This was why people made such a big deal about sex.
I peaked in his arms, but didn’t once come down from my high. It was wrong, but everything about it felt right. As I steadied myself against his shoulder, I knew that I could never do it again.
“How are you feeling?” He murmured into my hair, before pulling out, leaving me empty. Hollow.
“I—I can’t do this,” I confessed.
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to my forehead, still holding me upright. “I’m assuming you mean the blow. It’s not for everyone. If you’re referring to me, I hope you’ll reconsider. That was the best sex I’ve ever had.”
My heart fluttered again at his words, but I frowned. A drug dealer wanted to be with me. This hadn’t been part of my plans.
He tilted my face up to his. “Look at me, Neve. Do I look messed up to you?” I shook my head and he continued, “Exactly. I sell it, but I don’t use. Ever. It’s a business, baby. Plain and simple.”
I chewed on the corner of my lip while mulling over his words. He was right—the sex had been amazing. If he kept his business away from me, maybe we could make it work.
The coke had me feeling invincible; like I could take on the world. Maybe instead of locking myself away in the castle that was Hallett Hall, I should take a chance and let myself fall for someone.
It was time for me to live a little.
“Okay,” I agreed. “Let’s see where this goes.”
He flashed his white teeth as he grinned. “I’m going to take such good care of you, Neve. Just you wait and see.”
Through The Woods is available for purchase now. Simply tap on the title.
Though The Water Playlist
ocean eyes by Billie Eilish
Walk On Water by Thirty Seconds to Mars
Bottom Of The Deep Blue Sea by Missio
Something To Believe In by Young The Giant
Pray For Me by The Weekend & Kendrick Lamar
better alone by Lykke Li
Good Ole Days by Macklemore [feat. Kesha]
Hurt Me by Låpsley
My December by Linkin Park
Dream by Bishop Briggs
Graveyard by Halsey
Wait by Maroon 5
From Eden by Hozier
10,000 Emerald Pools by Børns
I Only Have Eyes for You by The Flamingos
Ahead Of Myself by X Ambassadors
Dead In The Water by Ellie Goulding
Shameless by Camila Cabello
Broken by Seether [feat. Amy Lee]
Astronaut (Something About Your Love) by Mansionair
Delicate by Taylor Swift
Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls
Use Somebody by Kings of Leon
Bedroom Hymns by Florence + The Machine
Sail Away by David Gray
Amber by 311
I Fall Apart by Post Malone
Here With Me by Dido
When You’re Gone by The Cranberries
Crowded Places by Banks
Sign of the Times by Harry Styles
The Hurt & The Healer by MercyMe
Halo by Beyonce
Helium by Sia
Into You by Ariana Grande
Lay It On Me by Vance Joy
Take Me to Church by Hozier
Edge of Desire by John Mayer
Girls Like You by Maroon 5
Let Me Love the Lonely by James Arthur
The Only Exception by Paramore
Everything by Lifehouse
Between The Raindrops by Lifehouse [feat. Natasha Bedingfield]
This Love by Taylor Swift
Closing In by Ruelle
Dream by Imagine Dragons
Runaway by Sasha Sloan
My Blood by Ellie Goulding
Lose You To Love Me by Selena Gomez
Wicked Games by Theory Of A Deadman
The Night We Met by Lord Huron
13 Beaches by Lana Del Rey
Wings by Birdy
Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Lorde
Mariners Apartment Complex by Lana Del Rey
Flames by David Guetta & Sia
everything i wanted by Billie Eilish
Heartbeat by The Fray
Church by Fall Out Boy
A Sorta Fairytale by Tori Amos
Angel by Theory Of A Deadman
Praying by Kesha
Photograph by Ed Sheeran
The Bones by Maren Morris
Flower by Moby
Good To Be Alive by Andy Grammer
Reverend by Kings of Leon
Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding
Good For You by Selena Gomez [feat. A$AP Rocky]
Nolita Fairytale by Vanessa Carlton
Forever by Mumford & Sons
Dream Cast
Killian Reed- Kevin Kiermaier
Ariana James- Bryce Dallas Howard
Morgan James- Odette Annable
Conor Bailey- Bryce Harper
Georgia- June Squibb
Tsega Simons- Liya Kebede
Dean Simons- David Annable
Tristan James- Jay Haizlip
Brad Phillips- Eric Rutherford
Ashlynn James- Nina Dobrev
Matt- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Acknowledgments
This book would not have been what it is without the following people. It takes a village, y’all.
