Absolve Me Read online

  Absolve Me

  By Morgaine Cameron

  Forgive me, for I have sinned.

  Again.

  And again.

  Sex. Seduction. Intimacy. As a licensed sex surrogate, Liza Branscombe helps people overcome their sexual issues and find ways to thrive. When a colleague requests a favor for a client, she agrees without pause. But Dominic La Sera is unlike any client she’s encountered before.

  Dominic is handsome, funny—and celibate. He won’t talk about the reasons why. He just wants her to help him exorcise the wicked desires he’s struggling to overcome.

  Dominic’s dark desires parallel Liza’s own—very personal—kinky fantasies, bringing out a side of her no man has commanded before. With each session, the line between professional and personal interest blurs. But it all comes to a crashing halt when she learns Dominic’s secret. The reason he’s long been denying his sexual hungers.

  Dominic is a priest. And in order to stay true to his vows, he needs to play out his immoral thoughts or forever be a holy sinner.

  This book is approximately 40,000 words

  One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise

  Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Rhonda Edits, LLC

  Dear Reader,

  Happy March! This month marks Carina Press’s return to publishing anthologies. This is something that I’ve always loved to do—put out a call for submissions for a certain theme and see what rolls in. This month, we’re starting with erotic romances and, specifically, taboos. In the coming months you’ll see anthologies for shifters, capers & heists, and a holiday-themed anthology. Then, in 2018, we have even more coming your way. Anthologies are a great way for readers to test new authors while getting a complete, satisfying romance, and I hope you love what we’ve got in store as much as I do.

  But first, let me tell you about a book that’s incredibly near to my heart. What It Takes: A Kowalski Reunion Novel is Shannon Stacey’s return to the contemporary world of the fabulous Kowalski family. This is a project I begged Shannon to do, because I wasn’t quite ready to let the Kowalskis go. To say I was thrilled she agreed would be a huge understatement. In this book, we get a new romance, along with cameos from all of our previous favorite heroes and heroines, including a secondary plot with Sean and Emma! Loved the Kowalskis since we first started publishing them in 2010? You are going to adore this book. Never read the Kowalskis before? No worries, this book was written to allow you to jump right in. What It Takes is available in print, in audio and in ebook format at your favorite online retailer.

  Josh Lanyon is back with another male/male romantic suspense, Fair Chance. Elliot Mills thought he was done with the most brutal case of his career, having finally put the serial killer in jail, but when the lead agent on the case goes missing, Elliot has to play this killer’s twisted game to save the love of his life. Find out more about Elliot and Tucker in Fair Game and Fair Play, both now available.

  Together, Maya Clery and Dean Sova have entered a decadent world of passion, pleasure and possibility—but while their love has grown stronger, and their play more intense, the intersection of fantasy and past will challenge their dynamic in the face of deeper, wilder desires. The Discipline by Jade A. Waters will get your senses steaming!

  If you love a good paranormal shifter romance, I hope you’ve been following along with Kerry Adrienne’s fantastic series Shifter Wars. In Taming the Lion, the battle between the lions and bears decimates Deep Creek, and one of the heirs to the lions’ throne is saved from death by a beautiful bear medic who’s torn between her allegiance to her den and her attraction and obligation to the wounded lion. Want more? Waking the Bear and Pursuing the Bear can be on your reading device in minutes!

  We’re pleased to welcome debut author Jules Court to the Carina Press team with a sultry new trilogy of contemporary romance novellas. Kicking off her trilogy is Hot in the City. Brian MacGregor busted his ass to make detective by age thirty. He doesn’t have time for a social life, not even for the pretty ER doc who sewed him up post run-in with a knife-wielding perp. He never expected that when he went looking for the witness to a gangland murder, the doc would be the best lead to his missing witness. Now if he can only keep his hands off her. Look for Enticing the Enemy and Tease Me Tonight coming this year!

  Layla had only wanted to give Sid one hot, sweaty night of her well-planned life, but when these werewolves realize that they’re mates, Layla must accept that she’ll be giving Sid a lot more than she planned in Alpha’s Challenge, the next in Lauren Dane’s Cascadia Wolves series!

  Too Taboo: An Erotic Romance Anthology contains three scorching-hot novellas. Purchase them together in the anthology or as individual ebooks:

  Debut author Morgaine Cameron bangs out of the gate with an indescribably hot story in Absolve Me. A handsome, celibate man wants a licensed sex surrogate to help him exorcise the wicked desires he’s struggling to overcome—because as a priest he needs to play out his immoral thoughts or forever be a holy sinner.

  Returning author Amber Bardan indulges us in some wicked ménage fantasies when an innocent trespassing turns into a lesson in obedience as the two property owners show their trespasser just how right punishment can feel. Twice as Hard is not to be missed.

  When the most skilled operative in the secret organization known as the Seduction Squad is captured, her only hope of escape is to use her body to drive her sexy abductor wild...but, having unleashed his darkest fantasies, does Inge really want to get away from Jake? Amanda Stewart’s Seduction Squad: Captured teases us with the dark taboos of forced seduction and capture fantasies.

