Early this year, author Mina V. Esguerra and Buqo came up with #buqosteamyreads, a writing workshop aimed to create mature short stories for readers 18 and older. Lots of authors came to play, resulting in five bundles of steamy goodness. One of them is Halina Cabrera's Boyfriend-Stealing Bitch:
Jess Rodriguez always gets what she wants. That's why no one in her office has difficulty believing she tried to steal the gorgeous Martin de Guzman from his perfect girlfriend, Eliza. Now, the label "boyfriend-stealing bitch" has been slapped on her. Plus, Martin has to leave for the U.S. and Jess is left all alone to pick up the pieces.
Two years later, Martin shows up in the most unlikely of places: at Jess’s weekend getaway with her boyfriend, Joey. Will it be his turn to steal her away on a hot summer night? Is she finally going to claim the title she was so unfairly given back then?
Here's a short excerpt from Boyfriend-Stealing Bitch--and I guarantee you, you'll want to read more:
The week goes by really fast. And the next thing I know, we’re having a despedida party for Martin at a bar in Makati. Everyone’s there, and group pictures are being taken left and right. Martin, however, looks distant. He smiles and acts normally, but I know something’s wrong because he has that look on his face. Drinks in hand, I lead him away from the fray toward a balcony cocktail table far from the bar.
“Are you okay?” I ask him.
“I feel like shit. Eliza’s not talking to me.” I should have known.
“Maybe you should go patch up things with her.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I should,” he says, but he stays where he is. He’s quiet and, I suspect, a little tipsy, if not drunk.
“You could always go home.”
“Yeah.”
“Look, you’re in no condition to drive. Let me just call you a cab.” I start to head back toward the bar, but he puts his hand on my arm.
“Not yet, Jess,” he says. There’s a plea in his voice. His hand is warm on my skin. I’m not a very touchy-feely kind of person. And I’m sure we must have grazed elbows or arms at some point in the past, but this feels funny. Well, at least, the feel of his hand on my arm is making me feel funny. I know I should walk away, but I don’t.
“Just stay with me for a while.” I don’t say anything.
His hand is still on my arm.
“I’m going to miss you,” he says.
“I’ll miss you too.”
“Say it like you mean it.”
I look at his face. What is going on with him? Is it the alcohol talking?
“Look, Martin, I think you’ve had too much to drink—”
His hand has traveled up to my shoulder, and before I know it, he’s gently stroking my cheek and jaw. My heart is hammering in my chest. I know I should pull away, but stupid me, I feel frozen in place. I’m still waiting for something to make sense. Or I’m enjoying the way he’s touching me. I don’t know. Or maybe I’m realizing that he looks even better when his skin is slightly flushed.
“Jessica,” he says. He’s never said my whole name like that, like a half whisper. And then he’s kissing me. Slowly, at first, then hungrily. I can smell the vodka on his breath mixing with the scent of his cologne. I don’t know how it happened, but his arms are around me, and I’m leaning into his body. What am I doing? is the last thing on my mind before we hear a gasp behind us.
“Oh my God, Jess Rodriguez, you are a boyfriend-stealing BITCH!”
And there’s Eliza, tears streaming down her face. I think the whole floor has heard her.
Ready to read more? Download the Buqo app (http://bit.ly/buqodroid on Android and http://bit.ly/buqoapple for iOS) to get this short story and the rest of the Passion Bundle:
Landing Dr. Right by Rylie Miranda
When Kayla Navarro storms Dr. Alexander J. Thomson's office to chew him out for his awful treatment of her mom, the last person she expects to see is AJ-slash-Alex, the hot, arrogant cousin of her best friend. Sparks ensue between them, but to Kay's discomfort, it's not just annoyance that she feels. The aloof half-Brit knows exactly how to get under her skin, and she’s not against giving as good as she gets.
Alex scores himself an invite to her out-of-town birthday celebration, and it’s only a matter of time until fireworks explode. In the close confines of their vacation rental, there’s no escaping him. Will Kay find out that she was right about him all along, or will she land herself a doctor she never thought she needed?
Love Under Cover by Mia del Socorro
Jake and Nicole have been close family friends for many years. He first met her as a shy thirteen-year-old tomboy, saw her through high school, watched over her as she went through the Philippine Military Academy, where he himself graduated, and continued to keep tabs on her through her early years in the Philippine Army.
A special undercover mission in the isolated foothills of the Cordilleras will place both of them in grave danger. Will it also bring them to a new frontier in their relationship?
Passion Within the Stone Walls by Kali Ragilles
Sometimes, it’s okay to be selfish…
Unless you’re Paige De Guia, whose only concern is to make sure all the bloggers under her charge enjoy themselves during their sponsored trip. Everything goes as planned, until she meets a handsome and mysterious tough guy on the way to the island of Sabtang in Batanes.
And just like that, Paige’s priorities turn upside down.
Plus, you can join the giveaway to get the chance to win great prizes:
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