Closer
by: Kaia Bennett
Publication Date: March 31, 2015
Amazon - Nook - Kobo- iBooks - Smashwords
Synopsis:
After a whirlwind week of hot sex and growing affection, Nicole and Gabriel were forced to part ways and to return to real life. For a while they danced around each other, meeting up when they could, the distance between them rivaled only by their desire to be together again.
But the ticking clock of his budding music career isn’t the only obstacle to contend with. A blast from Gabriel’s wild past, a guy that kept Nicole warm in Gabriel’s absence, and fear of what the future holds all converge just as they’ve begun to realize this might be love…
Author's Note: This book contains strong language and sexual content with dark elements, some of which readers may find uncomfortable.
EXCERPT #1
“Wow,”
Gabriel said, standing in Nicole’s doorway feeling two-thirds dumbstruck and
one-third pissed. “What… are you wearing?”
Nicole’s
hip swayed to the side and she placed a hand on it, staring up at him with
enough attitude to rival Jackie’s. “It’s called a dress, Gabriel. Girls usually
wear them to parties like the one we’re going to.”
“I
know what a dress is, little girl,” he practically growled, his eyes roving
over her body lasciviously. “But where’s the rest of yours?”
She
came closer to him, tilting her face up to place a teasing kiss on his lips.
“I’ll
take that as a compliment. I think,” she said with a laugh.
“Oh,
it was meant to be.” He chuckled and pulled her in for a longer kiss. She
smacked him on the shoulder and pulled away, swiping at her smudged lipstick
before turning to grab her coat.
Seeing
the dress from the back literally made his jaw slacken and his mind roar, Oh, hell-fucking-no!
In
truth, he may have been overreacting. Nicole looked great. Sexy as hell.
The
dress was a champagne color with a slight shimmer to the material, the thin
spaghetti straps caressing her creamy brown shoulders and bringing out the glow
of her skin. It barely fell to mid-thigh, and those long, toned legs were even
longer in the light gold heels she was wearing. The front of the dress could be
considered modest despite the fact that it hugged her full breasts, the sharp
indent of her waist, and the full curves of her hips.
It
was the first time since seeing her dressed for work that he realized just how
far from the sweet little college girl she’d come. She was womanly and sexy one
minute, cute the next, and he figured she would always flit seamlessly back and
forth between those opposite poles. These days he was seeing more and more of
the sexy side, the self-assured, confident and relaxed woman she was becoming.
Might have something to do with him finally being in one place long enough to
witness more than just her orgasms. Might have something to do with him finally
saying he wanted to be with only her. But he liked it, and he liked the
parallels between how she navigated the world and how she submitted to him in
bed. He liked watching her toy with her own sex appeal. She was his girl now
and he would reap the benefits of her transformation. And if not for the fact
there was a cab waiting for them downstairs she’d be working on the hard-on
growing in his jeans.
He
wasn’t the only one that appreciated her new look. All he needed to do was
catch the glances of strangers on the street, and the look on Nuke’s face as
they hopped into the cab to see he had more self-control than he realized.
Lucky
for him he wasn’t some slouch in the looks department and it was clear they
were a couple when he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to
him. Seeing their reflection in the window of the cab made him realize they
really were a good-looking couple. But she was definitely his better half, with
her hair blow dried straight and falling past her shoulders, her pretty face
sporting minimal make up, and her outrageous curves poured into that soft
shimmering dress.
He’d
opted to keep it dressy-casual and was wearing a black velvety suit jacket over
a white shirt. He’d chosen his favorite pair of worn, light blue jeans, and
black boots to complete the outfit. The front of his shirt was tucked into his
jeans, leaving just the silver buckle of his belt visible. Jewelry was just the
necklace he wore most of the time now, the black cord and silver pendant that
sat in the hollow of his throat.
It
wasn’t a long ride to get to the party and the other guys were already there
waiting inside. The look on their faces when Nicole took off her jacket and
gave them all hugs made him both proud and possessive. Much as he loved her new
look, he really didn’t want to get into any fights tonight. He was going to
have to stay close to her if his friends were trying this hard not to stare at
his woman’s ass.
He
laughed to himself. His woman. He was becoming such a caveman. Being in a
relationship again after spending so long avoiding one took some getting used
to.
The
party was already jumping. There were strobe lights, DJs, hired dancers perched
all around, silver and gold spiraling decorations lining the ceiling. The place
was packed with other artists from the label, execs, and guests who were
willing to pay to get in. Beside him Nicole laughed in awe and he couldn’t help
but join her, thinking he couldn’t have picked a better time to be a musician
on the rise. It was definitely more than he’d ever expected an indie label to
spring for, and it only took a couple of minutes for the guys to come to a
consensus that they were going to stay for a while and, as they put it, start
prowling for “model bitches”. That made Nicole laugh and look up at Gabriel.
