Title - Promise Me Always
Author - Kari March
Genre - New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Release Date - Feb 11th 2014
Synopsis
Blake
Bentley had a rough upbringing, never fully believing he was good enough for
anything or anyone. After being left with a broken heart by his only
girlfriend, Blake swore off relationships for good and turned to the only two
things that made him feel sufficient - sex and firefighting.
Tessa Collins was brought up in the traditional
'perfect' family - loving parents, great sister, and amazing friends. After
falling in love with Jared, her life was perfect - until he betrayed her. She
has no idea that his betrayal could end up costing her more than just a
shattered heart.
Blake and Tessa have been friends since high
school. Never wanting to admit their attraction for each other, the two always
remained close friends. Now, three years later, Blake and Tessa find themselves
being pulled together by a force much greater than friendship.
Blake and Tessa have promised to be friends
forever, but as fate pulls them together, they embark on a roller coaster ride
of a lifetime. Will his self doubt and her insecurities keep them apart? Or
will they be able to promise each other always?
**content is for +18yrs. **
Excerpts
Excerpt Tessa POV
Blake led me through the ballroom and out into the hotel lobby. He
pulled me into a corner before we got to the front desk, and slowly turned to
look at me, his eyes searching mine. He lightly placed his hands on my
shoulders, like he was trying to ensure he had my undivided attention. “Tess,
are you sure you want to stay here? It is your call. We can get in the limo now
and I can take you home. I’ll do whatever you want to do, baby girl. I don’t
want you to do anything you're not comfortable with.”
I tried my hardest to fight back the laughter. I know he was trying
to be a gentleman, but really what did he take me for—a virgin? He knew all too
well that I wasn’t. “That's really sweet, Blake, but I am a big girl and I
think I can handle sleeping in the same room with you. I promise, if I ever
feel uncomfortable with anything that
we are doing, I will have no problem voicing my opinion.” I gave him a sexy
smile, hoping he would get the double meaning behind my statement.
“You promise?” he asked, tilting his head to the side and looking at
me with that smile that made me weak in the knees. I was getting the feeling
that he understood exactly what I was saying.
“Always,” I replied as I looked up at him. His dark eyes were
staring at me with desire. The movement of his tongue reaching out to lick his
lips drew my attention down to his perfect mouth. God, how I wanted to taste him again! But there was no way I was
making the first move. Not again. I noticed his eyes shift down to my mouth and
I lightly bit my bottom lip. He slid his hand from my shoulder to the back of
my neck, while his other hand reached up and gently cradled my face. He slowly
leaned down and placed his lips on mine. I opened my mouth slightly, allowing
him to enter further. That was all he needed. He invaded my mouth with his
tongue, and as he deepened the kiss, I knew in his own way he was claiming me.
He was forceful and aggressive, yet slow and tender as he savored every move he
made. My whole body was shaking and my sex was aching. I had never been kissed
like that before.
The hand that had been cradling my face was now on my lower back,
pulling my body closer to him. My arms were clutched around his neck and my
hands were working their way through his dark hair. I never wanted this kiss to
end.
We were in our own little world where no one else existed. As his
hand moved down to my ass, my body quivered with excitement. I wanted him here
and now. Then I remembered where we were—a hotel lobby with lots of people
around. He must have felt me tense up a little because he slowly ended the
kiss. Resting his forehead on mine, he looked down at me. We were both
breathing heavy as we stared at each other.
“I have wanted to do that ever since you opened your door tonight,”
he whispered.
Excerpt
Blake POV
When I got
home, Devin was sitting on the couch in our living room watching Duck Dynasty
and laughing uncontrollably. He was showered and ready for the day and it was
only eleven am. I didn’t understand how he could wake up so damn early when he
drank. I could sleep all fucking day after a heavy night of drinking. Devin, on
the other hand, always woke up by at least seven when he drank. Even if he was
up all night long, he was still awake bright and early. Personally, I thought he
had been cursed.
