by Nalini Singh
In return, your husband will fulfill one or more of your own dirty fantasies--all of which you promise to share with him in intricate detail.
Charlotte looked up without reading the rest of the list. "This is a ridiculous list."
"We can negotiate."
Putting her fisted hands on her hips, the paper crumpled in one, she said, "Don't you try that with me, Gabriel Bishop." He had a sneaky tendency of inserting clauses into contracts that he didn't really care about--his opponents were usually so infuriated about negotiating them out that they gave him what he actually wanted.
What he actually wanted right now was for her to marry him, and likely, terms one and two. And okay, probably six and seven. "I am not marrying you." She tugged off the ring and put it back in his jeans pocket when he wouldn't take it.
He bared his teeth. "Yes, you are."
"No, not until I can sleep the night through with you." Folding her own arms, she stood toe to toe with him. "Husbands and wives do not sleep in different rooms in my world." It was hard enough now, but if she took vows, if she became his partner in every way, it would cut at her each night she slept alone.
"Fine," he said. "You agree to marry me the minute you sleep the entire night through in my bed."
Having the vague feeling she'd been outmaneuvered after all, she nodded. "After you ask me properly."
A shark smile that made her skin prickle, her blood hot. "Done."
38
Don't Ever Negotiate with a Determined Charlie-mouse "I'm staying," Charlotte told Gabriel that night. His smell, the feel of him, everything was familiar, made her feel utterly safe. It was time her subconscious got with the program.
And damn it, she wanted to marry him.
"Okay," he said suspiciously agreeably.
Eyes slitted, she watched him, but when he yawned and closed his eyes, she snuggled close and let her own lashes grow heavy. She was almost asleep when it clicked. Her eyes flicked open. Sitting up, her butt on her heels, she poked at his pretend-sleeping body. "You sneak!" He'd made her agree to marry him if she slept the entire night through in his bed, conveniently forgetting the words with him.
An unrepentant grin as he opened his eyes. "You knew who you were negotiating with. Now"--a pat on her butt as he rose up onto his elbow--"I'm going to your room."
"You do that and I'll follow."
"I'm bigger than you," he said smugly. "I can pick you up and put you right back here."
"I have legs. I'll come back."
"No."
"Yes." Snuggling down against his shoulder, one leg thrown over the deliciously hair-roughened skin of his, she closed her eyes. "Try to make me leave."
A distinct snarl of a sound as he curved his arm around her, his hand on her bare butt. "You need a goddamn spanking."
It was her grin that was smug this time. "I love you too."
Yawning, she closed her eyes. They snapped open what felt like a heartbeat later, her pulse in her mouth. She was frozen, her muscles so stiff they felt as if they'd snap. She drew in a breath when her lungs protested, and the scent of Gabriel filled her lungs.
Gabriel.
Shuddering, she felt her muscles ease, her body aching. It took her a minute to realize what had wakened her. She was still on top of Gabriel, but he had his hand around her nape. Warm and strong and heavy and Gabriel. That's all she had to remember. This was Gabriel. Breathing in and out, in and out, she closed her eyes.
It took conscious focus, but she eventually fell back asleep.
There were two more panic attacks, and Gabriel woke both times. "Shit, sorry," he mumbled the first time and went to take his hand from her nape.
"Leave it," she ordered, bad-tempered from lack of sleep. "I'm dealing."
He massaged the back of her thigh. "You're all tense."
"I'll get untense. Leave it."
More massaging, and then he began to do that to her nape too. Gentle and firm, the rhythm eventually lulled her exhausted mind into slumber.
The next time she woke it was because she'd ended up under Gabriel and he had her pinned down with his leg and thigh.
"I know," he mumbled. "Leave it."
She just made an incoherent sound, her eyes gritty.
The next night, she woke them four times.
The night after that, it was twice.
The one after that, it was five times.
Exhausted to the bone by the time Friday night rolled around, she flopped into bed and said, "I'm not giving up."
Lying on his stomach beside her, Gabriel reached out to twine his fingers with her own. "Neither am I. I already booked the fucking wedding venue."
She started to giggle, but it was slightly hysterical. Fighting back the tears, she kissed his knuckles. "I love you."
Steel-gray eyes held her own. "You're my heart."
Holding the words to her own battered heart, she allowed her eyes to close.
She woke to find that they'd been so exhausted that neither one of them had moved, their hands entwined under the sunlight.
The sunlight!
Blinking, she stared at the clock on the nightstand. It was nine a.m. on a Saturday morning, and she was in bed with the man she loved. She turned very quietly and saw he was still asleep, his skin dark gold under the sunshine pouring through the skylight and his hair gleaming blue-black. When his lashes lifted lazily a half hour later, she said, "Never argue with my husband?"
A sleepy smile. "I was hoping you'd negotiate that out. You know I like fighting with you." Tugging her into him, he reached into the bedside drawer on his side and, after taking out the ring, slid it onto her finger. "The black lace underwear clause is nonnegotiable, though I will permit red lace underwear on special occasions."
Curling her fingers into her hand, the ring warm against her skin--as if it had absorbed his heat, she lay on her back with him leaning over her. "That's a pity," she said. "I'll have to throw out that pretty blush-pink G-string set I bought."
His eyes gleamed. "Like I said, Ms. Baird, there's room for negotiation." A slow, luscious kiss, his hand cupping the side of her face. "Marry me?"
