped around her, each word reflecting pieces of her journey — the late nights bent over drafting tables, the silent prayers whispered into the dark when doubt tried to settle in, the relentless pull toward something greater than comfort.

The road is wide, but your steps are sure, drawn to purpose, built to endure…

Her fingers tightened slightly around her glass as emotion rose unexpectedly, catching in her throat. She had spent so many years building strength, focusing forward, refusing distraction — yet here she was, undone by a song that seemed to see her more clearly than she saw herself.

Oliver’s voice carried warmth and depth, every note grounded in sincerity. When their eyes met mid-song, something unspoken passed between them — not a spark, but a steady flame, quiet and certain.

By the final note, silence lingered for a breath before applause rose like a wave across the garden. Claire barely heard it. Her hand rested lightly against her chest, as if holding something fragile and new.

Later, when the music shifted into a softer groove and guests drifted toward the dance floor, Oliver found her again near the edge of the veranda.

“You okay?” he asked gently.

Claire nodded, a small smile touching her lips. “I am now.”

They stood close, not touching, yet aware of each other in a way that felt both new and strangely familiar.

“I’m heading to New Haven tomorrow,” she said quietly. “Three weeks early. I want time to settle in… start fresh.”

Oliver’s expression softened, admiration flickering in his eyes. “That sounds exactly like you. Always building the next chapter before anyone else even sees the blueprint.”

She laughed softly. “You expected anything less?”

“Not a chance,” he said. “You’re building your future with intention. That’s rare.”

The music swelled around them, couples swaying beneath the lights, laughter rising into the warm night air.

For a moment, neither spoke. The silence wasn’t awkward — it felt full, like a pause meant to be savored.

“Don’t disappear on me,” Oliver said finally, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

Claire raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to Yale, not Mars.”

He laughed, then handed her his phone. “Still. Just in case I feel like sending musical inspiration.”

She entered her number, her fingers brushing his briefly, a small spark of awareness passing between them.

As he stepped back into the crowd, Claire watched him go, the night humming with possibility.

For the first time since she began mapping out her future, she allowed herself to consider that maybe life wasn’t only about structure and certainty.

Maybe it was also about rhythm.

About unexpected harmonies.

About moments that couldn’t be planned — only felt.

And as she looked up at the stars scattered across the velvet sky, Claire felt something shift quietly inside her.

The future she was building suddenly felt wider.

Not just a design.

But a song.

Author Bio:

LongTemple is a contemporary Black romance author and visual storyteller whose work is rooted in emotional truth, spiritual reflection, and the resilience of love shaped by lived experience. Her stories explore pain, struggle, faith, healing, and the quiet triumph of choosing connection again—especially later in life, when love carries history and meaning.

Born and raised on New York City’s vibrant Lower East Side, LongTemple writes with a voice shaped by culture, memory, and survival. Her storytelling carries a musical cadence—sometimes aching, sometimes soaring—always grounded in honesty and soul. She centers grown, layered characters who confront grief, betrayal, forgiveness, and hope, and who discover that love, when chosen with intention, can still be transformative.

She is the creator of the Platinum Chocolate Romance Universe, a body of interconnected contemporary romance and women’s fiction that celebrates mature Black love and second chances. Each novel is paired with a companion adult-themed line art coloring book, offering readers a reflective, immersive experience that extends the story beyond the page and invites creative engagement alongside emotional connection.

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Hushed Harmony - Charming Irish #5 - Contemporary Romance - and a Giveaway #Romance #ContemporaryRomance #Giveaway

Kaylene Winter is here to tell us about Hushed Harmony, Charming Irish #5, a contemporary romance.

There's also a great giveaway.

____________________

Hushed Harmony

Kaylene Winter

(Charming Irish, #5)

Publication date: February 9th 2026

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Three chords can ruin a man if you hit them right.

I spend my life chasing sound. Grit, feedback, the moment a crowd holds its breath.

Fireball is the only thing I’ve built without it turning on me. Everything else stays locked tight.

