Forever After
Page 1
Table of Contents
FOREVER AFTER
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
FOREVER AFTER
ALEXA NIGHT
SOUL MATE PUBLISHING
New York
FOREVER AFTER
Copyright©2014
ALEXA NIGHT
Cover Design by Fiona Jayde
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
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Published in the United States of America by
Soul Mate Publishing
P.O. Box 24
Macedon, New York, 14502
ISBN: 978-1-61935-521-7
www.SoulMatePublishing.com
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
For all those who love to love.
For those my readers and my fans.
For all of those who have stood by my side
and said I could do it when everyone else
thought I was crazy.
For those who just love a hot, steamy story.
This one is for you.
Acknowledgements
For my one and only. For the man, who after all this time still gets me. Thank you for putting up with all the craziness as I go through my writings. I love you. You’ll never know how much your support and believing in me really has helped me over the years in my writing career. You’re the bees knees, babe!
Chapter 1
I crossed the dark and creepy little car lot, merging into the exiting theater crowd. Threading my way through the throng of people, I plowed right into him. The impact knocked my clutch out of my hands, spilling its contents all over the sidewalk.
“Awesome. Late and now this.” I bent to snatch up my things before someone kicked everything into the streets and ran into him once again. This time head first.
“Ouch,” we yelped at the same time.
Abandoning my recovery mission. I stood up and the sharply dressed man I had now twice collided with came into focus. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He rubbed his temple and reached for a tube of my bright red lipstick.
“Thanks, but I can get it.” I leaned down and snatched it from the ground, anxious to get going.
“You were the one who bumped into me. I’m just trying to be nice.” The velvety baritone voice that came from him was surprising.
“Actually, you ran into me.” My irritation continued to rise.
“Well I beg your pardon.” He bowed low.
Asshole.
Glancing up, I met the stranger’s smoldering gaze. Remarkable green eyes set beneath thick, dark eyebrows that contrasted against his clear, pale skin. His lips quirked up in a half smile, and his black hair fell into his face. My cheeks began to feel hot beneath his stare.
A gust of wind blew my hair into my face, sticking a few strands to the lip-gloss I had just applied. Really? “Sorry,” I said, my voice much softer than before. I should have stayed home.
I flinched at the unexpected touch of his hand on my check as he brushed the hair out of my face. His smile came into view, and my heart fluttered. I should have yelled at the stranger for touching me, but how do you yell at someone that gorgeous?
“Quite all right,” he said, smiling, “In a hurry?”
“Yeah. I’m meeting friends for drinks and I’m late.” I tried my best to take my eyes off him, but I couldn’t. His face was hypnotizing.
He ran a hand through his hair and flashed the most amazing smile I had ever seen. I could feel my panties getting moist.
Is that all it takes? A smile and a hand through his hair? Don’t be super slut, Sarah. Just don’t. My toes curled in the fuck-me pumps I’d worn.
“Well I don’t want to keep you, um, I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.”
“Oh. Sarah Evers.” I stood up and extended my hand toward him. “My name is Sarah Evers.”
“Well, Sarah, it was nice meeting you.” The mysterious man shook my hand before turning and strolling off down the street.
“Yeah, nice meeting you,” I said to myself as I watched him go.
My ringing phone broke me out of my trance. “Hello?”
“Where are you?” Meredith’s high-pitched voice came through loud and clear.
“I’m right down the street. I know I’m late.”
“Well what do you want to drink? We’ll order it for you.”
“The usual.”
“Appletini?”
“Of course.” Ending the call, I shoved the phone into my clutch and power-walked away.
“Evening, Sarah.” A tall, burly man stood near the door of Olive or Twist.
“Hi, George!”
He held the door open for me to stroll into the dimly lit bar.
People lined the bar, filled tables, and headed up and down the stairs. I looked to a back corner where four gorgeous women sat in lounge chairs set up around a candle-lit table.
The petite redhead stood and waved me over. “It’s about time!”
“I know. I’m sorry, guys. I was stuck late at the office. Mr. Williams decided my proposal wasn’t good enough.” I plopped into an empty chair as a waitress put the alluring green appletini in front of me. I picked it up and sipped at the delicious elixir.
Samantha, my tall, raven-haired friend settled back in her chair. “So what has everyone been up to?”
Veronica, the voluptuous brunette of the group hesitantly announced, “I went on a date on Tuesday night!”