“Hey, bro!
Have a good time last night?” he asked, wiggling his eye brows at me while he
reached over and muted the TV. “It sure seemed like you and Tess were getting
pretty cozy last night out on the balcony. I noticed you slept in her room last
night. You get any?”
“Shit, Dev,
you know we are just friends. She isn’t like that, asshole!” I snapped back. I
sat down on the couch and stared at him. Did
he really just ask me that? I was so mad. If he wasn’t my brother, I
would’ve punched him.
“Uh, yeah,
okay…whatever you say, man.” Devin rolled his eyes at me. “Blake, sometimes, I
swear I know you better than you know yourself. I see how you look at that girl
and I see the way she looks at you. There is way more than friendship there,
bro. Wake the fuck up!”
I hated the
fact that my brother knew me so well. When we were little, he always used to
finish my sentences and it always freaked me out. I never understood how he
could do that. I spent most of my childhood believing he was fucking psychic.
“It just isn’t
good timing. First of all, she just got cheated on, again, by that douchebag. And she has made it perfectly clear, on
more than one occasion that she just wants to be friends.” I put my head in my
hands. I was so confused. I sighed, obviously frustrated, and just looked at
Devin. “I don’t know what to do. She keeps sending me these crazy mixed
signals. One minute she acts like she fucking wants me and the next minute she
tells me she doesn’t need any more complications in her life.”
“Dude, no
offense, but it sounds like she’s just as confused as you are. Maybe you should
just take things into your own hands. If you want her, then let her know. Stop
being such a pussy and make a move. You’re Blake Bentley for fuck sakes; you
have women eating out of your hand on a daily basis. I taught you better than
this,” he said, shaking his head dramatically. “This should be a cake walk for
you.” He sat up and looked at me with an, I’m
sorry you’re so pathetic, look on his face.
“It isn’t like
that with her, Devin. She’s different. I don’t want to just fuck her…. If I
mess this up with her, if I lose her, it will destroy me.” I looked back down
at the floor. I closed my eyes and memories of Tess filled my mind.
The first time I saw her, all of our drunken
conversations, talking about that Bruno Mars song, the way she looked in the
sunlight leaning up against my truck….. I smiled as
images of her flashed like pulsing lights. The
way she tasted as she kissed me for the first time, the way I fit perfectly
inside her, her smile, her smart ass mouth, the way she fit like a puzzle piece
in my arms when I held her, how it killed me to see her crying yesterday over
that jackass……. and then it finally hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart
started beating so fast it felt like it was on fire.
I fucking
wanted this girl. No, I needed her
and I was going to do everything in my power to fucking make her mine.
Author Bio
I am a new adult contemporary author that is currently working on
my first novel, Promise Me Always. I am a wife, mother of 2 amazing
kiddos, photographer and owner at K23 Photography & Design, graphic designer and cover
designer at K23 Designs, as well as an avid reader and blogger at A Book Whores Obsession! I have been married since 2004 to
the most amazing man ever and together we have two amazing children.
I was born in Aurora, CO and still reside their today with my
amazing family. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else in the world. I have
become accustom to bi-polar weather living here and I absolutely love getting
all four seasons (although winters could be a bit shorter.)
I have a
small obsession with Starbucks and gummy bears! They make the perfect writing
snack! Wine helps a lot too especially with the late night writing sessions. I
love the summer and everything that goes along with it, camping, swimming,
boating, hiking, etc. I love to travel and Disneyland is one of my family's
favorite places to visit together. I have a dream of visiting so many places in
the world such as Italy, Greece, Australia, Fiji, Bora Bora and New Zealand
(just to name a few.)
I have met
so many amazing people in this journey so far and I cannot wait to see what the
future holds.
Author Links
Facebook -
http://facebook.com/karimarchauthor
Website -
http://karimarchauthor.wordpress.com
Email -
karimarchauthor@gmail.com
Twitter -
@kmarch23
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