Off Base is expected to be released this year! I’m very excited about this follow up to Forbidden Kisses and hope you are, too. To be among the first to read excerpts, teasers, characters interviews, chapter peeks, receive release info enter giveaways and more, join our VIP group or subscribe to the Off Base newsletter!
Excerpt
Excitement surges through me as I lead Layla from the driveway. Eight identical buildings on this side of the street provide a backdrop for the orange glow of the setting sun. Two little boys from a neighboring house wave as they zoom past on bicycles. A group of women, engaged in conversation, pause to yell, ‘Watch the car,’ to kids playing ball in the street. Of all the neighborhoods I researched for off-base housing, this is not only the most visually appealing but also the friendliest. The community vibe reminds me of the area where I grew up.
Lush green grass and beautifully landscaped shrubbery front unit four. The door squeaks when I open it, setting my nerves on edge.
What if she hates it?
Layla steps inside, oblivious to the fierce pounding in my chest as I silently follow. A Downtempo Jazz beat serenades from the stereo system, and the aroma of last night’s lasagna lingers in the air. She quietly walks through the living room regarding the wall paintings and the glass-topped end tables on either side of the leather sofa. The matching coffee table holds a small bouquet of flowers and two scented candles. I’d decorated, redecorated organized and reorganized in an attempt to make the space perfect. I’ve spent several quiet evenings perched in the recliner with my laptop and shared numerous afternoons with my friends in front of the flat screen. But the one thing this house needs to make it home is Layla.
The fridge is stocked with foods she likes. The bathroom cabinets have space for her personal items, there’s an empty closet in the master bedroom and several dresser drawers waiting to be filled with that sexy lingerie she wears just for me.
I watch intently as she ambles through the living room, circles the small dining room table, and peers out at the yard through the sliding glass door. “So what do you think?” My heart pounds as I wait for her answer.
“This yard is huge!”
She speaks! My sigh of relief is audible. Her face lights up and I’m absolutely thrilled.
“Ethan, this place is incredible. I had no idea you’d moved off base. That yard, though! You could throw some kick-ass parties in that yard. If I move out of my room in the barracks, I don’t even care what the house is like if the backyard can be this great. Although, I doubt I could afford something this fancy.”
Shit. “Layla, this is actually—”
“You should get a grill. And there’s space over in that corner for a swing.” She points to the far end of the yard. Her enthusiasm for what she believes is my place is fantastic, but I need to clear up her misunderstanding if I could get a word in edgewise.
“Is the kitchen nice? I could come over and cook for you. I’m not the greatest cook, but I can make spaghetti.” She makes a quick turn toward the kitchen but stops abruptly when I throw my hand up to the glass door, blocking her in place.
“Layla—”
She turns to face me. Her excitement has calmed, her expression is sweet. “I really like your place, Ethan.”
I’m glad she likes it, but somehow she’s missed that this place she really likes, that yard where we can have ‘kick-ass parties’ with a grill and a swing, belongs to both of us.
“I’ve really missed you.” She immediately puts her arms around my neck and pulls me close. Her lips find mine, and in an instant, a fiery kiss consumes us, sending hot sparks through my body. My arms circle her waist and pull her flush against my growing erection.
Ah hell.
She places feather-light kisses on my neck and fingers the collar of my T-shirt. “Can you show me your bedroom?”
Holy Fuck. Her breathy words fill my insides with heat and desire. Our bedroom. It’s our bedroom, Babe. But those aren’t the words that come out. “Sure.”
I’ll explain everything and give her a tour of the rest of the house later. Right now, I’m desperate to feel her. She squeals when I lift her abruptly and position her over my shoulder. Her hands grip the hem at the back of my shirt.
“Don’t you dare drop me!”
I palm her ass and give a playful smack as I carry her up the stairs to the master bedroom. The last bit of sunlight creeps through the blinds as I set Layla on the carpeted floor. She takes a couple of steps back, turns slowly and surveys the room without saying a word. Is she purposely trying to drive me crazy?
