Rogue In Love: Thea and Lex: Love Against the Odds Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Rogue In Love

  Note from the Author

  Synopsis

  Lex

  Thea

  Open Wounds

  A Future Worth Fighting For

  Incarcerated: Letters to Inmate 92510 Katie & Logan 1

  Acknowledgments

  Quote

  Jan. 5th

  Jan. 14th

  Jan. 20th

  Feb. 7th

  Feb 7th

  Newsletter

  Audiobook

  About the Author

  Rogue In Love: Lex and Thea

  Love Against The Odds

  Inger Iversen

  Inger Iversen Books, LLC

  Contents

  Rogue In Love

  Note from the Author

  Synopsis

  1. Lex

  2. Thea

  3. Lex

  4. Thea

  5. Lex

  6. Thea

  7. Lex

  8. Thea

  9. Lex

  10. Thea

  11. Thea

  12. Thea

  13. Lex

  14. Thea

  Open Wounds

  Chapter 1

  A Future Worth Fighting For

  Synopsis

  Incarcerated: Letters to Inmate 92510 Katie & Logan 1

  Acknowledgments

  Quote

  Jan. 5th

  Chapter 1

  Jan. 14th

  Chapter 2

  Jan. 20th

  Chapter 3

  Feb. 7th

  Chapter 4

  Feb 7th

  Chapter 5

  Newsletter

  Audiobook

  About the Author

  Rogue In Love © 2017, Inger Iversen

  All rights reserved.

  First electronic publication: March 2017

  Published by: Inger Iversen

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  Note from the Author: This novel is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and, situations in this novel are products of the author’s imagination or has been used fictitiously and should not be constructed as real. Any resemblances to persons living or dead, actual events, locale, organizations are completely coincidental and wholly unintentional. The author does not have control over and does not assume any responsibility for third party websites or their content.

  Edited by: There for You Editing

  Cover design by: © Sofie Hartley of Hart & Bailey Design Co.

  Proofread: Alexa B.

  Book Synopsis Editing: Kristina Circelli

  Inger Iversen

  www.ingeriversen.com

  Note from the Author

  Hey reader! This is just a note to say a few things about Rogue in Love. Rogue in Love is a 41K word novel about Lex and Thea. It is from the same world as Teal and Trent and also features, for a brief moment, Teal and Trent.

  Follow me on BOOKBUB to find out when the next Teal and Trent book will be released!

  ROGUE IN LOVE: Thea and Lex

  Missing Teal and Trent from Inevitable: Love & War? Check out Rogue in Love, the first of many standalones featuring Trent Reed's new employees!

  Ten years ago, Lex was forced to skip town, giving up everything he’d ever known. But even his time in solitude couldn’t keep away the memory of the girl he’d left behind. The girl who’d offered him her innocence, and her heart.

  Thea had moved on from the boy who abandoned her. Good job, fiancé, comfortable life in New York … until everything is ripped away from her, leaving her to pick up the pieces alone.

  When the care of an ailing loved one brings them back to Blackwater, Lex and Thea are confronted by the pains of the past. For Lex, that means helping to heal the broken-hearted woman he left behind. For Thea, it means refusing to let him see the gaping hole his absence created.

  The old feelings still linger, but only they can decide to relight the sparks, no matter the secrets and heartaches that come with them.

  To my loved ones. Thank you for your continued support.

  Lex’s eyes travelled up the woman’s tanned legs, making their way past her trim waist and high ass to her flat toned stomach and to her pert tits. Lex adjusted himself in his pants, his cock unfortunately hardening at the sight. It’d been two years since he’d gotten his dick wet, and if he waited any longer the damned thing would no doubt fall off, shrivel up, and die.

  Grunting, he pushed back in the chair and watched as she made her rounds. Table to table she sauntered in search of her next John. Lex had never picked up a hooker, nor had he ever planned on it, but right now, life had thrown him a sort of curve ball and it was his job to adjust his stance and go in for the hit. This particular hooker seemed to be having a hard time convincing a John to take her to the back.

