Our lips meld together as I lose myself with a woman like I never have before. Each thrust adds to the mass of emotions flowing through me.
Suds screams, and I let go of the hurt and all the shit barrelling around in my head. I pump into her faster and come hard as her pussy tightens around me.
A guttural cry rips from my throat. I slow the movement of my hips, each roll drawing out the pleasure of my orgasm. My heart is pounding out of control. Like I feel.
“Oh, Rocco,” Suds whispers as her body stiffens around me.
I don’t ever want her to let go.
****
SOPHIE
Anyone would think we just ran across the finish line in the City to Surf. Our bodies are covered in a sheen of sweat, our hair a tangled mess.
“That was … fuck,” he says, with his hand over his heart. I sweep my hand across his warm chest and slip it beneath his fingers, confirming his heart is pounding as hard as mine is. With the back of his hand he wipes a tear from the corner of his eye.
Wow. He felt it too.
Rocco smiles, and my chest tightens. With his closest arm, he draws me to his side and kisses my forehead.
“Next time, you ride me … just like that bull in Vegas.”
I sit up on my elbow and hook my leg over his as I undo my heels. “You were watching me?”
“You were fuckin’ incredible.”
As our breathing recovers, we lie together in a state of hopped-up bliss.
The way he felt inside me, how he wore his strengths and his weaknesses for me to see was completely overwhelming. And the sex? Stupidly incredible.
I’d held back tears when I should have let them out. I don’t need to hide them from him. The more I think about what just happened between us, the funny flutter in my stomach becomes stronger. Is it too soon to tell him how I feel?
Rocco’s breathing tapers off into a light rattle through his nose, leaving me wondering where this leaves us.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ROCCO
Things always look different in the harsh light of day.
Last night was beyond what I’d imagined, and I’ll hang on to the memory until I’m old and senile.
Suds squirms beside me, still wrapped up in my arms. Even in my state of sleep, I felt as if she was always attached to me somehow—her arms, her legs, her scent.
“Morning,” I croak, and brush a tendril of hair from her cheek, tucking it behind her ear.
Her eyelids flutter open, and a sleepy smile curls at her lips.
“Hmm. Morning,” she says, focusing those green jewels on my eyes. Her body tenses a little as she breathes deeply in and out.
I twist on my side and squeeze her body against mine, but I sense a growing distance between us.
“What’re your plans today?” I ask, and kiss her on the forehead.
Her hands weave their way against my chest and she increases the gap between us. “Um, the real estate is trying to lock in a start date on the lease, so I need to make some calls.”
“You’re still planning on moving?” I ask in a quiet voice. Inside I’m secretly hoping that last night changed something.
“I have to stand on my own two feet, Rocco. Until I do this for myself, I won’t be in a place where I can be good for someone else.”
“I hate to tell you, but I think you’re already there.”
“I need to feel that inside of me. Can you understand why I have to do this?”
The truth is, I can. I can’t hold her back. From the solemn look on her face, it’s obvious to me how important it is to her. “It’s the same thing as doing AA on my own, I guess.”
Whilst I know she said she’d always be there, I know I won’t truly be on my way to kicking this thing if I can’t do it solo.
“Yeah. I think it is. I said I’d be there for you. Any and every meeting you want me to come along to. The fact that we won’t be living together doesn’t change that.”
I shake my head. “You’re really somethin’, Suds.”
“I’ve still got your back, De Luca. Always.”
She takes my face in her warm hands and traces her finger over my scar and down along the ridge of my jawline.
“Do you regret last night?” she asks in a hushed voice.
“Nope,” I say, with a shake of my head. But I do have doubts if I was in the right headspace for it. “Do you?”
“It was amazing, I just … I need time.”
Something I have by the bucket-load. It’s just me, myself and I, and a shit tonne of time.
“Rocco, I’m sorry if I was selfish sleeping with you before I was ready. Until you whispered in my ear on that dance floor, I didn’t realise how much I wanted this. I’ve tried to ignore this thing between us for too long, and last night I didn’t wanna close my eyes to it anymore.”
“You mean the world to me, Suds. I can give you time.”
“You can?”
“For you, anything.”
It’s time for Rocco De Luca to stand up. To take life by the balls and be a man. A man my mother would be proud of. A man who will live the life that V never can.
I want to be better.
I want to charge ahead.
