Title: The Scars of Us
Publication Date: February 2014
Goodreads URL: HERE
Plot: Kaiya Marlow has always been cautious, precise in every decision she makes. When her dark past threatens to resurface, she decides to take precautions to protect herself by enrolling in self-defense classes at her gym.
Her instructor, Ryker Campbell, is the tattooed womanizer everyone warns about. Kaiya attempts to resist Ryker's advances, but the more time they spend training together, the harder it is for Kaiya to resist him.
Ryker's view on relationships is simple: strictly sex, nothing more. Haunted by demons from his past, he never allows himself to become attached to any woman. No attachment means no weakness, no vulnerability, no pain. He doesn't realize that his whole world is about to be turned upside down when Kaiya enters his self-defense class. Determined to have her, at least for one night, Ryker sets a plan into motion that will change both of their lives forever.
Will love be able to heal their scars, or are they too deep to overcome?
Can Aiden and Hailey resist temptation? Can they open their hearts for more?
“Why are you avoiding me?” Ryker angrily spat, closing the door to the sauna. His eyes ran over me as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. Clad only in a pair of gym shorts and no shirt, his skin gleamed with a sheen of sweet. He looked like he’d just finished working out. Fuck me.
“Are you really going to do this in here?” I snapped back as I clutched my towel to me.
His voice was gruff and matter of fact. “I have no other choice—you've missed class for almost three weeks now, and you won't answer my calls.”
“I've been busy,” I lied.
The truth was that I'd been sulking around my apartment trying not to think of Ryker, which was almost impossible. He dominated every thought, much like his presence did in real life.
Eyes narrowing in determination, he advanced toward me, causing me to back up into the tile wall. Surprisingly, I wasn't scared—Ryker never caused that kind of fear in me. What he made me feel was more of an exhilarating kind of the fear, the kind you get when you're about to do something like bungee jump or skydive, the kind that excites your soul.
Caging me between his arms, my already fevered skin heated more from his proximity as he pressed against me with his body. I hadn't realized just how much I missed his touch until his skin reunited with mine, making me feel as though a piece of me had been lost since we'd last been together.
Ryker's eyes met mine, and there was no denying the desire and longing in them. “Always fighting me, Warrior,” he softly spoke as he caressed my cheek with the back of his knuckles. Leaning in, he grazed my neck with his lips. The combination of heat from the steam and his mouth began to blanket me in a heady fog, evaporating all thought and replacing it with lust.
“I've missed you,” Ryker murmured against my skin before tracing the curve of my jaw with his tongue. My breath escaped in a low moan as he pulled my body closer to him, leaving no space between us while he continued to taste me.
My hands tangled in his hair, leaving my loose towel barely clinging to my sweaty skin. When he brought his lips to mine, I let go of everything, losing myself in him and how he made me feel.
He groaned in my mouth as our tongues met, tangling together seamlessly as he lifted me. My legs automatically wrapped around him as he pressed me up against the wall, his hardened erection pushing against my already heated core.
Ryker nipped at my lips as he ripped the towel from my body, tossing it to the floor as his callused hands reacquainted themselves with my skin. God, I missed him. I don't think I'll ever be the same without his touch. Finding my breasts, Ryker's talented fingers massaged my stiff nipples before his mouth claimed them. The blissful combination of his soft, wet mouth and hard, smooth tongue ring against my sensitive flesh caused a moan to escape from my throat.
Leaning my head back against the wall, I let Ryker consume me. He eagerly suckled my breasts, pulling each nipple with his teeth before caressing it with that amazing piercing again. I love how he makes me feel—so alive … almost whole.
“Ryker,” I breathlessly moaned as I reached for his shorts. Slipping my hand inside, I found his cock and pulled it out, needing him to fill me.
He didn't hesitate—he never did. Gripping my hips, he thrust himself inside my slick sex as his mouth reclaimed mine. Sweat beaded on our skin as he roughly pummeled me against the tile, taking me closer to heaven with each stroke.
Ryker's thick shaft stretched my walls, the pleasurable pain spreading throughout every inch of my limbs. I reveled in how he made me forget everything else, immersing me in us and the beauty of how our bodies perfectly connected. He unraveled and completed me all at the same time.
“Fuck, I missed you, baby, missed the taste of your sweet skin,” Ryker groaned against my lips.
I love it when he talks to me like that.
I forced him deeper inside me with my legs, tightening my hold around his hips. He growled his approval, increasing the pace and intensity of his thrusts as his cock blissfully ravaged me.
Ryker's lips left mine as he nuzzled his face into my neck and placed soft kisses along my skin. “I haven't been able to get you off my mind. I've been going crazy thinking about you, baby.”
“Me too. I've missed you so much,” I whimpered as I guided his mouth back to mine.
His strength amazed me, unwavering as he supported my weight while simultaneously using his body to fuck me senseless. Ryker continuously pumped into me, creating a sensual rhythm just for us as our bodies molded together in harmony.
Ryker pulled back and grasped my face in his inked hands. “Never again, Warrior.” His voice was gruff and deep, laced with emotion. “Can't go through that again.”
“Never, baby, never,” I whispered.
