Keep Me

By Isabel Morin

What started off as a fling with Ian Sinclair is now a full-on love affair, and Nina Valentine can hardly believe her good fortune. Life with Ian gets more delicious every day, and after years of struggle all she has to worry about is her art.

But it’s not long before her doubts resurface and she’s once again wondering if she fits in Ian’s world. As generous as he is, she hates taking his money, and everyone from her own mother to Ian's friends seems to think less of her for it.

Alone in their little love nest the two of them make sense, but as soon as they let the outside world in, it all starts to fall apart. People are starting to talk, and she doesn’t like what they’re saying. Even worse, she’s starting to believe them.

Keep Me is a 28,000 word novella. As the sequel to Tempt Me, it’s best enjoyed after reading Tempt Me first.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Isabel Morin
• Release date: Mar 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310124198

Isabel Morin

Isabel began reading romances at the age of fourteen. That's the year her grandmother came to visit, bringing with her a shopping bag filled with (very tame) Harlequin and Silhouette romance novels. Isabel was immediately and forever hooked. What could be better than experiencing all that lust and new love just by reading a book?She earned her MFA in poetry, but meeting her soon-to-be-husband made her too happy to write her usual melancholy poems. It was time to try her hand at writing the kinds of books she’d been gobbling up for years. Now she writes steamy contemporary romances about men and women discovering their true selves while navigating their way to great sex and true love.In her spare time, Isabel watches British mysteries, plays disc golf (it’s a thing), and religiously re-watches Dirty Dancing. She lives in Connecticut with her conveniently tall, dark, and handsome husband.

Book preview

KEEP ME

Isabel Morin

Copyright 2014 by Isabel Morin

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition

Acknowledgements

My thanks go out to Abigail Strom and Alexandra Mandzak for their superior editorial help, and to all the readers who asked for more of Ian and Nina. Without you I wouldn’t have finished their story, and I’m so glad I did.

Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design Inc., http://www.gobookcoverdesign.com/

Chapter One

Nina woke up to the sound of Ian’s alarm going off and wiggled deeper into the covers.

It can’t already be Monday, Ian groaned, rolling over and pulling her into his chest.

Afraid so, cowboy, she laughed, rising up to kiss his lips, then his stubbled cheek. I told you you’d regret it in the morning.

With one smooth motion he pulled her on top of him. Did I say I regretted it? I’d choose sex with you over sleep any day.

You can’t be ready for more, she said, sliding over the erection that proved otherwise. We’ve been going at it all weekend.

Some parts are more ready than others, he said, his voice low and rusty from sleep. But ready or not, I really need to get up. I have an early conference call with some people in London.

Ooh, I love it when you talk like that, she said, kissing her way along his perfect jawline. So worldly and sophisticated, she went on, making her voice Marilyn Monroe breathless as she rubbed herself along his length.

The next second she was flat on her back and looking into his aroused, determined face. You shouldn’t tease the beast, he whispered, his mouth coming down to take hers.

She opened for him immediately, already primed and ready. A gasp escaped her at the feel of his mouth at her breast, his teeth gently scraping as if to teach her a lesson.

He grabbed a condom from the nightstand and ripped it open, positioning himself at her entrance before entering her in one deep thrust.

Is this what you wanted? he asked, his breath hot on her neck, color high on his cheeks.

She arched into him and dug her heels into his back. God, yes.

Usually he was patient, stoking her until she burned hot enough to torch the building. But this was quick and dirty, every thrust stroking deep, filling her until she could hardly breathe. The full force of his desire crashed into her, his athlete’s strength and endurance fueling her own need until she was clinging to him, pleading for release.

With deft fingers he reached between them and stroked into her folds. His expression was almost grim in its fierceness, full of primitive satisfaction as he watched her come apart beneath him. Then he surged over her, calling her name as he came.

They lay there for several minutes, just breathing, before Nina finally spoke.

You’re going to miss your London call, she reminded him, her fingers skimming over the muscles in his back.

His low groan vibrated against her neck.

I’ll get up, too, she said. I want to enjoy the first day of the rest of my life.

He lifted up on his elbows and smiled a sweet, lopsided grin. I like the sound of that.

Me, too.

Nina got the coffee going while Ian showered and dressed. When he came out she had a muffin wrapped up and his to-go cup filled with coffee.

You’re the best, he said, pulling her in for a long kiss. You okay with me going to the gym after work? Maybe we can grab dinner somewhere afterwards.

Sounds perfect.

He grabbed his coat and briefcase and headed for the door. His hand was on the knob when he turned back. You have no idea how much I want to call in sick.

You don’t have to. I’ll be right here.

I love you.

Her heart stuttered, then started up again, even stronger. I love you, too.

One more smile for her and he was gone.

She floated around the apartment the rest of the morning, thinking about Ian and feeling dreamy as she made breakfast, straightened the bed, and brushed her teeth.

Then her mother called.

She almost ignored it, but she was going to have to talk to her sometime. Might as well get it over with.

Hi, Mom.

Nina, what’s going on? When are you coming home?

What do you mean? I told you before my plans had changed.

You have to go somewhere, don’t you? You don’t have a job and you can’t stay with that man forever.

Actually, I am.

What are you talking about?

Ian asked me to move in with him, permanently. We’re…well, we’re in love.

The line went dead, or that’s what it sounded like, because her mother didn’t say a word.

Hello? Are you still there?

Yes. I’m just having trouble believing what you’re telling me. You’ve known this person three weeks and you think you’re in love? That’s nonsense.

This was her mother’s specialty. She liked to talk as though she were concerned with what was best for Nina, when all the time she was undermining her in every possible way.

And you wonder why I haven’t called you.

There’s no need to take that tone with me. I have the right to say what I think.

Is it so hard to believe someone could care about me?

I never said that–

This is the best guy I’ve ever met, and he completely supports me.

I see. Does that mean you’ll be continuing your arrangement, or will you be getting a job?

Now it was Nina’s turn to go quiet. It took her several long moments before she could make herself say it. For now I’m just painting.

You’ll have only yourself to blame when it doesn’t work out.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom.

Of course her mother objected to that. She launched into a new lecture, but Nina was done listening. She stood up and looked at the view of the city out the window.

You know what, I need to go now. I’ll email you my address. If you get any mail for me, I’d appreciate if you’d forward it on. Tell Dad I say hi.

She hung up before her mother could say another word, then sat and stared out the window, willing herself not to feel what she was feeling. It wasn’t worth it. She was happy, and she wasn’t going to let her mother ruin it.

Restless, she wandered into the dining room, set up now to function as her studio, and looked over the work she’d completed so far. The past three weeks she’d felt under the gun to get as much done as possible, but she didn’t have to worry anymore about packing up and moving, disrupting her life and work routine. For the first time ever she was free to think about her work without anything getting in the way. Including her mother’s disapproval. She’d always had that, so what difference did it make?

Putting on the Bach cello concerto she liked painting to, she got started and spent the rest of the afternoon working on a new piece. She painted until Ian came home, stopping only for lunch and a quick walk through the park.

The rest of the week was pretty much the same. She got up with Ian every morning, drank her coffee and had a quick breakfast, then headed to the dining room brimming with ideas and purpose.

To an outsider, it wouldn’t have looked any different from last week, but the love and security Ian offered her changed everything. Dimly she recalled something about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a theory she’d learned about in psychology class. A person had to have her basic needs met, things like food, shelter, and security, before she could worry about being creative and finding herself. Now here she was, free to paint and worry about what direction to