by Piper Rayne
“You have too.” He takes off the apron that’s covering his button down and dress pants and tosses it aside. “Come with me.”
Brandon catches my hand and pulls me out into the main bar and into the back room where he locks the door behind us. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, why?”
He grins, backing me against the door. “Because you’re running around panicking for no reason.”
“I—” the words die on my lips when he gives me a look. He’s right. I’ve been checking details over and over and over, nervous. People are already gathering outside for the party and I just want it to go well. After everything.
Brandon leans down and kisses me. Not a gentle kiss like when he teases me. It’s deliberate—a distraction from everything—and it’s working. His tongue slips against mine, drawing me out and begging me to focus on the here and now. The inevitable warmth that sinks through my skin as he runs his hands down my arms.
“It’s going to be perfect,” he says, pulling back.
“Are you sure?”
He nods. “I’m sure. But right now we actually have something else that we have to deal with.”
“What?”
“I was going to wait to do this later,” he says with a smile, “but suddenly I feel like now is the perfect time.”
“Brandon wh—”
He’s bending down in front of me, and I suddenly realize that he’s on one knee, and one of my hands is in his. My left one. Holy shit.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a ring. No box, it just rests in his palm. A beautiful red stone surrounded by tiny white ones that look like diamonds. My mind is completely blank. Is this actually happening?
“I know that by a lot of people’s standards, this is fast. But you and I have lived a lifetime in the seven months since we met, and I can’t imagine ever going back to a life without you.” He smiles and squeezes my hand. “Will you marry me?”
“Is this real?”
“It’s real.”
“Like you’re sure?” I ask. “I’m not hallucinating?”
He laughs, “Ellie—”
“Yes. Of course, yes.” I’ve never been as happy as I’ve been with Brandon these last six months. Even with him having to travel, he’s been with me more often than not. When he’s gone, Jack complains. I swear that he likes Brandon better than he likes me. “I’ll marry you.”
He slips the ring on my finger, and it’s perfect. Gorgeous. “Red,” he says, lifting it up so I can see. “I thought it was appropriate.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
I blush as he kisses me, pressing me back against the door again. “And you’re still worried, even after that.”
“I can’t help it.”
He sighs in mock despair. “I guess there’s only one solution. I’m going to have to fuck the worry out of you.”
“Brandon, there are people here and people outside waiting to get in.”
“Then we better make it fast,” he says, unbuckling his pants.
I shake my head. “We can’t.”
Brandon lifts my chin so I’m looking at him. “That party out there is for us. In celebration of our success. We can do whatever the hell we want. And what I want? Is to make my fiancé come so she can’t think about anything else but my cock.”
“Fuck, Brandon.”
“That’s the plan.”
The dress I’m wearing for this party is long and flowing, and thin enough that I’m not wearing any underwear because of seeing the lines beneath. And he knows that—he was there when I got dressed.
Fingers slide down my hips, and he gathers my skirt higher and higher, still staring at me. “Say yes, Ellie.” Slipping his hand between my legs, he teases me, slowly dragging his fingers over my clit. My body responds to him like it always does. He knows how to play me like a first chair violinist. “I want to see if you feel different with that ring on your finger,” he whispers roughly.
“You know I won’t.”
“Only one way to find out.”
I shudder, and nod. I’m growing wet under his fingers, and he’s doing exactly what he wanted to—distracting me. He lifts me up and presses my back against the door, dress pooling around my hips, and eases into me until we’re locked together.
We stopped using condoms regularly a while ago, though I’m still on the pill. But both of us know that if something were to happen, neither of us would mind. And that right there is just one of the many reasons I know I want to marry him. The idea of starting a family in this town is no longer scary.
And right now he feels so good as he starts to move. It’s been a couple days since we’ve been together, both exhausted from prepping for the day, and he just got back from a trip. I can’t believe I waited this long to have him inside me again.
“Still thinking about the party?” He asks.
“No.”
A smirk. “Good.”
The door jostles as he thrusts harder, and I can’t bring myself to care at all. The only thing that I can think about is him and the way he’s filling me up. It’s all too much and not enough, wringing pleasure from me and pushing it into me all at once.
“Next time you leave,” I force out the words, “This is the first thing on the agenda when you get home. It’s been too long.”
He slams his mouth down on mine, and kisses me breathless. “When we get home tonight I’ll be sure to make up for lost time.”
Brandon reaches between us, stroking my clit hard and fast, driving me up to the edge. He’s driving into me with force that makes me blind, not allowing me to hold back even for a second. I’m so ready for him after days of deprivation that I’m already shaking, shattering, and the only thing that keeps me from screaming is another brutal kiss.