The rhythmic hum of the ceiling fan usually provides a soothing background lull, but fails to put me at ease. Layla and I will be spending a lot of time in this room. I’d like to know if she hates the navy and beige scheme of the duvet and matching sheets, or the rich green floor plants flanking each window. In spite of her smile, I catch in the huge wall mirror near the bed, I suck in a breath, bracing myself for her disapproval. She presses her body against mine, and my arms reflexively encircle her waist.
“What do you think?”
“I think you have a real eye for decorating. I think I might like to visit you often. Very often. And I think we have a lot of lost time to make up for.” Her sweet lips seize mine in a kiss that melts my heart and heats my groin. The warmth of her breath and the slow strokes of her tongue send a tingly spark down my spine. When she sucks on my lower lip, I nearly come to pieces. Just being close to her causes my insides to burn with desire.
I need her naked. Now.
Two buttons on her shirt surrender to my determined fingers before she places a hand over mine. “I need a few minutes to freshen up.”
I lean my forehead against hers, hissing. “You want me to wait longer?”
“I’ve been on a plane for three hours, Babe. I feel icky.”
I kiss her forehead. “Two minutes.”
She looks up with raised eyebrows. “Even the Navy gives me three.”
“I’m not the Navy.” I give her ass a gentle squeeze, release her and turn away. “You have ninety seconds to undress and get your sweet ass into the shower.”As I saunter to the bathroom, I pull my shirt up over my head and toss it to the floor, delighted by the sound of clothes rustling behind me as she undresses.
I can’t get naked and start the shower fast enough. I duck under the water while it’s heating and lather in a frantic rush, waiting for her. I turn to rinse off and I can just see her through the shower glass, standing in the doorway, wearing nothing but a provocative smile. My body yearns for her.
“Move it, Ensign.”
She opens the shower door with a billow of steam, and I catch a sparkle of mischief in her eyes. I realize at this moment, falling for her is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and loving her is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.
Within the span of one year, Layla and I have been on an emotional roller coaster. I fell in love with her during a time of emotional need. When I discovered she was forbidden, I reluctantly let her go. I sent her away when I learned that doing so meant hope for us to be together. Now that she’s back, I’m free to love her without sneaking around. No more breaking rules. Now that she’s mine, I’ll do anything to keep her and even more to make her happy.
Excerpt
As if some inaudible warning goes off telling me to make a move, I reach up and trace the damp curls sticking to the side of her face. She doesn’t reject my touch, so I slowly move toward her. Slow enough so she knows I’m going to kiss her. Slow enough for her to clear her throat and turn her head to the side if she chooses to. But she doesn’t. She allows my lips to taste hers. Grants me permission to enter and stroke her tongue with my own. I slide my hands into her hair, gently pulling her closer, exploring deeper. Still clutching the t-shirt I gave her, she rests her hands on my shoulders. Her tongue does a familiar dance with mine, reminding me how soft and how sweet she is. Every nerve within me comes alive. My body is at the ready, eager to receive whatever she’s willing to give me. I place one hand between us, caressing until it rests on one of her perfect tits. But this is a false start. She pushes me away, breaking our connection. Breaking me.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry.” She takes a step backward and quickly pulls on the T-shirt I gave her.
“Layla, what is it?”
“I ‘didn’t mean to give you mixed signals, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still feel bitter about everything that happened today.”
“Are you kidding me? Okay, we need to talk, because I have no idea what’s going on between us.”
“I know we need to talk Ethan, but… I don’t even know where to begin.”
I follow as she exits the bathroom. “How about at the beginning? How about telling me why you walked out on me earlier today? How about telling me what I did to make you so upset or angry or whatever it is you are? I mean, do you fucking hate me right now? Do you not want us to be together?”
Excerpt
“What happened yesterday, Layla?”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Why don’t you say what you’re feeling? Or maybe you can tell me what you’re thinking? That’s what I’ve been trying to get from you, but it’s like talking to a brick wall.”
“You want me to tell you how I feel? Fine! Right now, I feel pressured and annoyed. When I found out, I was angry and embarrassed. Do you have any idea how it felt to be humiliated like that in front of people I’d just met?”
“Humiliated? What? Why?” I glance at her briefly.
