by Tiana Laveen
CANCER
Mr. Intuitive
Mr. Intuitive
THE TWELVE SIGNS OF LOVE
(The Zodiac Lovers Series)
Written by Tiana Laveen
Edited by Natalie Owens
Cover by Travis Pennington
BOOK 1: Capricorn – Mr. Ambition
BOOK 2: Aquarius – Mr. Humanitarian
BOOK 3: Pisces – Mr. Imagination
BOOK 4: Aries – Mr. Adventure
BOOK 5: Taurus – Mr. Persistent
BOOK 6: Gemini – Mr. Versatile
BOOK 7: Cancer – Mr. Intuitive
BOOK 8: Leo – Mr. Boss
BOOK 9: Virgo – Mr. Intelligent
BOOK 10: Libra – Mr. Romantic
BOOK 11: Scorpio – Mr. Magnetic
BOOK 12: Sagittarius – Mr. Philosophical
Welcome to the “Zodiac Lovers Series” – The 12 Signs of Love.
This is a series which features a hunky hero for each zodiac sign of the year!
This series is stand-alone, so whether you wish to only purchase one or two books of this astrological romance series, or all 12, you can do so without missing a beat. Each Hero embodies typical characteristics of their zodiac sign, but please bear in mind, this is simply for fun – and not to state emphatically that any sign mentioned will act as described. Each tale chronicles the life of the hero and heroine’s quest to love and romance, and each story is unique.
Some of the heroes are serious and brooding, others capricious and fun loving. Some of the tales will feel like a modern-day fairytale while others take a more serious tone. Some tales may lie somewhere in between. This series is written from the heart.
Enjoy!
COPYRIGHT
WARNING!
DON’T STEAL OR ILLEGALLY SHARE AUTHORS’ WORK!
Copyright © 2018 by Tiana Laveen
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. PIRACY IS AGAINST THE LAW.
IN OTHER WORDS: If you do any of the above, the karma bus is waiting for you. If you steal this author’s work and illegally loan and/or share it, request illegal/free copies online and/or in printed version, you are no better than a burglar that breaks into someone’s house while you think they are away. You are a criminal. A thief. A cheat. You don’t work for free, so why should authors?!
WE WORK HARD. SHOW SOME APPRECIATION.
BLURB
Cain Johnson is a musical prodigy who moved to New Orleans to follow his dreams. As a happy solo act, Cain and his guitar are a local hit and he’s caught the eye of several highly influential musical producers. One evening, he plays a highly requested number and asks a woman from the audience to join him on stage to sing the lyrics.
Tapestry LeBlanc is a gorgeous, curvy songbird with an infectious personality. She is a nurse providing in-home care for the elderly and works her magic in any way she can. Despite her optimistic and upbeat nature, she struggles with her own demons but uses her beautiful voice to express her emotions. After a few drinks, she jumps on stage to join the handsome Cain for an enchanting duet. And then, sparks fly…
In the city of music, magic, and myth, Cain opens up to his feelings for Tapestry, but soon finds himself entangled in some ugly truths that cannot be escaped or denied. The music saved him once; perhaps it can play his heartstrings and bless him twice. No voodoo, magic potions, or special herbs can undo the pain he and Tapestry encounter as they hold on to one another in an unkind world. Will they withstand the storm, or will the torrent of fallen musical notes in their uneven song rip them apart and end abruptly before the second chorus?
Read “Cancer – Mr. Intuitive” to find out!
HEADS UP!
Please bear in mind that each book in this series is adult in nature and includes:
Profanity – (sometimes gratuitous depending on the characters/specific book in the series)
Explicit intimate encounters – (this is consistent in all 12 novels of this series.)
Adult topics and situations – (This could be anything from drug abuse to mental illness, violence, incurable disease, etc.)
If you are offended or triggered by any of the abovementioned, please consider this before moving forward.
Thank You.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to all the Cancers burrowed in your private sanctuaries, holding it down in the deep blue sea. You are intuitive, generous, sentimental, compassionate, wise, hilarious and tough – that outer shell is something special! Try to let go of things and people that no longer serve you well… those claws tend to be clamped tight around negativity, turning to energy suckers that wish to break you down. They see your magic and want to drain you of it. Release them. As soon as you let go, you will be open to receive all the wonderful gems of the world that you’ve worked so hard for!
People naturally trust you because you care…
Use that power for good!
XOXOXO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
About this Book
Heads Up!
