SHATTER

Introduction

Releasing 11/9

One man’s trash…

He’s hockey’s bad boy. Alex’s reputation as one of the meanest defensemen in the league is nothing compared to his notoriety off the ice. After spending too much time and energy chasing someone who’d never feel the same, Alex is through playing games. He’s content with his self-indulgent nights of alcohol and strange men.

Is another man’s treasure.

His entire life Gannon has toed the line, doing his best to keep from becoming a burden to his older brother who ended up saddled with him way too young. Now Gannon has his sights set on Alex, and he’ll stop at nothing to have him. Including, offering Alex something he can’t resist. One night. No strings.

Alex is exactly the brand of crazy Gannon’s been searching for.

From the beginning nothing goes as planned between Alex and Gannon, but neither man can stay away. When a secret from Gannon’s past floats to the surface, Alex has to choose. Will he fight one last time or let life shatter him again?

 

Excerpt (unedited)

A simple ride back to his car. That’s all Alex wanted, except he didn’t. Alex rattled off the address to where Shayne and Lincoln’s engagement party had been held earlier in the evening. Where his car still sat. With a short nod, Gannon let Alex know he’d heard. Silence filled the car. Alex fought the urge to mess with the dude’s radio, canceling out the uncomfortable void. Anything was better than staring at Gannon’s profile, and Alex couldn’t seem to stop doing that. Damn, how one person could be so physically perfect, eluded Alex. No matter how many times he tore his gaze away, it always found its way back. Gannon cut his eyes at Alex and Alex looked away again. Fuck. Obviously, he was making the man uneasy, and Alex didn’t want that.

He did his best to focus on something else. “I’m not taking you out of your way, am I?” Gannon chuckled. It was husky and punched Alex in the gut. Otherwise, the silence remained. “Now I’m worried. What does that laugh mean? Will they find my body tomorrow?”

Gannon’s eyes crinkled in the corners and a dimple appeared in his cheek. Alex’s breath caught in the back of his throat. “Hmmm,” Gannon hummed, making Alex crave feeling the sound against his skin. “I guess this is where I should confess, I had zero intention of going anywhere tonight until you showed up.”

Chill bumps rose on Alex’s skin at Gannon’s softly spoken admission. His mouth went dry, forcing him to clear his throat to respond. “Why?”

Gannon’s smile grew. “I don’t like going out alone.”

“That’s not what I meant.” When Gannon said nothing else, Alex knew he wouldn’t get an explanation. He loved the sound of Gannon’s voice. As much as he wanted to hear the other man speak, he didn’t need it so badly he’d make Gannon uncomfortable to get his way. Instead, he grabbed ahold of Gannon’s confession. “You said you don’t like going out alone. Now you’ve got me. What would you like to go do?”

If Alex hadn’t been staring so intently at Gannon, he might’ve missed Gannon’s reaction. A faint smile crossed his features, and he ducked his head slightly before recovering. He was shy. Just like that, Alex went hard. Beautiful innocence was his biggest weakness. An odd desire to protect Gannon while ruining him for all others rose in Alex’s chest.

“I thought you had a six a.m. training session.”

Even though Gannon was watching the road and not him, Alex still shook his head. “Don’t worry over me. I haven’t slept in years. Name the place, and we’ll go.”

Gannon snuck a quick glance in Alex’s direction. “Whatever I want, huh?”

“Yep. Whatever you want, I’m game.”

At Alex’s reassurance, Gannon dipped his chin as if coming to a decision. “All right, then. If you’re serious, then what I want to do is you.”

Alex’s brain short-circuited. He heard the words as they fell from Gannon’s gorgeous lips, but couldn’t process them. A huge part of him wanted to ask if Gannon was shitting him. The rest of him recognized that would be a mistake. He heard himself giving Gannon his address. No way would he give the other man time to back down by wasting time picking up his car. Gannon changed lanes before cutting a U-turn and heading toward Alex’s place. The dude was obviously serious. Alex’s dick beat a pattern against the inside of his zipper. No doubt a wet spot was forming on his boxer briefs.

“I’m not a whore.”

“The thought never crossed my mind,” Alex said, being honest.

“But I am using you.”

“You’re not the first,” Alex said, still being open.

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About the Author

Charity Parkerson is an award winning and multi-published author with Ellora's Cave Publishing, Indie Publishing House LLC, and Punk & Sissy Publications. Born with no filter from her brain to her mouth, she decided to take this odd quirk and insert it in her characters. *2015 Readers' Favorite Award Winner *Winner of 2, 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards *2015 Passionate Plume Award Finalist *2013 Readers' Favorite Award Winner *2013 Reviewers' Choice Award Winner *2012 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Paranormal Romance *Five-time winner of The Mistress of the Darkpath Connect with her online: --Website: charityparkerson.com --Facebook: facebook.com/authorCharityParkerson facebook.com/TheMenofSin --Twitter: twitter.com/CharityParkerso