Addicted for Now (ADDICTED SERIES) by Krista Ritchie
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Addicted for Now (ADDICTED SERIES)

by

Krista Ritchie

(Author)

4.4

-

6,994 ratings


The TikTok sensation Addicted series continues with Addicted For Now, now in a print edition with special bonus material!

He's addicted to booze. She's addicted to sex...staying sober is only half the battle.

No. More. Sex.

Those are the three words Lily Calloway fears the most. But Loren Hale is determined to be with Lily without enabling her dangerous compulsions. With their new living situation—sleeping in the same bed, for real, together—Lily has new battles. Like not jumping Lo's bones every night. Not being consumed by sex and his body.

Loren plans to stay sober, to right all of his wrongs. So when someone threatens to expose Lily's secret to her family and the public, he promises that he'll do anything to protect her. But with old enemies surfacing, Lo has more at stake than his sobriety.

And his worst fear isn't relapsing. He hears the end. He sees it. The one thing that could change everything. Just three words.

No. More. Us.

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ISBN-10

0593639596

ISBN-13

978-0593639597

Print length

560 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Berkley

Publication date

March 20, 2023

Dimensions

8.18 x 1.18 x 2.07 inches

Item weight

14.6 ounces


Product details

ASIN :

B00H06NGBM

File size :

2536 KB

Text-to-speech :

Enabled

Screen reader :

Supported

Enhanced typesetting :

Enabled

X-Ray :

Enabled

Word wise :

Enabled


Editorial reviews

"I. LOVE. THIS. SERIES. Addictive, heartfelt, emotional, and sexy with great writing and a unique storyline that really stands apart in the New Adult romance genre." ~ Aestas Book Blog

"WOW! I've never really had an ultimate favorite NA couple before, but I think I've found the one! Lil and Lo, hands down, is now my favorite!!" ~ Forever Me Romance

"The writing in this book (and the two prior) is absolutely phenomenal. I'm just blown away by it." ~ My Secret Romance

"I am deeply, obsessed, addictive, in love, with this series. It touches me very deep down to my soul. I have never felt a connection the way I feel when reading this series." ~ Amber's Reading Room


Sample

One

Lily Calloway

Of all the days in the month, I have to be stuck in traffic on the one that means the most to me. I try not to badger Nola, my family's driver, on our ETA to the house I share with Rose. Instead, I anxiously shift on the leather seat and rapidly text my sister.

Is he already there? Please say no, please tell me I haven't missed his homecoming. I'm supposed to wait on the white wrap-around porch of our secluded house in Princeton, New Jersey: many acres of lush land, a crystal-blue pool, black shutters. The only thing it's missing is the picket fence. I'm supposed to give him a tour of the cozy living room and the granite kitchen, leading him upstairs to the bedrooms where I sleep. He won't be in one of the two guest rooms. Nope, he'll be making residence in mine for the first time ever.

And maybe awkwardness will linger at the idea of sharing a bed and a bathroom day and night, at the idea of cohabitating beyond a kitchen. Our relationship will be one-hundred percent real, and there'll be no nightcaps of bourbon or whiskey. I'll be able to say don't do that. And he'll be able to grip my wrists, keeping me from compulsively climaxing until I pass out.

We're supposed to help each other.

For the past three months, that's what we've planned. And if I'm not there to greet him-then I've already messed up in some way. After three whole months of being physically apart, I thought I'd be able to get this right-the celebration of his return from rehab. On top of desperately wanting to touch him, for him to hold me in his arms, I feel a sudden wave of guilt. Please be late like me is all I think.

The text pings, and I open the message, a knot tightening my stomach.

He's unpacking-Rose

My face falls, and a lump rises to my throat. I can just picture his expression as he opened the car door, expecting me to fling my arms around him and start sobbing into his shoulder at his arrival. And I'm not there.

Was he upset? I text back. I bite my nails, my pinkie starting to bleed a little. The habit has made my fingers look ghastly these past ninety days.

He seemed okay. How much longer will you be?-Rose

She must hate being alone with him. They've never been good friends since I chose to spend time with Lo more than I do with her. But she's been kind enough to allow him to stay with us.

Maybe ten minutes. After I text her, I scroll through my contacts and land on Lo. I hesitate before I type another quick message. I'm so sorry. I'll be there soon.

Five slow minutes pass with no response, and I've squirmed so much on the seat that Nola asks if she needs to stop somewhere so I can use the bathroom. I decline. I'm so nervous that my bladder probably won't function properly anyway.

My phone buzzes in my hand, popping my heart from my ribcage. How was the doctor?-Lo

Rose must have clued him in on the reason for my absence. I scheduled my gynecologist appointment four months ago because she's crazily booked, and I would have canceled if I thought I'd be able to nab an appointment sometime soon. But that's doubtful. And it didn't help that my gynecologist is near the University of Pennsylvania in Philly, not even close to Princeton where I now live. Having to drive back has eaten up all of my time.

