Sex with a stranger was Francesca's birthday gift to herself. She didn't realize the gorgeous man in the power suit was her new marketing rival.
The competition for clients heats up--literally--when Reed proposes a game. Win the account, win a fantasy. Bondage, submission and spankings, oh my! Soon the lovers come to the brink of something they never intended…or expected.
Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list. A New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller, Mari’s computer is now jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends. Mari writes contemporary sexy romance novels. To learn more about her spicy stories, click here. Join her newsletter so you don't miss new releases and for exclusive subscriber-only content. Find Mari on the web at maricarr.com Email: mari@maricarr.com
I got this on ‘stuff your kindle day’ earlier in the year and decided to read as its only a couple hundred pages. In summary, a short novella written in third person which I personally don’t enjoy 😂 the spice was v average and I guess it just wasn’t for me..
Short-ish read. I think I read it within about 5 hours, and that's including dinner and mommy stuff. But it was a good story. I could see how Francesca never wanted to give up her right/ability to be successful. Her dad really was a caveman. I'm amazed that either her or Reed could be submissive long enough to fulfill one of the other's fantasies, lol. It was definitely an interesting setup and a satisfying ending. While there was sex, I wouldn't say it was the smexiest sex I've ever read, even in a Mari Carr book, but it was good.
So fucking good. 4 am read (I know, I know). I have other orange kindle notes see gmail sarah for annotations on the actual plot later. The final bets and fantasies were everything. This was hilarious. So was both of them resigning at the end.
Good lines/relatable: - “You and I both know anger doesn’t win an argument with Brian. He had his reasons for sending you away. Whether or not he cares to enlighten you on the whys of it is another matter entirely.” - It was stress, pure and simple. She was letting her everyday life get to her and she was acting in a way so out of character, she wasn’t sure she could even recognize the feminine voice begging the man to take her harder, faster. - She craved this man’s strength, his confidence, his skill. - She expected her self- assured tone to do the trick, call him off. God knew it worked on at least ninety- nine percent of the people she’d ever met. All she had to do was look the person in the eye, give them the tone, and they’d back off. No matter what the argument. This man didn’t move. - In her professional life, she was used to taking what she wanted, fighting to achieve every goal she’d ever set for herself. Tonight was the first time she’d done the same for her personal life. - Somewhere along the line this game had gotten out of control. Her set, though pained, face proved she’d never say the words, and even though his cock was reading him the riot act, he knew he wouldn’t, either. He recognized the moment she came to the same realization. Her legs loosened around his hips, then lowered back to the floor. He released his grip on her hands, swallowing heavily when she slowly rose and pushed her skirt back down. The silence hovered in the air for only a few moments before she cleared her throat. “It would seem we are evenly matched.” - “So what’s your fantasy?” “Control.” - As long as they continued to treat these fantasies as a game, Frankie could control her emotions, keep their relationship in a manageable compartment. The second he kissed her, all bets were off. She wasn’t ready for that. They were as compatible as oil and water, and she wasn’t about to sign on for certain heartbreak at Reed Donovan’s hands. - She didn’t need a man in her life. Her heart lurched on the word need. She might not need one, but as God was her witness, she suddenly wanted one. She wanted this one. - Suddenly she understood the tiredness in his face, appreciated why he felt like he needed to work so hard. He was fighting to prove himself to his uncle. - He turned to look at her, a wickedly wonderful idea forming in his mind. “We’ll put the Wedded Bliss presentation together as a team. We’ll start now. Order in food for the next two days. Take turns sleeping on my couch. It’s the only way.” - As was becoming her habit, she shut down after sex. He wasn’t sure how she was able to change from sexy, affectionate lover to casual acquaintance in the blink of an eye, but she could. - She cursed her damned nervousness. She wanted this fantasy, but she feared one more encounter with Reed might be one too many. This one was destined to destroy her. She’d lost all her powers of resistance and she was afraid the mask would slip. Afraid he’d see her tonight in all her true colors. - She’s a shell of her former self and she did it all in the name of love
Funny notes: - The last manager only managed to run the damn thing into the ground. - “You want me to make a bulleted list for you?” Carter grinned. “Is this gonna be a long presentation, Mr. Exec?” - “No.” Reed pointed to where Vivi still sat behind her. “He told me to buy her a drink.” Francesca glanced over her shoulder. “Pretty girl. Did you miss your mark? Need me to draw you a map? Help you get over there?” “My sense of direction is just fine.” - “My pants,” he prodded, reminding her of her task. She opened her eyes and gave him a smirk he immediately distrusted. “Say please.” He narrowed his eyes. “Take my cock out and put the condom on it, Francesca. Now.” Her hands stilled. “Beg me,” she taunted. - “What are you waiting for?” she prodded. “An engraved invitation?” Smart- ass. God, she was fantastic. Fascinating. Fucked. - “No. No way. In case you haven’t been paying attention, we’ve already stretched our compatibility limits to the hilt. A few more words from either of us and the cable’s gonna break and slice us both in half.” - Besides, he thought, attempting— and failing— to hide his wolfish grin, this changed everything. Frankie Carlyle was a woman. A woman he’d fucked against the back wall of Carter’s bar last night. - “Until about fifteen minutes ago, last night was on the very short list of things I thought I’d never regret.” - “You cocky son of a bitch. Now I understand your big desk. You need something to support that oversized ego of yours.” - “This office screams of masculinity and power.” She pointed at his dark oak desk. “Couldn’t find a larger desk? Brian’s wasn’t even this big.” - Reed bent over her body as she lay prone against his desk. “That’s for being a smart- ass.” “Oh, I’ll show you a smart- ass.” Her words provoked him to spank her again. - “Only good slaves get to come.” “Slave?” “You’ll call me master before this interlude is over.” She shook her head. “Hell will freeze over first.” - “You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?” “Easy on me or easy on you?”