  That’s all for this month, but whew, I think that’s more than enough. This is such a powerful lineup, I’m jealous of all of you getting to read these books for the first time. They are unputdownable (that’s totally a word only avid readers understand)!

  Coming next month we have another full-length novel from the amazing author duo Alexa Riley; Rhenna Morgan is back with another to-die-for hero; and two male/male authors give us two amazing romances.

  As always, until next month, my fellow book lovers, here’s wishing you a wonderful month of books you love, remember and recommend.

  Happy reading!

  Angela James

  Executive Editor, Carina Press

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Dr. Elizabeth Branscombe settled into her desk chair, tapped the mouse to bring up her screen and brought the fresh, hot cup of tea to her nose, inhaling as she clicked through her inbox. With a quick glance at the time—ten minutes until her last appointment of the day—she found the referral email and brought it up, intent on reviewing what little information she’d received about her mysterious new client.

  Dear Liza, the text began, I’ve got a real challenge for you...

  I’m sending you my longtime client, Dominic La Sera. I have his permission to share case details with you, but to be honest, I’m reluctant to re
veal too much up front. Dominic is...well, in a strange position, and I’m at my wits’ end in helping him move forward. We’ve been in regular sessions for two years, and he’s made tremendous progress—but I fear we’re at the limit of what I can offer him therapeutically.

  Dominic is smart, he’s insightful and he’s worked hard to understand and process the turmoil he feels about his life choices, but still, he struggles. I’ve made other suggestions, tried other referrals...but it may be that your specialization is his best hope for a breakthrough. I fear that if he doesn’t find a path to accepting himself soon, his overwhelming shame and self-loathing might cause him to come to harm.

  I won’t say more for now—I’d love to get your unbiased opinion after meeting with him. And I hope, more than anything, that your methods may offer him an opportunity to become the man he truly wants to be.

  Best regards,

  Susan

  Liza sat back, tea still cradled in her hand. Susan Cooper was a renowned cognitive behavioral therapist Liza had worked with in the past. Referrals weren’t unusual—but Susan’s email sure as hell was. She scanned it again, looking for hints as to Mr. La Sera’s specific therapy needs, but the deliberately vague wording left her clueless. And, dammit, intrigued.

  A challenge, Susan called it. Well, Liza was up for one of those. She loved her work, passionately so; loved helping people who’d all but given up on finding a way out of their darkness. This referral, opaque as it was, hit all the right buttons. With a hasty, scalding gulp of tea, she closed her laptop and tidied up her desk, just as the chime signaled her client’s arrival. Right on time.

  She rose and strode to the door, more than ready to assuage her curiosity. She straightened her jacket and adjusted her glasses; girding her loins, she thought, in preparation for battle.

  A battle she fought for her patients, not against them. And in that sense, she supposed, she was an outright badass.

  On the grin that thought conjured up, she swung open the door.

  Jesus. Susan could have at least prepared her a little. The man who stood on her step was...well, attractive was an understatement. Classically tall, dark and handsome, with just enough silver gracing his temples and five o’clock shadow to add an air of wisdom and maturity to his hooded eyes—this guy was an absolute specimen.

  Note to self—get laid soon. Yowza.

  Liza cleared her throat and thrust out her hand, hoping her very blunt mental assessment hadn’t scrolled across her face. “Welcome. I’m Dr. Branscombe—please, call me Liza.”

  “Dominic La Sera. It’s, um, good to meet you, Dr....Liza.”

  His handshake was warm, firm and reassuring—well practiced, Liza guessed, and in stark contrast to the reserve she sensed from his rigid posture. Well, that wasn’t a surprise. In her personal practice, she had yet to encounter a client who didn’t have at least some reservations about meeting with a licensed sex therapist.

  “Please come in.” The short entrance hallway led to her office, and she ushered Dominic inside with a flick of her wrist. The office itself was a cozy space—deliberately so, designed by a professional to exude comfort and set patients at ease. Two sturdy, stuffed chairs faced her desk; a matching couch sat beneath the sunny window that flooded the office with bright light. Potted plants dotted the shelves, and Liza had framed and hung vibrant, energizing paintings from her favorite street artists on three of the walls. The hardwood floors were covered in plush rugs. It was a safe space, nonthreatening and as far away from clinically sterile as she could make it. “Feel free to sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

  Rather than take a seat, Dominic wandered the room, his gaze brushing each object it landed on like a physical touch. He moved like an Old West cowboy or a gunslinger, with a controlled stride. She waited patiently while he ambled past her desk to review the diplomas that lined the wall—from her undergrad in Clinical Psychology to her Doctorate in Human Sexuality, as well as her certification from the International Professional Surrogates Association.

  “I promise I don’t bite, and I have all my shots.” Liza smiled broadly to let him know that she understood his nervousness. Humor was often an effective ice breaker, and this time proved no different.

  Dominic ducked his head, a half smile on his lips, and looked sheepish. “Sorry. This just...”

