by T. K. Leigh
He adjusts, taking both my wrists in one hand now, trailing a path along my side, lifting up the hem of my dress and ghosting his finger against my panties.
“You were so easy to fuck back then. So ready. So eager.” His breathing becomes more ragged as he pushes my panties to the side. “Just like you are now.”
“If that’s what you need to believe, be my guest. But don’t kid yourself. You’re just a lie parading around as the truth.”
Taking advantage of his weakening restraint on my wrists, I wiggle one away, throwing an elbow back in one swift move and hitting his nose. There’s no audible crack, but it’s enough to force him to loosen his hold on me.
“You bitch,” he bellows, holding his nose to stop the blood from flowing.
I clamber to my feet, my heart pounding with more intensity than it ever has. I’m no longer thinking of anything other than reaching my purse and gun, all my effort focused on that. Nothing else.
The seconds feel drawn-out immeasurably as my fingers fumble for the zipper of my purse and slide it open, barely able to maintain a hold on it. Reaching inside, I say a silent prayer when I feel the cool metal handle of the revolver, pulling it out of my bag.
I’m about to spin around and aim it at Nick when it’s knocked out of my hands. I watch as it skids across the floor and toward the back door, frustration building inside me. But I refuse to give up. I can’t. Not now. It’s either him or me. This time, I won’t go down without a fight.
Using every ounce of stamina I possess, I dart after the weapon, but Nick tackles me, a sharp pain radiating through my hip when we hit the floor.
I scream as I reach for the gun, both of us grabbing onto it at the same time. I summon all the strength I can to aim the barrel away from me and at Nick, but I’m beyond the point of exhaustion, my shaky muscles ready to give out. The last thing I remember seeing before the percussive pop fills the space is Nick’s cold, malicious eyes peering at me.
I’ve always been fascinated with history. From the stories various cultures and generations told through their art. To the way we’ve evolved as a society since the dawn of time.
But one of the most intriguing subjects I studied was the American Revolution. Most of my classmates never found it that remarkable. After all, it’s shoved down our throats, from the midnight ride of Paul Revere to the “shot heard ‘round the world”.
And it’s the “shot heard ‘round the world” that always fascinated me. How a skirmish between the Minutemen soldiers and the Redcoats on the Lexington Green changed the face of this country. The altercation itself isn’t too exciting. Confrontations between opposing sides are what wars and battles are made of. What I found so significant about it is that to this day, over two hundred years later, no one knows which side fired that initial shot.
One single shot fired on the village green.
Yet it changed the course of history as we know it.
Just like this one shot is about to change my history.
Thank you so much for reading POSSESSION! I hope you enjoyed the start to Londyn and Weston’s story. The final book, ATONEMENT, is coming this winter. Pre-order your copy today.
A wise person once told me that the right path isn’t always the easy one.
I never realized just how treacherous the right path could be.
Preorder Atonement today!
If you’d like to learn more about Wes’ relationship with his ex, Brooklyn, check out COMMITMENT today while you wait for the conclusion to this duet!
She's my sister's best friend.
She thinks I've never noticed her.
She couldn't be more wrong.
Now I just need to prove it to her...
Before she says "I do."
Download Commitment Today.
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Atonement
Coming soon! Preorder your copy here!
Londyn Bennett entered my world like a hurricane, one I was grossly unprepared for. But in the short time we’ve known each other, she’s opened my eyes to things I never expected. She taught me about acceptance. Compassion. Love.
Because of her, I’ve also been forced to learn about prejudice. Cruelty. Hate.
We may come from two different worlds, but the second we met, our hearts beat as one, nothing able to sever our connection.
Or so I thought.
When the bubble we’ve been living in bursts, will our love be strong enough to weather the hurricane-force winds threatening to upend everything? Or is hate too powerful to overcome?
A wise person once told me that the right path isn’t always the easy one.
I never realized just how treacherous the right path could be.
Playlist
The Butterfly Effect - Before You Exit
Forgive Myself - Griff
Fire - Jordy Searcy
Lovestruck - Neisha Grace, featuring Natalie Weiss
Letting Go - Tristan Prettyman
In the Silence - JP Cooper
Using - RITUAL with Emily Warren
Rewrite the Stars - Zac Efron, Zendaya
Call it a Night - Wild Rivers
Sin in your Skin - Aiden Martin
Perfect for Me - Justin Timberlake
Not Losing You - Maddie Poppe
Moment - Noah Guthrie
Been a Long Day - Rosi Golan
This is on Me - Ben Abraham, Sara Bareilles
Grace - Rachel Platten
Orpheus - Sara Bareilles
Rainbow - Josh Rabenold
Power over Me - Demot Kennedy
Promising Promises - Jon McLaughlin
I Don’t Look Like Her - Daisy Clark
Love Song - Emily Bear
Something in the Rain - Rachael Yamagata
Let Me Down Easy - Andrea von Kampen
Colour Me In - Damien Rice
Masterpiece - JP Cooper
Heaven - Julia Michaels
Suddenly - Jason Walker
Enemies - Jason Walker
La Vie en Rose - Madeleine Peyroux
Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
Need You Tonight - Welshly Arms
In the Air Tonight - Judith Hill
Uninvited - BELLSAINT
Something I Can Never Have - Nine Inch Nails
Holding Out for a Hero - Nothing But Thieves
Bang - Moda Spira
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Free Book!
