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Acknowledgments

I’ve always enjoyed fairy tales Their ti idea that love can overcome any obstacle—vanquish the villain, save the princess, break all the evil spells

The idea for Appealed began, for me, as a fairy tale A siood-hearted princess, and their sweet love From there it evolved—and the evolution was really fun Now it’s hilarious and passionate, a battle of wills—a story of how young love grows into so unbreakable

I love this story I love these characters—their resilience, their wit, and hter I hope you come to love them too, that their story will leave you with that ware that true love really can conquer all, and the dream of happy ever after is within reach for all of us

I’rateful to have been able to ith the best, al Briefs series My editor, Micki Nuding—thank you for helping me see how towith you is the best! My agent, Aency—thank you for always being in my corner I’ve said it before, but I really would be lost without you!

My publicists, Kristin Dwyer and Nina Bocci—I adore you both forever—thank you forso awesome at all you do My assistant, Juliet Fowler—thank you for staying on top of everything, for your innovative ideas, and aratitude to Sullivan & Partners for their iratitude to Molly O’Brien for your tireless work and support

My thanks to everyone at Gallery Books, including Sarah Leiberstrom and Louise Burke—it’s a joy and honor to ith all of you

I have so much admiration and love for Katy Evans, Jennifer Probst, Kyra Davis, Alice Clayton and Christina Lauren—thank you for your s support!

I’s who read and revieork and who make the romance community vibrant and wonderful

Again, toon this journey withthese characters and their antics just as much as I do! I adore every one of you!

And to my family, thank you for your patience, your ridiculousness, your love—you are my own love story come to life xoxo

1

“You rotten bastard!”

Kennedy sits up and stares at nizewe’re bare-ass naked in my bed Every inch of us is intimately acquainted

But it’s the tone of her voice that bothers er and breathy with pain Like I stole the air fros—like I punched her in the stomach

The words don’t worryis our foreplay One ti at me—and my reaction was a boner that wouldn’t be denied

It’s not as twisted as it sounds It works for us

At least it did up until ten seconds ago

“Wait What?” I ask, genuinely surprised

I thought she’d be grateful Happy Maybe offer me a blow job to demonstrate her supreme appreciation

Her eyes glitter dangerously, and thoughts of letting her anywhere nearaquariuhtly; she’s a force to be reckoned with A breaker of hearts and a buster of balls

“You planned this all along, didn’t you? Screwinguard and you can win the case,” she hisses

She rab her arh to turn you stupid? Aw, precious, that’s really flattering, but I don’t need to whore ”

“Fuck off!”

I used to have a omen

If the word fuck came out to play, it was always followed by me and then words like harder, please, and my friend, more

Those were the days

She jerks out ofclothes that are strewn across the hardwood floor And because she’s doing it naked, bending down, jiggling in all the best places, I have to watch There are teeth marks on her ass—my teeth marks No broken skin, just dark pink indentations It’s possible I got a little carried away last night, but her ass is just so damn sweet and round and bitable

I grab the prosthesis sleeve fro Yes, part ofwas amputated when I was a kid—a transtibial aet into that later, because she isn’t waiting I actually like that about her—she doesn’t give an inch Doesn’t even think aboutme any differently than the fully capable man I am

Or the prick she apparently thinks I am at the moment

I snap the pin of the sleeve intoand stand up, just as she finds her shoe in the corner, adding it to the pile in her arms