  “Isn’t quite what you expected?”

  He blew out a long breath. “Yeah. You could put it that way.”

  “Exam room or bordello?”

  His brows peaked. “Come again?”

  Liza laughed, settling a hip onto her desk on the side opposite him, and gestured around the office. “Most first-time clients are either picturing a sterile doctor’s office or some sort of brothel. It’s why I like to hold the initial session here.”

  Dominic laughed, too, and the line of his shoulders relaxed. “Uh, brothel, I guess. I’m sorry.”

  “And you thought I’d greet you in a peignoir, or perhaps jump you as soon as you crossed the threshold?”

  “Yeah, something like that.” The chagrin was evident. “I truly am sorry.”

  “You have nothing to apologize for. Can I get you something to drink? Water, coffee...tea?”

  “Water would be great, thank you.” He took one of the chairs in front of the desk as Liza removed a glass from a cabinet and filled it at the water cooler. She set his drink on a coaster and settled into her own chair. She had a notebook and pen at hand but realized long ago that sex therapy—especially her specialty, surrogacy—required the rapid establishment of intimacy, something she couldn’t do while holding part of herself aloof to take notes during sessions.

  So she’d learned to throw herself into the process, thereby helping her patients to do the same. She leaned forward, propping her head up with her hands in the familiar manner of a close friend. “Tell me everything. Start at the beginning.”

  He floundered for a long moment before catching her eye and realizing that she was being facetious.

  “I’m sorry,” she said with another grin, sitting back. “I know this must feel uncomfortable and there’s really no good way to ease into it. You and I don’t have the history that you have with Dr. Cooper, much less the trust. I can remind you, by pointing out my credentials, that I’m a professional and you’re in a safe space, physically and emotionally. I can banter with you and try to keep the mood light. But it doesn’t make up for the fact that you’re placing an enormous amount of faith in someone you just met, based just on Dr. Cooper’s recommendation.”

  Dominic cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. “Actually, I researched you myself and asked Dr. Cooper to refer me.”

  Well, flatten her with a wet noodle. That was a first. “Did you?”

  “Yes. Dr. Cooper and I have been working together for more than two years—don’t get me wrong, she’s fantastic. She’s been a rock for me during...a difficult time. But we’ve hit a wall, so to speak. I’m sure she explained when she contacted you.”

  Um, no. She really hadn’t. “I’d like for you to tell me what you’re seeking from surrogacy sessions, in your own words.”

  He took a deep breath, still looking unsure, and she nodded. “I know it feels awkward. Try filling me in as though I don’t know any of the details.”

  Dominic sighed, but Liza waited him out. There were times to prod and times to exercise patience, her mentor always said. Learning to tell the difference was the key to success.

  While he struggled to find a starting point, she watched him, gathering impressions from his unconscious tells. He was dressed conservatively, at least for flashy New Orleans, but the clothes didn’t appear new or fashionable. Serviceable, she’d say. Functional. As a concession to the rising temps, he’d rolled up the sleeves on his white button-down, and his forearms were strong, but not tanned; nor was the skin showing at his neck. An indoor job, s
he would guess—which meant his lean physique was either natural or due to serious gym time.

  She didn’t peg him for a workout rat.

  Glancing up, Liza realized he was watching her perusal of him, and only years of training her facial muscles not to react to surprises kept her from grimacing. He still hadn’t spoken, and she decided to try a different tack.

  “How about I tell you more about myself? My given name is Elizabeth, but I’ve gone by Liza since grade school—there was another Elizabeth in my class, and she was a tiny little dictator-in-training, so now the only person who calls me by my full name is my grandma. Who, by the way, is also named Elizabeth.

  “If you’re wondering, yes, I love sex and exploration and I believe sexuality is a fundamental expression of soul and a key component of a healthy psyche. I hadn’t planned to pursue surrogacy, but when I learned how few trained, reputable surrogates were available to work as partners with traditional therapists, I was intrigued, and then determined to see if I had what it takes. Turns out, I was born for this.” Liza beamed, letting her professional pride light her up.

  “And I don’t know if Dr. Cooper explained this, but we won’t actually have sex today. This session is to help me better understand who you are and what your therapy goals are so I can design a treatment plan specific to your needs.”

  Dominic nodded, shedding some of his reserve with a hard exhalation. “I just don’t know how to put this so...baldly, I guess.”

  “Think of it as discussing a medical condition with your doctor. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before, studied, or engaged in myself.”

  “Right.” Another deep breath. “Okay, then. I asked Dr. Cooper to refer me because I need to explore some...concerns I have about my sexual urges. I’ve touched on them with Dr. Cooper, but to be honest, talking about these things with such a...” He paused, seeming to fumble for a descriptor.

  Liza had a pretty good idea where he was going. “Motherly woman?”

  “Yes! She’s a kind, compassionate person, but—” Dominic shook his head “—I just couldn’t explain to her that my sexual fantasies were starting to concern me and affect my life.”