I want this beautiful woman to love me for the man I know I can become, because he’s far stronger than I am. His resolve is hardened, he’s battled his demons, and maybe that version of me will be able to love her the way she should be loved, because this incredible woman deserves nothing less.
I want so badly to be that man.
Once she walks out that door today, I know we won’t be together until I’m him.
And I’ll just have to be okay with that.
EPILOGUE
SOPHIE
Six months later
I park out front of the Wayside Chapel and lean against the door of my car. I’d bet anything that the smile on my face is a stupid shade of ridiculous.
People filter from the building, but there’s no sign of the familiar face I’m here for.
He has to be here.
After the wedding, I moved out, but Rocco and I still caught up with each other, our friendship unable to keep us apart. He refused to let me come to any more meetings, insisting he had to do it himself.
For the last month he’s been on tour overseas with the team. The space has given me time to think. About me. About him. About us.
I’ve seriously missed his bossy arse.
Should I text him? I pull out my phone and scroll through my messages. Grumbling to myself, I lock it down and chuck it through the open car window and onto the front passenger seat. Spencer said he was back from the tour.
He will be here. Relax.
I keep my eyes trained on the door. Minutes later, Rocco walks out with a young guy with short dark brown hair. He’s not as tall at Rocco, but with his olive skin and dark facial features you could easily mistake them for being related. The fact that they’re both wearing black jeans and dark T-shirts only adds to the similarities.
They’re deep in conversation as they progress down the path, veering to the left of me. Rocco bumps his clenched fist against the guy’s upper arm, and then rubs his knuckles over his head. They both chuckle as they play wrestle. It’s so good to see him happy.
I let out an almighty wolf whistle to get his attention. Two pairs of eyes dart in my direction and they freeze.
“Get outta here, buddy. See you next week,” Rocco says to his friend.
My heart dances a quicker beat with each step closer he takes in those familiar boots with that unmistakable Rocco De Luca swagger.
“I thought I was fuckin’ dreaming for a second there,” he says, and stands toe to toe with my boots.
I lift my aviator sunnies to sit on my head. “Nope. You’re wide awake.” I still persist with the idiot grin. I can’t stifle it.
Rocco hauls me into his arms and squeezes me into his warm chest as he turns me around, lifting my feet off the ground. When he sets me down on my feet, my hear
t feels as if it’s sure to explode.
With the time apart I thought I’d feel different. The warm, soul-settling feeling in my chest and the want I have for this man overtake any reservations I might have had. It just confirms how right this is.
I still have hopes and dreams, but I want this man to be a part of them, and knowing he wants the same things as I do makes the decision easier. I could bring a child into this world alone, but I want that child to have everything—two parents that will love them unconditionally and support them no matter where their path may take them.
I take his jaw in my hands and scan over his face. The scar from the incident of which we joke about occasionally—just between us of course—has faded that little bit more. The whites of his eyes are bright, and his olive skin is soft and glowing. He’s been looking after himself, as promised.
I admire the new tattoo curling up the side of his neck, a beautiful cursive tribute to his brother.
“You look good,” I tell him, and trail my fingers down his chest. His pecs are firm, and he has some serious arm candy happening.
“So do you.” His dark eyes eat me up as they trail not so subtly over my body, clad in my favourite AC/DC black shirt and faded denim shorts.
I kiss him softly on the lips, which draws his arms tighter around me. His hips pin me to the side of my new car, right where the dent would have been on the old hatchback.
“I’m ready,” I say, my voice firm. There’s no question of what I’m saying with those two words. We both know what they mean.
He raises an eyebrow and smirks. “You are, huh?”
“Yep. The big question is, are you ready for me?”
A lazy smile curls at his lips and then he flashes me the stud. It’s like a remote control to my lady parts, zapping my puss to life.
“My dick’s ready,” he says with a roll of his hips, pressing his hard bulge against me.
Laughter bubbles from my mouth. “What about the rest of you, huh?”
“I’m a package deal, Suds. With the dick comes my heart and everything else.”
“You’re such a romantic,” I tease.
“I keep telling you. Chicks get hot for my lack of filter, and you fuckin’ love it.”
God, I’ve missed this monkey. I smack a loud kiss against his mouth and then rest my forehead against his.
“Yeah, I do.”
And a whole lot more.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
When I wrote Strike, I knew I had to come back and re-visit Rocco and Sophie. This book was intended to be light-hearted, but these guys had other plans for me. I’ve loved telling their story. I hope it’s everything you were expecting, and more.
