What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 5)

by Cathryn Fox

  “No, not us,” Trent said with defiance. “Never.”

  “We write it, we record it,” Jake said.

  “At least we have time to do this,” Gray said.

  “I’ve got a ton of words written here,” Luke said. “I need to figure out what I want to say.”

  “We’ll get there, brother,” Mack said. “I’m sure of it.”

  A phone beeped and Gray touched his pocket. He took his phone out of his pocket and sighed at the screen. “I’ll be right back.”

  He left and Luke looked at Mack. “How’s that situation?”

  “Is what it is,” Mack said. “How’s yours? Where’s the food for today?”

  Luke laughed. “Amy is working the restaurant today. I’ll have something tomorrow. You know, when she opens the place, you’re going to have to pay.”

  “Once we drop this next album,” Trent said, “we’ll make enough.”

  “We’ve already made enough,” Mack said.

  “It’s a good feeling,” Luke said.

  Luke started to review lyrics with the band. He went to the sound board and dialed up the song the band had just been playing. Luke started to talk over the music, trying to find the right lyrics. It sounded really good. Maybe it was just because it was new music and the first time Luke had done such a thing, but it did feel really good.

  When Luke turned to see what the guys thought, he saw Mack, Trent, and Jake nodding in approval. Then he saw Gray standing in the doorway. He had his phone in his hand. He stared into the room, but he was obviously focused elsewhere.

  “Gray,” Luke said, “what’s up, man?”

  “I just got off the phone,” Gray said. He was calm and cold. “I have to leave, guys, right now.”

  “What happened?” Mack asked.

  Gray blinked and he finally looked like he was there with the band. He let out a shaky sigh and broke down.

  “My brother… my little brother… he overdosed last night. They don’t think he’s going to make it.”

  The Brothers of Rock novels featuring rock band, Fallen Tuesday –

  In the second book of the Fallen Tuesday series, Gray must face the demons of his little brother and the demons within his own heart. With the band set to head back into the studio, Gray must find the strength to pick up his guitar and play. But can he settle his past and focus on his future when an unexpected woman steps into his life?

  Also in 2014 –

  The romance series, Ferry Creek!

  A CHANCE AT LOVE (A FERRY CREEK NOVEL)

  A simple phone call can change your life… just ask successful businessman Sullivan Chasen.

  When the caller shares the news that Sullivan’s father is dying, Sullivan laughs and hangs up. He isn’t being heartless, he just knows that it can’t be true – because his father already passed away… ten years ago.

  Like a bad dream, the calls keep coming and DNA results turn Sullivan’s world upside down. There is only one way, and very little time, to figure out the truth. He packs his bags for the small town of Ferry Creek, North Carolina.

  Once Sullivan arrives, he must confront a past he never knew existed, including a half-brother who lives above their family diner. The longer he spends away from his wealthy lifestyle and successful business, the more he falls in love with the small town, its community… and waitress, Jess Winthorne.

  Can Sullivan Chasen go back to his normal life after learning about his past or will he discover the missing piece of his heart in Ferry Creek?

  And from the pen name, London Casey comes Back Down Devil MC!

  OUTLAW REVENGE (A Back Down Devil MC Novel)

  Emily didn’t want to go watch a bunch of bikers fight each other, and by the time the fight is over, her best friend is shot dead and Emily finds herself clutching the leather cut of a sexy guy named Gaige as she’s on the back of his motorcycle, escaping gunfire.

  As Vice President of Back Down Devil MC, Gaige Gaen’s world is consumed by the club, the life, and finding a way to make it all work. The last thing he needs on his plate – or in his bed – is a woman like Emily. He can’t stop looking at her, and he definitely can’t stop touching her. He promises to avenge the death of Emily’s best friend, Rachel, but then the situation takes a turn for the worse when Rachel’s father – a rich man hell bent on revenge – shows up and wants answers that the MC doesn’t have.

  Emily is in fear of returning to a past she had escaped. She and Gaige can’t seem to stop their feelings for each other, and as her dangerous past digs its way into the present, Gaige and Back Down Devil are now in the line of fire.

  The war in Emily and Gaige’s hearts rage on, but the war outside needs to be fought… the question is, who is going to make it out alive?

  Don’t miss any of the Brothers of Rock books, along with all of Karolyn’s books!

  Brothers of Rock:

  Chasing Cross 1–5

  All Access – FREE on Amazon!

  Broken Sound

  Bitter Farewell

  Buried Notes

  Last Song

  Karolyn James writing under the pen name, Claire Charlins, creates western romance novels that will capture your heart as you follow women in the 1800s as they travel west to become mail order brides seeking romance and a better way of life…

  Mail Order Romance:

  West For Love

  Finding Love West

  A Marriage West

  Hope Found West

  True Love West

  AND MORE!

