KISS ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT
Mahalia Levey
Erotic Romance
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
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A Secret Cravings Publishing Book
Erotic Romance
Kiss Me Like You Mean It
Copyright © 2013 Mahalia Levey
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61885-795-8
First E-book Publication: July 2013
Cover design by Dawné Dominique
Edited by Stephanie Balistreri
Proofread by Ariana Gaynor
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Secret Cravings Publishing
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
Dedication
To Lana Knuth who gave me most heartfelt words about being an inspiration. I hope I inspire everyone to do something they feel passionately about.
Acknowledgments
There are so many people I’d love to thank for helping me with some of the details in this story. First, I’d like to thank my RomVet pals Taylor Reynolds and Monica Corwin for the background information and details on playing for the troops. These gals provided firsthand information that I couldn’t find anywhere on the net.
Second I’d love to thank BME. Jen Savage, thank you for posting my rambling paragraph about body mod research on BME.com. Nathan Hestley. I feel that I know your penis on a totally new level of someone who isn’t a lover. I appreciate your detailed explanation on the pros and cons of modification and how to know you’re not harming your partner. Ryan Phillips, Dustin C., Scott Benson thank you for breaking down other aspects body modification for me and answering unending questions for my extreme curiosity through multiple emails. I have never had penis envy so much as after researching with you all.
Craig from Freaks on Broadway here in K.C. Thanks for the phone calls and play by play on how body mod is done, the history and legalities from state to state. To my readers and beta partners, I appreciate every one of you.
To the troops. I appreciate your service.
The Cravings e-book Club
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*Trouble With a Cowboy, a western, erotic romance:
Can some slashed tires and an ornery bull bring two hard-headed people together for some fun in the sun and a little more?
**Forget Me Not, paranormal erotic romance:
A war is brewing, a war that could destroy an entire vampire race if left unchecked, and Julian Marino has been requested to participate in it. He stops his search for a long time friend to go home and discovers there is more at stake than just his wants.
As a member of the Cravings Club, you’ll receive 4 books in a variety of genres every month. We will try to match your books to your preferences, however, if you’re a major paranormal fan, I suggest you join the Cravings Paranormal Club. Everything is the same, 4 books every month for $9.99 except that 3 of your 4 books will be paranormal. The remaining book will be of a different genre.
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Beth Walker
KISS ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT
Mahalia Levey
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
“Here comes the skank.”
Carlie cringed from the crushing words her frenemies hurled at her as she passed them on her way to the main office. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and squeezed past the football jocks taking up all the space on the steps. The males leered at her making her feel even dirtier than she already did.
Two weeks ago she led a normal life. Two weeks ago no one avoided her like she had a contagious disease. Jenny and Lisa brushed into her, nearly knocking her down. After she righted herself, the scathing looks sent her way caused her stomach to roll. The same Kappa sorority sisters who were with her the entire spring break trip in Mexico left her to fend for herself.
“Could my life suck any worse?” In low spirits, she trudged up the stairs, ignoring the whispers and stares along the way. Her footsteps echoed in the near empty hall as she began the walk of shame into the dean’s office. She opened the door and was immediately greeted by the secretary, Mrs. Robard.
“Ms. Stevens, Dean Wallace will be with you shortly. Please take a seat.”
While Mrs. Robard didn’t openly state her displeasure, the curt tone of her dismissive voice spoke volumes. Right then she wished she cou
ld call Carrie and ask for advice. Shame prevented her from reaching out for what she desperately needed, her sister. So she sat in utter misery waiting to find out what the outcome of her actions would cost her. Tears of frustration welled up. To forestall the panic rising within her, she swallowed past the lump in her throat, closed her eyes to center herself and regulated her breathing.
“Ms. Stevens…Ms. Stevens.”
“Huh? I mean yes, Dean Wallace.”
“Please follow me into my office and have a seat.” The dean held the door open for her to slip through. Carlie settled into the chair in front of his massive desk as he shuffled behind to sit down. Closer to her age group than the last dean, she hoped he’d look past her error in judgment. She was one of his star pupils and had never strayed from her educational goals. As V.P. of her sorority, she held fast to their code of conduct rules. As such, she enforced them herself with the new pledges and her current sisters.
“Sir, I know I made a huge mistake on spring break. I have never acted in that manner before and I promise you it’ll never happen again. I’m really sorry for the disturbance and negative publicity the school has received from the media.”
“Carlie.” The dean sighed and steepled his fingers.
Frustration radiated from him as he struggled to pick the right words. His unease made her shift uncomfortably under his curt appraisal.
“I know all about peer pressure and being young. I am sorely disappointed in your choice of behavior, not only because now when people see you they will not see the bright girl who has a promising future, but the girl who broke rules and protocol, who posed nude in a cheap rag magazine.”
“I know this—”
“I’m not finished. You posed in a wet sorority shirt bought here in our campus store.”
“In my defense I was really drunk. We all were. Jenny and Lisa were with me. I don’t understand why I’m taking all the heat.”
“Did Jenny or Lisa pose?”
“No, but…” She wanted to tell him about the mud wrestling tournament the three of them won during that trip. They were videotaped receiving their prizes and got pictures taken as well.
“Did Jenny or Lisa sign a contract giving legal permission to use them?”
“No, but there has to be a way to protect me, make that magazine accountable for shady tactics. I’d never have made the choices I made that day sober. They took advantage of me.”
“Ms. Stevens. No one forced alcohol down your throat or made you continue to drink. You are still responsible for your actions. We take our code of conduct serious here. You’ve not only opened yourself up for expulsion, but also ridicule from your peers. I’ve heard the slurs on campus already, the pictures posted in the common areas. You cannot run from this, I’m afraid and we cannot afford or tolerate the media explosion your actions have brought about.”
