1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Fourteen

by Kristen Ashley

  She huffed out a breath and bent to unzip his pocket. When she pulled out a small, waterproof bag, she frowned.

  “Open it,” Brody said as the EMTs worked on him.

  Her hands shaking, she did as he asked and gasped. It was a silver—or white gold, she wasn’t sure—charm bracelet. But that’s not what made her cry. No, it was the charms he’d placed on there that made her want to wrap her arms around the man she loved and never let go.

  A water droplet for today.

  A taco, of all things, for their meal.

  A bike for their first meeting.

  A star…a star for their nightly ride under the stars.

  A bridge for her fall.

  “I know a guy who makes jewelry, and he helped me,” Brody explained as they made their way to the back of the ambulance. Brody was on a stretcher, and she was blinking hard by his side.

  “Of course, you know a guy,” she said dryly. The EMT helped her into the back of the ambulance and she sat next to Brody as the other EMT worked. “I can’t believe you got this for me.”

  “I’m missing one, though,” he whispered.

  “You got everything,” she said softly. “What on earth could you be missing? You even got the taco.”

  The EMT gave Brody a look. “You got your girl a taco charm bracelet?”

  Brody grinned at Holly, that dimple peeking out once more. “You had to be there.”

  “Apparently,” the EMT said deadpan.

  “What is it missing?” Holly asked again.

  “A rose,” he said simply. “For the tattoo you’re going to get.”

  She blinked. “How…how on earth could you know that? I hadn’t even thought of what I wanted until recently, and I didn’t tell you.”

  Brody reached out for her, and she carefully took his hand when the EMT nodded at her. “I know you, Holly. Just like you know me.”

  She swallowed hard and did her best not to cry again. She’d cried far too much lately, and all she wanted to do now was just be.

  “You’re way too good, you know that?” she said after a moment.

  He frowned. “No, I’m not. But you make me a better man. So that’s all I need.”

  She gripped his hand as they raced to the ER to make sure Brody was okay, but she knew they would be. They’d come from places where the world had threatened to take them down, and yet they’d risen from their own ashes. They weren’t the people they were when they’d been forced to face the fact that those who should have loved them couldn’t. But now, they were together, and she knew that no matter what happened, they would have each other.

  She’d taken the greatest risk of all with Brody Deacon, and now she’d be able to have the most challenging adventure yet—loving him until the end of her days.

  Epilogue

  Brody threw his head back into the pillows, tangling his fingers in Holly’s hair as she sucked him into her mouth. He’d been right in thinking that the sight of her lips around his cock would be one of the sexiest things he’d ever seen in his life. He was just happy as hell that his ribs were finally healed from being bruised so that he could enjoy this.

  She grinned as she let go of him and winked. “Like?”

  “Love,” he growled. “Now get back to it. You promised me a birthday blowjob.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s my birthday.”

  “I know,” Brody teased. “That’s why I ate you out twice this morning already and made you come. Now, it’s my turn, since I always deny you my cock.”

  She rolled her eyes and slid her hand up and down his shaft, the other hand playing with his balls. His eyes crossed when she squeezed, and he knew he was one lucky man.

  “You always pull out and then fuck me into the mattress, so I really can’t complain,” she said with a laugh.

  The sound of the word fuck from her lips made him want to do just that and grind her into the mattress as she mentioned, but he’d promised her he would behave.

  For at least a little while.

  He lay on their bed and groaned when she took him into her mouth again. Damn, she knew exactly what she was doing to him with her tongue, and if he weren’t careful, he’d blow before he was ready.

  He’d moved into her place the week after the rafting accident since neither of them had wanted to wait any longer. They weren’t engaged, but they were close to it. He wanted a little more of her to himself before he had to share her with the world of wedding planning and all of that.

  Plus, neither of them were in any hurry now that they slept side by side every night and she wore his bracelet on her wrist at all times. He let his free hand slide up his chest to rest on the chain she’d given him and grinned. It was a simple white gold chain that didn’t get in the way at work, but the clasp actually had a rose on it. If anyone noticed it, they would give him hell, but he didn’t care. His woman had given it to him so he’d wear it until the end of his days.

  When she pulled away, licking her lips, he tugged on her hair. “Crawl up me, baby, and fuck me. I want to see your tits bounce as you ride.”

  She crawled up his body, all feline grace and feminine wiles.

  Hell, he was beyond hard and ready to come, but he wanted to be inside her first.

  She kissed him roughly, her breasts swaying over his chest, and he groaned. He gripped the base of his cock and slapped it firmly against her pussy since she hovered right over him. No need for a condom. Not anymore.

  “Ride me, woman.”

  She laughed, but it was a throaty chuckle that did wicked things to him. His Holly wasn’t some innocent rose, and he loved it.

  When she slid over him, they both groaned, and he put his hand on her ribcage right on the side of her breast.

  “I love this ink on your skin,” he breathed. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Holly. So fucking mine.”

