Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

A pril 19 th

I thought my New Year’s Resolution to lose my virginity by taking inspiration from my favorite romance novels was over. Meet-cutes had failed. Trying to ‘auction’ off my virginity had failed. Shifters in the form of furries failed. Having a fake date ended with a kick to the nuts. I decided to put my resolution aside and focus solely on my work as a romance editor since, taking cues from the heroines in my books, I have been promoted in my job. I’ve gone from a no-name assistant to the new Senior Editor of Romance. Something I am incredibly proud of and something that happened because I was bold and went after what I wanted.

This was how I found myself at WET, the hottest night club in New York, celebrating the promotion with my friends, who’ve been taking their own cues from romance books and kicking butt in their jobs. Just when I thought it was time to put this virginity losing adventure behind me and continue to focus on my career, the universe sent me sailors. Hoah! Fleet Week is fate stepping in and telling me it’s time to get laid. It’s raining horny men in uniform. Hallelujah!

“I think the universe has spoken,” Leah Hatcher said with a grin as Paige looked over the railing from the exclusive VIP lounge of WET night club in New York City with her book club, AKA her best friends, Leah, Eli Trumpano, and Amelia Brown. Leah was shaking her hips and tying her blonde hair up into a ponytail as they watched the sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen take over the night club.

Paige Turner was not VIP material at the hottest night club in New York City. In fact, none in her book club were, but this all started on December 31 st . Her book club had made a joint New Year’s Resolution to be more like the main characters of the romance novels they loved.

Eli was on Broadway. He’d been in the background until he stopped playing up his playboy image and admitted to the man he liked, Kenneth, who played the violin for the show, that he was, in fact, more of a bookworm than a playboy. Kenneth was only now coming around, thanks to NYPD Detective Max Caldwell, who had loudly proclaimed tonight at Eli’s big debut in a starring role that Eli was a catch with a capital C but only looking for a serious relationship.

Paige pretended to push her red hair from her shoulder as she looked behind her at Max. He’d had to arrest her for prostitution when Paige had “sold” her virginity. It was never a sale. It was an application process. But Max showed up, arrested her, and kept her virginity safe from the criminals in jail until she proved she wasn’t a prostitute. He’d been looking out for her ever since but his socialite girlfriend always managed to get in the way. So, instead of writing Max off completely, Paige just shifted the way she thought of him. Instead of looking at his super sexy body with broad shoulders, tapered waist, and stupid strong thighs, she looked at him solely as a friend. It turned out Max Caldwell was a good friend to have. He’d saved Paige from an allergic reaction to body bronzer at a secret sex club, and he’d carried her to safety from a house full of carbon monoxide during a furry orgy that never was.

Paige left the furry orgy with not only her life and her virginity still intact but also with three furry friends Moxie, the cute fox; Griz, the big brown bear; and Roman, the alpha wolf. They were in the VIP lounge with them as well that night.

“Go, Paige,” Amelia said, pushing up her red framed glasses. In December, Amelia would have never been caught dead in a night club. Now she was here with Felix Zayas, owner of the café where they always met for book club. She’d pined for him from afar, but after they made their resolution to be more like the main characters in their romance novels, Amelia summoned the courage to invite Felix to one of Eli’s shows. It appeared that was the green light Felix had been waiting for, and he was now clearly taking the lead and refusing to ever go back to just friends .

“You think I should?” Paige asked her friends. The marine was still watching her and she gave him a little wave.

“Duh!” Leah said with a roll of her eyes. “I’ve stopped the hookup apps and am looking for a real relationship. Eli is too. Amelia has bagged her man. And while you’re killing it on standing up to your grumpy billionaire boss at the publishing company, you still have your V-card.”

“That man looks like he knows how to punch that card,” Amelia said.

