Who knew finding true love would mean juggling a secret club’s rules, rethinking marital boundaries, and a best friend you suddenly want to kiss?
Lily’s life was predictably pedestrian: side-step her husband’s aloofness, indulge in racy novels with her audacious book club, and dream about feeling that kind of passion in her own life. But a surprise run-in at a cheeky adult toy shop flings her back into the orbit of London, her endearingly rogue-ish childhood best friend, now the manager of Club Nocté—a nightclub synonymous with whispered secrets and sexy encounters.
Dazzled by the nocturnal allure of Nocté and the undeniable chemistry with London, Lily’s once-staid world gets a titillating shake-up. He’s not the boy she once built forts with, but a man with seductive depths that pull her in. And the kicker? London’s not-so-subtle feelings have the urgency of a flash sale—tempting, fleeting, and impossible to resist.
But in a world of impromptu one-night stands, it’s the long-standing emotions that prove the most scandalous. London fell first, and hard. Lily, still tethered to her crumbling marriage, finds herself torn between the nostalgic sweetness of the past and the thrilling promise of a passionate future.
Brace yourself for a joyride of giggles, gasps, and ‘oh-my-god’ moments, as Lily and London navigate a dance of friendship and flirtation, underpinned by the most tantalizing question: Will they dare to cross the line between friendship’s safety for a chance at true love?
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EXCERPT:
“What about that one?” I ask quietly, eyeing the woman who walked in a moment ago. She’s now standing with her hands on her hips in front of the wall of vibrators.
“Oh, honey, she’s done with his shit and ready to take matters into her own hands.” Quinn chuckles. “Literally.”
“Who’s shit?” I ask, turning back to him.
“Does it matter?” He shoots me a WTF look. “She is fed up with a capital F. Any minute, she’s going to ask for my oh-so-worldly advice on which one of those silicone beauties will turn her vision technicolor and I’ll give it to her. Oh, that reminds me. You have got to check out this new Swedish brand we just got in.” He twists around and pulls up a couple of black boxes.
Without a second thought, he opens the first box, plucks the silicone toy out, and waves it proudly between us. Then, he passes it to me.
It’s a bright blue number that looks more like the letter V than a vibrator.
V for Vibrator. I guess it works.
“Meet Hugo. I’m officially in love and no longer need a man to complete me,” he swoons, fanning himself. “It has a prostate massager and eight hands-free settings. Seriously, I’ve never come so hard in my life.”
“Oh, dear god.” My face flushes and I pass the monstrosity back. “Well, that’s lovely for you. I don’t have a prostate, so …”
His face brightens and he wiggles his eyebrows. “Which is why I am pleased to bring you this next piece. Say hello to Enigma,” he says, removing a dark pink vibrator from the other box. This one is shaped more like a question mark to match the questions in my mind.
What’s with the abstract shapes?
He hands it to me and I turn it over in my hand, confused about how you’d even use the damn thing.
As if reading my mind, he begins his sales pitch. “Fully waterproof, this bad boy is sure to be your best friend from here on out. Now, this piece fits inside to stimulate the G-spot.” He taps the curved part of the question mark. “And this amazing little spot here is the super-sonic clit stimulator. Like, seriously, from what I hear, it’s supposed to exorcise your demons and give you a glimpse into heaven itself.”
Behind me, someone chuckles. My first instinct is to freeze. Because, dear Lord Almighty …
Quinn arches around me and gives whoever it is a good once-over. I’m too terrified to look.
“Don’t let me stop you,” a man’s deep voice says from behind me. “Please, carry on. I’m very interested to hear about how this super-sonic feature works. Heaven certainly has an appeal.”
With the vibrator still in my hand, I chance a glance over my shoulder and come face to face with the dark-haired, perfect assed man from the party section.
Of course.
Tucked under his left arm is a box of lewd stir sticks. His eyes sparkle with amusement as a dazzling smirk appears.
“I, this isn’t—” I begin, fumbling with the vibrator. I nearly drop it but manage to grab it by the G-spot curve. “I mean, he was just showing me … But this isn’t …”
To my horror, I bump into his box of stir sticks, sending them flying. Somehow, he manages to reach out and grab them before they hit the ground. I’m dazzled by the way his biceps flex and the tattoos on his forearm dance.
“Whew, good reflexes there,” I blurt out, still mesmerized by his arms.
The guy’s smoldering dark blue eyes survey me, still with a hint of humor, and somehow, the weight of worlds. There’s a gravity there and it’s like he strips me down and sees into my soul as a strange energy passes between us.
He looks like he’s about to say something, but stops short.
Of course, mind-in-the-gutter-girl that I am, already turned on by the toy I clearly need for myself, all I can think about is what Quinn said earlier—and I’m inclined to agree.
Beast is definitely the word that springs to mind for this guy.
It’s suddenly too hot in here.
Author Bio:
Carissa is all about bringing the heat in every romance she writes... but she also enjoys making the journey as angsty and awkward as possible. (Because come on! What could be more fun than making the characters squirm?)
While she’s a new kid around the rom-com block, Carissa’s actually been kicking out books for over a decade as Carissa Andrews.
So, hold onto your panties, ladies. They’re about to light on fire with her brand new titillating series, “The One Night Stand Club!”
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