I had to wait for about an hour. She was running behind, I text.

After a long moment, a new message flashes. Everything's okay though?-Lo

Oh, that's what he was asking. I'm so hung up on missing his homecoming that I didn't think about him being worried. I type back. Yep, looks good. I cringe, wondering if that was a weird reply. I basically just said my vagina looks good-which is kinda strange.

See you soon-Lo

He has always been a brief texter, and right now, I'm cursing him for it. My paranoia grows and the pressure on my chest does not subside. I grip the door handle, about ready to stick my head out of the moving vehicle to puke. Dramatic, I realize, but with our situation-recovering alcoholic and a struggling sex addict-we're anything but mundane.

Ninety whole days passed and I stayed faithful to Lo. I saw a therapist. But sex still has a way of making me feel better, masking other emotions and filling a deep hollowness. I'm trying to find the healthy kind and not the compulsive "I have to fuck every day" type of sex. I'm still uncomfortable talking about it, but at least I made progress the same way Lo did in rehab.

My mind whirls right up until Nola pulls into my driveway. All thoughts vacuum out into another dimension, and I dazedly say thanks and drift from the car. Purple hydrangeas frame the three-story house, rocking chairs lined in a row on the porch, and an American flag clings against a metal pole near a weeping willow.

I try to inhale the peacefulness and bury my anxiety, but I end up choking on springtime pollen, coughing into my arm. Why does the prettiest season also have to be the most foul?

I shouldn't hesitate in the front yard. I should rush right inside and finally touch the man that plagues my fantasies. But I wonder how different he will seem up close in person. I worry about the awkwardness from being apart for so long. Will we fit the same way we used to? Will I feel the same in his arms? Or will everything be irreparably different?

I muster a bit of courage to walk forward. And by the time I climb the porch, the door swings open. I freeze on the highest stair and watch the screen door clatter into the side of the house. Then he emerges, wearing a pair of dark jeans, a black tee, and an arrowhead necklace I gave him for his twenty-first birthday.

I open my mouth to say something, but I can't stop my eyes from grazing every inch of him. The way his light brown hair is styled, full on top, shorter on the sides. The way his cheekbones sharpen to make him look deadly and gorgeous. The way he reaches up and rubs his lips, as though hoping they'll touch mine. He rakes my body with the same impatience, and then his head tilts to the side, our eyes finally meeting.

"Hi," he says, breaking into a breathtaking smile. His chest falls heavily, nearly in sync with my uneven rhythm.

"Hi," I whisper. A large distance separates us, reminding me of when he first left for rehab. Picking up a foot and closing the gap feels like crawling up a ninety-degree angle. I need him to help me reach the top.

He takes a step near me, snapping the tension. All these sensations burst in my belly. I love him so much. I missed him so much. For three months, I felt the pain of being separated from my best friend while trying to fight my sexual compulsions. I needed him to tell me that everything was going to be okay.

I needed him by my side, but I would never take him away from rehab for my benefit, not when it would be detrimental to his recovery. And I want Lo to be healthy more than anything. And I want him to be happy.

"I'm back," he murmurs.

I try to restrain my tears, but they flow unwillingly, sliding from the creases of my eyes. I should be emerging from the doorway to greet him, and he should be the one lingering on the porch stairs. Why are we so backward all the time?

"I'm sorry," I tell him, wiping my eyes slowly. "I should have been here an hour ago . . ."

He shakes his head and his brows pinch together like don't worry about that.

I stare at the length of him again with a more confident nod. "You look good." I can't tell that he's sober exactly. He hasn't lost that look in his eye-the one that seems to kiss my soul and trap me altogether. But he's not beaten or withered or gaunt. In fact, he has more muscle to his name, his biceps supremely cut. And after a Skype session some time ago, I know his whole body matches those arms.

I wait for him to say so do you, but his eyes trail me once more, and I watch the way his chest collapses and his face twists in pain.

I blink. "What is it?" I glance down at my body. I wear jeans and a loose-fitting V-neck, nothing out of the ordinary. I wonder if I spilled coffee on my jeans or something, but I don't see what he does.

Instead of telling me what worries him, he inches forward, the deep hurt in his eyes frightening me. What did I do wrong? I shuffle back-a reaction I hardly would have predicted for today. I nearly stumble down the stairs, but his arm swoops around my waist, drawing me to his chest, saving me from a plummet into the grass below.

His warmness snares me, and I clutch his arms, afraid to let go. He stares intensely before his gaze drifts to my arms . . . my hands. He peels one off his bicep, his fingers skimming over mine, stealing the breath right from my lungs. He raises my hand in between us and then lifts my elbow, giving me a good view of my arm.

My chest sinks, realizing the source of his confusion and hurt.

