Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Read online

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Deep End

  Deep End

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  About the Author

  Sweetest Risk

  Sweetest Risk

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  One year later

  About the Author

  Torn

  TORN

  WARNING

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Lemon Tarts & Stolen Hearts

  Lemon Tarts & Stolen Hearts

  1. Misty

  2. Jake

  3. Misty

  4. Jake

  5. Misty

  6. Jake

  7. Misty

  8. Jake

  9. Misty

  10. Jake

  11. Misty

  12. Jake

  13. Misty

  14. Jake

  15. Misty

  16. Jake

  17. Misty

  18. Jake

  19. Misty

  20. Jake

  21. Misty

  22. Jake

  23. Jake

  24. Misty

  25. Jake

  26. Misty

  27. Jake

  28. Misty

  About the Author

  Duet

  Duet

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  About the Author

  Gorgeous Baller

  Gorgeous Baller

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Sweetest Obsessions is a multi-author bundle. Copyright © 2019 by Carter and Bradley Publishing.

  All authors retain their individual copyright to their works. Published January 2019 by Carter and Bradley Publishing.

  Cover Art Design © 2019 | Opium House Creative

  All rights reserved.

  Ebook edition.

  No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Sweetest Obsessions

  A Limited Edition Collection

  25 tempting romances from Sweet to Hot to downright Steamy!

  * * *

  Whether your obsession is Alphas, Bad Boys, Friends (or Enemies) to Lovers, or Second Chance Romance, we’ll feed your addiction with 25 drool-worthy heroes in this sizzling collection.

  * * *

  Escape into tales of intrigue, passion, desire, illicit temptations, secret crushes, friendships, love triangles, forbidden royals, and intimate trysts. All while meeting hot bosses, sexy Texans, heart racing musicians, steamy cops, sweetheart restaurant managers, and so much more.

  * * *

  You’re sure to find a romance to obsess over as you devour these sweet and scorching pages. Enjoy your favorite authors and gain some new ones in this collection of over twenty mouthwatering stories. Which one will be your sweetest obsession?

  * * *

  Don’t deny your sweet desires. Scroll up and one click to secure your copy today!

  DO YOU LOVE BOXED SETS?

  So do we!

  Don’t miss Carter & Bradley’s 2019 boxed sets!

  While on preorder, these sets of 20+ novels are only 99c.

  SWEETEST OBSESSIONS

  ROGUE SKIES

  PROPHECY OF MAGIC

  We also have boxed sets that are ABSOLUTELY FREE to download!

  REBELS & RENEGADES

  CURSES & CROWNS

  BREATHLESS SEDUCTION

  KISSES & CURSES

  FALLEN WORLD (Coming in August!)

  SECRETS & SUSPENSE (Coming in August!)

  * * *

  For links to purchase or download these awesome collections, just visit your favorite ebook retailer!

  Chasing Casey

  Jane Anthony

  Chasing Casey

  Copyright © Jane Anthony 2017

  All rights reserved

  Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without proper written permission from the author.

  * * *

  Editing by:

  Candice Royer

  * * *

  Proofreading by:

  Jenny Sims, Editing4Indies

  Created with Vellum

  Chasing Casey

  Two men. One woman. One impossible choice.

  * * *

  AJ Morello resides in darkness. Tortured by regrets, tormented by nightmares. He stole my heart with his brooding gaze and filthy mouth, but half of it wasn't mine to give.

  * * *

  Austin Krehley lives in the light. The ranch hand on my family's farm, the man who will alway
s own a part of me. I vowed to love him forever, but that was a promise impossible to keep.

  * * *

  It should have been easy. Girl meets boy. Girl falls in love. They both live happily ever after.

  * * *

  But, unfortunately, this isn't that kind of story.

  Prologue

  “Your tie is crooked.”

  My sister sets down the small bouquet of daisies she’s holding to adjust the tie she’s making me wear. I feel like a dumbass getting dressed up for an empty church, but it’s important to Jillian so, by default, it’s important to me, too.

  “Remind me again why you and Jameson didn’t just do this shit at the courthouse.”

  She finishes my tie and steps back, cocking her head as she inspects her handiwork.

  “Because. Mom and Dad were Catholic. They’d have wanted it this way.”

  Jillian has this insane notion that our parents are watching over us from somewhere better, some place beyond the clouds or whatever. It’s fairy tale shit, but it makes her feel good, so I just go with it. I know the truth, though. I walked along the edge, and I can tell you firsthand; there isn’t anything on the other side. Nothing good anyway.

  “Yeah, I suppose so.” I pick up her daisy bouquet and hand it to her. “I’m sorry you got stuck with me walking you down the aisle instead of Dad.”

  “I’m not,” she replies, taking the flowers from my hand. “You’re every bit as important to me as he was.”

  Today, my little sister is getting married—to my best friend. The only two people I care about in the entire world are running off with each other, leaving me in the dust. I’m happy for them and all, but being the odd man out is lonely. For so long, it was just the two of us in that big house together. She was my partner, my friend, and someone who always had my back. Jillian understands me in a way no one else ever has.

