by Lucy Leroux
When they were done, Maia made hot apple cider with whipped cream. They sat with their mugs in front of the tree, admiring the effect of the lights and shiny ornaments while the fireplace crackled with a warm fire behind them.
“It looks beautiful. I love how everything smells with the tree. Can we sleep here?” she asked, cuddling closer.
“I’m glad you like it, but wouldn’t our bed be more comfortable?” he joked before growing serious.
Maia must have noticed the change in his expression. “What’s wrong?”
Calen didn’t want to ask her what he’d been wondering. He was pretty sure he already knew the answer, but he needed to hear it out loud. Sighing, he tried not to consider that a weakness. For her, he would be weak.
“Maia, do you love me?” he asked, chest tight.
He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until Maia’s eyes got huge and she clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh shit!” she exclaimed.
Calen frowned. “Definitely not the answer I was hoping for,” he said flatly. To his surprise, she laughed. “Okay, now I’m kind of insulted.”
“No, no! I just realized what an idiot I’ve been. I was waiting for the right time. I decided I would tell you once I was sure I was pregnant. But I hadn’t confirmed it, and then I was in that storage tank with all those dead fish telling myself how stupid waiting had been. And afterwards...”
Calen nodded. “After you got distracted by the fact you thought you were poisoned. You were worried about the baby and...you are still worried because there were no arrests made after what happened.”
“Yeah, I guess. I would have felt better if we’d gotten more than promises from the Russians.”
“Like what?”
“Like Timur’s head on a platter,” she said in a low voice, not meeting his eyes.
Calen snorted softly. He’d been worried she wouldn’t understand what he had to do if he ever found Timur. Well, she probably still wouldn’t if his plans ever came to fruition, but for now, he was glad for the bloodthirsty streak in his tiny wife. Even if she didn’t mean it.
Maia took a deep breath. “This is a god-awful time for this given what I just said...but I love you. I love you with all my heart. You are the most important thing in my life. And I’m glad that you are. I know this is going to sound weird given all that’s happened and how scary it’s been, but if all of that is what I had to go through to meet you and become your wife, then I’m not sorry it happened.”
Calen dropped his head until his forehead touched hers. “I’m glad I found you, too. But trust me when I say, we didn’t need the Russian’s help. I was looking for you. I would have found you.”
Maia clung to him and pressed her lips to his. Her sweet kisses became heated quickly, and Calen tried to drag her to the bedroom, but she didn’t want to move.
They ended up making love under their Christmas tree. Maia fell asleep gazing up at the lights from his arms. Afterward, he carried her to their bedroom, feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time. He didn’t realize until much later that it was because he’d finally heard the words he’d been waiting for.
Chapter 33
Christmas Eve was a beautiful day in Boston. It had snowed the night before, and everything was coated with a pristine layer of snow. Maia thought it was a pity that cars were going to be driving over it, turning it brown and sludgy. But for the moment, it was still beautiful. She gazed at the snow-dusted city from the tall floor-to-ceiling windows in Calen’s penthouse until she heard him come in behind her.
“How did I know I would find you by the tree? Are you going to want one year round?” he asked, taking off his long cashmere coat.
Maia paused and actually thought about it. “Hmm. No. I don’t think so. It would make it less special if we did. But don’t think I’m not tempted. I was actually thinking how beautiful the snow is this winter.”
“Was it not beautiful last winter?” he asked with a grin.
“In the abstract, it probably was, but I did not look forward to it. My apartment was always freezing at this time of the year. I think this winter has been the best I’ve ever spent in this town,” she said.
Calen scowled briefly. “I remember the issues with your apartment. That reminds me. You should wear your new coat and change into your boots for tonight,” he murmured, examining the light low heels she was wearing with her red wool dress. “Can’t be too warm.”
Maia smiled and reached up to adjust his crooked tie. She was getting used to having Calen fuss over her, but now that her pregnancy was confirmed by a doctor, he’d gone into overdrive. His concern felt good, so she humored him. Most of the time...
“All right, but only because the boots are more comfortable. In the future, I think I should get to pick my own outfit. What do you say to that?” she asked brushing imaginary lint off his shoulders.
Calen pursed his lips and eventually inclined his head. “All right, I’m going to give you that one. But you should go change now or we’re going to be late.”
“Are the gifts all packed?” she asked over her shoulder as they went to their room to grab her boots.
