Torn (Torn Series, Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Torn

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Author Note

  Other Books by Melody Anne

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Torn

  Torn Series: Book One

  by

  Melody Anne

  Copyright

  © 2018 Melody Anne

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Printed and published in the United States of America.

  Editing by Karen Lawson

  Dedication

  This is dedicated to all women. Find yourself. Find Love. Find Power. Find Happiness.

  Author Note

  After just shy of 21 years of marriage my husband and I decided we were no longer in love. I had literally spent half my life with one man, one person, one love. I had relied on him, trusted him, needed him. In a heartbeat, my entire world changed. I was lost and afraid. Sure, we’d gotten into arguments, sure we both had our faults, but I thought we’d grow old together, that he’d always be the person I crawled into bed next to each night.

  At first I was too stunned to comprehend what was happening. But then something changed. I changed. I realized I was stronger than I had ever imagined. I realized I was more capable than I thought possible. I realized I was going to be okay. It didn’t happen overnight. It took months for this to dawn on me. It took counseling and friends and family. It took faith. It took believing in myself.

  And now I can be friends with my ex. There will always be a place in my heart no one else will ever have because he owns it. I’m also incredibly lucky because I’m an author. I heal through writing. I get to create my own story each time I write down the words: Chapter One. And I get to conclude that story with an epilogue. Many people have to deal with losses and still continue their lives. They have to go to their job, smile, and grieve silently. I’m so blessed I get to grieve on paper. I get to rewrite my story.

  I lost my husband, and then I lost my dad. And I’m a daddy’s girl through and through. It was a really rough year. But my writing has gotten me through it. My writing, my family, my friends. And yes, I include you as my friends. You make me smile when I read your messages on social media. You fill me with joy when I meet you at conferences. You make it possible for me to grieve in a healthy way. You make my world a better place.

  This story came about because I wanted to rewrite my story. I wanted to change how it all happened. And through time I’ve discovered we all find happiness in surprising ways. This is COMPLETELY a book of fiction. This is the story I wrote in my head when I lay alone in bed. This is the heroine I chose to create to heal a broken heart. A piece of me is with every single character I write. And I needed to write this story, this heroine, this family.

  Thank you for your continued support. I hope you enjoy this emotional journey. I hope it helps you find the power to get through life’s hardest situations. I truly love you all and thank you forever for giving me the gift to write each time you buy my books. Without you I don’t get to live my dreams. THANK YOU!!

  Other Books by Melody Anne

  THRILLERS

  Confessions:

  Dance in the Dark

  Book Two - TBA

  ROMANCE

  Billionaire Bachelors:

  The Billionaire Wins the Game

  The Billionaire’s Dance

  The Billionaire Falls

  The Billionaire’s Marriage Proposal

  Blackmailing the Billionaire

  Run Away Heiress

  The Billionaire’s Final Stand

  Unexpected Treasure

  Hidden Treasure

  Holiday Treasure

  Priceless Treasure

  The Ultimate Treasure

  Baby for the Billionaire:

  The Tycoon’s Revenge

  The Tycoon’s Vacation

  The Tycoon’s Proposal

  The Tycoon’s Secret

  The Lost Tycoon

  Surrender Series:

  Surrender - Book One

  Submit - Book Two

  Seduced - Book Three

  Scorched - Book Four

  Forbidden Series:

  Bound -Book One

  Broken - Book Two

  Betrayed - Book Three

  Burned - Book Four

  Unexpected Heroes:

  Safe in His Arms - Novella - Baby, It’s Cold Outside Anthology

  Her Unexpected Hero

  Who I am With You - Novella

  Her Hometown Hero

  Following Her - Novella

  Her Forever Hero

  All I Want for Christmas - Novella

  Becoming Elena:

  Stolen Innocence

  Forever Lost

  New Desires

  Taken by a Trillionaire:

  Taken by a Trillionaire - Book One

  Xander - Ruth Cardello

  Bryan - J.S. Scott

  Chris - Melody Anne

  Virgin for the Trillionaire - Book Four - Ruth Cardello

  Virgin for the Prince - Book Five - J.S. Scott

  Virgin to Conquer - Book Six - Melody Anne

  Finding Forever Series:

  Finding Forever

  Finding Each Other

  7 Brides for 7 Brothers (Multi-Author Series):

  Luke - Book One - Barbara Freethy

  Gabe - Book Two - Ruth Cardello

  Hunter - Book Three - Melody Anne

  Knox - Book Four - Christie Ridgway

  Max - Book Five - Lynn Raye Harris

  James - Book Six - Roxanne St. Clair

  Finn - Book Seven - JoAnn Ross

  YOUNG ADULT / FANTASY

  The Midnight Series:

  Midnight Fire: Book One
>
  Midnight Moon: Book Two

  Midnight Storm: Book Three

  Midnight Eclipse: Book Four

  Keep updated on all my newest releases, signing events, giveaways, and more! Click HERE to sign up for my mailing list.

