by Marie Fraser
“I try,” he smiled. He took the small diamond ring, the one his mother had worn, and slipped it on her finger. “You have hands like my mother’s; small and mighty.”
“I haven’t answered you yet,” she grinned, pulling Harry closer. She kissed him, giving all of herself over to the heat of it.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes, you fool,” Katie laughed, throwing her head back in elation as Harry spun her around in a wide circle.
Epilogue: Chapter Five
The fire season was a busy one while Katie was working. She worked steadily on wedding plans while Harry fought fires, some large and ferocious. It meant lots of time apart, despite her assignment to cover most of the fires outbreaks. Seeing Harry so intermittently meant that most of the wedding plans fell to her and she hoped what she planned would be something Harry would like and appreciate.
Finally, six months after their engagement, when Harry’s latest contract ended, their wedding day arrived. “I feel drained,” Katie said as her sister helped her slip into her wedding dress.
“Don’t worry,” her sister smiled. “I did too. Then the wedding was over and it was just me and Geoff. I had all the energy in the world when it was just us. No one to steal me away to chit or chat about some useless nonsensical advice I didn’t want or ask for.”
“Which means you have advice you’re going to give me, even though I didn’t ask for it.”
“I am your older sister,” Alicia winked. “In all seriousness though, Harry seems like a great guy and I do wish you all the luck in the world. But marriage is hard, harder than I ever imagined.”
“Which means we’ll fail at it.”
“No,” she said astutely. “It just means that while the wedding is fun and the honeymoon a hell of a lot more fun. It doesn’t dull the sharp edge of reality when the man you love leaves beard shavings all over the sink or stinks up the bathroom or misses the toilet for the hundredth time. Not to mention children.”
“Do I look pregnant to you?” Katie asked, irritated and on her last nerve. Her eyelids were begging to be pinned open.
“No,” Alicia sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to rag on you. Let’s get you hitched.”
***
Harry pulled at his tie for what seemed like the hundredth time. “There’s still time to back out, you know.”
“Shut up,” Harry grinned, elbowing his brother.
“Not that I’d blame you for sticking in there. Katie’s a hell of a looker.”
“Are you trying to make me punch you?”
“Nah,” Ron winked. “I just like egging you on. You always were easy to get.”
“Not today,” Harry said, clearing his throat. “Although I wish we could get with this already.”
When the organ music started, Harry’s eyes shot to the back of the small church. Then he let his eyes rest briefly on the empty seat near his dad. He smiled, knowing his mother would have loved today, knowing Katie was joining their family. “Here we go, bro,” Ron said, giving his shoulder a squeeze.
“Finally,” Harry grumbled.
When Katie appeared in the doorway, on her father’s arm, Harry felt his throat constrict. Gorgeous didn’t do her justice in the cream color, a-line dress. It hugged all her curves and made Harry ache to get this fiasco over with.
“Who gives this woman to this man?”
“Her mother and I do,” Anderson Richards answered. Harry shook the man’s hand and gave a wry grin as he took Katie’s hand and stepped over to the minister.
“Ladies and gentleman...”
***
“I’ve worked eighteen hour shifts that weren’t as tiring as all that,” Harry said, pulling Katie into his embrace as their limo headed toward the hotel. She laughed and Harry could tell she was stifling a yawn. “I guess that means I’m waiting until tomorrow to officially make you Mrs. Harry Denismore.”
“Like hell,” Katie said, lifting her face for a kiss. Harry obliged her, holding back. He wouldn’t press her for something she couldn’t give, no matter how much he wanted her. They got to the hotel and Harry got their room cards, showing Katie to the sixteenth floor.
When he stopped in front of the honeymoon suite, she was speechless. Harry leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I don’t want to look back in twenty-five years and wished I’d given you every pleasure imaginable. Thank you for marrying me, Katie.”
“Oh you are so getting laid,” she laughed, pulling him into their suite. Harry fumbled with the ties to her dress, figuring a shoestring knot shouldn’t be so damn hard to undo. Finally Katie turned around, allowing him to see his work, and giving him ample time to nibble on her shoulders and the nape of her neck, a rather nice turn on if he didn’t say so himself. “I should have told you before how beautiful you are. Your soft, porcelain skin drives me crazy.”
“I like your working man’s hands. Never let it be said that a rough man’s hands can’t feel like velvet when they’re applied just right.”
“Well then,” Harry said, running his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, slipping her dress down her body with the movement. He bent again and kissed her, turning his face into the curve of her neck and she turned to face him. “I’d be happy to give you a free demonstration.”
“I bet,” Katie chuckled. “How about an even trade?”
“Deal,” Harry smiled, taking her mouth in a kiss that heated all the chilly places.
***
Katie shivered as Harry’s mouth touched her jaw and neck. His palms cupped her tight breasts, tweaking her nipples until she moaned in pleasure. Then she saw stars when that warm, wet mouth took one nipple and then the other; teasing them relentlessly. “Harry,” she whispered, her mind unable to think of anything else but that desperate plea of his name.
