Hero – TBR Book Blog

Book 13 in the USA Today Bestselling Impossible Series—Can be read as a standalone.

A man with a broken heart…

The agony of losing the woman I love to another Dominant has left me dead inside. Over the last two years, sex has become my drug of choice to cope with the loss. I know I’m too broken to ever love again, but that won’t stop me from trying to fuck my pain away.

A woman with a painful past…

I’m not interested in intimacy, but I am interested in sex. As a BDSM romance novelist, I need to explore the world of kink for my books. The power exchange is meaningless; nothing more than research. Until I meet him. The powerful Dom won’t relent until he breaks down all my walls, including the ones that protect my ravaged heart.

Bound together by lust and danger…

Chloe Martin is a BDSM romance author by night and an investigative journalist by day. When the latter brings her to the New York unit of the FBI to research the Latin Kings, she never expects her two careers to collide. The agent she’s shadowing—Dexter Scott—is also a Dominant, and he’s interested in helping with her research in the field and in the bedroom.

But Chloe’s story on the Latin Kings puts her in the line of fire, and Dex’s protective—and possessive—instincts kick in. Can he let go of his pain and find his happily ever after? Or will the danger that surrounds them steal his second chance at love?

“Your safe word is red,” Dex told me. “Can you remember that?”

“Of course I can.” A hint of my indignation returned. Did he really think I was so dim that I couldn’t remember a simple safe word?

The pressure of the crop beneath my chin increased, tipping my head back farther and forcing me up onto my toes.

“Don’t be so sure. I’m going to take you so high, you’ll forget your own name. But don’t forget that one word.”

I wanted to say that I doubted his arrogant assertion. No Dom had ever sent me into subspace. I might play the role of a sub for my scenes, but I never truly submitted.

But something deep within me whispered that I’d already lost. I’d made the mistake of engaging in a power play with him, and I’d ceded to his will. I’d thought I was fully in control of the scene, but what had seemed like small changes—the blindfold, the gentle caresses of the crop instead of painful strikes, his low, firm commands rather than barked orders—had made me come undone.

“Good girl,” he said again before I could gather my wits enough to formulate a flippant response.

“I didn’t say anything,” I protested weakly. I’d done nothing to earn his praise.

The crop tenderly traced the line of my jaw. I suddenly wished he’d touch me with his fingertips instead. My teeth sank into my lower lip as I bit back a plea for him to put his hands on me.

“You didn’t have to say anything,” he told me in that same smooth, soothing tone. “And you don’t have to fight me. I can tell you’re trying to resist. Submit.”

“I can’t,” I whispered.

“Yes, you can. You just don’t want to. But I’m not giving you a choice. Your only way out of this is your safe word.”

A beat of silence passed. He was giving me the opportunity to escape.

But I said nothing. I sealed my fate.

“Excellent. You’ve pleased me, Chloe.” The smooth leather traced the swell of my breasts again, and I arched into him as carnal sensation overwhelmed me. “That feels good, doesn’t it?”

I moaned. A bite of pain nipped at me as the crop slapped the top of my breast.

“I want a coherent answer,” he prompted, his voice lilting with arrogant amusement. A twin hit landed on my other breast, chastising me.

“Yes,” my shy admission was barely audible.

“Louder. And address me with respect.” The crop snapped against my sensitive inner thigh, and I cried out at the unexpected sting. With my sight taken, I couldn’t predict where the blows would land. It heightened my physical senses, making the relatively light hits inflict sensation that went deeper than my flesh. An odd tingling raced across my mind along with the sparks that danced across my skin. Thoughts turned hazy, and for a moment I floated.

Then the crop fell on my thighs again, snapping against one and then the other in rapid succession. I squealed and tried to close my legs, only to be reminded that they were held open by the spreader bar. My sound of protest transformed into a husky moan.

“I asked you a question,” his voice threaded through my mind. “Tell me this feels good. Tell me you like pleasing me.”

“Yes,” my voice seemed detached from my consciousness, leaving my lips without thought. “Yes, it feels good.”

“Yes, Sir,” he corrected me with another, sharper slap against my thigh. My abused flesh throbbed with a delicious burn, the warmth spreading up into my pussy.

“Yes,” I said more clearly. “It feels good, Sir.”

The crop suddenly pressed against my labia, stroking the wet folds. My head dropped back on a long sigh as pleasure flooded my mind.

“You mean it this time,” he said, his voice deep with satisfaction. “You called me Sir before because you thought it sounded like one of your romance novels. But this is the real thing, princess. A good Dom earns his sub’s respect.” He continued to stroke me with the crop, and my clit pulsed in need.

