He laughed. “I will. I will every day for the rest of your life, vita mia. That’s a promise.”
When Luc’s helicopter landed near the house forty-five minutes later, I rushed out to meet him.
His hair was rumpled, his clothes askew, and he looked as if he hadn’t shaved in nearly three days. There was an exhaustion that clung to him, one I knew hadn’t just been building for eighteen months, but for over thirty three years. But to me he’d never been more handsome. And when he met me on the grass and swept me into his arms, I felt the weight of the world fall away from both of us.
Time stood still as he kissed me, as he pulled me into his embrace. He lifted his hand to my cheek, slid his fingers down my skin, and that was when I saw his ring finger—shiny with some kind of ointment over something dark. I grasped his hand and pulled it back so I could see. A new tattoo that read SLAVE stared back at me.
I laughed and kissed him deeper. And when we were both breathless, he buried his face in my neck and clung to me as the chopper lifted and flew away.
Running my fingers through his hair, I held him close, feeling our heartbeats fall in sync together. And as I did, I thought about all those months when I’d been sure I wouldn’t be able to breathe one more day without him.
Love was a risk. Nothing was guaranteed. If I’d never walked into his office in New York, I was sure I would have found dozens of men in this world who could have taken my breath away. But this man—this amazing, incredible, heroic man, even though he didn’t see himself that way—was the only one who made me remember to breathe. And that made him more than special to me. That made him the very heart of me.
He eased back and looked down at me in the setting sunlight, his uniquely gray eyes damp and weary as he whispered, “I’m here, angioletto.”
Tears filled my eyes. Tears I didn’t even try to hold back.
He pressed his forehead against mine and drew in a slow breath. “I don’t have anything to offer you anymore. No title, no job, no property... I can’t even give you any more children. All I have left...is me.”
“Oh, you silly man.” I lifted my hands to his face as the tears slid down my cheeks. “You are all I want. You are all I’ve ever wanted, Luc. Just you. Exactly as you are. Forever.”
He groaned and captured my mouth in a passionate kiss I felt everywhere. And as I sank into him, as I lost myself in the beauty and perfection that was us all over again, I knew that this love—our love—really was meant to be.
No matter where life took us from here, no matter what happened in the future, this love would survive.
We would never be undone.
Thank You!
Dear Reader:
Thank you for reading The House of Sin series! Luc and Natalie hold a very special place in my heart. Their story has been spinning in my head for many years, and I’m thrilled that it is now, finally, completely in your hands. Some characters stay with an author long after the last word is written. These two will stay with me for a very long time.
If you’re sad the House of Sin books are over, don’t be! There are more books coming. SURRENDER, the next House of Sin story, takes us back to the first meeting between Marco Romano and Felicity Merrick. See how their love story began, and find out just why they still aren’t married.
There are so many stories to tell in this world… Admit it, you’re dying to know what happens to Dante, aren’t you? I hope to be writing his and many more stories in the House of Sin, so stay tuned for more.
I love finding new readers. If you enjoyed Luc and Natalie’s love story, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy it as well by doing one of the following:
Lend it: This e-book is lending-able, so please share it with a friend.
Recommend it: Please help others find this book by recommending it to friends, readers’ groups, and discussion boards.
Review it: Tell readers what you liked or didn’t like by reviewing it at one of the major retailers, review sites, or on your blog. I appreciate all reviews whether positive or negative.
To find out when my next book is available, you can sign up for my new release e-mail list here. Click here to see a full list of all my books by series. And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, or like my Facebook page to get exclusive excerpts, behind the scenes first looks, and upcoming series/book updates.
* * *
Happy Reading!
~Elisabeth
Don’t miss the next exciting story in the House of Sin Series
The leaders of my House want her dead.
* * *
The men I’ve secretly aligned myself with want her punished for screwing up their coup.
* * *
I’ve been sent by both to deal with her, but one look at the feisty redhead and I’ve got plans of my own.
* * *
Before I carry out anyone else’s orders, she’s going to give me what I want. And only when I’m satisfied will I decide if she lives or dies.
* * *
Depending, of course, on just how easily she surrenders…
Order SURRENDER Here
Also by Elisabeth Naughton
House of Sin Series
(Romantic Thriller)
FORBIDDEN
DECEIVED
UNDONE
SURRENDER
* * *
Deadly Secrets Series
(Romantic Suspense)
REPRESSED
GONE
PROTECTED
UNSPEAKABLE
* * *
Aegis Series
(Romantic Suspense)
BREATHLESS ESCAPE
FIRST EXPOSURE
SINFUL SURRENDER
EXTREME MEASURES
LETHAL CONSEQUENCES
FATAL PURSUIT
* * *
Against All Odds Series
(Romantic Suspense)
WAIT FOR ME
HOLD ON TO ME
MELT FOR ME
* * *
Stolen Series
(Romantic Suspense)
STOLEN FURY
STOLEN HEAT
STOLEN SEDUCTION
STOLEN CHANCES
* * *
Eternal Guardians Series
(Paranormal romance)
MARKED
ENTWINED
TEMPTED
ENRAPTURED
ENSLAVED
BOUND
TWISTED
RAVAGED
AWAKENED
UNCHAINED
HUNTED
WICKED
* * *
Firebrand Series
(Paranormal romance)
BOUND TO SEDUCTION
SLAVE TO PASSION
POSSESSED BY DESIRE
About the Author
Before topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—award winning author Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Elisabeth now writes full-time.
Elisabeth has penned over thirty books and continues to write in multiple genres. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have earned several award nominations, including three prestigious RITA® nominations from Romance Writers of America. In 2017, REPRESSED, the first book in her Deadly Secrets series, won the RITA® for best romantic suspense.
Her work has been praised by the Chicago Tribune as being filled with “deadly intrigue, high adrenaline action, and scorchingly hot passion.” Kirkus calls her “a writer talented enough at weaving a yarn to get her readers ensnared in it.” When not dreaming up new stories, Elisabeth can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home, wrangling two needy cats, or chasing after one very rambunctious Dalmatian.
To learn more about Elisabeth, visit
www.ElisabethNaughton.com
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