“Amelia!” Paige gasped. Give the girl a little confidence in the form of dating the man she has had a crush on forever, and then you can’t get her back into that shy bottle! “But, you’re right.” Max was taken. Fraser Robertson, the doctor she’d met a couple of times in the Emergency Room, wasn’t really in the picture. And the last time she was making out with her boss, Jack Griffin, his mom interrupted them. She looked down at the marine and blew him a kiss. The cropped hair, the muscles, and super sexy dress uniform all equaled one hot Paige Turner. “Wish me luck!”

“Girl, you don’t need luck. Military romance is always H.O.T. for a reason. They know how to take control and how to F-U—”

“See you later!” Paige yelled as she rushed out of the VIP booth.

“Get you some!” Moxie giggled from where she was hitting on Dracklen, the bartender in the VIP section of WET. He was also the bartender at The Red Door, the private sex club Paige had been to some months ago. He’s the one who had carried Paige to the car when she was a giant hive and raced her toward the hospital, only for Max to stop him for speeding and race Paige the rest of the way there for a lifesaving EpiPen shot. It had been a long four months, but now it was time to party. It was time to be her own main character and go after what she wanted.

And what Paige wanted was this sexy marine. “Hey. I’m Paige.” No last name was given. She didn’t want a relationship. She wanted hot sex and no calls in the morning.

“Marcus, ma’am.” The marine smiled down at her, and phew, it was panty melting. Paige wasn’t a tall woman. She was five foot four. Okay, maybe it was really five foot three, but with shoes, she could make it up an inch. This man towered over her. Sometimes women liked to feel small. Well, mission accomplished. She hoped Marcus would pick her up and throw her onto a bed or hold her up against a wall . . . “Ma’am? Would you like to dance?”

Paige smiled and took the hand he was holding out to her. “I would love to. ”

“Marcus! Shots!” a group of marines yelled as they surrounded him, but all dipped their chins at her out of respect.

“Do you mind?” Marcus asked.

“Only if I get one too.” Paige was ready to let go. She was ready to get out of her head and just feel.

“Yes, ma’am!” Marcus gave her a wink. Shots were poured. The men chanted something and then took a shot. More shots were poured and this time Marcus handed one to her. “To us.”

Paige clinked his shot glass with hers. She was not a shots person. She was sip on a glass of wine type of person. But here went nothing. Paige tossed back the shot of tequila. Her eyes watered as Marcus popped a lime in his mouth and leaned forward.

Yeah, yeah, they were going to kiss, but right now that lime looked like a lifeline to stop the burning. One shot, and the tequila was already making her head spin. When Marcus’s lips touched hers though, her head was spinning for another reason. Marcus put his hands on her hips and pulled her tight as she sucked on the lime wedge. At some point, the lime was spat out and his tongue replaced it. Paige’s body heated from the top of her head to the bottom of her toes. The man could kiss. If it was anything like how he was as a soldier, he was a damn good one. He charged in, took control, and decimated any holdouts.

Marcus pulled away and brushed his thumb gently over her lower lip. “Dance?”

Before they could go back out on the dance floor, another round of shots was placed. That shot of tequila went down a lot smoother. The drinks made her giddy. Paige just had to move as pure happiness swept over her. “Dance!”

She grabbed Marcus’s hand and they fought their way to the center of the dance floor. The song might have been fast, but the steady thumping of the bass only brought sex to mind. Marcus’s hands pulled her tight against him and she went happily. Her hands rested on his chest as his hands began to wander down to her ass. Seriously, she wasn’t a stick thin model. She was a size ten on a good day, which she thought of as just right. However, some guys found the curves off-putting. By the way Marcus was rubbing his hands up and down her hips and over the top curve of her ass, he was not one of them.

Marcus wasn’t the only one feeling things out. The man had a chest to die for. Paige ran her hands over his muscles and down his abs. He was thick and strong—in more places than just his chest.

“Shots!” another marine yelled, and suddenly more shot glasses were in their hands.

“To the woman of my dreams,” Marcus toasted.

“To the man of my night.”

The third shot went down smooth as water.

Paige would like to think she was attracted to men for who they were—and that was true with Max, but he had a girlfriend—and with Fraser, but he wasn’t the best at being available because of his demanding job as an ER doctor. However, right now, she was feeling that lust. Literally.

