Full On By Caitlyn Willows Review~Spotlight~Excerpts

FULL ON
by Caitlyn Willows
Contemporay - Erotic Suspense
November 2013
Ellora's Cave www.ellorascave.com
ISBN 9781419949401 

What happens when lovers face off in the courtroom? Six months of hell.

Not only has Russell been without his woman, he’s also had to put up with her kicking his ass all over the courtroom. Well, the trial is over. His woman, his sub, has managed to do what no one else could—beat him. Now it’s time to remind her who is really in charge.

Valerie’s seen a side of Russell she doesn’t like. Gone is the caring lover and Dom who captured her heart. In his place is a vicious opponent who will stop at nothing to win. If he thinks he can take that attitude with her outside the legal arena, Valerie has news for him. Yeah, she’s missed him, craved him, even while she hated seeing Courtroom Russell. But she refuses to allow him to charge back into her life with that chip on his shoulder.

If all that weren’t enough, someone is determined justice will be done, even if that means killing everyone involved in the case.

A Romantica® erotic romantic suspense from Ellora’s Cave

Bees buzzed along Valerie’s nerves. She gave up trying to pass it off as an aftereffect of the accident. Each time she was near Russell she started ticking like a Geiger counter. And when he’d wrapped his arms around her and drew her close? Holy shit, what a feeling. His words laced with promises of things she’d longed for—things she wasn’t sure she wanted after all they’d been through but couldn’t stand to be without—dredged up a hunger that clawed at her to be fulfilled.

She let those fantasies play through her head while the final details were tied up. It kept her from worrying about everything yet to come—insurance, finding a new car and the fact that two people had lost their lives.

Valerie closed her eyes on that thought. Telling herself it wasn’t her fault didn’t matter. It’d still made her sick inside.

“You ready?” Russell’s hand skimmed her lower back.

“More than ready.” Her car was in the hands of the tow truck driver. She’d given all her info to the police, unloaded the few things she had from her car to Russell’s, and even reported the accident to her insurance company. She didn’t need to watch firefighters cut the deceased from the other vehicle.

Her legs shook with every step. She still gripped the edges of Russell’s jacket around her. Her shield against the world. Her knight by her side. Her man taking control, making it all better, seeing she had everything she needed.

Valerie jerked to a stop in mid-step. Russell glanced down, worry furrowing his brow. “You all right?”

“Yes. I think I may have hurt my ankle.” A lie, but the only thing she could come up with.

Russell scooped her into his arms. Her heart ran away with new fantasies, dreaming things it really shouldn’t. She told it to stop, that there were too many issues left to deal with. The foremost being her trust in him had been shaken. Her heart didn’t listen. Neither did those blasted bees swarming through her body.

“I’ve got an emergency ice pack in my car. It’ll help until we can get you home.”

Only if she could put it on her crotch.

He carried her effortlessly to his car, then set her on her feet only as long as it took to open the door. She’d barely sunk into the passenger seat when he was crouched beside her, removing her heels.

“Which one?” He ran his hands over her ankles. “I don’t see or feel any swelling.”

He would if he searched higher—like between her legs.

“Maybe it was just a twinge.” The words came out a tad too breathy. She hoped he took that as a reaction to pain and not to his touch.

“I hope so. An ice pack won’t hurt though. Just in case.”

He moved away to retrieve it from the trunk. Footsteps stampeded their way. Without the barrier of police tape, reporters converged on them. Their numbers had increased over the last hour, once word filtered out who had been involved in the accident. It wasn’t enough that they’d hovered outside the courtroom for sound bites. They wanted more, always more. Fodder for whatever story they wanted to spin. Valerie’s patience was on a short leash. They could make something out of nothing. God only knew what they were going to make of this.

The vehicle rocked as Russell slammed the trunk closed. He beat the reporters to her side by mere seconds. Squatting, he ignored the blast of questions and placed the ice pack around her right ankle. Valerie squinted against the blare of lights. Only the quick pat of his hand to her knee as he stood kept her from exploding. He faced the throng in one smooth move, blocking their view of her, hands on hips.

“You can address your questions regarding the accident to the police officers. As to your inevitable and unending questions about the Estavarez case… Those were answered this afternoon.”

She loved the don’t-fuck-with-us tone in his voice.

“Why are you here, Mr. Cambridge?” one female asked.