  Lex picked up his shot glass and threw it back. The cool liquid traced a path of fire and heat down his throat. Slamming the glass down brought his big meaty paw into view. Dirt and oil caked his nails and a layer of soil darkened his skin tone. Living in the woods wasn’t half as bad as one would expect, but lake water could only go so far. However, there was plenty of roaming room, a few abandoned shacks to sleep in, food to hunt and a lake to bathe in, and the isolation Lex needed. Glancing at his dirty paws again he cursed under his breath. He’d been too busy gathering pieces for the POS car he was building from the ground up, setting traps for intruders, and hunting. Lex hadn't wanted to come here tonight, but the thought of Thea on her wedding night with a man other than himself forced his dirty ass out of the woods and in search of a woman’s touch. It didn’t matter that his heart had crumbled into pieces, just that he fucked and fucked until he fucked the memory of her out of his head.

  Lex belched, the acrid taste of liquor reminding him he needed another. “Again,” he uttered as the tall blonde bartender strolled by, her hands filled with used shot glasses.

  Placing them on the counter, she reached for the bottle of tequila. Her blue gaze met his as she poured, a sultry smile gracing her lips. When he first walked in, he’d sensed her veiled disgust, but the second he slammed a hundred-dollar bill on the bar and ordered her to keep the liquor pouring down his gullet, she’d donned a sultry smile and shoved her tits in his face. Her goal? To drown him in liquor and make bank. Lucky for her, Lex had a similar goal tonight. Soon, he’d be piss ass drunk and balls deep in a stranger.

  He took the shot, his head taking its first spin.

  “Partying alone?” Reaching out, she pulled the shot glass from his fingers. Another sensual smile played across her lips as she poured.

  Lex examined the busty barkeep as her delicate fingers with nails bitten down to the quick gripped the bottle. Her thin frame spoke to the possibility of an eating disorder or drugs. Lex stole a glance at her inner arms; spying track marks, he marked her off the list. Fuck, his list got shorter every day. Love of his life? Axed. His hand? Axed. Junkie bartender? Axed. He glanced back at the hooker as another man pushed her away. Hooker? Maybe.

  “For now,” he answered. Lex would take her … he didn’t want to, per se, but hell if his dick wasn’t commanding him to find something to fuck, and soon. He licked his lips in anticipation.
If he closed his eyes, he might be able to trick his mind into seeing Thea. Maybe. He could only imagine the hot, wet slide of a woman. Shit, two years for some may not seem like particularly long, but Lex was about to implode, and it didn’t escape his notice that Irina’s curls reminded him of the honey-eyed beauty he’d left behind.

  “Ah,” her voice deepened, “Irina. She’s a good choice.” Picking up a rag from the bar, blondie wiped up some shit he’d spilled earlier.

  Lex turned back to her. “Is she?” After a few more shots, he wouldn’t care if she were an alien from outer space, but damned if Lex was going to admit that. The fact that he was in Blackies paying to play made him sick to his stomach, but he would take nausea over heartache any day. “Hell, every man in Blackies is passing up on it. Why would I be any different?” Another shot of liquid heat then he pushed the glass back to her. “More.”

  She lifted a blonde brow. “You drinking up the courage to talk to her?” She chuckled, pouring him another shot.

  “By the looks of it,” he threw back the shot, “I won’t have to do the talking.” He slid the shot glass to her again. “Since not a damned man in here wants her.”

  The barkeep nodded. “Seems that way, doesn’t it?” She shrugged. “I’d hate to see her walk out of here without at least her off the hook money, but it’s looking like that’ll be the case tonight.” She poured another. Setting the bottle down, she leaned forward and propped herself up on the bar top. “Damn, even Scottie, a Blackie regular, turned her away.” She tisked and lifted up. Pointing to the shot glass, she asked, “Imma make my rounds, you good for now, honey?”

