Nicolai Valentino is the almost perfect heir to the Valentino Family—impeccably dressed, devilishly handsome, impossibly cold, and absolutely dedicated to a family that scorns his very existence. Born to the infamous Boss and a Japanese woman of no consequence, Nico must fight for respect in a blood-thirsty world that would be much happier to see him with a hole in his head. Blood runs thick in the Valentino Family. To them, Nico's little better than water. Gabriel Delatto is Nico's right-hand man, his childhood friend, and under the darkness of their ruby red sheets, his lover. But more than that, Gabriel holds the secret to unlocking who Nico really is—the true Nico, not the mask beginning to crack around the edges. But there is a pleasure in that pain, he knows. There is only ever pleasure when it comes to Nico, even if it comes from the crack of a whip or on the edge of a blade. But there's someone lurking in the darkness, something that neither Nico nor Gabriel truly understand, But there is one thing they do know—It isn't afraid to bite. Author Note: Please be advised that there are sexual scenes of explicit graphic nature, including spanking, within the following story. These are done in a fully consensual manner between two parties over the age of 18.

Who is Nicolai Valentino? Some think him a devoted son, a ruthless killer, a vicious monster. The heir of the infamous Valentino family, Nico is a man with blood-stained hands and a heart of ice. To Gabriel Delatto, Nico is more than that: a childhood friend, a passionate lover, a misunderstood soul, a man whose cold, calculated outward exterior protects the broken man inside. Nico is his best friend, his lover, his other half—his better half. But how much of that is true? And how much is just lies whispered between bloody lips? New York to Tokyo—Gabriel is willing to follow his lover to the ends of the earth to find out what Nico is running from. Or, maybe, what is Nico running to? Author Note: Please be advised that there are sexual scenes of explicit graphic nature, including BDSM themes, within the following story. These are done between two parties over the age of 18. There are scenes involving non-consensual BDSM themes and mentions of past physical and mental child abuse and graphic material that may not be suitable for all audiences. Between Bloody Lips is a 66,000 word novel with a HFN ending, promising a HEA ending as a series, with no major cliffhanger.