Remember Me: A Second Chance Romance

by Ever Coming

  “More. Everything. Please,” Cate begged, as his kisses made their way behind her ear to the spot he knew drove her insane in the very best of ways.

  “Are you sure, love?” He pulled back as if needing to see if her next words matched what he saw, which they of course did. She needed him inside her. Now.

  “More than anything.”

  Her words seemed to do the trick, and their kissing became more frantic. A moan escaped her lips as he decided to take his lips down, down, down, her body, stopping briefly to worship her breasts before completing their journey to the seam of Cate’s underwear.

  “I need to taste you” was the only warning she got before he slipped her panties down and kissed his way back up her thigh where he found her very ready and willing. A few strokes of his finger later and a nod of admiration for what he found there, and his tongue was on her.

  His fingers and tongue, with the slight addition of his teeth, worked her body as if they were made for it, which they just might have been. Before she knew what was happening, Cate was falling over the cliff of the most intense orgasm of her life, her body quaking, her ears filled with static. He had done this, her Levi, after all these years of being apart.

  “That was …” She couldn’t begin to form the words to do it justice. Heck, she couldn’t form a sentence. Instead, Cate reached to his belt, working it with absolutely no grace, but with more than enough enthusiasm to make up for it.

  “We don’t have to, love.” He laid beside her, his arm over her middle, his face nuzzled into her neck. Tonight was already bliss.

  “I wasn’t thinking I needed to reciprocate. I was thinking I wasn’t done.” Or more honestly, that she needed him inside her… now.

  “I love this side of you.” He chuckled as his finger absentmindedly drew circles around her breasts.

  “When I am naked, you mean? That side?” She waggled her eyebrows.

  “No, love, when you are uninhibited and free.”

  “So that’s a yes?” Cate asked to make sure before she all but attacked him. His slight nod gave her the go-ahead she was looking for, and Cate rolled to her side, attempting once again to remove his pants.

  “As if I could ever turn you down.” He winked before removing her hands and alleviating the pesky pants problem in record time and depositing a condom next to her pillow, as an unspoken question.

  Unfortunately, the answer was yes, he needed it, and when she tilted her head that way, he just smiled and shrugged as it if it were no big deal. Although it kind of was because any barrier between them felt too much right now. Adulting won out, though, and Cate grabbed it, tore it open, sat up enough to reach his still-impressive cock, and rolled it on, feeling him shake slightly as she did, her touch having every ounce of the effect on him that his did on her.

  Cate leaned into him, kissing him with all of the desire she felt, before the two of them ended up back on the bed, their legs entwined as they leisurely kissed, as if their commitment to the act allowed them the time to enjoy it.

  His hand wandered down to find her even wetter than she had been earlier, and as his thumb brushed her clit, her begging began. She needed him in her, now. She didn’t need to beg long, and as Cate felt his cock nudge her entrance, she found herself squirming beneath him, needing more. Slowly he entered her. Cate couldn’t tell if it was to help curb his need after being hard for well over an hour, or if it were out of consideration for her and her comfort. Either way, she savored every second he took until he was fully seated.

  “Perfect,” Cate whispered.

  Levi brought his hands to hers and clasped their fingers together before bringing them up by her face, kissing her until he had completely stolen her breath. It was then that he began to move, oh, so slowly, making their reconnection last. His slow, leisurely pace didn’t diminish the level of passion, and before Cate knew it, she was cresting once again, taking Levi with her.

  “I love you. I always have,” he spoke in her ear.

  Cate had heard many times over the years that you never believe a man when he tells you he loves you after coming. She believed Levi though, with her entire heart. He did love her. Always had. Just like she had always loved him. Their time might not have been when they originally thought it should be, and that was okay, because the things that happened in those twenty years made them who they were now.

  “And I have always loved you, Levi,” Cate confessed. For she did, with all her heart.

  Epilogue

  Cate stood in the back entrance of her first gallery show. It was still unreal. Six months ago, she had been buying out the entire art supply store, and now here she was, showing her work. No, not showing, selling. She only had three paintings left that weren’t spoken for.

