by Hope Irving
“I do.”
Tig
2 years later…
Traditions are like old habits. But a wise man once declared that they are meant to be bent to ensure the pursuit of happiness. Since then, we’ve established new rules by which we abide.
New outlooks, too, like Alie’s changed opinion of tattoos. I was floored when she reluctantly mentioned her former hatred of them. My tongue darts out and licks the words that she asked me to tattoo around one of her thighs. A quote from one of her icons, Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune.” This pretty much sums up our love story. At this very moment, I find my great, good fortune between my sexy woman’s thighs.
She was stretching, barely awake, when I slid underneath the covers. On her back, she let me spread her legs, and now I’m fingerfucking her while my skillful tongue circles her clit. The way that she encourages me, writhes under my touch, and moans heavily, showing how much she digs my pierced tongue on her body.
Declaring that the day would be long and stressful, Alie insisted that she’d need to relax by surfing and practicing yoga. Hence, she set the alarm for the ass crack of dawn on the one day we could’ve slept in.
The main tattoo parlor, out of the four that we own, is closed today, which is a first since we moved to Kuta. My initial connections in the country, which have common values and work ethic, put our business on the map. The shops have thrived thanks to Alie’s social media expertise. An expertise that she continues to broadcast as the renowned influencer, Alie G.
I won’t argue against surfing. It’s one of the perks of living right on the beach, after all. Of course, when we began chatting online, neither of us envisioned that we’d end up surfing in Bali, where we moved shortly after getting back together. I sold my share to Claire, and we moved here without a second thought. Fresh start. New challenges. Our lives. One step at a time.
As for waking up at the crack of dawn, I complained last night for good measure, perfectly aware that I’d take advantage of the additional time to assist with her relaxation.
I look up and our eyes lock. “Good morning, beautiful!”
“Why d’ya stop? I was about to come.” As if her grievance wasn’t abundantly clear, her fingers grip my wavy hair and redirect my face where it belongs. Next thing I know, she tightens around my fingers, and I intensify my efforts on her pleasure button. She goes off like dynamite, her whole body pulsating as she rides her orgasm out, screaming my full name.
A chill runs down her body. “Good morning.” A content smile brightens her freshly fucked face. “And thank you.”
“My pleasure.” I snort, wondering if she’ll retort that it was mostly hers. She’d be wrong, though. Pleasuring her turns me on immensely.
“I want you inside me. Now.” Her command is delivered in her deep voice that’s laced with urgency and yearning.
Hard as a rock, I adore the promise that lingers in her half-mast gaze. Even so, I can’t help but tease her. “But I was just inside you!”
She growls because I’m being a wiseass, but I’m her wiseass. “I can’t get enough of you now that I’ve had you bareback. Sue me!” Then, she flips me over so fast that, before I can blink, I’m the one on my back as her hand caresses my crown. “It’s your cock I need.” She peppers the length of my erection with kisses, straddles me within seconds, and grasps my dick, stroking her entrance with it. After teasing me until I grunt like a caveman, she rides me. Shamelessly. She wiggles her perky ass. Lovingly. I pinch her pebbled nipples. Tenderly. We make love, enjoying the marvelous sensations until we’re dripping with sweat and both come undone.
Spent, I bask in the utmost bliss, spooning. Her breathing slows down which tells me that she’s falling back to sleep in my arms. Before she gets a chance, I ask, “Wasn’t that much more efficient than yoga?” I peck her neck under her shoulder-length hair.
“Show me again.” She grinds her derrière against my recovering cock, then turns to face me.
“I’d love to, but I’m only human, so that’s gonna have to wait.”
Grabbing the pillow from under her head, she attacks me with it. “I should have gotten myself a younger man! I need stamina.” She worries her lip suggestively, now fully awake.
Her enthusiasm is inspiring, especially her morning ritual of quoting Agent Utah, saying she’s caught her first tube… And my dick twitches every single time that the Point Break reference is reinforced when she adds, “Sir.”