His mouth crashed on mine again. Every press of Ryker's lips, every caress from his hands, and every stroke of his amazing cock pushed me closer to ecstasy. My body ached for it, needing release after craving Ryker for so long.
As if sensing how close I was, Ryker pounded harder into me, creating the perfect combination of pain and pleasure within my body. My nails raked across his back as I cried out in euphoria, my climax sending tremors of sensation throughout my limbs. My thighs trembled against his hips as his strokes intensified in both speed and strength, seeking his own release. Seconds later, he withdrew his throbbing cock from my sex before shooting his cum up between my breasts.
The sticky heat of the room was stifling, making it more difficult to breathe as we disentangled ourselves. Picking up my towel, Ryker gently wiped his release from my skin, snapping me out the sensual fog we’d created. Immediately, I felt self-conscious, causing panic to root within me. Anxiety began to tighten in my body, trying to seize every muscle in its grasp as it attempted to take hold.
Ryker's hand cupped my cheek. “What's wrong?”
My eyes snapped to his, trying to focus on him to pull myself out of my downward spiral. My chest heaved as it struggled to breathe, causing Ryker's eyes to crease in worry. “Breathe, baby, breathe. It's okay, everything is okay.”
Breathe. In, out, in, out. The pressure began to relinquish as I concentrated on Ryker's face. Both of his hands clasped my face. “You with me, baby?”
I gave him a tight nod. My chest was still somewhat constricted, and my muscles were stiff, but the tension was slowly easing away. “I'm sorry—I have to go,” I stammered as I snatched the towel from Ryker's hand. I darted around him toward the exit while trying to wrap the cloth around me.
“You don't have to run from me, Warrior,” he called out after me. Ryker’s words stopped me, only a few feet from the door. I felt him behind me as his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling my body against his. Pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder, he murmured, “Talk to me, baby.”
My mouth dried up, the words stuck in my throat. I blinked rapidly, willing back tears. Ryker slowly turned me to face him and pressed our foreheads together as he released a breath.
“I know you've been hurt before, experienced things that no one should ever have to. Just know that I'd never do that to you. Ever. I know you're probably not ready to talk about it yet, but when you are, I'll be here.”
And with those words, Ryker smashed a small hole in the barrier surrounding the broken pieces of my heart.
MY REVIEW:
”It doesn’t what this is called—together, dating, whatever, All that matters is that you’re mine, and I’m yours.”
The Story: The Scars of Us tells the story of two people scarred by the actions of those closest to them. Anger, betrayal, sex, and abuse: this book has it all!
It’s a wonder how these two people are still standing today. I’m not saying that it was life or death ordeals but they were traumatic in their own ways. For Kaiya, her past comprises deep rooted occurrences that had taken place for years and years until it was finally discovered and dealt with.
As for Ryker... well his “issue” derives from a heavily violated trust which led him to a nonexistent relationship with someone close to home and wanting nothing more than no strings attached sex with women. That is, until Kaiya Marlow (whom he later refers to as “Warrior.”).
So now, back to Kaiya.
Upon hearing that the source of all her pain threatens to show its ugly head again... Kaiya decides to take up self-defense classes and meets tatted and pierced instructor and womanizer, Ryker Campbell.
Both are instantly attracted to one another and start off a casual relationship. But as feelings start to grow and walls begin to crumble, how will it all turn out? And with Kaiya’s alarming past colliding with the present and Ryker’s heart on the line again, will these two let go of old scars and embrace their future? Or will the past catch up to them and consume them in the end?
My Thoughts/Analysis: A very gritty and real depiction of facing your fears and looking forward!! I liked how both Ryker and Kaiya expose each other to their utmost vulnerability and how they slowly develop a deeper relationship that transformed into love.
I also appreciated that this book doesn’t necessarily end with a pretty bow on top of it as healing actually takes time and a loving support system and doesn’t happen overnight. I loved how the characters learned to lean and embrace each other as well as appreciate and love each other unconditionally without taking each other for granted. After all, time is a precious thing so cherish all your loved ones while you can.
SO, my verdict?: A very nice standalone novel! Although, my ONLY hang up is that I felt as though Ryker’s “issue” was kind of left hanging. It wasn’t really solved at all. I wish that it could have been elaborated more on as I would have liked more resolution between him and the other parties. But oh well!
“I’ll help you pick up the pieces if you let me, Warrior. I want to be the one to make you whole again.”
My Rating:
-Overall : 8.5-9
-Plot : 8.5-9
-Writing : 8.5-9
-Characters : 8.5
-Cover : 9
Kaiya 
Ryker
Kamden 
Nori
-Overall : 8.5-9
-Plot : 8.5-9
-Writing : 8.5-9
-Characters : 8.5
-Cover : 9
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/kd3o5fs
Amazon CA: http://tinyurl.com/lhx8grj
Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/m2qgwvb
Kaiya RykerKamden Nori
My name is Nikki Narvaez. I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, where I currently live with my husband, our two dogs, Bella and Oreo, and our cat, Cupcake. I have been teaching for four years, but I hope to become a full-time writer and stay at home mom one day. I am 27 years old, and have three older sisters who have blessed me with four nephews and one niece. In my free time, I love to write and play Texas Hold 'Em poker.
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