We're thrilled to share an Exclusive Excerpt of VERY WICKED THINGS by Ilsa Madden-Mills, scheduled for release very soon in May. This is Book 2 of Ilsa's fantastic Briarcrest Academy series. Each book is a stand alone with no cliffhangers. Today enjoy a very sexy excerpt, check out the hot teasers and book trailer and enter to win Signed Paperbacks of both Very Bad Things and Very Wicked Things!
If you haven't read Book 1, Very Bad Things, it's on SALE for only $0.99. An angsty, emotional, scorching roller coaster ride. To everyone around her Nora is perfect - but under the surface she's screaming and aching to be bad - enter Leo - a hot and tortured soul - he's out of reach but the one bad thing she wants most.
If you haven't read Book 1, Very Bad Things, it's on SALE for only $0.99. An angsty, emotional, scorching roller coaster ride. To everyone around her Nora is perfect - but under the surface she's screaming and aching to be bad - enter Leo - a hot and tortured soul - he's out of reach but the one bad thing she wants most.
Exclusive Excerpt from Very Wicked Things
(#2 from the Briarcrest Academy Series)
We got up to leave the restaurant, and he placed his hand in the small of my back, guiding me. The touch seemed almost gentlemanly from a guy who was anything but. And it created a fire in me. And it scared me, too. Because usually in life the first time you meet someone, you’re strangers, but with Cuba, it hadn’t been like that. Like a dancer who automatically recognizes which toe shoes are hers, my heart sensed him as mine.
Bah. How ridiculous.
But still the thought persisted.
We stopped at his car in the parking lot. Sure, he’d said I could drive his Porsche, but more than that, I wanted to kiss him. Desperately.
Cuba was a mind reader. “You promised me a kiss to drive my car,” he said. “You gonna give me anything else tonight?” He raked his eyes over my short ballet skirt.
I let that go.
“Why do you like me?” I said, feeling bold, obviously delusional from all the carbs at dinner.
His broad shoulders moved in closer, and my eyes got tangled up on his big-ass biceps. He said, “It’s hard to say. I think it’s the whole package: the way you don’t care who I am, the way you smile, the way you don’t take any shit from me. But mostly, your ass is so tight from
dancing—"
I slapped his arm and he laughed, his golden eyes glowing with—heat? Then he leaned in and kissed my earlobe, his tongue caressing my pearl earring. I stopped breathing. Our first kiss had been on the nape. Now the ear. My lips were jealous.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
Yeah. Ditto.
“Do you want a real kiss?” I whispered, trying to not pant but failing miserably.
“I want way more than a kiss, Dovey.”
“Like what?”
He didn’t say. Just tilted my chin up and bent down until our noses touched. And it should have been awkward because first kiss moments usually are, but for some reason it wasn’t. The air between us mingled and grew warm. Or maybe that was my face. My lips parted, and I wet them with my tongue. I prayed I didn’t have lasagna breath.
“Are you going to kiss me? Because the build-up is killing me. Just do it already,” I said silkily, in a tone I’d never used with anyone.
“What if it’s not as good as my dream?”
“Make your dreams come true, then,” I said.
“You’re as cheesy as I am,” he said softly, cupping my face, and then the world went on pause as he pressed me against the car and eased between my legs. His delicious hard body aligned with mine, and he took my mouth gently, giving me soft kisses and then harder ones, tilting his head this way and that, experimenting. Our tongues met, tangling and then escalating as the passion built higher and higher. I needed to come up for air, but I didn’t.
Kissing Cuba was a good way to die.
He lifted his lips from mine after a while, breathing hard.
“Good?”he asked huskily.
Like a mute, all I could do was nod.
THE END
(unedited and subject to change)
Bah. How ridiculous.
But still the thought persisted.
We stopped at his car in the parking lot. Sure, he’d said I could drive his Porsche, but more than that, I wanted to kiss him. Desperately.
Cuba was a mind reader. “You promised me a kiss to drive my car,” he said. “You gonna give me anything else tonight?” He raked his eyes over my short ballet skirt.
I let that go.
“Why do you like me?” I said, feeling bold, obviously delusional from all the carbs at dinner.
His broad shoulders moved in closer, and my eyes got tangled up on his big-ass biceps. He said, “It’s hard to say. I think it’s the whole package: the way you don’t care who I am, the way you smile, the way you don’t take any shit from me. But mostly, your ass is so tight from
dancing—"
I slapped his arm and he laughed, his golden eyes glowing with—heat? Then he leaned in and kissed my earlobe, his tongue caressing my pearl earring. I stopped breathing. Our first kiss had been on the nape. Now the ear. My lips were jealous.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
Yeah. Ditto.
“Do you want a real kiss?” I whispered, trying to not pant but failing miserably.
“I want way more than a kiss, Dovey.”