Her mouth came back to him, urging them both on as her own hands raked over the bunching muscles of his back and shoulders. She held on when he laid her on the bed, finally discarding the rest of their clothing. Naked, she pressed her hips into him, thrilling at the feel of his large cock.
When his hand snaked down between her legs, cupping her warm mound, she moaned. And when his fingers slipped into her, she came, arching hard into that blissful flight of climax. Still, he wasn’t done.
Katie barely caught her breath before Harry was sending her up again, driving hard and filling her on one wonderfully firm thrust. He took her like this, just the right amount of deep penetration and building her up as he filled her, over and over again.
Her nails dug into his shoulders as her legs tightened their grip around his narrow hips. “Jesus, Katie,” Harry breathed. Pumping hard now, she didn’t hold back when he tried to slow down. How could she when all she wanted was right there? Cresting that hard wave, Katie came on a cry of unbelievable pleasure as Harry shuddered inside her. He buried his face in her hair as they both floated down from a beautiful, mutual orgasm.
***
Their two weeks in Venice were something Katie hadn’t even begun to imagine. The food, the sights, the love; nothing had prepared her for the serious knock to her heart or body. “I’m going on a diet,” she declared on the plane ride home.
“You look fine,” Harry said, pressing his hand between her thighs. She slapped his hand and he grinned. “What? No mile high club in our future.”
“It’s not that,” she blushed. “Someone might see.”
“Let them look,” he smiled. “Maybe it’ll give them a thrill they obviously aren’t having themselves.”
“Oh, you’re bad, Harry Denismore.”
“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, darlin’,” Harry drawled, his Texas accent shining through.
“Alright then,” Katie said, rising to the challenge. “Give me two minutes.” Harry watched her walk away, her ass shaking in a way that made his groin ache. He didn’t spare her a second beyond those two minutes before he was practically banging down the bathroom door.
***
“I can’t believe it took
y’all so long!” Ava said, giving Katie a hug when she and Harry stepped into the hotshots headquarters.
“Two weeks isn’t that long,” Katie chuckled.
“The hell it ain’t. After your sabbatical and Harry’s time off, I feel like y’all have been gone a lot more than you’ve been here.”
“Better late than never?” Harry asked, quirking up an eyebrow.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Alex said with a shrug. “Just come sit down so Ava will be quiet and I can fill you in on what’s been happening here.”
Harry laughed, winking at Ava, who was obviously fuming. Leaning close to Katie he whispered, “Ten bucks said she’d hit Alex when she sits down” He grinned to himself when she did exactly that and all Harry could think was that it was damn good to be home.
* the end *
See what is next for the LOBO crew with:
Danny- Coming 4/1/2019
Danny Carpenter is smart and cocky. Although he’s seemingly earned the right to be. Second only to Jackson, Danny is just as competent and often takes Jackson’s place during the low season. When it comes to women, he often keeps his cards close, knowing just how the others would tease him ruthlessly if they knew he’d only ever been with one woman. As a beta, he’s quick-witted, smart and self-assured. But as a man, he’s holding out for his soul mate.
Rebekah Cortez is smart, with a wicked sense of humor and she’s always laughing. She’s often brutally honest and doesn’t shrink away when others are honest in the same tone. She notices that Danny seems to favor honesty, when they meet at a club and almost immediately she’s drawn to him.
Can Danny trust Rebekah with his secret? Will he open himself up to the possibilities, or close himself off for good when things don’t seem clear between them?
Check out my other books:
Rayne Deare Dating Agency
Dash
As one of the two reindeer closest to Mr. Claus when Christmas Eve comes, Dasher is charged with keeping the other eight reindeer calm until takeoff. Serene by nature, he’s just as cool and collected in his everyday life as he is during the holiday season, except for a few, very obvious changes.
During the holidays he tends to prance around in his four-legged, hairy self. During the other eleven months of the year, however, he struts his stuff as a 5’11” brown eyed babe. Tall, dark and handsome; Dasher Holland-who goes by Dash to his friends and family-isn’t looking for love when it comes to find him.
Ashley Bogart is a sales clerk at a local retail outlet. Her love life is non-existent and she doesn’t want to say she’s desperate, but she’s so darn close it’s not even funny. Doing a random search of dating sites late one night, she comes across an unusual one that advertises itself as Mrs. C’s Rayne Deer Dating Agency. Curious, even if just for a laugh, she clicks on the site and is more than taken aback at the incredibly hot guys that grace the front page. One in particular is right up her alley and before she can talk herself out of it, she’s clicking on a picture that says “Dasher” under it.
Can Dasher convince Ashley that dating a shifter is worth the risk? Will Ashley be able to see past Dasher’s job description and peculiar December issues to see the man he is inside? Only time will tell when Dasher takes the reins.
Check out this Paranormal Reindeer shifter romance and see!
