The Quest For Perkins Vale
(Legendary Rock Star #3)
by L.B. Dunbar
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 22, 2015
The Quest of Perkins Vale © 2015 L.B. Dunbar “We met before. A long time ago in what I believe was your uncle’s home.” She only nodded, waiting for me to continue. Her hesitancy told me she might not remember me, and I felt a pinch in my heart. I’d been holding onto the memory for so long. I knew it was dangerous to hope she had held the memory, as well. “My uncle has many homes. Which one was it?” I paused. She didn’t remember; it was obvious. “The one near Lake Avalon.” She only nodded in an I-see sort of way. “And you know my uncle, how?” I began to wonder when this became her question and answer time versus mine. “Arturo’s father was a friend of his.” “Arturo? Was he the guy on the other bike?” I stopped flipping the bacon and pinched my eyebrows at her. “Yes. Arturo King.” She continued to look at me without recognition. “You do know who Arturo King is, right?” “Isn’t he the lead singer of The Nights?” “Yeah. The band playing last night at The Round Table.” I continued to stare at her, hesitant in my words, hopeful that she recognized the band. “And that makes you….?” I looked at her suddenly aghast. “You don’t know who I am?” “Of course, you’re…” She paused. I couldn’t believe it. She had no idea who I was. “You don’t know, do you? How could you get on the bike with me, if you had no idea who I was?” I began to beat the eggs briskly before dumping them into the ready skillet. “I…” She stopped. I returned my surprised face to look at hers. “Do you make it a habit of going home with strangers? Men you don’t know?” “I…” She looked hurt suddenly, but her face changed instantly to a hard shield. “It’s none of your damn business who I go home with or not. You practically kidnapped me. Once I was on the bike, it’s not like I had a choice. Ride or die.” “Ride or die?” I choked, a side of my lips curling upward, biting back a laugh. “Yeah. Ride, or jump off and die.” I returned to flipping the bacon, thoughtful for a moment. “I would never hurt you,” I said softly, still looking at the sizzling meat in the pan. Silence filled the space next to the crackle of frying bacon. “Will you please tell me who you are?” she finally asked, her voice no more than a whisper. “We won’t be strangers once you tell me your name.” Sighing, I responded, “I’m Perkins Vale.” Although I’d heard it before, I hardly expected it from her. “Alan Vale’s son?” Yep. For someone who hardly recognized Arturo King, and didn’t recognize me as Perkins Vale, she knew Alan Vale? “You know my father, but not me?” I couldn’t hold it in and laughed without humor. “Alan Vale was one of the greatest singer-guitarists of all times. His band won Grammys when they were young and old. The Valentines are classic.” Classic, I thought. Greatest, I almost choked. “I didn’t know him,” I bit out. Silence filled the air again between us. Plating eggs and bacon for her, I served her before I did the same for myself. I sat on a stool that made me perpendicular to her, so I could almost face her. She took several small bites of the food as if she was afraid it might poison her, but I devoured the meal, which I hoped prove to her it was safe to eat. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, “about your dad.” “It’s nothing.” I took a final gulp of coffee to steel my courage and ask her questions. “Why were you in a women’s shelter?” “You think I…” She stopped. “How do you know my name again?” she interrupted herself, as she squinted at me. “I know your uncle. Women’s shelter? Why?” “We’ve met before?” I had already concluded she didn’t remember our first meeting. “This is not how this is going to happen, Hollister.” I needed to change the direction of this inquisition. “I have questions, then you can have yours.” Delicately, she placed her fork on her plate and crossed her arms under her chest, forcing her breasts to rise. It distracted me and my body reacted again to her. I had to divert my eyes from the temptation of wanting to know what it felt like to cup them, tug them with my mouth, bite her nipples to see how hard they could get, and make her scream without hardly touching her. Her gaze on me narrowed again. “Are you done yet? I know your reputation.” I laughed, this time in earnest. “You don’t know me, but you know of my reputation?” “Who hasn’t heard of the Hands-Free Lover?” “What?” I choked, although I had heard that God-awful nickname amongst many others. “Hands-Free Lover. Known to make a woman scream in ecstasy without even touching her.” “Wow. That’s powerful stuff.” I smiled. She still held those narrowed steel eyes on me. “Want to find