Acknowledgments

So much gratitude for everyone who helped me with these books. I never expected the Stronghold Doms to receive as much love as they have or for the series to go on as long as it did! I didn’t think I’d be writing a book for Olivia or Jake, but I fell in love with them and once Sharon came along as Kate’s best friend I knew she needed her own story - and who it needed to be with.

A massive thank you to my beta readers - Marie, Annie, Karen, Sir Nick, Tris, and especially Katherine. These books were all made better because of your help.

Some extra special gratitude to several readers who contributed to Hardcore Vanilla:

Chelle, one of my former beta readers who actually came up with the name Hardcore Vanilla.

CoraLee June for all the creative euphemisms Sharon uses for her ladyparts.

Lanai Dameron for Sharon’s speech to her cousin.

And, as always, this is for my husband, whose support and love has made all of this possible.

Stripping the Sub

Book 8 of Stronghold Doms

Prologue

14 years ago

Eleanor hugged herself as she got onto the noisy school bus, her head slightly tucked under, shoulders rounded. The bus ride home was always the worst part of her day this year. The ride to school wasn’t nearly as bad because she was at the first bus stop, which meant she had first choice of seats. Unfortunately, for the ride home, she was always one of the last people on the bus because her seventh period class was so far away from the front doors of her high school.

No one wanted to sit at the back of the bus with the three jerks: Kevin, Ryan, and Lawrence. They were all sophomores on the football team and thought they were too good to be riding the bus. When they weren’t tormenting their fellow passengers, they spent their time talking about what kind of cars they’d be driving next year and what position they’d have on the football team. All of them bragged to each other about how they’d be starting, even though starting positions usually went to seniors, not juniors. Reality didn’t seem to matter to them.

Her steps faltered a little bit as she saw a new head sitting back there, in the very last seat, which Ryan usually claimed. Well, not new exactly, just unusual.

Mike. His head was tipped back against the seat, his eyes closed, and he looked like he was asleep.