“I’m going to hit your clit, and you’re going to come for me,” he informed me. “But you’re going to ask me for it like a good girl. When we started, you demanded that I crop you. Do you want to try that request again?”

I whined my wordless resistance as a small part of me clung on to my final shreds of control.

He tapped the crop against my pussy lips, the light slap a promise of how he would stimulate my aching clit.

“We both know you want to come. I want it, too. I want you to give me a nice, big orgasm. Your pleasure is mine. Your body is under my control. I want to hear you admit it, to both of us. This is submission, princess. And you were made for it.”

His low, confident words wrapped around me like a caress even more erotic than the touch of the crop on my pussy. It was deeper than physical pleasure; it called to my soul.

I let out a blissful sigh, my entire body softening as I gave everything to him.

“That’s it,” he urged. “Surrender. Beg me for your orgasm.”

“Please make me come, Sir.”

Hero is a hot read full of suspense and danger and sexy times.

Chloe is doing research into the Latin Kings gang and is able to tag along with an FBI agent, thanks to her friend Carina and her husband Kennedy. Chloe is also able to do research on BDSM for her romance novel career as well.

Dex is an FBI agent who is also a Dominant who wants to “help” Chloe in her submission research. And he wants to keep her safe from her own inquisitive nature that gets her into trouble.

This was a great read that kept you guessing and intrigued as to if Dex would dominate Chloe.

4 stars!

Julia Sykes is the USA Today bestselling author of the Impossible Series. She has always kept dark stories tucked away in her mind, so she was thrilled when she discovered that other people actually want to read them. Her books blend romance, suspense, and BDSM.

After spending four years living in England, Julia returned to her Southern homeland. She has recently settled down in South Carolina and spends her time petting her cat-children, reading, and binge watching TV with her husband when not writing. You can usually find Julia in Starbucks with a venti iced latte clutched in her hand.

Julia loves connecting with readers! Please feel free to contact her on facebook, through twitter, or email her directly at juliasykes193@gmail.com. You can find out more about Julia’s current and future projects at julia-sykes.com.

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Book 13 in the USA Today Bestselling Impossible Series—Can be read as a standalone.

A man with a broken heart…

A woman with a painful past…

Bound together by lust and danger…

“Are you okay?” I asked. “You’re… I don’t know. Different.”

Dex ran a hand over his white-blond hair and looked down at the tablecloth. “I don’t usually do this sort of thing.”

“What sort of thing?”

He shrugged, still not looking at me. “Dinner.”

“You don’t go out to dinner,” I said blankly. I didn’t understand his strange demeanor. Dex had always been confident, both in his suit and in his leathers. I took a moment to study his appearance. He was as massive as ever, but his too-small maroon t-shirt had a hole in the sleeve, and his jeans were about an inch too short above his aged sneakers.

Okay, so he wasn’t the most fashion-savvy guy I’d ever seen.

But it was more than that. Where he had prowled through Decadence, his powerful body in display, he now seemed to keep his shoulders slightly hunched, as though to hide his size.

This was a whole new side to him I never would have expected. Suddenly, I was more eager to interview him than ever. I wanted to understand him better.

For my character research. That was why I was so intrigued.

“I don’t really go out at all,” Dex said abruptly.

“You go to Decadence,” I pointed out.

“Yeah.” He didn’t elaborate.

“But what else do you do for fun?”

“I told you. I like to read.”

“But you must do other stuff. What are your hobbies?”

“I play games a lot.”

Was he blushing?

“What kind of games?”

“You know. Online games.”

“Like poker?”

“Like World of Warcraft.”

“Oh my god, you’re a sexy nerd!” I exclaimed, finally understanding.

He glared at me, but his cheeks had gone from pink to red.

I reached out and placed my hand over his. “That’s a good thing,” I told him quickly. “Women go crazy for a sexy nerd.”

“What do you mean? What women?”

Well, me, for one. I chose not to admit that.

“My readers,” I said instead. “You’re totally a swoon-worthy romantic Hero.”

He eyed me dubiously. “Swoon-worthy?” He appeared bewildered. It was adorable.

“Definitely,” I declared. “A nerdy, Dominant FBI agent,” I mused, more to myself than to him. “What should his name be?”

His brow furrowed. “My name is Dex.”

I waved him off. “Not you. My new character.”

“You lost me. What are you talking about?”

