by Anthology
His balls drew up tight, his cock pulsing as he continued to tunnel into her wet heat, fucking her as though he’d never get the chance again. He could see their reflection in the mirror above the dresser, watching as he pounded into her, her beautiful breasts swaying with every thrust.
When she lifted her head, meeting his gaze in the mirror, he locked his eyes with hers and smiled. The naughty look she sent his way only brought him closer to the edge, but he didn’t waver, continuing to fuck her. He wouldn’t come until she did, and he wasn’t going to rush her. It felt too good; being inside her felt like heaven and he never wanted it to end.
“Tag,” McKenna said, the single word coming out on a breathless moan. “You’re”—thrust—“gonna”—thrust—“make”—thrust—“me come! Fuck yes!”
“That’s it,” he growled as he let himself go, filling her as she milked his dick with her sweet body.
When he dropped to the bed beside her, she eased over him. “That was fantastic,” she told him, still sounding as though she’d run a marathon.
“You’re welcome,” he told her with a grin.
McKenna chuckled. “God, I love you. No wait, I take that back.”
Tag knew what she was going to say, but he waited to hear it anyway.
“I adore you,” she said, pressing her lips gently to his.
“I adore you right back,” he whispered, wrapping her in his arms, ready to give in to sleep.
“Nuh-uh,” she said, tapping his chest with her palm. “It’s your night to cook dinner. And I’m starving.”
Tag groaned, his eyes closed.
“And no frozen pizza tonight.”
“No?” he asked, thinking that sounded about perfect since it was easy.
“Nope. I’m thinking… I don’t know. Maybe steak and baked potato.”
Tag opened his eyes, peering up at her. “Really?”
McKenna nodded. “Yes. Since you’re cooking and because I’m eating for two. Wouldn’t be fair to make us live on frozen pizza, now would it?”
Tag smirked at his wife. His beautiful, sweet, manipulative wife. “No, it wouldn’t be fair. Not fair at all.”
With that, he spanked her on the ass and catapulted himself out of bed, heading straight for the kitchen.
“You’re naked!” she called out from the bedroom.
He stuck his head back in the room. “And I’m gonna remain that way, because one day, we’ll have little ones running around and I won’t be able to do it anymore.”
“Good point,” she said, closing her eyes as she smiled. “Very good point.”
Yep, he thought so, too.
Epilogue
Ten years later
McKenna relaxed on the lounge chair, letting the sun beat down on her face as she tried to get comfortable, grateful for a few minutes of peace and quiet.
“How did I know you’d be here?”
Opening her eyes, she peered up at Tag through the darkened lenses of her sunglasses, smiling as she did. “Lucky guess?”
Tag chuckled, dropping onto the chair beside her, kicking his feet up onto the chair and sighing heavily.
“Remember the last time we were on a cruise?” she asked him a few minutes later.
“I’ll never forget it,” he replied, sounding as tired as she felt.
“We spent our time in the casino and the hot tub…” she muttered.
“Those were the days.”
“They certainly were.”
Allowing her mind to drift back to that day, she remembered all the wicked things Tag had done to her before and after they were married. She felt herself drifting off to sleep, the dream world blocking out the real world for a few minutes as she imagined herself sleeping in late, waking to find Tag watching her. Dream McKenna rolled over, placing kisses on Dream Tag’s chest, easing herself beneath the blankets so that she could…
A high-pitched shriek had McKenna sitting up, looking around to see where the sound came from. And that was when she saw him…
Mickey Mouse.
Of course.
This wasn’t that cruise.
This was an entirely different one.
“Mommy! Look who it is!” Janey squealed as she came running over to McKenna. Bracing herself for her three-year-old, McKenna caught her when she propelled herself into her lap, pointing at the big guy with mouse ears, a huge grin, and a pair of swim trunks making his way through the crowd of children anxious to meet their favorite cartoon character.
Funny how Mickey Mouse was still an icon at this point in time. McKenna figured he always would be.
The closer the mouse came, the tighter Janey’s hands clasped McKenna. Her daughter was fond of the character, but clearly she preferred to keep him at a safe distance. McKenna wrapped her arms around her little girl, holding her tightly, letting her know she wasn’t going to let go.
“Where’s your brother?” she asked, looking around to see where her nine-year-old had slipped off to.
“He’s trying to talk to Mickey,” Janey informed her, bouncing on her lap.
“I see him,” Tag informed her, sitting up in his chair. “So much for that nap, huh?” He grinned over at her.
“We have that mouse to thank for that,” she informed him, laughing as she planted kisses on Janey’s head, brushing her vibrant red hair out of her face.
“Levi!” Tag called to their son. When the handsome, dark-haired kid glanced their way, his face lit up before his attention returned to the giant mouse making the kids laugh.
Although Tag was right, that nap they’d been trying to take wasn’t going to happen at this point, McKenna couldn’t find it in her to be disappointed. This was life as she knew it.
