Carnal Hearts

By Robin L. Rotham

After her first foray into long-distance D/s ends in heartbreak, widow Libby Fisher needs a rebound Dom. Who better than Dr. Ryan Stivers, the old college friend who introduced her to kink, and who just happens to need a date for the weekend?

It’s a perfect plan—until Libby’s former Sir turns up at the party...

Reader Advisory: Contains a Dom with a chip on his shoulder, a doctor who’s determined to perform a chip-ectomy, and a sub in need of sexual healing from both of them—at the same time. Because who doesn’t need to be the center in that sandwich?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robin L. Rotham
• Release date: Feb 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370158669

Robin L. Rotham

When I complained of being bored the summer before 7th grade, my mother (who worked at a boookstore at the time) handed me a stripped copy of Victoria Holt's The Shivering Sands--and I was hooked. I became a voracious reader and an aspiring author, bringing home stacks of books from the library every single week. The next year, I did a school report on Ms. Holt and wrote to her asking for information. In reply, she sent me an autographed photo and a lovely two-page hand-written letter in which she encouraged me to follow my writing dreams. Sadly, both the photo and the letter were lost over many moves, but my writing dreams remained. At 14, I tried to write my first two romances. The first was about a federal agent masquerading as a bank robber, and a smart-mouthed customer who drove a custom baby blue Trans Am named Shark. The "robber" stole Shark as his getaway vehicle and the heroine, Nicki, dove in beside him. That was as far as I got--I could never see beyond their flying down the highway bickering as they were chased by bad guys. The second was a hot mess of an erotic Gothic paranormal involving an eighteen-year-old governess and the sixteen-year-old eldest son of the house, who made quite inappropriate advances toward her via astral projection while she slept. I wrote 100 pages front and back--IN PENCIL--before I hit that I HATE point in the story and shoved it under my bed. When I retrieved it two years later, the lead was so smeared I couldn't read it. The End. After that, I set my dream aside to address the more practical matters in life--matters like eating and putting a roof over my head. It took finding my own hero to reignite my passion for romance writing. More than 25 years after my last attempt, I bought a used laptop on eBay and wrote my first erotic romance. Mr Robin and I have been married for twenty-plus years; we live on a farm and have three wonderful offspring. I love to hear from readers, so don't be timid about dropping by my website or blog to say hi!

Book preview

Carnal Hearts

Robin L. Rotham

Carnal Hearts

Smashwords Editions

Copyright 2018

Robin L. Rotham

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to the publisher and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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Table of Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Epilogue

About the Author

Dedication

To RG and Sheryl, who always make my books worth reading.

And to Sir, who brought my muse back to life.

I love you all.

Chapter One

February 13

Libby Fisher couldn’t shake the feeling she was cheating on her former Sir.

Which probably meant she needed a good shrink more than she needed a rebound Dom, but Ryan’s invitation had been too tempting to resist. He already knew all her problems and hang-ups, so they could dive right into the catharsis phase of her recovery with a long weekend of whips and chains and insanely hot sex.

You’re sure your family doesn’t mind me horning in? she asked as Ryan turned off I-70 a few miles east of Goodland.

At the stop sign, he gave her an exasperated look in the light from the dash. Same song, last verse, Libs—it’s an anniversary party. I’m allowed to bring a date. And I’m coming home for the first time in almost a year. They wouldn’t mind if I brought a circus troupe with me, animals and all.

A circus troupe wouldn’t be sleeping with you.

He rolled his eyes. Libby, both of my parents are bi, poly and kinky as fuck, and their guest room is a dungeon. You really think they’re going to get their undies in a bunch over me sleeping with my girlfriend?

"But I’m not your girlfriend, and it feels dishonest to let them think I am. What if they think it’s serious between us?"

They know better than to make an assumption like that, he said, finally turning south. "But if you really want, I can tell them you’re my widowed friend from college, spending a much-needed weekend as my sexual submissive while your step-daughter is off on a ski trip with her church group. They’ll be totally fine with that too. I just thought it might make you uncomfortable."

Her heartbeat skittered at sexual submissive. Damn it, when did he get so casual about all this stuff? More importantly, when would she?

Okay, no, let’s just stick with girlfriend. She sighed. Sorry, I just—

Need to get over the loser who made you feel worthless.

He’s not a loser, Ryan.

Of course he’s a loser, Libs. I’ll bet you a hundred bucks he’s married, probably with kids.

Same song, last verse, Ryan, she said pointedly. "Sir is absolutely not married. I told you, he’s just on the road all the time, doing custom farm work and long-haul trucking."

"Sir, he snorted. The guy never even told you his name."

Hey, I didn’t tell him mine either. I said my name was Liberty.

Because you were protecting Wylie from potential internet predators. He’s hiding something.

I’m telling you, Ryan, that’s not it.

Listen, if a man turns down real live sex with a submissive he’s in a long-distance sexual relationship with, he’s either married or ashamed of his tiny, dysfunctional dick.

That’s not it either. Sir has a beautiful dick and there’s nothing dysfunctional about it. Besides, who said anything about sex? I just wanted to meet him.

Oh really? And I suppose you’d have said no if he wanted to put his collar on you and chain you to his bed.

No, smartass, I’d have said ‘Not until we get to know each other better.’

Oh my God, tell me you don’t actually believe the lies you tell yourself.

Libby hunched down into her jacket. I hate you.

"Ha! You hate that I can read you like a trashy romance novel.