Grab Dating Games by T.K. Leigh for FREE today. Available for a LIMITED TIME ONLY!
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My rules for being a Manhattan billionaire's fake girlfriend... No kissing. No fooling around. No falling in love. What can possibly go wrong?
Note to self: When your boyfriend dumps you on your thirtieth birthday, it's probably not the smartest idea to drink so much that you wake up in the same bed as the mysterious hottie wearing the gorgeous suit who you noticed sitting across the bar.
The only silver lining in my obvious lack of judgment is the promise of never seeing Mr. Suit again, not in a city the size of New York.
Or so I thought, until a story I'm working on about the country's most sought-after
and elusive escort lands me in the same café as Mr. Suit. So I do what any self-respecting woman of my age would do in my shoes... Try to ignore him.
But he won't let me.
Instead he makes a proposition that leaves me questioning whether I need to have my ears checked. Be his fake girlfriend for a summer of wealth and excess in the Hamptons. In return, he'll help me win back my boyfriend's heart.
Juvenile? You bet.
Effective? Could be.
Bad idea? Most likely.
But what do I have to lose?
Apparently, a lot more than I originally bargained for.
Let the games begin...
Acknowledgments
I know I tend to say this about all of my books, but this time I mean it. Writing the first half of Wes and Londyn’s story has been the most challenging part of my author career. I’ve written twenty-something books at this point (I think 27?), and it never gets easier. I know how to write a love story. But the story contained in these pages is so much more than a love story.
There were quite a few scenes I literally had to get up and step away from my laptop because it physically hurt my heart. I’m lucky to have grown up in a very welcoming and accepting family. I never really learned what hate was or was exposed to it in any way. Like Julia teaches young Imogene, my parents taught me to treat everyone I encountered with respect, regardless of race, national origin, or sexual orientation. And these were all lessons I carried with me into my adulthood, and during my time working in the criminal justice system.
So on that note, I must first thank all my incredible sensitivity readers for taking the time to read this and offer me feedback on what it’s like being black in America — Renita, Curtis, Crystal, and Keeana. You all rock my world. I promise to have Atonement to y’all very soon. And thank you for supporting this project with everything you have.
A big thank you to my husband, Stan, for never complaining when inspiration strikes and I ramble restlessly, talking out plot points for you to help with. I couldn’t do this without you.
Thanks to my little Harper Leigh. You make me want to be a better person. It’s my hope that you never have to know hate.
To my amazing editor, Kim Young. Thanks for working your magic on these pages. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all you do to fit me into your schedule.
To my incredible PA, Melissa Crump. You rock my world. Thanks for keeping me organized. I couldn’t do any of this without you. I know. I tried. And I was ready to pull my hair out. Love you.
To my BFF, A.D. Justice. Thanks for always being a quick message away whenever I need you to talk sense into me. This business would suck if I didn’t have you on my side.
To my beta team. Thank you for dropping everything to read and offer feedback for me! Joelle, Lin, Stacy, and Vicky. You guys rock my world. #BurnhamBitchesForLife
To my admin team — Melissa, Joelle, Lin, Vicky, and Lea. Thanks for keeping my social media and reader group running smoothly when I’m locked in the cave. I’m so incredibly grateful for all you do for me.
To my fantastic promo team! Thanks for always helping to share my books with the world. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you do for me.
To my review team — thanks for taking the time to review each and every one of my books, regardless of the subject matter. I appreciate each and every one of you!
To my reader group. Thanks for giving me a fun space to disappear to when I need a laugh.
And last but not least, thank you to YOU! Thanks for picking up this book. Whether it’s your first T.K. Leigh book or your twenty-something, I appreciate each and every one of you. Sorry about the cliffy. I promise to get Atonement to you as soon as possible!
Love & Peace,
~ T.K.
Books by T.K. Leigh
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
The Dating Games Series
Dating Games
Wicked Games
Mind Games
Dangerous Games
Royal Games
Tangled Games
The Redemption Series
Promise (A Redemption Duet Prologue)
Commitment (Redemption Duet #1)
Redemption (Redemption Duet #2)
Possession (Possession Duet #1)
Atonement (Possession Duet #2)
ROMANTIC COMEDY
The Book Boyfriend Chronicles
The Other Side of Someday
Writing Mr. Right
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
The Vault
Inferno: Part 1
Inferno: Part 2
Inferno: Part 3
Inferno: Part 4
The Beautiful Mess Series
A Beautiful Mess
A Tragic Wreck
Gorgeous Chaos
The Deception Duet
(A Beautiful Mess Series Spinoff Duet)
Chasing the Dragon
Slaying The Dragon
Beautiful Mess Series Standalones
Vanished
Heart of Marley
Heart of Light
For more information on any of these titles and upcoming releases, please visit T.K.’s website:
www.tkleighauthor.com
About the Author
T.K. Leigh is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Beautiful Mess series, in addition to several other works, ranging from fun and flirty to sexy and suspenseful. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, beautiful daughter, rescued special needs dog, and three cats. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found training for her next marathon (of which she has run over twenty fulls and far too many halfs to recall) or chasing her daughter around the house.
T.K. Leigh is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management. All publishing inquiries, including audio, foreign, and film rights, should be directed to her.
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