by Kendall Ryan
“Are you ready, girls?” their teacher calls.
After one last round of kisses, they run inside and the door shuts behind them. If I squint through the frosted glass, I can just barely see the blobs of color that belong to our precious daughters. Then they move farther into the classroom and are lost.
Presley pats my lower back. “Poor thing. You’re going to be useless at the office today, aren’t you?”
“Oh, hush,” I grunt.
“But, seriously, I love this side to you. It’s adorable.” Taking my hand, she kisses me warmly.
I level her with a heated look. “Did you just call me adorable?”
She chuckles, lacing her fingers through mine. “Yes. But don’t worry, I’ll cheer you up later.”
Smirking, I raise her hand to my lips to kiss the back of it, right over her exquisite diamond ring. It feels like I gave it to her a whole lifetime ago, and it feels like no time at all. “Promise?”
She beams at me. “Always and forever.”
• • •
My wife was right about one thing—I’m completely useless at the office. Thankfully, my calendar is mostly clear. I suspect that she and Beth had something to do with that fact, like they knew kindergarten drop-off would hit me hard. Hell, I didn’t even know it would, but I’m thankful there are more than a few smart women in my life.
Presley has a busy day today, and so I barely see her after we arrive. She’s no longer the director of operations, she now runs the entire international operation, and she has, flawlessly, for two years now.
From my desk, I check her calendar and see that she has a lunch with her friend Bianca in a little while. Bianca got married last spring and is pregnant with her first baby—a little girl. Presley has been saving our girls’ hand-me-down clothes ever since the gender-reveal party.
My gaze slips past the meetings until I find what I’m looking for. We have a six o’clock dinner with Presley’s dad, Grandpa George, along with her brother, Michael, and his fiancé, Elijah.
My days before Presley came crashing into it were filled with work and parental obligations. But since I finally got my head out of my ass and accepted that she was part of my future—and that I did deserve to be loved—now my days are filled with family and laughter and so much love, I hardly recognize it.
“Knock-knock,” a familiar voice calls from the door.
“Hey. Come on in,” I say, glancing up to spot Oliver lingering at the threshold.
He’s a little more gun-shy about barging straight into my office without knocking, ever since that time last year he caught me bending Presley over my desk. In our defense, it was after hours, and we assumed everyone was gone for the day. Thankfully, he didn’t catch a glimpse of anything more than my bare ass. Though I guess that was enough to traumatize him.
“Is it safe?” he jokes.
I roll my eyes. “’Course it is. What’s up?”
Oliver drops into the chair in front of my desk and shrugs. “Presley set up an eleven o’clock meeting on my calendar saying that I was supposed to come check on you because today was the first day of school drop-off or something?”
I stifle a sigh. She has my entire staff in on this? I would complain, but sadly, they like her more than they like me. And Oliver’s totally a lost cause—he’s wrapped around her finger. Both he and Jess adore her.
“I’m fine. Now go get back to work.”
Oliver stands to his feet, shaking his head. “Jeez. Touchy today.”
I grin at his retreating frame. “Thanks, Ollie.”
I’ve barely gotten through my next email when there’s someone else at my door. I hear the click of heels and look up. It’s my lovely wife.
A smile lifts my lips as I watch her walk toward me. Bypassing the desk, she comes around behind it and slips into my lap.
I grin in surprise when she seats herself on top of me. “Hi there.”
“Hi.” She presses a quick kiss to my lips.
She’s not normally so touchy-feely at the office, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s checking on me too. I’ll be honest, I don’t hate it.
“I’m okay, you know?” I raise one eyebrow at her.
She laughs. “I know you are. I just wanted to see if you needed anything before I head out to meet Bianca.”
Tightening my arms around her, I hold her close, and Presley sighs. “Just you.”
She smiles, bringing her lips to mine again. “You have me.”
“Go have fun at lunch. I’ll just be here sulking, watching the clock.” I sigh for dramatic effect, and she swats my chest.
“You’re a big baby. I told you I’ll make it up to you later.” She stands and adjusts my tie before she starts toward the door.
“Best intern I ever hired,” I call to her retreating backside, and I hear Presley chuckle.
It’s the absolute truth. Although, to be fair, Presley was never just an intern. She was the woman who rocked my entire world from the first time I laid eyes on her. And now she’s mine.
Forever and always.
• • •
If you enjoyed Seven Nights of Sin, you are going to love my next release, Playing for Keeps. Turn the page for a preview of this cocky foul-mouthed hockey player and the sassy heroine who knocks him off his game.
Sneak Preview
My entire body feels like I’ve been in a car accident—from my pounding head to the unexplainably sore muscles below my waist.
My mouth is bone dry, and as I blink open my eyes, I have to focus on my breathing to calm the queasiness in my stomach.
Whose bed did I fall asleep in?
I shift to my side and it takes me several long seconds to realize where the hell I am.
Panic hits me the moment my eyes focus.
I look over my shoulder and see that a very naked Justin Brady is still asleep beside me.
His broad back with its lightly tanned skin slopes down to the most mouth-watering naked ass I’ve ever seen on a man. Firm. Muscled. Delectable.
A thousand vivid mental images crash into my brain at once. My hands on that firm, rounded ass as he thrust into me. Those trim hips snapping between my parted thighs.
