Excerpt!
He’s been missing since the first day. Well, maybe I’ve been missing. He’s never in the dining hall, and, of course, he’s not in the lab. And those are the only two places I go, so…
He smiles at me and my whole body goes tingly with the memory of what we did in the woods.
I stop walking and just stare. He’s leaning against a tree and immediately I see him the way he was that first day. He’s wearing something very similar—sweat shorts and a shirt tucked into his waistband.
He must jog a lot.
He signals to me with a single finger. Not a wagging finger, but a point. Almost like he’s beckoning a waitress. I do a half-hearted wave back and turn to the coffee cart.
I don’t know what’s going through his mind right now, but I’m not interested. It was a one-time thing as far as I’m concerned, something I’m not going to dwell on or feel shame over, but there is no burning need inside me to force it to make sense.
It was… a need met. An itch scratched.
Hell, that’s giving it way too much credit.
It was a weird once-in-a-lifetime sexual opportunity that came about due to my new surroundings and—
Once-in-a-lifetime? Really?
Fine. I’m slutty, what can I say?
I still don’t feel any shame.
And I do not look over my shoulder. Not before I order, not while I order, and not while I wait for my coffee.
I give him plenty of time to go somewhere else.
But when I turn, he’s still there. Lifting that one finger at me again.
And this time, he does beckon me. Then he turns and walks into the trees.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I mutter this under my breath, then look around, to see if anyone is paying attention.
No one is, as far as I can tell.
When I look back at him, all I catch is his bare back disappearing into the woods.
Nova, you will not follow that man into the woods.
Nova…
Nova!
But I’m already walking in that direction. Because… that kiss. Holy shit, that kiss. I mean, I don’t think a man has ever kissed me like that. Well, maybe Travis. But that was his one and only chance. I was leaving the next day for college. And, in fact, we never did see each other again.
No. One teenager’s desperate attempt to make himself memorable is not the same as this man’s all-encompassing lust.
Nova. You’re walking.
Yes. I am.
You’re walking towards the woods.
You’re very observant, monologue me. But save your breath. I’m going. At the very least, I need his name. I mean, what kind of man beckons a strange woman into the woods, helps her jerk himself off, comes in her hand, then just… walks away?
Not even a half-hearted ‘see ya later?’
Not even a ‘thank you?’
I need something to add to this story. I can’t leave it like this. It will drive me crazy.
A man lures a woman into the woods.
Another ruins the life of his best friend.
And yet another strings them along like puppets.
Dark men.
They are intriguing, and charming, and powerful.
They are changing the world.
They are changing themselves.
They are playing with lust, and love, and fear, and loathing.
Addicted to each other, to their secret, to the seduction, to the sex.
It’s a crash in the making.
And yes, it’s on purpose.
These men are dark.
And this is the messy story of how Nova Ryan loves them.
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Author bio:
JA Huss is a New York Times Bestselling author and has been on the USA Today Bestseller's list 21 times. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings. Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world. Her book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017. Her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Her book, Total Exposure, was nominated for a RITA Award in 2019. She lives on a ranch with her family, dogs, cats, birds, chickens, horse, donkeys, and goats in Colorado.
JA Huss is a New York Times Bestselling author and has been on the USA Today Bestseller's list 21 times. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings. Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world. Her book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017. Her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Her book, Total Exposure, was nominated for a RITA Award in 2019. She lives on a ranch with her family, dogs, cats, birds, chickens, horse, donkeys, and goats in Colorado.
Giveaway!
(Starts July 26 – Ends August 8, 2022)
PRIZE – $250 Amazon Gift Card, FOUR SIGNED Loving Dark Men dust-jacket hardcovers. (1 Retail edition, 3 Special Editions). Swag bag.
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