Forever Wicked: Wicked #4 Page 12

  Have I wondered what it would be like to be on the receiving end of that attention?

  Sure.

  Any girl would.

  “I ate way too much, actually,” I admit, realizing he’s still staring down at me. “I’m feeling kind of nauseous.”

  I start to turn away, but he catches my hand. The feel of his skin on mine sends little jolts of electricity up my arm.

  “Careful. I don’t want to ralph on your tux,” I warn, my voice wavering at the edges.

  “Do it. It’s a rental. I’ve had worse nights than a pretty girl vomiting on me.” His mouth twitches, but it’s his words that stop my heart.

  “You called me pretty,” I blurt.

  He stiffens for a moment, glancing back toward the tent.

  Then back to me as if deciding something. “Must be the champagne.”

  But his words have my hands reaching for his shoulders.

  I wait for him to pull away, but after a moment, his hands find my waist.

  He shakes his head, sending hair falling across his lean face. “I’m gonna miss you this summer. Especially your baking.”

  “Rice Krispies squares don’t count as baking,” I inform him for the millionth time. “There’s no oven involved. Besides, there must be girls at school who’d be thrilled to make you food and do your laundry, tune your guitar, anything else you might need.”

  “Sure.”

  A seed of jealousy takes up residence in my stomach until he says, “But all they see is good looks and a musician and they’re useless.”

  “You’re not that good-looking,” I lie, and his face splits into a grin.

  “God, yes. That’s why I like you.”

  Tyler starts to step back, and my body protests…

  He doesn’t let me go. If anything, he pulls me closer as I move with him.

  I bite my cheek as my pulse kicks in my chest, a beat far more powerful than the one emanating from the tent.

  His touch heats at my waist, and I want to press against his hands.

  “I thought you didn’t dance?” I’m afraid to point it out in case this moment shatters like one of the hundreds of crystal champagne flutes stacked next to the bar.

  “I don’t.”

  Those two words have my blood humming in my veins.

  I’ve always been good with experiencing emotions. If you name them, you stand a better chance of hanging on to them, of understanding them. But this one’s hard to pinpoint.

  Anticipation. Curiosity. Longing.

  Possibility.

  He moves us over one step. Forward. Back.

  Each step has me losing track of the squares, of everything that’s not him. The feel of his body.

  The way his company lifts me out of the dark place I was in moments ago.

  “I’m leaving tomorrow,” Tyler says, and those words cool the blood in my veins.

  “Don’t go.” The word’s out before I can stop it, and I swear his fingers flex, nudging me closer. When I speak again, I’m murmuring against the lapel of his tux, the wool brushing my lips. “I got used to seeing you in the summers. Hanging out. Jamming in the Big Leap bus.”

  “Yeah. Me too.” His exhale is heavy, as if he’s considering not only leaving me but the memories too. “You’ve got my number.”

  My stomach twists, and it has nothing to do with the food. “You know it’s not the same. I can’t listen to a new song you’re working on. Or invite you over for dinner. Or save your ass in English when you need to write an essay on the theme of… I don’t know… King Lear or something.”

  I have to tilt my chin up to meet his gaze, and my breath sticks in my throat at how near he is. I expect him to make a joke, but all he says is, “I know.”

  He lowers his forehead to mine, and I stop breathing.

  I can definitely smell him now. Clean and masculine and a little bit woodsy. I wonder if he tastes like he smells or if he’s lighter or darker. Sweeter or more bitter.

  I’ve never wanted an answer so badly.

  “It’ll be a while before we see each other again,” I say, struggling to keep my words from sounding choked.

  “Maybe not.”

  His eyelids fall to half-mast, and my fingers brush through the hair above the collar of his suit. It takes everything in me not to tug him closer.

  I don’t know if it’s him moving me anymore or the music moving both of us. I’ve stopped caring.

  “Hey, Annie.” Tyler’s voice is a whisper over my cheeks, my lips, my bare shoulders. “Promise me something.”

  “What’s that?”

  I’m aware of every part of him, from his gorgeous face to his broad shoulders and chest to his hands, fingers calloused from countless hours on the guitar.

  My hands tighten around his neck. The feel of him this close has me hot everywhere despite the cool breeze.

  “Don’t hate me.”

  Confusion drags my brows together. “I could never—“

  “No matter what,” he interrupts. “I’ve got your back. Always.”

  Tyler’s lips graze the corner of my mouth, and the lightest brush electrifies me, sends shockwaves that leave my lips and breasts and toes tingling.

  But before I can respond, he’s gone, down the steps and halfway across the grass toward the tent.

  My fingers flex on my skirt, missing the feel of him already as I watch him disappear into the darkness.

  “It’ll be a while before we see each other again.”

  “Maybe not.”

  I look down and realize my feet are on the black square on the opposite side of the board.

  And between the letter in my pocket and the boy who’s left me tingling…

  I know something is about to change.

  Thank you so much for reading Forever Wicked!

  I hope you loved spending more time in Jax and Haley’s world.

