Keep Me Still (26 page)

Thank you so much for reading Layla and Landen’s story! I hope you have enjoyed this special early release edition of
Let You Leave
and
Keep Me Still
.
Let You Leave
was something I wrote just for myself because I tend to write the backstories of my characters before their actual books. When some beta readers requested to see it, I figured it would be fun to include. It will no longer be available in any format once this special edition goes off sale.

This special edition is in honor of my nephew, Landen Lowe, who was born six weeks early and was in distress for many hours. He is now several weeks old and exceptionally healthy. You can read more about him on my website at www.caiseyquinnwrites.com. Proceeds from the release week sales of this novel will go to The March of Dimes in Landen’s name.

Please note: Seizure Disorders are extremely complex, and many of the causes are still unknown. My niece, the dedicatee of
Let You Leave
, suffers from grand mal seizures. In real life, wrapping your arms around someone having a seizure is not recommended. Please know that this story is fictional and is in no way representative of actual medical symptoms, medications, or procedures. For more information on seizure disorders, I encourage you to visit the webpage of The Cleveland Clinic (my source when I had questions) or contact a health professional or specialist.

In November 2013, the regular edition of
Keep Me Still
will be released. It will include the sequel novella
Hold Us Close
, which will also be available separately for those of you who’ve purchased this special edition. Keep reading for the exclusive sneak peek.

“H
ey,
do you want to have dinner at The Cantina or that new place we talked about trying out?” I ask my boyfriend as he enters our apartment and puts his gear down. “Or would you rather I cook something? I know you need a shower but I’m starving.” And I have news. Important news that I’m hoping won’t freak him out. Or piss him off.

“Well, we can’t have that, now can we?” He comes over and places a kiss on my forehead. “Hello, by the way. Missed you too.”

He’s been in Barcelona for two weeks with his job. He’s a professional soccer player. Hottest one on the team, in my opinion. In the league if I’m being honest. I’m a lucky girl. “Missed you back.” I press my lips against his, the tightness in my stomach reminding me that I missed him even more than I realized. I’ve been so busy with classes and Bridging the Gap, the organization I volunteer with, that I haven’t had time to think about it much. When we first moved to Spain, I missed him like crazy every time he went out of town. But somehow I’ve made a life for myself here.
We’ve
made a life for ourselves. And it’s home. But now that he’s here, wrapping his strong arms around me, I never want him to leave again.

“Wanna jump in the shower with me?” he asks, yanking his shirt over his head in one swift movement, leaving me speechless. No matter how many times I see the tight, tan muscles of his athletic body, I still get all hot and bothered.

I lick my lips and try to think straight. “Um, I do. But I’ve already showered. And I’m seriously hungry.”

Pulling me to him, Landen growls in my ear. “I’m hungry too, babe. Starving, actually.” His warm, wet tongue slides up my neck and I moan. “God, you taste so damn good.”

His mouth meets mine in a kiss that’s sweet temptation with a hint of something rougher.
Yes, please.

Food can wait.

His hands grip my hips and lift me onto a stool at the breakfast bar. He spreads my knees and drops down on his. Every muscle in my body goes soft, and I can’t help but moan as he slides my skirt up my thighs.

Raking my hands through his hair as he drops fiery kisses on my upper legs, I feel the smile spread across my face. “I love you so much.”

He chuckles and his warm breath tickles me between my legs. As does the stubble he’s sporting. “I love you too, baby.”

Baby.
The word echoes in my head. A reminder of the talk we need to have.

“Landen,” I call out urgently, squirming as his tongue licks a path next to my panty line.

“Yeah, babe?”

“Um.” He uses a finger to pull the soft scrap of lacy fabric to the side, grazing my wet center. “Mm.”

Talking can wait.

The same instant that the tip of his tongue slicks up the most sensitive part of me, Landen’s phone rings. We both ignore it as he brings me closer to ecstasy with his relentless strokes. I barely hear mine ringing over my own sounds of pleasure.

“What the fuck?” he grumbles, standing as I come down from a heaving orgasm.

Both of our phones are ringing in turn. His. Mine. His. Mine again.

He wraps me in his arms and I lean into him for support. No way I can get down off this stool right now with my legs still trembling like this.

Keeping one arm around me, he reaches for my phone on the counter. “It’s your aunt,” he says over my head.

“Okay,” I pant, struggling to catch my breath.

“I’ll give you one minute to call her back and see what the hell she wants. Then we are finishing what we started. In the shower. I promise to feed you after.” He winks and I shake my head.

My hands are unsteady as I dial her back. “Hey, is everything—”

“Is Landen there? Put me on speaker,” my aunt demands before I can even finish my sentence.

