Once Upon a Twilight!: Book Blitz: A Hot Winter by C.J. Lake | Excerpt

A Hot Winter
Author: C.J. Lake
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Romance

Emma Slate married her high school sweetheart at twenty and lost him at twenty-two. Now she has built a cozy, safe life for herself that includes everything but romance. When Matt, a handsome young contractor, begins work at her house, she tries to ignore the spark between them and keep her feelings in check.

Matt Winter should know better than to get involved with a girl who is moving out of state in a few short weeks. Especially one who is so guarded. There are so many reasons why he shouldn't go there...so why can't they stay away from each other?

A sizzling love story from the author of Constructing Us.

This is an Adult romance novel recommended for ages 18+ due to sexual content and mature subject matter.

Excerpt

“All right, honest conversation,” she said after a moment that was quiet, but rife with tension. “Yes. I was flirting with you in the store--but only because I never thought I’d see you again.”

“You never wanted to see me again?” He sounded somewhere between incredulous and insulted. “Damn, Emma!”

“No, no,” she clarified, rapidly shaking her head, “this is coming out wrong. I just meant I thought you were a random handsome guy with a hot body, end of story.”

Every male impulse in him intensified when he heard those words. Handsome? Hot body? This was definitely going to happen.

“I never knew you’d end up working at my house…and driving me crazy everyday,” Emma mumbled partly under her breath. Still, Matt heard every word. And he was itching to grab her.

He stepped closer--close enough for their bodies to touch. Finally. His cock stiffened as his chest grazed Emma’s back. “Driving you crazy?” Matt repeated, bringing his mouth closer to her ear. “Here I thought I was being nice all this time.”

She let out an unsteady breath. “You know what I mean.”

“No,” he said, his voice low and urgent as his hands slid onto her waist. “Explain it to me.”

Already he felt the sexual tension burning between them; what would it be like once he kissed her? She had to feel it, too. Though she still stubbornly had her back to him, she hadn’t moved away, not even a centimeter.

When she spoke, her voice was a soft, breathy sort of whisper that sounded as aroused as he felt. “I admit I find you…attractive…”

“Mmm-hmm,” he murmured, tugging her lower body against his as he leaned down to nuzzle her neck.

Softly, Emma gasped, before continuing, “But…since I’m moving in just a couple weeks, there’s no point to…anything…” She let out a tiny little moan when Matt grazed her neck with his teeth. “I-I hope you understand.”

“I understand perfectly,” he said, his mouth against her ear. “You’re attracted to me,” he recapped, skipping the rest of what she’d said.

“But--”

“And I’m deeply attracted to you,” he murmured, as he tightened his grip on her waist and nudged her bottom with his cock. When Emma moaned again, Matt seized the opportunity. He slid a hand into her hair and angled her head toward him, urging her to turn around.

“Matt, please…” she implored, half-turned, her greenish eyes looking almost troubled as she gazed up into his face.

Pausing, he tried to regain his sanity. Obviously he’d never want to push Emma into something she didn’t want. “Are you saying you don’t want me to kiss you right now?” he asked.

“What I want doesn’t matter.”

“Like hell it doesn’t,” he nearly snapped. Why was she making this so complicated?

“It’s part of being an adult,” Emma said, casting her eyes down, her voice faint. “We can’t always have what we want. That’s life.”

“Believe me, I know that,” Matt told her. “If I could have what I want, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation--I would’ve been kissing you all this time. I would be doing the crossword puzzle with you every morning. I would be fixing that screwed-up weather-stripping, just so you’d be warm. I would grab you and pull you onto my lap…” With her eyes widening, Emma’s mouth fell open, as Matt dipped his head lower and finished, “If I could have what I want, then I’d already be running my hands inside your panties right now.”

“Matt…” she whispered helplessly, wetting her lips as her face rose to meet his.

C.J. Lake is a storyteller who is passionate about art, surfing, and skiing/snowboarding. Residing near the coast of Massachusetts, C.J. is working on a new book that will feature Tragan Barrett's friend, Matt Winter.