“You’re such a smart man, Ethan. It baffles me how you can be so clueless sometimes.”
“Clueless?”
“Yes! You got that house for us to share, but did you even think for one second about how I would feel having something like that sprung on me?”
We stop at a red light and I turn to her. “You’re right, Layla. You are absolutely right. I am clueless. I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about. You’re angry? Humiliated? For what possible reason? And yes, I did think about how you’d feel. I thought about you when I was trying to decide what color towels to get for the bathroom. And what kind of bedsheets to get and whether to buy the toothbrush holder with gold trim or the fucking silver trim. Everything I got for that house – every color, shape and size of every item in that house was chosen with you in mind. So yes, I thought about how you would feel. But obviously, I thought wrong.”
“I don’t want to get into this now.” She folds her arms.
“Of course you don’t. We’ll just sit back and hope the situation magically resolves itself.”
The driver in the car behind me blows the horn. I look up at the green light and drive forward.
Look for more excerpts, teasers and music from the Off Base music playlist to follow!
Excerpt
“Do you want me, Lieutenant?”
“Hell yes!”
“Well I’m in charge tonight, so you have to ask permission.”
“But I outrank you.”
“We’re off duty. Off base. The rules are different here.”
“Is that right?”
Yep.”
“Whatever you say.” I yank her panties down and bend her over the kitchen table, lowering the front of my sweats just enough to release my cock and position it at her entrance. I rub against her, back and forth. Teasing. She’s panting, moaning and grinding her ass against me. Begging me with her body. She wants to be in charge tonight, so I give her what she wants. “Respectfully request permission to fuck you, Ma’am.”
She answers immediately. “Permission granted.”
Look for more excerpts, teasers and music from the Off Base music playlist to follow!
Excerpt
When I come out of the bathroom, Layla’s still sleeping. I go to the bed and stand over her for a moment watching her. So peaceful. I grab the covers and yank them all the way back, exposing her nude body to the cool air.
“E-thaaaan!”
“You wanna be late?”
“No.”
“Then move your ass. I’ll make coffee.”
She gets up and stretches, her body naked, beautiful, calling to me. But I can’t make her late. “Go back to bed. You don’t have to make coffee.”
“It’s okay. I have plans anyway.”
“Bummer. I was going to ask if I could use your truck.”
“What’s wrong with your car?” She drives a sporty Mustang. One of those hot little numbers with a loud muffler and looks like something from the Fast and Furious movies.
“The radio’s not working. It’s all staticky.” She pads to the bathroom stark naked. I love that she’s not uptight about her body.
“That stinks,” I call to her. “What about the cd player?”
“Also not working, she shouts over the sound of the shower. “And what’s worse is there’s a cd stuck in there.”
“Damn. What cd is it?”
She exits the bathroom with a plastic cap on her head. “Alicia Keys.”
“Ooh. Which one?”
“Um… I don’t know the name of it. The one with Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart.”
“One of my faves.”
“Mine too.”
“Go ahead, you can take my truck. I’ll be with Javi all day so we can take his car.”
“Thanks. You’re the best” She kisses my cheek and her tits graze my chest. My cock gets harder. Maybe a quickie in the shower.
“What are you boys up to today?”
I’m going to kick your ex-boyfriend’s ass. “Just some guy stuff.” There goes my boner.
“Well don’t get into any trouble,” she teases.
“No promises.” That isn’t just a witty reply. I actually can’t promise her there won’t be trouble today. I’ve never lied to Layla before and I feel horrible about doing so now, but after finding out the truth, I know what I have to do.
Look for more excerpts, teasers and music from the Off Base music playlist to follow!
Excerpt
“Can I help you with that?” The low velvety whisper causes goosebumps to appear on my weary arms. Warm breath at the side of my neck sends a chill down my back and the hypnotically sexy scent – earthy, citrusy and male – kicks my heartbeat into overdrive. I spin around quickly. My mind checking to see who it is although my heart – and my body – already know. Ethan.
Look for more excerpts, teasers and music from the Off Base music playlist to follow!
Look for more excerpts, teasers and music from the Off Base music playlist to follow!
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