House of Payne Series by Stacy Gail

Life is supposedly what you make of it, but that's crap as far as 3D artist, Becks Delgado is concerned. She never wanted her brother to die in a car accident... or to be the one who was behind the wheel. Her external scars are nothing compared to the raw wounds inside, and there are times when death seems to be the only way to find peace. Sebastian Payne took the concept of a tattoo parlor and transformed it into a sophisticated gallery of living art... moreLife is supposedly what you make of it, but that's crap as far as 3D artist, Becks Delgado is concerned. She never wanted her brother to die in a car accident... or to be the one who was behind the wheel. Her external scars are nothing compared to the raw wounds inside, and there are times when death seems to be the only way to find peace. Sebastian Payne took the concept of a tattoo parlor and transformed it into a sophisticated gallery of living art. House Of Payne now caters to the rich and infamous, has garnered a worldwide following and is run by Payne with an iron fist. He knows Becks is exactly what House Of Payne needs, but there's a problem. The accident that changed her life left its mark on him as well, and whether he likes it or not, it's time for Payne to put his House in order. **This is the first book of the House Of Payne trilogy, but each book can be read as a standalone. Not intended for readers under the age of 18 due to adult language and sexual content** less

Tattooist. Artist. Dreamer. Angel had been a schoolgirl when she came to House Of Payne, a displaced princess with only a fanciful imagination to her name. Now the world clamors for her designs, but that means nothing to Goth tattooist, Twist. Long ago she craved to see admiration in his sexy dark eyes, but after years of enduring his contempt, she’s given up. Leaving the House feels like running, but Twist makes it impossible to stay. Tattooist. Artist. Ex-Con... moreTattooist. Artist. Dreamer. Angel had been a schoolgirl when she came to House Of Payne, a displaced princess with only a fanciful imagination to her name. Now the world clamors for her designs, but that means nothing to Goth tattooist, Twist. Long ago she craved to see admiration in his sexy dark eyes, but after years of enduring his contempt, she’s given up. Leaving the House feels like running, but Twist makes it impossible to stay. Tattooist. Artist. Ex-Con. Two words came to Twist’s mind when he first saw Angel—jail bait. When he'd been released from prison for a crime he would commit again in a heartbeat, he'd nevertheless been determined to keep his nose clean. Too bad he couldn't stop from thinking about getting into the pants of the House’s fairy tale princess. But with a past like his, he’s no good for Angel. All he can do is watch over her from afar… whether she likes it or not. When Angel is injured, Twist appoints himself as her personal caretaker. She soon discovers that beneath his arrogant façade lies the heart of a devoted protector. She’s going to need that protection, as Twist’s past has made an unsettling reappearance. 90,000 words ***This is the third book in the House Of Payne series, but each book can be read as a standalone. Not intended for readers under the age of 18 due to adult language and sexual content*** less

The Last Thing She Wanted… From the moment Sass Stone overheard her social worker call her “broken,” she’s been hell-bent on proving her wrong. A broken woman doesn't have a posse of kickass friends, a foodie lover’s dream job and a string of pretty boys she enjoys playing with. Sure, she has scars, but they’re buried so far down no one even knows they’re there. Certainly her former foster brother, Rudolfo Panuzzi doesn’t know about them... moreThe Last Thing She Wanted… From the moment Sass Stone overheard her social worker call her “broken,” she’s been hell-bent on proving her wrong. A broken woman doesn't have a posse of kickass friends, a foodie lover’s dream job and a string of pretty boys she enjoys playing with. Sure, she has scars, but they’re buried so far down no one even knows they’re there. Certainly her former foster brother, Rudolfo Panuzzi doesn’t know about them. The man she’d dubbed “Rude” could sniff around all he wanted, but it wasn’t going to get him anywhere. He’d never get inside—her pants, or her heart. …Was The One Thing She Needed A dozen years and several combat tours in the Marines has a way of maturing a man, and Rude is no exception. His last mission killed his closest friends and almost killed him, leaving him with wounds on both body and soul. When he looks in the mirror, the haunted eyes staring back remind him far too much of his sexy little foster sister, Sass. That’s when he knows there’s more to her than he ever imagined… and he’s imagined one hell of a lot. When Want And Need Collide One by one, Rude destroys the defenses that have kept Sass locked inside herself. But even as she reluctantly allows him to coax her out of her shell, a dark cloud casts its shadow on their world. Is it something from his past… or hers? 109,000 words ***This is the fourth book in the House Of Payne series, but each book can be read as a standalone. Not intended for readers under the age of 18 due to adult language and sexual content*** less

House of Payne: Max TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains flashbacks of violence and drug abuse, and the impact of these factors on family members. If you have issues with these elements, this book is not for you.Chicago’s premiere tattoo studio, House Of Payne, is across the street from the Mad Cow diner, but it might as well be on another planet as far as waitress Paradise Simone is concerned... moreHouse of Payne: Max TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains flashbacks of violence and drug abuse, and the impact of these factors on family members. If you have issues with these elements, this book is not for you.Chicago’s premiere tattoo studio, House Of Payne, is across the street from the Mad Cow diner, but it might as well be on another planet as far as waitress Paradise Simone is concerned. She’s a good girl from Waukegan with a past she’d rather forget, and a future that goes only as far as the next day. What does she know about superstars and paparazzi?But Pari does know danger when she sees it, and tattooist Max Kulagin has it written all over him. A proper Waukegan girl should know to steer well clear, but she can’t resist Max when he leaves beautiful, intimate art sketched out on cheap diner napkins.Beautiful, intimate art…of her.Max knows ugliness. He was born in it. Raised in it. Had it shoved down his throat every goddamn day. So when he stumbles across true beauty, he worships it. There’s a deep sensuality in the waitress who likes to suck on her pen whenever he’s around, and he’s just the man to bring that beauty out in her. She might be a lady in the street, but one look at Pari tells him she’s going to be a freak in the bed.And in the shower.And while he’s driving with her head going to town in his lap.The life Max leads might be in the spotlight, but it’s Pari who gets caught in the glare. When her past catches up to her, it’s her life that holds all the excitement, and not in a good way. But there’s no force on earth that can take Max’s beautiful Paradise away now that he’s finally found it.93,000 Words***This standalone, mildly erotic contemporary romance contains a woman with an oral fixation and a man who’s happy to encourage it. There are multiple sex scenes that include oral sex. No cheating, no love triangles, no cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. Due to adult language and sexual content, this book is not intended for people under the age of eighteen*** less

