Title: Before You Break (Between Breaths #2)
Author: Christina Lee
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Author: Christina Lee
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Publication Date: February 2014
Published by: Intermix (Penguin)
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase Links: Amazon \ B&N
Published by: Intermix (Penguin)
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase Links: Amazon \ B&N
Synopsis
A sexy, emotional New Adult romance about a bad boy on the edge and a good girl about to lose control…
The star catcher of the college baseball team isn’t supposed to have skeletons in his closet. But Daniel Quinn is hiding a guilty past so dark he refuses to let anyone get close. Except there’s something about gorgeous, studious Ella Abrams that goes beyond the electric attraction between them—something that makes him want to open up.
Ella has suffered enough heartache and guilt to fill one of her psychology textbooks, but she keeps that part of herself hidden behind a bubbly exterior. Until she receives an anonymous call while working the suicide helpline and the voice on the other end touches something inside of her that she can’t ignore.
Soon Ella and Quinn’s physical connection heats up, even as their deep and revealing hotline talks intensify. But by the time Ella realizes that her seductive jock and her sensitive caller are the same guy, it might be too late to save him—or to stop herself from falling too far.
*A companion novel to ALL OF YOU
Excerpts
BEFORE YOU BREAK Excerpt #1
“My mom likes you,” I said, biting my lip. “I can tell.”
“Yeah?” He turned to face me, his voice softening. “You think she can tell that I like her daughter?”
My breath caught in the back of my throat. Something had shifted in the air between us. It was heavy and heated. Something so commanding I felt it down to my toes. My heart was thrashing so loudly against my chest, I was sure he could hear it.
He moved closer than any two friends should rightfully stand and his spicy scent enveloped me. Oh Lord, if I didn’t get a taste of those full lips I would die on this very spot.
Right this very instant.
When I looked up into his face, his eyes had become hooded.
Words were shouting inside my skull. And then they worked their way onto my lips. They were hanging there, dangling for dear life.
Just take a chance, damn it. Take a gamble, Quinn.
Kiss me and let’s find out what this magic is between us.
But he’d been the one who’d held back that other night, so the ball was in his court.
“It’s not just me who feels this, right?” Quinn mumbled. His fingers curled around my neck, his thumb mapping patterns in the hollow of my throat. “I’m not crazy?”
The words that had been so readily available just moments before had flitted away on the wind. I’d wanted this moment for days. Weeks. Maybe even years.
“There’s something here, Ella. Between us,” he whispered. His lips were a breath away and I momentarily shut my eyes to gain control of my erratic breathing.
“I don’t know what this is or what the hell might happen,” he said, rubbing his finger along the edge of my earlobe. “But I do know one thing.”
Still, I couldn’t move or even speak. I was motionless—hypnotized by his eyes, his lips, his words.
Finally, my hands became unstuck and I slid them up his chest to his shoulders as he shuddered against my touch.
“I know I need to put my mouth on those pretty lips and kiss you,” he said with so much conviction, it felt like a swarm of butterflies had been let loose in my stomach. “Do you know that, too?”
His eyes now held me prisoner and all I could do was mouth the word Yes.
I heard the screen door creak open at the top of the stairs, letting in a sliver of sunlight. Ella came bounding down the steps wringing out her tank top, too busy to notice me. She stood in front of the bathroom door and lifted her wet shirt over her head. I saw the smooth skin of her back, her delicate neckline, and how the baby hairs from her bun had gotten tangled in the knot of her black bikini top.
All I could think about was sliding my hand down the soft skin above her shorts, on the small of her back. I stepped closer and cleared my throat so she’d know she wasn’t alone.
She turned toward me, eyes wide.
“My bad,” I said, my voice coming out hoarse. “Sorry if I scared you.”
Her tits looked fucking amazing in that bikini top and I couldn’t help my jaw from hanging open as I tried to reign in my dirty thoughts.
She stood stock-still as my eyes roamed over her body.
Like she welcomed it. Wanted it. Needed it.
Her breaths became harsher and when my eyes met hers, she held me there, transfixed. I couldn’t have looked anywhere else even if I’d tried.
“You always seem to catch me in some state of undress,” she mumbled.
I moved nearer and noticed how water had beaded in her cleavage. I imagined my tongue lapping up each drop and my hard-on strained against my zipper.
“I’m not much better this time,” I said referring to my shirtless torso and wet cutoffs.
Her eyes skated over my shoulders, down my chest, to the front of my shorts. If she hadn’t had a clue how much she’d affected me, she would now.
Gazes pinned on each other, we both seemed to lose the ability to form coherent sentences. I was close enough to draw her into my arms and kiss the hell out of her, but I restrained myself.
The air between us was charged. It was obvious and imposing. My knees quivered as my urge to hold her amplified. To press my nose along her collarbone and taste her skin.
Ella was biting her lip so hard, I wondered if she’d draw blood.
Looking into her bright-blue eyes, I noticed her dark and thick lashes, the pretty rose color splashed across her cheeks, and the dainty hoop earrings she wore in her ears.
Both of our fists clenched tight, it was as if time stood still. Waiting on something to happen. For one of us to make a move. For someone to walk in and spot us huddled so closely together.
My own breaths were broken and rough and all at once Ella squeezed her eyes closed and inhaled sharply.
“Ella . . .” I closed the distance between us and placed my fingers on her warm arm. “Are you . . .”
I didn’t even know what I was asking. I was lost in her earthy smell, her soft skin beneath my touch, and her lips, moist because she had run her tongue across them.
I noticed how her nipples had pebbled beneath her swim top.
“Do you want . . .” I skimmed my hand up her shoulder to the nape of her neck and she shivered against my touch. She gazed into my eyes and took firm breaths through her nose.
“Say something, Ella,” I mumbled.
She shook her head and then slid her fingers to my waist. Her hands felt like they were on fire and my skin prickled like it might burst into flames.
The anticipation of this moment coiled tight in my stomach as I glided my hip against hers and pinned her to the wall. I was sure she could feel how aroused I was through the thin material of my shorts.
A moan tumbled from her mouth and her head fell back against the brick wall.
I leaned forward and dragged my nose along her jawline, resisting the urge to lick her skin. When I pulled back, the burning desire in her eyes was as palpable as mine.
I knew I shouldn’t take this any further. And I figured she knew it as well.
But now I understood without question that she wanted me. And, fuck, I wanted her.
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About the Author
Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything.
She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
She also owns her own jewelry business, called Tags-n-Stones(dot com), where she hand-stamps meaningful words or letters onto silver for her customers.
She loves to hear from her readers. You can find her on her WEBSITE: www.christinalee.net. From there you can link to her Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Follow the author at these links
Facebook \ Website \ Twitter \ Goodreads
Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything.
She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
She also owns her own jewelry business, called Tags-n-Stones(dot com), where she hand-stamps meaningful words or letters onto silver for her customers.
She loves to hear from her readers. You can find her on her WEBSITE: www.christinalee.net. From there you can link to her Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Follow the author at these links
Facebook \ Website \ Twitter \ Goodreads
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