He doesn’t stop. Fucking harder and faster, until I break. Ecstasy pours over me in a wave, golden light filling me up until it’s all I see. I moan into his mouth, trembling in his arms as the orgasm works its way through me and out. I’m falling into the aftershocks as he keeps going, his own pleasure hitting him seconds later.
Brandon groans, his lips falling to my neck as he fills me with heat. “You’re fucking incredible,” he whispers. “And now you’re all mine.”
“I’m all yours.”
We come to stillness and catch our breath. Holy fuck. I’m engaged, and I just had sex in the back of my bar. We were not subtle. Everyone probably knows. And I still don’t care. “I love you. So much.”
“And I love you. Now let’s go out there and have a kickers launch party, and enjoy the moment that we’ve worked hard for.”
And so we do. We clean up and put ourselves back together, and to everyone’s credit, they don’t say anything when we come into the main space, in spite of the fact that we were fucking against the door.
It’s Jenna that notices first. “Oh my god, is that what I think it is?” She’s pointing to the ring.
“Maybe,” I hold it up. “What do you think?”
She squeals and tackles me in a hug. “I’m so fucking happy for you!”
The staff notices too, and they’re happier than I imagined they would be. Brandon has been integral to Granny’s these last few months, and he’s a part of the family. It feels good to be surrounded by celebration, and I am calmer.
Dammit.
I hate that he was right.
“All right,” Jenna says, coming over to me in the swarm of people. “The display of sauce is ready, the line is out the block, and people are clamoring to get in here. You ready?”
I take Brandon’s hand. “Now or never.”
There’s no way we could have anticipated the amount of people that would show up. There’s way, way more than we could ever fit inside Granny’s. Even though we brought in more crates of sauce than we ever thought we could sell, we’re almost running out.
People stream in and out, and I swear the whole town has stopped by at some point to congratulate me. The o
ld guard is set up in a corner around my grandmother, and she’s regaling her friends with her best stories like the queen she is. When I have a free moment, she waves me over.
“A little birdie told me that you have a new piece of jewelry.”
I offer my hand for her inspection. “I do.”
“Appropriate words,” she smiles. “Are you happy?”
“More than I ever hoped to be.”
Grandma nods. “I know. You can see it. It falls off you like glitter, Ellie. I’m happy for you.”
“Well I wouldn’t be here without you.”
She snorts. “Damn right. Now send that fiancé of yours over here with a shot of whiskey so I can give him a talking to.”
“Grandma.”
She smirks. “It’s going to happen sometime. Might as well be now when there are witnesses.”
“I want him in one piece,” I tell her, rolling my eyes.
There’s a bunch of bright flashes by the door, and some shouting as Kira walks into the party. This time there was no avoiding the paparazzi. Though amazingly, true to Kira’s word, they’ve left me alone. They really are truly afraid of her.
I wave. “You came!”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss this.” She sweeps me into a hug and the cameras flash again.
Brandon appears by my side. “Glad you could make it.”
She smiles. “Me too.”
“Oh, fiancé,” I say to Brandon. “My grandmother has demanded your presence and a shot of whiskey. I think she’s going to put the fear of god into you.”
He chuckles and pulls me close to kiss my temple. “Nothing I can’t handle,” he says, and starts weaving through the crowd to get that shot.
Kira grabs my hand as soon as he’s gone. “When did this happen?!”
“About an hour ago.”
“Holy shit, congratulations!” She hugs me again and then pulls me over to the bar and waves down one of my very busy employees. “We need a shot, because you’re celebrating. In more ways than one.”
She hands me the drink, and I raise an eyebrow. “Is there something that I don’t know?”
Kira grins. “Actually, there is. I dug a little deeper into our mutual unfortunate acquaintance. And as it turns out, his phone wasn’t hacked at all.”
“What?” I stare at her. “What does that mean?”
“It means that the asshole realized that he was getting in too deep with both of us and needed a way out that didn’t make him look like a total fucking prick. He leaked those photos of you to set you up. Which, coincidentally, is very much against the law. Specifically, the whole bunch of new sex crime laws that New York passed last year.”
“I…” I shake my head. “What the fuck.”
She checks her phone. “As of about…six hours ago, Chris Sterling was arrested. By morning it’s going to be on every tabloid in the known world, and people are abandoning his brand like rats on a sinking ship.”
Kira clinks her shot against mine and throws it back. And I take mine too. “I’m equally horrified and happy about that.”
“As you should be. But celebrate it, because your star is rising, baby, and we’re gonna help you shine.”
Brandon’s hand slips around my waist. “We’re in the clear,” he says softly.
“I did tell her I needed you in one piece.”
