Hello my ducklings! (I mean who doesn’t love ducklings?! I love them…) You may know, June is my birthday month. If not, I’m telling you now đ June is my birthday month! So the idea is for me to superload it with fun fun fun! Also, because every week there’s a Guest Author & A Giveaway post. And … it almost seems like Maisey Yates is a June TT staple – just check out the archives ;). I got her to agree to provide an exclusive excerpt for us – and who knows, I might be lucky enough to get the other authors in this [series] too! Whee!
So without further ado, Avenge Me!
TEN YEARS AGO ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR AUSTIN, HUNTER AND ALEX. NOW THEY MUST EACH PLAY THEIR PART IN THE REVENGE AGAINST THE ONE MAN WHO RUINED IT ALL.
Austin Treffen was born into a world of privilege, but behind its gilded doors lies a corruption so sordid New York’s elite would never believe itâespecially as his infamous philanthropic father is at its core! With everything he believed in shattered, how can Austin take down his fatherârisking his family name and those he lovesâwithout any proof?
Until one earth-shattering night with Katy Michaels unlocks not only their deepest, most passionate desires but also the key to bringing Jason Treffen’s reign to an end. But with an intense sexual attraction that combines a heady mix of exquisite pleasure and sublime pain, will they satiate their thirst for revenge and each otherâŠor lose themselves forever in the darkness?
He had no right to be lusting after her like this. Not now. Not when heâd walked in on her like that without an announcement.
Of course, sheâd been the one in his shower. His shower, when there was one right near her bedroom that she could have used. And all her girly shit was spread out all over his counter. As though she had every right to come in and take over his space, her things landing everywhere like a cloud of frilly locusts.
That was her fault.
She appeared a moment later, looking fresh scrubbed and wary, wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a long-sleeved pink top, her hair wet and hanging loose.
âDidnât anyone ever tell you knocking is polite?â
âYou were in my shower, baby. I didnât expect to find you there.â
âThe music and running water werenât a clue?â
âThey were a trail of bread crumbs I felt obliged to follow. I honestly didnât expect to find you naked and dripping wet in my shower when you have your own.â
âWell, you told me to make myself at home.â
âSo you decided that meant going into my bedroom?â
Heâd never had a woman in his personal space before. Ever. Heâd had girlfriends, yes. But he spent the night at their places typically. Or he took them out and they spent the night in hotels. He wasnât a hugger. He didnât talk about his feelings. He didnât let women leave their trappings all over his room.
There was room for one toothbrush in his bathroom, and that was his.
âWell, yeah. You railroaded me into moving in with you. Youâre a Treffen therefore my trust in you is…eh. And so I decided to snoop around in your stuff. Then I saw your shower.â
âYou went through my things.â
âYes. And Iâm not going to apologize. Anyway, no whips, chains or invoices for sexual favors. On that score you check out.â
âDisappointed?â
âAbout?â
He crossed his arms. âThe lack of whips and chains. You like that sort of thing.â
She arched a brow. âYou got your rocks off that night too, so donât go putting it on me.â
âYou were out of line going through my things.â
âAre you really all up on my butt for being intrusive?â
âExcuse me?â
âAre you really getting on my case for being intrusive?â she repeated, her hands on her hips. âBecause the last I checked, you got me fired from my job. You effectively got me evicted from my apartment. You forced me to move here by default and then you said, make yourself at home. And so I have. And now youâre mad at me? Youâve interfered in every corner of my life and youâre pissed because I used your shower?â
âAnd left your girl crap all over everything.â
âMy girl crap? What are you fourteen?â
âNo, but I donât share my space.â
âYeah, well, newsflash, Austin, I havenât done anything but share space my entire life. Iâve had had to make sure my schedule was conducive to taking care of my younger brother. I had to make sure my emotions never made a blip on the radar, because I had to keep things smooth and stable for Trey. Then I moved to New York and moved in with a roommate who had her name on the lease and who I had to tread softly with so that I wouldnât find myself out on my ass. Then, guess what? Because of you I did find myself out on my ass. And now? Now Iâm sick of treading lightly. You said make myself at home, Iâm going to make myself at home. Iâm not here because I want to be, buddy, Iâm here because you stuck your all-powerful Treffen hand in my life and screwed with things.â
âSo that means my punishment is…leg wax on my bathroom counter and music that…was it talking about…?â
âYes,â she said, her cheeks turning pink. âYes it was. I like that song. Sorry if it bothered you. Or maybe Iâm not sorry if it bothered you. Grow up.â
âDid you just tell me to grow up?â
âYeah. I did. Like you canât handle song lyrics about sex. Again I ask: are you fourteen?â
âIt didnât bother me.â
âWell then why are you complaining?â
âYou have a bathroom. You could use that one.â
She arched a brow. âIt doesnât have three shower heads in the shower.â
âSo? You donât need three shower heads,â he said.
