Carver's Book Cravings: Cover Reveal: Stuck In Between by Blakely Bennett

Title: Stuck In Between

Author: Blakely Bennett

Genre: Erotic Romance

Release Date: March 24, 2014

Cover Designer: Yocla Designs

~ Synopsis ~

Jacqs is a twenty-eight year old woman caught up in an on again, off again relationship with Bond, who is her best friend and the one who causes her the most heartache. She succumbs, yet again, to his powerful charisma, but vows not make it into more than it is, a great night of sex.

Bond, too sexy for his own good, wants Jacqs for himself as he “dates” his way through the female population of South Florida. He selfishly doesn’t see the conflict of interest.

Red, Bond’s best friend, has watched Bond take Jacqs for granted for way too long and soon stakes his own claim on her.

Will Red and Jacqs budding relationship pull apart their tight-knit group of friends and will Jacqs survive being Stuck In Between.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20560304-stuck-in-between

~ Excerpt ~

I shook out my hair, put my shoulders back and stood as straight as possible. I wouldn’t let Red intimidate me. When I strutted over to him, his expression left me confused. He’d always been so cold, like a granite statue and yet, I couldn’t read the new side to him.

“Why did you want me to come and what did you mean? Wait … no … shit, what I really wanted to say was that I appreciate you coming to get me.”

“Let’s go have a drink.”

“A drink?”

“Yes, you could use one.”

“Would you stop doing that?” I said, squinting up at him through the outside house light that cascaded around him.

“Doing what? I just offered you a drink,” he said, resting his back against his vehicle and folding his arms in front of him.

“No, you said I needed one. You’re so bossy.”

He laughed and said, “You bring it out in me. I’ll do my best to temper the urge.”

“You have urges?”

“You don’t want to know,” he said, glaring down at me.

“Oh … I,” I stuttered, my nipples flaring at his intent. I crossed my arms over my chest as well.

Grabbing my hand, he pulled me along with him into the house and through the main sitting area. Dreamworld played through the sound system. Cat gave me a questioning look as Red led me into the kitchen. I shrugged my shoulders back to her. He opened the refrigerator, fingered a Mike’s Lemonade and a bottle of Dos Equis, popped the caps and swooped up my hand again in his large palm, leading me out to the back.

I loved all the palms and the large stone deck around the Jacuzzi and pool. His two-story home sat on the intracoastal waterway, allowing him to keep his boat right behind the house.

Two guys I didn’t recognize sat at the wrought iron table by the pool, smoking cigarettes.

“Hey Ray, Charlie, glad you could make it,” Red said, pausing but not releasing my hand.

“Thanks for the invite. She’s a tiny one,” one of the guys said, tilting his head in my direction.

“She makes up for it with a big mouth,” Red said with a smug expression.

I tried to pull my hand out of his grip, but he held on so tight I had to use my free hand to punch him in the shoulder. I would have preferred to punch his jaw but I figured it would hurt me more than him to hit the sharp edge of his face.

His friends chuckled, leaving me even more incensed.

“And he makes up for his Neanderthal size with his small personality or at least that’s what he calls it,” I said, purposefully looking at his pants.

That made his friends fall out in hysterical laughter and I felt rather proud of myself.

“Come on, you,” he said, dragging me back inside and up the stairs to his bedroom.

I had never been in there before. So neat and organized, it could have been a room in an upscale hotel except for the antique furniture on either side of the fireplace and the art on the walls. A chair sat near the entrance to the room, a pair of slacks over the back of it.

“What the hell is going on with you Red?” I said as I finally managed to pull my hand away from his. “You’ve never given me much notice over the years. How long has it been?”

“Five years.”

“I’ve been putting up with your crap for five years? Jesus.” I took the lemonade from his hand and took several swallows.

“Take it easy, Jacqs,” he said, closing the door behind him and leaning back against it.

“Stop telling me what to do, would you?”

“I can’t help myself,” he said with a slight smile.

“Try.” I sat on the edge of the bed, putting plenty of distance between us.

“I didn’t much care for your joke.”