“I appreciate that.”
Kira grabs a glass and a fork and taps on it until the entire bar goes quiet. “Here’s to the happy couple, and the future of Granny’s!”
The whole party cheers, and emotion washes over me. I never imagined that things could be this perfect, and when Brandon leans down to kiss me, I know that it’s going to stay that way.
* * *
The End
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About the Author
Riley James
Riley writes steamy romances for your untamed side. She lives in Montana with her grumpy orange cat. When Riley’s not writing, she takes walks by the river, continues her quest to find the best hot chocolate in the world, and buys way too many art supplies.
She’s currently working on bringing you more filthy stories. The dirtier, the better!
Read more from Riley
rileyjamesromance.com
* * *
Ann C. Orlandi
Ann is a fan of good whiskey and better music. She lives with her cat, too many candles and even more books!
* * *
Read more from Ann
creativelycarrie.com
Dive
By Selene Drake
Selene Drake
Princess Talia, a mermaid, of the Malawi Tribe, is captivated by the world above their lake and when the Queen sends her on a trip she meets Xander, a mercenary shapeshifting centaur. The man sent to abduct her mother to disrupt the Dakes Empire and he ends up with Talia instead. These enemies soon learn fate has another plan in store.
* * *
Dive is an enemies to lovers, fated mates romance and an adult fairytale retelling.
* * *
Together Talia and Xander write a love story meant to grab your heart and believe in one true love.
DIVE. Copyright © 2020 by Selene Drake.
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organization and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
* * *
ISBN-13: 978-1-950405-26-8 (paperback)
Printed in the United States of America.
1
“Aim. Release.” I mumble beneath my breath. Then I spot a fish zigzagging across the range. I thrust my limp arms in front of my body, trying to decide when’s the right time to shoot.
“You can’t hesitate. Focus, Talia.” Bianca yells.
Energy waves from my tail, through my torso, and out my fingertips in a wave of pale blue light. I shut my eyes and release it.
“You missed Talia.”
I open my eyes. Too slow, again. I push my glasses up my nose, watching my failed attempt swim off into the darkness, knowing her chastising is next.
Bianca is my oldest sister. She’s usually the most patient with my efforts to stop being so freaking awkward. I begged her to help me practice, and after hours of practice, I don’t notice a change.
“Talia.”
Wait… that sounds like…
I spin around and lock gazes with our mother, Queen Frances of the Malawi Kingdom. I haven’t met many queens, however, I doubt any compare to her in stature, beauty, or strength. And as one of her six daughters, those traits conveniently jumped over me and blessed my sisters in abundance. Which makes my obvious differences annoying, especially with Bianca’s recent engagement.
I’m officially the last princess left. The Creator has jokes, and with his oversight this means one day I will reign over this kingdom.
I, Talia Hudson, will be queen of Malawi. Maybe Mother will consider adding a seventh daughter on her itinerary because this doesn’t look good for any of us.
I float over to them, and Bianca looks the way I feel. Defeated. The weight of my reality makes my plunder feel like an anchor chained to my tail.
I need to find an official initiative to contribute to my office. Bianca and I thought security and military personnel was an option. But after shooting today, I’m canning this idea.
“Maybe next time, sis.” Bianca tugs on a curl loose from my braid.
I know all the facts to make myself useful. We have a strategic advantage because of our location in Imperial Bay, Oregon. Our kingdom provides access to fresh and sea water with tunnels that take us so far into the mainland that we’re able to assist the gifted whether by land, lake, or sea.
I know the history of the Malawi Merfolk—a clan of freshwater mermaids and merman—like the number of scales on my iridescent fish tail. The strength of our guard, thanks to our coed military and our location in the depths of the Malawi Falls. But the introvert in me finds a way to sweat in water. Mumbling through every presentation. It seems I’m only good at embarrassing my title and my parents.
How do they expect me to rule this kingdom?
I cringe under Mother’s scrutiny. Her pinched expression tells me she’s frustrated. I would be too. She has six daughters, all destined for other waters except one. Me.
Training to lead a kingdom is hard work. I have potential but at what I can’t figure out. I’ve tried all the major initiatives.
Economics.
Hospitality.
Tourism.
I’m an odd mermaid. Most relish in attracting the attention of others. How else can you explain our flashy tails, polished shells, and the pearls embedded in our skin?
Then today, I’m showing why I should never be trusted to guard a living soul, not even my own. Because I can’t shoot to save my life.
The armed guard is out. Now to tell mother. I swim over to her with my head so low that my lip drags across the lakebed.
“Mother. I know this is required training. But I much rather spend my time in the library or maybe instructing the young mermaids.”