âSays the man who has three shower heads,â she said, putting her hands on her hips. âPersonally, I value the ability to cleanse myself with the ârainforest mistâ setting on. It makes this whole ordeal feel less traumatic.â
âI think youâre milking it,â he said, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against the wall.
âDo you?â she asked.
âYes. I do.â
âI donât know if you know my pain and suffering. I was fired and thrown out of my house on the same day.â
âAll right. If you want to use my bathroom, thatâs up to you, but Iâm not knocking on my own bedroom door and I will use my bathroom when I feel like it. If youâre so married to the shower heads, thatâs your business, but you may end up with a guest.â
Her eyes widened. âI thought I told you I wasnât sleeping with you.â
âAnd I thought I told you not to trust me.â The air thickened between them, her lips parting, her eyes darkening. âAnd you definitely shouldnât look at me like that,â he said.
âLike what?â
âLike youâre considering letting the horse out of the gate again.â
She blinked. âIâm not. I just wanted your shower, not your body. Calm the hell down.â
âHave you eaten?â he asked, deciding it was best to change the subject. And to take the conversation into neutral territory. And to move them to neutral territory. Territory that didnât have a bed with a very useful looking headboard…
âNo,â she said. âI was going to order something.â
âAnything in particular?â
âI was sort of craving Thai.â
âIâm very good at ordering takeout,â he said. âCooking not so much.â
âI can cook,â she said, following his lead and leaving the bedroom, heading down the hall a couple of paces behind him. âReally gourmet stuff. Ramen noodles, with some vegetables for added nutrition. Mac and cheese. In the blue box, I donât screw around. Also, beanie weenies. A can of pork nâ beans and some cut up hotdogs. My skills cannot be beat.â
âI donât think Iâve ever had any of that.â
âNot even in college?â
He tossed a look over his shoulder. âNo. I had a meal plan.â
âOh, yes, of course. How could I forget? Youâre all steeped in privilege. Which I guess I should remember since I just used your shower. Three shower heads.â She held up a matching number of fingers. âThree.â
He shrugged. âYes. Yes Iâm privileged. Lucky, lucky me. My dad is a pimp.â He headed down the stairs and he could hear her behind him.
âThere are different kinds of privilege. I mean, sure, thatâs a sucky reality you have to face. But I grew up in terrible circumstances and I didnât get to eat good food. So you know…â
âYes. Life was easy for me then. I wonât lie to you and pretend I had any great struggle. But looking back and realizing just how little I saw outside of my bubble? Thatâs hard. Iâm not stupid. More than that, in my line of work, Iâm trained to read people. I have to know how to read between the lines, how to re-interpret what theyâre saying I have to know how to manipulate. But even with that, my world was so insulated, so damned perfect, that I just couldnât imagine the kind of thing my father was doing. I couldnât have imagined Sarahâs pain. Iâve seen more since then. I know more about human nature. About how truly horrible life can be. I look back…I hate that idiot that couldnât see past the glitter all around him. Who thought bad things happened to other people. To other classes of people.â
âAnd since then youâve learned…?â
âLife is shit for everyone. Itâs just that for some people itâs shit with three shower heads. Pad Thai sound good to you?â
~*~*~*~*~
I also cajoled Maisey into a giveaway – cuz you know – birthday month! She’s willing to give one lucky commenter her (or his) choice of Avenge Me in print or e! Whee! So what’d you think of the excerpt? Also, there’s a free prequel right now – Take Me and you should get that [too]! đ