  Come play with Melody on Twitter @authmelodyanne

  Visit with Melody on Facebook

  Check out my blog Live, Laugh, Love

  Find all the fun things out on Instagram

  Leave reviews on Goodreads

  Prologue

  Now

  I understand how adultery happens. I know, your first thought is “Of course you understand — you’re a cheater.” That’s true, but that’s certainly not the whole story.

  That’s always what a cheater says, right? Once again, you are correct. If you’re looking for a typical romance, then run — run far.

  After ten years of marriage my husband barely touches me anymore. There has been the obligatory monthly sex, but even that starts to fizzle. I’m twenty-nine and he’s thirty-two. We should be doing it like bunnies, night and day, or at least a couple times a week, to be more realistic. But that hasn’t happened in years.

  It doesn’t hit me until I’m away for a couple of weeks. I came home that night, and we both fell asleep, me snuggling up against his back like we always sleep. But that’s all we do. We just . . . sleep.

  No big deal, you say?

  Wrong. It’s a very big deal.

  It’s the night I realize we have a real problem.

  Still, I push it from my mind. We’re okay. I had a long trip. He’s been busy at home. It’s all going to be okay. But the next night we don’t have sex, or the night after that. Neither of us even try.

  Finally, a few days later, he comes into the bedroom and begins rubbing my back while I lie naked on top of the covers.

  Mmm, here it is. See. We’re fine, I tell myself. It’s all going to be perfect. He’s rubbing my back, and I feel that old familiar ache begin in my stomach, just a stirring, not the fireworks that used to erupt when we were first together, but that’s okay. It’s slow and steady, and I can still have a great orgasm. I can still be close to the man I love.

  His hands travel down my back, getting lower with each pass. He rubs the curve of my butt, and now I feel moisture in my core. I feel my insides swell and better yet, tingles heat me.

  He stretches over me, and I feel his erection pressing against the crack of my ass. This is good. It feels good — not great — but good.

  Ah, finally he pushes inside me while his hands grip my hips. My husband doesn’t normally last very long, and since we haven’t had sex in a long while, I figure a few strokes and he’s going to explode. That’s okay because he’s a master at oral sex. He never leaves me hanging.

  Unlike a lot of men, he makes sure I’m satisfied even after he’s done. I want him penetrating me. I want to feel his hardness stroking the walls of my core, hitting deep inside of me. We’re a perfect fit — or so I’ve always thought.

  When a minute goes by and he’s still moving at a steady pace, I’m impressed, yet a little confused. It’s been a solid month since we’ve had sex, and he should be exploding with the first stroke. I stop thinking about that — why bitch about a good thing?

  When five minutes go by and he’s still going strong, I begin to worry. Even in the best of times after we’ve had sex for a few days in a row, he doesn’t last a full five minutes. I’ve been with the man for ten years. I know what kind of lover he is.

  He pushes me flat against the bed and grips my hips, pushing me together, making the area tighter. I hate when he does this as it makes me feel like he can’t get off anymore without help. Several more minutes go by and he finally shakes, lets out a groan of pleasure, and collapses against my back.

  I worry so much about why it’s taking him so long that I’ve lost all those tingly sensations, and I’m in no mood to come. He offers, but I tell him I’m not feeling well. He’s kind and understanding, and he lies down so I can snuggle up against him and go to sleep.

  I’m restless all night and wake up several times. Around two in the morning, I awake and my husband isn’t in bed. I get up to use the bathroom and find him masturbating.

  Now there’s no way for me to deny there’s a real problem. I use the bathroom, and that’s when I figure out he didn’t even come. He faked it. We all hear of women faking, but my husband is better than I’ve ever been. There’s no evidence of his orgasm on me. Even if most had come back out, there’s always some left. I know he didn’t come. I know we’re in real trouble.

  So again, I tell you, I understand why people cheat. Do you still think I’m a horrible person? That’s okay, there are many more people out there like me. We’re all very good at hiding our dark secrets behind closed doors. We’re all very good at only showing the best of ourselves and the best of our lives.