  “Come, dear. Mingle.” Susan stood in front of her, her smile bright. If Cate hadn’t known her, she would have thought it was a salesman smile, bright with intent, but it was real and warmed Cate’s heart. It meant things were as amazing as she believed them to be. “Everyone is so excited by your work.”

  The room held some familiar faces, but most of them were people Cate had never met before that night. She had set her expectations low, hoping to have some of her teacher friends and her family there. She never expected the turnout to be such as it was. It was both thrilling and terrifying.

  “I’m on my way. I was just taking a breather.” She had shaken dozens of hands of people she probably wouldn’t remember if their paths were to cross again. She had been too nervous to use all the little tricks she used as a teacher to remember kids’ names on the first day. “I can’t believe they all sold, and not to Levi.”

  Levi had tried to buy three of them before she even displayed them. She couldn’t blame him. They were the ones she created after their first date after meeting again, after their first time together when they confessed their feelings, and after she told him they were expecting a little bundle of their own. It was hard to believe she was growing her family when she was over forty. Her OB reassured her it was more common than she thought, and quite honestly, it felt right, even perfect.

  “Oh, I bet there were some words over that one.” Not so much words, as much as Cate agreeing not to sell them, but she nodded and smiled at Susan just as Amelia joined them, sweetly kissing her wife on the cheek.

  “You know us too well,” Cate teased back, not wanting to discuss it further. As much as she loved Susan, some things were private. “He thinks he’s being supportive.” And that was the truth of it, too. He wanted to help gather buyers for the show and on that Cate put her foot down. Either she did this on her own, or not at all. As it turned out, on her own seemed to have worked out quite nicely.

  “Men,” Amelia bantered.

  “Men,” Susan and Cate concurred.

  “Love.” Levi wrapped his arm around Cate after appearing out of nowhere. Cate had been so focused on her conversation and the bustle of the room before her she somehow missed the smexy that was her husband walking over.

  “Levi,” she whispered as she nuzzled into him, not caring they were in public. He was hers, and she was going to enjoy every minute. She knew better than most how quickly life could change, and she wasn’t going to waste a moment with her Levi. Not one.

  “Everyone is raving about your work, love,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

  “So I have heard. It’s still unbelievable.”

  “It was to be expected, love. Your work is brilliant.” He moved so that he stood behind her, his hands resting on her slightly-extended belly, his new favorite resting place for them. Levi was the one who’d first brought up starting a family, and at first, she thought he was insane. Now? Now she thought he was the perfect man. The perfect one for her, anyway.

  “Not that you are biased or anything.” Cate leaned back, enjoying his warmth.

  “No bias in it—you are brilliant. Shall we mingle?”

  “Absolutely.” She took his hand from her belly, intertwining their fingers. “Susan, thank so much f
or this opportunity.”

  “Pish.” Susan shooed her away in a movement far too over-exaggerated to be real. “Thank you so much for making me all the money.”

  As they made their way into the main gallery, Jamie walked in the door, beaming. She had already seen the display, volunteering to help set up, but to see the amazement in her eyes, Cate would’ve guessed it was her first time seeing them.

  “Mom, this is amazing. I’m so proud of you for following your dream.” She leaned in, hugging her mother and then her stepfather. Levi had taken on as much of the father role as Jamie allowed, and both seemed to be happy with the relationship, which was a huge relief to Cate. “Do you know what those dots on all your paintings mean?” Jamie pointed to a small colored dot by the display of a small piece in front of her.

  “Those, my wonderful daughter, mean they are spoken for.” As in sold.

  “Wait, did you buy these all, Levi?” Yeah, her daughter and Levi were going to be just fine.

  “Your mother wouldn’t let me.” He shrugged as if to say, What are you gonna do? “These were purchased by others who see your mother’s brilliance.” His eyes held so much pride. Cate wanted to get him alone, and quickly, but they still had a long night ahead of them.

  “Whoa, Mom, you do realize how much money this means?” Jamie leaned in and whispered, clearly knowing it wasn’t appropriate conversation for the location, but unable to help herself.

  “Are you saying I am not adequately employed enough to take care of my wife and baby?” Levi teased. Cate raised her eyebrows at him. They had never finished the discussion on when to tell Jamie about the baby.

  “No way. No freaking way.” Jamie was practically bouncing before she embraced her parents in a bear hug.

