High (30 page)

Authors: LP Lovell

BOOK: High

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Three songs in, two shots later, sweat is dripping down the center of my back. My head swims in a blissful drunkenness. Nic's hands brush down my sides before he grabs onto my ass, and thrusts my hips against his, grinding me against his erection.

He places his lips by my ear. “Fuck, I miss this,” he says with a growl as he yanks me harder against his body. His teeth graze over my earlobe. “Let me take you home,” he says, kissing down my neck and over my throat.

I’m shaking my head no, but grabbing onto him and tilting my head back to grant him better access to my neck.

“No one will ever know.” His hands glide up my back to my shoulders. Fisting my hair, he tugs me to his face. “Whatever’s going on with you and Isaac—you want out…I’ll save you, and if you don’t, well, I’ll help you get away with it.”

And I swear, for a split-second, I stop breathing.

His eyes seer into mine before falling to my mouth. Cupping the back of my head in his hands, he rolls his bottom lip over mine. My breath falls ragged as I fight the urge to slam my mouth over his. I want to, but the way his lip is barely brushing against mine is too beautiful. It's dragging out the inevitable, just like we have been doing.

“I shouldn't...” he whispers against my mouth.

I remember the way this feels, how his kisses always left me undone, and I can’t stop the slight moan that trickles from my lips to his. With that, his mouth claims mine in a vicious kiss and without pause, it’s like we’ve never spent a day apart. Our lips are in sync, our tongues brushing against each other in rhythm. I don’t fight him, I sink into him, parting my lips and letting his tongue sweep against mine. He pulls me in closer, deepening the kiss.

The loud music blares around us, the people moving in beat beside us have no idea what awful thing we’re doing, what horrible, festering wound we’ve just ripped back open. His hands, his body, his mouth, the taste of him—the man who should, at this point, be a stranger to me—consumes me. His hands are in my hair, his body pressed against mine. And with this one kiss he's proved that he still owns me. Nic tears away from me, taking my hand and pulling me from the dance floor. And I stumble after him without even realizing it.

“Peyton!” I hear Jen call for me, and it’s almost like that snaps me back into reality.

I glance at my hand in Nic's, at my wedding ring glinting in the dim club lights, and my chest tightens. I yank my hand away from his. He turns around.

“I can’t…” I say, my heart hammering in my temples as he looks me over, his gaze narrowing.

“Peyton.” Jen laughs. The strap of her dress hangs from her shoulder, her hair’s a mess. She stumbles over to me and grabs my arm. “Want to go to another club?”

I notice the guy from earlier holding her around the waist and kissing up her neck. She doesn't even realize what I've just done.

I shake my head. “No. We need to go,” I say, jerking my arm out of her grasp.

“But—”

“I have to go!” I don’t look back at her. I can’t look at Nicolas because I’m afraid if I do I won’t leave. I just keep walking toward the exit, my heart drumming into my throat. The cold air hits me when I step outside the bar, and the sudden chill releases some of the tension.

I hail for a cab, my mind replaying what just happened over and over. Old brakes squeak as the taxi comes to a stop at the curb.

“I’ve got my car,” Jen protests as she points down the street.

I open the door and shove her toward the cab. “Yeah, and we are both shitfaced.” I climb in, slam the door, and stare at the dark windows of that club. Brushing my fingers over my lips, I try to tell myself that did not just happen, but I can still taste him on my lips. “Shit,” I mumble.

You are the reason I write and without you I wouldn’t be able to do what I do, nor would I want to. Thank you for allowing me to take you away from your own world for a few hours and immerse you in mine.

So thank you for reading. Thank you for taking a chance on me.

I hope that you loved it!

If you would be amazingly kind and leave a review, I would be so grateful. Leg humps would be owed.

There are so many people to thank for helping me with High, so here it goes.

The biggest thank you has to go to Stevie J. Cole, my sister from another mister, would be lesbian wife lover and best friend. She takes me to places no sane person should venture, but holds my hand and drags from me the kind of story I never thought myself capable of writing. She also listens to me bitch and whine about how shit I think every book I write is! And she edits my awful grammar. I love you boo. You’re the best.

Big thanks to SM Piper for her hard work on the beautiful cover, I think this may be my favourite one yet.

Thank you to Clarissa Perry of Uncovered Models for modelling the cover, and Jonathan Kemp for taking the picture.

Thanks to our lovely formatter, Leigh Stone, for making this book look so pretty and professional.

Huge thanks to Kerry Fletcher and Marika Nespoli for all your pimping and sharing. I love you girls!

I have to give a massive shout out to my friends Hattie Heal and Steph Johnson for their inspirational brand of crazy. Only you could have a stray hamster living in your house, Steph! Baha!

There are so many blogs and individuals who have helped me along the way and you are all hugely appreciated. There are a couple though who I just want to give a mention to.

Give Me Books and One-Click Addicts. I love you girls and I couldn’t do this without you. Mummy Kylie, organization queen and actual fucking goddess, thank you for your awesome PR and your ongoing support. I genuinely could not do this without you. You’re a star, and no one else can do what you do. Also, thanks to Missy and Devlynn for your fierce loyalty and your willingness to always help.

Jenny and Gitte of Totally Booked, you girls are just amazing. Thank you so much for all your help with several of mine and Stevie’s books. I love you girlies!

Schmexy Jen: I love that you love my accent so much. It makes me feel special.

Sarah-Jane: You are the best, best, best PA a girl could want, and an awesome friend. And your tits are amazing.

There are so, so many people who have helped me, and you know who you are.

I hope I haven’t missed anyone. Just know that anyone who has ever written a review, posted a teaser, or read any of my books...Thank you. Your ongoing support means the world.

Lauren Lovell is an indie author from England. She suffers from a total lack of brain to mouth filter and is the friend you have to explain before you introduce her to anyone, and apologise for afterwards.

She's a self-confessed shameless pervert, who may be suffering from slight peen envy.

Other books by LP Lovell

She Who Dares series:

Besieged #1
 

Conquered #2

Surrendered #3
 

Ruined #4
 

Wrong Series:

Wrong

Wrath

Standalone:

Absolution