CROSS by Shantel Tessier: Blog Tour, Excerpt, Teasers & Mary’s Review
“Shantel takes us back to the gritty, addictive world of the Dark Kings and it’s as steamy, twisted, and captivating as the first two books in this amazing series.”–Siobhan Davis. USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author
Cross, an all-new dark standalone romance from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Shantel Tessier, is available now!
CROSS
Have you ever stood next to a fire and felt the heat of it on your skin? Stared into the flames and thought how amazing it would be to be that free? It changes directions with the wind, destroying everything in its wake.
That’s what she felt like.
Alexa was a wildfire that torched everything she touched, and I couldn’t wait to be consumed by her.
She was off-limits. Even though I promised to stay away, I couldn’t resist. She was the spark I had been missing in my life. The fire I craved.
I knew from an early age I was destined to burn in hell, but she was born to walk through fire.
ALEXA
I was single-minded, focused, and independent. Just how my mother raised me. I didn’t have time for anything other than myself and work.
Funny how everything can change in an instant when you least expect it.
A King entered my life. What was supposed to be one night ended up being too many to count.
He was afraid that I’d see his darkness, but I couldn’t get enough of him.
After all, a fire burns the brightest in the dark of night. And it only takes one match to cause total devastation.
Cross is the third standalone in The Dark Kings Series. You are introduced to the Kings in Code of Silence: A Dark Mafia Romance.
Start reading today! FREE in Kindle Unlimited Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kbkB3k Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/crossst
Add CROSS to Goodreads→ https://bit.ly/3tWsJI4
Excerpt
She slides in, and I make my way to the driver’s side. Starting it up, I look over at her. “Where to?” I meant it more as a “where do you live?” but what I wanted to say and the words that actually came out were two very different things.
She looks over at me. “Wherever you want to go.”
That’s an open invitation if I’ve ever heard one. Obviously, she doesn’t want me at her house, or she would have suggested that. “Kingdom?”I question, unable to keep my eyes from dropping to her legs as she runs her hands over her jeans. Her nails are kept short and painted black. She wears a silver banded ring on her right hand. It’s plain yet dainty at the same time.
“I don’t gamble,” she states.
My eyes meet hers. “Neither do I.”
What I have planned for her is much more intimate. I mean, if she’s into a crowd watching, then that’s fine too. I’m not shy.
She laughs, leaning her head back against the headrest, and smiles softly at me. Her green eyes drop to my jeans, and I refrain from groaning at the thoughts that run through my mind. My hand in her hair while she’s bent over the center console with her lips wrapped around my cock …“Kingdom it is.” Not wanting to waste another second, I take off, getting the hell out of here.
We don’t say much during the twenty-minute drive back to the Strip. I keep checking on her to make sure she hasn’t passed out, and every time, she’s looking out the window.
I pull up around the back of tower one, where the Kings and I have a private entrance. Parking the car, I help her out and up the fifteen stairs that lead to a set of black doors.
Her drunk eyes take in the white marble floor and black circle with the gold K in the middle when we enter the building. Lifting her head, she notices the mirrored ceiling and chandelier hanging in the entrance.
Nigel stands behind his black marble desk in the corner. Nigel is our right-hand man. He’s more of a father to us than our actual fathers ever were. Guess it didn’t take him and Titan very long to bury Kenneth. He looks up and smiles at us. “Good evening, Cross. Alexa. It’s good to see you again.” I’m not sure how he knows her other than maybe he met her at Titan’s wedding.
“You too, Nigel,” she tells him as I scan my key card for our private elevator. Only a King has access to it. Other than him, of course. It opens immediately, and we step inside. I have to refrain from ripping her clothes off right here and now. Just a few more minutes and she’s all mine.
It comes to a stop on the Royal level to the suite that the Kings share. But no one will be here tonight. Titan hasn’t stayed one night here since he married Emilee. Grave stays at his house with April, and Bones rarely sleeps. I’m sure he’s at Glass—one of the many businesses he owns that we all pretend we don’t know about.
Stepping into our suite, I turn to face her. “Would you like a drink?”
She places her hands on my chest, gripping my shirt. “I think I’ve had enough.”
My hands go to her hips, and I yank her to me. The thought crosses my mind that this is a mistake. That she’s off-limits to me. I try to think of my best friend and how it would affect him. “I made a promise not to touch you,” I rush out, hoping she pushes me away.
She surprises me by smiling, and it’s anything but innocent. Her pretty green eyes drop to my lips before returning to mine. “I can keep a secret.” Then her lips are on mine.
MARY’s 5 STAR REVIEW
I read Cross as a standalone book although there are other books connected to this story. I have to say it didn’t take any time for me to dive right into the dark twisted world of Cross and his three best friend who make up the Dark Knights. I was quickly appalled by Cross and his dad didn’t have the a good relationship. Growing up Cross had been subject to abuse by his dad. His dad a priest had severely controlled him by making him repent for his sins. The four had grown up together and their dad’s had been friends that were referred to as The Three Wisemen. They started the Kingdom, which was the biggest casino and hotel in Vegas and unscrupulous to boot. The Kings were the benefactors of their dad’s business. Current date: Cross and his best friends, known as the Dark Knights, are now the owners of the Kingdom. As their name implies, they are dark, dangerous and deadly!! Ruling the city with an iron fist and beware if you do anything to cross them, too bad, they have a place to take care of that. It’s at the Airport, a nightclub of rival organization of the Mason Brothers that Cross will run into Alexa again. After had met her before at the wedding of fellow Knight, Titan. It was here Graves told Cross not to get involved with Alexa. She and his girl April are best friends and Graves didn’t want thing blowing up if they split up!! But this time meeting Alexa there was something about her he just couldn’t leave alone. A little about Cross, he and best friend, Graves use to be party buddies, but after Graves rehab that all stopped. Not only that but Graves was expecting a baby with Alexa’s best friend April. Hence the warning to Cross not get involved with Alexa. Yet, with the remainder of the Kings all having women in their lives he was kind of searching for his lot in life. Thank goodness Cross had other things to keep him busy, like his tattoo shop and working with the Dark Knights. Alexa ran her own business owning and running a bar. And after getting out of a bad relationship it more than kept her busy. When she met Cross up close and personal how quickly she was sucked into this intense, green eyed, muscleman. The only problem was that she naïve and had lots to learn about the Dark Knights. Only thing is that after their first night together both Cross and Alexa wanted more of each other. The chemistry between them was so freakin fervent it sizzled!! So now if this relationship was going to happen it had to be kept a secret. The more Alexa learned about Cross the more questions she had. And as answers begin to surface will she stick by her man? Even more questionable would Cross give her the answers? Now throw in a jealous ex-boyfriend, a fire and the Kings and Mason Brother’s working together and you have a genuinely suspenseful story!! I may not have read the first two books, but I now have a fire lit under me to get them!! Well done, Shantel!!
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