Payce's Passions

by Piper Kay

  “I love you.” He closes his eyes for a minute then opens again.

  I lean over and nip at his swollen lips. “You want to hear something stupid?”

  “Yes, and it won’t be stupid, Payce.” He wipes the sweat off my forehead with his hand.

  “When I was in prison that year, they sent us to all these counseling places on the inside. Everyone thought they could fix us. I was pissed off, and wanted to be left alone with no contact, it was bad for a long time with me. I disconnected from everything. Anyway, I had one lady always asking me what my passion in life was, what my goals were, along with my hopes and dreams…they all resulted in the same answer. You, Braxton.”

  He locks his hands behind my neck, pulling me to him, and kisses me. He’s more loving and passionate than even a few minutes ago. “I’m Payce’s Passion, huh? I can live with that.”

  “Yeah, you are. I always knew the only way I’d ever have any peace or happiness in my life, would be if it came from you. The feeling is just as intense and strong now, as it was all those years ago. I love you, Braxton. And I swear if you ever tell anyone about the whole Payce’s Passion stuff, I’ll deny it, then come to your house and pound that ass. Got it?”

  Braxton laughs and rolls from under me and off to the side of the bed, snatching up his jeans from the floor. He turns around holding his keys in the air, pulling the copy of my house key out. It’s the one I left him by the coffee pot that morning.

  Hell yes.

  “I’ll save you trip, you can just pound my ass right here in our bed. Several times a day if you want, Payce.”

  “Bet!”

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  As always, my girls. You’re the best and I couldn’t do this without you. You know who you are and I love you.

  For a special set of ladies: Eva King, Valerie Degorge, and Jeannette Joyal. You girls are an amazing part of this and your support has been overwhelming. It has seriously blown me away and I can’t thank you enough. Sue Bowden, the Playhouse group and The Passion Series pages are awesome. Thank you for thinking of me and beginning them. Pamela Ebeler, all I can say is whew. You have one hellacious hug coming if we ever meet face to face. Le’Mon Moonpie, you have the patience of a saint. Thanks for the Harley lessons and breakdowns, and especially for not laughing at me, too hard.

  Karrie Jax, where do I even begin with you? My go to girl for everything. I think I’ve been educated in areas I never even imagined possible. We have had more off the wall conversations, than the law probably allows. You are a riot. I’m still not sure how I survived this long without you. Thank you for it all, you rock.

  Special thanks:

  Cover Artist: Rue Volley. The covers you design are incredible. You are one mega talented woman and a treasure to know. I love and appreciate everything about you. What you do as a writer, an artist and as a friend, you just blow me away.

  Cover Model: Justin Fellers. Thanks so much for allowing me to use your images for my for my book cover. It’s gorgeous.

  Editor: Elizabeth Lance. Thank you for making it shine. I appreciate what you do, especially knowing what it looked like when you got it. I’m not sure how you do it, but grateful you do.

  Publisher: SJ Davis. There’s just not enough words. You have a heart of gold, and I love you for that. What an awesome ride it’s been with you, and more to come. I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Thank you for always being there and for everything you do. You are one very special lady.

  My incredible lit family at Hot Ink Press/CHBB: You are truly an amazing family. The love and support that comes from this house is insane, and I’m very blessed to be a part of it. #onehouseunited

  Read on for a Sneak Peek at the next book: Passions Pride

  WARNING: Epilogue included.

  Book Three of The Passion Series: Passions Pride

  Epilogue: Passions Pride

  Serge

  Balls out. It’s been eight months today and we’re having a little get together to celebrate. I’m even going all Betty Crocker on him and baking a cake. He thinks it’s silly, but I’ll play it off, like I do with a lot of things.

  I do this once a month for us, so that we all stay in touch. It’s like having my own family, we’ve all gotten pretty close. I guess having some sort of connection with that whack-job, Aaron, had something to do with it, I don’t much care. I’m just grateful.

  Everyone should be here soon. The only thing left to do is frost the cake and wait for the festivities to begin.

  The bedroom door squeaks and heavy footsteps come down the hallway. I turn to greet Ash.

  “There’s my hunkalicious.” I wink, then pounce, climbing him like a tree. I lock my legs around his waist.

  “Serge, you’re going to break my back doing that one day.” Ash laughs.

  “A big strong man like you, I doubt it.”

  “Happy ‘whatever’ anniversary, Serge.” He tosses his head back and I kiss him. “What do we call this anyway? With us?”

  “A weekend pass at an amusement park?” I grin and crawl off of him.

  “I’m serious, Serge. I keep asking you to move in with me, but you won’t and I don’t know why. You tell me you don’t want anyone else, so why not?”

