Enchanted: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

by Lexi Blake

  Her hands came up to frame his face. “No matter what.”

  He kissed her, locking their mouths together even as he reached down and cupped her ass and ground himself against her. He moved her back to the table without ever letting go. He eased her down and spread her legs. She was already wet and ready for him.

  He pressed himself against her. “Is this okay?”

  Her eyes widened as she realized what he was asking. She nodded solemnly. “It’s okay.”

  He had a condom ready, but there wasn’t a need for it. Not now. It was an ache, but one that could be eased because they shared it.

  Jared brought them together. Sarah wrapped her arms and legs around him, opening herself body and soul to him.

  It was everything he’d wanted. His whole life he’d been looking for a place to belong and it was with this woman, in this time.

  He wouldn’t let her go. He would never let her go.

  He found a rhythm, thrusting in and pulling out. Anticipation coursed through him as the pleasure built. He held out as long as he could, watching her come again and again, but he couldn’t hold out forever. When he felt his own orgasm start, he leaned over and kissed her, bringing them as close as they could.

  It washed over him, the pleasure, but beyond that the connection he felt to this woman.

  It was all he needed.

  He held her close as he came down from the high of loving her and promised himself everything would be okay.

  Chapter Twelve

  In which a family comes together and happily ever afters aren’t always perfectly normal…

  Sarah held her husband’s hand as the doctor walked out the door. Not long now. She was prepped and all they were waiting for was the OR.

  The last forty-eight hours played through her brain, a glorious combination of sex and love and ridiculous decadence. Jared had flown them in a private plane to Vegas, where Kori and Kai had been their witnesses as they’d exchanged vows. Then they’d dumped their friends and hadn’t left their suite until they’d been forced to come home Sunday afternoon.

  Then he’d held her through the night because today was the day.

  “Okay. In an hour or two we’ll be done,” Jared said, squeezing her hand. “And then we should know something.”

  Then they would know if they’d caught it in time or if she needed chemotherapy, something else they would face together.

  “I think it’s going to be okay,” she said, looking up at him. He hadn’t slept all night. He was being strong for her, but she knew how afraid he was. It made her calmer, as though they were working as a team and only one of them could be freaked out at a time. “I think we caught it super early and we’re stopping it before it can even begin.”

  He nodded but she could still see the tension in his eyes.

  “Hey, could I have a minute with her?” Kori stood in the doorway. “They’re going to take her in a couple and I have something I need to say.”

  Jared nodded. “Of course. I’ll be outside with…well, I’ll be outside.”

  She let him go and looked at her best friend. Sometimes she wasn’t sure she remembered a time when they weren’t friends. She knew it existed, but they’d been together for so long that time seemed hazy. Tears pierced her eyes. They’d started out as two subs who were absolutely not looking for love, and somehow they’d become sisters and now sisters-in-law.

  “It’s going to be okay.”

  Kori reached for her hand. “It better be or I’m going to fuck some people up.” She took a deep breath. “Look, I know it’s going to be okay because it has to. It’s going to be fine and that’s why I want to talk to you about the future.”

  “Jared’s taking a couple of months off and then he’s thinking about getting more into the documentary scene,” Sarah explained. “He’s really liked working on this personal one, but he’s been talking to Mia. She’s got some ideas but she doesn’t have any film experience. I think it could be cool.”

  “I’m not talking about that,” Kori corrected. “Jared is going to be great at anything he puts his mind to and so will you. And I think you would be the best mom in the world, and that’s why I want to be your surrogate when you’re ready. I’ve thought a lot about this and we could use my egg and Jared’s sperm. Or someone else’s egg. I think Charlotte Taggart has like a lot of them from what I can tell. You might want someone taller.”

  She held on to her friend’s hand, utterly floored by the offer. “Kori, you don’t want kids.”

  She nodded her head vigorously. “That’s the surrogacy part. You have to take the kid at the end, and you’re probably only getting one out of me because I will not like the whole labor thing.”

  The whole world was a blurry mess. “You don’t…”

  Her friend stared down at her. “I do because two of the people I love most in this world are going to need a little help and I won’t let them down. I want to do this for you. I want it for me too because I can’t wait to see how you handle being a mom. I’m going to live stream you dealing with the first poopy diaper.”

  Laughter bubbled up in her. How had she ever kept this quiet? She needed her family, even if it was small. Even if it was only Jared and Kori waiting for her, she needed them. “And I’ll stream the first time that sucker kicks you from the inside.”

