Meet Mark Dixon in Defenseless, the newest contemporary romance from Corinne Michaels!
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My life is a secret.
His life is dangerous.
We’re both stubborn, calculating, and controlling.
Mark Dixon doesn’t know what he’s getting into. He doesn’t know his games could cost us our lives. I have to do what is necessary to keep us alive, and that means guarding my heart.
But I know I’m defenseless against him, and in the end, he’ll force me to surrender.
Defenseless
Copyright © 2016 Corinne Michaels
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written consent of the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.
“I made you a promise, Charlie.” Mark’s already deep voice is layered with desire.
Once again, my control begins to slip. “What’s that?”
His hands drop a little lower beside my head. His lower body shifts so his knee is between my legs. I feel his arousal against my thigh.
My traitorous body shows its own awakening. My nipples hardening through the silk material don’t go unnoticed. Heat pools in my core and my breath hitches. I want him. There’s no use denying it.
“I told you I’d kiss you again. If you don’t stop me now, there’s no getting away.”
I should stop him. I need to stop him. There’s no way in hell it’s going to happen, though. I’m craving his lips again.
He gives me one second before he crushes his mouth against mine. His entire body shifts forward, and now I’m trapped. There’s nowhere to go. Nowhere to move that’s not Mark. He takes every part of my mind and body. Our hands roam each other as his tongue slides against mine. Passion ignites between us; it sets the room on fire. His fingers cup my neck and then glide down the front of my dress. His hand brands my skin as he takes his time exploring the open skin between us.
My fingers grip the lapels of his tux, holding him, molding him to me. I can’t get close enough. Our mouths stay fused as we both lose control.
Then my mind snaps.
I push back and my hands fly to my lips. They’re swollen, bruised from the force of the kiss. His hands brace against the wall. I keep my eyes downcast. I can’t believe I just did that, against the damn wall, at a ball commemorating my father.
I shift my dress, rake my fingers through my hair, and pull myself together.
“Charlie . . .” Mark finally speaks. It sounds like shouting even though it’s only loud enough for us to hear.
“That was the last time that will ever happen,” I say with no tremor to my voice. “Tonight we become partners. It’s not about whatever this is.” I shift my hands between us. “It’s about finding the information we’re both searching for.”
“And what if we find something else?”
“We shut it down. There’s no room for feelings in this world.”
Mark pushes back, giving me space. I instantly feel cold. “Okay, then. Have it your way.”
This is what I wanted, what we both need, but suddenly I wish it wasn’t. I wish I could pull him close, kiss him, fuck him, and just feel.
But wishes are for little girls.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Corinne sure knows how to grab your attention. I mean, I already loved Mark, aka Twilight, thanks to the previous (amazing) books, but I knew I was going to absolutely LOVE this book by the end of the first chapter.
The book opens up with the guys going on a rescue mission (you know the one) and Charlie is the CIA operative helping them. To say that she grabs Mark's attention is an understatement. He pretty much knows moments after he meets her that she is the one for him. Fast forward to a year later and the two haven't forgotten about each other. When Mark needs Charlie's help with something Cole Securities is working on (you know that storyline that has been the thread connecting all the books? yeah, that one), they find themselves in close quarters. And the sparks FLY.
Charlie is freaking awesome. She's a gorgeous, kick ass CIA agent and knows how to handle Mark. And let's be honest, sometimes Mark needs to be put in his place and Charlie is the perfect person to do it. The two of them had a rapport that I found both funny and extremely sexy. Talk about foreplay. I knew that when these two finally gave into their desires, it would be fantastic. And it was.
I freaking love Mark. He's sarcastic, funny, loyal, sexy, a badass, a wonderful friend and probably one of the most frustrating people Charlie has ever had to deal with. I loved how he always called her by a different name because he didn't know her real name. He called her Charlize, Charlene, Chastity, Charleston, Charletta and my personal favorite Chartreuse. All said in jest, but also said in hopes that Charlie would tell him her real name. Mark knew that once she did, that meant she was all in. That would be the moment that would seal their fate.
Charlie really was Mark's other half. She was perfect for him. Professionally, they worked well together and personally, they were ridiculously hot. They were both so committed (maybe a little too committed) to their jobs that they didn't allow themselves to have personal lives. That is, until they meet each other and saw what they were missing.
Besides the main story, we get to see the rest of the crew. They all get together for Jackson and Catherine's wedding, which was the perfect reason to bring up "Father Mark." And that will make me laugh every time. We get to see Liam and Natalie's life and Mark still claiming that he is Aarabelle's father. And of course the love/hate relationship between Mark and Natalie just made me giggle.
As much as I love Mark and Charlie and want more of them, it was nice to finish this book not be like "OH MY GOD I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT NOW!!" But I am looking forward to reading Quinn and Ashton's story. (What happened there?????) I'm sure we will get a glimpse, just like we did with this one, into the gang's lives and see how everyone is doing. That's one thing I love about a series (although this isn't really a series), especially when I love the characters as much as I do these. So thank you Corinne for giving us a standalone! ;-)
Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha Navy SEALs are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.
