Beneath These Scars Series: Beneath #4 Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance Author: Meghan March Release Date: September 22, 2015
I’m the guy you love to hate.
In every story in my life, I seem to end up playing the villain—and I’ve got the scars to prove it.
That role works fine for me, because I’m sure as hell not anyone’s hero.
I run my life and my empire with an iron fist—until she knocks my tightly controlled world off its axis.
She’s nobody’s damsel in distress, but I can’t help but want to save her anyway.
I guess we’re about to find out if there’s a hero buried … beneath these scars.
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Chapter 1
Lucas
SWEAT DRIPPED INTO MY EYES as I bounced on the balls of my feet. Someone had to be calling out how much time was left in this round soon. My pride was on the line, and there was no way I would hand it over to Con Leahy. He’d already gotten the girl, and I wasn’t about to let him humiliate me in the ring in this piece-of-shit New Orleans gym too. My muscles burned, but that was nothing compared to the heat of victory—or the sting of defeat.
What had started out as a boxing lesson had quickly transformed into an all-out brawl for dominance and respect. Only you would pay a million dollars to get your ass kicked, Titan. The voice in my head mocked me as I bobbed and weaved. But I hadn’t paid a million to get my ass kicked. I’d done it because that night at the charity auction I’d been drunk, pissed off, and determined to prove a point—he might’ve gotten the girl, but I was still the one with the power. I got a sick sense of satisfaction that every time Con bought something for his gym and these kids, he had to think of me.
I swung with another right hook. The blow connected with Con’s jaw and snapped his head to the side. Yeah. That’s right. But my mental cheer came a moment too soon, and pain exploded in my left side. Shit, that’s going to hurt tomorrow. I stumbled back but threw myself forward again, shooting out my fist with an uppercut that knocked Con back a step. This was how it had gone for the last several minutes—trading punches and circling each other. There was no love lost in this ring, that was for damn sure, and I was ready for this to be over. I would walk out of here with every bit of the respect I was owed. Fuck anyone who thought otherwise. Con moved toward me and the circling started again. The cheers and chants from the crowd surrounding the ring in the old warehouse gym seemed to grow every time I glanced beyond the ropes.
A flash of blond hair caught my eye as I stepped left and Con shifted to the right. Vanessa. She threw her head back and laughed at something said by her redheaded friend, Elle. I turned my attention back to the man in front of me, but my focus wandered again when a huskier, sexier laugh echoed through the room. My eyes strayed from Con for a second too long as I tried to track down the source of the laughter. Pain burst through my jaw, catching me by surprise, and I stumbled back into the ropes. Using their momentum, I shoved off to the side, my pride stinging from my momentary lapse in concentration. Embarrassed and now thoroughly pissed off, I surged forward and attacked. One punch. That was all I landed before the bell rang, signaling the end of the round and my very expensive “lesson.” I pushed off Con, and my knee might have slipped as I stepped back . . . and caught him directly in the balls. It was probably an accident. I huffed out a chuckle, but Con didn’t share my humor.
“Goddamn it!” he roared. “Are you fucking serious?” It was like stabbing a bull with a matador’s sword, but I was ready for him. I jumped out of the way as Con charged, and shifted into a defensive stance when he swung.
“Should’ve expected a cheap shot from you, motherfucker.” Unrestrained anger flashed over his face as every shred of coaching mentality fled, along with that smug superiority he’d been giving me. Good. You aren’t better than me, Leahy. I could buy and sell you a hundred times over. He might’ve gotten the girl, but I wasn’t going to let him get away with her clean. I wanted blood.
“Should’ve expected you to strut around this ring like a fucking cock of the walk,” I shot back. Con feinted and swung again, but I’d been studying his movements. I bobbed and weaved, and got the hell out of the way. I threw my own punch as soon as I had a clean shot. It landed just below Con’s left eye, splitting the skin over his cheekbone and sending blood spattering everywhere. The taste of victory was sweet.
“First blood,” I said under my breath. Apparently my words weren’t quiet enough because Con’s head snapped up and he glared at me with disgust, as if I needed to be put down like a rabid animal. “This ain’t a fuckin’ duel, you piece of shit.”
