by Lyssa Cole
“Bree?” Drake’s voice quivered as he took the ring box from the top of the cake, getting down on one knee, and opening the ring box, offering it to me. I melted, more tears filling my eyes causing some to spill over. The ring was gorgeous, a huge four carat diamond beaming up at me, with several smaller diamonds surrounding it.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Yes!!” I threw my arms around Drake, both of us crashing to the floor, laughter exploding from our mouths. We kissed and kissed, the crowd cheering behind us.
Drake was to be my husband, my happily ever after. My sweeter pleasure.
The End
Acknowledgments
I’d like to acknowledge my editor, Sarah Banks. She made this book happen. When I was struggling with the middle and ending, she kept me going and helped me through it all. I was stressing over deadlines and she got the book done without hesitation. For her, I will be forever grateful that this book came together so beautifully. Thank you Sarah.
About the Author
Lyssa Cole has been in love with books for as long as she can remember. Escaping into a story is her favorite pastime. Wanting to be a writer for a couple years, she is now crafting her own stories. She loves to write sweet & sexy romance with lots of heat and some suspense to keep you guessing and wanting to turn that page! She lives in Southeastern Mass with her husband, two children, and many animals (almost a zoo’s worth!). Lover of coffee, all things chocolate, & always the avid reader, you can keep up with Lyssa Cole by subscribing to her newsletter here: http://buff.ly/2q4Benq.
I’d Love to Hear From You!!
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Also by Lyssa Cole
Stripped Bare-Love & Trust Series: Book 1
Taking Risks
House Rules-Coming Soon as a Full Length Novel!
Love in Disguise-Love & Trust Series: Book 2-Coming Soon!
Stripped Bare Preview
Description
Maddie
I had to get away.
Away from the darkness, away from the evil.
After carefully planning, I ran.
But what I didn’t plan for was meeting him.
And then my whole world was upside down.
Who do I trust? Because I think he is hiding something…
Jax
I just landed the biggest job I have ever had before.
I had to complete it and complete it well.
Just get the girl, bring her home, get the money.
But then I saw her and that was it. I wanted her as mine and only mine.
I have to finish this job or my career is over. But I just can’t let her go…
Maddie Kaplan is running from her life. All she has is her laptop and a few hundred dollars to her name. In order to make ends meet, she begins anonymously making strip tease videos. Suddenly, her fan base grows overnight, and she meets Jax who enjoys her videos immensely.
Jax Brownell just scored the biggest job he has ever had in his career. He needs to find Maddie Kaplan and bring her back home to her family, one of the biggest crime families in America. Jax helps the bad guys out, the adrenaline rush the best part of his job.
When Jax lays eyes on Maddie for the first time, he knows he is in trouble. This job just got a whole lot harder.
He begins messaging her after finding her videos and won’t give up until she responds. She has to resist, she must resist, but there is something addicting about him, the lust she feels for him making her want to explode.
And then it is too late…Maddie is drowning in him and soon, the life she was running from, is going to find her and rip everything apart…. leaving secrets to be revealed.
Prologue
Maddie-5 years aoo
I try to crouch into the dark spot without making a sound. I wrap my arms around my legs and push myself into the smallest space I can manage.
And then I just breathe. And listen.He’s coming. I can hear him pounding the floor upstairs, his cursing getting louder, my name mixed in, his words running down my back like icicles. A sob escapes my mouth and I quickly cover it with my hands, not wanting him to hear me. The door to the basement swings open, his boots taking the stairs two at a time.
“Fucking bitch! Maddie, where are you? Stop hiding, you know you like what I give you. This time I think you need to be punished for hiding from me, you little slut.”
I close my eyes and huddle in even deeper. I clutch my mother’s ring that I wear around my neck, pulling on the chain slightly. It’s only a matter of time-minutes, seconds, before he finds me.
Suddenly, I feel a hand grab my hair and I’m yanked from the corner. I scream but it’s no use.
One punch and I’m out. Darkness welcomes me. There is no escape. There never will be.
Chapter 1-Maddie
My heart is beating so fast, the wind rushing behind me. I did it. I finally did it. I broke free. But this isn’t the end for me. I will always have to be running, hiding, the demons not far behind.
But for now, I hold on to my backpack and pound the dirt, not looking back. The wind runs through my long brown hair, the cold air pushing harshly through my lungs. Buildings and houses rush past in a blur but I don’t pay any attention. They don’t matter anyways. All that matters is my destination.
I reach the bus stop closest to me, the night sky not giving me much to go on. I have planned this escape for months now, each detail drawn out. I had to be very careful and play the part perfectly. No one could ever find out what I was doing.
I sit down on the cold, hard bench and hold my backpack tight to my chest. I touch my necklace, my fingers running over the ring at the end. You can do this. Breathe, Maddie. In and out.
I hear a crunch behind me and jump up, my heart beat speeding up again. I turn but no one is there. It must have been the wind.
Sighing, I sit back down and wait. The first bus comes at 5 A.M. Only 3 hours to go.
I close my eyes and try to slow my heart. Nerves swarm through my stomach, pulling it into a tight knot. I glance around, taking in my surroundings. I am in one of the worst areas of town but it was the closest to my house. I haven’t been outside much in the past few years and my eyes drink in every sight. There are shops across the way, some run down, having seen better days. A few triple decker houses pepper the street but it is mainly commercial buildings. A few abandoned, broken windows and spray paint tainting their image. Even squinting in the dark, I could tell the city was a scary place. I pull into myself, my hand grasping my mother’s ring that is hanging around my neck. This necklace means so much to me. The only piece I still have of her, the touch of the ring soothing something inside me.
