{Launch Day Blitz & Giveaway} The Marriage Contract by Katee Robert (@Katee_Robert @ForeverRomance)

12/22/2015

THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT by Katee Robert

(December 22, 2015; Forever Mass Market; The O’Malleys: Book 1)

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert begins a smoking hot new series about the O'Malley family-wealthy, powerful, dangerous and seething with scandal.

Teague O'Malley hates pretty much everything associated with his family's name. And when his father orders him to marry Callista Sheridan to create a "business" alliance, Teague's ready to tell his dad exactly where he can stuff his millions. But then Teague actually meets his new fiancée, sees the bruises on her neck and the fight still left in her big blue eyes, and vows he will do everything in his power to protect her.

Everyone knows the O'Malleys have a dangerous reputation. But Callie wasn't aware just what that meant until she saw Teague, the embodiment of lethal grace and coiled power. His slightest touch sizzles through her. But the closer they get, the more trouble they're in. Because Callie's keeping a dark secret-and what Teague doesn't know could get him killed.

Exclusive Excerpt-

She was so wrapped up in her misery, she didn’t realize she was no longer alone until a rough male voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. “Want a smoke?”

Callie opened her eyes to a man offering her an opened pack of cigarettes. He was attractive in a brutish sort of way, his jaw square, cheekbones to kill for, and shoulders filling out his expensive suit in a way that didn’t look the least bit comfortable.
“I don’t smoke.”

“Now’s as good a time to start as any.” He shook one out and handed it to her, and then lit the one dangling between his lips. “I hear we’re going to be married.”

This was Teague O’Malley? She tensed, but he seemed content to stand in this dark alley with her and share his cigarettes. Now that she knew what to look for, she recognized the same coloring that his father and older brother had—sun-darkened skin and near-black hair. His dark eyes weren’t as cold as Seamus’s, but that didn’t comfort her in the least. All it meant was that he was a better liar than his father was. “What do you think about that?”

He shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter what either of us thinks, does it?”

“No, I suppose it doesn’t.”

She wanted to know why he’d followed her out here—if there was something he’d wanted to say that couldn’t be said in front of both their combined families—but he seemed content to enjoy his cigarette in silence. Maybe he’d needed the respite as much as she had?

All too soon, it’d be time to step back into the chaos and let the events neither of them could stop begin, but right now they were just two strangers, sharing a moment of silence.

Can we really be strangers if we’re already engaged?

She pushed the thought away, determined to enjoy this stolen moment in time before reality set back in. By the time she finished her cigarette, her hands had almost stopped shaking. She crushed the remaining bit under the toe of her sky-high heels and turned for the door.

Only to find her way blocked by Teague.

He was taller up close, well over six feet, and broader as well. The man looked like a bruiser, which was fitting because it was exactly what he was. He stared down at her with beautiful dark eyes, and her demand that he get out of her way died in her throat. While she was debating her options, he reached up, quick as a snake, and snagged the silk scarf around her neck. She made a grab at it, but it was too late.

Teague took a step closer, and then another, backing her against the wall, his eyes narrowing at her neck. “Show me.”

“Leave me alone.” Was that her voice, weak and wavering? She took a shuddering breath, all her hard won calm disappearing. “Get out of my way.”

He kept going as if he hadn’t heard her, stopping less than an arm’s reach away. God, he seemed big this close up—bigger than Brendan, bigger than her brother had been. He cupped her chin, his grip painless but completely unmovable, and tilted her head back to bare her neck. “Who hurt you?” There was a promise of violence in every line of his body.

“No one.”

“Now, I may not be the smartest man in the world, Callista, but I know what the imprint of a man’s hands on a woman’s neck looks like.” His thumb moved, tracing the line of Brendan’s fingers that she could still feel digging into her skin. Teague’s touch didn’t hurt, though. It felt…almost good.

She swallowed, the move pressing her throat more firmly against his thumb. “It won’t happen again.”

“You’re right. Because I’m going to kill the bastard.” He kept stroking her skin, his touch doing strange things to parts of her body that weren’t anywhere near her neck. “Tell me his name.”

She wouldn’t, even if the man who’d hurt her wasn’t already dead. Even in their messed-up world, murder was a last resort—something to be avoided at all costs—not something you did for a woman you barely knew. “No.”

“Your father hasn’t been keeping what’s his safe.” Another stroke, this one closer to her jawline. “That’s his mistake—one I won’t be making as well. His name, Callista.”

