Craving Redemption: Forbidden Series #4 Read online

  Copyright © 2019 by Tracy Lorraine

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by Pinpoint Editing

  Proofread by Paige Sawyer Proofreading

  Model: Danny Mead

  Photographer: James Critchley

  Cover design & formatting by Dandelion Cover Designs

  Andy and Amelia

  Contents

  A Note

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Tracy Lorraine

  Falling for the Forbidden Sneak Peek

  A Note

  Falling for the Forbidden is written in British English and contains British spelling and grammar. This may appear incorrect to some readers when compared to US English books.

  Chapter One

  “You want the usual?” I watch as Joe gestures for the barman. Much to everyone else’s annoyance, she takes one look at him and saunters over, ignoring her other customers who have been waiting longer.

  “What can I get you, handsome?” She bats her very fake eyelashes at him, and he leans forward on his elbows, eating the attention right up.

  Rolling my eyes at them, I glance around the bar. It’s not unusual to bump into a couple of the guys from work here. This place might be a little classier than it was back in the day, but it’s still our regular. It was called Fire back then and was full of drunken students. Now, it’s a fancy bar called The Avenue and has chrome fittings everywhere and chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings. I’d like to think we’ve also grown and are a little more sophisticated, but I usually end up questioning that once we get a few drinks inside us.

  “Here you go,” Joe sings, sliding a prosecco towards me. “To your awesome new housemate.” He clinks his glass to mine, his face deadly serious.

  “You’re an idiot.” I can’t help but laugh at his puppy dog eyes.

  I haven’t lived with anyone since my ex suddenly vanished on me a little over six months ago. I must admit that I’m looking forward to having someone else to talk to. Joe promised me it would be only a short-term fix for his little homeless problem, but I’m in no rush to get rid of him—well, not yet, anyway. We’ve only been living together for a few days. I’ve not had the chance to discover if he has any weird quirks I’m not going to be able to deal with.

  If I start finding stray toenails littered over the bathroom floor, there are going to be issues.

  “So, anyone catch your attention?” I shake myself from my nightmare and look up into his dark eyes.

  “Huh?”

  “Anyone catch your eye?”

  “Oh no, I’m not really interested.” I’ve been going through somewhat of a dry spell recently. When I admitted how long it had been since I’d had sex, Joe immediately demanded I put on my sluttiest dress and dragged me out of the flat.

  I was excited in the taxi on the way here but now, looking around and finding absolutely no one who catches my eye, I kind of want to go home, put my pyjamas on, and snuggle up on the sofa.

  Joe’s brow rises before he turns to scout the perfect man for me himself. I know it’s unlike me. I used to have a reputation for being the party girl, but, after my last two bad experiences with men, I’m more than happy keeping my distance for a while.

  Sipping my drink, I keep my focus on the colourful bottles behind the bar. I used to live for this, for a night out and the thrill of meeting someone new, but with everything that’s happened over the past few months, I’ve totally lost the enthusiasm.

  “Erica, come on. You need to get yourself back out there. Hiding isn’t healthy. It’s not you.”

  “Maybe it’s the new me,” I mutter, sipping my drink. “Anyway, who are you to start dishing out advice? I hate to break it to you, mate, but your life isn’t all that great right now.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Oh, come on. You can’t tell me you don’t realise you’ve been moping around since the day you moved out of yours and Lauren’s flat. I know you miss her. I’m trying not to let it affect me, being your new roommate and all.” I wink to let him know I’m only winding him up. If he needs time to ‘grieve’ or whatever the fuck it is he’s doing, he’s more than welcome to it. I know he appreciates my offer of a place to stay.

  “I just—”

  “You can say it, you know, that you miss her. I know how tight you two were.”

  “Yeah, fine. I miss her, okay?” Something passes through his eyes, and it only feeds my earlier suspicion that there might be more to this than he’s letting on.

  I open my mouth to say more, but I don’t get the chance. Joe is too keen to change the subject.

  “Do not tell me you passed up the guy at ten o’clock?”

  Following his instruction, I look to my left and immediately lock eyes with a handsome older man. A shiver runs down my spine as our eye contact holds. I can’t tell from this distance what colour they are, but they’re dark. Ripping my gaze away, my mouth waters when I take in his pristine white shirt covered with a sharp black waistcoat. Fuck. I’m a sucker for a man in a suit.

  “He is so your type, and by the way he’s staring at you like he wants to devour you, I’d say you’re his, too.”

  “Nope, not interested. I am off men for the foreseeable future.”

  “Fuck off. You don’t really expect me to believe that, do you? You’re Erica Wilde, this is what you do: go out, have fun, pick up guys.” I wince at his opinion of me.