Dedication
Letter to the Reader
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
About the Author
LETTER TO THE READER
To my Laveen Queens and Kings, welcome. If you’ve been rocking with me for a while now, then there are no words to express my gratitude. To any new readers who happen upon this book—welcome, and thank you for going on this journey with me. All right, so as to the question that many will ask: Why did you create this series, Tiana? Since a very early age, I have nurtured an interest in the field of astrology. It wasn’t something I relied upon necessarily, but I was intrigued by it, especially if a specific forecast rang true. Regardless of anyone’s personal beliefs, astrology can at least be considered an interesting study. Some believe it to be total nonsense. Others believe there may be some credibility, but it is still rather farfetched. Yet others believe that the entire subject is evil while some tend to take it quite seriously and consider it no laughing matter. Whatever your beliefs, please suspend them for the reading of this romance series.
None of the books in this series are about conjecturing, prophecy, predictions, etc. They are mer
ely avenues, or tools, if you will, to view the astrological sign as a gateway into a particular character. This is used to highlight a few key characteristics, be they good, bad, or indifferent, about all 12 zodiac signs from a male perspective.
I am an author who writes lengthy books by default. You would be hard-pressed to find over 10% of my portfolio that does not hit the 100k+ word mark. With that being said, I wanted this series to be full-bodied, but not overwhelming. I wanted to write love stories that unfold in a timely manner, something a reader could knock out in a day or two, but not be explored so fleetingly that the reader misses my signature character and story development. I prefer to write extensive novels because I am practically addicted to the human mind – the psychology behind a character. Why did he say that? Why did she do that? How did this happen? Who were their parents? And so on and so forth.
This kind of in-depth exploration takes time, which equals a longer page count. Longer does not always equate to better, however, and in my personal writing journey this series has been inside my mind for quite some time and needed to come out. I wanted the series to be standalone, meaning if a reader only wished to read Pisces, Cancer, and Libra, they could do so without missing key components. In fact, my “Raven Maxim” series is similar – no book is contingent upon the other, though the stories take place in the same town. That series is ongoing and may never end, because I have given myself permission, as an author, to fully explore the characters, the city, etc., and not worry about readers waiting a long time for a conclusion due to a succession of cliffhangers. Series are mostly either loved or hated, but standalone books in a series, to me, merge the best of both worlds. In the Zodiac series, the link that binds the books is that you, the reader, are looking at the hero’s astrological sign. But there is so much more to these men, these exciting heroes, than this.
These guys are all different, from all walks of life. They tell their tale in the manner that they see fit. Some are entertaining, others inspiring.
In this 12-part series, you will meet 12 men and their love interests.
12 signs…
12 different minds…
12 lifetimes…
You will sit back and watch the magic unfold.
Please get comfortable, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy the, “Zodiac Lover Series – The Twelve Signs of Love.”
It is a gift from me to you…
Tiana Laveen
Many people think of me as a homebody. To be exact though, wherever I make my home is truly where my heart is. I can be restless at times, travelling here and there, sometimes only in my mind. I will be the first to admit that I need my downtime, a safe place where I can recalibrate, recharge, and rethink all that life has to offer. I consider myself to be a very strong person, with the ability to withstand a whole lot and wear a smile while the weight of the world bears down on me. Since I am in tune with my feelings, sometimes people mistake this for weakness. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Sometimes I can play the victim, be a martyr, when it was me pulling the puppet strings all along. That makes me shrewd… I am always observing.
I do give many chances occasionally to people who aren’t deserving. The longer a person is my life, the harder it is for me to let go. That’s why it’s best for me to cut toxic relationships short as soon as possible, though at times it’s a challenge. I believe in taking care of those who need a hand, but determining who is helpless and dependent can sometimes be deceiving.
I laugh a lot; it’s the best medicine. I have a very good sense of humor and find joy in the small things in life. I am drawn towards creative ventures. In my case, it’s my music. Since I could first hold a guitar and cry out as a young child, I have been expressing myself through song. I need this release like the ocean needs the wind to move. I can be moody… I will admit to that. Usually, that is just a signal that I need to go into my corner and lay low for a while.
I’m very protective of those I love and will at times jeopardize my own safety in order to help prevent someone who owns my heart from being harmed. I am not fearful by nature. In fact, it takes a lot to scare me, but it doesn’t take much for me to find someone worthy of my suspicions. Sometimes I believe in the good of the world; other times, I wonder why this place hasn’t burned the fuck down. I like being accommodating, but definitely resent being used. When I fall deeply in love with someone, and it’s happened a time or two, I can be a bit, shall we say, possessive of them. Love makes me happy. Simple as that. I’m usually loyal in relationships, but when I’m not, the reasons are typically quite complicated and have little to do with my lover at any given time. I love beautiful women, beautiful music, beautiful surroundings, and beautiful art. If you look nice, can make me laugh and give me some space when needed, you will have my heart forever.
