Scarred Love
M.S. Brannon
Date Published: 6/6/2013
Darcie Claiborne spent several years of her young life living with a monster, always fearing what he would do next. Clasping onto her last ounce of hope, Darcie releases a scream. It’s her final attempt to live; to survive the villain of her reality. Sweeping her up in his arms, Darcie’s knight in shining armor rescues her from the hell she’s been living; from the stepfather she's feared for all those years.
Reggie Evans has been forced to grow up before he’s ready when his mother dies of an overdose, leaving him responsible to raise his younger brothers. One fateful night, Reggie jogs by an old, run down house and discovers a young girl clinging to life as she screams for help.
Three years later, Darcie is healing and always protected by the man who saved her, but now she's fighting with something she isn't prepared to face. The growing love for the man who saved her life three years ago, the same man who’s nine years older. All the while, Reggie fights to protect Darcie from the demons of her past and new ones of her present.
It started in a strong note. So strong that its heartbreaking. The first part was high emotional and definitely not for the weak of heart.
Meet Darcie.
Then there is me, Darcie Claiborne, once known as Margaret Darcia Claiborne-Stein. I’m a seventeen-year-old orphan, thinly built, green-eyed bitch.Darcie had been too much at a young age. She had been through more than hell and no one, even Hades wants to go in there. But thank God, she was saved by her knight and shining armor. Now, at 16 - she can't control her temper. I wanted to hate her, really - but she doesn't know what's at stake when she gets into trouble. All she knows the moment that her temper flares that she was never going back to her past - helpless and afraid.
There's Reggie - the knight in shining armor.
He's the oldest among the bunch and I admire him so much for ALL and EVERY sacrifices he made to keep his family together. You knew there was something between them. You could feel the heat and tension simmering. Reggie, nine years her senior, tried to stop his lust and hunger for his young ward. He was her savior and there was nothing he would not do for her. I love Reggie (not only because of the sacrifices) but because he tried his best not to act on his emotions. He wanted to wait for her until she's ready or the moment she turned 18 (whichever comes first).
The rest of them.
Her family is amazing, especially when they included Presley. They may come from different backgrounds but they have each other's backs once help is needed. They can act like children and throw out punches - but at the end of the day, they are still family and they stick together!
Something I’ve learned over the past few years is family isn’t necessarily who you’re legally tied to, it’s the people you want to surround yourself with. The people you know—with every fiber of your being—will do anything for you. That’s what family is and that’s who we are.
There's Jeremy - the silent type and the best drag racer in town until an accident happen. Jake - who's foul mouth parallel's Darcie. He's the troublemaker among them. Drake - the womanizer who fell in love with Presley. And of course, there's our Presley - the girl she saved from the mean girls - what Darcie didn't know is that Presley is more than just an ordinary girl, and their connection might be something more than friends.
I hated Robert with all of me. I hated Grady second. He's worthless and he deserves what happened to him - maybe even more.
First few pages and I'm truly, truly heartbroken. Wow. This novel started out strong - I wonder if Ms. Brannon would be able to keep the tone? Oh yes, she did. Surprisingly, the intensity of the novel didn't falter until we reach the final page - emotions were overflowing. I wonder if any of the siblings would be getting their own HEAs too. :)
Scarred Love is about survival, family and love. It will have your heart aching for the little girl trying to get out of the hell she has been through and the strong young girl who is ready to face everything that life will throw at her.
Rating: ★★★★✩
Darcie
Jeremy runs around to the passenger seat and hoists me out of the car. I climb onto his back and he carries me up the back steps into the kitchen. I’m attempting to sing “Creep” by Radiohead, but butchering the song with every syllable when Jeremy sits me down on the counter. Jake avoids me as he makes his way down to the basement. Screw it! I could care less right now. I achieved my goal; I’m drunk as hell and it’s amazing!
