"Plans for a one-night stand leads to so much more."
Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko
Posted November 14, 2019
Romance Erotica Sensual | Romance Contemporary
Nothing like being left at the altar to sour a woman on men, but there is one man that Alexandra Cayne, aka Alexa, remembers fondly. Having met Raphael at her bachelorette party, he almost made her forget she was engaged at the time. Six months later, she is again at the club with her friends, but this time for a breakup bash. This time she is trying hard to remember THE FIRST RULE OF HOOK-UPS when her friends disappear, and his music starts up. Too bad she has a job lined up and will soon be gone. Or will she?
Raphael Dumond, aka Raphael the Dream Maker, remembered Alexa and when he finds out she is single he's ready to entice her into his arms. He might have worked on stage but he never planned on that being his forever lifestyle and seeing Alexa again, he is glad he is also a businessman. Owning the club might not be as sexy as dancing but it is much more honorable in some people's eyes.
THE FIRST RULE OF HOOK-UPS is a sexy, fun read that just happens to be the first Breakup Bash book by Nina Crespo. These two start out with plans for a one night stand, then they try a little longer, and a little more until they are in love. I have to admit that it did take awhile to get into the characters and for me to really get into a book, I have to find the characters at least compatible. These two are very compatible as they both work through their pasts, their problems and find each other. There has to be a conflict in all romance books and that is true with this one but seeing Alexa and Rafe work together to get through them is amazing.
If you want an engaging read filled with a steamy yet sweet romance, a couple who learn to depend on and back up each other with a supporting cast of characters that will make you smile, laugh and do just a bit of crying then THE FIRST RULE OF HOOK-UPS has it all and more.
SUMMARY
Someone once told me that there are worst things than being left at the altar. Well, not many, in my experience. That was six months ago, though, and my life has moved on. Heck, I have a new job lined up and I'm leaving town.
But, I can't deny that my love life kind of sucks.
That's why I let my friends convince me to join them for Club Escapade's Breakup Bash. And we might just be disillusioned enough to actually enjoy it. Last time we were here, it was for my bachelorette party. That night, I met one of the dancers - Raphael - and when he flirted with me, I almost forgot I was engaged. And there's a part of me that never forgot him.
Now, it seems my friends have wandered off and I'm thinking about calling it a night. Until the music begins and I see Raphael, my secret fantasy, on stage. And this time, I'm definitely not engaged...
ExcerptEXCERPT
THE FIRST RULE OF HOOK-UPS by Nina Crespo
The DJ’s voice broke in over the song. “Looks like the cowboy on stage is ready to ride. Who’s going to break him in?”
Women held up their hands or pointed to friends.
The two Hunks searched for a lucky victim. It wouldn’t be her. Alexa stood up as they moved away, intending to head for the bar. Some other woman would get the chance to run her hands over Rafe’s sculpted perfection. Not that she cared. A ping of disappointment struck. Okay, maybe she was a tad envious. She squeezed through the group behind her. Someone grasped her arm. She turned her head and met the liquid brown gaze of the Hunk sporting a shaved head.
He winked at her and smiled. “You’re wanted.”
Before she could respond, he ushered her past tables and steered her up the stairs to the stage.
Raphael’s predatory stare blocked out the room. Her mouth grew dry, and her heart knocked against her rib cage. What did he want with her? Why did the Hunk next to her have a rope in his hand? Did Raphael plan on tying her up? Was it wrong that she wanted to tie him up and ride his cock instead? Of course it was! Sex wasn’t part of the show’s carefully choreographed entertainment.
The blond Hunk looped the rope around her waist. He tossed the free end across the stage.
Raphael caught it. He wound the lasso around his hand, pulling her closer. When she was a few feet away, he jerked her forward.
She fell into him, and the pleasing mix of sandalwood, citrus, and musk surrounded her. The slightest brush of his lips over her earlobe sent a rush of desire flooding to her middle. What is he doing? Last time he hadn’t used props. It had just been the two of them, sitting on a chair.
