Happily Ever After: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set

by Piper Rayne

  “That’s cryptic.”

  He didn’t say anything else, just kept walking.

  “Okay, fine, the worst excuse I ever heard was that she thought he would be different. And this was after almost six months of dating.”

  “Thought he would be different. What does that even mean?”

  “It means she expected him to be better in bed.”

  “Really?”

  I shrugged. “Definitely.”

  “Was that you?” he asked with a laugh.

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “He sucked in bed?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  Rowan chuckled. “No one should have to suffer through mediocre sex. Why even bother if it doesn’t blow your mind?”

  “That’s what I keep saying. It’s why I haven’t…Anyway, I agree.”

  “Why you haven’t what?” he pressed.

  “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

  He pulled me to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk and turned me to face him. His eyes were deadly serious. His shoulders were pulled up to his ears, his feet tapping on the sidewalk. “Why you haven’t what?”

  I took a deep breath and found myself unable to lie to him. I did not like that feeling. “Had sex in a while.”

  “You? I guess you have good locks on your door.”

  “Huh?”

  “You had to be fighting them off.”

  I snorted. “Hardly. Most of the guys in town grew up with either me or my sister or are friends with my brother-in-law. I’m not new to anyone.”

  “You’re new to me,” he said firmly.

  My breath hitched. I glanced up at him. He was staring right back, the heat in his eyes chasing away the cold night air.

  He stepped closer to me and I forgot how to breathe entirely. His cold hand cupped my jaw and tilted my head up. His eyes held mine, and I leaned toward him. He drew me in slowly, our bodies growing closer together until our lips touched.

  We both froze for an instant, like the kiss was a surprise. Then he took a step closer and slid his hand to my throat. He pressed his thumb under my jaw and tilted my head back farther, then licked his way into my mouth.

  I moaned softly as his tongue brushed against mine. His other hand reached behind me and brought our bodies closer together. My hands went to his chest, trapped between us but needing to touch him. The thickness of our coats dulled any sensations beyond the kiss, but I didn’t care.

  His tongue swept through my mouth and learned every inch. He tangled with my tongue, teasing me before pressing thickly inside. I groaned, wanting more, and he pulled back.

  Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and dragged me down the darkened street. I didn’t ask how he knew which house was mine or how he knew I rented a room above the garage. I just accepted it and unlocked the door.

  Inside, he pulled me back in, his hands and mouth learning everything there was to know about me. I nipped at his lip and earned a growl. He pressed my back to the front door and ensured I didn’t move with a thick thigh between my legs.

  “What do you want, Willow?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “What do you want? From me. Right now. Do you want me to go or stay? Do you want me to kiss you or more? What do you want?”

  “I want you to take off your clothes.” I’d never been shy during sex. Or really, any other time. I knew I had to take what I wanted from life or I’d never get anything. My parents weren’t warm and fuzzy people, and they never spoiled us, so I learned early I had to grab what I wanted and claim it as my own.

  A lot of people said I was a bitch for that, but they were just jealous that they didn’t have the same attitude. I never understood waiting around for something to happen. I made things happen.

  And with Rowan, I was going to make this happen. I didn’t plan it. Hell, until he kissed me, I wasn’t even sure I wanted it. But I was going to get it.

  He stepped back and dropped his leather jacket to the floor. He toed off his boots as he unbuttoned his jeans. He reached back and tugged his shirt off with one hand. Then his hands went to his jeans and his eyes lifted to mine.

  “Am I the only one taking off my clothes?”

  I raised an eyebrow at him and grinned. He watched me strip to my bra and panties, both boring teal cotton.

  “Don’t stop there.”

  “Bedroom,” I told him, nodding toward the only door in the tiny apartment.

  Rowan reached for me and brought our bodies together. He brushed the hair from my neck and licked his way from my collarbone up to my ear. He nibbled on my earlobe and across my jaw. When our lips met, he didn’t waste any time thrusting his tongue between my lips.

