Desire: Unbearably Gifted, #1

By Samantha Romero

The steamy first installment of the Unbearably Gifted romance serial by Samantha Romero.

Warning... cliffhanger. (The story unfolds over three novellas all approx. 125 pages each)

Be careful what you wish for…

David Lockhart was like no other man I had ever been with: beautiful, unbearably gifted, and complicated beyond belief. Like me, he was broken in so many ways, yet somehow, he was still powerful and strong.

I wanted to throttle him and his giant ego one second, and then surrender to all his demanding desires to tame me the next. He took me to places I didn't even know existed and left my body aching in his wake.

Despite all my issues with the past, being with him made me feel like maybe I could learn to trust again—to let down my walls, brick by brick, and fall head over heels in love.

Unfortunately, things are never that simple.

Warning: The Unbearably Gifted Serial contains adult situations, explicit language and sexual content, appropriate for mature readers only 18+

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samantha Romero
• Release date: Jun 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781498921077

Book preview

1

Estelle

And now he shows up. Fucking men! I huffed, rolling my eyes as I heaved one of the massive double oak doors shut behind me. I dropped my gaze to the concrete steps, carefully negotiating my way down to make sure I didn’t slip on their dark, mossy embellishment.

David smiled at me warmly, curling his long fingers around my waist as he greeted me at the bottom of the steps and leaned in for a kiss. I laughed at his confidence and pushed him away. The multiple orgasms were last night... not today. I was well and truly over the afterglow. I didn’t need him to sugar me up—I was way past sugaring.

He seemed baffled by my reaction. That look of his was familiar enough to me—I had seen it countless times before. In fact, I’m happy to divulge that over the years, I have left a long line of men in confusion, and if he wanted to understand what he was dealing with, he would have to go to the back of that line and wait his turn. I sure as hell wasn’t some open book you could read once and understand. I needed multiple readings from every possible angle, over and over again, and then from the back to the front before I could even start to become legible.

I looked him up and down as I folded my arms across my body to protect myself from the effects of his sexiness. So you’re back. What were you expecting? Applause?

Gravel crunched under his feet when he stepped back from me. No, I wasn’t expecting applause, as such; I told you, I don’t like pedestals.

Well, what then? I questioned, glaring into his chocolate-colored eyes.

It’s just that I’m home early, Estelle. How can you be so grumpy at the start of a new day? I thought you’d be thrilled that I was back so soon.

My eyes shot bullets, cracking the dark windows to his soul in annoyance. Well, you thought wrong. I’m never thrilled! I snapped. And you should have taken your time!

Why? He smiled, unaware of the gremlin who was waiting for him inside. Clearly, David’s morning had started off far better than mine.

"You have a visitor, and the guy is a prick! A prick, I tell you!"

David exhaled slowly, a devilish understanding appearing in his eyes. Ah. That explains it.

Explains what? I rolled my eyes, tapping my foot into the pebbles.

I was meant to be meeting my father in the city after a call very early this morning, but he never showed. Sounds like he changed his plans, and you’ve already had the pleasure of meeting him.

Now it was my turn to look baffled. Surely he wasn’t related to that gremlin? He’s your father?

David nodded slowly. Unfortunately, yes.

Well, apparently he wants to see you about an Alexander or something?

David nodded. Yeah, that’s my brother.

Well, enjoy the catch up. I sarcastically hissed. I asked him to come back when you were here, but he refused to, so I’ve been putting up with his antics for the last hour.

David chuckled. Yeah, that sounds about right. Aren’t you going to stay for breakfast? I could cook us something...

I gave him a look of disbelief, wondering if he had forgotten to take his reality medication. Nope, I’ve had enough of your father to last me a lifetime! No offense, but the guy is a sod.

A sod, you reckon? David laughed, his beautiful smile almost obliterating the dark clouds above us. Damn, he was so handsome—even without my alcoholic goggles.

I couldn’t help but smile back as I looked up at him and nodded.

David adjusted my coat belt and clutched my hands between his gloved fingers, warming them. So you don’t want pancakes, then?

I shook my head, breaking his clasp as I fished into my handbag and passed him some money.

He looked at me curiously. What’s this?

I smirked, my simmer disintegrating just slightly. The money you gave me from last night. The pleasure went both ways, so let’s just call it even, okay? You don’t owe me a dime.

He laughed. "I’d forgotten all about that part."

I reached for my phone, scrolling through it, so I could add him to my contacts. So... what’s your number? I smiled, looking into his dark, beautiful eyes.

He looked at me blankly. What?