Two incredible kids who provided the sunshine in her world, an amazing husband she adored, a week at sea, and a big giant mouse…
What more could she ask for?
I hope you enjoyed the follow up to Tag and McKenna’s story. Adored is #7.5 in the Club Destiny series. You can find all of the books within this series, as well as buy links right here. Want to see some fun stuff related to the Club Destiny series, check it out here. Or how about what’s coming next? I keep my website updated with the books I’m working on, including the writing progression of what’s coming up for Club Destiny which you can find here.
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About Nicole Edwards
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nicole Edwards lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, their three kids, and four rambunctious dogs. When she’s not writing about sexy alpha males, Nicole can often be found with her Kindle in hand or making an attempt to keep the dogs happy. You can find her hanging out on Facebook and interacting with her readers - even when she’s supposed to be writing.
Nicole also writes contemporary/new adult romance as Timberlyn Scott.
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Red Hot Nights
Karen Erickson
Chapter One
“Hmm, what are you wearing?”
Reagan smiled, slipping a bracelet onto her wrist before she lifted her gaze to the bathroom mirror. She watched as Declan approached and stopped just behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his hands resting lightly on her stomach as his gaze met hers in
the reflection. “You like my dress?”
“I love it.” He stepped away from her, his hands resting on her hips, his mouth falling into a frown as he looked at her back. “But it’s practically indecent.”
“Isn’t it great? Sexy and demure in the front, totally naughty in the back.” She added a few more bracelets to her wrist and turned, sad when Declan’s hands fell from her hips. She saw the scowl on his handsome face, his eyebrows drawn together as he studied her, and she just knew… “You don’t like it.”
He tilted his head, still contemplating her—and the dress. It was white, with a soft floral print and a just-above-the-knee-length skirt that floated around her legs when she moved. The top tied around her neck in a halter style that covered her entire chest, not a hint of cleavage in sight.
But like she said to her boyfriend, Declan Carter—the hottest young actor today, making a terrific comeback with the newest, and most serious, film he’d ever made—it was the back that made the dress turn sexy. It dipped low, past her waist, exposing her shoulders and back completely. She loved it.
From the expression on his face alone, it looked like Declan hated it.
“I do like it,” he finally said. “Turn around again.”
She did as he asked, moving slowly, wanting him to get a good look it. Tonight was important to him—and her. His movie was premiering and she wanted to look pretty. Sophisticated. Not like the emergency room nurse she normally was, in her turquoise-green scrubs, hair scraped back into a no-nonsense ponytail, not a lick of makeup on her face beyond the occasional lip balm she slicked on when she thought of it.
Tonight, she went all out, just for Declan. Got her hair trimmed and blown out at an exclusive salon in Beverly Hills that Declan’s assistant James—who also happened to be her friend and the one who got them together in the first place—recommended to her. Was wearing a designer gown, again picked out by both her and James, who had better taste than she did. Talk about a surreal shopping trip. The gowns were all brought to her at Declan’s house and she didn’t have to make a purchase. The designers actually wanted her to wear them for the exposure—being seen on Declan Carter’s arm had its perks, most definitely.
She’d been pampered for the rest of the afternoon, again at Declan’s house. The cosmetics were applied by a professional makeup artist. Jewelry picked out to complement the dress and the highest stilettos Reagan could muster. She thought she looked pretty damn good.
Though she knew she had to up her game—and in a big way—if she was going to accompany her boyfriend to his freaking movie premiere. Famous people would be in attendance tonight, including the actors Declan made the movie with. Other stars and celebrities would be there too, all of them glitzed up beyond belief, because that was their job.
Reagan could never admit she was afraid she couldn’t hold her own among the young and gorgeous and famous. She was a regular person, not a movie star. Those types lived and breathed looking good for the camera. They worked out three hours a day, had personal chefs make them meals with hardly any calories, and they always wore the trendiest clothes and carried the most expensive bags.
She, on the other hand, had a small Coach purse her mom gave her for graduating nursing school. Mom claimed she picked it up at the factory outlet, and Reagan loved it, but it was no Christian Dior bag worth five thousand dollars.
Because yep, Declan’s stylist owned a five-thousand-dollar Dior bag which Reagan thought was both ridiculous and totally impractical. Though secretly, she coveted that bag. It was beautiful. And almost six months worth of rental payments, so she should let that dream die.
“You’re so exposed,” Declan finally said, worry clouding his eyes. “If it was just you and I going out, that would be one thing, but…”
“Do I look that bad?” she interrupted, feeling awful. Maybe she should change. But she had no other options. Nothing as gorgeous as the dress she wore, and certainly nothing designer. Maybe she could call Sandi. The stylist had helped her so much, and she knew Sandi would work her hardest to come up with another option. She probably had an entire rack at her studio, or even better, stashed in the trunk of her car for emergencies just like this.