  The entire time, his hands roamed my body, lighting me up. He guided me backward until we made it into my room. He pulled back long enough to see where the bed was. His large hands cupped my ass and lifted me effortlessly.

  “You’re going to hurt yourself,” I argued, trying to squirm out of his grasp.

  “Not if you stop moving. Damn, woman.”

  I stopped fighting him and tried not to worry about him dropping me. A size twenty ass was not usually carried around. I never had been before, and I definitely didn’t expect it from him.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, nipping the exposed skin of my breast. “Stunning.”

  I drew in a breath and tried to believe his words, but I knew they were just to butter me up. He didn’t realize I was going to sleep with him whether he complimented me or not. I wasn’t doing it for the ego boost. It was all about sex for me.

  He lowered me to the mattress gently and scanned my face and body with his eyes. I wanted to cover up, or kick him out, but I didn’t do either. If he found me wanting, or if this was all a big joke to him, I wasn’t going to back down. I was stronger than him.

  Then he licked his lips and pressed his cock against my core. The barrier of my panties and his jeans stopped his progress, but there was no mistaking that he wanted me as much as I wanted him.

  “Condom,” he breathed. He reached into his pocket and grabbed one, holding it in his teeth while he shoved his jeans and boxer briefs to the floor. He kicked out of them and tore the foil wrapper while I removed my panties and admired his body.

  He was blanketed with muscles. His arms bulged and his abs danced. His cock was thick and surrounded by a neat nest of trimmed dark hair. His thighs were strong, and those hands…they pressed my thighs wide and teased my entrance. One finger slid into me. He groaned with me as he withdrew, coating my skin as he teased his way to my clit.

  He held my gaze with his as his fingers manipulated me. I bit my lip and tried to hold back, wanting the orgasm to last. I was on the edge, ready to fall over, but I wasn’t ready. I needed more.

  I’d missed the connection sex brought with another person. I missed knowing that we were in it together. For years, sex was just fun, but somewhere along the line, sex became more. Even with strangers, sex was about making sure someone else was happy.

  Everyone in my life thought I was selfish, but not during sex. During sex, I wanted to see the man I was with lose his mind. I wanted to watch him go crazy and know I gave him that.

  Rowan’s eyes fell to half-mast and he swallowed roughly. His fingers stroked over my clit, pinching and pulling at the throbbing nub until I was unable to hold back.

  “Oh,” I moaned. “Yes.”

  At the first sign that I was going over, Rowan thrust hard into me and shattered that last little bit holding me back. I broke, my body clenching around him as he pumped in and out of me. I shouted his name, unable to keep it in while my orgasm took control, demanding more from him.

  He delivered, leaning over me and letting the base of his cock rub my clit with each stroke while he took what he needed from me.

  His grunts and moans were the only sounds he made as he held my gaze from less than a foot away. Closer, I could see the stress in his jaw from holding back. He was waiting for me, wanting to see me lose
control again.

  And he was getting his wish.

  My sensitive skin was raw and ready. It didn’t take long before my body was claiming what it needed and racing to the finish. I dragged my nails down his chest as I came, spurring him on.

  He leaned back again and grabbed my hips. He pulled me to him with every rough thrust inside me. He fucked me hard, demanding my body take what he was offering.

  I stared at him, his mouth twisted up as if he was in pain. Every muscle was corded tight. His hands bit into my fleshy sides. He was lost, complete gone to the pleasure I was able to give to him. He couldn’t stop the train racing toward him, the desire that had been building all night between us. He needed me, and I needed him.

  It wouldn’t last beyond tonight, but for a few minutes, we were one.

  He thrust hard into me one final time and stilled. His thick cock swelled inside, then burst, the feeling muted by the condom separating us. He jerked with the release, lost in everything that happened.