  Stay up to date with Karolyn James!

  www.KarolynJames.wordpress.com

  On Twitter @KarolynWrites

  https://www.facebook.com/KarolynJamesAuthor

  Stay up to date with Karolyn’s mailing list!

  tinyurl.com/KJSignup

  The Principles of Lust

  A Lush Novella

  Sasha White

  “SASHA WHITE STRETCHES HER IMAGINATION TO PLACES THIS READER CANNOT WAIT TO GO!”

  —LovesRomance.com

  Praise for her novels

  “Unabashedly erotic”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Will have readers panting for more.”

  —Fallen Angel Reviews

  “The heat is on…and it never cools down.”

  —Midwest Book Reviews

  “Creates a carnal haze that envelopes the readers, caresses their sense…deliciously decadent.”

  —The Romance Studio

  “White does a fabulous job of keeping the balance between an interesting plot and uninhibited sexual activity.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Plenty of fun…mixes tense emotions and hot sex.”

  —Romantic Times

  “Packs a tremendous punch…stimulating, steamy [and] scorching-hot.”

  —Fallen Angel Reviews

  “Delightful and very thought-provoking.”

  —Enchanted in Romance

  “Hot and explosive.”

  —Just Erotic Romance Reviews

  “Intensely sensual.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “Sexy, raw, and intriguing.”

  —The Road to Romance

  ISBN 978-0-9936590-2-7

  Published By White Hot Books

  Copyright © 2007 Sasha White ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  White Hot Books Edition

  Cover art: HotDamnDesigns

  Electronic book Publication February 2014

  Publishing History

  White Hot Books 2014

  Kensington Publishing 2007

  This story is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the authors’ imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, pl
ease purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Prologue

  At first glance it was rude. Yet, the longer Teal looked at it, the more details she noticed … and the faster her pulse raced. The photograph shifted from rude to … raw, as she looked past the shadowed anus and the pouting pussy lips.

  She noticed the strength of the hands caressing those curved hips. The water droplets scattered over taut skin of beautifully molded buttocks and firm thighs, as if recently washed, but not dried. The background was dark, the bodies anonymous. There was nothing else to the photo. Erotic in it’s simplicity, the only thing that mattered was the touch of those hands and the sensations created.

  The visible wetness that covered the woman’s swollen sex made it gleam lasciviously and Teal almost wished it were her that was bent over, being caressed, being prepared masterfully for a night of erotic attention. She swallowed and squeezed her thighs together as the photograph evolved from raw to…luscious.

  It was in that moment that the idea came to her. She’d been feeling a little lost and alone, like she didn’t have a purpose. Her parents were happy in their corner of the world, and her brother had found a career he seemed to thrive in. Yet for her, jobs came and went, men came and went. Nothing seemed to challenge her anymore.

  She knew there was more to life than partying and she wanted to have goals, she knew she could do anything if she put her mind to it. She’d just never had a clue what she’d wanted to do before. Other than be successful, be independent. But right then, when she looked at that photograph, a lightening bolt struck and she knew.

  She could use her ambition and drive, her salacious mind and her ability to think outside the box, and finally carve her own special niche in the world. A successful and unique place that would be all hers.

  And it would be called… Lush.

  Chapter One

  With less than a week until Lush’s opening day, Teal Jamison didn’t have time to time to fuck around. Especially with something as frustrating as some punk kids spray painting nasty messages on the front of her building. Pissed off and stressed out about all the piddly little things that kept screwing up her plans, she strode into her soon-to-be art gallery muttering to herself only to stop dead in her tracks.

  Anger turned to desire and excitement of a different sort flowed through her at the sight that greeted her. Soft faded denim stretched lovingly across perfect tight male glutes.

  All thoughts of temperamental artists, inconsistent suppliers, and juvenile delinquents evaporated as she watched the man straighten from his bent over position and enjoyed the sight of a worn leather tool belt framing his ass perfectly.

  Now, that’s a work of art.

  “Looking’ good, Zach,” Teal purred as she dropped her backpack on the reception desk and continued in his direction. An hour or two of uncomplicated no strings naked wrestling with him would certainly take the edge off her stress level.

  The carpenter ran a loving hand over the custom built mahogany shelf he’d just installed before turning to her. “Thanks, Teal, but I’m just helping bring your vision of the place together.”

  “Oh, I’ve no doubt the gallery will be beautiful, but I was referring to the view when I walked in.” She winked at him and gave his impressive form an obvious once over.

  His eye’s flared brightly at her brazen comment before they closed in a slow, lazy blink that made her knees weak. When he looked at her again, the heat was banked and his smile was unhurried. “Well, that’s the point of the set up right? That the view be good from every angle?”

  Zachary Dillon had come highly recommended as the finish carpenter for her new art gallery and she’d made it a point to be completely professional with him. But his work for her was almost done, and she was ready to be more than his boss.

  Her eyes followed his movements as he pulled a cloth from his tool-belt and wiped his hands. His rough, calloused, manly hands were large enough to hold her C-cup breasts and make her feel small. Her nipples pebbled in response to her thoughts and she lifted her gaze to his.

  “I was talking about you, Darlin’.” She couldn’t help it. Flirting had always been second nature to her, man or woman, it didn’t matter, she flirted and charmed … and usually got whatever she wanted.

