by Shayla Black
Contents
About The Chase
Authors’ Note
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
One Dom to Love
Devoted to Pleasure
About Shayla Black
Other Books By Shayla Black
Licks of Leather
About Jenna Jacob
Also by Jenna Jacob
About Isabella LaPearl
THE CHASE
Doms of Her Life: Heavenly Rising (Book 2)
Written by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, and Isabella LaPearl
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This book is an original publication by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, and Isabella LaPearl
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Copyright 2019 Shelley Bradley LLC, Dream Words LLC, and Tale Spin LLC
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Cover Design by: Rachel Connolly
Edited by: Shayla Black and Amy Knupp of Blue Otter
Proofread by: Fedora Chen
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ISBN: 978-0-9911796-4-0
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional. Any similarity to real person, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by an electronic or mechanical means—except for brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews—without express written permission.
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All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE CHASE
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One temptress. Two alphas. Hot pursuit.
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The night Heavenly Young gave her innocence to Dr. Kenneth Beckman and Seth Cooper, her world was ripped apart by betrayal and tragedy. She leaves behind everything and everyone to fulfill a deathbed promise and start her life over. But her solitary quest forces her to face her past and question where her future truly lies—alone or in the arms of the two unforgettable men she loves?
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After putting his heart on the line—something Seth swore he’d never do again—he’s devastated when Heavenly walks away from him and Beck. Hell-bent on reclaiming her, they chase her down and help her complete her solemn duty. But Heavenly is caught between independence and love, forcing him and Beck to make her a deal. She’ll give them total commitment for eight weeks. If she still wants her freedom after that, they’ll let her go—for good.
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After Beck’s reckless mistake implodes the fragile bond he and Seth share with Heavenly, he’s determined to prove they can give her both the adventure she seeks and the devotion she craves. So the men devise a game to break down her barriers and bind her in bliss. But when their dreams are within reach, a demon from Beck’s long-forgotten past returns, bent on revenge that might cost him his life.
AUTHORS’ NOTE
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The DOMS OF HER LIFE: Heavenly Rising saga is a serialized succession of novels best read in order:
The Choice
The Chase
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We hope you enjoy reading these stories
as much as we did writing them.
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Happy Reading!
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Shayla Black
Jenna Jacob
Isabella LaPearl
Chapter One
Sunday, March 31
Los Angeles
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Dr. Kenneth Beckman watched Heavenly Young’s eyes narrow with betrayal. The sated bliss he and Seth Cooper had finally given her together—after months of strife and infighting—disappeared from her sweetly flushed face in an instant.
Oh, he was so screwed.
“Those papers don’t mean what you think, little girl. Let me explain.”
Heavenly clutched the pages in her trembling hand. “The words petition for divorce tell me everything I need to know.” She tossed them on the rumpled bed, where she’d given him and Seth her innocence minutes ago. “Nothing matters now except my dad. I’ll make my way to the hospital. You stay and deal with your wife.”
Beside him, Seth zipped up his jeans and shot him an I-told-you-so glare. “I’ll drive you, angel.”
Gut churning, Beck buttoned his shirt and slid on his shoes, trying to keep his shit together. But he was in love for the first time in his long, perverted life, and happiness was slipping through his fingers because he’d been a dumb ass.
“Thank you,” Heavenly said grimly to the former cop before she raced out the door.
With a bob of his head, Seth motioned him to follow, then jogged after her. Cursing under his breath, Beck headed out on Seth’s tail.
Inside the parking garage, the big blond PI jumped behind the wheel. When Heavenly neared the passenger door, Beck hustled close with long-legged strides and opened it for her. She shot him a side-eyed scowl, turned him a cold shoulder, then climbed into the backseat. Determined not to let her put distance between them, Beck slammed the open door and crowded in beside her.
Goddamn it, he only needed five minutes to explain his unmarriage to Heavenly. Unfortunately, while racing to reach her suddenly and gravely ill father wasn’t the time or place.
When he took her hand to offer his comfort, she jerked away and directed her attention to Seth. “Can we go?”
The PI nodded, and the car lurched from the parking garage while Heavenly stared stiffly out the window. Beck felt fucking impotent. Normally, he’d draw her onto his lap and force her to listen to the truth. Now he did the one thing for her he could: he yanked his phone from his pocket and dialed the hospital.
The charge nurse of the neurology unit transferred him to another caregiver in ICU. Beck didn’t take that as a good sign. “Jean, this is Dr. Beckman. I’m with Abel Young’s daughter and we’re en route. What’s his condition? His vitals?”