  “Well, if that’s how you see me, it’s even more reason for me to swear off men.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it. I just meant that…fuck, I’m screwing this up. You’re not yourself right now, and I hate it. You’ve lost that sparkle in your eye. Your zest for life. He stole that from you.”

  “No,” I spit. “We do not talk about him. Ever. You got that?”

  “I know. I’m just…I’m worried about you.”

  “I could say the same thing.”

  “I’m fine. I just need a good fuck. You’ve been winding me up all week, walking around in those little fucking shorts and practically see through top—”

  “That top is not see through.”

  “Maybe not, but I sure as shit know you don’t wear a bra under it.”

  “Yeah, you really do need a fuck.” I pull my eyes from his and look around, much like he did for me earlier. “Guy or girl?”

  “A guy. Definitely a guy. I need him to—”

  “Spare me.”

  Rolling his eyes, he moves to scan the room, looking for his target.

  With Joe’s attention averted, I risk another look at the suit. My skin’s been burning the entire time we were talking, so I know he hasn’t got bored and moved on. Our eyes lock once again, and I swear they fucking call to me. They drop to my lips and I watch as his tongue sneaks out and runs along his bottom one. My thighs clench and my fingers curl around the bar stool I’m perched on as my body temperature spikes.

  I allow myse
lf a minute to appreciate him.

  His eyes are hard, and there are a few lines creasing his forehead. His lips are pressed into a thin line. From anger or desire? Only he knows, but damn if I don’t want to go over there and find out. He’s got the perfect amount of stubble on his jaw, just enough to enhance what I’m sure his mouth is capable of but not enough to leave a rash.

  Biting down on my bottom lip, I try to imagine what it might be like to be with a man who looks as dominant and dangerous as him. I’ve experienced my fair share of demanding lovers, but he looks like he might be capable of taking it to the next level. Tingles ignite in my core as I think about how capable he probably is.

  “I’d put one hundred quid on you leaving with him tonight,” Joe says in my ear. I laugh but my eyes don’t leave the suit’s for even a second.

  “You don’t have any money, and we both know it, so how about you keep the gambling to a minimum?”

  “You just know you’ll lose. If you need me, I’ll be over there. Good luck.”

  I expect him to get up and walk off, but to my surprise, Joe grabs my chin, tilts my head back and slams his lips to mine. My eyes widen in shock, as do the suit’s. “Knock him dead, sweets.” And then he’s off into the crowd, as if that just didn’t happen.

  Downing what’s left of my drink, I fight to stop my lips curling up in satisfaction when I watch the suit rise from his seat. I quickly try to decide what I should do. Sadly, any decision I might have been coming to is taken away the moment a man slides onto the vacant stool beside me. The first thing I notice is his scent; it’s expensive and sexy as fuck. My mouth waters, wondering how it might make his skin taste. Next is the heat of his breath as it skates over my neck, and then it’s the deep timbre to his voice. It’s so rough it has a slow throb erupting between my legs.

  “See, I had him down as your gay best friend. But that wasn’t the kiss of a gay man.”

  “And you would know that how?” My voice comes out as a breathy whisper, and I immediately chastise myself for being so swept away by him already.

  “Because he knows how to kiss a woman.”

  “Did you come over here to discuss how my friend kisses?”

  “No, I came to tell you that it worked.”

  “Huh?” I ask, turning to him for the first time. It’s a stupid mistake, because what I thought was a seriously handsome man from across the bar I soon see is breathtakingly gorgeous—and terrifyingly dangerous close-up.

  “You weren’t listening to him, so he took matters into his own hands. And here I am.”

  “Yeah…here you are.”

  His low chuckle causes my temperature to kick up a few more notches. “We’ll have a bottle of whatever she’s drinking, and I’ll have another.” He pushes his tumbler towards the barmaid who’s looking at him much like she was Joe earlier. Hussy. She takes a few moments to appreciate the masculine beauty in front of her before turning to fulfil his order. When he turns back, his eyes narrow in confusion. “What?”

  “Oh nothing, Casanova.”

  His lips curl in an amused smirk. “Oh, her.” Shifting forward on his stool, his legs surround mine and my breath catches the second we connect. “There’s only one woman I can see in this bar, sweetheart.” His hand reaches out and gently tucks a lock of my curled red hair behind my ear. Naturally I’m a mousey brunette, but after my last disaster I decided a change was needed so I went for the brightest box money could buy.

  Our eyes hold, and suddenly everything around me disappears. It’s just me and him, the captivating darkness of his eyes, and the sizzle of electricity that sparks between where our legs are touching.

  “Thank you.” Reaching out for the glass the barmaid pushes my way, I rip my eyes from his and take a very large sip of the small amount she poured. It’s not enough, but I fear the bottle might not be, either.

