Get Off on the Pain (30 page)

IT’S THREE O’CLOCK IN THE morning and I have spent the last hour or so sitting out here on the back porch with my guitar. I came to the conclusion that being out here with my guitar on my lap seems to bring the same peace it used to give me before everything went wrong in the world. I no longer feel the need to fight. Everything I have is enough.

On nights that I can’t sleep I’ve been coming out here and playing, just enjoying the peacefulness of my surroundings. Some nights, late at night, Alex comes out and brings his guitar and we play together. We play for Mom. Seeing the smile that it brings to Lyric’s face reminds me a lot of my mother and the joy that my playing used to bring to her. It makes me feel good inside . . . complete.

So much has changed over the last month that it’s been a little hard to adjust to everything. I spend most of my days running Jack’s construction business and Lyric splits her days between the tattoo parlor and the studio. Dragging her out of there for dinner earlier was good for her. She works harder than anyone I know.

Every day I see her passion for photography and art grow just a little more as she slowly lets her guard down. She’s even drawn a few tattoos up for Bailey and some random clients at the shop. The look on her face when she watches Alex permanently mark someone with her creativity is fucking priceless. I can see the pride glowing in her eyes and nothing makes me happier.

Lyric still lives next door, but she’s downstairs asleep in my bed right now. All of her stuff is at her place, but she knows where she belongs. She belongs next to me, in my arms, and in my bed. I don’t even want to imagine her anywhere else. I love that woman more and more each day and there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do to show her that.

My fingers slowly strum away at the strings of my guitar, but my eyes find their way to the doorway where Lyric is wrapped up in a blanket, watching me with a smile.

She’s so damn beautiful that it creates a void not having her in my arms. Setting my guitar down, I reach out for her arm and pull her into my lap, before pressing my lips to the top of her head.

“Can’t sleep?” I softly speak next to her ear.

She shakes her head and tilts her head back to look at me. “I can’t stop thinking,” she whispers.

I brush my lips over her cheek, then down her neck before kissing it. “About what?”

She doesn’t hesitate before speaking. “You.” She reaches back and tangles her fingers in my hair before tugging me closer. “And how happy I am to have you in my life. Tonight was perfect.” She sniffs my neck and then smiles. “And about how damn sexy you smell. I could stay awake breathing you in all night.”

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I jerk her to the side so that I can press my lips against hers. Having her in my arms, here on this back porch, is almost enough to make everything seem so damn perfect.

“Play for me.” Lyric reaches down beside us and grabs my guitar, handing it back to me. “It helps me fall asleep.”

Smiling, I grab the guitar and place it on her lap, reaching my arms around her so that I can play.

We stay like this for a while, maybe even hours, just the two of us listening to the melody of my guitar. Something about the way I feel right now almost makes it feel as if I’ve known Lyric my whole life, as if she was meant to be right here in my arms. She blew into my world, knocking me on my fucking ass, and now all I want is for her to stay.

Now that she’s mine, I’m not letting her go . . .

The End

TEMPTING, INKED AND HIGHLY ADDICTIVE
. Alex is all that and more . . .

I’ve made a lot of mistakes—ones I’m not proud of, and definitely ones that have left their marks both mentally and physically.

Things got lonely; I got lost in my own fucked up mind and in the end it left me fucked out of my mind and unable to fight—or at least win. That life’s over for me and I’ve moved on.

Six months into tattooing at Ravage and already I’m the most wanted and sought out tattooist. My biggest clientele consists of women.

They come into the shop, end up in my bed and we both come out happy. It’s been my release since I’ve stopped fighting. It’s become part of the “new” me.

But Tripp is back in my life and I can’t deny the fact that I would do anything for that girl.

So when she asks me to move in with her and her ‘boyfriend’—our other childhood friend—I never expected for things to get so fucked up and twisted that I would find myself only more attracted to her by each passing second or wanting to protect her from everything that isn’t me.

I have worked so hard over the years to suppress my feelings for her but when I find out that her and Lucas have been having an open relationship, I have the strong urge to rip his heart straight from his chest—to destroy the very thing that keeps him breathing.

What I didn’t expect was for Lucas to ask what he did. For him to ask me to do the one thing I have secretly longed for since I was old enough to know what the need was. The second thing I never expected was the look of need that I saw in Tripp’s eyes when he asked.

One night of free passion could change our lives forever.

I never said that was a good thing either . . .

Alex’s story coming 2015 . . .

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I’D LIKE
to say a big thank you to all my loyal readers that have given me support over the last couple years and have encouraged me to continue with my writing. Your words have all inspired me to do what I enjoy and love. Each and every one of you mean a lot to me and I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for your support and kind words.

I’d also like to thank my special friend, Author of Accepted Fate and editor, Charisse Spiers. She has put a lot of time into helping me put this story together and through this, we have become very close friends. I’m lucky to have her be a part of this journey with me. Please everyone look out for her novels Accepted Fate, Twisting Fate and Lasting Fate of the Fate Series. She has shown me so much support through this whole process and it would be nice to be able to return the favor. Her stories are beautifully written and something that the world shouldn’t miss out on.

Also, all of my beta readers, both family and friends that have taken the time to read my books and give me pointers throughout this process. Shawn Dawson for being my first ever cover model. My friends Charisse Spiers and Hetty Whitmore Rasmussen. You guys have helped encourage me more than you know.
Bestsellers and Beststellars of Romance
for hosting my cover reveal, blog tour and release day blitz. Hetty has been a big part in making this happen. You all have. Thank you all so much.

I’d like to thank another friend of mine and my wonderful PA, Amy Preston Rogers. You’ve been wonderful to work with and have helped me in so many ways. You’re the best PA that anyone can ask for.

Thank you to my boyfriend, friends and family for understanding my busy schedule and being there to support me through the hardest part. I know it’s hard on everyone, and everyone’s support means the world to me.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank all of the wonderful book bloggers that have taken the time to support my book and help spread the word. You all do so much for us authors and it is greatly appreciated. I have met so many friends on the way and you guys are never forgotten. You guys rock. Thank you!

Victoria Ashley grew up in
Rockford, IL and has had a passion for reading for as long as she can remember. After finding a reading app where it allowed readers to upload their own stories, she gave it a shot and writing became her passion.

She lives for a good romance book with tattooed bad boys that are just highly misunderstood and is not afraid to be caught crying during a good read. When she’s not reading or writing about bad boys, you can find her watching her favorite shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, Dexter and True Blood.

She is the author of Wake Up Call, This Regret, Slade and Hemy and is currently working on more works for 2015.

Contact her on
Facebook
or
Goodreads.

Wake Up Call

Buy Wake Up Call on Amazon

This Regret

Buy This Regret on Amazon

Walk of Shame

Slade ( #1)

Buy Slade on Amazon

Hemy ( #2)

Buy Hemy on Amazon