  Ever since we were kids, protecting her has been my number one priority. She relied on me. I avoided relationships because I was all she had. I swore I’d always take care of her. And I have. But in a few minutes, I’ll be passing the job to Jameson.

  He's a great guy, and he loves her. I should be thrilled, but instead, I feel ... lost. We’re still close, but the dynamic is different. It used to be Jillian and me against the world. She looked up to me, idolized me. Everywhere I went, there she was. It was a good feeling—I’m not going to lie. But as she grew up and moved on from needing a big brother to needing a man, I no longer fit the bill. I became obsolete.

  She tugs at the bodice of her plain white gown, the very one our mom wore. Just like the old framed photos Jill keeps scattered around the house, the memories of our mother have faded over the years. Still, they look so similar. Jill’s grown into a carbon copy, a mirror image of the woman taken before she got the chance to see us grow. But now, seeing her in that simple satin dress—one that, much like Jill herself, is pretty without any embellishments—I can visualize exactly how our mom looked as if she was standing in front of us.

  Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with me? Thinking about this shit has me choked up …

  “One thing I am regretting is this dress choice. I can barely breathe in this thing.”

  Regrets. Sometimes, I have so many I feel like I'm drowning. I'm twenty-six years old, and I've done nothing with my life. I go to work, fix cars, and go home to my empty house. The only thing I have is my music, and even that depresses me these days. What’s the point in playing if no one’s there to listen?

  “Stop fidgeting. You look beautiful. You can go back to your ripped up metal tees in an hour.”

  “Why, Mr. Morello, is that a compliment?” she asks, smiling.

  “It’s a special occasion. Don’t get used to it,” I deadpan and look right past her, but the corners of my mouth turn up, giving away my stone façade.

  “You’re an ass!” She laughs and smacks my chest.

  Jill tells me that I’m too picky, but I know what kind of woman I want. One who allows me to be myself but makes me strive to be better. A trustworthy partner who's going to stick by me at all costs, who understands me, sees beyond the lost little boy, and brings out the man I know I can be. I want what Jill has found with Jameson, what our parents had. Love. Real, true, can’t-live-without-each-other love. I refuse to settle.

  “It’s about that time. You ready to give me away?”

  I extend my elbow, and she slips her petite hand into the crook. “Nope.”

  1

  AJ

  “Come on, big boy. Come for mommy.”

  The woman beneath me—Alyssa, I think she said her name was—hasn’t stopped with the baby talk since I stuck my dick in her twenty minutes ago. I’m cool with kinky sex, but this mother-son fetish shit is about to make me lose my hard-on. It doesn’t help that she’s well into her fifties and has a kid my age. As usual, tequila starts with great intentions and ends with nothing but bad ideas.

  “Ut-oh. Is wittle AJ having trouble? Maybe mommy needs to take over?”

  No, definitely not. Mommy needs to shut the fuck up so I can come and get her the hell out of my house. I flip her onto her stomach and hoist her ass in the air, pushing her face into the pillow just long enough to blow my load in silence.

  Tired and panting, I roll to the side, praying to God that she gets up. Instead, she settles into my bed and gets comfortable. Fuck. Why do I keep bringing these one-night stands to my house? Now, I have to be the dick who tells her to leave, and I hate that. Especially since they can come back to The Wreck and find me.

  “So, uh, you okay to drive, Alyssa?” Hopefully, she gets the hint.

  The flint of my Zippo sparks in the dimly lit room as I light the tip of my cigarette. It’s the only thing I have that belonged to my mother. It was a gift from my dad before they got married. The pad of my thumb grazes over the deep etching in the front: AM & GD Forever. Ironic. Anthony Morello and Gabriella Donofrio didn’t live long enough to see forever.

  “The name’s Alice,” she says, rolling toward me and grabbing my Marlboro Red with two spindly fingers. Like it matters. The cherry glows bright orange as she takes a long drag, smoke curling out of her nostrils like a dragon.

  “That’s what I said,” I lie, taking back my smoke and switching it to the opposite hand. Sharing a cigarette in post-coital bliss is a little too intimate for me. It’s the kind of shit you see in romantic comedies after the guy and girl finally get together before something tears them apart again.

  Alice reaches for me, but I’m already halfway off the bed and on my way to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. “Your band was awesome tonight,” she calls from the bedroom.

  “I wasn’t with the band. I’m the sound guy.” The second it comes out of my mouth, I cringe with regret. Me and my big fucking mouth.

  “Oh! So I know where to find you when I want to see you again!”

  Dammit.

  The Wreck is a local hotspot for up and coming bands to gain exposure. I’ve been working there Saturday nights for a few months now, in addition to my regular job at Morello and Tate Restoration. The pay is shitty, but it’s a fun job and comes with the nice fringe benefit of easy sex. The girls are pretty docile by night’s end. Whoever isn’t paired off by the time the lights go on is generally liquored up and ready to go home with whoever is behind door number two. Yeah, I’m an asshole … Save the feminist spiel. I already know.