There’s nothing wrong with a harmless little crush, right?

And who better to crush on than the gorgeous man next door?

The one who would never look twice in my direction.

Except he does.

The first time he pins me in place with his dark gaze, I’m rendered speechless.  The first time he lays his hands on me, I melt.  And the first time he takes me, well…I fall to pieces, wondering if I’ll ever be the same again.

Everything about him screams danger.

And yet I’d be lying through my teeth if I didn’t admit that was part of the attraction.

Chicago is supposed to be a new beginning for me.  A chance to find my bearings and live again.  The man next door is the last person I should be getting involved with.

And yet, here I am.

A moth dancing too close to the flickering flame, hoping I don’t get torched.

Protecting What's Mine was created by Jennifer Sucevic, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 

Protecting What's Mine

Lying in my bed, I toss and turn in an effort to get comfortable.


In the back of my mind, I know sleep won't claim me anytime soon.  The cold shower I forced myself to take did nothing to extinguish the lust Matteo created inside me.


Thoughts of him have been rolling through my head for the past hour.  I've never had a man crawl under my skin the way he's managed to.  No one has ever made my insides burn to such a fever pitch.


Feeling frustrated, I throw off the light blanket and pace the wood floor.  A low ache throbs in my core despite the frigid shower.


I need to do something or I won't find any relief tonight.


To drive me insane with lust so that I come crawling to him?


Chapter 25: Grace