“Don’t
feel like joining the hunt, babe?” she said with a half-smile.
“I
don’t know what you mean, miss. I have a girlfriend.”
“Oh,
really,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “What’s she look like? She
cute?”
Gabriel
smiled down at her, pulling her towards him so he could stroke the soft skin of
her back. “She’s smoking hot. Perfect curves. Perfect brown skin.” He leaned
down and whispered in her ear, “And the sweetest pussy I’ve tasted. She’s got
me hard just thinking about her.” He laughed at the way she clutched his sleeve
and her breath came out hot against his neck. Well, at least he wasn’t the only
one suffering now.
“Careful,
Gabe,” she whispered back. “Keep talking like that and you’re gonna get me all
wet, and that could be awkward.” She nibbled on his earlobe, adding,
“Especially since I didn’t wear panties tonight,” before turning on those
spiked heels and walking away.
Gabriel
tripped over someone’s shoe walking after her as she made her way to the bar.
He was staring after Nicole’s ass as it swayed underneath that little
champagne-colored dress. When she turned and looked over her shoulder at him,
as if to say, “Are you coming, or what?” he wanted to make her pay for teasing
him so mercilessly. The night had only just begun, and he was already counting
the hours and trying to figure out if there was a place around here where two
people could be alone. This was shaping up to be a painful, blue balls kind of
affair.
He
made a silent vow to wear her out later tonight and joined her at the bar.
They
danced. They met other artists. They got tipsy. It should have made him more
chill, since he was a pretty happy drunk. But watching her dance, feeling her
smooth ass rub against his raging hard-on and knowing all the while she wasn’t
wearing anything underneath her dress, drove him crazy.
His
mood also wasn’t helped by his catching glimpses of Meredith Rowe in the crowd.
She stayed away, but every so often he would look up and see those Husky-blue
eyes trained on him and Nicole. He thought he saw a little smile cross her
lips, and then she faded into the crowd.
Nicole
was relieved and pissed when they finally left the Phantom Records party and
headed over to Kiki’s. She’d seen Meredith once or twice in the crowd and
noticed Gabe had been watching her. She also noticed the knowing smile on the
cool blonde’s lips. Not that Gabe’s gaze had been the lustful kind. It was
almost hostile and wary. But still, Meredith had caught his attention towards
the end of the night and she hated how that made her feel. Vulnerable and out
of the loop. Meredith was the constant reminder that Gabe had been just fine
being free to roam and there was nothing to say he might not return to that
life. So when they finally made it over to Kiki’s, Nicole was determined to
show, in her slightly illogical and drunken way, that she wasn’t in the mood
for this mysterious-musician-with-a-secret bullshit. She was the girl who
should have all of his attention, finally.
She
decided ignoring him and toying with his emotions for a change might be fun.
Every time he tried to dance with her, she didn’t feel like it. Every time he
went to go get a drink, he found her talking to some dude. He actually
resembled the Terminator a few times, staring down guys until they retreated,
but all she said when he asked her about what was up was, “What? Is something
wrong?”
This
was so unlike her. She knew she was being immature, but part of her was tired
of being the go-along-to-get-along girl, the one who was content not to see.
She was scared. Another year was fast approaching and for the first time ever
she could look forward to spending it with him. Instead she was scared the past
was already catching up. What if he decided girls like Meredith were what he
wanted after all?
So
she toyed with the new role she’d decided to play tonight. She became the
seductress, the benevolent mistress that allowed Gabriel to be her own personal
cabana boy. She became distant but playful. He got the drinks and looked
pretty. It was strange for her to flex her power over him in such a trivial
way, in a way that was sure to make him jealous. But she wanted to try. She
wanted him to feel for a second what she felt every time she imagined his
former life with women like Marta and Meredith.
He
didn’t look pleased. A couple of times, she actually saw his eyes narrow and
his jaw clench. That’s when she decided to stop. She’d talk with him about
Meredith later. She just needed to figure out how to do it without coming off
as clingy. Bit early in the game to start sabotaging such a good thing.
Midnight
approached. Nicole was talking to Chase and Trish when Gabe came up behind her
and wrapped his arms around her. She immediately sank into his embrace, swaying
with him and reveling in the feel of this showing of public affection.
“Hey,
I’m just gonna borrow her for a second,” he said to Trish and Chase.
Before
she could protest, she found herself being led through the crowded apartment.
People were making out in the hallway, by the kitchen. He led her past all of
them towards the bedroom at the end of the hall.
“What
are we doing back here—”
She
didn’t have time to finish the sentence before she was practically tossed into
the bedroom where all the guests’ coats were kept. “What the fuck, Gabriel?!
You trying to twist my ankle?”
His
expression was one she hadn’t seen before as he came toward her and demanded,
“What’s wrong with you? Huh? What’s with all the attitude?”