Paige rubbed up against the sign of Marcus’s lust and liked it. No thoughts of tomorrow. No wondering if Marcus would call. Nope, just pure lust, and she was there for it.

“Damn, girl! Get it!” Eli yelled.

Paige smiled as she ground against Marcus. There wasn’t room for the laser show to pass between them by the way they danced. Paige let her head drop back and Marcus’s lips were there. Yes, she was a respected professional. Well, as of lately. Yet, she was on this dance floor making out and grinding as if it were her junior prom. She was floating on a lust-filled high .

The hot bodies. The pulsing music. Her friends mingled through Marcus’s marine buddies. Shots were passed around and inhibitions were gone. It felt fantastic. Paige laughed as they began to jump to the music. In the middle of the song, Marcus stopped and kissed her hard and hot. Everyone jumped around them as her world spun under his hands.

“Shots!”

Marcus pulled back, took a shot glass, and handed it to her before taking his own. “Spend the night with me.” It wasn’t a question but a demand. And one she was happy to follow. Paige nodded her head, but then Max was there.

“Sorry, brother. But I’m taking Paige home tonight. She’s too drunk to know what she’s doing.”

Paige turned her head and the entire nightclub tilted and blurred. “Ooooh. Pooh on you, Max. You can call Sierra and screw her anytime you want,” she said about Max’s girlfriend. “I got Marcus here, then I won’t be a virgin.”

“Woah, you’re a virgin?” Marcus shouted way too loudly. “I didn’t know those existed anymore. You’re as mythical as a unicorn.”

Marcus went to kiss her again and Paige stumbled back. “Whoopsie daisy!”

Strong hands caught her. “She is not a unicorn. She’s a woman, and she’s drunk. Now back off.”

“Maxie, don’t be a virginity blocker. I want it gone and Marcus is awfully pretty. I bet he has a big cock too. I felt it when we were dancing. Hey, stop spinning me around.”

“I’m not spinning you, Jailbird,” Max said gently before turning to Marcus. “See what I mean. Go find someone else for the night. I’m taking her home.”

“No!” Paige pouted when Max moved to take her off the floor.

Marcus reached for her and there was a low growl and then two giant hands appeared on her upper arms. “Thanks, Griz,” Max said, letting go of Paige and turning her over to Griz’s care. Max reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, showing Marcus his badge. “This tells me I’m taking her home and you’re not. Now, thank you for your service and goodnight.”

“Maxie, I’m not—” Paige blinked as the room went spinning and Max took her back into his arms. “Drunk.” Then everything went black.

There were bits and pieces of what happened next that Paige remembered, but it felt as if it were a dream. She was floating, or being carried. She couldn’t tell by whom. At one point, it was Roman. Then she was with Max again, only this time in a car.

“Do you need help?” Leah asked. “I’ve never seen her drink this much.”

“I’ll take her home. Why don’t you check on her when you all get in? No rush. I can look out for her until then. Enjoy your night. Celebrate with Eli,” Paige heard Max say.

When Paige blinked her eyes open again, she was being carried up five flights of stairs to her small apartment. “Hey, alcohol-induced-passed-out beauty. We’re almost to your apartment.”

That’s when Paige’s stomach revolted. “Down!” Max put her down and Paige practically flew up the last half a flight of stairs. Her stomach was a hurricane and she didn’t want to be in Max’s arms when it hit.

Paige reached into her purse for her key. “No, no, no,” she whispered frantically. How could a key be lost in a purse that was so small? No time. Paige turned it upside down and dumped it on the ground. She went to grab the key, but Max already found it and was putting it in the door. Hurricane Tequila was coming ashore. Paige scrambled inside and raced to the bathroom. A couple of seconds later, she heard the front door close, water running in the kitchen, and then Max was pulling her hair back as the full force of Hurricane Tequila hit.

“Here,” Max said softly, handing her a glass of water and a paper towel. A minute later, he pressed a cool washcloth on her forehead. “Think you’re done for a while or do you want me to bring some pillows in here for you?”

