June Book Club Biz

The Writer Gal Novella & a special poll for you!

Mahalo,

I’m writing this edition of The Writer Gal Letter listening to this wonderful melody called Dil Diyan Gallan (The heart’s song) from Tiger Zinda Hai’s OST. It’s warm and lovely and gives me all the feels.

Before we get to the meaty part of this edition of TWGL I’d like to address a couple things.

1. This is JUST the Novella newsletter. I’ll do this week’s actual newsletter on Friday :D (Because I HAVE TO send a newsletter on Tuesday like I promised you and I’ve been INSANELY busy with all the delicious author things for you so I forgot to prepare this week’s edition!)

2. I’ll do a Novella Chapter thread next Friday just for you, Postmate so you can be all caught up on all chapters so far.

I have another poll for you this week! A super quick one.

Alright, let me jump into this month’s novella installment and the book club freebies!

No Other Love - Chapter 13

Now, without any more fuss, let me share the next chapter of my sweetly angsty, second chance, marriage in trouble, small-town romance novella starring a desperately nerdy doctor and his feisty surgeon wife!

Author’s Note: I’ll be writing down the English translations of the Indian words to this story, as I introduce you to Indian culture :) If you’d like to read the previous chapter, click here.

Fun fact: This novella is actually set in a town founded by one of my oldest friends. I’ve been fascinated with Aronda since I heard her talk about it back when we studied together and wanted to set a story here forever! Vikrant and Anika’s is the one finally. :D

Vikrant’s hand wanted to tremble as he leaned in closer and ran it over Anika’s side. Squeezing her waist, pulling her closer so she was half on his lap. It was only the last year of self denial that kept it rigid. 

‘Vikrant,’ she whispered against his ear. Her breath hot and breathy. Driving every single thought off his head and into his arousal. He went hard, almost painfully so, as she kissed his ear. And the sweaty skin under it. And then scraped her teeth over it. 

He cupped her breast, brushing one thumb over her nipple and she moaned. A broken sound he was immensely grateful to hear. She arched into him, her fiery core against his.

Anika’s hand wandered to the drawstring of his pants. But he stopped her before she could shove it down and take him in her hand.

‘Wait.’ He squeezed her wrist.

She writhed against, sinking deeper into the mattress while pulling him closer between her legs. “No. No more waiting. It’s been so long. So long.” Anika squeezed her own hand over his at her breast and shuddered. “So long,” she repeated.

She was magnificently wanton, her hair trailing over his fingers at her chest, silken bonds of desire and claiming. She bit her lip once, in need and sheer desperation. 

Vikrant took pity on her, and embraced her fully. His hands banding over her slender back. Running soothing hands on her spine, till she melted into him. 

“We have all night. All fucking night.” He framed her face in his hands and kissed her like he wanted to.

Slow, so slow, time lost all meaning under the rubbing of his lips on hers. Under the small sounds she made as she tried to take the kiss deeper. He squeezed her breasts rhythmically as he kissed her, and she went a little wild rubbing herself on him. Wet heat and arousal a sharp tang on his nostrils.  

Her taste, her scent, the imprint of her body never forgotten. Always sought after.

She pushed him on the bed, trying to get him to move further. And before,  he’d always allowed her to set the pace in their sex life. Wanting her to always be safe, always feel safe with him. Her needs mattered more than his.

Not tonight. 

Tonight, his needs were taking over too.

Anika reared back in surprise when her pushing didn’t yield the expected result. Vikrant was still upright. 

####

‘Lie down,’ he said, softly. Storms in his eyes. ‘Please,’ he added. Because he wasn’t that fucking billionaire from the fanfic adaptation that she’d adored and made him suffer through during one of their dates. 

Anika’s eyes clouded. Almost drifted shut as she went supine on the bed. For good measure, she even let her hands fall to her sides. Open and vulnerable to him like she always was. And he always made sure to never take advantage of it. Of her trust in him. But this woman had broken his heart clean in two. 

All bets were off now.

He swept one hand from her neck, palm down, feeling the trembling shivers passing through her. “Let go of the sheets,” he ordered. 

He palmed the valley of her breasts, her ribcage, her little pot belly until he came to her panties. He ran his hand over it too. Rubbing the gusset for good measure. Her tangy arousal filled the air. 

Anika arched into his touch, a liquid scream forming in her throat.

‘Quieter,’ he said, mindful of his family sleeping just doors away. ‘Keep your eyes open.’

Her breath sobbed out. But she kept her eyes on his with effort. The lashes shuddering like flames with the effort. ‘You…this is hot.’ Her voice was desire-dazed. Hot on its own. 

‘I’m just getting started.’ Vikrant smiled against her tummy and kissed her navel before biting it. Like she’d bit the skin behind his ear. 

Anika’s legs thrashed as he swiftly discarded her panties and plunged into her waiting arousal. All wet, all his. He lapped it up, fingers and teeth and tongue. While she broke over him, over and over again. Her pleasure sounding like music to his starved ears. 

He moved over the mattress, trying to find some relief for his own arousal but it only wanted Anika. All of him wanted her. Was on fire for her. 

When she was a limp, quivering mess on the bed - spots on the sheet he wasn’t going to wash ever - he raised his head and licked his lips. 

She was gripping her breast and rubbing her thumb over the nipple as she rode the aftershocks of her orgasm.  

