If Only…
A contemporary romance by Lisa M. Owens
Blurb
What would you do if you had the opportunity to go back and relive your greatest mistake?
Five years ago, Bree Sexton walked out on her fiancé and into the arms of a charming and handsome stranger. She has regretted her decision ever since. Instead of a fairy-tale marriage, her “prince” shattered her dreams and her spirit with physical violence and emotional cruelty she barely escaped.
She then mysteriously wakes up in bed with the fiancé she loved and left, the life she’d dreamed of now a reality, until her cruel ex-husband reappears to destroy her new life. But what is real, and what is make-believe? Is she really getting the chance she has always dreamed of? And when it is all said and done, will she finally end up with the man she has always regretted leaving? Or will she wake up to discover herself alone?
If you or someone you know is in an abusive situation, there are people who can help.
Excerpt
Bree stood there for a minute, watching as he walked out of her life. She couldn’t help but to wonder what would have happened if she had married Scott instead of Bryan. How would her life have been different? Would she have had children by now? Would she and Scott still be together, after all this time?
Those thoughts and more weighed heavily on her mind as she headed out of the bar. It had begun to snow, and she wrapped her coat even tighter around her slender frame. She looked around, but there was no one to be found. She couldn’t help herself; she stuck out her tongue to taste a snowflake, a childish impulse she couldn’t ignore, and then laughed out loud in spite of herself.
She looked both ways before attempting to cross the street. Not seeing any cars, she began to make her way across. Bree was walking slowly and cautiously when one of her high heels slipped on a patch of ice. She could feel herself falling, and her breathing quickened in response as she started to panic, suddenly wishing that she had waited for her friends before venturing off on her own. One shoe flew off as she landed, her head striking against the curb. A sharp pain racked through the back of her skull and she cried out. The last thing she saw was Scott’s face swimming before her eyes, and then her world went black.
Bree awoke to a man nipping gently on her earlobe, his tongue stroking the delicate curves. His hot breath blew into her ear, sending shivers racing up and down her spine. She slowly opened her eyes as a man’s hand caressed her upper thigh, and she sighed happily.
Ooh, I must be dreaming. And it was such a delicious dream, too.
The stranger’s hand traveled up her thigh and then encircled her flat stomach. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see a dark head pushing against her abdomen. Then she shivered as a tongue laved her belly button, going in and out erotically, making her feel as though her body was on fire. Bryan had never made her feel like this, and she hadn’t even looked yet to see who this mystery man was! But she was only dreaming, so what difference did it make?
His hand continued traveling north, lovingly caressing her skin. He reached for her aching breasts, rubbing her nipples roughly before he lowered his wicked mouth to suckle them, first one, and then the other. Bree arched in anxious response to his touch. She longed to see his face, but she feared that one look would make his magical touch disappear.
She was aching all over, she wanted his hands to caress her everywhere, and she desperately wanted to touch him. She opened her long legs willingly as his strong legs straddled her. His hair brushed across her naked chest as he began kissing her neck. His tongue was driving her crazy with desire as he placed tender kisses along the slope of her neckline. He brushed her hair aside, her auburn tresses falling in soft waves down her back.
His morning stubble stung her delicate skin, but she hungered for more. Just one more touch, just one more taste, and she would awaken from this wonderful dream and find herself in bed, all alone.
“Oh, Bree, baby. What you do to me,” the man whispered, his tone husky.
That voice jerked her back to the present. The voice that had haunted her dreams for years. The voice of the man she just couldn’t seem to get over.
“Scott,” she whispered.