So I guess you’re wondering what’s next for the Spark series? Let’s just say that Switch isn’t the last, and 2016 will be an exciting year. Make sure you subscribe to updates on my website, for all the latest news on the Spark Series and other projects.
Switch wouldn’t be in the form that it is without some incredible people behind the scenes.
First and foremost, my beautiful, hard-working, understanding rock for a husband, Ben. I love you from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t do this without you. To my two growing cherubs, my #1 fans, I love you more than anything and you do me proud every day. Thank you for sharing me with so many people.
Lauren “McStellar” McKellar, you are truly a gift, a dear friend, and I am so lucky to have you as my editor. Having you as a beta for Switch has made all the difference. You always know where I can do better, and I thank you once again for pushing me so that Switch is the absolute best story it can be. Thank you, L. #EditorForLife.
I’d like to make a special mention to Kristine Barakat from Glass Paper Ink Bookblog for her exceptional beta reading of Switch. Not only do you read like a champion, but you have an eye for plot holes. You see where a story can be more well-rounded and your feedback is always provided in a timely and professional manner. Like I’ve said before, you’re stuck with me for life, because I will not publish anything without your keen eye. Thank you for being there from the very beginning of the Spark series, and for being such a pillar of strength and support, and a friend.
As always, SydVegas is my light that keeps me pushing on, working harder. Kristine, Lauren, Simone and Carmen, you all play such an important part in my writing journey, and you all keep me sane. #SydVegasFTW #LYFFF. I also want to give a shout out to ‘A is for f’cking Awesome’ for your support. You ladies rock!
Thank you to my wonderful beta readers – as well as Kristine, a big thanks to Kayla Kennedy, Kristy Davidson and David Gobbitt. Thank you all for taking the time to read Switch, and answering the many questions I had! Your comments and enthusiasm have made this such an enjoyable experience, and it was a comfort knowing I was on track.
My dear friend, Julie. Thank you for letting me pick your brains over lunch about prison, morgues, toe-tags and delivering news to families about the loss of their loved ones. I know stirring up some of these memories wasn’t easy, so thank you.
Thanks to Louisa from LM Creations for my beautiful cover. You brought life to my dirty mechanic. I can’t wait to get started on our next project.
Thanks to Max Henry from Max Effect for formatting and design. As always, you are a joy to work with. You bring my words to life beautifully on paper.
Thank you to the members of Ryder’s Spark Support Crew. I get a real kick out of sharing stuff with you guys, and every like, share and comment means the world to me. Thank you for your support, helping me share my work, oh, and of course, thanks for our shared love of MX boys, smokin’ hot detectives and now a foul-mouthed MX mechanic.
To my family and friends, bloggers, fellow authors and dedicated fans who have helped me along the way. Special credit goes to Kristine from Glass Paper Ink Bookblog, Angela from Books and Friendz, Becky from Bex ‘n’ Books and Tash from Book Lit Love. Thank you to Kylie and Beth from Give Me Books who have been an amazing support in pimping the Switch cover and release. Your work is exceptional, and you are a pleasure to deal with, ladies.
There are so many authors in the author community which I would like to thank, but I am getting to the point where I fear I may leave someone out. I think you all know who you are by the interactions we have and the messages we share. As you know, I am always willing to lend a hand, and I thank you for doing the same for me. Thank you for your support. I wouldn’t be where I am without you, so thank you for helping a girl reach her dreams.
Lastly, to you, the reader: I am deeply honoured that you chose my story to read. I hope that if you enjoyed it, you’ll tell a friend. And I’d be forever grateful if you posted a review.
Jennifer x
BOOKS BY JENNIFER RYDER
Spark Series
Spark
Spike
Strike
Sting
Check them out at
www.jenniferryder.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A sexy imagination, a life-long love of books, and a sucker for romance, Jennifer Ryder couldn’t stifle her creativity any longer. Writing steamy adult romance has become her new focus.
Living on a rural property in New South Wales, Australia, she enjoys the best of city and country. Her loving husband is ever willing to provide inspiration, and her two young cherubs, and sheep that don’t see fences as barriers, keep life more than interesting.
For news on my future releases, you can contact me in the following ways. I’d love to hear from you!
Website: www.jenniferryder.com
Twitter: @jenniferryder01
Facebook
Goodreads
Pinterest
Instagram: @jenniferryderauthor
Email: [email protected]
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