Dare to Fall (Falling For You ) New Adult College Romance by Brianna Remus ➱ Book Tour with Giveaway
Dare To Fall
Falling For You Book 1
by Brianna Remus
Genre: New Adult Romance
I had everything I'd ever wanted.
But why did it feel like it wasn't enough?
The perfect boyfriend. The perfect friends. A straight shot to the top medical schools in the country. A one-way ticket to the perfect life.
But still, my heart ached for more.
As fate would have it, cracks began to form in the perfect facade I had shielded for so long.
Friendships soured. Love became tainted by betrayal. And the one thing I held onto, the surety of becoming a doctor, was slipping through my fingers from the chaos that swirled through my mind.
It was all falling apart and there was nothing to catch me.
Then he shot into my life, like a cosmic flare, brightening even the darkest of skies. Unveiling the pieces of my soul I thought no longer existed. Showing me the truth of who I really was.
But still, the two sides of me battled -- raging for dominance.
The world I had built for so long had fallen apart, leaving me raw and vulnerable.
I just hoped he would be enough to help me put the pieces back together again.
Dare to Fall is a sexy new adult college romance filled with angst, self-discovery, and love.
What readers are saying:
★★★★★ "From the first page I was intrigued. The characters drew me in...Excellent! Can't wait for her next one." -Amazon Reviewer
★★★★★ "I could NOT put this book down! And the STEAM! It was the perfect combination of slowburn, passion, and 'have to have you right now' that can be so hard to find. And this book nailed it. No pun intended." -Sam G., Goodreads Reviewer
★★★★★ "It's a steam romance with a message to go after your passions in every part of your life. I LOVED the chemistry between Eva and Garth. If you like slow burn, steamy romance this is going to be one of your favorite reads this year!" -Santana Saunders, Author of The Pearl in the Darkness
★★★★★ "Absolutely LOVED this steam little read! It was everything you enjoy reading about secret millionaires, with a very realistic undertone that I feel like everyone (whether you have a secret millionaire boyfriend in your life or not) can definitely relate to." -Tori Heat, Author of The Ruins
★★★★★ "An amazing story of discovering who you truly are and the bravery it takes to make huge changes in order to be happy. A definite 1-click read!" -Jenn Lockwood, Goodreads Reviewer
Excerpt One
Eva
A soft hue of white light glowed throughout the gallery, each installment was highlighted with a spotlight. The last time I was in an art gallery was in the eighth grade during a field trip to New York City and we toured the MoMA. Back then, I was too young to fully understand the gravity of art. I made a mental note to put the MoMA on my travel bucket list.
Waiters dressed in pristine tuxedos walked around with glasses of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Drema and I weaved through the crowd of people to where her pieces were installed toward the back. I didn’t realize how much the university invested in their art program, but judging by the size of the gallery I guessed it was a pretty penny.
The room buzzed with conversation. Everywhere I turned people were dressed in immaculate black tie attire. Students stood proudly next to their pieces while they discussed the mediums and inspiration behind their work.
For the first time all day, I felt excited. I was so proud of Drema and everything she accomplished to get to this moment. And I was happy for all my peers who worked so incredibly hard on their pieces. As I looked around at the talent, I felt a spark of inspiration to take the next step with my photography. There was still so much for me to learn, but my heart raced with enthusiasm of all the possibilities.
I tried to think of a time when I felt this way about medicine and couldn’t recall a single moment. Medicine had always been a bridge between Connor and me. But being here, with all these aspiring creatives, I felt at home. As though I finally found the place where I belonged after being lost for a really long time.
“Wow Drema,” I said as we walked up to her three pieces. It was like looking into a better version of our world. The landscapes were so vivid, yet understated. Each brush stroke was expertly placed, bringing the trees and water to life.
There was a gleam in her eyes, one of pride and fulfillment. “They’re my best work.” A soft smile pulled at her lips. “It’s taken me a really long time to find my voice as an artist and I feel like I’ve finally seen a glimpse of it. I still have a long way to go, but I’m really happy with these pieces. I just hope everyone else will like them too.”