Then Linus O’Donnell comes back.

My first real love.

The one man who knows exactly how I break.

The one I never stopped wanting.

Avonna doesn’t need an entrance.

She coaxes me past my defenses into truth.

Raw. Unfiltered. Impossible to ignore.

What starts as music turns carnal fast.

Late nights. Sweat-soaked rehearsals. Heat carrying into every chord.

Desire doesn’t divide. It multiplies.

I want them both.

Bodies. Loyalty. A future. The way we fit once the world goes quiet.

The problem?

It never does.

I lie. I stall. I pretend control is possible.

Some harmonies refuse to stay hushed.

Hushed Harmony is a white-hot, polyamorous rockstar romance about identity, obsession, and choosing a love powerful enough to risk everything.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok

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Hushed Harmony Blitz

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Until the Truth Comes Out - Contemporary Romance - and a Giveaway #Romance #ContemporaryRomance #Giveaway

Melanie Summers is here to tell us about Until the Truth Comes Out, contemporary romance.

There's also a great giveaway.

____________________

Until the Truth Comes Out: A Novel

Melanie Summers

Publication date: February 5th 2026

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A rockstar at the height of his fame.

A wife on the edge.

A secret that can’t stay hidden.

And a single night that will change everything.

In the spring of 1997, Zane McCreight and his wife, Sienna, appear to have it all—sold-out stadiums, magazine covers, and the perfect family. But behind the image, their marriage is fracturing, and a scandal is quietly spiraling out of control.

As Zane’s band prepares for a massive tribute concert in the desert—under the eerie glow of the Hale-Bopp comet—tensions rise. Lies are told. Loyalties are tested. And two women find themselves trapped between ambition, betrayal, and the impossible weight of motherhood.

Then, on the night of the show—while the world is watching the stage—the youngest two McCreight children vanish.

Emotionally complex and deeply character-driven, Until the Truth Comes Out is a gripping tale of fame, marriage, the devastating cost of keeping secrets—and the strength of the women left to carry it all.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

The Concert Under the Comet was set to take place just as Hale-Bopp reached its closest distance to Earth. There had been some concern all week that a bank of clouds might ruin the show. But thankfully, they drifted away that morning, allowing the stars—and the single streak of light that would get twenty-thousand rock fans out into the Mojave Desert on a cool spring Saturday night—to show themselves.

But it wasn’t only the comet they’d come to see (all of them either wildly rich or beautiful enough that someone with money would shell out eight thousand dollars for a single ticket). It was the lineup of stars. The biggest names in the music industry were there, several of whom would take the stage together for the first and last time. It would be televised around the globe, making it bigger than the original Woodstock. More important than Live Aid ‘85. Filled with more star power than a Vanity Fair Oscar party. It was a tribute to a dead legend. The rise of a new star. The end of innocence for one lost teenager. It would be the greatest reconciliation of any celebrity couple in history. Or it would be their demise. Those last two things would remain up in the air until morning.

The location was a well-guarded secret. It had to be if they were going to keep the riffraff away. The riffraff could watch via pay-per-view for a whopping $49.95 (the highest priced pay-per-view event up to that point in time). The record label executives, production team, and cable provider were certain the riffraff would be all too happy to pool their cash so they could say they’d been a part of it when they got to work the following Monday. They were right.

Two hours before sundown, the audience would be brought to the location in a steady stream of air-conditioned buses, limousines, and town cars. The lights would go up. The music would play. People would cheer themselves hoarse and drink and dance and sing along (most of them off-key, depending on how many drinks they had). When they’d go back to Las Vegas, their drivers would turn on the heat for their now-chilly, exhausted passengers. The drivers would be relieved they weren’t rowdy and out of control. Instead, they were dead quiet as the shock of what happened lingered.

