by Lila Rose
“That’s it, darlin’. Fuck yes, keep comin’ on my cock.” His mouth hit mine. My hands glided down his back to his butt cheeks, where I squeezed. Ryan groaned low into my mouth. He pulled back enough to clip, “Christ, fuck, gonna come. Now.” His harsh grunts hit the room. He slowed his thrusts to a leisurely drift in and out.
Nothing could have made this moment between us more perfect than it was.
Ryan brushed my hair from my face and lightly pinched my chin. “You feel so fuckin’ perfect.”
So did he.
Leaning up, I kissed him.
My world wouldn’t have been the same if he hadn’t moved into this house. I’d been out to find freedom, and I had. But how lucky was I that I’d found it with a man I loved.
“This is amazing,” I told him with a lazy smile.
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
“Good, baby doll.” Gently, he pulled out of me and shifted off the bed. I caught sight of some blood and cringed. “Nah-uh, darlin’. Don’t you worry about anythin’.” He opened his en-suite door, came back to the bed, and picked me up, bridal style, in his arms. Laughing, I rested my head against his chest. When we entered the bathroom, I saw the bath full of water already.
I lifted my gaze to his. “Made it extra hot before I came to get you. Should be good now.”
“So your plan was to have me all along?”
“Fuck yes.”
Laughing again, I slapped his chest. “I’m glad.”
“Nah, baby doll. I’m glad you wanted me.”
EPILOGUE
EMERSON
Ryan walked with me tucked under his arm into the compound common room. They’d decided to throw a party just because they wanted to. Still, I thought it had something to do with a going-away party for Blue and Clary, who’d I’d met recently at their wedding.
However, I realized I was mistaken when I didn’t even see Blue or Clary. Instead, it was a small crowd of Talon, Zara, Ivy, Killer, Julian, and Mattie, plus a couple of prospects to serve us dinner and drinks. When Julian had told me about the party, I honestly didn’t expect this, but I enjoyed it. Sitting beside Ryan all night while talking with Zara, Julian, and Ivy was something I hoped we would do all the time.
I would even like to try my hand at a dinner party at Ryan’s place, since his was bigger than mine and I loved cooking in his open-plan kitchen.
This was comfortable. Almost like we were all part of the same family. It felt like home, especially because of the man at my side.
Ryan caught me looking at him. He smiled, leaned in to take my lips in a quick but fierce kiss, and said, “Be back in a sec.”
“All right.” I nodded and watched him walk away towards the bar.
“Hey, dovey dove. Have you seen the sign Talon put up with your logo on it?”
I sucked in a breath. “It’s up?” I asked, looking from Julian to Talon.
Talon chuckled. “Yeah, darlin’. Fuckin’ finally got around to it. Go see your awesome design. The guys sure do love it.”
“I’m so glad.” I stood and met Julian at the end of the table they’d set up. I glanced back. “Does anyone else want to come?”
Ivy waved her hand. “You two go. Zara and I’ll get dessert ready.”
Smiling, I nodded. Ivy had talked about her chocolate and banana cheesecake all night and I couldn’t wait to try it.
Julian led me through the compound. He turned on lights as we walked so it was easier to see. In through the workshop and then out the front door of it. With his arm around my shoulders, we walked a few paces away from the front and turned back. I looked up and my breath caught. The sign looked amazing. I’d incorporated a tire, wings to represent the Hawks, and the business name all together. It looked amazing above the roller doors, lit up so all could see.
“Do you like it?”
“I do. It looks so much better with how big they made the sign.”
“It does.” We stood there and talked about some other clients I had. How business had picked up even more and how Julian found it cute that I had a desk set up at both my place and Ryan’s. Ryan and I spent so much time together that when I had to get work done at his place, I was sick of sitting in the kitchen when he would be in the living room.
Eventually, we walked back inside. I asked how things were going for Mattie and Zara’s sister—well, foster sister—living in Melbourne. I hadn’t met her or their parents, but I knew of them. I still found comfort in smaller crowds which contained women I already knew. Slowly I’d built myself up to meet new people.
“We’re not too sure. When we call, she doesn’t say much. Actually we’re starting to worry about her. I think Nancy will end up doing something soon.”
“It’s a big change, moving to a place where she doesn’t know anyone. It might take a while for her to get used to it.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He opened the door back into the common room. I walked by him and froze.
Julian stepped up behind me and led me closer to where Ryan sat with a guitar on his knee and a microphone in front of him.
