by Milly Taiden
“You can forget that right now. This was not your fault. It was those idiot women and their petty vengeance. I don’t blame you or anyone else for this stupidity in accepting reality.” She reached out and took hold of Bella’s hands. “Besides, if you think about it, due to their meddling I have a new daughter who will be giving me little ones to play with sooner rather than later.”
Bella laughed when she saw how red Liv’s face became at her words. Liv smiled and looked to Karel. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “Yes, Aayi. Soon, I promise.”
* * *
Liv glanced at the dual moons from Karel’s arms and leaned her head against his shoulder. It had been a few days and Keliana was almost fully recovered. “I’m glad your mom’s okay now.”
“She considers herself your mother, too,” he whispered against her forehead, placing a kiss on her hair.
Happiness burst in her heart, filling her with joy. “I know. It’s nice to have someone I can count on. Someone who actually sees me as a daughter.”
“I’m glad that makes you happy, love.” He curled his arms tighter around her waist, splaying his hands over her abdomen. She didn’t think anything of it at first, but then he brushed his lips over her ear. “Aayi will be happy to know she’ll get those grandchildren soon.”
She let the words sink in and then sat up in a rush, turning to face him. “What? That is not cool, Karel. You know I’ve been dying for a baby.”
He laughed at her obvious annoyance. “No need to die or kill anyone, love. Your wish is coming true.”
She gasped, glancing at his hands on her belly. “Are you sure? How could you know?”
“I know.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Yes, really.”
She flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly, attempting to show how much she loved him through the embrace. “I love you. I love you so much, I can’t even explain it.”
He slid a hand over her hair in a soft caress. “I know, beautiful. I love you too.”
She’d finally gotten the family she always wanted: a man who loved her, a mother, a good friend, and even a baby. It didn’t get any better.
EPILOGUE
With a sigh, Gerri knocked on Cassie’s door. She was exhausted and needed to find reliable help or she’d end up killing someone. Those shifters were so demanding when they wanted something.
Cassie’s door flew open and a man ran out with a box in his arms.
“You’re fucking crazy, you fat bitch!” he screamed and ran down the hall.
Gerri’s brows flew up when a curvy blonde with angry gray eyes and caramel skin came out of the apartment with a baseball bat in hand.
“Yeah, I might be fat and crazy,” she yelled, “but I’m not stupid.”
“See who gives you a job, now!” the man yelled rounding a corner toward the elevators. “You’re fired.”
Cassie rolled her eyes and met Gerri’s gaze. “I’m fired, but I’m not the one needing medical attention. He’s lucky he moves fast or I would have broken his ribs.”
Gerri frowned. “Why did you want to break his ribs?”
“Because he stole every cent I had in my savings account.” She shook her head, her shoulders dropping. “I go away on a business trip and my own boss, aka my boyfriend, does that shit to me.” She took a deep breath and sighed. “I have no job, no money.” She frowned. “And I have no idea who you are.”
Gerri grinned. “I’m actually here to talk to you about your neighbor Liv, but I think I have something better in mind. May I come in?”
Cassie glanced at Gerri for a moment. “Sure, not like you can make my troubles go away. I swear,” she grumbled and stepped aside to let Gerri pass, “I wish I could just disappear and send this whole planet to hell.”
Gerri snorted. “I think I can help you, Cassie. You see, I’m looking for an assistant…”
Keep Reading for the first chapter of Miss Taken! Milly’s sexy new series coming in January!
Sneak Peek at Milly Taiden’s upcoming New Series…
Raging Falls
Miss Taken – Book 1
Waking up in some strange man’s bed was never big girl Kira Ardan’s goal for the day. Neither was waking up naked. Wait, naked? Someone had a lot of explaining to do and soon.
Luke Lyen is at the height of his need. He wants a mate and he wants her now. Finding the woman meant to be his brings out the lust he’s been fighting for days. If only she weren’t so stubborn, he might be able to get her to understand she is his. Then they could move on with dirty, freaky loving.
