“Once upon a time,” I said, trying to remember the way I phrased it the first time I’d begun this story. “I met with a businessman because I thought he wanted to hire me. I gave up my career, moved to London, and married him.” I brought my hand up to his cheek. “Then he took me captive and threatened to kill me. Which he did. Slowly, but surely, he killed the worst parts of me, and I’ll never be the same, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He kissed me, tenderly, and I felt it then, how I truly did belong to him. Why else would he care so much about healing me? Why else would he sit patiently through sessions, responding to them thoughtfully?
“You didn’t reveal anything about yourself this time,” I said, missing that traditional component of his response.
His knuckles brushed along my cheek. “Didn’t I?”
I thought about it. Thought about the things he said at The Base, then the words he’d said outside the plane. “You’re a smart girl. Can’t you figure it out?”
“You told me how you feel,” I said, my chest blooming with the revelation.
“Go on.”
I hesitated, nervousness creeping in like an old friend. “It’s…” I hesitated. “It’s the same way I feel about you.”
“Which is?” A smile played on his lips.
I could feel his cock thickening at my thigh, and even now it was astonishing to see how my discomfort made him react. “You’re turned on by this.”
“Quite.” His expression grew serious and stern. “Tell me.”
Only honesty between us.
I took a deep breath. “I love you.”
“Yes,” he rasped, the evident weight of the syllable on his tongue, as raw as if he’d said the words instead.
He kissed me then, and as other kisses we’d shared had shown me what he wanted to do to my body, this one showed me what he wanted to do to my heart. Protect it, cherish it. Heal it. Love it.
I was bubbling and bouncing and overwhelmed and the unknown future that loomed over us was daunting but thrilling, and I couldn’t wait for it. Couldn’t wait to be with Edward in it, whoever I was anymore.
“You won,” I sighed, realizing suddenly that I’d lost, and that it was wonderful. “You won, I’m yours. You’ve ruined me. You’ve broken me down. Now what?”
His gaze touched every part of my face—my swollen lips, my tilted chin, my flushed cheeks, my questioning eyes.
And when he answered, I knew it was the beginning of the next chapter, the beginning of something so much bigger than I could imagine.
“Now, I build you back up again.”
* * *
The story continues in Slay Three: Revenge.
* * *
Edward and Celia’s relationship changes once again when his focus for the future includes a past she wants to leave behind.
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Keep reading for a timeline of events related to the Fixed series.
Also by Laurelin Paige
Don’t know what to read next? Let me help.
(Visit my website for a complete list and more detailed reading order.)
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Want an edgy billionaire romance that pushes limits? Meet Donovan in Dirty Duet: Dirty Filthy Rich Men | Dirty Filthy Rich Love
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How about a restless playboy who ends up falling for the last woman he should fall for: his fiancé. Then read the Dirty Games Duet: Dirty Sexy Player | Dirty Sexy Games
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In the mood for a rich Brit and a much younger artist? Grab the Dirty Sweet Duet: Sweet Liar | Sweet Fate
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If you like billionaire romance like Sylvia Day's Crossfire Series, read Fixed Series: Fixed on You | Found in You | Forever with You | Hudson | Fixed Forever
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If you like sexy lover's angst, Found Duet: Free Me | Find Me
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If you like dark romantic suspense, read First and Last First Touch | Last Kiss
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If power dynamics, head games and kinky, edgy angst is your thing, read Slay Series: Slay One: Rivalry | Slay Two: Ruin | Slay Three: Revenge | Slay Four: Rising
Not ready to commit to a series? I have several STANDALONES that can be read in any order:
Chandler - a light, billionaire romance
Falling Under You - a 35k novella featuring a strong woman and an alpha-beta male
Dirty Filthy Fix - a kinky little story that crosses over from the Dirty Universe to the Fixed Universe
The Open Door - another kinky exploration, this time of a happily married couple
One More Time - a second chance romance between two movie stars
Close - a hot young rock star falls for an older Hollywood A-lister
Sex Symbol - a contemporary romance that takes place on a movie set
Star Struck - another contemporary romance that takes place in Hollywood
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About Laurelin Paige
With millions of books sold worldwide, Laurelin Paige is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author. Her international success started with her very first series, the Fixed Trilogy, which, alone, has sold over 1 million copies, and earned her the coveted #1 spot on Amazon’s bestseller list in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, simultaneously. This title also was named in People magazine as one of the top 10 most downloaded books of 2014. She’s also been #1 over all books at the Apple Book Store with more than one title in more than one country. She’s published both independently and with MacMillan’s St. Martin’s Press and Griffin imprints as well as many other publishers around the world including Harper Collins in Germany and Hachette/Little Brown in the U.K. With her edgy, trope-flipped stories of smart women and strong men, she’s managed to secure herself among today’s romance royalty.
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Paige has a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater and a Masters of Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis, and she credits her writing success to what she learned from both programs, though she’s also an avid learner, constantly trying to challenge her mind with new and exciting ideas and concepts. While she loves psychological thrillers and witty philosophical books and entertainment, she is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching shows like Game of Thrones, Letterkenny and Discovery of Witches, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She's also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn't do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. She currently lives outside Austin, Texas and is rep
resented by Rebecca Friedman.
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www.laurelinpaige.com
[email protected]
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