I swing my feet back and forth while singing the lyrics to “Creep.” “I wish I was special. So fuckin’ special...”—a little louder now—“…but I’m a creep!” Jeremy’s hand comes across my mouth, quieting me. I jerk my head back smacking it on the cupboard and shout, “Hey! I’m singing, Jer!”
Jeremy hands me a glass of water and a couple of Advil. I swallow the pills and let out a loud burp. He rolls his eyes, trying to hide the smile across his face.
“Do you want me to help you to bed, Darcie?” he asks.
“Ahh, Jer. That’s so sweet. Where’s Presley? She can help me. It might be weird seeing your sis in her underwear.” I laugh obnoxiously at my strange comment. God, I’m wasted.
Jeremy blushes. “She’s with Drake and I’m not going in there. If you need help, then I’ll help you.”
To Jeremy’s relief, Reggie walks around the corner, glaring at both of us. He looks sexy as hell, wearing only a pair of black basketball shorts that are slung low on his hips. I’m practically drooling as I look at the slight trail of blonde hair below his belly button and the defined V of his abdomen. His hair is loose and tousled from sleep. Oh shit. There go my hormones again. I want to rip his clothes off and suck on his…lips? I let out a small giggle followed by a hiccup from my dirty thoughts.
Jeremy’s angry as he looks over at me. “She’s fucking wasted, Reg. She drank a pint of tequila and started running her mouth to that girl she beat up at school. Everyone else bailed on me. I’m trying to get her to bed.”
Reggie rolls his eyes and shakes his head in disgust. “I’ll put her to bed.”
Relief passes over Jeremy’s face. He smiles then sprints out of the kitchen and flies down the stairs, heading for the basement. Man, I didn’t think I was that much of a pain in the ass.
Reggie walks over to me and puts his hands on either side of my thighs. My breath hitches at our closeness and flashes of last night play in my mind.
I press my forehead to his and whisper, “Always my knight in shining armor.”
“Always.” His lips stay close and I’m hoping he will crash them into mine, but he doesn’t.
“I’ve had a bad day.”
He lets out a small sigh and says, “Yeah… I know.”
Reggie slides his hands behind my butt pushing my core against his waist. Butterflies are swarming in my stomach as I wrap my legs and arms around him. I plant my face in the crook of his neck and that familiar smell of salvation engulfs me. It’s divine, a combination of soap and Reggie. Lifting me off the counter, he walks down the hall toward my bedroom. I look into his eyes where I find fierce, ocean blue pools, drowning me in desire. My body is warming with pleasure as I feel his hard muscles constrict with every movement.
Reggie kneels on the bed hovering over me. I let go of my grip and push myself to the top, lying on my pillow. He lifts one of my legs and pulls off my leather boot. It drops to the floor and he repeats with the other. He’s sitting up on his knees between my legs and my body is rushing with excitement. His hands slowly slide down the zipper of my jacket. I can’t believe this is going to happen. I don’t want anything more than to give him the innocent part of me. Now, I wish I was a little more sober.
“Sit up.,” Reggie demands, never taking his eyes off mine.
I comply. His hands skim over my shoulders, moving my jacket down and the heat from his touch is sending me over the edge. Reggie tosses my jacket to the floor and then he leans down and puts a faint kiss to the cigar burn on my left shoulder. My breath hitches from his gesture and I wish he could take all of it away. Using a gentle touch, his hands guide me to lie down. I’m panting with want. All the familiar feelings of our storage room make-out floods my body. Moving off the bed, Reggie pulls the comforter over my body then leans down and places a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“Goodnight, Darcie.”
Wait. What? He’s leaving me?
The door clicks shut. Embarrassed and rejected, I roll over onto my side and cry for the second time in twenty-four hours.
M.S. Brannon was born and raised in the Midwest. She still resides there today with her wonderful husband and son. When she is not writing or reading, M.S. Brannon spends time with her family, watching movies, and discovering new music. She writes romance because she believes love and heartache is the rawest emotion one can experience.
Email: MBrannon16@gmail.com
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