Carissa knows the score when it comes to relationships. They don’t last. Sure, they’re good for some fun in the short term, but that’s all. Fun. There shouldn’t be any exceptions, not even for Jamison Croft, but he’s not an easy man to shake. He blasts through every brick she lays.
He may look the gentleman in his expensive suit, but he’s anything but when it comes to Carissa.
But how can Carissa let herself ease into his dominating presence when she knows it has an expiration date?
Jamison is determined to break through her walls with his relentless care and patience. And when their bond is threatened, he will show her he’s in it for the long haul. No matter what barrier gets thrown up in his way.
MY REVIEW
A woman so used to losing out in love and the man who needs to convince her to stay
This is a DD/lg (Daddy Dom/little girl) romance, though it doesn't feature too much in the way of age play so should appeal to a wider audience. I've read Measha Stone's 'Pet' series, and the much darker 'Beast' , but this had quite a different feel to both of those. Overall it was a less challenging and much gentler read. Whilst it was a very heartwarming and romantic read, it didn't quite capture me in the same way as these other books. I haven't read Until You, featuring another couple who appear in this book. Whilst this can be read as a stand alone, there were a couple of times when I felt as though I was missing some background information. However I would rather have this than lots of spoilers for that novella.
Carissa has had a tough upbringing, a father who ran out on her and a mother with a revolving door of men. She doesn't believe in forever afters, particularly not in the kink world. Not when she's such a 'difficult' woman to not only control but to please. Jamison wants to be the man to prove her wrong, particularly when she is everything he wants and needs in a submissive. Will they get their HEA?
Both Jamison and Carissa are easy to like characters. She can be a little, hmm immature or naive isn't quite the right word, but she felt younger than her age at times. Jamison can be stern when needed but he definitely had that very caring Daddy Dom vibe, he wasn't too macho or alpha. There were one or two occasions where he almost felt overbearing, the dinner with Jade and Garrick being one. However when he discussed Carissa's behaviour with her I could appreciate where Jamison was coming from and could almost do with my own DD for when my emotions are running away with me!
I really enjoyed seeing how their dynamic worked and whilst it isn't my kink it was so well written that I could still enjoy it. Delightful as this couple were, and steamy as their chemistry was, for some reason I just wasn't enthralled by them. I enjoyed their story but it didn't captivate me. I can't pinpoint why I didn't love this as much as other books by the author, other than the perhaps the story almost lacked direction.
We started out with Carissa setting a time frame for their relationship along with her refusal to believe that love could be forever. I felt that this got lost amidst all the other stuff going on. Normally I love sub-plots, they add extra elements and depth to the story, but here I think they took away. Instead of developing the relationship and convincing me of their feelings, the plot involving Jamison's father and the separate, unresolved one involving his mother felt distracting. My focus was pulled in too many different directions.
That said I still enjoyed this and read it from cover to cover, no skimming. It has some lovely, fairly gentle kink scenes and is sexy without being too crude. Content makes it an over 18 read, and Carissa has a bit of a foul mouth, which gets her into trouble! It has left me wanting to read Jade and Garrett's story, and I'd love to see more books in this series.
When his hand made contact with her bare bottom she jumped; the sting much sharper than before. Her dress wasn’t very thick. Even with it being December in Chicago, she’d worn a thinner fabric, so it wasn’t protecting her much. His naked hand on her equally exposed bottom shouldn’t be much harder than with the flimsy material protecting her. Another swat and she jumped again. More heat spread, and he continued to reign down the fire across her bottom.
She wiggled, and kicked her ankles, both of which he stilled with hugging her closer to his body and wrapping one leg around both of hers.
“Oh! Ow!” She covered her bottom momentarily, but quickly moved it out of the way, sure that he wouldn’t hesitate to go harder on her if he felt the need.
As much as her bottom began to throb, her clit reacted in kind. The wiggling only made her need worse, and the pressure built in her lower belly aching for release.
“That’s a good girl. Almost finished.” He dragged his nails across her sore backside, making her hiss.
“Yes, sir.” She could feel the tingling and soaring sensation that only a solid spanking could bring her, and although she felt every one of the harder smacks he brought down on her, they only served to bring her to a more pleasant plane.
“There we are.” He dug his nails into her again, and she sighed, resting her head against his calf. “You did so good. And good girls get very good rewards.” He moved his leg from trapping her and pushed her outer thigh away. “Open your legs for me, Carissa, let me get to your sweetness. You need a release and have deserved it.”
She mumbled something, but she obeyed, spreading her legs and even lifting her hips from his lap to give him better access. He didn’t pull her panties aside, but rather slid his fingers beneath the thin, wet material.
“So wet for me.” With his free hand, he ran up the length of her back and sunk his fingers into her hair, fisting it and pulling back until she arched upward. “Now, keep being a good girl and fuck my fingers. Come on my lap, with your bright red ass starting up at me.” He plunged two fingers into her passage way, and she groaned with the pleasure of it.
She planted her toes on the ground and did exactly as he instructed. His fingers fucked her while she pushed against him. When a finger brushed against her clit, she groaned and began to ride his lap even harder.
“Oh! Oh god!” she gripped his leg.
“That’s my good girl, come for me, come hard.” He tugged her hair and the little bit of extra pressure, the tiniest flash of pain, and she skyrocketed over the edge that she’d been teetering. She screamed out her release, rocking harder against his thighs and riding every severe pulsation of her orgasm until finally everything stilled. Her breath began to settle, her orgasm faded silently, leaving her in a haze of genuine softness.
Measha Stone is an international bestselling author of erotic romance. She’s had #1 top-selling books in BDSM, and suspense. She lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and children, who are just as creative and crazy as her. Her vanilla writing has been published in numerous literary magazines, but she’s found her passion in erotic romance. She loves reading it, writing it, and living it whenever possible.