“It sure isn’t a friendly competition either.”
“Paid a million to get that cheap shot in, didn’t you?” My lips twisted into a mocking smile.
“I sure didn’t pay a million to have you show me up.” Con dropped his hands and shook his head. “Just when I thought you weren’t a complete fucking asshole.”
“You were wrong,” I replied, turning for the ropes. Con’s fists lifted and before I could react, one connected with my cheekbone. The instantaneous gush of blood told me I’d have a scar to match his, but it didn’t matter. One more scar wouldn’t hurt my banged-up face. I roared as I charged, but I didn’t get the chance to retaliate. Shouts filled the room, and beefy arms wrapped around my body, holding me back.
“You’re not half bad when you’re not being a shady rich prick,” Lord’s voice said in my ear. I lunged toward Con, but Lord’s grip only tightened.
“Get your goddamn hands off me,” I growled at him. Leaning closer to my ear, he lowered his voice.
“When you calm the hell down and realize you’re making an ass of yourself in front of a bunch of kids and women.” I glanced out to the crowd and read disgust on so many faces, including Vanessa’s. Like it mattered what a single goddamn person in this gym thought of me. I could buy and sell them all. Lord was still holding me back when Con came toward us. He yanked his gloves off and wiped at the blood still dripping from the gash on his face.
“You’re also not half bad when you’re paying attention—and when you’re not throwing a knee into my nuts. But I think you’ve overstayed your welcome.” I jerked at the arms trapping me. “Call off your dog, and I’m gone.”
“You ever want another round, it’s gonna cost you two million next time,” Con said. “For another chance to make you bleed? I’d pay even more.” Con nodded to his brother, and Lord let me go. The crowd had already started to disperse. The only person in the building who probably didn’t want to run me down in the parking lot was my COO, and arguably my friend, Ryder Colson. And he was nowhere to be seen. Instead of Colson, I saw a group of women moving toward the door—Vanessa Frost in her white cotton dress, Elle Snyder in her yellow retro number, and two others I didn’t know. One looked familiar with tanned skin the color of honey, her hair in dark waves, and a curvy body displayed by a funky teal dress with hot-pink polka dots. She hooked her hands on her hips, and that husky laugh echoed through the room again. Apparently she was the one who had distracted me in the ring. My eyes didn’t move from her to take in the fourth woman. Colson came up beside me.
“Who knew there’d be so many hot pieces of ass in this shit warehouse?” I turned toward him.
“Give any of them a shot, and you’ll probably find yourself bleeding on the floor.” Ryder shrugged off my comment.
“Go get your shit. I’ll wait.” He was gone before I could tell him he didn’t need to wait around for me. But then again, he was my only ally in a building full of people who undoubtedly would have preferred to see me KO’d on the floor of the ring. Just one more place I’d never be welcome. Good thing I didn’t give a fuck. I’d showed up, gone toe-to-toe with Con, and had taken back a piece of my pride. That was enough. For today. I was already thinking of hiring a trainer as I went for my bag.
…she didn’t have to like me to fuck me; she just had to want me more than she hated me.
I became an instant fan of Meghan March when I first read Beneath These Chains earlier this year. Her writing, her alphas, the super sexy romance, the story, everything about her book just…worked for me. Now while I did feel like I was missing a bit of a backstory here since Lucas was first introduced in Beneath This Ink and I haven’t read that yet, that never once diminished my enjoyment. Meghan does a fantastic job giving readers that backstory so the book can be easily enjoyed as a standalone. 
Lucas. Fucking. Titan. Just that name alone gives me shivers. I mean, the man is as intense as he is hated, and for good reason too. Lucas hasn’t exactly been making friends in his determination for success. He has no problem using people or playing dirty and that’s certainly amassed his share of enemies. But Lucas isn’t a man that cares about that…until he meets the woman that tempts him beyond reason…and turns him down flat.
Yve Santos is determined to stand on her own two feet. She’s no one’s mistress or kept woman. The last thing she needs in her life is an entitled billionaire, even if the asshole is sexier than sin. She wants nothing to do with him, and tells him that often. Unfortunately her words lack conviction when said asshole also turns her own body traitor on her and turns her on with just his broody stare and husky voice alone. 