That afternoon, five-month-old Elliott (who always went straight to sleep in the car) dozed through the long ride under the bright afternoon sun. Later, when the sky grew dark, his mother, Claudia Crawford, would point up at it and tell him about the comet, knowing he wouldn’t understand, but hoping it would somehow leave a faint imprint on his fresh, new mind. Claudia would give the performance of a lifetime that night. She was the only woman who’d been part of The Vows, but she wouldn’t play with them that evening. She would go on alone for reasons the audience wouldn’t understand until after.

Claudia had planned to leave little Elliott back at the hotel in Vegas with her very reliable French nanny. Only the nanny went out dancing the night before and never came back, so Claudia was forced to bring him to the desert and leave him in the care of two teenage girls she barely knew. But everything would be fine. Elliott would be safely tucked away in a holiday trailer nearby with the girls watching over him, and Claudia would only be gone for forty-five minutes. An hour tops.

But of course, that’s not what happened. Things ran late, as they do at these events, and she ended up leaving him for the better part of two hours. By the time she returned to the trailer, it would be empty.

Before long, she would find herself groping her way through the impossibly dark desert, screaming his name, gripped by a panic that only fills a parent whose child has vanished. It would occur to her that she might never again hold her baby. Never press his chubby cheek to hers, never smell his neck, never hear him laugh again. She might never hear him speak his first words or watch him take his first steps. What if he never got to do those things? What if he was already dead?

Her knees would give out, and she’d slide to the cold ground, and she’d be disgusted at herself for letting her emotions overwhelm her. She’d be hauled to her feet and ordered to keep going by the last person on earth she expected to help. Although her companion was only there because her child was missing too.

Author Bio:

Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.

Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.

In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally - then she'll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for 'K' Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn't require makeup and/or nylons).

Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she's not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken 'from above'. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something--more like just staying until they turn the lights off.

She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

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The Rewrite - Romantic Comedy - Contemporary Romance - and a Giveaway #Romance #RomanticComedy #RomCom #ContemporaryRomance #Giveaway

Beth Rinyu is here to tell us about The Rewrite, a contemporary romantic comedy.

There's also a great giveaway.

______________________

The Rewrite

Beth Rinyu

Publication date: January 29th 2026

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

How long would you hold a grudge?

If you’re Eloise Hendrickson, the answer is twenty-five years. After being humiliated by her overseas pen pal in seventh grade, Eloise, now a successful writer, has never quite let go of that one mortifying moment. One bad breakup, a late night of drunken internet sleuthing, and a half-baked excuse to bust through writer’s block send her straight into the path of the boy she’s hated her whole life.

Her plan? Turn him into the villain of her next novel.

The plot twist? He’s not the jerk she remembers.

Instead, he’s a charming chocolatier, a devoted family man, and awkwardly, a huge fan of her books. But as Eloise reconnects with the past, it’s not him who captures her attention, it’s someone else entirely. Someone unexpected. He’s rude, infuriating, and gets under her skin like no one else. He’s the exact opposite of the heroes she creates and the men she dates.

With new friends, a fresh perspective, and possibly the beginnings of something romantic—Eloise must decide if she’s finally ready to let go of the perfection she’s always demanded from herself as well as everyone around her, and embrace the unpredictable, wonderfully flawed life waiting for her. Maybe her next bestseller won’t be about righting the past after all. Maybe it will be about rewriting the future instead.

Warning: This book may contain chocolate and possibly a happily ever after.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

“Okay, so if booty calls are off the table. What about a friendship? Seeing he’s such a decent guy? You’re a lonely woman in a strange country. He’s an available strapping man. Maybe it would be nice to have someone just to hang out with. I mean… not someone like you and me someone. Let’s face it, I’m irreplaceable.”

“No,” I cut in. “Like I said, he’s nice. For someone else. Whether it’s sex or friendship, I’m not interested. And for the record, I’m not lonely.”

“Yes, yes, how could I forget, your social circle now includes preteens and senior citizens.”

“I happen to like my new friends, both young and old.”

“Ella, honey.” Charlie gave me that look that was equal parts exasperated and concerned. “All I’m saying is, maybe this is your moment to let your hair down a little. You’re always so tightly wound, and this breakup didn’t exactly loosen the screws. Maybe it’s time to expand your horizons. Try something different. Someone different. Maybe this guy is the kind of non-Kent energy you need.”

