Loving Jade release by Roya Carmen

I never thought I’d be able to leave Michael, but I finally worked up the courage. I’m not sure where I’m heading but I feel safe here with the Riverstones. This place is lovely and serene. There is so much beauty and love here.

Yet, I still don’t feel free – I know Michael will find me. It’s just a matter of time.

Love is the last thing I’m looking for, but Flynn is such a beautiful man, inside and out. He makes me believe that I can be stronger, that I can be fierce. He believes he can fix me with equine therapy but he has no clue how much damage has been done.

Yet, somehow, he manages to get through to me. With patience, love and understanding, he slowly peels off the hard layers of self-doubt and fear that have held me captive all these years.

Just as I finally start to get stronger, Michael tracks me down and sends us all into turmoil, and threatens not only me but the family I’ve come to love.

Author’s note:
Loving Jade contains sexual scenes and some coarse language, and is intended for a mature audience. Loving Jade also contains scenes of domestic abuse and violence which could be a trigger for some. The central theme of the story however, is female empowerment and self-love. 

Loving Jade is the last book in The Riverstone Series, and can be enjoyed as a STANDALONE. However, if one intends to read all three books, it is best to read them in chronological order to avoid spoilers.

Loving Jade Excerpts

Excerpt 1 – 500 words

“I’m sorry, Jade. I don’t know what game you’re playing but I’m not playing it. This thing with us… it’s real for me. And if it’s not real for you, if you’re just getting off on the drama, getting off on this cat and mouse game you two seem to be playing…”

I’m at a total loss for words. I wish I could say something but he’s rendered me speechless.

“If you’re just using me to make him jealous, hoping he’ll chase you and fight for you—”

 “No… that’s not what I’m doing.” His words cut so deep. Is that really what he thinks?

He runs a hand through his hair. “If I’m just a pawn in your fucked up little game—”

“No,” I scream.

“I’m just tired of this shit. I’m tired of this guy. Is something still going on between you two?”

I inch closer to him and look up into his eyes – there’s so much hurt there. I hate that I’ve hurt him. It’s the last thing I want to do. “No,” I tell him softly. Doesn’t he know how much I care about him? “I filed the papers on Tuesday.”

His eyes darken. In an instant, he pulls me against him, hard. His mouth crashes onto mine, and the warmth of him sinks deep, melts me into a puddle. He’s hungry and wild as he slides his hot tongue across my jawline, down the curve of my neck. My mouth is frantic as it searches for his again. He tugs at my hair as he kisses me again, and grabs my ass as he pulls me hard, closer against him. I grind him, wanting more.

This is a Flynn I haven’t seen before, but I like it. I love it. I pull my mouth from his, breathless. “I want you, Flynn.”

With a dark gaze, he grabs my hand in his and pulls me behind him.

As soon as he closes the door behind us, he slams me against the wall. His loft is dark and smells of horses. It’s cold as hell too but I’m burning inside.

I’m wrapped around his hips, my feet off the floor, my mouth lost in his. He slides his hot tongue across my neck. “You’re a dark soul, Jade,” he whispers, his mouth pressed to me ear. “You get off on this. You like it hard, messy and complicated. Admit it, that’s how you like it.”

He’s not completely wrong. I know one of the reasons I’ve always been so attracted to Michael, so infatuated with him, is his darkness. I find it powerful – it’s so intense. He makes me feel alive.

Flynn drops me to the floor. He slaps a hand on my ass and jerks me around and flattens my face against the wall. He slides his warm hand under the skirt of my dress, up my thigh. “Is this how you like it?”

I close my eyes.

Yes…

Excerpt 2 – 300 words

She’s all settled in and it’s that time – time to say goodbye. Damn, I’m going to miss her. I know I’ll be back, but I don’t want to be away from her, even for a single day. Her beautiful green eyes are wet when she looks up me, silently begging me not to go. “Can you stay for another fifteen minutes?” she asks sweetly.

“Yes,” I say, curious. What in the heavens can we do with fifteen minutes – the possibilities are endless.

“I want you,” she says quietly and I get hard instantly at the sound of those three little words. I’ve been waiting for her to ask. I didn’t want to push her after all she’s been through recently, but it’s been days since we’ve made love – it’s all I’ve been thinking about.

I pull her face to mine, and my mouth crashes into hers, hungry. My hands are greedy too, starved for her skin. She drives me wild when the sexiest moan escapes her throat as she presses her small body against mine. I grab the underside of her thigh and hike her up over my hips.  She wraps her legs around me and I prop her down on the desk, the desk with the notepad, pen and Bible on it. I swipe all of it off and it falls to the floor in a mess.

She pulls at my shirt, desperate to take it off. I peel it over my shoulders and I’m bare for her. “Fuck, Flynn,” she whispers and trails her hands along the edges of the bruises covering my torso. Then, she kisses them softly. I pull her face to mine again – I miss those sweet lips. “You want it slow and soft on the bed, or right here on the desk?”

She licks her lip playfully. “On the desk.”

Excerpt 3 – 400 words

His eyes drink me in, his gaze slowly tracing the curves of my body. I feel naked. I don’t want him to look at me this way. He leans back into the sofa, stretching is long legs. “You’re beautiful.”

The slow sensual music fills the room. It stifles me, steals my breath. I close my eyes. I don’t want to see his eyes on me. Yet, I still feel them.

I feel him stand. I open my eyes to see him closing the distance between us. He takes my hand in his. My hands are clammy but I don’t think he cares. He pulls me to him. “Can I have this dance?” He wraps an arm around my back and presses a hand on my shoulder. We go through the motions and move to the rhythm of the music. My pulse is racing. I feel trapped.

He presses his face against the top of my head. “I’ve missed you so much, Jade.”

Another slow circle.

“Did you miss me, Jade?”

My mouth is dry. I can’t utter a single word.

“Did you miss me, Jade?” he asks again.

“Y-yes,” I finally manage, my voice as meek as a mouse’s.

I feel the weight of him as he leans into me and presses his mouth against the bend of my neck. He bites my flesh gently. I used to love this – I would absolutely melt.

I’m still frozen when he moves down to my shoulder. He licks a slow line from my shoulder along the curve of my neck, a familiar dance of seduction. 

I want to pull away but he still holds me in his arms, and still, despite the fact that I’m stronger than I used to be, I feel so small in his arms.

He drops to his knees. He’s at my feet, desperate. “I want you so much,” he says softly.

I press a hand on his shoulder. “We… we can’t, Michael,” I say, my words unsteady. I really don’t want to upset him. “We’re not together anymore.”

A flicker of anger flashes across his dark eyes. He slides a hand up my leg and grabs the flesh hard. “As far as I’m concerned, we still are… together. I’m afraid you have no choice, princess.”

I know I don’t.