“Your friends rather liked it and you started it. Don’t fuck with me and I won’t fuck with you back.”

“Do you have to talk like that? It’s very unattractive.”

“What the fuck … shit …um heck do you want from me?” I drank more to boost my courage.

“I’m warning you, Jacqs.”

“Warning me? From what? What will you do?”

“Don’t push me.”

“I push your buttons without even trying.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“Are you going to answer me?” I asked. “Because, if not, I’ll just head home.” I stood, finished off my drink and took a step toward the door that he blocked with his massive frame.

He crossed the distance between us, swiped the drink out of my hand, placing both bottles on the corner of his dresser. Before I had a chance to fight or protest he lifted me under my arms, off my feet, and placed my back against the wall. He groaned as if it pained him and then he descended on my mouth with his.

I tried to push him off me, but he remained hard as steel and I finally gave over to the incredible sensations he stirred within me. I took his large face in my little hands and that caused him to groan in pleasure, deepening the kiss. As I wrapped my legs around his bulky frame, he held me closer and carried me over to the antique chair by the door. He sat down with me on his lap, and we just stared at each other for a moment.

Afraid of breaking the spell that I knew would end once reality set in, I sat, waiting. He ran his hands up my neck, followed by his mouth, kissing and nibbling. Chills fluttered down my spine and I moaned, “Oh, Red.” Wetness pooled in my panties and I wanted him to take me. I wanted to know what his cock looked like, tasted like. I didn’t care if we ever spoke again afterwards, or if my motivations stemmed from getting back at Bond. Red had sparked an intense need that required fulfillment and I wanted him to take me.

Running my hands through his short cropped red hair, I pulled his mouth back to mine and he took control. Clutching my wrists, he held them with one hand behind my back, and bit his way down my chest. He unbuttoned the rest of my blouse, pushing the silk down off my shoulders, exposing my breast and hard nipples to the air.

“No bra? You’re naughtier than I imagined.”

“You’ve thought about me?”

“Incessantly. Keep your arms behind you,” he said as ran his hands under my breasts and lowered his mouth. “I had no idea.”

“What?”

“For such a tiny woman, you have rather large nipples.”

I scrunched my face, not sure if he liked what he saw.

“No need for the funny face, I love them.” He sucked on my right nipple and I closed my eyes in pleasure. His big hands kneaded my flesh and pulled on my left nipple.

“Ohhhh,” I called out, arching into his caresses.

“Shhhh,” he said, “I think I heard something.”

“Don’t stop,” I pleaded.

“Stay the night.”

“That’ll go over well with Bond, for sure.”

“Did you have to mention him?”

The bubble had burst and in my embarrassment, I scurried off his lap and buttoned up my shirt. I glanced in the mirror on the dresser and smoothed out my hair.

He pushed into me from behind, grasping my breast over my shirt. He nipped my earlobe and said, “I’m not done with you, but I need to check on the party below.” He clutched the nape of my neck, turning my head toward him and kissing me one last time. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

~ Author Bio ~

Blakely Bennett grew up in Southeast Florida and has been residing in the great Northwest for over eight years. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a degree in psychology, which accounts for her particular interest in crafting the personalities, struggles, and motivations of her characters. She is an avid reader of many genres of fiction, but especially erotica and romance. Writing has always been her bliss. She is attracted to stories of self-struggle and ultimate recovery.

Blakely is married to a wonderful, loving and supportive husband, also a writer, who helps to keep her grounded. She is a mother, a communitarian, a lover of music (always on while she is writing—thank you, Pandora), and a good friend. An advocate of love and female empowerment, she is a facilitator for a women’s group. She loves to walk and hike for exercise and finds that, since moving to Seattle, WA, she is now one of those “crazy” people who walk in the rain.

Stuck In Between (erotic romance) is her 5th novel. She is also the author of the dark erotic suspense, My Body Trilogy (My Body-His, My Body-His (Marcello) & My Body-Mine) and co-authored the contemporary romance, The Demarcation of Jack with her husband, Dana Bennett.