He pressed the phone to his ear, listening to the nurse’s efficient tone. “Dr. Litchfield thinks it’s a pulmonary embolism. We moved Mr. Young to ICU. His O-two sat is seventy-five and dropping. His pulse is 123. Blood pressure was eighty over forty but just dropped to fifty-two over thirty-seven. Respiration is forty-two. He’s diaphoretic and his anxiety is climbing. How long before his daughter gets here?”
Shit. Abel Young was dying.
Beck tried not to let the terrible news show on his face. “ETA is less than ten.”
“Hurry. His breathing is increasingly labored, and his DNR prohibits a vent, so…”
They didn’t have a moment to waste.
When he hung up, Heavenly finally looked at him. “What did they say?”
Seth shot him a glance in the rearview mirror. He gave the other man a subtle shake of his head.
“He’s in ICU. We’ll get more information when we get there,” he replied carefully. “Seth, step on it.”
“I’m trying.” He gripped the steering wheel and laid on his horn. “Fucking traffic even at midnight.”
Heavenly wrapped her arms around her middle and drew her knees to her chest, as if she could crawl into a little ball and hide from the encroaching reality. The sight tugged at Beck. As a vascular surgeon, he dealt with illness and death damn near every day. He did his best to remain compassionate but removed; it
was the most effective way to stay focused on patient outcome. But Beck couldn’t disconnect from this. He already felt so close to losing Heavenly. Her father’s death might rip her away for good.
Ten minutes ago, he’d been on top of the world because he’d been inside her. After months of waiting and wooing her, of mustering a patience that had damn near driven him insane, he and Seth had finally gotten their shit together and made her theirs.
All that had changed when the hospital had called…and those fucking divorce papers had fallen from his pocket.
Screw it. Heavenly might be furious with him now, but Beck lifted her onto his lap anyway and settled her against his chest, determined to be her rock. For an instant, she melted into him, heaving a great sob.
“Shh, little girl. I’ve got you.”
She bristled and shoved him away, eyes accusing. “Don’t.”
Beck clenched his fists. Fuck. He had to explain Gloria to her now, shitty time or not.
But Seth careened around the corner, and the hospital came into view. The big guy stepped on the brakes, sending the SUV to a shuddering stop in front.
“Go,” Seth barked. “I’ll park.”
“Pull around to the garage on the west side of the building.” Beck dug into his pocket. “Here’s my badge. Use my reserved spot. Second floor by the elevator. You’ll see my name.”
“Got it.”
Beck jumped out and reached across the seat for Heavenly’s hand, but she’d already escaped out the other side of the vehicle and run for the automatic double doors. He sprinted after her, barely managing to wedge himself into the elevator as she frantically pressed the number for the ICU.
Now that they were out of the dark car and the harsh fluorescent lights above illuminated her face, he couldn’t miss her red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks. They ripped at him. He had to console her.
“Heavenly…”
She jerked away, sniffling. “Stop. I just… No.”
Then she was out of the elevator, darting down the hall to her father’s room.
God knew what she would see or if the man was even still alive. Beck knew Heavenly might not want anything to do with him now, but if the worst had already happened, she would need a shoulder, at least. And probably a strong pair of arms. Since Seth would be minutes behind, Beck was her only option.
When they reached Abel’s room, the pair of nurses who had been monitoring him scurried out to give them privacy. The older man was propped up in bed, eyes closed, struggling to breathe, despite the nasal cannula providing oxygen. He looked alarmingly gray and far older than forty-six. Beside Beck, monitors flashed. It was his only indication that they’d reached her father in time.
“Daddy!” Heavenly dashed his way, her voice breaking.
“Boo…” Abel answered in a frail tone, lifting his heavy lids.
Beck melted into the background to give them as much time together as possible. Barring a miracle, it wouldn’t be much.
“What happened?” she asked her father.
“My body is giving out, baby. We’ve known it for a while.” Slowly, he turned his head. “Dr. Beckman.”
“Just Beck,” he reminded. “How’s your pain?”
“Not good.”
“Dad, they can get you some—”
“I don’t want any pain meds now.” He regarded Beck again. “Thank you for bringing my daughter.”
Heavenly’s father might be at death’s door, but given the speculative look the older man tossed their way, his mind wasn’t impaired at all. Beck tried not to wince. Heavenly had sex hair. Her lips were bruised and swollen with kisses. Someone had left a love bite on her neck.
Shit.
“We came as quickly as we could,” Beck replied.
What else could he say? Sorry it took a while. Seth and I had to get dressed after being balls deep inside your daughter.
Abel cleared his throat. “Can I speak to you and”—he frowned—“where is Seth?”