“You know I don’t do this shit in front of anyone. But this was a special occasion, so people are gonna have to listen to me whether they like it or not.”
I couldn’t speak. I managed a nod, but all I could do was watch as Ryan strummed his first chord.
Right away the music hit me. It was the first song he’d played me. “Beautiful Crazy.” His voice hit the room through the microphone, and I couldn’t understand why, but him singing this time was better than the first.
His voice, a low rumble that caused my body to melt, had tears welling. I clasped my hands on the front of my chin, a couple of fingers pressing down on my trembling lips.
He was amazing.
An arm slid around my waist. I glanced at Ivy quickly but then straight back at Ryan.
“He’s wonderful,” Ivy said.
I nodded. Gently we swayed to his words, about being beautiful crazy, taking chances, and wearing hearts on sleeves.
His eyes never left me. Every word sang to me.
They hit me soul deep, and I had no doubt he meant those words for me.
How my crazy was beautiful to him.
How I amazed him.
When the song came to an end, he put his guitar on the floor, stood, and came for me. Julian and Ivy moved away. Ryan stopped right in front of me.
“Did you like it, baby doll?”
It wasn’t pretty, but I sniffed and wiped at my eyes, probably spreading mascara everywhere. “More than words can say.”
He chuckled and gently ran a finger under my eyes. His gaze met mine. “Want you livin’ with me, Emmie.”
Awestruck, I blinked slowly. “A-are you asking me to move in with you?”
His smile was sweet. “Yeah, baby doll.”
I gulped and nodded.
“Words, darlin’.”
“Yes. Yes, Ryan, I would love to move in with you.”
“Fuck yes,” he clipped, and then kissed me.
We weren’t the perfect couple. We argued, got mad, but we were us. And moving forward in life together was what mattered most to me. I couldn’t wait for our future because there was no way Ryan Warden was getting rid of me now.
“I love you, Ryan Warden,” I said against his lips.
His arms curled around me tightly. “Love you, Emmie. Always.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Never would I have thought my characters to be accepted so well where readers want to hear about all of them. Warden had always been a side character. I’ve always loved him and enjoyed writing his small scenes in the other books, but I didn’t think I’d have it in me to write a full-length…. I’m so grateful to my readers wanting his story, because I’m in love with Warden even more than I had been. Emmie has also stolen a piece of my heart!
* * *
Becky and her kickass team at Hot Tree Editing. Becky, I love working with you each and every time. I wouldn’t give you up f
or anything, and I hope you know you’re never getting rid of me.
* * *
Craig, Shayla, and Jake, thank you for getting out of my hair when I needed to write since my office is in the living room… for now.
* * *
Leah, thank you for your friendship. If you didn’t get me out of the house, I wouldn’t go anywhere. Thank you for listening, always being there, and yes, for even being a pain in the butt.
* * *
Lindsey and Amanda, I adore you both for being my beta readers, but not only that, for your honesty as well.
* * *
Wander and Andrey, thank you both for listening to me about a character and finding me the perfect cover photo every time.
ALSO BY LILA ROSE
Hawks MC: Ballarat Charter
Holding Out (FREE) Zara and Talon
Climbing Out: Griz and Deanna
Finding Out (novella) Killer and Ivy
Black Out: Blue and Clarinda
No Way Out: Stoke and Malinda
Coming Out (novella) Mattie and Julia
* * *
Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter
The Secret’s Out: Pick, Billy and Josie
Hiding Out: Dodge and Willow
Down and Out: Dive and Mena
Living Without: Vicious and Nary
Walkout (novella) Dallas and Melissa
Hear Me Out: Beast and Knife
Breakout (novella) Handle and Della
Fallout: Fang and Poppy
* * *
Standalones related to the Hawks MC
Out of the Blue (Lan, Easton, and Parker’s story)
Out Gamed (novella) (Nancy and Gamer’s story)
Outplayed (novella) (Violet and Travis’s story)
Out to Find Freedom (Emerson and Warden’s story)
.
* * *
Romantic comedies
Making Changes
Making Sense
* * *
Fumbled Love
* * *
Trinity Love Series
Left to Chance
Love of Liberty (novella)
* * *
Paranormal
Death (with Justine Littleton)
In The Dark
CONNECT WITH LILA ROSE
Webpage: www.lilarosebooks.com
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Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/7236200.Lila_Rose