Deacon
Starkis Family #1
By Cheryl Douglas
Cover designer Fantasia Frog Designs
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Content warning 17+
When Deacon Starkis
sets his sights on the gorgeous young model gracing the pages of his glossy
catalogue, he knows he has to have her. One problem. She’s not available. But
that won’t stop Deacon. He’s a man used to getting what he wants and he wants
Mia.
Mia is stunned when
she receives an email from the elusive billionaire who owns the lingerie
company she models for. He tells her he’s intrigued. He’s not the only one. But
she knows she’d be a fool to throw away an eight year relationship for a brief
affair with the head honcho. He doesn’t do relationships and she doesn’t do
casual sex. It seems they’re at an impasse.
Who will come out
on top in this battle of wills? The dominant one or the woman intent on
teaching him the meaning of submission?
I stared at my
reflection. “I don’t understand, Barbara. I thought Eleni was supposed to be
modeling the bridal collection.”
She pinned the
white bustier until my full breasts spilled over the top. Then she artfully
arranged the white sheer robe so it revealed just enough of her handiwork to be
enticing without looking trashy. “What the boss wants, the boss gets. Even if
it means we have to lose sleep to get these damn alterations done on time.”
“Remind me to give
you a raise, Barbara.”
I turned so fast that
the pin Barbara was holding jabbed me in the thigh, but I barely noticed. It
was him. Oh God. I couldn’t breathe. I was going to pass out right there.
“Mr. Starkis,”
Barbara said, a blush stealing over her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t hear
you come in.”
“I’d like a moment
alone with Miss Barnes, Barbara.” He gave her a pointed stare before he said,
“I’ll try not to keep her too long. I understand you’re on a tight schedule.”
She lowered her
head before gathering her measuring tape and pins. “No problem, take all the
time you need.”
He waited until
Barbara had closed the door and we were alone before he whispered, “Theia, you
look breathtaking.”
I still didn’t know
what theia meant, and I was beyond irritated to be meeting him under these
circumstances, especially armed with the knowledge about his penchant for young
models. Closing the gap in the sheer robe, I tried to stare him down, but it wasn’t
easy. Even standing on a pedestal and wearing four-inch heels, I was still
slightly shorter than he was.
“We meet at last.”
He stepped closer and ran a fingertip over my cheek. “You’re even more
beautiful in person than I imagined you would be.”
His accent was more
pronounced than it had been over the phone and sent delicious chills up my
spine in spite of my annoyance at my body’s betrayal.
His bright blue
eyes flashed with irritation. “You are annoyed with me. Again?”
“I’m not having
this conversation here.” I looked around, wondering if he’d seduced other women
in that very room. “I’m working. Kindly leave.”
His irritation
blossomed into anger. “I own this goddamn building. No one tells me when to
leave.”
Oh. Feeling
properly chastised, I did the only thing I could. I turned away from him and
fixed all my attention on the mirror in front of me.
He walked around me
in a slow circle, his hand rubbing the dark stubble on his square jaw. “Mmmm,
this looks even better than I imagined it would. It’s so easy to imagine
unwrapping you on our wedding night.”
When one door
closes, another one opens. I closed the door to my business for the last time
in 2011, which left me with a decision. What now? Find another location and
move my nutrition business, go to work for someone else, or take a chance on my
dream? I chose the latter and I’ve never looked back!
I’ve always loved
reading and writing, but it wasn’t until I jumped in with both feet and decided
writing would be my career, instead of just a hobby, that my muse woke up from
her deep slumber.
It was like someone
flipped a switch inside my head and stories just came pouring out. At the end
of the day, I would often look at the keyboard and wonder, ‘Who the heck wrote
that? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure it wasn’t me!’
I don’t write
books. I tell stories, or rather, I allow my characters to tell their stories
through me. I’m not a plotter, never have been, never will be. Why? Because I
have no idea how the story will evolve and it’s not my place to manipulate it.
My job is to get to know these characters, figure out what makes them tick,
then follow their journey wherever it takes me.
When I’m not
writing, I’m daydreaming. Thankfully, I have an understanding husband and son
who know I’ll re-join the land of the living just as soon as my muse decides it’s
quitting time. I don’t work for myself. I work for her. She’s the boss. And I’m
okay with that.
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