Heat curls in my belly. “Later.”
“When?”
“After you rest.” I settle more comfortably, closing my eyes. “We have time. All the time in the world.”
“Ray.” He swallows thickly, and I open my eyes.
“What is it?”
“Now you’re free from the triad… are you staying?”
I didn’t expect this question, this doubt. He always seems so sure of himself.
“If you still want me.” I wrestle with my own insecurity. “If you haven’t changed your mind.”
“Change my mind? God, never.” And just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, he says “You’re everything to me, Ray. Never forget that.”
From the start he told me this. Put me first. I didn’t believe it then, didn’t understand it.
Didn’t realize he needs me, too. That we hold each other up, complete each other. Love each other.
That this is our story, this is my man, and this is where despite all odds, we get our happy ending.
A FEW WORDS FROM JO RAVEN
Hi! My name is Jo, and I’m a romance addict. I love writing about sexy, tortured boys and the girls who save them. If you like those things, too, then we’re besties!
It’s been more than a year that I began this endeavor—a year since I started writing and publishing romance—and it has been an exciting ride. I have my readers to thank for encouraging me, buying my books and spreading the word, for making this work. You all rock!!
My first two series, Inked Brotherhood are Damage Control, are edgy contemporary romance dealing with characters on the threshold between teenage years and adulthood with all the important decisions it entails. All the firsts, work, college, relationships, sex, leaving the family nest, finding your own path. Plus, they aren’t rich. I like the fact they are (most of them) struggling to make ends meet. That strikes a chord with me.
Now, STORM is not poor, as you know—quite the contrary—and it’s a bit of a departure from my usual style. It is New Adult Romantic suspense, which means a lot more action, bullets and explosions. Quite a lot of sex, too, but that’s typical of what I write. I like rewarding my poor, suffering characters with hot, sexy times.
Let me tell you a few words about STORM and why I wrote this story (which, typically, has turned into a series): when I start writing a story, inevitably I create more characters than the two leading ones. All these minor characters have their own stories, which I want to tell.
Now, if you happened to read the Inked Brotherhood series, and in particular book 5 (RAFE), then you know that Raylin was the roommate of Megan, Rafe’s girl. Raylin doesn’t actually appear in RAFE; from the start she is absent, and then she leaves a note and disappears, leaving Megan with her cat Horatio and the rent. Later Rafe finds out there’s an ex-con after Raylin, which is probably why she split.
(If you haven’t read RAFE, you can find the purchase links here: http://joraven.com/books)
At the end of RAFE I promised to tell Raylin’s story. When I sat down to do so, Storm’s character came to me, and with him, his two friends, Hawk and Rook. I realized this series would be much more fun and action-filled than my other series, and I welcomed the change. Change keeps a writer sane…
And thus was STORM born. I hope you liked their story.
Like with all my series, every book in the Sex and Bullets series will be a standalone novel. Look out for HAWK’s story sometime soon.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t read the Inked Brotherhood and the Damage Control series (the latter still ongoing), then you can find the links to the books below.
? If you liked the cover of the book, featuring the very handsome athlete and model Craig Gierish (photographed by FuriousFotog), then check out these two trailers he made for the book, starring as Storm!
Version 1 (Craig’s take on Storm): https://youtu.be/wcDM-NjO8E0
Version 2 (My take on Storm): https://youtu.be/P19qW5Pcjto
? One more thing—a treat for those of you who have read RAFE (Inked Brotherhood #5) and would like to witness the reunion between Raylin and Megan… Here you go—enjoy!
Epilogue
MEGAN