“A date? What kind of date?” Samantha prodded.
“It was with my neighbor’s grandson.” Veronica giggled and looked at us with a nervous expression before resorting to biting her lip. She sat there and waited for our reaction.
“Oh no!” Meredith groaned, “Not the nosy neighbor!”
I sat back and shook my head.
“Oh stop. He’s fine.” Veronica jumped to his defense, her cheeks turning a scarlet color.
“Fine? Fine how?” Samantha narrowed her eyes.
“He’s cute.”
“Did you get some?” Meredith waggled her eyebrows at our typically shy friend.
Veronica sighed and let her chin rest in her hands. “No.”
“Boo,” I said before sipping at my drink.
“That’s not fun,” the up-to-now silent Liza finally added.
“I know.” Veronica threw her hands in the air. “It was torture! I gave him all the go-ahead signs, and he still did not make a move.”
Samantha held her Cinnamon Manhattan to her lips for a moment. “His loss.”
Veronica sat back and pouted. The poor thing hadn’t been on a date or had any male affection since her divorce the previous year. Not for a lack of trying, she had been out of the game for so long I suspect she didn’t remember how to make the moves on a guy.
“Sarah?” Meredith’s voice drew me back to the conversation at hand. I suspect a small part of me hoped that tall and mysterious from the street would appear in the doorway and sweep me up into his arms.
“Hmm?”
She glanced down at my shoes. “Are those the red fuck-me pumps?”
“Oh, well, yeah.”
“Is someone trying to get some tonight?” Liza asked.
“Aren’t we always trying to get some?” I bit my lip, trying to forget the face of the handsome stranger who had caused such an intense lust in me.
“How was your week, Sam?” I tried changing the subject from my choice of footwear.
She flashed her brown eyes up at me and smiled. “Remarkable.”
“Oh? Did Brandon finally pop the question?” Veronica asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.
We all were waiting anxiously for him to finally propose. They had been together for well over five years. The longest relationship out of any one of us.
“No, of course not, but we are going to England to visit his grandfather at his estate,” she replied, smiling into her drink dreamily.
The rest of us gawked at her.
So unfair!
“How did you land that trip?” Liza couldn’t hide the jealousy that seeped into her voice.
“Well, I guess his grandparents want to meet the woman he’s been seeing for the past five and a half years before they die.” Samantha smiled.
My own jealousy showed as I stared at her.
“They aren’t dying anytime soon, but I wasn’t going to pass up a free trip to England.”
I rolled my eyes and glanced toward the door. My jaw dropped when I saw the tall, sexy man I ran into stepped into my bar. A man who had never been here ever before walked into a bar I was always in. Did I just will this? Did I mentally make him choose the bar I was in? Are we on the same wavelength? My cheeks flushed. Did he read my thoughts? The girls noticed and followed my gawking gaze.
“Who’s that?” Meredith leaned on my chair to get a better look at the man.
“I don’t know.” I shook my head as my panties were instantly moist again.
“Do you know him?”
“Not really. I ran into him in the street before I came in.”
“You seriously don’t know who that is?” Liza asked, staring at me with bug eyes.
“Should I?” I looked at her inquisitively.
“Uh yeah. That’s Declan Press.”
“Who?” I pursed my lips and arched my brows.
“Declan Press. His grandfather owns Press Management.”
“Oh.” I bit my lip and continued to stare. He was like a magnet. He drew everyone’s attention when he entered.
“Yeah. He’s a drop-dead gorgeous, multi-millionaire bachelor. And you ran him over on the sidewalk.” She laughed.
“He’s hot.” Meredith waggled her eyebrows at me.
I nodded.
“Are you going to talk to him?” Liza inquired.
I shook my head.
“Why not?” Sam questioned.
“I made a complete ass of myself when I ran into him.”
“So? Go buy him a drink.” Veronica winked at me.
“I don’t know, guys,” I mumbled.
“Do it,” they said in unison.
Sam picked up my martini and finished it. “Oh, gosh, I accidentally drank all your appletini. You need a new one. Go.”
“You people are unbelievable.” I snatched my glass out of her hand and stood. “Anything on my butt?”
She smiled while her dark, soul-piercing eyes burned into mine. “Your ass is fine. Go.”
I straightened my skirt and approached the bar. Squeezing in beside tall, dark, and handsome, I caught a nasty glare from a tall and busty blonde who seemed to have the same idea I did.