  “You’re not upset?” Cate had been worried about breaking the news to her practically-adult daughter, which was probably why Levi just spit it out. He called it the Band-Aid method. Not that it hurt. The moment was blissful.

  “I always wanted a sibling,” was her simple reply.

  “You don’t even live at home,” Cate reminded her, not that she wanted her to stay gone after her summer internship, but the apartment complex had offered her a full lease, and she and Hannah took it, which was for the best. Sometimes you needed to let go. Not that it made things easy, but the best was not always easy, which Cate had learned far too many times in her life already.

  “Which makes it perfect, the little rug rat won’t keep me up at night. That’s all on you guys. I guess that means I need to start calling you Dad now, you know, to get you used to it.” She gave him an arm bump as if to pretend the offer was in jest, but they all knew the offer was sincere.

  “Or because I’d be honored.” Levi bumped back in kind.

  “That too, Dad. That too.”

  In this moment, everything was perfect. Cate had rekindled her first love, one that had never truly died; she had followed her passion and had started to see unbelievable success; and she was growing her family. She leaned into Levi, savoring the moment and looking at the first picture that had sold that evening: “Remember Me.”

  Ever Coming is the pen name of an international bestselling author who simply wanted some heat with her sweet romances. When she is not reading and writing romances, Ever is usually found enjoying time with her kids and husband.

  www.evercoming.com

  Also by Ever Coming

  Fallen: A BBW Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance

  Needed: A BBW Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance

  Getting Bear: A BBW Shifter Romance

  Riding Her Unicorn: A BBW Shifter Romance

  Breathless for her Bear: A BBW Shifter Romance

  Dreaming of her Wolf: A BBW Shifter Romance

  Second Chances at Life and Love You Won’t Want to Miss

  Racing Toward Love by Everleigh Clark

  A forty-three-year-old divorcee finds love in the arms of a younger man while training for the hardest race of her life. Which will prove to be more difficult? Running a grueling one hundred thirty-five mile race through Death Valley or the not-so-socially acceptable relationship her family can’t handle?

  This novella was originally part of the Wanna Be Bad boxset, under Everleigh’s other pseudonym. Three thousand words have been added in a fun, romantic epilogue.

  Everleigh Clark is a pen name of a USA Today bestselling author who wanted to write some fun paranormal romance. She’s also a homeschooling mommy, crafter and choc-aholic.

  When she’s not wrangling kittens, googling math help or cleaning up slime, she’s plotting and writing her next book. Her characters are fun, lovable and messy. Just like the characters in her real life.

  Everleigh loves to connect with readers! Please visit her on:

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  Never Settle by Kate Richards

  Workaholic Arabella Carmichael is achieving her career goal in a large corporation by giving up all her other dreams. Friends, family, and a love life—as well as company of her own. A surprise vacation designed to give her a break and make her even more productive on her return lands her on an island with no Internet, so no way to work. Perhaps she can have one of those vacation flings she’s heard so much about. But why is that incredibly handsome guy leaving on the plane she arrived on?

  Will Sanders spotted the gorgeous blonde when boarding the plane for the mainland. He cannot forget her and returns sooner than planned, only to find she’s about to hook up with a lawyer friend of his with a less than stellar reputation with women. Is he too late to catch her eye and get her to spend her vacation in his arms, or will she go ahead with her plans with Earl? He’s got to convince her he’s the right one for her before she throws herself back into a life of all work and no play.

  Vacation fling or start of a whole new life? Make the right choice, Arabella!

  Kate Richards divides her time between Los Angeles and the High Sierras. She would gladly spend all her days in the mountains, but she’d miss the beach…and her very supportive husband’s commute would be three hundred miles. Wherever she is, she loves to explore all different kinds of relationships in her stories. She doesn’t believe one-size-fits-all, and whether her characters live BDSM, ménage, GLBT, spanking, or any other kind of lifestyle, it’s the love, the joy in one another, that counts.

  Facebook Fan Page http://on.fb.me/14Vqx48

  Goodreads Page http://bit.ly/19yVcWh

  Twitter http://bit.ly/17AeWeM

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue

  Racing Toward Love by Everleigh Clark

  Never Settle by Kate Richards