Today, I'm going to bring you a
teaser from one of my favourite scenes in this book. More than the previous two
books, Scores is Benjamin's story. This is the story where we
find him vulnerable and truly conflicted, not necessarily about his love for
Selina but about the kind of man he is. And this scene captures some of that
conflict. I hope you enjoy it.
"What the hell was all that about?"
Selina asked as soon as they got back into the suite.
"That—" Ben pointed at the door
they'd just walked through "—was my life. The life I walked away from. The
life I didn't want you to see. That was the way I grew up, brash, hedonistic, a
narcissist. I could do whatever I wanted. Take whomever I wanted."
He stopped pacing and faced her. She looked
shocked at his outburst.
"This whole fucking mess is my doing—the
resort, the rules. I fucking created a monster. And I thought it would just die
when I walked away. Now look at it."
He waved his hands, feeling almost despondent.
"Ben, I don't understand what you're
saying." She stood stock still.
"I mean that The Ranch is my creation.
What you see, I designed. Sure this place has always existed in some form for
hundreds of years but it was just a family home. The Moss's family home. But
later I turned it into a holiday destination for the perverted."
He ran a hand through his hair, needing to
dispel the rancorous energy coursing through his veins.
"I took Margo, who was a sweet girl, and
turned her into a raving pain slut who would do anything for the lash of a
whip."
"I can't imagine Margo ever being a sweet
girl," Selina's tone was matter of fact.
"Perhaps sweet isn't the word. But I'm the
one who made her the woman she is today. And Cordelia. I knew Lars was in love
with her but she had a hot body and I had to have her. So I took her. That's
the kind of man I am."
"No. You are not that man," Selina
bit out. "Yes, you did some bad things in the past. But you were no more
than a boy. It can be written off as youthful folly. I forgive you, Ben. You
need to forgive yourself."
"How can I forgive myself when even Lars
hasn't forgiven me? He will have you as revenge for Cordelia if I don't stop
him."
"I'm sure he wasn't serious. He was
probably just trying to goad you."
Ben gave a bark of laughter. "You don't
know him. Why do you think he's joking?"
"For starters, I'm a grown woman capable
of making my own choices. I will not be bartered like a chattel."
He did laugh this time but there was no humor
in the harsh sound.
"You don't get it, do you? The normal
rules do not apply at The Ranch. In here, Ranch rules apply. You came here as a
submissive, my submissive, even if you're not wearing my collar." He waved
a hand at her neck, turning his face away. His gut churned at the idea there
was no physical evidence she belonged to him. "You can't stay here."
"You're not really going to put me on the
next plane back to London? I don't want to leave."
He looked at her sideways. Her forehead
puckered with frown lines.
"You still don't get it. I will commit
murder rather than have anyone touch you without my permission." He screwed
up his face, his insides churning like he was possessed by a beast. "Hang
on, you want him to fuck you, is that it?"
"No!"
"Tell me the truth. You imagined him being
inside you."
She bit her lip and look downward. He took a
step to her.
"Selina?" he growled.
"Yes," she said in a low voice, out
of breath.
"And it turned you on."
She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, her
chest rising and falling rapidly.
The jealous beast reared its ugly head inside
him, dark and dangerous.
"Strip and present yourself."
Her eyes flew open wide as she tried to read
him.
"Now!"
Flinching, she pulled the dress over her head
and folded it onto a table. Then she kicked off her sandals and put it beside
the table. Lowering onto her knees, she spread her thighs wide, pushed out her
chest and folded her hands behind her back.
He nearly groaned out loud at the sight of her
uncovered and he was thankful he'd changed into a loose pair of linen trousers.
"Show me your pussy."
Hesitantly, she reached down and spread her
lower lips. As he suspected, she glistened like the early morning sun reflected
on the Eerste River.
"You are wet."
She hung her head forward, her mass of dark
curls covering her face. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. It
was just one brief moment when the two of you were arguing and I pictured the
two of you dominating me. I'm sorry and ashamed of myself. If you decide to put
me on that plane back, I'll go. It's probably for the best," she rambled
in a strained voice.
Hearing her honesty unraveled him. He exhaled a
shuddering breath and lowered his shaking body onto the sofa. What am I doing? They'd only been here
a day and this whole place was messing with his head. Again.
"Come here," his voice sounded like
he was sawing wood, his throat dry.
She stood and walked over to him. He patted his
lap and she lowered her body onto him. He held her chin with his thumb and
forefinger and stared into her brown eyes. Remorse reflected back at him. His
chest tightened and he rested his forehead against hers.
"I never want you to be ashamed of your
desires," he said through a raw throat as he fought to maintain his
composure, to be the man she needed. "But I want you to always be honest
with me about them."
Title: Scores
Author: Kiru Taye
Word count: 45,397
Series: Passion Shields, Book 3
Previous books: Scars and Secrets
Release date: November 20, 2014
Genre: Interracial, Erotic, Contemporary,
Romance
Content Warning: Strong
language, Mild violence, Menage a trois, MFM, F/F, Anal play, Bondage, D/s
Blurb:
In
this dramatic conclusion to Benjamin and Selina Moss's story they must deal
with lust and love, dark desires and danger.
His love
possesses her. Will it protect her too?
Benjamin
Moss has proven how much he cares about his wife, Selina. She pushed him to
shred his iron control and bare his soul to her. In return he's earned her much
guarded heart as well as her body.
But
her past has finally caught up with her and scores will have to be settled
before they can have a happy ending. Can Benjamin's love protect her from those
who seek to destroy both of them? Or will she finally lose the man who's
possessed her body as well as her heart?
***
Do you love a vulnerable hero? Leave me a comment and check out the other mid-week teasers.