"Yes," she said, her heart wide-open. "Yes, I'll marry you."
When the phone rang in the middle of the night a month later, Charlotte groggily searched for it. The past four weeks had been good and not so good--she still woke some nights in a cold sweat, but those times were getting less and less with each week that passed. Tonight, she'd been in a full, deep sleep, in spite of the fact Gabriel had his hand around her nape as she lay sprawled on his chest.
"I've got it."
Letting Gabriel pick up, she closed her eyes and snuggled back against his neck.
"When?" he said after answering. "It's confirmed? Can't say we'll mourn the fucker."
"Who was that?" she mumbled once he'd hung up.
"Lee. Turns out Richard couldn't handle being locked up again. He's dead."
The bastard had hanged himself the night after his transfer from the hospital to the jail, a judge having ordered he be held on remand until his trial. The scum had left a note to be passed on to Charlotte, a note she would never see. Detective Lee had made that call, told Gabriel about it, and he fully agreed.
He didn't think Charlotte would believe a word of it, of how Richard was killing himself because she'd rejected his love, but he didn't want that creep's words in her head. "It's over."
"Good." A jaw-cracking yawn. "Now go back to sleep."
He was dumbfounded for a second at her response until he realized that for Charlotte, it had been over the day she'd decided not to be scared of Richard. Whether he lived or died had made little difference to her stability, but Gabriel was sure as hell glad the bastard wouldn't be around to threaten her ever again.
Curling his body around hers, he closed his eyes.
39
Prenuptial Agreement: Charlotte Baird's Terms
You (Gabriel) are to always wear your wedding ring so no women ever hit on you.
/> If any woman hits on you regardless, you are to tell your wife so she can kick that woman's ass.
You have to walk around shirtless at home so your wife can ogle you to her heart's content.
Under no circumstances are you to ever send your wife red roses. Do it and she will throw far worse than a muffin at your head.
You will not work after seven at night unless it is an emergency situation requiring immediate remediation. Late-night international calls can be negotiated on a per-call basis.
Gabriel Bishop's Counteroffer
Done and done. You're mine now, Ms. Baird. And I'm yours. Always.
I hope you enjoyed Charlotte and Gabriel's story! You met Charlotte's best friend Molly in this book. Molly's story, which takes place partly at the same time as Charlotte's, is told in ROCK ADDICTION. And if you like the sound of a shy drummer and some sexy memos, then check out ROCK COURTSHIP.
I'm currently at work on the next book in the Rock Kiss series. For exclusive sneak peeks and bonus content, including free short stories, and deleted scenes from my books, swing by my website (www.nalinisingh.com) and join my newsletter. Also on the website is a special section dedicated to the Rock Kiss series, complete with photos of many of the locations used in this book.
Any questions or comments? You can contact me at any time through the e-mail address on my website. You can also find me on Twitter & Facebook. - xo Nalini
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about a gorgeous rugby player turned brilliant CEO. If you're seeing a theme here, you're not wrong.
Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you'd like to explore the Rock Kiss series further, or if you'd like to try out her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website: www.nalinisingh.com. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels' Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The website also features special behind-the-scenes material from all her series.
Other Books by Nalini Singh
Rock Addiction
Rock Courtship: A Novella
The Psy/Changeling series
Slave to Sensation Visions of Heat
Caressed by Ice
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Kiss of Snow
Tangle of Need
Heart of Obsidian Shield of Winter
The Guild Hunter series
Angels' Blood
Archangel's Kiss
Archangel's Consort Archangel's Blade Archangel's Storm Archangel's Legion Archangel's Shadows
For detailed descriptions of these books, as well as additional titles, visit Nalini's website: www.nalinisingh.com.
Coming Next from TKA Distribution:
A captivating new series from Kelli Ireland!
About RAISING CAIN, The Key Guardians, Book One:
Hiding places are scarce when both Heaven and Hell intend to find you.
Dani Fayel's backbreaking job as a stable hand at The Freaks' Fair isn't glamorous, but for someone looking to keep to the shadows? It's perfect. Neither paranormal freaks nor human norms ever notice her. But when Dani is forced to either let a child die in order to maintain her anonymity or choose to save him and risk being discovered, she finds herself unwillingly thrust into the spotlight.
Cain, Hell's premier assassin and a predatory incubus, is close to fulfilling his final contract and earning his freedom. Hired by the Archangel of Death to find his daughter, Cain follows her trail to the Fair. He works undercover, certain his mark is inside one of the portable canopies or traveling cages. Dead or alive, she equals his ticket to freedom.
When Cain's objective is divulged, Dani realizes she can't outrun her destiny. As the fabled Key--the one soul with absolute free will who is tied to the three realms of Heaven, Earth and Hell--only she is capable of opening the gates for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Whoever frees the Horsemen allegedly commands them. Now both Heaven and Hell are vying for her allegiance, and there are no limits as to how dirty they'll fight to obtain it. With Hell raining indiscriminate chaos as Heaven maneuvers its players around her, Dani realizes her would-be assassin may be the only man capable of helping her survive.
RAISING CAIN
Copyright Information
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright (c) 2015 by Nalini Singh All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
eISBN: 978-1-942356-05-9
Cover image by: Jenn LeBlanc/Illustrated Romance Cover design by: Croco Designs