“To the moon and back.” That kid loves for his momma to read to him, and lately, he’s been on a Guess How Much I Love You kick. His Uncle Cameron sent him that one.
Propping up at foot on one of the rungs of my stool first, I sit Jacob on my knee. “Ready to sing to our girls?”
Our baby girl, Faith, is due in three months. Pink and sparkly are new words in my vocabulary.
God help me.
Jacob nods, and I swing the guitar back around. I take his little hands in mine, positioning them just so, and then look at the woman I love.
Together, my son and I begin to play.
Keep reading for an exclusive excerpt the next book in my Boys of the South Series, Wish For You!!
Wish For You (Boys of the South, Book 4)
There's only one place in the world where I feel normal- the roller derby track. When I lace up my skates and fasten my helmet, I'm powerful and in charge. I know exactly what to do and what to say. The rules are clear and everyone does exactly what they're supposed to, penalties are enforced for those who don't.
But in the real world, I'm far from powerful and in charge. I never know exactly what to do and say. For years, I counted on one person to be exactly who he said he was--my best friend, Wyatt Tanaka.
Only he's changed. Being a Marine and serving in a war has made him different. Now I want to help him, but I also want to kiss him. And that's not something best friends do. Only neither of us, it seems, is content being just friends anymore.
However, if we cross that line and change the rules of our relationship, it could be wonderful and everything I've ever wanted. But it might also mean I'll lose the one person I've come to rely on.
And I don't think my heart can take that happening.
Exclusive (unedited) excerpt
Wyatt
I gaze down at Lacey’s beautiful face. Love and desire glows in her eyes. Two emotions that I never thought she’d ever feel for me again.
“Are you sure?” I ask, needing encouragement to make the final move. I have never needed encouragement to have sex before, but this is Lacey, my best friend and the girl I’ve been secretly in love with for years.
If we do this…if we take this final step, nothing will be the same. I don’t want it to be the same.
She leans up, hooking a finger on my dog tags and pulling me halfway down. Our lips meet, hers moving against mine as she says, “I wouldn’t be here, in this bed, without any clothes on if I wasn’t. So, get to it Marine.”
I smile, then laugh, though it’s incredibly hard to do with her bare breasts brushing my chest. Her nipples are hard, tight points, and I want them in my mouth. I want inside of her, to feel her surround me and chase away the nightmares of war that never stop.
I want her.
I love her.
And I’m going to have her.
More Books by Marquita Valentine
Holland Springs Series
Seduction of the Billionaire
Drive Me Crazy
Driving To You
Twice Tempted
Third Time’s A Charm
His Christmas Wish
Just Desserts
Not Over You (coming Dec. 9th)
Be Mine (Coming February 10th, 2014)
Boys of the South (New Adult Series)
Live For You
Only For You
All For You
True For You
Wish For You (coming January 20th, 2014)
Acknowledgments
I am ever grateful for the comments, critiques and cheers of Andris Bear, Carly Phillips, Andrea Thompson, Amanda Clark, and Sawyer Bennett. Big thanks to my editor for her awesome eye and suggestions. And to George for formatting my books like a BOSS! Heh. I’m also ever grateful for my fans and my family. Thank you for continuing to support me!
Now for the serious stuff:
Some might find Bliss’ story a little hard to swallow, that is, being an adult (at 20 years of age), and unable to read as one. But it’s more common than you think. And it’s certainly more common in men than women.
According to the latest survey taken by the Department of Education, over 32 million adults cannot read. That’s right 32 MILLION ADULTS.
Personally, I’ve taught students, some as old as 14, that have hidden their lack of reading skills for years. YEARS. With overcrowded classrooms, dwindling resources, and curriculum handed down by people who’ve never stepped foot in a classroom, it gets harder and harder for teachers to do their job. And with parents’ (single or in twos) time and resources being stretched thin, not everyone has the time to read with their kid(s) each night or make sure that their homework is done. Not when they’re too busy making sure there’s a roof over their heads and food on the table.
So, people like Bliss exist. People who don’t have a learning disability, yet never learned to read properly, which bleeds into other subjects, and can make a person feel like nothing.
I encourage you to volunteer where you can, to not get frustrated with the person in line in front of you and seemingly can’t make up their mind about a written menu. Maybe they’re one of the functionally illiterate people doing all they can to make it in society. If you’d like to learn how you can help, go here: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/literacy
Thank you for reading Jackson and Bliss’ story.
xo Marquita
New York Times Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes and sassy heroines that make you swoon and laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.
Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.
www.marquitavalentine.com
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