The Theory of Attraction
Read The Theory of Attraction Online
Authors: Delphine Dryden
Tags: #Romance, #Erotica, #Contemporary, #Fiction
The Theory of Attraction
By Delphine Dryden
Camilla can set her watch by her hunky rocket-scientist neighbor who jogs past her window each day. She relishes each glimpse of his shirtless abs, and is dying to see more. But it’s hard to connect with a man who doesn’t seem to know she exists…
Ivan feels at home in the lab, not in social situations. When he finally approaches his attractive neighbor, it’s not for a date—he wants tutoring in how to behave at an important fundraiser. Ivan doesn’t expect the chemistry between them to be quite so explosive, and is surprised when Cami actually accepts his proposal to embark on a series of “lessons.”
Cami soon discovers Ivan’s schedule isn’t the only thing he likes to be strict about—he needs to be charge in the bedroom as well. She’s shocked at how much she comes to enjoy her submissive side, but wonders if a real relationship is in the equation…
47,000 words
Dear Reader,
Inspiration comes from the strangest places. Every month, I whine a little when my coworker in charge of production, Jenny Bullough, emails to tell me it’s time to write a new Dear Reader letter. “But, but, I don’t know what to write about,” I say. This month, I added to my whine, “People have been telling me they actually READ these letters. Now there’s PRESSURE.” To which Jenny replied:
My usual offer still stands ;)
Dear Reader,
Angela is busy sunning herself on a beach somewhere; we’ll return to our regularly scheduled dear reader letter in August. Meanwhile, enjoy this book!
~Jenny Bullough
Unfortunately, since I write these letters months in advance, while this particular letter is going in the July books, and you’re perhaps reading this during the summer, the truth is, right now I’m dealing with allergy season, and not beach season. Though I did get to visit a beach in Florida a few weeks ago during a conference. Ahhh, memories…
But I hope, for your sake, as you’re reading this, you are sunning yourself on some beach. With a tropical drink or frosty beer in hand. And a good-looking cabana person of your choice serving it. Oh, and no biting insects (our beach has biting insects and they hurt!).
Still, I thank Jenny for the offer, and the inspiration to help me start off this letter. I have to admire the dedication of our authors who, every month, use their inspiration and write such fantastic stories that make great companions on the beach, by the pool, or even in your favorite reading spot indoors. This month, we have another creative and diverse group of releases for your reading pleasure.
Kicking off the month is a sweeping historical romance from Laura Navarre.
By Royal Command
offers everything you’re looking for in a great historical read: rich historical details, sweeping passion, intrigue and, I don’t think I’m giving anything away by saying this, an amazing happy ending! Joining Laura in starting off our month of releases is debut author Kait Gamble with her fascinating science-fiction romance
Liar’s Game.
Meanwhile, KC Burn keeps readers in the detailed science-fiction universe of
Spice ’n’ Solace
with her follow-up super-hot-and-spicy erotic m/m novella
Alien ’n’ Outlaw.
Longing for a particularly delicious erotic romance to turn up the heat inside, while it’s hot outside? We’ve got you covered this month. In addition to
Alien ’n’ Outlaw,
check out erotic romance offerings from Delphine Dryden and Karen Erickson with
The Theory of Attraction
and
A Scandalous Affair,
respectively. And we’re proud to announce debut erotic romance author Samantha Ann King with her ménage novel
Sharing Hailey,
and debut author Zaide Bishop with her erotic historical novella
Eliza’s Awakening.
Meanwhile, Michelle Garren Flye offers a compelling and emotional contemporary romance,
Where the Heart Lies.
Also this month, join Allegra Fairweather in another paranormal adventure in
Island of Secrets
by Janni Nell. And make sure you check out Jeffe Kennedy’s
Rogue’s Pawn,
which kicks off her new fantasy romance series!
Other returning Carina Press authors this month include Natasha Hoar with
The Ravenous Dead,
the next installment in her Lost Souls series; Dee J. Adams’s
Dangerously Close,
which continues the high-octane Adrenaline Highs series; Anne Marie Becker, bringing you another slightly creepy and very suspenseful romance in
Avenging Angel;
and Hunter Raines with the paranormal m/m romance
Sight Unseen.
In addition to Samantha Ann King, Kait Gamble and Zaide Bishop, we’re proud to introduce another debut author, R.L. Naquin. If you enjoy your urban fantasy with a cheeky edge and a sense of humor, while offering the urban fantasy and romantic elements you love, make sure to check out Naquin’s debut novel,
Monster in My Closet.
