by Lacey Thorn
“Thank you.” She cupped his face, leaning in to kiss him.
“I wouldn’t have been able to stop one of my enforcers anyway. He and Malachi are close friends. He’s the reason Malachi’s aware of everything here.” Laramie hadn’t been surprised when Wood had admitted the truth when asked.
“Good. It makes me feel a lot better knowing Malachi won’t be on his own. I thought briefly about going back for him, but I won’t leave Ruby. He knew that when he sent us here.”
“I wouldn’t have let you leave,” he informed her, waiting for her to chastise him. She smiled instead.
“I know that,” she admitted. “You would have come after me and hauled me back here.”
“We stay together. Always. I won’t lose you, Em. It would destroy me. Hell, I was a shell before you got here. Going through the motions. I was angry. I wanted nothing but revenge for what was taken from us. I was willing to die while making sure justice was served.” He brushed a finger along her chin. “I still want justice served, but I won’t die trying to get it. I want a long life, with you and any children we’re blessed with. I want to watch all of my brothers meet their mates, see their children. I want to see our pack replenished, want to watch it grow stronger.” He cleared his throat. “I’m going to extend Holloway land. I’ve been buying up property around the surrounding town for years. Before me, my father did, too. I’m going to call everyone in, offer them a stake in the town. We’ll make it ours. The humans there are no threat to us.”
“We’ll have our own shifter town?” She grinned at him.
“Holt’s old pride has a similar setup. They live outside a small town in Oklahoma. Some live in the town. They run businesses, as well as being a part of the town’s police force, fire department, and local government. It’s not only cats there. They welcome any shifter. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that,” he admitted.
“You’d turn away a shifter if they asked for protection?” Em didn’t look too happy about that.
“It’ll depend on the circumstances. I’ll never put this den at risk, if I can help it. I’m happy to send them to Tah. We can ensure they make it there safely.”
She seemed to think about that for a second then slowly nodded. “I’ll help you. We’ll do it together.”
“I’ve spent my whole life being trained to be alpha. Taught duty above all else. I was told there’d come a time when I needed to mate. That I should choose a strong woman who would listen and never argue.”
She snorted a laugh, shaking her head at him.
“My father’s words. My mother would wait until he was gone, then she’d tell me to mate the woman who called to my Kodiak’s heart. The woman who showed me there was more to life than duty. She said being the next alpha was my birthright, but being a mate was a privilege. She also told me I’d know the right woman the instant I met her. My heart would speed up, and if I was lucky, it would never slow down.” He turned onto his side so they faced one another. “I knew the moment I looked through the dark and saw you. Before I even knew your scent, I knew you were mine. My heart leapt then raced as if it were trying to run to you. It hasn’t stopped since.”
He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest, letting her feel the strong beating of his heart. She took his hand and pressed it against her left breast so he could feel the same.
“I knew I was in trouble the moment I saw you,” she admitted. “I was taught to hide who I was, which was never an issue until I saw you. With you, I wanted to be myself. My true self.”
“Always,” he encouraged. “Never hide anything from me.”
“I won’t,” she agreed. “You’ll have it all. My laughter, my anger, my joy, my pain. All of it. You awakened my Kodiak’s heart so that she was no longer content to slumber. There’s no going back for either of us.” She pulled his hand down so it lay across her belly. “Any of us.”
His gaze locked onto her abdomen. His hand pressing closer as if he would be able to feel what she was telling him. Her jerked his gaze to her face. “A baby?”
She nodded. “I think so. I remember Amber saying she knew the moment she conceived. It was a fluttering in her womb followed by a warmth that radiated from there. I felt it.”
“I’ll protect you, Em. Both of you.”
“I know.”
He grinned. “It’s a good thing you have Ruby already. She might be the only girl you have.”
“You think so?” Emersyn questioned.
“My mother did have seven boys. The male line is strong in the Holloway family.”
“Seven smaller versions of you?” Em shook her head. “God save us all from that.”
“Ha!” he snorted, rolling onto her and sliding between her thighs. His cock found her entrance, and he thrust inside. “We could always keep trying until we have another girl. It might take a long, long time.” He punctuated each word with a slow thrust.
“What if you’re just the opposite of your dad?” she suggested. “And we have seven daughters?”
“Bite your tongue, woman!” he growled and lowered his mouth to hers. His heart beat faster though, and he knew if seven daughters was what fate had in store for him, he’d be a lucky man.
About the Author
Lacey is a hyper blonde, bouncing through life with her magical bracelets of positivity. A die-hard gamer (she refuses to call it an addiction), she resides in Oklahoma, mom to three awesome children, one mini goldendoodle, and a black cat. She has a passion for life and romance. She writes possessive, alpha heroes who demand everything from the women they love. Her stories reflect her strong family ties, friendships that showcase how some family consists of those we choose, and a goofy sense of humor that helps keep her laughing through all life’s ups and downs.
She loves to chat with anyone and often does to the annoyance of her children who are always in a hurry. If you want to talk books, television, movies, actors, World of Warcraft, prepping for the zombie apocalypse, or music (she loves music!), drop her a line at [email protected].
Lacey’s Booklist
Knight's Watch Series
Prequel: Beautiful Dreamer
Jagged Hearts
Craving Sin
The Billionaire’s Knight (coming soon)
Beach Knight (coming soon)
Contemporary Western
Chaps and Lace (previously published in Men of Calder County as Rayne)
Contemporary Ménage
Finding Home
Something More Series (Previously Girls Night Out Series)
More Than One Night (Previously Jack's Dee-Light)
More Than Friends (Previously What Friends Are For)
More Than I Do (Previously Marital Bliss)
Awakening Pride Series
Waking the Beast
Tempting the Tiger
Freeing the Feline
Saving the Beast
A Jaguar's Touch
The Liger's Mark
Unleashing the Beast
Eyes on the Pride
Cry of the Pride
Awakening Pride: The Holloways
His to Bear (comes between The Liger's Mark and Unleashing the Beast)
Claimed by the Grizzly
Rumble and Growl
Kodiak’s Heart
Pleasures Series
The Greyson Sisters Trilogy
Cuffed for Pleasure
Heated for Pleasure
SEALed for Pleasure
The Angel Investigations Trilogy
Guarded for Pleasure
Roped for Pleasure (coming 5/19)
Arranged for Pleasure (coming 6/19)
The Foster Sisters Trilogy
Cured by Pleasure (coming 7/19)
Faithful in Pleasure (coming 8/19)
Agents of Pleasure (coming 9/19)
Stand Alone Pleasures Stories
Bewitched for Pleasure (coming 10/19)
Hammer
ed with Pleasure (coming 11/19)
James Pack Series
Alpha's Unwilling Mate
Beta's Virgin Bride
Bare Love Series
His Bare Obsession
Bare Confessions
Bare Seduction