Let's not forget about Santa's eight other reindeer:
Dan
Pran
Vix
Com
C. P.
Don
Blitz
Rudy
Here is the Rayne Deare Dating Agency Pre-quel! The story of Mrs Claus – the one I have had so much fan mail asking me for! I hope you enjoy my idea of how Sarah and Kris came to be the favorite jolly power couple we all look forward to each December in All I Want For Christmas is You
Sarah Parker is your average, bubbly young woman. Confident in a carefree way, she exudes happiness in just about everything she does. So why is it that a beautiful, bubbly, happy-go-lucky woman can’t seem to find a decent man to share the holidays with?
Kris Kringle is just your average college co-ed, until one wintery night in December when his whole life changes. Called into the gift giving industry, Kris is suddenly transformed into a jolly old soul and soon he’s on the lookout for who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.
When Kris meets Sarah, he’s immediately smitten and more than ready to make her a permanent fixture in his life, but will Sarah be quite as eager to walk down the aisle? Come inside and enjoy all the warmth of the Christmas season with this prequel to the Rayne Deer Dating Agency book series with All I Want for Christmas, Is You!
Bear Lake Series:
Careful What You Fish For:
Byron Rhodes is Ex-Army, but that doesn’t stop him from being all he can be. For him that means dragging his two best friends, also discharged from military service, along on a journey of self-discovery and innovation.
Driving out to the sticks is Byron’s idea of a great time and his friends oblige him when they decide to go in on opening a camp for vacationers who might just want a taste of country living. Jess, the comic relief thinks the place is fantastic, if rugged and in need of some TLC.
Kevin, the buzzkill, isn’t so impressed, but he does his part to get the camp up and running and before long the three friends are entertaining their first guests.
Celine Carter is hoping that a weekend in the woods with her best friends will help her sort out where her life is supposed to be going. She finds the accommodations her friends booked, quaint with a still under construction feel to everything. The food is first rate, for the country and she is interested when the owner, Byron, sets his eyes on her.
She’s not looking for anything really, but what’s a little harmless flirtation anyway? Will Celine figure out what it is about Byron that sets her blood humming, or will she settle for a quick fling? Can Byron show Celine that there’s more to life than planning to live it? Byron has his work cut out for him in more ways than one in Be Careful What You Fish For.
Now We're Cooking: Kevin (Bear Lake Book 2)
By the Book (Bear Lake 3)
Wolves of Wisconsin Series:
Running Wild (Wolves of Wisconsin Book 1)
Aiyana is a free bird, figuratively of course. In reality, Aiyana is an Omega, she is the female wolf in the Arikara Clan, sworn to protect them with her pack. She lives a peaceful and tranquil life, working as a receptionist for the Bear Lake Cabins. She doesn’t want much in life, she has everything she could’ve ever asked for. Except a soul mate, which is something she dreads ever running into.
When a hunting accident lands Aiyana in the hospital, she must come to terms with two things:
A stranger has labeled her his wife. The stranger happens to be her soul mate.
When love and duty clashes, Aiyana must make decisions that inevitably will cost her, her mental peace.
Can she find a way to make things work? Will the troubles at home increase because of her absence? Or has love entered her life as an antidote?
Each chapter filled with fun and mystery, the Running Wild is the upcoming paranormal saga of the Wolves of Wisconsin werewolf series.
Taming the Beast
Orphan Wolf
Running Wolf
Wolf Leader (coming 3/1/2019)
Wild Tinder Series: The Lobo Hotshot Crew
Alex-
Alex Hernandez has been a hotshot firefighter for five years. He spends the majority of his time with his crew and when he’s not fighting fires, he’s trying to convince himself that getting involved with a crew member is a bad idea. As a wolf, he follows his instincts in every situation. But as a man, following his instincts could cost him his job, or worse.
Ava Schoenguard is barely past her rookie season and much to the amazement of just about everyone she’s survived. Not just that, she’s thriving as a hotshot. She’s smart, capable and after a solid six months under her belt, she’s back for another round of relen
tless work.
Ava is like every other woman, with needs and wants that don’t necessarily coincide with her current lifestyle. She knows the rules of fight fires with her crew and rule number one, even if it’s unspoken, is that you don’t get involved romantically with anyone on your crew. If only she could get her head and her heart on the same page.
Can Ava and Alex have anything beyond the fire line or will they have to give up the jobs they love for any sort of personal life? When Alex and Ava both discover the other is a shifter, will it bring them closer together, or tear them apart for good?
Check out this first book of the new Wild Tinder series of Hot Shot werewolf firefighters!
Jackson-
Harry- this book!
Danny- Coming 4/1/2019
Hunter- Coming 6/1/2019
Steve Coming 8/1/2019
Leon Coming 10/1/2019
Rafe- Coming 12/1/2019
Finn Coming 2/1/2020
Jasper Coming 4/1/2020
Bear Guard Series: A spin off of the Rayne Deare Dating Agency!
Ajax (coming 3/1/2019)
Brandon (coming 5/1/2019)
Chaz (coming 7/1/2019)
Drew and Ethan (coming 9/1/2019)
Thanks much for checking out my book – and please do me a huge favor!
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