I whimper, and scramble over the side of the bed in a hunt for my clothes. And my sanity, because what the hell did I do last night? What did we do last night?
I remember coming in here to use the bathroom. Remember finding Justin sitting on his bed, looking somber. Then I remember kissing him. Oh my God, the kissing. I feel weak at the memory of his hot, wet tongue sliding against mine.
I find my underwear first, and pull those on—inside out, but who cares about that right now. I toss on my bra and jersey next. The jersey with my brother’s number on the back. Oh my God, Owen. He’s going to kill me if he sees me leaving Justin’s room. Actually, he’ll kill Justin first. And it will be bloody. I can’t witness Justin’s murder this morning. Because I will definitely vomit on the floor if that happens.
My leggings are nowhere to be found. I can’t exactly sneak out of here pantless. Fuck me. What had I been thinking? I’d always lusted after Justin, but secretly lusting after him and sleeping with him are two very, very different things.
Yet I distinctly remember being the one to push things further. We’d been kissing on his bed, and I’d been the one to take off my shirt and then his hands traveled along my waist, my ribs, my shoulders. His touch had been my undoing —I’d been the first one to stick my hand down his pants. It was like throwing accelerant onto the fire quietly burning between us.
How drunk had he been? Way drunker than me, I know that much. Had I taken advantage of him?
Just as I’m about to have a full-blown panic attack, I spot my leggings. They’re tangled in the sheets at the end of the bed. The memory of Justin kneeling before me as he slowly peeled them off jumps into my head. I’d been so hot, so ready for him. I remember practically attacking his belt-buckle with gusto in my efforts to free his erection.
Oh my God.
His dick.
Now that I’ve pictured it, I can’t unsee it. The memory of his steely shaft and heavy balls are not details I’m supposed to be in possession of. The helpless plea he’d made when my fist curled around him for the first time, testing the weight of him against my palm… I’d dragged my hand up slowly as he released a shuddering exhale, his whole body shivering.
My heartrate triples with the memory. I squeeze my eyes shut and pull a deep, shaky breath into my lungs. Focus, Elise. You cannot think about his dick right now. You certainly can’t think about the way it tasted, or how it felt …
Tiptoeing to the end of the bed, I reach for my leggings, and give them a swift tug. Justin shifts at the movement, rolling up on his elbow to see who’s woken him. His dark hair is messy from sleep, but his blue eyes are bright and alert. A five o’clock shadow dusts his strong jaw and his chest muscles are immaculate.
I don’t think I’ve ever used the word immaculate to describe someone before, but trust me, it fits him.
His eyes widen as he takes in the sight of me—standing at the end of his bed, naked from the waist down—and he blinks twice. “Elise?” his voice is pure gravel, and my stomach tightens.
“Yeah?”
Realizing he’s naked, Justin sits up, tugging the sheet up to cover his lap, like he’s suddenly self-conscious—like he wasn’t inside me a few hours ago.
Oh God.
He’s still watching me but he doesn’t say anything else as I free my leggings from the blankets and pull them on. Yeah, I really might vomit. Shit, this is awful.
He pushes one hand through his messy hair, his bicep flexing with the effort. “Last night …” Confusion is etched across his gorgeous features as he works on remembering what happened, and I swear to God, if he doesn’t say something in the next three seconds, I’m going to cry.
Tears threaten behind my eyes and I take another slow, shaky breath.
Some part of me needs him to acknowledge this mountain between us. Needs him to laugh and make some joke that we’ve really cemented our friendship now— or any lighthearted remark that will make last night mean something more than just being a colossal mistake, a huge dark mark on our friendship. I need him to say something that will make it all better. Anything but silence.
But he stays quiet, as if he’s trying to piece together what happened between us. The silence stretches on and on, and I start to grow uneasy. If he doesn’t remember last night, I’m going to die of humiliation.
• • •
If you like cocky foul-mouthed hockey players, sassy heroines and HOT forbidden sex—this is the book for you! Sexy broken alpha male Justin is willing to risk it all—even his heart for a chance with his friend’s sister.
Get the Book Here
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much to my lovely readers for your enthusiasm for this couple! Dominic’s arc was a tricky one, and he kept me on my toes.
I would like to thank my entire team for your support; I could not do this without you. Thank you for all the late nights and last-minute emails and handling everything with such grace. I am one lucky lady. Without my family’s unending support, I could not do what I do. Thank you so much!
Up next, I have a book that is one of my very favorites I’ve ever written titled Playing for Keeps. Justin is such a swoony hero, and I hope you agree.
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About the Author
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over two million books, and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller list more than three dozen times. Kendall has been featured in publications such as USA TODAY, Newsweek, and In Touch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.
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Other Books by Kendall Ryan
Unravel Me
Filthy Beautiful Lies Series
The Room Mate
The Play Mate
The House Mate
Screwed
The Fix Up
Dirty Little Secret
xo, Zach
Baby Daddy
Tempting Little Tease
Bro Code
Love Machine
Flirting with Forever
Dear Jane
Finding Alexei
Boyfriend for Hire
The Two-Week Arrangement
For a complete list of Kendall’s books, visit:
www.kendallryanbooks.com/all-books/