“Okay, when did you get a PHD in Psychology?” I snapped.

“Reading radar maps and reading the human psyche are kind of the same thing. Both are temperamental and can change in a heartbeat,” he teased.

“Charlie, I love and appreciate you, but stick to doing the weather. You’re much better at that!”

“One last question, and then I promise I’ll ixnay the subject.” “What?” I didn’t even try to hide my annoyance.

“Do you call him Mr. Moreau or Grace’s daddy?”

“Goodbye, Charlie!” I blew him a kiss and disconnected our call.

Author Bio:

I've always had a passion for Creative Writing. There's something special about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen—or in today's world, a tap of the keyboard. Maybe it all started with the soap opera-level drama I used to script for my Barbie dolls. Plot twists, emotional arcs, surprise twins... it was basically a writer’s room before I even knew what one was. Whatever the spark, storytelling quickly became my favorite creative outlet. I craft stories that keep me on my toes and constantly push me beyond my comfort zone. Deep characters you either root for or love to hate are the ones I’m most drawn to.

Exploring new places helps me uncover fresh and exciting settings for my books, but there’s nothing quite like a quiet walk in the woods or sitting by the ocean close to home. Turns out, plot twists and inspiration arrive just as easily with a sea breeze—or a few curious squirrels.

Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Amazon

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Lifestyle: Trust Fall - Contemporary Romance - and a Giveaway #Romance #ContemporaryRomance #Giveaway

Kasey Fallon is here to tell us about her contemporary romance Lifestyle: Trust Fall.

There's also a great giveaway.

_________________________

Lifestyle: Trust Fall

Kasey Fallon

Publication date: January 27th 2026

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

She needs a Dom.

A stalker wants to own her.

And once you’re in it, the LifeStyle never lets go.

On the outskirts of Philadelphia, the LifeStyle Club caters to those with certain… tastes.

Grayson is a born Dominant – and owning LifeS is exactly where he belongs. With a new underground fight arena ready to launch, he’s missing only one thing: a fighter strong enough to survive it.

Lexi has survived worse.

Haunted by PTSD, Lexi trusts no one but herself. She runs her own gym, makes her own rules, and refuses to submit – to anyone. But beneath her iron control lies a perilous secret. One that threatens to consume her… unless she can find a Dom.

When Grayson and Lexi collide, desire isn’t the only thing at stake.

Someone is watching.

Someone wants Lexi.

And in the LifeStyle, submission can be salvation – or a deadly mistake.

Welcome to the LifeStyle.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

LEXI

She couldn’t seem to find the clasp, and her breath was coming in short bursts. Her shirt felt too tight, her scalp was tingling, and in some part of her brain she was dimly aware that she was having a panic attack.

The gentle ding of the door opening didn’t register with her until a tall shadow fell across her. Attempting to breathe in a four-count, Lexi glanced up for less than a heartbeat at the baritone hello. She grunted in return and went back to hyperventilating, wishing they would walk away.

GRAYSON

For a moment, he was confused why she was hunched over on the bench. She was struggling with something… a necklace? Her breathing was coming in quick, uneven pants, and her gaze went straight through him.

“Good morning,” he tried casually.

He still had in mind that perhaps something he’d done or said the other day had been too much and she’d run. He had to be a little more tame, he thought. Casually being stalked, even for just one morning, was bound to put anyone on edge. At least until she was one hundred percent in, and he figured out what to do with her. But his good morning went unanswered.

Lexi made a garbled sound in the back of her throat, and he wondered if she was the opposite of a morning person. Or maybe-

“Do you need help?”

Her only response was those quick panting breaths. Her movements got more frantic, and she went to stand. Grayson placed a hand as gently as he could on her shoulder.

“Alexis. What’s wrong?”

She knocked his hand away and took two running steps to get past him. Panic. Without thinking it through, he caught up to her in one step. Spinning her around by her shoulder, he ignored the elbow that skimmed his diaphragm as she flailed behind her.

