Friends to lovers stories are amongst my favorites and I'm thrilled today to bring you an immensely satisfying one, Hidden Depths by Aubrianna Hunter. It's a super steamy read with delightful characters and you'll want to keep reading to find out more about this book. Make sure to leave a comment before you leave for your chance to win a Kindle copy of this book.....
Josh had always walked the line, lived the life he was expected to live. He had, by all accounts, the perfect life; a corporate lawyer, a beautiful home, a family empire to run, and the perfect fiancee. He was well on his way. The only question he had... was that really where he wanted to go? Plagued by dreams, Josh fought all his natural instincts, denying not only what he truly wanted but who he was deep down inside. Until one crazy night when he gave in to his desires...
Could these two polar opposites have more in common than even they realize?
EXCERPT:
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing, Josh?"
"Why Georgia, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh cut the crap, lawyer boy."
Bringing them literally nose to nose, he whispered against her lips, "That's three, baby."
"What are you doing? Someone is going to see us. Back up."
Josh noted that she was telling him to back up, but her lips were moving the tiniest bit closer. He could kiss her, right here, right now. And she would let him.
But, if anyone saw them, she would hate him, and what they had would be over before it truly began.
With more control than he thought he possessed, he backed his head away from hers and spun her away from him, until she was facing the bar. Removing temptation, while still allowing him the feel of her body.
"Teasing me like that, Gia, is worth two... so that makes it five."
It took her a second to respond, letting him know she was just as affected as he was. "Five what?"
He leaned in and smiled against her ear. "Spankings. Every time you tease, torment, or simply act bitchy, you are going to earn yourself another."
She leaned her body back against him, almost sagging into him as gooseflesh ran down her arms. That, combined with the little shiver she gave, told him all he needed to know.
"You really like that idea, don't you baby?"
"Fuck you, Josh." Her words were harsh, though her tone was raspy. The desire he heard in her tone shot straight to his cock.
Grabbing her hip with one hand, he gripped the bar with the other, half convinced he would break the damn thing with his grip. "Here and now, or did you want to wait until we get back to my house?" He used his grip to grind himself against her ass.
He realized just how carried away they'd gotten when instead of pulling away, she leaned into him with a breathy little moan.
"Ah, hell Gia." He pulled away from her taking a full step back before he did something colossally stupid. Taking a deep breath, he was trying to calm himself when the bartender showed back up, drinks in hand.
Taking the beers, he asked Gia to grab Deb's martini and he turned to head back to the table. He stopped for just a second, and leaned in to say quietly, "Now we're up to seven, Gia. One for the 'fuck you' and one for the teasing. Just how badly are you going to behave the rest of the night?"
**********
"What are you doing? Someone is going to see us. Back up."
Josh noted that she was telling him to back up, but her lips were moving the tiniest bit closer. He could kiss her, right here, right now. And she would let him.
But, if anyone saw them, she would hate him, and what they had would be over before it truly began.
With more control than he thought he possessed, he backed his head away from hers and spun her away from him, until she was facing the bar. Removing temptation, while still allowing him the feel of her body.
"Teasing me like that, Gia, is worth two... so that makes it five."
It took her a second to respond, letting him know she was just as affected as he was. "Five what?"
He leaned in and smiled against her ear. "Spankings. Every time you tease, torment, or simply act bitchy, you are going to earn yourself another."
She leaned her body back against him, almost sagging into him as gooseflesh ran down her arms. That, combined with the little shiver she gave, told him all he needed to know.
"You really like that idea, don't you baby?"
"Fuck you, Josh." Her words were harsh, though her tone was raspy. The desire he heard in her tone shot straight to his cock.
Grabbing her hip with one hand, he gripped the bar with the other, half convinced he would break the damn thing with his grip. "Here and now, or did you want to wait until we get back to my house?" He used his grip to grind himself against her ass.
He realized just how carried away they'd gotten when instead of pulling away, she leaned into him with a breathy little moan.
"Ah, hell Gia." He pulled away from her taking a full step back before he did something colossally stupid. Taking a deep breath, he was trying to calm himself when the bartender showed back up, drinks in hand.
Taking the beers, he asked Gia to grab Deb's martini and he turned to head back to the table. He stopped for just a second, and leaned in to say quietly, "Now we're up to seven, Gia. One for the 'fuck you' and one for the teasing. Just how badly are you going to behave the rest of the night?"
**********
She was going to kill him. A long, slow, painful death. After she sexually tormented him for hours on end first, of course.
If she was honest, she was actually more angry with herself, or at least with her body, than he was with him. She had almost given in and kissed him at the bar.
Kissed him... hell, she knew it wouldn't have stopped there. At that particular moment, she had forgotten where they were, who they were with. She hadn't cared. The only thing she could think about was having him slip that long, hard shaft inside her and easing the ache.
