Title: Stronger
Series: Deprivation Trilogy #3
Author: LM Fox
Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 4, 2021
BLURB
Katarina Kelly
Turmoil is brewing, a product of past and present.
Could my decisions cost me everything?
There’s no denying it. I need Nick Barnes like I need oxygen to breathe.
This battle is something I no longer want to win.
I’m grabbing hold of my happily ever after if it’s the last thing I do.
Nicholas Barnes
How do you start over when betrayal and lies are all you know?
I’m taking a risk knowing she can break me.
This fiercely independent woman is determined to handle this her way.
Is there a chance for us to survive this when the surgeon is the one who’s fractured?
But I cannot live without her. She’s my everything.
We are headstrong. We are fiercely passionate.
And when we are one, we are stronger.
Turmoil is brewing, a product of past and present.
Could my decisions cost me everything?
There’s no denying it. I need Nick Barnes like I need oxygen to breathe.
This battle is something I no longer want to win.
I’m grabbing hold of my happily ever after if it’s the last thing I do.
Nicholas Barnes
How do you start over when betrayal and lies are all you know?
I’m taking a risk knowing she can break me.
This fiercely independent woman is determined to handle this her way.
Is there a chance for us to survive this when the surgeon is the one who’s fractured?
But I cannot live without her. She’s my everything.
We are headstrong. We are fiercely passionate.
And when we are one, we are stronger.
PURCHASE LINKS
Free in Kindle Unlimited
EXCERPT
Reaching for my hand, he pulls me up to his side. Bending down to nibble on my collarbone, he trails sweet, warm kisses up to my ear. “Please say you’ll stay with me tonight. I’ve missed you. I want to wake up with you in my arms in the morning.”
I feel bad for thinking it, but it’d feel odd to sleep with him in his marital bed. I know there is no love loss for Sophia. It’s just my silly mind games holding me back. I can see he senses my hesitation and pulls back in question. “I feel really silly, Nick. Is there anything of Sophia’s in your room? I feel a little weird about─”
“Baby, there’s nothing left of her here. She took all of the bedroom furniture. I moved the guest room furniture in my room once the other stuff was gone.”
“Will you… uh, will you tell me what happened between the two of you one day?” I ask a bit fearfully, remembering how upset he was the last time I brought this up.
“Yes. I’ll tell you the whole sordid mess. But I’m not ruining our first date with that horror story. Now, I’m anxious to get to bed. You coming?”
Nick, I don’t know if I can do that again.” I cringe. “I’m honestly a little sore.”
“Did I─”
“No!” I blurt. “I hope you’ll do that again.” I grin. “I just couldn’t handle it again tonight.”
“It’s okay, Kat. I just want to hold you.” He lets out a small laugh, and I look at him with curiosity. “I was worried I blew my dick off after that romp in the study.” He chuckles. “Will you take a shower with me? Then we can get some sleep. I know you’ve had a long day, and I’ve got to be up early for work tomorrow.”
I follow him up the stairs of his massive abode and admit I feel a bit out of place here. My whole house could practically fit in his garage. I’m not sure how I feel about his moving to a place near me. I love him and want him close. Yet, if he moves into a new place, we may find ourselves stuck in an unending cycle of sleepovers. He may never want to live together. Heck, did I miss my chance? Maybe I should’ve let him stay with me.
Reaching his bedroom, I walk in and notice the furnishings are grand. This was in a guest room? I cannot contemplate the money he must make to afford this. Over-the-top opulence isn’t my style. My mother would be in heaven, though. My thoughts are swiftly placed on the back burner as he reaches for the hem of my dress and begins to pull it overhead.
“Wait.” I grab his hand and notice he looks alarmed. “It’s a wrap dress,” I say, placing his hand on the tie at my waist and encouraging him to give it a little tug.
A megawatt smile spreads across his face as he pulls, and the garment falls open to reveal only my sheer, demi-cup bra as I’m now devoid of the tiny panties. Dropping to his knees, he slowly places tender kisses down my legs. He glides his tongue from the inside of my knees down to the black pumps I’m wearing, and I recall his fascination with my wearing shoes and nothing else. He sits up placing open-mouthed kisses all over my thighs, my hips, and my belly.
“Come on, Dr. Barnes. The shower’s calling,” I tease.
“Yeah, yeah. But only if I get to walk behind you in those shoes.”
Entering the magnificent marble bathroom, I stand by the sink as he readies the shower and finds clean towels for our departure. Kicking off my heels, I walk into the hot stream and tilt my head back to allow the water to coat my hair and back. Nick is suddenly behind me, lathering my skin and washing my hair. I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven. This man is so adoring. It’s awful that in this blissful state, I can’t help but wonder why on earth Sophia would’ve left him.
I turn toward Nick and rub body wash over his pecs and abs, my fingertips reveling in the ridges as they slide up and down his hard body. He may have been protesting too much about our earlier exploits and the concern for the health of his penis, as it appears to be functioning just fine at the moment. I’m dying to reach down and stroke him, but I know this man too well. He’ll turn the tables and make this all about pleasing me, and I don’t think my tender girl parts could handle that at the moment. I calculate the best way to enact my plan and wrap my arms around his neck, pushing my wet body into his.
“God, you feel good,” he moans into my ear.
“I’m getting tired, Nick,” I lie.
“Okay, kitten. Let me make sure I’ve gotten all of the soap off.” He drops one more pass of his hands down my back and cups my ass before another groan escapes him. He reaches over and turns off the water before darting out of the shower to grab a towel for me. Before toweling himself off, he grabs the other towel and begins wrapping my long hair with it. Is this man for real?