The big lion is doing things with his tongue that makes Kira’s brain cells melt. It will take more than a little danger to get this curvy woman to let go of her firm beliefs. She’s not interested in being anyone’s MINE, but maybe he can convince her to be HIS.
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ONE
Kira Ardan glanced at the papers her brother handed her. She squinted, pushing her glasses up her nose. “Wait, you want me to what?”
“Which part of what I said didn’t you understand?” Peter snapped. “I want you to check out the land I want to buy.” His brows dipped in a furious scowl. “I heard the locals are angry that I’m tearing down some trees to set up vacation cabins.”
She frowned, ignoring Peter’s attitude and flipping through the papers she had at hand. “You haven’t even discussed this with the current owner of the land.”
He gave her a look like she was being stupid. “So? I’m offering him a lot more than that piece of shit plot of land is worth. If he’s any kind of businessman, he’ll take it.”
She glared at Peter. He acted like he was smarter than everyone else and that annoyed the shit out of her even though he was family. Thanks to her, he hadn’t been sued more than once. Her ability to smooth over ruffled feathers kept his dumbass in business.
“You know, sometimes I wonder if you and I share the same genes,” she sighed. “Peter, I can’t just show up on private property and survey it without the owner’s consent. I can get arrested for trespassing.”
Peter shrugged. “I don’t care what you do. Figure it out and get me photos of the area.”
She sat back in her chair, determined to talk some sense into her idiot brother. “You know, just because Dad put you in charge of the company Mom left to me, doesn’t make you smarter. This is my company.”
He raised his dark brows. “The fact he gave me control speaks of who he trusted more.”
She clenched her teeth, hating that her father had been such a jerk that she couldn’t control her own company without having a male on command. Her lawyer had been very clear. She either got married or her brother controlled Rakida Construction.
“I don’t give a shit who he trusted,” she snapped, angry at her father and brother. She stood, pushing her chair back and hearing it scrape on the wooden floor. Her glasses fell forward so she shoved them up the bridge of her nose for the millionth time. “Father only did that because he wanted to force me to get married.”
Her father had always made it clear his daughter needed a man to take care of her. Since her mother died when she was young, Kira had always been independent. It ticked off her father that his little girl didn’t want to do the things he expected out of women.
“Me getting this land deal would benefit you,” Peter declared with a mocking grin. “I don’t give a shit if you never get married. As long as you don’t, I’m in control. If you die, I get it all. Don’t get married. I’m still in charge.”
She squeezed her jaw, pain shooting from her teeth to temples. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to get married. At almost thirty-seven, she realized her expectations of men might be higher than what most men felt she should have. She fought the urge to take off her glasses if only to not see his annoying face.
“I’m not getting married just to take the company from you,” she growled. “But if I do get married,” she said, meeting his gaze, “you’re going back to your o
wn fledgling company and leaving mine to me.”
“And until then, I get half of everything I bring into your company,” he smiled coldly. “This is what our padre would have wanted.”
“For me to depend on a man? Papá clearly had little common sense,” she said, her anger rising with every word.
Sheets of paper scrunched in her grasp as she turned to leave his office. She didn’t hate Peter. He was her brother and only acted the way he did because that’s how their father had raised him. Besides, it took too much effort to hate anyone. Kira knew she’d never made her father happy being an independent female. He expected her to grovel at his feet. He wanted power over her.
Her father’s mission was to make her marry or turn forty before she got control of her company. She only had three years to wait for the latter option and the other was not happening. Not with her relationship history.
She’d been engaged three times. Each ending with her sending her fiancé to hell. She didn’t have the patience to handle men who thought they’d change her. It started with small comments or remarks. Then it grew into full-blown commands. Kira didn’t like anyone ordering her around.
Though successful men, her exes always had a problem with something about Kira. That something was usually her weight. As a big girl with big curves, they assumed she needed someone to tell her to lose weight. Not the case. They soon realized she didn’t really care what they wanted her to look like. She was damn happy with her figure. Rolls, flab, curves and every soft little jiggle that made her who she was.
