Secrets and Sins: Chayot: A Secrets and Sins novel (Entangled Ignite)

by Naima Simone

  “Damn it, I heard that, too,” Rafe shouted from one of the bedrooms.

  Chay grinned, pressed a lingering kiss to her lips.

  “What did I ever do to deserve you?” he murmured against her mouth.

  She smiled, love brightening her gray eyes.

  “You loved me.”

  …

  Chay stood backstage as Aslyn concluded her second encore. Pride and awe filled his heart as she sauntered to the center of the stage and bowed deep at the waist. The black leather of her pants and boots clung to her shapely thighs and calves, and another kind of heat sidled through his blood. Damn, she was sexy. And he couldn’t wait to get her back into the dressing room to show her how beautiful he found her. In the meantime, though, he was content to watch her.

  She was in her element.

  Even though this was her first concert in ten months—since Quinton Lakes attacked her—she’d given a stellar performance to a packed venue. Hard to believe just months earlier she couldn’t touch a piano or compose music. Neither Lakes nor Liam had stopped her. Not this woman of strength, vitality, and spirit.

  And miracle of all miracles, she was his.

  Though he’d been willing to travel back and forth between L.A. and Boston, Aslyn had opted to move to Boston. In her words, she could play anywhere. After mourning the loss of Jeremy and hiring a new manager and agent—both of whom were thoroughly vetted by Chay and Rafe—she’d started composing again and preparing for the El Morro concert. Her orchestra had relocated to Boston as well, and soon the small group of musicians had become a part of their ever-expanding family.

  At one time, solitude and anonymity had been his goals. Now he could admit he hadn’t known what he wanted. Because he hadn’t realized life could be like this—full of noise, music, organized chaos, and love.

  So much love.

  “Thank you for your warm and gracious welcome,” Aslyn said into the microphone, earning her another deafening round of applause. Once it quieted some, she continued. “Some of you may know this has been a tough year.” At her words, all of the clapping and shouting ceased so a person could hear the smallest whisper. “There was a time when I questioned if I would have this again. I doubted if I would be able to stand on a stage again, in front of you, doing what I love. What I was born for. But I’m so thrilled to be here living the kind of happily ever after only found in fairy tales.”

  Once more whistles, screams, and applause filled the old fortress.

  “Aslyn, before we leave tonight, there’s one more thing we have in store for you,” her orchestra conductor announced into his mic.

  Shock and delight lit her face. “You do? Oooh.” She rubbed her palms together. “I love surprises.”

  The conductor chuckled. “Yes, we know. Chay?”

  The astonishment on her face deepened. Her head whipped toward the side stage in Chay’s direction, eyes wide, lips parted.

  His heart thudded against his sternum. Part of him still eschewed the celebrity and attention that was part and parcel of being in love with a celebrated pianist. His nose would grow the length of a football field if he claimed the flash of photographer’s cameras didn’t make him cringe. Staring at her now in that bright circle of light, his stomach clenched. But then he focused on the woman inside that illuminated circle. The woman who had called him worthy. The woman who made him believe he was worthy. For that woman—for Aslyn—he would brave anything.

  Even stepping out on this stage in front of thousands of people to show her he didn’t fear standing in the public eye with her.

  Beside her.

  He moved out of the wing and into the spotlight.

  Beautiful. He threaded his fingers through her sweat-dampened hair before sliding his hand over hers and removing the microphone. With his other hand, he entwined his fingers through hers, holding tight.

  “Chay,” she breathed. “You don’t have to—”

  “You like to call me your hero, but the truth is you saved me. You loved me. And I can’t imagine a world or life without you in it.” He released her hand, dipped into the front pocket of his slacks and pulled free a small black box. Then he lowered to one knee in front of her and stared up into the face that chased away his demons. “I love you, Aslyn Jericho,” he murmured, the microphone amplifying his vow echoing in the silent night. “With everything I am, I love you.” He popped open the lid and revealed the sparkling diamond engagement ring nestled inside. “Will you marry me?”

  Screams and shouts of “Say yes!” filled the night air.

  She gaped at him and lifted a trembling hand to her mouth. Her gaze dropped to the ring and back to him. He chuckled. “I do believe I’ve done the impossible and rendered you speechless.”

  The dry words seemed to break her paralysis. Hooting with laughter, she loosed a bark of laughter and fell to the floor with him. On her knees, cupped his face in both of her hands.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Hell yes!” Then threw herself at him, knocking them both to the stage. She covered his lips with hers and kissed him with a passion that would probably land them both on the cover of a tabloid in the morning.

  Jesus Christ. Would she ever do anything expected? No, she wouldn’t. He grinned under her mouth. This would be his life with her.

  Spontaneous.

  Surprising.

  Bright.

  And a helluva long way from boring.

  Acknowledgments

  To my Father and Creator, who gave me the words when I had no idea where they would come from. When all else fails, You never have.

  To Gary, my whisper in the middle of chaos. Thank you for being so dauntless and unshakable. I don’t know who I’d be without you. And I don’t want to know.