Rebecca Pau- Bex, as usual you took my ideas and brought them to life. Thank you for giving this series the fairy godmother treatment.
Beta Readers (Andrea, Lily, Jenni, Nicole, Alicia, Cecilia, Jazmyne, Jodi, Shannon, Lisa, and Karen) - You guys are the real MVPs! Thank you for your feedback and constructive criticism. You gave me clarity when I couldn’t see the desert for the trees and I am forever grateful!
Jean- Thank you for shooting a photograph that completely captured the essence of this story and for being a wonderful friend and human being.
Rob- Thank you for being the best big guy a gal can have. Oh, and for letting me put you on the cover of my books.
Dani- Thank you for keeping me sane and talking me off the ledge when I’m second-guessing my every life choice. You are the absolute best and I am so lucky to have you on my team.
Ellie- You are the rebel to my princess, the peanut butter to my jelly. Thank you for still speaking to me, even when the deadlines become guidelines.
Readers- Thank you for picking up this book. I wanted to give you a standalone, only to realize halfway through that I’d gotten used to writing series. So, enjoy this novel and its added “girth.”
Laura- Bunny, you are the apple of my eye. Thank you for getting me out of my writing cave every now and then to socialize with real people. Best wishes!
Wendi- Thank you for being you. You are one of the strongest women I know, and I am honored to call you my friend.
Zach- Well, it’s finished. Who thought we’d ever say that? It was a little touch and go there for a while. You’re always there as my sounding board, my snack provider, and my coach. Thank you for loving me, especially in the moments when I’m on a deadline and forget to take care of myself. I love you pints and gallons.
Also by Shannon Myers
From This Day Forward Duet
(David & Elizabeth’s Story)
From This Day Forward
Forsaking All Others
Standalone Novels
(Travis & Katya’s Story)
You Save Me
Operation Series
(Dakota & Zane’s Story)
Operation Fit-ish
(Kate and Nate’s Story)
Operation Annulment
Silent Phoenix MC Series
(Grey & Celia’s Story)
Deserter (Book One)
Protector (Book Two)
(Mike & Lauren’s Story)
Renegade (Book Three)
Traitor (Book Four)
(Full Cast)
Savior (Book Five)
Fairest Series (C
an be read as standalones)
(Charm & Neve’s Story)
Through The Woods
(Killian and Ari’s Story)
Through The Water
Fictioned Series
(Hayden & Jake’s Story)
Protagonized
About the Author
Shannon is a born and raised Texan. She grew up inventing clever stories, usually to get herself out of trouble. Her mother was not amused. In junior high, she began writing fractured fairy tales from the villain's point of view and that was the moment she knew that she was going to use her powers for evil instead of good.
In 2003, she moved to Denver and met the love of her life. After some relentless stalking and a few well-timed sarcastic remarks, the man eventually gave in to her charms and wifed her so hard. They welcomed a son in 2007 that they named after their favorite Marvel superhero, Spiderman.
Sick of seeing beautiful mountains through their window every day, the three escaped back to the desolate landscape of the west Texas desert in 2009. She welcomed her second son not long after and soon realized that being surrounded by three men was nothing at all like she'd imagined in her fantasies.
After an unplanned surgery in 2014 and a long pity party, she decided to pen a novel about the worst thing that could happen to a person in order to cheer herself up. She's twisted like that. Thus, From This Day Forward was born and the rest, as they say, is history. Not only does Shannon enjoy stalking people, she also has a fondness for being stalked.
Find her online at: http://shannonshaemyers.com
Or in her reader group, The Forsaken: https://www.facebook.com/groups/630229377127363/
Through The Water: Fairest Series Book Two Page 43
