He wasn’t an ordinary crush, but the two of us were definitely a classic cliche. Ryder Thompson. Quarterback of the football team. The star of campus. Everyone wanted to be him, be friends with him, or sleep with him. Unfortunately, I was no exception to that rule. The problem? I was the nerdy girl who he didn’t know existed—or at least that’s what I thought until his actions showed me otherwise. I could still feel his fingertips pressed against my neck, his touch lingering so vividly that I let myself wonder if there could someday be an ‘us’. That was until the world came crashing down. I spent years building a wall around my heart and keeping my feelings for him under lock and key. Now, ten years later, he’s back in my life, making promises I’m not sure he can keep.

Taunting him was a game I had become all too good at playing, although neither of us ended up being a winner when we played it. Our game was frustrating, heart-wrenching, and wicked, but one I couldn’t force myself to walk away from. Noah Whitlock The one that got away and also the one I am hesitant to let back in. I fell hard and fast at seventeen, but circumstance kept us apart. Over the years, I caught glimpses of him around the city while he was patrolling on duty, looking impossibly gorgeous in his uniform. He’d ignore me and I’d ignore him until one of us caved and texted the other. It was always innocent… until it wasn’t. I quickly learned that Noah was an easy man to rile up, and that I enjoyed the glint in his eye—the one that bordered on anger and lust. He was determined to play for keeps, and I was determined to just play.

Remember the saying that ends with ‘words can never hurt me’? They were wrong. Words can cut deep. Especially when hurtful words float past the lips of a man who felt like home. Cain Michaels My ex-boyfriend’s brother. The only man who could make me feel deeper than I ever thought possible. My worst nightmare and most vivid dream. Six years ago, he’d single-handedly brought to light every one of my deepest fears. He shattered my soul and left a Cain-sized hole in my heart. Since then, I’d moved on. I’d healed. I owned a successful bar, had a no-strings-attached arrangement with a man who was literally every woman’s fantasy, and I was perfectly content ignoring the ruggedly gorgeous motorcycle club president who had shown up back in my life. Yet, despite the years behind us, my body was still acutely aware of his presence, and with every day that passed, the less willpower I had to continue my charade of indifference. Cain was determined to not only make amends, but to tear down the walls I’d built and crash through them like the wrecking ball he was. And I wasn’t so sure I’d be able to resist him much longer. Marked By Cain is a standalone second-chance romance, and is book three in the Ridgewood Series. For the full experience, it's recommended to read Between the Flames and Wicked Games We Play prior to Marked By Cain. Reader discretion is advised. Marked By Cain features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Please visit the author's website for a full list of content warnings.