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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

A modern day knight in blue - Walk with Me (The Thin Blue Thread #1) by Kaitlyn Stone

Description:

After escaping her abusive parents, nineteen-year-old Kenna Sloane is determined to create an independent life, free of emotional distraction. The last thing this focused college student wants is a relationship, especially with a hot rookie cop popular with the badge bunnies.

When Kenna reluctantly agrees to a double date with Santa Monica cop Donovan Alexander, she’s launched on an exciting and dangerous journey. With time, she discovers some souls are instinctively drawn together to quiet the pain of their traumatic pasts. But even after the revelation of Donovan’s own secret burden, Kenna continues to battle the fear she may be too broken for her modern day knight in blue.
 Can Kenna open her heart to the healing light of true love before peril strikes?

This book was funny, sweet, heartwarming, steamy, passionate, and little heartbreaking. It just had me smiling and feeling all warm inside. I can't get enough of Donovan and Kenna, but I like to know more about Danielle and Tyler too. I will patiently be waiting for book two and can't wait too see what's in store for them. - Goodreads

EXCERPT




It’s midnight, the day after my eighteenth birthday, and I’m escaping from my life of oppression and pain. With only the fear of being caught and dragged back to my cell of a life, I’m shortening the gap between what I know and the undiscovered world ahead.

The August air whips across my face and through the loose strands of my pulled-back hair. My internal will to survive, fueled by adrenaline, propels me forward into the night with no feeling of cold or discomfort. The wind stings my eyes and they begin to tear, blurring my vision as I sprint along the walking path between the condos and boat slips in the Marina, one foot in front of the other pounding the pavement. Thump, thump, thump. The same beat of my excited heart.
After two blocks I realize they’re not chasing after me. I slow to a fast walk, scanning the area ahead and behind me. My chest is heaving as I try to catch my breath and regain my thoughts, but I’m not tired. I could run for miles if I need to, and I will fight tonight to protect myself and my freedom.

I sweep the area one more time before ducking into the shadows of the next condo complex. Catching my breath, I lean against the wall of the entrance, pull out my pay-as-you-go cell phone, and call Danielle and her mom—my lifeline, my ride to freedom. This is it. I pace nervously under the cover of night, still on high alert, and wait for the transportation to my new life. Pumped from the adrenaline surge, my thoughts are spinning and making me dizzy, but assuredly I won’t be coming back here anytime soon, if ever. 

#
Dropping his hands from my arms, Donovan gestures his hand around the room. “This is where I come to get away and lose myself or to just think. I can work out here for hours. There’s something about working with your hands” – he flashes me a devilish grin, grabbing at my waist and pulling me into him – “that clears the mind.”
I yelp at his manhandling and giggle trying to squirm out of his hold. Donovan at first tightens his grip on me, smiling salaciously, but then with a wicked glint in his eyes his posture changes and he starts tickling me on the sides. “No! Stop it!” I screech. But he continues his pleasurable torment, working one hand down to the back of my thigh. “Donovan! Please stop. I can’t take it. I’m going to pee my pants.” With my final plea he drops his hands.

We stand quietly facing each other, chests heaving from the short burst of excitement. With a wild gleam in his eyes, Donovan leans down and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “Donovan Alexander!” I scream in protest. “You put me down!” He ignores my demand and carries me out of the workshop and over next door.

“You’re so cute when you get all indignant. You want down?” he says and slowly lowers me to the floor inside his bachelor pad. I’m standing facing him with my body pressed against his. His eyes are searing into mine and his hands are securing me in place at the waist. My chest is rising and falling with deep, steady breaths [...]. I’m so turned on by his caveman gesture of dragging me back to his den against my will. At this moment I want him to take me. A primal need exists deep within my body for Donovan to bury himself inside me and quite the dull ache that’s been building in my groin since the first day I’ve laid eyes on him.

There is no denying the raw sexual attraction to Donovan. And this is one area I can tell he isn’t passive about—sex. In public he is the perfect gentleman, so polite and respectful. But behind closed doors I bet an alter ego exists. He is commanding, passionate, and insatiable. I don’t know what makes me think this with my limited experience, but something tells me he is going to be the same in bed and I don’t know if I can wait any longer to test my theory. My self-control is waning after a delicious dinner with this perfect man and his perfect TV family. If he wanted to take me right here and now, it would be the dream ending to the evening.

#

I shift my body to face Donovan squarely. My eyes soften in sadness. He scans my face with tightness in his troubled eyes and a turned-down mouth. “I was worried you would lose respect for me once you learned of my secret and maybe even decide to move on,” Donovan admits.

How could he think I would move on because of this secret? If anyone should be running, it’s him. I’m damaged goods. I’ve built walls around me so high I’m starting to wither from the constant shadow cast on my being. But Donovan has already helped me break through some of my walls and I’m being drawn toward the sliver of steady light streaming in that is him. We are both injured souls from our pasts. Maybe together we can help heal each other and walk hand in hand toward the happiness that we both deserve.

“Donovan, I’m falling for you, too,” I declare with certainty. “And it scares me, but your honesty and trust with your secret make me feel like we are both starting at an equally vulnerable place and only good things can come from this point forward.”

Donovan gives me a half smile, zeroing in on his target of my lips. We lean toward each other with electrifying passion, pouring our unrestricted feelings into a kiss that never ends. He guides our bodies down to his bed and adjusts his torso over mine. The intensity of the kiss increases and we are all lips and tongue and teeth everywhere.




About the author
Since childhood, Kaitlyn Stone has gravitated toward fairy tales and happily- ever-after's, forever chasing the first love dragon. She is a self-professed adventure junkie, constantly talking her husband and family into some new life adventure, where they’ve learned to just buckle up for the exciting ride. When they do stay home, it’s in sunny Southern California located along the Pacific Ocean.

Author's Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card

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