Book & Author Details:
Illusion of Ecstasy
by Nicole Loufas
(2nd Dose in the Thizz Series)
Publication date: December 1st 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Synopsis:
When Dani discovered the cash hidden in her attic, she had no idea the problems it would bring. With the help of the Marino’s, Dani is able to launder her father’s dirty money, but their help comes with a price. Her relationship with Matt.
Not wanting to hurt Dani’s future or freedom, Matt removes himself from the equation to keep everyone safe. But when it’s time to go home, he has to decide which is more important – watching his little sister grow up or returning to the girl of his dreams.
Nick is determined to make good on all the bad he’s caused, and has finally accepted his role as a Marino. Fate doesn’t make it easy for him. Especially, when he returns from Europe to find Dani is falling apart. With Matt out of the picture, Nick contemplates a future with the only girl he’s ever loved.
In the conclusion to Thizz, A Love Story, follow Dani, Matt, and Nick on a soul-searching journey into adulthood. The Illusion of Ecstasy explores the emotional tribulations they encounter without the help of thizz. How to deal with real emotion becomes the biggest obstacle of all on their road to maturity.
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Excerpts:
Nick
and I circle each other for a few minutes. I wait for him to make the first
move. He always makes the first move. To my surprise, he just keeps circling
and smiling. Finally, I go for it. I lunge, and he falls against the padded
headboard. Wood cracks. I keep wailing on him with the pillow. Nick grabs me
around my knees and takes me down. He tries to pin me using a move I taught
him. He has no chance. I arch my back and twist my body. Before Nick can take
his next breath, I’ve got him flipped over. We’re both breathing heavy. I hold
Nick by the neck, not too hard. I don’t want to hurt him. Not really. I’m lying
on my back, my arm wrapped around his neck as he’s lying beside me, sort of in
front of me. I feel his hand tap out at the same time the screen on the front
door squeaks open and then slams shut.
Nick
starts to laugh when Dani appears in the doorway.
She
takes in the room. The comforter on the floor, the sheets askew. Nick in my
arms. She’s trying really hard to keep a straight face. “Am I interrupting
something?”
“Just
working out some aggression,” Nick jokes and breaks free.
I
want to ask what she’s doing here, but I suspect Nick had everything to do with
it. The phone call, changing the sheets, it makes sense now. That thoughtful
motherfucker.
“I
can come back later,” she teases and breaks into a huge grin. Her face lights
up. She only beams like this when she’s high. There is only one person who
could’ve given her pills.
Nick
jumps off the bed and wraps Dani in his arms. He pulls back and kisses her on
the forehead. Her eyes flutter closed, and all I can think is—karma is a bitch.
******
“Are you touching my girl?” Matt
asks with phony exasperation.
“I was thinking that maybe I could
keep this area.” Nick swirls his free hand over my thigh. “You don’t need it,
do you?”
I bite my lip to hold in the
traitorous grin trying to escape. I’m not with Nick. That doesn’t mean I don’t
find him attractive and I still care about him. Falling out of love with Nick
has taken a lot longer than falling in love with him.
I slap Nick’s hand away and shrug
Matt’s arm off my shoulders. “First of all, I’m not some piece of real estate
you can divvy up for your own personal use. I’m a human. I say who gets what
and when.” I cross my arms over my chest and try to look like I’m in control.
They look at each other and silently
agree on something. Nick and Matt have a twin-thing. They always know what the
other is thinking.
“Ok,” Matt says. “Who gets what?”
*******
I
lock the gate and pause for a second to prepare myself for whatever is about to
happen. The realization that I’m going to spend the night alone with Matt slaps
me across the face.
I
go back upstairs and find Matt standing in front of the living room window. He
turns at the sound of my footsteps on the hardwood floor. The expression on his
face makes me nervous. I turn from the hallway into the kitchen to avoid the
intense look in his eyes.
“There’s
no food here, but we can raid my mom’s wine rack downstairs. I just need to go
to my apartment and grab my toothbrush,” I ramble. Because rambling feels safe.
“We can stop at Golden Boy and get a pizza on our way back.” I open the
refrigerator hoping to find a bottle of courage sitting on the top shelf.
“Are
you hungry?” he asks.
“Uh,
not really.” I close the door and we lock eyes.
He
looks sexy as hell leaning against the doorframe. Pizza and my toothbrush are
the last things on my mind as he steps
towards me.
“Me either,” he says.
He
reaches for my hand and pulls me into his arms. I try not to think about what
this means or what will happen tomorrow.
He
leans in and kisses me. Even though our lips touched in the past; the emotions
I’m feeling right now weren’t fueling
that moment. This kiss wasn’t instigated
by a dare. We have no audience. Nothing holding us back. I relax into Matt’s
arms and let this thing between us finally take over.
AUTHOR BIO:
Nicole was born and raised in California. She claims to be a San Francisco native, however she's lived in both Northern and Southern California. She credits her creativity to the fact that she attended 12 schools between kindergarten and her senior year in high school. Her nomadic childhood allowed her to reinvent herself often. Some might say she was a liar. While others see the stories she told as a coping mechanism. Twelve schools, in six cities, in twelve years - give her a break. Today she channels her storytelling ability into writing novels. Long story short - kids that lie become writers.
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Luv ur blog! Happy Holidays!
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