out?” I added. Her red lips opened wide in shock, and I’d gone too far again. I’d always had trouble with that, which is why I didn’t know how to communicate with women. I knew the ways of women: how to please them and make them scream, but I couldn’t talk to them. I always felt I’d say the wrong thing. I always asked too many questions, except for the right question all those years ago. My mind slipped back to my purpose with her. “Never mind.” I straightened my back. “I need to ask you about your uncle.” She hesitated for a moment. “Joseph?” The surprise wasn’t hidden on my face. “Joseph? I thought your uncle was Roy.” She had a thoughtful, contemplative look for a moment. “Hmm…Joseph.” Something was off. I didn’t believe her, but I let it go for now. I felt this was going too far, too fast again. I needed her to trust me. I wanted to prove she could trust me. “I need a shower,” I said. “Give me ten minutes and then I promise to drive you back to the shelter after we talk.” She relaxed her shoulders and let her crossed arms slide down her stomach to form resting hands in her lap. Hanging her head slightly, she nodded to agree with me. Feeling triumphant, I jumped off of my stool, leaving the dishes, and heading for my room. Entering the bathroom, I saw her clearing the dishes and starting the sink to wash them. I had a strange flash of her doing that action again, and I smiled to myself as I entered the shower. The trouble was I also thought of her standing in only the Swamp the Crows t-shirt, minus the leggings, minus anything else, in front of that sink; or better yet, completely naked against my kitchen counter. I envisioned me coming up behind her and covering her hands on the edge of the counter, holding her captive, while I rubbed myself against her bare ass. I imagined what she would sound like: a soft moan and a slight whimper. I imagined sliding my knee between her thighs, forcing her to spread her legs and then rubbing my throbbing length against her warmth. I grabbed myself in the shower, unable to resist the heaviness in my hands. I had to get release to stop thinking of her that way. I needed answers first. I slipped my palm upward, jerking several times as I began to imagine what it would feel like to enter her. How tight. How warm. How wet. I had to place a hand on the slick tile to hold my large body steady as I jerked one more time and spilled into the warm cascade of water. I could only imagine what she would feel like, because I didn’t know. I hadn’t known any woman like that. Ever. At twenty-five, I was still a virgin.
The second time he saw her was by pure coincidence. He was lost and walking along the Lake and came upon a tent. She was inside the tent and was scared. The man that had kidnapped her would be coming back soon, she said, and she was afraid he would kill Perkins. At fourteen years old, Perkins only knew he had to help her escape and promised to come back. They exchanged gifts as a promise... but by the time he returned the next morning it was too late. She was gone and no longer there.
With Arturo missing, Perkins quest is now the focus of his life. Until Arturo decides to come back, Perkins cannot help but pursue Hollister and keep her safe. Her secrets are many and kept very deeply hidden. All Perkins wants is to protect her and call her his forever.
There are many twists and turns in this story. I truly believe you need to read the first two books to understand all that is going on with the characters. The book is a little slow in the beginning for those of us who already know what happened to Arturo, etc. but as Perkins story with Hollister begins to evolve, the story picks up pace and becomes very interesting. The last half of the book is especially good and gripping as Hollister's life is again in peril.
About The Author
L.B. Dunbar loves to read to the point it might be classified as an addiction. The past few years especially she has relished the many fabulous YA authors, the new genre of New Adult, traditional romances, and historical romances. A romantic at heart, she’s been accused of having an overactive imagination, as if that was a bad thing. Author of the Sensations Collection, Sound Advice, Taste Test, Fragrance Free, Touch Screen, and the upcoming Sight Words, she is also author of the Legendary Rock Star series, beginning with The Legend of Arturo King. She grew up in Michigan, but has lived in Chicago for longer, calling it home with her husband and four children.
Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Amazon | TSU | Newsletter| Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Booktropuloussocial | Blogger Website | Instagram
Buy The Book
No comments:
Post a Comment