My optimism is contagious, or so she says. It might be because I’m the happiest fucker on the planet. This strong woman helped me to get back on my feet as much as I’ve helped her. She’s in remission and does everything that’s in her power to stay that way.
Our relationship is perfect for us. She’s no longer my alpha. I’m no longer her omega. We’re both essential parts of an alphabet that we explore daily. Today is W, as in wedding. I can’t wait to sweep Alie off her feet in the tux that I swore I’d never wear.
I strike back with my own pillow, proceeding with caution. “I think your pregnancy hormones are messing with your head. You’re hornier than ever, if that’s even possible… Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”
Oh, right! I forgot to mention that we’re pregnant. A beautiful surprise since she’d been told that her prior cancer treatments would tremendously limit our chances. Her age and earlier prognosis helped us beat the odds. So, tomorrow’s letter is T, as in Thea— a combination of our names—since we recently learned that we’re having a girl. It’s a secret, but the news will be disclosed at tomorrow’s brunch to our immediate family and closest friends who traveled for the occasion. The icing on the rugelach is that Chloe agreed to be one of the bridesmaids after reminding me of words that she vowed years ago. Yes, I’m smitten!
“You know,” Alie gazes at me, a mix of lust and thoughtfulness flashing in her big eyes. “I once told you that I feared.” Her thumb grazes my cheek, a gentle gesture that awakens my dick. “It must be why I was so drawn to that particular painting and had to buy it. I instantly felt connected to you…” Pursing her lips, she hesitates, and I nod, encouraging her to continue. “I felt like I could relate to your own fears.” I kiss her forehead, thinking of the canvas, that’s now proudly hung in our living room. “At the time, I couldn’t tell you that I feared getting sick again, or even dying too soon.” I swallow, not sure where she’s going with this, on our wedding day, no less. My hand is splayed across the small of her back, and I tuck her closer. “Then, I feared loving and being loved in return.” She pauses and deposits a soft kiss on my lips. “My fears used to cut me from my emotions, from being truly free… I don’t fear anymore, thanks to you.”
“Thank you, Aliénor.” It’s my turn to kiss her lips. “I feel the exact same way. About my fears. About my limits. About my love for you and how it helps me grow… And let’s not forget the mind-blowing sex!”
She beams. “The best sex! Do you really want to marry me?” Her eyes grow wide with excitement.
I erase her last fear because I’m done chasing ghosts of the past. Alie’s my present, and I want our lives as husband and wife to be my future.
“I do.”
The End
Cocky Hero Club
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Omega Artist - Playlist
Omega Artist Playlist on Spotify
Prologue - No Woman No Cry: Bob Marley
1 – You Are My Sunshine: Johnny Cash
2 – We Are Warriors: Avril Lavigne
3 – Somebody that I Used to Know: Gotye
4 – Bang a Gong: T.
Rex
5 – I Was Hoping: Alanis Morissette
6 – Lucid Dreams: Juice WRLD
7 – Virtual Insanity: Jamiroquai
8 – U + Ur Hand: P!nk
9 – my strange addiction: Billie Eilish
10 – Somebody to Love: Jefferson Airplane
11 – Mercy: Duffy
12 – Buttons: The Pussycat Dolls feat. Snoop Dog
13 – Take Me Out: Franz Ferdinand
14 – Titanium: David Guetta feat. Sia
15 – A Kiss to Build a Dream On: Louis Armstrong
16 – Womanizer: Britney Spears
17 – Everybody’s Changing: Keane
18 – Worth It: Fifth Harmony feat. Kid Ink
19 – Shape of My Heart: Sting
20 – Shape of You: Ed Sheeran
21 – It Takes a Lot to Know A Man: Damien Rice
22 – Boys Don’t Cry: The Cure
23 – Scars to Your Beautiful: Alessia Cara
24 – Woman: Neneh Cherry
25 – I’ve Never Been in Love Before: Chet Baker
26 – Without You: Eddie Vedder
27 – Head over Feet: Alanis Morissette
Epilogue – New Soul: Yaël Naïm
Acknowledgments
To Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward for bringing the Cocky series to the world, and especially Stuck-Up Suit. Your inspiring stories and fun characters fueled my motivation to be part of this unbelievable journey. Thank you for taking a chance on me to craft Tig’s own well-deserved story.
