by J. K Harper
“I don’t owe you anything.”
He barked a hateful laugh. “You’ll owe me your whole life for doing you the favor of marrying your boring, fat ass.”
“I should be the one charging you for all the crap you and your mother put me through. You’re lucky I didn’t kill her. Trust me, I wanted to.”
He came at her full speed. “Don’t fucking talk about my mother, you worthless bitch!”
He didn’t get much closer than a foot before he was grabbed from behind and tossed on top of a nearby car.
She watched the men who’d shown up with Louis scatter. One of them ran back into the building across the street.
Thane stopped in front of her. “Are you okay? Did he touch you?”
She shook her head. “He’s just being a pussy and saying I owe him my entire life for being married to me.”
“I’ll handle him.” Thane turned to Louis, who had gotten off the car.
“Are you fucking crazy?” Louis asked. “Do you know what family I belong to? My grandfather is going to tear you apart, piece by piece.”
Thane nodded. “I know what family you belong to, but I don’t think you realize Lily isn’t alone anymore.”
“I’ll do whatever I want with her. She owes me,” Louis roared.
Thane tackled him. He grabbed Louis by his expensive suit and slammed him against another car she was pretty sure belonged to one of Louis’s friends. Thane punched him repeatedly. Louis tried to fight back, but Thane was almost twice his size and a lot angrier.
Blood covered Louis. Then a large group of men showed up from the building Louis had come out of. Someone yelled for Thane to stop and he did. She rushed across the street to stand by his side and grabbed his hand. If he had to face trouble, he wasn’t going to do it alone.
And older man stepped forward. He glanced at Louis’s bloody face and then back and forth between Thane and Lily.
Louis started laughing then, as if the whole thing was the biggest joke in the world. “Now you’ve done it, dragon. Your days are numbered.”
The older man frowned at Louis.
“Weren’t you married to Louis?” the man asked with an Italian accent.
Lily nodded. “Was is correct.”
“Why did you divorce?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but Louis got ahead of her. “Because she’s a―”
“Louis!” the old man snapped. “I asked her a question, not you. Quiet, nipote.”
“Louis didn’t love me and I didn’t love him. He verbally abused me and he stole every cent I had. His mother encouraged him to mistreat me, and though we only lasted six months married, it was enough to destroy my views of marriage,” she admitted to the old man. “He still says I owe him for the time he wasted married to me.”
The old man nodded and turned to Thane. “Dreki.”
“Danitelli,” Thane said, nodding at the man.
Lily blinked, realizing they knew each other. This got more and more interesting by the second.
“What do you know of this?”
Thane rubbed his bloodied knuckles. “Lily’s my mate. Your grandson has been sending men to harass and try to scare her. Luckily, she’s a fighter and doesn’t scare easily, but she’s pregnant with my child, and I will kill your grandson before he lays a hand on her.”
She gulped at the cold way he mentioned killing Louis. Her baby kicked as if to say ‘go daddy!’
The old man waved a hand in the air. “That won’t be necessary. He will never go near her again,” he said and met Louis’s surprised gaze. “Or I will kill him myself. This is not how we treat our family, Louis.” He gave his men a hard look. “Get him out of my sight before I do something I regret.”
The men took Louis away. Lily noticed he didn’t even attempt to look at her or bother to say anything.
Thane held on to Lily’s hand and met the older man’s sharp gaze. “I am going to take your word that he won’t be a problem again, Danitelli.”
He older man nodded. “I apologize on behalf of my family. He won’t ever attempt to contact your mate again. Of this, you can be sure.”
Thane nodded and guided her back to his car. She waited until they were in the vehicle and driving away before finally asking the obvious question.
“How do you know that man?”
Thane gripped the wheel tighter. “I saved his life and that of his father, twice.”
Well, shit. She needed to get more info on his past. Saving lives was some hero stuff. Her heart melted knowing her mate was such a good man. She’d known it already, but this only emphasized it.
“I’ve made a decision,” she said as they drove to her house.
“What’s that?”
“We can live in your cabin. I’d rather be in nature anyway.”
He pulled the car over and turned to face her. “Are you sure?”
She nodded and smiled. “We belong together. We might not have started the conventional way, but you and our baby are the most important people in my life.”
He drove fingers into her hair and pulled her face to his. “You and our baby are my life. Thank you for giving me a chance to prove to you how much you mean to me. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Her heart was already filled with love for him. Being together as a family was the icing on the cake.
“I know I won’t, Thane.”