“Just finished parking. Good to see you, Abel.” The former cop skidded to a stop inside the doorway, clearly wearing his game face. He might not be a medical professional, but he knew Abel’s condition was critical. “They taking good care of you? Can we get you anything?”
“No,” the man managed between wheezing breaths.
Tall, balding Dr. Litchfield entered then. Beck was grateful the man had done him the professional courtesy of coming in the middle of the night. If anything could be done to save Abel, Litchfield would do it.
“Ms. Young?” The neurologist addressed Heavenly, stare somber.
She turned, still clutching her father’s hand. “Yes?”
Even a blind man could see she struggled to hold herself together. Beck clenched his jaw. He knew what came next. Litchfield would take Heavenly aside, explain her father’s condition…and chip away at her hope. Even if she was pissed and wanted to hate him now, she didn’t need to hear the terrible truth alone.
“Can I have a word in the hall?”
Heavenly froze, denial all over her face.
“Go on, baby,” Abel encouraged, his voice weak and scratchy.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t”—she squeezed his hand—“don’t leave me while I’m gone.”
“I won’t,” he assured.
Beck wasn’t convinced that was a promise Abel could keep.
When he would have followed Heavenly out the door, her father rasped, “Beck, wait. I need a minute.”
Comfort his girl while she heard the worst or listen to whatever her dying father had to say? Praying he would have forever to console Heavenly, he nodded as she disappeared into the hall. “Of course.”
“Come closer. My voice…” Abel dragged in a labored breath. “And I don’t want her hearing this.”
He and Seth exchanged a glance. The detective’s face didn’t give much away, but the tension in his body said plenty.
“What can we do for you?” Seth sank into the room’s lone chair as Beck moved in beside him.
“I’m dying. I hate leaving Heavenly with nothing but memories.”
“We already promised we’d care of her. And we will,” Seth reassured.
“By making my little girl a woman? I’m not blind.” Nor was he thrilled. “Why would you both take her to bed? She deserves better than to be passed around like a sex toy.”
“It’s not like that. Heavenly is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Beck vowed solemnly. “I love her.”
“We both do,” Seth swore. “I’ve never once considered her a toy.”
Resignation settled over Abel’s face. “Then do me a favor.”
“Anything,” they answered in unison.
“Don’t tie her down. Heavenly has done nothing but take care of me since she was a kid. She needs to see the world, experience life. Make mistakes and learn from them. Finish growing up.” He choked, spitting blood into a tissue he held in his trembling hand. “Be free.”
Beck didn’t miss Seth’s side-eyed glance. They didn’t want to lie to the frail man, but neither of them was willing to walk away from Heavenly.
“We understand,” the big blond replied.
Abel coughed again. “You don’t. She can be like her mother.”
The woman who had left behind a teenager to care for a sick man after tragedy struck? That wasn’t the Heavenly Beck knew at all.
“Headstrong. Independent. Proud,” Abel clarified.
That Beck couldn’t refute. After all, she’d almost given her virginity to her landlord to keep a roof over her father’s head, rather than ask him and Seth for help.
“If she doesn’t live before she commits to a future, she’ll leave when you least expect it,” Abel choked out. “Like Lisa.”
The PI scowled his way, then addressed Abel. “Thanks for the warning.”
Not that it would change their strategy.
“We’ll make sure she spreads her wings.” Beck couldn’t promise more because Heavenly belonged with them. He and Set
h would help her grow until she realized that, too.
“I know that look. You’ve already decided to chain Heavenly down.” Abel sighed. “I need to see her.”
Beck’s guts seized. If Abel was cutting this man-to-men chat short, he knew his time was running out.
“I’ll get her,” Seth volunteered.
Before the big guy reached the door, Heavenly stumbled in, blinking and shell-shocked. Seth cupped her elbow and squeezed. She didn’t acknowledge him, just sent a plastically bright smile her father’s way before sinking onto the bed next to him and taking his hand between her shaking fingers. “Hi, Dad. I’m back.”
Abel smiled fondly, then looked at him and Seth. “Leave us.”
Beck didn’t like it, but he nodded. “We’ll be just outside the door.”
The older man didn’t reply, just fixed his attention on Heavenly with equal parts adoration and regret.
Worried like hell, Beck stepped into the hallway.
Seth followed. “Holy shit. Abel took a huge downturn in a matter of hours. I never thought we’d be bringing Heavenly to his fucking deathbed. What happened?”
“It’s not the Guillain-Barré.” He explained Abel’s new complication. “Unfortunately, a pulmonary embolism can occur anytime.”
“So…this might have happened even if we’d known sooner that he was sick?”