*~*Playing with Fire by Lexi Ryan Release Blitz – Excerpt*~*

Author:   Lexi Ryan
Expected Release Date:   July 7, 2015

 

 

 

*Note: Each series can be read on its own, but for the chronology purists, the reading order is below.

 

Love Unbound: Splintered Hearts

Unbreak Me (Maggie’s story)

Stolen Wishes: A Wish I May Prequel Novella (Will and Cally’s prequel)

Wish I May (Will and Cally’s novel)

Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Splintered Hearts: The New Hope Trilogy

 

Love Unbound: Here and Now

Lost in Me (Hanna’s story begins)

Fall to You (Hanna’s story continues)
All for This (Hanna’s story concludes)

Or read them together in the omnibus edition, Here and Now: The Complete Series
Love Unbound: Reckless and Real

Something Wild (Liz and Sam’s story begins)

Something Reckless (Liz and Sam’s story continues)
Something Real (Liz and Sam’s story concludes)

 

Love Unbound: Mended Hearts

Playing with Fire (Nix’s story, coming July 7, 2015)

 “You went on a date with Cade?”

I shrug. “He took me to dinner. It was no big deal.”

“And he’s going to call you?”

Another shrug. “He’s a nice guy, but it’s not anything serious. I’m not interested in serious.” I duck under his arm and into the hallway, but before I even make it a step in the direction of the bathroom, Max has me in his arms, his mouth coming down on mine.

The kiss starts angry but softens as quickly as it began, and because I’m helpless against this man, I soften too, opening under him and reveling in the feel of him invading my mouth. Every sweep of his tongue sends another thousand nerve endings sizzling, and his touch is so electric it’s a wonder I don’t combust under it.

When he pulls away, his eyes aren’t warm like they usually are when he’s been kissing me. They’re hot, burning with the dangerous cocktail of arousal and frustration. “You come alive when I touch you, but turn away every time I try to step closer. You sleep in my bed but shut down every time I ask about your past. You’ve never let me take you out, but fucking Cade gets to date you?”

I spin on my heel and start toward the guest bathroom, but Max grabs my wrist and stops me. It’s not the strength of his grip that keeps me from moving forward—I could escape it. And it’s not the anger in his question that has me wanting to run—I don’t fear him. I stand trapped between the will of my heart and the warning in my brain. I steady my gaze on the dark hardwood floor. “What do you want from me?”

“What I want?” He steps closer, and when I look up his eyes are blazing. “I want to know why you’re scared to let me close. I want to know what this could be if we gave it a chance. I want to know what you hide under your shirt and what keeps you awake when everyone else is sleeping. I want to know who hurt you and why you let him have your heart but you keep pushing me away.”

But those are all the things I don’t ever want you to know. “I wouldn’t know where to start,” I whisper.

“Start with Kent. What happened with him?”

I turn to face him and lift my chin. “He’s the man I was supposed to marry, and when he learned the answer to all those questions you’re asking now, he left me.”

“Then he’s a fool.”

“You don’t know where I come from.”

“Try me.”

I should. I should cut open my guts and spill them at his feet. Then he could send me away, and I wouldn’t have to wait for that inevitable heartbreak anymore. But I’m a coward, so I drop my gaze to where his fingers hold my wrist and say, “Let me go.”

Excerpt © Lexi Ryan, 2015