Redeem
Under My Skin Series, Book 4
Christina Lee
M/M Romance
Release Date: 02.28.19
Cover artist: Kanaxa
BLURB
Successful financial analyst Michael Walsh leads a picture-perfect life that anyone would envy—unless they caught a glimpse beneath the surface. Haunted by failed relationships and self-doubt, Michael harbors a soul-deep loneliness that no number of casual hookups can fulfill. So why can’t he stop thinking about his New Year’s fling with a man whose quiet desperation matches his own?
Barista Stewart Jenkins has an abysmal track record with relationships, and no matter how hard he tries to keep things tightly under wraps, his life is spinning out of control. His hookup with the gorgeous Michael was only supposed to be sex—hot, dirty, and uncomplicated—but that small taste leaves him desperate for more.
Every no-strings encounter that follows between Michael and Stewart peels away more layers, blurring the lines between them, until they’re left with a raw tenderness and acceptance they’re both urgently craving. A relationship absolutely wouldn’t work on paper; they come from drastically different lives and are plagued by inexcusable sins. All that vulnerability is sure to reveal old wounds, and forgiveness seems so far out of reach unless they can find a way around their fears on the road to redemption.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43883032-redeem
Michael buzzed me up to the fifth floor and opened the door with such a self-satisfied grin, I wanted to wipe it straight off his face and replace it with the sort of sounds that had come from his lips when I’d gone down on him in the car. He was attractive as ever, and even more so with his coat removed, his crisp blue shirt rolled to his elbows. Hot damn, those forearms, who knew they could be so erotic?
As soon as I stepped inside his place, which was modern and posh at first glance, I was assaulted by two pugs sniffing and yapping at my feet.
How could I have forgotten that Michael owned dogs? Hello, the entire conversation at the bar about him knowing Elijah from the grooming business? I had either forgotten about it or immediately swept it from my brain. Besides, did I really think I’d ever end up at his place?
“Well, crap,” I said, trying to disguise a cringe. “I totally forgot you had pets.”
They were grunting and slobbering and wanting attention. Ugh.
Michael snorted. “You have something against dogs?”
“No, I…” I didn’t want him to think I was a total jerk. “They’re okay, I guess.”
This was one big sticking point between me and Elijah. I hated it when he started the boarding business out of his apartment. Most nights, he had dogs with him, so I began requesting he sleep at my place, since at the time, my apartment building didn’t allow pets. It was shitty of me and only added to the tension that already existed between us.
Michael laughed when his dogs practically cornered me against the wall and I kept my arms plastered against my body as if they were contagious. “You couldn’t be more obvious. Coco. Chloe. Go lie down.”
I bit back a snicker. “Coco and Chloe?”
The dogs retreated to a large pillow near the sliding glass doors leading to what looked like a balcony, which, of course, probably had an amazing view of the Cuyahoga River.
“Now you’re making fun of the names I chose for my dogs?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Just so…unexpected. Yet not.” I stepped farther inside his place, my gaze sweeping around the room. Leather couches, gray walls, white molding… Pure elegance. “I mean, they do sort of match the place…and you.”
Michael rolled his eyes and walked to the large kitchen island. “Let me open some wine before I’m tempted to kick your ass to the curb.”
“I’d rather you fucked it first, at the very least,” I quipped.
Once upon a time, I lived in New York City and was a wardrobe stylist. I spent my days shopping for photo shoots, getting into cabs, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at my favorite hangouts.
Now I live in the Midwest with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I’ve been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn’t until I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that I realized I could turn the fairytales inside my head into the reality of writing fiction.
I write Adult, New Adult, and M/M Contemporary Romance. I’m addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. I believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
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