Using his forward momentum, he walked her backward until her back was against the wall. The white concrete must have been cool on her back, but her breath continued in short pants and a red flush was spreading across her chest and up into her face. She brought her hands up in fists and he thought for a heartbeat he might have to hold them down or he’d get hit. But her fingers just curled themselves into the edges of his t-shirt, grabbing on to something unidentifiable inside him. He ignored it.

She was looking at him, but she wasn’t seeing him. Her dark eyes were wide and wouldn’t focus, looking everywhere but into his. Both of his hands pushed her back against the wall by her ribcage.

“Alexis. Breathe.”

He used a deeper voice, mindful of startling her. Of course, he mused, she couldn’t get much more worked up than she already was. Maybe there was no harm in using his Dom voice. Much deeper than his speaking voice and sharp, he tried to reserve it for situations that needed it. This qualified.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” he commanded.

Lexi jumped, but still didn’t look him in the eye. Her hands made their way to her throat, scratching at where her necklace lay. Grayson winced at the scratches. His voice whipped out.

“Stop.”

She stopped clawing at her own neck, but her breathing was still too fast.

“Breathe.”

It wasn’t working. He leaned forward, putting more of his weight against his arms. He slid his left forearm up between her breasts against her sternum, until his hand was splayed at the base of her throat, but he made sure to not actually touch her neck. She was having enough trouble breathing as it was.

One of her knees came up, and he pushed her thigh back with his knee against the wall, but it seemed like she didn’t even notice. Like the knee had been a reflex. He reached his right hand up to cup the side of her face and forced her face up to his.

“Look at me.”

It got through. Her breath was still heaving with shallow gasps, but she was looking straight up at him with wide eyes.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

Lexi shuddered slightly.

“I can’t breathe. It’s too tight.”

His eyes flicked down to the thin silver chain at her neck. It was actually a very long chain, and held only a thin butterfly at the end. His lack of response seemed to agitate her, and she clawed at her neck again, this time not even hitting the chain. He raised his left hand a couple of inches to block her own hands.

“Stop moving.”

Her eyes were watery, but she stopped moving. For someone who might not be an actual submissive, she was certainly… responsive.

“I don’t want to die again.”

Her voice came out in a strangled whisper. Her eyes pleaded up at him. Shocked, Grayson could only stare at her for a moment.

“Breathe. I won’t hurt you. Stop moving.”

His voice had gotten slower with the commands, and she seemed mesmerized by his unblinking stare. She finally stopped pushing against his hands and relaxed against the wall, taking rapid, shallow breaths.

With his left forearm holding her still up against her sternum, he used his left hand to grab at the chain’s little clasp. He didn’t want to look away from her. It was working; he was completely in charge. She was breathing more steadily, and he didn’t want to break their eye contact.

Grayson finally got it to release, although he thought some part of it might have snapped. He slid it off her neck and held it loosely in his hand, but he didn’t move otherwise. He didn’t think she’d noticed that the necklace was gone.

“It’s gone. Breathe.”

Lexi inhaled deeply, and he was finding it difficult to back away. She had responded so perfectly; exactly as he’d wanted her to. Maybe she wasn’t a Domme? Could she really be submissive under all this fight? His body took that moment to recognize that he had her securely pinned against a wall, and she was staring up at him, waiting. He could see the exact moment when she fought it off as her eyes snapped with clarity. Grayson heard footsteps coming at them fast as she blinked rapidly.

“Lexi! What the fuck? Who the fuck is this? Are you okay?” Eddie jogged up, his short dreads bouncing.

Author Bio:

Kasey grew up on the East Coast, from Maine to North Carolina. She loves two things above all in nature: the water, and the forest. While she might not love her nightmares, they do inspire many of her works. A recipient of the Editor's Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry, she writes across several genres. She and her dog can be found investigating new hiking trails, or curled up on the couch as he pushes her computer off her lap to make room for himself.

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