A Thousand Starry Nights

by Addison Moore

  Tears come to my eyes, and I don’t fight them. I’ve fought back too many tears through the years—through all that hell— but this is the finish line. This is the reward.

  Aspen’s father hands her off to me, and I clasp my arms around her waist. She leans in and offers a simple kiss, and I indulge in something longer, stronger.

  The ceremony is short, simple, our vows, heartfelt, hewn over years of aching hearts. When it’s over, Abby skips down the aisle with us and spills a basketful of rose petals over her head. Aspen and I dance well into the night, under the starry, starry sky, and I can’t help but marvel how we’ve come full circle.

  When the guests finally disband for the night and Abby goes home with Aspen’s mother, her namesake, I carry my bride back to our bedroom. We’ve opted to honeymoon here, in our own private paradise. Abby will spend a few hours each day with Cher, under Abigail’s supervision. It’s ironic that the woman whose name she stole to hurt Aspen, is now the one who holds the reigns to Cher’s own motherhood. The irony may be rich, but Abby still needs her mother even if the visit is highly supervised. Abby lives with us now, full-time, and it’s been like a dream. Aspen is rubbing off on her, in a good way. Abby loves painting and building sand castles out on the beach until sunset. She doesn’t talk of makeup or shopping or expensive handbags, but I suppose everything in its season. I’m just glad she’s embracing the one earmarked for childhood at the moment.

  “To the bedroom.” I growl into Aspen’s neck and lay my beautiful bride over the mattress.

  “What’s this?” She marvels at the unfamiliar sight before her.

  “I had Stevie and Kinsley come up and work their magic.” I wave my hands at the sea of candles, the rose petals dusted over every surface, three inches thick.

  Aspen gets up on her elbows. “It’s beautiful, but I meant that.” She nods at the enormous gift I’ve had hauled up just for her. It’s covered in a white sheet, taking up the entire adjacent wall.

  “This is your wedding gift—actually, it’s mine.” I head over and pull off the fabric, uncovering Aspen’s masterpiece, A Thousand Starry Nights, in all its navy glory.

  “Carter!” She gasps, clapping her hand over her mouth. “I’m gifting it to you. There’s no way I’m accepting a dime for it.”

  “Too late.” I hop back on the bed. “I paid for it in full. I asked Terri not to let you in on it. I wanted to make this special.”

  “Thank you.” She pulls my lips to hers and drops a wet, heated kiss that I never want to end. “I’m still not accepting a dime.”

  “Donate it. Pick a charity. Hell, we can start one.”

  “Really?” She moves her sea of ebony hair from one shoulder to the other. “I’d like that.”

  “Think on it tomorrow.”

  “I already know the answer. I’d like to start a charity for abused women, maybe a shelter, a safe house for those who have nowhere to turn.”

  “Aspen.” My entire heart bleeds out as I whisper her name. “That’s exactly what we’ll do.” I rub my thumb gently over her scar. The scar, much like Henry, is nothing more than a wound from the past, something that once gutted her, and now she’s twice as strong because of it. The path of his destruction is healing, and Aspen is more stunning than ever.

  We tug and pull until our clothes are lying in a heap. After months of planning, after careful attention to our attire, we’ve disbanded of my causal suit, her Italian lace dress in the most indelicate way possible.

  Aspen and I dive into one another, slowly at first, then with a building devotion reserved for royalty. It’s fitting. Aspen will always be my queen.

  I bead soft kisses down her throat, into the tender divot in her neck. I dive my tongue up and down her body, in and out of her perfect form until she’s clawing at me to take her.

  Aspen guides me inside her, and, there we are, something we’ve never been in God’s eyes before, husband and wife. It felt official long ago but this solidifies it. We aren’t Aspen and Carter anymore. We’re simply one.

  We make love until morning. We don’t let the sunshine that bleaches the room out with its light put an end to our good time, we keep moving right along—with me deep inside of her.

  When you’re right and you know it, there is no good reason to stop.

  * * *

  In August, Aspen has another exhibit at the Eaton Gallery.

  “To Moments in Love!” I perform the toast, the only way a proud husband can, and the room erupts with cheers. Aspen and I spent hours each week making love over canvas sheeting of every shape and size. Aspen stretched the material onto the frames herself. That’s how she likes it best. We made every piece in this exhibit together, but the world at large isn’t privy to that one small detail. To them they’re simply beautiful, abstract images dreamed up by Aspen Cannon.