Smut: - “You know, I’ve always had this fantasy.” He moved toward her. Her voice was low, husky, sexy as fuck. “Oh yeah?” “Sex with a stranger.” - “We’re not stopping. You didn’t come yet.” “I want to fuck you from behind.” His declaration sent a fresh round of juices to her pussy and she quickly complied, dropping her legs, though the damn things were unable to support her weight. He’d fucked her silly already. “Easy,” he murmured, wrapping his arm around her waist, twisting her until she faced the wall. He moved her body like she was made of clay, forming her, molding her until she was positioned just the way he wanted. She’d never let a man guide her like this. Another part of the fantasy? She wasn’t sure, but there wasn’t time to consider her response when he shoved his cock to the hilt in one rough push. - “I don’t beg.” He took a step closer. Moved her two steps back until her thighs hit his too- large desk. “I could make you beg.” He expected her to launch into a million arguments about why she wouldn’t continue their affair. Instead, she reached down and pressed firmly against his erection. The unexpected touch caught him off guard. “You’d be the one begging.” “Is that a dare?” he said, raising his hands to engulf her hips, pulling her lower body against him. “No, it’s the truth.” As she spoke, she began to rub his cock through his pants. “You want to put your cock inside me again. Say it. Maybe if you ask real nice, I’ll even let you.” (fucking hell) - “Ask for my fingers, Frankie. Ask me to put them inside you. Beg for two, three of them to fuck you hard. Beg me.” - She pressed her forehead against the desk in frustration, fighting against the impulse to call him out for teasing her. She knew he was enjoying this game, and she wasn’t about to let him know how much she needed relief. - She cried out, her fingers scratching the perfect surface of his desk. She liked that thought. Liked the idea of leaving him a tangible memory of this experience. God knew she’d never forget it. - “It dawned on me as I was thrusting into that hot body of yours that I didn’t care if the world walked by and caught us in the act. In fact, I was sort of hoping someone would happen upon us.” - “I don’t think this is such a good idea. We only have five minutes.” “Fuck the game, Frankie. Come here.” She narrowed her eyes, wanted to protest. Then she decided she was tired of fighting this, tired of fighting him all the time. For one brief moment in time, she just wanted to let it all go. She straddled his lap, placed her hands flat against his chest and bent down. She’d intended to run her tongue along his chest, but he caught her face between his hands. “Kiss me,” he demanded. Her refusal caught in her throat. She couldn’t kiss him. Couldn’t let him feel how much this meant to her. Before she could find the words, he took the choice away, pulling her face to his. “Fine,” he said, “then I’ll kiss you.” His lips claimed hers, not with aggression, but with sweetness and passion, mingled together, taking her breath away. His hands maintained their firm grip on her head, twisting and turning her so that he could capture every miniscule part of her lips, her mouth. His tongue invaded, but it was the most charming attack she’d ever experienced. Her hands roamed his bare chest, touching his skin, wishing her clothing and his pants weren’t still a barrier. He must have read her thoughts as he started unbuttoning her blouse. He pulled his lips away from hers for a moment. “I need to see you. Touch you.” - “So sensual, responsive.” She was startled when she heard Carter’s voice. She’d almost forgotten his presence. Reed had a talent for distracting her from everything except him. - Their lips devoured each other, neither of them breaking for air for minutes, hours, years.