  She’d gotten her rose right on her ribcage. Of course, she hadn’t gone for something easy but had instead gone for one of the most painful areas. But she’d said she wanted it where he could grip it easily when he played with her breasts. She’d then told him her next tattoo would be on her hip so he could grip there, too.

  As they’d been in Montgomery Ink at the time, his groan had echoed off the walls, and Maya had laughed before doing the tattoo.

  Apparently, they’d heard worse in their time, and sweet little Holly talking all dirty wasn’t a surprise.

  He was definitely one lucky man.

  She rolled her hips. “You’re mine, too,” she said with a small smile. “Don’t forget that.”

  He let her ride him a bit longer before flipping them both over so he could pump into her slowly. It was her birthday, after all. She shouldn’t have to do all the work.

  Her eyes went dark as she crested, and he took her scream into his mouth. “Love you, Holly.”

  “Love you, too,” she panted, still moving with him as he made love to her. Then she squeezed her inner muscles, and he was lost.

  He came hard inside her, bare and open in every way. When he rolled to the side, his cock still hard inside her and their bodies sweat-slick, he kissed her slowly, leisurely, like a man with all the time in the world and the woman he loved in his arms.

  “I adore you,” he whispered.

  She smiled sleepily, sated and his. “Yeah? Always?”

  He kissed her again. “Always.”

  * * * *

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Carrie Ann Ryan, discover Inked Nights, Wicked Wolf and Hidden Ink.

  Discover More Carrie Ann Ryan

  Inked Nights

  A Montgomery Ink Novella

  By Carrie Ann Ryan

  Coming June 26, 2018

  Click here to pre-order.

  From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan comes a new story in her Montgomery Ink series…

  Tattoo artist, Derek Hawkins knows the rules:

  One night a month.

  No last names.

  No promises.

 
Olivia Madison has her own rules:

  Don’t fall in love.

  No commitment.

  Never tell Derek the truth.

  When their worlds crash into each other however, Derek and Olivia will have to face what they fought to ignore as well as the connection they tried to forget.

  * * * *

  Wicked Wolf

  A Redwood Pack Novella

  By Carrie Ann Ryan

  Click here to purchase.

  The war between the Redwood Pack and the Centrals is one of wolf legend. Gina Eaton lost both of her parents when a member of their Pack betrayed them. Adopted by the Alpha of the Pack as a child, Gina grew up within the royal family to become an enforcer and protector of her den. She’s always known fate can be a tricky and deceitful entity, but when she finds the one man that could be her mate, she might throw caution to the wind and follow the path set out for her, rather than forging one of her own.

  Quinn Weston’s mate walked out on him five years ago, severing their bond in the most brutal fashion. She not only left him a shattered shadow of himself, but their newborn son as well. Now, as the lieutenant of the Talon Pack’s Alpha, he puts his whole being into two things: the safety of his Pack and his son.

  When the two Alphas put Gina and Quinn together to find a way to ensure their treaties remain strong, fate has a plan of its own. Neither knows what will come of the Pack’s alliance, let alone one between the two of them. The past paved their paths in blood and heartache, but it will take the strength of a promise and iron will to find their future.

  * * * *

  Hidden Ink

  A Montgomery Ink Novella

  By Carrie Ann Ryan

  Click here to purchase.

  The Montgomery Ink series continues with the long-awaited romance between the café owner next door and the tattoo artist who’s loved her from afar.

  Hailey Monroe knows the world isn’t always fair, but she’s picked herself up from the ashes once before and if she needs to, she’ll do it again. It’s been years since she first spotted the tattoo artist with a scowl that made her heart skip a beat, but now she’s finally gained the courage to approach him. Only it won’t be about what their future could bring, but how to finish healing the scars from her past.

  Sloane Gordon lived through the worst kinds of hell yet the temptation next door sends him to another level. He’s kept his distance because he knows what kind of man he is versus what kind of man Hailey needs. When she comes to him with a proposition that sends his mind whirling and his soul shattering, he’ll do everything in his power to protect the woman he cares for and the secrets he’s been forced to keep.

  Sweet Rivalry

  By K. Bromberg

  About K. Bromberg

  New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

  She’s a mixture of most of her female characters: sassy, intelligent, stubborn, reserved, outgoing, driven, emotional, strong, and wears her heart on her sleeve. All of which she displays daily with her family and friends where she lives in Southern California.

  In 2013, K. Bromberg decided her part time job in accounting wasn’t cutting it and decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Since then she has written eleven novels, landing over half of them on the New York’s Time Bestseller’s list and all but one of them on the USA Today’s bestseller list. She’s also a Wall Street Journal bestseller and an Amazon pick for best romance of 2013.

  Her most notable series has been the Driven Series, its spin-off novels, and her standalone novel Sweet Cheeks.

  Her plans for 2017 include a novella titled Sweet Rivalry, a sports romance duet (The Player (4/17), The Catch (July)) and the Everyday Heroes series (3 books: Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit).