So basically we have delicious hate lust, an asshole billionaire, and a sassy, smart mouthed heroine that isn’t shy about putting him in his place…and I loved it. 
It was like this book was custom written just for me. Truth be told, nothing revs my engine more than enemies to lovers trope, add in an underlaying of sexual chemistry strong enough to level a building and I’m putty in your hands. I absolutely devoured this book. DEVOURED it, I tells ya!
But it’s also so much more than billionaire meets sassy but down on her luck heroine. There’s a very solid story that weaves flawlessly with the romance to make this one unputdownable read. While it’s clear that Lucas has his secrets, Yve has her own, and they may just be deadly. Can she let Lucas in enough to save her or will they crash and burn with their fiery passion? Guess you’ll have to read to find that out. You didn’t expect me to tell you that, did you? What I can tell you is that these books seem to get better and better for me. I loved everything about it; the characters, the romance, the writing, and the oh sweet baby jebus scorching hot sex. What? I never claimed to be virtuous here and the sex was that hot. All growly and hatey and everything. DELICIOUS. If you haven’t read this series yet, I strongly recommend you do. While you can just as easy read this book as a standalone, I think it’d be best enjoyed read in series order. Besides, if the last 2 heroes I read by Meghan March are anything to go by, Con and Simon are sure to be just as hot. Trust me on this, this is a series you need to read.
Meghan March is the author of contemporary and erotic romance novels. Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.
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Catch Up on the Beneath Series
Beneath This Mask (Beneath #1) 
He loves me, and he doesn’t even know my real name. The limelight that follows him could expose everything I’m hiding. But even knowing the risks, I can’t force myself to stay away. I’m going to break his heart, but mine will shatter right along with it. Will we lose it all when I reveal what’s beneath this mask?
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Beneath This Ink (Beneath #2) 
I’ve always known she was too good for me, but that never stopped me from wanting her. And then I finally had her for one night. A night I don’t remember. I figured I’d blown my shot. But now she’s walked back into my life, and this time, I have the upper hand. I want my second chance. Will she be able to see the man beneath this ink?
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Beneath These Chains (Beneath #3) 
I was raised on the streets, so I know things are rarely as simple as they appear—especially this rich girl showing up at my pawnshop demanding a job. She’s the most tempting thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ll be damned if I can make her leave. Shit just got complicated … but when it comes to her—I want complicated. We’re both fighting our own demons, and our only chance at a future is to let go of the past. But will we be strong enough to break free from beneath these chains?
After reading 
Ivy has been the Savage Saints club whore for as long as she’s been there. She’s the anything goes girl and the more you hurt her, the more she’ll want you. Devastated at being cast aside by Kick, the man she believed herself in love with, she turns to the familiar numbness of drugs to make her forget.
Tank is a man to be feared; a hitman for his MC, he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s also determined to be the hands that puts Ivy back together again, whether she wants it or not.
It’s not an easy read. Not even close. I felt this book on a visceral level and I still find myself unable to stop thinking about it days after finishing.
Well, well, well, Miss Jagger, where HAVE you been all my pervy life? Because let me tell you, I like the way you do alphas. You give good manwhore. Good manwhore, indeed. And the best part? It’s not just smutty fluff, you actually weave a great story in. So you’ve got yourself a new fan in this 
If you haven’t read the first book, I’m proof that you’d still enjoy this as a standalone. However, it is clear that I missed out on some backstory to the rest of the guys, but the author does a fantastic job with details so I never felt lost. I love a sassy heroine and Savannah was no wilting wallflower. The woman gives as good as she gets.
Oh yeah. The sparks fly.
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with all things J. Daniels (see what I did there?) and for damn good reason too. The woman never fails to serve up a hero that is guaranteed to make me pant and drool over. Ever since Mason was first introduced in 
Between her inner monologue and banter with Joey, Billy and Dylan, Sweet Obsession brought some major LOLs which is what I’ve come to associate with this author. She just has this perfect combination of sweet and sexy with laugh out loud funny. I can’t get enough of it.
