Impossible to Resist

By Em Woods

While Max's biggest fear is being touched, his greatest dream is to be loved. Can he let Jeremiah close enough to heal, or will he turn away all that he wants for the safety of what he knows?

Max Eisner suffers from haptephobia, the fear of being touched. He refuses to let that stop him from living, though every second outside his house compounds his distress. Nor does it prevent him from yearning for that one man who will crash through those barriers and make Max his in every way.

Jerimiah Sandburg has watched the handsome man walk past his office door every morning for the past three months. Every day he has the same pained look on his face, flinching whenever someone brushes against him. Jerimiah isn't sure if Max will trust him enough to work through whatever is bothering him, but he's not willing to wait another day to claim the smaller man for his own.

Will Max listen to the call of his heart, or will he shut himself off once and for all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: May 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9780857155429

Book preview

A Total-E-Bound Publication

www.total-e-bound.com

Impossible To Resist

ISBN # 978-0-85715-542-9

©Copyright Em Woods 2011

Cover Art by April Martinez ©Copyright May 2011

Edited by Stacey Birkel

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing.  Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning:  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers.  This story has been rated Total-e-burning.

IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST

Em Woods

Dedication

For my muse, JR Boyd.

You are truly someone I couldn’t resist.

Your pure joy for life inspires and amazes me

and I am so proud to be your friend.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Monster.com: Monster Worldwide, Inc.

Calgon: Ilex Capital

Chrysler: Chrysler Group, LLC

Windows: Microsoft, Inc.

Dumb and Dumber: New Line Cinema

Animal House: Universal Pictures

Chapter One

Mr. Sandburg, I can’t do it. Max Eisner stepped into his boss’ office, closing the door behind him.

It’s Miah, Max. And I’m sorry, this is a mandatory team-building exercise. Jeremiah Sandburg, one half of the partnership at Sandburg Software, leant back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Max couldn’t help but notice the concern written on his supervisor’s handsome face. You need to be here.

Max tucked his hands into his pockets to keep Miah from seeing the trembling. He bit into his lip, tasting the bitterness as he drew blood. Max shook his head. Please understand. I can’t stay. There’s… He trailed off. I’m not humiliating myself.

Miah’s eyes narrowed and honed in on Max’s mouth. Max winced, knowing Miah wouldn’t have missed the blood. Miah continued to watch Max for what felt like an eternity before his jaw clenched and he shook his head. He turned back to his computer. Join everyone else in the conference room. We’re due to start in ten minutes.

Max’s stomach dropped to the floor. He backed away from Miah, determined to just walk right out of the front door. To leave his job, his new friends, and his attractive boss right here where he’d found them.

But as he put his hand on the knob of Miah’s office door, his boss rose from his chair. I think I’ll walk with you.

Max tried counting to ten but the closer Miah got, the harder it was to remember what came after six. The straight-cut Armani suit was tailor-made—Max would stake his next pay cheque on that. And whoever had the pleasure of measuring those inseams on Miah’s solid frame most definitely