“How about you?” I butt my shoulder into Rush’s bloated arm. “Any girl in particular you’re zeroing in on? I’ve settled for one, and you always did like to follow in my footsteps.”
“No thank you. I like the ladies, in multiple. I’m too young, too good-looking, and too smart to settle down so soon.”
“I’m smarter than you.” It’s just a fact. Ava is perfect, and I’d be a fool to pass her by, so I can laud my own youth, my own vanities. “Go bang some chick, would you?” I head over to Ava and pull her into my arms.
“Can I have this dance?” I press a quick kiss to her temple.
“Of course, you can have this dance.” Her eyes light up and smile at me all on their own. “But not in here. It’s much better where I’m taking you.” Ava’s brow hitches as if proud of whatever it is she’s planning. She blows a kiss to both Lucky and Harper before pulling me under the mistletoe one last time this evening. Ava melts her mouth over mine with an oven-hot kiss that makes my tongue beg for her to keep it.
She leads us back out into the frigid night air and laughs us all the way to the parking lot.
Ava hops into the driver’s side of her new car and starts up the radio, blasting a slow song over the speaker.
“I’ll take that dance now, Mr. Jones,” she says as she bounces up beside me. Her breath stretches out in plumes as it crystalizes with my own.
“You’re right.” I nuzzle a warm kiss just under her ear. “It’s much better out here.” I love having Ava all to myself. I’m greedy that way.
Ava’s body molds to mine as we sway under a Hollow Brook starry night with our hearts thumping wild and in sync.
“Happy birthday, Ava.” I pull back. “Are you ready for your gift?”
Her eyes widen. Ava watches me from under her thick lashes and gives the slightest nod.
I reach into my pocket and fish out a token of my appreciation, placing it in the palm of her hand before kissing each of her knuckles.
“Take this. Keep it. Make it your own. It is my most prized possession.”
Ava opens her hand slowly, and her lips part as she chokes out a nonverbal response. “G-G-Grant,” she manages my name with great difficulty. “It’s s-s-o beautiful.” Ava rubs her fingers over the gold chain before laying it over her wrist. I help her with the clasp and lift it to the light, and the shiny chain winks like a star.
“I want you to have this. It belonged to Stephanie, and now it’s yours, forever.”
Her head bows with grief.
“I love you, Ava. Nothing would make me happier than for you to cherish this gift from me.”
Her watery eyes meet up with mine with moonlight trapped and dancing in each one. “I already do.” Ava hikes up on her tiptoes and brushes a feather soft kiss over my lips. “How about you and I head over to Hallowed Grounds and split a PB and J for old times’ sake?” Her teeth graze over her bottom lip. “You know, get our strength up for the other big gift you have for me back at Beta house.”
“I think we’re going to each need our own order for the things I have planned for us.” My finger twirls around a lock of her hair, and it feels like bliss. “You want to drive?”
“It’s across the street.” Her brows hike with amusement.
“We can always take a turn at the end of the block and—”
“Go out to the overlook and break in the backseat? You really are a forward thinker.”
“I can’t take credit for that stroke of genius. Maybe we should get those PB and Js to go.”
“Yet another stroke of genius.”
“You know what’s genius?” I hitch her hair back behind her ear and kiss her temple. “You and I. I think no matter how many scenarios the universe wanted to throw at us, we’d still end up together. It feels as though all my life I’ve been moving toward you.”
“Those are the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard.”
“Then let me follow them up with the most beautiful kiss you’ve ever had.” My mouth falls over hers, and just like that, we’re swimming in the beams of a bright future together, the broad path that has been made straight before us.
Ava and I have harnessed lightning and wrapped ourselves in its brilliant white light. Our love is a force that not even nature can reckon with. We’ve already been to hell and back, walked through a fire and emerged without the stench of smoke on our souls. We are surviving, thriving, electrifyingly alive inside the flaming heart of our love.
Ava pulls back with that devilish look in her eyes that I’ve grown to appreciate on a primal level. My boxers twitch because that look is generally followed up with something mouthwatering that sets my balls on fire.
“I’ve got an idea. How about we race to Hallowed Grounds—on foot? Last one there has to wear the gift that Lucky gave me.”
I have no clue what Lucky gave her, but I’m skeptical that it will flatter me in any way, shape, or form. “I’m not wearing anything lacy.”
“Oh yeah?” Her brows hike. “But will you wear these? They’re from my Halloween costume. She thought I might be able to repurpose them.” She pulls a pair of silver handcuffs out of her purse, and I bolt.
“Grant!” Ava laughs up a storm behind me as we make a mad dash for Hallowed Grounds. “Get over here! No fair! I didn’t even count to three!” Her voice carries in echoes of laughter, and it sounds magical. Everything about Ava is magical.
I stop to tie my shoe and watch as Ava dashes past me, practically crashing into the door of the Hallowed Grounds Café.
