I’m still spasming around him as he finds his own release, shuddering underneath me. “Fucking hell, Nev.”
We’re both breathing hard when we come down, and he’s still hard inside of me. “We’re doing that again, right?”
“Give me a minute, or maybe just long enough to switch out the condom.”
“We don’t need another one,” I tell him.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“I love you so damn much.”
“I love you just as much.”
He pulls me down, burying his head in my hair and nuzzling my neck as we hold each other tight. We’ve had our ups and downs, and I know we’ll have more of each before death do we part, but it’s all worth it. Dylan’s worth it all and he’s everything I want, need, and deserve. We can get through anything now that we’re finally working together.
Epilogue
Matisse
“Do you want to come up to my place?” I ask Kendrick, feeling bold at this party I helped make happen.
“I’m not sure that would be a good idea.”
“You don’t always have to be good, you know.”
“Actually, I do.”
“We’d be good together if you’d just give me a chance.”
“It’s not you.”
“Really? Come on, dude. Don’t say it’s you, because I’m not buying it. You’re brilliant, hot, and I know you want me.” Now the alcohol is starting to talk. I probably shouldn’t have had that last shot, but liquid courage and all, you know.
“It’s not proper for me to date a recruit.”
“There are no rules against it. I already checked.”
“It’s an unwritten rule.”
“Is it Waverly?”
“What?”
“I know you two are close. Is she your secret girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Fuck buddy?”
“Definitely not.”
“I’d be your fuck buddy. No strings.”
“How much have you had to drink, Matisse?”
“Maybe too much, or maybe not enough.”
“I’m leaning towards the too much for you right now.”
“Why, am I not sexy enough to make you break your rules, Doc?”
“You’re more than sexy enough. I just have rules for a reason. I don’t want to compromise myself by breaking them.”
“You really think I’m sexy?” I ask, ignoring the rest of what he said, because it makes no sense.
“You know I do.”
“Can you change your rules? Then you won’t have to worry about breaking any with me. Please?”
“You’re going to be the death of me, Matisse. Maybe even literally.”
“I’d never let you die, Doc. I’ll protect you even if you don’t give me any yummy orgasms.”
“I think I better get you up to bed.”
“Ooh. Yes, please.”
“I’m just going to tuck you in. You’re in no condition for anything else.”
“Guys don’t always care.”
“This guy cares. Let’s go.”
He cares. About me. I wasn’t kidding about some guys not minding sex after a few too many drinks, but my doctor cares. He’s mine, even if he doesn’t know it yet. And I’m his. I have been ever since I first laid eyes on him on my tour. I wanted to un-straighten his laces that day, and my desire for him has only grown while he’s been tutoring me. He may not be ready for me yet, but he will be. He has to be. After all, he’s the only man I’ve ever truly fallen in love with.
Find out what happens with Matisse and Kendrick in
Society Girls: Neveah, Coming in March 2016!
Author’s Note and
Bonus Scene
Hi! It’s just me, hiding out over here. For all of you who love Matt (and Reina), I want you to know that I don’t plot my books ahead of time, and I had no idea when I wrote Reina’s book that I would have Nev’s father turn up alive. I was driving one day, and the idea of this crazy twist came to me. I was just finishing Sierra’s book, and I thought it would be the biggest twist I could put in a book, because not only would it affect these characters, but it would also change things for Matt, and by extension, Reina. I struggled a little with it, but I decided it really was the way to go. I couldn’t put a scene with just Matt and Reina in someone else’s book, but I felt like everyone deserved one, so here you go. Read on to find out how Reina helped Matt be as okay as he can be with what happened!
Matt
I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve been finally coming to terms with what I did all those years ago. Finally learning to stop blaming myself for killing Sadiq Ayoub so I could fully move on with the life I finally have with Reina. And the he turns up alive. How could he be alive? I gave up on my life—and my love—for over a decade because of the guilt and disgust I felt, and now it’s for nothing?
“Matt, I know this is hard, but you need to talk to me,” Reina tells me. “You can’t just keep ignoring me while you sit on the couch in your own world. You need to eat, and shower, and come back to the living.”
I’ve been on this couch for almost two days straight, only moving to use the bathroom. I’ve barely eaten, I definitely haven’t showered, and I haven’t touched my wife. I’m not ready to do any of that now. “Just go back to work and leave me alone, Rei.”
“So that’s it? You’re just going to shut me out again? Push me to the side like I’m nothing? We promised to work together to get through anything that happened to us. Work with me, Matt. Please.”