“Sorry. I get a little scattered sometimes. It’s a writer thing.” I reached into my purse and retrieved my notebook and pen. “I’m basing a character on you,” I explained. “That’s why I wanted to meet up. I want to know more about you.”

To my surprise, he scowled. “I don’t appreciate being mocked.”

“What?” Now I was confused. “I’m not mocking you.”

“You want me to play some bumbling character in your next book? I don’t think so.”

“Who said anything about bumbling? Okay, maybe you’re being a little weird right now, but that’s because you’re uncomfortable for some reason. When you’re not uncomfortable, you’re kind and protective and confident. Excellent sexy Hero material.”

He shook his head. “I think you have me confused with someone else. You should be having dinner with Smith or Jason.”

“I don’t want to have dinner with either of them. Smith is a bit of a nosy asshole, and Jason is too cocky for his own good. He never takes anything seriously. But you’re sweet and caring.”

“Says who?”

I let out an exasperated huff. “Says me. Honestly, Dex, how do you not see that? You’re a good man. And a hell of a Dom.” Usually, I’d never feed a man’s ego like this, but he clearly needed to hear it. “How do you see yourself?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t really think about it.”

“Well, you should,” I said firmly. “And I’m going to help you. Tell me about yourself. I want to know everything.”

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Excerpt Reveal ~ Hero ~ by ~ Julia Sykes

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Book 13 in the USA Today Bestselling Impossible Series—Can be read as a standalone.

A man with a broken heart…

A woman with a painful past…

Bound together by lust and danger…

I swallowed hard when he turned back to me. He prowled, closing the distance between us at a pace that was achingly slow, yet he also seemed to reach me too fast. I wasn’t prepared for his renewed closeness. Power emanated from him, slapping up against me like a palpable force. I’d been around Doms before, but none had affected me so strongly.

I widened my stance, planting my feet as though to brace myself against the weight of his aura. His smirk returned. I fixed him with my most defiant stare. He met it steadily, his amusement evident in the arrogant curve of his full lips.

I didn’t deign to respond to it verbally. I could engage in a silent battle of wills. I recognized that he was trying to Top me. He wasn’t the first Dom to try it, but I was finding his strange mix of quiet confidence and subtle dominance difficult to resist. He wasn’t a hard-ass snapping orders at me; he kept managing to slip past my defenses.

I gathered up my resolve and maintained our eye contact, boldly meeting his gaze.

“Give me your wrists,” he commanded in that same smooth, deep voice that messed with my head and heated my insides.

I considered defying him, but that would be childish. I’d been the one to dictate the terms of the scene, and refusing him would only prove that he was affecting me more than I’d like to admit.

Wordlessly, I gave him my hands. He didn’t break his intense gaze as he secured the supple black leather cuffs around my wrists, buckling them closed with practiced ease. He was obviously an experienced Dom.

That’s good, I tried to tell myself. It’s good for my research.

It would have been easier to convince myself if I wasn’t so intimidated by the cool confidence with which he lifted my arms over my head and clipped them to the chain that dangled from the ceiling. He was tall enough that he easily secured my hands high above me, stretching my body. The cuffs held firm, pressing into my wrists, eliciting a sudden sense of helplessness.

My sex clenched even as a thrill of trepidation raced through me.

“Take a deep breath. You’re safe with me.”

I inhaled without thinking, complying with his low, soothing order.

“Good girl.”

He cocked his head to the side, considering me.

“How do you feel about being blindfolded?”

I drew in a shuddering breath and did my best to shrug nonchalantly, a gesture that was ruined by my bound arms. “Sure,” my voice came out in a breathy whisper that belied my attempt at cool confidence. “You can blindfold me.”

His lips firmed, and he stepped away from me to return to the wall of kinky toys. He quickly selected a strip of black cloth and came back to me.

He leaned in close and wrapped the soft material around my head. Darkness closed around me when it slipped over my eyes. He knotted it firmly, securing it in place.

“I didn’t ask for your permission,” his voice was a low rumble in my ear. “I asked how it makes you feel. Vulnerable? Aroused?”

The cool leather tongue of the crop touched the side of my neck. Sensation lit up my nerve endings, making my skin dance. I was hyper-aware of his closeness, even though he wasn’t touching me directly. The crop traced a slow line down my neck, across my collarbone, before caressing the upper swell of my breasts. I gasped as my core contracted, lust spiking.

“What…” my voice wavered. “What are you doing?”

“You might have played before, but you don’t know the first thing about real BDSM,” he informed me, his tone roughening with his own desire. “I’m dominating you, princess. And you will learn the meaning of submission by the time I’m finished with you.”