Reading this type of story in a corporate setting written by this author was new for me. Mari Carr is a master storyteller of a casual-sex to real relationship stories. I'm still coming to grips how the characters fell in love based on lust. To give credit, the author added the other dimensions of Francesca and Reed to the mix.
Both of them have strong wills, and they're alpha. I instantly like Frankie's character, she's an achiever and after growing up with a father like that, I'm in awe of how she made a career for herself. She's resilient and spunky, but when she admitted she was afraid, that's where her true strength showed. Reed is your usual alpha male, but only a woman like Frankie could bring him to his knees. The wagers they set gave them an excuse to exercise control on another and though I never get tired of saying this, the sex was awesome, more of hard and fast, but there were vulnerable moments between them that paved the way for something casual to turn serious.
I couldn't ask for anything more, since obviously they have a future together.
I fr just needed something steamy and smutty so bad. This was a quick read FOR ME (and that’s saying a lot or maybe I was just really in need for smut). Anyways I loved the characters. For something so short they had great personalities. Frankie was a much different take on a FMC and I loved having a heroine who didn’t want romance and who cared for her career so much and was ok without a man in her life. She clearly knew what she needed vs what she wanted and that was a repeated thought throughout the book. Reed was cute he was SOOOO down bad and was so cute to Frankie. He provided Frankie everything she wanted and more and truly understood her love for her job.
THE SMUT WAS SO GOOD BRO. LIKE 2 DOMINANTS???? FORCING EACH ORHER TO BE SUBS IM GONEEEEE. SO HOT. ALSO ITS A RLLY GOOD PLOT FOR SOMETHING SHORT. NOT CHEESY!!
no questions or comments about this read thanks lmfao
anyway a few things to note:
anyway the story was kind of predictable, especially the ending... like ugh but i guess how else would you have wrapped it up. plus her parents at the end? hella weird, kinda unnecessary but ok!
Loved this spunky storyline. The author certainly got into the heads of these two main characters. Their personalities flew off the page and when the sparks flew, we (the readers) all got peppered. No spoilers from e, other than this is a brilliant page turning and thoroughly enjoyable read, worth any ones time in reading. Its quite short read, but packed with a good storyline and some very sizzling episodes...pew! (I read it during the early hours of New Years Day, as I couldn't sleep with all the fireworks going off..... finished it just before breakfast at 6.30a.m.)
Wow! First of all I didn't know know there were two stories in this book but solo glad there were. It is just kept getting better and better! The two leading men are very dominating but oh so good at their jobs. The leading ladies definitely know how to hold their own and won't back down. If you are looking for a power struggle then this book is for you. It is a must read.
It was a predictable “work place” romance. Reed and Francesca meet as strangers in a bar (imagine that) and that encounter leads to a spicy scene. Viola – the next morning they meet again, this time at the office! Both stubborn, both play to win, neither like to lose. A competition for clients, along with some rules takes form and off they go to see who will win and get their fantasy fulfilled. Quick read. HEA.
This is a gem of a book. I picked this up on a Stuff your Kindle Day some time ago and it sat unread in my kindle. It is in the middle of the series so assumed it would not be good without reading the books before this one in the series. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Great story and can definitely be read as a stand alone. This author is amazing and I plan to go back and start this series from the beginning at some point. She is definitely worth following. Highly recommend.
Power Play is a fun, hot, fairly quick office romance with some hate-fucking yumminess and an enemies to lovers journey. I always like to spice up my reading selections with an erotic read every so often and this one satisfied that need. There was a strong emphasis on the sexual relationship but moments of sweet tenderness that kept me turning the page. Definitely not for the faint of heart!
When your one night stand turns into your partner at work all bets are off the table, or maybe just on the table. A well written story where the characters are well fleshed out even for a short story. With beautiful characters and even steamier scenes what more can you asks for.
The author was on a roll with this one ,,you can use your imagination nd roll with it .This has everything you are looking for !! Definitely keep you wanting, more !!🔥💖
This book wasn’t bad. I think it just wasn’t for me. Definitely a quick read if you want something spicy as a pallet cleanser. I personally just like more plot than spice.
Loved how the story unfolded; it was a newer concept to me! I didn't like that the redemption of tasks took place at the office...also the end was just a quick nosedive. The rest of the book was a slower pace, the ending seemed rushed and unbelievable.
Another amazing stuff your kindle book. Love the smut in this book and the relationship between the two main characters. Office smut is usually not my thing but I really enjoyed this. Great author!
I read another book by this series that I DNF’ed, but I wanted to give this book a try because I liked the writing style of the author. However, I liked this book even less 😭