Southern Player, a full-length standalone romance by Jessica Peterson.
My dating history is lame. My experiences in bed? Even lamer. As the owner of a thriving business, I’m used to calling the shots. But one place I don’t always want to be in charge is in the bedroom.
Enter Luke Rodgers. My brother’s best friend. Former Major League baseball player. A guy who now hangs out on his farm, sweaty and shirtless, as he nurses a shoulder injury.
If the rumors are true, he also likes to work up a sweat behind closed doors. A total MVP in the sack.
Just the take charge guy I’m looking for.
With Luke and I, it’s game on. And it’s all good until Luke decides he wants forever, and he wants it with me.
I’m just not convinced I can trust Luke. Will he keep playing the field? Or is he really ready to hang up his cleats for good?
If the rumors are true, he also likes to work up a sweat behind closed doors. A total MVP in the sack.
Just the take charge guy I’m looking for.
With Luke and I, it’s game on. And it’s all good until Luke decides he wants forever, and he wants it with me.
I’m just not convinced I can trust Luke. Will he keep playing the field? Or is he really ready to hang up his cleats for good?
Friends to lovers can be a lot of fun. Dealing with the attraction, and the way it changes not only your relationship but the relationships of those around you is complex, and it is interesting. I really enjoyed the scenes where each of them speak with her brother, and his reaction to the news that they are going to give dating a chance. I liked that she was the one who was reluctant to get involved, while Luke was pretty much all in the whole time. I also liked the way it wasn't an "ah ha" moment for Gracie, but rather a realization that she was also all in, and that the relationship wasn't one she was ready to let go of...and that she wanted more.
I took a while to warm up to the relationship with Luke and Gracie. For some reason, I didn't completely feel it in the beginning, and this resulted in my not being fully invested in the first few scenes with them. I also felt a little like I was playing catch up because of this, and that I was never quite in the same part of the relationship as the characters. I do this this impacted my overall ability to engage with the story and the characters.
I am not sure why, and I am fairly sure this was just me.
That said, I did enjoy this overall and I do recommend it.
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Excerpt:
I can’t deny this woman a damn thing.
So I climb onto the bed. The mattress dipping beneath my weight as I crawl to Gracie on my hands and knees.
She is still facing away from me. So I duck down and press my lips to the spot where her neck slopes into her shoulder.
Her skin, warm and soft, pebbles into goose bumps as I kiss her there, nicking the sinew with my teeth.
She sucks in a breath, reaching back to dig her fingers into my hair.
“Luke,” she breathes.
“I love it when you say my name,” I murmur against her skin as I slowly work my way up her neck.
Gracie arches against me, fingernails curling against my scalp.
“Luke,” she says again.
“Yeah?”
“Why do you”—her voice catches when, leaning all my weight on my good arm, I reach around and cup Gracie’s breast—“you talk dirty, but you go slow. Why?”
“Because.” Through the fabric of her shirt, I gather her nipple between my thumb and forefinger and draw it out. “I ain’t rushin’ with you. I been waiting ten Goddamn years to touch you, and I plan to savor every minute. But I am as God made me, baby, and He in all His wisdom gave me a real dirty mouth.”
She moans when I play with her hardened nipple, giving her tit a solid squeeze.
“Never thought I’d like dirty talk,” she says. “But with you—Luke, I love it.”
I grin as I feather my lips over her jaw.
“I noticed.” I nudge her with my nose, and our eyes meet. “Dirty talk aside. I’mma do this nice and proper like, Grace. Meaning I’m gonna take my time and learn your body and draw you out just how you want. Nothing leaves this room. Same as nothing gets left on the table. I’ll give you everything I got, and you better damn well do the same. You want that intensity we talked about? You gotta give me your all, baby girl. You gotta show me everything.”
Her forehead is creased as she searches my eyes for a beat. Then another.
My heart is thudding inside my chest.
“I’ll try,” she says at last. She takes me by surprise when she turns her head a little more and kisses me. A quick kiss, but a hot one. An honest one. “Thank you. For getting it. For doing this with me. It means a lot, and I appreciate it more than you know.”
I look at her. Cock blaring.
“Thank me when I’m done.”
And then I’m getting on my knees and reaching for the hem of her shirt.
About Jessica:
Jessica Peterson writes smart, sexy romance set in her favorite cities around the world. She grew up on a steady diet of Mr. Darcy, Jamie Frasier, and Edward Cullen, and it wasn’t long before she started creating irresistible heroes of her own. She loves strong coffee, stronger heroines, and heroes with hot accents.
She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband Ben and her smelly Goldendoodle Martha Bean.
Connect with Jessica:
Website: www.jessicapeterson.com
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicapetersonauthor
Email: jessicapauthor@jessicapeterson.com
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