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Title: The Final Quarter
Series Title: A New League, Book 2
Author: Anne Lange
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level:Burning - Sexy, creative and hot, almost anything goes - not for shy readers
Length: 40,635
Blurb
A quarterback facing the end of his career must come
to peace with his past, and accept his present, before he can move on with his
future.
Mitch Ryland accomplished what his father said he
never would—he made something of himself.
When his wife suggests she’d like to start a family,
Mitch is thrown for a loop. He’s never told her about his life before he ended
up with his foster parents or his plans never to become a father. So when he’s
taken out of the game, his failings from the past come back to haunt him, and
Mitch blames his injury on his loss of focus. He’s unprepared for his career as
a professional quarterback to be over. Nor is he ready to tell his wife about
why football is so important to him. He’d rather put emotional and physical
distance between them and focus on getting back in the game.
Serena Ryland has dreamed of becoming a mother. But
when she mentions the idea to her husband, he freezes her out and she has no
idea why. She’s worried that if they don’t start talking soon, she’ll lose him
forever. When he refuses to come home to mend from an injury, she takes matters
into her own hands, determined to spend more time with him, hoping to reignite
the romance in their relationship. But she’s unprepared for the things she
learns on this trip. Her husband has been carrying a few secrets that just
might change the outlook of their future.
Reader
Advisory: This book contains oral sex in a public
environment and light bondage.
Excerpt
A
shiver of anticipation vibrated through her. I can do this.
Rising
once more, she picked up her drink and held the glass out to him. “Can you hold
this for a moment, please?”
“Sure.”
His deep rumble set her on fire. That was his sex voice. Each time she heard
it, awareness skittered along her nerve endings. Her senses sharpened. And it
had been a while since he’d used it, so the fact that he did now thrilled her
and urged her on.
Serena
placed the papers on her chair, then turned and dipped back into her briefcase.
A low growl came from behind her this time. With an added wiggle, she retrieved
a linen tablecloth from her bag and twirled around. His gaze shifted to her
hands. “I don’t want to get the papers wet,” she explained. “Excuse me,
please.”
She
nudged his arms out of the way, careful not to jostle him too much so he
wouldn’t spill their drinks, while she draped the white tablecloth over the
round table. It puddled on the floor. “Perfect.” She flashed him another smile,
set her papers atop the table again, and reached for her water, though she set
it down without taking a drink. Her stomach was a pile of nerves.
“All
set to get down to business.”
“And
are you going to tell me what the business
is?”
Her
husband clearly remained leery. She couldn’t fault him for that. This was so
out of character for her. He was typically the aggressor in their relationship.
She’d always preferred to let others take the lead, even as a child. Maybe
because her mother simply rolled right over everyone in her way, a trait of her
legal position. Serena had simply found it easier to stay out of her path.
But
whatever was going on with her husband was affecting their marriage, and that
she wouldn’t stand by and watch while it withered away. She loved him too much
to let him go that easily.
Which
meant she needed to step up her game if her husband wasn’t prepared to. But
maybe it was more than that. Maybe this was about her suggestion a few weeks
ago. Didn’t he want a family? She needed to convince him she loved him more
than anything, perhaps even more than fulfilling one of her own dreams.
“It’s
like I said, Mr. Ryland, we need to discuss a few things.”
“What’s
with this Mr. Ryland shit? What game are you playing, Serena?”
“I
know you’ve always enjoyed game nights,” she said instead.
He
shifted in his seat and looked down at his drink. His clenched the glass in his
hand.
“The
rush of the game, the physical and mental challenge, the excitement of a win.
The devastation of a loss.” She felt bad that they’d lost tonight and almost
regretted her words. “I bet the endorphins are flying through your system, even
right now.” She cocked her head. “Is it like sex?”
He
coughed, very nearly spitting out the mouthful of tea he’d just taken. “Excuse
me?”
She
put on what she hoped to be an innocent face and mentally prepared herself to
forge forward. “Well, I think the high of the game must be like foreplay, then
the party afterwards, like an orgasm. So game nights are like having sex.” At
least she hoped, because she needed all the help should could get tonight. And
she felt utterly foolish saying this crap. But how else was she supposed to
lead up to her plan for the evening?
“Ah…”
Serena
almost let loose with another giggle, watching Mitch trying to figure out where
the hell she was going with this ridiculous conversation “You know,” she
purred, “I’m well aware that you couldn’t actually play tonight.” She toyed
with the papers. Spun her glass around a little.
“No.”
And
her poor baby was pissed and hurting about that. Well, he needed to learn that
she had his back. That when shit like this happened, he needed to talk to her.
Knowing her husband, he was probably worrying himself sick that he was letting
his coach down, his team down, the fans down. And he probably thought he was
letting her down too.
The
fact that he wouldn’t meet her gaze confirmed it. So she’d just have to help
him forget for a while and remember the benefits that went with having somebody
who cared for him. Somebody who loved him and was willing to fly across
multiple states, plan some pretty special and erotic nights for him to take his
mind off his troubles. If he wasn’t going to come home to her, then she would
damn well to come to him.
“I
have a something that might take your mind off your current situation.” Serena
pulled her gaze from the man across from her and scanned the bar. Nobody paid
them a bit of attention. She slipped off the stool, dropped to her knees and
scurried under the table, letting the cloth provide the cover she needed.
“Serena.”
Mitch’s harsh whisper reached her ears, but she chose to ignore him, instead
she tucked her hands beneath his pants and ran her hands up his legs.
He
jumped. “What the fuck?”
Buy Links
Author Bio
Shoes are her
addiction, but books are her passion. Anne Lange grew up with a love for
reading. If you take a close look, she’s got either a book, her Kindle or her
Kobo nearby at all times. You know, just in case there’s time to sneak in a
chapter or ten. Anne reads many genres of romance, but prefers to write
sexy stories, often with a dash of humor, and usually with a side of those
sinful pleasures your mom never told you about. And always with a happily
ever after.
While embarking on this wild journey of becoming a romance author, Anne juggles a full time job and a family. Though not always successfully. Who needs a clean house every day? And what’s wrong with cereal for dinner? She lives in Ontario, Canada with her wonderfully supportive husband, three awesome kids who are growing up way too fast, and the family pets, Rocky the bearded dragon and Lily the chocolate lab.
Author’s Social Links
Email:
Anne_Lange66@yahoo.ca
Thank you so much for hosting me today, April. You are a true friend. Hugs to you :)
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