Blurb
Kidnapped by the enemy. Bought by the jefe. Will his smoldering touch thaw her frozen heart?
Rubén Lozano, the new leader of the Lozano Cartel, craves peace amidst a legacy of bloodshed and death. He never expected to find his ex-lover, Drina Cabrera, in the clutches of his vicious rivals. Her haunted eyes compel him to rescue her, but freeing her is another matter.
After five months of captivity, Drina trades one captor for another. Though she succumbs to Rubén’s masterful touch, the bittersweet memory of her daughter and the life she was stolen from is a constant wedge between them.
When Rubén’s darkest secret comes out, he will have to wash his hands in crimson. Will Drina let her king face the danger alone, or stand at his side as his cartel queen?
– Book two in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.
– Scenes featuring drug distribution, violence, kidnapping, and attempted sexual assault may be uncomfortable for some readers.
– No cheating. HEA guaranteed!
Excerpt – Rated R
(Background Info on Scene: Drina is assaulted at the pool, and Rubén saves her, killing two of his own enforcers to do so. Now, he takes her upstairs to shower and comfort her.)
Once steam billowed, he set his phone, keys, and wallet on the white-wicker shelf and guided her into the water. He stepped in with her, clothes and all, before he popped the glass door shut with his foot. The water stung his skin and soaked through his pants while washing away the grime from his boots.
“Relax. The hot water will help.” He deftly slid the shirt buttons free from their respective holes and drew the garment down her arms. Next, he untied her bikini top and bottoms to let the pile of fabric pool at the back of the shower. She didn’t try to stop him, proof of the exhaustion and shock settling over her. Struggling to keep his gaze on her face and off her succulent curves, he grabbed a bottle from the built-in shelf and squirted a large dollop of strawberry-scented shampoo into his palm. As he lathered her tangled hair, he bit his tongue hard to keep his erection down.
Fucking hell. Talk about torture with a capital T. Though he would never force himself on her, he’d just vowed out in the training yard to turn her body against her. Fernando and Marcos had screwed up his plan.
After he rinsed her hair, she blinked up at him. “This is what I remember,” she said softly.
He stiffened, unaware she’d snapped free from her frozen state. “What do you mean?”
“Your kindness. Sweetness.”
“I’m not sweet,” he replied, damn near growling at her. If she could hear his thoughts, she’d run screaming.
A half smile lifted her lips. “No lies. Not right now.”
He swallowed hard and nodded. That was the only concession he would give her. “The truth works both ways. What happened out there?”
She dropped her gaze and confessed what his enforcers had promised her. “I knew they were lying, but I considered it. Even the slightest possibility of going home to my little girl was too much for me to toss aside without thinking it over. I told them no, so they grabbed me. I fought as hard as I could. Had you been a few minutes later, well…” she trailed off and dragged in a shuddering breath.
She would’ve been raped, he mentally finished for her, but the men’s hands on her body were assault enough.
Drina lifted her chin. “I screamed for you. I knew you would come.”
The terror in her voice when she’d shouted his name was forever etched into his mind. “I will always come for you.” He clasped her now-warm cheek, fighting his desire to kiss her. Sighing, he drew back to suds a bar of lavender soap in the loofah. “Close your eyes.” Once she did as he bade, he gently washed her bruised face and rinsed away the soap. Then he scrubbed her arms, belly, and legs while bypassing her sienna-tipped breasts and shaved pussy because, honestly, he could only withstand so much torment. “Turn.” She obeyed, and he washed her back. If only his touch could wipe away the memories sure to plague her for a long time.
“Gracias.” She faced him and rested her hands on his chest. “I need something.”
He waited, hating himself for denying her what was sure to be another heartfelt plea for him to send her home.
“Please,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rush of water. “I need to wipe what happened from my mind. The helplessness, it’s imprinted on me. I still feel their hands, grabbing and hitting.”
He frowned, not understanding until she leaned back against the stall and spread her legs.
“Whatever we do right now is a placebo, but I need it. Give it to me.” She slipped her fingers between her thighs. “Touch me here, Rubén. Make me feel good.”
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About the Author
Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, the Embracing You, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.
Find her here: https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton
Wow, Amber! Great scene. Talk about tangled motives!
Thanks!! Both gentle and rough, I love it.
Oh wow! His tenderness in this scene is comforting and erotic at the same time.
Thanks! I love how torn he is. Their relationship is quickly coming together.