by Anya Nowlan
“Are you going to kiss me now or what?” she asked quietly, despite her heartbeat growing louder by the second.
Slowly, Ezra bent his head down, gently pressing his lips against hers, teasing until she shivered in his arms. When he deepened his kiss, she responded immediately, sighing softly as he took his time tasting her.
Everything else fell away when they were together, and Ezra knew that was exactly how it was supposed to be – him and her against the world.
Forever.
Epilogue
Kayla
“How’s it going?” Ezra asked, coming up behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders.
Sitting in front of her laptop, Kayla was finishing up another article for the blog she had started a few months ago, right after she quit WBTV. It had become clear to her that Edgar would never respect her as a journalist, and it was time she took things into her own hands.
With Ezra’s support, the decision to strike out on her own had been easy, and it was already paying off. Her site was getting more hits every day, and she already had partnerships in the works with companies that wanted to advertise on her page.
More important than that, though, she could finally work on something she was really passionate about.
Watching her fingers fly over the keyboard, she still found herself amazed at what a turn her life had taken. Well, technically, this was her afterlife, now, but it was all the same to her.
“I’m almost done,” she replied, keys clacking beneath her fingertips. “I kind of feel like I’m cheating, though. No human can type this fast.”
“So? Those are still your ideas that bring eyes to your blog, not how fast you can type up your articles,” Ezra said, swiveling her around in her chair as soon as she hit post on her newest piece on tax havens.
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” she smiled up at him, still as taken by his handsome face as she had been when he had first shown up at her door.
They had spent a blissful month together at the apartment after she had taken the plunge and let him turn her, getting wrapped up in each other and loving every second of it. It wasn’t just the honeymoon phase that had prompted that, however.
Kayla was still adjusting to her new strength while subsequently learning to manage her new hunger, so staying away from people until she got that all under control had seemed like a good idea.
She still remembered that time in the beginning when she had tried to do some dishes and ended up shattering every plate she touched. Ezra had been so patient with her, reassuring and kind, sharing stories of his own mishaps so she wouldn’t feel so bad.
But now, she felt like she was really getting the hang of it. Her body felt like her own again, despite the lack of a beating heart. She had been afraid she would feel cold or lifeless, somehow, but those fears had been unfounded.
If anything, she felt more alive than ever. Not really ever getting tired probably played a part in that. Being out in the sun did drain her, but it was nothing a nice little sip of blood couldn’t fix.
That was another thing that had taken some getting used to – her hunger for blood. She didn’t want to feel like a predator, or that she was sucking out someone’s lifeforce, but the hunger she felt for that one thing she needed to survive wiped those thoughts from her head.
It was scary, at first, wanting something so badly while also needing to make sure no one was hurt in the feeding process. That was why she had insisted on cold, bagged-up blood at first. But after she had gone back to that vamp bar she and Ezra had visited once and she had gotten her first taste of a willing donor, everything changed.
Kayla was surprised to discover how much control she had over the whole process. Every human process, from heartbeats to breathing to the blood rushing through their veins was now so loud to her, it was impossible to misread the signs. It was easy to tell if a person was beginning to get uncomfortable or quite the opposite – was enjoying the process.
That made things a lot easier, and she was proud to say no donor had ever left her with a bad experience. Of course, having Ezra by her side for her whole journey into the supernatural world didn’t hurt either.
Her feelings for him had only deepened after that whole ordeal with Robert, and the absolute trust they had built between each other was unshakeable. So when he leaned down, picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, she only giggled and let herself be carried away.
“What are you doing?” she asked, as he headed for the bedroom.
“Enough work for today,” he said, patting her ass with his free hand. “Time for play.”
“Don’t forget, we’re supposed to have dinner with Melanie and Andy tonight,” Kayla warned, even though she could already feel heat swirl through her body.
“We can be a little late,” Ezra shrugged, throwing her down on the bed and crawling on top of her.
His eyes glowed as his gaze roamed over her, alight with a familiar desire Kayla loved being the target of.
“We’re always late for everything,” she chided him, even as a smile tugged at her lips.
