Temporary

It’s only temporary, baby. Don’t go catching feelings because I will tear you apart.

GAGE
Mari Jones is an itch under my skin that I can’t satisfy. The sassy, long-legged cocktail waitress is everything I shouldn’t want. Smart-mouthed, take-no-shit, sexy-as-hell, and the worst thing I could throw into my life but I want her.
The thing is…I’ve always wanted her.
She doesn’t remember me but I’ve never forgotten her.
And now I’m going to put her into my bed.
Don’t get me wrong — I’m not about forever — I see what I want and I find a way to get it but it’s always a temporary fix.
No amount of money in the world can fix what’s broken inside me — and I should know, I’m fucking loaded — so don’t even try.
I’m damaged. Broken to the core.
If she catches feelings, I’m going to ruin her.
Even though I know I should walk, I can’t.
She’s everything I ever wanted…everything I will never deserve to have.
Right or wrong…she’s mine.

Publisher's Note: This is a full-length novel at 40,000 words. It's everything you've come to expect in an Alexx Andria read — hot sex, witty banter, and dark angst — if that sounds like your thing, feel free to one-click this bad boy billionaire and settle in for a deliciously wicked and entertaining time. Oh, and fans of Alexx's Buchanan series...you might just recognize a character or two. Enjoy!

Excerpt:

“I want you, Mari,” Gage stated, leaning back, kicking his leg out casually beneath the scratched and ruined table. “Name your price.”

“N-name my price?” I stuttered, incredulous. “What does that mean? And what makes you think I even have a price that I would offer? I’m not a vendor at a flea market, ready to haggle over an item…especially when that item is me.”

His smirk did crazy things to my belly even as his answer pissed me off fresh. “Everyone has a price. Even you. I'm willing to bet your price is a lot lower than you think it would be.”

Oh, hell no, what? “Did you just insult me?”

“Not at all. Just sharing a bit of what I know about human nature.”

“Well, you don’t know shit about me,” I said, rising. “I’m done with this ridiculous game. I don’t care how rich you are, you can’t buy me.”

Screw Manny and his greed. He could find someone else to pander to the rich jerk, I was out.

“You’re broke. You’ll be homeless by the end of the month because you can’t pay your rent and something tells me you aren’t going to make enough in tips to get what you need by month’s end.”

His calm voice at my back froze my feet. I turned slowly. “How the hell do you know my personal business?”

He waved away my question as if I were naive. “Nothing is private, sweetheart. I can get everything I need to know about you with the push of a button. Financial records are the easiest.” He paused only to punctuate his point. “Is my intel wrong? Do you have a secret stash of cash in your mattress that you’re holding onto for a rainy day?”

No, he wasn't wrong — Gage knew how precarious my situation was and he had zero qualms about using the information to his advantage.

Indignation aside...could I afford to refuse his offer? 

Damn him, he knew I couldn't.