  Aspen Cannon. It still brings a smile to my lips.

  All night, patrons marvel at the sophistication of form and color. The tonality of her collection as a whole has turned the upper art echelon of Los Angeles on its pious ear.

  I like the nod to our love. Hell, I loved volunteering for the effort, and I’m hoping she’ll need many more canvases covered with our affection. We’ve already selected the piece that will grace our bedroom. It’s called Dawn of a New Day, a shock of navy against white. It reminds me of a caustic night breaking into pieces as the beautiful white light—the promise of brilliant tomorrow, breaks through.

  “It’s perfect.” Stevie and Ford come up alongside me as Aspen mingles with the crowd. Madeline, their baby girl, is with Abby and her sitter tonight. They ended up naming their daughter after Stevie’s beloved grandmother. A beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. It’s their first night away from her, and they’re petrified like a couple of rattled birds.

  “Tonight was perfect.” Cash comes up and nods toward Carson who’s talking to a couple of blondes near the exit. “We’re taking off. They’re twins. I think I get the one to the right. I’ll be at the beach house. If anyone needs me, don’t call.” He takes off with a look of carnal intent.

  “Are those playboys ever going to grow up?” Stevie isn’t as charmed by my younger brothers as she is by Ford, as I’d like to think she is with me. I’m just glad she was my advocate this entire time with her sister.

  “To answer your question, no.” I pull her hand up and offer a mock kiss to her wrist. “And thank you for getting Aspen and me through that dark night and into each other’s arms where we belong.”

  Ford pulls her in and dips a kiss to the top of her head. “She’s good like that.”

  “We’d better get going.” Stevie leans into him just as Aspen comes up.

  “Are you leaving already?”

  She tightens her arms around my waist, and I think back to how differently things went at her first exhibit, how I kissed her in front of the crowd because I couldn’t help myself.

  “Maddie is calling.” Stevie gives her sister a warm embrace. “My boobs are gaining weight by the minute. If I don’t get out of here soon, I’ll spring a leak.”

  Ford and I wince.

  “Let’s get you and those bowling balls out of here.” He gives Aspen a quick hug. “Good job, girl.”

  “Thank you, but, believe me, I couldn’t have done it without your brother.”

  “This knucklehead?” Ford pulls me in and messes up my hair. “I guess he’s good for something.”

  “Make him good for something else,” Stevie quips. “Maddie needs a buddy.”

  Aspen giggles into my chest. She’s been off the pill now for a while, and, according to the ovulation barometer, we shouldn’t even be standing here right now.

  “I’ll get the job done.” I give Stevie a knuckle bump. “It’s my pleasure.”

  She makes a face. “I bet. Make it her pleasure, too. Would you?” She blows her sister a kiss as they head for the door.

  “Some night!” Aspen twirls in my arms, and I give her a surprise dip. “We’d better go relieve the bab
ysitter.”

  “Abby’s asleep,” I assure her. “We can hang out as long as you like.”

  “Most of the crowd has hit the exit. I think we should, too. Besides, we’ve got a baby to make, Cannon.”

  “I never want to stop making babies with you.” We head out into the cool of night with the moon shining down like a silver platter. “Have you thought of any names you might like? According to Stevie, it’s not an easy process.”

  “What do you think of Aster for a boy and Casper for a girl? You know, a combination of both our names”—she wrinkles her nose—“kind of.”

  I take a deep breath as I scoop her up into my arms. “I think we need to hit the drawing board pretty hard.”

  “Carter!” She gives me a swat. “Okay, how about Juliet if it’s a girl and Carter if it’s a boy? I like the serendipity involved.”

  “Juliet.” For so long my heart ached when I said that name. It was a bookmark of one of the best moments in my life, and I yearned for it, for my Juliet. “I love it. Juliet is perfect. And Carter the second will have a lot to live up to. I’m a lucky man and even luckier in love.”

  “We’ll teach him the rules of the heart early.” Her hand touches softly over my cheek. “Be open, trust, and always tell the truth.”

  “No head games.” I take a bite out of her finger. “Let’s go build our family.”

  And on that night we do. Three weeks later Aspen confirms this with a positive pregnancy test. Aspen is going to be a mother. I planted that baby in her belly just like I promised. Next spring our family grows another branch. Abby couldn’t be happier to have her own living doll.

