Deer in Headlights (Hearts and Arrows 1) (Good god series) (35 page)

“No, actually. I even eat it in the bathtub.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Wanna piece?” Perry extended a little rectangle to her.

“Yes, please.” Dita slipped it into her mouth, and it melted on her tongue. “Mmmm. That actually makes me feel a little better.”

Perry sat for a moment in silence. “So, he’s super pissed, huh?”

Dita snorted, then kissed the dog and pushed herself up to lean against her fluffy pillows. “Uh, yeah. Super pissed. He’s currently being a magnificent baby about it.”

“Well, Dita, Apollo killed him. Literally gored him to death. I’d say he has a right to be pissed.”

“But, gods, Perry. It’s been eons.”

“Not for him. Time passes differently for him. He experiences things in a linear way, but he doesn’t perceive time like you and I do.”

“I know. But time has passed for me, and I’m not going to keep punishing Apollo. Especially because the more I think about it, through everything we’ve been through, I can’t believe Apollo acted alone.” She tucked the covers under her arms. “Anyway, I don’t know if Adonis is going to get over this. I mean, right now, he’s not speaking to me at all. When I dream, I just wait for him.”

“You’ve had fights before.”

“Yeah, but not like this.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“What can I do?”

Perry pushed her glasses up her nose. “I’ll talk to him.”
 

“And in the meantime, I’ll just keep waiting,” she said. She could only wonder how long he would punish her, how long she would have to wait before he would forgive her, if he would ever forgive her at all.

DITA WALKED INTO THE game room to find Ares playing Call of Duty. She plopped down and picked up a controller. “Want to play online?” She grabbed the remote and turned on the second television.
 

“I don’t know, Dita, are you prepared to get your ass kicked? You don’t handle losing very well.”

She turned to him, admiring his profile, from his strong jaw, smattered with stubble, to his heavy brow. She traced the angle of his full lips with her eyes and sighed.
 

They had what Dita would call a volatile relationship, by which she meant they had booty-called for eternity between their constant arguing. Fucking and fighting, that pretty much summed it up. She supposed that was why he was so appealing. No commitment and super hot make-up sex.

He turned to her, feeling her eyes on him, and he cocked a smile when he saw a look that he recognized. He touched her face.

“Come here,” he said, and she leaned toward him, catching herself before their lips met.

She leaned back, huffing as she slapped his hand away. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

He smirked and sat back on the couch, turning his attention back to the television. “Are you ready for the next challenge? Just a few days before we start. My favorite challenges are the ones where you and I go at it.”

Fighting and fucking.
“You’ve never beaten me before. I don’t expect you’ll start now.”

“First time for everything.” He jacked an eyebrow at her.
 

“You’re impossible,” she mumbled as she stood up. But before she could walk away, he grabbed her arm and yanked her down into his chest, catching her off guard. They paused for a moment, neither moving, neither breathing before he kissed her, hard and hot. She pushed against his grip, but his lips against hers dissolved her restraint as they always did, and she relaxed against him, wrapping her traitorous arms around his neck.
 

As soon as he loosened his hold, she stood briskly and wiped the corner of her mouth. “That one was a freebie. The next one, you’ll earn.”

Ares laughed, the sound arrogant and knowing, and she strutted out of the room, smiling to herself.

He wouldn’t be laughing for long.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THERE ARE SO MANY people to thank for love, support, and their generous time. Hopefully I remember everyone!

To my husband, Jeff — Thank you, thank you, thank you. You know what for. If I listed it here, it would be another 50K words.

Joshua Brillhart, you have done so much for this book, it’s kind of ridiculous. From brainstorming to library research to watching the kids so I could write with my headphones on, you were a integral part of this book’s inception. Without you, I don’t know that I would have followed through with it. You kept me pumped on the story, you helped immensely. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for your enthusiasm on mythology, tarot cards, and most importantly, koala bears.

Brandy Ribeira, without your advice, support, critiques, and drunken edits, this book wouldn’t be what it is today. I hope we never get tired of using our fingers to try to recreate sexual positions.

Lori Riggs, my life twin (hopefully one day complete with spandex suits and a theme song), I can’t believe that we’ve gone through yet another career together. Thank you so much for everything — Beyonce memes at the top of the list, then on down to geeking out on video games, movies, and Star Trek. I’m so happy to have shared this experience with you.

Parrish Walsh, my sister from another mister. Thank you for being there for me through another life changing event. At least it wasn’t as gory as cutting umbilical cords.

To all of my beta readers: your reading, edits, and comments helped shape this book. Specifically, thanks to Denise Malone, Tiffany Estrada, Sarah Venegas, Summer Hartshorn, Parrish Hirasaki for the time and energy that you spent reading, re-reading, and marking up manuscripts for me.
 

Mom and Dad, thank you so much for your support, even when we disagree. You gave me the gift of gab, the gift of imagination, and the sheer will and determination that made the herculean task of writing a novel achievable for me. Also, I’m sorry I said the F-word so many times in the book. Please don’t get the bar of soap.

And to my fans, thank you for reading. Thank you for your support. I hope that this book brought you a few hours of entertainment, and that you’ll be back for more when the next book comes out.
 

HEARTS AND ARROWS

DEER IN Headlights (Hearts and Arrows 1)

Snake in the Grass (Hearts and Arrows 2)

What the Heart Wants (Hearts and Arrows 2.5 Novella)

Doe Eyes (Hearts and Arrows 3)

Fool’s Gold (Hearts and Arrows 3.5 Novella)

Hearts and Arrows Box Set

Hardcore (Erotic Suspense Serials)

Volume 1 -
FREE

Volume 2
 

Volume 3

Bad Habits

With a Twist - Summer 2015

Chaser - Fall 2015

Last Call - Winter 2016

Nailed - Erotic Shorts

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with newsletter subscription

Once

FREE
 
short story on Amazon

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

STACI HAS been a lot of things up to this point in her life: a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom to three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, even though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey, and her favorite word starts with f, ends with k.

From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she’s not writing, she’s sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics.
 

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