Five simple rules. And it was very
simple…until it wasn’t.
It could have been much worse. We
weren’t thinking straight and had put everything on the line – risking our
marriages. So when Weston ended the arrangement, it was for the best – for all
of us. But I was still heartbroken. I thought I’d shatter into a million
pieces. I didn’t, I survived. Not only did I survive, I came out stronger and ready
to move on with my life.
But then…
Weston reaches out to me. With a few
soft words, a gentle touch and a lingering gaze, he crumbles all my efforts.
Neither Gabe nor I want to start this
again, and we are determined to fight the temptation. But Weston and Bridget
are not taking no for an answer, and the pull between all of us is still so
strong.
I tell myself I can handle it this
time. This time, I am in the driver’s seat. This time, I am rewriting the
ground rules.
4.5 Stars by Lisa Kane
This series evokes such strong emotions in me. On the one hand I am opposed to open marriages. I think they may fill a void in the short term, but I think any good they do is eventually outweighed by the bad in the end. And to be honest, I'm not so sure that this series won't end the same way. But I can't stop reading about this train wreck. The characters are so beautifully flawed and so multi layered that it is impossible for me not to turn the pages to see what they are going to do. I might add that they break my heart with their thoughts and their actions. Fortunately, the story is told from Ella's POV only, I could not stand reading about her husband, Gabe's POV when he is having sex with Bridgett, Weston's wife. No can do, won't even try and go there. It's bad enough when he admits he really likes having sex with her; I have to skim over those parts.
When the first book ended, Bridgett and Weston broke things off with Gabe and Ella. Ella had crossed the line; broken one of the hard fast rules and admitted to Weston she was in love with him. He shut things down after that and he and his wife callously cut off the other couple like they were unwanted employees. Ella was blindsided, threw a briefcase at his head and was determined not to let this rip out her heart. Gabe, being a typical guy, got over it in about a day. I get the feeling he isn't as emotionally involved with Bridgett as Ella is with Weston. He has a dark, kinky side and I think Bridgett fulfills some needs he has that Ella isn't willing to-but again, I'm not going to think about that too much.
I try not to think about Weston. When I get emotional, I do. Getting over him has been hard, but I'm almost there. I've been picking up the pieces, one at a time, and damn, were they heavy.
Its three months later, the Christmas holidays are around the corner and Ella receives a beautiful, expensive broach in her mail box. No card. But she and Gabe both know who it's from. Then the calls and texts start. No way is Ella going to give Weston another chance to break her heart. She refuses him at every turn. But then he makes a strategic move and has Bridgett contact Gabe. Oh, this is going to get interesting. Gabe admits to Ella that he has missed the sex with Bridgett (can't take these parts!) but he will leave it up to her if she wants to start their relationship all over again.
Of course there would be no story if they didn't decide to open up this Pandora's box again. This time, Ella swears it will be on her terms, she has no interest in being at Weston's beck and call. She will call the shots or there will be no deal. Of course, the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions...
Just as before, she falls under Weston's spell, only this time it seems he is the one desperate for her. He reveals heartbreaking info about his life with Bridgett and why they fell into the life of an open marriage. Gabe is enjoying his time with Bridgett, but is feeling insecure about Weston. It's obvious that he can provide so many more things for Ella than Gabe ever could-he's no fool, he knows she is infatuated with Weston. Not sure if he realizes just how deep her feelings go.
"How do you feel about that Mirella?" he asks me, his tone serious. "Another woman enjoying your husband?"
His question catches me off guard. I know we're not supposed to be talking about this. But I contemplate his question, regardless.
"Well, I've been enjoying you," I point out. "Immensely," I add with a sly smile. "And I guess that's the idea, isn't it? We're sharing and we're both benefiting."
This one has some steamy, guilty pleasures in it. There is one scene in particular that will get those juices flowing-it seems Weston likes to watch and Ella and Gabe provide quite the show. I needed kitchen mitts to handle my Kindle for that scene!
The dynamics are shifting in this one-Weston interacts with Ella's kids and the families are co-mingling. Ella is unsettled with all of this and is falling again. Hard.
"No one would see it unless you're wearing a slinky bikini. It would be just for us."
I look up at him. "Weston would see it."
He looks away. "Yes, exactly, he wou-"
"You don't own me, Gabe," I snap. "Stop treating me like property."
HIs gaze fixes mine. "I know I don't own you, Ella. But you are mine in a sense. You doing this for me would show me you're in it for the long run."
I close my eyes."But I am."
"Can you guarantee that? Can you tell me we'll be together five years from now? Can you tell me you won't be in Hawaii, sipping pina coladas with Weston?"
So once again, decisions are made in hopes that in the end it will avoid hurt and heartbreak. But she may have misjudged the depth of Weston's feelings for her. Not to mention this latest book ends on the mother of all cliffy's. How this is going to play out-I have no idea but I NEED that last book!
He pulls his lips from mine, and trails a finger along my cheek. "Your body might be marked as his...but you'll always be mine."
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The Ground Rules (book 1)
FIRST KISS – Mirella and Weston
I grab the umbrella and sprint off across the street, running surprisingly fast in my heeled boots. I shoot him a sly smile as I look back at him. He tries to keep up with me but he’s slowed down by a passing car. He’s caught in the rain and getting thoroughly drenched. I laugh at him as I make my way to the other side of the street. I retreat to the shelter of the alcove of a fancy apartment building, surrounded by Roman-like pillars, a satisfied smile on my face.
Of course, he does finally catch up with me, and when he does, he grabs me tight, dripping all over me. He looks adorable; face soaked, dripping hair plastered on his head. I could just drink him up. “Enough,” he says, his eyes serious. “Enough of these little games.” He grabs my face and presses his mouth against mine. I revel in his kiss. It’s so perfect; hot and sweet. He lets out a moan as I take his tongue in my mouth. I feel his kiss all the way through my core.
Well, there goes my ‘no kissing’ rule.
The heat oozes in me. It seems I’ve been waiting for this kiss all my life. His warm mouth shocks my senses, a sharp contrast to the coolness of the night. I moan into his mouth as I grab his cold wet face, and deepen the kiss. My kiss is hungry, clingy. I don’t want to let go. Despite myself, I respond to him thoroughly…uninhibited.
Our mouths our tangled in a hot mess. Teeth clanking, tongues dancing.
God, what the hell am I doing?
\
Romance writer, mom,
book junkie. I have been writing for over ten years, finding my passion for
romance in 2008. When I'm not spending time with my family, I enjoy reading,
painting, and writing - there is nothing I enjoy more than sitting down at my
laptop and making up my own stories - and if those stories should include
beautiful men, a little romance, and a few steamy scenes, all the better!
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