A satisfied grin comes to me as I watch her hair, her hips sway from side to side as she backtracks over to me. “Grant Jones, you are destined to be imprisoned by me.”
The silver cuffs would be fun to be in charge of, but watching what Ava does with her newfound authority will be that much better.
I stand up and pull this beautiful girl into my arms and marvel at how far she’s taken me, at how she’s managed to turn the lights on in my life once again.
“Do you have the key to those cuffs?” I tuck a kiss in the softest part of her neck.
“I doubt it. Once I have you secured to the bedframe, you might never leave.”
A dark laugh rumbles from me. “Let the fun begin.”
I thought I had died right along with Stephanie all those years ago, and here Ava has brought me back to life. I’m more than grateful, more than ready to see what the future holds for the two us.
I know one thing for sure.
The future holds an abundant amount of joy.
Ava brings it.
Ava brings every good thing.
Books by Addison Moore
Look for Lucky Kisses (3:AM Kisses 12) Lucky and Lawson’s story coming soon!
Romance
3:AM Kisses (3:AM Kisses 1)
Winter Kisses (3:AM Kisses 2)
Sugar Kisses (3:AM Kisses 3)
Whiskey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 4)
Rock Candy Kisses (3:AM Kisses 5)
Velvet Kisses (3:AM Kisses 6)
Wild Kisses (3:AM Kisses 7)
Country Kisses (3:AM Kisses 8)
Forbidden Kisses (3:AM Kisses 9)
Dirty Kisses (3:AM Kisses 10)
Stolen Kisses (3:AM Kisses 11)
Lucky Kisses (3:AM Kisses 12)
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Burning Through Gravity (Burning Through Gravity 1)
A Thousand Starry Nights (Burning Through Gravity 2)
Fire in an Amber Sky (Burning Through Gravity 3)
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Beautiful Oblivion (Beautiful Oblivion 1)
Beautiful Illusions (Beautiful Oblivion 2)
Beautiful Elixir (Beautiful Oblivion 3)
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The Solitude of Passion
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Someone to Love (Someone to Love 1)
Someone Like You (Someone to Love 2)
Someone For Me (Someone to Love 3)
Young Adult Romance
Melt With You (A Totally ’80s Romance 1)
; Tainted Love (A Totally ’80s Romance 2)
Hold Me Now (A Totally ’80s Romance 3)
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Parnormal Romance
(Celestra Book World in Order)
Ethereal (Celestra Series Book 1)
Tremble (Celestra Series Book 2)
Burn (Celestra Series Book 3)
Wicked (Celestra Series Book 4)
Vex (Celestra Series Book 5)
Expel (Celestra Series Book 6)
Toxic Part One (Celestra Series Book 7)
Toxic Part Two (Celestra Series Book 8)
Elysian (Celestra Series Book 9)
Perfect Love (A Celestra Novella)
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Ethereal Knights (Celestra Knights)
Season of the Witch (A Celestra Companion)
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Ephemeral (The Countenance Trilogy 1)
Evanescent (The Countenance Trilogy 2)
Entropy (The Countenance Trilogy 3)
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Celestra Forever After (Celestra Forever After 1)
The Dragon and the Rose (Celestra Forever After 2)
The Serpentine Butterfly (Celestra Forever After 3)
Crown of Ashes (Celestra Forever After 4) Soon!
Thank you for reading Stolen Kisses (3:AM Kisses 11). If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review at your point of purchase. Even a sentence or two makes a difference to an author. Thank you so very much in advance! Your effort is very much appreciated.
Acknowledgments
To all of my readers, I cannot thank you enough for being so awesome. It warms me from my heart to my toes to know that the worlds I live in are shared with you. A special huge thank you to my Addison’s Angels. All of your hard work and support is so amazing. Thank you for letting me call you friends.
A very huge shout-out to Lisa Markson. You are always so kind and supportive. You really do blow me away with your big heart. Thank you for that!
To the wonderful Tabby Coots, thank you so much for taking the time to go through my manuscripts and offering a thumbs-up. You’re one of the nicest people I know.
To Kaila Eileen Turingan-Ramos, thank you to the moon and back for your fantastic superpowers. You are a treasure and worth your weight in gold. I’m so thrilled to know you! Thank you for being a friend!
A special thanks to Kathryn Jacoby, super woman extraordinaire! You are such a kind-hearted person. I am blessed every day knowing that you are in my life. I’m crossing my fingers that you don’t get sick of me.
A gigantic thank you to the fabulous Paige Maroney Smith, my right hand, the sharpest weapon in my arsenal. Boy, am I ever glad you crossed my path! There just aren’t enough words to express my gratitude. I appreciate all of your invaluable input. Thank you for making every book of mine the best it can be. You are forever treasured.
And last, but never least, thank you to Him who sits on the throne. Worthy is the Lamb! Glory and honor and power are yours. I owe you everything.
About the Author
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading. Addison’s Celestra Series has been optioned for film by 20th Century Fox.
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