I hope you these July 2012 releases as much as we do. And that you really do have a cabana person to wait on you ;)
Remember, we love to hear from readers, and you can email us your thoughts, comments and questions to
[email protected]
. You can also interact with Carina Press staff and authors on our blog, Twitter stream and Facebook fan page.
Happy reading!
~Angela James
Executive Editor, Carina Press
www.carinapress.com
www.twitter.com/carinapress
www.facebook.com/carinapress
Acknowledgements
Fervent thanks to Christine for the unflagging enthusiasm, and to Ruthie whose critique came with extra heaping helpings of love for this particular hero.
Contents
Chapter One
The weather forecast called for a high of ninety-nine degrees. Again.
Still two digits, though, no big deal for Houston in August. It felt like melting when you stepped outside, but you were just supposed to pretend like it was not all
that
hot. People would assure you they’d known much, much worse.
It wasn’t all bad. Hot enough to wilt the lettuce I’d attempted to grow in the backyard, but at least the roses were thriving. I could see them from my computer desk, nodding their pink and crimson heads in a stray breeze. And then a shadow crossed them, blocking their light. Standing up for a better view, I saw my neighbor Ivan heading out for his run.
This told me it was six-thirty, and I needed to stop checking work email from home and get dressed, so I could go into work and continue to check email from there.
I didn’t bother to check the clock, because Ivan was better than a clock. Over the past two years I’d learned his routines until I thought I could probably tell you his location at just about any moment of any day. Not that I’m a stalker. But Ivan loves routine the way some guys love football.
He glanced up at my window and gave a nod and wave, which I returned as I did every weekday morning. I wasn’t awake that early on weekend mornings, although I knew Ivan still went for his run at the same time. Six-thirty in the morning, out for a run each and every day. He took one of three routes, which I knew because I drove past him most mornings on my way to work. One path was for Mondays through Thursdays. He ran a different route on Fridays, and another still on the weekends, to account for differing traffic patterns so his time stayed consistent.
One week, that’s all any good stalker would need to get the entire scoop on Dr. Ivan Reynolds, rocket scientist. But I doubt anyone would ever want to stalk Ivan. Well, maybe if he won a Nobel Prize or something. He’s very much an acquired taste, and it took me a good year at least to realize I’d acquired it.
* * *
The first time I realized Ivan was sexy, he was being an asshole and then a hero.
We were in my apartment, where Ivan seemed to spend an awful lot of time for somebody who claimed not to like being around people. But I liked to cook, and there were a lot of hungry geeks in the complex, so my apartment had become kind of a social hub. Even Ivan seemed to appreciate the food, although in this instance he was more focused on wondering why the astrophysics department had to have a start-of-the-school-year party.
“It’s supposed to help you get to know your colleagues better,” I said. I had my head under the sink, looking for the scrubbing cleanser, so I had to listen hard for his answer.
“But I already know my colleagues. And anybody new, I’ll meet soon enough. They’re people I work with every day. Why am I expected to spend my valuable free time with them as well? And expend social energy on what should just be a crowd of work-related acquaintances?” He asked me these types of questions because my degree was in social anthropology, although I spent my days now writing computer scripts. Ivan’s idea of a good party involved bringing your own computer gaming equipment and Cheetos, then staying up all night virtually shooting your friends.
“Because it’s fun?” I suggested. “You get to loosen up a little, just for one night. Besides, most people don’t really consider social energy to be a finite resource. Partying is not a zero-sum equation.”
I hadn’t always sounded like these guys. But after a year or so living in a townhouse complex populated almost entirely by astrophysicists and computer scientists, you started to pick up the terminology whether you liked it or not. The demographic was due to the fact that most of us worked at the nearby university, and our complex was close to the science buildings. Generally I liked it, because the guys showed me all the cheat codes for computer games, and at least I always knew I had a bunch of willing protectors if my apartment ever got robbed or anything.
“I don’t consider it finite,” Ivan said. “But it’s certainly not infinite. And there’s already enough social obligation surrounding holidays without adding it in at other times. What’s that smell?”
“I have no idea, I can only smell the ant spray from yesterday. Damn. Where’s that new can of cleaner?”
“It’s in your bathroom. Under the left-hand side of the counter, behind the trash can. It shouldn’t be stored so close to the ammonia-based cleaners.”