Josh leaned over, whispering in her ear, "If you don't want me to fuck you right here at this table, you had better get that goddamn look off your face."
"Go to hell Josh," she all but yelled at him. Everyone at the table glanced her way, but since the two of them arguing was nothing new, they merely waited for his response. When he merely smirked at her, they all went back to chatting about whatever they'd been chatting about.
She made the mistake of looking at him and he mouthed out, "That's thirteen, baby."
She trusted him. Completely. At least in this. She knew he would absolutely break her heart in the end, but she knew she could trust him with her body. And quite frankly, judging by the look in his eye, he may not give her a choice. She knew he was deadly serious. She was going to get spanked tonight.
Another little shiver of anticipation ran through her.
Suddenly Josh stood up, almost shooting out of his chair. "Hey, Gia. Dance with me?"
Before she could even answer, he grabbed her arm and tugged, leaving her no choice but to stand and follow unless she wanted to be dragged across the room.
As soon as they were hidden from view, he pulled her flush against him. The contact, combined with the friction of movement, both soothed and tormented her.
After just a few seconds, she heard Josh groan, his already hard shaft, pulsing against her belly.
"You have got to stop looking like that Gia. You are driving me fucking insane."
"Like what?" she asked, honestly confused.
"Like you want me to throw you over my lap and spank you right here."
BUY LINKS: Kindle - Hidden Depths - Kindle Edition | Paperback - Hidden Depths Paperback
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Hidden Depths was a book that immediately grabbed me from the get-go with its theme of friends to lovers. Add in the fact that these two friends are flirty and fun, and immensely likable, and you have an utterly entertaining story with off the chart hot sexual interludes. The fast-paced writing style with its straight-forward storyline makes for an uncomplicated story and a delightful afternoon of fun.
Gia is an unexpectedly delightful heroine who tells it like it is. She's a wild child with tattoos and piercings with an eclectic fashion style that sets her apart from other women. She seems comfortable in her skin but deep down worries that her differences might be too much to be accepted. That's why she chooses to keep her new relationship with rich boy Josh a secret. She doesn't see a future with him in his world so wants to live in the here and now and focuses on the sexual side of their time together. It's going to take a lot for her to see that love is the most important thing when it comes to a HEA and by almost losing what you love will you truly gain it.
Josh is equally as likable and not at all what he first appears. He's a lawyer by day who comes from a family of wealth but doesn't let that define him as he has a hidden naughty side. From his newly acquired tattoo to his nightly sparring with a punching bag he enjoys a walk on the wild side. He's loved Gia for years and finally decides he doesn't want to wait for her any longer. He at first agrees to a just sex relationship as he thinks that's all he can get from her, but after awhile it's not enough and he pushes their relationship out into the open. This has her running for the hills and him fighting to get her back and to see that opposites do attract and keep a relationship fresh and makes for the best HEA.
The witty dialogue between them is entertaining and crackles with sexual tension. It's obvious early on how compatible they truly are and that it's merely an internal struggle that keeps them apart. There are numerous sexual encounters that get more intense as the story progresses and their relationship deepens. These scenes do veer off into a bit of BDSM but never anything too overly intense. Along with these steamy and satisfying encounters comes a entertaining and memorable cast of secondary characters. This groups of friends are realistically portrayed and offer support and insight and I enjoyed the interactions amongst each member of this group and would love for their stories to be told too. Ms. Hunter has written a steamy yet immensely satisfying story that put a smile on my face from the very first page to the last.
My rating for this is a B+
*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
I am often asked; who is Aubrianna Hunter? And the truth is the answer isn't a simple one. Beyond being a dedicated wife and mother, I was raised by a Marine, and married into the Navy.
Needless to say I can go toe to toe with the most sarcastic people you have met, and can dish insults and curse with the best of them. I blurt wildly inappropriate things at precisely the moment when the room goes quiet, so much so that my co-author has nicknamed me Ted... Yes... After the bear in the movie.
Recently my husband has replaced calling me crazy with calling me "Creative", but the tone he uses to do it makes me question his sincerity. Though honestly, crazy is probably closer to reality. I like my hectic life, in fact I thrive in the chaos and would have it no other way.
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**********GIVEAWAY**********
Aubrianna is gifting a Kindle copy of Hidden Depths to one random commenter.
-Giveaway is OPEN TO EVERYONE.
-To be entered, leave a meaningful comment (make sure to leave your email addy as well).
-Winner will be chosen using random.org
-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 5/3.
I was just thinking yesterday about how friends to lovers books really got to me! So, you hooked me with your opening sentence! alisbooks4u@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteReally like the excerpt!!
ReplyDeleteKassandra
sionedkla@gmail.com