She knew she wouldn’t regret it. Making the snap decision to go to his cabin to confront him had been the best thing she’d ever done.
Chapter 25
It was the night of the Winter Ball. Thane slipped his tux jacket on and went looking for his wife. He could hear her in the nursery, talking to their daughter. She had her back to him and he got a great view of how the strapless gold dress fit over her abundant curves, flowing to the floor.
“How are my girls?” he said, kissing the back of her neck. She’d picked up her hair into some strange do that left her curls dangling from a top knot.
“Well,” Lily said. “Kelianna is ready to go now that she’s been changed a second time,” she said, looking down at the smiling baby.
Their daughter’s blue eyes and blonde hair were so like Thane’s, it surprised him how little she looked like his mate. Except for the smile, then she was all her mom. Even at two months old, Kelianna managed to turn him to mush with a single look, much like her mother.
She handed him the baby dressed in a soft ivory dress with golden edges to match her mother. “You hold her so I can get my earrings on and we can go.”
Thane’s heart exploded with love every time he looked at his wife and daughter. They were his life. He didn’t know how he ever considered never mating or having children. Now he kicked himself for ever thinking that way.
He sat on the rocker and spoke softly to his child, telling her of the times when he’d been a young dragon, seeing the world change around him. She fell asleep in his arms, her head resting on his arm and her body snuggled up into his chest. He’d never take these moments for granted.
* * *
Lily returned to Kelianna’s room and stopped at the entrance, the sight before her filling her with so much emotion, her face hurt from the smile on it.
She’d been right. Thane was an amazing father. He’d given his all for their daughter and her. After he’d killed Ramoth, she’d worried he’d grow distant, but the opposite happened. He introduced her to Saxon and soon the brothers were visiting each other regularly.
That made a big difference in Thane. Once Kelianna was born, he gave himself fully to being a father. Lily had never seen a man more dedicated to his daughter. From getting up at all hours to change her, hold her, feed and talk to her, to making sure Lily herself got enough rest.
At first, she didn’t think it would last, but his dedication grew as time went on. And their love for each other and their child made it easy for her to decide on having more children.
“Maybe we should wait a little bit before we go,” she said and watched him
put the baby in the crib. “There’s something I want to tell you.”
He turned to face her, his arms going straight around her waist to pull her close to him. Love filled every cell in her body. It didn’t matter how many days went by, he would always make her feel like they’d just mated for the first time.
“I love you, Lily,” he said and brought his head down to kiss her.
Though they’d been mated for months, he hadn’t said the words to her. She’d been of the mind frame that he show her he love her than tell her, and boy, had he shown her. Still, it was nice to finally get the words.
“I love you, too, Thane.” She brought her arms up to his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. She loved the feel of his beard on her face. She couldn’t figure out why, but the damn facial hair made her instantly wet. “I’m pregnant.”
He stroked his tongue over her lips and pressed her ass forward to rub his erection on her belly. “I know, love.”
“I figured you did, but I still wanted to tell you. We’re having a boy this time,” she said between kisses.
He rocked into her and her pussy got slicker. “I know that, too.”
She moaned and pulled him out of the nursery and into the hallway, closing the door behind them. “I do know something you don’t.”
“What’s that?” he asked, nibbling on her jaw.
“The ball doesn’t officially start for another two hours and the helicopter is coming to pick us up in an hour and a half.”
He pulled back, his eyes glowing with his dragon. “When did you change the pick-up time?”
“When I realized seeing you in a tux would make me really horny and I wouldn’t want to wait until the end of the night to get you out of your pants,” she whispered and pulled him close.
He lifted her skirt, pushed her underwear to the side and slipped two fingers between her slick folds. A groan left his throat. “Have I told you how fucking smart and beautiful you are, today?”
She giggled. “Yes, but you can tell me again, once you figure out how to fuck me in this dress without creasing it.”
He laughed. “Love, I lived through regency England. I can fuck you without messing up your hair.”
She slid her hands down to his pants and started lowering his zipper. “Then you better get to work, dragon. I want you in me in the next thirty seconds.”
He kissed her again, his lips bruising with how hungry their kiss was. “Your wish is my command, love. Anything and everything for you.”