She
put her hands on her hips and gave him a cold stare. “Why don’t you ask
Meredith Rowe what’s wrong with me?”
Gabriel’s
brow furrowed, but he was silent.
“Nothing
to say about her, huh? Why is that, exactly?” Nicole pushed.
Gabriel
shrugged his shoulders. “Because there’s nothing to say about her.”
“Then
why is it every time she’s in the room your eyes are glued to her? Why is she
always staring back?”
“That’s
not—”
“Did
you fuck her?” Nicole asked. Her voice was quiet, but her gaze was steady. So
much for playing it cool and broaching the subject later.
Gabe
inhaled deeply. “Yeah, a while ago. But I don’t even see her that way anymore.
It’s ancient history.”
Gabriel
looked away and the unease settled over her again. What could be worse than
admitting they’d had sex? What else could there be to say that would explain
why he’d kept it from her? Honesty had always been their best policy, the glue
that kept their strange arrangement intact before they’d committed to each
other. His hesitation made her nervous.
He
smirked and came closer still. “You remember your buddy, Travis? Remember how
easy it was for you to tell me about him? Well, as awkward as that was for you,
it was rough for me, too. How do you feel now that you know about Meredith?”
Like
shit, she thought.
To
him she said, “Trying to spare my feelings doesn’t change the fact she’s
around. She’s going on tour with you. And if you really don’t want things to be
rough for me, then don’t keep me in the dark. We’re supposed to be honest with
each other—”
“Like
you were being all night when you were ignoring me and playing stupid fucking
games?” he countered, advancing quickly.
“Just
giving you a taste of your own medicine,” she threw back. But her voice wasn’t
exactly assertive, nor were her tentative steps backwards. Why was she so
nervous? She wasn’t afraid of Gabriel. This was her Gabriel. Sweet, a little
kinky. But he wouldn’t hurt a fly…
“You
know what, sweetheart? You’re right.” He closed the distance between them in
half a step and she found her ass pressed up against a dresser, her eyes
darting over him as he slipped off his jacket. “Maybe you should let me return
the favor,” he said with a little smile.
“What?”
she murmured.
“You’ve
been teasing the fuck out of me, little girl.” He calmly unbuttoned his cuffs
and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. “So, let’s see if you like it when I
tease you back.”
Her
legs began to tremble. She started to speak.
“Lift
up your dress,” he ordered, unbuckling his belt.
“Do
you know many people are out there?”
“Do
I look like I give a fuck about anyone else but you right now?” Nicole’s jaw
dropped. “You spent all night teasing me about not wearing anything under that
dress. You were punishing me because you thought I had my eyes on someone else.
Now you know better.”
Her
thighs clenched and she felt the dampening inner lips of her pussy moving
easily against each other. Fuck. She probably should have gotten a less hot
boyfriend if she was going to go without panties. His eyes roved hungrily over
her body. He was mad, and a little tipsy, but he was so turned on. He only had
eyes for her and he was proving it.
“Lift
the dress, Nicole.”
The
dominance in his nature was familiar. But this sinister edge was something new.
She reached down, her fingers shaking as they slid the hem of her dress up her
thighs. She lifted it slowly, bringing it up so her bare pussy was visible, but
cast in shadow.
“Higher,”
he ordered.
He
licked his lips, his eyes trained on what he said he’d been imagining all
night. The hem came up to her belly button. Her thighs moved smooth and slick
against each other, the need for friction and embarrassment mingling.
He
motioned with his finger for her to lift the dress higher. She did as he
commanded, finally revealing her body from her naked breasts on down. He ran
his hands over bare skin, but just the tips of fingers, his strokes were so feather-light
it was more torture than pleasure.
He
leaned in and nipped her lower lip hard, harder than he ever had, before
swiping his tongue across it. “You ready to get fucked?”
Other Books in the Loose Ends Series...
#1 Crush
by: Kaia Bennett
Publication Date: December 1, 2014
Amazon - Nook - Kobo - iBooks - Smashwords
Synopsis:
Nicole Langley’s #1 Crush has always been Gabriel Roberts, but settling for being a friendly acquaintance has had to be enough.
Then a hot summer day and an even hotter discovery pushes them over the lines of friendship, over the lines of unrequited desire, and into each other's arms.
Will they indulge and move on? Or will this crush turn into something more, something deeper? Something that leaves loose ends begging to be tied…
About Kaia Bennett
Kaia Bennett is a native of New Jersey, a college graduate and U.S. Army veteran who loves music, movies, astrology, tattoos, martial arts, animals and, of course, the written word. She heard the siren call of the writer as a teenage girl, but took her sweet time answering it until she had lived and loved enough to share her work with the masses.
She is an erotic author who loves to write stories with diversity, depth, realism and viscerally hot encounters that flirt shamelessly with the taboo. A lover of all genres and a voracious reader, she aims to write stories that are transformative for her characters and readers alike.
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