I do as I’m told while staring into the still heated needful gaze of the most beautiful creature on Earth.

“Hi, Kate,” Landen greets her through gritted teeth. “I just got home. Excellent timing.”

If she detects the sarcasm, she doesn’t mention it. “Good. I need you both to hear this. I have two words for you. Well, three. You ready for this?”

It isn’t like her to be all dramatic, so we’re both tense as we wait. “Hope so. What is it?” I ask, hoping to hurry things along so we can get back to what we were doing. Or about to do.

“Dr. Clayton Kirkowitz.”

The name doesn’t ring any bells. Judging from Landen’s expression, it’s unfamiliar to him as well.

“Oh-kay. What about him?” I ask.

“He’s the one doing the procedure I told you about. The laser removal of hematomas like yours. He’s had an astonishing success rate, Layla. I’m talking miracle status.”

Right. She did mention this the last time we talked. But the procedure was still experimental and not covered by insurance. Plus the man had a waiting list ten years long. “I remember now. But—”

“You’re next, Layla. I’ve been calling in favors and pulling strings and outright begging. His assistant said he had an unexpected opening. The insurance company is still giving me the runaround, but if you two can’t afford it, I’ll take out a second mortgage. Whatever I have to do. He’s scheduled your surgery for Monday morning at eight a.m. I’ve already booked our flights to Los Angeles. I just wanted to make sure Landen doesn’t have a game and would be in town before I bought his.”

No. No this is not happening right now.
The room spins around me and every word out of her mouth is a ten-pound weight piling onto me until I can’t breathe.

“Hell yes we can afford it,” Landen practically shouts. “I’ll do whatever it takes. Tell him we’ll be there Monday. I can get my own ticket if you’ll text me the flight informa—”

“No,” I say evenly, interrupting them as they throw their Save the Layla Project party.

Landen turns to me, confusion contorting his handsome face. “Lay? I don’t care about the money or whatever you’re worried about. This is—”

“This is not happening. I’m not having surgery on Monday.”

“Layla? What’d she say?” I hear my Aunt Kate’s voice. It’s coming through the phone speaker on the counter right next me but it sounds a million miles away.

“I can’t. I can’t have surgery,” I whisper. My eyes fill with tears because I already know from the look on Landen’s face how angry he’s going to be. “Not for the next eight months or so anyways.”

“What?” they both ask at the same time.

This wasn’t how I wanted to tell him. I wanted it to be private. Special. But everything’s ruined. Because of me and my stupid defective brain.

“I’m pregnant.”

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

Girl With Guitar

This book is so very special to me. It’s the very first one I wrote from start to finish. So many wonderful people helped get it ready to be published, and even more helped me with this special edition in honor of my nephew.

Special thank you to my wonderful critique partners and writing pals, namely Diane Alberts, who also writes as Jen McLaughlin, and who read the very first draft last March. You gave me so much valuable feedback that not only improved this book but all the ones I’ve written since. Without Emily Tippetts, I wouldn’t have had the courage or the know-how to self-publish and my books probably never would’ve seen the light of day. She is truly a special and wonderful human being who I am beyond blessed to know. Big appreciative hugs to Elizabeth Lee, Anna Cruise, and Mickey Reed for all of your much-needed support with getting this book out. Thank you EL for promising me it wasn’t sucky crap. And Anna, you were dead on about the Thanksgiving scene. I hope I got it right!

Regina Wamba of Mae I Design, I am going to have to find someone who has met you in person to believe that you are real and not a magical mythical creature that grants wishes. Thank you so much for this cover and for finding the perfect Layla and Landen. The image you chose added a very special scene in the book that I treasure so much.

To Kristy of Book Addict Mumma, girl, you should be working for Hollywood. Thank you for my top-secret tear-jerking book trailer. It was my inspiration every time I lacked motivation for revising and editing.

I owe a huge thank you to my Gutter Girls, Ashley, Erica, and Tessa, for beta reading my work and not getting sick of me. Thank you so much Erica for helping me organize the release day event. To all of the bloggers, reviewers, and my fellow author friends that kept this special edition release quiet and then blitzed the Internet on release day, you are a truly special bunch and I love you. Mere words could never express my gratitude.

To those of you who take the time to read and review my books, you are all so very special to me. Thank you for your time, your support, and your honesty.

Of course I have to thank my wonderful family for always putting up with me when I’m stressed and losing my mind over fictional situations. Thank you for giving me the support and unconditional acceptance I need to live my dream.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you Parachute for recording the song
Kiss Me Slowly,
which inspired Layla and Landen’s first kiss.