Everyone is still sleeping; they won’t notice me missing until the morning. Or I hope. I know every search party, PI, and family friend will then be hauled in to look for me.
God Forbid the daughter of one of the country’s largest crime families go missing. The news would slander our family and I would have to pay the ultimate price.
That’s why I will never be found. Never. I’d rather kill myself first. I am not going back there. To the men my father would trade me out with. Here-have my daughter’s body as payment.
These disgusting men, grabbing me, pulling at me. Like I am just a piece of property.
The memories make my skin crawl and I only twist my necklace faster, wanting to escape the feelings that come along with them. Cold air washes over me and I pull my jacket tight around my thin body, my long legs wrapped underneath me. I close my eyes, rocking back and forth, trying to let my brain shut off. I open my bag and grabbed my ear buds, only placing the left one in. I plug them into my phone, open my playlist, and my favorite music begins playing…the fun beats, the movement of my body, letting me forget the past, the awful things I’ve done.
I sigh. It’s time for a fresh start. Away from all of that. I am not goi
ng to let it happen again.
If only my mother were still alive. She would have saved me from all of that evilness. My older brother was just as bad as my father. And I never had any other family. I twirl my necklace as the next song begins to play, losing myself in the dance music.
I feel my strength slowly fading from my body, sleep wanting to come to me. I can’t let my thoughts destroy me. I made it this far and I am going to keep going. A new life is waiting for me…I just know it…
I wake with a start, someone tapping my shoulder. I gasp and quickly stand, jumping back, panic flooding my body, my ear bud falling out, my phone clattering to the ground, pulling the ear buds right along with it.
“I’m sorry, there young lady. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to let you know the bus is here.”
The older man points to the bus, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you alright?” I nod quickly, unable to make eye contact. I whisper a quick thank you, swoop down and grab my phone and ear buds, and dart on the bus as fast as I could. I hand over my ticket and rush to the back, sliding into the last corner booth. There is only one other person on the bus besides the older man now getting on. I hope there isn’t much more.
The air in the bus is hot and thick. I feel like I couldn’t breathe, trapped somewhere with no fresh air. It smells faintly of body odor and perfume. I feel nauseous at the thought of the long ride ahead, the bus not the most comfortable of transportation choices.
I couldn’t believe I had fallen asleep. I rub my eyes, trying to clear my head. I am so stupid. What if I had been found while sleeping? Fuck, Maddie. Get it together!
I stare out the window, willing the bus to just hurry up and go. The sooner we start moving, the better. I am staying on this bus to the very end of the route which was across the country. I found the longest route and saved every dollar I could slowly steal off my father and brother.
What am I going to do when I get there? No fucking clue but I figured I would go from there once I actually made it there. I could be captured before then. Who fucking knows with my family. I had to be very careful, keeping my head down and not speaking to many people.
Just then, a dark haired man gets on the bus. He glances my way and ice runs down my back as soon as my eyes meet his. No. No no no. It can’t be. Not already.
I look away quickly and pretend I didn’t just make eye contact. He is moving closer to me; I can see it from the corner of my eye.
But then he slides into a booth a few ahead of me and puts on a pair of headphones.
I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. The woman across from me, who was on the bus before me, gives me a strange look, her pretty features crinkling in the process. I smile and look away.
This is going to be a long fucking ride.
Continue the story and find out about Jax & Maddie by clicking here to purchase Stripped Bare!
Sneak Peek-Love in Disguise
Prologue-Alicia- 16 years ago
I couldn’t wait to get home from school, a plate of my mom’s warm chocolate chip cookies waiting for me on the counter. My mouth began to water just thinking of their delicious scent.
School had been exhausting today, with test after pop quiz after test. I felt ready for a nap and I still have a shit ton of homework to do.
My best friend, Jess, pops into the seat next to me on the bus, her face flushed, her breaths coming out in pants. I laugh as I watch her try to compose herself. “Oh. My. God. Alicia!!”
She begins to pull at my arm, shaking me with her excitement. Damn, this girl is something else. “What?” I exclaim, wanting her to tell me already.
“I was walking to the bus, right, and you will never guess who just asked me out!” Jess squeals, my ear drums practically popping. Her whole entire face is lit up so bright, I know it would only be one person. Andrew.
“Andrew!!” Jess screams, a couple of the other kids on the bus spinning around to look at the crazy person screaming. I giggle, my hand covering my mouth.
“What’s so funny?” Jess pants, her joy causing her to lose any sense of how crazy she sounds.
“You. So you said yes, of course?”
Jess nods widely, her hair shaking loose from her bun. She grabs my hand and I lean in close to hear her, the noise on the bus growing louder by the second. “Do you think this means I have to kiss him now?”
We both explode into laughter as the bus pulls into my stop. I give her a quick hug and hop off the bus, my house only a five minute walk from the stop.
As soon as I arrive home, I notice my mother’s car is missing which is odd as she is always here. I open the door, peaking inside. I don’t notice anything amiss so I step inside. No delicious smell came of cookies to be found, I push inside, slamming the door shut behind me.
Suddenly, I freeze in my tracks when I hear a voice, a loud moan coming from upstairs. I gently place my backpack and coat onto the chair and slink up the stairs without making a peep. I hear the noise again and I freeze. That’s a woman’s voice and it sure is not my mom. I tried to ignore it, to turn around and walk right out that door, but I couldn’t. I yank the door open, and I wish I could unseen what I did.
My father. In bed with another woman. My innocence forever shattered.
