“Autumnnn.”
“Ohhh babyyy...” I run my hands across his back, thinking that I really didn’t turn off that coffeemaker.
He speeds up his thrusts, gripping my breasts like he’s attempting to yank them off my body. He’s groaning ferociously now, making some type of disturbing animal sound. (It’s a cross between a wounded bear and a dying tiger.)
“Fuckkkk, Autumnnnn.” He pants. “Can you feel me baby? I’m about to—”
“Yessss.” I freeze my eyeballs to their sockets. “I’m almost there...” And with that, I moan even louder—sucking in breaths, shaking my legs, faking yet another orgasm.
I should start keeping count...
He collapses on top of me, his chest pressed against my breasts, and then he whispers, “I love you, Autumn.”
I say it back because I always say it back, because that coffee maker is bothering the hell out of me and I need an excuse to get up.
“That was amazing.” I rub his back with my palms. “Let me go make breakfast. You want waffles?”
“Sure, sweetie.” He lifts his head up and kisses me one more time. Then he rolls over, allowing me to get out of bed.
I wrap myself in a robe and head into the kitchen. As soon as I hit the lights, I look over at the counter.
I didn’t turn it off...I knew it!
I pull out a box of waffle mix and a package of bacon. Usually, Kyle offers to make breakfast after sex, but I need a moment alone to think today.
I need a fucking break.
***
Dear Reader,
I would let you read more of “Wasted Love” right now, but...You. Are. Not. Ready!
I’ll release it to you as fast as I can.
Love,
Whit’
***
Acknowledgments:
Okay, where do I even start with this one? Let me first say that this book would’ve never been possible without the most AMAZING beta readers in the world!
Tamisha Joiner, THANK YOU so much for encouraging me to change this from a novella to a full length novel! (I looked back at the first few drafts and cringed...Jonathan Statham was so NOT sexy then lol) Most importantly, thank you for encouraging me to take my time and put out the best book possible for my amazing readers. I don’t know how I would’ve done any of this without you—the back and forth calls, the text messages, my incessant ramblings about nothing at all. This book is as much mine as it is yours—THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! (Now that we don’t have fifty million email threads going on about “MLL,” it’s time to focus all of the attention on your upcoming wedding! :-)... Can’t wait!)
Tiffany Downs, you’re WONDERFUL. Point blank. Period. I can’t count how many times we had to restart that epic “Mid Life Love First Six” thread. And OMG, I just realized that you were reading A LOT of this between planning the last details of your wedding and becoming a newlywed! (That is definitely love...) I can’t say THANK YOU enough for putting up with me and my rants, and being the great balance between me and Miss ‘I-get-too-involved-with-the-characters’ Tamisha. LOL. Your suggestions, critiques (even the overly “mushy” ones), and willingness to listen to me say the same thing over and over again really helped me :-) (Now, go find me a Jonathan Statham in real life...)
Nadira Williams, I want you to know that I have the following texts saved in my phone: “Seriously though, I need that fucking book in my life!” and “It’s so good! Don’t be worried!” I can’t thank you enough for reading it through and through, demanding more chapters, and making the necessary corrections for me. You know, I would take this opportunity to restart the debate about who is smarter between the two of us, but I won’t...LOL. I appreciate you encouraging me to stay strong when I needed it, and to stop focusing on what other people were doing. “Gosh, I’m so fucking excited for this book!”—You literally just texted me that a few seconds ago... THANK YOU!!!
Alonna Grigsby, your editing comments made me laugh out loud and I’ve saved them all to my laptop: “I woke up in a new Bugatti.” “Wait...This man might be crazy...” “Oh...This man IS crazy!!!” “Wait a minute...They’re not getting married?!” Thank you for reading this once you were done with grad classes and helping me make certain parts more realistic. Does this book count as one of our summer reading books? I really think it should! :-)
Antoine Neal, thanks for reading this “GIRL PORN, GIRL PORN” (as you would say) and helping me out with the characters’ conversations in the beginning...You were right... “Hot mess” would not have worked and Jonathan’s hair does not have the ability to change colors between scenes lol THANK YOU :-)
Jennifer Williams, you’re still the best sister in the world and always will be. I thank you for believing in everything I write. [“They didn’t ‘believesss’ in the book!” :-)]
Jay Williams and William Ray Edwards II—Thank you for respecting “my zone” and interrupting it on some nights with random dances and YouTube videos.
To my parents....I hope you only bought this book and aren’t reading it because that would be AWKWARD—I mean, I’m fine with you reading the Jilted Bride Series, but this? Put it down!
To my friends that I admire from afar: Aster Teclay, Ashley Warren, Tanisha Hill, Sherbrina Shepherd, Christina Royster, Courtney Johnson, Angelica Harris, Vince Cunningham, and Karleic Ellison.
To fellow Memphian Justin Timberlake, Thank you for releasing The 20/20 Experience just in time—It made my writing flow so much better! (Please perform “Spaceship Coupe” and “Strawberry Bubblegum” when you come home in November!!!)
To Colleen Hoover, Jamie McGuire, Abbi Glines, Arianne Richmonde, Theresa Ragan, Mimi Strong, Shanora Williams, Abria Mattina, and many more indie authors whom I admire and look up to. I stalk you all religiously and learn more and more from you every day...Yes, I’m borderline creepy, but whatevs :-)
To every book blogger, Goodreads reader, and early reviewer who took a chance on me and gave me a review (good or bad) THANK YOU for your generosity and your time :-)
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU, INCREDIBLE READER for reading this book all the way to the end :-).
Dear Incredible Reader,
Thank you so much for taking time out of your life to read this book! I hope you were thoroughly entertained and enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
If you have any extra time, PLEASE leave a review on amazon.com, B&N.com, goodreads.com, OR send me an email (whitgracia@gmail.com) so I can personally thank you :-) If you hated it, well....keep that shit to yourself! LOL (Just kidding. Feel free to let me know how I can improve next time!)
I’m forever grateful for you and your time, and I hope to be re-invited to your bookshelf with my next release.
Love,
Whitney Gracia Williams
More works by Whitney Gracia Williams:
Reckless Love (2014)
Wasted Love (Winter 2013-2014)
Mid-Life Love (June 2013)
Final Take: A Romantic Comedy (JBS) (Summer 2013)
Take Three: A Romantic Comedy (JBS) (December 2012)
Take Two: A Romantic Comedy (JBS) (September 2012)
Captain of My Souclass="underline" A Memoir (July 2009)
You can keep up with Whitney and the travels of her non-matching socks at http://www.whitneygracia.com
To be a part of the mailing list and be notified of release dates and special offers, email whitgracia@gmail.com with “Mailing List” in the subject heading.