  To Debra Glass and Jessica Lee. People find critique partners, friends, mentors, encouragers, lifelines, and sisters in this world. How blessed am I to have two in my life? I love you both!

  To Tessa Bailey. Thank you so much for the awesome cover quote! Even more, thank you for taking the time from your writing to read mine. That meant—and means—the world to me. And throw in the fact that I’m a huuuuge fan-girl…

  To Christopher Lee. Thank you for helping me to sidestep the “Dehydrated Dog Debacle”! Knuckle bump!

  And Tracy. I lose my dry wit and words when it comes to you. How can I possibly express what a wonderful editor and person you are? How working with you has made me a better writer? How this series would not have been possible without your belief in it and me? I don’t have the vocabulary, so I’m just going to go with “Thank you.”

  About the Author

  Naima Simone’s love of romance was first stirred by Johanna Lindsey, Sandra Brown, and Linda Howard many years ago. Well, not that many. She is only eighteen…ish. Though her first attempt at a romance novel starring Ralph Tresvant from New Edition never saw the light of day, her love of romance, reading, and writing has endured. Published since 2009, she spends her days—and nights—creating stories of unique men and women who experience the first bites of desire, the dizzying heights of passion, and the tender, healing heat of love.

  She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bulletproof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically challenged bliss in the southern United States.

  Come visit Naima at www.naimasimone.com.

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  Discover the Secrets and Sins series…

  Love this book? Don’t miss the others in the “Secrets and Sins” series by Naima Simone.

  SECRETS AND SINS: GABRIEL

  Twenty years ago, Leah Bannon’s beloved Uncle Richard vanished without a trace. Leah, now a private investigator, begins to suspect it was murder. When she reopens the co
ld case, Gabriel Devlin—the man she loves but can never have—inexplicably stands in her way. Only four people know the truth about Richard’s mysterious disappearance—Gabriel and three childhood friends…who have all sworn to take that secret to the grave. But a hidden enemy wants those shocking secrets brought to light…even if he has to kill to make it happen.

  After experiencing an unimaginable loss two years ago, Gabriel refuses to put himself through the pain of loving someone who could be gone in an instant. But as he thwarts Leah’s investigation at every turn—both to keep his friends’ pact, and to keep her safe from danger—the sexy PI makes it impossible for him to protect his secrets. Or his heart…

  SECRETS AND SINS: MALACHIM

  Boston attorney Malachim Jerrod doesn’t trust anyone. His father and his ex-fiancé taught him that hard lesson. So when a beautiful stranger arrives on his doorstep his first reaction is to back away—far away. Danielle Warren wants a job, but his law business is falling apart, and her credentials are bare-bones at best. Still, there’s something about her that, try as he might, he’s unable to resist. The vulnerability in her soft voice? The way she flinches when he gets too close? The yearning he sees mirrored in her eyes when she looks at him?

  Two years ago, Danielle barely escaped alive from her powerful and abusive ex-husband. Now her ex is out of prison, and he’s coming for her. She knows she must leave her new job and run. Disappear—to keep herself and those she loves safe. Including her sexy boss, who has sparked feelings in her heart she never thought she’d feel again. Yet, she can’t help but wonder…should she let down her guard and trust Malachim with the truth?

  Working together brings them closer than ever—but reveals secrets and sins best left buried in the past. Their lives and their passionate love at stake, Danielle and Malachim must fight to survive to grasp the future of their dreams.

  SECRETS AND SINS: RAPHAEL

  When Greer Addison finds her future husband in bed with another woman, she runs…right into the arms of dark and dangerous Raphael Marcel. Angry and hurt, she throws caution to the wind and spends a hot night with the sexy security specialist. But when her fiancé is found dead, Greer becomes the main suspect of a crime she can’t remember.

  Raphael is stunned and suspicious when Greer shows up on his doorstep claiming she’s carrying his baby. Worse, she’s the target of a stalker bent on making her pay for a murder she doesn’t recall. As Raphael begins to trust Greer, they must race against the clock to uncover a killer.

  Because Greer’s memory is returning…

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  by Sophia Roslyn

  Retired Marine Viper helo pilot and ground cover expert, Kacey O’Donnell is called out of retirement for a special assignment: to assist in extracting the kidnapped daughter of a U.S. Senator, after an FBI team is betrayed and taken out.

  Former SEAL hero Nathan Weatherly looks forward to his new job as Deputy Sheriff in the small, quiet Normal Rockwell town where Kacey grew up. The former lovers have a history she has no desire to revisit, and a dark secret she refuses to share.

  With a young girl’s life at stake, Kacey helps pull Nathan’s team together for one last assignment. But, she finds it next to impossible to work with Nathan again—especially when she know he wants so much more, and she has so much to hide.

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  Determined to get answers, he plays the part of a fallen cop and lands the job of head bouncer, but his attraction to an intriguing cocktail waitress with a penchant for danger just might kill him first.

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