  Nodding, Lex picked up the glass and thrust it forward. “Cheers.” He threw it back. She was gone in the next second, tending the other patrons seated at the bar. Lex had nothing to do but wait. He wasn’t sure what off the hook money was, but he knew for sure this Irina chick would make her way to him soon enough. While hot water and soap would do his ass good, he felt as though he were far from the ugliest fucker in the bar. She’d most likely head over to him far before some of the other men, and while his cock didn’t want to wait, his head told him he had all the time in the world. He possessed everything a hooker wanted … cash and that soulless black gaze. He spared her another glance and her eyes met his for the briefest of moments. Lex held contact as long as she let him. Offering a grin, he watched as the twinkle of possible money earned sparked to life, before she turned his way and headed straight for him.

  “Here.” The blonde barkeep placed a couple shots in front of him and winked. She headed away again, leaving Lex with Irina.

  “Is this for me?” Her Russian accent took him by surprise.

  Picking up the shot glass, Lex handed it to her. “You like tequila?”

  She smiled, pink lips revealing pearly white teeth. “My favorite.” Lex had needed her closer to see for himself that there were no track marks in her arms, no missing teeth, or that I haven’t washed in weeks because I’m a crackhead scent exuding from her.

  “Good.” He threw back his own shot as he watched her take hers like a champ. “Didn’t know there were Russians this far South.” Warmth spread throughout him as the liquid settled in his gut, mingling with all the beer and tequila he downed earlier.

  Irina slid onto the barstool next to him, her glass in hand. Crossing her legs, the short leather mini skirt rode up just enough to give him a peek at tiny pink panties.

  Lex reached out, taking a hold of her barstool in a firm grip, and yanked until their seats were mere inches apart, causing her to squeak in surprise. He’d expected to talk price next … what he hadn't expected was the coquettish smile and timid demeanor from the woman. Maybe it was the fact she’d been turned down cold by the last few men she’d propositioned, or maybe it was because he’d come in the bar looking like a mountain man from the swamps. Didn’t matter, he’d ease her concern. Pulling another hundred from his pocket, Lex motioned for the busty barkeep. Not missing the gleam in Irina’s eyes as they followed the bill to the sticky surface of the bar, Lex grinned. “Keep ’em coming.” He spoke to the blonde without taking his eyes off Irina.

  “What’s your name?” Though he already knew, he thought to make conversation—to keep her from running scared from a man in dirty dickies and a stained-up T-shirt. He looked fucking worse for wear, but if he were to be honest, his dick and pissed off heart had done all the planning, making his brain take a backseat right along with common sense. Even a hooker would be hard pressed to want to take his ass out back for a fifty-dollar quickie. But here sat Irina, waiting for him to ask the age-old question pertaining to pussy for money.

  How the fuck did I sink this far? Hot water, soap, and a razor and he could look somewhat presentable for a woman who wouldn’t expect him to pay. Lex thought to get up, and head back to the hole he’d been living in for the past year. He froze mid move when he remembered the note from Earl telling him it was time to come home. Fuck, he knew why Earl was calling for him. Thea was getting married. He’d seen the fucking invitation last year when he’d stopped by Earl’s, he hadn't been home and that had been for the best. But what the fuck did that matter? He’d been the one to let her go, to walk away without so much as a damned good-bye.

  A Russian voice yanked him back into the present.

  “My name is Irina, and I’ll call you soldier.” Ducking her head, she giggled.

  He cocked a brow and sat up straight in his chair. “Was it that obvious?” Lex took the shot placed in front of him without thinking. At this rate, his cock wasn’t even going to work, and the actual outcome of an orgasm was moved back fifty paces with each half ounce of liquor he poured down his gullet. Slow down, boy, his cock screamed. One more, you don’t want to remember this shit in the morning, his brain warned.