I took her hand in mine and gave it a squeeze. “Of course they will love your work Drema. Your pieces are breathtaking.”
“Thank you,” she said beaming at me. “I have to stay here for awhile, but you should go check out the other artists. There should be a few photographers’ installments sprinkled throughout. The exhibit typically hosts a variety of artistic mediums, so you can get an idea if there’s anything else that seems interesting to you. And it’s a great networking opportunity.”
“Are you sure it’s okay if I leave you alone here?”
“Of course! Go have fun. I’ll meet up with you in a bit.”
“Okay,” I said as I ventured toward the front of the exhibit again. I didn’t know if there was a specific flow to the arrangement, but it made sense to start at the front and work my way around so I didn’t miss out on any pieces.
Right in front of the double door grand entrance was a huge canvas covered in oil paints. It was clearly abstract with the brush strokes darting in all directions, fusing the deep colors together. Up close, it appeared chaotic and somehow sad. The lines were harsh and angry as though the artist was taking out their frustration with the paint brush. I stepped back a few feet to get a different perspective and that’s when I saw it. Among the hard masculine lines, there were soft feminine curves. It took a few moments, but my eyes finally adjusted, pulling everything together. The outlines of a woman with long layered hair was embedded within the chaos.
Up close, her soft lines were a stark contrast to the sharpness of the bold colors and harsh brush strokes. But as I took her in from a distance, the entire painting came together in a tragic way. Trails of ebony tears fell down her cheeks from sad, doll-like eyes that were cast downward. She didn’t belong there, broken and tormented amongst the vivid colors.
Tears welled in my own eyes for the girl in the painting. She didn’t deserve to be broken, to have fallen out of place.
“What do you think?” A gruff voice asked from behind me.
Startled, I jumped and turned to find myself face to face with Garth Walker. The very man I was hoping to avoid tonight.
“Eva, are you alright?” His tone softened as his hazel eyes darted between mine.
“Yes,” I sniffed, wiping my eyes with the backs of my fingers. “I’m fine.”
Garth’s mouth hardened to a thin line. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Seriously, I’m fine.”
He moved closer to me and I took a step back. “Please don’t. I…I can’t be close to you and keep myself together right now. So, please don’t.”
“Okay.” He slipped his hands into the pockets of his tuxedo slacks and took a step back. “Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it.”
My heart cracked a little more at his words. I couldn’t stand for him to be nice to me right now because I wanted so badly to just collapse into his arms and let the feel of his body against mine wash away all the pain and anger I felt. But I couldn’t do that - not to myself or to Garth. He deserved better and I was in no position to fawn over a man when my heart was still in pieces over another.
Silence pulled at the thread between us, making the desire to reach out to him unbearable. I needed a distraction from the building tension.
“Do you know the artist?” I blurted as I gestured toward the painting.
His steely gaze flickered to the painting and back to me. A mischievous grin pulled at the side of his mouth, sending a bolt of electric energy throughout my body. Awakening that ember that burned for him and him alone.
“It’s mine.”
“Yours?!” I said a little too loudly.
The warm sound of his laugh made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I bit my bottom lip to keep myself from blurting out any more stupid questions
“Yes. The chairman of the art department reached out to me and asked if I would be the spotlight artist for the exhibit this semester. They like to have well-known artists from the community participate in the student exhibit to bring in other established artists and potential buyers so the students can learn how to network.”
“Yeah, Drema, my roommate, mentioned that you were the spotlight artist. But I had no idea that you were so-”
“Talented?” he smirked.
“Yeah,” I laughed.
He turned toward his painting and I tried to ignore how incredible he looked in his tux. The clean line of his shoulders accentuated the broadness of his chest. My gaze raked down his torso to his waste, where the tailored jacket revealed just how cut I already knew he was. I clutched my hands as my fingers twitched in remembrance of feeling his hard chest and abs just a few days ago when we ran into each other downtown. If I stared at him any longer I wouldn’t be able to keep myself from touching him, so I turned toward his painting and dug my fingernails into my palms.
“What’s it called?”
He glanced at me with a look of hesitation on his face and said, “Veiled in Lies.”