  Chapter Two

  “Dance with me,” he demands after a few seconds of heavy silence between us. His hand reaches out, his fingers twisting with mine. It’s the first time I’ve been able to appreciate his muscular, tattooed forearms that are showcased by his rolled-up sleeves.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

  “It’s not optional.”

  “But…my drink.” It’s my last attempt to put off the inevitable. The tension between us crackled while we were just sitting here. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like once my body’s moving to the music alongside his.

  A little of the ‘old’ me trickles through my veins.

  So what I’ve been screwed over by the previous men I’ve allowed between my legs? That shouldn’t stop me from enjoying myself, especially when it’s with someone who looks like the man currently pulling me from my bar stool, offering me a release I so desperately need.

  He catches the barmaid’s attention, and her eyes light up when she realises who’s calling before he barks, “Put it on ice. We’ll be back.”

  She nods and he takes off across the bar. While this floor might be sophisticated these days, both up and downstairs are still clubs with dancefloors to die for. I usually go up, force of habit from my younger days, but when Suit gets to the stairs, he pulls me down. There’s something about heading towards the basement with him that has excitement pulling at my lower stomach.

  Maybe he’s just what I need to drag me out of my rut and to re-start my life once again. Hell knows I’ve been spending too much time working—not that I really have a choice after the colossal mistakes I made that nearly forced the doors to close on the business for good. I push that thought to the back of my mind. I don’t need to be worrying about that right now. I don’t need to be worrying about anything.

  As we descend, the beat of the bass starts to vibrate the floors and rumble through my feet. My heart begins to race and my muscles ache to be dancing, to feel his hot body up against mine and his hands roaming over my skin.

  I’ve no clue what the song is; I’m too lost to the anticipation of what’s to come next. In only a couple of minutes, he’s shown me that he’s a man who likes to be in control. I can’t wait to find out how he dances, how he handles my body.

  It’s only a couple more seconds before I get to find out. His footsteps slow and his arm tugs until I’m forced to come up against his chest. With my favourite heels on, I’m not all that much shorter than him and I’m able to look up into his intense eyes. I’m just about able to see the silver flecks within the dark steel grey that give away his excitement.

  The knowledge that he’s feeling the same connection between us right now that I am has my stomach clenching in need. Suddenly, I wish we weren’t in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by other people. With his scent filling my nose, his dark stare filling my mind and his body pressed up against mine, the only thing I can think of is getting him out of his fancy suit and finding out exactly what he’s hiding beneath.

  The arm he’s holding around my waist, keeping us locked together, tightens, and his hips roll in time with the music.

  Holy shit, he can move.

  Sliding my hands up his chest, the softness of the expensive fabric of his waistcoat caressing my palms, I wrap them around his neck and allow my fingers to tease the short hair at the nape.

  His eyes drop from mine in favour of my lips, and I’m powerless to stop my tongue darting out in preparation for what I hope is to come.

  The hand that isn’t holding me threads in my hair. He grips with an almost painful force before his lips find mine.

  The moment we connect, my body is on fire. My heart thunders in my chest, ensuring I can feel it in every part of my body. My skin tingles and my core aches. If he can dance and kiss like this, then I really want to find out what else he’s capable of.

  His tongue forces its way into my mouth and caresses against mine. My knees almost give out as this man takes over my body completely.

  Nothing else exists. It’s just the two of us, our bodies doing what they were designed to.

  Our kiss continue
s, our tongues duelling as we fight to discover every inch of each other’s mouths. Dropping his hand from my hair, he ghosts his fingers down my exposed spine. He swallows my moan, but not before I feel him hardening against my stomach.

  Long before I’m ready, he rips his lips from mine and spins me around. My skin burns as he takes in my bare back before his hands land on my hips and my arse is pulled to him. One hand skates up my stomach and comes to rest on my ribs, dangerously close to my breast that’s begging for his touch. My nipples are hard as bullets, the fabric of my dress brushing against them only adding to the pleasure building within me.

  His lips kiss a trail down my neck. He sucks and bites, making me crazy with desire.

  “You’d let me fuck you right here, wouldn’t you?” The deep rumble of his voice only makes the answer to his question more obvious.

  When my only response is to groan, he continues. “I wouldn’t, because I’d have to kill every motherfucker who laid eyes on you.”

  Jesus.

  “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”

  Resting my head back against his shoulder, I look up to his hooded eyes. “Take me home.”

  His eyes get even darker, and the hint of danger in them has heat pooling between my legs. It’s been too long, and I need what he’s offering more than I need my next breath.

  “Let’s go.” His voice, deep, rough and powerful, vibrates through me. The second his hot palm lands on my lower back, I follow his lead, away from the dance floor and up the stairs.

  “I thought we…oh.” He pushes me in the direction of the bar. I watch in delight as he leans over and shows off his round arse as he grabs the bottle waiting for me.