"What the hell, Lil?" he says.

I scratched my arm raw during the last therapy session yesterday, and an ugly red welt will most likely scab tomorrow. Even with gross, bitten fingernails, I managed to irritate my skin.

Lo inspects my nails, his nose flaring to hold back even more emotion.

"I'm fine. I was just . . . anxious yesterday. Therapy was harder. You were coming home . . ." I don't want to talk about this now. I want him to hold me. I want our reunion to be epic-The Notebook worthy. And my stupid anxiety and bad habit has ruined the perfect outcome I imagined. I reclaim my hand and touch his jaw, forcing him to stop focusing on my problems. "I'm okay."

The words feel a little false. I am not one-hundred percent okay. These past three months were a test I could have easily failed. At times, I thought giving up was better than fighting. But I made it. I'm here.

Lo's here.

That's all that matters.

His arms suddenly slide around my back, and he melds my body to his. His lips brush the top of my ear, sending shivers spiraling across my neck. He whispers, "Please don't lie to me."

My mouth falls. "I didn't . . ." But I can't finish because tears begin to pool, burning on their way down. I grip his shoulders, holding him tighter, afraid he plans to pull away and leave me broken on the porch. "I'm sorry," I choke. "Don't go . . ."

He edges back, and I cling harder, desperate and afraid. He's a lifeline I cannot quantify or articulate. I depend on him more than any girl should depend on a boy, but he's been the backbone of my life. Without him, I will fall.

"Hey." He gathers my face in his hands. His glassy eyes bring me back to reality. To the fact that he feels my pain just as I feel his. That's the problem. We hurt so much for each other that it's hard to say no. It's hard to take away the vice that will numb the agony of the day. "I'm here," he says, a silent tear dripping down his cheek. "We're going to beat this together."

Yes. "Can you kiss me?" I ask, wondering if that's allowed. My therapist handed me a white envelope filled with my sexual limitations-what I should and should not do. She advised me not to read it and to give it to Lo instead. Since I'm supposed to strive for intimacy, not celibacy, I need to relinquish my control in bed to him. He'll set the guidelines and tell me when to stop.

I handed the envelope to Rose yesterday and told her to deliver it to Lo just in case I chickened out. As concerned as Rose has been for my recovery process, I'm sure that was the first thing she did when Lo walked through the door.

I have no idea how many times I can kiss him. How much I can climax or if I'm allowed to have sex anywhere other than a bedroom. I'm so compulsive about intercourse and foreplay that limits have to be set, but following them will be the hardest part of my journey.

His thumb wipes away my tears, and I brush his. I wait for his answer, my eyes glued to his lips that I want to kiss until they sting and swell. His forehead lowers, dipped down toward mine, and I become so aware of how his fingers press into my hips, of the hardness of his body. I need him to close that gap between us. I need him to fill me whole.

Hastily, I meet my lips to his, expecting him to lift me up around his waist, to plunge his tongue in my mouth and slam my back into the siding.

But he doesn't give in to my desires.

He leans back and breaks the kiss in a matter of seconds. My stomach drops. Lo rarely tells me no when it comes to sex. He'll play into my cravings until I'm wet and wanting. Things, I realize, are about to really change. "My terms," he whispers, his voice husky and deep.

My whole body already pulses from his nearness. "Please," I beg. "I haven't touched you in so long." I want to run my hands over him. I want him to thrust into me until I cry. I imagine it over and over, torturing myself with these carnal thoughts. But I also want to be strong and not throw myself at him like he's only a body I missed. He means so much more to me. Maybe he's hurt by my persistence to kiss him? Maybe he sees it as a bad sign? "I'm sorry," I apologize again. "It's not that I want you for sex . . . I mean, I do want sex, but I want you because I miss you . . . and I love you, and I need . . ." I shake my head. My words sound stupid and desperate.

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About the authors

Krista Ritchie

Krista Ritchie

Krista & Becca Ritchie are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and identical twins--one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek--but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.

For more information visit www.kbritchie.com

Stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more by signing up for Krista & Becca's newsletter. To sign up, copy and paste this link into your browser: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter

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Reviews

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

6,994 global ratings

Sue @ Hollywood News Source

Sue @ Hollywood News Source

5

One of the best series, New Adult genre could ever offer!

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2013

Verified Purchase

I've been in a book slump for months, I started reading a lot of books and none of those entertained me. If nothing else, it made me feel annoyed, bored and completely numb. Anyway I was so excited to read Addicted For Now. Ricochet left me in a disastrous state and I was hoping my reaction and feelings toward the sequel would be as intense, even though there's always a fear when reading the second book in your favorite series, a concern that it might fall in the sequel syndrome. You can now sleep peacefully because Addicted For Now is even better than the first two books and, yes, that is possible!