  I watched him the entire time, memorizing his face and the way he looked. By the time he collapsed onto me, I knew he would pretend it hadn’t happened if we saw each other again. I almost wanted to cry, but I couldn’t let myself when he was still there.

  I laid still, waiting for him to regain his strength. When he finally pushed off me, he went straight to the bathroom. He didn’t look at me or say anything before he closed the door.

  The air felt cool on my skin. I picked up my panties and slid them back on, then grabbed a robe from my closet. Before he left the bathroom, I went into the kitchen and got a glass of water.

  I watched for him to return, not wanting to turn my back and hope he would do something sweet like wrap his arms around me from behind. I knew what this was. I wasn’t going to romanticize it anymore than I already had.

  His jeans were on and buttoned when he walked out of my room. He looked past me to where he left the rest of his clothes. He didn’t say anything as he got dressed.

  I set my glass in the sink and went to the door. “Thanks,” I said as I unlocked it.

  “Thanks?” His brows went up.

  I shrugged. “What else do you want me to say?”

  “You sound like you’re going to slip me some cash on the way out the door.”

  “We both know this was a one time thing. We’re adults, and this doesn’t need to be awkward.”

  “Then why are you making it awkward?”

  I shook my head. “Good night, Rowan.”

  He moved closer to me and stopped right in front of me. “Thanks.” He hesitated, like he was going to do something like kiss me again, then opened the door. “Good night, Willow.”

  I forced a smile and waited until he was outside. I closed the door and leaned against it, dropping my head against the solid steel.

  “Well, at least I got the cobwebs out,” I told myself. I pushed away from the door and refused to get upset. It was a great night with amazing sex, for both of us. Too bad I’d never see him again.

  5

  Rowan

  I made it to Friday. I wasn’t sure I’d make it through Friday, but I made it to Friday. I skipped O’Kelley’s the night before because I was preparing for my presentation to the high schoolers. That’s what I told everyone. The truth was, I wasn’t looking for a fight about spending time with Willow. The town rumor mill was in full swing and I knew I would be expected to defend my actions.

  My actions didn’t need a defense. I did whatever the hell I wanted whenever the hell I wanted with whomever the hell I wanted. Whoever the fuck had a problem with that wasn’t my damn problem.

  But I knew they’d make it into a big deal, so I skipped out. And when Captain Reynolds told me to take the morning off and go straight to the school instead of coming in to the precinct, I didn’t hesitate to take him up on the offer.

  Which meant the first time I spoke that day was to the guard at the high school. My throat was raw from a lack of sleep and talking myself in circles while I practiced for the speech. I was not prepared.

  I waited for Principal Thomas to arrive and lead me through the school to the auditorium. I could easily find my way, but with the safety protocols in place, I wasn’t pushing anything. I was in favor of anything intended to keep kids safe.

  “Hello, Officer Masterson. Thanks for being here,” Mrs. Thomas said with a wide grin and an extended hand.

  I shook her hand and nodded, feeling less confident by the minute. I had the barebones of a talk to give and hoped the rest would come out when I opened my mouth. I still had no idea why Captain Reynolds thought I was a good fit for this talk, but I couldn’t argue now. Not when I was being shown into the auditorium and introduced to a nerdy looking guy.

  “Mr. Eckart will get you connected to a mic and make sure everything sounds good. I’ll leave you two here, and be back in thirty minutes with the first group of students.”

  I nodded at her retreating back then turned my focus to Mr. Eckart.

  “Thanks for doing this,” he said. He held up a lapel mic. “Clip this to your collar and the battery pack can be on your belt. I’m the technology teacher.”

  I nodded as he handed over the device for me to attach it. When it was in place, he asked me to say something.

  “Like what?” My voice echoed through the auditorium.

  “That was good. I need to tune it for how you speak. Why don’t you go up on stage and start your speech? It’ll give me a chance to balance everything out so when the kids are here, we don’t have to worry.”

