Scarred Love by M.S. Brannon
(Sulfur Heights #1)
Publication date: June 6th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
“I am certain, without any doubt, she was meant to be in my life. We belong to each other. I spent too much of my time consumed with what everyone else thinks of my feelings for Darcie, but the truth is, it was always supposed to be this way.” ~Reggie Evans
Darcie Claiborne spent several years of her young life living with a monster, always fearing what he would do next. Clasping onto her last ounce of hope, Darcie releases a scream. It’s her final attempt to live; to survive the villain of her reality. Sweeping her up in his arms, Darcie’s knight in shining armor rescues her from the hell she’s been living; from the stepfather she’s feared for all those years.
Reggie Evans has been forced to grow up before he’s ready when his mother dies of an overdose, leaving him responsible to raise his younger brothers. One fateful night, Reggie jogs by an old, run down house and discovers a young girl clinging to life as she screams for help.
Three years later, Darcie is healing and always protected by the man who saved her, but now she’s fighting with something she isn’t prepared to face. The growing love for the man who saved her life three years ago, the same man who’s nine years older. All the while, Reggie fights to protect Darcie from the demons of her past and new ones of her present.
**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content**
Darcie Claiborne spent several years of her young life living with a monster, always fearing what he would do next. Clasping onto her last ounce of hope, Darcie releases a scream. It’s her final attempt to live; to survive the villain of her reality. Sweeping her up in his arms, Darcie’s knight in shining armor rescues her from the hell she’s been living; from the stepfather she’s feared for all those years.
Reggie Evans has been forced to grow up before he’s ready when his mother dies of an overdose, leaving him responsible to raise his younger brothers. One fateful night, Reggie jogs by an old, run down house and discovers a young girl clinging to life as she screams for help.
Three years later, Darcie is healing and always protected by the man who saved her, but now she’s fighting with something she isn’t prepared to face. The growing love for the man who saved her life three years ago, the same man who’s nine years older. All the while, Reggie fights to protect Darcie from the demons of her past and new ones of her present.
**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content**
Purchase:
Reggie
I make my way from
behind the bar and spot their table. Drake, Presley, Grady and Darcie
are sitting around, laughing and sipping their drinks when I
approach. She really looks happy with this douche; it makes my heart
sink further. I release the frustrated breath I was holding and walk
right up to their table.
“Hey, Reg, it’s
fucking crazy in here tonight,” Drake says.
“Yeah, that’s
why I’m here. You guys should leave. It’s way too packed and I
can’t keep an eye on you and everyone else,” I say, looking
straight at Darcie.
Grady instantly
recognizes I’m addressing Darcie and stands to challenge me. “I
don’t know who you think you are, but I can take care of her
myself. Back the fuck off.”
“You’re in my
Goddamn bar and if I want you to leave, then you’ll leave. So get
the fuck out before I toss you out on your ass,” I seethe with
anger. It’s been a month in the making and I’m ready to lay this
fucker flat.
I ball up my fist
and roll my head from side to side, loosening up my muscles. Grady
moves around Darcie, getting dangerously close. He stands a few
inches shorter than me and breathes his beer laced breath in my face.
The corner of my mouth lifts slightly as I get this gratifying urge
to punch the guy’s face.
Jake and Jeremy come
from the pool tables to stand behind me. Jake is bouncing like he’s
on a pogo stick. His excitement is impossible to contain because he
knows I’m about to kill this dude. “I’ve been waiting for a
fucking month for this to happen. Knock his bitch ass out, Reggie!”
Drake protectively
moves Presley behind him, but places his hand on my shoulder. I jerk
my arm forward. No one is going to stop me from destroying this
douche bag. “Lay off, Drake. You aren’t stopping this.”Drake
steps back and joins Jeremy and Jake a few feet behind me. They have
witnessed my murderous rage before and know I am beyond the point of
no return. I square my shoulders and roll them back. Clenching my
fists open and closed, I glare down Grady, careful to never break our
gaze. The bar turns deathly quiet as a crowd forms around us. Here we
go. I’m ready to knock this useless piece of garbage on his ass. My
feet turn as I ready myself to punch Grady in the face then I see
her.
Darcie moves from
behind Grady and stands beside him. “Reggie, please. Don’t do
this. We’ll leave okay. Just…don’t do this.” Her face is
pleading. The anger starts to slowly dissolve. Darcie has the uncanny
ability to convince me of anything. The boys often take advantage of
it because they know I can’t say no to anything she asks. I start
to relax, settling my tense muscles. I can’t hurt her. Not again.
Jake shouts from
behind me, “Darcie! He disrespected Reggie in his own bar and
deserves to get his ass handed to him. I remember a day when you
would be on our side. Now you’re a fucking traitor!”
“Fuck you, piss
ant!” Grady shouts back to Jake.
This situation is
spiraling out of control quickly. Darcie’s face falls as she looks
like Jake slapped her across the face. “Jake! Shut up! Don’t say
that to her!” I shout back to him.
Grady’s glare
turns deadly when he steps within inches from my face. “You
know…you’re really starting to piss me off. She’s not your
girl! She’s mine!”
I’m ready to blow.
She’s not his! She will never be his! Darcie is mine, forever! I
clench my fists again and ready myself to destroy Grady once again
when Darcie moves between us. Her hands are on my chest, pushing back
against me. The smell of vanilla perfumes the air as Darcie wedges
herself between Grady and me.
I break my gaze from
Grady and meet her pleading, jade colored eyes. She’s my solace.
When I look at Darcie, I find peace in a world filled with shit. I
relax my fists and bring my hands to the side of her face, just like
I’ve done so many times before, but this time, like the few times
before, is different. This time, I want nothing more than to press my
lips to hers. As we look into each other’s eyes, time stands still.
Everyone else disappears. It’s just us. For a split second, she
glances at my lips then back to my eyes. Her head nods slightly and
before I can make my move to kiss her, Grady pushes against the back
of Darcie and tries to cheap shot me in the jaw.
AUTHOR BIO:
M.S. Brannon was born and raised in the Midwest. She still resides there today with her wonderful husband and son. When she is not writing or reading, M.S. Brannon spends time with her family, watching movies, and discovering new music. She writes romance because she believes love and heartache is the rawest emotion one can experience.
sounds great! liked the excerpt! thanks for giveaway :)
ReplyDelete(dimka)
Thanks for dropping by! Good luck in the giveaway :)
DeleteThis sounds amazing!!! I can't wait to see how their relationship will work and how Reggie will help her get away from her stepfather :)
ReplyDeleteI had a couple of excerpt to choose from and they were all amazing! Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteThanks for the chance! :) so excited....
ReplyDeletebohol tour packages goal is to provide excellent service at affordable costs. We know that there are many tour operators and travel agencies offering similar services, but we are here to give you the best possible Bohol tour experience you can imagine. We are fun to be with and we will make sure that you won't get bored with your travels within our beautiful island.
ReplyDelete