  We’re all very good at lying.

  But I’ll tell you the true story. I’ll show you how far a person can fall. But within that fall, what we may figure out is that only then can we soar. I was ready to fly. I just had to let go of my guilt in order to do that.

  Chapter One

  Now

  His hands, his big beautiful hands slowly make their way to the center of my chest, then lower over my stomach, which is quivering by the time he grazes his fingers over my wet core.

  But he won’t stay there. Of course he won’t. Just a quick brush of his fingers, and then he moves his hands back up my body and circles my breasts, which are trembling with need.

  Cupping my breasts as he squeezes, I have to press my thighs together as a moan escapes me. Then while holding the weight of my breasts in his palms, his thumbs brush across my nipples, and they instantly peak beneath his touch.

  But again, he moves them. “Please, Kaden, quit teasing me,” I plead. I’m giving him exactly what he wants by begging. He loves to torture me.

  “Mmm, you feel so good beneath my fingers,” he growls, his hot breath washing over my ear.

  I press against him, feeling his thickness against my naked backside.

  “Then quit playing with me and give me what we both want,” I demand.

  I try to turn, and he clasps his hands quickly together over my trembling stomach. “Tsk, tsk, darling. You don’t get me until I allow it,” he says.

  “I’ll torture you just as badly when it’s my turn,” I warn him.

  He laughs, his thickness quivering against my butt, making me even wetter.

  “You always try, but you’re always too eager to have me inside your hot, wet body,” he taunts.

  “I hate it when you’re so confident,” I pout.

  “No, you don’t. It’s one of the things you love most about me.”

  And dang it, he’s right. I love his confidence. Actually, there isn’t anything about him I don’t love. He makes me scream in ecstasy and laugh with joy. This man is all I think about. And he knows it.

  When I stop fighting him, he caresses my skin. This time, I lie in his arms and let him take his time. I know he won’t be able to hold out much longer.

  As much as Kaden knows me, I also know him. And if I keep wiggling against his thickness, soon he won’t be able to stand it. He’ll take me hard and rough. He’ll fill me with his girth, and he’ll make me forget everything except him. We both need this. We each need what only the other can give.

  One hand cups my breast while his thumb circles my tender nipple before squeezing it to the point that I cry out, while the other hand trails down my body.

  But this time, he isn’t teasing. This time, he dips his fingers into my wet core, and I spread my legs so he can reach me better. His now wet fingers circle the part of me that is throbbing, and I feel the pleasure build.

  But before I’m able to reach my peak, he moves, sliding down my wet lips before dipping inside and pushing up, hitting my oth
er favorite spot. This continues for several minutes, bringing me closer and closer before pulling away again.

  I want to protest, but he’s never left me feeling dissatisfied. And I know he’s as worked up as I am.

  “You’re so wet, baby. Are you ready for me?” he asks.

  “Yes, Kaden, I’m always ready,” I assure him.

  He’s no longer taking it slow. Suddenly his hands grip my hips, and he’s pushing me forward onto my knees. I love all the ways we make love, but this is probably my favorite. He’s able to sink so deep inside me, and he pushes hard and fast.

  Without warning, he climbs behind me and thrusts forward, all of him slamming inside. The hard thrust nearly makes me come right then and there.

  “Yes, Kaden! Harder! Faster,” I beg as I grip the bedsheets beneath me.

  “Yes, baby,” he growls as his fingers firmly grip my hips.

  The only sounds that can be heard are our cries as he slaps against my ass, pushing deeply before pulling out and doing it repeatedly.

  The pleasure hits me like a tidal wave as he caresses my insides with his thick erection. He feels me coming apart, squeezing him, and he speeds up, then growls his pleasure as he empties inside of me.

  We’re transfixed as we rise higher together before sinking back to reality. Then he pulls from me, and I can’t keep the whimper from escaping.

  This is the part I hate about sex. This incredible high followed by the moment of emptiness when our bodies are no longer connected. For a moment before he pulls me into his arms, I feel so alone.

  But Kaden pulls me to him, wraps me in his beautiful embrace, pulls a cover over us, and cushions my head against his thundering heart. A smile rests on my lips.

  “Stay with me tonight, Miranda,” he demands.

  I’m so tempted. All I want to do is close my eyes and fall asleep right here in his arms. I love being with this man.

  “You know I can’t, Kaden,” I say with a sad sigh.

  “You mean you won’t,” he corrects.

  “Don’t do this, Kaden,” I say, sadness filling me. “You’re the one who wants it this way.”