WIP Wednesday 6.15.22

Ok, it’s been a while since I’ve posted a WIP Wednesday, but since I currently have chapters in process for seven different series, I thought an update was in order! Under the cut are spoilers for: My Best Friend’s Girl (Remix), Complicated, Forbidden Passion, Heir Apparent, Savage Love, Royal Retribution and Star Crossed.

I have posted snippets from the upcoming chapters of Forbidden Passion and Heir Apparent in a Sunday Six previously, but I have made a lot of progress on both chapters since then, so the snippets here are different, but still from those same chapters already teased.

All stories are written in third person unless otherwise indicated.

My Best Friend’s Girl Remix Chapter 18: (First Person Drake’s POV)

Riley said she didn’t even care anymore, she wasn’t sure she was ever going back to Cordonia anyway and no one in the states paid any attention to the going on’s of a small, virtually unknown Mediterranean country. But I cared. It was the principal of the thing. And Max cared. He was on a mission to convince her to return with him, Liam or no Liam, and be the sister he’d never had, the best friend he’d come to love like family. But for her to return, especially as a member of House Beaumont, we needed to clear her name.

Selfishly, I wanted her name cleared to remove any and every obstacle between her and Liam. I know she said she was done with him, name cleared or not. But I had to know that for sure.

Complicated Chapter 36:

“Ok, ok!” Drake held his hand up, “I have the general idea. Assuming everything you say is true, you’re innocent of whatever the FBI is after you for and you can do what you claim you can do, if you can get us out of here….I can get you out of the trouble you’re in.”

Logan’s mouth fell open, “What? How?”

“Doesn’t matter right now. First, we get out of here, then I’ll explain. My only interest right now is in protecting the most important thing in the world to me. I have a feeling you understand what that feels like.” Drake said shooting a meaningful look at Ellie.

Logan followed his gaze, then looked back and nodded.

“First, I need a fucking phone. You guys stay here, I’m going out.”

Forbidden Passion Chapter 12:

Liam had trained for it his whole life and it sometimes still overwhelmed him. Leo’s mom was from Cordonia and from a noble house and she’d snapped under the pressure. This was exactly why the council had been against their marriage, exactly why Constantine had tried to intervene.

He didn’t say any of that to her though. He loved her and he’d made his choice. He had put his own needs and desires above his country. He hadn’t been willing to lose her then and he wasn’t willing to lose her now. He had asked so much of her, Cordonia had asked so much of her. And what had he given her in return?

After promising to be by her side and assuring her that he’d be there to help her navigate all these new responsibilities, he had left her alone to deal them on her own. Not because he’d wanted to, but because he’d had to.

Heir Apparent Chapter 15:

………. you literally held my hair while I puked. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

“Oh, whatever.” He scoffed, “You patched me up after a gunshot wound then refused to sleep all night so you could watch me breath.”

Her face went completely serious, “I’m not a doctor, Drake. I was afraid that if I fell asleep and you started bleeding again-“ the words choked off in a sob.

“Oh, hey, hey! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you!” He was across the room and at her side in two strides. He wrapped her up in his arms, “It’s ok, I survived, see? I’m right here!”

Savage Love Chapter 17: (First Person Riley’s POV)

“I mean….” He paused for dramatic effect, “you could actually marry the prince, assure your future, cement relations between Monterisso and Cordonia-“

I cut him off, “I am not interested in Leo in that way, nor he in me.”

“I wasn’t talking about Leo. You know, a prince is a prince, he doesn’t have to be king. A king’s younger brother is still a pretty good-“

“Father! Stop! Are you really trying to pimp me out right now?”

He shook his head, “I’d never ask you to marry against your will, but I know what I saw just now, kitten. That young man is completely smitten with you, and you are at least interested in him.”

I rolled my eyes, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Royal Retribution Chapter 4: (First Person Liam’s POV)

Drake cocked an eyebrow at me inquisitively, “Who are you calling now?”

“My brother. I have some questions.” I told him grimly.

Leo had never fully explained his decision to abdicate. Not to my satisfaction anyway. The story was put out that he was basically unfit. Irresponsible, uncommitted, frivolous, a playboy.  While my brother had certainly had his share of youthful misadventures, none of the rest of it was true. He was responsible, sensible and reliable when it came to matters of state and he always had been.

It went to voicemail, “Leo, it’s your brother. Please call me back as soon as possible and do so from an encrypted line.”

I glanced up at Drake who was clearly putting two and two together himself. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he asked, “Are you thinking that Constantine somehow forced Leo to abdicate?”

“Yes.” I answered with a clenched jaw, “Because he thinks I’m weaker and he can control me.” He’d always seen me as malleable, compliant, the more manageable son. He mistook my humanity for weakness. He was about to find out the hard way just how wrong he’d been.

Star Crossed Chapter 7:

He sat next to her, “Uh…you sure you won’t be missed? I mean it is your wedding night and….um….” He trailed off unsure how to complete that sentence.

She flushed as the implications sunk in. She shook her head emphatically, “No, no! We haven’t…I don’t want to….not yet…maybe ever…I mean, we don’t know each other, really. Not that I knew you when we….I mean, I felt like I did, somehow, but…. I know Liam is my husband now and it’s to be expected, eventually…. but I don’t want to think about that, not right now, not while I’m sitting here with  you…..”

She dropped her head into her hands, face beet red, “Oh my God, I want to die right now. That was mortifying. I’m sorry.”       

“Hey!” He reached for her hands and lowered them from her face, “It’s ok. I know what you meant. I know this is an….unusual situation-“

“I just don’t want you to think I’m the type of woman to have casual sex the night before my wedding, even though that’s exactly what I did…” She turned her head away.

“That’s not what I think at all.” He said quietly.