“And, I am victorious!” Jackson pumped one arm in the air and jumping up and down. His other arm firmly encircled Lillian’s waist as he turned to face Hope, Sasha, and Joy who were jumping up and down, too, clapping with glee.
Jackson lifted Lillian up out of the water and carried her back to the edge of the shore. As he set her down he plucked one of the daisies from her hair.
Jackson looked up from the flower he held in his hand, a serious yet slightly confused expression on his face. He looked back at his children as they made their way towards the beach cottage, then he looked out towards the ocean and down the long expanse of sand. Finally, he looked at the woman before him. “Something wrong?”
Jackson tossed the flower into the ocean. “Just the opposite,” he whispered as he watched the tide carry the flower further out to sea. After it disappeared in a shower of white foam he turned to his wife and pulled her towards him, enveloping her in a familiar embrace.
He kissed the top of her head. “I sometimes have a hard time believing how happy I am. There are days I look at you and the children and wonder if this is all some elaborate dream. This life with you, it sometimes reads like a fantasy, a fairytale, don’t you think?”
“I don’t want it to ever end,” she whispered pulling back slightly to bring her lips up to brush softly against his.
“All good stories must come to an end, love,” replied Jackson as he pulled her in a bit closer.
“And, how will this one end?” She leaned her head back a bit, exposing her neck to him. His breath was warm and moist against her skin.
“This one?”
“Mmmm.”
Jackson took his time. Savoring the moment he trailed open-mouthed kisses up the long column of her neck. When he reached her ear, he bit down on her lobe gently before pulling it into his mouth and sucking on it. He heard his wife’s moan of pleasure and smiled stepping back so he could look steadily into her eyes.
His gaze revealed at once the depth of his emotions. He took her face in his hands and softly said, “How does this one end? Happily. Ever. After.”
Then, he leaned in slowly and kissed her. He kissed her as if it was the first time, the last time, like he did every time. Once again sealing their love and stealing her heart.
The End
Samantha Sommersby left what she used to call her "real life" day job in the psychiatric field to pursue writing full-time in 2007. She is the author of a dozen novels and novellas including several single title Contemporary and Historical Romances as well as the critically acclaimed Paranormal Romance series, Forbidden. She also writes the Fallen Siren series for Penguin/Roc as S.J. Harper in collaboration with author Jeanne C. Stein. The first book in that series, Cursed, will be released in October of 2013.
Sam currently lives with her husband and cocker spaniel, Buck, in a century old Southern California Craftsman. On the rare occasion when she manages to set aside some play time for herself, you'll most likely find her reading a book, at the movies, or out wine tasting. Most days, she happily spends her days immersed in a world where vampires, werewolves, and demons are real, myths and legends are revered, magic is possible, and love still conquers all.
Penguin/Roc (As S.J. Harper)
The Fallen Siren Series order
Cursed
All Romance eBooks (As Samantha Sommersby)
The Soldier & the Spy
Once Upon and Heiress
June in August
Blackout
Touch of Fire
Samhain Publishing (As Samantha Sommersby)
Shelter from the Storm
The Forbidden Series order
Forbidden: The Sacrifice
Forbidden: The Ascension
Forbidden: The Revolution
Forbidden: The Temptation
Coming Together (As Samantha Sommersby)
Coming Together: Under Fire
Table of Contents
Dedication
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Epilogue
About the author
Other books
The Soldier & The Spy Page 21