by Aaron, Celia
“Oh? A master torturer and into contraband?”
I moved her robe aside and ran my fingertip over her matching scar. “Pretty much. But I can’t value things like you can, so I don’t know if it’s worth anything.”
“What is it?”
“Guy said it was priceless. But you know how that goes.” I shrugged and reached for my suit coat.
“Show me!” She watched as I reached into my coat pocket and brought out a little red box. “Jewelry. Nice. Probably worth something, then.” She licked her lips.
I flipped it open and offered it to her. “What do you think?”
She took the ring from the cushion and inspected it. “Wow, that’s gorgeous. Platinum band. Emerald cut diamond, my favorite. Without a loupe, I’d say it’s a seven-carat or so VVS1, maybe color E.”
“D,” I said softly. “Colorless. Just over seven carats. Size 6.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she glanced from the ring to me.
“Do you like it?” It was hard to keep my voice steady.
Her eyes watered. “Oh my God, is this—”
“Will you marry me?” I set her on the couch and got down on my knee. “I’ve loved you my whole life, and I’m never going to stop. You’re everything to me, Angel. Please say yes.”
Tears glittered on her cheeks as she stared at the ring. “I-I thought this was … you got me.”
I laughed and ignored the sting behind my eyes. “I knew your pirate heart couldn’t resist a tale of treasure.”
She put her warm palm to my cheek. “Just like I could never resist you.” Leaning over, she pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “Yes.”
I slid the ring onto her finger with shaking hands. “Do you have any idea how happy you just made me?” I stood and lifted her into my arms, then spun her around. My queen.
“If you’re anything like me, happier than a two-bit thief with a pillowcase full of stolen goods.” She laughed through her tears and kissed me again, long and slow, our breaths melding along with our souls.
I was never letting her go again.
***
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***
If you haven’t read Con’s story or Nate’s story, their books are here:
Acknowledgments
To Mr. Aaron, for cheering me on to get this bad boy done. I know, I know, I KNOW I said I was going to take a break after The Cloister Series, but then I didn’t and wrote this instead. So thanks for patting me on the butt (err, I mean “back”) and telling me I could get David’s story done before our little bundle of boy arrived. We did it! Now rub my feet, you dadgum insperminator!
Thanks Viv! You are my beta boo who helps me out ever so much. I couldn’t do this without you. I also appreciate you listening to me bitch constantly and also the way you understand that my snark comes from a dark, dirty place where mortals fear to tread. But you don’t judge, because you’re lovely.
Stacey and Trina, thanks for being typo-hounds. Y’all make my words shine.
Thanks to my Rabid Readers for devouring the ARCs! Y’all are the best!
Thanks to my fun group Celia Aaron’s Acquisitions for supporting me and being all-around delightful. Now if you could just stop posting tentacles in there, that would be greeeeaaaattttt.
Thanks to the bloggers who took part in the cover reveal and the ARCs. Bloggers keep romancelandia spinning, and we couldn’t have half as much fun without them.
And thanks to you, Gentle Reader. I hope you enjoyed this tale of blood, second chances, third chances, and the evolution of a badass heroine. I really love Angel, because she’s the one who truly goes through the growth in this book. David is the Butcher, and he’s comfortable in his own skin like that (and also cutting off other people’s skin *gulp*), but Angel has to fight to get herself back. I think she’s a kickass heroine right up there with Stella from Acquisition and Charlie from Dark Protector. But I’ll leave that up to you to decide. Thanks so much for reading.
xx,
Celia
Also by Celia Aaron
Dark Romance
Acquisition: The Complete Series
Darkness lurks in the heart of the Louisiana elite, and only one will be able to rule them as Sovereign. Sinclair Vinemont will compete for the title, and has acquired Stella Rousseau for that very purpose. Breaking her is part of the game. Loving her is the most dangerous play of all.
*includes Sinclair, Counsellor, Magnate, and Sovereign
Blackwood
I dig. It’s what I do. I’ll literally use a shovel to answer a question. Some answers, though, have been buried too deep for too long. But I’ll find those, too. And I know where to dig—the Blackwood Estate on the edge of the Mississippi Delta. Garrett Blackwood is the only thing standing between me and the truth. A broken man—one with desires that dance in the darkest part of my soul—he’s either my savior or my enemy. I’ll dig until I find all his secrets. Then I’ll run so he never finds mine. The only problem? He likes it when I run.
Dark Protector
From the moment I saw her through the window of her flower shop, something other than darkness took root inside me. Charlie shone like a beacon in a world that had long since lost any light. But she was never meant for me, a man that killed without remorse and collected bounties drenched in blood.