“What’s there to work with? I gave up everything because I thought I killed him. Don’t you care that I gave you up for nothing?”
“I’ve always thought you gave me up for nothing. Your guilt was misplaced, and you chose it over me. I know you were devastated, but it was an accident. You didn’t trust me with your secret, and that was your choice. So to answer your question, no. I don’t care that Sadiq’s alive as it pertains to you giving me up. I do care that I’ve had to tiptoe around you for the last two days, and sleep alone, in case you’re wondering about that.”
“All those years.”
“The years that maybe we should be thankful we didn’t have.”
“What? You just came up with some crazy theory?”
“It’s not crazy, and I’ve been thinking about it for quite some time now.”
“Well go ahead and enlighten me. You know you want to.”
“What I want to do is punch you, but I’ll settle for explaining.”
Shit. I’m being an ass, and she’s the last person who deserves that from me. She’s put up with too much already. “Sorry, Rei. Please tell me what you’re talking about.”
“I’ve been thinking about how maybe when we were younger, we wouldn’t have been ready for the kind of love we have. It might have been too much for us because it’s so strong. Look at how it stood the test of time even when we were apart. I’m kind of thankful that we could still see each other—even when it hurt—and know deep down we loved each other, not matter what we said or did. It gave us a chance to grow into the people we were meant to be. I’d like to think we could’ve always become who we are now, but I have to also realize that we might not have. Our love might have overwhelmed us, and we might have broken up and never gotten back together.”
“I-I never thought of it like that. It makes a weird kind of sense.”
“I know. I hadn’t said anything before because it is weird, and we’ll never know. It just seems like now is the right time to tell you.”
“I didn’t mean to be an ass these last couple of days, I was just blindsided.”
“I know. We’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure? I know I hurt you, and I promised to try and never do that again.”
“I’m sure. You hurt me a little, but I get it. Sadiq’s appearance turned everything you believed on its side. I’d be more worried if you didn’t react.”
“I think you become smarter eve
ry day.”
“Isn’t that what a mother’s supposed to do?”
“Mother?” I ask, and she nods, placing her hand over her stomach.
“Surprise. We’re having a baby.”
I place my hand over hers and lean in to kiss her softly. She’s right, which is no surprise—she usually is. I was learning to put the past behind me when Sadiq appeared, and I have to keep moving forward. Not just for me, but also for Reina…and our baby.
Acknowledgements
As always, to Dominique and Gabi first! I’m so proud to be their mom, especially when I see how they’ve grown up to be open-minded, and compassionate women! I love you both so much!
To Helen, who always takes my covers even farther than I can imagine! You’re the best!
To Jesse, thanks everything you do for me!
To Ally, thanks for fixing my commas and trying to make me use proper grammar!
To my Friends of the Society group, thanks for always giving me your opinions on covers, names, and how fast I’m writing! You guys are the best (even when you’re telling me to write faster)!
To Aqeelah, for looking over this book to make sure I did okay with my references to Muslim culture, and for telling me nothing was offensive.
And I especially want to thank all of you who chose to read this book, and my others! I love my characters and books, and it means the world to me that you’ve fallen in love with them, too!
Those of you who know me and/or follow me on Goodreads, know I’m a huge reader myself! I love to read, and if you’re looking for something great, I’d love to recommend the following authors (many of whom I’m lucky enough to call my friends as well). This is a different list from last month:
Helena Hunting, Laura Kaye, Samantha Chase, Abby Niles, Katy Evans, Emma Chase, Tawny Weber, Kate Willoughby, Jessie Evans, Samantha Young, Samantha Towle, Kat Latham, Jennifer Bernard, HelenKay Dimon, Melanie Harlow, Lynda Aicher, Avery Flynn, Robin Covington, Nyrae Dawn, Chanel Cleeton, Desiree Holt, Catherine Bybee, Karina Halle, Julie Particka, Erin McCarthy, Kendall Ryan, Tawna Fenske, Jeanette Murray, Kristen Callihan, Toni Aleo.
There are lots more I know I’m forgetting, so I’ll give you a whole new set next month!
About the Author
Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she sat down and did it one day. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events and selling books at conventions when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts online or finding a place to put all of her Pop! figurines. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. The Griffin Brothers series and the Corrigan & Co. series are international best sellers, and she’s thankful to the readers who made that happen!
Find her here:
www.crystalperkinsauthor.com
facebook.com/crystalperkinsauthor
@wondermomlv
Neveah (Society Girls #2) Page 18