I frowned. He was supposed to be smart. Your cell phone number, what is it? I’ll give you a call sometime...

I don’t have one.

There was his chance with me, done and dusted. Next.

I rolled my eyes, exhaling in utter frustration as my smile turned into one angry scowl. "Fuck, David. If you don’t wanna call me, then you don’t have to, okay? You don’t have to come up with such a lame ass excuse. It’s fine—really. Forget I even fucking asked."

David stepped back from me, laughing joyfully as his warm breath turned to steam, trickling out of his mouth like he was some sort of happy dragon. "Whoa, there! Watch your language, Miss Price! And, for your information, I’m not lying."

I pouted, dropping my phone back into my handbag. "Of course you are. Do I look that stupid to you?"

David laughed, placing his hands on either side of my shoulders. You don’t look stupid at all! I’m telling you, woman, I don’t have a mobile phone.

Don’t be absurd. Everyone has one.

He shrugged. Well, I’m not everyone.

My eyes narrowed. Oh really? Then how, in God’s name, do people connect with you?

He smiled broadly, showing all his perfect, white teeth. They don’t—and that’s how I prefer it.

I tilted my head as I suddenly remembered something that totally blew his story out of the water. "Wait a second, you are damn well lying because you said you got a phone call in the note that you wrote me, so it looks like you should watch your nose, David, because it’s gonna start growing off the edge of your face, you sod!"

Now I’m a sod? He grinned.

I laughed, slapping his arm. Yes.

Okay, I admit, I do have a landline number for the house, you know, in case of emergency.

I rolled my eyes. So, how am I meant to contact to you, then? Via your landline or smoke signal?

He shrugged, looking away. I’ll see you at the station, I presume.

He was so high and fucking mighty. "Why would you presume anything about me?"

Because I know where you work, and I know that I’ve seen you many times over these past months, and unless you stop going to work, I presume I’ll see you again.

You’re a smartass.

He shrugged again, looking back at me. I know. I’m trying to work on it...

"No you’re not! I think you love being this way. I think you think it makes you appear interesting." I crossed my arms once again, in protest of him.

He sighed, You’re probably right.

I smiled, satisfied for a brief moment. "See? And by the way, you’re not interesting."

David gripped his heart. Ouch.

Whatever, I snarled, looking down the driveway at the curled iron gates beckoning me to escape.

So, when can I see you again? David called after me as I walked away.

I shrugged. I don’t know... I don’t know what this is...

Meaning? he called after me.

I stopped and turned to see him staring at me, exactly as he had over the many months at the train station. Fuck those dark, sexy eyes of his. Don’t look at me like that!

Like what?

Like you want to fuck me until the end of time.

He laughed. But what if I do?

Don’t be ridiculous! I snorted. I don’t know what this is.

You’re gonna have to give me more than that, he chuckled, watching me as he casually placed his hands in his pockets.

Well, I don’t know whether it’s just sex to you, or something to do with Sophia, or some sick fantasy.

David smiled, like everything I had just said was some big joke. Why are you trying to complicate everything? You’re over-thinking.

I shrugged, pursing my lips. No, I’m not!

Why can’t it just be that maybe I like you, and maybe I’d like to see you again and then again?

That had me stumped. Life wasn’t that simple.

Well? He smiled.

I’m not used to guys who are like that, so I tend not to think like that.

David walked towards me very slowly as if he was concerned he would startle the wild animal in his driveway. I’m not every guy though, Estelle, he whispered.

I bit my lip, trying to avoid all his sexual eye contact. I mentioned I was damaged, right?

He nodded slowly.

Just be gentle with me; hey, I’m a little bit cray-cray. I’ve got a tendency to just fly off the handle at anything.

David laughed, taking my hand as he lifted it slowly to his lips and kissed it. Yeah, I noticed. You’re like the smallest bull I’ve ever met stuck in a playpen, and it’s pretty clear you’re not happy!

And you, David, and your gremlin of a father are fucking rude! I snapped, pulling my hand out of his as I quickly walked through the rusted gates and down the long, overgrown boulevard on the way back to Knightsbridge Station.

Estelle.

I ignored him.

Stell? David called out louder.

Not in the mood, I yelled over my shoulder. Not in the fucking mood. And... it’s rude to fucking stare! So don’t! I yelled, breaking the silence as I kept walking without turning once to see his burning dark eyes.

With just one look, he practically incinerated my clothes into a pile of ash under the thick boulevard of trees. But there was no way I was ever going to give him the pleasure of knowing that. As far as