We’re celebrating the release of The Sinner’s Bargain by Claire Contreras! We have an excerpt and some teasers to entice you, so be sure to let us know what you think!
Goodreads
{EXCERPT}
bedroom door opening alerted Amara
of his presence. She’d learned to sleep lightly, always expecting his
unannounced visits. Squinting her eyes as unwanted light from the living room
seeped in, she propped herself up on her elbows.
now?” she croaked, as Colin’s figure approached her bed.
his prerogative to visit her at any time he liked. According to him, he could do with her as he pleased. He
hadn’t touched her, though. Even after a full week, he still hadn’t touched
her. She wasn’t sure if she should be upset or thrilled about that, but the
uncertainty didn’t last very long. Amara had bigger things to worry about, like
her mother’s health and the fact that she still had to go to Wicked, Méchant’s
American company, without Colin finding out.
fairytale she’d dreamed up for herself when she’d imagined being with him
again…probably because she wasn’t with him at all. It felt more like she simply
existed in his world, but nothing more.
here,” Colin responded, as he reached the foot of the bed and sat down heavily.
go?” she asked, leaning up on her elbows to look at him. Even though she
couldn’t see him clearly in the dark, she saw his shrugging movement.
not sure what women who sell their bodies for money are in the habit of doing,”
he said. His tone was lighter now, but still had a bite to it that made her
cringe.
go home and ask Molly.”
for a while. “Why did you do it? Why didn’t you ask me for help if you needed
it?”
plopped back onto her pillow. She could smell the alcohol and cigar smoke on
his breath. The only time he wasn’t hostile toward her these days, was when he
was drunk, often enough now,
especially at night. She probably didn’t owe him an answer—it’s not like he actually cared—but
she spoke nonetheless.
Colin. You of all people should know that.”
exhaling loudly. “We used to tell each other everything, Amara.”
RELEASE EVENT and GIVEAWAY: THE SINNER’S BARGAIN by CLAIRE CONTRERAS
We’re celebrating the release of The Sinner’s Bargain by Claire Contreras! We have an excerpt and some teasers to entice you, so be sure to let us know what you think!
Goodreads
EXCERPT:
bedroom door opening alerted Amara
of his presence. She’d learned to sleep lightly, always expecting his
unannounced visits. Squinting her eyes as unwanted light from the living room
seeped in, she propped herself up on her elbows.
now?” she croaked, as Colin’s figure approached her bed.
his prerogative to visit her at any time he liked. According to him, he could do with her as he pleased. He
hadn’t touched her, though. Even after a full week, he still hadn’t touched
her. She wasn’t sure if she should be upset or thrilled about that, but the
uncertainty didn’t last very long. Amara had bigger things to worry about, like
her mother’s health and the fact that she still had to go to Wicked, Méchant’s
American company, without Colin finding out.
fairytale she’d dreamed up for herself when she’d imagined being with him
again…probably because she wasn’t with him at all. It felt more like she simply
existed in his world, but nothing more.
here,” Colin responded, as he reached the foot of the bed and sat down heavily.
go?” she asked, leaning up on her elbows to look at him. Even though she
couldn’t see him clearly in the dark, she saw his shrugging movement.
not sure what women who sell their bodies for money are in the habit of doing,”
he said. His tone was lighter now, but still had a bite to it that made her
cringe.
go home and ask Molly.”
for a while. “Why did you do it? Why didn’t you ask me for help if you needed
it?”
plopped back onto her pillow. She could smell the alcohol and cigar smoke on
his breath. The only time he wasn’t hostile toward her these days, was when he
was drunk, often enough now,
especially at night. She probably didn’t owe him an answer—it’s not like he actually cared—but
she spoke nonetheless.
Colin. You of all people should know that.”
exhaling loudly. “We used to tell each other everything, Amara.”
Cover Reveal: The Sinner’s Bargain by Claire Contreras
Scheduled to release: September 30, 2014
“That’s Mr. Wolfe’s.” Lisbeth said, pointing to her left. “That’s Mr. Underwood’s, though I think it’s temporary. I don’t really know.”
“Who is Mr. Underwood?” Amara asked. She tried to keep her voice calm.
“He’s one of Mr. Wolfe’s assistants. The large accounts go through him.”
Amara swallowed and gripped on to her purse, trying to keep her head from spinning. It was only a name.
“What’s his name?” she asked, despite herself.
Lisbeth stopped walking and turned to her, confused. “Excuse me?”
“Mr. Underwood. What’s his name?”
If a pin dropped during the pause, Amara would hear it and point exactly where it fell, that’s how anxious she felt.
“Brandon…” Lisbeth said, her brows crinkling. “Do you know him?”
She shook her head lightly and cleared her throat. “Nope. Just sounded familiar.”
Lisbeth shrugged and turned back around, pointing at the desk in the center of the room. “This is your desk.”
“That would be correct,” she heard Colin say behind them. Amara closed her eyes momentarily, until the heat that his voice produced began to wash away. “I’ll take it from here, Liz. Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Mr. Wolfe,” Lisbeth responded as she walked back to the elevator. “Let me know if you want to do lunch, Amara.”
“I will. Thank you.” Amara smiled, turning around to watch her go, though she refused to look at Colin head on.
“Perhaps another day, Liz. Amara needs to accompany me to my lunch meeting today at twelve. Please remind me fifteen minutes prior.”
“Sure thing.”
The elevator closed and Amara finally tore her eyes from it to look at Colin. He was running his tongue between his teeth as he assessed her body and her face.
“You look…” His eyes traveled down her body one last time before he cleared his throat. “Very professional. Let’s get started.”
Amara frowned and shook her head. She knew what he wanted to say, she could see the desire flickering in his eyes as he stared at her, but she played along. Amara pivoted around and swayed her hips a little more exaggerated than usual as she rounded the desk and sat in the chair. When she looked up, Colin was still standing in the same spot. Coincidentally, the suit he wore matched her skirt. It fit him as if it was made for him. He always bought the athletic fit tailor that hugged his strong back and arms. Colin’s dark gaze was glued to her as he strode over to her.
“Did you get a chance to see my office?” he asked casually as he walked toward it.
“Nope.”
“Well, come take a look. You’ll have to know where the files go when you bring them to me, in case I’m on the phone or not here.”
Amara pressed down on her heels and stood, following him into the large corner office. She brushed past him, directly to the floor to ceiling windows and looked for her apartment building. She was sure she could see everything from there.
“It’s a beautiful view.”
“It is,” he agreed. She heard his chair sliding against the hardwood and let herself enjoy the view for a moment longer. He was looking at her when she turned around to face him.
“So, the files.”
“Yeah, the files,” he said, placing his hand on the right side of his desk. “I want them here. Anything I sign and is ready to be sent out, I’ll put on this side.” He signaled the left side of his desk. “I don’t think you can fuck that up.”
Biting her tongue, she looked away from him, back to the city, and reminded herself to breathe. “I think I’ll be fine. Anything else?”
“You’ll be in charge of my schedule. You’re on call all the time, anything I need you’ll have to take care of.”
She cut her eyes to him. “How did I end up here?”
“I shelled out a fuck load of money, that’s how.”
Life is short, and it’s more bitter than sweet, so she tries to smile as often as her face allows. She enjoys stories with happy endings, because life is full of way too many unhappy ones.