“Who cares? We have all the time in the world, after all,” he replied, and she couldn’t argue with that.
After all, there are worse ways to spend an eternity than tangled up with the man you love.
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If you’ve missed Anya’s Shifter Squad Six series, then pick up the first book on Amazon:
Bear My Baby, Book 1
Be sure to check out Anya’s werebear surprise baby romance series, Sweetwater Father Bears, here:
Big Bear Daddy, Book 1
Looking to read more? Pick up the first book in Shifter Grove Dragons, Anya’s hot dragon romance series, here:
The Darkest Dragon, Book 1
PS! Don’t miss the excerpt of the third book in the series, Zane, on the next page!
Zane Excerpt
“Looks like you’ve missed your calling, cowgirl,” he replied, as the bull picked up speed and started to rotate around its axis.
Corinne only laughed and held on even tighter, her hair flying around her face and her hips moving back and forth in her effort to stay on rhythm. She looked so free, despite Zane knowing that she had to be feeling the opposite. And he had to admit, seeing her body move like that wasn’t exactly a bad sight.
If he were being completely honest, he had felt a primal attraction to her the second he had laid eyes on her, despite the cold shoulder she had given him. In fact, the attitude might have even endeared her to him more.
He had never been into wallflowers, and he didn’t appreciate false courtesy. Saccharine sweetness always came across as off-putting, as far as he was concerned.
“Uh-oh,” Corinne called out as the bull really started to buck, her legs clearly getting tired as her knees were no longer pressed against its sides.
Her fingers slid out from the handhold a moment later, and she went tumbling down onto the padded vinyl, making Zane jump into the circle to make sure she was alright. When he got to her, she was rolling onto her back, filling the place up with her laughter.
“Now that,” she got out in between laughs, “was great.”
“Are you okay?” Zane asked, reaching out a hand and helping her up.
“Don’t worry. The cargo is undamaged,” she joked, waving a hand around herself.
Helping her back over the barrier, Zane couldn’t help but enjoy the way she leaned on him. He was used to being a blunt object, punishing those who deserved it and settling scores for the wealthy and powerful who didn’t want to get their own hands dirty.
This job was definitely different, and so was Corinne.
I can’t get personally involved, he reminded himself, a good rule to have in his business.
But one he knew he
was already breaking.
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Want More?
Sweetwater Brides: Complete Series
Sweetwater stopped being sweet a long time ago, but maybe the right kind of scorching hot shifter can change that around...
Can't get enough of growly, Alpha, possessive shifters? Then don't miss this boxed set, because each and every novella in it is packed with smart, sassy BBW women and Alpha werebears and werewolves who you simply cannot get enough of! Finding the right mate has never been so steamy and with challenges in their way, these shifters are sure to make your panties melt!
The series follows the Grimpaw bear clan and the Clearpond wolf pack during their struggles over ownership of a sleepy Wyoming town. There's nothing that can mess with carefully made plans as well as the right woman at the right time, turning a difficult situation even more heated. But challenges are not something any shifter bachelor will back down from, especially if there's a curvy, feisty mate waiting on the other side!
Join the Grimpaws and the Clearponds on their paths to find their mates, their future and their destiny. No matter how hard the journey may be, a mail-order bride can always make things better...
Each novella in this series is a standalone with a happy ever after ending and no cheating!
The box set includes:
Big Bear Problems
Big Bear Trouble
Big Bear Blunder
Big Bad Wolf
Shifter Grove Brides: Books 1-6
This winter, cuddle up with a hot shifter!
Every shifter needs the right woman and Shifter Grove is the right place to meet her!
This is a series of paranormal romance novellas set in Shifter Grove, a town that welcomes humans and shifters alike. Each book follows a different couple with no cliffhanger, a HEA ending and can be read as standalones.
Grab this boxed set of hot shifter novellas if you're looking to get down and dirty with growly, muscled and determined shapeshifters from bears to wolves to big cats and even a smoking hot dragon! Every one of these shifters needs the right mate and they won't stop until they find them and claim them.
