Description:
The first time Skylar and Rowdy give themselves to each other completely—heart, mind, body and soul—is also the night Skylar disappears without a trace. Rowdy promised to love her forever. But forever is a long time when you’re only seventeen.
After years of waiting, Rowdy gives up on Skylar and tries to purge her memory with cheap tequila and one night stands.
When Skylar finally returns, Rowdy is no longer the shy, sweet boy she fell in love with. He’s a gorgeous, hard-bodied, paramedic and an expert in just about every type of mountain wilderness rescue.
He’s also bitter, angry and determined to protect what remains of his shattered heart. Skylar’s determined to reclaim it, but first she has to put it back together.
“The Naked Edge” is one of the most famous climbing routes in the park Eldorado Canyon ("Eldo")
EXCERPT
Rowdy turns my hands over and kisses both palms. “I didn’t break any of my promises until after the funeral.”
My heart stops. I take a step back to give myself some breathing room. “Why then?”
“I ran out of excuses.” He shrugs. “You were nineteen. I couldn’t blame your absence on your parents anymore.”
“Is that when you started to hate me?”
“I never hated you.” Rowdy lifts my chin with his forefinger and ducks his head to capture my gaze. “I tried. Everyday since the funeral, I tried to hate you. But it never worked. I could be angry with you, furious even, but hate you? Never.”
I’m melting into a puddle of Rowdy-adoring goo. I need to reestablish a few boundaries, before I forget how. I rock back on my heels.
Rowdy slides his calloused palms down my arms, guiding my hands to his shoulders. He digs his fingers into my hips and pulls me against his body. Holy crap, he’s hard.
I instinctively lean into him. We’re both trembling.
I sway on my feet. “Can we sit down? I’m feeling a little lightheaded.”
He pulls back, and searches my face. “Do you need your inhaler?”
“No. I’m just nervous.”
He chuckles. “Me too.”
“You’re nervous?”
“I haven’t done this in a long time.”
“That’s not what I heard.” I push away from him.
He catches my wrists, completely encircling them with his fingers. His voice deepens to a growl. “What have you heard?”
“That you’re with a different girl every night.” I stare into his eyes, daring him to lie to me.
“That’s a gross exaggeration.” He lets go of my hands and sits on the edge of the bed.
I sit beside him and put a hand on his knee. “I get that you felt betrayed. And I understand why you broke your promise to never make love to anyone but me. But I don’t understand—”
“I didn’t break that promise.”
“Don’t lie to me, Rowdy.” My heart aches. I hate that he sleeps around, but I can forgive him as long as he stops doing it and doesn’t lie about it. If he lies, we don’t have a chance.
“I’ve fucked more women than I can count, but you’re the only one I’ve ever made love to.”
I really shouldn’t find that obscene remark the least bit endearing. I bite my lip to keep from smiling. I can’t let him think for one second that I’m okay with his promiscuity. Because I most certainly am not.
“I’ve never kissed anyone but you, either.” His cheeks flush. I definitely find that endearing.
“You’re joking, right?”
“I don’t like kissing, so I don’t do it.” He cups my cheek. “If anyone has a problem with it, they can walk away.”
“Has anyone ever walked away?”
He quirks one side of his mouth up into a lopsided grin then caresses my lower lip with his thumb. “Never.”
“That cocky attitude of yours is not the least bit sexy.” My shallow, rapid breathing and racing heart indicate otherwise. Who’s the liar now?
He brushes his lips across mine, barely touching them, softer than the stroke of a butterfly’s wing. He kisses my neck, right below my ear. “Did you seriously just use cocky and sexy in the same sentence?”
“I thought you didn’t like kissing.” I tilt my head, giving him better access to my throat.
He kisses a trail across my collarbone. “I don’t like kissing anyone but you.”
My eyelids flutter shut.
He brushes his lips across mine again. Once, twice, and then his mouth captures mine. His tongue sweeps across the seam of my lips, a subtle request for permission to enter.
I can’t refuse him. He tastes so good. A hint of cinnamon layered over something that is pure Rowdy. I search for an analogy so I can always remember it. His taste, his smell. God I missed it. But how do you describe the taste of pure bliss?
He moves slowly, gently. So tenderly. His kiss is just as I remembered. It awakens something deep inside me. Something that has lain dormant for the past four years. A whole-body yearning that’s so intense it’s painful.
I love that he’s being careful with me, but I need more. I keep one hand over his heart and tangle the other in his hair. I pull his face closer and suck his lower lip into my mouth.
A primitive, animalistic sound rumbles deep inside his chest, vibrating against my palm. He thrusts his tongue into my mouth. No longer gentle, he’s claiming more than just my lips. I follow his lead as he establishes a seductive rhythm that promises so much more.
About the author:
I write Young Adult Paranormal Romance under my real name and New Adult Contemporary Romance under this one. (I don't want my mom to find out I write naughty books ;-)
When I was a kid, I'd hide under the covers and read her sexy romance novels with a flashlight. Being sneaky added to the thrill. It still does. And I'd still get in trouble if she finds out--hence the pen name.
Random fact:
I set my New Adult Contemporary Romance series, "Rocky Mountain Romance" in Colorado because of all the opportunities for adrenaline junkies and alpha males to get themselves into life threatening situations. We have avalanches, raging rivers, extreme mountain sports, forest fires and most recently, devastating floods.
"Naked Edge" is the first book in the "Rocky Mountain Romance" series, but it is also a stand-alone, complete novel. No cliffhangers!
6 comments:
I love reading love reunion. I love trying to find out what dark secrets that drive one of the characters out of town. Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway.
Hi Kai, Thanks for leaving a comment and good luck with the giveaway!
In fact, if you'd like a free Kindle copy of "Naked Edge" email me at charliwebbbooks@gmail.com and I'll gift you a copy through Amazon. (It's in their "select" program so Amazon has exclusive rights to the ebook)
This looks like a fantastic book. I love the excerpt.
The book looks amazing! Thank you for the giveaway!
What a sweet story! I love that Rowdy only ever 'made love' to Skylar:)
Charli, I did the same when I was growing up. I snuck my mom's Harlequins and Silhouettes into my room and read them every night. I'd hide them in my pillowcase thinking I was sneak. Years later she told me that she always knew, lol.
thnaks for sharing
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