THE WICKED BAD: And Why Rubbing Against Some is a Good Idea~

The Wicked Bad

By: Karyn Gerrard | Other books by Karyn Gerrard

Published By: Crimson Romance

Published: Apr 15, 2013 

ISBN # 9781440566752

Word Count: 55,236
Heat Index     

Sometimes, a bad boy can surprise you. In spite of inviting you to rub against some wicked bad as my hero, Nick, says to Veronica above, you find out there is more underneath that outer bad boy shell once you scratch (or rub) the surface. Enjoy the blurb and an excerpt from The Wicked Bad! ~Karyn Gerrard

BLURB:  Nick Crocetti is an imposing figure in black leather riding his motorcycle about the town of Rockland. Owner of a bar, The Chief, whispers of criminal dealings and a murky past swirl around him. Dark and brooding, Nick is "the wicked bad" in looks and demeanor.

 Veronica Barnes, leaving a husband from a disastrously quick Las Vegas marriage and her high-paying consulting job, returns home after ten years to follow a lifelong dream and open her own bakery. Despite the mutual physical attraction - and a shared past - Nick and Veronica are wary of each other and have protective fences around their hearts.

 Can they break down the barriers of past heartbreak, or is Veronica just a good girl who longs to rub against "the wicked bad"?

 Sensuality Level: Hot

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Karyn Gerrard Bio: 

Karyn lives in a small town in the western corner of Ontario, Canada. She wiles away her spare time writing and reading romance while drinking copious amounts of Earl Grey tea. Tortured heroes are a must. A multi-published author with a few best-sellers under her belt,

Karyn loves to write in different genres and time periods, though historicals are her favorite. As long as she can avoid being hit by a runaway moose in her wilderness paradise she assumes everything is golden.

 Karyn’s been happily married for a long time to her own hero. His encouragement keeps her moving forward.

                                 Karyn's Site/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest

THE WICKED BAD 

EXCERPT:  When they stood to leave, Veronica impulsively slipped her arm through his. She felt him stiffen. Was her touch so horrible? She gazed up at him and his face seemed to be devoid of emotion as it had been since they’d became reacquainted.

Nick surprised her tonight so far. The ease in which he ordered the wine, his mode of dress, and when she had managed to get him to talk it was obvious he wasn’t a knuckle-dragging nimrod. He fascinated her to no end. The questions she wished to ask mounted, but Nick remained guarded about a lot of things, his past most of all. This would require a good deal of patience. Veronica could be patient when needed. Instead of being put off by his reaction to her touch, she pulled herself closer to him. Did he just moan? The sound so soft she’d barely heard it. She smiled. Perhaps he was not as unaffected as she thought.

The time was close to nine o’clock when they arrived at a small piece of beach not far outside of Easton. Nick removed a blanket and the basket from the back of the bike.

“Don’t get any ideas about me. I saw it in a movie once, I’m no romantic,” he said.

Veronica had to admit, she was having a nice time. She enjoyed sitting behind him on his bike as he raced up the highway. Her arms clung to his broad, muscular back and chest. Feeling the powerful bike vibrate under her and feeling Nick vibrate next to her was a total turn on. Touching and holding on to him sent such waves of pure, raw heat through her body. Though at first, she was scared to death. Before they left, Nick instructed her on how to be a passenger. Lean into the turns when he did and don’t clutch him too tightly. Veronica knew she shamelessly felt him all over as he drove. Nothing prepared her for the rush of excitement, not only being curled against all that male muscle, but the feeling of driving fast on the open road with the wind whipping around her body. She wished she could’ve taken the helmet off and let the wind take her hair skyward. The sensation was incredible, a real rush.

She followed him toward the beach. The shoreline wasn’t very big, but private, as you couldn’t see the road or much else from their vantage point. Wonder how many other women he brought here, she thought cynically.

He spread the blanket and assisted her in sitting down. Again, the touch of his hand made her face flush as well as parts further south. Nick sat next to her with one leg bent and he rested his arm on the top of his knee. They sat quietly and gazed out over the water. The waves caressed the sand with a serene almost hypnotic sound.

“I saw you talking to that wuss, Jake Spooner, as I left the other day. I can imagine what he said about me,” Nick said in a voice so soft, she hardly recognized it as his.

Veronica cleared her throat uncomfortably.

Nick laughed. “I see. Go on, amuse me, what did he say?”

“Um, he said you were in prison—” she began.

“Jail. Not prison,” he retorted.

“There’s a difference?”

“You’ve got the cop for a brother, you tell me,” Nick snapped. He shook his head, more gently he said, “Sorry. It’s a touchy subject. City jail, for assault and destruction of property. Prison usually means a state or federal beef. Mine was local and a long time ago. I did my time and it’s over. I don’t like talking about it.”

“He called you a thug and said you deal drugs among other things.” She shouldn’t be telling him this, but the words tumbled out of her.

“Really? And still you went out with me? Are you some thrill seeker, one of those good girls eager to rub up against some wicked bad? Is that why you’re here? I’ll be as bad as you want, just say the word.”

His voice grew tight and edgy. Barely restrained anger simmered below the surface, she could hear it.

“I’m just telling you what Jake said, you asked.”

Nick stared at her for several moments. “Yeah. I did. Sorry. I haven’t been out on a date in awhile.”

“You haven’t been with any women...”

“Oh, I didn’t say I haven’t been with women, just haven’t been on a date.” The right corner of his mouth twitched in what Veronica supposed was amusement.

Veronica laughed out loud, she couldn’t help it. Nick smiled broadly in return. He could be funny. How wonderful.

He opened the basket and lifted out a couple of candles. Reaching in his pocket for a lighter, he lit them and buried the large pillars in the sand.

“No breeze tonight, perfect.” Next, he brought out a bottle of wine and two glasses. “A Riesling, hope you don’t mind a little more wine.”

Veronica couldn’t believe this. She watched as he skillfully removed the cork and poured the wine in the crystal U-shaped goblets. Nick handed the glass to her. Reaching in the basket again he came out with a rose, the most perfect red rose she’d ever seen. He handed the flower to her.

“For you.”