  A brilliant smile crossed Kori’s face. “We’ll do it together.”

  Like they’d done everything for the last decade.

  The door opened and the nurse walked in. “We’re ready for you. And you should know that your husband arranged this with the hospital. That man loves you since he had to bribe them with monthly visits to the kid’s wing from all manner of superheroes.”

  “Arranged what?” Sarah asked as the nurse popped the brakes off her bed.

  “Every princess needs a royal court,” Kori said with a grin.

  She looked down the hallway that would lead her to the elevator to the operating room. The hallway was lined with her friends from the club. They stood on either side, whole families coming out to support her. Ian and Charlotte Taggart were there with their twins, Seth held in his father’s arms. The twins stood with some of the other kiddos she babysat once a week in the nursery. She’d watched them grow and now they were standing there with hand-made signs that looked like they’d bought out a glitter store to decorate.

  We love you Auntie Sarah!

  You got this!

  Jared stepped in beside her and took her hand again. “They wanted to be here for you.”

  Kai was at the front of the line. “We’ll be waiting. Not a one of us can work until we know you’re okay.”

  She cried as they pushed her toward the elevator, but it wasn’t from fear. It was the overwhelming love she felt. These people she “played” with, who she’d met in a place where they didn’t have to be real, turned out to be far more real than she could have imagined.

  “You got this,” Serena Dean-Miles said as she passed. Serena had been faced with this same surgery before. “I’ll see you on the other side and we’ll compare notes.”

  “Don’t worry about a thing.” Mia was there and Sarah had been almost certain she’d been in New York yesterday.

  “Did you fly in?”

  Mia smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it. Not for the world. Love you, sister.”

  They said it over and over, each one offering her words of love and encouragement.

  Jared walked with her right until the elevator doors opened.

  The rest she had to do on her own.

  “I’ll be here,” he whispered, kissing her one last time.

  “I love you, babe. See you in a bit.”

  The doors closed and she was ready.

  * * * *

  Six Months Later

  Jared John Ferguson loved being a husband. Her husband. The first months of their marriage had been the fulfillment of his promise—to take care of her. From the moment he’d learned she was all right, he’d thought of nothing but her comfort. He
’d put aside those things he’d thought he’d wanted—the career, the fame, the trappings of a successful life—and in those first few days, helping his wife to the bathroom had been the focus of his world. Making sure she got her medications, that she had what she needed.

  He'd done the things he’d promised he would do if she ever got pregnant. It had been foolish to think that would be the only time to do it, when he was waiting on his family. She was already here.

  He’d carried her over the threshold of their home because she’d been too weak to carry herself, but she’d gotten stronger. Every day she found she could do more. The surgery had been harder on her because they’d had to open her up. But they’d gotten everything they needed to, and they’d gotten to it in time. No chemotherapy for his love.

  His wife would be just fine.

  She’d proven to be a great partner. While she’d been recovering, she’d taken to helping him put together the documentary. She’d done her interview when she’d felt well enough and had been his sounding board. Next month they would get to take a trip. To Utah where he would show the documentary at Sundance.

  “Are you ready?” Kai asked, bringing him out of his thoughts. “You sure you can make this work? You need some porn or something?”

  Those words reminded him he was in the fertility clinic about to do something that would change all their lives.

  His brother would never stop teasing him about this. Of course it was sort of real. He’d never thought he would be partially conceiving his son or daughter in a doctor’s office. “You should know I’ve always been able to masturbate.”

  Kai shuddered. “Yeah, you should have remembered to lock your door more often. I hope this kid is a boy so you have to deal with yourself as a teen.”

  “Are you really okay with this?” They’d been doing that manly brotherly thing the last couple of weeks since they’d decided to give IVF and surrogacy a try. But this was Kai’s wife who was offering to carry his brother’s child. It was weird.

  And so beautiful it made his heart clench to think about what Kori was offering them.

  Kai put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ve never been prouder of my wife than I was when she told me she wanted to do this. And I’m pretty fucking proud of her all the time. I want this for you, brother. Go and get me and Kori a dumbass nephew or super sweet niece to spoil.”

  He stood up, the waiting room around him nicely furnished but absolutely not how he’d thought he would be doing this kind of thing.

  Was he actually going to be able to do this?

  “Mr. Ferguson, the room is ready for you,” the nurse said, holding open the door to the waiting room.

  He stared at her for a moment. It was surreal. He was going to walk into some room where a whole bunch of guys had masturbated into a cup and do his business and then the nurse was going to take it and he might be a father in less than a year.

