Book Title: Dysfunctional
Author and Publisher: Isabel Lucero
Cover Artist: Robin Harper from Wicked by Designs
Release Date: May 25, 2022
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Tropes: Stalker, serial killer romance
Themes: Dark romance
Length: 67 666 words/190 pages
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Blurb
Ezra Hamilton hasn’t felt the warm spurt of blood flow through his fingers or the indescribable feeling of pushing a knife deep into someone’s flesh in a long time. Too long.
He’s been watching a man stalk women, curious as to what he’s doing with them. Ezra’s never encountered someone with similar dark tendencies before, and what starts off as genuine curiosity turns into much more when Kaspian turns the tables on him.
As their chemistry builds, so does the mistrust. They both know they can’t trust a killer, but their inner demons call to each other anyway.
When Kaspian’s impulsivity threatens to ruin Ezra’s freedom, he knows he has to stop him. Kas appears to be fixated on Willow—a woman Ezra works with. In an effort to not have to worry about her disappearance bringing heat on him, he tracks Kaspian as Kaspian follows Willow into a cabin in the mountains.
There, in the middle of a blizzard, secrets will be revealed and revelations made, but the chances of everybody making it out alive are slim.
His eyes roam up and down my body. “You look good.”
“Let’s go,” I say, jumping back into the truck.
“You don’t take compliments well.”
“I could pretend, if that’s what you want, but I thought you liked me for who I really am.”
“I do.”
“Then don’t expect me to blush over your words. I can’t believe half of them anyway.”
He laughs. “I’m at my most honest when I’m with you, and you can one hundred percent believe that I find you attractive.”
I ignore him, reversing into the street. It’s quiet for a few minutes before he speaks again.
“Do you find me attractive?”
His tone is light and teasing. He’s pretending it’s just a playful question, but when I glance at him, I can see the eagerness in his eyes. He really wants the answer. He needs it.
“I fucked you, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, you did. But I wonder if it was because of the gift I gave you, or because you actually wanted to. Does killing turn you on? The sight of blood? Or is it my face and cock that did it for you?”
“Why does it have to be one or the other?”
He goes quiet, deep in thought. When he speaks again, I don’t expect the words. “I take it you’re not out.”
My eyebrows knit together as my head swivels in his direction. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You’re bi, aren’t you? You fuck both men and women, but nobody here knows that, do they?”
“Nobody knows any of my business.”
“So you’ll never let anyone see us together.”
His voice is changing, taking on that angry, jealous tone. It’s how he got when explaining why he had to kill his girlfriend. She didn’t appreciate him and everything he did for her. He didn’t feel loved and he snapped.
I pull over, parking in the grass on the side of the road. I step out of the truck, making my way to his side. He looks surprised and confused when I rip open his door and yank him from the seat, shoving him against the truck.
With one hand on his chest and my finger in his face, I say, “Do not pull that clingy, obsessive shit with me, you hear me? I am not one of your girlfriends. I’m not a victim of your fucking predatory ways. I’m here with you right now because I want to be, not because you manipulated the situation. I will not bow down to you simply because you want me to.”
His eyes are wide as he watches me.
“I will not love you, Kaspian. It’s not in me to love anybody. Do not expect it of me.” His chin dips the tiniest fraction. “Do you want me to pretend? Do you want me to act the way I do when I let people see what I want them to see? I can smile at you like you’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. If you want a version of me that other people get, I can look you in the eye and tell you you’re the best person I’ve ever met.” I bring my forefinger and thumb to his chin, holding it in my grip. “But if you want me—the real me, the one only you and my victims have ever seen, then you’ll take me the way I give myself to you, and you won’t fucking complain about it.”
“Okay,” he says in a whisper.
“And I don’t give a shit if people know I fuck guys.”
I turn to walk away, but he’s quick. He grabs my arm and pulls me into him. “What if I said I think I’m already obsessed with you?”
My lips pull up on one end. “I’d say it’s not a surprise, but don’t expect the same.”
Isabel Lucero is a bestselling author, finding joy in giving readers books for every mood.
Though born in a small town in New Mexico, Isabel currently lives in Delaware with her family. When not completely lost in the world of her next WIP, she can be found reading, or in the nearest Target buying things she doesn’t need.
Isabel loves connecting with her readers and fans of books in general. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok
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