  * * *

  The more I wrote these stories, the more convinced I was that Tyler and Annie have their own epic story. I’m writing it NOW and let me tell you…

  * * *

  Tyler and Annie are every bit as angsty, twist, thrilling, and addictive as Jax and Haley. Maybe even more so *gasp*

  * * *

  If you’re as excited as I am for their trilogy…

  Order A Love Song for Liars now and get it at midnight on release day!

  I fell for Tyler Adams when he had nothing but a guitar.

  He was mysterious. Beautiful. Talented. Broken.

  Every girl at school worshipped him, but he was my rebel prince.

  My twisted muse.

  My best friend.

  I swore I’d never fall for a rockstar. He swore he’d never become one.

  We both lied.

  Have you read Wes and Serena’s sexy story? It’s a full-length standalone AND book 1 in my smart NYC-based series about an edgy PR firm, the badass women who run it, and the hot, maddening men who love them.

  * * *

  Read Easy Love Now!

  Here’s what readers are saying about Wes and Serena’s opposites-attract story:

  * * *

  "Intelligently written, funny, sweet, quirky, heartfelt and romantic. Wes is a dream."

  * * *

  “The slow burn is to die for!”

  * * *

  "Piper Lawson writes characters you're either instantly smitten with or wishing were your BFF... I was crushing on Wes from the start."

  Also by Piper Lawson

  ~ WICKED SERIES ~

  (Jax + Haley)

  * * *

  Good Girl

  Bad Girl

  Wicked Girl

  Forever Wicked

  * * *

  (Annie + Tyler)

  A Love Song for Liars

  A Love Song for Rebels

  A Love Song for Dreamers

  * * *

  ~ PLAY SERIES ~

  * * *

  PLAY

  (Max + Payton)

  * * *

  NSFW

>   (Avery + Charlie)

  * * *

  RISE

  (Riley + Sam)

  * * *

  ~ MODERN ROMANCE SERIES ~

  * * *

  Easy Love

  (Wes + Rena)

  * * *

  Bad Love

  (Logan + Kendall)

  * * *

  Twisted Love (coming soon!)

  (Ben + Daisy)

  * * *

  ~ TRAVESTY SERIES ~

  * * *

  Schooled

  (Dylan + Lex)

  * * *

  Stripped

  (Nate + Ava)

  * * *

  Sealed

  (Dylan + Lex novella)

  * * *

  Styled

  (Ethan + Jordan)

  * * *

  Satisfaction

  (Kent + Dahlia novella)

  Enjoy this book?

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  My readers are the most amazing readers in the world.

  * * *

  There, I said it.

  * * *

  I will take on ANYONE who says they have a better community of book friends and fans. You guys are positive, bold, enthusiastic, supportive, and basically amazing humans and I couldn’t write and publish without you!

  * * *

  Just one more reason I love you: You leave reviews for my books that share your excitement for my stories, get the word out to other readers, and motivate me to write MORE BOOKS!

  * * *

  I’d be beyond grateful if you could take two minutes to leave a quick review wherever you found this story.

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  When you do that, be sure to take a quick second to let me know so I can thank you personally! You can drop a comment (www.facebook.com/piperlawsonbooks or www.instagram.com/piperlawsonbooks) or send me an email (piper@piperlawsonbooks.com).

  * * *

  Thanks for being awesome, for inspiring me every day, and for helping make it possible for me to do something I love.

  * * *

  Love. Always.

  * * *

  Piper

  About the Author

  Piper Lawson is a USA Today bestselling author of smart, steamy romance! She writes about women who follow their dreams (even the scary ones), best friends who know your dirty secrets (and love you anyway), and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for (especially after talking with them). Brains or brawn? She’ll never make you choose.

  * * *

  Piper lives in Canada with her tall, dark and brilliant husband. She believes peanut butter is a protein, rose gold is a neutral, and love is ALWAYS the answer.

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  Thank Yous

  First, thank YOU for picking up this book. I love that you trust me to entertain you. And I love entertaining you. It’s such an EPIC win-win, I can’t even.

  * * *

  This book wouldn’t have happened without the support of my awesome advance team and reader group (ladies - thank you for the support, nail biting, and patiently rocking in the corner while I finished part this!). Extra shoutout to Beth and Tammy for doing an early read and holding my hand while I made final tweaks!

  * * *

  Natasha, thank you for the perfect cover. Lindee, I couldn’t imagine better photography to inspire my books. You bring my characters to life!

  * * *

  Cassie and Devon of Joy Editing, thank you for questioning, polishing, and catching all the little things.

  * * *

  Thank you Dani for getting the word out and making me a better doer AND planner! And Annette and Michelle… I would not be able to get these books to the people who matter most without your help. If there was an author life before your support, I was in a fugue state because I remember NOTHING.

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  Last but not least thank you Mr. L, the world’s best beta reader and the guy who makes sure my world doesn’t break while I’m sequestered in my writing cave.

  * * *

  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. A little-known secret: the best part of author life isn’t writing books. It’s the privilege of having YOU ALL in my life.

  * * *

  Love. Always.

  * * *

  Piper

  Copyright 2019 by Piper Lawson Books

  * * *

  Line and copy editing by Cassie Roberston and Joy Editing

  Cover design by Natasha Snow

  Cover photography by Lindee Robinson Photography

  * * *

  This book is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locations are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  * * *

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.