Can you get a sweet and sexy romance with Melanie Harlow’s signature brand of light-hearted humor while dealing with a very heavy mental health issue? In the case of this book, that’s a resounding hell yes. As a matter of fact, I’m in awe of the author for actually pulling it off as well as she did. She wrote fantastic, multi-layered characters without taking away anything from their issue but still managing to write a feel good sort of romance. That’s no small feat if you ask me.
This beautifully written and emotional book is everything that I love about second chance romance. Everything. I’m not sure where I’ve been that I’m only discovering this fantastic author and this series now, but boy am I glad that it’s finally on my radar. Everything about this book worked for me; the writing, the secondary characters, the story, the romance, and most especially the H/h. Simply put, I adored it.
Oliver has always been Estelle’s older brother’s best friend…until a kiss changed everything. They had a few stolen moments together and then everything changed when Oliver walked away. Estelle may have moved on and got engaged to someone else, but she never got over Oliver.
I loved the alternating flashbacks from past to present in both their POVs. It truly allows the reader to be fully engrossed in their story and fall for both them just as hard. The writing is beautiful and flawless and it gripped me from the first chapter alone. I simply couldn’t put this book down.
If you’re looking for a touching and beautiful second chance romance, this series is an absolute must read. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to dive straight into 
Since the very first book, this is what it’s all been leading up to; the dramatic conclusion to the Capital Confessions series and boy was is a doozy. I had some ideas about where it may all lead and some I was correct on while some caught me completely unawares. Falling For Danger was action packed, sexy, and filled with enough twists and turns to keep your reading well into the night…which is exactly what I did.
Kate Reynolds lost her soul mate four years ago when her fiancé and childhood sweetheart, Matt, died on a Special Forces mission in Afghanistan. Her life changed irrevocably since that day and all she’s been living and breathing the past four years is her determination to get down to the truth of what truly happened to cause his death. Everything she’s been doing has been with hat goal in mind; her Capital Confessions stint, her CIA job, and her determination to bring her corrupt senator of a father down along with his secrets. As much as I hated what Kate did in 
The highly anticipated conclusion to an addicting series is here and boy did it end with a bang. Pun most definitely intended. You know what I love? When a series is perfectly wrapped up with a great conclusion without being cheesy and that’s exactly what I loved about the third and final volume of A Desperate Man. We first met Evan in 
Evan and Reagan have been through quite a lot through the series, all of it leading up to the huge bomb of a reveal that these devious authors dropped on us at the end of volume two. And Volume three picks up right where that left off; in the aftermath of Reagan’s…lie…and leaving both of them to deal with the ever growing passion that continues to brew between them, even if it may be slightly clouded by snark and barbs every now and then.
But it never loses the spark either 😉
Now before you start reaching for rotten tomatoes and pitchforks, allow me to clarify my rating here. See, here’s the thing, I liked this book. It was wonderfully written and being my first book by this author I already know I’ll be reading all her others. I’m also completely hooked on this series and absolutely loved the set up as well as all the secondary characters. I also truly enjoyed both MCs here. At this point you’re probably sitting there and thinking, then why the hell are you marking this only 3.5 stars?
Well…bluntly put…it was just too sweet for my tastes. *ducks flying tomatoes*
Now I loved that this wasn’t a source of shame or secret for him. He owned it. It wasn’t a secret and he didn’t make it one, nor does he make it a given to spread it around campus either. The problem? I just don’t buy it. Ugh. I’m sorry! It’s that damn cynic in me, but a college junior, surrounded by football groupies, all his teammates are male sluts, but he’s a virgin because…reasons.
But this was also wonderfully…refreshing. This is my second time reading about a male virgin and I believe Jen Frederick pulled it off very well. Knox is just one of those characters that you can’t help but love. He goes after what he wants with a single-minded intent and feels no need for immature mind games that you’d find with most heroes in the NA genre.
What ultimately brought my rating down was 2 specific things.
In the book’s defense I am not, nor will I ever be a fan of insta-love, no matter how well it’s pulled off. And it IS pulled off wonderfully here. It’s just not my cuppa. I can’t help it. I gave it the old college try (pun intended) but could never really see past it. Perhaps because he was also a virgin on top of everything else? Whatever the case may be, I suppose I just wanted a little more interaction between them before this came into the mix. Like say, at least 12%?