She’d never considered herself one to crack under pressure, but this man put his hands on her and spoke in that quiet, confident way that promised violence to anyone who touched her, and she was dangerously close to losing control. Which kind of control was up for grabs, so she went with the least likely to reveal her secret.

She kissed him, her heels giving her enough height that she barely had to go up on her toes. Her lips brushed his and for one interminable second she was sure neither of them took a breath.

That was all it took.

He let go of her throat to cup the back of her head, and then she was in the middle of the single most devastating kiss of her life. His tongue stroked hers, claiming her mouth—her body—as his own. His hands stayed in place even as he continued the assault on her mouth, his touch headier than the nicotine. She arched against him, tilting her head to allow him better access, and he growled in approval.

Whatever she’d expected from this kiss, it certainly hadn’t been desire. Though desire was too tame a word. She’d felt desire before, and this wasn’t it. This was…need. All-consuming need that devoured everything in its path, leaving only destruction in its wake.

BONUS Scene!! -

Teague paced from one end of his apartment to the other, checking the clock for the sixth time in as many minutes. She should be here by now. Things were so incredibly unstable in Boston at the moment, and Callie would be the feather in the cap of any one of the many enemies that had turned their sights on both the Sheridans and the O’Malleys. He knew she had a protection detail that was more than capable of keeping her from harm, but in the time he’d known her, she’d more than proven her ability to get into trouble. We both have.

She’s a grown woman and more than capable of taking care of herself. She’s practically running the Sheridan empire. She’s fine.

But what if she wasn’t?

If something had happened to her… He grabbed his phone, determined to make sure she was truly okay.

The door to his apartment opened, and Callie rushed through. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
Teague crossed to stand in front of her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright, but she seemed fine. That didn’t stop him from pulling her into his arms and making sure. Maybe there would come a day when he wouldn’t worry about her, but that day wasn’t today. He rested his chin on the top of her head and just held her for a moment.

Callie put her arms around him. “I should have called.”

“No, it’s fine. You don’t have to report your every move to me.” He was being paranoid, and he knew it. But after everything that had happened, he was all too aware of how tenuous their grasp on life really was. The temptation to hold everyone he cared about closer was almost overwhelming, as if he could keep them safe through sheer force of will. He exhaled. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She drew back enough to look up at him. “I do have a very good reason for my tardiness.” She moved back and unwrapped the tie around her jacket, opening it so he could see that she wore…

Damn.

Teague took a step toward her. “Angel, you’re missing a vital part of your wardrobe. Again.” Her jacket had given the illusion of a dress, but beneath it she wore only thigh high black stockings attached to a red lace halter corset that did nothing to conceal her body beneath it. Her nipples peeked through the fabric, the sight all the more erotic for the facade of a barrier between them. Her panties were so small as to be laughable, or they would be if anything about her lingerie was laughable.
She looked down as if seeing it for the first time. “Am I?”

“We’ve gone over this.” He took another step. “I told you what would happen the next time you teased me this way.”

“Ah, but last time was my missing my panties.” She gave him a slow, sexy smile. “Though if you insist, I suppose I could take it off.”

He grabbed her hips and closed the remaining distance between them. She was soft and warm and smelled of roses. And she’s mine. He laced his fingers through her hair and tipped her head back. “Angel, I’m going to have to insist you remove it—immediately.”

And Coming Soon -

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about the O'Malleys-wealthy, powerful, and full of scandalous family secrets in THE WEDDING PACT, on sale April 26, 2016:

Carrigan O'Malley has always known her arranged marriage would be more about power and prestige than passion. But after one taste of the hard-bodied, whiskey-voiced James Halloran, she's ruined for anyone else. Too bad James and his family are enemy number 1.

Hallorans vs. O'Malleys-that's how it's always been. James should be thinking more about how to expand his family's empire instead of how silky Carrigan's skin is against his and how he can next get her into his bed. Those are dangerous thoughts. But not nearly as dangerous as he'll be if he can't get what he wants: Carrigan by his side for the rest of their lives.

About The Author -

Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa's knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at age twelve she discovered romance novels and never looked back. Though she dabbled in writing, life got in the way-as it often does-and she spent a few years traveling, living in both Philadelphia and Germany. In between traveling and raising her two wee ones, she had the crazy idea that she'd like to write a book and try to get published. Her first novel was an epic fantasy that, God willing, will never see the light of day. From there, she dabbled in YA and horror, before finally finding romance. Because, really, who wouldn't want to write entire books about the smoking-hot relationships between two people? She now spends her time-when not lost in Far Reach worlds-playing imaginary games with her wee ones, writing, ogling men, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.