She marched into her office, ignoring everyone calling out her name and slammed the door. People always wanted to talk when she was in a murderous mood. With a sigh, she kicked off her heels and plopped into her office chair. Leather squeaking filled the room as she swiveled to face the picture window behind her desk and the forest that lay just yards from the building.
She flipped up her black-rimmed glasses into her hair and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She swore she’d end up with a daily migraine if she didn’t take a vacation soon. Her temples pulsed with a dull, throbbing pain.
Her door opened. She didn’t bother asking who it was. She already knew.
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Check Out
Paranormal Dating Agency
TWICE THE GROWL
GEEK BEARING GIFTS
HER PURRFECT MATCH
CURVES ‘EM RIGHT
TALL DARK AND PANTHER
THE ALION KING
THERE’S SNOW ESCAPE
SCALING HER DRAGON
IN THE ROAR
Also from Milly...
Check Out
FUR-OCIOUS LUST SHORTS (BEARS)
A New Werebear Romance Series
FUR-BIDDEN – BOOK 1
FUR-GOTTEN – BOOK 2
FUR-GIVEN – BOOK 3
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FUR-OCIOUS LUST SHORTS (TIGERS)
New WereTiger Paranormal Romance
STRIPE-TEASE – BOOK 4
STRIPE-SEARCH – BOOK 5
STRIPE-CLUB – BOOK 6
The Sassy Mates Series
And Fall for Girls with Curves and Guys with Fur
Humor. Heat. Romance.
Get yours!
Scent of a Mate - Book 1
A Mate’s Bite – Book 2
Unexpectedly Mated – Book 3
A Sassy Wedding – Short 3.7
The Mate Challenge – Book 4
Sassy in Diapers – Short 4.3
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
Hi! I’m 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, quick way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romantic comedies with lots of romance, heat, and happily ever afters.
I live in Florida with my hubby, our boy child, and our little fur baby “Needy Speedy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to shoe shopping and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.
Hey, 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.
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Find out more about Milly Taiden here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.millytaiden.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/millytaidenpage
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If you liked this story, you might also enjoy the following by Milly Taiden:
Sassy Mates Series
Scent of a Mate Sassy Mates Book One
A Mate’s Bite Sassy Mates Book Two
Unexpectedly Mated Sassy Mates Book Three
A Sassy Wedding Short 3.7
The Mate Challenge Sassy Mates Book Four
Sassy in Diapers Short 4.3
Fighting for her Mate Book Five – Coming Soon
Federal Paranormal Unit
Wolf Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book One
Dangerous Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book Two
Black Meadow Pack
Sharp Change Black Meadows Pack Book One
Caged Heat Black Meadows Pack Book Two
Paranormal Dating Agency
Twice the Growl Book One
Geek Bearing Gifts Book Two
The Purrfect Match Book Three
Curves ‘Em Right Book Four
Tall, Dark and Panther Book Five
The Alion King Book Six
There’s Snow Escape Book Seven
Scaling Her Dragon Book Eight
In The Roar Book Nine
FUR-ocious Lust - Bears
Fur-Bidden Book One
Fur-Gotten Book Two
Fur-Given Book Three
FUR-ocious Lust - Tigers
Stripe-Tease Book Four
Stripe-Search Book Five
Stripe-Club Book Six
Raging Falls
Miss Taken Book One
Miss Matched Book Two - Coming Soon
Other Works
Wolf Fever
Fate’s Wish
Wynter’s Captive
Sinfully Naughty Vol. 1
Club Duo Boxed Set
Don’t Drink and Hex
Hex Gone Wild
Hex and Kisses
Hex You Up (coming soon)
Hex with an Ex (coming soon)
Alpha Owned
Bitten by Night
Seduced by Days
Mated by Night
Taken by Night
Captured by Night (coming soon)
Match Made in Hell
Hellhound Needs a Mate (coming soon)
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