Book Title: Lawful Attraction
Author: Elouise East
Publisher: Elouise East
Cover Artist: Maria Vickers
Release Date: June 3, 2021
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance. Trope: Opposites attract
Themes: Protecting those they care about; life, love, family and beating the odds
Length: approx 70 000 words
It is the final book (book 9) in the Crush series, but is a standalone story.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
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There’s a fine line between protecting and stalking…
Blurb
An MM romance about life, love, family and beating the odds, especially when it involves a police officer and a dancer.
There’s a fine line between protecting and stalking…
Logan has unwavering loyalty to the law, and when he finds Bastien in a precarious situation, his protective instincts flare up to an all-time high. His need to help overshadows everything else, including his sense. Unfortunately, the dancer doesn’t want his help.
What Bastien does for a living doesn’t mean he has no morals. He has to live, and his wages and tips don’t always cover everything. He’s glad he doesn’t have anyone who relies on him because he can barely make ends meet working all the hours of the day. When a so-called friend turns on him, who does he have left?
Can they put their differences aside and realise what is right in front of them?
“I never agreed to dance.” He cocked his hip and set a trembling hand on his waist, raising a haughty eyebrow at the man. If Bastien had more people around that he knew, he could’ve done more, but he had to be careful.
“You don’t need to agree; you’re a stripper, for god’s sake. When Spike gets back, it’s time for you to earn your time here.” Deacon crossed his arms over his chest, a smirk gracing his face, making Bastien withhold a shiver.
“I don’t think so, Deacon. I only dance at the club, nowhere else.” Bastien mirrored the man’s posture, loosely wrapping his arms around his waist and trying to project his usual confidence.
“I think that will change.” Deacon narrowed his eyes, straightening from where he was perched and making Bastien lift his chin to keep eye contact.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I’m heading out.” Bastien pulled his coat tighter around his body and stepped forward. Deacon grabbed his biceps and held him firmly.
“Jer! Close up, will you? We don’t want our entertainment going missing.”
Laughter flowed around him as a guy headed towards the front door and stood with his back to it, and Bastien began to panic. He had no issues with dancing for them if that was what it took to get himself out of here, but he was under no illusion that dancing was the only thing Deacon wanted. Where had he gone so wrong with the man? He’d thought the guy was nice, but underneath it all, Deacon was an asshole.
Heat warmed Bastien’s back, and he tensed, glancing to the side and watching from the corner of his eye as Deacon moved in closer.
“You’re my prize tonight, babe,” he whispered, his hands sliding down Bastien’s front and cupping his crotch.
Bastien refrained from saying anything and, instead, chose to twist in Deacon’s hold, putting their faces nearer than Bastien wanted. He slid his hands into Deacon’s hair and gripped tight. “I need to freshen up if I’m going to dance for everyone,” he murmured, bringing Deacon close as if he would reward him with a kiss, then pulling away.
“All right. The bathroom is up the stairs on the left.”
Bastien could see Deacon’s eyes had dilated, and as he stepped back, the evidence of his arousal tented his trousers. Swallowing his disgust, Bastien sneered and headed to the bathroom.
Locking himself in the small room, he sat on the closed toilet seat and rested his head in his hands.
“What the fuck am I going to do?” he whispered. For a brief second, he’d wished he’d taken Nolan’s advice and found out Logan’s number, although he probably wouldn’t be any help against so many others.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he knew what to do. He pulled out his phone, then paused to turn on the tap, hoping to mask his voice. Dialling, he waited, his eyes fastened on the door in case someone tried to enter.
“Emergency, which service?”
“Police, please.”
“Hold, please.”
He waited then answered the new person’s questions, giving his personal details, “I’m being held against my will, and there are drugs and drinking,” he whispered.
“Can you give me your location?”
“Not exactly, no. I know I’m in the slums of Cambridge,” he muttered.
“All right. I have your location via your phone. We should have a car with you shortly. Are you in danger?” the operator asked.
“Not in so many words. I’m going to go and dance like they’ve asked me to. It will keep them occupied while you guys arrive.”
“If that will put you in danger, I would strongly advise against it.”
“I’ll be fine as long as I dance. It’s when I stop there will be issues, so get here fast.”
He hung up just as someone banged on the door.
“You can’t stay in there all night, babe,” Deacon crooned.
“Yes, I could,” he whispered.
Standing, he checked his reflection in the mirror, seeing his usual social expression absent and the hidden façade plain for all to see. He shook his head, closed his eyes and pushed everything away except the need to dance. It didn’t matter who his audience was; he would dance his ass off and hope he could keep going until the police arrived.
I am Elouise East but feel free to call me Elli. I write sweet and steamy connections in gay romance. I also touch on taboo stories under the name Elouise R East.
Books that tell the stories where friendship and family are the focal point – be it blood family or chosen – is very important to me. That’s why I include a variety of personalities, talents, ages, situations and abilities as I believe a story needs, or a character needs. I want my characters to be real, to be relatable, to be free to have whatever views they tell me they have. And trust me, most of the time, I do not have any say in the matter!
My characters come to life on the page for me as well as my readers. Their stories unfold in front of me, and I have very little input into how they want to be shown. Just like real life, the lives of my characters change with every choice, every interaction and every conversation. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I write books that are emotionally realistic, even if liberties are taken with other aspects of my stories. I don’t know any other way to write. It comes from deep inside.
Who am I? A single parent to two children who make life worth living. An avid reader who still devours every book she can get her hands on. A student of learning about any subject that takes her fancy. An author of books she would read herself. And a romantic at heart who loves anything cheesy.
Who’s in?
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