Also, I’d like to thank Dan Piedade and the Cocky Hero World crew for guiding me and the rest of the Cocky Hero authors along the right path to do Vi & Penelope’s characters justice.
To my dedicated worldwide beta readers, especially Cathy and Krista from Canada, Elsie from the Dominican Republic, Sherry from the U.S., and Bertrand from France. Your feedback & love for my flawed characters and their beliefs made them what they are today.
To Arnaud & Véronique, who helped to shape the impulsive, aristocratic, and wounded Aliénor. Your precious insights made her real.
To Marius, who remained my muse to portray Tig, although he couldn’t be on my cover and his tats are nothing like Tig’s. You are the nicest, the funniest, and the busiest International Man of Mystery I’ve ever encountered…. Btw, you know that chapter 26’s song title is just for you, right?
A massive thanks to all the bloggers and readers who spread the word about Omega Artist and the Cocky Hero World.
Thanks to my Triplicate Dream Team who made this book all clean and pretty: Sarah Torpey, my passionate & semi-colon obsessed editor (and so much more), Eileen Proksch, my attentive & flexible proofreader, and Simon Franklin, my talented & patient book cover designer.
And last, but obviously not least, I would like to express my gratitude to my perfect husband—my alpha, beta, and omega—and my proud daughter—my unwavering fan, favorite critique, and amazing artist—for kicking my butt whenever necessary to ensure that my words were on paper. Or a phone. Or a computer. Or wherever. I love you, no matter what.
Much love,
Hope
About the Author
Hope Irving lives in Paris, France, with her supportive husband and creative teenage daughter. The French indie author spent a couple of years in Texas, where she earned her MBA. With many friends, relatives, and readers in the States, the U.S. has a big place in her heart. Although French is her mother tongue, she chose to write her novels in English because it simply feels right for her characters.
Hope’s suspenseful and complex love stories are modern fairytales that feature an unconventional Prince Charming and a headstrong heroine. A natural introvert, she enjoys tormenting her flawed characters with a hint of darkness and sometimes magical elements. Still, her heart melts when love conquers all.
Her work has been described as “genre-defying,” “refreshingly unique,” and “an intriguing rollercoaster read.”
Learn more about Hope’s life in Paris, her love of multi-layered, swoon-worthy heroes that don’t play by the rules, and her book-loving world on her website. To keep up with all the latest, follow Hope on social media.
Also by Hope Irving
Discover The Black Angel Book Legend series.
A second-chance love story about fate, secrets, and power.
Only a madman would put a monk and a witch together. That was then, in 9th century Ireland. When the head of The Abhayam employed my calligraphy skills to craft a book of spells that only Deirdre could master, the Black Angel Book was born. Its coveted secrets sealed our fate. To save us, she cast a spell that would endure the ages. She can't remember. I'll never forget. Fallen from grace, our souls wander from one life to the next until we recognize each other. Again.
This is now, in a free-spirited part of Cape Cod. I'm a mere shell of the man that once fought for the woman he loved. I don’t know what she looks like, but her soul yearns for mine. My faceless soulmate has haunted my dreams for so long that when she shows up at my summer seminar, I hesitate. She has no idea the danger she's in. She has no idea the lengths I'll go to in order to keep her safe. She has no idea the magic I inherited is both a gift and a curse. If I can rekindle her memory, she'll regain her power, and together, we can make this legend a reality.
For eternity.
Available now & FREE on KU!