He slapped her hand away.

‘Mine,’ he growled. ‘That’s mine.’

He reared up and took the nipple and aereola in his lips and sucked so hard it should have been painful. But she loved it because she arched her back into his mouth so he could do it again. 

Then he looked at her, possession writ on his face. 

Her lips parted, dazed and satisfied and liking this dominant version of him. But her hand found his erection. ‘Then this is mine,’ she murmured silkily. 

She gave it a quick stroke from base to tip. 

He pushed her hand away again. 

This time, Anika pouted. ‘What…?’

‘Turn around,’ he said. ‘On your hands and knees.’ He leaned over her ear and said, ‘Please.’ 

Anika turned around, her hand sliding up to cup his nape, curving to fit all of her body over his larger, more male one. A soft female he wanted to mark all over like that could claim her. Keep her here with him. 

The knowledge of what awaited them, made him rougher, slightly less caring as he wore the condom, he’d bought in some vain luckless hope six months ago, and positioned himself against her. And he wanted to fuck her, fuck her hard for the hurt she’d put him through. For being the only person to ever make him this mindless. This base. 

So he did. He stroked into her roughly. And watched as her back splotched with heat. He did it again, moving in and out, their scents, their breaths the only things alive in the room.

Anika cried out when he went in the whole way the next time, a tight, snug fit that felt like heaven and hell to him. She was so wet, it was a separate feeling all on its own…to know she loved him like this.

He immediately slid out, appalled that he was getting off on having her submit to him.

But, Anika took his dominance. She loved it. And kissed the side of his chin. ‘God, more,’ she cried. ‘Please, don’t stop.’

And it was he who broke.

Vikrant stopped trying to punish her. He leaned over her, enclosing her in his hold. She rubbed her back, her butt against him, moving closer. Allowing him every single liberty he wanted to take. Soft in a way she hadn’t been even when they were married and fucking every single day.

But the real knowledge was this realization. She was the one who held him - heart, body, and soul. So, he loved her hard and fast and slow and soft and every way in between. Loved her like it was the only thing left of importance in his world.

In the end, when he climaxed, she was the one who said, ‘Look at me. Don’t look away.’

And he poured himself into her, his legs pistoning, his pelvis slapping against her hips, a warm Anika mold just for him.

Vikrant knew the ugly, sad truth.

He was hers. He’d never look away from her. 

No Other Love will be back next month.

The Kissing 💋 Books Club June Offering

This month’s TKBC book is Lana Love’s Sweet Temptation. And I am not making any of this up. Because all the titles with Tempt in them are THE BEST! No questions asked. :P But Lana’s tattooed bad boy baker who meets the curvy reporter of his dreams is next-level hot.

Check this sweetly tempting cover out and then smash that pink button to read it.

I’ve done time. I have the scars and tattoos to prove it. These days, I run New Day Bakery and I teach other ex-cons a skill that gives them a chance for staying out of prison.

I don’t have time for love. Besides, what woman can see beyond my past? Most people can’t even see past my tattoos. I’ve resigned myself to a quiet life and it’s been working out just fine.

Then Renee shows up to interview me for the local paper. She’s the first woman to decline our pastries, giving me some ridiculous excuse about a fad diet. Whatever.

When I run into her at the Heartland Regional Community Achievement Award ceremony, she’s in crisis. I do what any man of substance does – I stand up for her and make things right. As I hold her stunning curves as we dance and I listen to her story, I realize I seriously misjudged her.

Now, she won’t answer my calls. I have to show her that I believe her, but how can I do that if she won’t talk to me? Never did I think I’d need a woman as much as I need her. I won’t stop until she lets me show her what I’ve done for her. She's a temptation that will haunt me if I can't claim her as mine.

The Romantic Suspense Co-op June Offering

This month’s offering from the Romantic Suspense Co-op is Janie Crouch’s Code Name: Outlaw. I’m a personal fan of Janie’s romantic suspense page turners and Outlaw is no exception. From the PTSD-prone heroine to the hotshot agent who is incredibly gentle with her. All. The. Feels ensue!

Check it out. Then hit the shiny pink button and grab the book, kay?

Months trapped in the clutches of a madman made Jenna Franklin a shell of the woman she once was. All she can do now is use her computer genius from inside the safety of closed doors.

Even two years later, going outside = blood-freezing panic.

She’s made herself a haven in the only place she’s felt safe since her captivity: Oak Creek, Wyoming—home of her Linear Tactical friends. They don’t realize the extent of her emotional trauma, but at least she knows she can trust them. Only one person knows the truth about the fragile mental state she’s hiding: Zodiac agent, Mark Outlawson—code name: Outlaw.

He’s witnessed her panic firsthand. Knows what it does to her.

When info on a human trafficking group—one connected to her own captivity— comes to light, it’s clear only Jenna’s expertise can stop them. Mark will have to prove Jenna can trust him—to keep her secrets, to protect her, to help fight her demons.

He’ll prove this outlaw is a hero.

This is all the news I have for you in this edition of The Writer Gal Letter, Postmate. But I’ll be back on Friday with ACTUAL news (the Millionaire Foes Ever After cover reveal and SO MUCH paperback goodness you’ll squeal!).

Till then, stay hydrated and move to the groove.

Xx

Aarti