I follow him into the bedroom and watch as he finishes drying off just before dropping the towel to the ground, pulling back the covers, and climbing inside. He rolls toward me, holding out his arm in invitation. Repeating his earlier performance, I drop the towel on the floor and climb in beside him. He pulls me into his warm body, and I can’t keep my hands to myself any longer.
Reaching down, I grab ahold of his thick erection and stroke the velvety soft skin that sheaths the steel surface beneath. He’s so masculine. His cock is veiny and thick, and I decide I have him just where I want him to bestow my thankfulness for this amazing evening.
I feel bad for thinking it, but it’d feel odd to sleep with him in his marital bed. I know there is no love loss for Sophia. It’s just my silly mind games holding me back. I can see he senses my hesitation and pulls back in question. “I feel really silly, Nick. Is there anything of Sophia’s in your room? I feel a little weird about─”
“Baby, there’s nothing left of her here. She took all of the bedroom furniture. I moved the guest room furniture in my room once the other stuff was gone.”
“Will you… uh, will you tell me what happened between the two of you one day?” I ask a bit fearfully, remembering how upset he was the last time I brought this up.
“Yes. I’ll tell you the whole sordid mess. But I’m not ruining our first date with that horror story. Now, I’m anxious to get to bed. You coming?”
Nick, I don’t know if I can do that again.” I cringe. “I’m honestly a little sore.”
“Did I─”
“No!” I blurt. “I hope you’ll do that again.” I grin. “I just couldn’t handle it again tonight.”
“It’s okay, Kat. I just want to hold you.” He lets out a small laugh, and I look at him with curiosity. “I was worried I blew my dick off after that romp in the study.” He chuckles. “Will you take a shower with me? Then we can get some sleep. I know you’ve had a long day, and I’ve got to be up early for work tomorrow.”
I follow him up the stairs of his massive abode and admit I feel a bit out of place here. My whole house could practically fit in his garage. I’m not sure how I feel about his moving to a place near me. I love him and want him close. Yet, if he moves into a new place, we may find ourselves stuck in an unending cycle of sleepovers. He may never want to live together. Heck, did I miss my chance? Maybe I should’ve let him stay with me.
Reaching his bedroom, I walk in and notice the furnishings are grand. This was in a guest room? I cannot contemplate the money he must make to afford this. Over-the-top opulence isn’t my style. My mother would be in heaven, though. My thoughts are swiftly placed on the back burner as he reaches for the hem of my dress and begins to pull it overhead.
“Wait.” I grab his hand and notice he looks alarmed. “It’s a wrap dress,” I say, placing his hand on the tie at my waist and encouraging him to give it a little tug.
A megawatt smile spreads across his face as he pulls, and the garment falls open to reveal only my sheer, demi-cup bra as I’m now devoid of the tiny panties. Dropping to his knees, he slowly places tender kisses down my legs. He glides his tongue from the inside of my knees down to the black pumps I’m wearing, and I recall his fascination with my wearing shoes and nothing else. He sits up placing open-mouthed kisses all over my thighs, my hips, and my belly.
“Come on, Dr. Barnes. The shower’s calling,” I tease.
“Yeah, yeah. But only if I get to walk behind you in those shoes.”
Entering the magnificent marble bathroom, I stand by the sink as he readies the shower and finds clean towels for our departure. Kicking off my heels, I walk into the hot stream and tilt my head back to allow the water to coat my hair and back. Nick is suddenly behind me, lathering my skin and washing my hair. I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven. This man is so adoring. It’s awful that in this blissful state, I can’t help but wonder why on earth Sophia would’ve left him.
I turn toward Nick and rub body wash over his pecs and abs, my fingertips reveling in the ridges as they slide up and down his hard body. He may have been protesting too much about our earlier exploits and the concern for the health of his penis, as it appears to be functioning just fine at the moment. I’m dying to reach down and stroke him, but I know this man too well. He’ll turn the tables and make this all about pleasing me, and I don’t think my tender girl parts could handle that at the moment. I calculate the best way to enact my plan and wrap my arms around his neck, pushing my wet body into his.
“God, you feel good,” he moans into my ear.
“I’m getting tired, Nick,” I lie.
“Okay, kitten. Let me make sure I’ve gotten all of the soap off.” He drops one more pass of his hands down my back and cups my ass before another groan escapes him. He reaches over and turns off the water before darting out of the shower to grab a towel for me. Before toweling himself off, he grabs the other towel and begins wrapping my long hair with it. Is this man for real?
I follow him into the bedroom and watch as he finishes drying off just before dropping the towel to the ground, pulling back the covers, and climbing inside. He rolls toward me, holding out his arm in invitation. Repeating his earlier performance, I drop the towel on the floor and climb in beside him. He pulls me into his warm body, and I can’t keep my hands to myself any longer.
Reaching down, I grab ahold of his thick erection and stroke the velvety soft skin that sheaths the steel surface beneath. He’s so masculine. His cock is veiny and thick, and I decide I have him just where I want him to bestow my thankfulness for this amazing evening.
MY REVIEW
Kat's taking back her life and Nick's along for the ride. I loved her in this conclusion. She figures her shit out, she keeps going to therapy, she takes care of a certain situation with a creep, and she and Nick move forward.
Speaking of Nick - his backstory is revealed and the reader finally gets to know why he is the way he is. He's so sweet and swoony here, even though he bumbles a few times (he is a man after all...), and he and his love wind their way to their happy ever after.
I absolutely loved this conclusion. It's very fitting, filled with all of the emotions - sadness, joy, so much love, and the chemistry between Nick and Kat is even hotter now that their relationship has stabilized. I am going to remember these two for a very long time.
ALSO AVAILABLE
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Free in Kindle Unlimited
AUTHOR BIO
Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.
Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.
She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.
Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.
She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.
AUTHOR LINKS
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