I swallowed hard. “Who was your inspiration?”
When Garth turned to look at me, it was as though his ever-changing eyes could see straight through me. To the burden I bore, unable to speak of it. I wanted to look away. I wanted to do anything but have Garth Walker see the pain that I couldn’t hide. But I stood there anyway, before the man who made me feel things I didn’t know were possible. The man I wouldn’t dare let myself get close to for fear that he would be my absolute undoing.
Because I saw the truth in his eyes. The words he left unspoken.
The woman in his painting was me.
Excerpt Two
Garth
The air was cooler than it normally was for early fall in Florida. As I navigated through the busy Friday night streets, Eva’s grip around my waist tightened when I sped up and took turns.
I wasn’t quite sure what prompted me to ask her to come with me, but I was quickly figuring out just how much Eva impacted me. It was out of my control - my need to protect her and the desire to always be around her.
And when she told me that her douchebag boyfriend was cheating on her, I wanted all her pain to go away. I couldn’t stand seeing her cry, especially because of another man. He didn’t deserve her. That much was clear. I’d never understood why someone would cheat on their partner when the easier option was to end the relationship and move on.
The conversation with my mother from a few weeks back entered my mind. There were rumors circling the campus of a professor having an affair with a student. It would be really bad press for the university when the news got out and my mother would be tasked with handling the shitstorm. Not to mention, Eva would probably get dragged into it all if she chose to continue dating the guy.
A knot formed in my stomach at the thought of her going back to him. It wasn’t just that I wanted to see where this could go between her and me. I found it incredibly difficult to think of her stifling her potential and changing her dreams because a man wanted her to. I saw so much of the same struggles I endured with my father in what Eva was facing now. The tug-of-war between pleasing those she cared for and following her heart was exhausting. At some point, one side would lose and she would have to deal with the fallout.
Depending on the intensity of those around her, the fallout could be catastrophic. Just like it had been with my parents.
We pulled up to a stoplight and I turned around to see how she was doing. White beams of moonlight shined down, illuminating the auburn strands of her long hair. A deep crimson showed off the perfect pout of her lips. I wanted so badly to tug on her bottom lip between my teeth. And she looked so fucking cute in my helmet as she beamed up at me.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yes!” Her breath tickled the back of my neck and I reached down to give her hands a squeeze.
As the light turned green I put my hands back on the handlebars and revved us onto the highway onramp. Eva squealed as we got up to speed. I felt her arms tighten around my waist as she leaned harder against my back. I let out a shuddering breath at the feel of her supple breasts and tight little body pushed against me. It was almost impossible not to pull over and claim her mouth with my own.
We sped through the evening traffic as we made our way downtown. Skyscrapers darted toward the night sky. Not a single star twinkled against the luminous lights of the city skyline. It was one of the things I missed most about my childhood home. My parents bought an estate on the outskirts of the city with over fifty acres of land where the only thing that blocked the starlight were summer thunderstorms.
Taking an exit off the highway, I drove a few blocks into the city to the eighth floor of a parking garage and cut the engine. I offered Eva my hand as she slid off the back seat and unbuckled the helmet.
She ruffled her fingers through her long hair. It fell in gentle waves down her back. My gaze traced down her body where her feet were strapped into tall heels that made her toned legs look even longer. The curve of her body was accentuated in the tight leather leggings she paired with a tight top and velvet blazer. I swallowed against the dryness of my throat as I tried to hold it together. She was so striking, it took the breath from my lungs.
“What?” she asked, as she caught me gawking at her.
“You’re so beautiful Eva.”
Her cheeks flushed, turning a pale pink that gave away all her secrets. Every fiber of my being ached with the need to reach out and touch the softness of her supple skin. The tension was thick in the air between us as I climbed off my motorcycle and walked toward her.
She didn’t waver as I invaded her space.
“Are you ready?”
“For what?” she breathed as her eyes flickered to my lips.
“For what I’m about to show you.”
Her eyes closed as I finally conceded against my will and trailed the tips of my fingers from the side of her cheek down the length of her neck.