  From the start, just being around Zach had made her blood heat and her pulse race, but she’d remained professional. Teal prided herself on always being a professional, no matter what job she was doing, but she was working for herself this time. Lush was her place. Her baby. And she didn’t want anything getting in the way of Lush’s success, especially her own libido.

  Waiting until his work for her was completely done would be the smartest thing to do, but she’d had a shit day and her emotions were running high. Maybe letting herself go this once would be a good thing. One night of steamy love’n and her hormones would calm down, and she could concentrate on work again.

  Yes, that was exactly what she needed.

  She touched his bare arm lightly and gave him the slow sultry smile that always got her whatever, and whoever, she wanted. “You’re looking good.”

  “Thank you.” His voice was a bit deeper as he shifted his weight to his other foot, taking him just out of reach. A knowing smile lifted his lips as he reached for the sweatshirt lying on a nearby stool, and pulled it on over his ragged t-shirt.

  “I can’t do anything else until I pick up more varnish, so I’m done for the day. I’ll see you bright and early Monday, Teal.” He picked up an old wooden toolbox and waved to her with his other hand. “Have a good night.”

  Teal said goodnight and watched him saunter away.

  What the hell had just happened? She’d come on to him, in fact, she couldn’t have been more obvious if she’d stripped off her clothes and said, “Let’s wrestle naked.” And he’d walked away!

  Men never walked away from her.

  Her cheeks heated and she n=chewed on her lower lip. There was a definite attraction between them. She knew the spark of lust when she saw it. By investing all of her savings into opening the very first completely erotic art gallery around, she was betting her future on knowing that look.

  So why would a big, healthy and attractive man walk away from a woman he desired?

  A few of hours later she was working in the back room, and the question was still on her mind.

  “Maybe he’s just shy.” The perky brunette said from her perch on top of a packing crate.

  “No, that’s not it.” Teal shook her head and pulled the lid off the smaller crate on the table in front of her. She thought about the way Zach moved, the way he ran his hands over whatever he was working on, and a shiver danced down her spine. “He’s way too … confident to be shy. He’s quiet for sure, but he gives off this impression of restrained strength. Very strong and sexy, and completely alpha.”

  It was just after ten p.m. on Saturday night and she and Brina Jo were in the spacious back room of the gallery, unpacking the first shipment of items. Teal had spent the last two hours on the phone trying to line up a cleaning crew to come and wash the graffiti off her building, but since the next day was Sunday, nobody wanted the job. She’d lined up a crew for Monday, though.

  She’d been enjoying her time alone in the back room. The first bit of quiet time she’d had in a while.

  When the idea for an art gallery that specialized in erotic art had come to her, she’d run with it, and that meant the gallery was pretty much all she thought about. She lived and breathed whatever job she was working when she worked it, and Lush was the most important job she’d ever had. It was all hers. Besides that, full speed ahead and complete stop, were the only speeds she knew.

  Unpacking inventory in the back room was a bit of both for her. She got to work fast and efficiently, and since she was alone, she could turn off her brain for a while and just enjoy. But her brain hadn’t co-operated. Instead, she couldn’t stop thinking about a certain well-built carpente
r, and fantasizing about ways to get him naked.

  Until she’d heard someone rattling the locked door of the gallery.

  Thinking she might catch the graffiti punks, she’d dashed through the empty gallery only to open the door and find nobody. Well, nobody with a spray can anyway. What she had found was a flyer with the words “House of Sin. You are going to hell” on it, glued to her front door. Slightly creeped-out, and tired of her own thoughts, she’d called her long time friend and newly hired assistant, Brina Jo.

  By the time Brina arrived at the gallery, Teal had scraped the flyer off the door with warm water and a putty knife, and pushed it to the back of her mind. However, thoughts of Zach would not go away so she’d blabbed uncontrollably to Brina about the brick wall hitting on him had been.

  “If he’s not shy, maybe he’s not interested.”

  Teal snorted. “Oh, he’s interested.”

  “How do you know?” Brina asked. “I mean, if he’s as distant as you say and he’s not gay, then how do you know he’s interested?”

  Turning away from the crate in front of her, Teal faced her friend. “I can feel it. Whenever we’re in the same room together, the air fairly vibrates with pheromones, and it’s not just me. I’ve caught him watching me and I’ve seen the look in his eyes. He wants me, too.” Why wouldn’t he?

  “What look have you seen in his eyes?” She glanced up from the clipboard she was using to catalogue the items Teal unpacked.

  “The look of lust.”

  Brina Jo’s eyebrows jumped. “Lust, huh? Are you sure it’s lust and not just tolerance because he thinks you’re crazy? He has been in and out of here for the past two weeks, he’s seen your moods.”

  “Crazy is the way your husband looks at you!” Teal threw a handful of Styrofoam peanuts at her friend. “And my moods haven’t been that bad. It’s just a bit stressful getting this gallery ready to open in less than a month.”