“What exactly are you saying? Am I expelled?” Her voice cracked and she forced a straight face needing to have some sort of control, although it was a false sense of security.
“At this time the only recourse is for you to leave this school. We are willing to allow you to set up online courses to finish out this semester so you don’t draw incompletes. I will also write you a letter of recommendation to another school of your choice.”
Dean Wallace dropped a bomb. Her mind struggled to comprehend his words. She’d dreamed of graduating from this school, like her mother had. As a Darthmore legacy, she had a place in the upper hierarchy in the alumni once she graduated. She worked hard to maintain her perfect grade point average. “I will do anything you ask of me but please do not kick me out. I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to my mom and dad. I don’t know where to go.”
A look of compassion crossed his studious features. She felt for sure he might have clemency on her and find another solution out of the mess she embroiled herself in.
“Carlie, there is nothing I can do. The board of directors met this morning in an emergency meeting regarding this situation. As a father myself, I can assure you, parents are understanding, and while we may be disappointed at times we still love our children.”
“My family is super conservative. Aside from my brother and his band, we were all raised with a short leash. I cannot tell my family why I’ve been expelled. I don’t think I can bear to see the look of disappointment in my father’s eyes. I can barely take it from yours, sir.”
“Carlie, the chances they don’t know already are slim. You’re all over the social media. We’ve denied every magazine entrance to our school for a scoop but there are going to be students or others who will jump at the money offered for an exclusive. You’ve really opened up a can of worms. The outcome is out of your hands.”
“Did you see?”
“The board members have only seen the image of you in the shirt. We wanted to give you some dignity. I had sincerely hoped that person wasn’t you.”
“How long do I have to pack and leave campus?” She quit trying to compose herself letting her tears fall. Shit was beyond fucked.
“You’ll need to turn in your student Identification badge now and pack. You have an hour to gather the things you need. A security guard will accompany you to the sorority, for your safety and our peace of mind. In the meantime, we’ll arrange for a moving company to pack anything else you have left behind. Pick a company for us to ship them to wherever you like.”
Crushed. Dreams and aspirations shriveled before her eyes. She complied, digging her student id out of her wallet. “I’m so sorry.”
“So am I, Carlie. I also need your key to the sorority house.”
“Okay.” She fumbled with the key through her tears, working it off the ring. After setting it on the desk, she stood.
“Don’t let this hurdle bring you low enough to do anything foolish. If you feel you can’t handle your emotions please call someone and get help. One action doesn’t dictate who you are for the rest of your life. Please remember these words if nothing else I’ve said.”
“Can I ask one more question?” At his nod she continued, “If my brother wasn’t in a high profile band and there wasn’t any media would I still be expelled?”
“I’m afraid we’ll both never know the answer to that. I’m sorry to see such a bright young woman leave our school. We always want the best for our students.”
“You voted to keep me here, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did. I’m sorry my vote didn’t allow you to remain.”
Carlie believed him and her heart broke a little more. She offered him a sad smile and squared her shoulders before leaving the office. As promised an officer waited to escort her to her house.
They picked a decent time to give her the boot. Most of her sisters had classes in the morning. She’d have time to gather her things without harassment. Carlie followed the guard to his security car. With one final look behind her, she climbed in. Neither spoke as they headed toward her residence. As he parked the car, she swiped a fresh set of tears from her face. His expression brooked no emotion. He was a man simply doing his job.
The short walk up the paved staircase to her door seemed to take forever. He slid a key into the hole, letting them in. Fury swamped her as she looked around the place that had been her home for almost two and a half years. She had fond memories in this place. Now her final memory would be unsavory.
“One of the guards dropped off some boxes for you.”
So he speaks. She nodded in thanks, not trusting herself to say anything. Side by side they walked up the main stairwell and down the hallway to her room. Silence met her ears. The unnatural lack of noise bothered her.
“They sent everyone away, didn’t they?”
“Yes, Ms. Stevens.”
The words whore and slut in big block letters took up most of the white space on her personal dry erase placard. Carlie’s face flushed in embarrassment as she opened her door. The strong smell of bleach caused her lungs to burn. She gasped at the disarray. The majority of her items appeare
d ruined at just a glance. They even ripped her poster of Jackson down the middle.
“Fucking bitches.” She’d held onto that photo for years, from Crimson Rage’s first big tour.
“Is everything all right?” The guard knocked on her door as he entered. She heard his intake of breathe before he started to call into the station from his CB radio.
“Don’t. Please. I don’t want more trouble. I’ll gather anything not drenched and leave the rest.”
“You should file a report. Harassment is against the law as well as willful destruction of a person’s property.”
“They’ll never tell who did this. Besides we don’t have cameras up here.”
“All right, if this is what you want. I hope you change your mind. No one deserves to be treated this way.” Carlie couldn’t stomach the look of pity on his face.
“Don’t worry. I’ll only be a few minutes. They made packing easy for me. Would you mind waiting outside for a minute?”
Carlie went to her closet and pulled out her luggage. In an attempt to make her more girly, Carrie had sent her a few dozen pairs of designer shoes she never wore and some pretty clothes still remained on hangers. Looking at the destroyed footwear, she felt guilty for never wearing one pair.
She opened her drawers and shoved her T-shirts, jeans and unmentionables in the bag, then her running shoes and rummaged in her bathroom for her toiletries. Reaching under her mattress, she heaved a sigh of relief as she found her scrapbook intact. The link to her family and Jackson helped her through the days of loneliness she sometimes faced. She thanked the gods the crazy bitches hadn’t ruined the one book of memories that got her through the tough times.
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