“Yes, all but one,” he said.
“What one is that?” she asked digging around her closet.
Calen leaned against the bed. “I’ve decided to tell Liam and Trick I will open a place in the Caislean after all.
Maia’s orange-gold head popped out the closet. “What? I thought you weren’t going to open any more clubs. That the challenge was gone.”
“Well, I’ve decided to take your advice,” he said as she sat on the bed to pull on her boots.
“My advice? What advice was that?”
He watched her with a warm expression her as she tugged on the tall leather boots. “I’ve decided to open a bar instead. But a special one. One modeled on a speakeasy.”
Maia stopped fastening her boot mid-zip. Her eyes lit up, and she sprang into his arms. “That is so brilliant! A real speakeasy?”
“With a secret entrance and everything. And after that, maybe a restaurant. More of a challenge. I decided we shouldn’t limit ourselves anymore,” he said.
“We?” she beamed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Well, you are my inspiration. I plan on stealing your ideas for the rest of our lives,” he said, mirroring her bright, warm smile.
Maia laughed. “That sounds good to me.”
The End
Available Now
Making Her His
A Singular Obsession Novel, Book One
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For almost five years, Alex has had one obsession. Her name is Elynn.
Alex Hanas couldn't believe that after so many years as a widower, his father was getting remarried. To make matters worse, the American gold digger had a kid—a daughter named Elynn. After months of avoiding it, Alex goes to brunch with every intention of giving his father's new family the deep freeze. But he can't pull it off with Elynn's anxious green-grey eyes locked on him.
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Confiscating Charlie
A Singular Obsession Novelette
Noah Masters is looking for his future. He never expected it to find it in her.
After crashing and burning his racing career Noah Masters has to figure out what to do with his life. His cousin Alex suggests he find a way to channel his creative energy in a way that doesn’t involve him putting his life in danger.
Then Noah meets his step-mother’s teenage sister Charlie, and he finds he doesn’t have to risk his life to find his future—he just has to risk his heart.
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Coming Attractions
Stolen Angel
A Singular Obsession, Book Three
Coming April 2015!
Sergei Damov is in love with someone who isn’t interested in him, but he’s determined to change that.
Sergei has pined for months, waiting for his assistant to turn around and see he’s the perfect man for her. But Ada only sees him as her boss. Until one night when they both have to work late and the office is deserted…
It doesn’t happen right away, but soon Sergei has Ada right where he wants her—in his bed. Then demons from his past resurface, and he brutally pushes her away before the darkness inside him can consume them both.
But Ada isn’t about to let herself be used. Soon she turns the tables on him and disappears, leaving a mystery in her wake. Why was Ada working under an assumed name? Not just with him, but at every job she ever held?
Using every resource at his disposal, Sergei desperately searches for her, before the danger she’s running from catches up with her…and to try and heal the heart he shattered.
Read the first three chapters at http://goo.gl/cqh0OI
Cursed
A Spellbound Regency Novel
Coming Soon
Isobel Sterling is a governess with a lot of secrets—including an uncanny ability she's been hiding her whole life. Until the day arrives when she has to use it to save herself from a madman. But first she has to master it. Fast.
Governess Isobel Sterling feels fortunate to have found a safe haven in the Montgomery household. The children are kind and the Lord and Lady of the house leave her alone. Her life is as good as it can get, until the day mysterious visitors arrive from abroad.
At first Isobel is flattered by the single-minded attention she receives from their handsome young guest, Matteo Garibaldi. At least she is until girls in the village begin to disappear. Isobel has a terrible suspicion that the disappearances are linked to the darkness she can see growing behind Matteo's eyes. Filled with dread she does everything possible to avoid his company—until she is locked in with him for the night.
About the Author
Lucy Leroux chose love.
Lucy moved to France for a one-year research contract. Six months later she was living with a handsome Frenchman and six years later is happily married to him…and still in France.
When her last employment contract ended Lucy turned to writing. Frustrated by the lack of quality romance erotica she enjoyed reading she set out to create her own. Her stories feature heroines who are smart, brave, and resourceful. She enjoys writing men who are thoughtful and slightly obsessive alpha males.
Her ‘A Singular Obsession’ series is a combination of romance erotica and suspense that feature intertwining characters in their own stand-alone novels. Three are completed and additional four books are planned. Follow her on twitter @lucythenovelist or http://www.facebook.com/lucythenovelist
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