  I smirk, it’s not easy for me to explain it to him. I’m just not there yet. The knock on the door comes and it couldn’t have been better timing.

  “Saved by the bell.” I dart off to answer it.

  “Sparky, my man.” He grabs me in a big hug, practically crushing my bones.

  “Payce, you handsome devil you.” I pat him on the back. “Where’s the boss man?”

  “Oh please, quit fucking with me. Brax told me all about your promotion to manager the other day.” He slaps me on the shoulder, nearly knocking me into the wall. “Congratulations. You should have called me.”

  “I know, thanks. Braxton only wants a tough guy like me on the payroll, just in case someone gets out of hand. You know, someone to rough em’ up a bit.” I laugh.

  “You’re my personal bodyguard, Serge.” Ash walks up behind me, a hand on my waist and reaches out to Payce.

  “Ash.” Payce shakes his hand.

  We gather in my living room. The tension between Ash and Payce has always been a little thick, but I’m not sure why.

  “I’ll be right back. I heard Dax and Damien ride up.”

  I swing the door open and Dax starts laughing.

  “Damn, chill dude.” Dax does his hands in some kind of fighting motion. “Don’t be Karate chopping anyone now.”

  “Not someone as cute as you, come on in. Payce just got here.” I hold the door open for them.

  “You doing alright, Serge?” Damien reaches out to shake my hand.

  “Never been better, Damien. How’s work?” I ask him, following behind him.

  “Same shit, different day.” He shrugs following Dax.

  “Trill, everyone’s in the living room. I’ll grab a few beers and be back in a flash.”

  While everyone says their hellos, I grab one of the platters from under the cabinet. As I stand back up, the room starts spinning. Damn it, not again. I grab onto the countertop so I don’t fall out on my ass right here on the spot. Taking a deep breath, I haunch over, try to slow my heart rate a little. Footsteps approach, it’s Ash.

  “You need help, baby? What’s wrong?” He puts his hand on my back.

  “No, nothing.” I stand up straight. “I’m good, sweetie. I got this.”

  “You’re pale as a ghost, Serge.” He reaches for the tray. “Let me get this.”

  “I said I’ve got it, Ash,” I blurt out, not meaning it to sound so rude. “I’m sorry.” I lean up and kiss him.

  Ash walks off, feelings hurt again. This is why I can’t make a decision on moving in with him. One minute I’m completely in love with him, the next I’m snapping his head off like a turtle, and I’ve got no idea why. I take the tray, set the bottles on it and strut back in with everyone.

  “He
re we are everyone. Cheers.” I strut around to everyone, letting them get their own bottle off the tray.

  Payce looks down at his phone. “About time.” He laughs, standing up, he heads to the door. Brax steps in and he leans down to him, wrapping his arms around his waist.

  “I missed you today,” Payce tells him. “Real bad, if you know what I mean.”

  “I do and me too.” Brax grins and kisses him on the cheek. “I’ll take care of you when we get home.” Brax grabs his ass.

  “Yeah you will,” Payce teases back.

  “Horny bastards.” I laugh at them.

  Everyone stands up when we enter the party zone. It’s good to see them happy, they both went through so much to get here. It’s exactly what I want to have with Ash.

  They sit back down and I perch myself sideways, across Ash’s lap. He slides his arm around my waist, kissing me on the shoulder.

  “I love you,” he whispers in my ear.

  “Me too.” I lean in and kiss him, but Damien’s voice distracts me.

  “Okay guys, listen up.” He looks at Dax, they join hands. “What’s everyone doing in two weeks? If you have plans, scratch them. Come to our place, we’re having a get together for the holidays.”

  “Plus we’re working on something else too. Maybe we’ll tell you then,” Dax adds in, smiling at Damien.

  If that means what I think it does, it’s going to be a big celebration, right around Christmas time too. I hope it does. Damien and Dax have gotten to be good friends too. I love having a place where I fit in and feel so much love.

  Damien kisses Dax, and Payce is holding on to Brax, smiling. I glance at Ash, he’s hanging his head down a little bit, but peeks out at me. I wiggle my finger at him to come to me. Ash grins and takes a step toward me.

  The room gets fuzzy and starts spinning. I’m getting dizzy again, what the hell is going on? I blink trying to clear the haze out of the way, it’s not working. Ash’s lips are moving, but I can’t hear him over the ringing in my ears. His face tenses up, he’s yelling.

  Ash reaches out for me as my legs collapse underneath me. Everything goes black.

  Upcoming Projects

  Naughty Box 2 – summer of 2014

  Passion’s Pride – December 2014

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