Today, we're revealing an excerpt from Prince of Hearts by L. A. Cotton. This is a new adult romance novel and the first book in the Verona Legacy series. This reveal is hosted by Give Me Books Promotions. Read on to learn more about the book, read an excerpt and enter the giveaway!
ABOUT THE BOOK!
Series: Verona Legacy #1
Author: L.A. Cotton
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Arianna Capizola is her father’s daughter.
Humble. Hardworking. Honest.
She’d rather spend her days helping at the local shelter than brushing shoulders with her vain and entitled classmates.
Niccolò Marchetti is his father’s son.
Dark. Dangerous. Deceitful.
He’d rather spend his days getting bloody in the ring than attending class and keeping up pretences.
When their paths cross at Montague University neither of them are willing to drop the walls they’ve spent so long building. But he can’t resist the girl with stars in her eyes, and she can’t forget the guy who saved her that night.
There’s only one catch.
Nicco isn’t Arianne’s knight-in-shining armor, he’s the son of her father’s greatest enemy.
He is the enemy.
And their families are at war.
**Prince of Hearts is the first book in Nicco and Ari’s duet. Due to mature content that some readers may find distressing, this book is recommended for readers 18+
READ AN EXCERPT!
“You look good on my bike,” I said.
And that I fucking meant.
“Thanks for the ride.”
I tucked the helmet into my chest and gave her a small nod. “You should go inside.” My eyes flicked beyond her to the door.
“I think I’ll have to go around front.”
“Your key operates both doors.”
“Oh, okay.” Lina rocked on her kitten heeled boots. I couldn’t resist letting my eyes sweep down her body again. She was everything I could never have.
Everything I’d never wanted.
Until now.
I swallowed, lifting my gaze to hers. “Go on.”
“Goodnight, Nicco.” Lina smiled.
“Goodnight.”
She didn’t move. Her eyes didn’t leave me even for a second. Slowly, she walked over to me and slid her hand against my face. “Thank you, for coming to my rescue again.” There was a playful lilt in her voice.
“Anytime, Bambolina.” I smirked but it was wiped away when Lina leaned in, her lips brushing my cheek. She hesitated just for a second, but it was enough for me to turn my head and let my lips slide against hers.
Rookie. Fucking. Mistake.
The moment I tasted her, everything shifted. All I could think about now was pulling her down on my bike and devouring her. She tasted too good. Too tempting.
She tasted like my fucking downfall.
“Nicco.” My name was a whisper against my lips as I ran my tongue against the seam of her mouth. My hand slid into Lina’s hair, anchoring her to me as I kissed her deeper, harder. Her body shuddered, a soft sigh getting lost between us. I wanted to paint her skin with my lips, brand every inch of her. This wasn’t even a real kiss. It was fleeting and cautious. But I already knew I wanted more.
I wanted everything this girl—this stranger—had to give.
“What are you doing?” she whispered when I paused, my lips hovering over the corner of her mouth. “Nicco, what are—”
I jerked back as if I’d been struck by lightning. “You should go, Lina. I’ll wait until you’re inside.”
“I see.” Her lips thinned as she stepped back, putting a thousand miles between us, the invisible tether between us almost snapping. “Well, I guess I’ll be going then.” She didn’t hesitate this time. Lina walked away from me with her head held high, without so much as a backward glance.
It was no less than I deserved, but it hurt all the same.
I wanted her.
I wanted Lina the way I’d never wanted another girl before. But I couldn’t be that guy. I couldn’t give her hearts and flowers and romance.
I couldn’t be the prince she deserved, because my life wasn’t a fairytale.
It was the stuff nightmares were made of.
And that I fucking meant.
“Thanks for the ride.”
I tucked the helmet into my chest and gave her a small nod. “You should go inside.” My eyes flicked beyond her to the door.
“I think I’ll have to go around front.”
“Your key operates both doors.”
“Oh, okay.” Lina rocked on her kitten heeled boots. I couldn’t resist letting my eyes sweep down her body again. She was everything I could never have.
Everything I’d never wanted.
Until now.
I swallowed, lifting my gaze to hers. “Go on.”
“Goodnight, Nicco.” Lina smiled.
“Goodnight.”
She didn’t move. Her eyes didn’t leave me even for a second. Slowly, she walked over to me and slid her hand against my face. “Thank you, for coming to my rescue again.” There was a playful lilt in her voice.
“Anytime, Bambolina.” I smirked but it was wiped away when Lina leaned in, her lips brushing my cheek. She hesitated just for a second, but it was enough for me to turn my head and let my lips slide against hers.
Rookie. Fucking. Mistake.
The moment I tasted her, everything shifted. All I could think about now was pulling her down on my bike and devouring her. She tasted too good. Too tempting.
She tasted like my fucking downfall.
“Nicco.” My name was a whisper against my lips as I ran my tongue against the seam of her mouth. My hand slid into Lina’s hair, anchoring her to me as I kissed her deeper, harder. Her body shuddered, a soft sigh getting lost between us. I wanted to paint her skin with my lips, brand every inch of her. This wasn’t even a real kiss. It was fleeting and cautious. But I already knew I wanted more.
I wanted everything this girl—this stranger—had to give.
“What are you doing?” she whispered when I paused, my lips hovering over the corner of her mouth. “Nicco, what are—”
I jerked back as if I’d been struck by lightning. “You should go, Lina. I’ll wait until you’re inside.”
“I see.” Her lips thinned as she stepped back, putting a thousand miles between us, the invisible tether between us almost snapping. “Well, I guess I’ll be going then.” She didn’t hesitate this time. Lina walked away from me with her head held high, without so much as a backward glance.
It was no less than I deserved, but it hurt all the same.
I wanted her.
I wanted Lina the way I’d never wanted another girl before. But I couldn’t be that guy. I couldn’t give her hearts and flowers and romance.
I couldn’t be the prince she deserved, because my life wasn’t a fairytale.
It was the stuff nightmares were made of.
BOOK TRAILER!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR!
Author of over thirty mature young adult and new adult novels, L A is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.
Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.
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