  Aspen and I have touched the sky, touched the stars, touched the face of God.

  Our love will never end.

  On those clear summer nights, we lie out on the sand with Abby, scouting for shooting stars. We make wishes, make memories, and when Aspen and I are alone in our bed, we make love with wild abandon.

  Our desire for one another only seems to grow. We have each other and so much more.

  We have the family that both of us have craved for so long.

  We have an eternal kind of love just like Romeo and Juliet without the tragic ending.

  We have the kind of magic they only wished they had—love that transcends time and circumstance and leads you back into the arms of the person you belong with.

  That’s the miracle.

  Aspen and I have it.

  Long live the queen, with me by her side to worship her properly.

  A Note from the Author

  Thank you for reading A Thousand Starry Nights (Burning Through Gravity 2). If you enjoyed this book please consider leaving a review at your point of purchase. Even a brief review can make a big difference to an author. This is very much appreciated. Thank you!

  ***Look for Fire in an Amber Sky (Burning Through Gravity 3) Lincoln’s story, coming soon!

  Books by Addison Moore

  New Adult Romance

  3:AM Kisses (3:AM Kisses 1)

  Winter Kisses (3:AM Kisses 2)

  Sugar Kisses (3:AM Kisses 3)

  Whiskey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 4)

  Rock Candy Kisses (3:AM Kisses 5)

  Velvet Kisses (3:AM Kisses 6)

  Burning Through Gravity (Burning Through Gravity 1)

  A Thousand Starry Nights (Burning Through Gravity 2)

  Fire in an Amber Sky (Burning Through Gravity 3) 2015

  Beautiful Oblivion (Beautiful Oblivion 1)

  Beautiful Illusions (Beautiful Oblivion 2)

  Beautiful Elixir (Beautiful Oblivion 3) 2015

  The Solitude of Passion

  Someone to Love (Someone to Love 1)

  Someone Like You (Someone to Love 2)

  Someone For Me (Someone to Love 3)

  Celestra Forever After (Celestra Forever After 1)

  The Dragon and the Rose (Celestra Forever After 2)

  The Serpentine Butterfly (Celestra Forever After 3) 2015

  Perfect Love (A Celestra Novella)

  Young Adult Romance

  Ethereal (Celestra Series Book 1)

  Tremble (Celestra Series Book 2)

  Burn (Celestra Series Book 3)

  Wicked (Celestra Series Book 4)

  Vex (Celestra Series Book 5)

  Expel (Celestra Series Book 6)

  Toxic Part One (Celestra Series Book 7)

  Toxic Part Two (Celestra Series Book 7.5)

  Elysian (Celestra Series Book 8)

  Ephemeral (The Countenance Trilogy 1)

  Evanescent (The Countenance Trilogy 2)

  Entropy (The Countenance Trilogy 3)

  Ethereal Knights (Celestra Knights)

  Acknowledgements

  Huge, gigantic thank you to all my fabulous readers who have supported my writing through the years! I really hope you enjoyed Carter and Aspen’s story. It was my pleasure to share it with you. A very special thank you to my awesome street team, my very sweet, and amazing Angels! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing and caring so much about my work.

  Thank you to Rachel Tsoumbakos for lending me your beautiful eyes. Your x-ray vision never ceases to amaze me.

  To the fabulous Kathryn Jacoby, thank you to the moon and back for your incredible ability to go through a manuscript with a fine-tooth comb. And thank you for all you do as my personal assistant. You are a natural born leader who prospers in whatever your hand touches.

  Tabby Coots thank you so very much for reading my books so enthusiastically! I enjoy your feedback and always appreciate your willingness to help. To the very awesome Lisa Markson, thank you for being a super beta reader. Your love of books shines through in beautiful ways. You are such an amazing friend!

  To the wonderful Sarah Freese, thank you for editing this novel nail-bitingly close to your due date, and a special thank you for making revisions with me during labor. That was truly above and beyond the call of duty. You’re an amazing woman and mom! I’m so thrilled that you’re in my life. Enjoy your maternity leave! I’ll have a new book in your inbox as soon as you’re ready.

  And last, but never least, thank you to Him who sits on the throne. Worthy is the Lamb. Glory and honor and power are yours. I owe you everything.

  About the Author

  Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading.

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