PRUDE
Labeled: book one
By Jordan S Gray
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: 9/14/2016
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Rebecca Washington is a girl in control. Well, at least when
it comes to acing her college classes. The rest of the time, she seems to be at
the mercy of everyone else. Like when she’s dumped in front of her peers, hit
on right afterwards by a jerk for some stupid bet, and then paired up with the
jerk for a lit project.
In order to maintain her perfect GPA, Rebecca will need to
give a stellar presentation while ignoring the prying eyes that will be staring
at her. When her partner, Derek, starts to ease her fears of public speaking
with his laidback attitude, she’s forced to confront her new feelings about him
and his charming smile. Rebecca knows falling for a guy who teases her for
being a prudish nerd can only end badly, but what if it’s just another thing
out of her control?
Read an Excerpt:
Derek grinned. “What do you think about your ex’s
girlfriend?”
“Obviously that she’s annoyingly beautiful and, apparently,
fun.” The word left a bad taste in her mouth.
“I could say the same about you right now.”
Rebecca felt her face redden even more. She pushed her bangs
behind her ear, trying to find something else to stare at other than Derek’s
mischievous eyes. Nothing seemed worthy.
“I know we’ve been doing well with the whole friends’
thing,” Derek started.
Rebecca cocked an eyebrow. “What now? Are you going to make
fun of me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said. “I was just wondering if,
as a friend, I’m allowed to ask you to dance.”
She let out a choking laugh. “Here? We’re at a party.”
He gestured to the several groups of people who were
dancing. “People dance at parties.”
“I don’t think we should.”
“Because you don’t want to, or because you don’t want to
draw attention to yourself?”
“Maybe the latter,” Rebecca mumbled to the ground.
Derek took her hand, pulling her to the center of the living
room. At first, their position terrified Rebecca, until she realized it was the
most popular dancing spot. In the crowd, she felt shielded from prying eyes,
like it was just the two of them.
There’d been times, when Rebecca was home alone and
listening to music, where she’d danced. But she had never done so in a public
setting or with someone else, and in heels too. She bit her lip nervously as
Derek guided her hands around his neck.
“Relax,” he muttered. “It’s just a dance.”
His statement didn’t reassure her at all. Her heart beat
faster as she realized that she could feel every inch of him. They were so
close. Her head was practically resting on his shoulder, and her body was
pressed firmly against his.
The feel of his hands on her waist made her shiver, her crop
top inching up slightly as they began to move. Rebecca tried to focus on the
beat, but it was really no use. Her fingers clasped together as she mentally
reminded herself that playing with Derek’s hair was not a friendly thing to
do—even if it looked really soft.
They swayed together, his hands staying rigidly in place.
Rebecca wondered what he was thinking about and why he’d decided to dance with
her, but it was no use. Derek was likely someone she’d never fully understand.
The song switched to something with a faster pace and
erratic rhythm, but Rebecca hardly noticed. Derek moved a hand away from her
hip, leaving Rebecca feeling a little colder, until he used it to brush a piece
of her fallen bangs behind her ear.
She had no idea how her legs and hips were still moving
because, on the inside, Rebecca was totally, completely still. Her eyes
fluttered closed as she felt his breath on her neck. Every single one of her
nerves were on fire, zapping around in her body like lightening. Rebecca had
never felt more alive … or scared.
One of her hands drifted down to Derek’s chest, and she
pressed against it. She hoped that he’d know she was trying to get away, but he
only pulled her closer to him. Rebecca let out a gasp, clutching his neck and
shoulder tightly.
“Are you having fun?” he asked softly.
Rebecca nodded once, unable to muster up anything coherent.
Her brain was shutting down, and she wished it was from embarrassment or anger.
No, this was something entirely different. So often Rebecca felt like
two-halves of her were always in disagreement, but now, every part of her felt
the same. She didn’t want him to let go.
About The Author:
Jordan S Gray is a full time mother, college student, and
writer. She never did quite grow out of that emo stage, and considers coffee,
punk music, and Taylor Swift to be the necessary fuel for her writing. PRUDE is
her debut novel, and you can find her on Twitter
@JordanStephanie
where she procrastinates most of her adult responsibilities and all of her
schoolwork.