Some close to me say I have a temper. It never comes out of the blue… trust me. if I blow up on you, you’ve more than likely had it coming. On the off chance you didn’t, I will apologize—just give me a second to think it all over. I’m not unreasonable in that regard. I don’t like softness within myself; in fact, I hide behind my hard shell. But, when I see limitations in someone else, I will do one of two things: exploit it to the fucking hilt or help build that person up until they are strong and can make it on their own. I have an excellent memory because I am sentimental, especially when it pertains to family matters. I’m a mama’s boy, even if she did me wrong. You’ve got to respect that place from which you came. That’s one of the reasons why I love women so damn much…
Women have secrets, like tightly clamped claws that only a man they’ve given their heart to will ever uncover. Women are magical music notes, like a seashell you put up to your ear. You never know what song she will play, but when she is vulnerable with you, it will always be beautiful. The lovely ladies are the reason behind so many of my songs, rage, heartbreak, undying devotion and love.
How could I ever betray Mother Nature, the mother of us all?
It’s in my nature to love strong, and to love hard…
I will guard you with my life, and toss your worries out to the sea…
I am your Cancer lover…
CHAPTER ONE
Raisin’ Cain and Nailin’ Tapestry
Avocado green wall partitions with ombre yellow to white lettering spelled out ‘The Spotted Cat Music Club’ across them. Cradled in the middle of the words was the black silhouette logo of a spotted cat standing on its hind legs wearing a hat, playing the trombone. Cain had performed at this venue several times, and it was a place he called his second home, located on Frenchmen Street in Faubourg, Marigny, New Orleans.
He’d just finished his rendition of ‘Tom Cat’ by Muddy Waters on his acoustic guitar. Taking a five-minute break, he glanced over his shoulder at the large window.
The multi-paned baseboard to celling frame behind him was aglow with sparkling Christmas lights with a thin sprinkling of dust, which cast watery reflections of the people in front of him, who were ready to move, dance, and sing. He sat on the low stage, the scent of warmed wood and life surrounding him. He tapped his foot a few times, getting settled to begin the new number and playing the notes in his mind as he often did. Reaching out to the microphone before him, he spoke into it as people drank their strong drinks and smoked their fragrant cigars. Excitement danced in their eyes… that was his fuel.
“Tonight is full of good energy… thank you for that. The vibe is on point. Must be the full moon tuh-night ’cause I feel lucky, wild ’nd free. Welcome, everybody! We’re all family here so kick off your shoes if you want to and let loose.” Applause broke out. “I want to now play for you—”
“Today is Macey’s birthday!” a woman screamed out from the middle of the crowd. People all around began to clap in celebration of the mystery woman, the birthday lady swallowed up by smoke and swarms of human limbs.
“Macey! Come on up here! Lemme see you, darlin’.” He swept his long, black, wavy hair behind one ear and hunkered down, eyeing t
he crowd as he gently strummed the strings of his guitar. A young lady with fire engine red hair approached him, wearing a form fitting white dress and a shit eating grin. The birthday girl looked proud as could be… and three sheets to the wind. “Well now, it’s your birthday… that’s a wonderful thing.”
“Yes, it is. I’ve been having a blast all day. Thank you.” Her fair complexion deepened to a ruddy hue along the apples of her cheeks as she beamed. “I turned twenty-two today.”
“Twenty-two! When I was twenty-two, I wish I had enough sense to come on out and listen to some music. I was too busy bein’ a loner and lettin’ the world pass by. It’s good that you got out. Shows you’re a bright young lady… got good taste in music, too.”
A few whistles came from the crowd.
“You play very nicely. When my friend realized you’d be here tonight, she told me we had to come.”
He waved to a woman in the audience who was jumping about to make her presence known. He presumed that was the same lady who’d exclaimed it was Macey’s birthday, proud of another year of life granted to her loved one.
Life was definitely precious…
“I can tell from your voice you ain’t from around here. Where’d you blow in from, sweetheart?”
“Arizona… Phoenix.”
“Air-ruh-zone-uh!” He strummed his guitar. “Nice place… I’ve been before. The Grand Canyon is a sight to see. Lookie here.” He peered out into the audience. “I’ve got somethin’ for Macey and everyone else celebratin’ a birthday tonight.”
“Your number!” some woman hollered, causing a ruckus of laughter.
“My number, huh?” He grinned as he strummed the guitar nice and slow in a soothing tempo. “I don’t pay my bill half the time, baby, so Verizon cut me off like an unhappy Sugar Mama. You can call but won’t nothin’ much happen after that,” he joked, causing more laughter. “Here we go!”