“Like what?”
He didn’t say. Just tilted my chin up and bent down until our noses touched. And it should have been awkward because first kiss moments usually are, but for some reason it wasn’t. The air between us mingled and grew warm. Or maybe that was my face. My lips parted, and I wet them with my tongue. I prayed I didn’t have lasagna breath.
“Are you going to kiss me? Because the build-up is killing me. Just do it already,” I said silkily, in a tone I’d never used with anyone.
“What if it’s not as good as my dream?”
“Make your dreams come true, then,” I said.
“You’re as cheesy as I am,” he said softly, cupping my face, and then the world went on pause as he pressed me against the car and eased between my legs. His delicious hard body aligned with mine, and he took my mouth gently, giving me soft kisses and then harder ones, tilting his head this way and that, experimenting. Our tongues met, tangling and then escalating as the passion built higher and higher. I needed to come up for air, but I didn’t.
Kissing Cuba was a good way to die.
He lifted his lips from mine after a while, breathing hard.
“Good?”he asked huskily.
Like a mute, all I could do was nod.
THE END
(unedited and subject to change)
Very Wicked Things Synopsis and Goodreads Link
Born on the poor side of town…
Ballerina Dovey Beckham is a scholarship student at Briarcrest Academy, determined to prove she’s more than just a girl with the wrong pedigree. She does whatever it takes to succeed in her endgame, even if it means
surrendering her body…but never her heart.
Until the day she meets him, and he rips apart all her well-laid plans. Suddenly, the girl everyone thought unbreakable might just shatter.
Born into wealth and privilege…
Cuba “Hollywood” Hudson is rich, spoiled, and a star football player. With his fast cars and superficial girlfriends, he lives the high-life, hiding his secrets from the world.
Until the day he meets her, and she offers him something he’s never tasted…love.
But once in a lifetime kind of love doesn’t come easy. When trust crumbles and doubts creep
in, both will have to decide to either love or let go…forever.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy, where sometimes, only the wicked survive.
Ballerina Dovey Beckham is a scholarship student at Briarcrest Academy, determined to prove she’s more than just a girl with the wrong pedigree. She does whatever it takes to succeed in her endgame, even if it means
surrendering her body…but never her heart.
Until the day she meets him, and he rips apart all her well-laid plans. Suddenly, the girl everyone thought unbreakable might just shatter.
Born into wealth and privilege…
Cuba “Hollywood” Hudson is rich, spoiled, and a star football player. With his fast cars and superficial girlfriends, he lives the high-life, hiding his secrets from the world.
Until the day he meets her, and she offers him something he’s never tasted…love.
But once in a lifetime kind of love doesn’t come easy. When trust crumbles and doubts creep
in, both will have to decide to either love or let go…forever.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy, where sometimes, only the wicked survive.
Hot Teasers! Click on Each Picture for Full View.
Check out the Very Wicked Things Book Trailer!
Very Bad Things, Book 1, Synopsis and Purchase Button ($0.99)
"It isn't just angels who have wings. All kinds of beautiful creatures have them. And someday you're going to fly away from here and leave all this shit behind.
You need your own wings."
- Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Born into a life of privilege and secrets, Nora Blakely has everything any nineteen-year-old girl could desire. She’s an accomplished pianist, a Texas beauty queen, and on her way to Princeton after high school. She’s perfect…
Leaving behind her million-dollar mansion and Jimmy Choos, she becomes a girl hell-bent on pushing the limits with alcohol, drugs, and meaningless sex.
Then she meets her soulmate. But he doesn’t want her.
When it comes to girls, twenty-five-year-old Leo Tate has one rule: never fall in love. His gym and his brother are all he cares about...until he meets Nora. He resists the pull of their attraction, hung up on their six year age difference.
As they struggle to stay away from each other, secrets will be revealed, tempers will flare, and hearts will be broken.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy…where sometimes, the best things in life are Very Bad Things.
Leaving behind her million-dollar mansion and Jimmy Choos, she becomes a girl hell-bent on pushing the limits with alcohol, drugs, and meaningless sex.
Then she meets her soulmate. But he doesn’t want her.
When it comes to girls, twenty-five-year-old Leo Tate has one rule: never fall in love. His gym and his brother are all he cares about...until he meets Nora. He resists the pull of their attraction, hung up on their six year age difference.
As they struggle to stay away from each other, secrets will be revealed, tempers will flare, and hearts will be broken.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy…where sometimes, the best things in life are Very Bad Things.
"Falling for someone can be a lot like playing roulette. You don’t know what will happen when you place that bet, but you take a deep breath anyway and put all the chips out there. And when the ball spins around and around, you pray it lands on your number."
- Very Bad Things byIlsa Madden-Mills
Dreamcast: Meet Nora and Leo