  I nodded and did as he asked. When he told me it was good, I stopped talking and paced back and forth across the stage.

  “Hey, is there a place I can get a bottle of water?”

  “I’ll grab you one,” Mr. Eckart said. “We have some in the lounge. I’ll get a few since you’ll be talking a lot today.”

  “Thank you.”

  Mr Eckart left me alone in the auditorium. I mumbled to myself, trying to get the words right for the speech.

  Students slammed through the auditorium doors before Mr. Eckart returned. My palms dampened and my throat seized. My heart raced and sweat beaded on my entire body. Fucking hell.

  I watched as the kids filed in, shouting to their friends and shoving each other while they found seats. Teachers tried to direct them, but they were old enough that they only half listened.

  Maybe that should have brought me comfort, but it made me more anxious. If they only listened to half of what I said, maybe they heard the wrong half and missed things. Maybe more people would die. Maybe—

  “Here’s your water, Officer Masterson,” Mr. Eckart said.

  I turned and looked at him, nodding my thanks and taking the bottle.

  “I put a few more on the table back here in case you need them. Anything else, just ask. I’ll be at the board for all your talks today. And Mrs. Thomas should be here in a minute to introduce you. Thanks again for doing this.”

  I nodded and hoped my throat started working before I had to begin my speech.

  I sucked down the first bottle of water and grabbed a second one. I opened it but didn’t drink any. It was just in case.

  “Are you ready?” Mrs. Thomas asked, appearing from out of the crowd.

  I nodded. “As ready as I’m gonna be.”

  She leaned into a microphone at the podium off to the side and said, “Good morning, students.”

  “Good morning, Mrs. Thomas,” they said back.

  “We have Officer Masterson with us today. He has volunteered to talk to everyone about spotting spirals. I ask that you give him your full attention and please listen to what he has to say. Thank you, Officer Masterson, for being here.”

  I nodded and stepped closer to the edge of the stage while Mrs. Thomas clapped her hands and walked off the stage. Some of the students clapped with her, but most just stared at me. Great fucking start.

  “How is everyone today?” I asked them.

  A few kids murmured something I construed as a
positive response.

  “Is anyone willing to admit they’re having a crappy day?”

  Someone in the middle raised his hand. I pointed at him.

  “You are? Why is your day crappy?”

  “Because I had a test in social studies.”

  The other students chuckled and murmured agreement.

  “Okay. A test can definitely ruin your day. But if you study for it, and you’re prepared, it’s not that bad, right?”

  The kid shrugged.

  “Anyone else having a bad day?”

  A few more hands went up. The kids told me anything from they forgot their lunch at home to they got in a fight with a friend to one twisted her ankle and couldn’t play in the volleyball tournament that weekend.

  “All of those things ruin your day, right? All of those things take us from here,” I held my hand chest high, “to here.” I lowered my hand to my waist. “They’re not the worst things in the world, but they definitely make life more of a pain in the a— butt.”

  The students chuckled at my near-miss.

  “What about things that take you lower? Things that ruin more than a day? Like the tournament. When did you hurt your ankle?” I asked the girl who’d offered the information earlier.

  “Tuesday.”

  “Have you been practicing all week?”

  She shook her head.

  “And you’re out of the tournament this weekend. When will you be able to practice and play again?”

  She shrugged. “Hopefully next week.”

  “Okay, so this is something that ruins more than a day. By tomorrow, the test will be forgotten, you will have more food and the missed lunch won’t be a big deal, but she’s going to be dealing with this for a little more than a week. Things like that can start some people into a spiral. What if you forgot homework? It’s something that would normally affect one day, right? But maybe it’s the third time this month you didn’t do it and you’re now failing your class. Failing the class means you might not graduate on time. It means you might not be able to play the sport you want to play. It means you might get grounded or have your phone taken away. Do you see where I’m going with this? One thing, that seems little, can quickly become much bigger, especially when there’s more going on.”