“Hold on to me.” He loosened the rope, and it dropped to the floor.
She’d barely grasped his shoulders when he lifted her straight up and spun her around in a circle. Surprise and a rush of exhilaration tore a squeak out of Alexa.
He sat her on the hay bale, then pushed her knees apart. His pecs tightened, and his abs rippled as he eased between her thighs with a slow-motion grind.
Her hands developed a mind of their own, and suddenly she was touching his chest. A fine sheen of sweat and oil eased the glide of her palms over smooth skin. A sigh wrapped in a moan escaped from her. He was so hard. Everywhere.
A you-want-me smirk settled over his face as he dragged her hand to the rivet of his jeans.
The same expression of amusement on his face now had lit up his eyes on the night of her bachelorette party. She’d taken it as a challenge, to see if she could really turn him on. Every time she’d landed on him, she’d wiggled on his lap. Toward the end of the Musical Hunks game, he’d had a hard-on, and those gorgeous eyes of his had darkened with lust.
But she’d neglected to keep that kind of desire burning in Brad.
Images of her having fun back then intertwined with the humiliating crash of her wedding day. Brad’s parents had blamed her for what happened. They’d insisted she’d failed him in some way. Why else would their precious son have left?
Failure. Betrayal. The words bore into her, and the mind-numbing sadness she’d worked so hard to bury for months started to leak out. Alexa grew cold and heavy.
Just when her hand was about to slip from his, Raphael grasped her fingers.
His warmth, along with the intensity in his eyes, dragged her back from jilted-bride hell. He stared as if he really wanted her, but his desire was an illusion. It was all part of the show to make his performance believable. Like Brad, proclaiming the day before what should have been their wedding day that he loved her and couldn’t wait to get married.
“Don’t let opportunity pass you by. Indulge.”
That’s what Nat had said earlier, but free to indulge in what? Another carefully orchestrated lie?
Raphael braced his hands on either side of her and leaned in. “Come out and play, princess. Unzip me.”
The huskiness in his voice awakened her desire. Why couldn’t she play along? This was all a game, wasn’t it? She wouldn’t get hurt, disappointed, or cast aside.
His gleaming zipper screamed temptation.
She popped open the metal stud on his jeans, and the heat of his abdomen seeped into her fingers. He was the Dream Maker. She could explore him without risk and forget her troubles for the next five minutes of his performance.
Alexa eased down the tab of the zipper, unveiling the front of his black underwear. Did he have on a G-string? Anticipation made her shake. This was like unwrapping a present, and he was her sexy surprise.
He moved closer.
She widened her legs, and the hem of her dress inched up. As she caressed up the sides of his waist, her worries about her purple lace bikinis being on display to the audience were lost in the sensation of his jeans grazing her inner thighs. She scored her nails over the tight muscular ridges of his stomach.
He sucked in a breath, and as he released it, his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared.
Raphael moved farther in and came inches away from seating himself firmly between her legs. His body heat penetrated through the lace of her bikinis, and her sex pulsed.
She’d relived the last time he’d danced for her so many times in her mind. How he’d picked her up with no effort and switched places, putting her in the chair.
In one easy movement, Raphael grasped her waist and set her farther from the edge of the hay bale. He crawled up. Alexa scooted back, and her stiletto heels caught in the tangle of fake straw. As he covered her, she had no choice but to lay under him.
Hands planted on either side of her, he hovered. His fathomless green eyes never leaving hers, he closed the inches between them, engulfing her in body heat. His whisker- shadowed jawline lightly rasped over her cheek. “Touch me. You know you want to. I won’t bite.” He chuckled, and the deep, rich rumble vibrated into her. “Unless you want me to.”
Copyright © 2018 by Nina Crespo. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.
Entangled Publishing, LLC 2614 South Timberline Road Suite 105, PMB 159
Fort Collins, CO 80525 [email protected]
Brazen is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
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