“You don’t look bad.” Declan pulled her to him, his hands going to her lower back, his warm fingers seeming to brand her bare skin. She shivered at his touch. “You look fucking amazing. My problem is, I don’t want every asshole at that premiere ogling my hot girlfriend.”
She burst out laughing, relief flooding her. He was so brutally honest sometimes. It was one of her favorite qualities about him. “Are you saying you’re jealous?” she teased.
“No. Fuck no. You’re with me.” He leaned in and dropped a kiss to her nose. “I’m being an idiot, aren’t I?”
She lifted her chin and he gently kissed her on the lips, his mouth lingering. “Yes, you are,” she murmured, making him smile. “I just want you to be proud to have me on your arm.”
“Are you serious?” He withdrew from her so he could stare at her once again, his hands still resting on the small of her back. “I’m so proud to have you on my arm I feel like I’m going to burst.”
Pleasure bloomed in her chest at his sweet words. He always, always knew what to say. “I’m nervous about going,” she admitted. “So many people, so many flashing cameras. I hope I measure up.”
“Measure up to what? The other skanky girls I’ve brought to parties and premieres?” he asked incredulously.
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “The gorgeous actresses you used to date. Those girls are beautiful. I’m nothing like them.”
“Right. I know. You’re even prettier. So stop worrying. You’ll be great.” He kissed her again, like he couldn’t resist, and she hoped that was the case. She couldn’t resist him either. They’d been together almost seven months and it still felt so new, so fresh between them.
Though their busy work schedules might have something to do with the fresh, new feeling of their relationship. They sometimes went an entire week without seeing each other, and she hated that. They talked all the time, texting and sending each other photos throughout the day. Silly photos. Sometimes even sexy ones. Photos she hoped he deleted immediately, because if the couple of topless shots she sent him when she was feeling bold ever got out? Oh boy.
He was about to star in another movie soon, one that was being filmed in Mexico for four weeks, and she knew she’d miss him terribly. But she’d have work to keep her occupied. Mostly.
And all those long, lonely nights at home. She got depressed just thinking about them.
“You really think I’ll be great?” she asked, hating how insecure she sounded. She rested her hand on his chest, smoothing the lapels of his jacket. He looked so handsome in his black suit and stark white shirt sans tie, with a couple of buttons undone at the throat. His hair was perfectly trimmed, shorter at the sides and a little longer on top, and his jaw was freshly shaven, his skin burnished gold. Seeing his exposed neck made her want to do crazy things, like nibble and bite him there. Suck and lick his skin like she was some sort of possessed vampire.
Yes, clearly her too-hot boyfriend was making her insane.
“I know so. They’re going to love you. Stop worrying about it.” He dropped another kiss on her nose and then reluctantly pulled away from her. “You ready? We need to get going. The car will be here to pick us up any second.”
She nodded, trying to ignore the nerves jumping in her stomach. “Let me get my purse and I’ll be ready.”
Hurrying into Declan’s bedroom, she grabbed the tiny purse she bought just for this occasion and opened it, making sure her cell and her new lipstick were inside. Snapping it closed, she turned to Declan, who offered her his arm. “Let’s go.”
Declan could feel how nervous Reagan was. Her knee bounced incessantly and she did this squirmy thing in her seat, like she couldn’t get comfortable. It was sort of sexy, how she kept moving, her bare shoulder brushing against his. That dress she wore should be illegal. It
looked perfectly appropriate from the front, and incredibly naughty from the back.
Pretty descriptive of Reagan herself. She was a good girl—a nurse, for the love of God—who was sweet and earnest and thoughtful. Who made taking care of people part of her job and enjoyed it immensely. She was proper and polite when he needed her to be, could adapt to any situation she found herself in. She was also beautiful and smart, had a laugh that twisted him up inside and a ready smile.
Get her behind closed doors, though, and she was so fucking sexy he could hardly stand it. No more alcohol or drugs for him—Reagan’s kisses were his new addiction. Every time they got naked together, they were downright combustible.
It was fucking awesome.
Right now, though, she was a bundle of nerves and he had to admit, so was he. If the night wasn’t so damn important to him he’d say fuck it and attack her in the back of the car, give her an orgasm or two to calm the both of them down. But he couldn’t, no matter how badly he wanted to. He needed to be on his best behavior for the press, for the production team and for his fellow actors. This was their night. And he was so close to being on top of his game again and he didn’t want to blow it.
So remaining calm and doing the right thing before the movie premiered was best. After the movie was over? He planned on doing whatever the hell he wanted.
And what he wanted to do the most was Reagan.
“I need wine,” she blurted out, and he shook his head, taking her hand and intertwining their fingers.
“Alcohol won’t calm you down, baby.” He didn’t like to put his hang ups on her, but he knew without a doubt a glass of wine would only agitate her. She needed water and a deep kiss. Maybe that would settle her down.
