Part 1 (1/2)

Stark International.

Under My Skin.

J. Kenner.

About the Author.

J. Kenner loves wine, dark chocolate, and books. She lives in Texas with her husband and daughters. Visit her online atto learn more about her and her other pen names, and to get a peek at what she's working on. Or connect with her via Twitter @juliekenner or through /JKennerBooks.

Just some of the rave reviews for J. Kenner's powerfully sensual and erotic novels:.

'Kenner may very well have cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them . . . Her characters' scorching, scandalous affair explores the very nature of attraction and desire, redeeming and changing them beyond measure . . . Fans will no doubt love the games of power, overwhelming pa.s.sion and self-defining relations.h.i.+p that Kenner has crafted, and come away eager for more' Romantic Times.

'The plot is complex, the characters engaging, and J. Kenner's pa.s.sionate writing brings it all perfectly together' Harlequin Junkie.

'In Julie Kenner's typical masterful storytelling, nothing is as it seems. We are taken deeply into the plot twists and the danger of this erotic journey. The chemistry first felt by both Tyler and Sloane during their first encounter roars into an all-consuming fire neither one can put out . . . Take the same journey I did and you will not be disappointed!' As You Wish Reviews.

'Wanted is another J. Kenner masterpiece . . . This was an intriguing look at self-discovery and forbidden love all wrapped into a neat little action-suspense package. There was plenty of s.e.xual tension and eventually action. Evan was hot, hot, hot! Together, they were combustible. But can we expect anything less from J. Kenner?' Reading Haven.

'Wanted by J. Kenner is the whole package! A toe-curling smokin' hot read, full of incredible characters and a brilliant storyline that you won't be able to get enough of. I can't wait for the next book in this series . . . I'm hooked!' Flirty & Dirty Book Blog.

'I loved this story! It had substance, lovable characters, and unexpected discoveries. And the love between Evan and Angelina was pa.s.sionate, explosive, and utterly wonderful' Part of That World.

'J. Kenner's evocative writing thrillingly captures the power of physical attraction, the pull of longing, the universe-altering effect one person can have on another. She masterfully draws out the eroticism between Nikki and Damien . . . Claim Me has the emotional depth to back up the s.e.x . . . Every scene is infused with both erotic tension, and the tension of wondering what lies beneath Damien's veneer and how and when it will be revealed' Heroes and Heartbreakers 'Claim Me by J. Kenner is an erotic, s.e.xy and exciting ride. The story between Damien and Nikki is amazing and written beautifully. The intimate and detailed s.e.x scenes will leave you fanning yourself to cool down. With the writing style of Ms Kenner you almost feel like you are there in the story riding along the emotional rollercoaster with Damien and Nikki' Fresh Fiction 'PERFECT for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You. Release Me is a powerful and erotic romance novel that is sure to make adult romance readers sweat, sigh and swoon' Reading, Eating & Dreaming Blog 'Release Me . . . just made the top of my list with Damien and Nikki . . . the way in which J. Kenner tells the story, how vulnerable and real Damien and Nikki feel, makes this story so good, and re-readable many times over' In Love With Romance Blog 'This is deeply sensual and the story packs an emotional punch that I really hadn't expected . . . If you enjoyed Fifty Shades [and] the Crossfire books, you're definitely going to enjoy this one. It's compelling, engaging and I was thoroughly engrossed' Sinfully s.e.xy Blog 'I will admit, I am in the ”I loved Fifty Shades” camp, but after reading Release Me, Mr Grey only scratches the surface compared to Damien Stark' c.o.c.ktails and Books Blog.

'It is not often when a book is so amazingly well-written that I find it hard to even begin to accurately describe it . . . I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in a pa.s.sionate love story' Romancebookworm's Reviews.

'The story is one that will rank up with the Fifty Shades and Crossfire trilogies' Incubus Publis.h.i.+ng Blog.

'Release Me gives readers tantalizing pages of sensual delight, leaving us reeling as we journey with this couple and their pa.s.sions are released. Release Me is a must read!' Readaholics Anonymous.

About the Book.

He's the only man I've ever loved.

And the one man I can't bear to lose.