Mysterious. Anonymous. Genius.No one knows the identity of the famous urban artist known only as Tag, and that’s just the way Tag likes it. He got his start in one of the most gang-ridden neighborhoods in Chicago by anonymously tagging his world with beautiful graffiti, and that anonymity kept him alive. Sure, Tag’s work is now so hot it’s being turned into tattoos at the greatest tattoo studio in the world, House of Payne, but he’s still not going to reveal himself. To anyone.Volatile... moreMysterious. Anonymous. Genius.No one knows the identity of the famous urban artist known only as Tag, and that’s just the way Tag likes it. He got his start in one of the most gang-ridden neighborhoods in Chicago by anonymously tagging his world with beautiful graffiti, and that anonymity kept him alive. Sure, Tag’s work is now so hot it’s being turned into tattoos at the greatest tattoo studio in the world, House of Payne, but he’s still not going to reveal himself. To anyone.Volatile. Passionate. Brilliant. Artist Ivy Gemelli is the last of her family. Mother—dead. Father—shot in his cab for fifty bucks. Uncle and brother—murdered in the family’s auto paint shop, which was then burned down to the ground. She’s the last one standing in a never-ending struggle to just freaking survive, and it’s made her tougher than nails. That’s why, when she sees her own art show up in Tag’s designs, she’s more than ready to go to war.Hot. Powerful. Irresistible. Tag wasn’t looking for a sexy complication like Ivy, but that’s exactly what he’s got. Her murdered brother’s long-ago lie brought them together, but now that Tag’s got Ivy in his sights, he’s not about to let her go. Ivy is all fire and fury, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep this sex-on-stilettos woman with him, even if he has to keep her in the dark about his past.***This standalone, hot contemporary romance contains a strong alpha male, mention of the sexual practice of edging, and a spank or two (or three). There are multiple, explicit sex scenes (you have been warned). No cheating, no love triangles, no cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. This book is not intended for readers under the age of 18***99,000 words less

“Got a name, my princess?”When Joelle Fielding attends a function for Chicago’s society elites, she’s stunned to find herself swept off her feet by a man who believes that not only is she a princess, but that she’s HIS princess. Falling in love at first sight isn’t a part of her career-oriented life goals, but with the sexy Gus Bloch insisting she’s meant for him, those life goals might be changing.By fourteen, Gus had been on his own on the Southside’s mean streets... more“Got a name, my princess?”When Joelle Fielding attends a function for Chicago’s society elites, she’s stunned to find herself swept off her feet by a man who believes that not only is she a princess, but that she’s HIS princess. Falling in love at first sight isn’t a part of her career-oriented life goals, but with the sexy Gus Bloch insisting she’s meant for him, those life goals might be changing.By fourteen, Gus had been on his own on the Southside’s mean streets. When life had been at its bleakest, he’d dreamed of his future and the kind of woman he would someday share his life with. One look at Joelle, and he knows he’s finally found her. Nothing will stop him from convincing her that he’s the man for her—not even Joelle herself.Joelle has never wanted anyone like she wants Gus, but all too soon insta-love and the demands of reality find themselves on a collision course. Is Gus really the man for her when he’s forced to see she’s no one’s princess?38,000 words***This novella is a standalone prequel to the novel, HOUSE OF PAYNE: LOKI. Because of that, this novella has only a small epilogue (sorry!). There are no love triangles, no cheating, and no cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. Due to adult language and sexual content, this novella is not intended for people under the age of eighteen.*** less

Baby steps…Mads Daniels may have landed at House Of Payne, but she sure as hell doesn’t want to be there. Her tattooist father started out with Payne, and his tales of the boss stealing artists’ work freaks her out in a big way. If Payne ever attempts to steal her art, she’ll have no choice but to unveil him as a fraud. And that could bring down House of Payne itself.Step by step…Sage McCormick never had a stable home until he joined House of Payne... moreBaby steps…Mads Daniels may have landed at House Of Payne, but she sure as hell doesn’t want to be there. Her tattooist father started out with Payne, and his tales of the boss stealing artists’ work freaks her out in a big way. If Payne ever attempts to steal her art, she’ll have no choice but to unveil him as a fraud. And that could bring down House of Payne itself.Step by step…Sage McCormick never had a stable home until he joined House of Payne. It’s such a sweet gig he’s even willing to get involved in events like its annual charity auction. Everything is just about perfect, except for the newest recruit, Mads. She refuses to fit in, and he’s determined to find out why. Getting her sexy ass involved in the auction is only the first step in getting close to her… in more ways than one.Leap of faithThe cocky charm Sage exudes like a pheromone bowls Mads over straight into his bed. But as Sage tries to coax her into thinking of the House as her new home, she realizes she has a decision to make—listen to the poison her father spews, or put her faith in the man she loves. less