Addicted For Now was an easy read for me in the sense that it grabbed me from the moment I started reading it. The plot flowed smoothly, I lovde every inch of it. Becca and Krista does a very excellent job of giving the readers exactly what they want. Addicted For Now is undeniably a brutal and painful book and it also is a unique source of humor and great comebacks, and a beautiful romance like nothing you have read before.

I'll be honest. I was skeptical with the dual POV initially because I have never liked male point of view, but upon reading the first five lines in Lo's chapter, I was sold. There's no going back. The transition between Lily and Lo's chapter flow very smoothly, and I love it. Their back-and-forth point of view isn't confusing and it won't make you puke like some books I know.

The character arcs of Lo, Lily, Daisy, Ryke, Connor, Rose and the rest of the characters of this series are so beautiful and very well developed. It's not very hard to miss that they grow throughout this installment. The Ritchie ladies excellently write a bunch of characters who are fully fleshed, authentic, and have depth. You couldn't help but to root for and emphasize with them.

One of the many reasons I love the Addicted Series is the beautiful relationship of the Calloway sisters and the `Ryke x Lo' bromance. It was so entertaining to read, especially the witty, great banter between the characters. I could never NOT laugh!

Let's talk about the romance. Addicted For Now solidifies the relationship of Lily and Lo. They weren't just your ordinary boyfriend and girlfriend relationship. They are each other's anchor. They helped each other to cope in a lot of ways, it's so admiriable. And I really appreciate the fact that a lot of people are helping them to get better. There's a bit of back-story and I personally think it was so cute and it helps to know the characters in a different light, and a handful of times, they reduced me to tears. Connor and Rose, I love their on and off relationship, their genius quarrels/arguments are one of the most entertaining things I've ever read. drum rolls Ryke and Daisy! Ta-da! It's not a secret they are my favorite pair. I swear I didn't expect to ship it this hard. I love their endless `not so flirting' conversation. There's so much tension and stuff going on. I literally can't keep up with them. All I can say is I will literally go down with this ship and I'm so stoked for their own story, Hothouse Flower.

I have so much love for Addicted For Now, I couldn't express it enough with words. It made my heart ache, made me cry a bucket of tears and Its worth it. Addicted For Now is a great follow to a well written new adult series.

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3 people found this helpful

Rhea

Rhea

5

Absolutely phenomenal. Deserves 5++ addicting stars...

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

Fun-effin-tastic! This just keeps on getting better, saucier and sexier...lol! Totally addicting from start to finish. The writing is really good...really, really good. What I loved the most about this series is the way the author developed the characters, where each one totally added more depth into the story. Each character was written uniquely on their own, allowing us readers to have a love/hate relationship with each one of them, taking all their flaws and perfections and creating a special bond with them at the end. I can't help but love these characters so much that I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. In this book, I've got to know them in a much deeper level and how their roles in Lo & Lily's lives acted out so perfectly in-tuned into their road to recovery. Their witty banters never fails to amaze me every time they're in the same room together. God, these characters are flawed in some ways yet that's what makes them more human and endearing.

In this part of the series, I was able to experience the highs and lows of Lily and Lo's life, after his rehab stint and now dealing with the biggest threat of their life. Most especially Lily's life. Something that would definitely put her life to shame, not just hers actually but also Lo. With this threat, fear and guilt started to eat Lily and Lo away, making it harder for both of them to cope up with their addiction. My heart broke for them, knowing that they were really struggling to be better individuals and live out a normal and healthy life. Some people are just so wicked that they'd do anything for revenge, not even caring what the consequences would be. Evil, right? Yeah, I know. But it also made my heart swell that despite all these things, Lo and Lily remained loyal, honest, supportive and loving to each other. There were a lot of weak moments that made me doubt and put myself in a panic mode, but in the end, their unconditional love to each other pulled them together and made them survive everything. This story brought me hope and sense of awareness in the life's real issues. This was painful to read at first but the message being conveyed is all worth it.

Everything about this book is phenomenal. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. I'll be patiently waiting for the next book in the series. Come pretty fast 2014!!!!

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Sharon Hedden

Sharon Hedden

5

such a wonderful story in Lo and Lily’s growth

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2024

Verified Purchase

These stories are so wonderful. And beautiful. And heartbreaking. And fun. And sad. And happy. And infuriating at moments. And I mean the story line. Some things that happen to these great characters is just so terrible. But in the end it all is working out. I love the realness of these stories. They get so down right real with the emotions. And there are a lot of emotions. And what comes with that is growth. I love these characters so much. And watching them grow and to continue to grow is awesome. These books are so worth your time. I really do not think you will be sorry for reading them. I highly, highly recommend. Lo and Lily are…. I can’t even give these two the right words. They are just everything. I hope you read them. I am falling for them more and more with each book. And it will be wonderful to read more about Connor and Rose and Daisy and Ryke. And more for Lo and Lily! Love them all. Enjoy.

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