I thought staying away would keep her safe, would shield her from me. I was wrong. Danger followed in my wake like death at a slaughter house. I protected her from the threats that circled like black buzzards, kept her safe with kill after kill.
But everything comes with a price, especially second chances for a man like me.
Killing for her was easy. It was living for her that turned out to be the hard part.
Nate
I rescued Sabrina from a mafia bloodbath when she was 13. As the new head of the Philly syndicate, I sent her to the best schools to keep her as far away from the life--and me--as possible. It worked perfectly. Until she turned 18. Until she came home. Until I realized that the timid girl was gone and in her place lived a smart mouth and a body that demanded my attention. I promised myself I'd resist her, for her own good.
I lied.
The Bad Guy
My name is Sebastian Lindstrom, and I’m the villain of this story.
I’ve decided to lay myself bare. To tell the truth for once in my hollow life, no matter how dark it gets. And I can assure you, it will get so dark that you’ll find yourself feeling around the blackened corners of my mind, seeking a door handle that isn’t there.
Don’t mistake this for a confession. I neither seek forgiveness nor would I accept it. My sins are my own. They keep me company. Instead, this is the true tale of how I found her, how I stole her, and how I lost her.
She was a damsel, one who already had her white knight. But every fairy tale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me.
I’m the bad guy.
The Cloister Series
I joined the Cloister to find the truth. But I've discovered so much more, and the darkness here is seducing me, pulling me down until all I can think of is him. Adam Monroe, the Prophet's son, a dark prince to an empire that grows by the day. He is tasked with keeping me safe from the wolves of the outside world. But the longer I stay at the Cloister, the more I realize the wolves are already inside and under the Prophet's control. If Adam discovers the real reason I'm here, he'll bay for my blood with the rest of them. Until then, I will be Delilah, an obedient servant of the Prophet during
the day and Adam's Maiden at night.
* * *
Contemporary Romance
The Elder
A shocking murder.
A suspicious son.
A dedicated detective.
In Azalea, Mississippi, the only thing hotter than the summer days are the men of the King family. When the patriarch Randall King is found dead, Detective Arabella Matthews will race the clock to stop the killer from striking again. Benton, the eldest of the King siblings, has to decide if he wants to cooperate with the feisty detective or conduct his own investigation. The more he finds out about his father—and the closer he gets to Arabella—the more he wants to keep her safe. But the killer has different plans . . .
You’ve Got Fail
She's driving me crazy. Or am I the one driving myself crazy? I can't tell anymore. Ever since Scarlet Rocket showed up in the flesh, she's turned my structured world upside down. My neatly ordered life, my hand-painted Aliens versus Vampires figurines, my expertly curated comics collection--none of these things provide any shelter from her sexy, sassy onslaught. It's a disaster of my own making. She didn't exist until I created her. Now, I can't get her out of my mind, and all I want to do is get her into my bed. Never mind that she's a thief, a liar, a con-woman. Every step she takes leaves chaos in her wake. And damn if I don't want more of it.
Kicked
Trent Carrington.
Trent Mr. Perfect-Has-Everyone-Fooled Carrington.
He’s the star quarterback, university scholar, and happens to be the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. He shines at any angle, and especially under the Saturday night stadium lights where I watch him from the sidelines. But I know the real him, the one who broke my heart and pretended I didn’t exist for the past two years.
I’m the third-string kicker, the only woman on the team and nothing better than a mascot. Until I’m not. Until I get my chance to earn a full scholarship and join the team as first-string. The only way I'll make the cut is to accept help from the one man I swore never to trust again. The problem is, with each stolen glance and lingering touch, I begin to realize that trusting Trent isn’t the problem. It’s that I can’t trust myself when I’m around him.
Tempting Eden
A modern re-telling of Jane Eyre that will leave you breathless...
Jack England
Eden Rochester is a force. A whirlwind of intensity and thinly-veiled passion. Over the past few years, I’ve worked hard to avoid my passions, to lock them up so they can’t harm me—or anyone else—again. But Eden Rochester ignites every emotion I have. Every glance from her sharp eyes and each teasing word from her indulgent lips adds more fuel to the fire. Resisting her? Impossible. From the moment I held her in my arms, I had to have her. But tempting her into opening up could cost me my job and much, much more.
Eden Rochester
When Jack England crosses my path and knocks me off my high horse, something begins to shift. Imperceptible at first, the change grows each time he looks into my eyes or brushes against my skin. He’s my assistant, but everything about him calls to me, tempts me. And once I give in, he shows me who he really is—dominant, passionate, and with a dark past. After long days of work and several hot nights, I realize the two of us are bound together. But my secrets won’t stay buried, and they cut like a knife.