About the Authors
Élianne Adams is a self-proclaimed tropical climate Princess, so how she managed to be born in snowy Ontario, Canada is a complete mystery. Sexy as sin fire breathing dragons, gryphons, and phoenixes will set your devices ablaze, but if Alphas aren’t enough, she’s also got larger than life wolf and jaguar shifters you can sink your fangs into. Find out more about these stories at her website, www.elianneadams.com
Olivia Arran is a USA Today bestselling author. She has been an avid reader since childhood, forgoing sleep to devour page after page by torchlight. As an adult she still reads voraciously, but also enjoys penning her own tales of romance. Strong alpha heroes and feisty heroines - Olivia writes what she likes to read and hopes you like it too! Sign up for Olivia's newsletter to hear about new releases and giveaways.
Liv Brywood is the USA Today best-selling author of the Curvy Bear Ranch paranormal romance series. She can be reached on her website and she loves chatting on Facebook. Want more sexy werewolves, bears, and the curvy women who love them? Sign up for Liv's newsletter.
Cynthia Fox is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in the middle of California with her boyfriend and a couple of rotten cats. She enjoys writing about humorous characters and happy endings in both the paranormal and contemporary genres. Curvy heroines and laughter rule! Be the first to learn about new releases and freebies. Join the Cynthia Fox mailing list.
Gen Géricault is a USA Today bestselling author. She grew up on ghost stories, iced tea, and her granny’s peach cobbler. Her stories explore love, longing, and the tangled truths behind the things that go bump in the night. Keep in touch with Gen for more shifters, true loves, and mysteries.
Scarlett Grove is a USA Today Bestselling Paranormal and Science Fiction Romance Author. Between writing books, she's wrangling kids and dogs around the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. With a lifetime love of fantasy and sci-fi adventure, Scarlett lets her imagination soar in her sexy romance stories. She loves the heat of an alpha hero and a strong heroine falling madly in love. Sign up for her mailing list at ScarlettGrove.com.
J.K. Harper writes about paranormal romance because despite a lifetime of wishing, all the cool supernatural book characters of her childhood don’t seem to be real. Besides, it’s just really fun to make stuff up and write it down. She lives in the rugged, gorgeous canyon country of the Southwest, which is a great place to let her imagination run wild. Learn more at JKHarper.com.
Edith Hawkes is a two-time USA Today bestselling paranormal romance author, living in Ireland who loves to write about curvy feisty women and their equally strong sexy Alphas! Sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch.
JM Klaire is the USA Today bestselling author of the Alpha Hunted Series. She also writes sexy cowboy menages as Jenny Klaire and hot, erotic shorts as Jamie Klaire. Sign up for her newsletter to read all of her personalities.
Bella Love-Wins writes steamy, high-action romance stories about alpha bad boys, billionaires, and shifters who know what they want and aren't afraid of laying claim to the women who catch their interest. Sign up for shifter romance updates, promotions and new release announcements on her website.
Anya Nowlan is a USA Today bestselling author, a Boston girl through and through and a woman who loves growly bears, hot sex and writing about both! Sign up for her newsletter if you want more of Anya and her favorite obsessions.
Suki Selborne is a USA Today bestselling author writing paranormal romance and sci-fi romance. She loves to dream up stories about hot alpha heroes and the smart, sassy women they can't live without. Stay in touch with Suki here.
Auriella Skye is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author who dreams of becoming a powerful goddess and creating a whole pantheon of sexy gods to do her naughty bidding. She resides in Central Florida and loves creating characters and worlds filled with the wonderful stuff reality lacks. If you ever spot her without sugar-infused coffee, she’ll kindly accept one from you. Join her mailing list for free reads and new release updates.
Jacqueline Sweet is the USA Today bestselling author of the Bearfield series of paranormal romances. She loves stories that are fun, funny, and sexy as all get out. Her heroes growl and her heroines snark and everyone gets a happy ending in her sleepy and mysterious littler town. For free books, giveaways and special offers, please join her newsletter.
Hi! I’m New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romance with action, humor, suspense and happily ever afters. I live in Florida with my hubby, our boys, and our fur children “Needy Speedy” and “Stormy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to iced caramel lattes. I love to meet new readers, so come sign up for my newsletter and check out my Facebook page. We always have lots of fun stuff going on there. Sign up for Milly's Newsletter for the latest news on books, giveaways and what kind of cake she's eating today!
Holley Trent is an award-winning author of dozens of hot, snarky romances featuring Vikings, fairies, cowboys, athletes, werewolves, and other sorts of shirtless alphas. Subscribe to her newsletters at her website, www.holleytrent.com.
Alyse Zaftig is a USA Today bestselling author who loves to write about women who break the mold. Sassy heroines are her favorite. Sign up for Alyse's mailing list.
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