by Laura Kaye
For a long moment, she held her breath and her whole body went tight. Her orgasm tore through her—her slick sex milking the part of him deep within her, her body thrashed and bucked under him in great waves, and her nails dug into his back. Gods, he hoped she marked him.
As her orgasm went on and on, Chrys got lost in her clenching heat. His grinding rhythm grew jerky, a glorious pressure filling his balls. He went light-headed at the overwhelming sensation, and then his orgasm slammed into him, shooting up his spine and down his legs. His release erupted into her, filling her up and spilling over them both.
When his body finally calmed, he lifted his head. Laney smiled up at him, her eyes full of love, her expression totally blissed out. Her hands dragged lightly up his back and found his hair. She combed her fingers through it, her nails soothingly scratching his scalp. He could’ve purred.
She’d touched him. Every part of him. Until he couldn’t feel where he stopped and she began. And he’d felt…good, right…alive.
Awed, he shifted his hands to stroke the damp hair off her face.
She stretched beneath him, a long, luxurious movement. Grimacing, she reached beneath her hip. “What’s this?” The little leather bag Hephaestus had given him.
“I don’t know.” Do not open it until you’ve made your choice, that’s what Hephaestus had said. And Chrys had made his choice—he’d chosen Laney. They worked together to release the thin string holding the top of the satchel closed tight.
“How much of my conversation with Hephaestus did you hear?”
“Most of it. Enough to know you and Seth have ancient divine connections, and that you did the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“I did it for me, too.”
He kissed her, just a light, worshipful brushing of lips. They finally got the strings untied. “Hold out your hand.” Chrys dumped the contents into her palm.
Two rings, both made of brushed infernal iron, one band thicker, the other thin.
Certainty and gratitude roared through him.
Laney brought her other hand to explore the objects. She gasped. “Are these—”
“Yes.” He picked up the smaller ring. “When the chaos is behind us, we will do this right. But until then, Laney Summerlyn, I promise to love and cherish and honor you, forever. Will you be mine?”
Her breath caught and her eyes went glassy. “Yes.”
Chrys slid the ring, a perfect fit, on her finger. Thank you, Hephaestus.
She grasped the remaining piece. “Chrysander Notos, I promise to love you and take care of you and be there for you in every way you need me, for the rest of my long life. Please be mine.”
“Always,” he rasped as the cool iron settled on his finger. His cock hardened at the sight, slow but sure. “I want you again,” he said, slowly moving his hips.
She nodded. “Anything you want. Everything you want. I love you.”
“As I love you, Laney, and I always will.”
Dark days lie ahead—only ten sunrises separated them from the fall equinox and Eurus’s ascension. He and Laney would face every challenge, together. Everything else was uncertain, but not this. Never this.
Acknowledgments
From his very first breath, Chrysander Notos had his own way of doing things, never easy, never straightforward, never boring or dull. And that made bringing him to life one of the most challenging and fulfilling writing experiences I’ve ever had. I know so many of you have waited to spend more time with the golden boy of the Anemoi, and I hope you love him as much as I do.
I have to offer thanks first and foremost to Christi Barth, who read the entire manuscript and pushed me again and again to go deeper. To have such an incredible critique partner and wonderful friend in the same person is a true privilege. I must also thank my best friend Lea Nolan, who brainstormed with me, cheered me on, shared Panera cookies, and held my hand more times than I can recount. Stephanie Dray, Joya Fields, Marta Bliese, and Laura Thompson (my horse expert!) provided encouragement, moral support, and tough love that kept me going when life went off the rails. Again. And again.
Thanks, always, to Heather Howland, for loving the Anemoi as much as I do, for making me shine, and for never letting me get away with a thing! She’s the kind of editor authors dream of working with. A special word of thanks to Kari Olson of A Good Addiction blog, who won an Entangled Publishing contest and got to name Boreas’s love interest, Tabitha. You did great! Thanks to Jenn Schober for always being there with an encouraging word!
I also need to offer thanks to someone who doesn’t know she inspired me. My former graduate student, Dana S., was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and faced the news with such courage and determination. Dana, I hope I’ve done RP justice here. To learn more about RP or donate toward finding a cure, visit the Foundation Fighting Blindness at www.blindness.org.
Huge love always goes out to Laura’s Heroes, the best street team an author ever had. To Brian and my girls, thank you for supporting me so completely. I love you. And, as always, I have complete love for the readers, who welcome characters into their hearts and minds and let them tell their stories over and over again. ~ LK
See where it all began with Owen and Megan in
NORTH OF NEED
book one in the Hearts of the Anemoi series
by Laura Kaye
Her tears called a powerful snow god to life, but only her love can grant the humanity he craves…
Desperate to escape agonizing memories of Christmas past, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband, realizing too late that she’s recreated the very thing she’ll never have.
Called to life by Megan’s tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity.
Megan is drawn to Owen’s mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things. But this Christmas miracle comes with an expiration—before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow’s grief and learn to trust love again, or she’ll lose Owen forever.
The series continues with Zeph and Ella in
WEST OF WANT
book two in the Hearts of the Anemoi series
by Laura Kaye
Betrayal is all he’s ever known, but in her, he’ll find a love strong enough to be trusted…
When Marcella Raines’ twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she’s gravely injured—and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce—Ella fights to survive.
Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn’t protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he’s sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph’s heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her.
Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting…everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want—a love that can be trusted.