Bad Bitch
Bad Bitch Series, Book 1
They call me the Bad Bitch. A lesser woman might get her panties in a twist over it, but me? I'm the one who does the twisting. Whether it's in the courtroom or in the bedroom, I've never let anyone - much less a man - get the upper hand.
Except for that jerk attorney Lincoln Granade. He's dark, mysterious, smoking hot and sexy as hell. He's nothing but a bad, bad boy playing the part of an up and coming premiere attorney. I'm not worried about losing in a head to head battle with this guy. But he gets me all hot and bothered in a way no man has ever done before. I don't like a person being under my skin this much. It makes me want to let go of all control, makes me want to give in. This dangerous man makes me want to submit to him completely, again, and again, and again...
Hardass
Bad Bitch Series, Book 2
I cave in to no one. My hardass exterior is what makes me one of the hottest defense lawyers around. It's why I'm the perfect guy to defend the notorious Bayou Butcher serial killer - and why I'll come out on top.
Except this new associate I've hired is unnaturally skilled at putting chinks in my well-constructed armor. Her brazen talk and fiery attitude make me want to take control of her and silence her - in ways that will keep both of us busy till dawn. She drives me absolutely 100% crazy, but I need her for this case. I need her in my bed. I need her to let loose the man within me who fights with rage and loves with scorching desire...
Total Dick
Bad Bitch Series, Book 3
I’m your classic skirt chaser. A womanizer. A total d*ck. My reputation is dirtier than a New Orleans street after a Mardi Gras parade. I take unwinnable cases and win them. Where people see defeat, I see a big fat paycheck. And when most men see rejection, it’s because the sexiest woman at the bar has already promised to go home with me.
But Scarlett Carmichael is the one person I can’t seem to conquer. This too-cool former debutante has it all—class, attitude, and a body that begs to be worshiped. I’ve never worked with a person like her before—hell, I’ve never played nice with anyone before in my life, and I’m not about to start with her. This woman wasn’t meant to be played nicely with. It’s going to be dirty. It’s going to be hot. She’s about to spend a lot of time with the biggest d*ck in town. And she’s going to love every minute of it…
* * *
Fantasy Romance
Incubus
An incubus who feeds off the sexual desires of others, Roth de Lis has never been denied the pleasure of a woman's body...until now. Lilah, once a warrior maiden in the service of a goddess, languishes on earth after being cast out from the slopes of Mount Olympus.
Lilah will do anything to return home, including betraying Roth. As she spins her web of lies, Roth begins a slow, wicked seduction that eventually threatens to consume them both. But when Lilah's deceit comes to light, will their torrid love affair be able to overcome a pact with the darkest of gods?
The Reaper’s Mate
This job. Boring is too colorful a word for it. I’ve been escorting humans to the afterlife for millennia. I’m over it. But when you’re the son of the two greatest reapers of all time, reaping is in your blood. My latest appointment is with one Annabelle Lyric, a twenty-eight year old New Orleans party planner. Snoozefest. But there is one bonus to this assignment: it’s Halloween night. In New Orleans. And she’s attending a posh party whilst unaware of her impending demise. I’ve been tasked with taking Annabelle’s soul right after the masked ball. The good news? I’ll fit right in with all the costumed partygoers. The bad news? That hits me when I realize Annabelle is much more than my next victim, she’s my fated mate.
* * *
Short Sexy Reads
The Hard & Dirty Holidays
A steamy series of holiday-inspired novellas that are sure to warm your heart and your bed.
A Stepbrother for Christmas
Bad Boy Valentine
Bad Boy Valentine Wedding
F*ck of the Irish
Christmas Candy
A Cowboy for Christmas
The Forced Series
These are just as filthy as they sound. Scorching stories of dubious consent, all with a satisfying twist.
Forced by the Kingpin
Forced by the Professor
Forced by the Hitmen
Forced by the Stepbrother
Forced by the Quarterback
The Sexy Dreadfuls
A series of erotica novellas starring Cash Remington. Not romance, but something hotter and a bit more risqué.
Cash Remington and the Missing Heiress
Cash Remington and the Rum Run
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About the Author
Celia Aaron is a recovering attorney and USA Today bestselling author who loves romance and erotic fiction. Dark to light, angsty to funny, real to fantasy—if it’s hot and strikes her fancy, she writes it. Thanks for reading.
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