Consumed
Page 29
“Even better, you can’t ever again be insecure in how I feel. Can’t ever again stupidly wonder if I’m getting tired of you.”
“Never again,” she vowed.
“Just know that there’s no get-out clause, Ava. Don’t think having Imani around means this isn’t exactly what it’s supposed to be – binding. This is forever. If I fuck up, if I hurt you, if there’s something that needs changing, we talk about it and I’ll fix it.”
She pressed a reassuring kiss to my jaw. “I would never have Bound myself to you if I’d first needed to be secure in the knowledge that I had a way out. I would never have formed such a connection with you, let you so deep inside my soul, unless this was forever for me.” She held up a finger. “Having said that, if you ever cheat on me or some shit like that –”
“That’s never going to fucking happen,” I snapped.
“– I will definitely be seeking Imani’s help.” She smiled sweetly. “And then I’ll kill you.”
My mouth twitched. “You’ll never have to, because I’d never betray you. You’re all I want.”
“Just like I’ll never betray you. There’s never going to be anyone else for me. I love my warm, cuddly bear too much.” She patted my chest. “Ooh, here comes the lethal scowl.”
“You just had to do it, didn’t you?” She just had to start the whole ‘cuddly bear’ thing again.
Ava shrugged one shoulder innocently. “Maybe I just want you to prove how not cuddly you are by fucking me silly a second time.”
“And maybe you just enjoy driving me insane.”
“How am I doing?”
“You know.”
“Ooh, you’re getting all growly again.” She gave a shiver of delight. “I think you’re just mad because there are Hello Kitty curtains in the living area.”
I frowned. “There aren’t Hello Kitty curtains in the living area.”
“There will be if you don’t fuck me silly again.”
I shook my head, torn between annoyance and amusement. “Well then I guess I better get to work.”
“I always said you were smart.”
EPILOGUE
(Jared)
It was really no surprise to me that Sam had found herself a dark corner. Much like Salem, she wasn’t a fan of formal events. To her credit, she’d lasted two whole hours before hiding. But there was no way that my mate could ever hide from me. Walking right into her personal space, I pressed a light – and somewhat teasing – kiss on her mouth. “You’re looking very smug, baby.”
She shrugged innocently, but her self-satisfied grin remained. “I’m just happy for Ava and Salem.”
I snaked my arms around her waist and pulled her to me, aligning that perfect body to mine. “And I’m sure your happiness has nothing to do with how your matchmaking skills got them together.”
Another innocent shrug as she lightly raked my nape with her nails. “I just gave them nudges in the right direction.”
“Nudges?” Oh, what an understatement. “You lied that Ava was in Luther’s vision so that you could take her along to the brothel, making she and Salem spend time together.”
“Only because Ava needed some work experience.”
“You threatened that if anyone dared to come between Ava and Salem, their efforts would be met with bodily harm.”
“Only because I was looking out for her.”
“And you were chatting to Ava about Binding, planting the seed of the idea in her head.”
“How do you know that?” Sam gaped, eyes wide.
I smiled. “I know you. I know how your mind works.” Nuzzling her neck, I slid my hands down to cup her ass. “And I know how to make this body melt for me.”
“Cocky bastard,” she muttered.
I pulled back. “Are you saying I can’t? Because that sounds like a challenge, and you know I’d have no choice but to accept it. Macho-guy pride insists on it.”
She rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Any excuse to have a tumble.”
Well, of course. “Let’s go. We don’t need to stick around, Ava and Salem have already left.”
“Snuck away, did they?” And now that smug grin was back.
“I take it you’re not done with matchmaking yet.”
“Definitely not. This is fun.”
I nipped her bottom lip. “Who’s next?”
She spoke against my mouth. “I’ll tell you…right after you’ve made me come so hard I can’t move.”
Yep, that was a halo hanging over her head. “Have I mentioned that I love you?”
“Never hurts to hear it again.”
I held that aquamarine gaze, knowing that everything I’d ever wanted was staring back at me. “Then I love you, Sam Parker.”
“Good, because I love you, Jared Michaels.”
“I like it better when you scream it.”
An affronted look. “I don’t scream.”
“Yes, you do.” I teleported us to our bedroom. “And you’re about to do it again.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Super big thank you to my family for their support and for being so amazing as to forgive me for going off in my ‘zone’ so often. I know it’s got to be weird living with someone who hears voices in her head, so thank you for pretending it’s not.
As always, a massive thank you to my Beta reader, Andrea Ashby – she’s fabulous, and she never lets me down, no matter how much she’s got going on in her own life, and I truly appreciate it.
Finally, a gigantic thank you to all my readers. You’re all seriously amazing. The support for the series has helped it go from a standalone to a series, and I will never forget that.
If for any reason you would like to contact me, whether it’s about the book or you’re considering self-publishing and have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at suzanne_e_wright@live.co.uk.
Take care,
Suzanne Wright, Author
Website: http://www.suzannewright.co.uk
Blog: http://www.suzannewrightsblog.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/suz_wright
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Wright/1392617144284756
TITLES BY SUZANNE WRIGHT
The Deep in Your Veins Series
Here Be Sexist Vampires
The Bite That Binds
Taste of Torment
Consumed
The Phoenix Pack Series
Feral Sins
Wicked Cravings
Carnal Secrets
Dark Instincts (Coming soon)
Standalones
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