  It would be so much easier if Sarah had come with him, but she’d had some stuff to finish up with. Or that was the excuse she’d given so Kai had driven him.

  Why had he had his brother drive him?

  “Jared, it’s okay,” Kai said. “I want you to go in there and pretend it’s just another night at Sanctum and you’re doing a medical scene. Do you want to talk about this?”

  He practically ran for the nurse because he was not talking about this with his brother. Nope. He strode down the hallway, was given his little cup to make his deposit in, and then he was standing in front of the door.

  “If you need anything, let me know,” the nurse said with a wink.

  He watched her walk away and then pulled his cell phone out. Only one thing would work. He couldn’t do this without her. He needed his wife.

  Text me a picture of your breasts.

  Short. Simple. A command that she wouldn’t refuse. His wife was a bit of an exhibitionist, after all. They’d been back at Sanctum long before she’d been cleared for play. They’d simply held each other and watched the scenes and been a part of the fun.

  A familiar sound hit his ears. The angelic chiming Sarah used for his texts.

  His body went on full alert and he opened the door because he had a feeling he wouldn’t have any trouble filling that cup now.

  His gorgeous wife was standing in the middle of the room wearing the sexiest naughty nurse costume he’d ever seen. “Hey, babe. Thought you might need some help.”

  His whole soul warmed when he saw her. “Damn straight. Let’s make a baby.”

  He closed the door behind him and got down to business.

  * * * *

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Lexi Blake, discover Protected, Close Cover, Arranged, Dungeon Games, Adored, and Devoted.

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  DRAGON CLAIMED by Donna Grant

  A Dark Kings Novella

  ASHES TO INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  A Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Novella

  ENSNARED by Elisabeth Naughton

  An Eternal Guardians Novella

  EVERMORE by Corinne Michaels

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  ENCHANTED by Lexi Blake

  A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

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  A Knight Brothers Novella

  INDULGE ME by J. Kenner

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  QUIET MAN by Kristen Ashley

  A Dream Man Novella

  ABANDON by Rachel Van Dyken

  A Seaside Pictures Novella

  THE OPEN DOOR by Laurelin Paige

  A Found Duet Novella

  CLOSER by Kylie Scott

  A Stage Dive Novella

  SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS by Jennifer Probst

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  A Krewe of Hunters Novella

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  THE DARKEST ASSASSIN by Gena Showalter

  A Lords of the Underworld Novella

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  DAMIEN by J. Kenner

  Discover More Lexi Blake

  Protected: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella by Lexi Blake

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  A second chance at first love

  Years before, Wade Rycroft fell in love with Geneva Harris, the smartest girl in his class. The rodeo star and the shy academic made for an odd pair but their chemistry was undeniable. They made plans to get married after high school but when Genny left him standing in the rain, he joined the Army and vowed to leave that life behind. Genny married the town’s golden boy, and Wade knew that he couldn’t go home again.

  Could become the promise of a lifetime

  Fifteen years later, Wade returns to his Texas hometown for his brother’s wedding and walks into a storm of scandal. Genny’s marriage has dissolved and the town has turned against her. But when someone tries to kill his old love, Wade can’t refuse to help her. In his years after the Army, he’s found his place in the world. His job at McKay-Taggart keeps him ha
ppy and busy but something is missing. When he takes the job watching over Genny, he realizes what it is.

  As danger presses in, Wade must decide if he can forgive past sins or let the woman of his dreams walk into a nightmare…

  * * * *

  Close Cover: A Masters and Mercenaries Novel by Lexi Blake

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  Remy Guidry doesn’t do relationships. He tried the marriage thing once, back in Louisiana, and learned the hard way that all he really needs in life is a cold beer, some good friends, and the occasional hookup. His job as a bodyguard with McKay-Taggart gives him purpose and lovely perks, like access to Sanctum. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman with stars in her eyes and babies in her future.

  Lisa Daley’s life is finally going in the right direction. She has finally graduated from college after years of putting herself through school. She’s got a new job at an accounting firm and she’s finished her Sanctum training. Finally on her own and having fun, her life seems pretty perfect. Except she’s lonely and the one man she wants won’t give her a second look.

  There is one other little glitch. Apparently, her new firm is really a front for the mob and now they want her dead. Assassins can really ruin a fun girls’ night out. Suddenly strapped to the very same six-foot-five-inch hunk of a bodyguard who makes her heart pound, Lisa can’t decide if this situation is a blessing or a curse.