Big Girl Playing in Paris — Aubrey Rose

Shannon can't wait a whole semester to go and see Julian on tour in Europe. She devises a plan to arrive early and surprise him. But the surprise she gets is not the one she's hoping for.

He's dealing with his loneliness the only way he knows how.
Julian has spent his life battling against his alcohol addiction. Now that Shannon isn't around, there's nothing to keep him away from that temptation. Without her, he spirals down into a desperate oblivion.

Can love mend two broken people when their faith in each other is shattered?

EXCERPT:

Julian reached up and brushed a lock of red hair behind her ear. His fingers tickled slightly, and she winced.

"Shannon, there is nobody I'd rather be with than you. But you said yourself that this was an important semester."

It was true. Shannon had a big photography project due to her advisor by the end of the semester, the beginning of her senior thesis to outline, and a ton of other stuff to get done. But now Julian was going to be in Europe on tour with Wilder Side, her roommate Brynn was leaving to go to an internship in Budapest. Shannon had never felt so alone in her life. So abandoned.

"I don't want you to go without me," she said, tears spilling over her dark red lashes. "I don't want to be apart."

"We'll still be touring when you go on break," Julian said. "I'll buy you tickets to fly out then. It's not that long to wait."

"It's long enough." Shannon knew Julian was right, but she didn't have to like it.

"Then we'll just have to make the most of our time before I leave." Julian kissed the side of her neck and slid one hand along the bottom edge of her skirt, sending a thrill of excitement down Shannon's body. God, he was incredibly sexy. She pretended to resist, leaning away as he moved to kiss her again.

"Oh, so it's like that, huh?" Julian teased.

"Maybe," Shannon said.

"Maybe I'll just have to tie you up and take you anyway I want," Julian said. A wide grin spread over his face. How could she be mad at him when he looked at her with such desire in his eyes?

"Maybe," she said, wiggling happily as he clasped one arm tightly around her waist.

"Fine, then," Julian said. He swept the suitcase to the floor with his free arm, sending her clothes flying everywhere.

"Julian!"

"Shannon!"

Shannon could only gasp as his strong arms picked her up and threw her bodily across the bed. She rolled to one side but he pinned her shoulders down with his hands.

"Julian!"

"Sorry, you asked for it." He kissed her throat, tickling the base of her neck with his breath. Tremors ran through her body and she felt herself become instantly wet as he darted his tongue out to her skin. Oh god.

Julian touched her like no other man had ever touched her before. His hands possessed her, claimed her, moved her in a way she hadn't even imagined could be possible. Even a light stroke of his fingers along her thigh sent her into a dizziness that took her a half hour to overcome. And now he was moving his mouth along her collarbone, his teeth gently biting down on her skin, then retreating. It was too much for her body to handle.

"Julian, please," she said.

"That's a good girl," he whispered in her ear.