You can find the first six of the Shifter Grove Brides books in this bundle and none of them will leave you disappointed!
The box set includes:
Make Him Purr
Billionbears' New Honey
Light His Fire
Bear My Love
Waiting for Wolves
One Last Prowl
Puck Bear Brides: Complete Series
These hockey bears are the furthest thing from ice cold...
A werebear is never complete without a mate and it has never been more true than with professional hockey bears, unleashed upon Shifter Grove on their path to claiming both victory and the women of their dreams. This box set follows a professional shifter hockey team as they fight through an endless series of challenges to both the title they desire as well as the curvy women destined to love them.
If you want your bears hard, fast and ruthless and your heroines lush, loving and sassy, then don't miss out on this series of novellas!
The box set includes:
A Bear Victory
Bear No Loss
A Bear Goal
Bear No Defeat
Sassy Shifter Brides: Complete Series
What a shifter really needs is a good mate!
Shifter Grove only attracts the kind of shifters who are looking for something better... Something different.
When Warren, Rake, Deacon and the Warfang decide to build a new life, they knew it wouldn't be easy. But it would be worth it. Still, hard work and making a better future for the buff, burly and completely Alpha shifters isn't quite enough for the men.
Every shifter knows that a home isn't perfect without the right woman and that's exactly what all of them need! SassyDate is here to help! Each of the Alpha shifters will find a mate that's as if made for him... Just sometimes it isn't all sunshine and roses.
If you like your shifters hot, growly and determined and your women sassy, bbw and opinionated, this is the boxed set for you! You can find all five of the Sassy Shifter Brides books in this anthology and none of them will leave you disappointed!
The box set includes:
Hearts Laid Bear
No More Lion
Bear the Cold
Roar for Her
The Wolves' Bride
Treasure Lane Dragons: 3 Book Series
From Book 1: This special edition of Billionaire Dragon's Bride also includes a bonus book at the end! Grab this book to get Find Her Bear for free along with it!
He's blazing hot and this dragon won't take no for an answer.
Devon Bluewing is a billionaire playboy like no other. Cocky, strong and sexy as hell, he's used to getting anything and anyone he wants. But when it comes a time to step up and stand as the head of his family, and the dragon council of Treasure Lane, Devon is met with an inexplicable problem.
He needs a mate or his whole legacy could be in jeopardy. Now, that doesn't work at all for the fire-breathing bad boy, who's used to getting his own way.
Gemma Teeley can't stand injustice. She's sassy, smart as a whip and always ready to fight for what is right. So when the newest Bluewing heir decides to wrack up the taxes on her hometown, Gemma isn't about to stand for it. But what she doesn't know is that her fight against traditions might just get her into a whole lot of steamy trouble!
The curvy, headstrong woman has all the fire of Devon, and when he gives her an ultimatum, they're both in for more than they bargained for.
Even if she'll play along, it doesn't mean that she'll make it easy on him. But it isn't just Devon whose making decisions for Gemma, and soon it becomes very clear that it's not only Gemma's pride that's in danger of getting burned…
Warning: Billionaire Dragon's Bride is a standalone novel with no cliffhangers and a dragon so hot you can't say no to him. Be aware that there's plenty of sizzling, blush-worthy heat and intense action and the book is meant for mature audiences!
About the Author
Anya Nowlan is a USA Today Bestselling Author who loves sex and writing about it. The sexier and naughtier the better. She mostly writes paranormal and fantasy erotic shorts, focusing on shifters and their lucky mates. Her stories are bite-sized, just what you need to soothe that craving for brave women and growly alphas with a big side-order of smutty sex.
Anya lives in Boston with her boyfriend and several dogs of varying sizes and levels of mischief. She can't go through a day without chocolate and has an unhealthy addiction to purses, but every girl is allowed her little vices, right?
If you have enjoyed her shorts or want to just shoot the breeze a little, don't hesitate to contact Anya via e-mail: [email protected].
Thank you for reading!
You can find all of my books here:
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www.anyanowlan.com
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@AnyaNowlan
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