Felix's brother Dylan is getting married, and Felix isn't happy about it. For one thing, his brother is an abusive jerk. For another, a wedding and a new extended family means that at some point, someone is going to try to give him a hug.
Felix hates to be touched--a quirk that has kept him from having a romantic relationship with anyone, and that he thinks will doom him to be forever alone--an idea that actually doesn't bother him all that much. What's bothering him is the brother of his future sister-in-law--Isaac Mason.
Isaac is everything Felix is not--athletic, outgoing, and very physical. And for some reason, he just won't leave Felix alone.
The other thing that's bothering him is the secret he's carrying around about this brother. Can he let his brother's fiance marry a man who might be abusive without at least warning her? And what other secrets is his brother hiding? The more Felix learns about Dylan's Perfect Wedding, the less he likes the idea. Too bad he's agreed to plan most of it. As the day of the event draws near and more secrets come to light, Felix may have to choose between love and truth.
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Warnings: This story contains strong language, explicit sexual content, and depictions of abuse (not graphic).
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Book Two of Five in the New Beginnings Series.
**You do NOT have to read Inhale, Exhale, & Breathe to enjoy these stories**
SALEM LUNA:
Does anyone ever feel like they're riding a mechanical bull that is never ending? No matter how many times you get thrown off the thing, you appear right back on it?
No? Just me then?
See, I have this best friend. Former. Best. Friend. It's taking my brain a while to get used to it. Whatever. I'm hopelessly in love with him, and I tried desperately to admit my feelings out loud.
So, I did.
Raven Fox told me not to love him, and the look he seared into my skin when he said it was now branded into my brain.
Now we're on the university book club Christmas retreat. Who did I get roomed with? Raven because of course I was given the bird. The damn bird that didn't love me in return. Which would have been fine had he not looked like the idea disgusted him.
Six months have gone by since that day, and our tension is growing with more animosity each second.
Now, we're doing activities together, and Christmas is my favorite holiday. He's not screwing this up for me.
After a snowstorm starts hitting, though, I end up stuck in the middle of nowhere, out of gas in my snowmobile. I'm terrified as the wind starts picking up and snow starts whipping my face.
I thought he wasn't listening. That he didn't care.
So, why did he become the one to save me? Why does he look so distraught? His words say one thing, but his eyes are telling me his words are lies.
Raven is lying to me.
He loves me.
But he doesn't want me to love him.
All I want to know is why because I can't breathe without him anymore.