Scarred Love by M.S. Brannon
(Sulfur Heights #1)
Publication date: June 6th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
(Sulfur Heights #1)
Publication date: June 6th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
“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.
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**
Excerpt
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.
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