Jackson Steele is my light in this world. Charismatic, bold, and always in control, he knows what he wants and how to get it. His hold on me is magnetic, his kiss my ultimate escape.

We both harbour dark secrets that could tear our lives apart. Although we've tried to bury our pasts, there are certain people who won't let us forget. But the closer danger comes, the brighter the fire between us burns.

No matter what lies ahead, Jackson won't give in without a fight. I'd do anything he wants to keep him safe. And now that we're in deep, nothing can make me run.

Fall in love with J. Kenner's hot and addictive bestselling Stark series charting the romance of Nikki and Damien Stark: Release Me, Claim Me, Complete Me, Take Me, Have Me and Play My Game.

Don't miss J. Kenner's explosive Most Wanted series of three enigmatic and powerful men, and the striking women who can bring them to their knees: Wanted, Heated and Ignited.

one.

There is peace in these moments between sleep and wakefulness. In the soft minutes that seem to stretch into hours, warm and comforting like a gift bestowed by a benevolent universe.

This is a world of dreams, and right now it is safe. It is right. And I want to stay here, wrapped tight in the comfort of his arms.

But dreams often turn into nightmares, and as I move through the corridors of sleep, dark fingers of fear reach out to me. My pulse pounds and my breath comes too shallow. I curl toward him, craving his touch, but he is not there, and I sit bolt upright, my skin clammy from a sheen of sweat. My heart pounding so hard I will surely crack a rib.

Jackson.

I'm awake now, alone and disoriented as a wild panic cuts through me. I'm afraid, but I don't remember why.

Too quickly though, it all rushes back, and as the memories return with wakefulness, I long to slide back into oblivion. Because whatever horror my mind would fabricate in dreams couldn't be any worse than the reality that now surrounds me, cold and stark.

A reality in which the world is crumbling down around my ears.

A reality in which the man I love desperately is suspected of murder.

With a sigh, I press a hand to my cheek, my memory sharpening as I shake off the haze of slumber. He'd brushed a kiss over my cheek before slipping out of our warm coc.o.o.n and into the chilly morning air. At the time I'd been content to stay behind, snuggled tight in the blankets that still held his scent and radiated the lingering heat from his body.

Now I wish I had roused myself when he did, because I don't want to be alone. Alone is when panic creeps closer.

Alone is when I'm certain that I will lose him.

Alone is what I fear.

And yet even as the thought enters my mind, the solitude is shattered. The bedroom door bursts open, and a dark-haired, blue-eyed bundle of suns.h.i.+ne races toward me, then leaps onto the bed and starts bouncing, her energy so vibrant I laugh despite myself. ”Sylvie! Sylvie! I made toast with Uncle Jackson!”

”Toast? Really?” It's work, but I manage to keep my voice perky and upbeat despite the fact that fear still clings to me like cobwebs. I give Ronnie a quick, tight hug, but my attention isn't on her anymore. Instead, I am focused entirely on the man in the doorway.

He stands casually on the threshold, a wooden tray in his hands. His coal black hair is untidy from sleep, and he sports two days of beard stubble. He wears flannel pajama bottoms and a pale gray T-s.h.i.+rt. By every indication, he is a man who has just awakened. A man with nothing on his mind but the morning and breakfast and the bits of news that fill the paper tucked under his arm.

But dear G.o.d, he is so much more. He is power and tenderness, strength and control. He is the man who has colored my days and illuminated my nights.

Jackson Steele. The man I love. The man I once foolishly tried to leave. The man who grabbed hold and pulled me back, then slayed my demons, and in doing so claimed my heart.

But it is those very demons that have brought us to this moment.

Because Robert Cabot Reed was one of those demons, and now Reed is dead. Someone entered his Beverly Hills home and bashed his head in with a decorative piece of carved ivory.

And I can't help but fear that the someone was Jackson, and that soon he will have to pay the price.

We arrived in Santa Fe late yesterday afternoon, both of us feeling light and happy and eager. Jackson had intended to spend the weekend with Ronnie and then go to court on Monday in order to set a hearing on his pet.i.tion to formally claim paternity and establish that he is Ronnie's father in the eyes of the law. That plan, however, was sideswiped when local detectives met our plane, then informed Jackson that he was wanted back in Beverly Hills for questioning in Reed's murder.