Valerie fought the urge to roll her eyes. They were oblivious as always, asking stupidly obvious questions.

Russell shifted. Valerie recognized the stance well even from behind. He’d clasped one hand over his wrist and stared them down.

“Do you not stop to render aid when you witness an accident?” Idiots was implied, at least to Valerie.

A new flurry of questions burst out, each reporter talking over the other. Russell let them make fools of themselves for only so long before he slowly raised his hand for silence.

“It’s been a long day capped by a traumatic event. Good night.” He stepped forward, pushing them back by sheer force of his will.

Valerie locked the door the second it closed and snapped her seat belt in place. The reporters scattered, cameras still captured every move. She closed her eyes and leaned into the seat, shutting them out. There was nothing she could do to quiet the rabble of voices.

“Miss Oswald, how does it feel to put a murderer and rapist back on the streets?”

She shot upright.

Russell caught her forearm before she could explode. “Let it go.”

The engine purred to life, classic-rock music covered more questions, and he steered his car to freedom. God help the fool who tried to block him. In minutes they were heading toward her home. She punched off the music.

“Are they following?”

“Not yet,” he said. “They don’t have to. They know where we both live. They can stake us out anytime they want.”

Too true. She’d kept the drapes closed for months to avoid being snooped on. Her poor houseplants had paid the price. Valerie had too. She hated not letting the sunshine into her home.

“You can’t stay tonight.”

His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“They’ll see,” she quickly pointed out.

“Then I’ll park in your garage.”

“And in the morning?”

“They’ll have found a new story to chase.”

He pulled to the curb, cut the engine and leaned her way. One arm draped over her seat. The other slid over her knee, crawled up her thigh, bunching her dress. His intent was clear and all the “red lights” she could stutter weren’t going to stop him. After all, this wasn’t about a Dom and a sub. It was about a man wanting his woman. Russell wanting her. They were in a public location where anyone who drove or walked by would see what they were doing. That only added to the allure and made her heart race with anticipation.

“I want you, Valerie. These last six months have been like a slow death.”

Caitlyn Willows

Blessed (or cursed) with a vivid imagination, Caitlyn Willows eventually learned to turn that “talent” inward. Readers will find deep emotions and sizzling sensuality seamlessly woven into her action-filled stories. Believing life is to be lived and felt, not merely watched, Caitlyn delivers real-to-life characters in unforgettable tales of love, adventure, and always steamy passion. No one is more surprised than she at the direction life has taken her. Caitlyn lives in the beautiful desert of Southern California with her husband (a genealogist) and the animals she loves. Her most recent explorations include learning to make Native American style pottery and basketweaving, and she is always on the lookout for the next interesting tidbit that will help fill her writing well. Caitlyn also writes nonerotic romance as Catherine Snodgrass.

website

http://www.caitlynwillows.com/

Favorite Quotes

“Don’t worry. Valerie will be safe,” Casey said. “I have a man on her.”

“I do hope you mean that figuratively.” A little humor never hurt. It didn’t help either.

Casey snickered. “Jealous and possessive. Interesting.”

“I love her, Casey. We love each other.”

“I know,” she quietly replied.

“No, but Phil gave me a promotion. Dave ever fire you?”

“No, but no promotion either.” He grinned. “I have something in my pocket for you.”

“I’m in the mood for loving, but not games tonight. So consider yourself officially red-lighted.”

He stretched out beside her. “You don’t even want to see it?” He extended his hand. A small blue velvet box rested on his palm.

This story was given to me in exchange for an honest review.  This story a short novella but one full of suspense, BDMS, murder.  This novella is erotic.

Valerie is a public defender who is going up against the only man she has every cared about.  They must face off against each other in the courtroom.  As a lawyer she has no problem chewing you up and spitting you out. But how will her opponent feel about it, especially when her opponent is her lover and is her Dom. 

Russell is the assistant district attorney and a man who love to be in control in the courtroom and in bed. Russell has not been with Valerie since the trail began six long months ago.  How will he handle it if he loses? Will their love survive? Will this courtroom battle destroy everything they have worked for?  Or will someone else make the choice for them? Someone wants them both dead!!!

This was a fast paced novella that left you guessing who done it. It was one you wanted for once in your life to cheer for both of them. I loved this story and would love to read more like it. Caitlyn Willow is an excellent author who keeps you on your toes and second guessing who you believe did it.

FIVE EROTIC ANGELS