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Gabriel Miller swept into my life like a storm. He tore down my
father with cold retribution, leaving him penniless in a hospital bed. I quit
my private all-girl's college to take care of the only family I have left.
There's one way to save our house, one thing I have left of
value.
My virginity.
A forbidden auction...
Gabriel appears at every turn. He seems to take pleasure in
watching me fall. Other times he's the only kindness in a brutal underworld.
Except he's playing a deeper game than I know. Every move brings
us together, every secret rips us apart. And when the final piece is played,
only one of us can be left standing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THE PAWN is a full-length contemporary novel from New York Times
bestselling author Skye Warren about revenge and seduction in the game of love.
It's the first book in the brand new ENDGAME series.
Excerpt #1
A sense of familiarity fills the space between us even though I
know we haven’t met. This man is a stranger, but he looks at me as if he wants
to know me. He looks at me as if he already does. There’s an intensity to his
eyes when they sweep over my face, as firm and as telling as a touch.
“I need…” A thud against my ribs as I think about all the things
I need—a rewind button. One person in the city who doesn’t hate me by name
alone. “I need a loan.”
He gives me a slow perusal, from the nervous slide of my tongue
along my lips to the high neckline of my dress. I tried to dress
professionally—a black cowl-necked sweater and pencil skirt. His strange amber
gaze unbuttons my coat, pulls away the expensive cotton, tears off the cotton
fabric of my bra and panties. He sees right through me, and I shiver as a
ripple of awareness runs over my skin.
I’ve met a million men in my life. Shaken hands. Smiled. I’ve
never felt as seen through as I do right now. Never felt like someone has
turned me inside out, every dark secret exposed to the harsh light. He sees my
weaknesses, and from the cruel set of his mouth, he likes them.
His lids lower. “And what do you have for collateral?”
Nothing except my word. That wouldn’t be worth anything if he
knew my name. I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I don’t know.”
Nothing.
He takes a step forward, and suddenly I’m crowded against the
brick wall beside the door, his large body blocking out the warm light from
inside. He feels like a furnace in front me, the heat of him in sharp contrast
to the cold brick at my back. “What’s your name, girl?”
The word girl is a slap in the face. I force
myself not to flinch, but it’s hard. Everything about him overwhelms me—his
size, his low voice. “I’ll tell Mr. Scott my name.”
In the shadowed space between us, his smile spreads, white and
taunting. The pleasure that lights his strange yellow eyes is almost sensual,
as if I caressed him. “You’ll have to get past me.”
My heart thuds. He likes that I’m challenging him, and God,
that’s even worse. What if I’ve already failed? I’m free-falling, tumbling,
turning over without a single hope to anchor me. Where will I go if he turns me
away? What will happen to my father?
“Let me go,” I whisper, but my hope fades fast.
His eyes flash with warning. “Little Avery James, all grown up.”
A small gasp resounds in
the space between us. He already knows my name. That means he knows who my
father is. He knows what he’s done. Denials rush to my throat, pleas for understanding.
The hard set of his eyes, the broad strength of his shoulders tells me I won’t
find any mercy here.
Excerpt #2
“Kinky stuff,” Gabriel says, the corner of his mouth turned up.
“What do you know about kinky stuff?”
My face feels hot. “I’ve seen the movie, okay? I know about
things.”
That’s a lie. I squirmed through the movie, lips parted in
shock. How did people think of this stuff? Why would any girl like it? And I’m
not just a random face in this city. My picture has appeared in the society
papers. People know my father. Maybe some of the men were cheated by him, just
like Gabriel. Would they want to hurt me in revenge?
“Tell me what you know,” Gabriel says.
The words are mocking, but something sparks inside me. “I know
that some men like to hurt women. I know it makes them feel big and strong to
hurt someone weaker.”
“And are you weak, little virgin?”
No, I want to say.
Except I’ve lost everything in the past two months. My life, my school. My
friends. I’m a shadow of my former self. Little virgin makes
me fight back, though. Gabriel makes me fight back. “I’m doing what I have to
do. Is that weak?”
His gaze flickers over my body, the yellow of his eyes brighter
in the lamp’s glow. When he meets my eyes, there’s a begrudging respect.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of
contemporary romance such as the Chicago Underground series. Her books have
been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and
Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, two sweet
dogs, and one evil cat.
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