“I’m done. I’m so embarrassed. Thanks for bringing me home.” Paige struggled to stand, but Max helped her up. Just one more thing to be embarrassed about. “I’m sure you have other things you want to do this late at night, but thank you for taking care of me. Again.”

“To serve and protect, even from tequila.”

Paige smiled as they walked to the couch. Well, Max walked. She stumbled. Paige laid down and closed her eyes as she heard Max take a seat instead of leaving. “I told Leah I would stay until she gets here.”

“Really, I’m fine. I’m sure Sierra wouldn’t want you here. I would say she’s nice, but we both know she’s not.”

“Ouch.” Max laughed instead of defending the ice-cold socialite he was dating. Maybe everything wasn’t good in paradise.

“You did cock-block me tonight, so I think I get to be petty.”

“Did you really want your first time to be when you were so drunk you didn’t remember it?”

Paige sighed. “No. It’s just a big hit to the ego that I can’t get anyone to sleep with me.”

“Stop thinking of settling for just anyone and start thinking of someone special.” Max cleared his throat and Paige tossed her forearm over her eyes. Maybe Max had a point, but she just couldn’t decide on what she wanted. Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now? “Tell me about this little guy. ”

She heard the cage door open and Max talking to her white bunny. “That’s Monty. He has a better apartment than I do. He’s the holder of my secrets and the best bunny friend I have. He also gets to hear about all the books I read for work. I’m sure he’s scarred.”

“You work with Jack Griffin. I remember from the literacy gala.”

“Yes. I just got promoted to a sort of temp job as senior editor. We’re bringing in a couple of great romance books to publish under Griffin Publishing instead of the small imprint Jack usually shuffles romance books off to. If I get one of them to bestseller status, I will become the editorial director of romance for the main publishing line,” Paige looked and saw Max scratching Monty’s head as he looked over her bookcase. Three months ago, she’d been embarrassed. Now she was proud of her romance loving reads. “Want a recommendation?”

“Can I borrow this?” Max asked, reaching for a book she knew from afar. The black cover with the blood red X on the spine gave it away.

“That’s kind of hardcore to start your romance journey on.”

“This is the book, Sale , that you told me about, right? It’s the reason I arrested you because you used this book for inspiration to sell your virginity.”

“That’s the one.”

“Do you mind if I borrow it?” Max asked. “I have to admit I’m really curious.”

“It’s all yours. Just don’t dog-ear my pages and bring it back to me.”

“I would never steal a bookworm’s book. I’m wounded.”

“That’s right. You like to read, but mostly mystery. Did you ever try the romantic suspense genre?” Paige asked him.

“I haven’t. I looked and didn’t know where to start. I’ll take one of those, too, if you have a suggestion for me. They’ll be a fun change to my normal reading.”

It certainly would.

Max put Monty back in his cage and Paige was stuck again on his girlfriend. She was going to take the advice she’d been given and really work at being friends. “How did you meet Sierra?” she asked of his girlfriend.

“She went to college with my brother-in-law’s younger sister. I met her at some parties so I’ve known her for quite a while. What about you? How did you meet Patrick?” he asked of her fake date on the night of the gala. The one she’d accidentally sliced open his nutsack with her high heel in the middle of making out and he literally kicked her out of the limo afterward.

“He’s friends with Amelia’s older brother, but as you know, it didn’t work out.”

Max’s lips quirked up into a smile. “Oh, I heard. You almost cut off the golden boy’s balls. Sierra was horrified. I was highly amused. You’re quite a handful, Jailbird.”

“Which is probably why I’m still a virgin.”

Max went to reply, but footsteps on the stairs stopped him. He closed his mouth and then opened it again right before Leah entered the apartment. “A real man can not only handle it but wants a handful. Remember that, Jailbird.”

Max rose and smiled at Leah. “I leave her in your capable hands, Leah.”

“Thanks, Max,” Leah called out as Max walked out of the apartment carrying one of the hottest erotica books Paige had ever read.