What came first? The princess or the
shoes? And does it really matter?
My name is Margaux Asher. Don't be
afraid to ask how it's spelled though I may enlighten you, anyway. Yes,
I'm that Margaux Asher. The attitude icon. The bitch in the latest
heels. The princess of the PR game.
Just don't bring up
the queen.
Mommie and I aren't on comfortable terms. Last winter, I
learned a secret that Andrea Asher has hidden from me since my birth--by
another woman. And my real father? Josiah Stone, one of the world's richest
men. Dream come true, right?
There's a lot of baggage attached to that
answer. And now, Michael Pearson wants to help me open it.
Michael. My six-foot-three, golden god of a
dilemma. He's patient, indulgent--and don't get me started on his
passion--but he wants too much. He wants all the secrets. What would he say if
he knew my birthright was only the start of my life's mess? What would he do if
he learns...I'm no perfect princess?
Someday, my princess will
come...
The apple never falls far from the
tree? Depends on who you ask.
I'm Michael Pearson. Son of an
apple farmer. First family member to graduate college, move to the big city,
and work for one of the most prestigious PR firms in the country. I'm the
success, the star--
And the sap who's fallen for the
boss's daughter.
So technically, Margaux has
stepped out of Andrea's shadow. Doesn't matter to the rest of the company--and
the world--who vilify her as they always have. But where they see a she-snake,
I see a terrified girl in the woods, yearning for a place where she's accepted,
loved. Every time I volunteer my arms to be that place, she ducks deeper into
her shell, pushing me away with more fear and anger. Her facade thickens
every day, making me more determined to learn what magic kiss will set her
free, so she can finally see the truth...
I don't want her to be perfect. I
just want her to be mine.
*NO PERFECT PRINCESS*
“See anything you
like?”
Oh, that had to have sounded as
ludicrous as it felt.
“I see a whole lot of
things I like.”
Apparently not.
Thank God Claire had forced me to watch a few rom coms
lately. Borrowing another “sexy” move from Reese, Jennifer, or Cameron—don’t
think I even remembered which one—I slid my hand up the
molding of the door frame. Well. Guess they called this one a classic for a
reason. It actually felt a little sexy—and helped stabilize the spinning of the
room, which intensified with every heated sweep of Michael’s stare up and down
my body.
“Then I’m all yours,” I
told him. “And I want to make every single second
count.”
He raised a finger. “I’ll second every word
of…that.”
The last of it was nothing but a strangle from him, as I
turned and pressed my back to the jamb. The move forced my breasts and hips out
in a pose that dropped his jaw—then brought him sprinting close. Closer. Ohhhh,
yes.That was it…
He pressed in, hovering just inches away, staring down
with those fantastic eyes of his. When his nostrils flared and his lips parted,
the demon turned all man again. All desire. All need and hunger and desire he
couldn’t restrain any longer. Thank God. Thank God. Finally.
Finally.
He pressed in more. Our
hips formed to each other. The heat beneath his underwear pressed into the
wetness beneath mine. He curved one hand to my waist. Raised the other to the
jamb over my head. Leaned in. Kissed me. Again. Ohhh,
again.
He began softly, flicking in only the tip of his tongue,
rocking gently against me. Pulled back, just out of reach, when I reached for
him. Let out the devil’s own chuckle. “So impatient, little
one.”
“Impatient?” I shot both brows up. “Who you working that
line on, mister? I’ve waited six damn months. I should be suing you for
torture.”
His eyes glittered—right before he surged back in again,
with one word spilling off his lips in a growl.
“Torture.”
No more teasing. Forget about gentle. He slammed our
mouths together, opening me up, filling me. It was invasion more than kiss,
mind-bending with passion and force. Skyrockets. C-4. Implosions in my
blood—and beyond. Every stupid, silly, romantic classifier that I’d ever made
fun of now lined up to bite me in the ass. Kind of hilarious, since even my ass
trembled. I had no idea how my knees didn’t buckle.
Ohhhh Christ, could this
man kiss.
But I still needed more. If he was simply using this as
the precursor for more “making out” and dry humping, he’d have a full riot on
his hands, proudly sponsored by my libido. One flick of my hand and the man
would be naked, anyway—but no, too easy, too simple. I wanted to unspool him.
Unglue him as thoroughly as he pried off all my moorings. Make him feel every
pounding, exploding, hot, horny degree of desire tormenting the River Styx now
doubling as my bloodstream…
I moaned softly into his mouth as our tongues continued to
duel. He was winning, but only because I let him. And yes, dammit, I loved
letting him. I never—never—let a man take the lead on this
end of things. As if any of them knew what the hell they were doing, anyway.
But Michael Adam Pearson…
Was different. So beautifully, magnificently
different.
Decadent.
Decisive.
Powerful.
Passionate.
And God, so arrogant. But self-aware of it. And so openly,
brazenly sexy about his promise to deliver on that arrogance.