  She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter here.

  Also from K. Bromberg

  Click to purchase

  Driven

  Fueled

  Crashed

  Raced

  Aced

  UnRaveled

  Slow Burn

  Sweet Ache

  Hard Beat

  Down Shift

  Sweet Cheeks

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  This book is dedicated to my book tribe: the women who keep me motivated to sit down and write, who keep me inspired when I don’t feel like writing, and the readers who continually pick up my books on the blind faith that I’m not going to disappoint them. Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and your trust.

  -Kristy

  Prologue

  Harper

  13 years prior

  With each step I take, my temper burns brighter.

  Hmm. I don’t think they believe you, Harper.

  Step.

  Hmm. Can’t you make that sound more convincing, Harper?

  Another step.

  Hmm. Are you sure your facts are right, Harper?

  Step.

  He’s right behind me. I can feel him. I can smell his cologne. I can sense his adrenaline just as hyped as mine is.

  But in my head all I can hear is him murmur hmm in response to every single point I tried to make during our Master’s debate. A school tradition more important to most of us graduate students than the graduation ceremony itself. One I was looking forward to for weeks but now feel like it’s the bane of my existence.

  Flustered, I shove open the door of the lecture hall, thinking it leads to outside and fresh air––distance from him––but all I’m met with is the stale smell of a connecting classroom in front of me and the sound of his feet behind me.

  “Harp––”

  “Don’t!” I whirl around to face him, the fuse to my temper ignited. “Don’t you dare Harper me.”

  His lips slowly turn up in a lopsided smirk as he narrows his eyes as if he can’t figure out why I’m so upset.

  Not just upset. Livid.

  “What would you like me to call you then?”

  “Go away.” I turn my back to him and begin to pace the room, cursing myself for pushing open the wrong door. Fresh air would have been better. Outside I could have kept walking across campus so he couldn’t catch up.

  “You want to tell me why you’re so pissed off at me?”

  “You’re an asshole.” I toss over my shoulder, knowing that’s the nicest I’m going to get with him right now.

  “Hmm.”

  There’s that goddamn sound again.

  “Stop doing that! You’re driving me crazy.” I rage as I spin around to see him standing there with humor in his eyes. This isn’t funny. Him being an asshole is not funny. “Go away! Stop looking at me like that. I don’t want you to––I’m so angry at you that…that…”

  “Why would you be angry with me?” The blasé way he asks the question makes my temper bristle even more.

  “Why? Who the hell do you think you are? Sitting there on that stage and questioning me with that annoying sound every single time I stepped to the podium to speak. During my opening arguments, during my rebuttals, even my closing statements. It was hmm and hmm and hmm. That’s all I heard.”

  “Yeah. So?” he asks as he steps toward me, shoulders squaring and eyes challenging me.

  My hands fist and teeth grit. His nonchalance only serves to irk me further. “Get. Out.”

  “Why? Are you so high and mighty on that throne of yours that you think you can do no wrong?”

  His words are a verbal slap to the high of winning the debate despite his constant interjecting hmms. I glare at him, my body vibrating, and throw my hands up. “So that’s what this is about? Are you that jealous I beat you out for first in class that you and your precious ego decided to sabotage me during the debate? Are you fricking kidding me?”

  “This isn’t about me a
nd my ego,” he says quietly as he takes a step closer to me.

  “Yeah, right. Like I said, you’re an asshole. Thanks for nothing, Ryder.” I hate that I’m hurt when I should have known better. I hate that I cared that he was judging me.

  He just looks at me with this expression on his face that I can’t quite read but don’t think I want to. “After all this time, that’s how you want to end this?”

  “End what?” What is he talking about?

  Emotion swims in his eyes but I’m so upset and now confused that we stand feet apart without saying a word. He opens his mouth and then closes it before chuckling a disbelieving laugh. “You know what? Forget it. Forget I even followed you back here to congratulate you on winning. Go Bruins! Yay,” he says, the sarcasm thick in his tone as he raises his fist like he’s cheering me on before waving his hands at me like he’s over me and turns to walk out the door.

  “Don’t you dare leave!” I shout the words as panic suddenly fills me over the thought of him actually doing just that.

  His laugh is louder this time as he stops and turns around, hands shoved in his pockets, shoulders shrugged as if to say decide. “Make up your mind, Harp. Get out. Don’t leave. What’s it gonna be?”

  That slow, easy tone of his is like the scissors snipping at the final strings of my temper. Tears swim again. “Screw you!”

  He tucks his tongue in his cheek and just shakes his head from side to side. And I’m not sure why I’m looking for a fight but he’s not giving it to me and that only pisses me off further. “You had no right to question me. None.”

  “You’re goddamn right I did!” He’s in front of me in a flash, face a reflection of anger—eyes wide, neck strained, hands fisted—that shocks me. “And I’d do it again in a fucking second, so screw you, Harper. Screw. You.”