  Irina’s shoulders lightly bobbled as she laughed shyly and pointed to his chest. “Those are dog tags, no?” Her eyes ventured farther down, her delicate fingers making their way to his chest towards the dog tags. “And what is this pink thing? You have daughter?”

  Lex’s gaze followed her fingers down to the tags situated around his neck and the costume jewelry attached to his tags. The pink toy ring Thea had given him years ago lay against his chest, a heavy memento of all he’d lost. It’d been a silly gift, and he’d never been able to part with it. Reaching up, he shoved the little pink and purple flowered ring in the V of his shirt and the memory of Thea right along with it.

  Irina, finding his actions adorable, or some shit, placed a hand over her lips and tittered. Glancing away from him, she sighed.

  What the fuck am I doing? Lex had never really been attracted to the shy type. He loved a woman who took charge of her sexuality, didn’t wait for the man to make the first move, and enjoyed being on top. Looking to the woman at his side, he tried to convince himself that she would do. His brain malfunctioned as she pushed the ink black curls behind her ear. Following the movement, Lex remembered why he zeroed in on her the second he’d entered the bar. That hair—those similar curls. Tonight, some other man wound his fingers in Thea’s hair, some other man made love to her, and would marry her. Shaking his head, Lex took a second to gather his thoughts and answered her earlier question.

  “Yeah, dog tags.” His mind grew fuzzy with each passing moment. He’d been roaming the woods too long and hadn’t had a proper drink in months. How the hell had he expected to stay in control of anything tonight if he were piss ass wasted? Eyeing the woman in front of him, he discovered her black mini skirt and hot yellow tube top was all his cock needed to join the party. “Helps identify my corpse if I’m found dead.” His gruff tone was most definitely a turn off … and the point. If he pushed her away—convinced her this was a mistake—he could go back to the woods and bury himself in a hole until he died of blueballitis and a broken heart. Fuck, he was such a fucking pussy. Why the hell couldn’t he let Thea go? She’d forgotten him, gotten engaged, and created a successful life in New York. And here Lex sat like a fucking Nancy, unable to scor
e with a hooker.

  She frowned. “Dead? But who would kill you?” Her hand glided onto his thigh and into his lap. Like a dog to a bone, she lasered in on his hard-on. “Especially with a long, thick cock like this.” She squeezed, hard enough to send a shot of sweet pain up his spine. His dick spasmed in her hand, ready and willing to spill. He bucked into her tight grasp, needing to be free of his clothes … no, needing her to be on her knees in front of him. The thought had him swelling larger as her hand stroked once, then twice before she pulled away.

  A sly smile adorned her lips. “Do you want me?” Gone was the coy little Russian princess.

  Her accented voice called only to his cock, because he didn’t want her, he needed her. He needed to come, and in doing so, purge his mind and body. Desperation had led him to Blackies tonight, but loneliness had led him to the woods. He couldn’t have his cake and eat it, too. Either he was the outsider in his own hometown or he was the man who picked up hookers and spent all his time in a bar for companionship. His gut churned at the thought. Growing up in a small town poorer than even the poorest resident, he was expected to be the latter. Right here in this shit bar, in the hands of a hooker drowning in cheap tequila was where he was meant to be. His destiny had always been to destroy the shit he touched. So, if he knew this, why the fuck was he pulling away from Irina and making to stand? Why couldn’t the image of Thea leave him the fuck be?

  Her eyes widened. “Did I say something wrong?” She gripped his leg, squeezing hard. Even though his head felt stuffed to the brim with cotton, Lex sensed her panic “I’ll do you half off.” Her last-ditch effort for cash brought up the barkeep’s words again.

  Lex used the bar to stand, his head protesting as his body swayed. “Off the hook money—” he began, but froze at the spooked look in Irina’s eyes. Lex reached for her, his brain telling him to soothe her, to fix whatever the fuck he messed up.