Yeah, his golden gaze declared, you’re going to
sample my sinful side tonight, sugar—and you’re
going to fucking love it.
It was a bold promise, and not many had fulfilled it with
me. But hell, I wanted to let him try. Craved a thorough, brutal unraveling at
his magical hands. Needed him to solve my puzzle, piece by complicated
piece…
He was off to an amazing start. His lips traveled across
my jaw, under my ear then against it, suffusing me with the heat of his heavy
breaths, his open-mouthed kisses.
“You want me to do filthy things to you tonight, don’t you?” he
snarled at a volume meant only for me…and my throbbing body. “You want me to
take this cock out, fit it into your aching pussy then ram it over and over
until it hurts? Tell me, Margaux. Yes or no.
Now.”
“Y-yes. Oh hell—yes!” I gasped for air, rocking my head
back. Wow. Wow. I’d always known the guy had a wicked side
to him, but this was—good. So damn good. Beyond anything I’d
dared to dream.
He scraped his teeth along my jaw again, marking my skin
with his stubble as he pulled my head to the other side, clearing my other ear
for his dirty, delicious words. “I was holding back, thinking a woman like you
needed to be handled like fine china…but you’re the china that likes to be
shattered, aren’t you? Splintered into a thousand tiny pieces…then ground up
again, until you dissolve into dust.”
I nodded, but realized that wouldn’t be good enough.
Swallowing to get enough air into my throat, I rasped, “Yes. Break me. Hard.
Hard.” I’d waited so long to hear these words—from
him. Had damn near given up that I ever
would.
Good things come to those who wait. And learn to
live with a lover named Hitachi. And take a lot of freezing showers. For six
goddamn months.
No more waiting. This was happening. My head whirled with
desire. My body sizzled with awareness. I couldn’t wait for his next words…the
next naughty thing my ears could translate straight to my clit, now grinding
against his thigh in open, wanton need.
“I want you on my bed, Margaux.”
“Yeah,” I rasped. “Bed.
Good…idea.”
“Go there now.” Incredibly, his voice dove deeper with
command. “In the center. On your knees. Waiting for me.” He rocked back,
scouring his gaze over every inch of me, rubbing his forefingers against his
thumbs as if warming his fingers for what he wanted to do to me next. “And keep
those shoes on. They’re fucking hot.”
At first, I didn’t move. Process. Process. Did he
really just say…?
I lifted my head to meet his stare. He’d just questioned
if I was an apparition from a dream but now I wondered
ifhe’d invaded mine—especially since I
cocked a glare of open sass, expecting to back him down with it, only to make
his eyes narrow and his stance stiffen.
“What are you waiting for? Do
it.”
Forget the Jell-O knees.
Everything south of my navel turned to soup. I attempted recovery by tossing my
head and pushing a finger into the middle of his chest. God, how I wanted to
just slide it down, between the twin ladders of his abs, following that
incredible V of muscle…
Soon.
“Fine, fine. Just don’t expect me to call you ‘Sir’ and
all that shit.”
His laugh was warm and full. “Not a chance, sugar. I don’t
do all that shit, either. But putting you in your place every now and then will
be my thorough pleasure. And
yours.”
SECRETS OF STONE SERIES
*NO PRINCE CHARMING (SECRETS OF STONE, BOOK 1) IS NOW ON SALE
FOR .99 PENNIES!*
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Angel Payne
Hi there. I'm Angel: book lover, writing
addict, hopeless romantic, pop culture geek and avid shoe lover.
**I have a monthly newsletter now! Sign up
for it right here: http://eepurl.com/LoNkz. It's a cool way to get exclusive
info, talk hot heroes, learn about new items in the Angel Payne store, talk hot
heroes, further the pie or cake debate...and oh yeah, did I mention talking hot
heroes?
A bit about me...
I've been hooked on books since I was a kid
but it got worse in my twenties, when I discovered romances--the hotter, the
better. Growing up in Southern California, with lots of surfer manliness
surrounded me, was certainly a good boost for reading about delicious alpha
guys and the women who adore them. When I learned I had a knack for telling
these stories too, I guess you could say I was doomed--though my path toward
romance novelist took a few detours via a concert-reviewing gig for my college
newspaper (free show tickets...backstage passes...that was a no-brainer),
artist interviews for a Beverly Hills dance music mag, personal assistant work
for a record producer, dance club disc jockey, and a lot of fun in the
hospitality industry.
These days, I still live in California, and
have found an amazing alpha guy of my own who was brave enough to marry me. We
live on a street that looks like Brigadoon, with our beautiful daughter. I have
the best life ever, and never forget to thank the Big Guy Upstairs for it,
either.
Victoria Blue
Victoria Blue lives in her own portion of
the galaxy known as Southern California. There she finds the love and life
sustaining power of one amazing sun, two unique and awe inspiring planets and
three indifferent, yet comforting moons. Life is fantastic and challenging and
everyday brings new adventures to be discovered. She looks forward to seeing
what's next!
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