“I…I think so,” she stammered.
I leaned down and whispered into her ear, “I hope you’re not afraid of heights.”
Her eyes shot open, growing wide as saucers. “Umm. How high are we going exactly?”
I grabbed her hand and started walking us toward the main elevator.
“You’ll see.” I winked at her and she gave my hand a tight squeeze.
When we got into the elevator I pressed the button for the fiftieth floor and Eva leaned into my side.
“So I guess now is probably a bad time to tell you that I’m really afraid of heights.” I felt a small shudder move through her body, so I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her. In her heels, she was the perfect height to fit snuggly under my shoulders. Closing my eyes, I breathed in the sweet scent of lilac that wafted up from her hair. It felt so good to feel her this close to me. More than the physical connection that thrummed between us, the closeness enhanced everything I felt to an overwhelming degree.
I pulled her in just a little bit closer “You seemed pretty afraid of the motorcycle and you were able to overcome that. Just trust yourself Eva. And trust that everything will be okay.”
She turned around in my arms and peered up at me. “Just promise you won’t let go of my hand.”
I reached up to where her hands pressed against my chest and took them in mine. I tilted my head down and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of both her hands. Warmth flooded through me as I watched the honey golden flecks of her chocolate brown eyes brighten.
The elevator pinged and the doors slid open, revealing a sterile hallway that I knew would lead to the stairwell to the roof.
“I promise I won’t let go.”
A nervous smile crossed over her face as she sucked in a sharp breath.
“Okay. Let’s do this.”
Keeping her hand firmly in mine, I led us down the hallway and up the stairs. I felt her grip tighten a bit when I reached for the door handle. I turned to look at her, making sure she was okay. She gave me a curt nod and wrapped herself around my arm as I pushed open the door. I slowly led her through the doorway and onto the rooftop terrace. My father’s building was one of the tallest in the city. There were a few faint lights that marked different areas of the rooftop. Otherwise we were surrounded by darkness.
Eva shuddered against me as she wiped her unoccupied palm against her blazer.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered. “My palms always get sweaty when I’m nervous.”
“I don’t mind,” I assured her. Pulling her in close to my chest, I rested my hand on the back of her head as she nestled against me.
“Are you ready to see what I wanted to show you?”
I felt her nod against me. “Yes.”
“When you’re ready, I want you to look up.”
A few moments passed while I held her in my arms, patiently waiting for her to make a move. Slowly, she peeled away from me. The absence of her touch was like a cold void, but I wanted her to enjoy this moment without my needs getting in the way. Her beautiful brown eyes tracked up my face, lingering on my lips for a brief second that almost stilled my heart. She tilted her head further back until I saw the moment I was hoping for flash across her face.
Pure, blissful awe.
“Oh my God,” she beamed. “It’s so beautiful!”
I joined her in looking upward toward the night sky. A twinkling blanket of stars laid above us - each one brighter than the next. It had always been my biggest source of inspiration. Thinking of all the colors that made up the elements of galaxies, the bright lights of auroras, and the glowing luminescence of stars sparked even the most dreadful lulls of my creative well.
But watching Eva’s face light up as she spun around with her hand in mine, taking in the starlit night made my head dizzy with enthusiasm. Something powerful was taking hold of me and she was the anchor, keeping me steady against the strong current. When I was with her, I wanted to be brave. It was stupid and irresponsible given her current state, but I wanted to take a chance with her. To show her every crack in my soul, only so that she’d know she was not alone in the pain she felt.
Brianna Remus is a Florida-based author who lives with her husband, three pups, and terrorizing cat. She started her writing journey in 2016 to ward off the woes of graduate school. The light-hearted hobby quickly turned into a passion filled dream that consistently distracts her from the real world.
When Brianna isn't working as a psychology resident or writing books, you can find her getting lost in the worlds created by others (through writing and movies), spending a day at the ocean, or taking a walk in the forest. She loves to spend her days outdoors surrounded by the beauties of nature.
A true Tolkien nerd, she also spends a lot of her time immersed in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as well as praying that Amazon doesn't completely fuck up the new LOTR series.
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