Grab his attention. I slid the martini glass forward and motioned for the bartender. I was never nervous around a man. I was the one who made them nervous. That feeling was awful. Before he noticed me, I adjusted my breasts and straightened out my skirt yet again.
“What can I get ya?” The cute bartender flashed her best smile.
“A Dragon Berry Martini, please.” I glanced at the man next to me.
Declan lifted his head and turned it slightly. A smile spread across his face when he noticed me. He didn’t turn to talk to me or look directly at me, but I could see his eyes dart toward me every now and then. The girl returned with my drink and as I took out my money, Declan slid his hand out to stop me.
“It’s on me.” He winked while placing his hand on mine.
My heart stopped beating for a split second.
“Absolutely, Mr. Press.” Her grin widened.
I couldn’t help but wonder if her cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
“If anyone should be buying, it’s me, Mr. Press.”
He took a long swig of his drink. “So you know my name?”
“When you have four gabby friends, it’s hard to not know who people are.”
He glanced over the table where my group sat. “I suppose so.”
“You will have to let me make it up to you.” My lips quirked up in a smile, and I did my best impression of Samantha’s seductive eyes.
“Make what up to me?” He leaned in close to me. So close, in fact, I could smell the whiskey on his breath.
“Running into you and being rude in the street. I’m normally not so harsh. It has been a rough day.”
He licked his lips while looking me up and down. “Perhaps next time we see one another you can buy me a drink.”
“Perhaps,” I said before I took a long sip of my delicious martini. Closing my eyes, I took a few long, deep breaths. My nether regions were thoroughly wet, and had I not been wearing a bra I’m pretty sure my nipples would have poked him in the eye.
“What do you do for a living, Sarah?”
I opened my eyes and met his stare.
He held my gaze, and my heart fluttered yet again.
If this keeps up, I’m going to end up with heart palpitations.
“I’m a lawyer.” My voice involuntarily squeaked, and I could feel my cheeks flush.
He held his glass to his lips. “Fascinating.”
“It’s not bad.”
“Do you live nearby?” he asked, leaning on his elbow narrowing his eyes at me.
He is so intense!
“I have an apartment in Shadyside. What about you?”
He smiled coyly at me. “I have a few houses. At the moment I’m living in Sewickley.”
“You don’t plan on sticking around?” I stirred my drink, trying to seem as disinterested as possible.
“I’m not sure.”
He never took his eyes off me. I could feel him examining my facial expressions and my body.
“That’s a shame,” I muttered before taking a long sip of my overly sweet martini.
He motioned toward an intimate table for two in the corner. “Would you like to sit?”
“I’d love to.” I pursed my lips, feeling the familiar numbness creep in that happened when I was pushing my limits with the martinis.
Chapter 2
Our knees touched as we sat there. The candle on the table flickered, casting soft shadows across Declan’s face. Placing my hand on his arm and smiling, I finished off my drink. I never wanted the night to end. I looked around the room to find that nearly every other woman stared in awe at him and in jealousy at me.
“Are you expecting someone?”
“No, not at all. Why?” I cocked my head to the side and diverted my attention back to him.
“You keep looking around.” His voice filled with intrigue.
“Everyone is staring at you,” I admitted as my cheeks began to burn.
“They are also looking at you.” The corners of his mouth twitched up as he glanced about the room.
“They’re glaring at me and looking lovingly at you.”
“Well, while they’re looking, do you want to give them a show?” A devilishly wicked smile spread across on his lips.
“A show? I don’t follow.” I furrowed my brows, looking into his face for a hint at what he meant.
“If you let me lead, it will be easy to follow,” he whispered seductively into my ear. His lips lightly brushed my cheek and I closed my eyes as I felt my nipples hardening. His hand found its way to my knee and moved up to my thigh, pushing my skirt up more than I was comfortable with. He massaged the soft skin right above my knee and in return the warmth between my legs spread.
Oh my! A rush of lust coursed through my body. I bit my lip, restraining my urge to maul him right there.
I nodded as he ran his free hand through my hair near my ear and clasped the back of my neck. My heart felt like it would explode. My breathing became ragged and my mouth went dry. I wanted that man with every fiber of my being. I’m pretty sure every other woman in the room wanted him, too. He leaned in close enough for me to feel his hot breath on my face. I inhaled deeply. The whiskey was stronger.